FuturologyBot
FuturologyBot t1_iyup7ry wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/darth_nadoma:
Two large renewable power plants are to be built in Egypt providing over one million people with the cheapest electricity in Africa.
560 MW Abydos Solar plant would be located in the Southern Aswan Governorate.
While 505 MW Amunet Wind power plant would be located in the Suez governorate in the north-east.
Solar plant is expected to be completed in 18 months, and the wind project will be operational in 30 months.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/zc3nqu/egypt_to_add_11_gw_in_solar_wind_power_with/iyumxrp/
FuturologyBot t1_iyrzugl wrote
Reply to Researchers claim a human trial with 90 people has shown a simple laser therapy improves short-term memory by 25%. The treatment, called transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), has had claims in previous studies to also improve reaction times, accuracy and attention by lughnasadh
The following submission statement was provided by /u/lughnasadh:
Submission Statement
The downside to this is that no one is sure what the mechanism is, and they also don't know how long the effect lasts. Clearly, if this is to become a useful therapy then answers will be needed there.
Low-level laser therapy is a field of medicine with some controversy. It's currently being used in many applications where some people feel there is inadequate evidence for its uses. Still, this research seems to suggest there may be future useful applications for it.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/zbmall/researchers_claim_a_human_trial_with_90_people/iyrvj08/
FuturologyBot t1_iyrpre7 wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/EnergyTransitionNews:
Over the next few years, as European countries look at installing more renewable energy capacities to reduce their carbon emissions, the average capital cost of these installations will drop to US$1.3 per Watt, the report said.
The TTF gas price is expected to stabilize by the end of the decade and may drop to US$31 per MWh. The Levelized cost of energy (LCOE) from gas would reach about US$150 MWh at this price. While this might sound cheap in comparison to what consumers in Europe are paying today, it will still be three times as much the LCOE from solar facilities, the report added. For gas to remain competitive as a fuel, its prices would have to drop to US$17 MWh, which the report calls "unthinkable" in the current scenario.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/zbkhqn/solar_energy_in_europe_will_be_10_times_cheaper/iyrk72k/
FuturologyBot t1_iykknz0 wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/tonymmorley:
Vaccine prompts HIV antibodies in 97 per cent of people in small study — "An experimental HIV vaccine led to antibodies against the virus in 35 out of 36 volunteers, but whether this offers protection against the infection is unclear" 💊
>"A two-dose HIV vaccine generated antibodies against the virus in 35 out of 36 people (97 per cent), with no severe side effects."
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"The early-stage trial was designed to demonstrate safety and a proof-of-concept for a relatively novel approach to HIV vaccination. It is unclear whether the vaccine protects against HIV. Based on the antibody levels generated by the two-dose regimen, booster doses are expected to be required."
The good news is that innovations in HIV/AIDS, early intervention, and treatment are helping drive down the prevalence of new infections and deaths while improving the quality of life for millions. Deaths from HIV/AIDs peaked in 2004 at 1.8 million people globally; by 2019, that number has fallen by 52%, to roughly 863,000, and continues to decline slowly. Dive into the full data on the Our World in Data page on HIV/AIDS.
While it's still early days for the development of an effective, inexpensive, and safe vaccine to prevent the spread or decrease the virulence of HIV/AIDS, continued progress and incremental innovation is a promising cause for continued optimistic in our global fight against the disease.
Source:
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Journal reference:
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/za6yyq/vaccine_prompts_hiv_antibodies_in_97_per_cent_of/iykivcv/
FuturologyBot t1_iyikq9v wrote
Reply to The Organ-on-a-Chip Revolution Is Here by filosoful
The following submission statement was provided by /u/filosoful:
The day when most new drugs will be developed and tested directly using human tissues is right around the corner
Most people know what microelectronics are: those small but mighty components powering our phones, TVs, and other electronic devices.
Microfluidics is a related miniaturization technology but applied to fluids instead of electricity. Often hidden from view, microfluidics underlies a variety of devices that are essential to our lives, from home pregnancy tests to inkjet printers to glucometers for the monitoring of diabetes.
