Jessica Meyer

Originally shared by Futurism 1.0

Make sure you don't miss tonight's Supermoon total eclipse. It will be the last one for 18 years.

Here's what else happened in astronomy this week:

http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/hunt-gravitational-waves-leaps-forward/

http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/apotd-veil-nebula/ (Veil Nebula supernova shows a massive space explosion)

http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/new-dark-matter-theory-hopes-to-explain-cosmos-missing-mass/

https://briankoberlein.com/2015/09/24/super-duper-lunar-eclipse/

http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/solar-system/latest-pluto-images-show-bizarre-landscapes-vivid-colors/

http://www.universetoday.com/122479/watch-this-amazing-video-of-an-exoplanet-in-motion/?utm_content=bufferb52a6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Being a geek, this made me smile ....

Originally shared by David Fuchs

Being a geek, this made me smile ....

Floating city looks like a manta ray - Business Insider

Originally shared by Rob Jongschaap

Floating city looks like a manta ray - Business Insider

'French architect Jacques Rougerie has designed a 3,000-foot-long, manta-ray-shaped vessel capable of hosting 7,000 people. The city of Mériens will be a floating university city for researchers and students.'

http://uk.businessinsider.com/floating-city-university-manta-ray-2015-9?r=US&IR=T#ooid=hxcTNrdzrAz3lWnzpqTaG3cZp2_T364q
http://uk.businessinsider.com/floating-city-university-manta-ray-2015-9?r=US&IR=T#ooid=hxcTNrdzrAz3lWnzpqTaG3cZp2_T364q

Triclosan a Hazardous Antibacterial Agent, Works ‘No Better than Regular Soap’ http://bit.ly/1Foi7HZ

Originally shared by Before It's News

Triclosan a Hazardous Antibacterial Agent, Works ‘No Better than Regular Soap’ http://bit.ly/1Foi7HZ

Cold weather will soon be here, kids are bringing home colds from school, and flu season is right around the corner – so parents are beginning to focus even more on antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers. But scientists in Korea have found that antibacterial soaps are a waste of money and don’t work any better than regular soaps. What’s more, the use of antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers is contributing to the development of bacterial superbugs.

Not only that, but many antibacterial soaps are bad for you, too.

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy published a new study that found that antibacterial soaps aren’t any more effective than regular soaps for regular handwashing. [1]

Antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, and when bacteria are exposed to the substance for hours a time, triclosan does prove to be stronger than regular hand soap ingredients. But that doesn’t really matter, because most people spend mere seconds washing their hands, not hours. Further, there are a number of triclosan dangers most people aren’t aware of.

More http://bit.ly/1Foi7HZ

#SuperBloodMoon

Originally shared by Polynomial -C

#SuperBloodMoon

NASA Will Unveil "Major Science Finding" On Monday

Originally shared by Betsy McCall
http://io9.com/nasa-will-unveil-major-science-finding-on-monday-1733178735

IKEA pledges 1 billion euros toward fighting climate change | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco...

Originally shared by Rob Jongschaap

IKEA pledges 1 billion euros toward fighting climate change | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

'The impressive pledge is part of IKEA’s plan to portray themselves as a company taking social and environmental responsibility. The 1 billion euros will include measures to power their worldwide showrooms entirely with sustainable energy, devoting 600 million euros to new wind and solar installations. This new investment will include 700,000 solar panels and 314 wind turbines, adding to their 1.5 billion euro investments just since 2009.

The remaining 400 million euros will be invested by the company’s charity organization, the IKEA Foundation. Over the next five years, the foundation will support developing communities and help to safeguard them against climate change-related issues like flooding, drought and desertification. The company also plans to plant one tree for every one used to make their furniture, as well as source wood and cotton from sustainable sources.'

http://inhabitat.com/ikea-pledges-1-billion-euros-toward-fighting-climate-change/
http://inhabitat.com/ikea-pledges-1-billion-euros-toward-fighting-climate-change/

Can Vitamin B Enhance Your Dreams?

