“The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.”–Neil DeGrasse Tyson
“This is the way the world ends. With a whimper, not a bang.”–TS Eliot
NDT is absolutley correct, but TS Eliot? Maybe not so much. The latest theory of how the universe will end is most decidedly with a bang: a second big bang, to be precise. But it’s probably a few trillion years in the future–assuming the math is correct.
While you’re reading about all this week’s future-related news, don’t forget that you can subscribe to Seeking Delphi™ podcasts on iTunes, PlayerFM, or YouTube (audio with slide show) and you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook
Cosmology–According to a new Harvard study, the universe might end with a second big bang, caused by changes to the Higgs Boson. While the process may have already begun in some distant galaxy, it’s most likely to occur trillions of years in the future. So return those overdue library books now.
–While the universe is still here, a team based at Plymouth University in the UK has published a study suggesting artificial intelligence can be use to predict the likelihood of life on other planets.
Credit: USC
Transhumanism–A DARPA-funded prosthetic memory system has shown significant efficacy. Researchers at Wake Forrest and USC report a 35%+ imrovement in memory by writing codes directly into the hippocampus of subjects.
Future of Work–A new OECD report projects that job losses from automation and robotics in coming years may not be a severe as some are projecting. Just 14% of jobs are at high risk of automation in OECD countries, they say, versus the 47% risk cited in an Oxford University study.
Quantum Computing–IBM announced a new initiative to work with several startup companies to further develop applications for quantum computing. One of the companies is Strangeworks, started by whurley, and briefly discussed in the Seeking Delphi™ podcast, with You Tube link below.
whurley on Quantum Computing and Strangeworks
Aerospace–NASA awarded a contract to Lockheed-Martin to build its first supersonic X-plane slated for test flights by 2021. The craft is designed to break the sound barrier over land, without blasting the ground with sonic booms.
3D printed bridge or robot pasta?
3D Printing–Dutch company MX3D is creating a fully funcional 3D printed stainless steel bridge to cross one of Amsterdam’s canals. It looks eerie, to say the least.
You can subscribe to Seeking Delphi™ podcasts on iTunes, PlayerFM, or YouTube (audio with slide show) and you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook
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