Lifeboat Foundation

The Tyrannosaurus rex may be among the most well-known and terrifying dinosaurs to walk the Earth, but a newly discovered relative may have been even scarier.

Dynamoterror dynastes, a variant of T. rex, was discovered in New Mexico in 2012 by a team of researchers, led by Western Science Center paleontologist Andrew McDonald. It has a slightly different bone structure compared to its successor cousin.

“Despite fragmentation of much of the axial and appendicular skeleton prior to discovery, the frontals, a metacarpal, and two pedal phalanges are well-preserved,” the study’s abstract reads. “The frontals exhibit an unambiguous autapomorphy and a second potential autapomorphy that distinguish this specimen from all other tyrannosaurids.”

Continue reading “Scary ‘Dynamoterror’ dinosaur discovered” »

It’s often said that we know less about what is hiding in Earth’s oceans than we do about what lurks in the depths of space. While that might be hyperbole, a new discovery off the coast of Australia certainly lends weight to the argument.

Hidden some 2,000 meters beneath the waves off the east coast of Australia, researchers stumbled upon something they didn’t even know was there: a massive volcano graveyard that they are calling the “Lost World” of extinct underwater volcanos.

“Broadly speaking, a posthuman perspective would call into question the anthropocentric notion that humans are to be privileged over all other forms of life. Posthumanism generally aligns with a more ecological perspective that favors simultaneous coexistence with other species and consideration of the lives and experiences of other species. Posthumanism would thus resist the notion that humans are at the center of any given context and would instead posit that human society is composed of a web of interwoven, entangled relationships of humans, nonhuman animals, organic and inorganic matter, and so on.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/…/conservation-and-compassi… https://paper.li/e-1437691924#/

A new book called “Visualizing Posthuman Conservation in the Age of the Anthropocene” argues against human domination and favors peaceful coexistence with other species.

New prostheses can perform dexterous motions, such as opening beers and grinding pepper, by learning how your specific nervous system gives orders.

Continue reading “Bioquark Inc. — Real Bodies Milano Exhibit — Ira Pastor” »

Strains of algae and fungi that produce their own oil could cut costs and increase productivity for biofuels of the future.

Throughout history, our species have come against great challenges which ultimately determined whether we survived or not. So far, we’ve made it to nearly the start of the third decade of the 21st century. And yet, even greater challenges stand before us today, forcing us, once again, to fight for our very existence.

Grand challenges stand before us that will ultimately determine whether we, as a species, will survive. With the help of science and technology, there may just be hope yet!

We cannot escape our subjectivity when we try to solve the riddle of ourselves.

• By John Horgan on October 1, 2018
• 6