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Simple, solar-powered water desalination (MIT, 2020)
A completely passive solar-powered desalination system developed by researchers at MIT and in China could provide more than 1.5 gallons of fresh drinking water per hour for every square meter of solar collecting area. Such systems could potentially serve off-grid arid coastal areas to provide an efficient, low-cost water source.
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New drug could cure nearly any viral infection (MIT, 2011)
"Researchers at MIT’s Lincoln Lab have developed DRACO - a technology that may someday cure the common cold, influenza and other ailments. "
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Strong Opinions, Weakly Held — a framework for thinking - by Ameet Ranadive
“I have found that the fastest way to an effective forecast is often through a sequence of lousy forecasts. Instead of withholding judgment until an exhaustive search for data is complete, I will force myself to make a tentative forecast based on the information available, and then systematically tear it apart, using the insights gained to guide my search for further indicators and information. Iterate the process a few times, and it is surprising how quickly one can get to a useful forecast. Allow your intuition to guide you to a conclusion, no matter how imperfect — this is the ‘strong opinion’ part. Then –and this is the ‘weakly held’ part– prove yourself wrong. Engage in creative doubt. Look for information that doesn’t fit, or indicators that pointing in an entirely different direction. Eventually your intuition will kick in and a new hypothesis will emerge out of the rubble, ready to be ruthlessly torn apart once again. You will be surprised by how quickly the sequence of faulty forecasts will deliver you to a useful result.” - Paul Saffo
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ARIES - Artificial Intelligence for Ecosystem Services
ARIES is a networked software technology that redefines ecosystem service assessment and valuation for decision-making. The ARIES approach to mapping natural capital, natural processes, human beneficiaries, and service flows to society is a powerful new way to visualize, value, and manage the ecosystems on which the human economy and well-being depend.
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Growing Neural Cellular Automata - Differentiable Model of Morphogenesis - by Alexander Mordvintsev, Ettore Randazzo, Eyvind Niklasson, Michael Levin
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Nike’s chief design officer on why the company is going all in on sustainability (inputmag)
"This is a fundamental pivot in the way we design and think, from how we source materials to how we make profit." - John Hoke, Nike’s chief design officer
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Chinese government rolls out coronavirus ‘close contact detector’ app (BBC)
The “close contact detector” notifies users if they have had exchanges with any individuals who have been confirmed or suspected of carrying the virus. All users need to do is scan a QR code with an app like Alipay or WeChat. People at risk are then advised to stay at home or inform local health authorities.
#InfoSec #Health #Biology #Biotech #China #Augmentation #Cryptocracy
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John Horton Conway: "On His LOVE/HATE Relationship with LIFE"
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China’s Smartphone Shipments Could Drop 30% in Q1 Due to Coronavirus: IDC
China’s smartphone shipments are likely to suffer a year-on-year drop of more than 30% in the first quarter of 2020 due to the novel coronavirus that has led to the shutdown of countless handset manufacturing plants in the country, according to research firm IDC.
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AI contributes to coronavirus diagnosis (China Daily)
The Mudanyuan station on the Beijing subway's Line 10 uses an artificial intelligence based fever screening system. Developed by Beijing-based Megvii and put into use on Tuesday, it supports non-contact remote temperature screening from a distance of 3 meters. The system's margin of error is within 0.3 degree Celsius and it can send fever alerts for up to 15 people per second.
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How do closed-loop ecosystems recycle waste? – AskNature Nuggets
Found via "Business Models: from Linear to Circular to Regenerative" by Desiree Driesenaar
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Awesome-Threat-Intelligence - A curated list of awesome Threat Intelligence resources.
A concise definition of Threat Intelligence: evidence-based knowledge, including context, mechanisms, indicators, implications and actionable advice, about an existing or emerging menace or hazard to assets that can be used to inform decisions regarding the subject’s response to that menace or hazard.
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Will Quantum Supremacy Start the Modern-Day Industrial Revolution? - talk by Hartmut Neven (Engineering Director at Google) - at Google Zeitgeist 2019
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“Unprecedented” Locust Invasion Approaches Full-Blown Crisis (scientificamerican)
Locust swarms of biblical proportions are threatening crops across a wide swath of Africa and southwest Asia—spurring alarm among top international officials.
Africa’s Worst Locust Plague in Decades Threatens Millions (WSJ)
U.N. sounds alarm as swarms consume crops in five countries and threaten to spread further
“Swarms big as cities”: UN chief says locust fight must intensify (CGTN)
Today locust swarms are as big as major cities and it’s getting worse by the day. There is also a link between climate change and the unprecedented locust crisis plaguing Africa.
UN Calls for International Action on East Africa Locust Outbreak (Bloomberg)
The United Nations secretary general has appealed for “speedy and generous” financial assistance to curb an outbreak of locusts in the eastern African desert.
Spray planes combat the huge locust outbreak in East Africa (AP)
As locusts by the billions descend on parts of Kenya in the worst outbreak in 70 years, small planes are flying low over affected areas to spray pesticides in what experts call the only effective control.
Somalia declares locust outbreak a 'national emergency' (The National AE)
Somalia's Agriculture Ministry on Sunday called the infestation of locusts a national emergency and a major threat to the country's fragile food security situation.