In recent years a class of microfluidic devices, called organs-on-chips, have even been used to mimic the natural environments of organs, opening the door to experiments that would otherwise not be feasible
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z9th00/the_organonachip_revolution_is_here/iyig6hp/
FuturologyBot t1_iyhs3ry wrote
Reply to MIT's autonomous assembling robots to construct additional assembly robots and move independently &/or as a swarm to build structures much larger than themselves by manual_tranny
The following submission statement was provided by /u/manual_tranny:
Researchers at MIT have been developing assembling robots that are made up of the same components they use to build structures. The small subunits of robots can move on their own and in large numbers to build much larger structures, quickly accomplishing large-scale assemblies.
Now that the robots can build themselves/each other, the team is working on strengthening the physical connections that make up the robots, so that they can withstand heavier loads.
These autonomous building techniques will be particularly useful in dangerous and hard to access environments like space, deep ocean, etc.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z9ok4y/mits_autonomous_assembling_robots_to_construct/iyho8vi/
FuturologyBot t1_iyhp5ce wrote
Reply to ‘Cleaner Air Is Coming’ as London Expands Vehicle Pollution Fee to Entire Metro Area by chrisdh79
The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79:
From the article: Starting next August, drivers of the most polluting vehicles will have to pay $15 per day to enter an Ultra-Low Emissions Zone expanded to include all of metropolitan London, the British capital’s mayor announced Friday.
“Cleaner air is coming to Outer London,” Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted. “Today I’m announcing that we’re expanding the #ULEZ London-wide in a move that will bring cleaner air to five million more Londoners.”
“Our city is being smothered by toxic air—and it’s hurting and killing Londoners, leading to asthma, dementia, and even cancer,” the mayor continued. “Air pollution particles have even been found in the livers and brains of unborn babies. We cannot stand idly by and allow this to continue.”
“Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year because of long-term exposure to air pollution, with the greatest number of deaths in outer London boroughs,” Khan added. “That’s why this expansion is so important—we need to clean the air for everyone.”
London Public Health Director Kevin Fenton tweeted that “air pollution is the largest environmental risk to public health in the U.K… It affects everyone who lives and works in London, and its impacts are felt throughout the life-course from before birth to old age.”
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z9o3zu/cleaner_air_is_coming_as_london_expands_vehicle/iyhl776/
FuturologyBot t1_iyhhbjr wrote
Reply to Breakthrough wormhole simulation may unite quantum physics and general relativity by Gari_305
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>"We found a quantum system that exhibits key properties of a gravitational wormhole yet is sufficiently small to implement on today's quantum hardware," U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science research program Quantum Communication Channels for Fundamental Physics (QCCFP) principal investigator Maria Spiropulu, said in a statement(opens in new tab). "This work constitutes a step toward a larger program of testing quantum gravity physics using a quantum computer."
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>Co-author Samantha Davis, a graduate student at Caltech, said in the statement that it took "a really long time to arrive at the results," and that the team was surprised by the outcome that suggests that wormhole-like behavior can be explained from the perspective of both quantum physics and general relativity.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z9mpj8/breakthrough_wormhole_simulation_may_unite/iyhehoi/
FuturologyBot t1_iyepg7t wrote
Reply to Government Scientists ‘Approaching What is Required for Fusion’ in Breakthrough Energy Research by Gari_305
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>Scientists hoping to harness nuclear fusion—the same energy source that powers the Sun and other stars—have confirmed that magnetic fields can enhance the energy output of their experiments, reports a new study.
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>The results suggest that magnets may play a key role in the development of this futuristic form of power, which could theoretically provide a virtually limitless supply of clean energy.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z927ts/government_scientists_approaching_what_is/iyek43y/
FuturologyBot t1_iyea328 wrote
Reply to Solar power prices expected to decline 50% by 2050: Ajay Mathur - A decline in solar power prices will help in production of green hydrogen at reduced costs, said the director general of International Solar Alliance. by yourSAS
The following submission statement was provided by /u/yourSAS:
Speaking at the annual energy event of KPMG, Enrich 2022, Mathur said the decline in solar prices will help produce green hydrogen at reduced costs.
In the last five years, the cost of solar electricity has dropped by almost 30 percent which has also contributed to the reduced cost of hydrogen, he added.
“In areas which have good solar insulation, we will start seeing solar hydrogen becoming competitive with gas-based hydrogen even now,” Mathur said regarding the implications of a reduction in solar prices.
