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Nov 6, 2019

Opinion: It’s arrogant to assume humans will never imbue AI with consciousness

Posted by in categories: quantum physics, robotics/AI

Cogito, ergo sum,” Rene Descartes. Translation: “I think, therefore I am.”

What makes us, us? How is it that we’re able to look at a tree and see beauty, hear a song and feel moved, or take comfort in the smell of rain or the taste of coffee? How do we know we still exist when we close our eyes and lie in silence? To date, science doesn’t have an answer to those questions.

In fact, it doesn’t even have a unified theory. And that’s because we can’t simulate consciousness. All we can do is try to reverse-engineer it by studying living beings. Artificial intelligence, coupled with quantum computing, could solve this problem and provide the breakthrough insight scientists need to unravel the mysteries of consciousness. But first we need to take the solution seriously.

Nov 6, 2019

Quantum Computer Made from Photons Achieves a New Record

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics

The limited system made a notable advancement on the road to beating classical machines.

Nov 6, 2019

Voyager 2 Makes an Unexpectedly Clean Break from the Solar System

Posted by in category: space travel

The first scientific results from the spacecraft’s exit into interstellar space have been published, revealing a simpler departure than its predecessor.

Nov 6, 2019

Crispr Takes Its First Steps in Editing Genes to Fight Cancer

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

So far, a procedure that turbocharges the immune system to attack tumors seems safe, but it’s too soon to tell whether it helps patients.

Nov 6, 2019

New technologies promise sharper artificial vision for blind people

Posted by in category: futurism

Researchers hone techniques to restore sight by stimulating the retina or brain.

Nov 6, 2019

What Shape Is the Universe? A New Study Suggests We’ve Got It All Wrong

Posted by in category: space

Most every cosmologist believes the universe is flat. A new analysis argues that it’s closed.

Nov 6, 2019

Everything We Know About the Shape of the Universe Might Be Wrong

Posted by in category: cosmology

Everything we think we know about the shape of the universe could be wrong. Instead of being flat like a bedsheet, our universe may be curved, like a massive, inflated balloon, according to a new study.

That’s the upshot of a new paper published today (Nov. 4) in the journal Nature Astronomy, which looks at data from the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the faint echo of the Big Bang. But not everyone is convinced; the new findings, based on data released in 2018, contradict both years of conventional wisdom and another recent study based on that same CMB data set.

Related: From Big Bang to Present: Snapshots of Our Universe Through Time.

Nov 6, 2019

Harley-Davidson electric bicycles get their first public debut

Posted by in category: transportation

Harley-Davidson hasn’t been shy when it comes to talking about its ambitious electric bicycle goals. In fact, Harley-Davidson electric bicycles are a big part of the More Roads to Harley Davidson plan.

Nov 6, 2019

Adidas Partners With NASA To Produce Boost Midsoles On The ISS

Posted by in category: space

Adidas and other brands are sending products to the ISS for NASA ‘testing’.

Nov 6, 2019

Adjusting Gut Bacteria to Combat Cognitive Decline

Posted by in categories: health, neuroscience

A new paper explores adjusting the types of bacteria in the gut as a potential way to improve health in older people.

The microbiome

The gut microbiome is a fascinating and diverse ecosystem filled with a myriad of bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, and viruses that interact with each other and our bodies in diverse and complex ways.