Originally shared by Neuroscience News

Can Vitamin B Enhance Your Dreams?

Full article at http://neurosciencenews.com/vitamin-b-lucid-dreaming-2743/.

A University of Adelaide researcher is calling for participants to assist in a new national study investigating whether vitamin B can enhance dreaming.

Image: The vitamin B dreaming study is additional to research Mr Aspy is undertaking into lucid dreams, which focuses on techniques designed to help people have more lucid dreams. Image is for illustrative purposes only.

#psychology #dream #vitaminb

"Target is working on a 'concept store' that will open within in one to two years. This store might include robots."

Originally shared by Wayne Radinsky

"Target is working on a 'concept store' that will open within in one to two years. This store might include robots."

"Executives say that pairing with Techstars will give Target the tools it needs to be educated in successful e-commerce."
http://www.businessinsider.com/target-teams-up-with-techstars-for-new-concept-store-2015-9

Woodcarving Illustrated Books : http://amzn.to/1MRzUKa

Originally shared by Skills for Survival

Woodcarving Illustrated Books : http://amzn.to/1MRzUKa

Health Benefits Of Living Off The Grid : http://goo.gl/dji4zc

Humans With Amplified Intelligence Could Be More Powerful Than AI

Originally shared by Ward Plunet

Humans With Amplified Intelligence Could Be More Powerful Than AI

With much of our attention focused the rise of advanced artificial intelligence, few consider the potential for radically amplified human intelligence (IA). It’s an open question as to which will come first, but a technologically boosted brain could be just as powerful — and just as dangerous – as AI.
http://io9.com/humans-with-amplified-intelligence-could-be-more-powerf-509309984

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34351983

Originally shared by Danièle Mordmardok

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34351983
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34351983

Google AI beats humans at more classic arcade games than ever before.

Originally shared by Wayne Radinsky

Google AI beats humans at more classic arcade games than ever before. 31 games, to be precise. New games added include Asterix, Bank Heist, Q-Bert, Up and Down, Zaxxon, and Double Dunk. Humans are still winning at Asteroids, Gravitar, and Ms Pacman.
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/google-ai-beats-humans-at-more-classic-arcade-games-than-ever-before

#robotics

- September 24, 2015

#robotics
http://qz.com/506966/the-end-is-nigh-robots-and-drones-are-working-together/

Superfood Smoothies: 100 Delicious, Energizing & Nutrient-dense Recipes : http://amzn.to/1lNedL7

Originally shared by Skills for Survival

Superfood Smoothies: 100 Delicious, Energizing & Nutrient-dense Recipes : http://amzn.to/1lNedL7

How to Preserve Fruits and Vegetables : http://goo.gl/RSG0Qh

Weird exoplanets #3: egg worlds. They're a bit like melons too, though. http://ow.ly/Su4NV

Originally shared by New Scientist

Weird exoplanets #3: egg worlds. They're a bit like melons too, though. http://ow.ly/Su4NV

How To Build An Off-Grid Home From Recycled Trash http://b4in.info/ppcq

Originally shared by Before It's News

How To Build An Off-Grid Home From Recycled Trash http://b4in.info/ppcq

Building a home from scratch is far from simple, and possibly one of the most expensive ventures someone ever will tackle. The cost of materials and lumber needed to build a traditional home adds up fast, and the construction itself doesn’t exactly make it very friendly to the land.

There are building alternatives such as using earth-berming, adding a living roof or going with an earthen material like adobe bricks that all make the project less expensive. However, you can take this a step further by using recycled materials, some of which are often discarded as garbage.

The materials you can use in building a home, guest cabin or outbuildings is truly only limited by the imagination.

