The next generation of AirPods is due to drop next week, according to an announcement made at Apple’s “Unleashed” event on October 18. Unveiled alongside several new products, the aptly-named <a href="https://futurism.com/tags/airpods" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AirPods 3</a> promise to combine several of the best features from Apple’s AirPods Pro like Dolby Atmos and spatial tracking with the classic, stripped-down design of last generation’s standard AirPods. The new AirPods are set to cost slightly more than their second-generation predecessor, which narrows the price gap between the Pro and standard product lines and sets the stage for a potential update to the AirPods Pro in the near future.
<h3>Comparing the AirPods 3 to the AirPods Pro</h3>
Most of the standout features of the new AirPods 3 are lifted straight from the AirPods Pro, marking a big step forward for the standard AirPods line overall. The new AirPods will feature immersion-enhancing tech like Dolby Atmos surround sound, which simulates space and depth and gives the impression of three-dimensional sound positioned around users’ heads. A new built-in gyroscope takes this feature even further by keeping sound positions consistent even when you move your head.
Other key features adopted from the AirPods Pro include spatial audio technology for added immersion while watching Netflix or participating in group FaceTime calls, as well as a unique “Adaptive EQ” feature that custom-tailors the AirPods’ sound according to your ear physiology and the specific material being played.
Big Improvements to Battery Life and Charging
The next-generation AirPods 3 boast an extra hour of battery life over their predecessor that can make all the difference for busy people, offering up to six hours of operation on a single charge. Thanks to a new-and-improved charging case that packs enough power for recharging the AirPods a total of four times, the total extended battery life can be stretched to 30 hours before it’s time to recharge your case. If you’re a power user who regularly needs last-minute access to your AirPods, you can also take advantage of the case’s quick-charge design, which grants up to an hour of playtime with just a five-minute charge.
The new AirPods case is also MagSafe-compatible, which should allow for easier attachment and detachment from its charging cable when you’re in a hurry.
New Design for Enhanced Comfort and Convenience
While the AirPods 3 take some obvious design cues from their last-generation predecessor, they feature a new and improved “contour” design that’s aimed at delivering an overall more comfortable fit for a wider range of users. Part of this design update also includes shorter stalks, which should make the AirPods a bit sleeker and less conspicuous when hanging in your ears. Users will have the ability to control media playback and answer calls with a simple touch of the stalk, which is equipped with a built-in force sensor.
Other new features include an “enhanced skin-detect sensor” that allows the AirPods to automatically pause media when they’re removed or set down, and an improved pairing process adopted from the AirPods Pro that allows for automatic connection to nearby Apple devices.
Finally, the AirPods 3 are built to the same IPX4 water-resistance specs as their second-generation predecessor, which allows them to be used in mildly wet weather and during sweaty workouts.
The Final Countdown for the AirPods 3
Apple’s AirPods 3 are <a href="https://www.apple.com/airpods/">available for preorder now</a>, but they’ll be hitting shelves everywhere on Tuesday, October 26. At $179, they cost $50 more than the still-available AirPods 2 and $20 more than the AirPods Pro, with which the next-gen AirPods share many features. Judging by this shared feature set and narrow price difference, there’s a good chance that we’ll be seeing a redesign of the AirPods Pro in the near future along with a bump in price.

FROM THE DEPT. OF THINGS TO BUY

The redesign includes Dolby Atmos, enhanced comfort, and a big upgrade to battery life.

Go Pro With the New Apple AirPods 3

We’ve all been in situations where we had to make tough ethical decisions. Why not dodge that pesky responsibility by outsourcing the choice to a machine learning algorithm?
That’s the idea behind <a href="https://delphi.allenai.org/">Ask Delphi</a>, a machine-learning model from the Allen Institute for AI. You type in a situation (like &#8220;donating to charity&#8221;) or a question (&#8220;is it okay to cheat on my spouse?&#8221;), click &#8220;Ponder,&#8221; and in a few seconds Delphi will give you, well, ethical guidance. 
<img class="alignnone wp-image-232722" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-22-at-10.26.02-AM.png" alt="" width="730" height="257" />
The project launched last week, and has subsequently gone viral online for seemingly all the wrong reasons. Much of the advice and judgements it&#8217;s given have been… fraught, to say the least.
For example, when <a href="https://twitter.com/oth_radar/status/1450668092707639300/photo/1">a user asked Delphi</a> what it thought about &#8220;a white man walking towards you at night,&#8221; it responded &#8220;It’s okay.&#8221;
<figure id="attachment_232720" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232720" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-232720" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-22-at-10.22.40-AM.png" alt="" width="730" height="224" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232720" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/oth_radar/status/1450668092707639300">@oth_radar via Twitter</a></figcaption></figure>
But when they asked what the AI thought about &#8220;a black man walking towards you at night&#8221; its answer was clearly racist. 

