Carbon Dioxide

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segment 1, Top of Mind–Obama points us to Mars (0:00): This week saw some developments in subjects we’ve discussed in each of our earlier episodes.
- from episode 3: global climate change — Cornell scientists predict a significant increase in the odds of a megadrought in the southwest US, and meanwhile 150 countries are gathering to discuss lowering HFCs.
- from episode 2: U.S. Mission to Mars — President Obama announced his administration’s collaboration with six private companies to get humans to Mars by 2030, but a study from UC Irvine shows that astronauts still have a long way to go in overcoming radiation.
- from episode 1: self-driving cars –In the same week that photos have shown up of Google’s self-driving minivans, another accident involving a driverless car has led the German government to label autopilot a ‘Traffic Hazard.’
segment 2, Juris Prudent–Monkey Selfie (29:01): Photographer David Slater claimed rights to an image taken by a macaque, but some outlets say the image is public domain because the photographer didn’t take it, and a judge dismissed the case. PETA is revisiting the case, arguing that in fact the monkey should own the rights.
segment 3, Semantically Incorrect–Audio Books (36:48): Deron hates claiming he ‘read’ an audiobook, and wants to suggest a new word. Do you agree with his selection?
segment 4, What’s Your Take?–Human Longevity (46:26): Researchers theorize there might be a natural maximum to human lifespans… and we’ve reached it. But tech billionaires are driving to “cure” death. Should humans push to live longer and longer?

Tweet @DigitalDeron or @efader with your opinions, or give us a call and leave a voice message.

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segment 1, Top of Mind–Carbon Tipping Point (0:00): Earth’s atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentration is now above 400ppm. Is there any way we’ll ever get back below that number? Scientists are pretty sure that for the immediate future, the answer is no.
segment 2, Future File–Log In with Your Brain Waves (15:06): In the future, you might be able to authenticate into your computer by having your brain scanned. But will scanning your brain introduce even more of a privacy concern? One thing is sure, the way we do it now is wrong, all wrong.
segment 3, Let’s Hash It Out–Google’s Hardware Launch Event (28:37): Google previewed it’s Pixel phones, a new Chromecast update, In particular, Google Home is here, and it’s ready to listen to your every word. They say they’re building a personalized Google for each individual. We say they’re making a big grab into privacy. What do you think?
segment 4, What’s Your Take?–Digital Afterlife (45:10): When her friend Roman died in a tragic car accident, San Francisco entrepreneur Eugenia Kudya decided to task her AI start-up with creating a chatbot based on his personality. She saw it as a digital monument to him, and a way to deal with her loss. Some of her friends find it a “disturbing” and “half-baked,” but others found it therapeutic. Would you want such a monument left behind after your death? Can computers come anywhere close to capturing a human personality? What’s your take?

Tweet us! We are @efader and @DigitalDeron. Or give us a call and leave a voice message for us to include in the show.

Diginauts 0004 — How Long Would You Like To Live, Copyright for Non-humans, New Words for Tech Concepts

Diginauts 0003 — Google is listening, Irreversible Global Warming, Mourning Death Digitally