Rachel Armstrong at our Eindhoven thing. She is brilliant.

@justinpickard: Gutted to miss this. 'Computing, Philosophy and the Question of Bio-Machine Hybrids': http://t.co/xsiPon2K (July 2-6; Birmingham, UK) http://twitter.com/justinpickard/status/211546689146851328

"Traces of ancient viruses which infected our ancestors millions of years ago are more widespread in us than previously thought. A study shows how extensively viruses from as far back as the dinosaur era still thrive in our genetic material."

"This mystery mechanism of human transformation is neuronal recycling, coined by neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene, wherein the brain’s innate capabilities are harnessed for altogether novel functions."

"Is our binocular vision the reason we tend to divide the world into two parts, yes or no, on or off, right or wrong? Would a (five-eyed) alien life form, like an intelligent Opabinid, see the world as pentameral?  What would it be like for us to attempt communication with a pentameral being?"

"Could electronic components made from human blood be the key to creating cyborg interfaces? Circuitry that links human tissues and nerve cells directly to an electronic device, such as a robotic limb or artificial eye might one day be possible thanks to the development of biological components."

"New research shows that genetically modified cells can be made to communicate with each other as if they were electronic circuits."

Strange fossils, including some that could be predecessors to modern animals, found in China shed new light on the evolution of large, complex organisms, and indicate that they may have diversified earlier than  thought.