A Universe of Earths

Planet hunters and science enthusiasts are rejoicing over NASAs latest announcement. Today, a team of astronomers working with data from the K2 mission released a new catalog of potential alien planets. In a press conference held at NASAs Ames Research Center, the team stated that they hadidentified 219 planet candidates, 10 of which are said to be rocky worlds that are in the habitable zones of stars that are similar to the Sunwhich is ayellow dwarf or G dwarf.

In short, it seems that we have 10 new planets that are Earth-like.

In science, Earth-like worlds are loosely defined as terrestrial worlds that have a chemical composition that is similar to our own planet andorbit in a relatively young stars habitable zone (the habitable zone is defined as the orbit around a star where liquid water could theoretically exist on a planets surface).

The team was composed of Kepler research scientists Mario Perez, from the Astrophysics Division of NASAs Science Mission Directorate in Washington, Susan Thompson, from the SETI Institute in California, Benjamin Fulton, from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, and Courtney Dressing, a NASA Sagan Fellow at Caltech.

To date, there are already 4,034 exoplanet candidates identified by Kepler and 2,335 of these have been confirmed. The 10 new exoplanets addto the 49 Earth-like exoplanets in habitable zones that were previously detected by Kepler, more than 30 of which have been verified.

Perhaps the most interesting of these new finds is KY 7711, which Thompson said is located near its star in an orbit that is very similar to the path that Earth takes around the Sun, meaning that it receives the same amount of heat, although it is approximately 1.3 times larger than our planet.

Typically, exoplanetsfall in one of two categories: super-Earths, which have a radius that is 1.5 times that of the Earth, rocky surfaces, and oftenlittle to no atmosphere; and those that are like mini-Neptunes, which are about twice the Earths radius with thick atmospheres and no rocky surface. Exoplanets falling in between these two categories (i.e. worlds that are Earth-like) are smaller and, thus, much harder to identify. But as this latest find reveals, they are out there.

The Kepler space observatory was launched 8 years ago, in March 2009. Its singular mission was to search for planets orbiting other stars in the hopes of finding alien worldsthat are similar to Earth. Fulton explained that, looking back, they wouldnt have expected to identify roughly 50 Earth-like exoplanets so soon.

Both the original Kepler mission and K2 have significantly contributed in the mission to search for potentially habitable exoplanets. Although not part of the original mission, Kepler also provided the first images of the TRAPPIST-1 system, arguably the most notable exoplanet system recently discovered.

Now, as the K2 reaches the end of its four-year run, Kepler scientists think that we are closing in on the end of an era in exoplanet research. But it also marks the beginning of a new one, with missions like the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) expected to launch soon. Both the TESS and the JWST would look into exoplanets in ways Kepler isnt able to, identifying new information about their composition and habitability.

Undeniably, though, it was Kepler that made all of these future missions possible. Whats exciting about today is we have taken our telescope and we have counted up how many planets are similar to the Earth in this part of the sky, Thompson said at the press conference. With the data I have, I can now make that count. From there, were going to determine how common other planets are. Are there places we could live in this galaxy besides what we call home?

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NASA Just Discovered 10 Earth-Like Alien Planets - Futurism

In Brief Production on the batteries for Tesla's Model 3 has begun at the company's Gigafactory in Nevada. The first Model 3s are expected to be delivered in 2017, and once production scales, the batteries will be incorporated into Tesla's other models.

Tesla just took a major step forward withtheir Model 3by starting production onthe electric vehicles battery cell at Gigafactory 1 in Nevada over the weekend. According to Electrek, Tesla cofounder JB Straubel said during a presentation at the Midwest Renewable Energy Associations 28th Annual Energy Fairthat the battery was in production right now.

Teslas 2170 batteries for vehicles are made using Nickel Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (NCA), as opposed to the 2170 battery cells that power the companys stationary energy storage products, which utilizeNickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC).

Musk has called the batteriesthe best cell in the world that is also the cheapest cell and says they have the best energy density in the world. While they will initially only be used in the Model 3, which isdue to go into production next month, Tesla plans to eventually scale up to integrate them into the Model S and Model X, which are already in production.

This is exiting news for both the electric andautonomous vehicle industriesas the batteries are pivotal to achieving the Model 3s $35,000 price tag. As price decreases, general adoption increases, which will result in safer roads for drivers and pedestrians alike. Coupled with the environmentally friendly nature of the cars, Teslas Model 3 is looking like a serious game-changer.

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A Major Component of Tesla's New Affordable Electric Vehicle Just Went Into Production - Futurism

In Brief It looks like Elon Musk's tunnel project has the support of Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti, according to a recent tweet by the Boring Company's CEO and founder. The L.A. mayor looks to Musk's tunnels to improve traffic conditions to LAX.

