This Week in the Future, October 19-23, 2009

The drug that speeds a brains processing power is awesome, though china having it does worry me some. The skiing robot is even more awesome the tech that's balancing it doubled or tripled up and turned 90 or 45 degrees respectively for each extra could likely be used to create a more humanistic robot that can walk and run and jump and balance just like us(my understanding that's the biggest hurtle in making a humanistic robot). The taxi is questionable I'm sure Mexico could use it but can they afford it? and why not start something like that out in a place like New York or Sanfransisco where they could use and definitely afford it? As far as the geo engineering, I think it's a bad idea, especially to stop snow from coming all year every year. Snow fall helps clean out air pollution and kills some of the germs in the air so that's just really bad to stop it, rarely doing may be okay but not to cease it altogether in any large area.

hmm... how do scientists test the memory of different animals?

Well, the robot won't be skiing in Moscow this winter!

Okay, so bioengineering a super intelligent rat is like really cool. That research, in theory could be used to make humans even smarter, too (with testing intensive testing). It would be the world's most amazing revolution. If it were mixed with the Chinese drug to make thought processes faster, then the possibilities would be unimaginable.

The ski-bot is pretty neat, too. If it was built right, then beginners could actually use it learn, and if they came to a near total wipe-out, then it would automatically correct the user's position so they keep on going.

The new taxi car for Mexico is pretty interesting itself, but it could use some improvements, like a more aerodynamic design and some extra space for baggage. On the upside though, it is a great new innovation.

As for geo-engineering the weather, that could possibly cause environmental problems, like "Laced" stated, but some other problems it could cause, would be the effects of it on other areas, around it. They could be devastating.

That's very interesting about the rat. I could see many ways that this could be the basis for the first treatment of Alzheimer's and other similar neurological disorders.

I wonder how well fuel cells perform in cold weather

You know, I really think the whole weather engineering thing is one of those things that's a good idea on paper, but when it's actually done can be a very very very bad thing. Like Bill Gates trying to control hurricanes in the southeast US.

I too wonder how well fuel cells perform in cold weather! That would be a good story! - Kris Johnson

great articles i'd have to say,a job well done

WOW. Ihavnt gotten the future article yet, but i am so so so so excited!

When the super smart rat can control the weather, drive the taxi, and ski I'll be impressed (and bow down to my new rat-overlord).

As usual awesome news from Pop-sci

If Russia can control the weather- we shall all be under threat from their skiing robot army! our only defense is a race of supermice.

Love this! Great idea and great drawing, Aaron!

Free Shirt Posting

My friends always called me crazy when I told them the Russian's controlled the weather...

he he where's pinky...they'll be asking that question alot when they accidentally create a ultimately superior rat who then goes on a mission to take over the world rounding up his other rat buddies!!
somehow this reminds me of JAWS!!

Being a geo-engineering student, I'm all for geo-engineering technology to benefit the world and to ensure survival of the human race, but even I can see where Moscow may go wrong. There are quite a few variables that can affect the outcome of this experiment. I can only hope they did their homework. And homework they better have done, considering they aren't German ;)

How smart can a rat really be????

It's a really cool graphic ..... makes a great shirt!

sweet t-shirt

Rats are very smart already. How do the scientists measure their IQ?

Great comments, everyone!

And congrats, thething, you're our winner! I'll send you an email to get your real name and address, and we'll get you're t-shirt off to you.

Keep on playing, people. Leave a comment for a shot at this week's t-shirt contest: www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-10/week-future-october-26-30-2009.

Taylor
PopSci.com

have any of these rats escaped that would be a smart rat "eh"....