To the Stars with Data: May 9 2021
Holographic lasers, humongous astronomical projects, and more...
Hey everyone!
This past week, I've been thinking a lot about artificial intelligence and its commercial applications. Artificial intelligence can unlock so much potential in every single industry and quite a few cutting edge companies are doing this already (which is part of the reason I started this newsletter 😊). Each industry will also begin to look completely different than what we've experienced thus far--think self-driving cars, automated vertical farming, construction robots, etc.
Don't be scared to think big; the world needs that.
-Joe
Thought-Provoking Data Viz
Do you remember using virtual reality devices in the 90s or 00s and thinking that it pales in comparison to real life? Given the current trend of resolution of virtual reality headsets, we could reach virtual reality that is indistinguishable from reality by 2040. Woah.
Read more on Future Timeline.
Earth News
🚗 Scientists want to make you a safer driver by beaming lasers at your eyeballs
Quick Hits. A group of scientists set up a headset that can provide drivers holographic displays of their car and obstacles on the road by shooting lasers into their eyes.
My Thoughts. I'm more excited for this technology's potential in other areas of our life (i.e. for surgeons, chiropractors, or construction workers). The issue I foresee with this technology being used for driving vehicles is that self-driving cars on the horizon and the market for this technology will begin to shrink once that happens. Considering it’s expensive to produce this device right now (~$20k each), it will likely be a few years before it’s commercially viable (assuming that any companies pick it up in the first place).
📈 Mineral supplies for electric cars ‘must increase 30-fold’ to meet climate goals
Quick Hits. Electric vehicles and other green energy infrastructure require a lot more mineral resources to produce than their non-green counterparts (i.e. 12x more for an offshore wind plant than an equivalent gas plant). To keep up with the demand over the coming decades, we'll need to drastically increase production of these minerals. But do not worry - there are enough mineral deposits in the Earth to meet forecasted demand.
My Thoughts. It's difficult to predict what will happen decades from now, but this article does illuminate a problem we are currently facing: green energy infrastructure requires huge amounts of resources. Given the increasing demand for green energy infrastructure, my hope is that innovation will continue to unlock more efficient and less resource-intensive technologies to meet our climate goals.
Space News
🌌 Scientists Say New Experiment Will Determine “Fate of the Universe”
Quick Hits. A group of scientists are going to look at 1 million galaxies over the coming decades to learn more about how matter in the universe has formed over time, hopefully providing clues towards the mystery that is dark energy.
My Thoughts. Besides being amazed/excited that they are literally going to observe 1 million galaxies (I like big goals), this could help us learn an immense amount about the formation of space over time. In particular, large data-collection projects can have a huge, successful impact on other projects, and 1 million galaxies is a lot of data.
🚀 Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Puts First Seat to Space Up for Auction
Quick Hits. The first ticket for the July 20, 2021 flight is now officially up for auction. According to Blue Origin's website, private bidding continues until May 19, at which point the bidding becomes public. The bidding concludes on June 12, with a live online auction.
My Thoughts. This isn't the first time tourists have ventured to space, but it marks the start of a potential space tourism age now that multiple corporations (Blue Origin, SpaceX, Boeing) are partaking, sparking competition and increased global interest.
Things that make you think
🧠 Advances in brain tech spur push for 'neuro-rights'
Quick Hits. Chile hopes to be the first country to establish rights to protect its citizens from neurological manipulation and provide specific rights to its citizens' mind data. Specifically, they aim to guard the human mind's neurodata, limit the technological ability to read and write into human brains, ensure equitable distribution of such technologies, and set limits on neuro algorithms.
My Thoughts. It often seems that governmental regulation is too slow to follow technological development and citizens are the ones to face the consequences. I'm eager to see how this regulation proceeds, especially as it paves a way for other governments to consider similar regulation.
Future-Thinking Companies
♻ TripleW - Turning food waste into bioplastic.