Often, legislation can either be an express lane or a roadblock (pun intended) for technological innovation that improves transportation. Getting government to support this type of development, such as Elon Musks famous Boring Company, is definitely a step in the right direction.

In a recent tweet, Boring founder and CEO Elon Musk linkedan interview fromABC this past Sunday that featuredLos Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti. In the snippet, Garcetti was talking about potential solutions to improve the abysmal traffic to the citys airport. In particular, he mentioned Musks tunnel solution. Like many other cities have, Id love to see maybe even with the new tunneling technology that people like Elon Musk is looking at, whether we could have a quick and direct route from LAX to Union Station, Garcetti said.

While Musk noted Garcettis comment to be promising, the serial entrepreneur made an additional comment, saying that government permits are often harder to come by than developing technology. In order for a potentially disruptive technology like the Boring Companys earthquake-proof tunnel system which could potentially improve L.A. traffic to become a reality, there must be more effective and efficient policy making.

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Elon Musk Just Claimed That The LA Mayor is Open to His Controversial Boring Company - Futurism

In Brief Solar power is pacing to make it easier for the world to dump coal once and for all. Within the next four years, solar power will finally be cheaper than coal nearly everywhere, aligning economic and environmental interests. Solar Boom

Solar power is among the easiest ways for individuals to hop on the clean energy generation train. There are many incentives afforded to homeowners who are looking to make the switch to solar power. Even more, it is only getting cheaper to produce, install, and operate this technology. And with the advent of Teslas solar power generating roofing tiles, the process is getting a welcome aesthetic upgrade on top of all of the fantastic vertical integration their technology provides.Click to View Full Infographic

This boom is going to continue pushing solar power to the forefront of clean energy initiatives, as the cost of solar energy is expected to drop 66 percent by 2040. Furthermore, a report from Bloomberg states that in just four years time, solar power will finally be cheaper than coal almost everywhere. The report also claims that by 2040, up to 20 percent of Brazils power will be generated by the sun, and Germany will be at 15 percent.

The economic benefit of switching from coal to solar power will spureven greater growth as coal supporters will no longer be able to deny the cost saving potential of renewable energy. Thankfully, the rest of the world will also benefit from a significant decrease in the amount of fossil fuelsbeing burned, a major contributor to climate change.

The report, generated by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, states that greenhouse gas emissions will peak in 2026. But thanks to the clean energy revolution, these levels will be 4 percent lower in 2040 than they were last year the reigning hottest year on record.

With the decline of fossil fuels, we may likelyalso start seeing the decline of large utility systems. Tesla is a pioneer in this area with its vertical integration of solar panels and solar power storage systems. Their technology is already being used to decrease regional demand on fossil fuel burning plants in Southern California.

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As Cost Plunges, Solar Power is Ready to Surpass Coal - Futurism

In Brief By 2020, there will be at least 4 internet-connected devices for every person on Earth comprising the Internet of Things. The growth of the IoT is being powered by more 5G access and falling costs, and will equalize opportunities for more people. Internet Of Things

According to research from Business Insider, more than 24 billion internet-connected devices will be installed around the world by 2020. To give that some context, thats more than four devices for every person on the planet. Together, these devices comprise the Internet of Things (IoT), and its presence is permanently changing our world.Click to View Full Infographic

IoT is the connection between the physical world of humans and the digital world of data (and, to some extent, human ideas). Computers, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, modern TVs, and wearables are all part of the IoTs that part is intuitive. However, even everyday appliances like thermostats and smoke detectors are now beginning to boast smart capabilities, which establishesthem as part of the IoT. Our entire transportation system, the way we work, and even how we socialize will all change because ofthe IoT.

Although there are many things that together are driving the growth of the IoT, there are a fewbasic trends that are easy to identify. Internet connectivity is expanding and will soon be almost everywhere. For example, in 2018 New York is setbecome the first state to bring broadband access to every household, even in rural areas.Another factor is that mobile technology is improving quickly, and the use ofremote and mobile devices is rapidly becoming more widespread. This means prices are falling, and access is growing. Nokia, for example, is bringing 5G technology to India.

Along these lines, more money is being invested into the IoT as companies and governments alike recognize its importance. The U.S. government invested $8.8 billion in IoT solutions in 2015, up $1.1 from the previous year. At the same time, the price of internet-connected sensors, which most IoT devices rely on, is falling. This means the price of IoT devices are dropping, and more people can afford more devices.

