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New CAPTCHA Forces Users to Prove They’re Human by Playing "Doom" – Futurism

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Take that, demons!Super Shotgun

An independent programmer is dead-set on making CAPTCHA tests fun for a change.

So instead of identifying pictures of buses and traffic lights, now you can prove youre a human by gunning down demonic enemies in a mini version of the iconic game Doom before time runs out, according to PCMag. Its pretty straightforward as far as gameplay is concerned just point and shoot and its not exactly secure, but its a whole lot better than squinting at blurry pictures to guess whether or not they have a stop sign in them.

By the way, you can play it here. As a warning, the authentic Doom music and sound effects are pretty loud so turn down your headphones first.

A typical CAPTCHA involves more than a simple puzzle. They also require some way for the system to verify the users answers to make sure theyre not a bet. Because it basically plays like an old-school Flash game, the Doom CAPTCHA lacks that added layer of security.

My CAPTCHA about Doom only validates from user-side (client), Miquel Camps Orteza, the programmer behind the minigame, told PCMag. There is no backend to a server to validate the user request. For [someone] who can code, they can see how easy it is to validate the CAPTCHA.

Instead of an actual security tool, the CAPTCHA was meant to be a showcase of Ortezas programming skills while he hunts for a job.

I thought that maybe the CAPTCHA will catch the attention of some people and companies, he told PCMag. Before this CAPTCHA, I did another one that forces you to do some squats before purchasing on Amazon using [your PCs] webcam.

READ MORE: Tired of Boring CAPTCHAs, This Developer Created a Doom-Themed One [PCMag]

More on Doom: Artificial Intelligence Is Making Video Game Levels So Good That Even Other AI Thinks Theyre Man-Made

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New CAPTCHA Forces Users to Prove They're Human by Playing "Doom" - Futurism

Food futurist to speak at NEPC expo this fall Produce Blue Book – Produce Blue Book

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

The New England Produce Council Inc. BB #:170872 has announced that Suzy Badaracco, president of Culinary Tides Inc., will speak about a future without fear at the NEPC Produce, Floral & Food Service Expo, scheduled to take place Sept. 29-30 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

In the coming weeks, the council will be announcing additional speakers to its annual event, which as always will feature a VIP reception and a keynote breakfast in addition to the trade show.

The title of Badaraccos presentation is How to Use Strategic Thinking to Navigate Trends for 2021 & Beyond: A Future Without Fear.

Gearing up for a post-pandemic environment, the expo committee believes that Badaracco will offer much insight on produce trends for the next two years. Not only is the current environment changing rapidly, there are two influences that are acting independently: COVID-19 and recession.

Products and messaging should evolve ahead of consumer behavioral changes so they hit when consumers are their most receptive, said Badaracco.

Other influences, including health and consumer drivers, will be discussed as they pertain to the shaping of marketplace trends and how they impact the creation of new products. Equally important is the ability to recognize and adapt to upcoming changes in trend direction and to differentiate between long- and short-lived trends.

Some tools that Badaracco will offer as take-aways from the presentation will be: Understand the issues pertaining to elements influencing produce trends in order to successfully navigate them. Cross analyze trend information to generate actionable intelligence. Better predict the opportunities and pathways for making produce products successful in the marketplace.

Badaracco holds a bachelor of science degree in criminalistics, an associate degree in culinary arts, and a master of science degree in human nutrition. She has been trained in military intelligence, chaos theory and predictive analysis techniques, and has been practicing trends intelligence and predictive forecasting for more than 15 years.

Using these techniques, she has been able to successfully predict and profile government, technology, adversary and ally, food, flavor, consumer, industry and health trends.

Culinary Tides Inc. helps food industry partners navigate trends by revealing relevant patterns so they can create products that connect with customers. The company specializes in foretelling a trends birth and forecasting its trajectory, personality and longevity. The forecast results are used to create entrance, navigation and exit strategies.

For additional information on the NEPC expo, visit http://www.newenglandproducecouncil.com or contact NEPC Executive Director,Laura Sullivan at 781-273-0444.

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Food futurist to speak at NEPC expo this fall Produce Blue Book - Produce Blue Book

Japan Is Sending a Robot to the Moon and It’s a Transformer – Futurism

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

This tiny spherical robot has a trick up its sleeve.Transformer

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced that its sending a baseball-sized rover to the Moon some time next year to collect data on lunar dust.

And the tiny spherical robot has a trick up its sleeve: it can transform itself to drive across the surface instead of roll.

Japanese company ispacewill be delivering the 250-gram rover using the commercial HAKUTO-R lander.

If successful, Japan has a chance to join a highly exclusive club of just three countries that have managed to softly land spacecraft on the surface of the Moon the US, the Soviet Union, and most recently China and, in doing so, earn its space program unprecedented global credibility.

The transformer will be packed with scientific equipment with the aid of several industry heavy hitters. Sony will be developing imaging technologies for the transformer, according to a press release, and Japanese toy maker Tomy will aid in miniaturizing technologies to make sure everything fits.

The robot also has another very important job. It will collect data to make sure the agencys massive crewed pressurized rover will be ready to hit the road on the lunar surface as soon as 2029.

The data to be acquired by ispace is intended to improve the design accuracy and automatic operation and driving technology for the crewed pressurized rover, currently under research at JAXA, an ispace press release reads.

The lander will also be delivering the United Arab Emirates Rashid, a 22-pound four-wheeled rover that will be studying the lunar surface for about 14 Earth days using a high-resolution camera, thermal imager, and microscope.

