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May 20, 2017
Court Strikes Down FAA’s Drone Registration Rule
Posted by Dan Kummer in categories: drones, security
Despite its Big Brother-ish nature, the rule was ostensibly enacted to improve safety as more and more drones take to the air. In his decision, Judge Kavanaugh noted that although the rule is unlawful, “aviation safety is obviously an important goal, and the Registration Rule may well help further that goal to some degree.”
The FAA said on Friday that it is reviewing the court decision, but did not immediately announce whether it would appeal.
“The FAA put registration and operational regulations in place to ensure that drones are operated in a way that is safe and does not pose security and privacy threats,” the agency said in a statement. “We are in the process of considering our options and response to the decision.”
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May 20, 2017
Riding high: Toyota eyes ‘flying car’ future
Posted by Dan Kummer in categories: drones, futurism
Toyota has its sights set on a Blade Runner future as the Japanese automaker backs a move to launch a flying car in time for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The company is giving about 42.5 million yen ($375,000) to the Cartivator project, which is developing the three-wheeled sci-fi car that relies on drone technology to take flight.
The manned vehicle, dubbed SkyDrive, will have four sets of propellors and — at 2.9 metres (9.5 foot) long and 1.3 metres wide — is aiming to be the world’s smallest flying car, according to the project.
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May 20, 2017
Plasma jet engine breakthrough heralds beginning of new era in space travel
Posted by Carse Peel in categories: innovation, space travel
A major new breakthrough in jet propulsion technology could revolutionize the aerospace industry, paving the way for plasma jet engines that could carry a craft to the edge of space using only air and electricity.
Berkant Göksel, the lead researcher in a new study by the Technical University of Berlin, says his team have successfully completed tests on plasma engines that could take future aircrafts to altitudes of 30 miles (50km) and beyond.
May 20, 2017
Join me today at Moogfest from 4:30PM to 6PM at Carolina Theatre, Cinema 1, 309 W Morgan St, Durham, NC 27701
Posted by Zoltan Istvan in categories: life extension, transhumanism
I’m talking #transhumanism, liberty, the Immortality Bus, politics, and overcoming death w/ science. I’ll be making a tribute to my recently deceased father too. There will be a Q & A after. http://sched.co/AGbE & https://moogfest2017.sched.com/artist/info6094
May 20, 2017
Volvo’s Self-Driving Garbage Truck Wants Your Trash
Posted by Dan Kummer in categories: robotics/AI, transportation
The truck also offers “major environmental upsides,” Volvo said, since “gear changing, steering and speed are constantly optimized for low fuel consumption and emissions.”
Volvo plans to test the autonomous truck with Renova through the end of the year.
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May 20, 2017
Researchers design moisture-responsive workout suit
Posted by Klaus Baldauf in category: futurism
No sweat: MIT researchers have designed bioLogic, moisture-responsive activewear — a workout suit and running shoe — with ventilating flaps lined with humidity-sensing cells. The flaps open and close in response to an athlete’s sweating.
May 20, 2017
Bitcoin closes in on (US) $2000; Why it matters
Posted by Philip Raymond in categories: bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, economics, finance, government
At the beginning of 2016, Bitcoin was fairly steady at $430. Richelle Ross predicted that it would finish the year at $650. She would have been right, if the year had ended in November. During 2016, Bitcoin’s US dollar exchange rose from $433 to $1000. In the past 2 months (March 24~May 20, 2017), Bitcoin has tacked on 114%, rising from $936 to $2000. [continue below image]…
If this were stock in a corporation, I would recommend liquidating or cutting back on holdings. But the value of Bitcoin is not tied to the future earnings or property value of an organization. In this case, supply demand is fueled—in part—by speculation. Yes, of course. But, it is also fueled by a two-sided network built on the growing base of utilitarian adoption. And not just an adoption fad, but adoption that mirrors the shift in our very understanding of bookkeeping, trust and transparency.
Despite problems of growth, governance and regulation, Bitcoin is more clearly taking its place as the future of money. Even if it never becomes “legal tender” in any country—and is used only as a mechanism of payments and settlement, it is still woefully undervalued. $2000 is not an end-game. It is a beginning.
Philip Raymond co-chairs Crypsa & The Bitcoin Event. He is columnist & board member at Lifeboat Foundation,
editor at WildDuck and is delivering the keynote address at the 2017 Digital Currency Summit in Johannesburg.
May 20, 2017
Intel’s Next CPUs Have 100 Million Transistors Per Square Millimeter: A Generation Ahead Of AMD?
Posted by Shailesh Prasad in category: computing
Moore’s Law is alive and ahead of schedule.
Intel claims Moore’s Law is alive and well and that it’s a generation ahead of the competition.
May 19, 2017
Arctic stronghold of world’s seeds flooded after permafrost melts
Posted by Brett Gallie II in categories: climatology, sustainability
No seeds were lost but the ability of the rock vault to provide failsafe protection against all disasters is now threatened by climate change.