Category Archives: Futurism

"Get the message out that while Meta is the current punching bag, TikTok is the real threat."Low Blow

Looks like Facebook is still super jealous of TikTok, despite re-branding itself as Meta, promoting its metaverse, and losing previous campaigns to take down the newer, short-form video app.

Now, it turns out that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerbergs behemoth company was so jealous of TikToks success with younger audiences that it started paying one of the United States largest consulting firms to wage a media war on the competition, according to a new report published this morning in the Washington Post.

Get the message out that while Meta is the current punching bag, TikTok is the real threat especially as a foreign owned app that is #1 in sharing data that young teens are using, a director at the firm, called Targeted Victory, said in email obtained by WaPo.

One of the main tactics Targeted Victory employed was coordinating letters to the editor across the country that complained about TikToks threat to teens and the influence of its owner, a Chinese company called ByteDance. According to WaPo, staffers at the firm also tried to convince reporters to cover TikTok with a negative angle while sticking to the shadows, remaining hands offfrom the campaign.

Another staffer said it would be a bonus point to distract readers from legislation trying to reform and regulate big tech and social media companies,another of the firms staffers wrote in an email.

Earlier this year, Forbes reported that Facebook knows its losing against the competition. Its wannabe-solution Reels, it released on Instagram as an answer to TikTok, almost certainly wont bring back the millions of users whove made the switch.

The press campaigns were sometimes so bold as to defy comprehension. Remember the Slap a Teacher TikTok challenge that was so widely reported a few months ago? There was no trend, because it was a part of Targeted Victorys plan. The news spread only on Facebook, and VICE revealed that the trend was a hoax back in October of 2021.

A Meta spokesperson toldWaPo that We believe all platforms, including TikTok, should face a level of scrutiny consistent with their growing success.

In the chaotic world of tech, trends come and go. And Facebook cant seem to keep up.

More on metaverse plans: Startup Says Its Tech Can Inflict Actual Pain in the Metaverse

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Facebook Busted Paying Consulting Firm to Turn Users Against TikTok - Futurism

What in god's name is he talking about?Twitter Finger

Guess whos blasting out furious, lengthy tweet threads about international relations and government space agencies again? Why, none other than Dmitry Rogozin, head of the entire Russian space program.

The Roscosmos chief is a fan of sending out threatening and mildly unhinged rants on social media and its usually pretty clear what hes railing about. This last thread, though, is a doozy. So much so, media outlets are split on what he actually means.

I believe that the restoration of normal relations between partners in the International Space Station and other joint projects is possible only with the complete and unconditional lifting of illegal sanctions, Rogozin said online yesterday.

Hes referring to the cooperation of US and Russian astronauts on the ISS, which was set to shut down even before Russia invaded Ukraine and started killing its citizens. The US now finds itself in a tricky position, because we need Russia to power the ISS and Russia needs us equally so.

Sure, Rogozin has threatened to kinda maybe blow the space station up, crush the US with it, and so on and so forth. Thats just Rogozins way, sort of like a certain Twitter-happy president we used to know.

The thing thats tripping outlets up is whether if this time, Rogozin really means it.

Russia to halt cooperation over International Space Station, the Guardian reported in a yesterday.

The pub took Rogozin at his word, reporting that because the US hasnt lifted sanctions on Russia that affect the space program, the Roscosmos chief will follow through on his threats to shut down relations and possibly, operations. ArsTechnica, a more niche science and tech pub, reported the Guardian had it all wrong. Rogozin, would not, in fact, follow through with anything because he wants to keep the ISS aloft until 2030 and hasnt exactly been taking any concrete steps despite being a blowhard for a while. In fact, a US astronaut just flew back to Earth on a Russian craft, and everybody said it was just fine.

We tend to side with ArsTechnica, truth be told. Rogozin has said a lot but done less.

Still, this is Russia were dealing with. The country is raising suspicions its carrying out a genocide, trying to start a world war and has increasingly killed innocent civilians. Its impossible to say what lengths Putin and his cadre would be willing to go to, and a lack of galactic caution could end in disaster for real human astronauts and NASA employees.

We ought to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

More on Roscosmos troubles: Satellite Company Now Launching With SpaceX After Ditching Russia

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Russia's Latest Statement on the Space Station Is So Strange That Experts Are Divided - Futurism

In spite of CEO Elon Musk claiming that Tesla may begin selling its Optimus humanoid robots next year, that timeline nearly impossible.

