Category Archives: Futurism

Alexa, open the pod bay doors. Amazon to Artemis

In yet another odd marriage of capitalism and space travel,Lockheed Martin has announced that it will be sending an Amazon Echo as part of the upcoming Artemis 1 mission.

No, astronauts wont be using it to check the weather or to play some lunar road trip tunes. Instead, itll be used to explore how commercially-available voice recognition technology could be used to help astronauts in future missions.

The project, dubbed Callisto, is a partnership between Amazon and Cisco. The idea is to demonstrate how Alexa, along with Ciscos teleconferencing platform Webex, could be used on future missions, SpaceNews reports.

We want to show that this type of technology can help astronauts with some of those unique human interface technologies, making their jobs simpler, safer, more efficient, Rob Chambers, Lockheed Martins director of commercial civil space strategy, told the site.

Lockheed hopes the tech will be able to help astronauts with tasks ranging from the simple to literal rocket science.

For example, crewmembers might be able to access key pieces of data regarding flight trajectory with it, and might even be able to adjust their spacecraft controls via voice command.

One way youll be able to do this with the Callisto payload is to say, Alexa, what is the average temperature across all the batteries, and what is the peak temperature? Itll perform that data processing for you, Chambers explained.

Artemis 1 is an uncrewed mission, so there wont actually be anyone aboard to test out Callistos voice command. Instead, Chambers said there will be virtual crew members that will give commands to the AI.

This is all about testing it on this flight, seeing if its valuable, and then we can assess how it can be used as we move forward not just on Orion but on habitats, at Gateway, rovers, and any number of other applications were actively looking at, he told the site.

So it seems like this is mostly a gimmick for now. If things do go well, though, we might see a future where astronauts are controlling their craft via voice command.

Hopefully, they work out the kinks until then to avoid any HAL 9000 scenarios.

READ MORE: Amazons Alexa to be tested on Artemis 1 [SpaceNews]

More on Artemis 1: NASA Head Says Moon Landing Delayed a Year, Blames Jeff Bezos Lawsuit

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NASA Is Installing Amazon Alexa on Its Next Moon Mission, for Some Cursed Reason - Futurism

The reactor was 10 times hotter than the core of the Sun for more than 17 minutes. Another One

A Chinese fusion reactor just completely demolished its own record.

The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion reactor was able to sustain a plasma temperature of 120 million degrees Celsius for 1,056 seconds, according to a release from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This smashed its previous record of 101 seconds, set last spring,by a full 1,000 percent.

The team behind the reactor is a part of the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AISPP), and achieved the record in late December.

ASIPP has a perfect team, Professor Yuntao Song, director-general of ASIPP, said in the release. We will face up to difficulties no matter how hard it is!

This marks another massive milestone for the EAST reactor. Dubbed the artificial Sun, the reactor is able to partly replicate the natural nuclear fusion process of stars. Researchers hope that it could eventually lead to sustainable, clean energy production.

The length that the EAST reactor can hold the high plasma temperatures is key. Fusion reactions need to be self-sustaining, and superheated plasma could be used to eventually create a self-sustaining reaction.

So were still likely a while off from commercial fusion power, even ifsome experts believe its just around the corner. Regardless, its cool to see China break record after record in the international race to create sustainable fusion power.

READ MORE: 1,056 Seconds, another world record for EAST [Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences]

More on fusion power: Experts Say Fusion Power Is Finally Starting to Look Imminent

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China's "Artificial Sun" Fusion Reactor Just Smashed Its Old Record - Futurism

Less than one year after China announced its decision to crack down big time on crypto mining not to mention Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Qatar, Tunisia and a de facto hiatus in Kazakhstan as authorities shut down the entire internet yet another country has joined suit in a bid to ease soaring energy prices and blackouts.

This week Kosovo, located in southeastern Europe, announced that its banning mining as well, after spending the last 60 days in a government state of emergency over an ongoing energy crisis.

