EARLY
SPRING WARNING: BLOOMS TOO SOON?
By 2080, some of the
world's flowers could be blooming as much as two months earlier than they do
today, warn researchers studying data from the Royal Botanic Garden in
Edinburgh. The earlier blooming would throw other plant and animal life out
of synch.
Plants adjust the timing
of flowering to adapt to changes in local climate; for every 1 degree
Celsius change in climate, blossoming may begin 11 days earlier, according
to mathematician Robert Clark of Monash University in Australia and
geoscientist Roy Thompson of the University of Edinburgh.
Recent climate-change
models foresee a median rise of 5.2 degrees in the earth’s surface
temperature--double the warming rate projected just six years ago. This
would lead to dramatic desynchronization between the early bloomers and
other less-quickly changing species, the researchers predict.
SOURCE:
“Predicting the Impact of Global Warming on the Timing of Spring Flowering”
by Robert Clark and Roy Thompson, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY,
Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. DOl 10.1002/JOC.2004.
Web site
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AIDS DIAGNOSIS
Mayo Clinic researchers
have developed an artificial-intelligence program that could help reduce
invasive diagnostic testing on patients suspected of having cardiac
infections.
The software is an
artificial neural network that responds to unique situations based on
accumulated knowledge, just as doctors do.
The program underwent
three separate trainings to learn how to evaluate symptoms of endocarditis--infection
of the heart's valves and chambers. Diagnosis typically involves an invasive
and risky procedure, with a probe inserted into the patient's esophagus.
The program was tested
retrospectively on known cases, and made correct diagnoses "most of the
time," with 99% confidence levels, the researchers report.
SOURCE:
Mayo Clinic
|
FUTURISTS
WILL MEET IN BOSTON NEXT JULY!
Plans are under way for
the World Future Society’s 2010 conference in Boston, to be held July 8-10
at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. The theme will be Sustainable
Futures, Strategies, and Technologies.
Among the estimated 150
speakers will be inventors Ray Kurzweil and Stephen Thaler, health futurist
Kevin Fickenscher, public affairs specialist Anthony Flint, and media
experts Janna Quitney Anderson, Michael Rogers, Lee Rainie, and Michael R.
Nelson.
Panel sessions,
workshops, and stimulating keynote presentations will focus on what we mean
by “sustainable futures,” what paths may lead us there, and what strategies
and technologies we may be able to use to create the futures we aspire to
achieve.
SESSION PROPOSALS (Deadline November 15, 2009)
CONFERENCE VOLUME PAPER GUIDELINES (Deadline February 22, 2010)
LEARN MORE
DOWNLOAD BROCHURE
RESERVE
YOUR HOTEL ROOM AT SPECIAL CONFERENCE RATE
SAVE $250! REGISTER FOR WorldFuture 2010 BY OCTOBER 16 |
DENMARK OFFERS EDUCATIONAL “GREEN” VACATIONS
Denmark, which will host
the UN Climate Change conference in December, has established an EnergyTours
Network so visiting politicians, business leaders, and facilities managers
can take an educational tour of the country's innovative sustainability
programs.
The Danes have been
among the world's pioneers in energy projects, with 15.5% of the country's
gross electricity consumption met by renewable sources. Danish cities are
also bicycle-friendly, and "green consciousness" has largely been integrated
into daily life.
The EnergyTours program
aims to help give international policy makers "a behind-the-scenes look at
how Denmark does green." Visits include wave-machine installations,
municipal buildings designed for low carbon emissions, and a region where
70,000 people receive electricity entirely from renewable sources.
SOURCES:
EnergyTours Network
VisitDenmark
CLICK OF THE MONTH:
FUTURITY
www.futurity.org
Duke University
researchers mapped a baby’s retina for signs of blindness. Iowa State
University scientists found a way to breed a better cow from the embryo up.
And Emory University researchers observing chimpanzee behavior gained a
better understanding of empathy, suggesting new therapeutic approaches for
children with autism.
These are among the
latest breakthroughs reported on Futurity, a new site offering one-stop
shopping for scientific news emerging from U.S. and Canadian colleges and
universities. Futurity is the result of a partnership of more than 35
institutions aiming to disseminate news about science, engineering,
environmental issues, health breakthroughs, and more.
As mainstream news media
struggle for revenue and readership, reporting on science news and research
has diminished in recent years. Research institutes and universities have
adapted to the new media environment by increasingly using iTunes and
YouTube, for instance, to get their information out to the public.
Futurity is “ad-free and
agenda-free,” according to co-founder Lisa Lapin, assistant vice president
for communications at Stanford University, but the site will also expand its
reach by partnering with major commercial portals such as Yahoo News.
|
THE WORLD
FUTURE SOCIETY NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
The World Future Society
has launched several exciting projects in recent years, including a Global
Youth Foresight Program, a revamped Professional Membership program with its
new journal WORLD FUTURE REVIEW, and a variety of multimedia and outreach
programs under development.
Trends in the global
economy have taken their toll on nonprofit organizations like the Society,
so we need your help to sustain our current work and pursue our long-term
goals of providing the methodologies, the networks, the information, and the
inspiration to help all people build a better future for themselves, their
businesses, and their descendants.
Donations to the World
Future Society are tax deductible on U.S. tax returns. Please consider a
generous donation now!