In a wide ranging interview,Musk granted to Axel Springer CEO Mathias Dpfner, the CEO said, among many other interesting things, that Tesla may be able to start selling the robots by the end of 2023.

I think we will have something pretty good at the prototype level this year, Musk told Dpfner, and it might be ready for at least a moderate volume production towards the end of next year.

The quote spurred an onslaught of credulous headlines. But theres just one problem: as Fortune pointed out, Teslas AI director Andrej Karpathy, whose job currently consists of heading up the companys controversial full self-driving (FSD) efforts, just started a four-month sabbatical.

And even if the company goes full steam ahead without Karpathy, robots are a notoriously difficult engineering challenge. Remember, when Tesla first announced the project, it showed off the robot except that it was just a person wearing a spandex suit.

Further casting doubt on the timeline, its also possible that Karpathy, like some of his predecessors, may be on his way out at the company.

Though Karpathy said on March 27 that hes taking some time off to rest [and] travel after spending five years at Tesla, and is looking forward to getting back to work with the companys robots again when he returns, Fortune notes that his leave is taking place while FSD Version 11 is still in the works a sticking point that some consider a harbinger.

The timing of Karpathys sabbatical, asFortune and some Twitter users have noted, is reminiscent of Doug Fields 2018 exit from the company that came after reports that he was taking a break from his job as Teslas senior vice president of engineering. He subsequently went on to work for a secretive car project at Apple after his break, and then Ford, where he now heads up the electric vehicle division.

Fortune also noted that in another interview, granted around New Years to MIT researcher and podcaster Lex Fridman, Musk seemed to play down Karpathys importance at Tesla, saying that although the AI head is awesome and obviously plays an important role, hes not the only one.

We have a lot of really talented people driving things, Musk told Fridman. People will give me too much credit and theyll give Andrej too much credit.

With all that said and with Musks superhuman ability to push timelines in mind it still seems vanishingly unlikely with Karpathys sabbatical that Tesla will be selling robots by the end of 2023. But then again, stranger things have happened.

READ MORE:Musk wants to start selling Teslas A.I.-powered humanoid robot next year, but his A.I. chief just went on sabbatical [Fortune]

More on Teslabots:Elon Musk Says Tesla Robots Could Achieve AGI

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Sorry, But There's No Way Tesla Is Selling a Humanoid Robot Next Year - Futurism

Musk failed the vibe check.Bad Vibes

Turns out theres at least one thing money cant buy good vibes.

Elon Musk, billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, just failed the most intense vibe check in the world and probably got rejected from the super-exclusive German nightclub Berghain. Yesterday the Twitter-loving mogul said online he refused to enter Bergain, often called the worlds most depraved party, because someone had written peace on the wall.

Yeah, right. Musks follow up explanation was equally unbelievable and we cant help but feel sorry for the guy since people are absolutely roasting him.

According to partygoers whove gotten in, Berghain doesnt care how much money you have or what your name is. Their iconic bouncer Sven looks for outfits, aesthetic and vibes. In a world where, as one YouTuber described it, you can be anyone you want, privacy is of utmost importance. No phones or cameras are allowed but theres plenty of folks walking around on dog leashes and celebrities asking to be urinated on.

Were not sure exactly what Elon was hoping to get into at Berghain. Maybe he just wanted to blow off some steam after a hard days work at the new German Tesla Gigafactory.

Regardless, it didnt work out, and its a reminder that money really cant buy cool points have you seen Musks dance moves?

We know Musk has talked about being lonely before, and thats a normal human emotion. So is the fear of rejection and embarrassment but you wouldnt catch most of us making up the worlds worst excuse for not getting into a club and then tweeting it out for the entire internet to read.

More on Musks escapades: Elon Musk Threatens Vladimir Putin With a Flamethrower

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Yeah, Sure, We Totally Believe Elon Musk Refused [to] Enter Berghain - Futurism

Maurice Wade: Silent LandscapesThe Andy McCluskey CollectionTrent Art, Newcastle

TWENTY-FIVE years before Morrissey, Maurice Wade contemplated the urban cityscape of Stoke on Trent as though every day were like Sunday.

