In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Alex Rosenberg joins our host Boomer Anderson to give one-cent solutions to life’s $64,000 questions that include:\
\
What are the definitions of scientism and naturalism?\
Is there such a thing as free will, and if so, what implications does it have on the search for purpose in life?\
What is nice nihilism?\
\
Alex Rosenberg is an American philosopher and novelist. He is the R. Taylor Cole Professor of Philosophy at Duke University, and is well known for contributions in the philosophy of biology, as well as the philosophy of economics. He has also written several books, including \.
Get the latest international news and world events from around the world.
Hybrid Biocomputer Fuses Human Brain Tissue With Computer Chips
Scientists have fused human brain tissue to a computer chip, creating a mini cyborg in a petri dish that can perform math equations and recognize speech.
Dubbed Brainoware, the system consists of brain cells artificially grown from human stem cells, which have been fostered to develop into a brain-like tissue. This mini-brain organoid is then hooked up to traditional hardware where it acts as a physical reservoir that can capture and remember the information it receives from the computer inputs.
The researchers wanted to explore the idea of exploiting the efficiency of the human brain’s architecture to supercharge computational hardware. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has massively increased the demand for computing power, but it’s somewhat limited by the energy efficiency and performance of the standard silicon chips.
Quantum-inspired tech teleports data with light, like ‘Star Trek’
“Now, it is possible to teleport information so that it never physically travels across the connection — a “Star Trek” technology made real,” said researcher.
Scientists have been making discoveries in the quantum computing realm. In another leap, researchers successfully deployed the principles of quantum physics and transported information in the form of light patterns without physically moving the image itself.
According to a statement by the researchers, scientists demonstrated the quantum transport of the highest dimensionality of information to date. Particularly highlighting, the use of a teleportation-inspired configuration so that the information does not physically travel between the two communicating parties.
Entangling photons and nonlinear optical detector
Researchers used a special method that involved entangled photons and a nonlinear optical detector.
Scientists deploy SMuRFs, army of robots for safe nuclear plant cleanup
“These kinds of autonomous robotic fleets have a great deal of potential to undertake a wide range of dangerous, dirty, dull, distant, and dear jobs,” say researchers.
Scientists from multiple universities have created Symbiotic Multi-Robot Fleet (SMuRF), a system that allows diverse robots to collaborate, performing challenging tasks unsafe for humans at nuclear sites.
Tesla’s big reveal: Wireless inductive home charger for EVs on the way
Tesla sparks innovation with wireless inductive home charging for EVs, signaling a bold leap toward a self-driving future.
December 2023 has been a rollercoaster for Tesla, with over two million vehicle recalls due to Autopilot issues. However, Tesla remains committed to advancing autonomous driving technology, and its latest move hints at a futuristic approach – wireless inductive home charging for electric vehicles (EVs).
Teasing a wireless future
Tesla’s interest in wireless charging was hinted at in March during the Investor Day event, where a promotional image showcased what appeared to be a charging mat in a home garage. In a recent episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” featuring the Tesla Cybertruck, Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen and VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy confirmed the company’s foray into wireless charging technology.
NASA sends cat video over 19 million miles using laser
In a groundbreaking experiment, NASA has successfully sent a 15-second, high-definition cat video over 19 million miles to Earth from space.
NASA has sent an ultra-high definition, 15-second-long cat video over 19 million miles (over 30 million km), the space agency said on Monday. This was not done for fun, though the video choice is undoubtedly some in-joke, but rather an experiment for its Deep Space Optical Communications. The video was beamed to Earth from its $1.2 billion Psyche asteroid probe launched in October 2023.
Cat vids over the void
The probe is on a six-year-long mission and is set to travel around 2.2 billion miles (3.6 billion km) during its mission. Pysche is scheduled to rendevous with a rare, metal-rich asteroid that may explain how the cores of rocky planets like Earth first formed. The video of a cat called “Taters” was uploaded to the probe before launch and was sent to Earth on December 11 as a side mission to its main task.
China’s secret aircraft deployed 6 ‘mysterious wingmen’ in space
Just four days after arriving in Earth’s orbit, China’s Shenlong space plane has been observed releasing six enigmatic “wingmen.”
China’s Shenlong (meaning “Divine Dragon”) robotic space plane has something strange four days after it arrives in Earth’s orbit.
In an unexpected move, China’s Shenlong space plane has been observed deploying 6 ‘wingmen’ objects, some of which are chatting.
Meet Mugatu: A steerable bipedal robot with a single motor
Using two rigid bodies and one actuator, the research team at CMU has revolutionized walking in robots.
Larger robots can do some heavy lifting but cannot be used in disaster zones where one needs to look through the rubble and look for signs of life.
Meet RoboCob, Scotland’s first robot stallion to train horse riders
RoboCob can simulate jumps up to 1.20 meters, elevating equestrian training with instant feedback through integrated screens.
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has debuted a state-of-the-art robotic horse in a leap forward for equestrian education. This cutting-edge creation is set to advance the way equestrian students undergo training, offering a meticulously crafted and technologically advanced solution.
Named RoboCob by students and developed in association with Chesire-based Racewood Equestrian Simulators, the £100,000 machine stands as the first of its kind in the country, promising a secure yet highly effective platform for riders to refine their jumping techniques and master dressage skills. Boasting the capability to simulate jumps of up to 1.20 meters, RoboCob takes equestrian training to new heights by providing immediate feedback through its integrated screens.