the digest (Page 171)

Latest in the digest

A Danish initiative imagines 3D printers that can walk, fly, and swim, navigating the world autonomously to repair roads, reefs, and high rises.

Designers Want to Give 3D Printers Legs, Let Them Wander the Earth

By Kristin Houser

With the Amazon Rainforest burning away and sequestered carbon being released, the global environment is rapidly approaching the point of no return.

Scientists Warn Of “Cascading System Collapse” in Amazon Rainforest

By Dan Robitzski

Governments should step in to prevent tech companies from developing malicious, evil, super-human AI, writes tech expert Wim Naudé.

Artificial Intelligence

Expert: Governments Must Step in to Prevent Evil, Superpowered AI

By Dan Robitzski

New research suggests that other exoplanets could feasibly serve as a better host for life than Earth does, if they fit certain criteria.

Science & Energy

Earth Might Not Be the Most Hospitable Planet out There

By Dan Robitzski

NASA chief Jim Bridenstine believes that thermal nuclear propulsion technology would be a game-changer for space exploration.

Head of NASA: Nuclear Propulsion Could Be “Game-Changer”

By Dan Robitzski

Two astronauts spent six and a half hours outside of the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday installing a new commercial spacecraft docking port.

Astronauts Add Docking Bay For Private Spaceships to Space Station

By Victor Tangermann

Dealers are using Snapchat and other social media platforms to sell illegal guns — and it's getting them caught by federal agents.

Dealers Are Using Snapchat to Sell Illegal Guns

By Kristin Houser

Self-driving car companies are benefitting from cheap Venezuelan labor as they compile mountains of annotated training data for their AI.

Artificial Intelligence

Self-Driving Car Companies Depend on Cheap Labor From Venezuela

By Dan Robitzski

A study found that Instagrammers who post a lot of selfies are perceived as less adventurous, less successful, and more lonely than "posie" posters.

Your Selfies Make You Look Like a Lonely Loser, Study Finds

By Kristin Houser

Newly-released photos on the surface of the asteroid Ryugu reveal rocks that appear similar to ancient meteorites that crash-landed on Earth.

Science & Energy

Rocks on a Distant Asteroid Resemble Those on Earth

By Dan Robitzski

A life-sized humanoid robot named Fedor began its journey from Russia to the International Space Station on Thursday aboard a Soyuz rocket.

Russia Just Sent Its First Robot to Space

By Kristin Houser

The Air Force built a robot called ROBOpilot that can take off, fly, and land existing planes without help from a human pilot.

Instead of New Drones, the Air Force Built a Plane-Piloting Robot

By Dan Robitzski

Security researchers found eight different vulnerabilities in Nest Camera cybersecurity. Google promised a fix, but other cameras have the same problems.

Robots and Machines

There Are at Least Eight Ways to Hack a Nest Camera

By Dan Robitzski

Using steam-filled balloons to bring satellites into orbit could prove much cheaper and more efficient than launching rockets.

These Scientists Want to Launch Satellites From Steam Balloons

By Dan Robitzski

A "digital fingerprint" black market called Richlogs is selling packages of victims' entire online activity, granting access to any private accounts.

This Online Black Market Will Sell Your Entire Digital Identity

By Dan Robitzski

A smart doorbell home security video surfaced that allegedly shows two UK thieves hacking into a Tesla and driving away in just 30 seconds.

Video Shows Thieves Hacking, Stealing a Tesla in Just 30 Seconds

By Victor Tangermann

German startup Volocopter hopes its wild-looking VoloCity VTOL will service the world's first on-demand air taxi service.

Advanced Transport

Volocopter Unveils 18-Rotor Electric Air Taxi for Two

By Kristin Houser

This Roomy, Inflatable Habitat Could One Day Take You to Mars

This Roomy, Inflatable Habitat Could One Day Take You to Mars

By Victor Tangermann

An increasing wave of companies are launching bizarre space PR stunts, sending various products into orbit. They could fund NASA's future.

Science & Energy

Annoying PR Stunts Could Fund the Future of Space Travel

By Dan Robitzski

AI development firm OpenAI just released a stronger version of its fake news-writing AI system, GPT-2. Even more powerful models could be on the way soon.

OpenAI Just Released a New Version of Its Fake News-Writing AI

By Dan Robitzski

A team of physicists at Trinity College Dublin have build what they claim is the world's smallest engine. And it's only the size of a single calcium ion.

The World’s Smallest Engine is the Same Size as a Single Ion

By Victor Tangermann

If the U.S. and Russian engaged in nuclear war, it would plunge the Earth into a nuclear winter, with tempteratures plummeting and soot blocking the Sun.

