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Apr 5, 2016
Scientists have just discovered a new state of matter
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in categories: particle physics, quantum physics
Researchers have just discovered evidence of a mysterious new state of matter in a real material. The state is known as ‘quantum spin liquid’ and it causes electrons — one of the fundamental, indivisible building blocks of matter — to break down into smaller quasiparticles.
Scientists had first predicted the existence of this state of matter in certain magnetic materials 40 years ago, but despite multiple hints of its existence, they’ve never been able to detect evidence of it in nature. So it’s pretty exciting that they’ve now caught a glimpse of quantum spin liquid, and the bizarre fermions that accompany it, in a two-dimensional, graphene-like material.
“This is a new quantum state of matter, which has been predicted but hasn’t been seen before,” said one of the researchers, Johannes Knolle, from the University of Cambridge in the UK.
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Apr 4, 2016
FCC to stop ISPs from tracking you without consent
Posted by Karen Hurst in category: privacy
This could definitely lead to other areas being controlled which could impact how companies can collect even demographics and profile online users for online ads, etc. Also, makes me wonder if we could even see a clamping down on how malls, stores, etc. collect data about consumers. I see major trickle down impacts from this.
The new rules make it nearly impossible for ISPs to track any information about your online activities, other than for network maintenance purposes.
Apr 4, 2016
Toyota forms company to make technology simpler
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: biotech/medical, habitats, health, singularity, transportation
Very nice goal to have “all things connected” in Toyota’s and Microsoft’s case is “Singularity” lite meaning physical structures are connected; however, bio connection does not exist (only consumer profile information is available and integrated). This could be considered an interim state for Singularity.
The company called Toyota Connected has a goal of simplifying technology so it’s easier to use, perhaps even getting rid of distracting and complicated touch screens that now are in most cars and replacing them with heads-up or voice-activated technology, said Zack Hicks, the company’s CEO who also is Toyota Motor America’s chief information officer. Like other automakers, Toyota Connected will research connecting cars to each other and to homes, as well as telematics features that learn and anticipate a driver’s habits. The company, like other automakers, will explore transmitting a driver’s health data to a doctor or driving patterns to an insurance company so people are insured based on where they travel, Toyota said.
Apr 4, 2016
CT Cosmos to Set up $150m Solar Power Project in Plateau
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: government, solar power, sustainability
Good; more opportunity for the region.
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos.
Panyam community of Mangu local government area of Plateau State came up alive at the weekend as they came out enmasse to receive CT Cosmos Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Communication Towers Ltd, which has indicated interest in establishing a massive Solar plant power project of over $150 million in the community.
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Apr 4, 2016
Mysterious Fast Radio Burst ‘Afterglow’ Was A Supermassive Black Hole
Posted by Karen Hurst in category: cosmology
The next step was to then look a bit more closely at the host galaxy. In this case, the scientists found that there was a persistent radio source in the galaxy. If it had been an afterglow, it should have faded away rather than continuing as the scientists observed.
“What the other team saw was nothing unusual,” said Edo Berger, one of the researchers involved in the new study. “The radio emission from this source goes up and down, but it never goes away. That means it can’t be associated with the fast radio burst.”
So what did the emission come from? It was likely from an active center of a galaxy. This center is powered by a supermassive black hole, similar to our own Milky Way galaxy. Twin jets shot out from the black hole, and can create a constant source of the radio waves that the researchers spotted.
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Apr 4, 2016
Admiral Ackbar Voice Actor Erik Bauersfeld Dies At 93
Posted by Karen Hurst in category: futurism
May the force be with him; RIP erik bauersfeld aka admiral ackbar.
Erik Bauersfeld, who provided Admiral Ackbar’s voice in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Return of the Jedi,” was 93.
Apr 4, 2016
Self-Driving Robot Promises To Revolutionize Local Deliveries
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: drones, government, robotics/AI, security
We’re already seeing amazing things in the delivery services space for consumers with drones and self-navigating delivery services by companies like Dominos, etc. I cannot wait until we see more self check in hotels, resorts, and more 24×7 automated stores. Everything will be great, as long as security is great.
This self-driving robot can take the grocery-shopping burden off your shoulders and deliver your goods to your doorstep. Starship Technologies has already launched the intelligent robot and delivery trials have started in Greenwich, London.
Starship Technologies was founded by the same people who founder Skype. Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis plans to reshape local deliveries and also lend a hand in zero-emission deliveries worldwide.
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Apr 4, 2016
CRISPR Dispute Raises Bigger Patent Issues That We’re Not Talking About
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: bioengineering, biotech/medical, genetics, law, robotics/AI
Good read; and highlights fair arguments around science and technology innovations and their patents. CRISPR was highlighted; however, the same can be applied to things like AI. What happens when a Humanoid robot owned by an investment bank innovates and develops new technology for Wall Street? The humanoid robot was (in this example) created by Microsoft; however, is owned by a Goldman Sachs. Who truly owns this new technology innovation? Could we see Goldman Sachs owning 70% of the patent & Microsoft owning 30%?
The worlds of science, technology and patent law eagerly await the U.S. government’s decision on who deserves patents on what many have referred to as the biotechnology invention of the century: the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique.
Scientists hail CRISPR/Cas9 as more accurate and efficient than other, now-traditional genetic engineering methods. As a result, CRISPR has generated worldwide debate about how it could accelerate the manipulation of plants, animals and even human beings at the molecular level. That some DNA modifications can be passed on to future generations raises particular concern.
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Apr 4, 2016
Quantum computing: Game changer or security threat?
Posted by Karen Hurst in categories: computing, finance, quantum physics, security
Definitely a game changer; security threat depends on who gets the technology adopted on a broad scale first prior to other countries (China? USA? Australia? Russia? UK? CAN?, etc.)
Quantum computing offers financial institutions the prospect of faster transactions and lower trading costs, but is it also a threat to security?