<figure id="attachment_232721" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232721" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-232721" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-22-at-10.22.27-AM.png" alt="" width="730" height="225" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232721" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/oth_radar/status/1450668092707639300">@oth_radar via Twitter</a></figcaption></figure>
The issues were especially glaring in the beginning of its launch. 
For instance, Ask Delphi initially included a tool that allowed users to compare whether situations were more or less morally acceptable than another — resulting in some really awful, bigoted judgments.
<figure id="attachment_232582" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232582" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-232582" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/image1-1.png" alt="" width="730" height="566" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232582" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/mtrc/status/1449336196295966720/photo/3">Mike Cook via Twitter</a></figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_232589" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232589" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-232589" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/image7.png" alt="" width="730" height="490" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232589" class="wp-caption-text">Credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/mtrc/status/1449336196295966720/photo/4">Mike Cook via Twitter</a></figcaption></figure>
Besides, after playing around with Delphi for a while, you’ll eventually find that it’s easy to game the AI to get pretty much whatever ethical judgement you want by fiddling around with the phrasing until it gives you the answer you want. 
<img class="alignnone wp-image-232723" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-22-at-10.29.02-AM.png" alt="" width="730" height="262" />
<img class="alignnone wp-image-232724" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-22-at-10.29.25-AM.png" alt="" width="730" height="255" />
So yeah. It’s actually completely fine to crank &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62-iVogg5jA">Twerkulator</a>&#8221; at 3am even if your roommate has an early shift tomorrow — as long as it makes you happy.
It also spits out some judgments that are complete head scratchers. Here’s one that we did where Delphi seems to condone war crimes.
<figure id="attachment_232583" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232583" style="width: 760px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-232583 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/image2-1.png" alt="" width="760" height="237" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232583" class="wp-caption-text">Geneva Conventions? Never heard of her.</figcaption></figure>
Machine learning systems are <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/02/04/137602/this-is-how-ai-bias-really-happensand-why-its-so-hard-to-fix/">notorious for demonstrating unintended bias</a>. And as is often the case, part of the reason Delphi&#8217;s answers can get questionable can likely be linked back to how it was created. 
The folks behind the project drew on some eyebrow-raising sources to help train the AI, including the &#8220;Am I the Asshole?&#8221; subreddit, the &#8220;Confessions&#8221; subreddit, and the &#8220;Dear Abby&#8221; advice column, according to the <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.07574">paper the team behind Delphi published</a> about the experiment. 
It should be noted, though, that just the situations were culled from those sources — not the actual replies and answers themselves. For example, a scenario such as &#8220;chewing gum on the bus&#8221; might have been taken from a Dear Abby column. But the team behind Delphi used Amazon&#8217;s crowdsourcing service MechanicalTurk to find respondents to actually train the AI. 
While it might just seem like another oddball online project, some experts believe that it might actually be causing more harm than good. 
After all, the ostensible goal of Delphi and bots like it is to create an AI sophisticated enough to make ethical judgements, and potentially turn them into moral authorities. Making a computer an arbiter of moral judgement is uncomfortable enough on its own, but even its current less-refined state can have some harmful effects. 
&#8220;The authors did a lot of cataloging of possible biases in the paper, which is commendable, but once it was released, people on Twitter were very quick to find judgments that the algorithm made that seem quite morally abhorrent,&#8221; Dr. Brett Karlan, a postdoctoral fellow researching cognitive science and AI at the University of Pittsburgh (and friend of this reporter), told Futurism. &#8220;When you’re not just dealing with understanding words, but you&#8217;re putting it in moral language, it&#8217;s much more risky, since people might take what you say as coming from some sort of authority.&#8221;
Karlan believes that the paper’s focus on natural language processing is ultimately interesting and worthwhile. Its ethical component, he said, &#8220;makes it societally fraught in a way that means we have to be way more careful with it in my opinion.&#8221;
Though the Delphi website does include a disclaimer saying that it’s currently in its beta phase and shouldn’t be used &#8220;for advice, or to aid in social understanding of humans,&#8221; the reality is that many users won’t understand the context behind the project, especially if they just stumbled onto it. 

&#8220;Even if you put all of these disclaimers on it, people are going to see ‘Delphi says X’ and, not being literate in AI, think that statement has moral authority to it,&#8221; Karlan said. 
And, at the end of the day, it doesn&#8217;t. It&#8217;s just an experiment — and the creators behind Delphi want you to know that.
&#8220;It is important to understand that Delphi is not built to give people advice,&#8221; Liwei Jiang, PhD student at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science &amp; Engineering and co-author of the study, told Futurism. &#8220;It is a research prototype meant to investigate the broader scientific questions of how AI systems can be made to understand social norms and ethics.&#8221;
Jiang added the goal with the current beta version of Delphi is actually to showcase the reasoning differences between humans and bots. The team wants to &#8220;highlight the wide gap between the moral reasoning capabilities of machines and humans,&#8221; Jiang added, &#8220;and to explore the promises and limitations of machine ethics and norms at the current stage.&#8221;
Perhaps one of the most uncomfortable aspects about Delphi and bots like it is the fact that it’s ultimately a reflection of our own ethics and morals, with Jiang adding that &#8220;it is somewhat prone to the biases of our time.&#8221; One of the latest disclaimers added to the website even says that the AI simply guesses what an average American might think of a given situation. 

After all, the model didn’t learn its judgments on its own out of nowhere. It came from people online, who sometimes do believe abhorrent things. But when this dark mirror is held up to our faces, we jump away because we don&#8217;t like what&#8217;s reflected back. 
For now, Delphi exists as an intriguing, problematic, and scary exploration. If we ever get to the point where computers are able to make unequivocal ethical judgements for us, though, we hope that it comes up with something better than this.
<figure id="attachment_232725" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232725" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="wp-image-232725" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-22-at-10.31.42-AM.png" alt="" width="730" height="261" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232725" class="wp-caption-text"><a href="http://futurism.com/elon-musk-face-moon">It is, in fact, not okay.</a></figcaption></figure>
Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyHoWasHere">Tony Tran on Twitter. </a>
More on AI: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-ai-picasso-painting">Scientists Use AI, 3D Printing to Uncover Hidden Picasso Painting</a>

Evil Oracle

The bot is supposed to offer descriptive ethical advice, but some say it does more harm than good. 