Manufacturers of electrolysers are now looking at much larger scales which has brought down costs with far lower risks. Therefore, hydrogen is being produced from electrolysis of water at far lower costs.
He expects solar prices to fall approximately 30 percent by 2030
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z8znmq/solar_power_prices_expected_to_decline_50_by_2050/iye5oj4/
FuturologyBot t1_iye8izg wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>A quantum computer has been used to simulate a holographic wormhole for the first time. In this case, the word “holographic” indicates a way to simplify physics problems involving both quantum mechanics and gravity, not a literal hologram, so simulations like this could help us understand how to combine those two concepts into a theory of quantum gravity – perhaps the toughest and most important problem in physics right now.
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>Both quantum mechanics, which governs the very small, and general relativity, which describes gravity and the very large, are extraordinarily successful in their respective realms, but these two fundamental theories do not fit together. This incompatibility is particularly apparent in areas where both theories should apply, such as in and around black holes.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z8z4p3/a_quantum_computer_has_simulated_a_wormhole_for/iye2h8b/
FuturologyBot t1_iye3n7v wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/nastratin:
Estonia is a small country with a population of only 1.3 million. In 2005, it became the first country in the world to allow its citizens to vote online in elections, and today 46.9% of those eligible opt to vote online.
Almost everything in Estonia can now be done online – from filing taxes to signing contracts to ordering prescriptions. Only those that marry or want to get a divorce have to physically visit an office.
The Estonian government estimates that going digital has saved the state and its citizens, 820 years in time and resources, and the country routinely places first in internet freedom, online services, digital public services, and cybersecurity.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z8ydmf/estonia_saved_its_citizens_820_years_by_moving/iydxzdr/
FuturologyBot t1_iydgc6t wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>For the first time in the UK, a surgical team used a robot to remove a cancerous tumour from a patient's throat.
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>Gloucestershire Royal Hospital surgeons Simon Higgs and Steve Hornby employed the Versius robot to remove a tumour from Martin Nugent's oesophagus.
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>"If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be standing here now," Mr Nugent said.
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>"To have been given a second chance to see my grandchildren, my children and my wife has meant so much to me."
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>Previously, operating on the oesophagus - which connects the mouth to the stomach - would have been performed through open surgery, with the surgeon making the incision manually.
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>Using the Versius surgical robot made it possible to operate on Mr Nugent using minimal access surgery.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z8upph/surgical_robot_used_to_remove_throat_tumour_for/iydc2aa/
FuturologyBot t1_iyd141i wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/WestEst101:
A recent report indicating that Amazon's Alexa division is on track to lose $10 billion US this year is raising questions about the future of the entire voice-assistant industry.
Microsoft Cortana has already pulled out, leaving just three large players (Apple Siri, Google, and Amazon Alexa)
Having been seen as the new interface for computing and AI (much like the moise was at one point), some feel the industry is already doomed. Others feel it’s still in its infancy.
The problem is twofold:
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A lack of an ability to monetize the industry
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Integration with other computing elements. Google’s platform is already embedded in its systems, as is Apple’s, but Amazon’s is not. Amazon’s has many apps (allowing you to even turn on your washing machine), but there isn’t an easy way to let people know about them. It’s like buying a smartphone without knowing an AppStore exists.
No easy solutions
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z8rxfo/alexa_is_the_voiceassistant_industry_doomed/iycwwmv/
FuturologyBot t1_iycsdeb wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/cartoonzi:
At first glance, the Aptera looks like the typical sci-fi concept car that gets paraded at car expos by the likes of Mercedes and BMW. But the design is the result of relentless optimization to make the most efficient EV possible. It came down to improving three elements: shape, weight, and charging features.
The shape is inspired by how sharks and other fish reshape their bodies when swimming close to the ocean floor to reduce their drag and conserve energy. After testing it in NASA’s wind tunnels, the Aptera turned out to have less drag than one side-view mirror on a pickup truck (according to the company). The EV also weighs 65% less because of the switch to carbon fibre materials and removing one of the wheels. And finally, the exterior is covered in solar panels that can recharge up to 40mi/60km per day.