After the countrys biggest coal-fired plant shut down last month, the BBC reported rolling blackouts and protests because the government was importing electricity at high prices. Authorities said the country was importing about 40 percent of its energy, leading Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli to announce the crypto ban in a bid to alleviate pressure.

The Kosovo Police has organized an action to discover and confiscate equipment for minimum cryptocurrencies, Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla announced yesterday on Facebook. 272 of these kinds of equipment were seized and one person was arrested. All the action took place and ended without incidents.

In 2017, Bitcoin mining was already using more energy than a combined total of 159 countries. Since then its gotten progressively worse, and theres been little progress on eco-friendly cryptocurrencies. In fact, some mining has gotten so bad entire lakes have reportedly been turned into hot tubs because of the heat and energy pumped out by a local mining rig.

In short, Kosovos ban makes a lot of sense, and the government doesnt seem to be slowing down seizures any time soon.

Such actions will continue until the full implementation of the decision of the Parliament and the Republic Government, Svecla said in his statement.

Will the crypto ban actually help alleviate the energy crisis? Its a complicated, because the BBC reports that geopolitical tensions with Russia and Ukraine are also contributing to the crunch, but its at least a step in the right direction for both consumers and the environment.

More on Bitcoin busting: Bitcoin Crashes As Major Crypto Country Shuts Down Entire Internet

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Another Entire Country Just Banned Crypto Mining - Futurism

Is this how it begins?Fish Out of Water

A team of Israeli scientists have allowed a goldfish to navigate dry land or, at least, remotely control a fish tank on wheels.

Is it the beginning of the cyborg fish uprising, or just an innocent goldfish going out for a stroll? Well leave that up to you to decide.

The team of scientists from Ben-Gurion University designed a special Fish Operated Vehicle, (FOV) a four-wheeled cart featuring a computer, a LIDAR system, and a conservatively-sized plexiglass water tank, all in an effort to put the navigational skills of several goldfish to the test as the computer system translated the movement of the fish into movement of the vehicle.

The results were astonishing: the goldfish were able to move the FOV to a target zone in order to receive a small reward in the form of,well, fish food.

At first, many of the fish took 30 minutes to find their targets while dodging decoys and dead ends along the way but by the end of the experiment, they needed less than a minute.

The takeaway: goldfish may have a surprisingly excellent sense of direction, even way outside their watery comfort zone.

These results demonstrate how a fish was able to transfer its space representation and navigation skills to a wholly different terrestrial environment, thus supporting the hypothesis that the former possess a universal quality that is species-independent, the researchers conclude in their paper, published in the journal Behavioral Brain Research.

Will we be seeing goldfish jetting by on the freeway any time soon? Thats far less likely.

READ MORE: Israeli scientists train goldfish to steer car around room [The Times of Israel]

More on animals driving: Scientists Taught Rats How to Drive Tiny Cars

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Scientists Build Robot Fish Tank That Lets Goldfish Drive Around on Land - Futurism

Hydration station!Drink Up

A global team of scientists led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing says theyve detected water under the surface of the Moon using data the China National Space Administration provided from the countrys Change-5 lander a stunning technical achievement on its own, as the first lunar sample return mission since the Soviet Unions Luna 24 mission in 1976.

The team used a panoramic camera, lunar mineralogical spectrometer (LMS) and lunar penetrating radar to look for evidence of water, according to a study published in the journalScience Advances this week in collaboration with researchers from the National Space Science Center of CAS, the University of Hawaii at Mnoa, the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of CAS and Nanjing University.

Its like a field trip out on the Moon, the first opportunity to detect signs of water at close range and high resolution on the lunar surface, said lead author and Chinese Academy of Sciences researcher Lin Honglei, according to a statement obtained by the South China Morning Post.