With a successful journey to asteroid Ryugu under its belt, JAXA stands a very real chance of successfully making it to the lunar surface.

READ MORE: Japan will send a transforming robot ball to the moon to test lunar rover tech [Space.com]

More on lunar landers: Canada Wants to Land Its Own Rover on the Moon by 2026

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Japan Is Sending a Robot to the Moon and It's a Transformer - Futurism

Russia Wants to Send a Nuclear-Powered "Space Tug" to Jupiter – Futurism

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Russias space agency Roscosmos has announced that its planning to send a nuclear-powered space tug as far as Jupiter in 2030.

According to state-owned news agency TASS, the mission of the uncrewed transport and energy module, dubbed Zeus, will last for about 50 months.

Together with the Russian Academy of Sciences, were are now making calculations about this flights ballistics and payload, Roscosmos executive director for long-term programs and science Alexander Bloshenko told reporters over the weekend, as quoted by the outlet.

Its yet another announcement of an ambitious deep space mission by Russias space agency, rounding out an already packed schedule between now and the end of this decade. The country is also looking to get its own orbital space station off the ground and land a probe on the south pole of the Moon by the end of the year.

The space tug itself will feature a 500 kilowatt nuclear reactor and weigh up to 22 tons, according to state-owned news outlet Sputnik.

Bloshenko detailed Zeus ambitious journeyduring his remarks. First the space tug will first fly to the Moon, where it will release a spacecraft that will go on to Venus. Then it will use Venus as a gravity assist to deliver yet another spacecraft, which will make its own long journey to Jupiter.

A nuclear-powered spacecraft could greatly shorten lengthy trips through deep space for astronauts. Currently, spacecraft rely on chemical propellants, solar energy and gravity for acceleration, as Insider points out.

With existing technologies, a round-trip to Mars could take more than three years.A nuclear-powered spacecraft could cut that time to just two years, according to NASA.

The Zeus module will act as a mobile source of nuclear power for future spacecraft that may attempt to make longer journeys through space.

Roscosmos has also signed a contract with design bureau Arsenal last year to develop a separate nuclear-powered space tug called Nuklon, according to TASS. The delivery date of the project is July 2024 and will reportedly cost more than $56.7 million.

Similar nuclear technologies could also be used to power future satellites and orbital stations, according to Sputnik.

Russia isnt the only country betting on nuclear energy in space. NASA is also working on a nuclear-power plant to be established in deep space, more specifically on the surface of the Moon.

Once the technology is proven through the demonstration, future systems could be scaled up or multiple units could be used together for long-duration missions to the moon and eventually Mars, Anthony Calomino, NASAs nuclear technology portfolio lead, told CNBC in November.

Calomino also noted that the ability to produce large amounts of electrical power on planetary surfaces using a fission surface power system would enable large-scale exploration, establishment of human outposts, and utilization of in situ resources.

Both Russia and the US are betting big on nuclear power in space. Not only would the technology provide future outposts with power, but nuclear fission reactors could also allow us to cross larger distances within our solar system in significantly less time.

READ MORE: Russia plans to launch a nuclear-powered spacecraft that can travel from the moon to Jupiter [Insider]

More on Roscosmos: Russia Says Its Quitting the ISS, But Its Also Testing a New ISS Module

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Russia Wants to Send a Nuclear-Powered "Space Tug" to Jupiter - Futurism

Chinese Officials Are Investigating Crypto Mining Operations – Futurism

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Regulators in Chinas Sichuan province are gathering information on cryptocurrency mining, potentially leading to a full crackdown on the practice, Reuters reports.

The news comes after the Chinese government announced it will crack down on bitcoin mining and trading behavior, and resolutely prevent the transfer of individual risks to the society.

Its yet another warning sign that Bitcoin could soon be on shaky grounds. With officials preparing for a crackdown, the effects on the digital token could be significant. China currently accounts for well over half of the global cryptocurrency mining supply.

Just last week, China banned any financial institutions and payment companies from doing any cryptocurrency-related business. As a result, Bitcoin plummeted to a four-month low of just $31,926, according to Coindesk before bouncing back to roughly around $39,000, down from its lofty highs earlier this year.

While regulators in Sichuan are meeting with local power companies to gather information, Reuters sources stopped short from claiming a crackdown was imminent. A seminar is scheduled next week for Sichuanese officials to discuss cryptomining.

Sichuan has plenty of hydropower available for mining businesses. It is the second biggest bitcoin mining province, according to Reuters, after Xinjiang.

The future of Bitcoin is more uncertain than it has ever been. Even Tesla CEO Elon Musk has contributed to Bitcoins recent fall in recent months by publicly flip-flopping on the token, first accepting Bitcoin as form of payment for Tesla vehicles in March, and then reversing the decision just two months later.

Musk cited environmental concerns for his decision to ditch Bitcoin, though Tesla still holds considerable amounts of the cryptocurrency and that may be affecting Chinas decision as well. The country is looking to drastically cut carbon emissions within the next decade.

By cracking down on cryptocurrency mining, a carbon-heavy practice, China could certainly make a dent. According to a recent report by CNN, China could soon generate as much emissions through Bitcoin mining alone as some entire European countries.

An alternative explanation for Chinas crackdown on cryptomining, apart from its massive carbon footprint, could be its push to establish a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a currency very unlike its blockchain-based counterparts.

