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Dec 28, 2021

Black Holes of All Shapes and Sizes in Largest Catalog of Gravitational Wave Events Ever Assembled

Posted by in categories: cosmology, physics

The largest catalog of gravitational wave events ever assembled has been released by an international collaboration that includes Penn State researchers. Gravitational waves are ripples in space time produced as aftershocks of huge astronomical events, such as the collision of two black holes. Using a global network of detectors, the research team identified 35 gravitational wave events, bringing the total number of observed events to 90 since detection efforts began in 2015.

The new gravitational wave events were observed between November 2019 and March 2020, using three international detectors: The two Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a large-scale physics experiment and observatory supported by the National Science Foundation and operated by Caltech and MIT. It’s designed to detect cosmic gravitational waves and to develop gravitational-wave observations as an astronomical tool. It’s multi-kilometer-scale gravitational wave detectors use laser interferometry to measure the minute ripples in space-time caused by passing gravitational waves. It consists of two widely separated interferometers within the United States—one in Hanford, Washington and the other in Livingston, Louisiana.

Dec 28, 2021

‘Bigbug’ Trailer: Jean-Pierre Jeunet Makes Netflix Debut with Raunchy Robot Comedy

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, sex

In 2050, artificial intelligence is everywhere. So much so that humanity relies on it to satisfy its every need and every desire — even the most secret and wicked…

In a quiet residential area, four domestic robots suddenly decide to take their masters hostage in their own home. Locked together, a not-quite-so-blended family, an intrusive neighbour and her enterprising sex-robot are now forced to put up with each other in an increasingly hysterical atmosphere! While, outside, the Yonyx, the latest generation of androids, are trying to take over. As the threat draws closer, the humans look elsewhere, get jealous, and rip into each other under the bewildered eyes of their indoor robots. Maybe it’s the robots who’ve got a soul — or not!

Continue reading “‘Bigbug’ Trailer: Jean-Pierre Jeunet Makes Netflix Debut with Raunchy Robot Comedy” »

Dec 28, 2021

Samples from Asteroid Ryugu Are Most Primitive Material We’ve Found

Posted by in categories: materials, space

The material that the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft returned from asteroid Ryugu is the most pristine sample we’ve ever gotten our hands on.

Tests at two laboratories show that the dark grains that the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft collected from the carbon-rich near-Earth asteroid 162,173 Ryugu are the most primitive materials known in the solar system.

“In this body you see hydrated materials and signs of organics from very early in the formation of the solar system — that’s exciting!” says Deborah Domingue (Planetary Science Institute), who was not involved in those studies but did earlier analysis of remote sensing data of Ryugu.

Dec 28, 2021

Moonbike’s light electric snowmobile is bringing its electric snow sports to the US

Posted by in category: transportation

The French company Moonbike is preparing to bring its fun-looking snow transporter to the US, just in time for winter riding.

The Moonbike may have “bike” in its name, though it’s hard to call it a true snow bike.

But don’t let that rear track fool you. It’s not really a traditional snowmobile either, in that it rides on a single forward ski instead of two.

Dec 28, 2021

Watch As Elon Musk Completely Owns Elizabeth Warren

Posted by in category: Elon Musk

Elon Musk took Senator Elizabeth Warren to task in this interview with The Babylon Bee on whether he pays enough in taxes or if he is a freeloading bum.

See the rest of the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvGnw1sHh9M

Dec 28, 2021

Boosting AI research: Will artificial brains replace human ones?

Posted by in categories: business, education, robotics/AI

It’s a major initiative, led by Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, which aims to boost higher education and research programs. The academic leadership program wants the country’s higher education centers to become more attractive to foreign students and scientists. Priority 2030 opened for business this summer, and after several months, over one hundred Russian universities were chosen as participants. All of them would get at least 100 million rubles ($1.4 million) annually for the development of their projects. Dozens of participants also applied for special grants, which provide the opportunity to receive up to 1 billion rubles ($13.6 million) annually.


There is a wide range of areas where artificial intelligence technology may be of use. All of these areas require qualified staff, and educating them is becoming a priority for Russian universities.

Dec 27, 2021

Elon Musk, SpaceX face online backlash in China after space station near-misses

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, satellites

Musk and SpaceX faced online backlash in China after a note sent to the UN revealed the company’s satellites almost collided with China’s space station in 2021.

Dec 27, 2021

First power achieved on world’s largest offshore windfarm

Posted by in categories: food, sustainability

Officials with the Danish energy company Ørsted have announced that they have achieved first power on the Hornsea 2 project—a new windfarm off the coast of England in the North Sea. As part of their announcement, posted on the company’s web page, officials noted that once the windfarm is fully operational, it will represent the largest windfarm in the world.

Hornsea 2, as its name implies, is the second segment of a four-segment project. Hornsea 1 became operational last year and is currently the largest offshore —with its 174 turbines, the farm has a capacity of 1.2-GW—enough to power over a million homes in the U.K.

Hornsea 2 was approved for construction back in 2016—it will feature 165 8-MW turbines made by Siemens, which will give it a capacity of 1.32 GW. The offshore substation and reactive stations have been installed and tested while construction continues on the turbines. The windfarm will be located approximately 90 kilometers off the coast of Grims, England, which is not far from Leeds and Sheffield. Once the windfarm is fully operational, it will deliver power to a substation at Killingholme. The project will involve stringing cable under 390 kilometers of ocean water and then 40 kilometers of land before reaching the substation. Hornsea 2 will also be breaking another record—it will be located farther away from shore than any other large-scale windfarm.

Dec 27, 2021

CPUs Could Use 85 Percent Fewer Transistors With New Adaptive Tech

Posted by in categories: computing, futurism

A team of Viennese researchers has developed what likely amounts to the future of classical computing: Intelligent transistors. By tapping into the element Germanium, these transistors are much more efficient and can reduce the number of transistors required for the same computational work by a staggering 85%.

Dec 27, 2021

Is Reality a Controlled Hallucination? — with Anil Seth

Posted by in categories: biological, computing, neuroscience

How does our biology give rise to the experience of consciousness?
Anil’s new book “Being You” is available now: https://geni.us/anil.
Watch the Q&A: https://youtu.be/JZS39CaODTs.

Anil Seth argues, using innovative combinations of theory and experiment, that our brains are prediction machines inventing our world and correcting our mistakes by the microsecond. Anil’s new perspective on consciousness has shed light on the nature of the self, free will, the intimate relationship between being alive and being aware — and the possibility of conscious machines.

Continue reading “Is Reality a Controlled Hallucination? — with Anil Seth” »