The team observed signals indicating the presence of water in reflectance spectral data acquired by the Change-5 lander. The theory is that solar wind has gradually swept hydrogen atoms toward the Moon, according toSCMPs reporting, where it

Well be honest. Given the recent Moon cube moment that turned out to be like we suspected a humble rock, were a little skeptical of any big space claims by China. But scientists have long suspected that theres likely ice and water on the Moon and, if the research holds up, water would be a tantalizing resource for a long-term presence on the Moon by human astronauts.

More on Moon cube: Remember the Moon cube? China Just Published a New Photo and Uhhh

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China Says Its Lander Has Detected Water on the Moon - Futurism

With the wide variety of laptops available on the market today, choosing the right one to meet your needs can be a confusing process. Laptops range broadly in performance and storage space from basic models for browsing the web and ordinary work tasks to high-performance machines for gaming and video editing.

No one wants to end up with a laptop thats too slow to meet their needs or overspend for a high-end laptop with features theyll never use. This guide will help you identify what you need out of a laptop while reviewing some of the top models for work, school, photo and video editing, and hardcore gaming.

Best Overall: MacBook AirBest Cheap: Acer Swift 3Best for Gaming: Razer Blade Pro 17 Best for College: Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Laptop Best for Video Editing: MacBook Pro Best 2-in-1: HP Spectre x360 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop

I considered a broad range of criteria when making my selections for the best laptops of 2021, including the all-crucial performance and value. With that in mind, I chose models that accomplish their intended tasks, from simply work functions to gaming settings. I also considered screen size as it related to the laptops intended use. While a 13-inch laptop was adequate for general work and school use, video and photo editing demand a larger display.

Battery life is key when it comes to a laptop, so I limited my selections to those that could operate for long periods without access to an electrical outlet. Other factors also played into my decisions including screen brightness (since laptops sometimes operate outside under bright sun) and weight, as laptops are designed to be portable machines.

Why It Made The Cut: With its switch to the Apple M1 microchip, the Air is faster than ever and offers tremendous battery life.

Specs:Processor: Apple M1Memory: 256 GBDisplay Size: 13 inchesWeight: 2.8 pounds

Pros:18-hour battery lifeEasy to transportUses a scissor keyboard

Cons:Expensive, especially if you need more storage

The MacBook Air was already great, but Apples decision to move it to the M1 chip makes it hands down the best laptop you can buy. The Airs latest incarnation, which debuted in 2020, is notable because it presents a departure for the Air, which has used the Intel CPU since it debuted back in 2008. This 2020 model uses Apples M1 processor, giving the Air three times the performance of the latest Intel chip.

In short, the M1 is fast and more efficient, which translates into significantly longer battery life. The M1 Air allows you to browse the Web for up to 15 hours or playback video for 18 hours on a single charge, roughly twice what the Mac Air with an Intel chip allows you to do.

The switch to the M1 isnt the only change for the AirApple switched the Air to the more responsive scissor-switch keyboard that the Pro uses. And with its 13-inch display, the Air isnt as big as other laptops, but it makes up for that in portability. It continues to be one of the lighter models on the market at just 2.8 pounds with a svelte 0.5-inch thick physique.

While the Air may be more expensive than other models, its still a great deal at under $1,000. You can also upgrade to 512 gigabytes of storage for $1,249 or bring the Air up to 16 gigabytes of memory and 2 terabytes of storage for $2,049.

Why It Made The Cut: Acers Swift 3 has comparable performance to other laptops at a significantly lower price making it the best cheap laptop.

Specs: Processor: 2 Ghz AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Display Size: 14 inches Memory: 8GB Weight: 2.7 pounds

Pros: Excellent performance at an affordable price Large trackpad Lightweight of just 2.7 pounds. Tough aluminum construction.

Cons: Resolution and brightness are not as high as other laptops

The first thing you need to know about the Acer Swift 3, aside from the fact that it has a low price tag, is that it runs on AMDs Ryzen 4700U mobile processor. The second thing you need to know is that AMD chips are faster than their better-known Intel rivals. This translates into a laptop that gives you similar performance to higher-end laptops at a budget price.

