Menu

Blog

Page 2799

Dec 17, 2022

Norwegian companies submit record $20.5 billion fossil fuel investment plans amid Russia-Ukraine war

Posted by in category: energy

This does not bode well for eco-friendly renewables.

Last month, Europe supported a call by India to phase down fossil fuel use as part of a COP27 deal. Now, partially due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, it seems to be changing its mind.

These projects amount to total investments of more than NOK 200 billion (around $20.

Continue reading “Norwegian companies submit record $20.5 billion fossil fuel investment plans amid Russia-Ukraine war” »

Dec 17, 2022

Nuclear fusion: How scientists can improve after latest breakthrough

Posted by in categories: innovation, nuclear energy

U.S. Department of Energy.

The U.S. Department of Energy said on December 13, 2022, that for the first time – and after several decades of trying – scientists have managed to get more energy out of the process than they had to put in.

Dec 17, 2022

What is ChatGPT? The AI chatbot talked up as a potential Google killer

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

After all, the AI chatbot seems to be slaying a great deal of search engine responses.

ChatGPT is the latest and most impressive artificially intelligent chatbot yet. It was released two weeks ago, and in just five days hit a million users. It’s being used so much that its servers have reached capacity several times.

But what if we never know the secret sauce behind ChatGPT’s capabilities?

Continue reading “What is ChatGPT? The AI chatbot talked up as a potential Google killer” »

Dec 17, 2022

How do wind turbines spin during winter? The science behind frozen blades

Posted by in categories: energy, physics, science, sustainability

Building a wind power operation that can thrive in icy conditions requires a keen understanding of the underlying physics.

Winter is supposed to be the best season for wind power — the winds are more potent, and since air density increases as the temperature drops, more force is pushing on the blades. But winter also comes with a problem: freezing weather.

Continue reading “How do wind turbines spin during winter? The science behind frozen blades” »

Dec 17, 2022

John Carmack is leaving Meta

Posted by in categories: entertainment, virtual reality

Carmack, known for his work in VR and on classic games like Doom and Quake, is stepping down from his consulting CTO role at Meta.

John Carmack, a titan of the technology industry known for his work on virtual reality as well as classic games like Doom.

Carmack originally joined Oculus as CTO in 2013, after helping to promote the original Oculus Rift prototypes that he received from Palmer Luckey, and got pulled into Meta when the company (then Facebook) acquired Oculus in 2014.

Continue reading “John Carmack is leaving Meta” »

Dec 17, 2022

Uber Eats Deploys Sidewalk Delivery Robots In Miami And Robotaxis In Vegas Just In Time For CES

Posted by in categories: food, robotics/AI

It’s been two years since Uber called it quits trying to make its own driverless cars, but the ride-hauling giant is now speeding to market with a distributed fleet of delivery robots and autonomous vehicles thanks to a recent flurry of partnerships.

Those attending the world’s largest technology show, CES, might have a chance to ride in an all-electric self-driving Uber from Motional, a Hyundai-backed startup based out of Boston. The companies just announced a 10-year agreement to bring millions of autonomous rides across the Uber network. Following deployment in Las Vegas, a broader rollout is being planned for Los Angeles. Motional’s Hyundai IONIQ 5 robotaxis have been making Uber Eats deliveries in Santa Monica since May as part of a pilot.

In Miami, Uber Eats is rolling out sidewalk delivery robots with Cartken’s AI-powered carriers. The robotics company founded by ex-Google engineers currently operates across college campuses with food delivery services like GrubHub. The Uber Eats partnership will be its first beyond college campuses.

Dec 17, 2022

VR mastermind John Carmack leaves Meta for good and goes all in on AGI

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, virtual reality

Metaverse was a huge, company destroyin, blunder. Smart move this decade is Drop Everything else and chase Agi.


VR pioneer John Carmack is leaving Meta for good. With his departure, the industry loses a visionary and an important voice.

Carmack published his farewell letter on Facebook after parts of the email were leaked to the press.

Continue reading “VR mastermind John Carmack leaves Meta for good and goes all in on AGI” »

Dec 17, 2022

Stentrode brain computer interface online in first two human patients

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing, cyborgs, finance, neuroscience

Synchron, a neurovascular bioelectronics medicine company, today announced publication of a first-in-human study demonstrating successful use of the Stentrode™ brain-computer interface (BCI), or neuroprosthesis. Specifically, the study shows the Stentrode’s ability to enable patients with severe paralysis to resume daily tasks, including texting, emailing, shopping and banking online, through direct thought, and without the need for open brain surgery. The study is the first to demonstrate that a BCI implanted via the patient’s blood vessels is able to restore the transmission of brain impulses out of the body, and did so wirelessly. The patients were able to use their impulses to control digital devices without the need for a touchscreen, mouse, keyboard or voice activation technology. This feasibility study was published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery (JNIS), the leading international peer-review journal for the clinical field of neurointerventional surgery, and official journal of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS).

Dec 17, 2022

Paul Thagard — Substrate-Independent Minds

Posted by in categories: life extension, robotics/AI

Is digital immortality possible by uploading your mind? Dr. Paul Thagard discusses Neuralink, artificial intelligence, mind uploading, simulation theory, and the challenges involved with whole brain emulation.

Dr. Paul Thagard is a philosopher, cognitive scientist, and author of many interdisciplinary books. He currently teaches as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo, where he founded and directed the Cognitive Science Program.

Continue reading “Paul Thagard — Substrate-Independent Minds” »

Dec 17, 2022

Does gravity make you age more slowly?

Posted by in category: futurism

If you’re at sea level, or you age more slowly or faster than someone at the top of Mount Everest?