Such a digital currency could give Chinas government unprecedented control over transactions, critics argue, which cant really be said about transactions made via a decentralized blockchain.

Its impossible to predict the outcome of Chinas plans to stop cryptomining businesses in their tracks but investors will certainly be watching closely.

READ MORE: In widening Chinese bitcoin crackdown, Sichuan to probe cryptomining official [Reuters]

More on Bitcoin: China Announces Huge Crackdown on Cryptocurrency Mining

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Chinese Officials Are Investigating Crypto Mining Operations - Futurism

The New Head of NASA Says COVID May Have Leaked From a Lab – Futurism

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Former Senator Bill Nelson, the newly-minted Administrator of NASA, made some unusual remarks about China, the pandemic, and national security during a virtual event.

Specifically, Nelson cited unofficial reports that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, may have escaped from a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, according to The Verge reporter Joey Roulette and added that the US ought to watch the Chinese.

We have to be concerned its nothing to snooze at and ignore, Nelson said of the lab leak hypothesis, according to Roulette.

Lets be clear. Its possible that the coronavirus indeed escaped from a lab, and more and more scientists are calling for a full and independent investigation of the pandemics origins.

But no publicly available evidence has emerged that conclusively shows that it either did or did not leak out of a lab and, due to the ephemeral nature of microorganisms, it may never. And even if scientists in Wuhan did accidentally leak the virus, it seems overwhelmingly likely that it was a terrible mistake rather than an act of malice by China or anybody else.

Add it all up, and its downright strange that the head of NASA an entity that specializes in space, not epidemiology is weighing in on such an explosive topic thats so far outside his wheelhouse.

Its equally unclear why he made the remarks at all. Nelson, who was addressing the National Academies Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board at a National Academies of Science event, was slated to talk about the primary challenges facing NASA.

Beyond speculation about a lab leak, abudding rivalry with Chinas space agency is certainly among the challenges Nelson faces in his new role, which he acknowledged during the same remarks.

Nelson told the boards that [China] is starting to get very aggressive in space, according to Roulette, which seems to be what brought Nelson to the matter of the pandemic.

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The New Head of NASA Says COVID May Have Leaked From a Lab - Futurism

This Otherworldly Darth Vader House in Houston Could Be Yours for $4.3 Million – Robb Report

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

The force is strong with this luxurious Texan abode. Known to many as the Darth Vader House, the space-age property is at once epic and commanding, and has a multimillion-dollar price tag to match.

Built a short time ago in a galaxy not so far awaythat is, Houston circa 1992the two-story structure has a striking, angular silhouette that resembles the Dark Lord of the Siths personal flagship, the Executor, as well as his infamous TIE Fighter and Death Star.

The overlords lair is located on a large lot on a prestigious West University street and offers an impressive 7,000 square feet of living space. With contemporary styling throughout, it is characterized by a flowing open-plan layout and massive windows that let in plenty of natural light.

The home sports lightsaber-like neon lights.TK IMAGES

At the heart of the home is an angular atrium that comes complete with a sunken neon-lit lounge and dual floating staircases. Elsewhere, there are four generous bedrooms with ample closet space for your Galactic Empire regalia, five full bathrooms, an office, a dining room and a kitchen whose stone countertops have a rockface edgea naturalistic counterpoint to all the sharp angles inside and out.

The furniture and art throughout toes the line between elegant, mid-century modern and abstract futurism. Think large, intricate sculptures mixed with stately wooden tables and consoles.

The sprawling backyard features perfectly manicured grass.TK IMAGES

The exterior, meanwhile, features large stretches of manicured grass that offer versatility in spades: You could add a bunch of Star Wars-themed furniture or even a pool. The property also boasts a sizable four-car garage where you could park your extra Imperial Star Destroyers or store your lightsabers.

As to be expected, Vaders pad does not come cheap. Listed by Wade Knight and Nadia Carron of Sothebys International Realty, its priced at an astronomical $4.3 million. But, hey, its a small price to pay to enter the dark side.

Check out more photos of the property below:

TK IMAGES

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This Otherworldly Darth Vader House in Houston Could Be Yours for $4.3 Million - Robb Report

Population Decline Is Turning Earth Into a Ghost Town, Experts Say – Futurism

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Countries around the world are beginning to reckon with a years-long drop in new births that has skewed population demographics heavily toward older age groups.

Thanks to that near-global drop in fertility rates, experts suggest that the planets population could enter a period of continued decline for the first time in known human history by the second half of the 21st century, The New York Times reports.

In a more local perspective, some cities are already reckoning with the challenges of precipitous drops in new births, the NYT reports, including ghost cities in Chinaand maternity wards with too few births to justify staying open in Italy. Some South Korean universities have so few students that the government is pressuring them to merge with others, and entire towns where deaths outnumber births are being consolidated in Japan.

A paradigm shift is necessary, former United Nations chief of population trends and analysis Frank Swiaczny told the NYT. Countries need to learn to live with and adapt to decline.

One Chinese city, Hegang, lost about ten percent of its population over the course of a decade. As a result, the cost of housing has fallen enormously.

Interestingly, Germany has found some ways to revitalize its dropping fertility rate by supporting would-be parents with social services like parental leave and childcare. The resulting increase in the local fertility rate, up to 1.54 from its 2006 low point of 1.3, is marginal but does offer some insights that other countries and cities could use for themselves.

Growth is a challenge, as is decline, Swiaczny told the NYT.

