STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- DARPA is funding a project to develop a headset that can read your brain’s neural activity and “write,” or encode, it to someone else’s brain, leading to brain-to-brain communication
- At least one researcher — Jacob Robinson — working on the program, known as Magnetic, Optical, Acoustic Neural Access (MOANA), is part of a team that figured out how to tap into and control the brains of fruit flies
- The team used magnetic nanoparticles to activate neurons in fruit flies, causing them to alter their wing position
- The headset being developed by the MOANA study will use light to decode neural activity in one brain and then, similar to the fruit fly study, use magnetic fields to write that activity in another brain in less than one-twentieth of a second
- The next phase of the study entails demonstrating the technology in rodents and, if successful, moving on to humans within two years, although human tests could begin as soon as 2022
U.S. scientists have achieved the previously unthinkable task of remotely controlling the brains of living beings. The beings, in this case, are genetically engineered fruit flies and the neurons responsible for causing the flies to spread their wings.1 But this is only the beginning.
The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which has a long history of surveillance, is working with the National Science Foundation (NSF) on a project to develop a headset that can read your brain’s neural activity and “write,” or encode, it to someone else’s brain, leading to brain-to-brain communication.2
At least one researcher — Jacob Robinson — working on the program, known as Magnetic, Optical, Acoustic Neural Access (MOANA), is part of the team that figured out how to tap into and control the brains of flies,3 signaling that such technology is being tapped for uses far beyond the manipulation of fly wings.
Scientists Can Now Control Brains Via Remote Control
In a study published in the journal Nature Materials,4 Rice University neuroengineers, and colleagues from Rice University, Duke University, Brown University and Baylor College of Medicine, used magnetic nanoparticles to activate neurons in fruit flies, causing them to alter their wing position. In a Rice University news release, Robinson, an associate professor in electrical and computer engineering at Rice, explained:5
“Remote control of select neural circuits with magnetic fields is somewhat of a holy grail for neurotechnologies. Our work takes an important step toward that goal because it increases the speed of remote magnetic control, making it closer to the natural speed of the brain.”
The team used genetic engineering to express an ion channel in the flies’ neuronal cells that is activated by heat. Magnetic nanoparticles that become heated when a magnetic field is applied were injected into the flies, which were then placed in an enclosure with an electromagnet on top. When exposed to heat, the flies partially spread their wings, as shown in the video above, which is part of their natural mating routine.
“By changing the magnet’s field in a specified way, the researchers could heat the nanoparticles and activate the neurons. An analysis of video from the experiments showed flies with the genetic modifications assumed the wing-spread posture within approximately half a second of the magnetic field change,” according to Rice University.6 This represents a speed that’s about 50 times faster than previous technology was able to stimulate genetically defined neurons.7
Ultimately, the team is focused on developing brain communication technology for humans, including technology that could help people to see even if their eyes don’t physically function by stimulating brain areas associated with vision. Robinson said:8
“The long-term goal of this work is to create methods for activating specific regions of the brain in humans for therapeutic purposes without ever having to perform surgery. To get to the natural precision of the brain we probably need to get a response down to a few hundredths of a second. So there is still a ways to go.”
DARPA’s Dark Side
There is certainly immense potential to use neuroengineering to positively influence human health. But there’s also immense potential for such technology to be abused, especially in the hands of an agency like DARPA.
DARPA is the agency that managed Total Information Awareness (TIA), a program that sprung up after the 9/11 attacks that was seeking to collect Americans’ medical records, fingerprints and other biometric data, along with DNA and records relating to personal finances, travel and media consumption.9
They also worked on the development of an injectable biosensor with its maker, Profusa.10 The sensor allows a person’s physiology to be examined at a distance via smartphone connectivity. Profusa is also backed by Google, the largest data mining company in the world.
Hydrogel is another DARPA invention, which involves nanotechnology and nanobots. This bioelectronic interface is part of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines’ delivery system. The biochip being developed by Profusa is similar to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in that it utilizes hydrogel.
The implant is the size of a grain of rice and connects to an online database that will keep track of changes in your biochemistry and a wide range of biometrics, such as heart and respiratory rate and much more.
A DARPA-backed study is also underway to measure early signs of influenza via the biosensor technology. The injectable sensors will be used to measure physiological statuses to reveal not only indicators of human response to infection but also “exposure to disease in healthy volunteers.”11
A wireless patch that measures tissue oxygen levels would also be used, sending information to a mobile device for real-time data. According to Profusa, the biosensors may detect disease outbreaks, biological attacks and pandemics up to three weeks earlier than current methods.12 It would seem, however, that in order for such sensors to work on a widespread scale, extensive adoption would be required.
