Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Futurism.
Language
So much has been written about speech and language, someone could open a library with no other topic. Some will argue that speech is different from language, but here they will be treated as one and the same. So much has been written about the FOXP2 gene lately, but language concerns more than just one gene. Since we now have the Neanderthal genome to work with, we know they also had FOXP2. Molecular techniques show the gene is older than Neanderthal, going back to at least 400,000 years ago. Did Neanderthal have language? The proof is presumptive. They lived in groups, hunted in teams, probably buried their dead, and new research shows they also made cave paintings. It seems unreasonable they did these things in relative silence. Both Stephen Jay Gould, the evolutionary biologist, and Noam Chomsky, the language guru, believed language was a side effect of a bigger brain. They believe language was not selected for, in the traditional Darwinian way, but occurred because of its association with a non-language gene. It happens that the FOXP2 is not only related to speech, but also digestion. If that is the gene that allowed for speech, then speech may be a side effect of its digestive function. Another gene related to language is CNTNAP2. Disruption in this gene is associated with both Autism and specific language impairment. Neanderthal did not have this gene, which produces a neurexin-family neural growth factor. They have to do with carrying impulses in the brain across the synapse between neurons. Language may also have been a side effect of either brain development or reorganization. The ability to gather ancient DNA may, in the future, supply answers to these questions.
Monica BennettPublished 6 years ago in FuturismThank You Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking was an inspiration to numerous people, so it's no surprise his work has had a pivotal impact on my own life and work.
Paul LevinsonPublished 6 years ago in Futurism- Top Story - March 2018
2018 Nebula Award Nominees Are Coming to You in Audiobook Format!
Sci-fi has very few awards that are solely dedicated to the genre, and of those awards, none are quite as esteemed as the Nebula Awards. Ever since Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America presented its first award in 1965, the Nebulas have become the ultimate achievement marker for any serious science fiction writer.
Ossiana TepfenhartPublished 6 years ago in Futurism A Gift for a Gift
"He-llo, my name... is KUUUUUUUURIIIIIIII" The robotic voice whirred as it stuck on the name Kuri. "Okay... okay. One second," a male voice drifted through the air from behind a large computer screen. His words were greeted by vicious typing, fast and accurate as he corrected whatever error that appeared on his screen.
Marie BlackmanPublished 6 years ago in FuturismBilly and Kuri
“Dad!” yelled Billy. “Yeah Billy, I'm coming,” I replied, as I stumbled out of bed, quietly, trying not to wake my wife. I entered Billy’s room, and he was laying in bed, with his hands over his stomach.
Navin MahtaniPublished 6 years ago in Futurism'Gattaca' Has a Problem With Genetic Engineering, but Why?
You ever notice that people who completely dismiss the idea of genetic engineering always have a luscious head of hair? So what would be so wrong if I still had my perfect Beatles hair to shake about? I say nothing. But Gattaca relegates all future male pattern pain to an ivory tower that will always have sufferers such as myself looking up. Thanks a lot.
Rich MonettiPublished 6 years ago in FuturismComplaining About 'Return of the Jedi' the Way People Complain About 'The Last Jedi'
Before we begin the satire article, I want to say that I liked both Return of the Jedi and The Last Jedi. The Last Jedi had some obvious flaws, but it is my opinion that people are overreacting to them. So, what if Return of the Jedi was released to the Star Wars fans of today? Let's take a trip to 1983...
Jonathan SimPublished 6 years ago in FuturismEscaping the Circle
It’s 2075, my name is Alice, and Salia has become my prison. I don’t know why I did it... Maybe it was because it was something new or maybe I’m just crazy. But in the end, I think I just wanted to experience everything for myself. I didn’t want to be told anymore. I wanted to sink my toes in something called sand—something that was apparently disastrous and messy and full of germs; it could be warmed by the sun and usually would border the oceans. The only way I could do that though was by making "The Cut." It all starts on the day we are born.
Amber HilligossPublished 6 years ago in Futurism- Top Story - March 2018
The Problem with the Problem with Plastic
An admirable cause has found its way into the public consciousness helped in no small part by national treasure David Attenborough and his latest docu-series, 'Blue Planet 2.' The scourge of single-use plastics and their impact on the environment and wildlife has moved from the fringes, once valiantly espoused by environmentalists and neo-hippies of the Zero Waste movement, to become an urgent and pressing issue of our time (or perhaps just 2018).
Joe ClarkePublished 6 years ago in Futurism Tibetan Buddhist Rainbow Body
In Tibetan Buddhism there is a phenomenon of the Rainbow Body which involves the dissolution of the physical body into pure light that may occasionally be achieved by practitioners on or around the time of death. The process of obtaining the Rainbow Body is achieved by the practice of Tögal or "Direct Crossing" which is a way of directly perceiving the "Clear Light" which is believed to be the direct root of consciousness. An advanced practitioner of Tögal may potentially achieve one of three levels of this phenomenon:
Buddhism & TaoismPublished 6 years ago in FuturismThe Story of My Life
Imagine this. There's a dark room. Nothing is audible but the breathing of a person. A light switches on and there, right in the middle of the room, is sitting a woman. She's dressed in black clothing, almost resemblant of a yoga outfit, with a leather jacket over it. She seems nervous. And scared. She's fumbling about with her thumbs, trying to distract herself from what's coming. She has to open up. She has to tell where she came from, and what happened to her. She has to be honest about her past.
Dione CaptorPublished 6 years ago in Futurism7 Things You Didn’t Know about Code-breaking Before Computers
Anyone that has watched any crime show or movie, knows that in this day and age, computer hacking, encryption, decryption and what-not is all a big part of catching the bad guys. Modern technology has allowed us to do all sorts of things from using Google Maps, ordering food, and playing games on our phones to pinpointing locations of devices, breaking security systems, and general hacking for the fun of it. Of course, the first computers were not created until the 19th century, so what did people use to decipher messages and intercept codes before? Behold the art of deciphering codes, or in other words, finding patterns through trial and error and hoping something comes of it.
Rachel BrownPublished 6 years ago in Futurism