More http://b4in.info/ppcq

#artificialintelligence

#artificialintelligence
http://www.psfk.com/2015/09/artificial-intelligence-designers-replace-humans-artificium.html

#robotics

#robotics
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/09/21/robots-technology-even-cats-can-love

#robotics

#robotics
http://www.cnet.com/news/should-we-ban-sex-robots-scientists-say-yes-i-say-no

Career in Robotics: Build the Next Terminator

Career in Robotics: Build the Next Terminator

#robotics
http://clapway.com/2015/09/18/robotics-terminator123

It's too late to give machines ethics – they're already beyond our control

It's too late to give machines ethics – they're already beyond our control

#artificialintelligence
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/18/machines-ethics-control-artificial-intelligence-google-demis-hassabis

Artificial Intelligence Is Taking Computer Chess Beyond Brute Force

Artificial Intelligence Is Taking Computer Chess Beyond Brute Force

#artificialintelligence
http://www.popsci.com/artificial-intelligence-takes-chess-beyond-brute-force

Google's Demis Hassabis – misuse of artificial intelligence 'could do harm'

Google's Demis Hassabis – misuse of artificial intelligence 'could do harm'

#artificialintelligence
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34266425

How safe can artificial intelligence be?

How safe can artificial intelligence be?

#artificialintelligence
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34249500

Barbie Learns To Chat Using Artificial Intelligence

Barbie Learns To Chat Using Artificial Intelligence

#artificialintelligence
http://www.popsci.com/hello-barbie-learns-to-chat-using-artificial-intelligence

What Google executive Schmidt gets right, wrong about future of artificial intelligence.

What Google executive Schmidt gets right, wrong about future of artificial intelligence.

#artificialintelligence
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150919/business/150918728

Artificial intelligence, human characters connected in thoughtful novel.

Artificial intelligence, human characters connected in thoughtful novel.

#artificialintelligence
http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/books/356281/artificial-intelligence-human-characters-connected-thoughtful-novel

Robots could replace journalists in the newsroom

Robots could replace journalists in the newsroom

#robotics #artificialintelligence
http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/robots-could-replace-journalists-in-the-newsroom

Scientists have programmed robots to build bridges without human help

Scientists have programmed robots to build bridges without human help
http://qz.com/505809/scientists-have-programmed-drones-to-build-bridges-on-their-own/

Shared from Google News & Weather
http://qz.com/505809/scientists-have-programmed-drones-to-build-bridges-on-their-own

How Long Would it Take Us to Reach the Most Earth-like Planet We Know of?

Originally shared by Futurism 1.0

How Long Would it Take Us to Reach the Most Earth-like Planet We Know of?
One thousand years? Ten thousand? Ten million? http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/how-long-would-it-take-us-to-reach-the-most-earth-like-planet-we-know-of/

Imagine what it will be capable of learning in 5 years, or 10 -

Originally shared by James Barrat

Imagine what it will be capable of learning in 5 years, or 10 -
http://goo.gl/20tXQi

Max Tegmark is the subject of the following article.

Originally shared by Singularity 2045

Max Tegmark is the subject of the following article. Max is the person behind the FLI (Future of Life Institute) famous regarding the open letter (signed by many notable people) opposing, or fearing, Strong AI.

The article in question is by Scientific American, 15 Sept 2015, authored by David Pogue.

Scientific American wrote: "Tegmark is a compelling thinker."

I won't go into the errors of #artificialintelligence paranoia on this occasion. Instead I will highlight a quote from from Peter Woit, who thinks Tegmark is far from being a "compelling thinker."

In Jan 2014, on his blog, Peter Woit wrote: "Tegmark’s career is a rather unusual story, mixing reputable science with an increasingly strong taste for grandiose nonsense. In this book he indulges his inner crank..." https://www.math.columbia.edu/~woit/wordpress/?p=6551 (https://archive.is/GgZyf).

Woit refers to Tegmark's book Our Mathematical Universe, which seems to be a religious Matrix-type simulation argument (see Nick Bostrom, another AI paranoiac, and signer of the open letter, regarding the simulation argument religion).

Ideas about our universe being artificial (mathematical or holographic etc) are essentially techno-Christianity, which is nonsense similar to all religions. The idea is we are living in a computer, or a computer simulation, created by God, instead of living in a natural universe devoid of a creator.

