You may have heard of blockchain, but still be confused about exactly what it is, what the hype around it really means, and how it could affect you. “…there is a bit too much hype surrounding the term ‘blockchain.’” Roger […]
Author: Futurity
How Card-Playing A.I. Beat Top Poker Pros
An artificial intelligence called Libratus beat four top professional poker players in No-Limit Texas Hold’em by breaking the game into smaller, more manageable parts and adjusting its strategy as play progressed during the competition, researchers report. In a new paper […]
Why You Shouldn’t Play Video Games On Mute
New research suggests you’ll do better at a video game with the sound on. “We live in a multisensory world,” says Robert Sekuler, professor of psychology and of neuroscience at Brandeis University, who studies how the human senses, especially sight […]
These Black Friday Deals That Trick You Into Spending More
Promotions that involve spending a certain amount at a store to get a gift card may make you spend more than you normally, report researchers. This is thanks to a phenomenon called “mental discounting.” “Price promotions that feel too good […]
Watch: Robot Composer Performs Its Own Work
A four-armed, marimba-playing robot can now write and play its own compositions with aid from artificial intelligence and deep learning. Researchers fed the robot nearly 5,000 complete songs—from Beethoven to the Beatles to Lady Gaga to Miles Davis—and more than […]
Many Diabetics Might Not Need To Prick Their Fingers
Finger-prick blood glucose testing does not offer a significant advantage in blood sugar control or quality of life for patients with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin for the condition, a new study suggests. “There has been a […]
New Homo Sapiens Fossils Are The Oldest Yet
Researchers have uncovered 300,000-year-old fossil bones of Homo sapiens-the oldest reliably dated fossil evidence of our species. The unearthing, reported in two papers in the journal Nature (one, two), significantly pushes back the origins of our species: the find is […]
New Pacemaker Doesn’t Need Wires Or A Battery
Researchers have created a wireless pacemaker that requires no battery and can be directly implanted into a patient’s heart. The pacemaker harvests energy wirelessly from radio frequency radiation transmitted by an external battery pack. In the prototype, the wireless power […]
This Tool Lets You Make Your Own Robot ‘Puppy’
Scientists have created a new interactive design tool that makes it possible for novices and experts to create custom robots with 3D-printed parts and consumer-level actuators. Using a familiar drag-and-drop interface, individuals can choose from a library of components and […]
Are Algorithms A Fair Way To Predict Who’ll Skip Bail?
Simple, statistically informed decision rules can dramatically improve judicial determinations, says Sharad Goel. But, he cautions, algorithms are not a complete fix. Courts nationwide are making greater use of computer algorithms to help determine whether defendants should be released into […]