discuss Science & Technology news & discussion

[CraigD]

Post and discuss interesting articles & videos about science and technology.

You don't need to be an expert - just interested in the wonders of modern science, technology, and the history of these fields.

Please keep it rational, and post articles from reputable sources.
Try not to editorialise headlines and keep the copy to just a paragraph with a link to the original source. When quoting excerpts from articles, I think the best method is to italicise the copy, and include a link to the source.

Have some fun with your comments and discussions... just keep the sources legitimate.

Other threads:
The Break Room has a number of other popular threads, so there is no need to post material here that is better suited to these other threads:

- Covid19-Coronavirus updates and news
- Conspiracy Thread Free For All
- The *religious* discussion thread

Please enjoy!

 

[Cal2]

Ameca Humanoid Robot AI Platform​

based on Mesmer technology

I don't know..... This seems one advancement I'd be willing to do without. I'd prefer robots to stay looking like robots.

 

[Cal2]

Reality – not science fiction.​

Terms like “slaughterbots” and “killer robots” remind people of science fiction movies like the The Terminator, which features a self-aware, human-like, robot assassin. This fuels the assumption that lethal autonomous weapons are of the far–future.
But that is incorrect.
In reality, weapons which can autonomously select, target, and kill humans are already here.
A 2021 report by the U.N. Panel of Experts on Libya documented the use of a lethal autonomous weapon system hunting down retreating forces. Since then, there have been numerous reports of swarms and other autonomous weapons systems being used on battlefields around the world.
The accelerating rate of these use cases is a clear warning that time to act is quickly running out.

https://autonomousweapons.org/

 

[Cal2]

The future of the $447 billion space industry in 15 incredible pictures​

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Suborbital tourism has grabbed the headlines, but it has overshadowed the infrastructure being built. According to research from the VC firm Space Capital, investors poured almost $25 billion into hundreds of aerospace startups through the first nine months of 2021. This money is funding such things as small satellites that can provide high-resolution images of Earth for identifying methane leaks contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. On the ground, new methods for creating and launching the rockets that deliver those satellites into space are being engineered to be lighter, cheaper, and even portable, via 3D printing advances, which could have wide implications for all manufacturing.

The companies we feature here—ABL Space Systems, Relativity Space, and Millennium Space Systems—have clustered south of L.A. Call it the new Rocket Row, or Space Beach, as locals do. They’re working to advance production techniques as well as improve the frequency and flexibility of orbital missions. As Musk presaged, success in this realm is not guaranteed. But these companies are using space to try to improve life on Earth—and pushing the bounds of the human experience in the process.

https://www.fastcompany.com/9069447...ass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:12/03/2021_fc

 

[Cal2]

https://thebrain.com/​

What's New in TheBrain 12?​

TheBrain 12 makes connecting information virtually effortless. With discovery of related content, automatic display of backlinks and a redesigned content area, your ideas and knowledge will come to life like never before. Users worldwide are hailing this as the most exciting upgrade of TheBrain ever.

https://thebrain.com/products/thebrain/thebrain12

 

[koolishman]

Finally, a Fusion Reaction Has Generated More Energy Than Absorbed by The Fuel

A major milestone has been breached in the quest for fusion energy.

For the first time, a fusion reaction has achieved a record 1.3 megajoule energy output – and for the first time, exceeding energy absorbed by the fuel used to trigger it.

And, just as hydrogen fuses into heavier elements in the heart of a main-sequence star, so too does the deuterium and tritium in the fuel capsule. The whole process takes place in just a few billionths of a second. The goal is to achieve ignition – a point at which the energy generated by the fusion process exceeds the total energy input.

The experiment, conducted on 8 August, fell just short of that mark; the input from the lasers was 1.9 megajoules. But it's still tremendously exciting, because according to the team's measurements, the fuel capsule absorbed over five times less energy than it generated in the fusion process.