So when thinking about the FLI, or the views of Tegmark, and his supporters (Bostrom, Musk, Hawking), I think it's important to remember Woit's view of Tegmark.

Remember Tegmark's penchant for his "inner crank."

I repeat Woit's words: "Tegmark’s career is a rather unusual story, mixing reputable science with an increasingly strong taste for grandiose nonsense."

I think FLI confirms Tegmark's increasingly strong taste for grandiose nonsense. The supposed AI threat is merely the new #Y2Kbug (people thought Y2K was the end of the world, much hysteria), or the AI threat is merely a re-spawned doomsday cult of 2012, the end-of-the-world apocalypse, which never happened.

Peter Woit is a theoretical physicist in the Mathematics department at Columbia University. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Woit

#simulationargument #nickbostrom #FLI #peterwoit #cranks #nonsense

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon
https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2000_problem

Humans often think the world is about to end, for example note latest end of the world fear regarding Sept 2015: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/21/nasa-says-the-world-is-not-going-to-end-in-september
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pogue-max-tegmark-on-the-threat-of-a-robot-takeover/

The HERMES robot is able to "mimic" human movements very accurately, so it can be used in countless activities.

Originally shared by Interesting Engineering

The HERMES robot is able to "mimic" human movements very accurately, so it can be used in countless activities.
http://interestingengineering.com/hermes-mits-humanoid-robot

Asking if we need to prepare for the robot uprising is similar to asking if we need to prepare of the end of the...

Originally shared by Singularity 2045

Asking if we need to prepare for the robot uprising is similar to asking if we need to prepare of the end of the world in September 2015 (http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/21/nasa-says-the-world-is-not-going-to-end-in-september).

Scientific American wrote (15 Sept 2015): "On a more day-to-day scale, robots will likely take even more of our jobs. The first to go, of course, will be the ones that are the most repetitive or the most easily automated, such as store clerks, tax preparers and paralegals. (Some Japanese banks already employ robots to assist customers.)"

LET THE ROBOTS TAKE ALL THE JOBS! Have these journalists never heard of #basicincome and Post-Scarcity? The goal is, or should be, to abolish all jobs. We want a situation where nobody needs to work, but instead embracing no jobs, the so-called "smart" people are squealing about AI doom.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-we-need-to-prepare-for-the-robot-uprising/

- September 12, 2015

#health

A 2012 review of 50 years of research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that a...

Originally shared by Alex Ruiz

A 2012 review of 50 years of research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that a ten-hour-or-more workday increased the risk of coronary heart risk by 80%, in both sexes.
http://qz.com/485226/this-is-what-365-days-without-a-vacation-does-to-your-health/

NASA Accidentally Exposes Themselves – Apollo Moon Landing Was Fake

Originally shared by Conspiracy Club

NASA Accidentally Exposes Themselves – Apollo Moon Landing Was Fake
http://www.conspiracyclub.co/2015/09/05/moon-fake-landing-exposed

< >

Originally shared by Larry Panozzo

< < THIS WEEK IN THE SINGULARITY > >

The Singularity is ~~near~~ here! I’ve realized my picture doesn’t display the article titles (which are often so fantastic) so I made a secondary picture. It’s really easy to make anyway. Enjoy :)

• ROBOTICS Let's Treat Robots Like Yo-Yo Ma's Cello -- as an Instrument for Human Intelligence
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicholas-agar/robots-human-intelligence_b_8017704.html?1441200345

• ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The Struggle To Define What Artificial Intelligence Actually Means
http://phys.org/news/2015-09-national-insider-threats-scholar.html

• GENETICS The Philosopher Who Says We Should Play God
http://nautil.us/issue/28/2050/the-philosopher-who-says-we-should-play-god

• VIRTUAL REALITY Experience The Horror of Ebola in This New VR Film
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-09/01/waves-of-grace-ebola-virtual-reality-film

• 3D PRINTING An Affordable, Self-Correcting, Multi-Material 3D Printing Platform_
http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/09/an-affordable-self-correcting-multi-material-3d-printing-platform/