I’m a big fan of the “less is more” approach here. It’s definitely not the perfect vehicle for every use case, but I can see this becoming an ideal commuter vehicle. Hopefully they can go from prototypes to large-scale production successfully and not run out of money. Apparently, they plan on making their first deliveries in the next few months.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z8qhas/the_solarpowered_apteras_unique_design_addresses/iycq267/
FuturologyBot t1_iycq8c1 wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>“In order to explore other worlds, we need innovative new technologies adapted to those environments and our exploration needs,” Niki Werkheiser, a director at NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, said in a statement.
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>The grant is a continuation of an existing partnership to develop construction methods that allow infrastructure to be built from lunar or Martian soil, according to NASA.
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>NASA is trying to scale up its base construction technology to “prove it would be feasible to develop a large-scale 3D printer that could build infrastructure on the Moon or Mars,” said Corky Clinton of NASA’s Marshall Space flight center in Huntsville, Ala., when ICON received its first 2020 grant.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z8q3gd/texas_company_wins_grant_to_3dprint_moon_bases/iycn7xh/
FuturologyBot t1_iy92vlo wrote
Reply to Star Trek is Motivating This Team of Scientists to Build a Working Warp Drive Spacecraft - The Debrief by Gari_305
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>Enter Greg Hodgin, Ph.D., a chemical engineer and political scientist who has started his own company, ZC Inc., with the primary goal of building a warp-capable spaceship within his lifetime.
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>Dr. Hodgin recently sat down with The Debrief to discuss his lofty goals and the evolving roadmap he has laid out to achieve them. And unlike the handful of theorists who have preceded him in this nascent field, Hodgin believes he has the right people and the right plan to make warp drive spacecraft a physical reality.
Also from the Article
>After talking with the various warp field theorists and engineers, Hodgin says his extremely tiny warp craft will also feature some significant advantages over previous theoretical designs. For example, his warp field will not be constant but pulsed on and off. This allows for more control and also allows for ongoing communication between the ship and the engineers.
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>“One of the problems with Alcubierre is once you turn it on, you can’t turn it off,” he explained. “Ours mitigates that problem.”
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z7xqkm/star_trek_is_motivating_this_team_of_scientists/iy8m6cc/
FuturologyBot t1_iy92tdo wrote
Reply to Tesla’s Energy division will help Australia reduce its coal dependence | An upcoming project combined with a new wind farm will add to the Down Under’s zero-emission energy portfolio. by chrisdh79
The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79:
From the article: The wind energy project, developed by Spanish firm Acciona, will generate 1,000MW at peak production. It will more than double the existing 923MW wind farm by the state.
Both installations will power about 1.4 million households, Reuters reports. Tesla’s Megapack project will be located nearby at Kogan Creek Power Station. It will have a capacity of 200MWh.
Construction of the energy storage project will start in the fourth quarter of 2023. CE Energy will handle it. However, there has not been any information on when Acciona will start work on the wind farm. Australia has been a repeat customer of Tesla’s Megapacks. The country hosts four such installations already.
The largest is the 450 MWh Victorian Big Battery project. A second one, located in Bouldercombe, Queensland, will complete construction early next year. Australia is aiming for its energy to be 70 percent renewable by 2032. It is banking on massive batteries like Megapacks (dubbed “coal-killer”) to achieve the goal. They are replacements for coal-powered “peaker plants” that kick in to help balance loads at peak consumption periods.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z7xvvq/teslas_energy_division_will_help_australia_reduce/iy8mpjx/
FuturologyBot t1_iy8ax7b wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>"We are applying 3D printing technologies on aircraft on a large scale at an engineering level, and we are in a world-leading position," Doctor Li Xiaodan, a member of the Luo Yang Youth Commando at Shenyang Aircraft Company's craft research institute, told China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday.
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>This is partially due to a growing demand for planes that has seen traditional manufacturing reach a ceiling in 2013. These new and advanced 3D printing techniques are now enabling the production of new planes with high structural strength, long service life, low cost of production and fast manufacturing.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z7utpw/china_is_now_using_advanced_3dprinting_tech_in/iy86oqh/
FuturologyBot t1_iy81b5h wrote
Reply to How will the space economy alter society? by Gari_305
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:
From the Article
>The potential for innovative space applications is immense, especially if established aerospace companies form partnerships with businesses that traditionally haven’t ventured into orbit. Pharmaceutical companies might establish a lab on a space station to study cell growth, for instance, or semiconductor companies might manufacture chips in extraterrestrial factories to determine whether any aspects of the space environment, such as the lack of gravity, improve the process. Such possibilities, which might have seemed like the stuff of science fiction a few years ago, could become an essential part of a business across multiple industries in the near future.
