A best-selling author and theoretical physicist is in Carbondale as part of the SIU Distinguished Speaker Series.
Michio Kaku has written a book called The Future of the Mind. It's based on the latest advancements in neuroscience and physics. He says modern medicine already has the ability to grow some parts of the human body, such as skin, heart valves, noses, ears, blood vessels, bladders and windpipes. But, Kaku says that's just the tip of the iceberg of where medicine is headed: "In the future, we'll grow kidneys, livers, and lungs. And, when you go to the toilet, the toilet will analyze your genome, tell you if you will get a tumor."
Kaku says there are also amazing strides being made in mental health. He says there is technology on the way to record memories. In fact, the first memory was recorded last year: "We can now upload memories in mice. Eventually, we'll do this in chimpanzees, and then Alzheimer's patients. So, Alzheimer's patients will know who they are by pushing a brain pacemaker."
Kaku says the immediate goal of this technology is to alleviate suffering and make life better. Kaku will speak about his book Wednesday night at 7:30 in the SIU Student Center Ballrooms. It's free and open to the public.