• DIGITAL CONTENT Robots Might Soon Be Writing 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Books
http://gizmodo.com/robots-might-soon-be-writing-choose-your-own-adventure-1728547011

• CYBERWARFARE We’re at Cyberwar: A Global Guide to Nation-State Digital Attacks
http://www.wired.com/2015/09/cyberwar-global-guide-nation-state-digital-attacks/

• THREAT National Security Faces Challenges From Insider Threats, Scholar Says
http://phys.org/news/2015-09-national-insider-threats-scholar.html

• PRIVACY Facial Recognition Technology: A Creepy But Ultimately Powerful Boon to Society
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/09/facial_recognition_technology_a_creepy_but_ultimately_powerful_boon_to_society.single.html

Like my posts? Add me for This Week in Tech, This Week in Science, This Week in The Singularity, and lots more each week. Or just follow my Collection The Singularity

#singularity
http://singularityhub.com/2015/09/05/this-weeks-awesome-stories-from-around-the-web-through-sep-5/

We’re at a pivotal moment in history. Billions of years of biological evolution has culminated to an intelligent species of hominids that in their sudden industrial-digital revolution create machines that can take them places they can’t even imagine. And to think that they don’t even pay attention to the transformation as neural networks make their first major appearances, as AI enters each of the main fields of science, and breakthroughs in computing threaten to leave even Moore’s Law in the dust. So do as I do and spread the word!

Wonder why I say the Singularity is here? No it hasn’t literally begun, but the process directly leading to it is already underway. When I saw this little chart here http://28oa9i1t08037ue3m1l0i861.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Edge1.png I realized it was fair to say we’ve arrived, and it’s about to begin.
Whether or not this is your first time hearing of the singularity, check out this post by Tim Urban http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/01/artificial-intelligence-revolution-1.html
And read about what it actually is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity

Brett is a robot that fuses deep learning and reinforcement learning in a novel fashion.

Originally shared by Wayne Radinsky

Brett is a robot that fuses deep learning and reinforcement learning in a novel fashion. "Deep learning" means the system uses a convolutional neural network with many layers. The researchers claim the combination lets the robot "improve its approach to tasks through repeated attempts" -- in other words, to play, like children.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/09/04/pieter_abbeel_s_berkeley_lab_is_teaching_a_robot_to_think_by_making_it_play.html

How much is nutrient absorption boosted when fruits and vegetables are blended into smoothies?

Originally shared by NutritionFacts.org

How much is nutrient absorption boosted when fruits and vegetables are blended into smoothies?

Watch below or click the link to watch on NutritionFacts.org: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/are-green-smoothies-good-for-you/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P0BEmtwnZA

Here's the world's first Ultra HD Blu-Ray player

Originally shared by Engadget

Here's the world's first Ultra HD Blu-Ray player

Genius pool shower

Originally shared by Nilesh Kurhade

Genius pool shower

Ants Circling Phone - Mysterious video of ants circling an iPhone -Ameisen umkreisen 7 - YouTube

Originally shared by Rob Jongschaap

Ants Circling Phone - Mysterious video of ants circling an iPhone -Ameisen umkreisen 7 - YouTube

'... Published on Aug 30, 2015

This Is What Your iPhone Has Done To Your Braincells - the electromagnetic wave of an incoming call keep these little animals walk in a perfect circle around an iphone.

Video of ants circling phone divides academics:
ant's antennaes are far and away the most important sense organs. They are inserted in sockets on each side of the frontal carinae, and consist of a series of joints of variable number and length.

The lowest number, four, is found in the genus Epitritus; the greatest, thirteen, in the males of many of our common ants. Usually the males have one more joint than the females and workers. The first joint, known as the scape, is always considerably elongated, except in the males of some species.
...'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFX7mRl7xDs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFX7mRl7xDs

When I was a kid I used to melt crayons.

When I was a kid I used to melt crayons. I specially liked to mix colors in a beautiful shape, so I would have a crayon with multiple colors and unique shapes. You can use cookie star shapes for example and put a different color on each point.

