H+ Weekly - Issue #308
View this email in your browser
This week - self-driving cars to be allowed on UK roads this year; human augmentation is now necessary; AI chip big as your head; NYPD returns its robot dog; and more!
MORE THAN A HUMAN
Paralympian Blake Leeper barred from Olympics because his artificial legs give him an unfair advantage
Paralympian runner Blake Leeper has been prevented from competing at the Tokyo Olympics, because his two prosthetic legs have been ruled to give him an unfair advantage. Blake Leeper wanted to emulate Oscar Pistorius's feat of competing against able-bodied runners at the Olympics. However, the World Athletics review panel ruled his carbon-fibre prosthetics made him "unnaturally tall".
Space Force Chief Scientist: “Human Augmentation” Is Now Necessary
Speaking at an Air Force Research Laboratory event, Space Force chief scientist Joel Mozer suggested that we’re entering an era during which soldiers can become a "superhuman workforce", thanks to new tech including augmented and virtual reality, sophisticated AI, and nerve stimulation.
Roam Robotics introduces a smart knee brace
Roam Robotics has released Ascend - a small exoskeleton designed to improve mobility and relief knee pain. The product, which joins the company’s skier and military-focused offers, sports embedded sensors that can detect things like movement up and down stairs and standing up from a seated position. It utilizes a power source and air compressor to create motion to assist in movement. The device is up for preorder and starts shipping later this summer.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
► Your Next CPU is Bigger Than Your HEAD 🤯 Cerebras Wafer Scale 2 (13:12)
AI revolution is happening not only in software but also in hardware. The field contains big companies like Nvidia and small startups like Cerebras which unveiled their newest chip - Wafer Scale 2. This monster of a chip has 2.6 trillion transistors, 850,000 AI cores and it is as big as your head. Ian Cutress explains in details why this chip exists in details in this video.
ROBOTICS
Self-driving cars to be allowed on UK roads this year
"Self-driving" vehicles could be allowed on UK roads by the end of this year, the government has said. The Department for Transport said automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) would be the first type of hands-free driving legalised. The technology controls the position and speed of a car in a single lane and it will be limited to 37mph (60km/h). The government confirmed that drivers will not be required to monitor the road or keep their hands on the wheel when the vehicle is driving itself. But the driver will need to stay alert and be able take over when requested by the system within 10 seconds.
N.Y.P.D. Robot Dog’s Run Is Cut Short After Fierce Backlash
The New York Police will stop using Spot in policing after received waves of criticism. The police was criticised for aggressive and dystopian use of the robot.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Gene therapy: 'Now I can see my own face again'
Jake Ternent, who has gradually losing vision due to a rare genetic condition, has become the first person in the UK to receive new gene therapy to restore his eyesight,
First GMO Mosquitoes to Be Released In the Florida Keys
This spring, the biotechnology company Oxitec plans to release genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. Oxitec says its technology will combat dengue fever, a potentially life-threatening disease, and other mosquito-borne viruses — such as Zika — mainly transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The plan has been greenlit by EPA but some scientists and locals want to halt the deployment.
A New CRISPR Tool Flips Genes On and Off Like a Light Switch
With a pair of new tools, named CRISPRoff and CRISPRon, researchers were able to turn genes on and off without touching the genes. These tools operate on the epigenetics level and could open new ways of controlling when and how a gene is expressed.
This issue was brought to you by our awesome patrons Andrew, Frank, Sean and Tom! You too can support the newsletter on Patreon.
Thank you for subscribing,
Conrad Gray (@conradthegray)
If you have any questions or suggestions, just reply to this email or tweet at @hplusweekly. I'd like to hear what do you think about H+ Weekly.
Follow H+ Weekly!