Category Archives: Transhuman News

"Im not saying there are UFOs but there are UFOs."Swerve!

Tesla recently released the 10th version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software feature, an optional $10,000 add-on that allows its vehicles to take care of a good deal of driving but not all of it, as the name deceptively suggests.

And the feature may have yet another quirky ability hidden up its sleeve, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk suggested on Twitter this week.

FSD 10 predicts height from video pixels directly, without needing to classify groups of pixels into objects, Musk explained in the tweet. In principle, even if a UFO crashed on the road right in front of you, it would still avoid the debris.

Musk also couldnt help himself, donning a tinfoil hat for some tongue-in-cheek humor.

Im not saying there are UFOs but there are UFOs, he wrote in a followup tweet, drawing a hailstorm of sarcastic comments, and theories from the Twittersphere.

Tesla may have made some big advances in its self-driving tech, but the software hasnt always been able to spot the occasional and obvious roadway obstruction. Last month, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a formal investigation into the carmaker over its self-driving feature causing collisions with with emergency response vehicles.

Whether the new FSD beta will solve those issues remains to be seen. The beta is still limited to a restricted number of early testers.

In a tweet last month, Musk claimed that Tesla is aiming for 1000percent safer than the average human driver. But the proof is in the pudding the same goes for the existence of alien UFOs.

More on Musk: Elon Musk Furious at Law That Would Reward Unionized EV Companies

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Elon Musk: Tesla Self-Driving Will Be Able to Dodge UFOs That Crash Into Roadway - Futurism

It involves creating whiter, more reflective clouds. Marine Cloud Brightening

From carbon capture machinesto covering glaciers with giant blankets, theres no shortage of ideas on how to combat the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Now, a team of atmospheric scientists want to create whiter clouds that reflect more sunlight to cool down the Earth.

The project, first spotted byInteresting Engineering, focuses on a theoretical method of geoengineering known as marine cloud brightening. The way it works is fairly straightforward: brighter, white clouds reflect more sunlight away from the planet and back into space so if we can make more, in theory, we can cool down Earth.

With that goal in mind, researchers at the University of Washington, the Palo Alto Research Center, and the Pacific Northwest National Library have teamed up to create an initiative theyre calling the Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) Project. Its an open, international collaboration of atmospheric scientists researching the potential of using marine cloud brightening to help cool down the Earth, according toa University of Washington blog post about the project.

The MCB Project has a three-phase research process focused on developing spray technology to send microscopic particles of seawater into the skies to help brighten low-lying clouds. Each phase will undergo review by independent authorities, according to a fact sheet about the project, to ensure that the tech doesnt inadvertently harm the atmosphere.

If it works, the team believes that cloud brightening could cool the atmosphere enough a substantial increase in atmospheric carbon, potentially buying time to save the planet from climate change.

In all, its an ambitious plan. However, its important to keep in mind that this is a Band-Aid solution at best, and that geoengineering of any type faces a serious uphill battle in the public and scientific communities.

The real solution is probably more along the line of drastically reducing carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels and dont hold your breath.

READ MORE: Ship Tracks Over the Ocean Inspire Researchers For a Way to Cool the Earth [Interesting Engineering]

More on geoengineering: UAE Says Rainstorms Were Caused by Its Cloud Seeding Drones

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Scientists Reveal Plan to Cool the World Through Geoengineering - Futurism

Here's how you can download it and start exploring the universe at home.No Mans Sky

Researchers have created what they say is the largest computer simulation of the universe, and have made the data available for anyone to download for free.

An international team associated with the Center for Computational Astrophysics created the virtual universe using ATERUI II, the worlds most powerful astronomical supercomputer, according to a press release by the organization. Dubbed Uchuu (the Japanese word for outer space), the simulation contains a staggering 2.1 trillion particles spanning 9.6 billion virtual light-years. Thats big. Real big.

Scientists believe that Uchuu is the most realistic simulation of the universe yet, modeling its evolution across more than 13 billion years. Specifically, according to Universe Today astrophysicist Brian Koberleins analysis, the model is specifically tuned to examine how dark matter behaves as the universe expands.

