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The next frontier: Mining the deep sea
Stefanie Heerwig Natural ResourcesAs we continue consuming metals and rare earths at the same speed as today, we could run out of existing resources 20 years' time, according to an estimate of current resources and reserves worldwide. Rare earths are the basis for state-of-the-art renewable technology like solar panels. And replacing oil, gas and coal with existing renewable energy technology would require the extraction of rare earths to increase by 700 percent over the next 25 years, according to the latest MIT research.
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Being a good 3-D neighbor
Wendy Lathrop Construction & Building MaterialsOwnership of land runs from the highest point in the heavens to the center of the earth — or so we are generally informed as we surveyors begin our studies of real property characteristics. However, that vast expanse of ownership does not equate to full possession when it comes to such things as allowing airplanes and satellites cross the skies above us; some aspects are beyond an owner's full control. Neighbors above and below us have rights, too.
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Galaxy S8 launch marks pivotal moment for Samsung
Ross Lancaster Science & TechnologyIn the early 1990s, Samsung was a growing company, but one whose products weren't well-known outside of its Asia. That changed starting in 1993, when Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee summoned hundreds of company executives to a Frankfurt, Germany, hotel and gave an epic, three-day speech aimed at turning Samsung from a sleepy, second-rate manufacturer into a massive global brand synonymous with quality.
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I scratch, you scratch: A study of contagious itching in mice
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareWe begin to recognize emotions in others at an early age and copy what we see. The urge to mimic the emotional behavior of others — called emotional contagion — continues throughout life. For example, researchers know that people with autism struggle with decoding the emotional content of faces, bodies and sounds. But for most, seeing someone in distress makes "mirror neurons" in the brain that cause similar feelings.
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A look into the future of the cooling industry
Andrew Gaved EngineeringWhat will the cooling industry look like in 2030? It's a bold question that was asked just before Christmas by the European cooling and ventilation groups EPEE and EVIA. In their collaborative conference named "EUREKA 2016: Heating, Cooling & Ventilation: Sustainable technologies for a better life," they brought experts from around the industry together to imagine what the so-called Generation Z would require from their refrigeration and HVAC — and thus how the industry would need to adapt to create the conditions.
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Email Privacy Act: How will the Senate’s decision affect police?
Danielle Manley Law Enforcement, Defense & Security"The reality is regulation often lags behind innovation," said Bill Maris, founder of Google Ventures. Maris might not have been talking about the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) when he made this comment, but he sure nailed it on the head.
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Machines will soon perform more service jobs than humans
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementCan machines work as well as real human beings in delivering impeccable service? If so, will machines eventually replace human beings at work in the service industry? I had thought about those questions back in 2014 when I discussed the concept of the robotic butler ("Bolter") in hotels. But, at that time, I was unable to provide a definite answer. Today, I can finally assert with more confidence that a new era where machines serving people has arrived.
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Intel’s latest move puts spotlight on tech side of autonomous cars
Ross Lancaster Science & TechnologyThe line between the automotive and tech industries is perpetually being blurred. In fact, CES — the tech world's giant annual electronics show in Las Vegas that takes place every January — featured so much auto technology this year that observers joked that the letters no longer stood for "Consumer Electronics Show," but rather "Car Electronics Show."
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Urban challenge: How can cities manage diversity?
Lucy Wallwork Civil & GovernmentTo return to the much-quoted doyenne of urbanism Jane Jacobs, "cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." Faced with unprecedented levels of globalization and integration, urban planners and city managers are now under pressure to take into account a much broader range of perspectives and priorities as they refashion our urban spaces. Thus, managing diversity is our fifth and final urban challenge.
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The case for space: An inspiration for learning in the stars
Sheilamary Koch EducationThe excitement surrounding the discovery of the Trappist-1 solar system announced by NASA on Feb. 22 speaks to the allure that space still holds for modern humans. Despite the exploration that's taken place in the last 80 years, the universe is full of mystery, as it was for ancient civilizations.
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