The human brain has some capabilities that the brains of other animals lack. It is to these distinctive capabilities that our species owes its dominant position. Other animals have stronger muscles or sharper claws, but we have cleverer brains. If machine brains one day come to surpass human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become very powerful. As the fate of the gorillas now depends more on us humans than on the gorillas themselves, so the fate of our species then would come to depend on the actions of the machine superintelligence. But we have one advantage: we get to make the first move. Will it be possible to construct a seed AI or otherwise to engineer initial conditions so as to make an intelligence explosion survivable? How could one achieve a controlled detonation? To get closer to an answer to this question, we must make our way through a fascinating landscape of topics and considerations. Read the book and learn about oracles, genies, singletons; about boxing methods, tripwires, and mind crime; about humanity's cosmic endowment and differential technological development; indirect normativity, instrumental convergence, whole brain emulation and technology couplings; Malthusian economics and dystopian evolution; artificial intelligence, and biological cognitive enhancement, and collective intelligence. This profoundly ambitious and original book picks its way carefully through a vast tract of forbiddingly difficult intellectual terrain. Yet the writing is so lucid that it somehow makes it all seem easy. After an utterly engrossing journey that takes us to the frontiers of thinking about the human condition and the future of intelligent life, we find in Nick Bostrom's work nothing less than a reconceptualization of the essential task of our time.
Anthropic Bias explores how to reason when you suspect that your evidence is biased by "observation selection effects"--that is, evidence that has been filtered by the precondition that there be some suitably positioned observer to "have" the evidence. This conundrum--sometimes alluded to as "the anthropic principle," "self-locating belief," or "indexical information"--turns out to be a surprisingly perplexing and intellectually stimulating challenge, one abounding with important implications for many areas in science and philosophy. There are the philosophical thought experiments and paradoxes: the Doomsday Argument; Sleeping Beauty; the Presumptuous Philosopher; Adam & Eve; the Absent-Minded Driver; the Shooting Room. And there are the applications in contemporary science: cosmology ("How many universes are there?", "Why does the universe appear fine-tuned for life?"); evolutionary theory ("How improbable was the evolution of intelligent life on our planet?"); the problem of time's arrow ("Can it be given a thermodynamic explanation?"); quantum physics ("How can the many-worlds theory be tested?"); game-theory problems with imperfect recall ("How to model them?"); even traffic analysis ("Why is the 'next lane' faster?"). Anthropic Bias argues that the same principles are at work across all these domains. And it offers a synthesis: a mathematically explicit theory of observation selection effects that attempts to meet scientific needs while steering clear of philosophical paradox.
Que se passera-t-il quand les machines surpasseront l’intelligence humaine ? Les robots vont-ils nous sauver ou nous détruire ? Isaac Asimov l’avançait dès 1942 avec ses trois lois de la robotique : l’intelligence artificielle doit être contrôlée au plus profond de ses fondements pour qu’elle ne puisse jamais s’attaquer à l’Homme. Mais comment s’assurer qu’une superintelligence ne se révèlera pas hostile à la survie de l’humanité ? Dans cet ouvrage unique, best-seller international traduit en 19 langues, Nick Bostrom nous révèle les difficultés que la recherche d’une intelligence supérieure va nous poser et comment les résoudre. Il s’agit sans doute du plus grand défi auquel l’humanité aura à faire face. Il faut s’y préparer.