As the IoT grows, security challenges will arise, and possible privacy concerns that could affect our individual rights. However, overall the growth of the IoT will mean more access to opportunity for more people. The best way to respond to it is to plan ahead for these kinds of problems and be ready to tackle them.

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By 2020, There Will Be 4 Devices for Every Human on Earth - Futurism

In Brief Elon Musk gives behind the scenes look at SpaceX's Falcon rocket factory in a video posted to Twitter and Instagram on Saturday.

On Saturday, Elon Musk posted a video on Twitter giving us abehind the scenes look at the inner workings of SpaceX.The videofeaturesshots of people working on both the inside and outside of multiple rockets at the Falcon Factory in Hawthorne, California. It also features some gorgeous frames of the technology, which Musks intends will help democratize space travel.

An earlier tweet gave us an update on Musks plan to make humanity a a space-bearing civilization and a multi-planetary species by colonizing Mars. Although it providesinsight into his logic and initial ideas, Musk did revealon Twitter that there are Major changes to the plan coming soon.

Musks SpaceX company is one of many currentlydeveloping the next generation of rockets. Thus far, these models appear primed to be cheaper alternatives totraditional space travel. One company,Blue Origin, similarly to Musk, isworking on reusable rockets and another company,Rocket Lab(whorecently had a successful launch), are aiming to create unprecedentedly cheap rocketscapable of makingfrequent trips to space.

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WATCH: Elon Musk Gives Behind the Scenes Look Inside Falcon Factory - Futurism

In BriefIn a recent tweet, astrophysicist and popular sciencecommunicator Neil deGrasse Tyson claimed that car accidents will bethe leading cause of death in a world free of diseases and aging.The clearest way to combat this is the adoption of self-drivingcars. Leading Cause of Death

Atthe most basic level, the leading cause of death amongst humans is our frailty. We get sick. We age. Inevitably, we die. While that sounds grim,its simply the nature of our biology right now, but it may not be for long.

Right now, scientists worldwide are working tireless to keep death at bay. Theyre developing treatmentsthat could potentially cureall diseases and even stop aging itself, which many now consider a disease itself and not an inevitable fact of life.

So what happens when we accomplishall that weve set out to do? American astrophysicist and famous science personality Neil deGrasse Tyson thinks well still have one more hurdle to overcome, and he shared it via a recent tweet.

Tysons point is backed up by a number of studies on car fatalities and the development of autonomous vehicles. In the United States alone, roughtly 30,000 to 40,000 people die from car crashesevery year, and an estimated94 percent of those are due to human error. Additionally, some six million drivers admitted to bumping other cars on purpose, according to a report by the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Autonomous vehicle manufacturers agree that self-driving systems would make the roads safer by eliminating human error. While these manufacturers have yet to achieve true Level 5 autonomy, recent developments in driverless vehicle systems arent too far off the mark.

Most notable among these is, of course, Tesla. At a time when the rest of the world wasnt too keen on investing in autonomous technology, Tesla and CEO Elon Musk vigorously pursued the tech. Now, the company has developed its ownAutopilot self-driving software, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports has already reduced Tesla accidents by 40 percent.

Ride-hailing company Uber, in partnership with Volvo, has also been busy testing and rolling out its own autonomous vehicles. The company was the first to introduce self-driving taxis, it was responsible for test driving the worlds first autonomous truck, and it has plans for an autonomous flying car.

Other industry giants from both the tech and car manufacturing sectors arealso developing autonomous technology. Most recently, Apple confirmed that theyve been working on an autonomous system that could improve self-driving vehicles, possibly for use in their own line of cars.

General Motors recently deliveredthe worlds first mass-produced self-driving cars, while others, such asVolkswagen and Ford, are moving from the concept stages to production. And then theres theever-growing number of startupsalso in the self-driving game.

Given all these efforts, autonomous vehicles are poised to be a major part of transportation in the near future. Public adoption may be slow at first, but once the tech is embraced, well be able to check another threat to humanity off the list.

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Neil deGrasse Tyson: Self-Driving Cars Will Save Lives - Futurism - Futurism

A New Plan

They say everythings sweeter the second time around, and that seems to be the casefor SpaceXs plans to colonizeMars. Last year, Musk unveiled his plans to colonize the Red Planet and make it fit for human habitation. Now, that version of the plan has been published and madeavailable for freewith a few notable updates.

In the paper, the focus is on affordability, as that is the primary factor in making life on Mars a reality. As Musk notes, You cannot create a self-sustaining civilization if the ticket price is $10 billion per person. In order for it to be viable, Musk asserts that the cost should be about $200,000equivalent to the median price of a house in the United States. In the paper, Musk outlines the steps he considers essential to ensuring this relative affordability.

