May 29, 2007 7:37 AM

Essay: Our Synthetic Futures - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

(((Effortlessly, Rudy Rucker causes NEWSWEEK to go completely and utterly transreal.)))

Link: Essay: Our Synthetic Futures -
Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com .

...Of course, if you prefer something cuddly, you can design a special dog with red polka dots.
Rather than mining for ore, why not let plants use their roots to extract minerals from the ground? Sow a handful of Knife Plant grain over a dumpsite, and before long you’ll have what looks like corn—but with a cob-handled steel knife in each ear.
Why bother building houses when you can get a Giga Gourd seed? The seed is the size of a pizza and grows very fast. Push it into wet, fertile ground and stand back. In a few days you’ll have a big, hollow home with plumbing and wiring grown right into the walls, which come complete with transparent window patches....

Your Vape Wants to Know How Old You Are

Companies hope that biometric age-verification tech in cartridges could put flavored vapes back in business. But it's unlikely to solve the real problems.

Boone Ashworth

Exclusive LegalZoom Promo Code for 10% Off Services for April

Save on top services at LegalZoom, like LLC registration, incorporation, estate plans, and more with coupons and deals from WIRED.

Parker Hall

FCC Enforcement Chief Offered to Help Brendan Carr Target Disney, Records Show

Last year, as FCC chair Brendan Carr threatened ABC over a Jimmy Kimmel monolog, a civil servant overseeing West Coast stations privately pledged support, according to emails obtained by WIRED.

Dell Cameron

How to Find the Best Used or Refurbished Electronics

Save money and reduce your carbon footprint with these tips to snag the best deals on quality refurbished and used electronics.

Simon Hill

Livestream Replay: The War Machine

A panel of WIRED experts dissected the defense tech industry’s impact on modern warfare.

Tim Marchman

US Takes Down Botnets Used in Record-Breaking Cyberattacks

The Aisuru, Kimwolf, JackSkid, and Mossad botnets had infected more than 3 million devices in total, many inside home networks, according to the US Justice Department.

Andy Greenberg

Nobody Knows How to File Taxes on Prediction Market Wins

Americans flocked to prediction markets last year. Now, it’s time to pay taxes on winnings. How do you do that? Great question.

Kate Knibbs

The Trajectory of the Artemis II Moon Mission Is a Feat of Engineering

The astronauts will arrive about 10,300 kilometers beyond our satellite, breaking all previous records for distance from Earth. But how was their route chosen?

Luca Nardi

Anduril Wants to Own the Future of War Tech. Mishaps, Delays, and Challenges Abound

From drones to missiles to submarines, the $30.5 billion defense startup wants to transform how the tools of war are made. It’s not all going as planned.

Paresh Dave

Uncanny Valley: OpenAI and Musk Fight Again; DOJ Mishandles Voter Data; Artemis II Comes Home

In this episode, the hosts discuss the fight between OpenAI and Elon Musk, the misuse of voter data, and Artemis II’s moonshot.

Brian Barrett

A Billionaire-Backed Startup Wants to Grow 'Organ Sacks' to Replace Animal Testing

R3 Bio has a bold idea for replacing lab animals: genetically-engineered whole organ systems that lack a brain. The long-term goal, says a cofounder, is to make human versions.

Emily Mullin

Opposing ICE Might Save the Country. It Could Also Ruin Your Life

For months, lone vibe coder Rafael Concepcion has obsessively built tools to counter the federal immigration crackdown—pivoting as he’s been outmatched. He’s also lost his job and become a target.

Brendan I. Koerner