ROBERT J.R. GRAHAM: Advanced Cybernetic Soldiers

NP: Science and the New Frontier Revisited: The New Human Race in 2045

By James W. Astrada

Science recently has been pushing the envelope for advancement in robotics, cybernetic technology, developing a synthetic race and the creation of transforming the soldier into the ultimate machine. Although there is much controversy concerning the subject on just where the limit is drawn, there is no doubt future promise of perhaps formulating the perfect man/machine for a “safe and secure” society. The idea to create an advance form of humanity has been suggested with a new initiative called the 2045 program . This will allow humanity to exist at a more intelligent, scientific, technological, and error free society. Whether or not people will be onboard with such a radical change in the next few decades is yet to be seen.

Scientists have successfully created the first artificial jellyfish coined “Medusoid .” It is considered super-fast, apparently edible (considered to taste like chicken), and “gritty.” This pseudo-jellyfish is credited to scientists at both Harvard and the California Institute of Technology. The project was undertaken as part of research into biological pump systems, which jellyfish utilize to achieve movement. Structurally speaking, jellyfish are considered to be at the “lower end of the spectrum” of the animal kingdom. They basically consist of a jelly like substance, overlain with simple muscle cells, a few tentacles and a central oral cavity. The simultaneous contraction of the muscle results in propulsion through the water which scientists are looking at to aid in human health concerns.

The Medusoid was constructed using silicone as a base to mimic the ‘jelly’ in a jellyfish, onto which was printed layers of rat heart cells. Both Caltech and Harvard spent long hours of researching the exact specs of how a jellyfish worked; the arrangement of muscles in a jellyfish, how their muscles work to achieve movement and the fluid dynamics of movement through water, etc… After being created, the Medusoid was jolted into swimming by passing an electric current through water. The electrical stimulation of the heart cells caused simultaneous contractions, providing propulsion for the synthetic to behave as an actual jellyfish. In the field of synthetic biology, the team hopes that their work will have a serious impact in medicine, particularly in regenerative tissue therapy . Kit Parker, biophysicist at Harvard, compared the workings of the human heart and its ability to pump blood to reverse engineering the jellyfish and a deeper understanding of biological pumps (heart).

Tissue therapies have an advantage over current transplant treatments due to the utilization of cells harvested from the patient (which presents a smaller risk of rejection). They would also help to ease the problem of discrepancies involving numbers on transplant lists and organ availability. The main argument for such an experimental endeavor is the premise concerning the potential to save many lives. There are even the attempts by scientists to outdo nature by creating their own biological system. John Dabiri, professor of bioengineering at Caltech stated: “we’re seeing ways in which we can probably improve on the natural biological performance of jellyfish. The process of evolution missed a lot of good solutions.” As of late, Caltech and Harvard are focusing the future of this project to marine creations. Within the Medusoid is a pipeline-like “brain structure” that would enable the jellyfish to perform more complex behaviors; moving in a desired direction, actively seeking out food and moving towards sources of light. They also plan to make an artificial jellyfish from human heart cells rather than rat cells. This would provide an effective platform for testing of newly developed heart drugs, and cross the boundary into a new world of possible A.I. marine race.

Another interesting look into the evolution of science is the ability to grow human muscle using animal scaffolding techniques. The material called extracellular matrix is the natural scaffolding that underlies all tissues and organs in people and animals. It is produced by cells, and now researchers have learned a new purpose: this scaffolding also signals the body to grow and repair tissues and organs. Using this newfound knowledge, scientists are using this material from pigs and other animals to engineer the growth of replacement tissue in humans. The negative repercussion of this technology places animals at the mercy of humans who not only use them for food and livestock, but now for replacement body parts.

A man called Sargent Robert Strang volunteered for this program due to the loss of muscle in his leg. Last year, a Dr. Rubin cut out the scar tissue from Sergeant Rob Strang’s leg (a soldier who suffered a roadside bomb in Afghanistan) and stitched a sheet resembling a thick piece of “parchment paper.” This paper was the extracellular matrix from a pig urinary bladder which had shown excellent results in lab studies. The success replaced the damaged/missing muscle into healthy thigh muscle. One other scientist actually stated that these tests were to “work with nature instead of fight nature.” I don’t believe that nature intended humans to butcher and utilize animals to regrow body parts for human beings. How could some scientists believe such horrible things? Although it is true that humanity has always looked for ways to extend its own life, there are other ways to do so rather than subject animals to these experiments when they have enough to deal with by being our next meal. Most would argue that animals were intended to serve this purpose under religious pretense; however, all species were meant to coexist by nature standards, not our own. Somehow, we need to constantly be reminded by this through some type of intervention. Although our engineers have probably undergone these dilemmas as well, it doesn’t seem probable that they would behave in the same way. On the other hand, it could be feasible that we are acting as they do since we inhabit the traits of our engineers through our DNA. Will nature be undermined by humans, or will our genetic engineering practices produce unwanted side effects we might regret in the near future?

