Lifeboat News: The Blog – Safeguarding Humanity

Nimbus drone can withstand anything

Jan 13
2018

This is an indestructible drone.

Sophia takes her first steps

Jan 13
2018

I think i would rather see the Sophia head stuck on the ATLAS current body. Than have everyone try to constantly re invent the humanoid robot body wheel.

WATCH: Sophia the robot takes her first steps at #CES2018 (Via CNET)

Y Combinator will give you $1 million to try to cure aging

Posted by Dan Kummer in biotech/medical, economics, life extension, neuroscience

Jan 13
2018

The famed startup incubator Y Combinator put out a call for companies that want to increase human longevity and “health span.”

Who they want: Founders with new ideas for treating old-age diseases like Alzheimer’s, “but we will also consider more radical anti-aging schemes,” YC president Sam Altman told MIT Technology Review.

Why longevity? Efforts to stop old age don’t actually get funded much. “My sense is that economic incentives of drugs companies are screwed up” says Altman. “I don’t think we have enough people saying, How can we make a lot of people a lot heathier?”

Toyota has unveiled a crazy self-driving vehicle

Posted by Shailesh Prasad in business, robotics/AI, transportation

Jan 13
2018

Toyota revealed a self-driving concept vehicle, the e-Palette, at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Monday.

The electric, box-shaped vehicle will come in three sizes. The largest will be around the size of a bus and be able to haul freight and make large deliveries, while the smallest will be compact enough to travel on sidewalks. Toyota envisions the e-Palette will serve a variety of potential uses, allowing businesses to deliver goods, transport people, or use the vehicle as a mobile storefront or office.

Mercedes-Benz Rolls Out a New Assistant in Infotainment Systems

Posted by Shailesh Prasad in transportation

Jan 13
2018

Rather than focus on the specs of upcoming vehicles, the most interesting part of Mercedes-Benz’s CES presentation came when the automaker said it built its own assistant for the car.

GM plans car without a steering wheel or pedals for 2019

Posted by Shailesh Prasad in transportation

Jan 13
2018

Smart, efficient news worthy of your time, attention, and trust.

Walmart ditches checkout lines

Posted by Shailesh Prasad in futurism

Jan 13
2018

Walmart is ditching the checkout line by allowing customer to scan and pay for items.

3 Brain Technologies to Watch in 2018

Posted by Shailesh Prasad in neuroscience

Jan 13
2018

“Neural dust,” thought-powered typing and mini-brains generate academic and corporate interest.

By Sharon Begley on December 28, 2017

Light-Based Computers May Soon Become a Reality

Posted by Shailesh Prasad in computing

Jan 13
2018

Optical computers would be extremely fast, more energy efficient, and could store far more information than electronic ones.

Developing a secure, un-hackable net

Posted by Shailesh Prasad in cybercrime/malcode, quantum physics

Jan 13
2018

A method of securely communicating between multiple quantum devices has been developed by a UCL-led team of scientists, bringing forward the reality of a large-scale, un- hackable quantum network.

To date, communicating via quantum networks has only been possible between two devices of known provenance that have been built securely.

With the EU and UK committing €1 billion and £270 million respectively into funding quantum technology research, a race is on to develop the first truly secure, large-scale network between cities that works for any quantum device.