Science
First LookNvidia unveils new products from supercharged graphics chip to AI that trains robotsChipmaker and AI leader Nvidia revealed its most advanced consumer graphics processor unit, its first desktop computer, and artificial intelligence to better train robots and cars.
Solar panels in space show potential for liftoff, despite cost concernsTechnological advances mean space-based solar panels are edging closer to reality. Cost is the biggest hurdle.
First LookAre the Boeing astronauts actually stuck in space? Nope. ‘Living in space is super fun.’Boeing’s new Starliner astronauts have had to combat rumors about their health and saftey after a forced extended stay on the International Space Station. However, the pair has taken the challenge in stride. “Mindset does go a long way,” said Butch Wilmore.
Cover StoryMoody chickens? Playful bumblebees? Science decodes the rich inner lives of animals.New science shows that farm animals and other creatures exhibit signs of conscious experience. How should this make us see them – and ourselves?
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First LookA week ago, Tesla showcased futuristic robotaxis. Then a pedestrian got hit.One week after Tesla unveiled prototype robotaxis and promised fully autonomous vehicles by 2026, the company is once again under investigation. Tesla has twice recalled its “Full Self-Driving” system in the past after cars ignored stop signs and hurt pedestrians.
NASA launches its biggest space probe to find if life can exist on Jupiter moonPlanetary geologist Erin Leonard of NASA talks about the Europa Clipper mission – and how to see if the icy moon of Jupiter has conditions required to support life.
FocusSpaceX has Texas-scale ambitions in the sky. But they’re creating tensions on Earth.SpaceX achieved a first Sunday by returning its Super Heavy booster rocket safely to rest in the launch tower. Among Texas locals, concerns about environmental impacts are matched by enthusiasm for space industry innovation.
First LookThey won a Nobel prize for their work on AI. Here’s why, and how they see AI’s future.A Canadian and American researcher jointly won the Nobel Prize for physics by building the foundation of modern AI study. Geoffrey Hinton lauded the potential benefits of AI, predicting another “Industrial Revolution,” but still has worries.
First LookOne small walk for a tech billionaire, one giant leap for ultra wealthy space touristsEmerging from the hatch into the cold vacuum of space, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman joined an elite group of professional astronauts from a dozen countries. He tested SpaceX’s new spacesuits, clinging to a spacecraft going farther than any since 1972.
First LookAs Boeing falters, can SpaceX go where six far-reaching Apollo missions went before?The SpaceX rocket, blasting off early Sept. 10, will take astronauts farther than any other since 1972, when Apollo 17 completed the final NASA mission. The third day will bring the first privately funded spacewalk.
Can plants talk and think? Some scientists say yes.“The Light Eaters” gives insights into how plants communicate, while “Alien Earths” explores the search for intelligent life on other planets.
First LookNASA: Astronauts stuck on ISS must wait for SpaceX ride home in 2025After months of tests and debate, NASA decided test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will come back in a SpaceX capsule in February. Their empty Boeing Starliner capsule will attempt to return on autopilot in early September.
First LookWhat’s old, long, and green? Meet Gnatalie, Los Angeles’ new dinosaur.A 75-foot-long sauropod is the only green dinosaur fossil in the world and it’s on display in Los Angeles. Researchers discovered the bones in 2007 in the Badlands of Utah.
‘Hey Siri, can you win the AI race?’ How Apple Intelligence could be a game-changer.Apple is diving into artificial intelligence – focused on the idea of a “virtual personal assistant.” Apple Intelligence will make Siri and some iPhone 15 models smarter – and perhaps spur sales of new gadgets.
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