New Prototype Device Generates Hydrogen From Untreated Seawater

Scientists have found a clever way to generate hydrogen straight from salty seawater. This could be another step towards a clean energy future, if renewables power the process. The new device makes a few chemical modifications to existing technologies, making it possible to extract hydrogen from untreated, unpurified seawater – which could alleviate concerns about using precious water supplies. “We have split natural seawater into … Continue reading New Prototype Device Generates Hydrogen From Untreated Seawater

Google unveils its ChatGPT rival, Bard AI

On Monday Google announced they were launching their own artificial intelligence chatbot technology called Bard, and the company said it will begin unveiling the platform in the coming weeks. The announcement will peak the interest of another artificial intelligence service called OpenAI, whose rival ChatGPT will now directly compete with Google’s new version. The following is from CNN: Google on Monday unveiled a new chatbot … Continue reading Google unveils its ChatGPT rival, Bard AI

Cosmic seaplanes and self-growing bricks could help us explore other worlds

In the golden age of space exploration we live in, cosmic revelations seem to occur more frequently than ever before. This week, astronomers discovered a rarity: two stars that could one day collide and produce showers of gold. The possibility of finding celestial wonders such as this one, however, took years of innovation and good old-fashioned elbow grease. It raises the question of what will … Continue reading Cosmic seaplanes and self-growing bricks could help us explore other worlds

Fully autonomous passenger planes are inching closer to takeoff

The world’s biggest commercial aircraft makers seem increasingly convinced that autonomous passenger flight is a question of when, not if. Flying today’s high-tech passenger jets is often a matter of setting up and overseeing their autopilot and other automated systems — but we’re not yet at a point where computer systems can entirely replace human pilots. “Autonomy is going to come to all of the airplanes … Continue reading Fully autonomous passenger planes are inching closer to takeoff

How the Supreme Court could soon change free speech on the internet

This year, the U.S. justice system, including the Supreme Court, will take on cases that will help determine the bounds of free expression on the internet in ways that could force the hand of Musk and other platform owners who determine what messages get distributed widely. The boundaries they will consider include the extent of platforms’ responsibility to remove terrorist content and prevent their algorithms … Continue reading How the Supreme Court could soon change free speech on the internet

Human microchip implants take center stage

The novelty of replacing one’s “home key” with a microchip implant is gaining worldwide interest, but there’s another more compelling story under the surface. Why is this technology — an integrated circuit the size of a grain of rice — reviled by some and celebrated by self-proclaimed human cyborgs? Arguably, William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” offers the most elegant explanation: “Nothing is neither good nor bad, but … Continue reading Human microchip implants take center stage

Scientists redirect lightning strikes using a weather-controlling super laser

Scientists in France have created a way to divert lightning strikes using a weather-controlling super laser. Researchers with the Polytechnic Institute of Paris guided the strikes from thunderclouds to places where they don’t cause damage. The team says the new technique could save power stations, airports, launchpads, and other buildings from disaster. The system creates a virtual lightning rod, metal conductors that intercept flashes and … Continue reading Scientists redirect lightning strikes using a weather-controlling super laser

Humans in 2100 could be ageless bionic hybrids

HUMANS in the next 100 years could be part-machine, part-flesh creatures with brain chips and bionic limbs and organs in a vision of “cyborgs” once described by Elon Musk. Men and women born around 2100 could live in a world very different to ours as humans may be totally connected to the internet and meshed together with artificial intelligence. Mobile phones would no longer be … Continue reading Humans in 2100 could be ageless bionic hybrids

U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’

The Department of Energy plans to announce Tuesday that scientists have been able for the first time to produce a fusion reaction that creates a net energy gain — a major milestone in the decades-long, multibillion-dollar quest to develop a technology that provides unlimited, cheap, clean power. The aim of fusion research is to replicate the nuclear reaction through which energy is created on the … Continue reading U.S. to announce fusion energy ‘breakthrough’

Musk’s Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests

Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a medical device company, is under federal investigation for potential animal-welfare violations amid internal staff complaints that its animal testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and sources familiar with the investigation and company operations. Neuralink Corp is developing a brain implant it hopes will help paralyzed people walk again and cure other neurological … Continue reading Musk’s Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests

Hackers linked to Chinese government stole millions in Covid benefits, Secret Service says