These paintings, silent and grey, are the visual midwife of Morrisseys reactionary miserablism. They render the city as though it were made entirely of ash, and entirely devoid of people. They are painfully beautiful.

In the 1960s and 70s, Wade made at least 350 such paintings in a sustained act of love and aggression towards the city he lived in. All the images were drawn from subjects within walking distance of his own home.

For a working-class artist to make a vision of his neighbourhood was hardly a new phenomenon in the north: before Wades version of Stoke came LS Lowrys version of Pendlebury, Lancashire. The difference is the 30 years that divide them, and the gigantic shift in global perspective of World War II.

Lowrys factories are a 19th-century phenomenon. They contribute to the imperial economy, and Lowrys people (who dont cast shadows, interestingly) are underpaid and oppressed, but employed, busy and full of communal identity.In contrast, Wades potteries, factories and terraced houses are museum pieces, redundant anachronisms in a world whose technological economy has moved on. They existin an existential twilight, however bright the sky.

The combination of a world in shadows and a bright sky is a key motif for Wade.

For Magritte, who invented the motif, the view of buildings at night under a sunny midday sky was a delicious paradox, a mental luxury. His renditions of this effect (he called his own series The Empire of Lights) are like the illustrations of a bizarre fairy tale. You can imagine people inside them: street lights are on and widows are illuminated.

Wade treats this same surrealistic paradox with no trace of playfulness. He eliminates sentimentality, just like he eliminates people. Rather, he brings post-apocalyptic clarity to the environments of working-class life.

Come Armageddon, sings Morrissey. Come come, nuclear bomb. Is it the threat of mutually assured destruction the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis, for example that drains colour, humanity and empathy from Wades vision?

Born in 1917, Wade was the son of a gas fitter. Graduating from art school, he served in the army from 1939-1946 and thereafter was a primary school art teacher. After some success as a painter, eventually he opened his own art gallery and collected the British champions of post-Impressionism, the Futurists Wydham Lewis and the lesser known working-class artist William Roberts.

There is not, it seems, a single photograph of Maurice Wade, and very little biographical information. But the artists he collected are a clue to the context and the decisions that are the genesis of his own vision.

Lewis and Roberts were artists for whom Cezannes post-Impressionist formalism was a doctrine: the reduction of the subject to the geometrical simplicities of cone, cylinder and sphere. They were among the futurists who had taken these tools and used them to celebrate modernity: technology, speed and warfare.

Wade was for sure familiar with the aspiration as well as the tragic destiny of futurism. Yet, after another war, Wade surveys the past, the industrial city, with the tools of yesterdays future.

To re-deploy the analytical method of post-Impressionism was a deliberate strategy. He referred to it as hard formalism with an emphasis on geometrical shapes and sombre-toned colours that to Wade best interpreted the particular character of the situation.

But what situation, exactly?

Politically, the images reflect the absence of ideals. The achievement is a combination of perfection, and futurelessness futurism, but with no optimism and no prospects. It is as though, as a literate and educated artist, Wade had powerful tools of analysis, but in the meantime the subject had died.

This kind of post-war modernist formalism is akin to the drama of Samuel Beckett: it is an endgame, a cul-de-sac. It depicts a dead end, perfected and devoid of meaning.

Wade talks about it in near psychological terms: Over and above the evident stillness, he writes, it is sufficient if one can convey the presence of a human sensibility, a real meaning, a glance.

This human sensibility is his real subject, but what kind of sensibility? Whose is this glance at the world without optimism or sentiment, which has only a perfected play of tones? What kind of human sees a world reduced to shadows?

So antecedent to Morrisseys miserablism comes this very particular northern phenomenon. Its roots lie in post-Impressionism but it has abandoned the future, and it wants no truck with Futurisms revolutionary ambition. Lets call it Depressionism: vision without illusions.

Like Beckett, such art shouldnt be seen as symptomatic of mental illness, but as a kind of medicine, a caustic warning.

The paintings are visual manoeuvres in the dark, and the harbingers of Goth and Doom. And Depressionism, quite rightly, has its champions. These paintings are the property of Andy McCluskey, the 1980s pop star whose masterpiece Enola Gay is a meditation on the intentions of the pilot who dropped the atom bomb.

