Read the latest articles from Futurism (Page 801)

In order to teach AI how to use words with specific intentions rather than babbling, scientists made an AI agent play a fantasy role-playing game.
Artificial Intelligence

To Teach an AI to Pursue Goals, Scientists Made It Play an RPG

The goal is to get AI to use words for an actual purpose.

By Dan Robitzski

After a citizen scientist saw what looked like beams of darkness coming out of a black hole, scientists think it's similar to light piercing through clouds.
Science & Energy

Hubble Glimpses Huge “Dark Rays” Streaming Out of Black Hole

Scientists took a closer look at Hubble images of a supermassive black hole — and saw what appeared to be long beams of darkness streaming out.

By Dan Robitzski

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory are testing if we can harness the heat of the Sun to travel to interstellar space.
NASA

NASA Tests Experimental Interstellar Propulsion System

"What this is showing is that solar thermal propulsion is not just a fantasy."

By Victor Tangermann

Astronomers found evidence of a "fossil galaxy" buried deep inside the Milky Way. It seems our galaxy gobbled up one of its neighbors 10 billion years ago.
Science & Energy

Scientists Find Remnants of “Fossil Galaxy” Inside the Milky Way

Long ago, our galaxy gobbled up and absorbed another one.

By Dan Robitzski

Tesla Crashes at 100 MPH, Sending Flaming Batteries Into Multiple Homes
Tesla

Tesla Crashes at 100 MPH, Sending Flaming Batteries Into Multiple Homes

The local fire and police departments now have to track down hundreds of battery cells.

By Victor Tangermann

To Our Readers: On the Future of Futurism
Future Society

To Our Readers: On the Future of Futurism

You're about to see some changes around here. We hope you'll hang around to see them.

By Foster Kamer

AI legal expert Frank Pasquale says that Asimov's laws of robotics are outdated, and he has some ideas for new ones to supplement them.
Robots and Machines

Professor: Asimov’s Laws Are Outdated and It’s Time to Write More

Are the Three Laws of Robotics due for an update?

By Dan Robitzski

The Vatican is investigating why Pope Francis' official Instagram account accidentally liked a Brazilian model's revealing picture.
Future Society

Vatican Confused by How Pope Account “Liked” Sexy Pic

Oops.

By Victor Tangermann

On Thursday, the coronavirus death toll in the U.S. climbed higher than it had since May, while also setting records for new cases and hospitalizations.
Developments

More Americans Died of COVID-19 Thursday Than Any Day Since May

COVID killed 1,791 in the U.S. on Thursday.

By Dan Robitzski

Japanese aerospace agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi explained during a press conference from aboard the space station that "Dragon is the best."
SpaceX

SpaceX Better Than Shuttle or Soyuz, Says Astronaut Who Flew All Three

"The Dragon is the best, short answer."

By Victor Tangermann

In a recent report, NASA admitted that landing the first astronauts on the Moon since the Apollo era in 2024 might be a bit of a stretch.
Moon

NASA Admits It Probably Won’t Be Able to Land Moon Astronauts by 2024

Getting astronauts back to the Moon is going to be expensive.

By Victor Tangermann

Lil Nas X got his hands on a genuine SpaceX astronaut helmet for a recent "Space Odyssey"-themed photoshoot, and Elon Musk personally approved the loan.
SpaceX

How Lil Nas X Obtained an Actual SpaceX Helmet

Elon Musk approved the loan himself.

By Dan Robitzski

Instead of sitting on Santa's lap this year, families can chat online with an AI Santa or stand behind a giant plexiglass barrier.
Viruses

Here’s How Kids Are Meeting Santa in the Age of the Coronavirus

Mall Santas have never been quite as dystopian as they are in the age of COVID.

By Dan Robitzski

Italian police officers covered 300 miles in just two hours while driving a Lamborghini Huracan to deliver  a donor kidney.
Developments

Italian Lambo Police Car Covers 300 Miles in 2 Hours to Deliver Kidney

"To save a life you don't need superpowers."

By Victor Tangermann

It turns out that leftover milk could be a crucial ingredient for the sort of carbon capture tech we may need to stop climate change.
Climate Change

Leftover Milk Could be the Key Ingredient for Carbon Capture Tech

It's a smelly new way to fight climate change.

By Dan Robitzski

Malls are giving their Santa villages digital upgrades in the hopes of luring parents — and their money — away from online shopping.
Future Society

Mall Santas Are Using Gimmicks to Court Instagram Parents

They're hoping parents won't be able to resist the A+ photo ops.

By Kristin Houser

The same team that announced the detection of phosphine gas, a biomarker, in Venus's atmosphere, just found a processing error in its data.
Science & Energy

Venus Life Finding Might Be Based on a Data Mistake

Levels of phosphine, a potential sign of life, turned out to be way lower than we thought.

By Victor Tangermann

The National Science Foundation has announced that the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is officially being decommissioned and demolished.
Science & Energy

Iconic Arecibo Alien-Hunting Observatory Will Be Demolished

BREAKING: The Arecibo SETI observatory will be demolished, in a sad day for the hunt for extraterrestrial life.

By Victor Tangermann

Filter out every star, galaxy, and other source of brightness we know about, and half of the light in the universe will still remain.
Physics

Astronomers Can’t Explain Where Half the Universe’s Light Is Coming From

Well, this is strange.

By Dan Robitzski

An international team of researchers have created diamonds at room temperature in mere minutes using extremely high levels of pressure.
Science & Energy

Scientists Create Diamonds at Room Temperature

This'd make a heck of an engagement ring.

By Victor Tangermann