Futurism only supports companies that we like and trust. Biostrapis one of those companies. We may collect a share of the sales from the items featured on this page.Learn about Biostraphere, and use code FUTURISM for free shipping. A New Kind of Tracking

We have reached the point where fitness tracking is ubiquitous in our society. For a relatively low price, its easy to find a wearable device that does basic tracking of how many steps you take, what your heart rate is, what your sleep patterns are, and so on. Such technology has become baseline in wearables. And if youre just looking for help counting your steps, or some inspiration to put more effort into getting a goodnights sleep, the products on the market are just fine they do the trick.

But with only one piece of equipment used to gather data, youre not getting a full picture or really advanced reading of your bodys movements and metrics. To this end, unfortunately, wearing a popular fitness tracker is nothing like going to the doctor and getting a checkup.

Most trackers fall short for this reason: While the consumer industry leaders like Fitbit, Nike Fuel Band, and Misfit have enough technology to document steps and pulses, they dont have the ability to put together the bigger picture of their users health. Essentially, theyre not dynamic enough to be clinical-quality. And when youre looking to track your vitals, why settle for anything short of what a doctor might use?

Thats where Biostrap comes in. They assert that their aim is to change the industry standard, and to this end, they have created a device with biometrics so advanced that physicians actually use the same tech to monitor their patients physical health. So you can count on an accurate and dependable recording, and wearing a Biostrapfeels like youre going to the doctor.

Investing in a Biostrap is taking a fast-track road to getting into shape. While its a bit more expensive than the other trackers on the market, priced at $249, its a serious device thats perfect for people who want to get (or already are) serious about their health.

The Biostrap is a platform of two different devices that work in tandem to capture all of your bodys efforts. Together, the wristband and shoe clip create a precise picture of your every move. To break down the specifics, the Biostrap extracts more than 29 parameters to offer reliable accounts of users Heart Rate Variability, Oxygen Saturation, Respiratory Rate, and more. And because exercise is more than just steps taken in a day its programmed to recognize over 20 different kinds of physical activities. From squats, to strides on the elliptical, to butterfly strokes in the poolthe Biostrap is counting every physical activity its users engage in.

And if it doesnt recognize what theyre doing, they can teach it to. After recording a few reps of the movement, the Biostrap will remember it for the future. Youll never again have to wonder: if you work out and no one else is at the gym, have you even worked out at all? If youre wearing a Biostrap, its always watching. Want one? Use code FUTURISM for free shipping here.

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The Most Advanced Wearable Fitness Device Is Finally Here - Futurism

In Brief Facebook has filed a patent application for a modular consumer electronic device that could function as a smartphone, GPS, microphone, speaker, and touch display. This device will be similar to the failed Google Project ARA device if it succeeds. Plug-and-Play Smartphones

On Thursday July 20, Facebook published its patent application for a modular electromechanical device that includes a phone, GPS, microphone, speaker, and touch display. This kind of modular consumer hardware would allow users to combine several differentcomponents together on a single device a kind of plug-and-play smartphone.

This sort of modular design is also of interest to Google, who has already made one unsuccessful attemptto bring its Project Ara smartphone to market. Some members of the Project Ara team are now at Facebooks Building 8 including Regina Dugan, the leader of the research lab.Building 8 is Facebookslab for consumer technologies and the epicenter of its futuristic projects.

Several Building 8 employees were named on the patent application. Thefour employees had previously worked for Nascent Objects, a startup that prototyped modular gadgets using 3D printing. Facebook acquired Nascent Objects last year, and a spokesperson confirmed to Tech Insider that the technologies in the patent application were part of that acquisition.

According to the patent application, the device could work as a phone, or it could work more like Amazons Alexa doesin terms of its music speaker function. The application also notes that the components of millions of connected devices could be loaded with various kinds of software as pieces are swapped out.

The modular system also appears to be a move towards more efficient and long-term use of consumer electronics. The application reads, Typically, the hardware components included in the consumer electronics that are considered outdated are still useable. However, the hardware components can no longer be re-used since consumer electronics are designed as closed systems. From a consumer prospective, the life cycle of conventional consumer electronics is expensive and wasteful.

It remains to be seen whether Facebook will succeed where Google failed; just because a patient application is filed, theres no guarantee that a device willactually get made.

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Facebook Just Filed a Patent for a Modular Consumer Device - Futurism

In BriefAfter generating a lot of hype over the past weeks, the sourceof the mysterious signal from Ross 128 has finally been confirmed.A second observation concluded that the signal isn't some form ofalien communication, but instead satellite transmissions. Surprise, Surprise!

The detection ofpeculiar radio signalsfrom a dim star roughly 11 light-years away from Earth had the public speculating wildly last week about the possibility that wed finally detected an alien communication.

After looking further into the signals with a little help from theSearch for ExtraTerrestrial Life (SETI) Institute, astronomers at thePlanetary Habitability Laboratory at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo are ready to confirm the source of the signals from Ross 128, and its not ET.

We are now confident about the source of the Weird! Signal, Abel Mendez, director of the PHL, wrote in a blog post on Friday. The best explanation is that the signals are transmissions from one or more geostationary satellites.

The signal officially named the Weird! Signal was only spotted near Ross 128, one of several red dwarf stars Mendez and his team have been studying, because Ross 128 is close to the celestial equator where many geostationary satellites are placed, Mendez explained.

