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Aug 31, 2015

Here’s why Elon Musk fears the ‘robocalypse’ — By Shawn Langlois/ Marketwatch

Posted by in category: Elon Musk

The comment seems to have been made at least partly in jest, but Elon Musk has been very clear in the past that the dangers posed by artificial intelligence are no laughing matter.

So why not killer robots?

“And people wonder why I’m worried about the robocalypse…” Musk wrote in this Instagram post over the weekend. As you can see by the caption, he’s talking about a Tesla TSLA, +0.23% production line comprised of 542 robots, with 15 operating at the same time. Read more

Aug 31, 2015

5G, one wireless technology to rule them all?

Posted by in category: internet

The progress from 2G to 3G, and from 3G to 4G LTE has been primarily about improvements to the standards related to cellular technology. However the move from 4G to 5G could be quite different. …But, there is more to 5G than just super fast cellular tech. There is an active and open discussion going on to see if 5G can in fact become the de facto for all wireless standards. No more Wi-Fi, no more Bluetooth, no more 4G LTE, just 5G, one wireless technology to rule them all.


There is an active discussion going on to see if 5G can become the de facto for all wireless standards. No more Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or 4G LTE, just 5G.

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Aug 31, 2015

Double black hole is powering quasar, astronomers find

Posted by in categories: cosmology, space

Astronomers have discovered a galaxy is being powered by a quasar that contains two black holes whirling about each other.

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Aug 31, 2015

Life Might Spread Across Universe Like an ‘Epidemic’ in New Math Theory

Posted by in category: alien life

As astronomers get closer to finding potential signatures of life on faraway planets, a new mathematical description shows how to understand life’s spread — and to determine if it’s jumping from star to star. “Life could spread from host star to host star in a pattern similar to the outbreak of an epidemic,” study co-author Avi Loeb of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) said in a statement.

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Aug 31, 2015

‘Decorated’ graphene is a superconductor

Posted by in category: materials

Lithium-doped graphene turns out to be a conventional superconductor with a transition temperature of 5.9 K.


Depositing lithium on 2D material generates Cooper pairs.

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Aug 31, 2015

Quantum revolution: China set to launch ‘hack proof’ quantum communications network

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, particle physics, security

China is set to complete the installation of the world’s longest quantum communication network stretching 2,000km (1,240miles) from Beijing to Shanghai by 2016, say scientists leading the project. Quantum communications technology is considered to be “unhackable” and allows data to be transferred at the speed of light.

By 2030, the Chinese network would be extended worldwide, the South China Morning Post reported. It would make the country the first major power to publish a detailed schedule to put the technology into extensive, large-scale use.

The development of quantum communications technology has accelerated in the last five years. The technology works by two people sharing a message which is encrypted by a secret key made up of quantum particles, such as polarized photons. If a third person tries to intercept the photons by copying the secret key as it travels through the network, then the eavesdropper will be revealed by virtue of the laws of quantum mechanics – which dictate that the act of interfering with the network affects the behaviour of the key in an unpredictable manner.

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Aug 31, 2015

Let’s End Incarceration and Just Have Drones Supervise Criminals

Posted by in categories: computing, drones, law enforcement, robotics/AI

New article on how tech can help achieve free education while also shrinking the prison system:


Micro drones, robot guards, and tracking chips will turn convicts into tax-paying, law-abiding citizens.

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Aug 31, 2015

How Technology Is Fueling The Push Toward Solar

Posted by in category: sustainability

Solar energy in the United States has seen immense momentum throughout the years. When the Solar Energy Industries Association released its annual report in 2008, it concluded that U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached a total of 1.183 gigawatts — a stellar achievement at the time.

Contrast that figure with today, and the number is dwarfed by the United States’ installed capacity of 21.3 gigawatts, enough energy to power 4.3 million homes.

As to what is powering this widespread adoption, one only needs to look at the residential market. According to recently released research by GTM, 72 percent of the market growth in 2014 is a result of solar tech companies offering diverse financing solutions and easy-to-navigate web platforms. Going solar for homeowners has become as easy as online shopping.

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Aug 31, 2015

Seasteading 20 Questions, 20 Answers, 20 Seconds Each = PechaKucha! | The Seasteading Institute

Posted by in category: governance

Aug 30, 2015

Honda’s Asimo: the penalty-taking, bar-tending robot

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Auto Express’ Mat Watson meets Honda’s robot Asimo in Brussels, where he plays football, dances and serves a drink!

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