Read the latest articles from Futurism (Page 953)

Scientists at LIGO just observed the gravitational waves given off by a black hole as it consumed a neutron star for the first time.
Black Holes

Scientists Just Detected a Black Hole Devouring a Neutron Star

It was the fifth gravitational wave detection at LIGO in April alone.

By Dan Robitzski

Four tissue chips designed to mimic various process in the human body are headed to the International Space Station to help scientists study disease.
SpaceX

SpaceX Is Sending Living Bits of Human Organs to Space

And what they discover could help us battle disease here on Earth.

By Kristin Houser

As cobalt mines run low, scientists think they could start harvesting it from the ocean. They have a plan to get enough for over 500,000 Tesla batteries.
Advanced Transport

Ingenious Gadget Could Harvest Battery Material From the Ocean

Dangling these orbs from unused oil rigs could soak up enough cobalt for hundreds of thousands of electric cars.

By Dan Robitzski

Scientists are hoping a new upgrade at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) could finally make fusion a reality by coating the reactor in lithium.
Energy

Scientists Have a New Idea to Make a Fusion Reactor Practical

This silvery-white metal could help make fusion energy a reality.

By Victor Tangermann

Scientists have identified two anti-CRISPR drugs, both of which prevent the technology from making edits when mixed with human cells.
Science & Energy

New Anti-CRISPR Drugs Could Prevent Creation of Killer Plagues

Scientists now have a promising lead in the hunt for an anti-CRISPR.

By Kristin Houser

A plant geneticist at the University of Northern Colorado found that the DNA of marijuana U.S. researchers are using for research looked way more like hemp.
Medical

Pot Used for Scientific Research is Pretty Weak

The crop researchers are using “doesn’t look like marijuana, it doesn’t smell like marijuana."

By Victor Tangermann

Research suggests that two drugs may improve communication skills in people with autism. But the seemingly-conflicting results mean more research is needed.
Neuroscience and Brain

Controversial Research: Two Drugs May Reduce Autism Symptoms

Early studies went well, but there's a long way to go.

By Dan Robitzski

A neural net hooked up to a monkey brain was tasked with triggering individual neurons. It did so with bizarre, surreal images.
Artificial Intelligence

A Neural Net Hooked Up to a Monkey Brain Spat Out Bizarre Images

The algorithm worked out the ideal image to show each neuron.

By Dan Robitzski

A suspected Russian spy whale has made itself a fixture of a Norwegian port community, fetching rings for locals and even letting them pet its nose.
Future Society

The Suspected Russian Spy Whale Is Acting Weird

Whale Spy Journal, Day 8: Mission to gain trust of locals is going swimmingly.

By Kristin Houser

Former Google employee Tristan Harris says that your smartphone isn't listening in on you. It doesn't have to because Google already knows everything.
Google

Ex-Googler: Company Has “Voodoo Doll, Avatar-Like Version of You”

Instead of spying through your microphone, Google simulates the conversations you're likely to have.

By Dan Robitzski

Amazon warehouses could be fully automated in about a decade, but for now, humans are still better than bots at picking merchandise.
Robots and Machines

Amazon Says It Could Have Fully Automated Warehouses in 10 Years

Amazon workers' jobs are safe — for now.

By Kristin Houser

Renewables produced more electricity in the U.S. than coal-fired plants in April, possibly signaling a tipping point in the transition to clean energy.
Science & Energy

Renewables Surpass Coal in the US for the First Time

"Five years ago this never would have been close to happening."

By Kristin Houser

A new website uses Google's AI to churn out poetic couplets. The results are sometimes nonsensical, but occasionally prescient.
Google

We Used Google’s New AI to Generate Angsty Poetry About the Future

The algorithm generates poetic nonsense and a cool portrait!

By Dan Robitzski

SpaceX finally confirmed today during a press event that the Crew Dragon capsule that flew to the International Space Station in March was destroyed.
Crew Dragon

SpaceX Confirms That Accident Destroyed Crew Dragon Capsule

Luckily, SpaceX has several new Crew Dragon capsules already in production.

By Victor Tangermann

Health-focused apps can sell sensitive personal information to whomever they please, and a new study shows that many do so without telling users.
Health & Medicine

Apps to Help Quit Smoking Are Selling Your Data

The dark secret: it's perfectly legal.

By Dan Robitzski

In an op-ed for The Washington Post, astronaut Buzz Aldrin urges America's leaders to chart a path to put humans on Mars — and not just a few of us.
Mars

Buzz Aldrin Calls For “Great Migration of Humankind to Mars”

"We explore, or we expire. That is why we must get on with it."

By Kristin Houser

Russian president Vladimir Putin officially signed a bill into law yesterday that would require the country's internet to disconnect from foreign servers.
Future Society

Putin Signs Bill to Create Tightly-Controlled “Russian Internet”

Is this the Great Firewall of Russia?

By Victor Tangermann

Asteroid samples gathered by the Japanese space probe Hayabusa contain water-rich minerals, suggesting that asteroid impacts could bring water to planets.
Off-World

A Japanese Probe Just Found Water on an Asteroid

The finding supports the idea that asteroids delivered water to Earth.

By Dan Robitzski

Two geneticists are criticizing He Jiankui's use of CRISPR to edit human embryos on the grounds that it was an example of deeply flawed science.
Prosthetics and Devices

CRISPR Baby Experiment Meant to Prevent HIV Might Not Even Work

The scientist behind the project doesn't appear to fully understand gene editing.

By Kristin Houser

Fast food giant McDonald's installed AI-powered menu boards in 700 of its restaurants after acquiring an Israeli AI startup.
Artificial Intelligence

McDonald’s Is Installing AI-Powered Kiosks to Predict Your Order

You want fries with that?

By Victor Tangermann