China is about to launch a lunar sample return mission

Round Trip

China is preparing to launch its Chang'e-5 lunar sample return mission early next week and the rocket to get it to the Moon was just rolled out.

China Is About to Launch a Lunar Sample Return Mission

This robot mission intends to gather rocks from the surface of the Moon — and then fly them back to Earth.

Biden's transitional team already has a lot on their plate.

Progressive groups call for elimination of Space Force

What's a Space Force?

According to a memo, progressive groups are planning to pressure president-elect Joe Biden's transition team into eliminating the Space Force.

Progressive Groups Call For Elimination of Space Force

A memo called the service an "unnecessary bureaucracy that costs $16 billion in 2021."

Ever wanna work with someone remotely? Been in a creative rut? Spotify just built your way through. This thing's rad.

Collaborate With Anyone, Anywhere With This Online Recording Studio From Spotify

Brands We Love

Audio collaboration is now easier than ever thanks to Soundtrap for Spotify. It lets you work with anyone, anywhere, in a virtual recording studio.

Collaborate With Anyone, Anywhere with This Online Recording Studio from Spotify

Soundtrap puts a world of audio collaboration at your fingertips.

It's a lot easier to build a gigantic telescope on the Moon out of liquid than coated glass.

Astronomers propose giant "liquid mirror" telescope on the Moon

Big Moon Vat Energy

A team of astronomers have brought a wild concept back from the grave: a liquid-mirror telescope, 100 meters in diameter, built on the surface of the Moon.

Astronomers Propose Giant “Liquid Mirror” Telescope on the Moon

A swirling vat of reflective liquid on the Moon's surface could allow us to study the moments following the Big Bang.

Scientists: The human brain has odd similarities to the entire universe

Woooaaah

The observable universe and the neuronal networks of the human brain are astonishingly alike according to a new paper by an astrophysicist and neurosurgeon.

Scientists: The Human Brain Has Odd Similarities to the Entire Universe

An astrophysicist and a neurosurgeon teamed up on the ultimate galaxy brain theory.

The Raspberry Pi is a great place to begin learning how to build your own connected devices. And this bundle, 97% off the usual price, will teach you how.

Learn how the Internet of Things works with these Raspberry Pi classes

Raspberry Pi-rade

In 1965, Gordon Moore, who co-founded Intel, observed that in his experience, the number of transistors you can fit into a given space would double about every two years. This quickly was dubbed Moore’s Law, and it’s arguably had one of the greatest impacts on the world. One of those was the availability of cheap, […]

Learn How the Internet of Things Works with These Raspberry Pi Classes

Build your own smart mirror, smart trash can, and more with this training. 

Here's why people are calling Elon Musk a "Space Karen"

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Elon Musk was mocked on Twitter this weekend over calling the validity of his own COVID-19 tests into question. The term "Space Karen" was trending later.

Here’s Why People Are Calling Elon Musk a “Space Karen”

"What's bogus is that Space Karen didn't read up on the test before complaining to his millions of followers."

"Being able to make a car that's affordable enough to put in everyone's garage is going to shift a lot of things. It's going to shift the narrative on climate change and even jobs."

If graphene batteries do everything scientists say, they could be a gamechanger

Piercing The Hype

There's a nearly impenetrable fog of hype surrounding graphene batteries. But it turns out the technology has a whole lot of promise, too.

If Graphene Batteries Do Everything Scientists Say, They Could Be a Gamechanger

They hold way more power. They charge almost instantly. What's taking so long to get them out there?

Stretchable sensor gives robots and VR a human touch

"This skin is a way to allow ourselves and machines to measure tactile interactions in a way that we now currently use the cameras in our phones."

Will this glove finally let you touch stuff in VR?

Power Glove 

A team of scientists at Cornell University has created a stretchable fiber-optic sensor that could give robots and virtual reality a "human touch."

Will This Glove Finally Let You Touch Stuff in VR?

Imagine a glove that could let you touch objects in a virtual world.

In 'Pandemic,' players must keep the world safe from a pandemic. Sound familiar? And. yet, somehow, it's smart, it's fun, it's easy to learn, and addictive as hell.

This pandemic board game from 2017 is almost too perfect for 2020

Games We Love

This 'Pandemic' board game from Z-Man Games is only a few years old, but its newly relevant thanks to current events in 2020.

This Pandemic Board Game From 2017 Is Almost Too Perfect for 2020

The impossible, made possible: A timely board game, that's fun as hell. 

David Wong's 'Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick' is a must-add to your (and any sci-fi, humor, or coming-of-age novel fan's) winter reading list.

This Dark, Funny, Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller Is One of the Best Reads of 2020.

Books We Love

Zoe Punches the Future in the Dick is the second installment in the Zoey Ashe series by New York Times bestselling author David Wong.

This Dark, Funny, Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller Is One of the Best Reads of 2020

You need to add David Wong's 'Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick' to your winter reading list.

Japanese town installs red-eyed robot wolf to scare off bears

Robot Cried Wolf

A city in Japan just installed several terrifying robot wolves that can move and give off blood-curdling howls in an attempt to prevent bear attacks.

Japanese Town Installs Red-Eyed Robot Wolf to Scare Off Bears

Those poor bears.