Population Decline Is Turning Earth Into a Ghost Town, Experts Say - Futurism

What’s it like to ride Dunedin’s driverless shuttle? Futuristic and fun. – Tampa Bay Times

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

DUNEDIN You ever stop, scrunch your nose, and think: We live in the future?

We arent teleporting in bad face paint like the original Star Trek, but things arent that far off. We walk around with pocket computers and connect across the world. Dont get me started on cryptocurrency. I will say, Look, a fire, then run away to avoid explaining it.

Today, though, lets focus on driverless cars. Specifically, the AVA Shuttle, visiting Dunedin for three months. I hopped on Sunday, en route to see the Tampa Bay Rays play (dominate) the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was a short walk to TD Ballpark from downtown. But it was shorter to step onto this peach jelly bean and pretend to be Marty McFly. Also, it was free. Also, it was air-conditioned. Also, it was neato?

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is partnering with Beep, a private company from Orlando, to bring us AVA, or Autonomous Vehicle Advantage. Did you get that? Beep-boop-beep, the future! Driverless shuttle programs launched in Tampa and St. Petersburg last fall. The goal is to assess how the shuttles might become part of Tampa Bays transportation landscape.

My husband and I sidled up next to Kelly OConnell, who had gone to church on her golf cart and decided to see what the robot car was about. She also told us about a meatball sandwich deal at the VFW. Thanks, Kelly!

The cutest Miami Vice pod pulled up to the lot across from Casa Tina on Main Street. OConnell asked to take it round trip, just for fun. Of course, said our friendly copilot, Chris Rivera. We boarded with two additional baseball fans. That made five, the limit during COVID times. Normally, it can hold up to 15 sitting and standing.

The shuttle is fully electric and can ride for nine hours on a charge from a power plant. Its disability compliant. It uses sensors and GPS to spot and move around obstacles. How? Look, a fire!

Rivera made sure everyone was masked, smoothing the edges of the ride with a joystick as AVA learned the area.

A-ha. You, eagle-eyed reader, ask: Whats the difference between a copilot and, you know, a driver?

Well, people being what they are, a vehicle like this could never be unattended. Wed be writing an investigative series about autonomous shuttles surfacing in ponds.

Moreover, robotics are elaborate, and driverless tech has been rife with cost and complications. The New York Times reported Monday that the industry has taken longer than predicted to get up to speed. Self-driving cars from Uber and Tesla have had fatal accidents, and some companies have sold their autonomous units to firms with more money and time for research.

Having a human on board a driverless shuttle is a good thing. But the AVA does work. We witnessed it.

As we approached at a slow clip, a crush of people hung out close to Douglas Avenue, selling parking and scalping tickets. Then, a guy wandered into the street hawking beads, oblivious to the adorable coral pod bearing down on him.

The thing stopped! It saw something with its robot eyes and did not flatten the man! It was like Captain Kirk coolly threatening to destroy the USS Enterprise, knowing it would never happen.

This was a moment for Rivera to point out the tech, and for everyone on board to nod aggressively. Surely there are kinks, but its exciting to see programs like this. It could alleviate traffic in busy areas, and provide access where buses and trolleys dont reach. Exploring innovative options is better than packing more gas-guzzlers onto fatter highways.

We hopped off the salmon spore to go to the game, and it left. OConnell waved at us from the back window, boldly going where no pod has... you get it.

AVA will stop along Main Street, Broadway Avenue, Scotland Street, Douglas Avenue, Wood Street and Highland Avenue in Dunedin through August, 10 a.m to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Masks required, capacity limited. Find a map at psta.net/programs/ava.

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What's it like to ride Dunedin's driverless shuttle? Futuristic and fun. - Tampa Bay Times

GEs designs controls for offshore wind turbines to ride the waves – The Verge

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

GE shared some new details today of a concept that might advance the development of futuristic floating wind farms. Floating turbines are engineering marvels or nightmares, depending on how you see it that could make massive swathes of deep ocean available to offshore wind development.

While they hold a lot of potential, the floating behemoths have so far been too costly to deploy at commercial scale. And because theyre floating, they also face a barrage of technical challenges that turbines fixed to the seabed dont have to weather. GE hopes to solve some of those problems through advanced turbine controls that its developing alongside consulting firm Glosten. Theyre pairing this with their largest turbine model, which is nearly as tall as the Statue of Liberty and Washington Monument combined.

GE received a $3 million award from the US Department of Energy to support the two-year project, which started last year. If the company can prove, through modeling and simulations, that its design will work, then it might move forward with its partners on the project to build a prototype. Today, theyre revealing some details of their design during an Energy Innovation Summit hosted by the DOE.

Designing a turbine that can float gracefully on the water is like putting a bus on a tall pole, making it float and then stabilizing it while it interacts with wind and waves, according to Rogier Blom, GEs principal investigator for the project.

The turbines themselves are essentially the same as other turbines fixed to the seafloor. The big differences are the design of the platform holding it up and the controls used to maneuver them on rough open ocean. GE is working to couple the design of an existing 12MW turbine and platform with automated controls so that they can work together in a more streamlined way. The controls, built-in sensors and computers, improve how the turbine responds to wind and waves.

If these controls are successful, the floating turbine could automatically adjust itself to catch strong gales without tipping over. That would ultimately maximize their power output, making them more profitable. Floating turbines without more advanced controls need to be bulkier so that they can stand up to surf. But with a smarter design, GE aims to reduce the platforms mass by more than a third compared to other designs for floating turbines which would ultimately cut down on costs.

