In This Issue:
* Early Spring Warning: Blooms Too Soon?
* Artificial Intelligence Aids Diagnosis
* Denmark Offers Educational “Green” Vacations
* Click of the Month: Futurity
* News for the Futurist Community
* What's Hot @WFS.ORG
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
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
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.
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
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 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
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.
* 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
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* 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!