Page 9851
Jun 1, 2018
Synthetic molecule super-effective against superbugs
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: biotech/medical, existential risks, robotics/AI
Forget zombies or killer robots – the most likely doomsday scenario in the near future is the threat of superbugs. Bacteria are evolving resistance to our best antibiotics at an alarming rate, so developing new ones is a crucial area of study. Now, inspired by a natural molecule produced by marine microorganisms, researchers at North Carolina State University have synthesized a new compound that shows promising antibacterial properties against resistant bugs.
Decades of overuse and overprescription of antibiotics has led to more and more bacteria becoming resistant to them, and the situation is so dire that a recent report warned that they could be killing up to 10 million people a year by 2050. Worse still, the bugs seem to be on schedule, with the ECDC reporting that our last line of defense has already begun to fail in large numbers.
Jun 1, 2018
Europe’s science spending set for another big boost
Posted by Derick Lee in categories: innovation, science
Next week’s proposals are unlikely to contain major surprises, because the commission has unveiled its main ideas over the past months, in particular its overall 7-year budget plan, issued on 2 May. Although Horizon Europe will keep Horizon 2020’s main features, the commission has laid the groundwork for several novelties, including a new agency to tackle the continent’s perennial innovation problem and a big, separate push on collaborative defense research. But contentious negotiations lie ahead. The United Kingdom is negotiating the terms of its impending exit from the European Union, and some member states want to tighten budgets. Meanwhile, research advocates want more generous spending, noting the low application success rates in Horizon 2020—a frustrating 11.9% so far.
Commission seeks €97.6 billion for “Horizon Europe”.
Jun 1, 2018
This May Be The Biggest Economic And Social Shift Of The Last 100 Years. Are You Ready?
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in categories: economics, robotics/AI, transportation
The changes coming in driverless vehicles are just the tip of the iceberg. What’s yet to come is nothing short of unimaginable!
Jun 1, 2018
Satya Nadella touts Microsoft’s research on brain implants
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in category: neuroscience
Microsoft’s CEO said the company could potentially use technology to help people with locked-in syndrome.
May 31, 2018
Doctors Are Using Stem Cells To Cure Visual Impairment
Posted by Shane Hinshaw in categories: biotech/medical, futurism
May 31, 2018
TIME’s Latest Cover Photo is a Drone Photo of 958 Drones
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: drones, entertainment
TIME magazine’s latest issue is a special report on the rapid explosion of drones in our culture. For the cover photo, TIME recreated its iconic logo and red border using 958 illuminated drones hovering in the sky. It’s the first-ever TIME cover captured with a camera drone.
To create the photo, TIME partnered with Intel’s Drone Light Show team (which creates beautiful sky displays using hundreds of drones at a time) and Astraeus Aerial Cinema Systems to fly and capture (respectively) the 958 drones above Folsom, California (where Intel has a campus).
Continue reading “TIME’s Latest Cover Photo is a Drone Photo of 958 Drones” »
May 31, 2018
ASUS’ latest crypto-mining motherboard can handle 20 GPUs
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: computing, cryptocurrencies
ASUS is moving further into the cryptocurrency hardware market with a motherboard that can support up to 20 graphics cards, which are typically used for mining. The H370 Mining Master uses PCIe-over-USB ports for what ASUS says is sturdier, simpler connectivity than other mining-focused motherboards.
You can manage each port and graphics card with on-board diagnostics. One feature scans your system when you boot up to determine the status of each port, while there are onboard LEDs that signify a problem with components such as memory or the processor (there’s space for an Intel 8th-gen Core CPU). ASUS has added some other features to optimize mining as well.
The H370 Mining Master follows last year’s B250 Mining Expert, which had room for 19 CPUs via PCIe ports. ASUS says that board had far more sales than it expected, which prompted the company to keep traveling down the crypto road and evolve its mining-tailored motherboards. The latest board will ship later this year, though ASUS has yet to announce pricing. You might need to fork over several Ethereum coins to buy enough graphics cards for all those spaces, though.
Continue reading “ASUS’ latest crypto-mining motherboard can handle 20 GPUs” »
May 31, 2018
This Is Why Physicists Think String Theory Might Be Our ‘Theory Of Everything’
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: quantum physics
In 2015, Ed Witten, the greatest living string theorist, wrote a piece on why. Here’s the version for everyone.
May 31, 2018
World’s Biggest AI Startup Raises $1.2 Billion in Mere Months
Posted by Genevieve Klien in category: robotics/AI
SenseTime Group Ltd. has raised $620 million at a valuation of more than $4.5 billion just months after scoring a similar amount from investors led by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Singapore’s state investment firm.