This Is What Would Happen if the US and Russia Nuked Each Other

By Kristin Houser

Physicists at the Argonne National Lab are about to use the Mira supercomputer to simulate the universe, perhaps helping them find dark energy and matter.

Scientists Will Use a Supercomputer to Simulate the Universe

By Dan Robitzski

Truck drivers in Missouri are trying to get self-driving trucks banned in the state over concerns that they would get automated out of a job.

Self-Driving Vehicles

Truckers Want to Ban Self-Driving Trucks in Missouri

By Dan Robitzski

Bad news: record-breaking fires have been burning up Brazil's Amazon rainforest since January, an increase of over 83 percent since last year.

Devastating Fires in Amazon Rainforest Can Be Seen From Space

By Victor Tangermann

The way we view old age could be hurting and stigmatizing a huge chunk of the population that's capable of doing much more than people tend to think.

MIT Professor: “Old Age” Is Imaginary

By Dan Robitzski

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk suggested that "thousands of solar reflector satellites" could be used to warm up the surface of Mars.

Elon Musk: “Thousands of Solar Reflector Satellites” Could Warm Up Mars

By Victor Tangermann

The U.S. Space Command, the military's 11th united combatant command, will launch next week, according to Mike Pence's announcement.

Officials: US Space Command Will Launch This Month

By Dan Robitzski

Retail giant Walmart is suing Tesla, claiming that the company's solar panels ignited seven of its stores' roofs, CNBC reports.

Walmart Sues Tesla, Claims Solar Panels Are Setting Fire to Stores

By Victor Tangermann

Starup Starship Technologies plans to deploy its autonomous delivery robots on 100 college campuses within the next 24 months.

This Startup Is Deploying Thousands of Autonomous Delivery Robots

By Kristin Houser

SpaceX will attempt to take photos of its spacefaring Starman dummy in "a few years," according to a new tweet from CEO Elon Musk.

Elon Musk: SpaceX Will Launch a Spacecraft to Check on Starman

By Kristin Houser

Newt Gingrich proposed a $2 billion contest for private companies to set up a settlement on the Moon. Elon Musk wants in.

Elon Musk Wants Newt Gingrich’s $2 Billion Moon Payout

By Dan Robitzski

U.S. Army General Paul Funk found that the Army is woefully unprepared for informational warfare in the future, and that logistical systems are outdated.

This General Says the US Army Is Outgunned in Information Warfare

By Dan Robitzski

23 local government organizations in Texas were hit by the same coordinated ransomware attack last week, Ars Technica reports.

23 Local Governments in Texas Slammed By Ransomware Attack

By Victor Tangermann

India's Chandrayaan 2 space probe is now orbiting around the Moon, putting it in position to attempt a landing in early September.

Science & Energy

India’s Space Probe Is Now Orbiting the Moon

By Dan Robitzski

Tesla Solar is now giving homeowners in six states the option of renting its solar panels for as little as $50 per month, with a $1,500 uninstall fee.

You Can Now Rent Tesla Solar Panels for Crazy Cheap

By Kristin Houser

A new system makes it easier than ever for people to generate believable deepfakes. The AI tool doesn't require training and can swap faces in real-time.

Artificial Intelligence

New System Makes It Troublingly Easy to Create Deepfakes

By Dan Robitzski

NASA has announced it's completing the final designs and planning for constructing and testing a spacecraft that will visit Jupiter's icy moon Europa.

Science & Energy

NASA is Sending a Probe to Jupiter’s Icy Moon to Look for Life

By Victor Tangermann

Waymo confirmed that it's not interested in building its own self-driving cars. It's focused on developing the software to use in other companies' vehicles.

Self-Driving Vehicles

Waymo: Building Cars is a “Distraction” From Self-Driving Tech

By Dan Robitzski

The Porthcawl Town Council is denying that it planned to build high-tech anti-sex toilets, saying its "enthusiasm and intentions" were misinterpreted.

Town Denies Planning to Install High-Tech Anti-Sex Toilets

By Kristin Houser

Bernie Sanders just announced that he would ban police from using facial recognition tech if he wins in 2020 as part of a broader police reform.

Bernie Sanders Vows to Ban Police From Using Facial Recognition

By Dan Robitzski

A major cyberattack could cause mass injury and death not unlike a nuclear weapon attack, according to one computer scientist.

Scientist: Major Cyberattack Could Be as Bad as Nuclear War

By Kristin Houser

NASA’s Robotic Refuelling Mission 3 just successfully demonstrated the first of three tools designed to refuel NASA spacecraft in space.

