In the first half, biomedical research pioneer Dr. Joel Wallach spoke about the human body's innate ability to heal itself through natural means and supplementation. Our current health care system does not encourage people to take care of themselves, and Big Pharma seeks to treat people over long periods of time, as they wouldn't make as much money curing people of their ailments in a matter of months, he commented. For thousands of years, humans unknowingly supplemented their diet with minerals by putting wood ashes in their gardens, but with the advent of electricity, people stopped burning wood, and encountered more health problems from mineral deficiencies, he said.
The top 20 cultures for longevity around the world all have rare earth (trace minerals) in their soil, he reported. Vegans, he noted, need to supplement their diet with extra nutrients, unless they're living in an environment that is very high in minerals. Wallach argued that cholesterol is an essential nutrient, and not actually the source of problems. But the statin drugs that are prescribed to millions cause a variety of diseases and disorders including Alzheimer's and hormonal imbalances, he remarked. For more, check out Dr. Wallach's show, Dead Doctors Radio.
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In the second half, author James Barrat talked about the quickly approaching time when we will share our planet with intelligent machines, and addressed how corporations and government agencies are pouring billions into AI, and the possible dangers that may come with this technology. Artificial neural networks based on the way the human mind works have dramatically increased the power of AI software in the last year, and big players like Google, Facebook, and Twitter are acquiring AI companies, with plans to harness the technology for business purposes, he detailed.
While inventor Ray Kurzweil and roboticist Rodney Brooks told Barrat they're optimistic about the coming of AI-- they believe it's not an alien invasion but machines we create ourselves, sci-fi legend Arthur C. Clarke's comment that "intelligence will win out in whatever form," planted a seed of doubt in Barrat's mind. As all electronic products become "cognitized" in a smart grid, users will have incredible conveniences, yet they will also become more vulnerable and dependent, he cautioned. While Kurzweil believes we can create all the nuances of the human brain in a machine, Barrat expressed concern, and suggested that we shouldn't anthropomorphise robots-- they are machines who do not think like us, and may have their own goals and agendas as their intelligence expands.
News segment guests: Lauren Weinstein, Robert Felix