The PHL also conductedan informal survey of almost 800 participants, including more than 60 astronomers, to find out what people thought was causing the Weird! Signal. Most said it was likely astronomical in nature. This is interesting since in the absence of solid information about the signal, most astronomers would think that [radio interference or instrumental failures] would probably be the most likely explanation, Mendez noted.

Unexplained signals, like the more popular and recently resolved Wow! signal, draw significant attention because many people are hopeful that well find some trace of alien life. Indeed, the unofficial public survey showed that roughly 200 of the 800 participants believed the Weird! Signal was communication from intelligent alien life.

However, as Mendez explained, Unexplained here does not mean inexplicable; it just means we are not able to tell which is the precise source from many possibilities.

Just like the Wow! Signal, the Weird! Signal from Ross 128 demonstrates that theres likely to be some non-alienanswer to many of the mysteries we uncover from the universe.

Of course, this doesnt mean that the search for alien life isnt worth it. Before we can consider any such explanation, however, we need to explore all stellar and astronomical possibilities. Sometimes, these possibilities may take 40 years to be completely explored, as was the case with the Wow! Signal, but such is the nature of scientific inquiry.

This was a great experience of open science, Mendez wrote. Sometimes projects, observational campaigns, or missions do not necessarily reach their objectives. The lesson here is that we all need to continue exploring and sharing results openly. Some people prefer to only learn about the successes, but others prefer science in real-time, no matter the end result.

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Source of Weird! Signal From Nearby Star Finally Confirmed - Futurism

In Brief Researchers have found a possible cause of schizophrenia, a mental illness believed to affect 21 million people worldwide. This discovery could have a major impact on future treatments for the condition. Understanding Schizophrenia

While often misrepresented in the media, schizophrenia is a disease that can have a major impact on the lives of those living with it. Around the world, 21 million people are currently living with the mental illness,thesymptomsof which can include paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations. These symptoms can be severe and debilitating, and can impact every aspect of a persons life. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), schizophrenia is defined by profound disruptions in thinking, affecting language, perception, and the sense of self.

An international team of researchers has found that these life-altering symptoms could be caused by defects in glial cells, the cells that support and insulate nerve cells. By using mice with brains colonized by human-donated glial cells, the teams discoverycould greatly impact the future diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia.

Lead researcher Steve Goldman, from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Rochester, stated that It was through studies of mice with human glial cells that we succeeded in testing how dysfunctional glial cells may cause abnormalities in the formation of the brains neural networks, which may in turn cause severe anxiety, anti-social behaviour and severe sleep problems.

Living with schizophrenia can present many challenges for patients, and to further complicate matters, the antipsychotic medications used to treat the mental illness often leadhost of side effects themselves: ranging from severe restlessness to the onset of Parkinsons disease.

The side effects of many conventional, readily available treatments are so severe that patients sometimes discontinue or avoid treatment altogether. As is the case withmost neurological diseases, there isnt likely to beone single cause for the disease nor a single cure-all. But this discovery marks hopeful progress towards better treatment.

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Researchers Have Discovered a New Possible Cause of Schizophrenia - Futurism

In Brief The central South African bank is partnering with a blockchain-based solutions provider to experiment with digital currency regulations. This may bring digital currencies like Bitcoin further into the mainstream and legitimize their use. South African Bitcoin Experiment

The South African Reserve Bank, which functions as the countrys central bank, is partnering with blockchain-based solutions provider Bankymoon to experiment with digital currency regulations. Bankymoon will serve as a sandbox business as the team works with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies with the ultimate goal of understanding and legitimizing the growing adoption of cryptocurrency.

As with any new technology that becomesmainstream, regulation becomes an issue. However, cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology they are based upon are, by nature, decentralized. Therefore, there is, at some level, a fundamental tension between the governments need or desire to regulate and the structure of the technology (not to mention the intent of its users).

However, government regulation of digital currencies could legitimize the technology. Gamaroff believes that regulations will strengthen and give legitimacy to Bitcoin and other digital currencies for novice users, I think the regulation will move things along and make people on the street comfortable with Bitcoin. With these new regulations, these everyday people can now trust that Bitcoin is not just for hackers and criminals.

The initiative also enjoys the support of some of South Africas leaders and biggest businesses. Former First National Bank CEO Michael Jordaan, for example, believes that digital currency is on track to render central banks and the entire traditional banking model obsolete. Only time will tell whether the government can involve itself in a meaningful way with this kind of regulation or if the technology will simply continue to expand without that type of constraint.

Disclosure: Several members of the Futurism team, including the editors of this piece, are personal investors in a number of cryptocurrency markets. Their personal investment perspectives have no impact on editorial content.

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Central South African Bank Will Experiment With Bitcoin Regulation - Futurism

In Brief According to Porsche's CEO, by 2023, half of the cars rolling off the company's production line will be electric. With this statement, Porsche joins other major automakers like Volvo and GM in betting on a future in which EVs are far more widely adopted.

Porsche CEOOliver Blumehas told Manager Magazin that up to half of the cars the company produces by 2023 will be electric.

According to The Drive, Porsches opening gambit in the bid will be the Mission E slated for release in 2019 followed by an electric crossover coupe, and then a new generation Macan crossover in 2022. The Macan will prove to be the make or break EV for the German car company, as its current gasoline incarnation is Porsches bestseller, with roughly 100,000 vehicles sold in 2016.

