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Work, health, military: is the augmented human revolution already here?

4 episodes

1

Biohacking: medical promises or ethical perils?
2

Reclaiming autonomy: the repaired human
3

How to assist or augment workers
4

Super-soldiers: augmented humans in wartime

Épisode 1/4

Biohacking: medical promises or ethical perils?

Andrew Steele, PhD in physics from the University of Oxford, Science Writer and Columnist at Polytechnique Insights

On September 6th, 2023

6 min reading time

Andrew Steele

PhD in physics from the University of Oxford, Science Writer and Columnist at Polytechnique Insights

Key takeaways

The idea of rewriting our DNA dates back to the 20th century, when selection techniques were widely accepted for use on human beings.
Despite scientific advances, genetics is still a very poorly understood field because of its complexity.
Nevertheless, projects using CRISPR or Neuralink technology are emerging with this objective in mind.
From eradicating fatal genetic diseases to improving the cognitive performance of our descendants, biohacking continues to develop and inspire dreams, despite the ethical challenges it poses.

Épisode 2/4

Reclaiming autonomy: the repaired human

Marina Julienne, Independent Journalist

On June 23rd, 2022

4 min reading time

Vance Bergeron

CNRS Research Director and President of Association Advanced Neurorehabilitation Therapies (ANTS) at Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Physics Department

Grégoire Courtine

Professor of Neurosciences at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)

Key takeaways

Exoskeletons appear to be a good way of supporting an ageing population, as is the case in Japan for example.
In 2020, a team led by researcher Grégoire Courtine implanted three paralysed men with a cardiac neurostimulator in the abdomen, and about fifteen electrodes on their spinal cord.
The operated patients were able to take their first steps almost immediately but has only been carried out on a treadmill in the laboratory for the moment.
Many improvements are expected on these exoskeletons, including Bluetooth to get rid of wires but also a lower cost to make it more accessible to all.

Épisode 3/4

How to assist or augment workers

Marina Julienne, Independent Journalist

On June 23rd, 2022

3 min reading time

Jean-Jacques Atain Kouadio

Assistance expert at the Ergonomics and Psychology Applied to Prevention (EPAP) laboratory at INRS

Key takeaways

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for 88% of occupational illnesses in France and back pain accounts for 20% of work-related accidents.
In 2012, the INRS launched an initial prospective study entitled “Use of physical assistance robots by 2030 in France” to relieve workers.
For the shoulder, for example, the teams viewed the inter-bone and tendon spaces, using ultrasound, and compared the behaviour of this joint with and without assistance.
But exoskeletons are not an answer to all the physical constraints to which employees are exposed.

Épisode 4/4

Super-soldiers: augmented humans in wartime

Marina Julienne, Independent Journalist

On June 23rd, 2022

4 min reading time

Pierre Bourgois

Lecturer in political science at l’Université catholique de l’Ouest and member of État et Recherche de la Paix (SERP)

Key takeaways

The US has positioned itself as the leading powerhouse in augmented armies attempting to make soldiers with no physical, physiological, or cognitive limitations more performant.
The exoskeleton is not the only option being considered for the military with motorisation of the lower body is being considered, for example.
Pharmacology also comes into play with psychostimulants or anxiolytics to reduce stress.
However, these increases are not without risks and can have psychological, physical and above all ethical consequences.

Contributors

Andrew Steele

PhD in physics from the University of Oxford, Science Writer and Columnist at Polytechnique Insights

After a PhD in physics from the University of Oxford, Andrew Steele decided that ageing was the single most important scientific challenge of our time, and switched fields to computational biology. After five years using machine learning to investigate DNA and NHS medical records, he is now a full-time writer, author of Ageless: The new science of getting older without getting old, presenter and campaigner.

Other contributions

Biohacking: medical promises or ethical perils?

Science says we could “cure” ageing. But should we?

Lifespan: what can we learn from these animal-champions?

Three possible ways of turning back the clocks of ageing

Are we really doomed to grow old and die?

Marina Julienne

Independent Journalist

Marina Julienne graduated in Literature (University of Paris IV) and Political Science (University of Paris I). Initially a journalist in editorial content (Zélig press agency, Infomatin daily newspaper, Eureka monthly), she has worked as a freelancer for Science et Vie, La Recherche, Sciences actualités (Cité desciences), Terre Sauvage, Le Monde Science and Médecine. She is also the author and director of several documentaries, particularly in the field of education, for France-Télévision and Arte.