O cérebro humano possui algumas aptidões ausentes nos cérebros dos demais seres vivos. Nossa posição dominante no planeta se deve a estas particulares habilidades. Outros animais possuem músculos mais robustos ou mandíbulas mais afiadas, mas nós temos cérebros mais sofisticados. Se algum dia os cérebros artificiais superarem a inteligência dos cérebros humanos, então esta nova superinteligência pode se tornar muito poderosa. Assim com o destino dos gorilas hoje depende mais dos humanos do que dos próprios símios, o destino da nossa espécie também se tornaria dependente das ações destas máquinas superinteligentes. Mas nós temos uma vantagem: começamos a dar o primeiro passo. Será possível construir uma inteligência artificial ou projetar condições iniciais para que possamos gerar uma explosão de inteligência sustentável, que não implique no fim da nossa espécie? Como poderíamos alcançar uma expansão controlada desta inteligência? Profundamente ambicioso e original, Superinteligência: Caminhos, Perigos, Estratégias avança cuidadosamente por um amplo e árduo terreno intelectual, porém, com uma escrita tão perspicaz e clara que faz com que tudo pareça simples. Através de uma jornada completamente envolvente que nos conduz às fronteiras do pensamento sobre a condição humana e o futuro da vida inteligente, a obra do filósofo Nick Bostrom redefine o desafio essencial de nosso tempo. Superinteligência, de Nick Bostrom - professor na faculdade de Filosofia na Universidade de Oxford -, tem sido aclamado e recomendado por nomes como Bill Gates e Elon Musk. Traduzido em mais de uma dezena de países, o livro alcançou a lista de mais vendidos do New York Times e o autor foi incluído pela revista Foreign Policy entre os "Top 100 Global Thinkers" de 2015. A obra integra a linha editorial Crânio, da DarkSide Books, que tem o compromisso de publicar material minuciosamente selecionado. Obras assinadas por especialistas, acadêmicos e pensadores em diversas áreas, dispostos a dividir experiências e pontos de vista transformadores que nos ajudem a entender melhor esse estranho e admirável mundo novo.
Sergeant Lucas Walker has lost everything – his reputation, his position in the military, and his only friends. Now he's on his own, tracking down fugitives from his last battle against the Dominion. However, Walker's hunt across the moons of Uranus is interrupted when he rescues an orphaned preteen with an uncanny ability to use the Dominion's weapons. And to make matters worse, another interdimensional portal has opened and an elite Dominion strike force emerges. This time, they're not equipped with claws, lasers swords, or fangs, but with...magic wands? The United Federation of Sol is baffled by these new alien weapons and their only hope is to reinstate Walker--the military's only expert in Old Earth lore. But can Walker convince his former teammates to join him--and his new pint-sized partner--for one more mission before these villains from a suspiciously familiar world of wizards can apparate an entire Dominion army? Or will his preteen protege spell the end of both Walker and our galaxy? If you liked the irreverent action-adventure of Guardians of the Galaxy, the nerdy nostalgia of Ready Player One, and the sci-fi self-awareness of Redshirts, this is the series for you!
Humanity+/-: Transhumanism and Its Critics brings together sixteen of the foremost advocates and critics of transhumanism to debate the promises and perils of bioengineering an improved humanity. As it turns out, transhumanism is a catalyst for profound philosophical and theological inquiry. If the idea of a fixed human nature no longer applies, can we still speak of humane dignities and essential human rights? Should we try to limit the development of certain technologies? Is it even possible? Are the new sciences and technologies hailed by transhumanists just wishful thinking? And which utopic and dystopic visions have the power to motivate us to build a more wholesome, just, and sustainable tomorrow? This volume does much to advance critical dialogue on the future course of our species and our planet.
The invasion of the solar system has begun! Private Lucas Walker never thought he'd be a hero. As a grunt in United Federation of Sol's peacekeeper force deployed to Pluto's tiny moon Nyx, the furthest barren hellhole in the solar system, he thought his career was all but over even before it began. He day-dreams of lightsabers, vampires, battlecats, wizards, and all things sci-fi and fantasy while he repairs sand-clogged equipment and mops floors. Then everything changes. A spatial-temporal vortex opens on Pluto, and out pours an army. A deadly force intent on capturing Earth and enslaving humanity in its quest for universal domination. All universes, all galaxies, all planets--all will kneel and submit to The Dominion. The crap has hit the fan. UFS marines are overwhelmed. The odds look grim. Humanity teeters on the edge. The future of civilization now depends on Private Walker and his ragtag band of misfit UFS peacekeepers, armed only with weapons stolen from the enemy. He needs to figure this hero thing out fast... ...or all is lost.
The invasion of the solar system continues! Private Lucas Walker is on top of the world. He's got a glowing laser sword, a power glove, and a warrior cat he rides into battle--items straight out of his favorite science fiction stories. But this is real life, and he's pretty satisfied with himself for having saved the solar system from invasion. But he can't rest on his laurels. Neptune's moon Triton is the next target of the spatial-temporal vortex, and is invaded by an army of what seem like vampires. And to make matters worse, Walker's newfound powers seem to be fading, and hope seems lost. Earth needs a hero again. Can Private Lucas Walker go two for two? Laser sword? Check. Power glove? Check. Warrior cat? Check. Give the alien vampires an ass-kicking? No problem.