GE is using a so-called tension-leg platform thats anchored to the seabed with adjustable tendons. Its new technology would be able to sense gusts of wind and swells in the ocean and, in real time, adjust the length of the tendons accordingly so that the platform can smoothly ride the waves. Blom describes the process as see, think, do. The control systems sensors, for example, detect a change in wind speed, determine how that change affects the turbine, and then make adjustments to respond.

Tension-leg platforms are innovative and one of the most stable platform designs, according to Walt Musial, a principal engineer who leads offshore wind research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). But its also very difficult to install, and a prototype hasnt even been demonstrated yet with a full-scale offshore wind turbine on top (although similar technology has been used for offshore oil production), according to Musial. Then again, everything about floating wind farms is still pretty novel. There are only a handful of floating wind turbines operating in the world and no commercial-scale wind farms.

That could soon change. Musial forecasts the first commercial-scale project to come online, probably in Asia, in just a few years. Developing advanced controls, as GE is attempting, plays a big role in making that happen, he says.

We are excited about this project because this could be a common enabling technology to tap into [a majority] of offshore wind resources, says Blom. Offshore wind designs are currently limited to waters shallower than 60 meters deep. That puts 60 percent of US offshore wind resources out of reach of fixed offshore turbines. But those resources could be developed with floating farms, according to NREL.

There are other advantages to floating wind farms. They can move far away enough from shore to potentially satisfy coastal residents concerned about how turbines might affect fishing, birds, or seaside views. They also dont disturb the seabed except for anchors used to moor the platform. That solves yet another problem thats stymied offshore wind development: a shortage of specialized ships needed to install turbine foundations.

Theres been skepticism in the past about whether floating turbines can develop fast enough and bring costs down to a point where they can really take off. Theyre also competing with their seafloor-fixed counterparts that are quickly advancing into deeper and deeper waters.

We shouldnt underestimate the creativity of the fixed offshore wind industry, because they are also pushing the boundary, says Po Wen Cheng, head of wind energy at the University of Stuttgarts Institute of Aircraft Design. When he started in offshore wind research some 20 years ago, people didnt think traditional turbines could be installed in waters deeper than 20 meters. Theyve since smashed that limit. But in a race to develop enough renewable energy to stave off the climate crisis, there may be enough room yet for both floating and fixed designs to take to the seas.

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GEs designs controls for offshore wind turbines to ride the waves - The Verge

Futuristic Autonomous Buses Will Soon Roam the Streets of Cambridge, UK – The Drive

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Self-driving cars may still be a ways off, if they get here at all. Less often discussed are larger vehicles, like self-driving buses. The potential improvements this technology could bring to public transport is significantround the clock services would no longer require drivers to stay up all night, for example, and many more vehicles could be deployed without requiring an equal growth in staff numbers. The town of Cambridge in the United Kingdom is charging towards that future, implementing a futuristic self-driving fleet to ferry its citizens around, reports the BBC.

The town will be fielding three Aurrigo Auto-Shuttles, each capable of carrying ten passengers at a time. The small buses feature a 22kW electric motor paired with a 47kWh battery, providing a range of around 100 miles between charges. The vehicles travel at 20 mph, and will operate on a roughly 2 mile loop between the West Cambridge University campus, the nearby Institute of Astronomy, and a local park-and-ride bus station. The vehicles were developed in collaboration between Aurrigo and the Greater Cambridge Partnership, a group consisting of local councils and the University of Cambridge working to deliver projects in the area. The self-driving bus market won't be theirs alone howeverplayers like Mercedes and Proterra have been working away for years now.

"These shuttles can be used on demand all day and night, every day of the year," stated Claire Ruskin, GCP boardmember, "which is unaffordable with our existing public transport." While the autonomous vehicles are intended to operate without human intervention, a safety operator will be on board while the vehicles are in use during the trial. This precludes the benefits of driver-free round-the-clock operation, however if the vehicles prove successful, such measures may be rescinded down the track.

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Futuristic Autonomous Buses Will Soon Roam the Streets of Cambridge, UK - The Drive

Breathe In the Lucid Air’s Futuristic, Big-Screen Infotainment System – Motor Trend

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Lucid is poised to take on Teslahead-on in a way few other EV automakers have. The company's first car, the upcoming Lucid Air, promises blistering performance, impressive range figures, and now, it looks like the in-car UX is up to par, too. Thanks to a recent release from Lucid (accompanied by a video that looks like it's straight out of another Silicon Valley tech company's studio, included below), we finally have a close-up look at just how Lucid plans to match the wow factor of Tesla's massive center touchscreen.

The company is calling the infotainment system Lucid UX, and it's made up of two displays. You can watch all of the functionality described in the video above, but here's our rundown:

The primary screen is a curved 34-inch display in front of the driver that's divided up into three distinct sections. The leftmost third of the main display is on at all times and contains essential functions like central locking, locking the charge door, and controls for the exterior lighting.

Speed, range, the odometer, and other key information about the car itself are displayed in the middle portion of the screen. To the right rests a sort of home screenit contains the Air's infotainment setup and consists of a main menu that leads the driver to the home screen, navigation, media information, and plenty of other functions.

Moving down, there rests a tablet-like display that Lucid calls the "Pilot Panel" lower on the dashboard. The display houses other functions like the HVAC controls, the car's drive modes, and seat positioningas well as the rest of the car's key functions. The panel is also motorized and can slip up and into the dash, revealing a storage area in the center console.