Porsche joins a growing number of car companies making ambitious plans totransition to electric in the coming decade. Volvo CEO Hkan Samuelssonsaid in a video on Twitter that the future of Volvo is electric, and to that end, the company plans to make every car off the production line either partially or entirely electricfrom 2019 onwards.

While no other carmaker has announced plans as ambitious as Porsche or Volvos yet, all major playershave or will soon have an EV on the market. General Motors has already released the Chevy Boltand plans to release 10 electric models in the Chinese market by 2020. By that same year, Ford has promised they will release an electric SUV, and Volkswagen saystheir I.D.will be hitting the roads in 2020 as well. Looks likes widespread EV adoption is just a few years away.

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Porsche's CEO Just Announced the Company's Big Plans to Transition to Electric Cars - Futurism

In BriefHumanity is diligently searching the skies for signs of alienlife through efforts like SETI and the Breakthrough Listeninitiative, but when will we finally find what we are looking for?Here is a timeline for when you can expect a confirmation that weare not alone in the universe. Decade of Discovery

In the Milky Way alone, there arean estimated 300 billion starsthathost about9 billionhabitable, Earth-size planets. Could some form of alien life have taken root on any of these planets? Projects like Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) have scoured the skies for signs to answer this question, and we asked Futurism readers when they thought these efforts would finally be successful.

The poll shows that more than halfof responders believe we will discover extraterrestrial life in the first half of the 21st century, and the decade that received the most votes (about 27 percent) is actually the soonest the 2020s. This was the prediction ofMichael Barker, who wrote,Technology is seriously Sci-fi these days.If an alien so much as farts in space in the next decade, well be able to hear it. In all seriousness. The sensors we have today are very broad in their capability, and are very versatile.

While little work has been published detecting bodily sounds fromother planets, our ability to look for different signs of life is rapidly advancing. Examples of our improved technology include theJames Webb Space Telescope, which is seven times stronger than the Hubble telescope, and the equipment used for the Breakthrough Listen initiative.

The initiative is conducting a 10-year survey for signs of life fromthe 1millionstars closest to Earth using the most powerful instruments available.The Breakthrough website claims that their spectroscopic equipment could detect a 100 watt laser (the energy of a normal household bulb) from 25 trillion miles away.

In fact, Breakthrough Listen researchers have already published 11 events they believe could have been caused by aliens. Other interstellar signals like fast radio bursts have some scientists, Douglas Vakoch, director of Interstellar Message Composition at the SETI Institute, thinking that we may be on the verge of confirming the existence of aliens.

[T]he chances are getting better with every passing year, Vakoch said in an interview with Space.com.He addedthat within the next decade, we may well discover were not alone in the universe.

But the extraterrestrial life we discover may not be an advanced civilization, many experts believe. Astronomy researcherChris Impey said inan interview with Futurism, I put my money on detecting microbial life in 10 to 15 years, but not at all detecting intelligent life.

While the increasing sophistication of our technology has many astronomers optimistic about our prospects of discovering alien life, this is of course contingent on whether there is indeed alien life to find.That, and the possibility that we may have wrong ideas about how aliens will communicate are strong reasons for caution, arguesMichael Michaud, a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.

There is no way to predict when contact will take place, Michaud said to Space.com. The only generalization I can offer is that expanding ways of searching while continuing to send out our own signals both intentional and unintentional may make contact more likely. Until we have solid evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, we must live with uncertainty.

See all of Futurism predictions and make your own predictions here.

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When Will We Discover Some Form of Alien Life? - Futurism

Rasheedah Phillips and Camae Ayewa of Black Quantum Futurism. Photo via Instagram.

DIASPORAOver the course of July well be publishing shortprofiles, essays and interviews onthe themeof Afrofutures. Together these stories will bea deep dive into the way African and diaspora thinkers, technologists and artists view a future for Africans in the world and outside of it.

Take a look at our introduction to Afrofuturismhere.

Throughout thismonth, well also highlight and celebrate young, leading talents who already put into practice what a future with black people look like through their work in our daily profile series, NextGen.

In our tenthedition, meet the minds behind the Black Quantum Futurism collective.

Afrofuturism can be expressed far beyond music, art, fashion or film it can be a method of activism and community building. That is exactly what Black Quantum Futurism, a women-led organization based in Philly, aspires to do, with the help of art, history and teaching.

Founded by poet Camae Ayewa of musical outfit Moor Mother, and Rasheedah Phillips of The Afrofuturist Affair, Black Quantum Futurism focuses on spreading healing, justice and memory through activism, DIY culture and art, primarily but not exclusively to people that may not have access to the internet.

Afrofuturism can be used by disenfranchised communities to create safe space for dialogue, visioning, and testing of ideas around community sustainability, resilience, and resistanceand as a technology for the actual implementation of those visions and ideas, Ayewa says in an interview with Thump. (It also sets) an example for other advocates and policymakers on how to creatively approach these issues using social practice and community-engaged art. Thats what Black Quantum Futurism is. Its all practicalthats the main point.

