RE: Why will we reach the singularity?

From: Reason (reason@exratio.com)
Date: Sun Mar 02 2003 - 02:11:01 MST

  • Next message: Joao Magalhaes: "Re: Why will we reach the singularity?"

    Beg to differ -- we can ask the same sorts of questions in physics too. For
    example, we have no idea how to predict the output or timing of a supernova
    given a precursor star (or even evaluate whether or not we're modelling the
    thing properly at all levels). The physics (flame propagation, flash fusion,
    plasmas, opacity behaviors under these circumstances, turbulence, etc) is
    enormously complex and only just starting to yield a little to sheer weight
    of processing power. The same thing goes for pulsars -- we don't even have a
    working physics/electromagnetism model of a pulsar yet, believe it or not.
    They're all proveably broken.

    Reason
    http://www.exratio.com/

    -----Original Message-----
    From: owner-extropians@extropy.org [mailto:owner-extropians@extropy.org]On
    Behalf Of Spudboy100@aol.com
    Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 11:41 PM
    To: extropians@extropy.org
    Subject: Re: Why will we reach the singularity?

    J. Clark noted:
    <<It's surprising too; we know vastly more biology than we did then but for
    some reason can't translate it into cures.

            John K Clark jonkc@att.net>>

    Complexity is the reason. Physics, chemistry, engineering are all much
    simpler then medicine. Hence, one can understand a biological process, but
    getting chemicals to actually heal people is another level of complexity.
    The good news is that the body can now, in part, be modeled by computing as
    well as animal studies. The computer revolution is slowly revolutionizing
    medicine, as seen in the new field of combinational chemistry. Improved Cat
    scans (Spiral tomograhy) are in some cases, helping people identify disease
    earlier.



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