Engineers more than double data transmission capacity over fiber-optic cables

http://www.kurzweilai.net/engineers-more-than-double-data-transmission-capacity-over-fiber-optic-cables?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f0426ca9bd-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-f0426ca9bd-281903081

Autonomous cars and man's future

A nicely detailed assessment of the impact of our driverless future:

http://factor-tech.com/feature/autonomous-cars-and-mans-future-the-road-ahead/

‘Renewables Are Cheapest Energy Option’ When Fossil Fuel Subsidies Are Removed

http://ecowatch.com/2015/06/27/renewables-are-cheapest/

D-Wave Systems breaks the 1000 qubit quantum computing barrier

I have no idea if this is really groundbreaking or amazing, but it sounds like it is:

http://kurzweilai.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aad1a7eea269839c7d10845e8&id=8ffcd82815&e=b5efa4426b

A Google self-driving car cut off a rival self-driving car while driving in California

:-)

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-two-rival-self-driving-cars-have-close-call-in-california-2015-6?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

Still was safe!

Making trucks more efficient isn't all that hard to do

http://www.wired.com/2015/06/making-trucks-efficient-isnt-actually-hard/

New manufacturing process cuts lithium-ion battery cost in half

http://www.kurzweilai.net/new-manufacturing-process-cuts-lithium-ion-battery-cost-in-half?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8db8d69024-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-8db8d69024-281903081

7 Ways These Rolling Robots With Screens Could Change Our Lives

The next step after videoconferencing:

http://time.com/3923648/rolling-robot-screen-beam/

What's next? Perhaps offices populated by android drones with full human motion capability becoming commonplace, eliminating a lot of commuting need.

Should You Put Solar Panels On Your House?

http://time.com/3933638/solar-panels-house/

Single-catalyst water splitter from Stanford produces clean-burning hydrogen 24/7

Use excess solar power to generate hydrogen during the day, and use the hydrogen for power at night:

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2015/june/water-splitter-catalyst-062315.html

The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change Forever

According to this, we're still screwed as far as global warming is concerned. However, it doesn't take into account the potentials of nanotech:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-23/the-way-humans-get-electricity-is-about-to-change-forever?cmpid=yhoo

The story of the invention that could revolutionize batteries

A very promising-sounding process:

http://qz.com/433131/the-story-of-the-invention-that-could-revolutionize-batteries-and-maybe-american-manufacturing-as-well/

Interview with the director of "Capture the Sun" documentary on solar power

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/21/the_energy_revolution_that_has_1_percenters_shaking_in_their_boots/

First UK user receives world’s most lifelike bionic hand

They're getting more and more realistic!

http://rslsteeper.com/news/first_uk_user_receives_worlds_most_lifelike_bionic_hand

Do black holes create a hologram copy of anything that touches it?

Your physics weirdness for the day:

https://news.osu.edu/news/2015/06/16/%E2%80%8Bfuzzyhologram/

Could hemp nanosheets topple graphene for making the ideal supercapacitor?

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2014/august/could-hemp-nanosheets-topple-graphene-for-making-the-ideal-supercapacitor.html

3D Printing Is About To Change The World Forever

Very encouraging!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ricksmith/2015/06/15/3d-printing-is-about-to-change-the-world-forever/

Elon Musk building a SolarCity plant in Buffalo, NY

Niiiiice:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musks-biggest-challenge-yet-143000250.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Tipping Point in Transit

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/bits/2015/06/10/tipping-point-in-transit/?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003&_r=0&referrer=

Injectable device delivers nano-view of the brain

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/06/injectable-electronics-promise-sharper-view-of-brain/

A major advance in ultra-high-speed, all-optical data transmission

http://www1.lehigh.edu/news/crossing-critical-threshold

10 Post-Human Entities Who Could Inherit The Earth

http://listverse.com/2015/06/10/10-post-human-entities-who-could-inherit-the-earth/

Residential solar installs post largest quarterly growth ever

http://www.cio.com/article/2933337/energy-efficiency/residential-solar-installs-post-largest-quarterly-growth-ever.html

Here's what it would take for the US to run on 100% renewable energy

Big tax incentives could make this move along more rapidly, as will improving technology:

http://www.vox.com/2015/6/9/8748081/us-100-percent-renewable-energy

The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Continent; Europe's Import Tariffs On Chinese Solar Cells

Arguably more suitable as a political post, but it's the argument for buying cheap solar, whatever the source, that intrigues me:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/06/07/the-lunatics-have-taken-over-the-continent-europes-import-tariffs-on-chinese-solar-cells/

