In the spotlight
Future Gazing
forbes, 03.01.2019
The world changes, circumstances and opportunities change, “the only constant is change itself.” Charles Darwin claimed, “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” It may not be possible to predict the future, yet, in an increasingly….
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Artificial intelligence can’t save us from human stupidityEditorial
guardian, 01.01.2019
The world in 2019: The vexed politics of our times has obscured the view ahead. Over the holidays we have been examining some big issues on the horizon. Today, in our final instalment, we look at the spread of artificial intelligence. ‘Last year saw some astonishing breakthroughs, whose consequences will become clearer and more important.
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From delivery wagons to foldable phones, tech that will alter lives in 2019
business-standard, 31.12.2018
There aren’t many ways 2018 could have gone worse for the tech industry. It felt like every week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and friends were apologizing for some major privacy blunder or platform manipulation. Self-driving cars proved they weren’t ready to hit the road and Elon Musk nearly self-destructed on Twitter.
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Transport & Energy
nzherald, 01.01.2019
Imagine this scenario: the brakes fail on a self-driving car as it hurtles toward a busy crosswalk. A homeless person and a criminal are crossing in front of the car. Two cats are in the opposing lane. Should the car swerve to mow down the cats or plow into two people? It’s a relatively straightforward ethical dilemma, as moral quandaries go.
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The 11 top space stories of 2018
nbcnews, 26.12.2018
Space fans had plenty to celebrate in 2018, including the launch of three new NASA missions and the debut of SpaceX’s giant Falcon Heavy rocket. In case you missed any of the action, here are 10 space stories that were particularly noteworthy. Return to Mars.
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Agriculture & Environment
80 women welcome the new year in the Antarctica to increase awareness of female leadership
acciona, 08.01.2019
The expedition, sponsored by Acciona, culminates the III edition of Homeward Bound, a programme that promotes awareness of women as world leaders. 80 women of 35 different nationalities celebrated the New Year by crossing the Drake Passage. This 31 December, eighty women of 35 different….
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New year’s resolutions for nature
irishtimes, 27.12.2018
While they’re more likely to give up gin and tonic than call themselves environmentalists, my aunts are among the most switched-on people I know when it comes to environmental action. I overheard them on a recent Christmas visit discussing recycling techniques: how to stuff crisp wrappers into a….
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Information society
CES Las Vegas: Entering the 5G-powered ‘data age’
deutschewelle-en, 07.01.2019
The 2019 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is upon us: From January 8-12, 180,000 people from more than 150 countries are expected to descend upon Las Vegas to catch a glimpse of the latest consumer technology gadgets and innovations. Since its first show, held in New York in 1967 with….
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Why Big Data And Machine Learning Are Important In Our Society
forbes, 07.01.2019
The singularity is near , or maybe we’re already in it. Whatever the case is, machine learning and big data will have a tremendous influence on our society. The machine minds are coming online, and you had better learn to adapt if you want to succeed. But what are big data and machine learning? Keep reading to find out.
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Blockchain Can Wrest the Internet From Corporations’ Grasp
wired, 07.01.2019
Millions of users have had their private data misused or stolen . Creators and businesses that rely on internet platforms are subject to sudden rule changes that take away their audiences and profits. But there is a growing movement—emerging from the and cryptocurrency world—to build new internet….
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Food & Health
Study: Humans have reached maximum lifespan
deutschewelle-en, 03.01.2019
A new report released on Wednesday suggested that despite tremendous strides in medicine and nutrition, humans may very well have a finite lifespan – and we may already have reached it. The study published in the journal Nature found that there is little chance of beating the current record of 122….
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Low-carb or low-fat diet? No clear winner emerges for weight loss
CBC, 02.01.2019
Bacon and black coffee for breakfast, or oatmeal and bananas? If you’re planning to try to lose weight in 2019, you’re sure to find a fierce debate online and among friends and family about how best to do it. It seems like everyone has an opinion, and new fads emerge every year.
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Science policy & Communication
The Quest to Topple Science-Stymying Academic Paywalls
wired, 04.01.2019
Science is built, enhanced, and developed through the open and structured sharing of knowledge . Yet some publishers charge so much for subscriptions to their academic journals that even the libraries of the world’s wealthiest universities such as Harvard are no longer able to afford the prices .
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EU initiatives
TOP Single-use plastics: Commission welcomes ambitious agreement on new rules to reduce marine litter
bio-based, 08.01.2019
The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached a provisional political agreement on the ambitious new measures proposed by the Commission to tackle marine litter at its source, targeting the 10 plastic products most often found on our beaches as well as abandoned fishing gear.
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Curious news
Which new superfoods pack a real punch?
independent-ie, 02.01.2019
Things move fast in the world of superfood trends. In 2018, health and wellness influencers over the world may have been busily tucking into kimchi and slurping down bone-broth but for 2019 attention has moved to a whole new range of produce and products. Here’s our round-up of the rising stars hitting your supermarket shelves.
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