Hackers linked to the Chinese government stole at least $20 million in U.S. Covid relief benefits, including Small Business Administration loans and unemployment insurance funds in over a dozen states, according to the Secret Service. The theft of taxpayer funds by the Chengdu-based hacking group known as APT41 is the first instance of pandemic fraud tied to foreign, state-sponsored cybercriminals that the U.S. government has … Continue reading Hackers linked to Chinese government stole millions in Covid benefits, Secret Service says

San Francisco will allow police to deploy robots that kill

Supervisors in San Francisco voted Tuesday to give city police the ability to use potentially lethal, remote-controlled robots in emergency situations — following an emotionally charged debate that reflected divisions on the politically liberal board over support for law enforcement. The vote was 8-3, with the majority agreeing to grant police the option despite strong objections from civil liberties and other police oversight groups. Opponents … Continue reading San Francisco will allow police to deploy robots that kill

Elon Musk’s Neuralink Set to ‘Show and Tell’ Latest Brain-Computer Advances at Event

Elon Musk‘s neuroscience startup Neuralink Corp. is expected to give a progress report on its brain-implant technology in a highly anticipated streamed event Wednesday night.  In a tweet last week, the company teased a demo for the event, which begins at 9 p.m. New York time, with a short video that slowly spelled out the message “please join us for a show and tell.” Some … Continue reading Elon Musk’s Neuralink Set to ‘Show and Tell’ Latest Brain-Computer Advances at Event

Scientists Revive 48,500-Year-Old ‘Zombie Virus’ Buried In Permafrost

The thawing of ancient permafrost due to climate change may pose a new threat to humans, according to researchers who revived nearly two dozen viruses – including one frozen under a lake more than 48,500 years ago. European researchers examined ancient samples collected from permafrost in the Siberia region of Russia. They revived and characterized 13 new pathogens, what they termed “zombie viruses,” and found … Continue reading Scientists Revive 48,500-Year-Old ‘Zombie Virus’ Buried In Permafrost

Google provided FBI with location data as part of federal investigation into attack on US Capitol

The FBI’s biggest-ever investigation included the biggest-ever haul of phones from controversial geofence warrants, court records show. A filing in the case of one of the January 6 suspects, David Rhine, shows that Google initially identified 5,723 devices as being in or near the US Capitol during the riot. Only around 900 people have so far been charged with offenses relating to the siege. The … Continue reading Google provided FBI with location data as part of federal investigation into attack on US Capitol

White House Studies Blocking Sun to Stop ‘Climate Change’

On Oct. 13, the White House announced that it was funding a five-year-research plan into one of the most controversial proposals for fighting climate change out there: geoengineering, or the technologies and innovations that can be used to artificially modify the Earth’s climate. The report will be dedicated specifically to a form of geoengineering known as solar radiation management. This is a technique that essentially … Continue reading White House Studies Blocking Sun to Stop ‘Climate Change’

Invasion of the office robots!

Naver — a soup-to-nuts internet conglomerate in South Korea — has been experimenting with integrating robots into office life for several months. Inside a futuristic, starkly industrial, 36-story high-rise on the outskirts of Seoul, a fleet of about 100 robots cruise around on their own, moving from floor to floor on robot-only elevators and sometimes next to humans, rolling through security gates and entering meeting … Continue reading Invasion of the office robots!

Driverless taxis running 24-hours-a-day in San Francisco

DRIVERLESS taxi service Cruise has expanded its San Francisco operational times to daytime hours. This 24-hour availability will be offered to the organization’s employees before expanding to the public. There are now around 70 active Cruise vehicles in San Francisco, TechCrunch reports. Cruise San Francisco fares require a $5 base fee and $0.90 per mile, plus $0.40 per minute rates. Cruise began charging its passengers fares in … Continue reading Driverless taxis running 24-hours-a-day in San Francisco

Amazon launches virtual healthcare clinic in U.S. for common ailments

Amazon.com Inc on Tuesday launched Amazon clinic, a virtual platform where users can connect with healthcare providers to help treat common ailments like allergies and skin conditions. Amazon said its new service would operate in 32 states, where customers who seek treatment, will be connected to healthcare providers. The service does not include health insurance and pricing will vary depending on providers, it added. The … Continue reading Amazon launches virtual healthcare clinic in U.S. for common ailments

Hackers leak Australian health records on dark web

Sydney: Hackers on Wednesday began leaking sensitive medical records stolen from a major Australian health insurer that had earlier refused to pay the group’s ransom demand. Medibank told investors and customers that a “sample” of data from some 9.7 million clients had been posted on a “dark web forum”. Names, birth dates, addresses, passport numbers and information on medical claims were among the sensitive personal … Continue reading Hackers leak Australian health records on dark web