conventions
Science fiction conventions and comic conventions for every type of science fanatic.
Human cloning: between fact and myth
The subject of cloning has long been considered a strange, unacknowledged phenomenon, often viewed as part of "conspiracy theories" filled with exaggerations and randomness that blur the lines between reality and the impossible. However, knowing that the most famous cloning operation was successfully performed on "Dolly" the sheep in the mid-1990s, claiming that cloning itself is a myth is an inaccurate assertion; science has proven the opposite to be true. If Dolly the sheep was successfully cloned, is it possible to clone a human? In fact, human cloning is very much possible and is not biologically or scientifically impossible. We may even find independent doctors online discussing the detailed scientific and medical steps to achieve it; the matter is not confined to the claims of conspiracy theorists. Since Dolly the sheep made headlines in 1996, the world of genetics hasn't stood still. While human cloning remains a legal "no-go" zone, the technology behind it has evolved into what we now call therapeutic cloning and gene editing. Today, scientists aren't just looking to make copies of organisms; they are using tools like CRISPR to "edit" the very code of life. We have successfully cloned various species, from domestic pets like cats and dogs to endangered animals, proving that the biological "machinery" is well-oiled and functioning. The question is no longer "can we?" but rather "how far should we go?" There is a book titled *Human Cloning* by the French biophysicist and philosopher Henri Atlan, in which he discusses the possibility of cloning using purely biological language, debating the feasibility of manufacturing human copies that are not, however, entirely identical to the original. Atlan states that cloning does not "bring people back": even if we cloned a genius like Einstein, we would not get a new Einstein, but rather a "delayed twin" with a completely different consciousness and personality. What stands in the way of cloning? According to the aforementioned biologist’s book, the primary obstacles to human cloning and genetic manipulation to obtain near-identical copies are ethical, social, and consequently legal, rather than scientific. The way society might view "cloned humans" and their rights is the main deterrent for countries and authorities regarding the legalization of such a project—a project considered dangerous, yet a biological leap unprecedented in modern history. Currently, there is no single global law that bans human cloning, but the United Nations and various international health organizations have issued declarations against it, citing it as "contrary to human dignity." However, the fear remains that in some unregulated corner of the world, or within a private, highly funded laboratory, the "biological leap" has already been attempted in secret. This is where the line between science and the "conspiracy theories" you mentioned begins to blur. Without transparent international oversight, the "impossible" may be happening behind closed doors. ‘Cloning is impossible because there is no Creator but God’ Many people object to, or even refuse to believe the matter entirely, because they think cloning is equivalent to "creation," which is incorrect. There is a vast difference between the two: creation is bringing something into existence from nothing, whereas cloning only occurs if the original exists and is therefore not the act of bringing something from nothing. Here, the confusion is resolved by the contrast between them. Conclusion: As we have seen, cloning is not an impossible phenomenon from either a theoretical or practical standpoint. We have already seen how they cloned creatures in the nineties, and it does not contradict what is exclusive to Almighty God. Rather, it is internationally prohibited for social and ethical reasons more than biological or scientific ones. Consequently, describing it as a myth or a conspiracy theory is not an appropriate description. If those were the capabilities in the mid-nineties, what have they become after three decades? If we were to move forward with human cloning, we would face a psychological crisis never before seen in our history. Imagine the burden on a child born as a "copy" of a deceased relative or a famous athlete. As Henri Atlan suggested, the environment plays a massive role in who we become. A clone of Einstein born in 2026 would grow up with the internet, modern social pressures, and a completely different educational system than the original. They might have the same predispositions for physics, but their soul and consciousness would be forged in a different fire. Would we allow them to be their own person, or would they live forever in the shadow of a DNA sequence they didn't choose? What do you think?
By Hakona Matata6 months ago in Futurism
Galaxies may still be shaped by black holes that were created before the Big Bang.
Black holes that were created prior to the Big Bang may still exist today as surviving remnants, according to research. A new explanation for how galaxies arose and why invisible stuff predominates in them would be provided by these old objects, which would include mass and structure from a previous cosmic era.
By Francis Dami6 months ago in Futurism
Why snakes that live in trees continue to develop longer tails
The genetic alterations that enabled tree-dwelling snakes to develop longer tails across several lineages have been discovered by scientists. The discovery demonstrates how snake bodies were continually altered by comparable DNA changes in response to tree life.
By Francis Dami6 months ago in Futurism
In the galaxy NGC 4486B, astronomers find evidence of an uncommon cosmic event.
The supermassive black hole in the Virgo Cluster's tiny elliptical galaxy NGC 4486B has been found to be significantly off-center. That observation is in line with what scientists anticipate following the merger of two supermassive black holes. This normally peaceful galaxy is reframed by that displacement as clear proof of the immediate aftermath of a black hole collision.
By Francis Dami7 months ago in Futurism
Google’s Gmail Update Sounds Big —But It Doesn’t Fix Your Real Email Problem. AI-Generated.
For many people, email is one of the oldest parts of their online identity. It’s something created years ago, often without much thought, and then carried forward into adulthood. That’s why the recent update from Google allowing users to change their Gmail addresses has created so much attention.
By Muhammad Abbas khan7 months ago in Futurism
The Man Who Waited at Platform 7
THE FIRST MORNING Thomas Bradley first saw her on a Monday morning in January at King's Cross Station, Platform 7, the 8:15 train to Cambridge, and the moment he saw her he understood what poets meant when they wrote about time stopping because for approximately three seconds the noise and motion of rush hour commuters disappeared and there was only her standing twenty feet away reading a paperback with her coffee balanced on top of her rolling suitcase, and she was wearing a green scarf that matched her eyes though he would not discover this color match until much later, and her face had the particular concentration of someone who is genuinely absorbed in what they are reading rather than using a book as a prop to avoid eye contact with strangers, and Thomas who had never believed in love at first sight and who as a mathematics professor at Imperial College was constitutionally skeptical of phenomena that could not be quantified or replicated, felt something happen in his chest that his considerable education could not explain.
By The Curious Writer7 months ago in Futurism
10 Mind-Blowing Space Facts You Were Never Taught in School
We’ve all heard the phrase that space is the final frontier. But let’s be honest, what most of us learned in school barely scratched the surface. Beyond the neat diagrams and textbook definitions lies a universe filled with weird, shocking, and sometimes hilarious realities.
By Areeba Umair7 months ago in Futurism
Padme Amidala: The Quiet Architect of the Prequel Era
When most fans talk about the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, the conversation centers on Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side. Padme Amidala is often reduced to a tragic love interest-turned doomed baby mama–or at most, a visually stunning figure whose wardrobe inspires cosplay and Disney weddings at Galaxy’s Edge. But Padme was more than a symbol or a love story. She was a moral compass, a political visionary, and one of the few leaders actively working to hold the Republic together while the galaxy fell apart.
By Jenna Deedy7 months ago in Futurism
Will AI Really Replace Knowledge Workers?
Why “Will AI Really Replace Knowledge Workers?” Isn’t the Question We Think It Is AI might not take your job — but someone using AI probably will. The latest evidence is messier, scarier, and more hopeful than the headlines want it to be.
By abualyaanart8 months ago in Futurism
Title: War's Effects on the World Economy: How Wars Change Financial Stability
Title: War's Effects on the World Economy: How Wars Change Financial Stability Introduction One of humankind's most destructive experiences is war. The immediate effects are frequently observed on battlefields, but the effects go far beyond military conflict. Around the world, wars have an impact on economies, cause trade to be disrupted, increase poverty, and cause financial instability.
By Farida Kabir8 months ago in Futurism