At this summers Moogfest, a music, art and tech festival in Durham, North Carolina, Black Quantum Futurism and The Afrofuturist Affair curated workshops, performances and talks around empowerment through Afrofuturism. There was Discovering Your Secret Superpower, which helps people channel their inner superhero personas and 14 hours, a 14-hour performance by Ayewa. Workshops and performances aside, BQF has published books, created a designated community space called Community Futures Lab in North Philly, has conducted residences and held talks around the world.

Black Quantum Futurism proves that we can write our own futures into existence, by remembering the past and envisioning a brighter present. Its interesting how communities all over the world are understanding how important it is to move [away] from social constructs. One model that you read in some book, or some person was talking about on Facebook, may not be the model for you. We have to take the agency to define our own thing that keeps us chill, keeps our head above water.

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In Brief A new blood test can detect buildups of beta-amyloid in the brain, the plaques that signal the development of Alzheimers disease. This test could mean earlier detection of the disease and more effective lifestyle interventions for patients. Early Detection

A new blood test has been found to be able to detect buildups of beta-amyloid in the brain, the cause of the plaques that characterize the development of Alzheimers disease. Although the role that these clumps of beta-amyloid play in the brains of Alzheimers patients is unknown, monitoring their presence has been a reliable way to watch for the disease. Unfortunately, watching for the build-up of these plaques in the brain has only been possible through PET-scans, which are expensive and not widely available, or with spinal tap procedures, which are invasive and can only be administered by a, relatively, select few practitioners.

In this new study, researchers have developed a simple blood test to screen for Alzheimers risk that anyone from general practitioners to nurses in clinics could use. This simple to administer screening would be able to identify thousands of at-risk patients, allowing them to start treatment before brain damage and irreversible memory loss occurs. In fact, with this kind of basic screening tool, monitoring for Alzheimers disease could be as widespread and quick as checking your cholesterol and blood sugar.

Although there is not yet any silver bullet treatment for Alzheimers disease, there are promising treatments on the horizon some that reverse symptoms, and others that slow the progression of the disease. However, the most important way to fight Alzheimers right now is through prevention. As scientists study why some brains resist the disease more than others and how we might prevent the disease entirely, evidence shows that lifestyle interventions including healthy diet and exercise can reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease by as much as 30 percent. Earlier detection with a blood test would make lifestyle interventions more effective.

Beta-amyloid plaques begin to accumulate 15 to 20 years before a person exhibits the symptoms of Alzheimers disease. Positive test results wouldnt guarantee that a patient would develop the disease, but they would signal possible risk while suggesting a need for lifestyle changes.

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New Test Allows For Easier and Earlier Detection of Alzheimer's - Futurism

In Brief Google engineers have created an artificial intelligence (AI) that is capable of turning Google Street View images into professional-quality artistic portraits. The AI chooses and crops the image, alters both light and coloration, and then applies an appropriate filter. Google Art

Most of us are probably familiar with Google Street View; a feature of Google Maps that allows users to see actual images of the areas theyre looking up. Its both a useful navigational feature and one that allows people to explore far-off regions just for fun. Engineers at Google are taking these images from Street View one step further with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Hui Feng is one of several software engineers who are using machine learning techniques to teach a neural network how to scan Street View in search of exceptionally beautiful images. This AI then, on its own, mimics the workflow of a professional photographer.

This AI system will act as an artist and photo editor, recognizing beauty and specific aspects that make for a good photograph. Despite being a subjective matter, the AI proved to be successful, creating professional-quality imagery from Street View images that the system itself located.

Googles many different AI programs have been exploring a wide variety of potential applications for the technology. From recent dabbling in online Go playingto improving job huntingand even creating its own AI better than Google engineers, Googles AI has been at the forefront of its field.

But AI technologies are progressing faster and further than many have expected, so much so that some AI, like the one mentioned here, are capable of creating art. So, while robots will never make humans completely obsolete in artistic endeavors, this step forward marks a new era of technology.

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Google's Newest AI is Turning Street View Images into Landscape Art - Futurism

In BriefAt today's ISS R&D conference, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sharedan update on the company's Falcon Heavy rocket, crewed missionplans, and hopes for building a base on the Moon. The Falcon Heavy

At the ISS R&D conference today, Elon Musk provided some much-anticipated updates on SpaceXs upcoming manned mission to the Red Planet, explaining that the trip hinges on the success of the companysFalcon Heavy.

Once it launches this year, the Falcon Heavywill be the most powerful operational rocket in the world. It will be able to lift more than 54 metric tons (119,000 lbs), which is twice the payload of the Delta IV Heavy at one-third the cost.

Developing the rocket wasnteasy. In fact, Musk says it was way, way more difficult than SpaceX originally anticipated.

[Falcon Heavy] requires the simultaneous ignition of 27 orbit class rockets, he explained. Because of this, Musk says there is a lot of risk associated with Falcon Heavy, which is why he is setting the bar for success rather low for initial launches: Theres a real good chance that it does not make it to orbit. I hope it gets far enough away from the launch pad that it does not cause pad damage I would consider that a win.

Problems with initial launches wont be due to any inherent flaws with the rocket itself, however; theyre just part of the process. Falcon Heavys going to be a great vehicle. [There] just isnt a lot you can test on the ground, Musk noted.

SpaceX has experienced a fair share of (fiery) failuresin the past, and the potential for problems with early Falcon Heavy launches had the SpaceX CEO joking about the characterof the crew members aboard the first manned missions:No question, whoevers on the first flight brave. Brave.