All in all, the content looks clean, easy to navigate, and totally unique to Lucid. They're also backed up by physical controls on the steering wheel Amazon Alexa integration, which we can't wait to try for ourselves. But, as excited as we are by the slick dash and sweet-looking UX, what we really want to know is what the Air is like to drive, and if it can really go 500 miles on a single chargeit came close during a ride-along we attended with Lucid last year. Stay tuned, people.

Breathe In the Lucid Air's Futuristic, Big-Screen Infotainment System - Motor Trend

13 bold and futuristic developments which will change Edinburgh’s skyline – if planning permission is granted – Edinburgh News

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Despite the inevitable delays caused by the pandemic, building projects and developments have continued to change Edinburgh over the last year.

Meanwhile other green-lit projects have been earmarked for completion over the coming months and years, from a 1,000-seated concert hall in the Old Town to hundreds of new homes being created in Fountainbridge.

But what are the buildings that will be making the news in the longer term?

The website http://www.skyscrapercity.com lists many developments yet to receive full planning approval here are 13 of the most eye-popping.

Currently in pre-planning, this huge 1.3billion plan would transform 120 acres of Granton, adding 3,312 homes, a primary school, a healthcare facility, 9,065m of commercial and retail space, and a coastal park. If all goes well it will be completed in 2037.

Photo: Collective Architecture, Studio for New Realities, ADP Architecture, Cooper Cromar

Elements Edinburgh is a developent that will build 2,500 homes on 65 acres of land in Ingliston, along with 95,000m of office space, three hotels with a total of 891 rooms, a 131 room aparthotel, 8,200m of retail and leisure space, and a new Edinburgh Airport access road. It's currently in the planning phase.

Photo: Corstorphine + Wright

Currently in the pre-planning phase, the 80 million Edinburgh Innovation Park, in Mullselburgh, would develop a 50 acre area to create a National Food & Drink Enterprise Centre,and Innovation Centre for food and drink sector SMEs, a hotel, offices and shops.

Photo: 10 Design

Currently on hold, the Quaich Project would see a 25million multi-function performance pavilion built in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, including indoor and outdoor performance and events venues, and a garden reception building with visitor centre, viewing gallery and cafe.

Photo: wHY, GRAS, Groves-Raines Architects

Excerpt from:

13 bold and futuristic developments which will change Edinburgh's skyline - if planning permission is granted - Edinburgh News

BlueRock and Senti Collaborate to Build Smarter, Disease-Fighting Cell Therapies – BioSpace

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Determined to take its next-generation engineered cell therapies to the next level, BlueRock Therapeuticsis teaming up withSenti Biosciences with futuristic medicines in mind.

BlueRockhas proved its merit with a therapy for Parkinsons disease with preclinical data demonstrating the ability to restore motor function and increase dopamine release over time. APhase I trial.for the drug started in Canada last month.

Using BlueRocks cell+gene platform to create universal pluripotent stem cells, Senti will step in to design, build and test Smart Sensors and Regulator Dials in BlueRocks regenerative medicine candidates. The addition of Sentis gene circuits will precisely control cell differentiation and therapeutic payload expression.

There is a tremendous opportunity at the intersection of cell, gene and systems biology. With control of all three axes, we believe we can further engineer the cells inherent potential to integrate multiple physiologic inputs to produce powerful therapeutic benefit in vivo, said Emile Nuwaysir, CEO of BlueRock.

Sentifounder Tim Lu compared the companys gene circuit tech to that of a Roomba vacuum in aTedMed talk. While the Roomba can constantly calculate where its been, where it needs to go next, and where the mess is to clean your home effectively, Senti is building cells that can compute information to do the same. Therapies of the future would enter the body inactive, go to the area of the body where needed and switch on to affect only the cells required to treat the disease.

Lus company has demonstrated how this can work in cancer cells. Through an "and" logic gate, the cancer therapy is designed to only attack when it senses two cancer signatures, over just one, ensuring it kills cancer cells and not healthy cells. The program then kills the cancer cell directly and recruits the rest of the immune system into the battle to reduce the ability of tumor cells to escape.

This latest team up with BlueRock would not only program cells that would only activate in the presence of a particular set of indicators but also come with fine tuning. After the therapy has already entered the body, doctors could introduce an alreadyFDA-approved small molecule drug to increase or decrease the delivered therapeutic payload. Most current cell and gene therapies cannot be adjusted once a patient has received them.

While the companies chose not to disclose the target of their programs at what is a very early stage of the collaboration, the main areas of focus, according to BlueRock, are neurology, immunology and cardiology.

Lu commented, We are engineering gene circuits to reprogram cells with biological logic to sense inputs, compute decisions and respond to their cellular environments. By combining BlueRocks iPSC platform with our sophisticated gene circuits, we believe that we have the potential to create the next generation of programmable regenerative medicines together.

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BlueRock and Senti Collaborate to Build Smarter, Disease-Fighting Cell Therapies - BioSpace

Atlantic City Poker Rooms Remove COVID-Related Seating Restrictions – CardsChat.com

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Atlantic City casinos returned to full seating capacity at poker tables and other gambling stations on Friday. The move came as New Jersey further relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. With the return to full seating, the citys poker rooms may be the busiest theyve been since the pandemic-induced shutdowns occurred in March 2020.

Full capacity at the tables is just one of several changes being allowed under New Jerseys latest guidelines. Atlantic Citys poker rooms will be allowed to remove the plexiglass dividers between each seat, and players who have been fully vaccinated will be allowed to play without masks. No protocols for checking an individuals vaccination status have been announced, inferring that an honor system regarding vaccinations and mask-wearing will be in place.

