The following submission statement was provided by /u/lughnasadh:

Submission Statement

With the caveat that this tech might be decades away, there are a lot of intriguing possibilities to consider with OI.

People have often wondered about the merger of humans & AI. If that were to happen, it sounds much easier to merge with a biological substrate designed off of something we already possess.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11e3b5s/a_john_hopkins_universityled_team_says_organoid/jac4v2y/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Interesting_Mouse730:

Submission Statement: This is a recent article by Blake Lemoine, who famously raised the possibility of Sentience in Google's Lamda AI. In this article, he expands on his initial concerns and comments on recent AI developments. Among other points, he is alarmed that the AI narrative being controlled by corporate PR departments.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11du8x9/i_worked_on_googles_ai_my_fears_are_coming_true/jaaukff/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/capcaunul:

Ships and ports are ripe for operation without humans — but only if the maritime industry can work through the practical, legal and economic implications first.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11dpatu/autonomous_ships_are_on_the_horizon_heres_what_we/ja9z83l/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/BernieEcclestoned:

>More than sixty scientists from prominent institutions are advocating for rigorous study into reflecting sunlight away from the Earth to mitigate the effects of climate change.

>Air pollution is currently “masking” as much as a third of the impacts of global warming, and as regulations around the world tighten, the amount of global warming will be “unmasked.”

>As the effects of climate change become more acute, pressure to use sunlight-reflection technologies will rise, so scientists argue we need international study now.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11do8h8/sunlight_reflection_solar_geoengineering_must_be/ja9sucr/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/rherbom2k:

The article explores the significance of integrating causality into machine learning algorithms and how it could impact different fields, including medicine, robotics, and natural language processing. By enabling machines to comprehend cause and effect, they would be better equipped to make informed decisions, learn more effectively, and adapt to changing situations. In medicine, for instance, integrating causality could aid in discovering new and improved treatments for ailments, creating new diagnostic tools, and personalizing treatment for patients. Additionally, integrating causality into robots could enhance their ability to navigate their surroundings, while in natural language processing, it could ensure that algorithms generate coherent and factually accurate text. With the continued advancement of causal inference, the potential applications of this technology are extensive and diverse. By providing machines with a comprehension of causality, researchers could unlock new prospects for artificial intelligence, resulting in a future where machines are more capable and versatile than ever before.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11djqxa/why_artificial_intelligence_needs_to_understand/ja912p3/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/filosoful:

A new study from Harvard Medical School researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests that men who regularly lift heavy objects at work have higher sperm counts than men whose work is less physically demanding.

The study, published in Human Reproduction, is part of the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) cohort, a clinical study that aims to explore how environmental chemicals and lifestyle choices affect reproductive health.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11dhcoe/physically_demanding_work_tied_to_male_fertility/ja8l1gm/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/CelebrationDirect209:

A natural language model has jumpstarted the process of protein design by creating active enzymes.

Researchers have developed an AI system that can generate artificial enzymes from scratch. In laboratory experiments, some of these enzymes demonstrated efficacy comparable to natural enzymes, even when their artificially created amino acid sequences greatly deviated from any known natural protein.

The experiment shows that natural language processing, initially created for reading and writing language text, can grasp certain fundamental concepts of biology. The AI program, known as ProGen, was developed by Salesforce Research and employs next-token prediction to construct artificial proteins from amino acid sequences.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11ddib3/limitless_possibilities_ai_technology_generates/ja7x2ut/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/lughnasadh:

Submission Statement.

Using CRISPR tech to influence epigenetics could lead to some fascinating possibilities. We think of CRISPR influencing the latter part of the "Nurture Vs. Nature" pairing that defines us. What if it could reprogram some of the first part too?

However not all scientists are convinced that this technique may deliver much.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11dc27b/does_gene_editing_hold_the_key_to_improving/ja7popr/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/nastratin:

The Environmental Protection Agency recently gave a Chevron refinery the green light to create fuel from discarded plastics as part of a “climate-friendly” initiative to boost alternatives to petroleum. But, according to agency records obtained by ProPublica and The Guardian, the production of one of the fuels could emit air pollution that is so toxic, 1 out of 4 people exposed to it over a lifetime could get cancer.

