Automata: desertification, solar storms, and messing with Asimov
Robot laws \n\n
Asimov\u2019s laws as a storytelling device and what you get when you alter the formula. \u201cHumans are the true robots.\u201d
\n\n Automata \n\nThe difference between \u201cautomata\u201d and \u201crobots.\u201d Ancient Greek, Arab, and medieval church automata. Automata and robots making humans realize we need to explain what makes us special. Realizing that, on the whole, we probably aren\u2019t really. Cartesian dualism as a stop-gap measure. Moral progress. Appreciating that we stopped seeing other animals as automatons and vivisecting them.
\n\nModern automata
\n\nNASA getting into the automata game for difficult environments. The Automaton Rover for Extreme Environments. Mixing electronic and (mostly) mechanical components for robustness against horrible, deadly, no good, very bad atmospheres. Sending data back home from limited electronic or even completely mechanical systems.
\n\n Solar storms \n\nVarious phenomena caused by disturbances in the sun. The Carrington Event. Imagining the losses in the trillions from a Carrington-strength event in the modern day. Civilizational collapse with worldwide disturbance/destruction of telecommunications infrastructure.
\n\nWorld population
\n\nRealizing that several billion humans on Earth is actually like a real real lot of people. Very many. So many that even a 97% reduction leaves millions. Oy.
\n\n Desertification \n\nDefining deserts by rainfall. Defining desertification by a land\u2019s inability to hold water.
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- \n\t\t\t\tAutomata by In Our Time: BBC\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\t
- \n\t\t\t\tGhost in the Machine by Radio Lab: WNYC\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\n\t