The relaxed protocols went into effect at 6am on Friday as infectivity rates declined across New Jersey, with more than 48% of the population now reported as being fully vaccinated.

The updated protocols as announced by the office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy promise a much needed boost for the regions economy during the busy summer months. In 2020, Atlantic City casinos were completely closed during the Memorial Day period; after being mandated to close in March, they were not allowed to open until July.

Live poker took even longer to return. The first Atlantic City poker room to reopen was its largest, the 77-table room at the Borgata, and that didnt occur until October 2020. When it did, the room initially offered only cash-game action and a maximum of seven players per table.

Similar restrictions hampered all gambling activity at all of the Atlantic Citys casinos.Overall, New Jerseys gross gaming revenue dropped by more than 80% in 2020, even though the states online-gambling sites enjoyed traffic surges during the worst of the pandemics larger impact.

Caesars Entertainments Noel Stevenson told the Press of Atlantic City that the relaxation of indoor restrictions were key to the venues recovery. New Jersey removed most outdoor restrictions one week ago, but the greater risk of indoor virus transmission made the state wait a little longer to make its move.

Caesars, Harrahs Resort and Tropicana are pleased to see the return of indoor events, entertainment, meetings and conventions and more of the amenities our guests expect from our resorts, Stevenson told the Press. Gov. Murphys most recent order allows us to take a needed step forward in our recovery effort. It will enable us to fully reopen this summer, just in time for Atlantic Citys peak season.

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Haley Hintze

Contributing writer Haley Hintze is a 20-year veteran of the poker world, a Women in Poker Hall of Fame finalist, and two-time Global Poker Awards finalist.

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Atlantic City Poker Rooms Remove COVID-Related Seating Restrictions - CardsChat.com

BetMGM Poker Running Spin the Wheel Promo in Pennsylvania – Pokerfuse

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

BetMGM PA is running a brand-new Spin the Wheel promotion for Poker players in Pennsylvania. The offer runs until July 4 and gives players one free spin every day on the prize wheel.

There are 8 sectors on the wheel, 7 of which are winners. The prizes consist of cash bonuses and tournament tickets, and range in value from $5 all the way up to $215and obtaining the bonus is as simple as it gets.

In order to receive a free spin, all players need to do is log in to their account each day during the promotional perio, and claim the offer. They will then have 24 hours to redeem any prizes before they expire.

The wheel is divided into the following 8 sections:

As ever, players must be 21 years old or over and physically located in the state of Pennsylvania.

Online poker has been available in Pennsylvania for over 18 months now. Until very recently, PokerStars PA was the only option available. That lack of choice ended on April 27, when BetMGM PA and Borgata PA went live in the Keystone State.

Play on the best-known poker site with $50 in freeplay after one cash hand or get a100% boost up to $600!

Kick things off with $25 with no deposit requiredand a big deposit boost up to $600!

Claim $25 worth of freeplay just for signing up and up to $600in extra cash with the 100% welcome bonus!

Poker fans can expect plenty more tasty offers while the sites try to grab a foothold in PA.

PokerStars PA recently regained its spot as the biggest site in the US regulated markets, after briefly falling behind its own poker room in Michigan, PokerStars MI. BetMGM will be keen to take a bite out of thatespecially with another competitor about to launch in Pennsylvania.

Newcomers to BetMGM Poker PA can of course take advantage of its generous welcome bonus. The package consists of two parts: For the first part, players receive $25 dollars of bonus cash when they sign up, giving them the chance to sample the games on offer at no risk to their own bankrolls.

Secondly, BetMGM will match your first deposit, up to an amount of $600, effectively doubling the funds in your account.

Promotions currently running at BetMGM PA include rewards for grinding and Sit & Go leaderboardswhile short-term offers and bonuses can change from one day to the next, so it is worth keeping an eye out.

PA players can expect more good news in the near future when WSOP PA launches its own poker room in the state. The operator has confirmed it will be live the Keystone State at some point this summer.

Its ultimate goal is to offer interstate online poker but while the implications of the Wire Act remain undecided, that target remains hypothetical for the time being.

However, WSOP insists that it will launch in Pennsylvaniaas well as in Michiganregardless of the ability to share liquidity across state boundaries.

This is fantastic news for Pennsylvania players, and they can expect more offers and promotions as operators compete for their attention over the coming months.

BetMGM PAs Spin the Wheel promotion runs from May 16 through July 4.

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BetMGM Poker Running Spin the Wheel Promo in Pennsylvania - Pokerfuse

Tony Parker qualifies for the World Series of Poker – Pounding The Rock

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

If you have read Tony Parkers book, you know the man does not sit idle for very long. His most recent excursion being the first player to qualify for this years World Series of Pokers Main Event in Las Vegas.

Earlier this year, the Frenchman won in Texas Hold Em Charity Poker event. The win earned Parker an invitation to the bigger series, a $10,000 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold Em event.

According to Gregory Chochon, director of the World Series of Poker for Caesars Entertainment,

He is very excited to play the Main Event for the first time. Because of his career, he never had the time to participate but he is ready for the challenge. We always promote poker as a sport, so Tonys qualification is great news!