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Exhibition A painfully beautiful vision without illusions - Morning Star Online

Tourists headed to the International Space Station this month on board a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule as part of Axiom Spaces AX-1 mission are bringing a special scientific experiment with them: a headsettheyll use to map changes in brain activity during spaceflight.

And,to be honest, it looks like a prop straight out of the 1982 sci-fi movie Tron.

The experiment was developed by an aptly named Israel-based startup called brain.space. The headset measures brain activity using electroencephalogram (EEG),the company says, and analyzes it using machine learning.

The company wants to make sense of different human behaviors, for example, mood, cognitive load, fatigue and more, according to its website, by comparing the analyzed data to controlsubjects back on the ground.

The headset will examine day-to-day plastic changes to the brain tissues to study how microgravity affects the structure of the organ, according to the company.

Its not the first time brain activity has been studied in space, but the company claims its the first to utilize high-density dry EEG systems that dont require gel pads to be attached to the participants skull.

It was designed to be the most effective, cheapest, easiest-to-use EEG acquisition headset in the world, brain.space CEO Yair Levy told TechCrunch last month. One headset, for multiple people, that automatically configures itself perfectly to each ones head.

Three of the four AX-1 crew members will spend 15 minutes wearing the headsets twice a day while on board the space station. They will also be asked to complete visual oddball tasks by staring at stimulus presentations to detect abnormal brain dynamics.

But whether the flashy and upgraded gear will lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the brain one of most persistent mysteries in modern science remains to be seen.

READ MORE: This Israeli startups sci-fi headset will map brain changes in space on private Ax-1 mission [Space.com]

More on the mission: First Entirely-Private Mission to Space Station Names Its Crew

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SpaceX Space Tourists Are Bringing a Brain-Reading Helmet to Space This Month - Futurism

If youre looking for the best resin 3D printers, the first thing to know is that 3D printers fall into two basic categories: filament or resin. Filament models are usually considered the best 3D printers for large pieces, but resin 3D printers undeniably have the edge when it comes to precision and detail. Even relatively low-cost resin 3D printers can build stunning pieces for gaming, prototyping, component manufacture, jewelry, etc.

Many of these fascinating machines now fall within the budget of keen hobbyists, and small businesses. However, while extensive choice is never a bad thing, the complex technology and associated jargon can make it difficult to know which is the best resin 3D printer for particular needs. The following article explains the key fundamentals, and offers solutions to suit a variety of users.

Best Overall: ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X Resin 3D Printer Best Budget: VOXELAB Proxima 6.08in 2K Resin 3D Printer Best 2K: ELEGOO Mars 2 Pro Resin 3D Printer Best Resolution: ANYCUBIC Photon Mono X 6K Resin 3D Printer Best Entry-Level Industrial: 3D SYSTEMS FabPro 1000 Resin 3D Printer

The Futurism team has been watching developments in the best 3D printers and the best 3D printing software for some time. While filament 3D printers have tended to grab the headlines, we recently focused on resin 3D printers. When making our top picks we looked for the following attributes:

Brand: Even relatively low-cost resin 3D printers represent a significant investment for many, so to ensure durability we looked for machines from established manufacturers. Although the names may not be familiar to everyone, there are a number of companies that have established reputations for quality and reliability. We also took into account feedback from actual users to assess how these machines perform on a day-to-day basis.

Set up and Use: The resin 3D printers we looked at for this article all fall into the entry-level/small production category so it is likely that many buyers will have little or no knowledge of how they function. Setting up the machine, monitoring, and completing the build are key factors. Each resin 3D printer has its own routine, but we selected those that were as straightforward as possible, as long as it had no adverse impact on performance.

Value: It isnt difficult to spend several thousand dollars on a large resin 3D printer, and the performance of these machines is certainly impressive. However, in order to find machines that appealed to the widest possible group of users we looked for a range of machines across all budgets.

Why It Made The Cut: Anycubic is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of resin 3D printers. The Photon Mono X is capable of producing large-scale models with tremendous detail, and at impressive speed.

Specs: Dimensions: 7.87 inches L x 8.66 inches W x 15.75 inches H Print Volume: 7.55 inches L x 4.72 inches W x 9.84 inches H Resolution: 4K Speed: 60mm/hour (2.36 inches )

Pros: Large print volume Faster than many rivals Renowned quality and reliability

Cons: Platform not easy to clean Complicated WiFi A little pricey

Choosing a single best resin 3D printer to meet all demands is an almost impossible task, but the Anycubic Photon Mono X 4K Resin 3D printer is tough to beat. The comprehensive kit includes everything needed to get started, including rubber gloves, mask, cleaning scrapers, and enough resin for the first couple of prints. A set of printed instructions is included. These are thorough, and component quality is excellent.

