Latest Stories from Charlie
Kendrick’s latest single utilises advanced deepfake tech
Kendrick Lamar’s music video for his new album teaser incorporates deepfake tech to portray the perspectives of various cultural icons. It’s an example of how realistic and advanced deepfake technology has gotten. If you’re a music fan, you’ll no doubt have seen and heard about Kendrick Lamar’s imminent album release, his first in five years. As is tradition with every Lamar drop, he released the fifth song in the ‘Heart’...
‘Power-Blox’ could provide clean energy to rural areas by 2030
They may look like giant LEGO bricks, but these ‘Power-Blox’ energy cubes provide portable electricity via solar panels. It’s hoped that they’ll be used to provide power to the world’s poorest regions. What if your regular LEGO brick could do more than just serve as a potential safety hazard for your feet? That’s the thinking behind ‘Power-Blox’, the energy cube that stores electricity via the power of the sun. Co-founder...
Has the pandemic made us more aggressive?
Comedians, public workers, and university tutors have been reporting more aggressive and socially stunted behaviours since we returned to ‘normal’ life. Has the pandemic dented our ability to communicate effectively and appropriately? It seems some of us may have forgotten how to behave in public after multiple years of lockdowns and social restrictions. Comedian Nish Kumar has openly described his experiences with hecklers and social misconduct during his recent shows...
Sunscreen chemicals found in Mediterranean seagrass
A new study has found sunscreen chemicals in Mediterranean seagrass. UV filters absorbed by Posidonia oceanica could cause long-term damage to local ecosystems. A new study suggests that sunscreen could be affecting our oceans. Chemicals from popular sunscreen lotion brands have been found ‘accumulating’ in Mediterranean seagrass. Scientists discovered ultraviolet filters in the stems of a certain type of seagrass known as Posidonia oceanica, found on the coast of Mallorca. Researchers...
New AI DALL-E 2 creates images from text prompts
A new AI system can create a variety of images both realistic and surreal from natural language descriptions. It has the potential to be game changing, but not without some concerns. Algorithms and AI continue to make waves across the art industry. The latest breakthrough comes from a research team called OpenAI, who has just unveiled a new version of its DALL-E program. This software is a text-to-image generation tool...
New study says Gen Z would quit jobs instead of being unhappy
A new research piece by Randstad, published by Business Insider, says that young people would rather quit jobs and look elsewhere than remain in a position that makes them unhappy. The age of company loyalty is officially over, if it wasn’t already obvious. A new study by human resource consultancy firm Randstad has found that a majority of Gen Z employees would quit their current job rather than be unhappy....
Urbanears unveils new earbuds made from 97% recycled plastic
These new earbuds are made almost entirely from recycled plastic, making them a more eco-conscious option compared to traditional AirPods or Bluetooth headsets. Want to listen to your favourite songs on the go but don’t want to invest in Apple’s extensive ecosystem? Music goers looking for a more environmentally friendly option may want to check out Urbanears’ new recycled plastic earbuds. Called the ‘Boo’ and ‘Boo Tips’, these aesthetically low-key...
New AI tool recreates faces solely through voice data
As deep fake technology becomes increasingly difficult to suss out online, from AI voices to celebrity lookalikes, a new tool has allowed researchers to recreate faces through voice recordings. The era of deepfakes and artificial personas is steadily creeping up on us, one technological breakthrough at a time. While you may have seen some uncanny TikTok accounts creating deepfake videos of celebrities such as Tom Cruise, and celebrity AI voice...
Students build solar greenhouse that produces energy
Traditional greenhouses typically use a ton of energy to work properly, but students in Catalonia have built a solar powered structure that creates energy rather than consuming it. Who says greenhouses can’t adapt to modern energy needs? First built in the nineteenth century, greenhouses are a nifty way to grow plants and produce our own flowers, but they usually use lots of energy to function. Students in Barcelona have created a solution...
Dyson reveals air purifying headphones that block pollution
The vacuum company Dyson has just announced its new over-ear headphones that include an air-purifier for your mouth. A little dystopian, but a novel example of how we’ll need to adapt with a changing climate and world. Dyson has just unveiled a new set of headphones that include an air-purifying mouth visor. They allow users to listen to music on the go while also breathing in clean air. The nifty new...
