<a href="https://futurism.com/better-rhodes-non-alcoholic-drinks-online">Drinking</a> is fun, but it also carries plenty of negative side-effects in the bargain. Luckily, if you’ve decided to wake up with your last hangover, you don’t have to completely give up the rituals and sensations associated with cocktails, beer, and wine, because non alcoholic beverages have come a long way in recent years. And for the very best in alcohol-free drinks, there’s only one place to turn: <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Better Rhodes</a>.
<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Better Rhodes</a> is an online store devoted exclusively to non alcoholic beverages. It offers specially curated selections of only the finest products, which have been painstakingly compiled by their team of knowledgeable experts.
The best way to explore the one-of-a-kind Better Rhodes inventory is to browse their <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">online shop</a>, but here’s a sampling of a few of the best products you can get right now:
<h2><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Sober Curious Elevated Non Alcoholic Welcome Pack</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_217767" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-217767" style="width: 720px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-217767 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/elevatedsobercuriouspackage_720x.png" alt="non alcoholic" width="720" height="720" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-217767" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Better Rhodes</figcaption></figure>
Quitting drinking can be an intimidating prospect, so it’s possible you’re not ready to jump on the wagon cold turkey. If you consider yourself “Sober Curious,” The Sober Curious Elevated Welcome Pack from <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Better Rhodes</a> is the clear way to go. Each Welcome Pack includes its own assortment of products designed to please the Sober Curious drinker, including a bottle of Chardonnay, a bottle of Rosé, two IPAs, two ales, and at least 6 canned ready-to-drink AF cocktails. Whether you’re ready to quit drinking altogether or just want to dip your toes in the hot tub of sobriety, the Sober Curious Elevated Welcome Pack is a clear choice for introducing yourself to an assortment of products Better Rhodes has to offer. You can get one now for just $56.99.
<h2><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">A Collection of Our Favorite Craft Beers</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_217766" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-217766" style="width: 720px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-217766 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/StaffFavoriteAlcoholFreeAleCollection_adeb8e79-fc31-4fbe-a30d-5ab79fc03fa1_720x.png" alt="" width="720" height="720" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-217766" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Better Rhodes</figcaption></figure>
Some drinkers like cocktails, wines, liquors, and so on, but if you’re more of a meat and potatoes beer drinker <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Better Rhodes</a> has you covered as well. For proof, plunk down $19.99 on a Better Rhodes craft beer collection, with six of the very best non-alcoholic craft beers now available. If you’re ready to quit drinking alcohol without giving up the complex flavors of your new favorite craft beers, check out the #DeliciousAF Beer Sampler Pack from Better Rhodes.
<h2><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Grüvi Bubbly Sampler</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_217765" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-217765" style="width: 720px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-217765 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/18_720x.png" alt="non alcoholic drinks" width="720" height="720" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-217765" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Better Rhodes</figcaption></figure>
If your taste runs more to the bubbly side, <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Better Rhodes</a> and Grüvi have an ideal way to get your started with non-alcoholic champagne products like Dry Secco (non-alcoholic prosecco) and Bubbly Rosé. They’re built on a foundation of hand-picked and blended wine grapes, and their wine is semi-dry, with floral and tart endnotes. Each serving is 0.0% alcohol, 10 ounces and boasts only 50 calories for the Dry Secco and 60 for the Rosé. If you’re counting calories, you might also be pleased to know that it’s all completely free of gluten and sulfates.
These are just three of the best items currently available from the <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1646835&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=102383&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.betterrhodes.com%2Fcollections%2Fall&amp;afftrack=902059">Better Rhodes online store here</a>, and it won’t take long for you to see they have a lot more great stuff for your drinking, non-alcoholic pleasure.
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

Better Rhodes sells only the best alcohol free beer, wine, and spirits.

If You’re Looking for Non Alcoholic Drinks That Don’t Suck, Here’s Some Good News

Infrared energy is truly amazing stuff. Scientists have put it to use <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/simple-beam-light-catch-zika-infected-mosquitoes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">trapping infected mosquitos</a> and even <a href="https://futurism.com/darpas-new-sensor-can-work-for-years-with-almost-no-power" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">powering devices without a battery</a>. And if you need to relax, infrared can offer a soothing heat that reaches deep into your body. The <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/mihigh-heated-sauna-blanket?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=mihigh-heated-sauna-blanket&amp;utm_term=scsf-486201&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004exeYQAQ&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MiHIGH Heated Sauna Blanket</a> takes that a step further, with a sauna you can fit in a suitcase and use anywhere you have an outlet.
A gentle heat has been used for health purposes for centuries; the first sauna dates back as far as 2000 BCE. Heat relaxes blood vessels, allowing more blood flow into stiff areas. This in turn provides more oxygen and nutrients to tissues and helps the lymph system do its job of clearing away lactic acid and other byproducts of exercise that can stiffen you up. Sweating also helps this natural cycle, as one of the methods the body uses to get rid of unwanted elements.
The MiHIGH uses the same far-infrared wavelengths as a traditional &#8220;box&#8221; sauna, yet it&#8217;s simple to set up. Just roll it out on a heatproof comfortable surface, like a bed or exercise mat, plug it in, and use the remote control to set your preferred temperature. Tuck in for thirty minutes up to an hour while listening to calming music, practicing your mindfulness, or just stepping out of the rush of the day for a while. Then get up and go about your day with that post-sauna energy, with a relaxed body and mind.
It&#8217;s ideal for situations where you want the feel of a sauna, but don&#8217;t have the time to head to the spa, or when you know you&#8217;ll be working out on the road. It packs easily into the included bag, and it&#8217;s made of non-toxic fabrics with a waterproof interior. It&#8217;s even a worthwhile investment if you lead an active lifestyle. One user remarks, &#8220;I train 4-5 days a week and also deal with a health issue that causes intense muscle spasms and tremors. My blanket has been a huge help with recovery and detox.&#8221;
Usually $499, the MiHIGH is currently <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/mihigh-heated-sauna-blanket?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=mihigh-heated-sauna-blanket&amp;utm_term=scsf-486201&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004exeYQAQ&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">14% off, just $424.99</a>.
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="c-link" 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

Infrared creates a gentle heat that can be reinvigorating. The MiHIGH Heated Sauna Blanket lets you bring it everywhere.

Bring The Infrared Sauna With You With The MiHIGH Sauna Blanket

Video games can be <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/creator-cyberpunk-warning-actual-future" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fun, art, or both</a>, but most often they&#8217;re best when played with friends. Yet online gaming can come with privacy concerns. This <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/vpn-u-lifetime-playstation-plus-subscription-1-yr-bundle?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=vpn-u-lifetime-playstation-plus-subscription-1-yr-bundle&amp;utm_term=scsf-486225&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004exewQAA&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">gamer&#8217;s bundle</a> offers you the tools to protect yourself, while also spending time with your besties and getting free games to boot.
On the gaming side of things, you get a year of PlayStation Plus. While a subscription to the service is necessary to use online multiplayer features in your games, PlayStation Plus comes with a lot more. Every month, you&#8217;ll get two free PS4 games to play for the length of your membership exclusive store discounts and content only available to members 100 GB of cloud storage so you can pick up your game on a friend&#8217;s console and Share Play, letting you loan your games to a friend.
To protect your console, and everything else, the bundle includes a lifetime subscription to KeepSolid VPN for up to five different devices. Virtual private networks guard your data by routing all traffic through a separate secure server, so any attempt to track you dead-ends at their servers, not your router.
<img src="https://cdnp3.stackassets.com/a6456a23d15be58aa4074251511087bcb439d01f/store/90a4441b18d8c147a6eaef51fa531c0860dae08df35b8facff6d605a7078/product_226487_product_shots1+%282%29.jpg" />
KeepSolid builds on this security by giving you a wide choice of VPN protocols, no limits on speed or bandwidth, and AES 256-bit encryption, the only publicly available cypher considered secure enough by the US government to transmit top-secret information.
KeepSolid offers more than 500 servers in 80 countries, providing what you need to enjoy your games, streaming services, and other subscriptions anywhere in the world, and offers diagnostic tools, favorite servers, and other features to make using your VPN as simple as starting an app. If that doesn&#8217;t entice you, consider that PC Mag gave VPN Unlimited its Top VPN award, while Tech.Co remarks, “From its simple interface to its genuinely practical features, VPN Unlimited has plenty to recommend it.”
Combined, these would be $258 at MSRP, but this bundle <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/vpn-u-lifetime-playstation-plus-subscription-1-yr-bundle?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=vpn-u-lifetime-playstation-plus-subscription-1-yr-bundle&amp;utm_term=scsf-486225&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004exewQAA&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">is $49.99, 80% off</a> the retail price. Whether as a gift for a gamer in your life, or a way to stay connected with friends, it&#8217;s the best way to keep playing.
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="c-link" href="http://futurism.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://Futurism.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Futurism.com</a> editorial staff.

Online gaming is a lot of fun, yet privacy worries can distract you. This bundle both gets you the games you want, and the privacy you deserve.

Get A Year Of Playstation Plus And A Lifetime Of VPN Protection For Just $50

Let’s face it, the world of 2021 is a disappointment in a lot of ways. But if you live in a state with legal <a href="https://futurism.com/home-weed-delivery-eaze">weed</a>, your future is just a little bit brighter. Thanks to innovative weed delivery companies like <a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB">Eaze</a> and <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055">Emjay</a>, you can have a wide variety of cannabis products delivered right to your door, instead of having to buy it in some back alley like a criminal.
The most popular weed delivery app is probably <a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB">Eaze</a>, which is essentially Uber for legal marijuana. Like ride-share apps, Eaze provides a platform for merchants to sell their products quickly and easily to interested customers like you.
<h2><a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB">Eaze: Like Uber for Weed</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_188979" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-188979" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-188979 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Eaze-Cannabis-Delivery.png" alt="Eaze Weed Delivery Services " width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-188979" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Eaze</figcaption></figure>
Every retailer on <a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB">Eaze</a> has been thoroughly vetted for quality, safety, and legality, so you can make your selections in the comfort of your own home with total peace of mind, provided you can prove you’re 21 or older before you start an account.
<a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB">Eaze</a> offers much more than just marijuana on its platform. You can get anything from vapes, edibles, flowers, and pre-rolls to drinks and concentrates, just to name a few. One innovative feature of the Eaze platform is its color-coding system which indicates what variety of cannabis the product in question contains: Yellow for sativa products; blue for indica products; green for hybrid products (combinations of sativa and indica); and purple for non-psychoactive CBD products.
<h2><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055">Emjay: Free Weed Delivery</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_203270" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-203270" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-203270 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Emjay.jpg" alt="Emjay" width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-203270" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Emjay</figcaption></figure>
Another brand making cannabis delivery easier and better than ever is <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055">Emjay</a>. Founded soon after marijuana was legalized in California, Emjay is a universal one-stop marketplace for quality-tested, legal cannabis products.
<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055">Emjay</a> seeks to keep its prices as low as possible, and offers competitive rates compared to your local in-person dispensary. Some delivery apps have become notorious for price markups, but Emjay is engineered for total pricing transparency. Once you make your selection, it will be promptly delivered right to your door by a professional courier, and <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the delivery is totally free</a>.
How is this possible? Unlike apps like Uber or Doordash, <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055">Emjay</a> is a vertically integrated platform that handles all inventory itself, rather than just acting as a middleman between you and other retailers. They own all their own infrastructure, train all their own delivery drivers, and control every segment of the process.
It probably goes without saying that <a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB">Eaze</a> and <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Emjay</a> represent two different approaches to the weed delivery business, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. So the best way to determine which one is right for you is to head over to their respective sites and get more information. Check out <a href="https://eaze.pxf.io/rnQBEB">Eaze here</a>, and <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1488628&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=94627&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fheyemjay.com%2F&amp;afftrack=902055" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Emjay here</a>, and see for yourself.
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.

Eaze and Emjay are bringing the cannabis delivery business to the mainstream.

These Groundbreaking Weed Delivery Services Bring Legal Cannabis Right to Your Door

At first, it was meant to be a joke.
But now the market capitalization of Dogecoin, a popular altcoin, has spiked to $40 billion, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/16/dogecoin-doge-price-meme-cryptocurrencys-rise-sparks-bubble-fears.html">CNBC reports</a>, after values skyrocketed and added $20 billion in value in just 24 hours.
The shiba inu-emblazoned token was created as a &#8220;fun&#8221; alternative to Bitcoin back in 2013. But thanks to a massive surge in interest, led by communities on Reddit — and some prominent boosterism y Elon Musk — the cryptocurrency is starting to look a lot less like a mere joke.
This morning, values of the token hit 32 cents, an all-time high. Just a week ago, the value was hovering around just <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/price/dogecoin">six cents</a>.
The news comes after Musk, a longtime supporter of the coin, send the value of Dogecoin soaring in February after tweeting a silly picture of a shiba on the surface of the Moon.
Musk has long joked that Dogecoin will &#8220;go to the Moon,&#8221; a reference to its soaring value.
The altcoin&#8217;s recent surge meant those who invested early made bank.
&#8220;Hey guys, I just became a Dogecoin millionaire,&#8221; one Reddit user exclaimed in a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/dogecoin/comments/mrsx8e/hey_guys_i_just_became_a_dogecoin_millionaire/">Thursday post</a>, with a screenshot showing a balance of $1,081,441.29 in their account.
But the surge is also causing some worry among crypto experts.
&#8220;People are buying the cryptocurrency, not because they think it has any meaningful value, but because they hope others will pile in, push the price up, and then they can sell off and make a quick buck,&#8221; UK-based analyst David Kimberley told CNBC.
Kimberley also noted that &#8220;when everyone is doing this, the bubble eventually has to burst and you’re going to be left short-changed if you don’t get out in time.&#8221;
But only time will tell when — or if — Dogecoin&#8217;s bubble will pop.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/16/dogecoin-doge-price-meme-cryptocurrencys-rise-sparks-bubble-fears.html">Dogecoin spikes 400% in a week, stoking fears of a cryptocurrency bubble</a> [CNBC] 

More on Dogecoin: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-invites-sec-into-battle-over-dogecoin-because">Elon Musk Invites SEC Into Battle Over Dogecoin</a>

Doge to the Moon

Did Dogecoin just go to the Moon?

Dogecoin Is Spiking and People Are Losing Their Minds

A fascinating clip of what appeared to be triangular or &#8220;pyramid&#8221; shaped UFOs flying over a US Navy warship <a href="https://futurism.com/leaked-video-unidentified-objects-swarming-navy-warship">circulated online</a> earlier this month.
The footage, obtained by filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, shows the mysterious objects caught on a night vision camera aimed at the skies over the warship.
&#8220;I can confirm that the referenced photos and videos were taken by Navy personnel,&#8221; Department of Defense spokesperson Sue Gough <a href="https://futurism.com/leaked-video-unidentified-objects-swarming-navy-warship">told Futurism</a> last week.
The incident left plenty of questions unanswered. What were these stranger pyramid-shaped objects, or were they some type of optical illusion? If they were real, where did they come from?
To The Warzone creator Tyler Rogoway, the answer is obvious: the mysterious craft, and other military UFO sightings like them, are likely swarms of drones that belong to foreign adversaries, as <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40054/adversary-drones-are-spying-on-the-u-s-and-the-pentagon-acts-like-theyre-ufos">detailed in a recent report</a> for the site.
&#8220;Yes, I realize that the idea that an adversary is penetrating US military training areas unmolested, and has been for years, using lowly drone technology and balloons, is a big pill to swallow,&#8221; Rogoway wrote, &#8220;but as one of the people who have repeatedly warned about the threat posed by lower-end drones for a decade&#8230; it isn&#8217;t really surprising at all.&#8221;
Rogoway decried the Pentagon&#8217;s &#8220;utter lack of vision and early robust interest in regards to this emerging threat&#8221; and called out the Defense Department for &#8220;still playing catch-up when it comes to the realities surrounding the drone threat, and not just to its forces abroad, but also to the homeland overall.&#8221;
In fact, he argues, the stigma surrounding UFOs only helped adversaries get away with hiding in plain sight inside American air space.
In his piece, Rogoway points to a number of compelling moments in history when not only foreign adversaries but the US itself invested in developing unmanned aircraft, including radar-reflecting balloons designed to confuse enemy radar systems.
In fact, a 1945 radar reflector patent of such a balloon looks strikingly like the pyramid-shaped objects that showed up in the UFO sighting earlier this month.
Rather than looking like the consumer-facing drones we are used to, Rogoway argues &#8220;there are far more configurations, some of which look downright alien and perform unlike a traditional fixed-wing aircraft or quadcopter.&#8221;
Drone swarm technologies have also come a long way, allowing them to stay in the sky for significant periods of time, cover long distances, and pull off complex maneuvers in groups.
Thanks to America&#8217;s obsession with UFOs, these reports often end up being discredited. Many pilots may even stop short of even reporting sightings due to fear of professional embarrassment.
&#8220;The fact that pilots have historically refrained from reporting unexplained craft in the skies due to fear of their careers being impacted is all you really need to know when quantifying how relevant and effective such a tactic can be,&#8221; Rogoway argues.
So why are we starting to see more and more reports on UFOs? That may be in part to new technologies that can actually detect these drones. More data, in other words, means more sightings.
It&#8217;s a compelling argument that could certainly explain some of the strange sightings made by Air Force pilots and Navy personnel over the last decades.
Rogozin claims that &#8220;at least one of our adversaries has made a mockery of us and compromised key capabilities using remarkably low-end technology.&#8221;
By first admitting the US has a drone problem, he says, the Department of Defense can start piecing the pieces back together and get behind these UFO mysteries.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40054/adversary-drones-are-spying-on-the-u-s-and-the-pentagon-acts-like-theyre-ufos">Adversary Drones Are Spying On The U.S. And The Pentagon Acts Like They&#8217;re UFOs</a> [The Warzone] 

More on the sightings: <a href="https://futurism.com/leaked-video-unidentified-objects-swarming-navy-warship">Pentagon Confirms That Leaked Video Is Part of UFO Investigation</a>

Can't See the Drones for the Swarms

It's a compelling argument.

This Theory Could Explain Many Military UFO Sightings

Since chess was invented, people have been trying to play it remotely. Chess by mail, virtual chess, <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/online-streaming-chess-esport" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">live-streamed chess</a>, they&#8217;re all fun, but not quite like sitting down to a board and moving pieces. <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/square-off-world-s-smartest-chessboard-grand-kingdom-set?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=square-off-world-s-smartest-chessboard-grand-kingdom-set&amp;utm_term=scsf-486221&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004exesQAA&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Square Off</a>, though, uses robotics and AI to let you play chess against anyone, anywhere, using a real board and real pieces.
On the surface, Square Off looks like a premium chess set, with rosewood coloring and a classic Grand Kingdom piece design. It&#8217;s what&#8217;s inside the board that makes it different from old-school sets, and made it a CES Top Tech &amp; Innovation Awardee 2020. Once you set up the pieces and connect the app to your phone via Bluetooth, the automated pieces get to work.
<iframe title="Square Off - The World’s Smartest Chessboard" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J7ZNyduqHFg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Square Off uses a carefully designed system to track the moves of each player and reflect them on both their boards. So even if you&#8217;re halfway across the world, you&#8217;ll watch as your opponent begins their Silician defense in real-time, with pieces moving as if they were really there. It&#8217;s perfect for practicing games with a distant friend, or finding new players while keeping the feel of real-life chess. With a community of 30 million players, and growing, you&#8217;ll always find somebody to play against.
If you want to sharpen your skills, you always have an opponent in the board itself. Square Off has twenty levels of chess-playing AI built-in. You can turn up the challenge for a more stimulating game, or start the difficulty low and work your way up towards becoming a better player. And, with a battery that lasts for up to fifteen games, and a standard DC charger, you can bring it with you and keep playing.
A Square Off board is usually $449, but for a limited time, <a href="https://stacksocial.com/sales/square-off-world-s-smartest-chessboard-grand-kingdom-set?utm_source=futurism.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=square-off-world-s-smartest-chessboard-grand-kingdom-set&amp;utm_term=scsf-486221&amp;utm_content=a0x1P000004exesQAA&amp;scsonar=1&amp;aid=a-wmceeqco" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">it&#8217;s $399.99, 10% off</a>.
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="c-link" href="http://futurism.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://Futurism.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Futurism.com</a> editorial staff.

Before, you could either play chess remotely, or play with pieces. Square Off lets you do both.

Play Real-World Chess Against Players Across The Globe With Square Off

Are you in a <a href="https://futurism.com/strong-coffee-company-daybreaker-latte">coffee</a> rut? Are you bored with your daily caffeine routine and looking for something new? Well, as you probably know, there is no shortage of brewing or extracting methods to choose from. There’s drip, press, espresso, pourover, instant, moka pot, cold brew, Keurig, Nespresso, aeropress, siphon, and Turkish, just to name a few. And there are probably another dozen rare artisanal methods we don’t even know about. However, if you want a coffee that is truly unlike anything you have ever experienced, you need to try a coffee concentrate called <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jot Ultra Coffee</a>.
<h2><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What Is Jot Ultra Coffee?</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_217259" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-217259" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-217259 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Jot-Ultra-Coffee-Product-Image.jpeg" alt="jot ultra coffee" width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-217259" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Jot</figcaption></figure>
Jot is a coffee concentrate. However, it’s not just any coffee concentrate. This stuff is the <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">most concentrated form of liquid coffee in the world</a>. In fact, Jot is about 20 times more potent than a standard cup of drip coffee. A single tablespoon is enough to make an 8oz cup of coffee, and every 200ml bottle is the equivalent of 14 cups. This stuff is so potent, the folks at Jot named it “Ultra Coffee,” which is probably the coolest coffee name of all time.
Of course, there’s way more to <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ultra Coffee</a> than its cool name. What makes Jot Ultra Coffee so amazing is its unreal flavor, amazing versatility, and unparalleled sustainability.
Let’s start with the flavor. You see, Jot Ultra Coffee is not a reduction, so it doesn’t taste like bland instant coffee. It is made using a progressive enrichment process that <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">extracts 30-percent more coffee per bean</a> without over-extracting. That means you get more of the dark, rich, caramel notes you love without excess bitterness or a sandpapery mouthfeel. The result is a pure and unbelievably smooth concentrate with incredible clarity.
So what kinds of coffees can you make with Jot Ultra Coffee? That’s the beauty of it. You can use Jot Ultra Coffee to <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">create any kind of coffee drink you want</a>, from lattes and macchiatos to Americanos and iced coffees. While Jot provides some recipes with recommended ratios of concentrate to water or milk, you can also play around and come up with your own concoctions. And because it comes in a small bottle, you can take Jot Ultra Coffee with you anywhere you go, whether it’s work, vacation, or even just your parents’ house.
When you drink Jot, you don’t just get amazing flavor and versatility. You also get a <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">clear conscience</a>. That’s because Jot only uses Fair Trade, organic, sustainably grown coffee beans from Central and South America. Also, they get 30-percent more out of every bean, which produces less waste. Last but not least, all spent coffee grounds are composted rather than thrown in a landfill.
<h2><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jot Coffee Concentrate &#8211; Subscribe And Save</a></h2>
<figure id="attachment_217258" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-217258" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img class="wp-image-217258 size-full" src="https://wordpress.futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/jot-ultra-coffee-latte.jpeg" alt="Jot coffee concentrate" width="1200" height="800" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-217258" class="wp-caption-text">Image via Jot</figcaption></figure>
You don’t have to subscribe or order in bulk to try Jot Ultra Coffee. If you want, you can buy a single bottle to see what it’s all about. However, after you’re sure you love the stuff—and chances are you will—you can <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">save $4 per bottle when you subscribe</a> to recurring shipments. You can also get <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">free shipping</a> when you order two bottles or more, as well as an <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1509123&amp;u=2238517&amp;m=95612&amp;urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fjot.co%2Fproducts%2Fjot&amp;afftrack=902042" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">additional 5-percent off</a> when you order three bottles or more.
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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.