Anycubic Photon Mono X offers an impressive print volume, and is surprisingly fast. While this makes it a great choice for large-sale single items, with a little ingenuity at the planning stage it can also produce a number of smaller items in a single print run. This is something other machines struggle with, and can make the Anycubic Photon Mono X a good choice for low volume production work. Resolution is rated as 4K. Anycubics interpretation of 3840 x 2400 pixels is slightly higher than standard, resulting in smoother and more detailed modeling.

That said, any movement during the printing process could spoil the finished item. The Anycubic Photon Mono X has rigid Z-axis (height) control to maximize precision. It also uses a brushed aluminum build platform with good adhesion for greater workpiece stability. Unfortunately the flip side is that the platform is a bit of a pain to clean afterwards.

A free cellphone app is included for remote control, and monitoring of the print process. However, installing the necessary WiFi on the printer can be frustrating, and the app offers no real advantage. Many users dont feel it is worth the effort, and as it has no impact on performance it can safely be ignored.

Why It Made The Cut: The Voxelab Proxima comes from a highly respected manufacturer. It is a reliable introduction for those who are interested in resin 3D printing, but dont want to spend a lot of money.

Specs: Dimensions: 7.87 inches L x 9.05 inches W x 16.14 inches H Print Volume: 5.11 inches L x 3.22 inches W x 6.10 inches H Resolution: 2K Speed: 25mm/hour (1 inch)

Pros: Great introduction to 3D printing Durable Low price

Cons: Modest print volume A little noisy Slow

Voxelab is a subsidiary of Flashforge, a company well known for high-quality filament 3D printers, and professional-grade resin models. The Voxelab Proxima resin 3D printer forms part of their budget range, which is aimed very much at hobbyists. For many it is the best 3D printer for beginners because while fairly basic it is well-made, reliable, and easy to set up and use. It comes fully assembled, and just needs to be leveled before it is ready to print. Gloves and good quality scrapers are included, so they havent cut corners when it comes to accessories.

The Voxelab Proxima resin 3D printer does have a few minor drawbacks, though they are perhaps understandable for the price. The print volume is smaller than many, though still very reasonable. At 25mm per hour, it is one of the slowest resin 3D printers we looked at. The motor is a little noisy. If any of this matters, then potential buyers will need to look elsewhere, and invest more. However, for the money the Voxelab Proxima is a surprisingly good machine, and represents excellent value.

Why It Made The Cut: There are two ways to look at the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro: As an affordable machine for the beginner, or a capable production platform for small items. In either case, it offers great value.

Specs: Dimensions: 22.44 inches L x 11.42 inches W x 11.42 inches H Print Volume: 5.1 inches L x 3.1 inches W x 6.3 inches H Resolution: 2K Speed: 30 50mm/hour (1.18 inches 1.97 inches)

Pros: Sturdy metal construction Simple leveling for rapid setup Carbon filter reduces fumes

Cons: Limited item size Poor test piece Some will want higher resolution

Budget-friendly 2K resin 3D printers like the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro are often seen as the inferior machine. However, while 4K versions do offer higher resolution, the difference may not be important in the finished piece. Although 2K models dont portray the same level of detail, with a well-made machine like the Elegoo there neednt be any loss in dimensional accuracy.

The body of the Elegoo is mostly aluminum, giving it a solid feel. The Z-axis is noted for its quality manufacture, and provides smooth motion. Setup is straightforward, with easy leveling. It comes with all necessary accessories, plus printed and digital instructions. A test print is included, but many experts recommend skipping this. The Elegoo has a substantial, flat base that makes it difficult to remove, so damage to either the piece or the print plate is possible. A model with less contact area is suggested instead, either of the users own design, or one of the many available online.

Apart from this minor inconsistency, the Elegoo Mars 2 Pro is difficult to criticize. A nice extra is the carbon filter that reduces unpleasant fumes. The lid has a silicon rubber seal which makes this particularly effective.