In addition to beingwell..swift, the Swift 3 also has a few other things going for it. It weighs just 2.7 pounds, which makes it one of the lighter laptops on the market, especially given its 14-inch screen. Its aluminum-magnesium body is stout enough to hold up to the bumps and jolts that invariably happen while transporting a laptop. The Swift 3 is also Wi-Fi 6 capable, which makes it ready for the next generation of WiFi technology.

Though its battery life isnt as high as other laptops, its still a respectable 8 to 10 hours, and it can be charged quickly via its USB-C port.

Although its display isnt as bright and lacks the resolution that other laptops offer, the Swift 3 offers comparable performance to other laptops at a price thats very hard to beat.

Why It Made The Cut: An eight-core Intel chip coupled with Nvidias premier graphics card puts this laptop at the top of all gaming laptops.

Specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-10875H Display Size: 17 inches Memory: 512 GB Weight: 6 pounds

Pros:Lightning-fast processing speed and frame refresh rateLarge display ideal for gamingCustomizable RGB keyboard

Cons:Heavy at about 6 poundsVery expensive

Its one of the more expensive laptops you can buy, but for serious gamers who like a computer they can take with them on the road, the Razer Blade Pro 17 is a must-have. This laptop marries Intels 10th generation of Core processors (the Core i7 or Core i9, depending on what set-up you choose) with Nvidias GeForce RTX 2080 Super graphics card and a 120 Hz Ultra HD display. That translates to a laptop that offers serious performance for gaming.

With all that power under the hood, you might expect the Razer to be a bit bulky. While its 17-inch display (a must for gaming) makes it bigger and heavier than other laptops (it weighs about 6 pounds), the aptly named Razer Blade Pro 17 is just 0.8 inches thick, making it very portable.

In addition to its raw processing power, there are more features to like on this laptop, including a RGB keyboard that allows you to customize the backlighting color of each key. While this may seem a little pointless to the average laptop user, its a vital feature for gamers who like to color-code the keyboard controls for specific games.

With its high-performance processors and high-quality screen, this may be the best gaming laptop on the market for those who are willing to pay its high price tag.

Why It Made The Cut: This laptop is affordably priced for college students and is versatile enough to function as a workstation or entertainment center making it our choice for the best laptop for college.

Specs:Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7 Quad Core ProcessorDisplay: 15.6 inchesMemory: 256 GBWeight: 4.18 pounds

Pros Can convert to a tablet Long battery life Lightweight for easy transport

ConsSmall storage capacity of just 256GB

The Yoga 9i may not have the fast processing speeds and frame recovery rates of more expensive laptops, but its durable construction, responsive keyboard, and ample battery life make it ideal for students who work in various locations around campus.

The line of Yoga laptops gets its name from its ability to fold back on itself, allowing it to stand in an A-shape, fold flat, or rest on its keyboard. This allows it to function as a laptop computer for work, tablet for browsing the Web, or entertainment center for viewing a video. Its 15.6-inch touchscreen with Intel Iris Xe graphics offers excellent resolution for all three activities. Its diverse collection of ports, which include two USB-C Thunderbolt ports, a standard USB port, and an aux port for earbuds, add to its versatility.

In addition to its 2-in-1 functions, the Yoga 7i gets an average of seven hours of use on a single charge, eliminating the need to hunt for an available outlet in the library, or dorm common area. The Yoga 7i also includes useful security features, including a webcam shutter for privacy and a fingerprint reader for security.

Why It Made The Cut: This model is the best laptop for video editing because it has the best processor for handling the intense demands of video and photo editing.