This pocket-size gift book is a thinking man's arsenal of quotes, quips, and comebacks filled with wit, insight, and genius. Perfect for the guy who knows everything and wants the words to match! This little book offers in-depth investigations into "who said what," counterquotes for common clichés, and tips for citing sayings without sounding stupid. Never be at a loss for words again! Includes quotes from: · Aristotle · Abraham Lincoln · Nelson Mandela · George Carlin · And more!
Change is coming. Legendary American Admiral Jack Mattis, thrown into an unfamiliar universe, must now confront the impossible and do the unthinkable in a place very different from his home. New alliances must be forged in the face of powerful new enemies. Strange technologies may hold the key to victory, or hasten Earth's demise in all timelines. Change is coming and the howling winds of war at his back will drive Admiral Mattis onward toward a final confrontation. One thing is clear: The future is mutable, changeable, malleable. Or is it? Are Mattis's and Earth's destinies set in stone? Dark secrets will be revealed, terrifying enemies unleashed, and through it all, the true face of Spectre looms ever closer.
Anthropic Bias explores how to reason when you suspect that your evidence is biased by "observation selection effects"--that is, evidence that has been filtered by the precondition that there be some suitably positioned observer to "have" the evidence. This conundrum--sometimes alluded to as "the anthropic principle," "self-locating belief," or "indexical information"--turns out to be a surprisingly perplexing and intellectually stimulating challenge, one abounding with important implications for many areas in science and philosophy. There are the philosophical thought experiments and paradoxes: the Doomsday Argument; Sleeping Beauty; the Presumptuous Philosopher; Adam & Eve; the Absent-Minded Driver; the Shooting Room. And there are the applications in contemporary science: cosmology ("How many universes are there?", "Why does the universe appear fine-tuned for life?"); evolutionary theory ("How improbable was the evolution of intelligent life on our planet?"); the problem of time's arrow ("Can it be given a thermodynamic explanation?"); quantum physics ("How can the many-worlds theory be tested?"); game-theory problems with imperfect recall ("How to model them?"); even traffic analysis ("Why is the 'next lane' faster?"). Anthropic Bias argues that the same principles are at work across all these domains. And it offers a synthesis: a mathematically explicit theory of observation selection effects that attempts to meet scientific needs while steering clear of philosophical paradox.
Will computers come to dominate man? Will advanced technology, robots and artificial intelligence enhance or destroy our future … and thereby changing us forever!?! Learn about the history, the menace and opportunities of technology—as well as possible futures—in this one-of-a-kind book! Is technology running amok or is it serving as a helping hand? Is it a threat or a benefit? Runaway Science: True Stories of Raging Robots and Hi-Tech Horrors presents the ominous, and some encouraging, stories of how technology has shaped our past and might shape our future. It dives into the question of mankind’s future. An exhilarating and troubling read, it looks at whether robots and technology are a threat or a boon to humanity. Its investigations include … Robocops and robots in the police force Robots replacing people in the workplace The high tech of ancient times Clones, androids, modified humans, cyborgs, designer babies, and half-human robots CIA plots to control our minds The sentient internet Monitoring our every move with microchip implants The threat of unfathomable alien intelligence and technology The singularity of uncontrollable and irreversible supplanting of human intelligence with technological intelligence Science fiction and science fact—and how science fiction foreshadowed the future Clandestine technological dangers and government mind-control plots Robotic limbs, androids and half-humans The prospect of uploading our minds into computers to ensure immortality Whether robots will rise up and cause humans to become extinct And much, much more. With more than 100 photos and illustrations, this riveting read is richly illustrated, and its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness. Ponder the possibilities with this examination of the menace of robots, artificial intelligence, and technology of the past, present, and future. Exciting and worrisome, Runaway Science looks at past horrors and future dangers of technology!
