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humanity

SPACE: Lots of Alien Worlds Could Know We’re Here

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alien - Deposit Photos

At least 1,715 nearby star systems sat at a perfect angle to view Earth during the past 5,000 years, meaning aliens living in those systems, if they exist and have the right technology, could have watched our planet from afar as early human civilizations first emerged. Of those star systems, 313 exited the special viewing zone, known as the Earth transit zone (ETZ), sometime in the past few thousand years, leaving 1,402 star systems capable of providing a glimpse of our planet today, according to a new study, published Wednesday (June 23) in the journal Nature. And over the next … Read more

150 Years May Be the Upper Age Limit For Humans

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Old Hands - Deposit Photos

Humans may be able to live for between 120 and 150 years, but no longer than this “absolute limit” on human life span, a new study suggests. For the study, published online May 25 in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers used mathematical modeling to predict that after 120 to 150 years of age, the human body would totally lose its ability to recover from stresses like illness and injury, resulting in death. If therapies were to be developed to extend the body’s resilience, the researchers argue, these may enable humans to live longer, healthier lives. Studies like this one … Read more

FOR READERS: Half Human

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Cyborg - deposit photos

FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Scott: Humans with robotic parts – what are some of your favorite queer cyborg stories, and why? What is the definition of human? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat: FB: http://bit.ly/1MvPABVMeWe: http://bit.ly/2mjg8lf

What If Humans Went Extinct?

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climate change - pixabay

Deep within Guatemala’s rainforest sits one of the most famous remnants of the Maya civilization: a roughly 2,000-year-old citadel turned to ruins called Tikal. When Alan Weisman hiked through the surrounding region, he discovered something fascinating along the way: “You’re walking through this really dense rainforest, and you’re walking over hills,” said Weisman, author and journalist. “And the archaeologists are explaining to you that what you’re really walking over are pyramids and cities that haven’t been excavated.” In other words, we know about sites like Tikal because humans have gone to great efforts to dig up and restore their remains. … Read more

SPACE: Will We Need to Tweak Our DNA to Colonize Mars?

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Mars - NASA

If humanity is ever going to settle down on Mars, we may need to become a little less human. Crewed missions to Mars, which NASA wants to start flying in the 2030s, will be tough on astronauts, exposing them to high radiation loads, bone-wasting microgravity and other hazards for several years at a time. But these pioneers should still be able to make it back to Earth in relatively good nick, agency officials have said. It might be a different story for those who choose not to come home, however. If we want to stay safe and healthy while living … Read more

FOR READERS/WRITERS: Seeding Humanity

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FOR READERS/WRITERS Today’s topic comes from QSFer Ben Brock: Some sci fi writers explain the similarities of humans to other alien races as “seeding”, as in an ancient race went through the universe and “seeded” the worlds with human-like DNA. Writers, have you ever used this idea in your work? Readers, what are your favorite stories that use this idea? Writers: This is a reader/writer chat – you are welcome to share your own book/link, as long as it fits the chat, but please do so as part of a discussion about the topic. Join the chat