Specs:Processor: Apple M1 ProDisplay: 16 inchesMemory: 512 GBWeight: 4.7 pounds

Pros Liquid retina displayLarge display is ideal for working with videoSurprisingly good sound quality from large speakers

ConsOne of the higher-priced laptops on the marketBulkier than other laptops

The Macbook Pros huge display coupled with a beast of a processing system that benefits from Apples heating-reducing technology makes the 16-inch version of the MacBook Pro ideal for video editing.

With the 16-inch version of the Pro, Mac has remedied the heat sink problems of the 15-inch model by adding a larger fan. While this makes the 16-inch Pro slightly thicker than the 15-inch model, this design is ideal for hefty video editing tasks that would quickly heat up (and slow down) lesser laptops. Plus, the larger body and screen doesnt make for a much heavier laptop. At just under 5 pounds, the MacBook Pro 16-inch weighs slightly more than the 4-pound 15-inch version.

In addition to managing the Pros heat issue, Apple has also fixed the keyboard problems that dogged the previous iteration of the Pro, doing away with the much-maligned butterfly keyboard in favor of the reliable scissor keyboard. Other features that will attract video editors include the large speakers that run alongside the keyboard, giving the 16-inch Pro sound quality thats similar to a Bluetooth speaker.

While the MacBook Pro comes at a premium price, especially if you upgrade to its higher memory capacity options, its high-performance processor coupled with a large 16-inch screen and exceptional speakers make it the ideal choice for video editing.

Why It Made The Cut: Its quick performance and intuitive design features, such as a 3:2 display, make it well-suited for use as a tablet or laptop.

Specs:Processor: Intel Core i5Display: 13.3 inchesMemory: 256 GBWeight: 2.86 pounds

Pros:4K touchscreen ideal for tablet useWeighs less than 3 pounds, making it easy to tote around16:9 aspect ratio

Cons:Expensive

With its well-designed display and surprisingly quick performance, the Spectre x360 is the best 2 in 1 laptop for those looking for the touch screen ability of an iPad with the keyboard functionality of a laptop. The first thing to note about this 2-in-1 laptop is its size the Spectre is notably smaller than other similarly priced laptops with its 13.3-inch touchscreen, but it overcomes this smaller size by going with a 3840 x 2160 resolution.

The Spectres higher price corresponds to its high performance, thanks to its Core i5 processor and 8 GB of memory. While the aspect ratio doesnt lend itself to watching movies, it does make the Spectre more tablet-like when folding it flat and using its touchscreen for navigating with a finger or a pen. Plus, its lightweight for easy transport, and with a battery life of up to 10 hours, its an ideal choice for those looking for a true laptop/tablet combo.

You should know what you plan on using the laptop for before you start shopping. Someone using a laptop for basic work tasks, online banking, Web browsing, casual gaming, and streaming the occasional video or movie can get by with a smaller 14-inch screen, slower processor, and 256 GB of memory. But those planning to use their laptop for heavy-duty video editing or hardcore gaming should consider laptops with 15- or 16-inch screens that offer advanced graphics cards, faster processors, and 500 GB or even 1 TB of storage.

Laptops are designed to be portable, allowing you to use them in a coffee shop, on a train, or in a library, as well as at home. For that to be possible, they need to operate for an extended period on their battery alone. With todays efficient processors and powerful batteries, you should look for a laptop that can get between 7 and 18 hours of life on a single battery charge.

Just as battery life is crucial to a laptops portability, so too is its size and weight. While a laptops length and width are generally determined by its screen size a 16-inch laptop is wider and longer than a 13-inch laptop thickness varies. While most laptops are around 0.7 inches thick, there are models that are under 0.5 inches thick. In terms of weight, laptops can vary dramatically. Most laptops hover around 4 pounds. Larger laptops with faster processors are generally heavier, weighing as much as 6 pounds while the lightest laptops weigh just under 3 pounds.