New Tech Puts NASA One Step Closer to Fueling Spacecraft in Space

By Victor Tangermann

SpaceX's Starman test dummy just completed its first orbit around the Sun in a Tesla Roadster, a journey that took 557 days.

SpaceX’s Starman Just Orbited the Sun for the First Time

By Kristin Houser

A new experiment looking for dark energy came back with nothing, helping scientists narrow down future searches for the mysterious force.

Experiment to Detect Dark Energy Turns Up Nothing

By Dan Robitzski

Young people are sprucing up their résumés with bitmojis, logos, and other embellishments, and it's leaving a bad taste in the mouths of some recruiters.

Members of Gen Z Are Putting Bitmojis on Their Résumés

By Kristin Houser

A new deepfake finally answers the age old question: What would it look like if Joe Rogan played Dr. Evil in the "Austin Powers" films?

Artificial Intelligence

Someone Used a Deepfake to Turn Dr. Evil Into Joe Rogan

By Dan Robitzski

Elon Musk: “A Big Rock Will Hit Earth Eventually”

Science & Energy

Elon Musk: “A Big Rock Will Hit Earth Eventually”

By Victor Tangermann

Elon Musk's proposal for terraforming Mars through sustained nuclear blasts would require detonating 3,500 bombs every day, with no margin for error.

Sorry, Elon: Terraforming Mars Would Take 3,500 Nukes per Day

By Dan Robitzski

The New York Police Department is growing a massive DNA database of thousands of genetic profiles, The New York Times reports.

Police Are Collecting DNA From People Without Telling Them

By Victor Tangermann

Scientists believe they spotted the supernova of the largest star to ever detonate, giving them a glimpse into the universe's past.

Science & Energy

This Is the Most Brutal Supernova in Recorded History

By Dan Robitzski

Researchers from Harvard's Wyss Institute developed a pair of stride-enhancing, wearable robotic shorts to make walking easier.

Prosthetics and Devices

Scientists Built Robo-Shorts to Make Walking Easier

Elon Musk tweeted "Nuke Mars!" on Thursday, likely to double down on his ill-advised dream of terraforming the Red Planet through nuclear strikes.

Elon Musk Really, Really Wants to Nuke Mars

By Dan Robitzski

Virgin Galactic revealed on Thursday what its spaceport at its new New Mexico home looks like — a beautiful vision of the airport's space successor.

Advanced Transport

Virgin Galactic Unveils Luxurious Spaceport Lounge

By Victor Tangermann

Facebook announced that it plans to extend its fact-checking program to Instagram, but it's not clear that checking memes will accomplish anything.

Instagram Wants to Fact-Check Your Memes

By Dan Robitzski

In an attempt to convince its two billion users that it truly cares about their privacy, Facebook is opening a number of pop-up privacy check-up cafes.

Facebook is Opening Privacy Check-Up Cafes, for Some Reason

By Victor Tangermann

During its debut flight, Norway's electric plane crash-landed into a lake. The country still hopes to electrify all domestic aircraft by 2040.

Advanced Transport

Norway’s New Electric Plane Crashes During Demo Flight

By Dan Robitzski

Amazon: Those Bizarre Brand Ambassadors Are Real Employees

By Dan Robitzski

DARPA's Subterranean Challenge is kicking off today, and robotics teams from across the nation are mapping underground environments with robots.

These Robots Could One Day Explore Caves on Distant Planets

By Victor Tangermann

Now there's an AI assistant to help DJs pick songs for their sets in real time. It's unclear what, exactly, is left for the DJ to do.

Artificial Intelligence

If You Were Worried DJs Were Working Too Hard, This Idiotic AI Literally Picks Songs for Them

By Dan Robitzski

Report: The World’s First Solar Road is an Absolute Disaster

Advanced Transport

Report: The World’s First Solar Road is an Absolute Disaster

By Victor Tangermann

An army of clearly-fake "Amazon FC Ambassador" accounts once more flooded Twitter to brag about a job that offers great perks like "using a real bathroom."

Science & Energy

Those Obviously-Fake Amazon Warehouse Workers Are Still Tweeting

By Dan Robitzski

It turns out that the NSA, the secretive intelligence agency, uses the same version of the messaging app Slack as your office.

The NSA Won’t Say Anything About Its Slack Account

By Dan Robitzski

To carry their dirt bikes into the desert, an electric car conversion company chopped off the back of a damaged Tesla Model S to turn it into a pickup.

Watch This Hacked-Together Tesla “Pickup” Do Wicked Donuts

By Victor Tangermann