But this is just the beginning.Musk posted a tweet today hinting that this version one is already being reviewedand version 2 is on its way.

According to Musk, the version one has one fundamental flaw, which is the cost of developing and operating giant rockets. While SpaceX has been specializing on reusable rockets, getting to Mars would still be costly due to the size of the rockets needed. According to V1 of the plan, getting to Mars depends on a reusable rocket-and-spaceship tandem, which Musk has called the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS). Reducing the costs to developing the ITS is crucial, especially since Musk himself has already put a cap on how much a trip to Mars should be.

Musk asserts that he envisions 1,000 or soITS spaceships, each of which are carrying 100 or more people, leaving Earth orbit during Mars windows, the point in time when Earth and Mars align favorably, which happens once every 26 months.

Outlining the importance of making this information freely available, New Space editor-in-chief Scott Hubbard asserts that publishing this paper provides not only an opportunity for the spacefaring community to read the SpaceX vision in print with all the charts in context, but also serves as a valuable archival reference for future studies and planning.

There is a huge amount of risk. It is going to cost a lot,Musk wrote. There is a good chance we will not succeed, but we are going to do our best and try to make as much progress as possible. By giving everyone access to this information, our chances of success are greatly improved.

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Elon Musk Just Published His Plan to Colonize Mars - Futurism

In BriefA head transplant doctor claims to have made advance towardrealizing the medical procedure, but the scientific communityremains skeptical. The team claims to have used a proprietary"glue" to repair the severed spines of rats and achieved fullrecovery. Head Transplants?

Sergio Canavero, a man who has made the goal of his lifes work to transplant a human head onto a donor body, is claiming a success. He and his team have reported seemingly positive results from a technique called the Gemini Protocol. They used the protocol to repair severed spinal cords in rats, and their findings indicate that their methodology works across the board.

The researchers severed thespinal cords of 15 rats. Nine then received the actual Gemini Protocol, while the remaining six served as controls.

After the team severed the spinal cords, they applied adrenaline and a cooled saline to reduce bleeding. The rats treated with the experimental process received a polyethylene glycol (PEG) substance Canavero simply refers to as glue, which he says repairs and seals nerve cells in damaged spinal cords. The wounds were closed and the rats received antibiotics for three days.

Fourteen of the 15 rats survived for a month following the operation. According to the researchers, the experimental rats treated with PEG mixture recovered motor function steadily and were about to walk again by day 28. In fact, two of them were basically normal by that time.

However, most in the scientific community joined by most in the gaming community for totally different reasons are as highly skeptical about these alleged outcomes as they have been all along.

Scientists are doubtful for several reasons. First, the team didnt describe their methods well enough for other researchers to be sure about them. Case Western Reserve University Professor of Neurosciences Jerry Silver said in an interview with Newsweek that its not clear whether they severed only the dorsal spinal chord or the entire spinal chord.

He also points out an overall lack of evidence: they show no evidence for regeneration. There is no histology [the microscopic study of tissue structure], which is the only way to assess what is really going on here, Silver added.

Moreover, the characterization and scoring of motor function in the experimental rats is, according to Silver, unrealistic. The study reported that two of the treated animals recovered nearly normal locomotor skills (scoring of 19 and 20 points out of a possible 21 total) and that the treated rats had average a score of 12, which means that, on average, they could take multiple weight-bearing steps.

[This is] unbelievable, Silver said in the interview. Too good to be true in my opinion, which mandates that these results will have be independently verified and properly analyzed before this work can be accepted as scientifically valid.

Gamers are also skeptical because this appears to many to be a viral marketing scheme for Metal Gear Solid. The games creator and Canavero both deny this.

The team is now moving on to experimentation on dogs apparently horrifying many potential consumers is not a concern for them. They hope this next stage will provide indisputable proof that the technique works across the board. The first human head transplant remains scheduled in December of this year; the patient will be a Chinese national.

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Head Transplant Doctor Reports Successful Repair of Spinal Cord in Rats - Futurism

In Brief Toshiba has developed a robot to help survey highly radioactive waters at the site of the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The robot will help find lost fuel rods and gauge the structural integrity of the facility to ensure safe removal.

The 2011 meltdown of the Fukushima Da-Ichi nuclear power plant was a disaster of outrageousproportions. Triggered by a massive earthquake, the meltdown forced tens of thousand of people to evacuate their homes. The cleanup effort is ongoing and has been employing robots to help remove the radioactive fuel still trapped within the ruins of the facility.

Past robots used in the effort have consistently run into issues given the intense radiation on the site. Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) has made progress in the removal of some of the spent fuel rods, but some melted fuel rods have managed to evade detection.

