EdEarl

Welcome to SFN. You will find many rational people here, but we get our share of others who are often banned. I applaud your work with nature and farming. Thanks for your service. How do we feed ourselves without destroying the environment? Estimates are that a Big Mac requires around 2000 gallons of water to produce, which tends to say we should change our eating habits. Farms are being destroyed by lack of water all over the world as climate change warms the Earth, for example California, all around the Mediterranean, and elsewhere. As warming continues, I expect Siberia and Canada will become more productive; thus, farms should be able be moved northward. On the other hand, glaciers are melting, which will change rivers significantly. Rivers that have been flowing uninterrupted for eons, sustained by melting of glaciers, will be dry except when it rains. In some cases dams may be able to contain enough water to assure flow throughout the year, but they are not without problems. To assure water for everyone will require significant changes in water infrastructure, and huge populations will be on the move. Hydroponic and aquaponic farming use substantially less water than traditional methods, so I think they will be an important part of future food production. We have changed and are changing nature, but IMO we cannot destroy her. She will recover from our abuse, given a chance, whether we survive or not. Species are dieing at an alarming rate, and that trend will not stop soon. To stop it would require cultural engineering that cannot be done, for example, how do you stop people eating bush meat? It will require a catastrophe before people awaken and act, IMO. Although, there is a chance that equitable food distribution, feeding the world, might help the situation, it isn't a popular idea. We face many challenges and the outcome is uncertain.

In his book, The Millennial Project: Colonizing the Galaxy in Eight Easy Steps, Marshall T. Savage proposed building "seacrete" (ions deposited from sea water) floating islands to be colonized along the equator to relieve stress on the land as populations grew past 10 billions. His method of making seacrete did not work. However, Prof. Wolf Hilbertz developed a technique that makes biorock from sea water that is as strong or stronger than typical concrete, starting with a structure of rebar and welded wire mesh. Principally calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate to precipitate and adhere to that structure. I propose a kind of 3d biorock printer to make the islands Savage described. He suggested Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) that is more expensive than solar PV. These islands could be used to house people displaced by rising oceans. Given robots are taking our jobs, they may as well build floating cities nice enough to entice people to move onto them. Based on developments in the United Arab Emirates, luxury can be provided in almost any environment. Given these floating islands would be positioned along the equator, their environment would be similar to the UAE.

Feed is not totally consumed by an animal; part is waste that goes back into the environment. We are currently cutting many trees that have sequestered much carbon. We need to add to the current levels of biomass to more than replace the carbon released by slash and burn and other biomass reduced by climate change. Carbon sequestration is not our only need. We seem to be headed for a mass extinction, mostly caused by habitat destruction. Using fodder to sustain endangered species might help mitigate the extinction. In addition, people need food and it is better to eat meat grown by people rather than bush meat. It would be best for people to become vegan from an environmental perspective, but there's little chance that will happen. Thus, providing fodder for cattle, sheep, goats, etc., is also necessary.

If we millions of people grow green and blue green algae and cyanobacteria, to use for fertilizer and fodder, we might bring down the CO2 quicker than will happen otherwise. Since some cyanobacteria is poisonous, it is necessary to test the stuff used for fodder. Although, some species such as spirulina, which grows in caustic water, can be grown safely enough for human consumption.

See Wikipedia, Phase Change Material, Thermophysical Properties. The list includes many outside your temperature range and a few within it. You will have to investigate toxicity. Some paraffin melts in your temperature range and has low toxicity, but it is flammable.

Currently there are no conscious AI systems with anywhere near the savvy of a person. That's sometimes called general AI. Current AI systems that use neural nets, for example Alpha Go, are very good at one thing, and pretty good at several things, but there are many things they don't do. The brain has something like 100 Thousand Million. Fairy wasps have about 100,000 neurons; they are about the size of a cell, a large amoeba. Artificial neurons and neurons can only be compared like apples and oranges; there are too many differences to compare directly. I suspect that artificial neurons are not as efficient as our neurons, and the neural nets will tend to be larger than similar neuron nets.

MIT Technology Review: This chip is optimized for deep-learning neural networks, with around 12x performance, and is in production now. As prices come down we can expect additional AI co-processors in our computers.

At TED, Kenneth Lacovara tells an artful science story, from Mesozoic to Anthropocene, from the femur of a dreadnautus to climate warming.

We need the right kind of advertising to sell the ideas necessary to understand why providing for the homeless makes a superior culture. For example, some sports stars, popular singers, graphic artists, authors and movie makers could sway public opinion with statements, pictures, songs, books and movies. Not every work or art is seen or heard by everyone, so it will take a sustained campaign, which might be necessary in perpetuity. Some works exist with this message, but not enough. Since artists can sway public opinion, I think many feel ethically compelled to make political statements. It is only necessary to clarify which issues are most important to that community. I don't know Specifically how that can be done. Perhaps someone else reading this has some ideas.

I agree with the whole market changing. People without jobs will have time and will need activities, for example a space for gardening. Society will change along with the market.