Other brave SpaceX explorers will eventually be able to enjoy a trip aboard the companysCrew Dragon, also known as Dragon 2. Thus far, the Dragon spacecraft has only been used to transport cargo, but the design is being modified to support crewed mission. In fact, the Dragon 2 could even eventually carry Musk, who replied, I would like to at some point. Assuming things work out, yeah, maybe in three or four years, when asked whether hed like to take a ride to the International Space Station (ISS) and back aboard the craft.

Also in the works for the Crew Dragon are orbital launches and testing of its automatic docking abilities. Currently, in order for the Dragon to attach to the ISS, the space stations robotic arm has to be used. Not of much importance, according to a comment by Musk, is refining the Dragons 2 purposive landing capability (i.e., descending using retrorockets vs. a parachute) as he claims its no longer a requirement for landing on Mars.

The real public excitement lies beyond the ISS and Mars missions, though, according to Musk. If you want to get the public real fired up, we gotta have a base on the Moon. Having some permanent presence on another heavenly body, he said. Thats the continuance of the dream of Apollo.

Some of the biggest players already in the race to build a Moon base hail from China and Europe, and their respective space agencies have announced that they are engaging in international collaboration to realize a Moon Village vision. Whether Musk will beat them to it remains to be seen.

This trickle of small updates will do little to pacify those eager for more details on Musks mission to Mars. That information is likely to arrive in September in the form of a revision to his detailed plan for making humanity a multi-planetary species. The efforts of SpaceX are now more vital than ever, given NASAs recent admissionthatthey wont be the ones to get us to the Red Planet,but perhaps the plan will include the announcement of a NASA/SpaceX collaboration?

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Elon Musk Just Shared an Update on SpaceX's Upcoming Manned Mars Mission - Futurism

In Brief Swiss blockchain startup Ambrosus wants to revolutionize the food supply chain by introducing smart contracts to track produce. This new blockchain ecosystem, built on the Ethereum network, was launched on Wednesday.

The food industry is warming up to blockchain, thanks to the likes of Ambrosus. The Swiss startup was founded last year, but officially launched yesterday. An Initial Coin Offering (ICO)will begin in September.

According to Ambrosus website, the companyaims to use cutting-edge technology to improve the food supply chain: Combining high-tech sensors, blockchain protocol, and smart contracts, we are building the worlds first publicly verifiable, community-driven ecosystem to assure [sic] the quality, safety, and origins of food.

The idea is to keep track of produce as it moves from farm to fork, with the blockchain ensuring the integrity of the data. Russias ITcoin is doing something similar for the nations beef products.

Ambrosus is built on the Ethereum blockchain,and Ethereum co-founder Gavin Woods Parity Technologiesis its core technology partner. Paritys co-founder Jutta Steiner joins Wood as a technical advisor for Ambrosus.

Its worth noting that Parity has been in the news itselfrecently. Just yesterday,the company reported a breach that compromised its crypto wallet, leading to the theft of $30 million in ether. The news threatens to cast a shadow on the supposed security of blockchains.

Despite the bad timing of this Parity news, Ambrosus co-founder Angel Versetti appears optimistic about the potential for his companys technology to push Ethereum into a largely untouched industry: The combination of the maturity of the technology and the brainpower and creativity of participating actors provides a unique and clear opportunity to build a bridge between Ethereum and the food sector.

Disclosure: Several members of the Futurism team, including the editors of this piece, are personal investors in a number of cryptocurrency markets. Their personal investment perspectives have no impact on editorial content.

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Ethereum Co-Founder Helps Launch New Blockchain Startup - Futurism

In Brief There has been a major breach in the Parity Ethereum client that may have given access to user's digital wallets. An official statement regarding the extent of the security threat is forthcoming.

Parity the worlds fastest ethereum client just posted an alert on their blog warning of a vulnerability in version 1.5 or later in its wallet software.The alert advises users to immediately move their funds to a secure address.

Users are scrambling to learn the extent of the breach and if their funds were made vulnerable.Coindeskreportsthat, so far, 150,000 ether (worth $30 million) have been reported to the company as stolen.

Parity claims to be the most secure way of interacting with the Ethereum network. The project was originally devised by a co-founder of Ethereum,Gavin Wood.

Decentralized technologies are rapidly emerging as cryptocurrency is increasing in visibility and popularity. Regardless of how much currency was stolen, the optics of such a breach are not good for these emerging technologies. It will be difficult for themto become a new standard if adopters cannot rely on the highly-touted security of the platforms.

Disclosure: Several members of the Futurism team, including the editors of this piece, are personal investors in a number of cryptocurrency markets. Their personal investment perspectives have no impact on editorial content.

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This Crypto Wallet, Devised by a Co-Founder of Ether, Has a Major Breach - Futurism

In Brief Elon Musk has announced on Twitter that he has verbal permission to build a Hyperloop connecting New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington - and that in the future he plans to bring the technology to Texas.

Elon Musk has announced via Twitter that he received verbal approval for this planto build an underground Hyperloop between New York and Washington which would also stop at Philadelphia and Baltimore. As a result, one could get from New York to D.C. in just 29 minutes.

Its worth noting that the approval is only verbal at this point. Which means that it isnt set in stone. Musk will likely still have to deal with regulatory concerns, and some red tape. He did note, however, that support would be much appreciated, in the meantime.