A new remote-controlled robot, however, is hoping to help locate those melted rods while also surveying the structural damage to the facility. Once the rods are located, the team will have to study the best way to safely remove them. The robot is about the size of a loaf of bread.

Radiation levels in the plant continue to make it impossible for humans to complete the cleanup. One robot, known as the scorpion probe, was exposed to radiation levels of 1,000 Sievert, which would kill a human in a matter of seconds. Robotics give humans control in these impossible conditions.

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Toshiba Has Unveiled a Swimming Robot to Assist in the Fukushima Cleanup - Futurism

In Brief Amazon and Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos is asking help over Twitter for a new philanthropy strategy that's focused on helping people in the here and now. Though obviously an innovator, Bezos believes he needs to do something more immediate.

Serial entrepreneur Jeff Bezos needs your help. He recently took to Twitter to post a message about a predicament hes currently facing; he is crowdsourcing for a new philanthropic idea.

Im thinking I want much of my philanthropic activity to be helping people in the here and now short term at the intersection of urgent need and lasting impact, Bezos wrote in the tweet. It seems like the Amazon CEO was inspired by the philanthropic work done at Marys Place in Seattle.

Bezos admitted that much of his time is currently occupied by long-term innovation, as can be seen in his work with Blue Origin. His private space company is currently working on improving its rocket technology as it builds the New Glenn, its biggest one yet. The plan, Bezos revealed previously, is to colonize the SolarSystem, which is obviously a long-term endeavor.

Bezos also has projects that bring long-term ambition into the here and now. One example of this is how Amazon is redefining the retail experience with its unmanned stores. Its a product of how Amazon has been usingartificial intelligence (AI), an advanced and quickly developing technology, to influence business in the present.

As for Bezos new philanthropic idea, one can say that whatever positive changes it could make in the here and now could give people a shot at a better future. And hey, you can even get involved and pitch in an idea or two.

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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Needs Your Ideas For a New Philanthropic Endeavor - Futurism

In BriefThis month has shown that Hawaii may be the U.S.'s mostforward-thinking state. Earlier in June, it became the first stateto formally accept the provisions of the Paris Climate Accord, andnow, the state congress has passed a bill that puts Hawaii on thepath to universal basic income. Eyes on the Future

Innovation and forward-thinking may beHawaiis two biggest exports in 2017. Earlier this month, the state earned the distinction of being the first in the U.S.to formally accept the provisions of the Paris Climate Agreement after President Donald Trump decided to withdraw the nation from it, and now, Hawaii is taking the lead in embracing yet another innovative idea: universal basic income (UBI).

Today, Hawaii state representative Chris Lee wrote a Reddit post aboutHouse Concurrent Resolution 89, a bill he says he introduced in order to start a conversation about our future. According to Lee, After much work and with the help of a few key colleagues, it passed both houses of the State Legislature unanimously.

Lee also mentioned the development via Twitter:

The bill has two major provisions. First, it declares that all families in Hawaii are entitled to basic financial security. As far as Im told, its the first time any state has made such a pronouncement, wrote Lee. The second provision establishes a number of government offices to analyze our states economy and find ways to ensure all families have basic financial security, including an evaluation of different forms of a full or partial universal basic income.

The congressman thanked redditors in his post, as he said the site became his first resource in considering UBI, and added a Reddit-standard TL;DR at the end: The State of Hawaii is going to begin evaluating universal basic income.

Under a UBI program, every citizen is granted a fixed income thats not dependent on their status in life. Despite the current focus on the concept, itactuallyisnt particularlynew. In fact, former U.S. President Richard Nixon actually floated the idea back in 1969.

However, the benefits of such a program havebecome more appealing in light of recent technological advances, specifically, the adoption ofautomated systems that could result in widespread unemployment.

Proponents of UBI have highlighted how it would be an improvement on existing social welfare programswhile mitigating the effects of the joblessness expected to follow automation. Critics think that UBI would encourage a more lax attitudeabout workand argue thatfunding such a system would be difficult, if not impossible.

Existing pilot programs, however, seem to indicate otherwise.

Hawaii may be the first U.S.state to pass any sort of UBI-positive legislation, but several countries around the globe are already testing the system. Finland began its two-year UBI pilotin 2016, and Germany has one as well. Canada plans to start trialsin Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Ontario, while India is currently debating the merits of UBI. Several private UBI endeavorsare also in the works, including one that uses blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Of course, the implementation of any major UBI program requires a great deal of political will. As Lee wrote, Planning for the future isnt politically sexy and wont win anyone an election []. But if we do it properly, we will all be much better off for it in the long run.