Uchuu is like a time machine: we can go forward, backward and stop in time, we can zoom in on a single galaxy or zoom out to visualize a whole cluster, we can see what is really happening at every instant and in every place of the universe from its earliest days to the present, being an essential tool to study the cosmos, said Julia F. Ereza, a PhD student at the Instituto de Astrofsica de Andaluca in Spain who worked on the research, in the press release.

To create Uchuu, the team used 40,200 computer cores. It took more 20 million computer hours to create the simulation, resulting in a boggling 3,000 terabytes of data. However, they were able to compress it all into a measly 100 TB.

For reference, the largest consumer hard drive you can currently buy is currently hovering around 20 terabytes. If you have the storage space, though, you can access and download the raw data from Uchuu on skiesanduniverses.org and its GitHub page. And if you want to dive even deeper, the team published a paper of their findings the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

READ MORE: Researchers Generated an Entire Virtual Universe, And You Can Even Download It [ScienceAlert]

More on simulations:SpaceX Tourists Mission Simulation Included Life-Threatening Situation

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Scientists Create 3,000 TB Simulation of the Universe You Can Download - Futurism

Its designed for workers to fly around construction sites.Just Add Jets

Engineers in England say theyve developed a jetpack so simplethat anyone can safely fly it with minimal training.

Maverick Aviation says the jetpack can travel up to 30mph, according to a statement obtained by Construction Global. Its designed come with an easy learning curve, and even has an auto-pilot system installed.

What is unique about what were doing is the computer-controlled autopilot system that makes flying effortless and easy to control with precision, co-founder Antony Quinnsaid in the statement. Thats how we have changed jetpacks from exciting to useful.

Whether any of thatll hold up in the real world is far from clear. The company said that it doesnt plan to test fly its jetpack with a human next summer.

Quinn says the jetpack was designed specifically with construction and engineering workers in mind. Its ease-of-use will mean a lower cost of training,he said, so youre going to have all sorts of professionals suddenly able to work in the most inaccessible environments quickly and safely.

I realized that the growing onshore and offshore wind industry really needed a solution like this, he said. Their engineers climb up ladders inside these structures for hours each day and, in an emergency situation, its almost impossible to get down quickly. Drones can be useful for inspections, but in many circumstances, you need to get an engineer up there.

Of course, jetpacks in construction and engineering sites raise a whole host of questions about safety and liability. Jetpacks are notoriously unsafe, which has sandbagged any shot at mainstream adoption for decades.

For one, just because its easy-to-use doesnt necessarily mean its safe. You would also hope that workers undergo rigorous training in order to use them. Thats also especially important when you consider the fact that people have died flying jet packs before (granted, those jet packs were designed for stunt flying).

And, again, the company may be circulating a pompous press release, but the fact is that it hasnt even tested this thing in the real world yet.

READ MORE: Maverick Aviation unveils jetpack for use in construction [Construction Global]

More on jetpacks: A Startup Is Selling Jetpacks to an Undisclosed Military Customer

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Startup Says Anyone New Jetpack Is So Simple That Anyone Can Fly It - Futurism

"It could only be an impact."Bright Flash

Astronomers watching Jupiter got a surprise on Monday when a large unknown object appeared to smash into the gas giant.

At the time, many amateur astronomers were watching an ongoing transit of the shadow of Io, one of Jupiters moons, according to SpaceWeather.com. Suddenly a bright flash of light appeared, German astrophotographer Harald Paleske told the site.

It could only be an impact, he said.

Other astronomers across the world witnessed and captured images of the event as well, which was corroborated by professional astronomers as well.

Paleske told SpaceWeather.com that the fireball was located at 106.9 degrees latitude, and +3.8 degrees longitude. His images indicate that the flash was visible for about two seconds.

The exact origin of the flash and the nature of the object that caused it is still somewhat of a mystery. However, it can be safely assumed that the fireball originated from an asteroid.

Astronomers are now on the lookout for a dark markor other signs of disruption on the gas giants surface telltale signs that an asteroid did indeed collide with Jupiter.

Astronomers are no strangers to witnessing objects colliding with Jupiter in real time.In fact, NASA data analyzed in 2019 suggests that earlier in the solar systems history, Jupiter may have absorbed an entire planet.

