PRESS RELEASE — Thirty years ago, the University of the Andes made the first internet connection in Colombia, and on Tuesday, December 3, the country’s first quantum computer will be unveiled. This acquisition marks a turning point in education and technological research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and enhancing ongoing efforts by researchers at the University of the Andes and other institutions.

The University’s Faculties of Science and Engineering announced the arrival of the device, which will enable students and professors to explore fundamental aspects of quantum computing. This emerging technology seeks to solve problems and process information differently by leveraging the laws of quantum physics.

Professor Julián Rincón, a theoretical physicist, explains that this quantum computer employs a technique known as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and operates at room temperature. This makes it particularly suitable for educational purposes, as it is easy to assemble and provides a straightforward way to test fundamental concepts. “This isn’t just a faster conventional computer; it’s a completely new way of processing information, based on the laws of quantum physics,” he clarifies.

You deserve an explanation, so please don’t skip this 1-minute read. It’s Friday, December 6. Our fundraiser will soon be over, but we’re still short of our goal. If you’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve visited Wikipedia this year, we hope that means it’s given you at least $2.75 worth of knowledge. If everyone who finds Wikipedia useful gave just $2.75, we’d hit our goal in a few hours.

The internet we were promised—a place of free, collaborative, and accessible knowledge —is under constant threat. On Wikipedia, volunteers work together to create and verify the pages you rely on, supported by tools that undo vandalism within minutes, ensuring the information you seek is trustworthy.

Just 2% of our readers donate, so if you have given in the past and Wikipedia still provides you with $2.75 worth of knowledge, donate today. If you are undecided, remember any contribution helps. Thank you.

The BBC speaks to residents and travellers in some of the top-ranked countries on the 2024 Global Innovation Index to find out how cutting-edge technology benefits day-to-day life.

With the rise of AI, self-driving cars and wi-fi connected appliances, it can feel like innovation is everywhere these days. But certain countries are known for developing cutting-edge technologies that benefit residents and visitors alike.

To dive into those countries making the most impact in these areas, the World Intellectual Property Organisation recently released its 2024 Global Innovation Index, ranking 130 economies based on measures like their education system, technology infrastructure and knowledge creation (like patents filed or mobile apps created).

Starlink has received the green light from the US authorities to launch its direct-to-cell satellite service, but there are still a number of technical hurdles to overcome before it can actually be made fully available to users.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has now authorised Starlink, SpaceX’s Internet service provider, to roll out its direct-to-cell satellite service. The idea is to be able to make phone calls directly via satellite, wherever you are, especially in so-called dead zones not currently served by a regular cellular network, such as deserts, mountains or oceans. Indeed, the Starlink constellation of low-earth orbit satellites has the potential to offer worldwide cellular coverage.

Despite this authorization, there are still a number of hurdles to overcome before this service can see the light of day, as the FCC has not responded favorably to all Starlink’s requests. For example, in order to offer optimal telephony and live video services, it will be necessary to exceed current radio emission limits.

As a simple illustration, let’s say someone wanted to create a tomato sauce recipe, optimizing vitamin C and using sustainable tomatoes within a certain cost range. Journey Foods then taps into its database to generate an optimal recipe, and will continually push recommendations of top suppliers.

“Essentially, when people go to ChatGPT or something, and they’re asking them, ‘write this paper for me, or give me a social media post, speak to this audience,’ or whatever, right? It’s the same thing with our generative recipe recommendations,” Lynn said.

Except Lynn doesn’t use ChatGPT. Systems such as ChaptGPT gather data from the open internet, but Journey Foods gets its data from research institutions, academic journals, suppliers and manufacturers. Lynn said her business uses a lot of private, hard data that’s unstructured, with her company then giving it structure and doing so globally.

The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron pegs the odds of “go for launch” weather at 85%. Chief meteorological risks include thick cloud layers and liftoff winds, coupled with a low-to-moderate risk of upper-level wind shear.

Check back for live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team launch coverage updates on this page, starting about 90 minutes before the launch window opens. When SpaceX’s live webcast kicks off about five minutes before liftoff, look for it posted below the countdown clock.

The Defense Department has released a new strategy document that gives global military installations the ability to use private 5G networks if such solutions best meet their mission needs.

The Pentagon’s private 5G deployment strategy, which was signed on Oct. 16 and publicly released on Tuesday, outlined the operational requirements that must be met for DOD bases to embrace private networks instead of commercial high-speed solutions.

In a foreword to the guidance, DOD Acting Chief Information Officer Leslie Beavers called the new document an addendum to the department’s 5G strategy and implementation plan that were released in 2020. That previously issued guidance outlined the need for DOD to leverage the use of “private, hybrid and public 5G networks” to enhance its operational and data-sharing capabilities across the globe.

How long until humans are made redundant by the evolution of technology? Is there an inherent difference between men and women’s intelligence? Daniel Dennett answers questions from the audience following his talk. Watch the main event here: • Information, Evolution, and intellige…
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The concept of information is fundamental to all areas of science, and ubiquitous in daily life in the Internet Age. However, it is still not well understood despite being recognised for more than 40 years. In this talk, Daniel Dennett explored steps towards a unified theory of information, through common threads in evolution, learning, and engineering.

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Data is power. According to Dinesh Bharadia, an associate professor at UC San Diego in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering with an affiliate appointment in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Qualcomm Institute (QI), “data will be the next decade’s ‘silicon.’”

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things means that data is more readily available and easily accessible than ever. Sensors, “smart” devices and software connect our world to the cloud, gathering information and enabling new types of data sharing and analysis. However, most of these tools are battery-powered and have difficulty sensing changes in real time.

Now, the tide is turning.

Kim Kardashian introduces Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, to her social media followers, sparking widespread online reactions. The playful interactions, including a game of rock-paper-scissors, showcase the robot’s impressive capabilities.