Scientists Built an AI to Give Ethical Advice, But It Turned Out Super Racist

As we&#8217;ve learned more about bioluminescence,  it seems to be everywhere in the natural world. There are even <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-discover-glow-in-the-dark-sharks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sharks that glow in the dark</a> as they hunt prey and seek mates. Fortunately, the plants that give the <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/bioluminescent-bio-orb?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bioluminescent-bio-orb&amp;utm_term=scsf-516024&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004UUgBQAW&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bioluminescent Bio-Orb</a> its light are a little more friendly and offer you a gentle glow whenever you need it, with just a swirl. You can get one on sale for just $44.99 (reg. $49).
<h2>Truly Natural Light</h2>
The glow comes courtesy of dinoflagellates. These simple algae are common in all bodies of water, most famously the ocean, and power the food web, turning sunlight into energy and serving as food for larger animals.
It&#8217;s theorized they create light thanks to how they process solar energy. The algae generate a form of luciferase, an enzyme that breaks down the chemical luciferin in the presence of chemical oxygen. As the reaction unfolds, a gentle blue glow flows out, reflecting the energy released by the reaction.
Why this happens is unclear, although dinoflagellate luciferase is related to chlorophyll, which points towards it being a useful reaction. The Bio-Orb allows you to view this process with a simple swirl.
<h2>Light With A Swirl</h2>
The hand-blown 4&#8243; glass sphere is filled with a careful mix of the dinoflagellates, water, and nutrients, all provided, so the algae have a friendly habitat. All it needs beyond that is atmospheric CO2. Keep their simple ecosystem topped up with water and food, and keep it in a place where it gets low to moderate sunlight during the day.
Then just swirl the orb and watch the reaction unfold. The algae emit a blue light that&#8217;s perfect for setting a relaxed mood, getting a brief moment of light when you need it in the middle of the night, and to show off a little science for the whole family.
Get the <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/bioluminescent-bio-orb?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bioluminescent-bio-orb&amp;utm_term=scsf-516024&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004UUgBQAW&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bioluminescent Bio-Orb</a> for $44.99 (reg. $49).
Prices subject to change.
Futurism fans: To create this content, a non-editorial team worked with an affiliate partner. We may collect a small commission on items purchased through this page. This post does not necessarily reflect the views or the endorsement of the <a class="underline hover:text-futurism hover:no-underline transition-all duration-200 ease-in-out" href="http://futurism.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://Futurism.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Futurism.com</a> editorial staff.

From Our Partners

This glass sphere captures the power of bioluminescence with a simple swirling. 

Use Natural Light To Guide Your Way With This Bio-Orb

We all want to wield a lightsaber, and slowly but surely, citizen scientists and engineers are <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/engineers-create-plasma-powered-lightsaber-cut-metal" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">making it happen</a>. But if cracking open industrial lasers or building a plasma torch seems a bit excessive for your cosplay or your next Halloween costume, the <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/cyber-blade-dagger?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=cyber-blade-dagger&amp;utm_term=scsf-515639&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004UTw1QAG&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cyber Blade Dagger Laser Sword</a> gives you all the fun without any risk of losing your hand. You can grab one on sale for just $106.99 (reg. $145).
<h2>An Elegant Prop For A Civilized Costume</h2>
This sword prop is engineered to be easy to use, so you can stay in character. The 8-inch hilt is made of aerospace-grade aluminum that&#8217;s precision-milled to offer an ergonomic grip. The 22.83&#8243; blade is a durable plastic that can be swapped out with ease and take even the toughest duel of the fates. And it&#8217;s long-lasting, as the 1,200 mAh battery is recharged via USB and the included cord. After all, a Sith doesn&#8217;t pause, look at his saber, and then start fumbling for a pack of batteries. You&#8217;ll also be alerted when the battery is low, so you can conserve power when you need to.
<h2>A More Vivid Halloween</h2>
All of this is in service to a wide range of effects. First of all, you have your choice of 11 colors for your blade, projected by long-lasting LEDs, including all the colors from your favorite Force-wielders.
You can tweak the light effects as well, giving your blade a flame effect, a heartbeat-style pulsing, a gentle breathing effect, and more. All of this is paired with sound effects triggered as you swing or move around that adds to the verisimilitude of your costume. And you can swing with confidence as everything is backed by a one-year manufacturer&#8217;s warranty. If you&#8217;re looking for a way to give your cosplay an edge, this dagger will add just the right note.
Get the <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/cyber-blade-dagger?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=cyber-blade-dagger&amp;utm_term=scsf-515639&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004UTw1QAG&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cyber Blade Dagger Laser Sword</a> for $106.99 (reg. $145).
Prices subject to change.
Futurism fans: To create this content, a non-editorial team worked with an affiliate partner. We may collect a small commission on items purchased through this page. This post does not necessarily reflect the views or the endorsement of the <a class="underline hover:text-futurism hover:no-underline transition-all duration-200 ease-in-out" href="http://futurism.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://Futurism.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Futurism.com</a> editorial staff.

This high-quality prop adds to your cosplay while bringing your dream of space knighthood that much closer.