One notable example occurred when Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 smashed into Jupiter in July 1994, according to NASA. When that happened, it left a massive trail of debris and dark marks and bolstered a theory that life has been able to thrive on Earth because Jupiter sucks up so many harmful asteroids that would otherwise decimate its surface.

READ MORE: Impact On Jupiter Surprises Skywatchers [EarthSky]

More on Jupiter: Watch the Rare Triple Transit From Jupiters Moons

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Something Big Appears to Have Just Smashed Into Jupiter - Futurism

Reports of a partnership are greatly exaggerated. Fake Press Release

Prices for cryptocurrency Litecoin briefly spiked before crashing back down after a fake press release circulated claiming that said the giant retailer Walmart would be accepting the altcoin.

The press release boasted that Walmart would begin accepting Litecoin as a form of payment from customers, according to CNBC. But Walmart later confirmed that the apparent announcement was fake, adding that the company has contacted the press release distribution service GlobeNewswire to find out how it got posted in the first place.

While the original press release has since been taken down, an archived version of it can be found online. It claimed that Walmart would offer their shoppers [sic] to use Litecoin to benefit from the features of cryptocurrency.

The fake release also included alleged quotes from Walmart CEO Doug McMillon and Litecoin creator Charlie Lee.

As the news of the partnership hit, the price of Litecoin swiftly climbed roughly 20 percent. However, once it was revealed that the press release was fake, prices plummeted back down to Earth. The crypto is currently back around where it started, according to CNBC.

The episode could theoretically have been a mistake a la The New York Times Fields of Watermelons Found On Mars story, but the fake press release seemed too polished for that.

It seems more likely that a bad actor could have distributed the fake press release to momentarily pump prices of Litecoin and then sell them off before the truth came to light. After all, it wouldnt be the first time someone tried to manipulate crypto prices.

READ MORE: Walmart says crypto payments announcement is fake. Litecoin tumbles after spike [CNBC]

More on crypto: Elon Musk Adopts Shiba Inu, Causing Cryptocurrency Mayhem

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Hoax Press Release Claims Walmart Will Accept Litecoin, Causing Spike and Then Crash - Futurism

This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. Here is a collection of past columns.

Im going to pose an intentionally provocative question: What if smartphones are so successful and useful that they are holding back innovation?

Technologists are now imagining what could be the next big thing. But there may never be anything else like the smartphone, the first and perhaps last mass market and globally transformative computer.

I may wind up looking like a 19th-century futurist who couldnt imagine that horses would be replaced by cars. But let me make the case that the phenomenon of the smartphone may never be replicated.

First, when people in technology imagine the future, theyre implicitly betting that smartphones will be displaced as the center of our digital lives by things that are less obvious not slabs that pull us away from our world but technologies that are almost indistinguishable from the air that we breathe.

Virtual reality goggles are bulky annoyances now, but the bet is that tech like V.R. or computers that can learn like people will eventually blur the line between online and real life, and between human and computer, to the point of erasure. Thats the vision behind the metaverse, a broad vision that virtual human interactions will be as complex as the real thing.

Perhaps youre thinking that more immersive and human-ish technologies sound intriguing, or maybe they seem like the woo-woo dreams of kooks. (Or maybe a little of both.) Either way, technologists must prove to us that the future they imagine is more compelling and useful than the digital life that we already have thanks to the magical supercomputers in our pockets.

The challenge for any new technology is that smartphones succeeded to the point where its hard to imagine alternatives. In a sales boom that lasted about a decade, the devices transformed from a novelty for rich nerds to the only computer that billions of people around the world have ever owned. Smartphones have succeeded to the point where we dont need to pay them much notice. (Yes, that includes the incrementally updated iPhone models that Apple talked about on Tuesday.)

The allure of these devices in our lives and in technologists imaginations is so powerful that any new technology now has to exist almost in opposition to the smartphone.

When my colleague Mike Isaac tried Facebooks new model of glasses that can snap photos with a tap on the temple, a company executive said to him: Isnt that better than having to take out your phone and hold it in front of your face every time you want to capture a moment?

I get the executives point. Its true that devices like the Apple Watch, Facebooks glasses and Snaps Spectacles are clever about making features of smartphones less obtrusive. Companies including Facebook, Snap and Apple are also working on eyewear that like the failed Google Glass aims to combine digital information like maps with what we see around us.

