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Alive: Synthetic Cells, Feral Robots, Rebellious AI, and the Design of Radical Life
A timely examination of a wide range of projects exploring the boundaries of our existence.
A silicone jellyfish with a rat's heart, a drone that smells using the antenna of a moth, wearables made from cultured human skin, an AI-populated digital snack bar in the metaverse. These projects and many more offer a mind-bending, head-turning vision of the future that Madeline Schwartzman demonstrates is just around the corner.
Curated from new developments in synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering, biology, and art, this broad-ranging survey demonstrates the myriad ways in which our perception of what it means to be alive has dramatically changed. Where do we draw the new lines? Are there any boundaries we should not cross? And what if?. . .? By examining these new "beings," Alive maps out a vision of new partnerships, uncanny hybrids, and collaborative intelligences, as science fiction rapidly becomes science fact.
A silicone jellyfish with a rat's heart, a drone that smells using the antenna of a moth, wearables made from cultured human skin, an AI-populated digital snack bar in the metaverse. These projects and many more offer a mind-bending, head-turning vision of the future that Madeline Schwartzman demonstrates is just around the corner.
Curated from new developments in synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering, biology, and art, this broad-ranging survey demonstrates the myriad ways in which our perception of what it means to be alive has dramatically changed. Where do we draw the new lines? Are there any boundaries we should not cross? And what if?. . .? By examining these new "beings," Alive maps out a vision of new partnerships, uncanny hybrids, and collaborative intelligences, as science fiction rapidly becomes science fact.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 1, 2025
A very cool catalogue and introduction to biodesign/bioart and the state of the movement in 2025. And what a lovely cover, too!
November 11, 2025
The times they are a changing-especially when it comes to what we as the human species envision life as.
With the advent and advance of synthetic cells, feral robots, rebellious AI and the design of radical life, life is taking on all new forms, functions and possibilities.
What constitutes life? Movement, thought, action sequences, programmed tasks, rejuvenation, bio-mechanical organisms, art that moves, imitations of microscopic life and anything that vaguely duplicates thought, movement and purpose?
In author Madeline Schwartzman’s and Thames & Hudson’s new book: Alive, the very nature of what it means to be a living, breathing and functioning life-form is challenged.
Dozens of photos complemented by in-depth text and observation explore the many forms of life-both biological and synthetic.
The future is now and science, art, and nature combine and cooperate to create life the likes that have never been seen before.
Get ready for a fascinating read filled with mind-blowing facts and speculation in this oversize, hardbound book.
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
With the advent and advance of synthetic cells, feral robots, rebellious AI and the design of radical life, life is taking on all new forms, functions and possibilities.
What constitutes life? Movement, thought, action sequences, programmed tasks, rejuvenation, bio-mechanical organisms, art that moves, imitations of microscopic life and anything that vaguely duplicates thought, movement and purpose?
In author Madeline Schwartzman’s and Thames & Hudson’s new book: Alive, the very nature of what it means to be a living, breathing and functioning life-form is challenged.
Dozens of photos complemented by in-depth text and observation explore the many forms of life-both biological and synthetic.
The future is now and science, art, and nature combine and cooperate to create life the likes that have never been seen before.
Get ready for a fascinating read filled with mind-blowing facts and speculation in this oversize, hardbound book.
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
December 2, 2025
The book illustrates the dazzling crossing-over of human life, nonhuman life (from animals, plants to cells and micro organisms) and technical life (from AI, robotics to low-tech and everyday life); through cases of scientific and artistic investigations and reflections, I think it ultimatesly comes down to the question: "what is aliveness" or "what is 'living'ness?"
The meaning of all this cluster of experimentations is perhaps to reveal a possibility of future, where human/nonhuman/technical life embodies within each other, their life form intermingling, gearing up the "tentacles" from another...
Chapter 5 "Change of state" is a bit different from other ones, where "large and small acts evoke awe and profound connection to the earth as an entity, against the so-called shifting baseline syndrome." From this book point of view, I'd say it's still related — we get to see gaia in a "living" way.
The meaning of all this cluster of experimentations is perhaps to reveal a possibility of future, where human/nonhuman/technical life embodies within each other, their life form intermingling, gearing up the "tentacles" from another...
Chapter 5 "Change of state" is a bit different from other ones, where "large and small acts evoke awe and profound connection to the earth as an entity, against the so-called shifting baseline syndrome." From this book point of view, I'd say it's still related — we get to see gaia in a "living" way.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews