Read the latest articles from Futurism (Page 645)

For the first time in history, renewables became the second-most prevalent electricity source in the US in 2020 after natural gas.
Nuclear Fusion

Renewables Overtook Coal and Nuclear Power Generation in the US Last Year

Clearer skies ahead.

By Victor Tangermann

Astronomers have spotted two space rocks in the asteroid belt that are teeming with organic matter, possibly the building blocks of life on Earth.
Off-World

Scientists Surprised by Objects of “Complex Organic Matter” in Asteroid Belt

An unexpected discovery could help us understand where life on Earth originated.

By Victor Tangermann

The neurotech company Synchron got FDA approval to start testing its brain implant in human volunteers, beating Neuralink and other rivals to the punch.
Neuroscience and Brain

Tiny Neuralink Rival Wins Race for Approval To Test Brain Implant in Humans

"The approval of this [investigational device exemption] reflects years of safety testing performed in conjunction with FDA."

By Dan Robitzski

An experimental form of male birth control involves using magnets to heat up nanoparticles inside the testes to prevent sperm formation.
Studies

Experimental Male Birth Control Is Magnets That Heat Up Your Testicles

The ol' spicy magnet trick worked great — and was totally reversible — in mice.

By Dan Robitzski

The Indiana state government, Purdue University scientists, and a German startup are collaborating on new roads that automatically charge electric vehicles.
Electric Vehicles

Indiana Prepares To Test New Roads That Charge Electric Vehicles

Logistical challenges remain, but the roads could be a major boon to clean transportation.

By Dan Robitzski

Chinese government is digging a second field of an additional 110 silos for launching nuclear missiles, The New York Times reports.
Nuclear Fusion

China Is Building Even More Nuclear Missile Launchers

"They make the United States target a lot of silos that may be empty."

By Victor Tangermann

According to a new study, the Earth's interior is recycling only about a third of the carbon being sucked below volcanic areas.
Renewable Energy

The Earth’s Interior Is Sucking Up Huge Amounts of Carbon, Scientists Say

The Earth's interior is trapping way more carbon than previously thought.

By Victor Tangermann

A lab worker in France was diagnosed with a deadly brain disease caused by the exact kind of proteins that her lab studied.
Developments

Suspicions Grow That Worker Caught Deadly Brain Disease at Lab

French labs issued a moratorium on the dangerous research until they figure out what happened.

By Dan Robitzski

On Monday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared a Wall Street Journal report, which showed that US population growth rates are grinding to a halt.
Elon Musk

Elon Musk: Population Collapse Is “Potentially the Greatest Risk to the Future of Civilization”

"Between civilization ending with a bang or a whimper, this trend suggests the latter."

By Victor Tangermann

An unnamed millionaire gave away his $28 million ticket to go to space on board Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft. An 18-year-old will take his place.
Off-World

Gazillionaire Gives Away $28 Million Ticket to Space Because of “Scheduling Conflict”

The 18-year-old son of a private equity investment firm CEO, is taking their seat.

By Victor Tangermann

Dubai conjured up a much-needed rainstorm thanks to new drones that can fly around and create clouds on command through electrical shocks.
Drones

UAE Says Rainstorms Were Caused by Its Cloud Seeding Drones

When you live in the desert and it hits 120 degrees, you start to explore unusual options.

By Dan Robitzski

Scientists argue that the universe may be folded in on itself, looping together like a giant cosmic donut rathan than expanding in all directions.
Science & Energy

Physicists Say the Universe Wraps Around Itself Like a Giant Donut

"We could say: Now we know the size of the universe."

By Dan Robitzski

Wikipedia cofounder Larry Sanger seems to have turned on his own creation, saying that the site can't be relied on to be truthful.
Future Society

Guy Who Started Wikipedia Says Wikipedia Is Untrustworthy

"Can you trust it to always give you the truth? Well, it depends on what you think the truth is."

By Dan Robitzski

A Scottish conservation group claims Google Maps has been suggesting “potentially fatal” routes up mountains — and even directly over cliffs.
Future Society

Google Maps Is Telling People to Walk Off a Cliff, Critics Say

Mountaineering experts say the route is "potentially fatal."

By Tony Ho Tran

A team of prominent scientists warns that we've already passed several ecological tipping points and are approaching even more.
Climate Change

Scientists Warn That the Earth Is Literally Dying

"Policies to combat the climate crisis or any other symptoms should address their root cause: human overexploitation of the planet."

By Dan Robitzski

Legendary production company Lucasfilm has hired a YouTuber who impressed them with stunning, photorealistic deepfakes of "Stars Wars" franchise characters.
Future Society

Lucasfilm Hires Random Guy Who Made Amazing Luke Skywalker Deepfake

These deepfakes are even better than Lucasfilm's.

By Victor Tangermann

Cassie, a robot that looks just like a disembodied pair of legs, just successfully ran an impressive 5K on outdoor terrain.
Robotics

Robot Runs 5K Foot Race, Trips and Falls Repeatedly

This is the first robot to learn how to run on an outdoor course.

By Dan Robitzski

A larger than usual meteor hurtled over Norway on Monday night, lighting up the sky over most of southern Scandinavia.
Off-World

Video Shows Massive Meteor Lighting Up Entire Night Sky

Luckily, there were no reports of injuries.

By Victor Tangermann

At the request of his son, a French engineer designed a robotic exoskeleton that could help his son get around without using his wheelchair.
Health & Medicine

Engineer Builds Voice-Controlled Exoskeleton So His Son Could Walk

"Dad, you're a robotics engineer, why don't you make a robot that would allow us to walk?"

By Dan Robitzski

Facebook recalled "About 4 million" Oculus Quest 2 VR headsets after thousands of reports of face hives and rashes emerged.
Developments

Facebook’s Oculus Gave Thousands of Customers Face Rashes and Hives

Nothing says "true immersion" like a horrifically itchy face.

By Dan Robitzski