The comment also shows that any new consumer technology will have to answer the inevitable questions: Why should I buy another gadget to take photos, flip through cycling directions or play music when I can do most of that with the smartphone thats already in my pocket? Do I need to live in the metaverse when I have a similar experience in the rectangular screen of my phone?

Smartphones are unlikely to be the apotheosis of technology, and I am curious to see the development of technologies that want to move away from them. But at least for now, and maybe forever, most technologies for our daily lives are supplements to our phones rather than replacements. These tiny computers may be so darn handy that there will never be a post-smartphone revolution.

Should you buy a new phone now? In a recent column, my colleague Brian X. Chen walked through the questions to ask if youre thinking about swapping your smartphone for a fresh model: Can you repair what makes your phone annoying rather than replace it? Can you still get software updates with the existing model? How would a new phone change your life?

We wanted flying cars and we got an $850 robot vacuum that steers around dog doo: To build the latest Roomba, the company built over 100 physical models of pet droppings, and trained algorithms on over a hundred thousand images to get the device to avoid crap, The Washington Post writes. Also, the robots collect a lot of data from inside your home. (The Roomba is still confused by black striped carpet, though.)

Its a startlingly dark show, and thats on purpose. This is a thought-provoking essay about a new streaming video series focused on a TikTok-famous family that humanizes the people who are thrust into social media celebrity.

Check out these video clips from a nest of barred owls in Indiana. Baby owls learning to fly really are the cutest things.

We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think of this newsletter and what else youd like us to explore. You can reach us at ontech@nytimes.com.

If you dont already get this newsletter in your inbox, please sign up here. You can also read past On Tech columns.

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Why Smartphones May Be Too Good - The New York Times

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (FF) (NASDAQ: FFIE), a California-based global shared intelligent mobility ecosystem company, today announced that it is partnering with the non-profit organization the Purist Group to support a joint FF Toy Drive which benefits underprivileged and less fortunate children and families in Southern California communities. The Toy Drive will be held in conjunction with the annual FF 919 Futurist Day co-creation festival which will be held at the FF HQ in Los Angeles, Calif. on September 19th.

With the support of key partners like Faraday Future, the Purist Group hopes to deliver as many toys as we can, with the ultimate goal to spread joy and give these kids an early Christmas, said Sean Lee, founder of the Purist Group. We are a collection of enthusiasts brought together by a shared interest in the Southern California car culture and dedicated to building up our community through charity events and volunteer-based service.

FF is partnering with the non-profit organization The Purist Group to support a joint FF Toy Drive which benefits underprivileged and less fortunate children and families in Southern California communities. 919 participants are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to the 919-event valued at $25 or more. All items will be donated to local charities through the Purist Group. As a global company born and rooted in Southern California, FF and the Purist Group are united in supporting the local communities and families.

Participants at the 919 event consist of FF employees and their friends and family members, charity project participants, investors, media, paid reservation holders, and potential users who actively participate in FF co-creation projects. FF offers an unparalleled experience through an interactive exchange between users and the FF products. The 919 event brings that idea to life, with activities from Cars & Coffee to letting kids co-create with FFs top designers and engineers. The FF executive team will update 919 visitors on the latest developments at FF, especially highlighting positive progress on the FF 91 production and delivery targets.

More information about The Purist Group and how to participate in the toy drive can be found at the charitys website, http://www.puristgroup.com and Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/puristgroup (@puristgroup).

A link to the 919 Futurist Day event including how to RSVP can be found here: https://www.ff.com/us/events/919futuristday/.

Users can reserve an FF 91 Futurist model now via the FF intelligent APP or FF.com at: https://www.ff.com/us/reserve.

Download the new FF intelligent APP at: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1454187098 or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faradayfuture.online.

ABOUT FARADAY FUTURE

Established in May 2014, FF is a global shared intelligent mobility ecosystem company, headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Since its inception, FF has implemented numerous innovations relating to its products, technology, business model, profit model, user ecosystem, and governance structure. On July 22, 2021, FF was listed on NASDAQ with the new company name Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc., and the ticker symbols FFIE for its Class A common stock and FFIEW for its warrants. FF aims to perpetually improve the way people move by creating a forward-thinking mobility ecosystem that integrates clean energy, AI, the Internet and new usership models. With the ultimate intelligent techluxury brand positioning, FFs first flagship product FF 91 Futurist is equipped with unbeatable product power. It is not just a high-performance EV, an all-ability car, and an ultimate robotic vehicle, but also the third internet living space.