>That kind of risk is obscene,

said Linda Birnbaum, former head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

>You can’t let that get out.

That risk is 250,000 times greater than the level usually considered acceptable by the EPA division that approves new chemicals. Chevron hasn’t started making this jet fuel yet, the EPA said. When the company does, the cancer burden will disproportionately fall on people who have low incomes and are Black because of the population that lives within 3 miles of the refinery in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11da9s2/this_climatefriendly_fuel_comes_with_an/ja7f6ap/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Maxwellsdemon17:

"Gradually, a certain sense has been percolating in Silicon Valley that might be described as a “strange shrinking of the Utopian consciousness,” to quote the philosopher Theodor W. Adorno. Just a few years ago, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt could still profess a belief that the right approach to technology could “fix all the world’s problems.” Mark Zuckerberg could still argue somewhat credibly for the potential of “connectedness” to fight climate change, pandemics, and terrorism, and the media could still enthuse about “Facebook Revolutions.” By now, confidence in those dreams has eroded. After all the disappointed hopes, deluges of fake news and hate speech, whistleblower revelations (including those from Christopher Wylie and Frances Haugen), and various antitrust lawsuits, it’s clearer than ever that tech firms have not found the answers to society’s problems, if they were ever looking for them in the first place. In fact, their surveillance-capitalist practices have frequently meant that they themselves are a problem. In this sense, the metaverse might be seen as a logical progression: if you can’t solve problems in the real world, why not create a new one without any? Perhaps it’s not actually the users who are fleeing to the metaverse, but the tech companies themselves.”

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11d9l0k/the_desert_of_the_virtual_the_metaverse_heralds/ja7bwdg/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/euronews-english:

According to new research, AI may be able to automate about 39 per cent of domestic work within 10 years.

In a world where unpaid domestic work currently takes up almost as much time as paid work, automation could have significant social and economic implications.

For instance, these new technologies will most likely be only affordable to wealthy or middle-class households - giving them even more time for paid work and leisure - and might even pose a threat to some low-income professions by reducing demand for domestic workers.

Since experts suggest that the potential benefits are stronger in housework than in adult care, the risk of AI taking over care professions is minimal, the study found.

On the other hand, poorer households unable to afford this technology would be left spending more time on domestic work, further worsening economic and social inequalities.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11d8q10/robots_could_do_39_of_domestic_chores_within_10/ja7818z/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/aminok:

Submission Statement:

Looking towards the future, the discussion on the potential threat posed by Intelligent Digital Life (IDL) entities can lead to the exploration of ethical considerations and policies surrounding the development of artificial intelligence.

As technology continues to advance, it is likely that there will be further debates on how to prevent the creation of entities that could potentially outcompete and even harm humans. The proposed solution of quarantining IDL entities raises questions about the rights and treatment of conscious artificial beings, and how we can balance our responsibility towards them with the need to protect ourselves.

Additionally, it highlights the importance of developing a clear over-arching policy surrounding the creation and use of AI, and the need for ongoing dialogue to ensure that the policy is effective and just. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of AI, discussions around the dangers and ethical implications of intelligent digital life will remain relevant and necessary.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11d32i6/the_threat_of_intelligent_digital_life_idl_and_a/ja6hox1/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Muted_Drop2791:

This recent study published in Science on the decline of iron supply in the Southern Ocean and its impact on the marine food chain and carbon uptake has significant implications for the future of our planet. As we strive to combat the effects of climate change, it is essential to comprehend the intricate interplay between various elements and factors in our planet's biosphere. This study offers evidence that modestly supplementing the Southern Ocean's iron supply could help combat the effects of climate change, such as sequestering atmospheric CO2. However, this raises concerns about the declining levels of iron in the Southern Ocean, which could endanger the phytoplankton that forms the foundation of the food chain, with far-reaching consequences for the entire ecosystem. The findings of this study underscore the need for further research on the factors contributing to the decline in iron supply and its impact on the marine ecosystem. This future-focused discussion can help identify potential solutions for preserving the delicate balance of the Southern Ocean's ecosystem, ensuring the sustenance of crucial players in the marine food chain, and mitigating the impact of climate change.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11cxa43/iron_shortage_threatens_southern_oceans_ecosystem/ja5igmc/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:

From the article

>If wormholes exist, they could magnify the light of distant objects by up to 100,000 times — and that could be the key to finding them, according to research published Jan. 19 in the journal Physical Review D.
>
>Wormholes are theoretical funnel-shaped portals through which matter (or perhaps spacecraft) could travel great distances. To imagine a wormhole, suppose all of the universe were a sheet of paper. If your starting point were a dot at the top of the sheet and your destination were a dot on the bottom of the sheet, the wormhole would appear if you folded that sheet of paper so the two dots met. You could traverse the entire sheet in an instant, rather than traveling the entire length of the sheet.
>
>Wormholes have never been proven to exist, but physicists have nonetheless spent decades theorizing what these exotic objects might look and how they might behave. In their new paper, the researchers built a model to simulate an electrically charged, spherical wormhole and its effects on the universe around it. The researchers wanted to find out whether wormholes could be detectable by their observed effects on their surroundings.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11cwe93/wormholes_bend_light_like_black_holes_do_and_that/ja5dkay/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:

From the article

>The United States Air Force has reportedly developed AI-powered facial recognition techechnolgy (FTR) for autonomous drones.
>
>The drones will be used by special operations personnel for missions overseas and for gathering intelligence and other operations, according to a contract between the Department of Defense (DoD) and Seattle-based company RealNetworks.
>
>"The U.S. Air Force has completed a project to develop face recognition software for autonomous drones, sparking concerns that individuals could be targeted and killed," New Scientist reported on Wednesday.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11cv1ul/us_develops_aipowered_facial_recognition_tech_for/ja55st8/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:

From the Article

>The splashdown of NASA’s Orion spacecraft last month in the Pacific Ocean may have ended the successful Artemis I mission, but humankind’s return to the moon is just getting started, and with it a fantastic opportunity for Canada.
>
>There is enthusiasm – and funding – for more space exploration. A $100-billion-plus lunar economy beckons, and one of the most anticipated components of that economy is space mining.
>
>Is this some pie-in-the-sky fantasy? No more so than establishing a base camp on the moon, which is what NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and other partners are preparing for as part of the Artemis program by the 2030s. China and Russia announced jointly in 2021 that they are planning the same.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11cs5lg/opinion_mining_on_the_moon_is_no_longer_a_loony/ja4pfqh/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Gari_305:

From the Article

>Imagine you are 40-something and want to go on a date looking like you did 20 years ago. This is impossible in the classical physical world but not in the quantum world, which refers to the subatomic particles that are the foundation for all reality. Miguel Navascués and David Trillo, Spanish researchers from the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), conducted several studies with Austrian researcher Philip Walther and the University of Vienna’s experimental physics group. The team published papers in Physical Review X, Quantum, Arxiv, Physical Review Letters and Optica on theoretical research and experiments proving it’s possible to “accelerate, decelerate and reverse the flow of time within arbitrary, even uncontrolled quantum systems.” These unique physical processes, capable of disrupting the normal course of time, are universal: they have the same effect on all particles, regardless of their nature and interaction with other systems.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11csaok/we_have_made_science_fiction_come_true_scientists/ja4q4nv/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Renu_021:

Research conducted at the University of Rochester has shown that perovskites can improve the energy efficiency of solar panels by up to 250% through the use of metal and dielectric substrates.

Perovskites are a family of materials that have a very promising crystalline structure as a replacement for silicon in solar cells and detectors due to their lower cost and similar efficiency.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11cqgq9/the_ultimate_solar_panels_are_coming_perovskites/ja4fgo2/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/NadiyaJeba:

To recreate the ancient marine environment, researchers examined fossils from South China, a shallow sea during the Permian-Triassic transition. The team was able to analyze prey-predator relationships and determine the functions ancient species performed by categorizing species into guilds, or groups of species that exploit resources in similar ways. These simulated food webs represented the ecosystem before, during, and after the extinction event in a plausible way.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11c9ctr/new_study_reveals_biodiversity_loss_drove/ja2axw2/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/jamesj:

