Ulysse Sabbagh

Some 75,000 Americans are waiting for an organ donation. Today, like every other, around 20 will die. But researchers this week at the AAAS, a big science conference, held forth a tantalising prospect: animal organ factories. Take, for example, the fertilised egg of a pig and cut out genes that promote the development of the animal’s heart. Now, this pig will grow up without a heart of its own. Then inject human stem cells taken from a patient who needs a new heart into the embryo and then place it into the womb of a sow. Wait nine months. The result would be an adult pig with a heart made of human cells which can be slaughtered and the organ transplanted into the patient who provided the stem cells—a perfect genetic match. The concept has already been proven with mice-rat “chimeras”. Pig-human ones are more challenging, but getting closer.

[Source: Reap from a sow: organ transplants Espresso]

Some 75,000 Americans are waiting for an organ donation. Today, like every other, around 20 will die. But researchers this week at the AAAS, a big science conference, held forth a tantalising prospect: animal organ factories. Take, for example, the fertilised egg of a pig and cut out genes that promote the development of the animal’s heart. Now, this pig will grow up without a heart of its own. Then inject human stem cells taken from a patient who needs a new heart into the embryo and then place it into the womb of a sow. Wait nine months. The result would be an adult pig with a heart made of human cells which can be slaughtered and the organ transplanted into the patient who provided the stem cells—a perfect genetic match. The concept has already been proven with mice-rat “chimeras”. Pig-human ones are more challenging, but getting closer.

[Source: Reap from a sow: organ transplants Espresso]

Whatever the case, this doesn’t seem to be an exploit that any human has discovered before. If the AI agent could think, it would probably be wondering why it’s supposed to bother jumping on all these boxes when it’s found a much more efficient way to score points.

[Source: The Verge]

Whatever the case, this doesn’t seem to be an exploit that any human has discovered before. If the AI agent could think, it would probably be wondering why it’s supposed to bother jumping on all these boxes when it’s found a much more efficient way to score points.

[Source: The Verge]

[Source: Surfer rides a wave 115 feet tall]

[Source: Surfer rides a wave 115 feet tall]

You may have heard that the best way to deal with the “information overload” is to switch off your devices. To take a break from the Internet. Go for a run. Roll out the Yoga mat. Read a book. Talk to your friends. Switching off is good advice. But eventually, you’ll be back. How about changing? Changing from passive, to active. From scroll to search, from react to rethink, from like and retweet to write and link.

Preach!

[Source: Take the Power Back ]

You may have heard that the best way to deal with the “information overload” is to switch off your devices. To take a break from the Internet. Go for a run. Roll out the Yoga mat. Read a book. Talk to your friends. Switching off is good advice. But eventually, you’ll be back. How about changing? Changing from passive, to active. From scroll to search, from react to rethink, from like and retweet to write and link.

Preach!

[Source: Take the Power Back ]

Facebook’s DNA is that of a social platform addicted to growth and engagement. At its very core, every policy, every decision, every strategy is based on growth (at any cost) and engagement (at any cost). More growth and more engagement means more data — which means the company can make more advertising dollars, which gives it a nosebleed valuation on the stock market, which in turn allows it to remain competitive and stay ahead of its rivals.

[Source: The #1 reason Facebook won’t ever change – Om Malik]

Facebook’s DNA is that of a social platform addicted to growth and engagement. At its very core, every policy, every decision, every strategy is based on growth (at any cost) and engagement (at any cost). More growth and more engagement means more data — which means the company can make more advertising dollars, which gives it a nosebleed valuation on the stock market, which in turn allows it to remain competitive and stay ahead of its rivals.

[Source: The #1 reason Facebook won’t ever change – Om Malik]

Scientists from Google and its health-tech subsidiary Verily have discovered a new way to assess a person’s risk of heart disease using machine learning. By analyzing scans of the back of a patient’s eye, the company’s software is able to accurately deduce data, including an individual’s age, blood pressure, and whether or not they smoke. This can then be used to predict their risk of suffering a major cardiac event — such as a heart attack — with roughly the same accuracy as current leading methods.