Originally shared by Mashable

Fantastic.
http://on.mash.to/1NSWRwi

A pencil sharpener is actually quite useful for a survival kit.

Originally shared by Skills for Survival

A pencil sharpener is actually quite useful for a survival kit. The paper-thin shavings that you can make catch fire easily and make great tinder.

Self-driving cars can be fooled by fake signals

Originally shared by Engadget

Self-driving cars can be fooled by fake signals

A fully-automated indoor farm capable of producing 30,000 heads of lettuce per day

Originally shared by Ward Plunet

A fully-automated indoor farm capable of producing 30,000 heads of lettuce per day

Japan’s Spread Vegetable Factory is working on a novel way of producing high quantities of lettuce using factory automation, reports the Wall Street Journal. Starting next year, the company will begin construction on a large-scale, fully-automated lettuce factory that’ll cost up to 2 billion yen to build ($16.5 million USD). According to the Kyoto-based company, its automated process will be able to produce 30,000 heads of lettuce in a single day starting in summer 2017 with a goal of 500,000 heads of lettuce with five years. Except seeding and germination that requires visual confirmation, most of growing process is automated, requiring minimal human intervention to take the lettuce to harvest.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/japan-automated-factory-lettuce/#ixzz3ksdOzMm2

True story

Originally shared by null

True story

Quantum Computing, Quantum Interpretations, and Occam

Quantum Computing, Quantum Interpretations, and Occam

A recent worthwhile essay by Scott Aaronson Can Quantum Computing Reveal the True Meaning of Quantum Mechanics? explores the interplay between quantum computing and different quantum interpretations: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/blogs/physics/?p=2204. Scott is a leading expert on quantum computing and while he has an excellent regular blog here http://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/, I find I prefer his style of writing in this more recent popular piece.

Scott digs into the Many Worlds Interpretation, the Copenhagen Interpretation, and Bohmian Mechanics - and explores their differences with regard to whether realising a working quantum computer would lend weight to one interpretation or another. The many other interpretations (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpretations_of_quantum_mechanics) are omitted for brevity.

Above and beyond the proposed usefulness of quantum computers for simulating quantum physics and performing certain types of computations (e.g. factorisations) Scott believes that: The biggest application of quantum computers will be neither simulation nor codebreaking, but simply proving that this is possible at all! If you like, a useful quantum computer would be the most dramatic demonstration imaginable that our world really does need to be described by a gigantic amplitude wave, that there’s no way around that, no simpler classical reality behind the scenes. It would be the final nail in the coffin of the idea - which many of my colleagues still defend - that quantum mechanics, as currently understood, must be merely an approximation that works for a few particles at a time.

I agree with the above quote from Scott and think it is the key takeaway from the article: the actual realisation of a useful quantum computer would be transformative not just in regards to technical capabilities but more so in relation to insights into our universe and reality. Of course, the negative, that of a useful quantum computer never being realised, would be just as interesting for the same reasons.

Finally, when considering the details of quantum computations and the real consequences for the physical differences between the Many Worlds and Bohmian Mechanics interpretations Scott gives us an interesting trade-off with regards to Occam's Razor:

* Bohmian Mechanics seems to imply more computational work than a quantum computer could simulate and indeed vastly more computation than could ever in principle be observed. Occam rules against unobservable computational processes.

* Many Worlds of course seems to imply computation carried out across a near-infinite array of parallel unobserved universes. Occam rules against unobservable physical universes.

[Supporters of both have standard responses to these criticisms.]

#quantum #computing #interpretations

Using 3D printing technology, ZhuoDa Group inChina built a furnished two-story villa in only 10 days, and assembled...

Originally shared by Interesting Engineering

Using 3D printing technology, ZhuoDa Group inChina built a furnished two-story villa in only 10 days, and assembled it all in less than three hours!
http://interestingengineering.com/chinese-firm-builds-3d-printed-house-in-3-hours

Title

Robots Lay Three Times as Many Bricks as Construction Workers | MIT Technology Review

Originally shared by Rob Jongschaap

Robots Lay Three Times as Many Bricks as Construction Workers | MIT Technology Review

'Construction workers on some sites are getting new, non-union help. SAM – short for semi-automated mason – is a robotic bricklayer being used to increase productivity as it works with human masons.