Jot Ultra Coffee packs incredible coffee flavor into the world’s most concentrated liquid coffee.

This Coffee Concentrate Lets You Transform Any Liquid Into a Delicious Caffeinated Beverage

To the dismay of local residents, the New York City police department rolled out its newest toy earlier this week: a four-legged robot dog.
The robot, a modified Spot model manufactured by Boston Dynamics, made an <a href="https://futurism.com/outcry-video-robodog-patrolling-nypd">appearance at a public housing building</a>. Videos taken at the scene show the robot dog entering and exiting the building&#8217;s lobby.
Now, new details are emerging about the incident. Police have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/nyregion/robot-dog-nypd.html">told The New York Times</a> that the bot, dubbed &#8220;Digidog,&#8221; didn&#8217;t play an active role in the operation, but that a man who had a gun and was hiding in an apartment along with a woman and her baby was arrested on the scene.
The robodog may not have played an active role in the arrest, but having an armed police squadron deploy a robot to an active crime scene raises red flags about civil liberties and the future of policing.
Locally, the incident was met with outrage.
&#8220;You can’t give me a living wage, you can’t raise a minimum wage, you can’t give me affordable housing; I’m working hard and I can’t get paid leave, I can’t get affordable child care,&#8221; Bronx and Westchester County representative Jamaal Bowman said in <a href="https://twitter.com/JamaalBowmanNY/status/1382126695147266052">a video</a> posted to Twitter. &#8220;Instead we got money, taxpayer money, going to robot dogs?&#8221;
In the leadup to a mayoral election, candidates took the opportunity to voice their discontent as well.
&#8220;Rather than $70 million invested into saving residents from dangerous mold &amp; lead paint, N.Y.C. creates another danger for Black and Latino residents?!&#8221; mayoral candidate and former MSNBC analyst Maya Wiley wrote in <a href="https://twitter.com/mayawiley/status/1382335635382546442">a tweet</a>.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has long called out the use of robot dogs by police enforcement as a gross overreach of power.
&#8220;One of the things that makes these robots so unnerving is that everybody implicitly understands that the possibility of weaponizing them will continue to hang out there like a tempting forbidden fruit for law enforcement,&#8221; senior policy analyst Jay Stanley wrote in a <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/robot-police-dogs-are-here-should-we-be-worried/?initms_aff=nat&amp;initms_chan=soc&amp;utm_medium=soc&amp;initms=210306_blog_tw&amp;utm_source=tw&amp;utm_campaign=&amp;utm_content=210306_privacytechnology_blog&amp;ms_aff=nat&amp;ms_chan=soc&amp;ms=210306_blog_tw">recent blog post </a>for the ACLU. &#8220;There is also the fear that they could evolve from a remote-controlled tool to an autonomous decision-maker that makes actual law enforcement decisions of some kind.&#8221;
Stanley argues that AI-enhanced decision making, especially when it comes to assisting an already trigger-happy law enforcement system, could end up strengthening existing biases.
Boston Dynamics — which has repeatedly attempted to paint its robot in a more whimsical light by showing them <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzvRqBznvfs">go for a jog</a> or <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/video-boston-dynamics-robots-busting-impressive-dance-moves">complete a dance routine</a> — maintains that there&#8217;s nothing wrong with having a remote controlled robotic dog accompany law enforcement.
As Michael Perry, Boston Dynamics&#8217; VP of business development, told the Times, it&#8217;s only really willing to draw the line when it comes to arming its robots.
&#8220;We are adamant that we do not want our robots to be used in a way that harms people,&#8221; he told the newspaper.
Melanie Aucello, president of the tenant association at the building where the robot dog showed up this week, said that tenants there were being used as guinea pigs.
&#8220;We’re powerless,&#8221; she told NYT. &#8220;We’re like the scapegoats in society. To further read that they are trying it out and testing it out on us — everything that happens bad in our community happens here first.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/nyregion/robot-dog-nypd.html">N.Y.P.D.’s Robot Dog Returns to Work, Touching Off a Backlash</a> [The New York Times] 

More on the incident: <a href="https://futurism.com/outcry-video-robodog-patrolling-nypd">Outcry as Video Shows Robodog Patrolling With NYPD</a>

Dog Days

"We’re powerless."