Defend The Galaxy With 26% Off This Laser Sword

After months of rumors, leaks, and speculation, <a href="https://futurism.com/tags/apple">Apple</a> has finally revealed the first truly “Pro” Apple Silicon devices: 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros powered by the new M1 Pro and M1 Max systems on a chip (SOCs). In one fell swoop, Apple has essentially undone all of its most controversial design decisions of the last six years and created a pair of laptops that professional users can really get behind.
There’s a lot to unpack: from the new processors, to the new display, to the new and improved port configuration, the return of MagSafe, and the end of the touchbar. For the sake of clarity, let’s take the upgrades one at a time.
<h3>M1 Pro and M1 Max</h3>
<figure id="attachment_232485" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232485" style="width: 1960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="size-full wp-image-232485" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Apple_MacBook-Pro_M1-Max_10182021.jpg" alt="macbook pro m1 max chip" width="1960" height="1274" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232485" class="wp-caption-text">The M1 Max chip is the fastest in the Apple silicon stable for the moment.</figcaption></figure>
At the heart of this new update are the latest Apple Silicon SOCs, the M1 Pro and M1 Max. Where the original M1 focused on providing a balance of performance and efficiency, with four high-performance cores, four high-efficiency cores, and up to eight GPU cores, the M1 Pro and M1 Max shift that balance towards high performance and really increase the GPU capabilities of these laptops. 
The entry-level 8-core M1 Pro packs in six high-performance and two high-efficiency cores, while the top shelf M1 Pro and M1 Max both offer eight high-performance and two high-efficiency cores, for a total of 10. Each configuration also boasts between 2x and 4x the number of GPU cores available in the original M1. The entry-level 8-core M1 Pro comes with 14 GPU cores, the 10-core variant of the M1 Pro comes with 16 GPU cores, and the M1 Max can be configured with a staggering 32 GPU cores.
Each upgrade offers a significant improvement over the previous Intel- and M1-based MacBook Pros, with the 32-core variant peaking at an advertised 13.4x improvement in graphics performance over the former Intel-based 13-inch MacBook Pro and a 2.9x improvement over the Intel-based 16-inch MacBook Pro with discrete AMD graphics, all while sipping far less power from the built-in battery. In fact, both laptops can run at full speed while on battery power, something that no high-powered PC laptop with discrete graphics can claim.
Finally, both of the new processors can now be configured with far more unified memory—the on-chip RAM that Apple uses in all of the Apple Silicon SOCs.
The entry-level M1 Pro features the same 16GB of unified memory as the original M1, but it can be configured with up to 32GB, while the M1 Max starts at 32GB and can be configured with up to 64GB. As Apple pointed out during their keynote presentation on Monday, this is the most memory that has ever been packed onto a consumer SOC, and should translate into lightning-fast performance on RAM-intensive tasks like merging huge panoramas or loading and exploring large 3D scenes.
These three changes—the increase in high-performance cores, GPU cores, and memory bandwidth—should make the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros some of the most powerful and capable laptops on the market.
<h3>Hello Ports, Goodbye Touchbar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_232481" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232481" style="width: 1960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="size-full wp-image-232481" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Apple_MacBook-Pro_MagSafe_10182021.jpg" alt="macbook pro magsafe charger" width="1960" height="1274" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232481" class="wp-caption-text">The return of MagSafe.</figcaption></figure>
Moving beyond performance to convenience, Apple has finally done away with the dongle life, bringing back several ports that professionals and enthusiasts alike have been missing. Since 2015, every MacBook and MacBook Pro has featured only two kinds of ports: a headphone jack and one or more Thunderbolt ports. No more.
All of the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros come with an HDMI 2.0b port, an SDXC card slot, a MagSafe 3 charging port, a headphone jack, and three Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports. The only useful port that’s missing is USB Type-A, but given the wholesale move to USB Type-C in recent years, this doesn’t feel like a massive omission. 
As with previous MacBooks, each Thunderbolt port can be used for transferring data, connecting an external display, or charging the laptop. However, you probably won’t be using the Thunderbolt ports for charging thanks to the return of the Magsafe port. Both laptops feature a new and improved “Magsafe 3” charging port with the same magnetic quick-release capability as pre-2016 MacBook Pros and even faster charging that can get the laptop to 50 percent charge in just 30 minutes.
You’ll need to opt for the 96-watt power adapter to get that fast-charging capability, but it’s only a $20 upgrade if you opt for the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro that ships with a 67-watt charger instead. Once you upgrade from the cheapest variant, every configuration ships with the 96-watt charger by default.
Finally, the last and one of the most sought-after changes to the new MacBook Pros is the end of the touch bar. Instead, Apple has configured these two MacBooks with a row of full-sized function keys that ends in a dedicated Touch ID fingerprint reader. 
<h3>Liquid Retina XDR Display</h3>
<figure id="attachment_232482" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232482" style="width: 1960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="size-full wp-image-232482" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Apple_MacBook-Pro_16-inch-Screen_10182021.jpg" alt="macbook pro liquid retina xdr display" width="1960" height="1274" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232482" class="wp-caption-text">120 Hz for ultra-smooth motion.</figcaption></figure>
In addition to the new ports, the most obvious change coming to the new MacBook Pros is the Liquid Retina XDR display. Using the same mini-LED technology Apple debuted in the 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro, these new displays should offer the best brightness, contrast, and HDR performance of any laptop display on the market today, bar none.
Both the 14- and 16-inch variants pack in 254 pixels-per-inch for a total resolution of 3024 x 1964 and 3456 x 2234, respectively, with thinner bezels and a camera “notch” at the top that houses a full HD 1080p camera for FaceTime calls. This alone would make for a significant improvement over the previous generation, but Apple went way beyond increasing the screen resolution, shrinking the bezels, and improving the cameras. 
Thanks to the 10,000 miniLED backlight, the new displays can hit sustained full-screen brightness of up to 1000 nits, peak brightness of 1600 nits, and a true 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio thanks to the 10,000 miniLEDs that make up the backlight. 
Both displays are also technically capable of reaching 120Hz, although you can’t lock the refresh rate at 120. Fixed refresh rates max out at 60Hz, with 120Hz available only through the “Pro Motion” setting that adaptively changes the screen’s refresh rate depending on the content that is being displayed. This should make for better battery life, but also means that developers will need to ensure any fast-paced apps are taking full advantage of 120Hz if they aren’t configured to do so already.
<h3>MacBook Pro 2021 Price and Availability</h3>
Given all of the improvements and the huge increase in performance that these specs promise, neither of the two laptops come cheap. 
Both entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro—with an 8-core M1 Pro, 16GB of RAM, and only 512GB of storage—start at $1,999, and upgrades will cost you dearly. Upgrading to an M1 Pro with a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage ups the price to $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro or $3,100 for the 16-inch. The fully upgraded variants that boast an M1 Max with a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 64GB of RAM, and 8TB of storage will cost you an eye-watering $5,899 for the 14-inch and $6,100 for the 16-inch.
All variants are available to order right now from Apple’s <a href="https://www.apple.com/mac/">website</a> and will begin shipping to buyers early next week.
This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurism&#8217;s owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

More power, more RAM, more ports, and new miniLED displays make these the most impressive MacBook Pros ever.

MacBook Pro 2021: Apple Unveils 14- and 16-Inch Models Powered by the New M1 Pro and M1 Max SOCs