The reality of creating a terminator-like cyborg may be realistically possible in the near future. DARPA has generously contributed $2 billion in creating a super solider and a synthetic police force. In experimentation some sources claim that DARPA and the military industrial pharmaceutical complex are using natural human abilities and enhance them through genetic engineering. Some examples would be the ability to regrow limbs in battle, to kill without remorse, show no fear, no fatigue; similarly following the protocol of one of Skynet’s ‘terminators.’ Scientists are researching the construction of soldiers that feel no pain, terror and do not suffer from fatigue. Jonathan Moreno, professor of bioethics at Pennsylvania State University is also conducting tests on the intricate wiring of the human brain. According to Posel , Moreno is working with the DoD in understanding neuroscience with a hefty incentive by The Pentagon in the amount of $400 million.

According to Joel Garreau, professor at Arizona University, DARPA is also learning how to genetically modify human fat into pure energy by rewiring the metabolic switch creating soldiers that require less food. Posel added that “by using gene therapy and combining enhancements to alter the color of the human eye is a blending of mutations that have no basis in the natural world.” The British Academy of Sciences in 2011 suggested that testing of injecting animals with human brain cells may give animals human memories and should be treated differently than a non-modified animal. According to the results of the published report, it stated that human embryos could either strengthen or deteriorate the animal subject. Supposedly Senator Sam Brownback pushed to prohibit these types of experimentations by supporting the Human Chimera Prohibition Act of 2005 . The two main reasons for these concerns were that Brownback opposed closed door experimentation of crossing genes with animals and humans. Coupled with the 2045 Program , humanity will face major changes in evolution in the next 20 to 30 years. The program follows the premise of creating “a new vision of human development that meets global challenges humanity faces today, realization of the possibility of a radical extension of human life by means of cybernetic technology, as well as the formation of a new culture associated with these technologies.”

These ideologies do fit the description of transhumanism, immortality, and creating the ultimate cybernetic organism. Most of these theories are considered fringe and full of conspiracy; however the ideas may be well within the reach of an attainable goal. If the idea of having the world under one banner as the main goal, then perhaps having a military force without feelings, doubt, or the ability to question will help maximize efficiency without incident. According to reports by Posel, Bush Jr. did create the new PNAC (Project for the New American Century) as an excuse to “rebuild America’s defenses” in 2000. The idea was to push for U.S. hegemony in areas that were considered “problems” (i.e. North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan etc…). The idea of scientific enhancement to achieve these goals was at the forefront of using the U.S. army for “guinea pigs” as prototypes. If successful, then most soldiers would have the ability to “block out memories” that would render them unable to complete a mission if psychological affected. Harvard University is working on creating a beta blocker that would allow this to become a reality and may prevent suicides that have been occurring frequently in the U.S. military. Moreno did present a valid question on the future implications of creating such a program: “The problem is: what else are they blocking when they do this? Do we want a generation of veterans who return without guilt?” Allan Snyder, professor of neuroscience in Australia is currently researching how transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can effect higher mental processing with the use of magnetic fields to promote unfettered reasoning. If this was successful, Moreno suggested that TMS helmets could be used for soldiers to enhance all abilities.

With all the combinations of technology for the purpose of changing humanity’s future, the unthinkable may actually cause more damage than good. Humans thrive and exist on emotions, if tampered with, they cease to be human and lose connection to the spiritual engine we have within us. Creating an artificial race of beings may be the reason why the engineers of our race encountered the problems that reside within us (let us not forget what happened to the engineers in Prometheus). Humans could possibly be the result of a higher race tampering with their own emotional/spiritual engines and the need for change. Change is part of the natural process, however altering it artificially may produce unwanted results. It may be that science is the doorway for finally unlocking many of life’s mysteries and producing wonderful things/discoveries; but then again who uses this knowledge and for what purpose, decides exactly where the road ends.

References

Scott Barry Kaufman. “Beautiful Minds: musings on the many paths to greatness.” Psychology Today (January 2010).

http://ift.tt/1jYx6Ln

http://2045.com/

http://ift.tt/QGadke

http://ift.tt/1jYx71C

Susan Posel. “DARPA Continues Human Experiments to Create Military Super Soldiers.” Occupycorporatism.com (September 2012).

Sebastian Anthony. “Harvard creates cyborg flesh that’s half man, half machine.” Extremetech.com (August 2012).

Henry Fountain. “Human Muscle, Regrown on Animal Scaffolding.” New York Times (September 2012).

James Maculiffe. “Synthetic life: The world’s first man-made jellyfish.” Nouse Online U.K . (September 2012).