Just like the first two technological revolutions (steam, electricity), the third one (software) we are experiencing now has just begun. 

[Source: Google’s new AI algorithm predicts heart disease by looking at your eyes]

Scientists from Google and its health-tech subsidiary Verily have discovered a new way to assess a person’s risk of heart disease using machine learning. By analyzing scans of the back of a patient’s eye, the company’s software is able to accurately deduce data, including an individual’s age, blood pressure, and whether or not they smoke. This can then be used to predict their risk of suffering a major cardiac event — such as a heart attack — with roughly the same accuracy as current leading methods.

Just like the first two technological revolutions (steam, electricity), the third one (software) we are experiencing now has just begun. 

[Source: Google’s new AI algorithm predicts heart disease by looking at your eyes]

February 7th marked the death of John Perry Barlow. He founded the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) and wrote lyrics for the Grateful Dead (occasionally). He was a remarkable man who fought for the freedom of the Internet. Here is a list of principles that adults should follow. I'm 25 now and trying my best to make him proud: 

1. Be patient. No matter what.
2. Don’t badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn’t say to him.
3. Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
4. Expand your sense of the possible.
5. Don’t trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.
6. Expect no more of anyone than you can deliver yourself.
7. Tolerate ambiguity.
8. Laugh at yourself frequently.
9. Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
10. Never forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong.
11. Give up blood sports.
12. Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Don’t risk it frivolously.
13. Never lie to anyone for any reason. (Lies of omission are sometimes exempt.)
14. Learn the needs of those around you and respect them.
15. Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.
16. Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun.
17. Praise at least as often as you disparage.
18. Admit your errors freely and soon.
19. Become less suspicious of joy.
20. Understand humility.
21. Remember that love forgives everything.
22. Foster dignity.
23. Live memorably.
24. Love yourself.
25. Endure.

[Source: A list of 25 Principles of Adult Behavior by John Perry Barlow]

February 7th marked the death of John Perry Barlow. He founded the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) and wrote lyrics for the Grateful Dead (occasionally). He was a remarkable man who fought for the freedom of the Internet. Here is a list of principles that adults should follow. I'm 25 now and trying my best to make him proud: 

1. Be patient. No matter what.
2. Don’t badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn’t say to him.
3. Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
4. Expand your sense of the possible.
5. Don’t trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.
6. Expect no more of anyone than you can deliver yourself.
7. Tolerate ambiguity.
8. Laugh at yourself frequently.
9. Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
10. Never forget that, no matter how certain, you might be wrong.
11. Give up blood sports.
12. Remember that your life belongs to others as well. Don’t risk it frivolously.
13. Never lie to anyone for any reason. (Lies of omission are sometimes exempt.)
14. Learn the needs of those around you and respect them.
15. Avoid the pursuit of happiness. Seek to define your mission and pursue that.
16. Reduce your use of the first personal pronoun.
17. Praise at least as often as you disparage.
18. Admit your errors freely and soon.
19. Become less suspicious of joy.
20. Understand humility.
21. Remember that love forgives everything.
22. Foster dignity.
23. Live memorably.
24. Love yourself.
25. Endure.

[Source: A list of 25 Principles of Adult Behavior by John Perry Barlow]

Click on the source link to see more. 

[Source: Blade Runner-style photographs capture Tokyo's infrastructure]

Justin O’Beirne, former head of cartography at Apple, explains why Google Maps has a multiple year advantage on the competition.

Basically, it’s about the structures/building footprints Google can display thanks to their satellite imagery and Street View efforts. Nobody else has this level of precision.

Bye Apple Maps!

Here’s another example:

[Source: Google Maps’s Moat]

And thank you for your impeccable groove and tasty licks. Enjoy responsibly. 

And thank you for your impeccable groove and tasty licks. Enjoy responsibly.