One of the world’s largest package delivery companies is stepping up efforts to integrate drones into its system.
UPS has partnered with robot-maker CyPhy Works to test the use of drones to make commercial deliveries to remote or difficult-to-access locations.
The companies began testing the drones on Thursday, when they launched one from the seaside town of Marblehead. The drone flew on a programmed route for 3 miles over the Atlantic Ocean to deliver an inhaler at Children’s Island.
As you’ve probably heard, there’s a live-action version of the classic manga The Ghost in the Shell with Scarlett Johansson coming next year, and now the first teasers have arrived.
The spots, which initially aired during tonight’s Mr. Robot season finale, are glitchy and weird; impressionistic moments rather than traditional teasers. (As somebody that grew up on ‘90s visions of our inevitable cyberpunk future, it’s an aesthetic I happen to personally enjoy. The only shame is that Ralph Fiennes isn’t around to sling some black market MiniDisc memories.)
Of course, stylized teasers can’t erase the one thing that has undeniably defined the new version of Ghost in the Shell thus far: its casting controversy. When it was first announced that Scarlett Johansson would be starring in the film, there was concern among fans that a white actor was taking the lead role in a story that is considered quintessentially Japanese. When the first still photo from the film showing Johansson appeared, the concerns over the film’s whitewashing only intensified.
A self-driving car may someday have to decide between your life and the lives of others. But how should the car choose? If you don’t know how to make that decision, that’s okay — Washington doesn’t either.
That’s one big takeaway in a new, lengthy document from the Department of Transportation that lays out options to make autonomous vehicles safer–and represents the most public sign of the attention self-driving cars are getting from politicians despite their inability to vote.
Is building our own starship Enterprise possible? Will we ever travel between the stars as easily as they do in Star Trek? JJ Abrams’ new feature, Star Trek Into Darkness, hits the screen in a golden age of scientific discoveries. HISTORY is there, giving viewers a deep look behind the scenes, on the set, and into the science–amazing new exoplanets, the physics of Warp drive, and the ideas behind how we might one day live in a Star Trek Universe.
An annual competition has been launched to assist companies aiming to solve world issues with synthetic biology.
Bio-start offers the winner a combination of £100k cash as well as laboratory space, professional services and a 10 week accelerator programme with mentorship valued at approximately £100k.
Dr Stephen Chambers, CEO of SynbiCITE, one of the companies involved in the founding of the competition said: “This is a first in the UK for synthetic biology and our aim is to help as many companies and entrepreneurs as we can. Once applications have been assessed up to twenty-five businesses will go through our ten-week boot-camp and mentoring programme. Up to ten will go through to the final awards evening where they’ll have a chance to pitch their ideas to an expert panel in front of an audience of investors and industry leaders.”
A team of researchers at MIT and other institutions have developed miniature freeze-dried pellets that possess all of the molecular machinery required to convert DNA into proteins, which could form the basis for on-demand production of vaccines and drugs.
The pellets, which hold several enzymes and other molecules extracted from cells, can be stored for prolonged period of time at room temperature. When water and freeze-dried DNA are added, the pellets start to produce proteins encoded by the DNA.
It’s a modular system that can be programmed to make what you need, on the spot. You could have hundreds of different DNA pellets you can add in the field.
“The combination of natural (leaves) and artificial (photovoltaic cell and electronic components), and the need to make these components communicate with each other, are complex engineering challenges that required us to join forces,” said Avner Rothschild, researcher at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, at Haifa, in Israel.