Musk also did not reveal who the permission came from or give any details concerning when the project will start and finish although he didlater reveal that he also plans to build a Hyperloop in Texas and the west coast.

Longer term, Musk has expressed a desire to introduce Hyperloop routes worldwide, with projects as large and far-ranging as connecting multiple European citiesand helping to ease Dubais current congestion crisis. Recently, Musks Boring Company completed the first segment of the Hyperloop system in Los Angeles,marking a major milestone in the projects development. This may be a partial reason why the project is now gaining traction in other states.

The Hyperloop seems to already be disrupting the transportation industry due to the incredibly short journey times, positive environmental consequences, and comparatively low cost of the project. As long as governmental support continues, this can only be a good thing.

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Elon Musk Just Announced He Has Approval to Build a 29-Minute Hyperloop From NY to DC - Futurism

In BriefBrain damage caused by drowning and cardiac arrest wasreversed in a toddler who received hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)and normobaric oxygen (sea level oxygen). These treatments activategenes, promoting cell survival and reducing inflammation. Brain Damage Reversed

Doctors recently reported the reversal of brain volume loss in an unresponsive two-year-old cold water drowning victim who had experienced cardiac arrest. After treating the child with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and normobaric oxygen (oxygen at sea level), she experienced marked improvement and reversal of many symptoms.

After resuscitation, an MRI showed that the child experienced cerebral atrophy with white and gray matter loss and deep gray matter injury. At the time she was discharged from the hospital, she was unable to speak, unresponsive to commands, and she exhibited constant head shaking and squirming.

To prevent permanent degeneration of tissue, Dr. Paul Harch, Director of Hyperbaric Medicine at LSUs School of Medicine, began partial treatment. Fifty-five days post-drowning, the patient began daily short-duration treatment under Dr. Harchs care with 100% normobaric oxygen.

With treatment, the child became more awake and alert and even stopped squirming. She experienced ongoing neurological improvement throughout her treatment period, characterized by laughing, eye tracking, increased movement of arms, grasp with the left hand, movement of hands, partial oral feeding, and short-sequenced speech at pre-drowning levels, albeit with diminished vocabulary.

78 days post-drowning, eight weeks/40 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy began. At the beginning of every session, the childs neurological improvement was visually apparent. The childs mother said that, except for her coordination, the child was near normal after 10 HBOT sessions, at which point the team re-instituted physical therapy. 162 days post-drowning, following her last HBOT session, the child exhibited near-complete reversal of white matter and cortical atrophy.

The growing brain of a young child is a hormone-rich setting, thriving in an oxygen-rich environment. Both normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen-rich environments activate genes that promote cell survival and reduce inflammation. Increased oxygen with pressure is consistent with the synergy that takes place in the presence of growth hormones and hyperbaric oxygen.

The startling regrowth of tissue in this case occurred because we were able to intervene early in a growing child, before long-term tissue degeneration, Harch stated in press materials. Although its impossible to conclude from this single case if the sequential application of normobaric oxygen then HBOT would be more effective than HBOT alone, in the absence of HBOT therapy, short duration, repetitive normobaric oxygen therapy may be an option until HBOT is available. Such low-risk medical treatment may have a profound effect on recovery of function in similar patients who are neurologically devastated by drowning.

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Medical Researchers Reverse Brain Damage in Drowning Victim - Futurism

The Rise of Smartphones

These are the quiet times.

From April toJune, techs biggest companies all held their annual mega-events, laying out their grand visions for the next 12 months or so.

Facebook kicked it off in late April with itsF8 conference, followed byMicrosoft Build, then theGoogle I/O conference, andApples Worldwide Developers Conferencefinished things off. Amazon doesnt really hold events, but it unveiled two new Amazon Echo smart speakers during that period for good measure.

And things will get exciting again, sooner than you know it. This Fall, Apple is expected to reveal a10th-anniversary iPhone, Google will likely reveal arevamped Pixel smartphone, and Microsoft is expected to hold another one of its regular late-October Surface computer press conferences.

In the meantime, theres not much to do but reflect on what weve learned so far this year about the future of tech. And beyond the hype and the hyperbole, were starting to see the very earliest stages of a battle for the next phase of computing.

Because while Apple and Google may dominate the smartphone market today, technologies like augmented reality present whole-new platforms where theres no clear winner. So Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook, having missed out on owning a mobile platform, are doing their damndest tohasten the end of the smartphone and the end of Apple and Googles duopoly, while theyre at it.

Every major technological shift has created big opportunities for the few entrepreneurs who see it coming early in the seventies, Apple and Microsoft made big bets that the PC would be a much bigger market than gigantic room-sized mainframes, while themainframe industry decried the PC itself as a fad. We see who won that one.

Similarly, Microsoft didnt fully realize the potential of smartphones, until well after Google and Apple proved them wrong. Now, Googles Android is the most popular operating system in the world, full stop. And the iPhone has propelledApple torecord profits and to the status asthecompany to beat in tech.

Well, it seems like time is a flat circle. Right now, were seeing the earliest growing pains of augmented reality and virtual reality tech that overlays the digital world onto ourhuman senses. It means information, projected into your eyes and ears, as you need it. Why carry a phone when Netflix and WhatsApp are floating in front of you?