Which leads to an important question, once the space economy is up and running what would be the implications for us as a species?
Will we eventually have industrial belts in Space?
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z7swo5/how_will_the_space_economy_alter_society/iy7y3ru/
FuturologyBot t1_iy7s0x8 wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/tonymmorley:
Scientists Just Made a Major Stride Toward a Hepatitis C Vaccine, Labs couldn’t figure out the structure of a key part of the virus — until now.
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"The hepatitis c virus, or HCV, causes a chronic liver infection that can lead to permanent liver scarring and, in dire cases, cancer. It affects around 71 million people worldwide and causes approximately 400,000 deaths each year.
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While treatments are available for HCV-related infections, they are expensive, hard to access, and do not protect against reinfection. A vaccine that can help prevent HCV infection is a major unmet medical and public health need."
This article was originally published on "The Conversation" by Lisa Eshun-Wilson and Alba Torrents de la Peña at the Scripps Research Institute. Root Source: "Scientists uncovered the structure of the key protein for a future hepatitis C vaccine – here’s how they did it"
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z7qsuy/scientists_just_made_a_major_stride_toward_a/iy7ptp0/
FuturologyBot t1_iy7fiiv wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/Loki-L:
In theory this is just an extension of stuff already seen elsewhere like self service checkouts and remotely operated checkouts.
However Japanese culture adds another dimension to this.
There is also the fact, that attempts to remote in-person work in stores in places like the US has resulted in the work being done in countries with very low wages for a few cents per hours.
There aren't too many low wage countries full of people who speak Japanese, so these jobs are more likely to stay in Japan. The article mentions making use of workforce that otherwise could not easily work in person due to disabilities etc. It remains to be seen how true that turns out to be.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z7nbcv/japanese_convenience_store_opens_outlet_staffed/iy7dn3d/
FuturologyBot t1_iy5jqph wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/redingerforcongress:
> Rather than getting stuck into real estate, building traditional fuel stations and setting up H2 supply chains, Hyperion has decided to build mobile fuel stops that can be towed wherever you want, and left there for however long makes sense.
> Hyperion sees this as a relatively fast and cheap way to get a fledgling hydrogen fueling network set up with minimal risk and investment. They won't need to buy land or sign long contracts; if they're not getting used, they can be moved somewhere else. It'll be interesting to see how they communicate these moves to customers, assuming they've begun to rely on a given station.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z79qfo/hyperion_plans_to_kickstart_a_h2_fuel_network/iy5faoy/
FuturologyBot t1_iy54bx4 wrote
The following submission statement was provided by /u/__The__Anomaly__:
"Intel technology has created the world’s first real-time deepfake detection software to root out this most-sophisticated of impersonation technologies.
The software uses tiny changes in image pixelation related to the movement of blood through human veins to detect whether a recorded video is real or fake with 96% accuracy.
Called FakeCatcher, it’s the first program that can catch deepfakes in real time, as most other detection apps require uploading videos for analysis, then waiting hours for results. They tend to need large data sets for deep learning programs to pour over."
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/z76u88/a_new_deepfake_detector_claims_96_accuracy_rate/iy4z2wz/
FuturologyBot t1_iywfu5c wrote
Reply to Exoskeletons qualify for direct disability compensation in Germany by isamson
The following submission statement was provided by /u/isamson:
ReWalk Robotics made progress in German courts this week. BARMER announced it would accept a ruling from state courts that made exoskeletons considered eligible for direct disability compensation and withdrew its pending case at the federal level.
BARMER is one of Germany’s largest statutory health insurance providers.
The ruling gives eligible, insured patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) a legal basis to use an exoskeleton as an orthopedic aid for direct disability compensation in Germany.
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/zcgb3q/exoskeletons_qualify_for_direct_disability/iywa9xd/