IN SPOTLIGHT
Four scenarios on the future of AI in the workplace
AI’s rapid rise in the workplace is opening up new possibilities—some optimistic, others unsettling. We explore how AI could alter job roles, workplace dynamics, and society at large through four different scenarios.
Can We Use Nanobots to Cure Cancer?
Nanobots are small "robots" ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers in size. Scientists are exploring different applications of nanobots in medicine and healthcare, to fight cancer as well as to unblock blood vessels.
Will Microplastics Become A Serious Health Issue?
Microplastics, very small plastic fragments, less than 5 millimetres in length, can be found in several places. And there’s a lot of it. A 2015 study showed that there are between 93 and 236 metric tons of microplastics in the world’s oceans. They have also been found in freshwater ecosystems, in the soil, and even in the air. Even more worrying, they have been found inside a lot of animal species.
Human Biometric Microchipping
Many years ago, in movies, we used to see someone have their eye scanned to enter a vault or put their fingerprint on a pad to open a futuristic door. But these once futuristic biometric technologies have now started to work their way into our every-day lives. Are microchips next?
A Revolution of Tiny Robots
Much has been said about how industrial and non-industrial robots are changing the world. When we think of robots, most of us think of industrial robotic arms, military robots, or anthropomorphic service robots. In other words, big robots. Few think of those robots that are rarely visible to the naked eye: microrobots.
Looking for an Alternative to That Glass of Wine?
The alcohol industry is used to competition but not so much to disruption. It has some of the most devout followers and healthiest profit margins of any industry. But some people are trying to bring change to the industry, whether by creating wine in a laboratory or by getting rid of alcohol entirely. Are their efforts being rewarded?
Data Successfully Stored in DNA
Data files have been successfully stored into DNA and extracted from it. According to Wired, researchers from Columbia University and the New York Genome Center have stored a movie, an operating system and other files on DNA molecules. The method is called DNA Fountain.