The author of Bloodline of the Gods explores the theory that ancient aliens shared the secrets of immortality with Old Testament figures. While scientists debate the theoretical possibility of immortality, it may have already been achieved in the distant past. History is filled with accounts of fantastic beings, powerful gods, and half-human/half-alien entities that had extraordinarily long lifespans. Today, these stories are dismissed as mere folklore and mythology. But what if the accounts are all too real? In Immortality of the Gods, Nick Redfern considers the possibility that ancient aliens uncovered the secret to stopping the aging process. Examining the legends of the Anunnaki, Redfern investigates how these ancient deities may have achieved everlasting life, and why they might have shared their secrets with Noah, Methuselah, and other biblical figures. Redfern goes on to explore the saga of Gilgamesh, a long-lived part-human, part-extraterrestrial Sumerian ruler obsessed with immortality. Also in this volume, Redfern studies the claim that an undisclosed motivation for the 2003 invasion of Iraq was to uncover the millennia-old secrets of white powder gold, a manna-like substance that supposedly rejuvenates cells and tissue.
The invasion of the solar system continues! Private Lucas Walker is on top of the world. He's got a glowing laser sword, a power glove, and a warrior cat he rides into battle--items straight out of his favorite science fiction stories. But this is real life, and he's pretty satisfied with himself for having saved the solar system from invasion. But he can't rest on his laurels. Neptune's moon Triton is the next target of the spatial-temporal vortex, and is invaded by an army of what seem like vampires. And to make matters worse, Walker's newfound powers seem to be fading, and hope seems lost. Earth needs a hero again. Can Private Lucas Walker go two for two? Laser sword? Check. Power glove? Check. Warrior cat? Check. Give the alien vampires an ass-kicking? No problem.
The first edition of this book was voted Winner of the 2004 International Academy of Astronautics Life Sciences Award. The second edition deals with psychological, psychiatric, and psychosocial issues that affect people who live and work in space. Unlike other books that focus on anecdotal reports and ground-based simulation studies, this book emphasizes the findings from psychological research conducted during actual space missions. Both authors have been active in such research.
Accomplished leadership consultant Nick Chatrath offers a revolutionary framework for how leaders in all kinds of organizations can adapt to the new age of technology, like ChatGPT—the Age of AI— by leaning into the qualities and skills that make us uniquely human. For readers of Yuval Noah Harari’s 21 Lessons for the 21st Century and Max Tegmark’s Life 3.0, The Threshold is a bold new way to think about human, emotionally intelligent leadership right now as we stand at the threshold of AI superintelligence. We are living in a new age: the Age of AI. With developments emerging every day, Artificial Intelligence will soon surpass most human competencies, and as a result drastically transform technology’s role in our day-to-day world. The solution for organizational leaders is not to become more like computers. In order for our organizations to survive as we stand at the threshold of a new era, we must tap into the qualities that make us uniquely human. In the face of increasingly intelligent technology, old models of leadership are becoming obsolete. In The Threshold: Leading in the Age of AI, accomplished leadership consultant Nick Chatrath interweaves an analysis of antiquated leadership models—the ones that leave AI-Era organizations exposed and ineffective with colleagues frustrated, unmotivated, and burnt-out—with his newly developed strategies for more effective “threshold” leadership methods. Supported with anecdotes, research, and a practical toolkit, The Threshold demonstrates that adaptive, effective organizations can be built with human, emotional intelligence: cultivating stillness, nurturing independent thinking, finding rhythms of rest and performance, and raising leadership consciousness. With a basis in the ideas and practices that have shaped our organizations in the past, The Threshold illuminates how accessing advanced stages of human development can be both competitive and harmonious with AI’s growing insinuation into our working world.
Social theory needs to be completely rethought in a world of digital media and social media platforms driven by data processes. Fifty years after Berger and Luckmann published their classic text The Social Construction of Reality, two leading sociologists of media, Nick Couldry and Andreas Hepp, revisit the question of how social theory can understand the processes through which an everyday world is constructed in and through media. Drawing on Schütz, Elias and many other social and media theorists, they ask: what are the implications of digital medias profound involvement in those processes? Is the result a social world that is stable and liveable, or one that is increasingly unstable and unliveable?
Could science one day 'defeat death'? What would alien contact mean for humanity? Has medicine finally found a cure for sadness? Will AI replace us? For too long, the 'science and religion' debate has fixated on creation, evolution, cosmology, miracles and quantum theory. But this, argue Nick Spencer and Hannah Waite, is a mistake. Religious belief has survived, and thrived, under many different models of the universe. It was never intended to be a competing explanation for the science of any age. Where science and religion really do come together - sometimes furiously, sometimes fruitfully - is over the status and nature of the human. And that has never been more important than today. Whether it's the quest for immortality or the search for alien life, the treatment of pandemics or 'animal personhood', AI or mental health, abortion or genetic editing, science is making advances that are posing huge questions about what it means to be human, whether we should change ourselves, and how far we should 'play God'. These developments are only going to grow in significance. Playing God brings readers up to date with the latest developments but also draws out their moral and religious dimensions. In so doing, it shows how the future of science and religion is inextricably tied up with the future of humanity.