Whether a guaranteed minimum standard of living is a disincentive to work seems not important, since automation is taking our jobs. At some point in time, masses of hard working employees are necessary to run the world. At some point in the future, they are not needed. It might make sense to discuss optimal timing of implementing a guaranteed minimum standard of living. However, there is a need now for some people who aren't working for whatever reason, and who need assistance. As time goes on, there will be more people who cannot find jobs. Not caring and not acting is not something I can abide quietly; although, I have little power otherwise.

There are many developments, some we are aware of and others we are not. There are actual improvements in standard of living and apparent improvements. Some people work for wealth, but many are satisfied with much less. Some who seek wealth use it; others hoard it. An individual feels wealthy if they can have anything they both need and want. People need food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education. Food, clothing, shelter, and medical care sustain life and prevent suffering; education improves ones spirit and helps prevent physic suffering. People are naturally curious and need to satisfy their curiosity. With ubiquitous automation, it seems likely most food will be produced locally, clothing will be 3D printed at home, shelter will be available for everyone wherever they go, medical monitoring will be continuous and unobtrusive, and medical care will be available when needed. People need to work for what they want. For example, if one wants to climb Mt. Everest, one must train their body, plan the trip, assemble provisions, etc. Automatons that monitor our lives should assure the climbers are safe. Working for wants is necessary for people to be happy, even if their adventure is being a couch potato and watching TV. I think the right recipe is equality for needs and individuality for wants. People need food, but not everyone likes liver.

Not the topic of this thread, but my government spends billions of dollars it borrows by selling bonds to other governments, e.g., the Chinese. My fellow countrymen and I are responsible for repaying these loans, but we never see the money. It ends up in corporate coffers and belongs to the richest people on Earth. Since I am partly responsible for repaying the national debt, I figure I have the right to say what happens to that money as much as anyone else. The economic system is rigged in favor of the wealthy. On the other hand, it has done a pretty good job of improving the wealth of humanity, but many people are still dirt poor. Many things in this world are unfair. Things are changing, but how IDK. The money must come from those who have it, whether tax or loan.

Endy #23 said, Although I agree, the devil is in the detail. Automation will consume jobs, leaving more and more people without an income. The number of homeless people is gradually changing as we move towards a form of post scarcity economy. However, the rate will probably increase until most jobs are automated. Things will be abundant, but will distribution be limited by owners of the automation or will jobless people be given food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education? Whether the tax rate is graduated or flat makes little difference to a jobless, homeless, foodless person. We can consider providing homes to the homeless now (relatively few homeless people), in the far future (99% homeless), or in between. In the far future, automatons might provide homes, food, clothing, medical care, and education for everyone...everyone gets a fig. IMO the important issues are related to public opinion and political solutions required to make the transition from the current economic system to one with full automation. How people react to Canada's "experiment" with eliminating homelessness is important; will it continue or be abandoned? How will the affected individuals change, and how will their stories affect public opinion and politics?

Unfortunately, we have it all wrong. Millions are doing with little, and a few have become super rich by taking advantage of the millions.

DRAM and disk technologies improved faster than bubble memories, and prevented its being widely adopted. The introduction of flash RAM displaced bubble memory from its niche.

OK, but additional nuclear is, in general, expensive and no longer needed, except perhaps to clean up the tons of nuclear waste.

Only 1MW or larger installations were counted. Some installations were under 4 cents per kw-hour without subsidies. Only 18MW of natural gas power plants were added in this quarter, and no oil, coal or nuclear. Similar future quarters are expected. This is good news. I hope the dark forces don't counterattack.

Phys.org Desirable, power-on without reloading the operating system. Reset will be necessary as errors make an operating system unstable.

The child in us never grows up, but does learn. It's necessary to treat everyone fairly; for example, give everyone a grape.

Naegeli–Franceschetti–Jadassohn syndrome (NFJS) sufferers, among other things, have no fingerprints.

@Lyudmilascience, Sometimes spelling and grammar errors can be important to understanding a poster's question, in which case, it is necessary to get a clarification of language. Although, some may reply to correct only spelling and grammar. Regardless, you should appreciate their effort. Sooner or later, incorrect grammar or spelling will misrepresent ones intent. Learning to communicate accurately is a craft that some, like me, work on their entire life, yet never master. Some communicators, poets and song writers, are artists, who craft language with incredible skill that few of us achieve. Nonetheless, spelling and grammar are important to everyone.

Oil prices are down, making oil from algae is not economical at low oil prices. OP: Battery technology improvements by 2x would significantly improve electronic vehicle (EV) economics, and research seems to say 5x better batteries is possible. EV lifetime costs are similar to petrol cars, halving battery cost and weight might be enough that people would prefer an EV. Oil is still the source of plastics, which pollute the environment. But, microbes are eating plastics. Since the supply of plastic food (for microbes) is large and growing, it is possible plastic eaters will thrive and recycle our plastic wastes. In addition, we can become better recyclers. At least, buried plastic does not contribute CO2 into the air.

Oh, Tables Of the Covenant is the book--weird name. Sorry, I misunderstood.

dictionary.com covenant: Do you mean Table of Contents (TOC)?