When it comes to <a href="https://futurism.com/better-sleep-qualia-night" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sleep</a>, we tend to value quantity over quality. If we’re feeling tired and rundown, we assume more sleep is the solution. But that’s not necessarily the case. In general, it’s more important to start by making sure you’re getting better sleep. Then, once you make sure you’re getting high-quality rest, you can revisit how many hours you need. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to maximize sleep performance thanks to an innovative sleep supplement called <a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Qualia Night</a>.
(Use the discount code <a class="underline hover:text-futurism hover:no-underline transition-all duration-200 ease-in-out" href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PRODANDNEURO</a> at checkout to get an additional 15-percent off.)
To understand how this supplement works, you have to understand what’s really going on when you sleep. While we tend to think of the brain and body as being inactive while we sleep, in reality, they are quite busy. Sleep is when the body repairs cells, muscles, and tissues and synthesizes key proteins and hormones. It’s when the brain repairs and reorganizes neurons so they can efficiently communicate and store information. And it’s when a network of vessels called the glymphatic system clears out waste from the central nervous system, removing toxic chemicals that build up throughout the day.
When these vital activities are interrupted, it can lead to serious health problems. Mountains of <a href="https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/emotions-cognitive#1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">scientific research</a> show that poor sleep hinders cognitive, social, and motor skills. It is also linked to weaker immune function, obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes, and can predict depression and other mental health problems, including suicide risk. Meanwhile, on a day-to-day basis, poor sleep leaves us feeling more irritable, reduces our ability to manage conflicts, and makes us less empathetic.
To perform the necessary nightly maintenance, your brain and body require a <a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">very specific set of nutrients</a>. Quality Night was created to make sure you’re getting them.
<h2><a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Qualia Night</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_232340" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232340" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-232340 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/qualia-night-neurohacker-scientists.jpeg" alt="better sleep" width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232340" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Neurohacker Collective</figcaption></figure>
Qualia Night was created by a team of scientists called Neurohacker Collective. Until recently, Neurohacker Collective was best known for their cutting-edge nootropics supplements, which provide the brain with high-octane fuel that helps optimize cognition. With Qualia Night, Neurohacker Collective set out to maximize cognition at an even more fundamental level by <a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fueling your body’s ability to heal, recover, and regenerate</a> while you sleep.
Qualia Night is not a sleeping pill and does not contain any pharmaceuticals. It is a patent-pending blend of clinically studied ingredients that <a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">support your body’s natural healing processes</a>.
This supplement is designed to be taken in the early evening, about four hours before bedtime. From there it slowly eases your mind and body into a relaxing, optimal sleep process later that night. It works by:
&#8211; Supporting the creation and use of melatonin, a hormone that tells your brain when it is time to sleep. 
&#8211; Supporting the creation and use of gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a naturally occurring neurotransmitter that decreases activity in your nervous system. 
&#8211; Supporting the creation and use of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, a protein that protects and supports the growth of new neurons and is essential for memory, learning, and critical thinking. 
&#8211; Supporting the production and function of stem cells, which play a vital role in repair and regeneration. 
&#8211; Supporting stress response by providing crucial adaptogens, which are herbal substances that contribute to the stabilization of physiological processes. 
&#8211; Helping to regulate the production of cortisol, which is the body’s primary stress hormone. 
&#8211; Feeding healthy gut bacteria so they can produce key molecules required for healthy brain and immune function.
<h2><a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sleep Better, Think Better</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_232341" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232341" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-232341 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/qualia-night-product-image.jpeg" alt="Qualia Night" width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232341" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Neurohacker Collective</figcaption></figure>
If you don’t wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day, don’t assume lack of sleep is the problem. It may simply be that your body isn’t getting the nourishment it needs to heal itself at night.
(Remember to use discount code <a class="underline hover:text-futurism hover:no-underline transition-all duration-200 ease-in-out" href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PRODANDNEURO</a> at checkout for an additional 15-percent off.)
By providing nutritional support for biological activities that take place while you sleep, Qualia Night can help support <a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">deeper and more restorative sleep</a>, which leads to more energy, improved cognition, and enhanced long-term brain health. And right now you can get 15-percent off the regular price when you use the discount code PRODANDNEURO at checkout. So <a href="https://neurohacker.com/shop/qualia-night?rfsn=3515579.68aed10&amp;subid=902545" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a> and start sleeping better today.
Futurism fans: To create this content, a non-editorial team worked with an affiliate partner. We may collect a small commission on items purchased through this page. This post does not necessarily reflect the views or the endorsement of the Futurism.com editorial staff.

Brands We Love

A sleep supplement called Qualia Night was designed by scientists to help you wake up feeling more refreshed and rejuvenated.

Is Your Brain Getting the Nutrients It Needs for Better Sleep?

Take this, flat-Earthers: The entire planet rolled over on its side 84 million years ago, before correcting itself and flopping back up.
Or so goes the argument of <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23803-8">a new paper published in Nature</a>, attempting to once and for all settle the debate over what&#8217;s called &#8220;true polar wander,&#8221; which is the process by which a planet or a moon&#8217;s various layers shift around, resulting in the location of said planet&#8217;s or moon&#8217;s magnetic poles wandering around.
If you&#8217;re worried that it takes being a galaxy-brained bong rip of a human to understand this concept, we can assure you: Yes. But we&#8217;ll do our best to explain.
So, Earth: It&#8217;s made of a few layers, right? You&#8217;ve got your center, a solid metal core at the very center, and surrounding that, a liquid metal core which together are responsible for the planet&#8217;s magnetic field. Around that comes the mantle, about 1,800 miles thick, made of rock, but softer than the metal core. It&#8217;s pretty stable, but over thousands of years, it can shift around like a viscous liquid (think glue, honey, or taffy). Above that mantle, you&#8217;ve got the Earth&#8217;s crust, which is what you live on top of, right now. If the planet were a cake you sliced into, the mantle wouldn&#8217;t even be the frosting, but a dusting of powdered sugar that makes up less than 1 percent of the total volume. And you already know these layers can move around, which accounts for earthquakes (tectonic plates shifting) and continental drift (the continents moving around over time).
What the international team of scientists behind the new research are proposing is that 84 million years ago, in the Late Cretaceous period, the entire mantle and crust was rotating around that liquid core, and got so ass-over-teakettle that if you — an infinite celestial time-space being with nothing better to do than watch planets — looked at Earth from space for several million years, it would&#8217;ve looked like we tipped over on our side, and then, went back.
And how, exactly, did they figure that one out? The answer is in geology. This is the coolest part: The positions of Earth&#8217;s magnetic poles can be reflected via the magnetism of certain rocks on the planet (or &#8220;paleomagnetic data&#8221;). And by examining fossils — and not just any fossils, but fossils of bacteria, which include the mineral magnetite, the most magnetic of all the elements on Earth. Tracking those rocks down wasn&#8217;t easy, but they found some in central Italy&#8217;s Apennine Mountain range, smack in the middle between Rome and Florence, which is where Caltech and Tokyo Institute of Technology&#8217;s Joe Kirschvink and the Institute of Geology and Geophysics in Beijing&#8217;s Ross Mitchell went hunting. Fun fact: Rocks in the area that weren&#8217;t as old as the ones used in this study once helped scientists prove out theories about asteroids that killed the dinosaurs.
And, sure enough, the rocks show something like a 12 degree tilt in of the planet 84 million years ago. Then it seemingly righted itself again, for a grand total of something like 25 degrees of tilt over 5 million years.
As for the practical implications of knowing the Earth wobbled like a dumb drunk eons ago, only to right itself? Well, they think true polar wander may be responsible for the Ice Age, but moreover, it&#8217;s yet another thing to rub in the face of the dumbest people you know, Flat-Earthers, or to explain to everyone at your next dinner party, smug and secure in knowing that you understand how one goes about using &#8220;paleomagnetic data&#8221; in this world. Beyond that, it&#8217;s yet another step in understanding the mysteries of our existence as quite literally demonstrated by this &#8220;<a href="https://youtu.be/9vAd8NhMas4?t=235">godless rock that refuses to die.</a>&#8221;
Read More: <a href="https://phys.org/news/2021-10-earth-side-million-years.html">Did the Earth tip on its side 84 million years ago?</a> [Tokyo Institute of Biology]
Original Paper: <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23803-8">A Late Cretaceous true polar wander oscillation</a> [Nature]