Q: Should I get a 4K screen on my laptop?You can get a 4K screen for your laptop, but most of the time it isnt necessary. Most laptops come with a 1080p screen, which has 1920 x 1080 pixels. In comparison, a 4K screen is 3840 x 2160 pixels. While this difference may seem large, its only noticeable on larger displays. A 4K screen on a 13-inch laptop probably isnt worth it. However, once you get to 16 inches and over, youll want to consider a 4K screen, especially if youre using the laptop for gaming or watching movies (though it certainly isnt required).

Q: Should I Consider a Refurbished Laptop?A refurbished laptop can be discounted by as much as 25 percent off its original price, so it certainly makes sense to consider one if youre on a budget. Refurbished laptops typically come in like-new condition since they go through a significant amount of testing and reconditioning and come equipped with the latest operating systems. When purchasing a refurbished laptop, make sure to stick with established manufacturers like Dell and HP who are willing to put their names behind these recycled computers.

Q: How much storage and memory do I need?For most users, around 250 GB is enough storage. Those who plan on storing entire movies or work with a lot of video files should consider upgrading to 500 GBs or even 1 TB if they are storing large amounts of video. Memory determines how fast your computer can process data, which in turn determines how fast your programs will run. About 4 to 6 GB is enough for basic web browsing and working with word processor documents. Laptops with 8 GB of storage are ideal for casual gaming and video watching. For higher-end multimedia and gaming, consider upgrading to 16 GB.

Q: How much do I need to spend?How much you need to spend on a laptop is dependent on what you plan to do with it. If youre using a laptop mainly to browse the Web, work on a word processor such as Google Drive, and maybe some light gaming then you dont need the large display and lightning-fast processors high-end laptops offer. Plan to spend $600 to $800 on a laptop. For tasks that require a faster processor and more memory, such as editing photos and videos or streaming video, expect to spend $1,000 to $1,500. For serious gaming that requires a fast processor and a display with a high frame rate, youll spend $2,500 or more.

Q: Which operating system should I get?Windows is by far the most commonly used operating system on PCs youll find it on lower-end laptops as well as mid-tier and high-end models. It works with a broad range of software and is more user-friendly than operating systems like Linux. It also happens to be the target of all kinds of different malware, making it less secure than other operating systems. MacOS has exceptional software offerings for creative professionals but a more limited selection of software than Windows. Mac updates its operating systems frequently and doesnt charge for new versions. Its also less susceptible to malware. The downside is youll have to pay more for MacOS as Apples cheapest laptop comes in at $1,000

Q: Which Laptop CPU Do I Need?The CPU you need depends on what you plan to do with it. If youre purchasing a Mac, then your choice is already made for you, as Apple began replacing the Intel chips in its computer with its own M1 chip at the end of 2020. For other laptop brands, you have a choice between AMD and Intel chips (with the exception of the Chromebook, which uses ARM chips). Both companies offer chips with similar performance, though AMD tends to have the advantage when it comes to gaming. With both chips essentially on par, you can move beyond the CPU and look at other features, such as screen size, memory, and weight, when making your decision.

When purchasing a laptop its crucial to consider how you plan to use it to ensure you get enough performance out of the laptop without spending more than what you need. With a powerful M1 chip that gives it a fast processing speed and ample battery life, the lightweight MacBook Air is one of the best all-around laptops you can buy. Those in the market for a more affordable laptop that still offers impressive performance should consider the Acer Swift 3.

This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurisms owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

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Get It All Done in 2022 With the Best Laptops - Futurism

Angela Cring, former executive director of the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition, peered into her past to find her future as a certified foresight practitioner, or futurist.

Trained as a geologist and accomplished as the full-time leader of LAGCOE, the biennial trade show that dates back to 1955 in Lafayette, she left the organization in early 2020 to explore new opportunities for self-fulfillment and community benefit. Three months later, her search ended with a quest to become a CFP. She completed an eight-month training course offered by The Futures School in Florida and created her own company, JoyForwardStrategy.

