Did you know that Buzz Lightyear has really been to space? Most of the more than 100 space trips have included an odd item or two on board. Read to find out more about the interesting, and sometimes wacky, items that have traveled to space.
Tag Archives: Technology
Harnessing the Military Power of Animal Intelligence
In the 1990s, the U.S. Navy revealed that sea lions and dolphins were being used to find and retrieve valuable equipment from the sea floor. These animals are also being trained to help clear mines and to protect our harbors. Read to learn about the secret uses of marine mammals!
‘We Are All Accumulating Mountains of Things’
Online shopping can be a convenience. Yet the ease of buying online might also contribute to hoarding disorder and overspending. Review the research in this article to find out more.
Hollywood Writers Reached an A.I. Deal That Will Rewrite History
The Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) went on strike for 148 days this summer, demanding that studios put guardrails around AI’s encroachment on their work. The effects of their new contract will echo in industries far beyond Hollywood.
What is the Future of Communication?
There was a time when there was no written language and almost all communication was spoken. Even when language evolved, it was often written on stone and not very portable until the invention of paper. History is full of such advances. Even the now ubiquitous smartphone was thought to be science fiction just a couple of decades ago. But have you ever asked yourself what advances may come next?
Harvard Professor Believes He’s Found Fragments of Alien Technology
Small objects sometimes lead to big discoveries. Learn how tiny, metallic spheres might point to alien technology in this short video clip.
Online social change: Easy to organize, hard to win
Author Zeynep Tufekci looks around the world at how social media can both power freedom movements and weaken them.
Dark patterns, the tricks websites use to make you say yes, explained
With the advent of more “personalized” ad experiences and the increasing value of personal data, companies have dirty tricks up their sleeves to manipulate users.
NASA announces crew for first trip back to the moon in over 50 years
It’s been over half a century since NASA last sent astronauts to the moon, and this crew of brave men and women is the first of its kind.
Great Accidental Discoveries
While hard work is a good path to success, there is another route that some people have followed: the simple accident. Some of the world’s biggest discoveries and inventions have happened by accident. And yet, to see a mistake and not think of it as a failure, but rather as a new and unexpected form of success, takes a special kind of industrious mindset.
UN Says AI Poses ‘Serious Risk’ For Human Rights
Could artificial intelligence open the door to the loss of human rights and liberties? Officials at the United Nations are concerned about the threats that advances in AI could pose to human rights.
5 Biggest Risks of Sharing Your DNA with Consumer Genetic-Testing Companies
Nearly 50 million people have used consumer genetic-testing services to have their personal DNA analyzed to learn more about their ancestry, their risk for developing various diseases, or to find long-lost relatives. While there are many upsides, there are risks, as well. This article walks you through five of biggest risks when sending your DNA off to be tested.
Talos the First Robot
There’s a lot of talk in the news these days about advances in robotics and artificial intelligence. But, while the technology is new, the ideas for it are not. Many scholars consider the Greek myth of Talos to be the first representation of a robot in literature and art. Watch this video to learn more about this ancient, and powerful, mechanical man.
Adventures in 21st Century Copyright — AI-generated comic artwork loses US Copyright protection
It seems artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, and the world of art is no exception. This has led to many questions, such as “can AI-generated art be copyrighted?” Courts have started to weigh-in and so far, the answer seems to be that machine generated art should not get the same protections as human-created images.
The balance of power is shifting in the tech industry
Learn about drastic changes happening in tech companies and how it will impact hiring and day-to-day work.
Why Australia Bottles Up Its Air
Land is one thing, but is it possible to explore the very air of the past? Thanks to some forward-thinking scientists in Australia, it is!
And it is all because of the Cape Grim Air Archive, which has been capturing samples of some of the most pristine air on the planet for nearly 50 years.
I’m an engineer, not a cheerleader. Let’s abandon silly rules about gender roles.
In this article, 17-year-old science student Sara Sakowitz shares her experience being a girl who loves science.
Re-imagining Shakespeare’s plays in virtual reality game
It’s not likely that you think of Shakespeare and video games at the same time, but that may be about to change!
These women are shaping the future of African space exploration
Read about three African women who are contributing to space exploration programs on their home continent: a space engineer, a physicist and explorer, and a space law adviser.
Will The 2020s Be Like The Roaring 20s?
Is history repeating itself? Read about the uncanny similarities and drastic differences between the Roaring Twenties and now.