Wobble Wobble

Scientists ventured to figure out whether or not, like you, after three martinis, Earth once keeled over on its side.

Scientists: Uh, Earth Flipped Over On Its Side 84 Million Years Ago

Financial experts were pretty skeptical about <a href="https://futurism.com/tags/cryptocurrency">cryptocurrency</a> when it first came out. In fact, most thought it was just a fad. But now it’s pretty clear that those experts were very wrong. Crypto has been around for over a decade, now, and it&#8217;s stronger than ever. If you’re ready to invest in what a lot of successful people think is the most important asset class of the 21st century, the best and easiest way to do that is with <a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coinbase</a>.
<h2><a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why Invest In Crypto In 2021?</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_232403" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232403" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-232403 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cryptocurrency-coinbase-by-art-rachen-via-unsplash.jpg" alt="crypto" width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232403" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Unsplash</figcaption></figure>
As you’ve probably noticed, crypto just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The price of Bitcoin has gone up 80-fold over the last five years, from $745 in 2016 to <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/bitcoin-price-today-etf-approval-60000-outlook-btc-futures-crypto-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$60,000</a> today. In April, Coinbase, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, went public on Nasdaq at $400 per share, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/04/14/987380900/coinbase-a-bitcoin-startup-goes-public-is-crypto-really-the-future-of-finance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">driving the company’s valuation</a> to almost $100 billion. In September, El Salvador became the <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/8171521/el-salvador-adopts-bitcoin-legal-tender/#:~:text=El%20Salvador%20on%20Tuesday%20became,wallet%20to%20cope%20with%20demand." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">first country</a> in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, and other countries, <a href="https://coingeek.com/brazil-eyes-making-btc-legal-tender-allowing-its-use-as-payment-for-goods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">including Brazil</a>, may soon follow suit.
Crypto is making huge gains with U.S.-based institutions as well. It is now estimated that <a href="https://www.fidelitydigitalassets.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/FDAS/2021-digital-asset-study.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">70 percent of institutional investors</a> currently invest in or plan to invest in crypto in the near future. Earlier this month, the Bank of America became the latest big bank to officially recognize crypto as an asset class. And just this week the industry will see yet another major milestone, as the first SEC-approved bitcoin futures EFT (exchange-traded fund) launches on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Today, the world crypto market is worth over $2 trillion. And while there is still a lot of volatility in the crypto marketplace, on the whole, these digital assets have become one of the best ways for investors to <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/tech/question-why-should-anyone-invest-crypto/#a-stable-censorship-resistant-store-of-value" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hedge against inflation</a>. In fact, some experts now think crypto will soon replace gold as the number one hedge asset, particularly in less-developed countries.
So, should you invest in crypto? For an answer to that question, you really need to consult a professional money manager. However, if you’ve already determined that you have the means and the will, there’s no better place to start your crypto journey than <a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coinbase</a>.
<h2><a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coinbase Makes Trading Simple</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_232405" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232405" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-232405 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/coinbase-desktop-and-mobile-app.jpg" alt="coinbase" width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232405" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Coinbase</figcaption></figure>
Why should you <a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">build your cryptocurrency portfolio with Coinbase</a>? Because it’s no fluke that they are the most widely used crypto exchange in the world. They are the biggest player in the crypto game because they make trading radically simple.
<a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Creating a Coinbase account</a> and linking it to your bank account takes just a few minutes. From there, this simple and intuitive platform will walk you through making your first trades, managing your portfolio, setting up automatic recurring buys, and more. There are tons of <a href="https://www.coinbase.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">guides, tutorials, and other educational tools </a>that will teach you all the basics, and the intuitive user interface is a breeze to navigate, whether you’re accessing it via browser or their mobile app.
Coinbase allows investors to trade over 4,000 digital assets. These include mainstream coins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, plus a solid variety of altcoins like Cardano, Polkadot, Ripple, and Solana. <a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coinbase also offers stable-coins</a> like USD Coin, which are pegged to the U.S. dollar. And there is talk that they will soon become a major player in the emerging NFT marketplace.
Worried about security? <a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coinbase is incredibly secure</a>. This is a <a href="https://www.coinbase.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fully accredited and licensed</a> cryptocurrency exchange that employs industry best practices to give you complete peace of mind. Over 98 percent of customer funds are <a href="https://www.coinbase.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stored offline</a> in vaults all over the world, which means they are inaccessible to hackers. Coinbase also offers things like 2-step verification, biometric fingerprint logins, and 256-bit encryption. And while your crypto balances are not backed by SIPC or FDIC because crypto is not considered legal tender, <a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Coinbase carries crime insurance</a> that protects a portion of their digital assets against losses from theft, including cybersecurity breaches.
So if you think you’re finally ready to dip your toes in the $2 trillion crypto market, there’s no better place to start than Coinbase. <a href="https://coinbase-consumer.sjv.io/jWydWv" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a> to create your account and start trading in a matter of minutes.
Futurism fans: To create this content, a non-editorial team worked with an affiliate partner. We may collect a small commission on items purchased through this page. This post does not necessarily reflect the views or the endorsement of the Futurism.com editorial staff.