Machine learning and AI are changing everything. And yeah, you, a beginner, can learn how to harness it. This 35-hour bundle will teach you how AI works, and how to build your own.

Master AI with this bundle of Python coding courses

Master AI with This Bundle of Python Coding Courses

Learn how to build the machines of the future with this 97% off Python bundle

The experiments were deemed "an open secret" at the university where Chinese scientist He Jiankui conducted his experiments, according to this author.

Communist Party secretly supported Chinese gene-edited babies, according to new book

Open Secrets

According to a new book, Chinese scientist He Jiankui had the support of several Communist Party officials while working on his gene-editing experiments.

Communist Party Secretly Supported Chinese Gene-Edited Babies, According to New Book

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-mutant-project-review-an-unsettling-visit-to-the-future-11605653425">‘The Mutant Project’ Review: An Unsettling Visit to the Future</a> [The Wall Street Journal]

More on He: <a href="https://futurism.com/crispr-baby-prevent-hiv-flawed">CRISPR Baby Experiment Meant to Prevent HIV Might Not Even Work</a>

Genetics

The Chinese government later distanced itself from the controversial experiments.

New results: First COVID vaccine even better than scientists thought

More Good News

Pfizer just announced its coronavirus vaccine is 95 percent effective with no serious side effects — even more effective than previously thought.

New Results: First COVID Vaccine Even Better Than Scientists Thought

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/18/health/pfizer-covid-vaccine.html">New Pfizer Results: Coronavirus Vaccine Is Safe and 95% Effective</a> [The New York Times]

More on COVID vaccines: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/moderna-vaccine-highly-effective">Second COVID Vaccine Even More Effective, Trial Results Say</a>

Breakthroughs

Fifty million doses could be ready before the end of the year.

Scientists are still tracking down the source of the coronavirus.

The first known COVID patient was identified exactly one year ago

Grim Anniversary

It's been exactly a year since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in China, according to a March report by the South China Morning Post.

The First Known COVID Patient Was Identified Exactly One Year Ago

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back">Coronavirus: China’s first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17</a> [South China Morning Post]

More on the virus: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/china-covid-vaccines-black-market">In China, COVID Vaccines Are Already Selling on the Black Market</a>

Developments

Who was patient zero?

In China, COVID vaccines are already selling on the black market

My Shot

A growing number of people in China are getting injected with one of several COVID-19 vaccines despite none of them having been officially deemed safe.

In China, COVID Vaccines Are Already Selling on the Black Market

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/china-coronavirus-vaccine-safety.html">Vaccine Unproven? No Problem in China, Where People Scramble for Shots</a> [The New York Times]

More on vaccines: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/moderna-vaccine-highly-effective">Second COVID Vaccine Even More Effective, Trial Results Say</a>

Vaccine scalpers are charging more than a thousand dollars per injection.

It seems like it was a planned stunt, but bus passengers may not have known that.

Man seen shooting flamethrower on roof of NYC bus

Anarchist Jurisdiction

Last week, in what seems to be an unauthorized stunt or part of a music video, a man jumped onto an occupied NYC bus and fired a flamethrower into the air.

Man Seen Shooting Flamethrower on Roof of NYC Bus

"We don't even need to say how absurd, dangerous and just plain stupid this was."

"The pull-ahead in programs is real and the [GM] is really doubling down on speeding up product development."

Huge amounts of money are pouring into the electric vehicle market

Big Money

Investors and automotive companies themselves are currently investing heavily in electic vehicles, all while the industry launches a new lobby group.

Huge Amounts of Money Are Pouring Into the Electric Vehicle Market

Everyone wants in on the future of electric transportation.

Gene-hacking heat resistance into coral reefs could help them survive dangerously-hot ocean temperatures.

Scientists want to gene-hack coral reefs to survive climate change

Heat Shielding

Scientists identified a gene that allows coral to survive hot water, and they want to gene-hack it into reefs to protect against climate change.

Scientists Want to Gene-Hack Coral Reefs to Survive Climate Change

A gene that gives coral resistance to heat could protect reefs as the planet heats up.

"The ability to be sexual at any age relates to your ability to have a life. Not just to survive, but to have a life, and do things that have value."

Bioethicist: We should give sex robots to lonely seniors

Human Dignity

Bioethicist Nancy Jecker argues that sex robots catered to their specific needs could provide much-needed companionship to lonely senior citizens.

Bioethicist: We Should Give Sex Robots to Lonely Seniors

"Designing and marketing sex robots for older, disabled people would represent a sea change from current practice."

"They are doing what can be done. I’m still really worried that they can’t do enough."

Giant Arecibo SETI telescope could collapse after mysterious damage

Snap

The massive alien hunting radio telescope at the Aericbo Observatory is at risk of collapse after several support cables failed leaving extensive damage.

Giant Arecibo SETI Telescope Could Collapse After Mysterious Damage

"Now I’m worried."

"As humanity expands beyond the limits of a single planet, it is particularly appropriate that we carry our rituals, celebrations and memorials along with us."

Upcoming mission will fly human remains to the Moon

Among The Stars

In July, a NASA launch will send vials of human cremains and DNA samples to their final resting place on the surface of the Moon.