I decided to start my own business, she said. My original intention was to do strategic planning; Ive been doing that for years in previous jobs. I always loved that. I reflected back on what I have done for the past 10-15 years that brought me the most fulfillment, and this was it.

Angela Cring, a futurist with Joy Forward Strategy in Lafayette, offered a list of trends she is watching for 2022. Here are 10:

Cring, an Alexandria native, was educated as a geologist during her undergraduate studies in geology and political science at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi and during graduate studies as a geologist at Ole Miss. As a geologist she did hydrology and wetlands restoration work and later did geophysical survey work. In 2008, with the birth of her daughter, she moved to LACGOE in a part-time assistant capacity and took charge of the organization in 2011. Her last day at LAGCOE was Jan. 3, 2020.

Simply stated, she said, being a futurist is more about the present than what is to come. It involves making good decisions now to prepare for trends that are emerging or not yet in ready evidence.

Its kind of an oxymoron, she said.

As a futurist she said she scans the horizon for things that are emerging: trends you can see and ones that arent trends yet. Then, she said, the futurist maps out different scenarios of what the future might look like and, using maps of future, creates strategies on how you personally or how your client or organization would deal with or adapt to the different scenarios.

We'll keep you posted on the Acadiana economy. Sign up today.

Angela Cring enlisted in LAGCOEs cause as a young woman and leaves it as a more accomplished one. She said she believes incremental progress

You can pick or choose a preferred future where you want to be but at least build out and examine possible scenarios, bad to good, to adapt more quickly than other people or other organizations that havent done that work, she said.

Cring said she has landed some clients since going into business early this year and is prepared to lead strategy sessions for for-profit businesses and non-profits, as well as for individuals.

Most of my client work has been more traditional, strategic planning, she said. Its less about futures work. Not many people know or understand what that is.

She said shed be interested in forming a cohort futures class locally to facilitate activities and build discussions around it to build a pipeline of leaders more capable of thinking more futuristically. So far, she said, people dont embrace it although they value strategic planning. She said the futurist is not something new: Alvin Toffler was at the forefront of the movement as early as the 1950s.

Im super committed to it; it can be personally transformative. I was doing futures training during 2020 when there wasnt much good in the world to grab onto. My foresight training gave me hope; it allowed me to see all the amazing possibilities that exist in the world, even if they havent come to fruition yet.

Seeing what could be creates a sense of hope and optimism to people, which is something the world needs more of right now specifically, Lafayette and Acadiana. It doesnt feel like our community has much of a vision right now.

To find out more about Crings services, see JoyForwardStrategy.com or email Angela@JoyForwardStrategy.com.

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Former LAGCOE leader turns to new career as a 'futurist'; here's what that means - The Advocate

This is what we get for getting our hopes up. Dark Side of the Moon

It was just a month ago that the world was introduced to what appeared to be abizarre cube on the Moon and just like that, now it turns out the object was little more than an optical illusion.

AsSpaceNews correspondent Andrew Jones tweeted, the latest Chinese images of the Moon Cube from closer up now show that the mysterious object appears to bewell, a perfectly normal Moon rock.Sorry, folks. Sometimes space is boring.

Oh, this is amazing, Jones wrote. Close to tears.

The latest photos of the mystery hut, as it was originally known in Chinese media, show that this relatively small rock sitting on the edge of a lunar crater isnt extraordinary in any way and as the SpaceNews reporter wrote, the newly-dubbed jade rabbit is so underwhelming its brilliant.

The Moons surface is 38 million square kilometres of rocks, so it would have been astronomically exceptional for it to be anything else, Jones wrote in a subsequent tweet. But while small, the jade rabbit/ rock will also be a monumental disappointment to some.

Before this underwhelming discovery, conspiracy theories about the Moon Cube abounded, with netizens half-jokingly comparing it to the scourge of monoliths that plagued Earth in the first pandemic summer, and others still advising the Chinese Yutu 2 rover to go back in the other direction and avoid it as if contaminated.

