Technology Update

The development of an invisibility cloak takes another step forward with invisibility in three dimensions:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8574923.stm

Robotics Update

Telerobotics ("avatar" technology) is being developed for use in space:

http://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/3433/avatars-in-space

Alternative Energies Update

A small-scale concentrated solar power system that can be embedded in the walls of a building to provide not just electricity, but also air/water heating and lighting:

http://ecogeek.org/solar-power/3106

Alternative Energies Update

Transonic combustion boosts efficiency of gasoline internal combustion engines by 50%:

http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/3105

Alternative Energies Update

Nanocomposites could increase energy capacity of lithium batteries by five times:

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=223800317

Computing Update

Researchers take an important step forward in developing self-assembling computer chips:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2010/self-assembly-0316.html

Artificial Intelligence Update

Recently developed memristors closely match the function of neurons in the brain:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527515.900-electronics-missing-link-brings-neural-computing-closer.html

Robotics Update

The EU is developing a program to develop robots that can learn from observation to make it easy for non-programmers to teach robots skills:

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-03/12/amarsi-project-could-see-robots-learn-from-co-workers.aspx

Computing Update

Stacking chips into the third dimension should help carry Moore's Law (and the Law of Accelerating Returns) past 2020:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=/news/news_single.html?id%3D11929

Alternative Energies Update

Tiny (9mm), self-contained solar power system developed:

http://ecogeek.org/solar-power/3095

Alternative Energies Update

Google now has a prototype of a lower-cost solar-thermal mirror which could bring energy production costs down cheaper than coal:

http://ecogeek.org/solar-power/3090

Transportation Update

The commercially available jetpack is finally here!

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/09/wheres-my-jetpack-right-here/

and

http://www.gizmag.com/first-commercially-available-jetpack/14423/

"The 200-horsepower, dual-propeller is designed to fly average-sized person for 48 km (30 miles) in 30 minutes on 18 liters (5 gallons) of gas. The newest model can also reach heights of 2,400 meters (about 1.5 miles). Price? $100,000."

I'll hold off until they're tried and true and a lot less expensive...but I want one!

Cybernetics Update

New exoskeleton allows soldiers to carry up to 200 lbs at 10 mph while feeling like he's only carrying an extra 5-10 lbs:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/04/06/hulc-exoskeleton.html

Alternative Energies Update

A prototype catalyst uses solar power to convert three bottles of water into enough energy to power a home for a day:

http://www.physorg.com/news187031401.html

Alternative Energies Update

Flexible, efficient silicon solar cells made with only 1% the amount of material as traditional solar cells:

http://ecogeek.org/solar-power/3074

Alternative Energies Update

A new nanoscale material can act as both body and battery for electric vehicles, cutting almost 1,000 lbs off the weight of a typical EV:

http://ecogeek.org/automobiles/3072

Artificial Intelligence Update

A new computer program is writing music that rivals that by the great composers:

http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture-society/triumph-of-the-cyborg-composer-8507/

Robotics Update

A number of new robot chefs have come on the scene, capable of cooking on different stoves and preparing thousands of recipes:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/dining/24robots.html?ref=technology&pagewanted=all

"The Famen restaurant opened, with two giant yellow robot arms preparing up to 800 bowls of ramen a day. When it’s slow, the robots act out a scripted comedy routine and spar with knives."

Alternative Energies Update

The "Bloom Box" is a new fuel cell that can efficiently convert almost any readily available fuel source into electricity. It's already being tested by a number of large companies, may end up replacing the power grid with individual home fuel cells:

http://www.physorg.com/news186123245.html

Alternative Energies Update

A new Stanford firm is developing nanoparticle coatings to increase the amount of light absorbed by solar cells:

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/24623/?a=f

Computing Update

US broadband speeds and market saturation lags behind many other countries. The FCC is proposing a plan to bring 100 megabits-per-second Internet access to home users by 2020:

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/021610-fccs-100-megabits-to-the.html?page=1

Although Google is looking at an even higher goal of 1 gigabit-per-second.

Medicine Update

Researchers have discovered how to increase telomere lengths, which could lead to rewinding the clock for aging cells:

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24604/

Alternative Energies Update

IBM has developed a method for creating solar cells out of inexpensive materials using an inexpensive manufacturing process:

http://www.physorg.com/news185093054.html

Computing Update

Energy savings and performance are not keeping up with the Law of Accelerating Returns. This could be a big problem for developing the ever-more-powerful computers needed for developing AI. However, low-voltage computing, while still having reliability issues, could reduce energy consumption by 10 to 100 times:

http://www.physorg.com/news185621560.html

Robotics Update

The Cylon robots of SyFy TV series "Caprica" are actually not that far away:

http://singularityhub.com/2010/02/11/technology-from-caprica-series-on-scyfy-is-already-here/