Why The Military Will Drive Energy Innovation to a New Level

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/06/07/why-the-military-will-drive-energy-innovation-to-a.aspx

'Sunshine State' or not, Florida badly behind on solar power

http://news.yahoo.com/sunshine-state-not-florida-badly-behind-solar-power-153940047.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Stanford engineers' breakthrough heralds super-efficient light-based computers

http://engineering.stanford.edu/news/stanford-engineers-breakthrough-heralds-super-efficient-light-based-computers

Korean Robot Takes Home $2M Prize in DARPA Challenge

http://news.yahoo.com/korean-robot-takes-home-2m-prize-darpa-challenge-122922371.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Self-driving cars: Forecasts, tech timelines, and the benefits and barriers that will impact adoption

http://www.businessinsider.com/report-10-million-self-driving-cars-will-be-on-the-road-by-2020-2015-05?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=taboola&utm_campaign=taboolaMain&utm_term=dailykos&IR=T

Another promising approach to fusion power

http://news.sciencemag.org/physics/2015/06/mystery-company-blazes-trail-fusion-energy

DARPA laser research boosts airborne death rays, tiny laser scanners

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/05/darpa-laser-research-boosts-airborne-death-rays-tiny-laser-scanners/

Simple, inexpensive, unobtrusive way to make batteries last 8x longer

Rather amazing!

https://www.yahoo.com/makers/no-joke-new-2-50-gadget-makes-batteries-last-8-120545843275.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Worldwide Apollo Plan to be launched for alternative energy development

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/apollo-plan-cheaper-green-energy-230256088.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Fab plants are now making superfast carbon nanotube memory

Very cool, and imminent:

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2929471/emerging-technology/fab-plants-are-now-making-superfast-carbon-nanotube-memory.html

Military technology: Laser weapons get real

Enjoy the tech boner! I love that they're applying sounds from SF movies:

http://www.nature.com/news/military-technology-laser-weapons-get-real-1.17613

Robots that can adapt like animals

Watch the videos:

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v521/n7553/full/nature14422.html#videos

Can Cigarettes Beat Tesla At The Energy Storage Game?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cigarettes-beat-tesla-energy-storage-171914656.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

MIT's Robot Cheetah Now Jumps While Running, So Walls Won't Protect You

http://gizmodo.com/mits-robot-cheetah-can-now-run-and-jump-so-walls-wont-1707536079

One possible route after Moore's law expires

http://www.kurzweilai.net/one-step-closer-to-a-single-molecule-device?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2281636df2-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-2281636df2-281903081

Fly-catching robot speeds biomedical research

Hints of the speed of robot chores to come:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/fly-catching-robot-speeds-biomedical-research?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=2281636df2-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-2281636df2-281903081

New technology could fundamentally change future wireless communications

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2015/may/full-duplex-transceiver.html

This Robot Learned to Make a Salad by Watching YouTube

http://time.chtah.net/a/tBVYG8QBASRffB84oq1BRdX1Pon/time5

New neuroprosthetic implant captures intent to move, not the movement directly

http://www.kurzweilai.net/robotic-arm-precisely-controlled-by-thought?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=99386eaabc-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-99386eaabc-281903081

New ‘deep learning’ technique enables robot mastery of skills via trial and error

http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2015/05/21/deep-learning-robot-masters-skills-via-trial-and-error/

It's interesting how the process is more like how a human fumbles with something than the precision we associate with robots.

A concept for a thermal space solar power satellite

Too vulnerable to terrorism and space debris, I think, but an interesting addition to the options for replacing fossil fuels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-Lrj35HcbQ&feature=youtu.be

Scientists say they’ll soon extend life ‘well beyond 120’

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/11/-sp-live-forever-extend-life-calico-google-longevity

The real reason we don't yet have nuclear fusion

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-dont-we-have-nuclear-fusion-yet-2015-5

Wind turbines are huge, but they’re about to get way, way bigger

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/05/19/why-the-u-s-needs-to-build-taller-wind-turbines/

A brilliant table-shaped air conditioner that uses no electricity

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/goodbye-clunky-air-conditioner-kitchen-153406687.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Google plans to test its new self-driving vehicle prototypes on Mt. View roads

That's just 15 minutes from here.

http://www.kurzweilai.net/google-plans-to-test-its-new-self-driving-vehicle-prototypes-on-mt-view-roads?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=3b57d96e0b-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-3b57d96e0b-281903081

New panels could have a 34% energy conversion rate

A potential big game changer!

http://fortune.com/2015/05/18/solar-power-ripasso/?xid=yahoo_fortune

7 Top Futurists Make Some Pretty Surprising Predictions About What The Next Decade Will Bring

Some interesting, some massively boring:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/12/futurists-next-10-years_n_7241210.html