Further, many suspect Facebook is the public-friendly version of DARPA’s Lifelog, a database project aimed at tracking the minutiae of people’s entire existence for national security surveillance purposes.13 The Pentagon pulled the plug on Lifelog February 4, 2004, in response to backlash over privacy concerns.14 That same day, Facebook was launched.15
DARPA Is Funding Wireless Linkage of Brains
In 2021, DARPA funded Rice University’s MOANA project, which is creating a dual-function wireless headset that can “read” and “write” brain activity. The headset will use light to decode neural activity in one brain and then, similar to the fruit fly study, use magnetic fields to write that activity in another brain. The goal is for the brain-to-brain communication to occur in less than one-twentieth of a second.16
DARPA also funded the team’s proof-of-principle study in 2018, which was intended to prove that information could be transmitted through a skull and stimulate activity of brain cells in a petri dish. Robinson explained:17
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“What we’ve shown is that there is promise. With the little bit of light that we are able to collect through the skull, we were able to reconstruct the activity of cells that were grown in the lab. Similarly, we showed we could stimulate lab-grown cells in a very precise way with magnetic fields and magnetic nanoparticles.”
The next phase of the study entails demonstrating the technology in rodents and, if successful, moving on to humans within two years, although human tests could begin as soon as 2022.18
“Most immediately, we’re thinking about ways we can help patients who are blind,” Robinson said in a news release. “In individuals who have lost the ability to see, scientists have shown that stimulating parts of the brain associated with vision can give those patients a sense of vision, even though their eyes no longer work.”19 DARPA, however, likely has other plans for the mind control technology.
WEF Has Mind Control on the Agenda
DARPA has ties to the World Economic Forum (WEF),20 which tweeted in 2018, “Mind control using sound waves. We ask a scientist how it works.”21 In the related 2018 article, which has since been scrubbed from the internet but is preserved by the Internet Archive,22 “noninvasive neuromodulation” was touted as a “new era of health care” by WEF.
Initially discussed as a tool for managing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, the article — titled “Mind control using sound waves?” — quickly takes a turn:23
“But what happens if this technique for altering our brain waves escapes regulation and falls into the wrong hands? Imagine a dictatorial regime with access to the tricks and tools to change the way its citizens think or behave.”
In an interview with Antoine Jerusalem, a professor of engineering science at Oxford University, the WEF article describes controlling neuronal activity in the brain by directing mechanical vibrations to a certain region. While it’s stated that this process hasn’t yet been fine-tuned, Jerusalem said, “I can see the day coming where a scientist will be able to control what a person sees in their mind’s eye, by sending the right waves to the right place in their brain.”24
The article then makes the case that, since somebody is going to harness this form of mind control, it might as well be WEF — “If we want to lead that dance 10 years from now, we need to start researching today … Politicians should remember that if we don’t do it, then somebody somewhere will do it anyway…potentially unregulated.”25
WEF Wants to Gain Control by ‘Hacking Organisms’
Klaus Schwab, owner and chairman of WEF (WEF), speaks openly about transhumanism as part of The Great Reset, and transhumanist Dr. Yuval Noah Harari, a top adviser to Schwab, admits data might enable human elites to do more than “just build digital dictatorships.”
“By hacking organisms,” Harari said, “elites may gain the power to re-engineer the future of life itself. Because once you can hack something, you can usually also engineer it.”26 Soon, he says, some corporations and governments will be able to “systematically hack all the people.” And if they succeed in hacking life, he describes it as the “greatest revolution in biology since the beginning of life 4 billion years ago.” According to Harari:27
“For 4 billion years, nothing fundamental changed. Science is replacing evolution by natural selection with evolution by intelligent design. Not the intelligent design of some god above the clouds, but our intelligent design, and the intelligent design of our clouds — the IBM cloud, the Microsoft cloud — these are the new driving forces of evolution.”
Once human life is hacked, the hackers will maintain control over life itself — a process that has been accelerated by the pandemic. After all, Harari said, “It’s often said that you should never let a good crisis go to waste.”28
Surveillance is a key part of the plan for global totalitarian control, and Harari says that in 100 years, people will be able to look back and identify the COVID-19 pandemic as the moment when a new regime in surveillance took over — “especially surveillance under the skin.”29
While I don’t believe that technology has advanced to the point that implantable microchips are being used as brain-machine interfaces to control your thoughts, scientists are clearly working toward this as an end goal, one fruit fly at a time.
- 1, 2, 3 Interesting Engineering July 19, 2022
- 4 Nature Materials June 27, 2022
- 5, 6, 7, 8 Rice University July 14, 2022
- 9 Humans Are Free October 30, 2020
- 10 Bio Optics World May 25, 2016
- 11, 12 Profusa March 3, 2020
- 13 Military.com February 4, 2004
- 14 Rapture Ready FAQ: Lifelog project
- 15 History Facebook Launches February 4, 2004
- 16, 17, 18, 19 Rice University February 26, 2021
- 20 Based Underground July 24, 2021
- 21 Twitter, World Economic Forum November 11, 2018
- 22, 23, 24, 25 Internet Archive November 7, 2018
- 26 YouTube, Awaken With JP March 5, 2022, 3:35
- 27 YouTube, Awaken With JP March 5, 2022, 4:30
- 28 YouTube, Awaken With JP March 5, 2022, 6:01
- 29 YouTube, Awaken With JP March 5, 2022, 6:27
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