In this human-robot team, the robot is responsible for the more rote tasks: picking up bricks, applying mortar, and placing them in their designated location. A human handles the more nuanced activities, like setting up the worksite, laying bricks in tricky areas, such as corners, and handling aesthetic details, like cleaning up excess mortar.'

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/540916/robots-lay-three-times-as-many-bricks-as-construction-workers/
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/540916/robots-lay-three-times-as-many-bricks-as-construction-workers

What Archaeologists Really Think About Ancient Aliens, Lost Colonies, And Fingerprints Of The Gods - Forbes

Originally shared by Rob Jongschaap

What Archaeologists Really Think About Ancient Aliens, Lost Colonies, And Fingerprints Of The Gods - Forbes

'It’s no secret that far more people watch TV shows like the History Channel’s ‘Ancient Aliens’ than attend lectures by professional archaeologists and historians. Millions of people tune in to watch TV series and docu-dramas with a questionable grip on facts about the past. The stories spun by producers and writers may have some basis in truth, but they’re largely stories — they’re compelling stories, though, and they’re aimed at a general audience the way that most academic output isn’t.

[...]

Pseudoarchaeology books are problematic for archaeologists for a number of reasons. First, of course, they tend to present misinformation, cherry-picked from legitimate (and not-so-legitimate) sources that is often taken as fact because it’s presented as fact. Archaeologists, as scientists, can no more select what data to consider than a chemist can select which laws of chemistry to follow. Second, pseudoarchaeology seems like a legitimate body of scholarship because authors tend to cite one another, creating a body of information that, however outlandish it sounds, fits together. Archaeology also does this, but as scientists, we are invested in improving our understanding of the past rather than in protecting our own theories the way pseudoarchaeologists do.
...'

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/09/03/what-archaeologists-really-think-about-ancient-aliens-lost-colonies-and-fingerprints-of-the-gods/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/09/03/what-archaeologists-really-think-about-ancient-aliens-lost-colonies-and-fingerprints-of-the-gods/

Google Search updated with expanded health information

Google Search updated with expanded health information

The best thing about Google Search? It's not Bing! ...and it's constantly getting better all of the time. Google's knowledge graph is expanding to over 900 illnesses which now include a new pretty visual result.
http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2015/09/now-google-can-help-with-updated-health.html?m=1

Devastating photos of the world’s most endangered forests

Originally shared by Pierre Markuse

Devastating photos of the world’s most endangered forests

With the growth of the world’s population and continuing deforestation, trees have become increasingly viewed as a valuable global asset. And on Wednesday, a surprising study published in Nature found that the Earth has more trees than previously thought.

And while this sounds good the following is also true:
“We can now say that there’s less trees than at any point in human civilization,” Crowther, lead author of the study, told The Post. “Since the spread of human influence, we’ve reduced the number almost by half, which is an astronomical thing.”

Full story and images here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/04/more-trees-but-the-same-problems-these-forests-are-the-most-at-risk/

You may also want to read this article series:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/deforestation_update.php

NASA video showing international deforestation patterns in tropical rainforests from 1975 until 2012:
https://youtu.be/6AVkjJKK3iE

#science #earth #trees #forests #deforestation
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/04/more-trees-but-the-same-problems-these-forests-are-the-most-at-risk/

You might be able to wirelessly charge your laptop next year - The cords continue to slowly disappear

Originally shared by Futuristech Info
http://futuristech.info/posts/you-might-be-able-to-wirelessly-charge-your-laptop-next-year-the-cords-continue-to-slowly-disappear

"I see great danger in a world in which most people rub along on state handouts while a minority -- perhaps a small...

