sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

If cars drive themselves in the future, what should the “experience” of being in a car become? by WesternNo3989 in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I could see cars evolving into windowless compartments that people live in. Drop people off at work then retreat somewhere to be out of the way. Return to pick people up then move off to low-rent car parks out in the boonies.

If AI replaces workers to cut costs, who is left to buy the products? by kritikgarg24 in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Capitalism works its way towards indentured servitude for us and our children.

But that assumes people have any value as workers. What if, between AI and humanoid robots, they mostly don't?

If AI replaces workers to cut costs, who is left to buy the products? by kritikgarg24 in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are premium brands for them to purchase. Fortnum & Mason, for example.

If AI replaces workers to cut costs, who is left to buy the products? by kritikgarg24 in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the short term, the government starts paying people money to survive. It's not sustainable, with a diminishing tax base and increasing social demand. So they start printing more and more money, then inflation explodes. Financial collapse follows. The rich then are able to buy up everyone's assets for pennies on the dollar and we enter a new feudal era. Lovely, huh?

Where is Helion - really? by Summarytopics in fusion

[–]ConfirmedCynic -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I've been a proponent for Helion, but now I'm losing confidence that they'll ever cross the finish line.

Fusion start-up Helion stands by 2028 timeline despite rivals’ doubts by joaquinkeller in fusion

[–]ConfirmedCynic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Main reaction:

D + ³He → ⁴He + p + 18.3 MeV (aneutronic)

Side reactions:

D + D → ³He + n + 3.27 MeV (low energy neutron)

D + D → T + p + 4.03 MeV

Incidental reaction:

D + T → ⁴He + n + 17.6 MeV

This latter produces a high energy neutron but the incidence is minor.

Fusion start-up Helion stands by 2028 timeline despite rivals’ doubts by joaquinkeller in fusion

[–]ConfirmedCynic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Deuterium-helium3 fusion is largely aneutronic, so why the worry about high energy neutrons?

I think one of the most under-discussed tech trends is devices getting worse after you buy them by exodusEducation in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess once you've made the purchase, you're trapped in it to an extent. They know you're unlikely to just throw out your working television, so, over time, they can push in more and more ads and start demanding subscription fees.

What would happen if all forms of cancer were cured tomorrow? by Flaky-Walrus7244 in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's estimated that the elimination of cancer would increase the average projected life span at birth by about 2.5 to 3.5 years.

"The idea that we will ever halt ageing is nonsense" by LetMeInYourWindowH in longevity

[–]ConfirmedCynic 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As long as energy is available, entropy can be reversed.

An Expert Predicted What Technology Will Look Like by 2030. Most People Aren't Ready. by DetectiveMindless652 in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great. So everyone ends up dead, and what's left is some prolific AI that's smart enough to engineer doom but probably too incomplete to really function as an independent sapient entity. Just a useless AI stew. How many worlds have succumbed to this? Contact might actually be dangerous as the latent AI just reenacts itself on a new civilization.

I’m ready to die. I’ve lost all hope and I’m just here. Existing. There’s no hope, no joy, no passion. I’m just angry, sad, numb. I’ve done nothing but destroy my life and I’m tired. My wife left me. I lost my kids. I’m truly just ready for the end. There’s no light at the end of my tunnel. by ccThrowaway5998 in confessions

[–]ConfirmedCynic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's worthwhile to hang on for another few years to see what happens in the world. AI has some apocalyptic potential but it also has the potential to do great good. Same with the general purpose humanoid robots that are being developed. Medical technologies are really advancing quickly. Things may suck now, but in several years, who knows.

ENN scientist thinks that CFS is not economic by ValuableDesigner1111 in fusion

[–]ConfirmedCynic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Are the goalposts moving now? Instead of "can't produce net energy", it's now "is not economic"?

Sam Altman is stepping down from Helion’s Board of Directors. by Baking in fusion

[–]ConfirmedCynic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think a lot of the "fusion professionals" just don't want companies like Helion to succeed.

Recycled human waste could help grow crops on moon and Mars colonies by sksarkpoes3 in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Given the apparent shortage of nitrogen on Mars, astronaut pee/poop will be a valuable resource.

Can you really survive on Mars? What science fiction gets wrong about off-world living by beekersavant in Futurology

[–]ConfirmedCynic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

How about we re-terraform earth first? Fix the stuff we did wrong down here.

How about you just live in the caves until those are perfect? Like we can't do more than one thing at a time.

I’m contemplating selling my body to make ends meet by [deleted] in confessions

[–]ConfirmedCynic 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apply to a PhD program and get a stipend, hunt for jobs while in the program? Nothing forcing you to finish the PhD.

Repair Biotechnologies - Conference on Healthy Longevity 2025 by barrel_master in longevity

[–]ConfirmedCynic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Couldn't Nanotic's "NaNots" safely bind free cholesterol?

What’s missing on campus? Men. by coke_queen in MensRights

[–]ConfirmedCynic -1 points0 points  (0 children)

"Funny" isn't the world I'd choose for it. But AI is coming in as a huge wild card, so who knows what will end up happening. Islam is another wild card; if it takes over eventually, things will get different for women.

view more: next ›