Artificial Intelligence Update

Ten-year "Bluebrain Project" launches to develop a working brain model by 2020:

http://singularityhub.com/2010/02/12/10-year-documentary-to-follow-bluebrain-project-video/

Nanotechnology Update

House representative introduces the Nanotechnology Education Act to ensure secondary and higher education are better able to prepare students for fields related to nanotechnology:

http://www.nanomagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=401:us-congress-introduce-nanotechnology-education-act&catid=38:nano-news&Itemid=85

Alternative Energies Update

Within a few months, DARPA's research will succeed in making jet fuel from algae for the same cost as fossil fuels, and (almost) carbon neutral:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/13/algae-solve-pentagon-fuel-problem

Alternative Energies Update

New materials harvests energy from everyday motions to power small devices:

http://ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527475.500-pliable-power-pack-will-let-gadgets-feed-on-your-body.html

http://www.nanomagazine.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=404:new-fibre-nanogenerators-could-lead-to-electric-clothes&catid=38:nano-news&Itemid=85

Artificial Intelligence Update

Various experts weigh in on the prospectives of when to expect the arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI):

http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/ai/how-long-till-human-level-ai#comment-7212

Most believe it'll occur in the 2020s...or 100+ years from now (or never). I suspect those in the latter category are not taking the Law of Accelerating Returns into account.

Computing Update

Google hopes to have real-time voice recognition and synthetic translation into other languages within a couple years:

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article7017831.ece

Computing Update

Successful manipulation of individual photons signifies major milestone passed in the development of quantum computers:

http://www.physorg.com/news184599445.html

Technology Update

This isn't exactly related to nanotech or the singularity, but it's highly cool nevertheless:

Physicists have discovered how to teleport energy using quantum entanglement:

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24759/

The potential for this is the development of instantaneous communications over vast (even interstellar) distances, bypassing the limitation of the speed of light.

Technology Update

This isn't really specific to nanotech or the singularity, but it's highly cool nevertheless:

Robotics Update

Next robot car race up Pikes Peak will go from the previously sedate 25 mph speeds up to speeds faster than humans would risk, using differential GPS to maintain positional accuracy within 2 cm:

http://www.physorg.com/news184438040.html

Robotics Update

6-legged robot uses a digital circuit that mimics insect brain cells to control movement:

http://www.livescience.com/technology/new-6-legged-robot-walks-by-taming-chaos-100129.html

Computing Update

The US Air Force will be hooking together thousands of PS3 gaming computers to create a highly efficient supercomputer to study how human brains process information:

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/u-s-air-force-building-supercomputer-from-ps3s/1387199

Robotics Update

Robots use predator-prey evolutionary principles to improve their skills:

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-01/robots-display-predator-prey-co-evolution-evolve-better-homing-techniques

Alternative Energies Update

Recent advances in both laser and magnetic research bring nuclear fusion energy generation closer to reality:

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/01/28/nuclear-fusion-power-closer-to-reality-say-two-separate-teams/

In the next year or two, fusion ignition should finally be reached, after 50 years of research:

http://www.physorg.com/news183983627.html

But practical fusion power is still a ways off....

Computing Update

New microscopic laser called a "spaser" (developed from the field of nanoplasmonics) could allow computing using light:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527441.600-spasers-set-to-sum-a-new-dawn-for-optical-computing.html?full=true

Transportation Update

NASA has developed an electric powered personal stealth aircraft called the "Puffin." It's a dual prop plane, barely bigger than the pilot, VTOL-capable, and capable of reaching speeds up to 480 kmh:

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/01/21/nasa-unveils-personal-aircraft/

Be sure to view the video.

Alternative Energies Update

Oerlikon Solar expects to reduce costs of solar power to grid parity by the end of this year:

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/01/oerlikon-solar-promising-30-cost-reduction-in-2010

Robotics Update

Video of various techniques robots are using to climb walls:

http://www.physorg.com/news183100876.html

Computing Update

As we approach the 2D limits of Moore's Law, a new technique allows the continuation of smaller circuits by building in three dimensions:

http://www.physorg.com/news183024614.html

Robotics Update

South Korean researchers have developed a robot that can perform several household tasks, like cleaning, loading clothes in a washer and microwaving food:

http://www.physorg.com/news183022967.html

It's still a few years from mass production...but we're not too far off.