 

[koolishman]

Green ammonia electrolysis breakthrough could finally kill Haber-Bosch ​

Scientists at Australia's Monash University claim to have made a critical breakthrough in green ammonia production that could displace the extremely dirty Haber-Bosch process, with the potential to eliminate nearly two percent of global greenhouse emissions.

 

[koolishman]

THC in blood and saliva are poor measures of cannabis impairment​

 

[koolishman]

Researchers at the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative have analysed all available studies on the relationship between driving performance and concentrations in blood and saliva of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the intoxicating component of cannabis.

The surprising results indicate that blood and oral fluid THC concentrations are relatively poor or inconsistent indicators of cannabis-induced impairment.

This contrasts with the much stronger relationship between blood alcohol concentrations and driving impairment. The findings have implications for the application of drug-driving laws globally, the researchers say.

 

[koolishman]

Chimps, like humans, show signs of uncertainty when faced with a hard choice​

Chimpanzees have amazing spatial memory and are capable of outperforming humans in some memory tests. The fact that they were highly accurate in picking the correct item during these tests came as no surprise. One chimp – ‘Kofi’ picked the right option in more than 95% of trials, ‘Alex’ did so in more than 93% of trials and ‘Jahaga’ in more than 81% of trials.

Interestingly, researchers found that as the choice became more difficult chimps also wavered more between choices. They moved their finger back and forth between the two options, unable to decide – a clear sign of uncertainty. Based on their finding, researchers speculate that chimpanzees experience uncertainty in ways similar to humans.

 

[koolishman]

Living robots evolve to procreate in "astounding" scientific breakthrough​

​

​

Scientists behind the world's first living robots have learned that these xenobots can reproduce and generate offspring, in a discovery that they say could help to explain the origin of life on Earth.​

 

[koolishman]

New type of earthquake discovered ​

The recently discovered seismic events are slower than conventional earthquakes. Their existence supports a scientific theory that until now had not been sufficiently substantiated by measurements.

To date, researchers have explained the occurrence of earthquakes in the hydraulic-fracturing process with two processes. The first says that the fluid pumped into the rock generates a pressure increase substantial enough to generate a new network of fractures in the subsurface rocks near the well. As a result, the pressure increase can be large enough to unclamp existing faults and trigger an earthquake. According to the second process, the fluid pressure increase from injection in the subsurface also exerts elastic stress changes on the surrounding rocks that can be transmitted over longer distances. If the stress changes occur in rocks where faults exist, it can also lead to changes that cause the fault to slip and cause an earthquake.

 

[J Sokol]

The richest 10% produce half of greenhouse gas emissions. They should pay to fix the climate​

Let’s face it: our chances of staying under a 2C increase in global temperature are not looking good. If we continue business as usual, the world is on track to heat up by 3C at least by the end of this century. At current global emissions rates, the carbon budget that we have left if we are to stay under 1.5C will be depleted in six years. The paradox is that, globally, popular support for climate action has never been so strong. According to a recent United Nations poll, the vast majority of people around the world sees climate change as a global emergency. So, what have we got wrong so far?

Let’s first look at the facts: 10% of the world’s population are responsible for about half of all greenhouse gas emissions, while the bottom half of the world contributes just 12% of all emissions. This is not simply a rich versus poor countries divide: there are huge emitters in poor countries, and low emitters in rich countries.

https://www.theguardian.com/comment...isis-unless-we-also-take-on-global-inequality

 

[J Sokol]

Tropical forests can regenerate in just 20 years without human interference​

Tropical forests can bounce back with surprising rapidity, a new study published today suggests.

An international group of researchers has found that tropical forests have the potential to almost fully regrow if they are left untouched by humans for about 20 years. This is due to a multidimensional mechanism whereby old forest flora and fauna help a new generation of forest grow – a natural process known as “secondary succession”.

