Latest Stories from Jamie
A teenager is using fish waste to clean heavy metal pollution
17-year-old Jacqueline Prawira is one of 100 student winners from Schmidt Futures’ young change maker awards. Using natural components derived from fish scales, she developed a bio-solution capable of ridding waterways of heavy metal contamination. All of a sudden, I’m feeling pretty self-conscious about my teenage years. 17-year-old student Jacqueline Prawira is about to become a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and already she is beginning to pave...
Researchers are using AI to predict criminal activity
AI is reportedly capable of predicting where crimes will take place up to a week ahead of time. The tech’s accuracy is around 90%, but there are concerns about its potential to perpetuate biases. It may sound like something straight from the Bat Cave, but this tech exists for real and may even be widely utilised in the near future. Scientists have reportedly found a way of predicting when and where...
Corona’s sustainable island pushes the meaning of eco-tourism
Registration is now open for a full-blown ‘Corona Island’ retreat launching next year off the coast of Colombia. It is entirely plastic free, focuses on reconnecting with nature, and holds sustainability as a core value. Okay, so we’ll try our best not to make this article read like PR, but this retreat just so happens to combine three of our favourite things: sun, sustainability, and last but not least, beer. Off...
GTA VI leaks show gaming companies need to improve security
In what’s being described as the biggest game leak of all time, stolen pre-alpha footage of Grand Theft Auto VI totalling 50 minutes was posted online over the weekend. Will this prompt game developers and publishers to finally improve their security measures? Considering Grand Theft Auto VI realistically won’t be in stores for at least another three years, waking up on Sunday (September 18) to see the title trending online...
Ethereum crypto moves to cut its CO2 output by 99%
Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency, has finally moved to a ‘proof of stake’ system. This means the carbon emissions associated with mining its coins could be cut by 99%. While environmentalists are staunchly anti-crypto at the moment, Ethereum has shown that the industry can shed its problematic link to fossil fuels. The second largest cryptocurrency globally has just completed a software upgrade it’s calling ‘the merge.’ This will drastically alter the...
The Samsung ‘Balance Mouse’ runs away if you overwork
Samsung has developed a one of a kind computer mouse that will scurry away if you begin to overwork. It’s a neat idea that reflects the modern desire for a more pronounced work/life balance. If you’re one of the remaining few who refuse to punch out when the working day is over, you could do with this quirky contraption. Samsung may be developing an office accessory that takes human agency completely...
The company transforming hot shower emissions into soap and shampoo
Hotels use a lot of hot water, and heating it releases a sizable amount of carbon dioxide. An innovative company called CleanO2 has now found a way of capturing these emissions and transforming them into sustainable soap and shampoo. I don’t know about you, but I reckon a hotel offering of sustainable soap and shampoo is worth at least an extra star on Trip Advisor. Both are currently being gifted as...
Could futuristic tech help to end China’s record droughts?
China, renowned for being first with technological advancements, is exploring cloud seeding, GM crops, and a multibillion-dollar water transfer project to address its severe drought problem. Following an unprecedented 2-month heatwave, China is being forced to show its mettle as a leading innovator to survive record water shortages. Between mid-June and August, the average temperature increase across provinces was reportedly around 1.2C higher than the seasonal norm. While this may not sound...
Organised crime is a hidden yet major contributor to deforestation
When someone mentions deforestation, you probably think of beef production or the wood industry as being most culpable. A key driver that often goes under the radar, however, is organised crime like drug trafficking and illegal logging. Almost a year on from COP26, there’s definitely work to be done to regenerate 30% of natural land by 2030. Every 12 months, the world loses an estimated 25 million acres of forest to...
AI-generated piece controversially wins art competition
This year at the Colorado State Fair, a piece of AI-generated art won an award for Emerging Digital Artists. In the days since, online debate about what constitutes ‘real art’ has ignited. If you keep up with Thred, you’ll already be completely in the loop regarding AI-generated ‘text-to-image’ programs and their recent emergence. Canny visual software like DALL-E, NightCafe, and – in this instance – Midjourney, are able to take our...