Coinbase is the world’s number one cryptocurrency exchange for a reason.

If You’re Ready To Invest in Crypto, Here’s the Best Place To Start

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have been used to achieve some amazing things, and also some <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/neural-network-elon-musk-makeovers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">extremely silly ones</a>. But in your day-to-day life, machine learning is about making your life easier, and <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/rytr-lifetime-subscription-20-store-credit?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=rytr-lifetime-subscription-20-store-credit&amp;utm_term=scsf-515640&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004UTw2QAG&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rytr</a> is designed to help non-writers put out amazing copy. A lifetime subscription is on sale for just $75 (reg. $1,250).
<h2>AI-Powered Copy</h2>
If you&#8217;re a team of one, or just a small group that has big marketing needs, then you know writing copy is a demanding skill. Once you write good copy, you can repurpose it endlessly, but getting that copy down can be hard work.
Rytr draws from both industry best practices and top-performing copy for the most common use cases to develop text for businesses. First, you choose a use case and language from a growing list of options. Next, choose a template and a tone. Finally, fill in some keywords about your business.
The text then auto-generates, and you can use it for inspiration for your own ads and emails, or tweak it, publish it, and focus on your other tasks. Create the same copy in multiple tones, adapt it to over 25 languages, and automate other copy tasks that used to take up your time.
<h2>A Writer Always Available</h2>
Rytr is browser-based, and works with both mobile and desktop, so you always have inspiration to hand. A lifetime subscription gets you 75,000 characters of writing a month, perfect for generating ad campaigns, website copy, short blog entries, and other marketing material.
It also automates plagiarism checks, with Copyscape, and has workflow and team management features, so that everyone has a copywriter handy. And with a dedicated account manager and priority email support, you can quickly get back to your other deadlines confident in your copy.
Get a lifetime subscription to <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/rytr-lifetime-subscription-20-store-credit?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=rytr-lifetime-subscription-20-store-credit&amp;utm_term=scsf-515640&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004UTw2QAG&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rytr</a> for $75 (reg. $1,250) and get $20 in credit for our store!
Prices subject to change.
Futurism fans: To create this content, a non-editorial team worked with an affiliate partner. We may collect a small commission on items purchased through this page. This post does not necessarily reflect the views or the endorsement of the <a class="underline hover:text-futurism hover:no-underline transition-all duration-200 ease-in-out" href="http://futurism.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://Futurism.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Futurism.com</a> editorial staff.

Rytr makes composing ad copy, emails, and other catchy text faster, simpler and more efficient.

Improve Your Writing With Artificial Intelligence Tool Rytr And Earn $20 In Store Credit

<a href="https://futurism.com/investment-single-family-rental-properties-roofstock">Investing</a> in single-family rental properties is a pretty good deal if you can afford to do it. They can provide a steady stream of revenue from rent and a decent hedge against whatever the future might hold. However, in addition to the capital requirements of such an investment, buying and maintaining such properties has historically been a world-class hassle. But with <a href="https://roofstock.3k3q.net/KeX5eA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a real estate investment platform called Roofstock</a>, buying (and selling) single-family rental properties is easier than it’s ever been at any point in history.
<a href="https://roofstock.3k3q.net/KeX5eA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roofstock</a> was founded in 2015 to make the process of investing in real estate “radically simple.” Since then, they’ve developed a comprehensive online marketplace that has streamlined and simplified the steps necessary to find just the right rental property for your specific needs, with properties that have been selected and curated with the aid of an advanced AI algorithm. One of the marketplace’s killer apps is the “neighborhood score” that is attached to each and every listing you’ll find on Roofstock, and which include data from a variety of different sources that, in the old days before Roofstock existed, you would have had to consult separately. Instead, you can find all the information you need, which could have taken days or weeks to hunt down, in one convenient place.
<h2><a href="https://roofstock.3k3q.net/KeX5eA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roofstock: The Best Way to Buy and Sell Rental Real Estate Online</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_222790" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-222790" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://roofstock.3k3q.net/KeX5eA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-222790 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/roofstock-house-4.jpg" alt="real estate" width="1280" height="853" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-222790" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Roofstock</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://roofstock.3k3q.net/KeX5eA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Roofstock</a> is also a great way to browse listings across the country, no matter where you live. Unless you have a specific desire to own rental property in your city or state, there’s no reason you can’t collect rent from a property or properties located anywhere in the country, and Roofstock makes the process as simple and convenient as it can be.
Even after you find the property you want and your bid is accepted, Roofstock still isn’t done guiding you through your real estate investment journey. The common hazards and pitfalls associated with escrow and closing will be as painless as possible, and Roofstock can even connect you with the right property management company if you’re not planning (or able) to handle the property’s day-to-day business on your own.
If you’re thinking about adding a rental property or two to your investment portfolio, browsing <a href="https://roofstock.3k3q.net/KeX5eA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Roofstock online marketplace</a> is the perfect way to find just the right one for you. But there are a couple of additional selling points that make investing through Roofstock a no-brainer. First, there’s the platform’s “Lease Up Guarantee,” which states that if a property you purchase through Roofstock (many of which already have paying tenants living in them now) doesn’t have a paying occupant within 45 days of closing, Roofstock will cover the rent for up to a year. Then there’s the 30-day money-back guarantee, which gives you a month to change your mind about whatever property you buy &#8212; not something you’re likely to find elsewhere on the real estate market.
Roofstock is the best way to find and buy rental properties online, so it’s only logical that it’s the best place to sell them too. So whether you have a single-family rental property you’re looking to sell, or you’re looking to invest, <a href="https://roofstock.3k3q.net/KeX5eA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">head over to Roofstock now</a> for more details and to get started.
Futurism fans: To create this content, a non-editorial team worked with an affiliate partner. We may collect a small commission on items purchased through this page. This post does not necessarily reflect the views or the endorsement of the Futurism.com editorial staff.

Roofstock has changed the rental property investment game forever. 

