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Technology

Is There a Cure for HIV?

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HIV Virus

The results of a recent HIV treatment trial run by several British institutions are promising, and may mean the discovery of a cure for HIV. Fifty patients took part in the trial, conducted by Imperial College London, University College London, King’s College London and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The NHS also supported the research. In one patient there no sign of the virus after a months long trial. The man, aged 44 and a social worker in London, told the Times: ‘It would be great if a cure has happened. My last blood test was a couple of weeks … Read more

Are We Colonizing Mars?

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Mars - Space X

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has unveiled a video providing some tantalizing details of his plans for getting humans to Mars and beyond. Musk provided details of his plans during a speech on Monday at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Guadalajara, Mexico. As Mashable puts it, Musk “envisions a world in which people could pay about $200,000 for a ticket to ride on a spaceship that would deliver them to their new homes on Mars in about 90 days under good conditions.” He expects that around 1 million people would need to go to Mars in order to … Read more

Announcement: Untethered Anthology

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Untethered

Editor Janine A. Southard has a new magic and technology anthology out which includes at least one QSFer: QSFer Dale Cameron Lowry has a new MM contemporary fantasy story in the upcoming anthology Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology. This anthology, edited by award-winning novelist Janine A. Southard, contains twenty stories of magic and technology, some of which will appeal to our Queer Sci Fi interests. Almost everyone carries a smartphone these days. They sit in pockets and on tables. They sleep on headboards and are the first things their owners check in the morning. They’ve edged out more mundane equipment … Read more

New Discoveries Day!

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New Discoveries Day

Hey all, Welcome to New Discoveries Day – a day once a month (usually on the last day of the month) when we discuss recent discoveries that fascinate us and that could spawn plot bunnies (or plot squirrels or plot mongeese – your plot animal of choice). So chime in and let us know about any new discoveries you ran across in the last month – links are always appreciated. Thanks to Freddy MacKay for the great idea! –Scott Come Join the Chat!

For Writers: Artificial Womb

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Artificial Womb

FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Alicia Nordwell: This might be an interesting video to feature in the group with questions on how it might change the ‘humanity’ of the babies grown this way, and what genetic manipulation might lead to in terms of more than purifying the DNA for characteristics, or what might be done with “abandoned” genetic materials that are used to create babies. Who would they belong to? What are their legal rights from conception or would they lack of human interaction during gestation make them more prone to be viewed as a product? https://www.facebook.com/ScienceNaturePage/videos/855183117947281/?__mref=message_bubble … Read more

The Future is Here!

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Nuke self lacing shoes

Nike has finally announced when it will begin selling its self-lacing sneakers inspired by the shoes worn by Michael J. Fox in Back to The Future II. According to a tweet from the company’s Heidi Burgett, the HyperAdapt 1.0 will be available for “experience & purchase” starting on the 28th of November, but only in select Nike locations in the US. Pricing is still unknown, but expect a “high price tag,” according to a Wired feature on the shoe’s development. LEDs in the heel light up when the shoes are tightening and when it’s on low battery, and all the … Read more

New Method Might Allow Gay Couples to Have Babies

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science

Gay men may one day be able to have a baby together without the need of a female egg, a new study has revealed. The research conducted by fertility experts at Bath University has found that it’s possible to create an embryo by fusing skin cells with sperm – suggesting the female half may not be needed. A woman would still have to act as a surrogate to carry the baby, but the study found that it was possible to conceive healthy mice using other types of cells and sperm. By Bobby Rae – Full Story at Pink News

Robotic Device Helps Man Who Uses Wheelchair Stand at His Wedding

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device

The future is here: A special robotic device helped a man who normally uses a wheelchair stand next to his bride at the altar on Saturday. Annetta Bryant, the bride who helped Steve Jabari recover after a brain aneurysm six years ago affected his speech and mobility, called it “the most overwhelmingly exciting moment of [her] entire life,” according to ABC News affiliate KGO-TV. The Tek Robotic Mobilization Device, made by Tek Robotics, lifts the user from underneath when standing so Jabari would not need to use any muscles to move. Bryant told KGO-TV she “almost fainted” when the couple got … Read more

Where No Gay Has Gone Before: First Tattooine, now Vulcan

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NASA announced earlier it might have located Luke Skywalker’s home planet Tattooine.  For the past nine years, NASA has embarked on a planet finding mission, SIM PlanetQuest to find Mr. Spock’s home Vulcan.  Astronomers at Jet Propulsion Laboratory are searching for a planet orbiting 40 Eridani, a triple-star system about 16 light-years from Earth.  ‘Vulcan’ is thought to orbit the red-orange K dwarf star Eridani A. K-stars are orangey stars, slightly cooler than our sun.  They are hotter, brighter and bluer than M stars, but cooler, dimmer and redder than O, B, A F and G stars.  Did you get … Read more

For Readers: Whiz Bang Tech

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Robotech Veritech

Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon: What kind of sci-fi tech makes you go “OOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”? For a long time, for me it was transforming vehicles. The Veritechs from “Robotech,” the cars from the short-lived “Pole Position” cartoon, and of course “M.A.S.K.” among others. I think, from a nostalgia perspective, “Mighty Orbots” is my favorite of them all, if only because of the specific mention of matter manipulation tech in the transformation and unity process. Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! … Read more