via Medgadget

IMI’s Learning Retinal Implant System replaces the signal-processing functions of a healthy retina and provides input to the retinal nerve cells (the ganglion cells) that, in turn, provide input to the optic nerve and the brain.

Original press release and company website

(Credit: Intelligent Medical Implants AG)

The latest New Scientist has a feature story on robots and the Top 10 robot videos.

(Credit: New Scientist)

The latest issue of The Futurist highlights Ray Kurzweil’s new book The Singularity is Near, and includes a cover story by Kurzweil, Reinventing Humanity: The Future of Machine-Human Intelligence (PDF). There are also essays by J. Storrs Hall, John Smart, Damien Broderick, Richard Eckersley and Terry Grossman.

We stand on the threshold of the most profound and transformative event in the history of humanity…

…This merger of man and machine, coupled with the sudden explosion in machine intelligence and rapid innovation in gene research and nanotechnology, will result in a world where there is no distinction between the biological and the mechanical, or between physical and virtual reality…

(Credit: The Futurist / WFS)

If you’re in the Bay Area, check out the February meeting of the Foundation for Mind-Being Research (FMBR).

The speaker is Andrew Luce, the new FMBR President.

In his presentation Andy will explore the connecting pathways that exist at the leading edge of science, technology and consciousness. He will outline the potential force that these fields can exert towards building our future. Andy will briefly discuss the present state of science, technology and financial processes and present established trends and little known areas of study that will impact our future. He will then explore the interplay of consciousness in science and technology and the effect it will have upon the future. The human race is at a crossroads.

February 24 8pm @ Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto

More info

via Physics Web

Physicists have for the first time entangled two atomic quantum bits, or “qubits”, that are separated by long distances.

“It should now be possible to teleport quantum states of matter over long distances…”

via Sydney Morning Herald

US doctors have developed a method of inducing hypothermia to shut down the body’s functions for up to three hours.

In tests, they reduced the body temperature of injured pigs from 37C to 10C before operating on them and then reviving them.

“It is still pretty awe-inspiring,” Dr Alam said. “Once the heart starts beating and the blood starts pumping, voila, you’ve got another animal that’s come back from the other side.