Computing Update

Carbon nanotube transistors now feasible at sizes smaller than silicon:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527435.900-nanotube-transistors-shrink-smaller-than-silicon-size.html

Robotics Update

Robots can now use a simplified central pattern generator to vary its gait on different surfaces based on energy efficiency:

http://www.physorg.com/news182957235.html

Computing Update

DARPA plans to create a cyber warfare simulator to train cyber warriors against hackers:

http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-01/darpa-spends-51-million-matrix-cyber-war-firing-range

Transportation Update

DARPA is developing a flying car for troop transport, as well as a submersible aircraft:

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/49469

Singularity Update

This is a longer interview with Ray Kurzweil about reverse engineering the human brain, and other topics:

http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/ai/ray-kurzweil-h-interview

I'm surprised at how he's made independent observations that parallel my own (such as the problem with most science fiction movies, and that happiness is not the ultimate utopian goal of humanity).

Interesting note: he says we are basically 16 years away (assuming the steady advances in solar tech we've had for the past 20 years continue) from solar power being able to provide 100% of our energy needs.

Nanotechnology Update

How close are we to "real" nanotechnology? This article describes the concepts, with several of the biggest names in the field weighing in:

http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/nano/how-close-are-we-real-nanotechnology

Bottom line? 20-30 years from now.

Artificial Intelligence Update

A new $5 million, 5-year project to develop artificial intelligence takes a different approach:

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/ai-overview-1207.html

Robotics Update

Areas of robotics advancement during 2009:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/24231/

Alternative Energies Update

Energy tech innovations over 2009:

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/24280/?a=f

Cybernetics Update

Machine translates thoughts into actual speech in real time:

http://www.physorg.com/news180620740.html

Technology Update

A new book on DARPA's work discusses its future objectives:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/books/review/Saletan-t.html?_r=1

Technology Update

A list of the 100 best innovations in 2009:

http://www.popsci.com/node/42027

Robotics Update

Videos of the robots of 2009 in action:

http://singularityhub.com/2009/12/22/a-review-of-the-best-robots-of-2009/

Some of these robots are quite impressive!

Alternative Energies Update

Theoretical digital quantum battery could very soon increase power density (the speed at which energy can be stored or released) by orders of magnitude, and the energy density (the amount of energy that can be stored) by two to ten times compared with today's best lithium-ion and other battery technologies:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/24265/?a=f

Alternative Energies Update

The use of "hot electrons" allows the theoretical maximum conversion of solar energy to electricity to be raised from 35% to 67% (by using the energy normally lost to heat):

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/24240/?a=f

Computing Update

Complex integrated circuits successfully constructed from carbon nanotubes will take 10+ years to fully develop, but they will be five times faster than equivalent silicon circuits, scale better, and dissipate heat better:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/24236/?a=f

Robotics Update

For $225,000 you can buy a robot that looks just like you, can talk, and can move its upper body:

http://www.physorg.com/news180018368.html

Predictions Update

A Ray Kurzweil article describing his predictions for the upcoming decade (and beyond):

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/12/13/2009-12-13_top_futurist_ray_kurzweil_predicts_how_technology_will_change_humanity_by_2020.html

"Specifically what can we expect? Solar power on steroids, longer lives, the chance to get rid of obesity once and for all, and portable computing devices that start becoming part of your body rather than being held in your hand."

Artificial Intelligence Update

A new approach to artificial intelligence allows computers to infer meaning through input from multiple sensors, greatly enhancing their ability to make educated inferences about their environment:

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2009-12/10/popeye,-the-robot-with-brains-not-brawn.aspx

Robotics Update

Collision avoidance capabilites added to robots allow them to be both fast and safe:

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/24482/?a=f

Cybernetics Update

The newly developed biometric hand can be controlled by an amputee's thoughts:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10408139-1.html

Nanotechnology Update

Researchers have discovered a way to make the atoms and molecules of peptides "grow" to resemble small forests of grass, which can repel dust and water and thus act as a perfect self-cleaning coating for windows or solar panels which (when dirty, become far less efficient):

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203132159.htm

Artificial Intelligence Update

Advances in reverse-engineering the brain:

http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/ai/race-reverse-engineer-human-brain

"Supercomputer technology appears to be advancing exponentially in accordance with Kurzweil’s “Law of Accelerating Returns.”"

Alternative Energies Update

A great way to store energy generated by windmills during off-peak hours: turn it into ice:

http://ecogeek.org/power-storage/3000

Robotics Update

Artificial skin embedded with optical sensors could help robots develop a more human touch:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427366.700-optical-pressure-sensors-give-robots-the-human-touch.html

Alternative Energies Update

New tandem dye-sensitised solar cells with a three-fold increase in energy conversion efficiency (compared with previously reported tandem dye-sensitised solar cells) have been developed:

http://www.physorg.com/news178889850.html

Robotics Update

A variety of robots displayed at the International Robot Exhibition in Japan:

http://www.popsci.com/technology/gallery/2009-11/gallery-robots-can-do-everything-you

Medicine Update

Atmospheric plasmas can easily kill viruses, bacteria and fungi--even superbugs:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8379604.stm