SUPPORT THE SOCIETY: Contributors donating $50 or more will receive a
complimentary WFS tote bag!
GOODSHOP FOR WFS |
NEWS FOR THE
FUTURIST COMMUNITY
 THE
SINGULARITY SUMMIT 2009—THINKING ABOUT THINKING: The Singularity Summit
will be held October 3-4, 2009, at the 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue,
New York, New York.
The Summit is an annual
event to further understanding and discussion about the Singularity concept
and the future of human technological progress. It was founded in 2006 as a
venue for leading thinkers—whether scientist, enthusiast, or skeptic—to
explore the subject.
Speakers at this year's
summit include PayPal founder Peter Thiel, longevity author Aubrey de Grey,
and inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil, among others. Register at
http://www.singularitysummit.com/
READ THE FUTURIST’s exclusive interview with Singularity Institute President
Michael Vassar:
The World Future Society
is a media partner for the Singularity Summit.
* UNDERSTANDING THE
TRANSFORMATION: The fifth European Futurists Conference will be held October
14-16 in Lucerne, Switzerland. The meeting, “Visioning 20.20--Escaping the
Age of Stupid: Necessary Transformation Beyond the Turmoil,” aims to bring
civilization out of its worst crisis since the Great Depression.
DETAILS
* DESIGN FOR LIFE:
DesignBoost 2009 will be held October 14 through November 15 in Malm,
Sweden, offering exhibitions and lectures open to the public, plus workshops
for architects, designers, and others working toward creating
more-sustainable human habitats—and better future lives for all.
DETAILS
* NEW DIMENSIONS OF
CONSUMER LIFE: Social Technologies’ upcoming Futures Consortium meeting
(November 9-10 in Washington, D.C.) “will explore emerging consumer need
states and bring insights to life via archetypal personas.” What do
businesses need to know about the values and needs of their customers as the
economy and society change? CONTACT
Don Abraham or
Chris Carbone
* RICHARD S. KIRBY
(1949-2009): The World Future Society was saddened to learn of the recent
death of a great friend and supporter. Richard Kirby was a frequent speaker
at WFS conferences and a contributor to its publications. His unique
perspective united spirituality and prospective thinking, offering an
optimistic yet realistic worldview. He died on September 24 at his home in
Seattle; he will be greatly missed.
DETAILS World Network of Religious Futurists
****************************************************
WHAT'S HOT @WFS.ORG
* FUTURIST senior editor
Patrick Tucker was a big hit on “CBS Sunday Morning” on its 30th anniversary
program September 6. He assured CBS correspondent Tracy Smith that the
future will be okay without flying cars and jet packs.
WATCH
Episode Recap
*
3-FOR-2 FALL SALE! The World Future Society has announced a special
membership deal for both Regular Membership and Professional Membership:
Join (or renew) at the regular price for two years and get your third year
free! Plan ahead, save money, and never miss a single issue of THE FUTURIST
(or WORLD FUTURE REVIEW for Professionals). This special offer expires on
October 16.
ACT NOW
* OUTLOOK 2010, living
in the postliterate age, climate change and the information "haves" versus
"have nots," and why we may turn to nuclear energy: These stories plus World
Trends & Forecasts, Tomorrow in Brief, book reviews, and more are in the
November-December 2009 issue of THE FUTURIST.
JOIN NOW or renew your membership in the World Future Society so you won't
miss a thing!
__________________________________________
FUTURIST UPDATE: News &
Previews from the World Future Society is an e-mail newsletter published
monthly as a supplement to THE FUTURIST magazine. Copyright ©
2009, World Future Society, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 450, Bethesda, MD
20814, USA. Telephone 1-301-656-8274; e-mail
mailto:info@wfs.org Web site
www.wfs.org
Editor: Cindy Wagner,
mailto:cwagner@wfs.org
Senior Editor: Patrick
Tucker, mailto:ptucker@wfs.org
Network Administrator: Jeff
Cornish, mailto:jcornish@wfs.org
Vice President,
Membership/Conference Operations: Susan Echard,
mailto: sechard@wfs.org
To subscribe, enter your
e-mail at
http://www.wfs.org/futuristupdate.htm
To unsubscribe or change
your e-mail address, send an e-mail to
jcornish@wfs.org with "unsubscribe" or "change
address" in the subject line.
Submit feedback: to
cwagner@wfs.org
Submit feedback:
mailto:cwagner@wfs.org
The WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY
is a nonprofit, nonpartisan scientific and
educational association
with a global membership. Regular membership in the Society, including a
subscription to THE FUTURIST, is $59 per year, or $20 for full-time students
under age 25. Professional and Institutional membership programs are also
offered; contact Society headquarters for details:
www.wfs.org
Networking with WFS:
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/WorldFutureSociety
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/World-Future-Society/19655051088
Myspace:
www.myspace.com/thefuturistmagazine
Twitter (THE FUTURIST):
http://twitter.com/Theyear2030
Twitter (WFS):
http://twitter.com/WorldFutureSoc
LinkedIn (WFS Membership
required):
www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=77204&trk=anet_ug_grppro
The WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY is a nonprofit, nonpartisan scientific and
educational association with a global membership. Regular membership in the
Society, including a subscription to THE FUTURIST, is $59 per year, or $20
for full-time students under age 25. Professional and Institutional
membership programs are also offered; contact Society headquarters for
details: : http://www.wfs.org .
|