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Hawaii Becomes the First State to Pass a Bill in Support of Universal ... - Futurism

In Brief Renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, have broken records in the U.S. electricity market. According to a report by the EIA, solar and wind combined generated 10 percent of the nation's total energy, the highest percentage yet.

A new report shows that earlier this year, renewables brokeenergy records in the United States for the first time. The data from the U.S. Energy Information Administrations (EIA) Electric Power Monthlydemonstrated that the monthly electricity generation from solar and wind sources made up10 percent of the countrystotal generation in the U.S.during the month of March.

The date from the EIA showed that around 8percent of the total electricity generated during that month came from wind, and the other 2 percent was from solar sources, including residential and utility-scale solar panels. The EIA noted these two renewable sources are highly seasonal: wind generates increasedin electricity during spring and solar output reaches its highest numbersin the summertime.

The agency saidits likely when they review the data for April, the trend will have continued: Based on seasonal patterns in recent years, electricity generation from wind and solar will probably exceed 10% of total U.S. generation again in April 2017, then fall to less than 10% in the summer months, according to a press release by the EIA. Renewable energy is clearly stirring things up, as it continues to break records andnot just in the U.S. These record-breaking quarters arent surprising, sincethe price of renewables has decreased considerablycompared to traditional coal-based sources. Renewables are also disrupting the U.S. job scene: more people are now employed by solar power than all fossil fuel employers combined. Renewable employees also outnumber those working at huge companies likeGoogle, Facebook, and even Apple.

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Renewable Energy in the US Broke Energy Records for the First Time - Futurism

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said hes in talks with Indias government to sell electric cars in the country, which is currently the fourth-largest auto market in the world.

Musk said on Twitter Thursday that he is currently negotiating a relief on import penalties until Tesla can build a local factory. This isnt the first time Musk has announced he intends to enter the Indian market Musk said in February he was hoping to launch in the country this summer.

India could become one of the most important markets for Tesla given the countrys massive population size and focus on reducing emissions.

Vehicle adoption in India is expected to growrapidly. At its current pace,the country is set to become the third-largestauto market in the world by 2020, according to a May report by the India Brand Equity Foundation, the Indian governments resource center for economic information.

Indias passenger vehicle segment witnessed the most growth in the 2016 fiscal year, but two-wheelers still secure the most widespread adoption.

But some foreign automakers have so far struggled to increase sales in India, driven partially by a crackdown on diesel vehicles. General Motors putits $1 billion planned investment in India on hold last summer due to poor sales and the regulatory environment, Reuters reported at the time.

What could give Tesla an edge is that India islooking topromote electric and hybrid vehicle sales through its National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. The initiative aims to have 6-7 million electric and hybrid vehicles on the road by 2020 by offering manufacturing and purchasing incentives. The country, however, will need to invest heavily in a charging infrastructure to make that vision a reality.

As Musk explores India, Tesla is also looking to further tap into theChinese car market, the largest in the world, asthe government pushes battery-powered vehicle adoption.

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Elon Musk in Talks to Bring Electric Cars to India - Futurism

In Brief Elon Musk's talk at the International Astronautical Congress has been adapted as a journal article in this month's New Space. The CEO of SpaceX focuses on the affordability of tickets to Mars as a key factor in its successful colonization. Mars Planning

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, delivered an address at the International Astronautical Congress held in Guadalajara, Mexico last year outlining his vision of getting humans into space. This talk has now been adapted into a fifteen-page article that was published in this months issue of the journal New Space. Musk focuses on affordability as a major factor to ensuring the possibility of Mars colonization. He says You cannot create a self-sustaining civilization if the ticket price is $10 billion per person. He believes that the cost should be about $200,000; equivalent to the median price of a house in the United States.

Musk outlines the steps he considers essential to ensuring this relative affordability. The first step, developing fully reusable transport, is already well underway at SpaceX. The company has already proven the reliability of itsreusable rockets,and have recently demonstratedthe reusability of theDragon spacecraft. Fueling is also a key factor in controlling costs: equipping any craft with additional fuel will significantly increase the weight of the craft. Musk proposes using methane which is produced on Mars and would thereforeallow for refueling viasources directly on the plant.

Many experts believe that in order to ensure the survival of our species, we must work to be multi-planetary beings. Perhaps Musks vision to get us to Mars is the first step toward that goal. Musks enthusiasm for his Mars project is quite timely if we are to believe Stephen Hawking, who predictshumanity only has 100 years left on Earth.

But colonizing Mars is only a one possibility space has to offer. Space miningand manufacturingcan help to decrease the burden on Earths resources and give us the capabilityto create products that would be impossible to manufacture on Earth.

