Could AIs become conscious? Right now, we have no way to tell.
Scientists struggle to define consciousness, AI or otherwise. Enlarge (credit: BlackJack3D/Getty Images) Advances in artificial intelligence are making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between uniquely human beha.....»»
Can biodegradable polymers live up to the hype?
As consumers and corporations alike become more environmentally conscious, the chemical industry is working to find solutions to the plastic waste crisis. One idea is to use biodegradable polymers known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) as replacements.....»»
Sand, sun, and electric off-road SUVs: Extreme E holds its first race
There's a lot to like about this new environmentally conscious race series. The Odyssey 21 of Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Jenson Button, who are driving for the JBXE Extreme-E Team. Button is.....»»
Chinese startups rush to bring alternative protein to people’s plates
In many ways, China is the ideal testbed for alternative protein. The country has a long history of imitation meat rooted in Buddhist vegetarianism and a growing, health-conscious middle class. On a recent morning in downtown Shenzhen, Lin.....»»
New Google Maps features offer a preview of doom-conscious tech
Newly announced Google Maps features hint at a more doom-conscious future for tech advancements.....»»
Monkeys experience the visual world the same way people do
When humans look out at a visual landscape like a sunset or a beautiful overlook, we experience something—we have a conscious awareness of what that scene looks like. This awareness of the visual world around us is central to our everyday existence.....»»
LA’s socially conscious bank challenger, Aspiration, launches a carbon offset credit card
Aspiration, the financial services business for socially conscious consumers, is back with another environmentally friendly offering for its customers — this time, it’s a credit card. The Los Angeles-based company, which has raised roughl.....»»
5 Sustainability Ideas for Eco-Conscious SMBs
Small businesses can make environmental sustainability a core business practice with these five ideas......»»
UK city where Romans bathed penalises polluting cars
Famed as a spa town where the Romans soaked in the waters, the British city of Bath has long been a magnet for the health-conscious visitor......»»
With a pinch of salt: How reliable are existing studies on microplastics in table salt?
Just as environmentally conscious scientists predicted, our excessive use of plastics is coming back to bite us. Microplastics (MPs), plastic particles smaller than a few millimeters, can now be found everywhere, but more so in seawater. As expected,.....»»
Reuse Hollow-core Doors To Make Plywood and More
Reusing isn’t new, but items deliberately made from reclaimed materials have become statement pieces. The “upcycling” movement and rising interest in eco-conscious wares has given value to the valueless. Decrepit and dangerous barns once left t.....»»
Newly funded Maisonette is becoming a go-to brand for fashion-conscious families; here’s how
Maisonette, a four-year-old, New York-based company has aimed from the outset to become a one-stop curated shop for everything a family might need for their young children. That plan appears to be working. Today, the company — which launched wi.....»»
Maisonette is becoming a go-to brand for fashion-conscious families; here’s how
Maisonette, a four-year-old, New York-based company has aimed from the outset to become a one-stop curated shop for everything a family might need for their young children. That plan appears to be working. Today, the company — which launched wi.....»»
EV charging stations, biofuels, the hydrogen transition and chemicals are pillars of Shell’s climate plan
Royal Dutch Shell Group, one of the largest publicly traded oil producers in the world, just laid out its plan for how the company will survive in a zero-emission, climate conscious world. It’s a plan that rests on five main pillars that includ.....»»
Vision Fund backs Chinese fitness app Keep in $360 million round
As Chinese fitness class provider Keep continues to diversify its offerings to include Peloton-like bikes, health-conscious snacks among other things, it’s bringing in new investors to fund its ambitions. On Monday, Keep said it has recently cl.....»»
How does immersive reality affect implicit racial bias?
Implicit racial bias refers to automatic, non-conscious behaviors, even if one's explicit attitude is not biased at all. Several studies have shown these prejudices are reduced in white people after being in the body of a black person in virtual real.....»»