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Dec 19, 2019

Scientists create contact lenses that shoot laser beams

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Scientists have created contact lenses which allow the wearer to shoot lasers from their eyes like Superman.

The ultra-thin membranes are placed on the iris and produce a green beam which can shine up to 20 inches from the eye.

Scientists said the beam of light could be used to help in a medical setting or to check for counterfeit banknotes.

Dec 19, 2019

The Universe Really Is Fine-Tuned, And Our Existence Is The Proof

Posted by in category: alien life

Somehow, the Universe began with just the right mix of cosmic ingredients to make life possible. It sure doesn’t seem likely.

Dec 19, 2019

Los Angeles wants to build a hydrogen-fueled power plant. It’s never been done before

Posted by in category: energy

O.o.


If L.A. succeeds, a hydrogen-burning Intermountain Power Plant could become a model for governments and electric utilities around the world.

Dec 19, 2019

An unreleased smartphone just leaked with a design like nothing we’ve ever seen before

Posted by in category: mobile phones

Huawei has already confirmed that its new P40 series phones will be unveiled next March in Paris, France, revealing that we’re in for a never-before-seen design for the new handset. That’s a wild claim considering that you can’t really do much more with phone design nowadays. Foldable phones are already a thing, and the first prototypes of devices that feature in-display cameras were revealed months ago — the latter is the holy grail we need for perfect all-screen designs. Huawei didn’t explain what design novelties it has in mind for the upcoming P40 series, but the phone seemingly just leaked and we might have an answer for you.

Dec 19, 2019

Dangerous Feedback Loops in ML

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

How machine learning models can alter societal behaviors.

Dec 19, 2019

Hubble Gets Its Closest Look Yet at Approaching Interstellar Comet

Posted by in category: asteroid/comet impacts

NASA has released photos showcasing the best view of 2I/Borisov we’re ever going to get. The comet is the second interstellar visitor to our solar system since ‘Oumuamua shot through in 2017.

Dec 19, 2019

Is Preventive Genomics Elitist?

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics, health

The answer is essentially yes … in the short term.


If you’re an apparently healthy person who wants to learn about your genetic disease risks, you can send a saliva sample and a hundred bucks or so to an array-based direct-to-consumer genetic testing company and get some trait information and selected health risks, plus details about your genetic ancestry. But as the direct-to-consumer (DTC) companies themselves will tell you, this is only a fraction of the medical value that may be hidden in your genome. Many of the experts in both ancestry and medical genomics will suggest that since consumer facing genomics are not as comprehensive as those meeting medical standards, it is quite OK for consumers to pay for these products out of their own pockets.

Continue reading “Is Preventive Genomics Elitist?” »

Dec 19, 2019

Ageing is reversible and humans could ‘live for centuries’ according to study

Posted by in category: life extension

Changes to gene activity in mice show the ageing process can be slowed or even reverse, leading to hopes it could be replicated in humans.

Dec 19, 2019

Princeton student breaks Guinness World Record for quadcopter

Posted by in category: drones

12th grader, Zechen Wei broke the Guinness World Record for the fastest quadcopter to ascend to 100 meters or about 300 feet with a record time of 2.732 seconds. Wei is a senior at Princeton International School of Mathematics who has always had a passion for drones.

Dec 19, 2019

Engineers reveal ‘invincible’ autonomous robot insect that can’t be flattened

Posted by in categories: cyborgs, robotics/AI

A team in Switzerland has created a soft robotic insect that can withstand a multitude of hits from a flyswatter.

A new soft robotic insect could one day form part of a swarm designed to perform a number of different tasks. A team from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland developed the insect and showed it is incredibly durable, even when being battered by a flyswatter.

Continue reading “Engineers reveal ‘invincible’ autonomous robot insect that can’t be flattened” »