NASA launches new satellite to monitor rising sea levels
NASA’s new ocean satellite is set to completely revolutionise the way we collect data on sea levels and the impact of climate change. It sounds crazy to say now, but when NASA first began its research on rising sea levels in the 1990s, scientists were unsure whether or not climate...
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Twitter strives for inclusivity with new stories feature ‘Fleets’
Twitter is encouraging people back on its platform with timed, disappearing tweets called ‘Fleets.’ It’s hard to stay relevant if you don’t roll with the times - and Twitter appears to have finally realised it may be lagging behind the competition. The platform has always been the place to go for...
Snapchat’s new astrology update fosters Gen Z lockdown connections
All is written in the stars, and as of Thursday, also on Snapchat. Whether you’re a horoscope devotee who believes destiny is written in the stars, or just looking for an excuse to break the ice with a crush in lockdown, Snapchat has developed a full-fledged astrology feature to serve...
Noveto’s ‘sound beaming’ technology emits audio straight to your ears
Noveto’s futuristic device is beaming audio media straight to people’s heads without the need for headphones. For some, I’d imagine the second round of Covid-19 lockdowns is akin to a peaceful meditation retreat, but for larger families it’s likely a daily cacophony of noise. As someone firmly in the latter bracket,...
How AI-based app WYSA is helping Gen Z’s mental health
Offering pragmatic solutions to mental health struggles, WYSA is using AI chat algorithms and questionnaires to tailor emotional support for Gen Z users. It seems AI is everywhere these days. Whether it’s used to help artists create paintings from scratch, or to quicken disaster response times via satellites,...
Virgin’s Hyperloop to carry passengers in levitating pods at 600mph
Virgin’s Hyperloop may one day have commuters flying through vacuum tubes in levitating pods at over 600mph. It’s safe to say Branson’s dreaming big. Remember the Futurama opening sequence that depicted commuters whizzing around cities inside giant tubes? Well Richard Branson’s vision for the future of human and cargo transportation...
Gen Z help location apps flourish but is our privacy at risk?
Dating apps and COVID-19 tracking services have seen huge growth this year - particularly with Gen Z and Millennials - but should we be concerned about the privacy risks? It’s official - a second wave of COVID-19 is here in full swing. With no real end to the pandemic restrictions in sight, more of us are turning to online platforms and new location-based apps to connect with others than ever...
The floating trashcan transforming the fight against plastic pollution
A new floating rubbish container called the ‘Seabin’ could help prevent marine and port waste from entering our oceans, making the entire process more affordable. Could floating trashcans become the future of ocean clean-ups? A new Australian start-up called the ‘Seabin Project’ is certainly hoping so. Founded in 2015 by surfer and environmentalist Pete Ceglinski, this small company has created an affordable wastage management solution called the ‘Seabin’ that can...
Minecraft’s ‘Build the Vote’ readies young voters for US election
Minecraft is weighing in on the upcoming US elections, and its blocky recreation of the Capitol Building may inspire young gamers to vote for the first time. Getting young people to turn up to voting booths has been a notoriously difficult task in recent years. Fewer than half of Americans aged between 18 to 29 had their say on the presidential election of 2016, and concern is rumbling that...
First ever AI satellite quickens disaster response times
A satellite the size of a cereal box is using AI to remove clouds from orbit imagery and pinpointing disasters faster than ever before. On September 2nd, a satellite that looks a little like a desktop PC was shot into orbit, it’s original task being to monitor the state of polar ice and soil moisture as climate change continues to impact our planet’s delicate ecosystems. However, a month into deployment the...
