Telescope #68
“I have promised myself that I’m going to do everything I can for as long as I can.” — Greta Thunberg
SUSTAINABILITY
A new irrigation system has the potential to halve water use and reduce energy use by up to 90%. In the system, irrigation pipes filled with very small holes called micropores are placed near the roots of the plants. When plants need water and nutrients, they emit chemical signals through their roots. Micropores in the pipes respond to these signals and release water and nutrients. When chemical signals cease, irrigation also ends. DETAIL
The Environment Committee of European Parliament has voted to ensure sustainable use of pesticides and reduce their use by at least half by 2030. DETAIL
According to a new study, life on our planet is “under siege” from humans and its “vital signs” have been pushed to the limit. As wildfires rage and record temperatures cause everything from coral bleaching to widespread drought and water shortages, the international team of scientists who declared a climate emergency back in 2019 have said that 20 out of 35 of the planet’s vital signs are being pushed to the edge, reported The Independent. DETAIL
Filkin’s Drift, a band of two based in Birmingham, UK, have been highlighting sustainability in their latest tour by walking about 870 miles along the coast of Wales. Musicians Seth Bye and Chris Roberts walked between stops for their 60-day tour, carrying the instruments they needed and just enough clothing to walk and perform each day. Bye and Roberts each carried a 33-pound bag on their journey, the BBC reported. DETAIL
More than a third of food produced in the U.S. ends up being thrown away, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This not only wastes the food itself, but the resources that were used to produce, process, transport and distribute it. Much of it ends up in landfills, where it breaks down and generates methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. DETAIL
HEALTH
Whether it begins next week, next year, or next decade, another pandemic is on its way. Researchers can’t predict precisely when or how the outbreak might begin. Some 1.6 million viruses are estimated to lurk in the world’s mammalian and avian wildlife, up to half of which could spill into humans; an untold number are attempting exactly that, at this very moment, bumping up against the people hunting, eating, and encroaching on those creatures. (And that’s just viruses: Parasites, fungi, and bacteria represent major infectious dangers too.) The only true certainty in the pandemic forecast is that the next threat will be here sooner than anyone would like. DETAIL
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued an order that may prevent Apple from importing Apple Watch as part of the patent infringement case filed by medical technology company Masimo. The company has 60 days to veto the import ban decision, which was issued on the grounds that it infringes Masimo's patents on blood-oxygen level monitoring technology. DETAIL
BioNTech treated 44 people with solid tumors with varying doses of CAR T cells and, in some cases, a vaccine to help boost the therapy. Among the 38 people for whom there was enough data to assess how well the treatment worked, 45% responded, meaning their tumors shrank or disappeared altogether. DETAIL
DIGITAL / TECHNOLOGY / SCIENCE /AI
Barry Callebaut, one of the world's leading chocolate manufacturers, has produced a new and healthier chocolate. The new chocolate contains 50% less sugar, 60-80% more cocoa and has no processed additives. In the new technique, cocoa is grown, fermented and roasted differently to reduce its bitterness. DETAIL
Last year, Airbnb announced that they would be cracking down on people using the home-booking platform to host parties. Now, the company has revealed that it will be using artificial intelligence (AI) to back up that decision. DETAIL
The Group of Seven industrial countries will on Monday agree a code of conduct for companies developing advanced artificial intelligence systems, a G7 document showed, as governments seek to mitigate the risks and potential misuse of the technology. DETAIL
Google has agreed to invest up to $2 billion in the artificial intelligence company Anthropic, a spokesperson for the startup said on Friday. DETAIL
The owner of the X platform, Elon Musk, has announced plans to transform the social media platform into an all-encompassing financial center. Interestingly, Musk also stated at the same meeting that he wanted X to offer a dating application service. It is possible to conclude from here that the application will gradually turn into a mess. DETAIL
The White House just announced a thunderous executive order tackling AI regulation. These directives are the "strongest set of actions any government in the world has ever taken" to protect how AI affects American citizens, according to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed. DETAIL
There Are Massive Chunks of Another Planet Inside Earth, Scientists Say. DETAIL
More than 50 years after their breakup, The Beatles have released their final songs and artificial intelligence has been used to bring John Lennon's voice back to life.
ENERGY / TRANSPORTATION
The US battery cell developer 24M, known for its SemiSolid technology, presents a new battery system at the Japan Mobility Show in Toyko this week. ETOP stands for 'Electrode-to-Pack' and means that the electrodes are integrated directly into the battery pack. DETAIL
CYBERSECURITY
Hackers have earned $300 million in all-time rewards from HackerOne through its bug bounty program. The company, which pairs organizations with a community of ethical hackers who look for vulnerabilities in their software, announced the milestone this week. The company noted that 30 hackers have earned over $1million for their submissions, while one has earned more than $4 million for their bug reports. DETAIL
HUMAN
Have you ever dreamed of dropping everything and moving to a sunny seaside town in Italy or a picturesque mountain village in Switzerland? Imagine if you were also paid to do it. Well, it’s not a fantasy. Across Europe, communities are in search of new residents and are willing to throw generous financial incentives into the bargain. Here are six places in Europe that are luring new inhabitants with cash grants. DETAIL