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May 20, 2017

Plasma jet engine breakthrough heralds beginning of new era in space travel

Posted by in categories: innovation, space travel

A major new breakthrough in jet propulsion technology could revolutionize the aerospace industry, paving the way for plasma jet engines that could carry a craft to the edge of space using only air and electricity.

Berkant Göksel, the lead researcher in a new study by the Technical University of Berlin, says his team have successfully completed tests on plasma engines that could take future aircrafts to altitudes of 30 miles (50km) and beyond.

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May 20, 2017

Join me today at Moogfest from 4:30PM to 6PM at Carolina Theatre, Cinema 1, 309 W Morgan St, Durham, NC 27701

Posted by in categories: life extension, transhumanism

I’m talking #transhumanism, liberty, the Immortality Bus, politics, and overcoming death w/ science. I’ll be making a tribute to my recently deceased father too. There will be a Q & A after. http://sched.co/AGbE & https://moogfest2017.sched.com/artist/info6094

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May 20, 2017

Volvo’s Self-Driving Garbage Truck Wants Your Trash

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, transportation

The truck also offers “major environmental upsides,” Volvo said, since “gear changing, steering and speed are constantly optimized for low fuel consumption and emissions.”

Volvo plans to test the autonomous truck with Renova through the end of the year.

Continue reading “Volvo’s Self-Driving Garbage Truck Wants Your Trash” »

May 20, 2017

Researchers design moisture-responsive workout suit

Posted by in category: futurism

No sweat: MIT researchers have designed bioLogic, moisture-responsive activewear — a workout suit and running shoe — with ventilating flaps lined with humidity-sensing cells. The flaps open and close in response to an athlete’s sweating.

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May 20, 2017

Bitcoin closes in on (US) $2000; Why it matters

Posted by in categories: bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, economics, finance, government

At the beginning of 2016, Bitcoin was fairly steady at $430. Richelle Ross predicted that it would finish the year at $650. She would have been right, if the year had ended in November. During 2016, Bitcoin’s US dollar exchange rose from $433 to $1000. In the past 2 months (March 24~May 20, 2017), Bitcoin has tacked on 114%, rising from $936 to $2000. [continue below image]…

If this were stock in a corporation, I would recommend liquidating or cutting back on holdings. But the value of Bitcoin is not tied to the future earnings or property value of an organization. In this case, supply demand is fueled—in part—by speculation. Yes, of course. But, it is also fueled by a two-sided network built on the growing base of utilitarian adoption. And not just an adoption fad, but adoption that mirrors the shift in our very understanding of bookkeeping, trust and transparency.

Despite problems of growth, governance and regulation, Bitcoin is more clearly taking its place as the future of money. Even if it never becomes “legal tender” in any country—and is used only as a mechanism of payments and settlement, it is still woefully undervalued. $2000 is not an end-game. It is a beginning.

Philip Raymond co-chairs Crypsa & The Bitcoin Event. He is columnist & board member at Lifeboat Foundation,
editor at WildDuck and is delivering the keynote address at the 2017 Digital Currency Summit in Johannesburg.

May 20, 2017

Intel’s Next CPUs Have 100 Million Transistors Per Square Millimeter: A Generation Ahead Of AMD?

Posted by in category: computing

Moore’s Law is alive and ahead of schedule.


Intel claims Moore’s Law is alive and well and that it’s a generation ahead of the competition.

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May 19, 2017

Arctic stronghold of world’s seeds flooded after permafrost melts

Posted by in categories: climatology, sustainability

No seeds were lost but the ability of the rock vault to provide failsafe protection against all disasters is now threatened by climate change.

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May 19, 2017

Is There an AI President in Our Future? That Might Be an Upgrade

Posted by in categories: futurism, robotics/AI

An artificial Intelligence would consider all the facts before making the most rational decision for the greatest good. What could possibly go wrong?

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May 19, 2017

An AI invented a bunch of new paint colors that are hilariously wrong

Posted by in category: robotics/AI

Ronching blue or stummy beige? —

An AI invented a bunch of new paint colors that are hilariously wrong.

Let’s just say this neural network won’t make you fear the robot uprising.

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May 19, 2017

Something Weird Is Happening to the ‘Alien Megastructure’ Star

Posted by in category: alien life

Tabby’s star, famous for its inexplicable dips in brightness, is going through one of those dips right now.

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