Nanowires and bacteria harnessed for artificial photosynthesis

http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=6567

System designed to label visual scenes according to type turns out to detect particular objects, too

http://newsoffice.mit.edu/2015/visual-scenes-object-recognition-0508

The most fascinating section to me:

“Deep learning works very well, but it’s very hard to understand why it works — what is the internal representation that the network is building,” says Antonio Torralba, an associate professor of computer science and engineering at MIT and a senior author on the new paper. “It could be that the representations for scenes are parts of scenes that don’t make any sense, like corners or pieces of objects. But it could be that it’s objects: To know that something is a bedroom, you need to see the bed; to know that something is a conference room, you need to see a table and chairs. That’s what we found, that the network is really finding these objects.”

I suspect the road to full general A.I. will be littered with many such "we don't know how it's doing this" sentiments.

Scientist develops exotic ceramic that will significantly save fuel

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stubborn-ge-scientist-creates-fuel-183941024.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Closed Hayward dump will be transformed into solar farm

This is my neighborhood:

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Closed-Hayward-dump-will-be-transformed-into-6261855.php

Solar power is booming. But is it booming fast enough?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy/2015/0505/Solar-power-is-booming.-But-is-it-booming-fast-enough

We can only hope that as prices drop, people will demand it faster and faster until there's simply no upside to fossil fuel plants.

Hawaii hopes to be completely powered by renewable energy by 2045

http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2015/0512/Hawaii-hopes-to-be-completely-powered-by-renewable-energy-by-2045

Fun facts about the Tesla Model-S

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla_model_s

Google Blames Humans for Accidents Involving Its Self-Driving Cars

http://time.com/3854528/google-self-driving-cars-accidents/?xid=newsletter-brief

Over 700 thousand driverless test miles in California and Nevada, and 1.7 million total miles so far, with only 11 minor accidents, apparently all caused by human error. Not bad. Now if they can just make the price of a robot car affordable to all....

Can Elon Musk's battery really cut your power lines?

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2918235/sustainable-it/can-elon-musks-battery-really-cut-your-power-lines.html

I like the comparisons Elon gives.

This is the first road-legal big rig that can drive itself

http://www.theverge.com/2015/5/6/8556791/self-driving-semi-big-rig-freightliner-inspiration-truck

MIT says solar power fields with trillions of watts of capacity are on the way

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2919134/sustainable-it/mit-says-solar-power-fields-with-trillions-of-watts-of-capacity-are-on-the-way.html

The Internet of Everything: Boring, But So Important

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-m-eger/the-internet-of-everything-boring-but-so-important_b_7193622.html?utm_hp_ref=technology&ir=Technology

Why Tesla’s announcement is such a big deal: The coming revolution in energy storage

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/30/why-teslas-announcement-could-be-such-a-big-deal/

Another approach to curing Alzheimer's

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-30/do-we-all-have-alzhemers-completely-wrong-man-says-yes

Quantum Computers Will Make Your Laptop Look Like an Abacus

http://www.newsweek.com/quantum-computers-will-make-your-laptop-look-abacus-327676

Today’s billionaires believe they can defy death through technology

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2015/04/04/tech-titans-latest-project-defy-death/

Genetic breakthrough may halt and even reverse the aging process

Game changer?

http://m.digitaljournal.com/science/genetic-breakthrough-may-halt-and-even-reverse-the-aging-process/article/432313

Scientists Achieve Critical Steps to Building First Practical Quantum Computer

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/46725.wss#release

Artificial photosynthesis could help make fuels, plastics and medicine

http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2015/acs-presspac-april-29-2015/artificial-photosynthesis-could-help-make-fuels-plastics-and-medicine.html?

Tesla Unveils Powerwall Battery For Homes, Powerpacks For Businesses And Cities

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/30/tesla-powerwall-battery_n_7186534.html?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

DORA offers a realistic telepresence experience through Oculus Rift

http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/29/dora-oculus-rift-telepresence/

DARPA's steerable bullet proves it can hit moving targets

This could be a game-changer for soldiers and police (yikes!), but if terrorists got hold of it...

http://www.engadget.com/2015/04/27/darpas-steerable-bullet-proves-it-can-hit-moving-targets/

Still, very cool!