Some call it a fad, or just something thats too new and untestedto be considered a real threat to the smartphone. And yet, theres a veritable arms race to build these augmented reality platforms of the future.

Amazons Alexa is primarily thought of as a digital voice assistant, but having a virtual person tell you the time and weather definitely qualifies as augmented reality. Microsoft has its reality-bending HoloLens hologram goggles.Facebookand Snapchat have both built augmented reality straight into the camera. Even Google-backed startupMagic Leap thinks its yet-to-released goggles have a shot at becoming a new platform.

The net result is arace to build whatever is going to do the smartphone what the PC did to the mainframe. What these companies all have in common is that they missed the boat on building smartphone operating systems of their own. Now, its on them to build whatever comes next.

Apple and Google are well aware of the threat and are not standing still.

Apple has ARkit, a system for building augmented reality into iPhone apps, using the phones built-in camera. Its technologically robust enough and easy enough to use that developers love it, givingApple a nice foothold in augmented reality. If and whenApple releases smart glasses, those apps will come right over.

Google has various augmented reality effortsin the works, including Project Tango. And although the first version of the Google Glass headset flopped, if Google figures out how to revamp the device, it will have a vehicle to extend Android into the AR realm.

In a weird way, going on the defensive like this almost gives Apple a perverse incentive to replace the iPhone: IfApple can build the next great hardware platform itself, it means that Amazon cant do it with Alexa, and Microsoft cant do it with HoloLens.

In the meantime, as we appreciate all the new hardware and software goodies coming out later this year, keep the perspective that everything were seeing now is the first salvo in a computing war that will rage forthe next decade and beyond.

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The Smartphone Is Eventually Going to Die, and Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook Are Racing to Kill It - Futurism

In Brief Elon Musk told the National Governors Association meeting that the solar roof for the Model 3 (or any car) was not practical and was an idea that would be "scrapped." As of now, a car's roof is not big enough to make this efficient with current technologies.

In November 2016, Elon Musk said that the upcoming Tesla Model 3 would incorporate the technology of the new solar roof. However, on July 15 at the National Governors Association meeting, Musk squelched the idea in his remarks. When asked about the solar roof, he indicated that he would scrap that idea which requires some very complicated engineering. He explained:

I really thought about this. I pushed my team. Is there some way we can do it on the car? Technically, if you have some sort of transformer-like thing that will pop out of the trunk like a hardtop convertible that ratchets solar panels over the car. . .and provided you are in the sun, that would be enough to generate 20 to 30 miles a day of electricity. Its a difficult way to do it.

As Electrek reports, the issue with the concept of solar panels that cover the top of cars is that they are rarely efficient enough to be worthwhile. Furthermore, their functionality varies based on your location. Even the Prius solar roof is really mostly a ventilation system, not a significant source of backup power for the car. In the end, the idea of a retractable array in the trunk is a complicated solution that would, at most, add 20 to 30 miles per day.So, unfortunately, it looks like we wont be seeing the solar roof option on the Model 3, at least not now.

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Elon Musk Scraps Solar Roof Idea for New Tesla Model - Futurism

Chasing the Unknown

Buzz Aldrin is an acclaimed astronaut, engineer, and (of course) the second human being to ever walk on the Moon. Over the years, he has inspired entire generations to look beyond the bounds of Earth and pursue the unknown. As Aldrin previously noted, human beings are meant to be inquisitive. Were meant to be achievers. And to this end, Aldrin has dedicated his life to advancing humanity through discovery, creating explorers and scientists alike in the process.

Most recently, Aldrin helped to create a virtual reality (VR) experience that allows people to travel to Mars. As one of the few individuals who has ever had the privilege of stepping onto an astronomical body besides Earth, Aldrin is able to expertly assist in conveying the experience of space travel to the everyday individual and, in so doing, take people (virtually) farther than they have ever gone before.

In a recent interview with Futurism,Aldrin weighed in on just how important it is for us, as humans, to take this next step in journeying into the final frontier, One of the things that makes space exploration so exciting is that the possibilities are endless. Mars is the next actionable step for us we have never been closer to knowing and exploring another planet. Plus, I believe that Mars has realistic potential for colonization.

Aldrin continued by noting that, in order to make humanitys future on Mars a reality, we will need to start garnering interest and making plans for tomorrow today: Now is the time to start thinking seriously about what life on Mars might look like in the future. I believe we can have the first Human Martians at Mars by 2040.

Obviously, a virtual journey to Mars isnt exactly the same as a real Martian excursion; however, such technologies can, in some small way, help bring people to the stars who otherwise might not ever have the opportunity. In this respect, the VR experience is truly valuable. As Aldrinnotes, We have a long way to go before trips to space are widely affordable for everyone. Luckily AR/VR technology is here now.

Aldrin continued by asserting that, more than just showing people what the voyage to Mars will be like,this type of experience is an integral part of encouragingpeople to get excited about science and exploration. And in todays society, where denialism and sensationalism dominate many conversations, a genuine interest in science is more crucial than ever. Aldrin believes that exploring the vast recesses of space can help in this regard because, as he asserts, space travel is a great unifierit captures our collective imagination, encourages our curiosity, and inspires our creativity.