There was always a great likelihood that the cube was going to be a plain ol rock. But this does, if nothing else, set a hilarious tone for whats gearing up to be a huge year in space exploration.

More on the Moon Cube: Chinese Rover Exploring What Appears to Be Cube-Shaped Object on Moon

More on the Moon: Scientist Opening Sealed Container From Final Moon Landing

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Remember the "Moon Cube"? China Just Published a New Photo and Uhhhhh - Futurism

Image by Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

IBMs infamous Watson artificial intelligence once beat two Jeopardy champions out of $1 million. But now, Axios reports, Big Blue is putting up the healthcare portion of the much-hyped algorithm up for sale once again.

In fact, its not even the first time that IBM has tried unsuccessfully to unload the project, in yet another sign that corporate expectations for AI are continuing to crash into reality.

Health care always is going to turn out to be more subtle, as well as more regulated for the right reasons, than it is in other areas, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said in an Axios and HBO interview last year. And to me, thats natural. It is a decision that may impact somebodys life or death. You got to be more careful. So in health care, it turns out maybe we were too optimistic.

The sale, if it actually goes through this time, would affect millions of patients and entire government healthcare strategies.

The computer and tech corporation spent more than $4 billion acquiring multiple healthcare companies to build up IBM Watson Health. But now its asking just $1 billion, according to Axios, meaning its comfortable with a loss of billions.

In late 2021, IBM asked Bank of America to help find a buyer, but both companies declined Axios recent request for comment. However, at least one strategic buyer and several private equity may have put in bids that were reportedly due yesterday.

Whoever ends up buying Watson Health Solutions will inherit a ton of responsibility. Playing games with healthcare decisions just to turn a profit isnt inspiring, and unless the right buyer comes along, there could be a ton at stake.

More on healthcare concerns: Quality of Life is Slipping Backwards in the US

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Remember IBM's Amazing Watson AI? Now It's Desperately Trying to Sell It Off - Futurism

He makes the future sound pretty bleak.Deaths Future

What will people be dying from in 60 years? One 64-year-old scientist, who says his life may not even be halfway over yet, old plans to find out.

In a new interview with theAtlantic, Brian Hanley explained his life-extending experiments and why he thinks climate change will probably be his future cause of death.

Hanley, a mathematical biologist, started a company called Butterfly Sciences. Hes been testing therapy on himself that he believes might extend his life span, and crucially what he calls healthspan, or the period during which heremains in good physical and mental shape. None of it is FDA-approved, and Hanley only tests on himself giving off, dare we say, a certain degree of mad scientist vibes but Hanley says hes pretty sure the work will pay off.

Im a scientist, so Im not going to put a hard number on what I expect. My family line is pretty long-lived, Hanley told the magazine. I have no reason to think that I wont hit 80 at least. I suspect Ill live beyond that. I would put the outside limit at about 150 to 160 years.

Hanley concedes that a lot of people in his generation really fucked some things up, including climate change and students loans, and hopes his work gives him a chance to set some of right. But he knows that living longer probably could well mean that climate change will be his demise.

I accept a high probability that weather and climate will be the cause of my death, either directly, like a tornado or a typhoon or fire, or indirectly, like crops failing, Hanley told the Atlantic.

Hanleys goal isnt as far-fetched as you might imagine. Just last year a study found that in perfect health, humans may live up to 150 years. And there are things we can do to help get there that dont require experimental gene therapy, although they might not be ideal like castration, for example.

Hanley only wants to achieve a longer life if hes in good health and can contribute meaningfully, and while that does raise ethical questions, its at least good to know some older folks are trying to right the wrongs of the past right now.

More on living forever: Elon Musk Says That Immortality Tech Would Be Very Dangerous

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Guy Testing Life-Extending Gene Therapy on Himself Admits That Environmental Catastrophe May Pose Problem - Futurism