We are at the beginning of an exciting crossroads for humanity. The space race of the mid-20th century brought about great change for humanity. Its looking like this iteration will completely transform us.

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Elon Musk Puts a Cap on Ticket Price to Mars Colony. Here's How Much It Could Cost. - Futurism

In Brief Scientists believe that most, if not all, sun-like stars are born with a twin. Evidence also suggests that our solar system's sun's twin may be responsible for knocking the comet that killed the dinosaurs toward Earth. Stellar Doppelganger

We have long known that the dinosaurs were killed by a catastrophic comet impact with the Earths surface but what if there was some foul play afoot? Astronomers have discovered that our sun may have been born with a twin, and an evil one, at that. One hypothesisstates that every 27 million years, the evil twin, aptly dubbed Nemesis, returns to wreck havoc on the solar system. They believe that the star lobs a few meteors in our direction as it makes its may through the outer limits of the solar system.

Research has lead scientists to believe that most stars are born with at least one sibling. According to UC Berkeley astronomer Steven Stahler, We ran a series of statistical models to see if we could account for the relative populations of young single stars and binaries of all separations in the Perseus molecular cloud, and the only model that could reproduce the data was one in which all stars form initially as wide binaries.

These findings could have implications for our understanding of how stars are formed. Looking into how they maintain or break those familial relationships will give us a deeper understanding of how our Universe came to be what it is today. Stahler said, Our work is a step forward in understanding both how binaries form and also the role that binaries play in early stellar evolution. Stahler also pointed out that this could even lead to a better understanding of how galaxies are formed.

These findings were made possible by the VLA nascent disk and multiplicity survey (VANDAM) which took a census of a group of baby stars merely a half-million years old. Their findings have been accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and can be read pre-publication at arXiv.org.

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Astronomers Discover That Our Sun Likely Had an Evil Twin That Killed the Dinosaurs - Futurism

In Brief CEO Elon Musk hinted at a possible target for the next generation of Tesla Roadsters expected to launch by 2019, and it's going to be the fastest one yet. Of course, with all the vehicles Tesla's currently working on, we'll have to wait a while to test it ourselves.

From 2008 and 2012, Tesla actually had a line of electric sports cars called the Tesla Roadster, which was the first-ever highway legal serial production of an all-electric car powered by lithium-ion batteries. Tesla has since discontinued its production, but it was announced three years ago that a second generation roadsteris coming.

CEO Elon Musk plans for this Tesla Roadster 4.0, so to speak, to outdo the first version. It will be capable of a Maximum Plaid performance mode, as Musk would call it in reference to the movie Spaceballs. In a recent tweet, Musk hinted at just how fast this Maximum Plaid would be.

If the first generation, had a Ludicrous mode capable of 0 to 97 km/h (60 mph) acceleration in just 2.5 seconds, the Tesla Roadster 4.0 might just hit 97 km/h (60 mph) in under two seconds. That would [be] an interesting target, Musk said in a tweet, replying to a question about the new roadster.

Would, of course, only count if capable of doing so right off the production line with street legal tires, Musk added, which Electreks Fred Lambert considers a possibility for the roadster to be faster with aftermarket components.

However, because Tesla is still busy with launching the Model 3 and perhaps working on the Model Y, and not to mention the highly-anticipated all-electric semi, the roadster is still a few years away supposedly in 2019. But the Roadster still gives Tesla fans who love sports cars something to look forward to.

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Elon Musk: The Next Generation Tesla Roadster May Achieve 60 MPH in Under 2 Seconds - Futurism

In Brief Researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology have developed a paint that can generate hydrogen fuel from moist air and sunlight. The team expects the technology to be ready for commercial use in five years. Powerful Paint

Powering homes using clean energy is becoming easier thanks to a growing number of innovative technologies and initiatives. Some government programs help homeowners with the financial burden of equipping their residences with energy-generating solar panels, and Elon Musks Tesla has developed roofing tiles that double as solar panels to give solar power generation an aesthetic boost. Now, a new innovation out of Australia is poised to make clean energy even more appealing.

A team of researchers from theRoyal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) has developed a paint that can be used togenerate clean energy. The paint combines the titanium oxide already used in many wall paints with a new compound: synthetic molybdenum-sulphide. The latter acts a lot like the silica gel packaged with many consumer products to keep them free from damage by absorbing moisture.

According to a report on RMITs website, the material absorbssolar energy as well as moisture from the surrounding air. It can then split the water into hydrogen and oxygen, collecting the hydrogen for use in fuel cells or to power a vehicle. [T]he simple addition of the new material can convert a brick wall into energy harvesting and fuel production real estate, explained lead researcher Dr. Torben Daeneke.