FOLLOW FARADAY FUTURE:

https://www.ff.com/ http://appdownload.ff.com https://twitter.com/FaradayFuture https://www.facebook.com/faradayfuture/ https://www.instagram.com/faradayfuture/ http://www.linkedin.com/company/faradayfuture

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION

This communication shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words estimates, projected, expects, anticipates, forecasts, plans, intends, believes, seeks, may, will, should, future, propose and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside FFs control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include: FFs ability to execute on its plans to develop and market its vehicles and the timing of these development programs; FFs estimates of the size of the markets for its vehicles; the rate and degree of market acceptance of FFs vehicles; the success of other competing manufacturers; the performance and security of FFs vehicles; potential litigation involving FF; the result of future financing efforts and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for FFs products. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors section of the preliminary registration statement on Form S-1 filed by Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and FF does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Faraday Future (FF) to Partner With Local Group of Automotive Enthusiasts the Purist Group to Support a Joint Toy Drive in Conjunction With the Annual...

SOON, a futures think tank focused on human insights, has launched today tracking trends, developments and disruptions across people, products and the planet.

Led by internationally renowned futurist, social scientist and trend forecaster Sarah Owen (pictured centre) in partnership with TABOO directors Andrew Mackinnon (right) and James Mackinnon (left), the independently Australian-owned futurist company uncovers the cues shaping tomorrow, by following the cultural fringe of today.

SOON has launched to enable organisations, corporations and policymakers to stay ahead of trends and be well positioned for future opportunities. Publishing regular, themed reports, SOON also provides custom solutions for clients with a focus on lifestyle and cultural trends, as well as human behaviours.

As one of the only futurist agencies looking three to five years ahead, its research uncovers actionable information that guides companies through insight and foresight, trend analysis and scenario planning.

SOONs inaugural report Future Forecast 2024 reveals the global drivers of change and the emerging trends transforming how Gen Z and Millennials will approach work, travel, food, gaming and shopping in the future.

Exploring seven key themes Life Wellbeing, Retail Revival, Meta-Worlds, The Age of Awareness, Post-Growth Paradigm, Reworking Work and Revenge Travel it uncovers emerging mindsets and behaviours unfolding over the next few years.

The future forecast takes our highly polarised world into consideration from a youth perspective: from predictions surrounding the Metaverse revolutionising every area of life; psychedelics becoming a seven billion dollar industry; mental health and financial wellbeing forming part of the education curriculum to retail stores of the future becoming community hubs.

Andrew Mackinnon, who brings to the role more than 20 years experience across creative strategy, cultural trends and brand building, said joining forces with Owen has been an eye-opening experience.

Sarah is the best in the business. Its been incredible to see what shes already uncovered in our Future Forecast 2024 report, particularly during a time of constant change and uncertainty. While predicting the future may seem impossible to some, were excited to continue showcasing new methodologies and groundbreaking foresights that will have real commercial benefits for businesses and consumers alike.

Heading up one of Australias leading independent creative agencies, the Mackinnons work at Taboo has been dedicated to tracking cultural trends and executing insight-driven strategies to help brands connect with culture.

Understanding human behaviour and leaning into cultural movements has always been a big part of TABOOs approach. But the pace of change today means businesses must be looking multiple steps ahead in order to stay relevant. Launching SOON felt like the natural next step for us, said James Mackinnon.

With 13 years of experience in youth culture, social media and consumer research, Owens expertise has seen her work throughout the USA, Europe and Australia, where she consulted for multiple Fortune 500 brands including Intel.

As well as holding a masters degree in Sociology, Owen studied Strategic Foresight at the University of Houston.

SOON has already scoped up some radical new and bespoke solutions for clients looking to stay abreast of the cultural fringe, including mapping several of the most innovative retail stores on the planet and allowing it to be experienced in Virtual Reality

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SOON, Think Tank Giving Insights Into Future Trends, Officially Launches - B&T