[infurl]

https://www.nasa.gov/mediacast/gravity-assist-is-artificial-intelligence-the-future-of-life-with-susan-schneider

If astrobiologists find life beyond Earth in the solar system, it will most likely be in the form of tiny organisms called microbes – nothing that would talk to us. But the galaxy is a big place; the universe even bigger. Somewhere out there, life may have evolved to become as smart, or even much smarter, than us. And the next step in that ladder may be “post-biological,” argues Susan Schneider, the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation. Advanced life may be entirely based on microchips and silicon, using the tools of artificial intelligence instead of brains.

There are a couple of interesting ideas presented in this podcast although nothing really new. It is refreshing to hear from an expert who is prepared to look beyond the problems immediately facing us and consider what might be in store for our descendants.

Note that the linked video is just a teaser, the full interview can be found here.

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/audio/ga_susan_schnider_mix.mp3

[LOCKSUIT]

Keep in mind all these words intelligence, smarter, us, advanced, really refer to Survival. What lasts in the end is the high tech immortal machine that repairs/ clones/ flees danger etc in amazing ways. It will understand the patterns of our physics well.

[frankinstien]

Well...I had a weird experience while camping. It was a crystal clear night and I finished feeding the dogs and siped on my coffee when I noticed a very bright flashing light. I first thought it was another camper with a flash-light but then noticed that the flash was too high, about 20 feet, in the air to be a camper. The light flashed several times at 11-second intervals, but then it moved and flashed right behind me as I turned to find where it had moved, it flashed again but in a different position in the air. Again I turn to find the flash and it moved again. It was this kind of cat and mouse game where the flashing light would just keep moving around my Hummer at what looked like a 20-yard radius, as I tried to find where it was coming from.  It then remained in one location flashing and then again started moving around the truck, it did this for about a half hour and then just stopped and did not return or flash again.

I thought that perhaps I had experienced some kind of ball lightning but I didn't find anything on google about ball lighting that did what I had experienced.  Some claim it was a photo-luminescent insect, fireflies, but they don't hover persistently and have such a bright flash that it would reflect off the windows in my truck and polished surfaces. So I don't know what it was but I did experience it...

[ivan.moony]

A visit from the future, maybe?

[infurl]

@frankinstien when did this happen? The visual characteristics that you describe match a drone. Although they make a lot of noise close up you can't hear them once they get a little way off. How did your dogs react to the light?

[frankinstien]

@frankinstien when did this happen? The visual characteristics that you describe match a drone. Although they make a lot of noise close up you can't hear them once they get a little way off. How did your dogs react to the light?

Actually last month. I thought of a drone as well but then thought who would be flying a drone that far out in the woods and at night? I mean how did it spot me at night, infrared camera? The dogs did not bark at the flashing light, they didn't even take notice.

[frankinstien]

I don't put up campfires I use a propane grill, much safer in those high fire zone areas.