The day we can’t tell the difference between a human and robot just got a little bit closer. A Turing Test of sorts has been put to humans to see if they could differentiate between their fellow human and non-human combatants in a first-person shooter game. For the first time in the five years that … Read More → "Turing Test prize has two winners"

This week two scientists have received the Nobel Prize for their work on a study which has adult cells transformed back into embryo-like stem cells. This work may one day have us able to continue the work currently being done on stem cells (regrowing tissue in damaged organs, for example), with cells from adults rather than from embryos. John Gurdon, 79, of the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge, Britain and Shinya Yamanaka, 50, of Kyoto University in Japan will … Read More → "Nobel Prize awarded for adult stem cell discovery"

Those of us who watched the live feed of last night’s Falcon 9 launch could be forgiven for assuming that everything went according to plan. All the reports that came through over the audio were heavy on the word “nominal,” and the craft successfully entered an orbit that has it on schedule to dock with the International Space Station on Wednesday. But over night, SpaceX released a slow-motion video of what they’re calling an “anomaly.”

Watch the video embedded below (starting at about the 27-second mark), though, and … Read More → "That smooth SpaceX launch? Turns out one of the engines came apart"

A few months ago we were given the opportunity to witness a test flight of SpaceX’s mission to the International Space Station (ISS). After a high-profile aborted attempt, the spacecraft finally launched. But that was just the dress rehearsal. Last night the real future of NASA began.

Launching from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time, the Falcon 9 rocket lifted the Dragon … Read More → "SpaceX launches era of commercial cargo missions for NASA"

BASE jumping might just be about to enter the mainstream. What has typically been considered a fringe activity, reserved for thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies, could soon be firmly cemented in the public view. For the uninitiated, BASE jumping is like skydiving, without the plane. Participants throw themselves off bridges, antennae, buildings, cliffs, and well, whatever high object they can find. It’s not illegal, “in theory”, but as many of the chosen launch spots are … Read More → "Leap of faith: Felix Baumgartner’s historic jump from the edge of space"

Ray Kurzweil believes that while we are the creators of technology today, tomorrow it will be able to invent itself. And when that day comes, we may, in fact, be screwed.

“Technology has been a double-edged sword since fire kept us warm but burned down our villages,” he told me in the above video interview.

The Singularity is the day in 2029 that Kurzweil says technology will be able to pass the Turing Test and think for itself. He explained at the DEMO conference this week in Santa … Read More → "17 years until the Singularity: A conversation with futurist Ray Kurzweil"

A recently uncovered video shows the true inventors of 3D printer technology demoing their fantastic magic machine that can create ANYTHING. It appears the video has been kept hidden due to the unnerving power of this invention. Until now.
via Kottke

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… Read More → "Demo of machine that can create anything"

Toyota is showcasing a new single person electric vehicle at CEATEC 2012 that envisions a future of small urban smart cars. It’ss laden with technology to adapt to and aid the user, as well as keep them connected. Meet the, um, Smart INSECT.

Looking at the wee little vehicle, complete with gull-wing doors that look like wings on a ladybug, you’d think it’s creatively and appropriately named. According to Toyota it’ … Read More → "Toyota’s mini concept car creates buzz with techie features"

In the tech world, we often talk about how big data is remaking big business. But photojournalist Rick Smolan wants us to pay attention to how it’s transforming everything else.

The former National Geographic and TIME photographer, who is best known for the Day in the Lifebook series, has spent his career using imagery to document -– and inspire reflection about -– the changing world.

In his latest project, The Human Face of Big Data, he shares … Read More → "5 ways big data is transforming everyday life"