Afrigather Plus: inside Elon Musk’s plans to colonize Mars
That is as we speak’s version of The Download, our weekday publication that gives a day by day dose of what is going on on on this planet of know-how.
Robotic-packed meals are coming to the frozen-food aisle
What’s taking place: Advances in synthetic intelligence are coming to your freezer, within the type of robot-assembled ready meals. Chef Robotics, a San Francisco-based startup, has launched a system of AI-powered robotic arms that may be shortly programmed with a recipe to dole out correct parts of the whole lot from tikka masala to pesto tortellini.
Why it issues: You would possibly suppose the meals that find yourself within the grocery retailer’s frozen aisle or on airplanes are robot-packed already, however that’s not often the case. The overwhelming majority of meals from recognizable manufacturers are nonetheless sometimes hand-packed, as a result of employees are sometimes rather more versatile than robots and might deal with manufacturing strains that continuously rotate recipes. Nevertheless, developments from AI have modified the calculus, making robots extra helpful on manufacturing strains. Read the full story.
—James O’Donnell
IVF alone can’t save us from a looming fertility disaster
There are over 8 billion of us on the planet, and there’ll most likely be 8.5 billion of us by 2030. We’re frequently warned concerning the perils of overpopulation and the influence we people are having on our planet. So it appears a bit counterintuitive to fret that, really, we’re not reproducing sufficient.
However loads of scientists are extremely frightened about simply that. Enhancements in well being care and sanitation are serving to us all lead longer lives. However we’re not having sufficient kids to help us as we age. Fertility charges are falling in nearly each nation.
However wait! We have now applied sciences to resolve this downside! IVF helps to deliver extra kids into the world than ever, and it may assist compensate for the fertility issues confronted by older mother and father! Sadly, issues aren’t fairly so easy. Read the full story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly publication supplying you with the within observe on biotech and healthcare. Sign up to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the web to search out you as we speak’s most enjoyable/necessary/scary/fascinating tales about know-how.
1 Right here’s how Elon Musk plans to colonize Mars
Over the previous yr, he’s ramped up his ambitions to construct a Martian metropolis. (NYT $)
+ Musk has denied that he’s volunteered his sperm to assist out, although. (CoinTelegraph)
+ Inside NASA’s bid to make spacecraft as small as doable. (MIT Technology Review)
2 Is Russia waging battle below the ocean?
The disappearance of a subsea cable has raised some severe questions. (Bloomberg $)
3 Kamala Harris conspiracy theories are working rampant on-line
If Joe Biden drops out of the Presidential race, she’s more than likely to exchange him. (Wired $)
+ Three know-how developments shaping 2024’s elections. (MIT Technology Review)
4 Apple continues to be struggling to search out the Imaginative and prescient Professional’s killer app
Forward of the machine occurring sale in Europe as we speak. (FT $)
+ Apple might want to persuade builders to construct apps for its headset. (MIT Technology Review)
5 These scientists doubt that you simply’ll stay to 100
They contend you’re extra prone to attain someplace between 65 and 90 as a substitute. (WSJ $)
+ The search to legitimize longevity medication. (MIT Technology Review)
6 Google Cloud was briefly listed as a Israeli navy tech convention sponsor
Earlier than its emblem was quickly eliminated. (404 Media)
7 These New York Link5G towers don’t have 5G in spite of everything
Regardless, one other 2,000 towers are scheduled for set up. (NY Mag $)
8 How AI is overhauling ultrasound scans in Africa
Benefiting the ladies who’re most in want. (The Guardian)
9 Northeast Indian YouTubers are difficult culinary stereotypes
They’re lifting the veil on their distinctive meals tradition. (Rest of World)
10 There’s a greater technique to maintain your cellphone
And also you’re most likely doing it unsuitable. (WP $)
Quote of the day
“I don’t have any thought if it’s working or not working. I simply know that is what I really feel like I ought to be doing.”
— Ruth Quint, the webmaster of the League of Girls Voters of Better Pittsburgh web site, explains why she creates disinformation-bunking assets to the New York Times.
The massive story
One metropolis’s struggle to resolve its sewage downside with sensors
Within the metropolis of South Bend, Indiana, wastewater from individuals’s kitchens, sinks, washing machines, and bathrooms flows by 35 neighborhood sewer strains. On good days, simply earlier than every line ends, a vertical throttle pipe diverts the sewage into an interceptor tube, which carries it to a remedy plant the place strong pollution and micro organism are filtered out.
As in lots of American cities, these pipes are mixed with storm drains, which may fill rivers and lakes with poisonous sludge when heavy rains or melted snow overwhelms them, endangering wildlife and consuming water provides. However metropolis officers have a plan to make its getting old sewers considerably smarter. Read the full story.
—Andrew Zaleski
We are able to nonetheless have good issues
A spot for consolation, enjoyable and distraction to brighten up your day. (Acquired any concepts? Drop me a line or tweet ’em at me.)
+ This baby’s-eye view of the universe sounds lots of enjoyable.
+ Summer season traybakes are a simple technique to feed everybody you’ll want to with minimal washing up.
+ Charli xcx would love this Nintendo DS remix of her track 360.
+ Buckle up women, the skort is again.