This pocket-size gift book is a thinking man's arsenal of quotes, quips, and comebacks filled with wit, insight, and genius. Perfect for the guy who knows everything and wants the words to match! This little book offers in-depth investigations into "who said what," counterquotes for common clichés, and tips for citing sayings without sounding stupid. Never be at a loss for words again! Includes quotes from: · Aristotle · Abraham Lincoln · Nelson Mandela · George Carlin · And more!
Alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and psychoactive medication (mis)use are associated with a higher likelihood of developing several diseases, (traffic) injuries and crimes. These substances reduce quality of life and increase the health care and law enforcement costs, productivity losses, etc. Consequently, the social and economic impact of substances on society is substantial. The SOCOST study estimates for the first time social costs for alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs and psychoactive medication in Belgium for the year 2012. This cost-of-illness study presents the direct costs, the indirect cost as well as the intangible costs related to substance (mis)use. This research was commissioned by the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) in the framework of the Federal Research Programme Drugs. Two universities cooperated: Ghent University, Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy (IRCP) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Interuniversity Centre for Health Economics Research (I-CHER). The research was conducted under supervision of prof. dr. Freya Vander Laenen, prof. dr. Koen Putman, prof. dr. Lieven Pauwels, prof. dr. Wim Hardyns and prof. dr. Lieven Annemans.
Just about any social need is now met with an opportunity to "connect" through digital means. But this convenience is not free—it is purchased with vast amounts of personal data transferred through shadowy backchannels to corporations using it to generate profit. The Costs of Connection uncovers this process, this "data colonialism," and its designs for controlling our lives—our ways of knowing; our means of production; our political participation. Colonialism might seem like a thing of the past, but this book shows that the historic appropriation of land, bodies, and natural resources is mirrored today in this new era of pervasive datafication. Apps, platforms, and smart objects capture and translate our lives into data, and then extract information that is fed into capitalist enterprises and sold back to us. The authors argue that this development foreshadows the creation of a new social order emerging globally—and it must be challenged. Confronting the alarming degree of surveillance already tolerated, they offer a stirring call to decolonize the internet and emancipate our desire for connection.
This is a good text to accompany a core text on Public Relations. It is also very useful for marketing and business students. Valuable for post grads new to PR also." - Robbie Smyth, Griffith College Dublin "Offers the reader a concise and very readable tour through the many facets of PR... Providing a detailed reference of just under 200 alphabetically listed entries, covering a range of topics, from account management to wikis, destination branding and Hong Bo (that one you′ll have to look up yourselves), each entry takes up roughly a page, sometimes less, is colloquial in tone and offers several recommendations for further reading, making it an excellent jumping-off point for further exploration." - Communication Director The SAGE Key Concepts series provides students with accessible and authoritative knowledge of the essential topics in a variety of disciplines. Cross-referenced throughout, the format encourages critical evaluation through understanding. Written by experienced and respected academics, the books are indispensable study aids and guides to comprehension. Key Concepts in Public Relations: Provides a comprehensive, easy-to-use overview to the field. "Covers over 150 central concepts in PR. Paves the way for students to tackle primary texts. Grounds students in both practice and theory. Takes it further with recommended reading. Bob Franklin, Mike Hogan, Quentin Langley, Nick Mosdell and Elliot Pill all teach at the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies.