This Real Estate Investment Platform Saves You Time and Money

In a post today, a redditor posed an provocative question: could you paint your face on the Moon, so that it was visible from Earth, and get away with it?
&#8220;Let’s say that Elon musk Does [go] to the moon and paints his face on it,&#8221; <a href="https://www.reveddit.com/v/space/comments/qbbq9n/is_it_possible_to_paint_your_face_or_some_symbol/">read the post</a>, before it was deleted by the trigger-happy mods of r/space. &#8220;The space treaty says no one owns the moon or can claim it, so could someone get away with doing something like this.&#8221;
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-232454" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/reddit-musk-moon.png" alt="" width="917" height="167" />
The question of whether or not Musk would do something like that is probably pretty obvious. Of course he would. Imagine the meme potential. It’d be wild, and another thing he could <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-taunts-jeff-bezos-second-richest-person">lord over Jeff Bezos</a>. 
Whether the billionaire SpaceX founder could do it, though, is another question entirely. There are three barriers that need to be examined:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Technical. Is it possible to paint your face on the Moon?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Legal. Is it legal to paint your face on the Moon?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The Ethical. Is it right to paint your face on the Moon?  
</li>
</ol>
First, you need to consider the technical aspects. Is it even possible to paint something large enough on the Moon that we could see it from Earth? There’s no reason to even consider the other two barriers if you’re doomed to fail. 
Short answer: Probably — though if Musk wants to plaster his mug on the entirety of the Moon’s surface visible during a full moon, he’s going to need an ungodly amount of paint. That might be prohibitively expensive enough, so let’s assume he decided to save money and resources with a clever hack. 
Jim Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/magazine/14Ideas-Section2-C-t-009.html?partner=slack&amp;smid=sl-share">spoke to The New York Times</a> in 2008 about a similar proposal that purportedly planned to project beer ads onto the lunar surface. He said that scientists had indeed bounced lasers off the Moon before, lighting up areas about the size of tennis courts. 
Scaling up, though, would pose a challenge.
&#8220;In order for an advertisement to be seen by people on earth,&#8221; Garvin told the NYT, &#8220;the laser light would need to cover an area about half the land size of Africa.&#8221;
Of course, Musk would need a dizzyingly large array of laser systems to light up the Moon’s surface from the Earth — but it would likely be possible, albeit expensive.
But what about the law? Luckily for the Tesla CEO, he might be okay to deface the Moon with his, well, face. 
For one, no country &#8220;owns&#8221; the Moon. That means no one specific governing body can enforce laws on it. 
That said, it doesn’t mean that you’re allowed to commit any crime you want on the lunar surface. On the Moon, the principle of &#8220;<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3042">extraterritorial jurisdiction</a>&#8220; would apply to Musk. That means that the laws of a person’s home country apply to them if they’re in a territory not owned by a country. 
But he might not be committing any crimes if he decides to project — or even paint — his face onto its surface, since no one owns the Moon. So he’s probably in the clear legally. 
Then that leaves the ethical: is it right to plaster your face all over a celestial body that has been a source of joy and wonder to billions of people over the lifetime of our species?
This one is an unequivocal &#8220;no.&#8221; Not at all. What a silly question. One would be hard pressed to even come up with an argument otherwise. It’s the Moon, after all! It’s not there for one person to enjoy and use for themselves. It’s for everyone. 
So, could Musk paint a giant picture of his face on the Moon? Yes. Will he do it? Probably not — though we would never put an opportunity to promote himself (and memeify the solar system) past him. 
More on the Moon: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/florida-man-missing-nasa-moon-rock-garage-sale">Florida Man Returns Missing NASA Moon Rock He Bought at Garage Sale</a>

Musk on the Moon

Is it legal? Probably. Would people get pissed? Most definitely. 

Could Elon Musk Paint a Giant Picture of His Face on the Moon?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) held a hearing on Monday that allowed members of the public to voice opinions about SpaceX’s planned Starship flights from its launch site in Boca Chica, Texas — and some folks had strong criticisms for the aerospace company.
The hearing, which went on for more than three hours, gave the public an opportunity to speak for up to three minutes about the flights as part of its environmental review of the facility. <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-proposal-draws-vocal-public-support-some-criticism-in-faa-hearing/">CNET </a><a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-starship-proposal-draws-vocal-public-support-some-criticism-in-faa-hearing/">reports that</a> while much of the feedback was in support of SpaceX, there were also some detractors who took issue with the project.
One such speaker was Sharon Wilcox, a Texas representative for the conservation nonprofit Defenders of Wildlife. She said that the group was &#8220;deeply concerned about the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts&#8221; of the launches, including &#8220;unplanned fires, debris fall, and debris removal,&#8221; in comments heard by CNET. 
Another local Sharon, Sharon Almaguer, whose home is just a few miles from the proposed SpaceX launch site, said that she was concerned about the potential noise issues stemming from the rockets. 
&#8220;This is a project that is profoundly going to change our area,&#8221; she said in comments <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/faa-conducts-hearing-on-spacex-launch-site-hears-pro-and-con-views/">heard by Ars Technica</a>. &#8220;Please do your job and stop it.&#8221;
Despite that, many of the statements given over the course of the hearing were overwhelmingly in favor of SpaceX using the land — though CNET does note that a good number of the supportive comments came from people outside of Texas. 
&#8220;Essentially, it&#8217;s humanity living off the planet, and it&#8217;s very important for us to do that, &#8221; said one commentator.
Jessica Tetreau, a city commissioner for the neighboring town of Brownsville, gave the final statement of the night saying that SpaceX’s facility has been and would continue to be a boon for her community. 

&#8220;I don’t just ask you, I beg you to give them that permit,&#8221; Tetreau said in comments heard by CNET. 
The FAA will hold one more public hearing on Wednesday as part of its draft environmental assessment for SpaceX’s Texas facility. This is one of the last major hurdles the company must clear before it can begin launch operations at the Boca Chica site. 
Once completed, the administration might allow SpaceX to begin launching with little to no environmental adjustments — or, theoretically, <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/faa-spacex-starship-launch-tower">it might just ban it from launching entirely</a>.

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