Alternative Energies Update

New self-assembling, spherical solar cells are capable of capturing more sunlight than flat ones:

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24012/

Cybernetics Update

By 2020 we may be controlling our computers through chips implanted in our brains:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9141180/Intel_Chips_in_brains_will_control_computers_by_2020

Robotics Update

Various types of robots increasingly being developed for and used in surgery:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427351.100-medibots-the-worlds-smallest-surgeons.html?full=true

Alternative Energies Update

A new technique allows carbon dioxide to be turned into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel:

http://www.physorg.com/news178203219.html

Artificial Intelligence Update

A Blue Gene supercomputer simulation exceeds the scale of a cat's cortex:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=/news/news_single.html?id%3D11411

This is disputed by a rival trying to also reverse-engineer the human brain:

http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2009/11/24/24idg-ibm-cat-brain-simulation-dismissed-as-hoax-by-rival-39598.html

Artificial Intelligence Update

It may be possible to generate consciousness with as few as a few thousand nerve cells:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091117124009.htm

Computing Update

The DoE is working to develop a supercomputer 1,000 times more powerful than today's speed leader (Jaguar, at 2.3 petaflops) by 2018:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9140928/Supercomputers_with_100_million_cores_coming_by_2018

Alternative Energies Update

Batteries that harness the decay of radioactive isotopes to produce a low-powered electric current (betavoltaics) promise a 25-year lifespan:

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23959/

Nanotechnology Update

Researchers have combined the self-assembly ability of DNA with the electronic abilities of carbon nanotubes, suggesting a way to develop self-assembling nanoscale circuits:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110112440.htm

Cybernetics Update

New implantable sensor can be powered by a wireless source up to a meter away:

http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/23878/?a=f

Cybernetics Update

Musings on the rapidly arriving enhancements to the human species:

http://www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk/2009-10/v22n1/01.shtml

Cybernetics Update

An update on the SmartHand bionic hand, which is capable of transmitting feeling:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104132708.htm

Nanotechnology Update

Carbon nanotubes, which have so many powerful and unique qualities, can now be processed in bulk for industrial purposes:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102172024.htm

Alternative Energies Update

Japan plans to build a space-based solar power station to beam energy down to Earth by 2030:

http://www.physorg.com/news176879161.html

Transportation Update

Another milestone in the development of a space elevator is reached as a company wins the $900,000 prize for completing a laser-powered climber:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18122-space-elevator-wins-900000-nasa-prize.html

Alternative Energies Update

By wrapping solar cells around an optical fiber, efficiency can be increased six fold:

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23829/

Artificial Intelligence Update

As we learn more and more about the human brain, interpreting neural activity accurately is becoming possible. It's now possible to roughly tell what a person is thinking about and even create a motion picture of what a person is viewing based solely on measuring brain activity (within limits):

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427323.500-brain-scanners-can-tell-what-youre-thinking-about.html

Robotics Update

For anyone who doesn't think functional humanoid robots are only a decade or two away, here's the latest prototype of a bipedal walker ("Petman") from the makers of the four-legged Big Dog:

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/24313/?a=f

(Be sure to play the video.)

Nanotechnology Update

By adding specific molecules, light and heat to nanoparticles, those nanoparticles can be made to self-assemble into a variety of complex structures, something that will make developing nanotech products much easier:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091022164245.htm

Virtual Reality Update

Several videos demonstrating advances in augmented reality:

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/24253/?a=f

Robotics Update

Hydrogen could be used to make robot muscles far quieter than compressed air or electric motors:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20427305.600-hydrogen-muscle-silences-the-domestic-robot.html

Cybernetics Update

Researchers have developed the first bionic hand ("Smart Hand") to not only operate directly from signals from the brain, but also provide tactile feedback so the wearer can feel with the hand:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8313037.stm (watch the video)

This is the first time a bionic limb has approached the functional capabilities of a real hand.

Alternative Energies Update

These are the five top contenders for drastically changing the equation for alternative energy:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703746604574461342682276898.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

(Note the 1,000 megawatts powering 1,000 homes is a mistake; the number of homes powered would be 1,000,000.)

Nanotechnology Update

A breakthrough manufacturing technique now allows diodes to be made much smaller:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013110042.htm

Society Update

David Brin's "Transparent Society" proposed we'll all soon be continuously recording everything in our lives, leading to a complete loss of privacy...but that it could be turned into a good thing. Now a camera is available to record your every waking moment (it's only a still camera now...but the writing is on the wall):

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17992-new-camera-promises-to-capture-your-whole-life.html

Cybernetics Update

Using bacterial flagella to power micro-machines:

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24261/

Robotics Update

New submarine and spider robots have been developed to explore the gastrointestinal system:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8301232.stm