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Category: Elon Musk – Page 16

Elon Musk has done it: iPhones and Android smartphones can now use his satellites to make calls anywhere on Earth

After revolutionizing global internet access, Elon Musk’s Starlink is poised to take smartphone connectivity to the next level. The ambitious satellite service will soon enable users to make calls from virtually anywhere on the planet, all without the need for specialized hardware.

Starlink, a division of SpaceX, has announced its plans to introduce Direct-to-Cell, a groundbreaking feature that uses its vast satellite network to allow voice calls on regular smartphones. What sets this apart is its simplicity—there’s no need for modifications to your device. As long as your phone is LTE-compatible, you’re ready to connect.

This innovation could fundamentally change how we think about mobile communication. Imagine being able to make calls from the remotest corners of the Earth—whether you’re deep in a rainforest, sailing in the middle of the ocean, or trekking across deserts—with no cell towers in sight. Starlink’s satellite system makes this scenario entirely possible.

Quantum computers in space? Google’s CEO and Elon Musk are planning a revolution

The future of technology often feels like science fiction, and a recent conversation between Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, and Elon Musk of SpaceX proved just that. With Google unveiling its groundbreaking quantum chip Willow, a bold idea was floated—launching quantum computers into space. This visionary concept could not only transform quantum computing but also push the boundaries of modern science as we know it.

Quantum computing has long promised to solve problems far beyond the reach of traditional computers, and Google’s Willow chip seems to be delivering on that vision. In a recent demonstration, the chip completed a complex calculation in just five minutes—a task that would take classical supercomputers billions of years.

Google’s researchers describe this milestone as exceeding the known scales of physics, potentially unlocking groundbreaking possibilities in scientific research and technological development. But despite its promise, the field of quantum computing faces significant challenges.

China’s Agibot eyes 1,000-humanoid robot army to beat Elon Musk’s Tesla

A Chinese robotics firm has started mass-producing humanoid robots for general use, while its US counterparts, like Tesla, are aiming for such a feat in 2026.

Agibot, or Zhiyuan Robotics, showcased footage of its manufacturing facility on its official website and revealed that it’s on course to produce 1,000 units by the end of the year, according to a Chinese online news outlet.

Founded in February 2023 by Peng Zhihui, a former participant in Huawei’s “Genius Youth” program, the Shanghai-based startup launched its first humanoid robot model, the Raise A1, in August 2023.

The Human Brain Operates at a Stunningly Slow Pace

The brain is sometimes called the most complex machine in the known universe. But the thoughts that it outputs putter along at a trifling 10 bits per second, the pace of a conversation.

By Rachel Nuwer

People tend to have the sense that their inner thoughts and feelings are much richer than what they are capable of expressing in real time. Elon Musk has spoken publicly about this “bandwidth problem,” as he described it to podcaster Joe Rogan. Musk is so bothered by this, in fact, that he has made it one of his long-term goals to create an interface that allows the human brain to communicate directly with a computer, unencumbered by the slow speed of speaking or writing.

The future of neuroscience could be wireless

Though Elon Musk’s Neuralink put wireless brain implants in the spotlight — in early 2024, Musk announced his company’s first implant was successful — the research and development of these devices has spanned decades. The BrainGate clinical trials have been underway for 20 years, and the consortium’s wireless implant marks the first time a person has used an implant with high bandwidth capabilities.

Wireless technologies are opening doors in neuroscience, enabling new capabilities in communication, treatment, and research. Because wireless implants can monitor the brain for long periods of time, they offer a unique opportunity to examine neural dynamics, increasing our understanding of the human mind. Their cord-free design also benefits people hoping to use these devices outside a research setting and improve their quality of life.

The first brain implant is credited to neurologist Phil Kennedy, who had the device surgically affixed to his brain. Today, wired implants are less invasive and widely used. They can help prevent seizures, manage OCD symptoms, and treat movement disorders.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX fires up Super Heavy rocket ahead of 7th test flight

While an official launch date has yet to be confirmed, reports suggest that SpaceX is targeting January 11, 2025, for the next flight. This date was mentioned in an email from NASA to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), indicating plans to deploy an observation aircraft for the event.

Starship, which consists of two reusable stages € the Super Heavy booster and the upper stage known as Starship € stands approximately 400 feet tall when fully assembled, making it the largest rocket ever built.

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