The year is 2035, and the crew from the first expedition to Mars is returning to Earth. The crewmembers are anxious to get home, and ennui pervades the ship. The mood is broken by a series of mysterious events that jeopardize their safety. Someone or something is threatening the crew. Is it an alien being? A psychotic crewmember? A malfunctioning computer? The truth raises questions about the crewmembers’ fate and that of the human race.In this novel, the intent is to show real psychological issues that could affect a crew returning from a long-duration mission to Mars. The storyline presents a mystery that keeps the reader guessing, yet the issues at stake are based on the findings from the author’s research and other space-related work over the past 40+ years. The novel touches on actual plans being discussed for such an expedition as well as notions involving the search for Martian life and panspermia.The underlying science, in particular the psychological, psychiatric, and interpersonal elements, are introduced and discussed by the author in an extensive appendix.Nick Kanas is an Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, where he directed the group therapy training program. For over 20 years he conducted research on group therapy, and for nearly 20 years after that he was the Principal Investigator of NASA-funded research on astronauts and cosmonauts. He is the co-author of Space Psychology and Psychiatry, which won the 2004 International Academy of Astronautics Life Science Book Award, and the author of Humans in Space: The Psychological Hurdles, which won the 2016 International Academy of Astronautics Life Science Book Award. Dr. Kanas has presented talks on space psychology and on celestial mapping at several regional and Worldcon science fiction conventions. A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (London), he has been an amateur astronomer for over 50 years and is an avid reader of science fiction. He is also the author of two non-fiction books (Star Maps: History, Artistry, and Cartography and Solar System Maps: From Antiquity to the Space Age) and two science fiction novels (The New Martians andThe Protos Mandate), all published by Springer.
Bringing together researchers from the fields of social policy, economics, sociology and clinical psychology, this book offers new evidence on the inter-related problems faced by disability claimants, and identifies important lessons for policy. Explores how reducing the level of UK benefit claiming among those with health limitations has been a priority for successive governments Argues that current policy fails to reflect the evidence that people on long-term disability benefits face a complex combination of barriers to work and social inclusion Demonstrates that there is a need for continuing inter-disciplinary research on the nature of the ‘disability benefits problem’ and the efficacy of current policy solutions and public services
Reading a wide range of early modern authors and exploring their cultural-historical, philosophical and scientific contexts, Early Modern Writing and the Privatization of Experience examines the shift in focus from reliance on shared experience to placing of trust in individualized experience which occurs in the writing and culture of the period. Nick Davis contends that much of the era's literary production participates significantly in this broad cultural movement. Covering key writers of the period including Shakespeare, Donne, Chaucer, Spenser, Langland, Hobbes and Bunyan, Davis begins with an overview of the medieval-early modern privatizing cultural transition. He then goes on to offer an analysis of King Lear, Richard II, Henry IV Part 1, The Winter's Tale, and the first three books of The Fairie Queene, among other texts, considering their treatment of the relation between individual life and the life attributed to the cosmos, the idea of symbolic narrative positing a collective human subject, and the forming of pragmatic relations between individual and group.
Performance Through Learning is a practical guide to the key issues surrounding knowledge management from a human resource perspective and provides incisive insights into developing a strategy linked to organizational learning. The authors present a framework and model that practitioners within organizations can adapt to increase performance through learning using knowledge management tools. The book is divided into two parts and includes: *An overview of theory *Case studies and practitioner stories from a range of KM initiatives *Tools and techniques for implementing an effective KM strategy. Written by a respected international author team, the book provides an understanding of the theory that supports knowledge management in the current business environment. Drawing upon real-life examples across a variety of organizational settings, from large global financial and professional services firms, to multinational oil and mining companies, to a small charity in the voluntary sector
This textbook covers the range of psychological and interpersonal issues that can affect astronauts living and working in space. It deals with the three major risk areas cited by NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Element: Behavioral Medicine, Team Risk, and Sleep Risk. Based on the author’s more than 50 years of experience in space-related activities writing, conducting research, and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, the book follows a comprehensive range of topics that include: cognitive effects; psychiatric issues; cultural influences; salutogenic and positive aspects of space travel; autonomy and delayed communication; current plans to return to the Moon and Mars; analysis of study environments such as the polar regions, submersible habitats, and space simulation facilities; and more. It draws on research, literature, and case studies from the 1950s onward, showing readers in a natural and accessible way how the field has progressed over time. The book contains ample end-of-chapter summaries and exercises as well as a complete glossary of key terms. As such, it will serve students taking courses in aerospace psychology, psychiatry, sociology, human factors, medicine, and related social sciences, in addition to space industry professionals and others interested in the complexities of people living and working in space.
Awarded the 2016 International Academy of Astronautics Life Science Book Award! Using anecdotal reports from astronauts and cosmonauts, and the results from studies conducted in space analog environments on Earth and in the actual space environment, this book broadly reviews the various psychosocial issues that affect space travelers. Unlike other books that are more technical in format, this text is targeted for the general public. With the advent of space tourism and the increasing involvement of private enterprise in space, there is now a need to explore the impact of space missions on the human psyche and on the interpersonal relationships of the crewmembers. Separate chapters of the book deal with psychosocial stressors in space and in space analog environments; psychological, psychiatric, interpersonal, and cultural issues pertaining to space missions; positive growth-enhancing aspects of space travel; the crew-ground interaction; space tourism; countermeasures for dealing with space; and unique aspects of a trip to Mars, the outer solar system, and interstellar travel.
Code stoned. Debug sober. Document drunk. And never trust the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Michael Luis Bolaño is the scion of Mexican oil wealth gone to rut in Texas. Sherman Spartacus Katz is the hyperliterate son of evangelical eccentrics from the North Georgia mountains. One hopes to restore what's been lost, the other to attain what never was. Together at an elite Institute of Technology they train as engineers. Together in the dark they study forbidden teachings. By graduation, they're formidably competent, audacious to a fault, and wholly ungovernable. Need LSD precursors? Biosynthesize them in yeast. Need souped-up wheelchairs? Disarm the governors. Need enriched uranium? CO₂ TEA lasers in the garage. Where there's a black market, they disrupt it. Where there's no black market, they create one. midnight's simulacra is a hysterical, scientifically rigorous, and fastpaced thriller, a modern picaresque, a portrait of autists as young men, and unlike any other novel you've read.
ARTIFACT COLLECTIVE is an attempt to create consciousness in a book. You begin. You are trapped in the dark under a great weight. You cannot move. His, her, their, our, your, and my consciousnesses take shape through speculation into your condition. Are you buried alive? Why? Are you alive? Are you accelerating through space in a you-shaped windowless vessel? What is your shape? Are you a flicker of light on the horizon of a black hole? Where is she? Has he lost all he loved? Speculation via thought becomes reality. Including historical, scientific, and found materials and images, ARTIFACT COLLECTIVE is a fictional and non-fictional exploration of quantum theory, cosmology, possible futures, intellectual property, interwoven presents, the commons, the individual and collective mind, and the self. ARTIFACT COLLECTIVE is a corpus. It is an artifact. ARTIFACT COLLECTIVE is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sergeant Lucas Walker has lost everything – his reputation, his position in the military, and his only friends. Now he's on his own, tracking down fugitives from his last battle against the Dominion. However, Walker's hunt across the moons of Uranus is interrupted when he rescues an orphaned preteen with an uncanny ability to use the Dominion's weapons. And to make matters worse, another interdimensional portal has opened and an elite Dominion strike force emerges. This time, they're not equipped with claws, lasers swords, or fangs, but with...magic wands? The United Federation of Sol is baffled by these new alien weapons and their only hope is to reinstate Walker--the military's only expert in Old Earth lore. But can Walker convince his former teammates to join him--and his new pint-sized partner--for one more mission before these villains from a suspiciously familiar world of wizards can apparate an entire Dominion army? Or will his preteen protege spell the end of both Walker and our galaxy? If you liked the irreverent action-adventure of Guardians of the Galaxy, the nerdy nostalgia of Ready Player One, and the sci-fi self-awareness of Redshirts, this is the series for you!
The invasion of the solar system has begun! Private Lucas Walker never thought he'd be a hero. As a grunt in United Federation of Sol's peacekeeper force deployed to Pluto's tiny moon Nyx, the furthest barren hellhole in the solar system, he thought his career was all but over even before it began. He day-dreams of lightsabers, vampires, battlecats, wizards, and all things sci-fi and fantasy while he repairs sand-clogged equipment and mops floors. Then everything changes. A spatial-temporal vortex opens on Pluto, and out pours an army. A deadly force intent on capturing Earth and enslaving humanity in its quest for universal domination. All universes, all galaxies, all planets--all will kneel and submit to The Dominion. The crap has hit the fan. UFS marines are overwhelmed. The odds look grim. Humanity teeters on the edge. The future of civilization now depends on Private Walker and his ragtag band of misfit UFS peacekeepers, armed only with weapons stolen from the enemy. He needs to figure this hero thing out fast... ...or all is lost.
Thank you for visiting our website. Would you like to provide feedback on how we could improve your experience?
This site does not use any third party cookies with one exception — it uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyze traffic.Learn More.