Why It Made The Cut: The Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K uses a proven, high-quality platform, and upgrades it to provide fast, high-resolution resin 3D printing at a very competitive price.

Specs: Dimensions: 18.7 inches H x 11.4 inches W x 10.6 inches D Print Volume: 7.8 inches L x 4.8 inches W x 9.6 inches H Resolution: 6K Speed: 80mm/hour (3.15 inches )

Pros: Capable of incredible detail Large print volume Very fast

Cons: Can be hard to remove items from build plate WiFi overly complicated Expensive for hobbyists

Anycubics impressive 6K resin 3D printer is based on the popular Photon Mono X that we have as our top pick. Its another very well-made machine, and is just as easy to set up. There have also been a number of significant improvements. The headline feature is the 6K resolution that can produce extremely fine detail in all kinds of 3D models. This might be expected to come at the expense of production speed, but in fact the Photon Mono X 6K is faster. Print volume is also slightly larger.

The build plate on the standard Photon Mono X has been criticized for providing too much adherence, and therefore being difficult to clean. The 6K model has a checkered pattern, rather than brushed aluminum, but problems still exist if large, solid bases are built. The 6K machine also uses the same WiFi setup, which is fussy, and many independent testers feel it doesnt add a great deal of value.

A big question for many will be whether the Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K is worth the cost, especially as the standard model is already very good. The 6K version offers tremendous detail, and can build larger models faster. It may not be enough of a difference for many hobbyists, but in a small production environment this could be a key issue. The Anycubic Photon Mono X 6K is also very competitively priced when compared with other 6K machines.

Why It Made The Cut: The 3D Systems FabPro 1000 is designed for the commercial production of jewelry molds, production prototypes, functional components, and orthodontic models that, thanks to specialist resins, can survive real-world handling.

Specs: Dimensions: 16.9 inches L x 16.9 inches W x 24.1 inches H Print Volume: 4.92 inches L x 2.75 inches W x 4.72 inches H Resolution: 65 x 65 x 30 microns (see below) Speed: 21mm/hour (0.83 inches)

Pros: Superb value for money Impressive software Range of specialist resins

Cons: Time-consuming setup Heavy Expensive

At first glance, the specifications for the 3D Systems FabPro 1000 does not look particularly impressive. Print volume is somewhat limited, and it isnt particularly fast. However, this is not a resin 3D printer intended for hobbyists and plastic models. It is a commercial DLP machine aimed at jewelers, orthodontists, engineering companies, etc., that either need to produce high-quality working prototypes, or functional components with high durability.

Much of the FabPro 1000s impressive production capability is due to the specialist resins available for it. FabPro Tough is strong enough for mechanical testing. FabPro JewelCast can create highly-detailed masters from which casts can be created. FabPro NextDent is used for dental applications.

Resolution is given in microns rather than pixels (a micron is 1/25,000 of an inch). Each build layer of a model is just 30 microns thick. For some comparison, the smallest particle the human eye can detect is about 25 microns. The FabPro 1000 can provide very high detail with great repeatability, and can run more or less continuously if required. It also costs a good deal less than similarly specified rivals.

Resin 3D printing is often seen as modern technology, but the use of resin and UV light for modeling has actually been around for 40 years. While many of the principles remain the same, the following elements should be investigated when making your choice.

There are three common types of resin 3D printer (though confusingly 4 terms can be used). They are SLA (stereolithography), DLP (digital light processing), and MSLA (masked stereolithography), which is also called LCD.

In basic terms, a UV resin 3D printer works by projecting ultraviolet light onto liquid resin, which then hardens as a result. Objects are built in a number of layers each one often thinner than a human hair.

SLA is the longest established technology, and still widely used. It uses a laser to form the layer in a number of passes. DLP flashes the whole layer all at once, so generally speaking it is faster. MSLA is similar to DLP, but also uses a mask to filter and shape the projected light. This can lead to greater precision, combined with the speed advantages of DLP. Most of our top picks fall into this category. Technically speaking the SLA laser creates smooth lines, whereas DLP and MSLA use pixels. However, resolution is the key feature here, which we talk about in a moment.

In a production environment the type of resin 3D printer can be significant. However, for the machines covered in this article the differences are often small. Knowing the print speed is probably sufficient.

While early resin 3D printer screens were RGB, the majority are now monochrome. The latter uses a shorter exposure, which speeds up printing, and also uses less power.

