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Category: New Technology In Computer

Talking about science and technology has positive impacts on research and society

Talking about science and technology has positive impacts on research and society

It is important to educate the public about scientific research, discoveries and applications. (Shutterstock)

Discussions around science and technology can become controversial, such as public conversations around climate science or gene-editing tools.

That might leave the impression that such conversations are best avoided. But it is important to have constructive conversations about scientific and technical subjects because of how they impact our lives.

Not having these conversations can lead to further division and strained relationships. Avoidance of such conversations could also have serious implications for scientific research support such as the continued development of life-saving vaccines or in deciding how we might regulate emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence.

Read more: Generative AI like ChatGPT reveal deep-seated systemic issues beyond the tech industry

The ancient Greeks had a term for opportune moments, or those qualitative measures of time where things just seem to be right for some action.

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Canadian technology company creates metals supply chain software to combat fraud

Canadian technology company creates metals supply chain software to combat fraud

Aurubis AG uncovered a large-scale fraud in September involving shipments of scrap metal that it uses to feed its copper smelters, with potential losses running into hundreds of millions of euros.

A Canadian technology start-up with backing from the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) – the technology arm of the government – says it has developed a secure digital platform to create accountability and transparency within the supply chain.

Pointing out that the multi-trillion dollar commodities industry still primarily operates on physical paper and spreadsheets for its transactions, Alberta-based Daniola created a digital platform that connects metals buyers and sellers and vendors on a three-way marketplace.

The company, whose primary market is Africa, said it has developed a secure and end-to-end solution, enabling users to  track the journey of minerals and metals, starting from the mine through to possession, ensuring the user has full knowledge of where the materials originated.

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NASA Names New Head of Technology, Policy, Strategy

NASA Names New Head of Technology, Policy, Strategy

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Monday Charity Weeden will serve as associate administrator for the agency’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS), effective immediately. Weeden succeeds Bhavya Lal, who left the agency in July, and Ellen Gertsen, who had been serving as the office’s acting leader since then.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Monday Charity Weeden will serve as associate administrator for the agency’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS), effective immediately. Weeden succeeds Bhavya Lal, who left the agency in July, and Ellen Gertsen, who had been serving as the office’s acting leader since then.

The Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, located at NASA Headquarters in Washington, provides agency leadership with high-quality, evidence-driven advice that guides strategic planning and investments. The office works across NASA’s mission directorates, as well as with the broader space community. Its researchers focus on key areas aligned with agency-level activities and

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Seven technologies to watch in 2024

Seven technologies to watch in 2024

From protein engineering and 3D printing to detection of deepfake media, here are seven areas of technology that Nature will be watching in the year ahead.

Deep learning for protein design

Two decades ago, David Baker at the University of Washington in Seattle and his colleagues achieved a landmark feat: they used computational tools to design an entirely new protein from scratch. ‘Top7’ folded as predicted, but it was inert: it performed no meaningful biological functions. Today, de novo protein design has matured into a practical tool for generating made-to-order enzymes and other proteins. “It’s hugely empowering,” says Neil King, a biochemist at the University of Washington who collaborates with Baker’s team to design protein-based vaccines and vehicles for drug delivery. “Things that were impossible a year and a half ago — now you just do it.”

Much of that progress comes down to increasingly massive data sets that link

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Technology Red Flags: What Accessible Tests Can You Apply To Cleantech Innovations?

Technology Red Flags: What Accessible Tests Can You Apply To Cleantech Innovations?

Years ago, I developed a basic framework of red flags I looked for when assessing wind generation technologies. I generalized it for an engineering magazine at one point at their request. A couple of years ago I used it as the basis of seminar I was invited to give at Columbia University. I apply the filter constantly and mostly unconsciously. And in recent weeks, I’ve had a series of conversations that make it clear it’s time to update it a bit.

One conversation was with a Dutch journalist who is writing an article for the government about how to avoid being conned or duped by poor solutions. Another was with an aerospace contact, where I pointed out that airborne wind energy types worked for years without realizing that they had to compete with a solution which required no human involvement in operations. Another was a discussion with a South American

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