To this end, Aldrin thinks that it is through these small pushes in the right direction that humans will finally make it to other worlds. Because we are, at the end of the day, wanderers: It is in our nature to explore. We, as a species, are curious and want to see whats over the next hill, see how fast we can go. It was only 66 years from the point that the Wright brothers flew to us flying rockets to the Moon.

If this VR voyage sounds like something that would interest you,Aldrinand Terry Virts,the former commander of the ISS, are teaming up withOmaze, a donation-based experience platform, to offer one winner (and a friend) a chance to celebrate the Apollo 11 anniversary as VIPs at the ShareSpace gala. You will get to hang out with the pair and experience Aldrins virtual Mars experience. Best of all, this effort supports The ShareSpace Foundation, which is a nonprofit dedicated togetting kids involved with STEM.

In the words of the Carl Sagan,Human beings are a curious, inquisitive, exploratory species. I think that has been the secret of our success as a species. Aldrin embodies this exploratory quest and, through AR and VR, he wants to spark that curiosity and need to explore in all.

Of course, no one is positive when the first human footsteps will leave their mark on the Martian surface, but the quest to get us there is how we will continue to advance as a species.and it isnt just astronauts and rocket scientists who can (and should) participate in this great journey. Whether virtually or through other means of education and involvement,it is now possible for us all to engage our minds, hearts, and exploratory imaginations. Its a race we must run together.

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Buzz Aldrin: It's Time for Humans to Start Looking at Other Planets to Live On - Futurism

In Brief Google's iconic Glass is now back, but this time the wearable is not meant for the average consumer. Alphabet's X division has refocused the device for optimal use in the workplace, and already, the reboot is poised to be more successful than the original. A Clearer Vision

When Google Glass debuted back in 2012, it generated so muchhype that people expected it to usher in a new era of wearable technologies. Sadly, the hype was short-lived as people realized that Glass wasnt what they thought it could be.

Despite officially shutting down the Glass website in 2015, Google didnt exactly pull the plug on the project, and now, Glass is backwith a new mission.

The reboot comes from X, the moonshot branch of Googles parent company, Alphabet. The eyeglass-like wearable is now called Glass Enterprise Edition, and according to the Glass website, its nowa hands-free device, for hands-on workers.

Workers in many fields, like manufacturing, logistics, field services, and healthcare, find it useful to consult a wearable device for information and other resources while their hands are busy, Jay Kothari, project lead for Glass, wrote in a blog announcement. Thats why weve spent the last two years working closely with a network of more than 30 expert partners to build customized software and business solutions for Glass for people in these fields.

This work-focused version of Glass was a product of time and smart choices. Despite the original Explorer Edition not landing a core market, it did find traction in a number of work environments.

We first saw signs of Glass potential for businesses in the Glass Explorer days, explained Kothari. As we said when we graduated, wed been seeing incredible developments with Glass in the workplace.

While Alphabet continued to supply companies likeBoeing, General Electric, DHL, and AGCO with the Glass Explorer, they also started adjusting the lenses to focus on just one market.

For these businesses, using the Enterprise Edition has worked out pretty well. Employees are now working smarter, faster, and safer because they have the information they need right in their line of sight,AGCOs Peggy Gulick told Kothari.

By pivoting away from the consumer market, Glass may just have found a way to rewrite its legacy.

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Google Glass Is Back, and It's No Longer Meant for Everyone - Futurism

In Brief When serial entrepreneur Elon Musk spoke to U.S. governors on Saturday, he urged them to create regulations to cover the development of artificial intelligence. Musk, who has previously warned of the risks of AI, thinks it could lead to the end of human civilization if left unregulated. A Fundamental Risk

As a guest speaker at the 2017 National Governors Association Summer Meeting, entrepreneur and innovator Elon Musk covered a number of topics, including artificial intelligence (AI). During his talk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO and founder urged the U.S. governors present on Saturday to set up regulations for the development of AI.

Musk is very familiar with the topic of AI, as hes spoken about it a number of times. To be clear, heisnt afraid of AI itself. What scares him is what could happen if AI is left unchecked. In fact, he calls it potentially the biggest risk we face as a civilization.

One solution, he said, is early regulation. Normally, the way regulations are set up is a whole bunch of bad things happen, theres a public outcry, and after many years, a regulatory agency is set up to regulate that industry, said Musk. It takes forever. That, in the past, has been bad but not something which represented a fundamental risk to the existence of civilization. AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization.

Several of the governors asked Musk how it would be possible regulate an industry thats so new, and he replied that the first step is getting a firm grasp onit: The first order of business would be to try to learn as much as possible, to understand the nature of the issues. Thats what Musk has been doing through his non-profit AI research company OpenAI.

Musks isnt the only initiative with the goal of ensuringAI is ethical, but even if these all fail, the serial entrepreneur has a few other potential plans of action against rogue AI.

One isNeuralink,which would give humanity the ability to keep up with AI by essentially incorporating the technology into ourselves. Another isSpaceXs plan to reach Mars. If successful, this would ensure humanitys survivalby giving us a potential second homein case AI takes over the Earth.

While theres still time, however, Musk is pushing for proactive regulation. Until people see robots going down the street killing people, they dont know how to react because it seems so ethereal, he told the governors. AI is a rare case where I think we need to be proactive in regulation instead of reactive. Because I think by the time we are reactive in AI regulation, its too late.

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Elon Musk: Unregulated AI Could Be The Biggest Risk We Face as a Civilization - Futurism