Though the paint isnt expected to be commercially viable within the next five years, Daeneke told Inverse he believes the end product will be cheap to produce. He also claims the paint would be effective in a variety of climates, from damp environments to hot and dry ones near large bodies of water: Any place that has water vapor in the air, even remote areas far from water, can produce fuel.

The paint could be used to cover areas that wouldnt get enough sunlight to justify the placement of solar panels, maximizing the capability of any property to generate clean energy. Any surface that could be painted a fence, a shed, a doghouse could be transformed into an energy-producing structure.

When this new material finally makes its way to consumers, itll join the ever-growing list of innovative technologies that are moving humanity away from fossil fuels and toward a future of clean, renewable sources of energy.

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A New Solar Paint Lets You Transform Your Entire House Into a Source of Clean Energy - Futurism

In Brief A collaboration between MIT and Harvard has yielded a fascinating new way to monitor dynamic levels in blood using color-changing tattoo ink. Though the team has no plans to pursue clinical trials, the technology could foreshadow the future of blood level monitoring. The Tattoo Test

Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)and Harvard Medical School have developed a tattoo ink that could provide real-time updates on the bodys health. By making ink that responds to interstitial fluid the liquid in which our cells are suspended the researchers have found a unique way to monitor blood glucose, sodium, and ph levels.

The idea of the DermalAbyss project is that an individual would have the ink tattooed onto their body in the pattern of their preference. The tattoo would then change color according to the amount of the activating agent present. A tattoo using the ink designed to respond to glucose levels, for example, would change color from blue to brown as the persons blood sugar level rises.

The technology is an ingenious interaction of the body-art, medical, and bio-sensor sectors. While the researchers haveno immediate plans to release their inkto the public, the potential of the project is huge, and others could possibly explore and expand upon it in the future.

Aside from the initial tattooing process, the researchers skin interfaces are non-invasive, unlike the methods currently usedto monitor diabetes. Theyre also much harder to damage than current wearable technology.

That means the tech could improve millions of lives in the United States alone by helping the 10 percent of the population with diabetesmore easily monitor their disease.

As stated on the project website,the technology could potentially be used to measure far more than just the levels tested in the study: It could be used for applications in [continuous] monitoring, such as medical diagnostics, quantified self, and data encoding in the body.

This isnt the only research exploring innovative uses of tattoos others have found ways to link body ink to sound filesor use it to control smartphones but this research is the first to explicitly explore the medical possibilities of inked biosensors. Though just a proof of concept right now, DermalAbyss could be offering us a glimpse into the future ofhealth monitoring.

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Color-Changing Tattoos Could Help Millions Monitor Their Health in ... - Futurism

In Brief Industry veteran General Motors announced this week that it has finished mass-producing Chevrolet Bolt EV test vehicles. These autonomous cars can potentially catapult GM into the forefront of the growing self-driving car market. GM Joins the Race

Theres a potential new major player in the autonomous vehicle industry, and its a seasoned player in the automotive market. Veteran car maker General Motors (GM) announced Tuesday that its completed 10 self-driving test vehicles of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle (EV). Thecars were manufactured at the companysplant in Lake Orion, Michigan. GM believes the achievementcould position the company at the head of the autonomous car race.

The autonomous vehicles you see here today are purpose-built, self-driving test vehicles, GMs chairman and CEO Mary Barra told her employees Tuesday morning, USA Today reported. GM has the platform and the technology to back up its claim: itsthe first car manufacturer to mass produce self-driving vehicles.

The level of integration in these vehicles is on par with any of our production vehicles, and that is a great advantage. In fact, no other company today has the unique and necessary combination of technology, engineering and manufacturing ability to build autonomous vehicles at scale, Barra added.

GM, however, didnt rush to mass production when it came to the development oftest versions of the Chevy Bolt EV. In addition to the efficiency inherent to electric vehicles, the carsare also designed to be more affordable than other EVs on the market. To achieve what we want from self-driving cars, we must deploy them at scale, Cruise Automation CEO Kyle Vogt said in a press release. By developing the next-generation self-driving platform in San Francisco and manufacturing these cars in Michigan, we are creating the safest and most consistent conditions to bring our cars to the most challenging urban roads that we can find.

Currently, autonomous vehicles are still part of a rather niche market, though a number of studies seem to indicate that soon may change.One predicts that by 2024, the demand for self-driving vehicles will have grown to 138,089 units a huge jump from the current demands. Not only that, a previous study, published in 2014,concluded that the autonomous vehicle market would grow to $87 billion by 2030.

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General Motors Just Became the First Car Manufacturer to Mass Produce Autonomous Cars - Futurism