Read the latest articles from Futurism (Page 780)

An Arizona forest fire has grown so large that satellites can easily see it from space, according to a new post by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
NASA

This Forest Fire Was So Huge, NASA Spotted It From Space

This image, taken from space, puts the blaze into perspective.

By Jon Christian

Yamato, a cty in Japan, just passed a law that requires pedestrians to put their phones away until they stop walking in order to prevent accidents.
Future Society

A Japanese City Just Banned Using Phones While Walking

This suburb of Tokyo wants you to walk now, tweet later.

By Dan Robitzski

Scientists at LIGO noticed that minuscule quantum fluctuations actually knocked a large mirror in the observatory out of alignment.
Physics

Tiny Quantum Fluctuations Can Actually “Kick” Large Objects

The effect is tiny, but it's a shockingly tangible impact.

By Dan Robitzski

The team at Firefly Aerospace used one of its rocket engines to try to light all those pesky candles on a birthday cake for its co-founder Max Polakov.
Off-World

Watch These Mad Geniuses Light Birthday Candles With a Rocket Engine

That's one way to do it!

By Jon Christian

Elon Musk is once again posting misleading claims about the coronavirus pandemic in an attempt to downplay the danger it poses.
Elon Musk

Elon Musk Is Still Sharing Coronavirus Misinformation

Tesla's CEO continues to downplay the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Dan Robitzski

A team of engineers is trying to build sustainable energy in developing communities with a new battery pack rental program.
Energy

Scientists Are Renting out Giant Batteries to Areas Without Power

The program essentially creates clean energy grids on the go.

By Dan Robitzski

A programmer named Aldo Cortesi created an algorithm that draws nonexistent animals, some of which look plausible and others which look like bizarre.
Artificial Intelligence

A Neural Network Generated a Bunch of Mutated-Looking New Animals

"Straying even further into the unknown, the model produced weird abstract patterns and unidentifiable entities, all with a vaguely biological, 'life-ish' feel to them."

By Jon Christian

Physicists at the Large Hadron Collider just discovered a new type of subatomic particle that's made entirely of charm quarks.
Physics

The Large Hadron Collider Just Discovered a Brand-New Particle

The bizarre new particle is all charm. Get it?

By Dan Robitzski

NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken got a tremendous view during their spacewalk on Monday. "Not bad for a view while working."
Crew Dragon

NASA Astronaut Says SpaceX Crew Dragon Looked “Awesome” During Spacewalk

"It was just awesome to be able to look back and snap a picture."

By Victor Tangermann

Researchers are hoping that tiny graphite-coated balls of uranium could revolutionize and bring back nuclear energy production to the United States.
Nuclear Fusion

“Radioactive Gobstoppers” Could Stop the Next Nuclear Reactor Meltdown

"When you start with a reactor that can’t melt, your safety case completely changes."

By Victor Tangermann

Dr. Anthony Fauci warns that unless the U.S. government gets its act together, the country could see 100,000 new coronavirus cases every day.
Developments

Fauci: Prepare for 100,000 Daily Cases, “Disturbing” Death Toll

"I'm not satisfied with what's going on because we're going in the wrong direction."

By Dan Robitzski

A bizarre celestial object too big to be a neutron star but too small for a black hole could undo the rules astrophysicsts use to understand the universe.
Physics

Scientists Are Baffled By a Bizarre Black Hole-Like Object

It could be a black hole, a neutron star, or something entirely new.

By Dan Robitzski

A team researchers at Facebook have created a virtual reality headset that's not much larger than a (bulky) pair of sunglasses.
Virtual Reality

Facebook Built a VR Headset the Size of a Pair of Large Sunglasses

The green-and-black display is extremely cyberpunk.

By Victor Tangermann

A new mathematical model predicts that a self-sustaining colony on Mars could succeed with just 110 settlers working together.
Mars

According to New Equations, a Mars Colony Would Need This Many People

The first Mars settlement could thrive with fewer people than expected.

By Dan Robitzski

Scientists have yet to find any evidence of life on another planet.But that hasn't stopped some rogue scientists from making outlandish claims.
Science & Energy

Extremely Dubious Scientist Believes There’s Mushrooms and Lichen on Mars

"I feel like these guys have just poisoned the whole field."

By Victor Tangermann

When astronomers went to update their models for a giant, bright star, they instead found an empty space where it used to be.
Science & Energy

A Giant Star Appears to Have Winked Out of Existence

Astronomers are seriously confused.

By Dan Robitzski

A Genealogy Website Led to a Suspected Killer’s Arrest. Here’s What We Know.
Genetics

A Genealogy Website Led to a Suspected Killer’s Arrest. Here’s What We Know.

That's good news. But we've got a few ethical questions.

By Sarah Marquart

NASA just delayed the launch date for its Mars rover, Perseverance. But barring any future delays, the mission should still go off without a hitch.
Science & Energy

NASA Pushes Back Mars Rover Launch Due to “Contamination Concern”

Thankfully, the mission had some built-in flexibility.

By Dan Robitzski

Scientists have discovered a swine flu virus that has the potential to mutate and be transmitted to and eventually between humans.
Science & Energy

Scientists Are Worried This New Swine Flu Strain Could Cause Another Pandemic

"We just do not know a pandemic is going to occur until the damn thing occurs."

By Victor Tangermann

Omega Ingredients, a UK-based natural flavors company for the food and beverages industry, has created a fragrance that it claims smells like outer space.
Science & Energy

Someone Made a Perfume That Smells Like Outer Space

"We've all had Space Ice Cream...this takes it a step further."

By Victor Tangermann