The former Sand Antonio Spurs guard will be appearing as the tournament returns to an in-person format at the Rio Hotel and Casino in November.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Tony Parker qualifies for the World Series of Poker - Pounding The Rock

Tony Parker earns berth into World Series of Poker Main Event – Larry Brown Sports

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Tony Parker is working on a second career as a pro.

Parker qualified for the 2021 World Series of Poker Main Event. The former San Antonio Spurs guard won the PM Groups Texas Hold Em Charity Poker in January. That earned him an invitation to compete in the World Series of Poker Main Event, which is a $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold Em event.

Parker was the first player to qualify for the Main Event. The event will be held in-person at the Rio in Las Vegas in November.

Parker, 39, was a six-time All-Star as a player and four-time champion with the Spurs. He played 17 seasons for them and spent his final season with the Charlotte Hornets. He has been retired for the last two seasons.

Parker was honored by the Spurs in late 2019 by having his jersey retired by the franchise.

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Tony Parker earns berth into World Series of Poker Main Event - Larry Brown Sports

"Paul Pierce and Phil Ivey to participate in crypto-based poker tournament for charity": Celtics legend to… – The Sportsrush

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

Paul Pierce recently announced how hes foraying into crypto-based trading on Ethereum. Hell be taking part in a promo event with Phil Ivey.

Pierce has made headlines for mostly the wrong reasons over the past 4 years since his retirement. The former Celtic was on an ESPN gig previously and got a ton of flak for some of his playful takes.

Chief among those was the time when he suggested that hes had a career than Dwyane Wade. Given his penchant for saying this outrageous stuff, Pierce was viewed as a hot take artist.

This image worsened by quite a bit when Pierce livestreamed himself playing poker at a house party. The video contained some less-than-palatable footage of him in the presence of strippers. Given the nature of his role with ESPN as a national TV presence, Pierce was let go.

Also Read:Paul Pierce made more money with Ethereum in a month than ESPN in a year: Celtics legend brags about not needing NBA analyst gig because of his crypto investments

While these developments have certainly caused some loss of face, Pierce doesnt seem to be fazed at the moment. He recently let us know about his foray into crypto investments, remarking that hes making bank on Ethereum Max.

Virtue Poker will be hosting a celebrity poker tournament on its platform on June 22nd. This 12-player tournament pits the likes of Pierce, Phil Ivey, Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin and Nick Rose against each other.

The Celtics legend seems quite pumped by the opportunity to face off against a legend like Phil Ivey. The 43-year-old Ivey has a long track record of poker success and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017.

Also Read:Its all fun and games until ya a** banned for life: Kevin Durant reacts to Sixers fans lifetime ban after throwing popcorn at Russell Westbrook

Ivey certainly seems up for the task of grabbing the Celtics legends lunch money. Given his 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, youd be hard-pressed to find 10 better players than him today.

Irrespective of the rest of the field, if youre going to be placing bets on this celebrity tournament, the odds on Ivey are going to be quite short. Pierce will need more than a fair bit of luck to beat a master at his own game.

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"Paul Pierce and Phil Ivey to participate in crypto-based poker tournament for charity": Celtics legend to... - The Sportsrush

Connecticut Online Poker Bill Passes Senate, Awaits Governor’s Signature – CardsChat.com

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Danzig

A Connecticut gambling expansion bill that includes online poker among several soon-to-be-authorized activities is only two steps away from becoming law after being passed by the states senate on Tuesday. House Bill 6451, which easily cleared that lower body on Monday, received a second overwhelming approval with Tuesdays 28-6 Senate vote.

The bill now moves to the desk of Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, who has already said he will sign the measure into law. Lamonts office led the states efforts to renegotiate its existing gambling compacts with the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes to legalize sports betting and most forms of casino-style gambling, including online poker.

Once Lamont signs the bill into law, Connecticut will become the seventh US state to approve online poker. While sites operated by the two tribes casinos Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods will be approved as early as July 1, it will likely be several more months before a real-money rollout.

Lamonts signature is a surety, though the measures final step approval by the US Department of the Interior isnt quite as sure of a deal. All tribal gaming compacts in the US must be approved by the DOIs Bureau of Indian Affairs and its National Indian Gaming Commission.

The DOI and the tribal agencies must ensure that the terms of the compact between Connecticut and the two tribes doesnt violate the terms of the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which could potentially affect the two tribes ability to offer remote gambling at Connecticut locations not on their reservations.

IGRA restrictions have been in the news of late. They may impact a similar gambling-compact expansion in Florida, but the Connecticut deal includes sublicensing language designed specifically to meet IGRA requirements. The language is similar to a gambling expansion deal in Arizona that has already received DOI and NIGC approval.

Most news reports, especially from mainstream outlets, havent specified whether online poker is included in the bill. Though such reports have focused on sports betting and the larger, generalized category of online casino games, Connecticuts poker players can rest assured that their favorite game is included.

From the language of HB 6451 (boldface ours):

(21) Online casino gaming means (A) slots, blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, poker and video poker, bingo, live dealer and other peer-to-peer games and any variations of such games, and (B) any games authorized by the department, conducted over the Internet, including through an Internet web site or a mobile device, through an electronic wagering platform that does not require a bettor to be physically present at a facility.

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are both already among the Northeasts most prominent destinations for live poker. With online poker among the specifically approved activities in the bill, it leaves little doubt that online games will be rolled out along with other casino gaming offerings.

Written by

Haley Hintze

Contributing writer Haley Hintze is a 20-year veteran of the poker world, a Women in Poker Hall of Fame finalist, and two-time Global Poker Awards finalist.

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