The advantages of solar over other energy sources

http://www.vox.com/2015/4/28/8506953/solar-photovoltaic-future

Audi Just Invented Fuel Made From CO₂ and Water

I'd much prefer to go with the smoothness and quietness and instant torque of electric engines, but this could be a viable source for existing ICE cars. I wonder how cost-effective this is? Could the high heat part of the production be cost prohibitive?

http://time.com/3837814/audi-environmental-protection-green-energy-climate-change-cars/?xid=newsletter-brief

Solar power is shaking up global energy

http://news.yahoo.com/shale-oil-solar-power-shaking-global-energy-010214565.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Tiny robots pull objects up to 2,000 times their own weight

http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/27/8502421/robots-pull-100-times-their-own-weight

A way to (potentially) massively increase data speeds

This could be a huge game-changer:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/novel-polarization-forms-designed-to-radically-increase-data-speeds?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ce4f2faa4a-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-ce4f2faa4a-281903081

NASA's Bold New NExSS Initiative Will Search For Signs Of Life On Other Planets

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/23/nasa-nexss-search-for-life_n_7123788.html?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

Liquid Batteries for Solar and Wind Power

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/business/energy-environment/liquid-batteries-for-solar-and-wind-power.html?_r=1#story-continues-1

New WiFi system uses LED lights to boost bandwidth tenfold

http://www.kurzweilai.net/new-wi-fi-system-uses-led-lights-to-boost-bandwidth-tenfold?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b1c812c6ee-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-b1c812c6ee-281903081

A Diet Might Cut the Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s

http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-diet-might-cut-the-risk-of-developing-alzheimers-1429569168?mod=trending_now_1&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003
One odd thing, though:

"The study compared the so-called MIND diet with the popular, heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet, which is intended to help control high blood pressure. The MIND diet borrows significantly from the other two, and all are largely plant-based and low in high-fat foods. But the MIND diet places particular emphasis on eating “brain-healthy” foods such as green leafy vegetables and berries, among other recommendations.

The study, conducted by researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, found strict adherence to any of the three diets lessened the chances of getting Alzheimer’s. But only the MIND diet seemed to help counter the disease even when people followed only some of the diet’s recommendations."

If the MIND diet is largely based on the other two diets, and only following some of the MIND diet's recommendations is still effective...doesn't it follow that the other diets would show the same effect?

New electric aircraft motor is five times more powerful than comparable powerplants

http://www.gizmag.com/siemens-world-record-electric-motor-aircraft/37048/

I wonder if this could be applied equally to ground vehicles?

Boosting creativity with electrical brain stimulation

The effects appear rather significant. I wonder what it would do to someone already highly creative?

http://www.kurzweilai.net/alpha-rhythm-brain-stimulation-shown-to-boost-creativity?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ac3411d781-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-ac3411d781-281903081

Scientists may have found potential cause of the Alzheimer's

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/alzheimers-breakthrough-scientists-may-have-found-potential-cause-of-the-disease-in-the-behaviour-of-immune-cells--giving-new-hope-to-millions-10176652.html

Fossil Fuels Just Lost the Race Against Renewables

Nice to see this turning point!

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fossil-fuels-just-lost-race-202723383.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

The $5 Billion Race to Build a Better Battery

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-14/gates-pritzkers-take-on-musk-in-5-billion-race-for-new-battery

More industry leaders wary of artificial intelligence

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244236

The Cubic robot personal assistant

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242431

Sounds great, but it took all of ten seconds before I started referring to it as "pubic."

Germany Proves Life With Less Fossil Fuel Is Getting Easier

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/germany-proves-life-less-fossil-103537156.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

Giving robots and prostheses the human touch

http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/robotictouch.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_51

Artificial hand able to respond sensitively thanks to muscles made from smart metal wires

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-03/su-aha032415.php

U.S. Department of Energy Awards $200 Million for Next-Generation Supercomputer

http://energy.gov/articles/us-department-energy-awards-200-million-next-generation-supercomputer-argonne-national

Future Electronics Based on Carbon Nanotubes

https://publishing.aip.org/publishing/journal-highlights/future-electronics-based-carbon-nanotubes

With geomagnetic compass hooked to the brain, blind rats act like they can see

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-04/cp-wgc032615.php

Ratchet boots make walking 7% easier

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32152602

A hyperspectral smartphone-based Star Trek ‘tricorder’

Way cool. See the video (2nd half of it):

http://www.kurzweilai.net/a-hyperspectral-smartphone-based-star-trek-tricorder?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=08edb89f6f-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-08edb89f6f-281903081

Delphi completes first coast-to-coast automated drive

http://www.kurzweilai.net/delphi-completes-first-coast-to-coast-automated-drive?utm_source=KurzweilAI+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6c982b3d5b-UA-946742-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6de721fb33-6c982b3d5b-281903081