The screen also defines the detail possible. Resolution is usually either 2K (2560 x 1440 pixels), 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels) or 6K (6144 x 3160 pixels), though the number of pixels can vary slightly from one machine to another. Each increase in resolution comes at greater cost. However, even the lowest 2K resolution is higher than most filament 3D printers are capable of, so for many that will be enough. That said, 4K has become something of a standard. The difference between 4K and 6K is only likely to be important for users with a need for highly detailed pieces.

A resin 3D printers print volume is the maximum size of object that can be created. This is often given in millimeters (25.4mm = 1 inch). Where quoted, the X and Y dimensions refer to width and depth (front to back) whereas Z refers to height.

Many of the best resin 3D printer makers also offer their own resins, which simplifies choice. However, there are all kinds of resins available, with different characteristics. Some offer increased strength. Some produce a surface that is better for painting. There are metal resins that can withstand temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Resin properties are beyond the scope of this article, but it is an area well worth investigating. Compatibility may impact choice.

Resin objects take time to cure fully. Some of this happens during the production process, but objects may not be entirely cured when completed. Some require additional UV exposure to reach full strength. For some resins, simply leaving the item on a sunny window ledge could be enough. UV lamps or dedicated machines (washing and curing stations) can be used. While this wont directly affect the choice of resin 3D printer, its important to know whether post-processing is necessary in order to ensure component longevity.

A resin 3D printer is a device that uses liquid resin and a UV light source to create 3D models. The variations in processes are discussed above.

Resin 3D printers are good for detailed models and prototypes, with a high-quality surface finish.

How much a good resin 3D printer costs really depends on the size of model and detail required. Entry-level machines can be found for around $200. High-end production equipment can be over $200,000. In our detailed report above we cover models from $200 to $2,000.

The main difference between resin and filament 3D printers is that the former generally provides more detail. Filament 3D printers can be faster (though they have to sacrifice precision), and produce large pieces more economically. Our recent Creality 3D printer review may be of interest.

Ventilation for resin 3D printers is recommended. 3D resin printers should not be used in unventilated living spaces. Some resins are toxic, and while non-toxic 3D resin is available the fumes can be irritating to eyes and airways.

The Anycubic Photon Mono X Resin 3D Printer has several very capable rivals, but none offer the combination of print volume, precision and speed. It will appeal to all kinds of model makers, and those looking for accurate prototypes or low volume production. The Voxelab Proxima is our best budget resin 3D printer. It is an excellent introduction for beginners, allowing them to learn and experiment without major expense.

This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurisms owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

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Best Resin 3D Printers of 2022 - Futurism

What's the government hiding?Top Secret

Name a better duo than the US government and hiding secrets about UFOs. Well wait.

While the Pentagon has in recent years started trickling out documents acknowledging its interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) its rebranded term for good old fashioned UFOs much of it has been redacted due to its sensitive nature. However, what the releases do reveal can be intriguing.

Case in point: The Black Vault, a privately owned database of declassified records, has now acquiredthe classified version of that infamous UFO report that the Director of National Intelligence sent to Congress back in June 2021.

While an enormous amount of the document is redacted, including almost every potentially interesting portion, what we can see is certainly eyebrow-raising. One lengthy redaction concernscommon shapes of UFOs, for instance, and another appears to describe a report of a Navy pilot describing some sort of aerial encounter.

The document also contains numerous instances in which it described the most common shapes of UAP. While the description of the shapes themselves were redacted, even the existence of that section wasnt included in the report originally released to the public last year.

Other sections of the report such as And a Handful of UAP Appear to Demonstrate Advanced Technology and UAP Probably Lack a Single Explanation are also expanded on with the newly released document. The former includes a section, for instance, in which multipleNavy personnel witnessed UAP.

One new account said that a pilot was fighting to keep his aircraft in the airspace, apparently due to high winds, when they witnessed a UAP whose position was unaffected.

The entire document is available for download at The Black Vault. Like we said, its heavily redacted but theres still a lot of intriguing elements in it. Often, what they leave in can tell you a lot about what they leave out.

READ MORE: June 2021 Classified UAP / UFO Report Given to Congress Partially Released [The Black Vault]

More on UFOs: Pentagon Document Tells How to Answer Questions About Extraterrestrial Technology

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US Government Releases Classified UFO Report With Huge, Intriguing Redactions - Futurism

Its possible that an extremely advanced alien civilization has created a transportation network of wormholes around the universe and we might even be able to spot them.