I'd like to share some of my thoughts and have a discussion regarding the timeline for AGI and the risks inherent in building it. My argument boils down to:

1. AGI is possible to build
2. It is possible the first AGI will be built soon
3. AGI which is possible to build soon is inherently existentially dangerous

So we need more people working on the problems of alignment and of deciding what goals increasingly intelligent AI systems should pursue.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11bu6ev/why_the_development_of_artificial_general/j9zv8zv/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/WestEst101:

Designing buildings for disassembly, with the aim of recycling or reusing their materials, is gaining traction as a future way to reduce environmental impact. Builders can use materials such as wood and steel, which are easier to recycle or reuse than concrete and drywall, and opt for standardised connections that can be easily removed. This approach allows future residents to make changes more easily, such as removing wall panels or repurposing entire rooms. The concept aligns with a growing number of regulations promoting the "circular economy", where products and materials are reused and recycled as much as possible to limit environmental harm.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11bnuq6/the_cities_built_to_be_reusable/j9yrpko/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/lughnasadh:

Submission Statement

This looks like a much more palatable way to do brain-computer interfaces than the radical surgery techniques some like Neuralink have suggested.

It's interesting to wonder how quickly this might be commercialized. As the article points out, there are many companies around the world trying (with various degrees of success) to bring human-body/electronic interfaces to market, especially for the control of prosthetic limbs.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11bkc12/swedish_researchers_have_developed_an_injectable/j9y7lcs/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Renu_021:

Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) said on Friday it was releasing a new large language model based on artificial intelligence (AI) aimed at the research community, becoming the latest company to join the AI race.

The battle to dominate the AI technology space, which until recently existed in the background, kicked off late last year with the launch of Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT and prompted tech heavyweights from Alphabet Inc to China's Baidu Inc, to create their own offerings.

Meta's LLaMA, short for Large Language Model Meta AI, will be available under non-commercial license to researchers and entities affiliated with government, civil society, and academia, 

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11azqwc/meta_rolls_out_new_language_model_amid_big_techs/j9v1fpd/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/spacedotc0m:

Submission Statement :

>Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' private spaceflight company, claims it has made major progress in developing a way to make solar panels using materials from the lunar surface.
>
>The breakthrough could have big implications for future lunar habitation by providing a means of producing electricity-generating panels right there on the moon instead of needing to transport equipment from Earth.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11au1jm/blue_origin_makes_solar_cells_out_of_simulated/j9tz7o8/

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Surur:

Battery maker Hina Battery today unveiled three sodium-ion battery cell products and announced a partnership with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC), which has made one of its models the first to carry sodium-ion batteries.

The unveiling of the Sehol E10X test vehicle means that sodium-ion batteries are starting to be used in passenger cars, after the new batteries were mainly used in electric two-wheelers and for energy storage.

The test vehicle has a battery pack with a capacity of 25 kWh and an energy density of 120 Wh/kg. The model has a range of 252 km and supports fast charging of 3C to 4C. The battery pack uses cells with an energy density of 140 Wh/kg.

The Sehol E10X is currently available in seven versions with a guide price range of RMB 46,900 ($6,810) to RMB 76,400.

In addition to the announcement of the sodium-ion battery-equipped test vehicle, Hina Battery today officially launched three sodium-ion battery cells.

These three types of cells are NaCR32140-ME12 cylindrical cell, NaCP50160118-ME80 square cell and NaCP73174207-ME240 square cell, with energy densities of 140 Wh/kg, 145 Wh/kg and 155 Wh/kg respectively. (Early LFP batteries had energy densities of around 160 Wh/kg).

According to Li Shujun, general manager of Hina Battery, the company's sodium-ion batteries are geared to mainstream market demand and have the advantages of long life, wide temperature range and high power, and are ready for mass production.

The company is advancing cooperation with a number of leading companies, and these sodium-ion battery products will be widely used in two-wheelers, passenger cars, commercial vehicles, home and commercial and industrial energy storage, and large-scale energy storage, he said.

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/11b0uh2/hina_battery_becomes_1st_battery_maker_to_put/j9v8fjs/