These new findings, published in Science, could play an important role in climate-breakdown mitigation and provide actionable advice on how to act next. They also suggest that it is not too late to undo the damage that humanity has done through catastrophic climate change over the last few decades.

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...e-in-just-20-years-without-human-interference

 

[J Sokol]

‘Warehouses in their backyards’: when Amazon expands, these communities pay the price

Last year, with little warning, a new Amazon delivery station brought the rumble of semi-trailer trucks and delivery vans to Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood.

The warehouse, located within 1,500 feet of five schools, is in a residential area where more than half the people within a mile have low incomes and nearly 90% are Hispanic.

The neighborhood is one of hundreds across the US where Amazon’s dramatic expansion has set in motion huge commercial operations. Residents near the new warehouses say they face increased air pollution from trucks and vans, more dangerous streets for kids walking or biking and other quality-of-life issues such as clogged traffic and near-constant noise.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/09/when-amazon-expands-these-communities-pay-the-price

 

[Cal2]

6 Steps for Creating a Game Changer​

"Take the qualities I’ve mentioned above and apply them to the following framework and you’ll find ah-ha moments a bit easier to come by. The following 6 steps represent my personal process for finding and implementing game changers – I call it SMARTS

(Simple-Meaningful-Actionable-Relational-Transformational-Scalable):

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemy...leaders-create-game-changers/?sh=388b754558b6

 

[J Sokol]

Sailing away: superyacht industry booms during Covid pandemic​

In an era of environmental awareness and conspicuous displays of sustainability, you might not expect a rise in the number of people with the means and appetite for a £50m floating fortress of solitude.

But, in part because of the coronavirus crisis, the superyacht industry is booming – and the number of vessels under construction or on order worldwide has hit a new record. According to figures revealed in the latest edition of Boat International’s Global Order Book, more than 1,200 superyachts are slated to be built – a rise of 25% on last year.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/12/superyacht-industry-booms-during-covid-pandemic

 

[Cal2]

Can Indoor Farms Reach Skyscraper Height?​

A proposed Shenzhen skyscraper would include a 51-story hydroponic farm, as hopes grow that vertical farms can help address food insecurity.

Carlo Ratti, an architect who runs MIT’s Senseable City Lab, is proposing a 51-story skyscraper for China’s technology hub of Shenzhen with a large-scale vertical hydroponic farm inside that can produce crops like salad greens, berries and tomatoes to feed up to 40,000 people per year.

The proposed tower, which would include other amenities like office space, a supermarket and a food court, is being shortlisted for Chinese hypermarket chain Wumart’s new headquarters.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...ter&utm_term=211214&utm_campaign=citylabdaily

 

[J Sokol]

Bugs across globe are evolving to eat plastic, study finds​

Microbes in oceans and soils across the globe are evolving to eat plastic, according to a study.

The research scanned more than 200m genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic.

The study is the first large-scale global assessment of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria and found that one in four of the organisms analysed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations.

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...globe-are-evolving-to-eat-plastic-study-finds

 

[J Sokol]

Amazon’s plastic waste soars by a third during pandemic, Oceana report finds​

Amazon’s plastic packaging waste soared by almost a third, to 270,000 tonnes, during the pandemic last year, according to a report from marine conservation group Oceana.

Oceana estimates up to 10,700 tonnes of this plastic, including air pillows, bubble wrap and plastic-lined paper envelopes, equivalent to a delivery van’s worth every 67 minutes, is likely to end up in the sea.

Amazon, the western world’s largest retailer, rejected Oceana’s figures and said it had overestimated the plastic waste by 300%. It also questioned the model used to estimate the percentage likely to enter the sea. It did not provide alternative figures.

https://www.theguardian.com/environ...-by-a-third-amid-pandemic-finds-oceana-report

 

[J Sokol]

Fall in fertility rates may be linked to fossil fuel pollution, finds study​

Decreasing fertility rates may be linked to pollution caused by fossil fuel burning, a review of scientific studies has found.