While its certainly a far fetched theory,according to a new piece by BBCScience Focus, it has some scientists intrigued. Take Nagoya University astrophysicist Fumio Abe, who told the publication that we may have even already captured evidence of such a network in existing observations but lost them in the sea of data, leading to the intriguing prospect that reanalyzing old observations could lead to a breakthrough in SETI.

If the wormholes have throat radii between 100 and ten million kilometers, are bound to our Galaxy, and are as common as ordinary stars, detection might be achieved by reanalyzing past data, Abe told Science Focus.

Its an alluring theory,in other words,that suggests one more pathway to figure out once and for all whether humans are alone in the universe.

In simple terms, wormholes are theoretical tunnels with two ends at separate points in time and space. While they dont violate Einsteins general theory of relativity, we still have no idea if they could actually exist, let alone if a sufficiently advanced civilization would be capable of producing them.

For a wormhole to exist, though, it would take astronomical amounts of energy.

Intrinsically unstable, a wormhole would need stuff with repulsive gravity to hold open each mouth, and the energy equivalent to that emitted by an appreciable fraction of the stars in a galaxy, reads Science Focus story. The idea would be that if ETs have created a network of wormholes, it might be detectable by gravitational microlensing.

That technique has been used in the past to detect thousands of distant exoplanetsand stars by detecting how they bend light.Whether it could be used to detect wormholes, to be clear, is an open question.

Fortunately, spotting wormholes isnt our only shot at detecting life elsewhere in the universe. Science Focus also pointed to the search for theoretical megastructures that harness the energy of a star by fully enclosing it, or atmospheric chemicals linked to human pollution, or extremely thin reflective spacecraft called light sails, any of which could theoretically lead us to discover an extraterrestrial civilization.

The concept of wormholes is a tantalizing prospect, especially considering the fact that they could give an alien civilization or even us the ability to travel over vast stretches of space and time.

But for now, unfortunately, theyre not much more than a fun thought experiment.

READ MORE: These 4 signs of alien technology could lead us to extraterrestrial life [Science Focus]

More on wormholes: New Paper Claims That Yes, You Could Climb Through a Wormhole to a Distant Galaxy

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Astrophysicist Says We May Have Already Observed Wormholes Created by Alien Civilization - Futurism

Do androids dream of electric creeps? Freak Show

The nightmare neural networks are back at it again and this time, theyre taking requests.

Ever wanted to know how an artificial intelligence bot would paint Ben Franklin and Sonic the Hedgehog battle rapping over the legality of cocaine, or what it would have looked like had the late, great MF Doom played cards with Gilles Deleuze?

If so, youre in luck. As their handle suggests, Twitter user and generative artist @ai_curio_bot uses neural networks to create gorgeous, trippy works of art. Per the artists other account, @ai_curio, theyve created two bespoke neural networks Looking Glass AI and Zoetrope 5 to generate the phantasmagoric and often-hilarious pieces showcased on their account.

Along with creating the art itself, the latest iteration of the account also allows fans to submit prompts to the artists neural networks, and see what it spits out. Unsurprisingly, the results are insane.

In response to the neon nights wizard gang prompt, the neural networks created a badass-looking collective that look a whole lot like the neon-themed Golums gang who stalked the streets of Gotham in 1997s Batman & Robin

When another user directed the bot to envision a new Shrek poster, it got to work and created a nightmarish work of abstract art that looks more like 2021s The Green Knight than any forthcoming Pixar film.

This impressionistic style of generative art has made leaps and bounds over the past few years since Googles deep dream made those weird bubble-eyed doggo pics ubiquitous, and its so freaking awesome to see the people behind these sorts of accounts not only bringing their own terrifying and whimsical ideas to life, but also allowing fans to get in on the action as well.

The bots submission inbox is backed up, but hopefully it will soon get to our request to see a nightmarishly abstract look at Elon Musk throwing a shoe at Jeff Bezos.

More generative art: Neural Networks Generate Demonic Simpsons Characters Straight From Hell

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Neural Network Twitter Bot Creates Whatever Delights Or Nightmares Its Fans Force Upon It - Futurism