Originally shared by Wayne Radinsky

"I see great danger in a world in which most people rub along on state handouts while a minority -- perhaps a small minority -- not only own most of the wealth (that is pretty much true already) but are the only ones actively engaged in any kind of economic activity. Given the advances in all kinds of technology that we can expect in the coming decades, this minority would be under immense temptation to separate themselves off from the rest of us -- not just economically, but cognitively and physically too. Yuval Harari, author of the brilliant Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, says that humanity may divide into two classes of people: rather brutally, he calls them the gods and the useless."
https://www.singularityweblog.com/two-singularities

Also, 93% of the astronauts urine and perspiration is converted back into drinkable water.

Also, 93% of the astronauts urine and perspiration is converted back into drinkable water.

Learn more: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/waste-in-space-2/

Lack of oxygen killing marine life in waters of Washington state’s Hood Canal – ‘It’s a dead zone anywhere east of...

Originally shared by Before It's News

Lack of oxygen killing marine life in waters of Washington state’s Hood Canal – ‘It’s a dead zone anywhere east of Sister’s Point to Belfair’ http://b4in.org/qTZ4

A lack of oxygen in southern Hood Canal is killing fish, crab and other marine life, according to Seth Book, a biologist with the Skokomish Tribe who has been monitoring the marine waterway.

Through the month of August, Book and other Skokomish staff have observed dead English sole and thousands of dead and dying eel pouts on the beaches. They also have found masses of dead cockles and butter clams, and on Friday, Book said he saw hundreds of crab along the beaches that were trying to get to the surface to breath.

“It’s a dead zone anywhere east of Sister’s Point to Belfair, Mason County. There’s very low oxygen at depth,” Book said.

More with video http://b4in.org/qTZ4

Hubble Survey Unlocks Clues to Star Birth in Neighboring Galaxy

Originally shared by Pierre Markuse

Hubble Survey Unlocks Clues to Star Birth in Neighboring Galaxy

In a survey of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope images of 2,753 young, blue star clusters in the neighboring Andromeda galaxy (M31), astronomers have found that M31 and our own galaxy have a similar percentage of newborn stars based on mass. By nailing down what percentage of stars have a particular mass within a cluster, or the Initial Mass Function (IMF), scientists can better interpret the light from distant galaxies and understand the formation history of stars in our universe.

Full story here:
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2015/18/full/

More on star formation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_formation

More on the Andromeda galaxy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy

Image credit: M31, Andromeda Galaxy NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton, B.F. Williams, L.C. Johnson (University of Washington), and the PHAT team http://goo.gl/cl2GLp

#science #m31 #andromedagalaxy #hubble #space #starformation #imf #milkywaygalaxy

Robots Are Coming for Our Jobs — And That's Great News For You

Originally shared by michael barth
http://mic.com/articles/124874/what-is-basic-income-and-where-did-it-come-from

Used to throw javelin at school too.. no YouTube back then.

Used to throw javelin at school too.. no YouTube back then.

Originally shared by Ward Plunet

A Kenyan won the gold medal in javelin after learning how to throw on YouTube

Kenyan Julius Yego yesterday (Aug. 26) secured a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing in javelin. His throw of 92.72m won the competition by four meters...

What is remarkable is that Yego is almost entirely self-taught. He used YouTube videos as a guide. He cited watching videos of Zelezny and Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen, both of whom won Olympic and world titles.

“My coach is me, and the YouTube videos,” Yego said. Why? “Everybody in Kenya is a runner.” Which means that there aren’t that many coaches who can train those who are interested in less-heralded disciplines, such as the javelin. (Kenya is famous for producing great track athletes. In Beijing, the East African nation leads the medals table with six golds, three silvers, and two bronze.)
http://qz.com/489442/a-kenyan-won-the-gold-medal-in-javelin-after-learning-how-to-throw-on-youtube

Change images and PDFs in ways you couldn't before - right in Google Docs. #GoogleEdu g.co/tips/edu15

Originally shared by Google Docs

Change images and PDFs in ways you couldn't before - right in Google Docs. #GoogleEdu g.co/tips/edu15

Three powerful Pacific hurricanes churning at the same time make weather history – ‘I would say it’s very rare,...