Over the past 50 years childbirth has steadily decreased. The study focused on Denmark, but the trend is also seen in other industrialised nations. One in 10 Danish children are born with assisted reproduction and more than 20% of men never have children, according to the researchers. This decrease seems to have started at the beginning of industrialisation. Experts have warnedthe trend could lead to an unbalanced demographic with too few younger people to support the older generations.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...y-be-linked-fossil-fuel-pollution-finds-study

 

[Cal2]

This tech uses seawater to fight climate change—and stops another ocean disaster in the process​

The ocean can suck up a lot of carbon (good!) but that process makes the water dangerously acidic (bad!). Ebb Carbon has found a way to put more carbon in, while lowering the acidity levels at the same time​

Nearly a third of the CO2 that humans pump into the atmosphere ends up in the ocean. That’s helping slow down climate change—at least for now—but as the water absorbs so much extra carbon dioxide, it’s also becoming more acidic and harming marine life, especially animals with shells like oysters and mussels. Along the West Coast, acidification is happening twice as fast as the global average.


A new startup wants to accelerate the ocean’s ability to remove CO2, while simultaneously making the water less acidic. “The natural cycle of the ocean has the ability to absorb a tremendous amount of CO2 in the form of natural bicarbonate,” says Ben Tarbell, CEO of the startup, called Ebb Carbon, who previously led a team working on new climate tech at X, Alphabet’s innovation arm. “If we can just boost that process through electrochemistry, we can safely and durably sequester a lot of carbon for a long time.”

https://www.fastcompany.com/9070659...d-stops-another-ocean-disaster-in-the-process

 

[koolishman]

A millipede with 1,300 legs has been found in Australia. It's a new record by far​

The researchers counted them all and one specimen of the newly discovered Eumillipes persephone has a total of 1,306 legs. That easily outpaces the previous record holder, a millipede with 750 legs. That millipede was first described in 1928 but it was long thought extinct until being found alive in California by Virginia Tech entomologist Paul Marek, the lead author of the latest paper.

 

[Cal2]

Giant Kite Will Pull a Ship Across the Ocean Next Month​

Starting in January, a huge boat will attach itself to an enormous kite in a first-of-its-kind test to try and alleviate harmful carbon emissions from toting stuff to and fro across the high seas.

The parafoil kite that will be used is made by a company called Airseas. It measures around 5,380 square feet (500 square meters) and will be attached to a ship 505 feet (154 meters) in length called the Ville de Bordeaux.

Airseas said it “was founded out of the need to act urgently for our planet and climate” and is “committed to provide all ships with the means to harness free and unlimited wind energy.”

It’s important to note that unlike the cargo sailing ships of old that relied on their big sails, the Airseas kite isn’t meant to be the sole source of power for ships. The Ville de Bordeaux will still use its engine. But the kite, which Airseas calls a Seawing, is meant to reduce fuel use on the journey.

https://gizmodo.com/giant-kite-will-pull-a-ship-across-the-ocean-next-month-1848233992

Next will come high tech oars.

 

[Cal2]

For what it's worth... some soft science:

Don’t try to be happy. Focus on these 5 things instead

https://www.fastcompany.com/9070366...ass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:12/18/2021_fc

 

[Cal2]

A new building in France makes the case for hemp to replace concrete

A strain of the ubiquitous Cannabis sativa (yes, it is the same one that produces marijuana, but it cannot contain more than 0.3 percent of THC), hemp can grow up to 13 feet in a matter of months. It can be cultivated in 90 to 120 days, which is 100 times faster than oak trees. It is lighter and less expensive than wood, and according to recent studies, it can capture carbon twice as effectively as a forest of trees. .....

HempWood looks a lot like wood, but it has been rated 20% stronger than hickory, which is the hardest commercially available hardwood in the country. .....

https://www.fastcompany.com/9070646...ass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:12/18/2021_fc