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Jul 27, 2021

Militaries are plundering sci-fi for technology ideas

Posted by in categories: cyborgs, military, terrorism

But while science fiction provides military planners with a tantalizing glimpse of future weaponry, from exoskeletons to mind-machine interfaces, the genre is always about more than flashy new gadgets. It’s about anticipating the unforeseen ways in which these technologies could affect humans and society – and this extra context is often overlooked by the officials deciding which technologies to invest in for future conflicts.

Imagined worlds

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Jul 27, 2021

DeepMind: Generally capable agents emerge from open-ended play

Posted by in categories: entertainment, robotics/AI

I’ve been suggesting for a long time to drop these Ai’s into open world games.


EDIT: Also see paper and results compilation video!

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Jul 27, 2021

Robots are making progress on space exploration, along with billionaires

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, solar power, space travel, sustainability

What i would suggest is landing Atlas robots in waves on the Moon, the first wave builds a solar panel farm for power, the second repairs the first wave, the third joins the first two to begin building large scale runways, the fourth joins the first three to begin building permanent structures.

The Moon is close enough for teleoperations, and in the 2030s, when we actually do Mars, the AI could repeat the whole thing there.

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Jul 27, 2021

DeepMind’s Epistemic Neural Networks Open New Avenues for Uncertainty Modelling in Large and Complex DL Systems

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Although effective uncertainty estimation can be a key consideration in the development of safe and fair artificial intelligence systems, most of today’s large-scale deep learning applications are lacking in this regard.

To accelerate research in this field, a team from DeepMind has proposed epistemic neural networks (ENNs) as an interface for uncertainty modelling in deep learning, and the KL divergence from a target distribution as a precise metric to evaluate ENNs. In the paper Epistemic Neural Networks, the team also introduces a computational testbed based on inference in a neural network Gaussian process, and validates that the proposed ENNs can improve performance in terms of statistical quality and computational cost.

The researchers say all existing approaches to uncertainty modelling in deep learning can be expressed as ENNs, presenting a new perspective on the potential of neural networks as computational tools for approximate posterior inference.

Jul 27, 2021

World’s first unreinforced 3D-printed concrete bridge displayed in Venice

Posted by in categories: 3D printing, materials

A first-of-its-kind 3D-printed concrete bridge has been unveiled in Venice, Italy. The bridge is a demonstration of a new 3D printing method resulting in a structure requiring no mortar or steel reinforcement.

The bridge was developed as part of a collaboration between ETH Zurich and Zaha Hadid Architects’ Computation and Design Group. The unreinforced structure was created by 3D-printing concrete blocks using a novel type of concrete ink produced by a company called Holcim.

“This precise method of 3D concrete printing allows us to combine the principles of traditional vaulted construction with digital concrete fabrication to use material only where it is structurally necessary without producing waste,” explains Philippe Block, a researcher from ETH Zurich.

Jul 27, 2021

Tesla’s Elon Musk ponders 12V lithium-ion battery replacements for older cars

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, sustainability, transportation

Elon Musk recently hinted at a very welcome and simple update for Tesla’s vehicles, especially those which have already replaced their 12-volt batteries in the past. According to the CEO, Tesla would be looking into the idea of equipping older vehicles with a 12-volt lithium-ion battery, similar to the Model S Plaid.

Musk’s update came as a response to Tesla owner Rich Teer, who inquired if it was possible to have the company’s older vehicles be equipped with the company’s newer 12-volt lithium-ion battery. This was a good point considering that the conventional 12-volt lead-acid battery used in vehicles like the Model 3 and Model Y tend to get discharged, in some cases, multiple times per year.

In his response, Musk stated that Tesla would try to roll out such an initiative, especially as it would be beneficial for the company’s cars. A 12-volt lithium-ion battery would last far longer than a conventional lead-acid battery, after all, and according to Musk, Tesla’s goal is to reduce service in its vehicles anyway. “Unlike other makers of cars, our goal is *not* to profit from service. Best service is not needing service in the first place,” Musk noted.

Jul 27, 2021

You need to see the Solar System’s most dazzling planet shine its brightest

Posted by in category: space

The August skies are going to be gorgeous.


The planet Saturn will reach a moment of alignment with Earth and the Sun known as “opposition” in August 2021 and appear especially bright in the sky.

Jul 27, 2021

Next-generation artificial heart implanted in first U.S. patient

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Surgeons at Duke University Hospital have successfully implanted a next-generation artificial heart in a 39-year-old man with heart failure, becoming the first medical team in North America to perform the procedure.

Jul 27, 2021

Sergey Young — Founder, Longevity Vision Fund — Longevity Venture Partner, BOLD Capital Partners

Posted by in categories: finance, life extension, Peter Diamandis

The science and technology of growing young — sergey young, founder, longevity vision fund.


Sergey Young (https://sergeyyoung.com/) is a longevity investor, visionary, and author, with a mission to help one billion people extend their healthy lifespans by making longevity affordable and accessible for everyone. As part of this mission, he is the Founder of the Longevity Vision Fund (LVF — https://lvf.vc/), a $100 Million venture capital fund that invests in technologies with the potential to disrupt life sciences and healthcare to help people live longer and healthier lives.

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Jul 27, 2021

Jeff Bezos offers NASA $2billion in exchange for moon contract

Posted by in category: space travel

JEFF Bezos has offered NASA $2 billion in exchange for a contract to allow astronauts to land on the moon.

The Amazon founder made his offer to administrator Bill Nelson in an open letter on Monday, a week after his own historic rocket launch.

Billionaire Bezos wrote: Blue Origin is committed to building a future where millions of people live and work in space to benefit the Earth.