NYPD Robodog Involved in Arrest of Man With Gun

For the first time ever, <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/15/987164563/scientists-create-early-embryos-that-are-part-human-part-monkey">NPR reports</a>, an international team of scientists have created chimera embryos that are made up of both human and monkey cells.
The research, as detailed in <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00305-6#%20">a paper</a> published in the journal Cell today, is meant to help scientists find new ways to grow organs intended for human transplants.
Finding organs available for transplant is becoming increasingly difficult in the United States every year. Stem cell research is hoping to find an alternative, combining human with animal cells from pigs and sheep to see if we could ever be able to grow human organs in those animals.
In the experiment, the scientists injected 25 &#8220;induced pluripotent stem cells&#8221; from humans into 132 six-day-old macaque embryos, which are far more genetically related to us humans than sheep and pig.
The human cells grew inside all 132  of the embryos after just 24 hours. After ten days, 103 chimeric embryos remained. By day 19, however, only three chimeras were left alive – and they were then terminated.
&#8220;This knowledge will allow us to go back now and try to re-engineer these pathways that are successful for allowing appropriate development of human cells in these other animals,&#8221; Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, genetics professor at the the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in La Jolla, California and co-author of the study, told NPR.
&#8220;We are very, very excited,&#8221; he added.
&#8220;Our goal is not to generate any new organism, any monster,&#8221; Belmonte told the broadcaster. &#8220;And we are not doing anything like that. We are trying to understand how cells from different organisms communicate with one another.&#8221;
The researchers say that the fact that they saw human cells growing at such a high rate could be a breakthrough.
&#8220;Historically, the generation of human-animal chimeras has suffered from low efficiency and integration of human cells into the host species,&#8221; Belmonte said in an <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-04/cp-rgh040821.php">official statement</a>.
Eventually, the researchers want to investigate whether they can find new ways to screen for drugs and potentially generate transplantable cells, tissues, and even organs.
Some of the same scientists <a href="https://futurism.com/scientists-move-closer-to-creating-the-first-humanpig-chimera">created human-pig chimeras</a> back in 2017, introducing human cells into pig embryos and incubating them for four weeks. That experiment marked the first time human cells could be detected growing inside embryos of another species.
The number of grown cells in that trial fell far short of expectations. The new study, however, experienced significantly higher rates of human cell growth.
Then in 2019, scientists in China created <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/pig-monkey-chimeras-born-chinese-lab">pig-monkey chimeras</a>, injecting macaque DNA into pig embryos. The pigs eventually were born inside a lab, but died within a week.
Despite the latest successes, the research raises a number of ethical questions.
&#8220;My first question is: Why?&#8221; research fellow at Rice University&#8217;s Baker Institute Kirstin Matthews told NPR. &#8220;I think the public is going to be concerned, and I am as well, that we&#8217;re just kind of pushing forward with science without having a proper conversation about what we should or should not do.&#8221;
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/15/987164563/scientists-create-early-embryos-that-are-part-human-part-monkey">Scientists Create Early Embryos That Are Part-Human, Part-Monkey</a> [NPR] 

More on chimeras: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-creating-mouse-human-hybrids">Scientists Are Creating Mouse-Human Hybrids</a>

Organ Grinder

"Our goal is not to generate any new organism, any monster."

