GD XVI: Automata

Harvey and Adam discuss crackerjack crows, floating farms, environmental vinyl and self-replicating robots.

Twitter: @GenericDrift
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Website: www.genericdrift.com

SHOW NOTES:

Introduction

• China grows plant on moon (Independent)

Harvey's Favourite Books of the Year*

• An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
  • Paperback
  • Audiobook
• The Odyssey by Homer
  • Paperback
  • Audiobook (narrated by Ian McKellen!)
• Into Thin Air by Jon Krakeur
  • Paperback
  • Audiobook

*Disclosure: these are affiliate links and by purchasing these products you are helping to support the podcast

Dinosaur of the Month

• New species of new predator dinosaur (Telegraph)
• Dinosaur: Saltriovenator zanellai

Clever Caledonian corvids

• News article (Phys.org)
• Scientific paper

Floating farms

• Video (BBC)
• Floating farm in Rotterdam (BBC)
• Conceptual smart floating farm (Smithsonian)

Streaming vs. CDs and vinyl

• The Dark Side of the Tune (Music Tank)

Self-replicators

• Von Neumann probe (Wikipedia)
• "Grey Goo" doomsday scenario (Wikipedia)
• Synthetic organisms by Vint Cerf (WIRED)
• Self replicators news articles:
  • Why robot sex could save life on Earth (Telegraph)
  • Could we explore the entire galaxy with self-replicating robots (Popular Mechanics)
  • What is universal constructor? (Whatis.com)