The Obtain: simulating photo voltaic geoengineering, and AI-enabled accessibility

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That is as we speak’s version of The Obtain, our weekday publication that gives a every day dose of what’s occurring on this planet of expertise.

Andrew Ng’s new mannequin permits you to mess around with photo voltaic geoengineering to see what would occur

AI pioneer Andrew Ng has launched a easy on-line software that permits anybody to tinker with the dials of a photo voltaic geoengineering mannequin, exploring what would possibly occur if nations try to counteract local weather change by spraying reflective particles into the environment.

The idea of photo voltaic geoengineering was born from the conclusion that the planet has cooled after huge volcanic eruptions. However critics worry that intentionally releasing such supplies may hurt sure areas of the world, discourage efforts to chop greenhouse-gas emissions, or spark conflicts between nations, amongst different unhealthy outcomes.

The objective of Ng’s emulator, referred to as Planet Parasol, is to ask extra folks to consider photo voltaic geoengineering, discover the potential trade-offs concerned in such interventions, and use the outcomes to debate and debate our choices for local weather motion. Learn the complete story.

—James Temple

AI may very well be a recreation changer for folks with disabilities 

It’s regular, and possibly even smart, to view rising applied sciences with skepticism. That’s very true as most new issues are constructed for almost all of individuals—which is to say folks with out disabilities. 

Nonetheless, there are exceptions to the rule. A main instance is the iPhone, which had a comparatively massive display screen and a touch-based UI. And now, it appears AI may make these sorts of jumps in accessibility much more widespread throughout a wider vary of applied sciences. Learn the complete story

—Steven Aquino

This piece is from the following print challenge of MIT Know-how Assessment, which lands on Wednesday August 28. It’s devoted to celebrating 125 years of the journal and guarantees to be an ideal learn. In case you don’t already, subscribe now to get your copy.

Tech that measures our brainwaves is 100 years previous. How will we be utilizing it 100 years from now?

It’s 100 years this week since EEG (electroencephalography) was first used to measure electrical exercise in an individual’s mind. The discovering was revolutionary. It helped folks perceive that epilepsy was a neurological dysfunction versus a character trait, for one factor (sure, actually).

The basics of EEG haven’t modified a lot over the past century—scientists and medical doctors nonetheless put electrodes on folks’s heads to attempt to work out what’s occurring inside their brains. However we’ve been in a position to do much more with the knowledge that’s collected, from studying how we expect to diagnosing mind and listening to problems. So what extra would possibly we have the ability to do 100 years from now? Learn our story to search out out.

—Jessica Hamzelou 

This story is from The Checkup, our weekly publication all in regards to the newest in well being and biotech. Join to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.

The must-reads

I’ve combed the web to search out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about expertise.

1 We aren’t prepared for the creep of AI into our cameras
Capabilities embedded within the newest Google Pixel handset will additional destroy our means to imagine what we see. (The Verge)
Is that this actually the course we need to go in? (MIT Know-how Assessment)

2 Kamala Harris’ marketing campaign has joined Twitch
In a bid to maintain attracting youthful voters. (Wired $)
In the meantime, Trump is launching some kind of crypto platform. (CNBC)
+ And individuals are having plenty of enjoyable remixing JD Vance’s ‘By no means Trump’ remark. (NYT $)

3 NASA is about to resolve on Starliner’s return tomorrow
There’s quite a bit at stake, particularly for the 2 astronauts it’s set to ferry again from the ISS. (Ars Technica)

4 Contained in the loopy world of Palmer Luckey
Stressed, controversial and intelligent, the tech billionaire is a tough individual to pin down. (Pill)

5 There’s a brand new humanoid robotic on the town
Only one downside although: it doesn’t have legs (but.) (IEEE Spectrum)
+ A brand new system lets robots sense human contact with out synthetic pores and skin. (MIT Know-how Assessment)

6 Can Ford wean America off its dependancy to massive vehicles?
It might be essential to transitioning to electrical autos, as heavier vehicles demand a lot extra of their batteries. (The Atlantic $)
Why greater EVs aren’t at all times higher. (MIT Know-how Assessment)

7 Competitors for copper is extra intense than ever
Clear vitality is pushing up demand, and individuals are stealing, combating and even dying to fulfill it.  (Wired $)

8 Bored? Scrolling in your telephone would possibly make it worse
Perhaps we must always all attempt to get higher at tolerating the discomfort of boredom now and again. (WP $)
A doubtful development for non-traditional pets is taking off on TikTok. (The Guardian)

9 Hydrogel can be taught to play Pong 
Researchers now plan to see what else it may do too—possibly even assist management robots. (New Scientist $)

10 Now you can cross-post from Instagram to Threads
Although be careful: content material for one doesn’t at all times translate nicely to the opposite. (TechCrunch)
Instagram’s additionally including a MySpace-esque ‘tune on profile’ function. (The Verge)

Quote of the day

“We chase the approval of strangers on our telephones. We construct all method of partitions and fences round ourselves after which marvel why we really feel so alone.” 

 —Former US President Barack Obama gives his analysis of society’s ills to the Democratic Nationwide Conference, Politico experiences.

The large story

This startup needs to search out out if people can have infants in house

storks flying through space wearing astronaut helmets with babies in bundles

MARIA JESUS CONTRERAS

October 2023

Regardless of the burgeoning curiosity in deep house exploration and settlement, we nonetheless know little or no about what occurs to our reproductive biology once we’re in orbit. Scientists have began to invest on whether or not in vitro fertilization expertise is feasible past Earth. That’s one thing SpaceBorn United, a biotech startup, is in search of to pioneer. 

It plans to ship a mini lab on a rocket into low Earth orbit, the place in vitro fertilization, or IVF, will happen. If it succeeds, the corporate’s analysis may pave the best way for future house settlements. Learn the complete story.

—Scott Solomon

We will nonetheless have good issues

A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Received any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)

+ Metallica’s gig in Moscow in 1991 was one for the ages. You may watch the entire factor on-line too!
+ In case you’ve been gripped by the necessity to do some summertime clearing out, right here’s how minimalists do it.
+ Please resist taking a photograph of your airport tray—you’re holding everybody up.
+ One of the vital intense zombie video video games has been given a makeover.



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