For First Time Ever, Scientists Create Part-Human, Part-Monkey Embryos

US carmaker Ford just announced its answer to Tesla&#8217;s Autopilot. The hands-free highway driving system, called BlueCruise, is making its way into the Mustang Mach-E, the company&#8217;s latest flagship electric vehicle.
CEO Jim Farley took the opportunity to take potshots at the competition.
&#8220;BlueCruise! We tested it in the real world, so our customers don’t have to,&#8221; the executive wrote in a tweet, an apparent reference to how Tesla chose to test its latest &#8220;Full Self-Driving&#8221; (FSD) technologies <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/tesla-officially-starts-rollout-of-full-self-driving-beta">through a much-criticized public beta</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BlueCruise! We tested it in the real world, so our customers don’t have to. <a href="https://t.co/dgqVkWH31r">pic.twitter.com/dgqVkWH31r</a>
&mdash; Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimfarley98/status/1382323413826555904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In October 2020, Tesla <a href="https://futurism.com/reactions-tesla-full-self-driving-beta">opened the FSD beta</a> to about 2,000 beta testers. Some of these drivers, as the Elon Musk-led company <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/494071/tesal-expands-fsd-2000-owners-revokes-some/">admitted</a> last month, had their access to the beta revoked after reportedly not paying enough attention to the road.
The FSD feature allows Tesla vehicles to autonomously take turns and navigate complex driving situations including four way intersections — but it falls short of being a &#8220;full&#8221; self-driving experience, despite its name. In fact, a German court <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/german-court-teslas-autopilot-false-advertising">ruled it to be false advertising</a> last year.
It&#8217;s a controversial technology, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/ford-ceo-takes-shot-at-tesla-for-using-customers-to-test-its-fsd-beta.html">CNBC reports</a>, with several crashes being reported recently.
Ford&#8217;s BlueCruise system will make its way to the 2021 Ford F-150 and 2021 Mustang Mach-E later this year. According to the company, the system has been refined over 500,000 miles of driving.
The company <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/14/22383460/ford-bluecruise-hands-free-adas-f150-mustang-mache">deployed ten test vehicles</a>, including F-150s and Mach-Es, on a 110,000 mile road trip through 37 states and five Canadian provinces to test it out in a variety of road conditions.
&#8220;There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab,&#8221; said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer, in an <a href="https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/04/14/ford-mother-of-all-road-trips-bluecruise-hands-free-driving.html">official statement</a>. &#8220;Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experience is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent.&#8221;
The system aims a bit lower than FSD, promising fewer features and omitting particularly challenging tasks like autonomous city driving. It&#8217;ll also use a camera monitoring system that won&#8217;t require drivers to periodically &#8220;check in&#8221; with a touch of the steering wheel, as is the case for Tesla&#8217;s FSD.
Tesla drivers have arguably long been the car company&#8217;s guinea pigs — which some superfans see as a cool feature, but others decry as an ethical minefield.
Perhaps the conventional road of developing and testing the software in-house is the safer way to go.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/14/ford-ceo-takes-shot-at-tesla-for-using-customers-to-test-its-fsd-beta.html">Ford CEO takes shot at Tesla for using customers to test unfinished tech</a> [CNBC] 

More on Ford: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-tesla-nemesis-ford">Elon Musk Praises Tesla Nemesis, Ford, In Rare Reversal</a>

Shots Fired

"We tested it in the real world, so our customers don’t have to."

Ford CEO Mocks Tesla For Rolling Out Half-Finished Autonomous Driving

Scientists have long observed a growing &#8220;dent&#8221; in the Earth&#8217;s magnetic field just above the southern Atlantic Ocean.
The &#8220;<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-researchers-track-slowly-splitting-dent-in-earth-s-magnetic-field">South Atlantic Anomaly</a>,&#8221; as it has become known, can wreak havoc with satellites and spacecraft that happen to pass over it.
Now, scientists suspect it may have a connection to <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/huge-chunk-ancient-planet-buried-inside-earth">two mysterious blobs of dense material</a> discovered in the Earth&#8217;s mantle that recent research suggests could be the partial remains of Theia, an ancient Mars-sized protoplanet believed to have smashed into the Earth around 4.5 billion years ago, as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/magnetic-field-weak-spot-linked-pieces-planet-inside-earth-2021-4">Business Insider reports</a>.
Last month, a team of scientists led by Qian Yuan, a graduate student from Arizona State University, presented the idea that the <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/huge-chunk-ancient-planet-buried-inside-earth">two underground blobs</a>, each <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/pieces-alien-planet-buried-inside-earth-millions-of-larger-mount-everest">millions of times larger than Mount Everest</a>, could have been shards left over from the collision.
Yuan and his colleagues found seismological evidence that the blobs, formally known as &#8220;large low-shear velocity provinces&#8221; (LLSVPs), were quite different from the rock in the rest of the Earth&#8217;s mantle.
The blobs may also have a connection to the South Atlantic Anomaly, as our planet&#8217;s magnetic field is generated by the swirling iron in Earth&#8217;s outer core, wherein hotter material rises into the partially solid mantle above and is replaced by sinking, denser material, a process known as convection.
Scientists believe the strange dip in the field is caused by something huge interrupting this process under the Atlantic Ocean.
As it turns out, the relatively hot and dense qualities of the two LLSVPs could technically be significant enough to affect these convection currents, Yuan proposed.
One of these blobs also happens to be near southern Africa, not too far from the South Atlantic Anomaly.
But it&#8217;s not a perfect fit, problematizing the theory.
&#8220;Why doesn&#8217;t the same weakness occur in the magnetic field above the Pacific, where the other province is?&#8221; Technical University of Denmark geophysicist Christopher Finlay told BI.
It&#8217;s a compelling theory, which could shed light on the mysteries surrounding the magnetic field surrounding our planet that protects us from the Sun&#8217;s harmful radiation.
But until Yuan&#8217;s claims can be evaluated, we will have to take it for what it is: a theory.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/magnetic-field-weak-spot-linked-pieces-planet-inside-earth-2021-4">Remnants of an ancient planet buried inside the Earth may be the cause of a weak spot in the magnetic field</a> [Business Insider] 

More on the anomaly: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/earths-magnetic-field-shifting">Scientists: Earth&#8217;s Magnetic Field Could Shift 100x Faster Than Observed</a>

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