The problem with reality is that it tends to insist upon itself. Scientists have long pondered whether we might actually live in a simulation. But that doesn’t change our experience. If we’re in the Matrix, it’s a very convincing lie. Which brings us to the obvious question: is it even possible for humans to “live” inside of a computer simulation? One way to answer that would be to build one of our own. If we could successfully trick a human brain into thinking a computer-generated reality was a
Google Maps wears many hats. While mere civilians use the app for navigation, location information, or, err stalking people, cops tap the app to find criminals. You may be surprised to learn that law enforcement officials in the US routinely mine Google’s location data in criminal investigations. The tactic has sparked fears of privacy violations and false arrests, but it’s also led to a range of arrests. Here are five of the criminals caught on Google Maps. 1. A convicted kidnapper A 2017 kidna
The metaverse is coming. Like all technological innovation, it brings new opportunities and new risks. The metaverse is an immersive virtual reality version of the internet where people can interact with digital objects and digital representations of themselves and others, and can move more or less freely from one virtual environment to another. It can also involve augmented reality, a blending of virtual and physical realities, both by representing people and objects from the physical world in
Cities are trying to get people out of their cars, especially for short commutes. While ebikes and escooters get plenty of exposure in efforts to get people out of their cars. There’s another form of transport you might not have given much thought — commuting by eskateboard. But while many flipped up their boards for good in adulthood, there’s a huge movement of skateboarding alive and well — and it’s gone electric. That’s right, electric-powered skateboards where you don’t need to use your fo
While EVs are less likely to catch fire than cars with internal combustion engines, when they do, it’s worse. Much worse. The culprit? Their lithium-ion batteries. To better understand why lithium-ion batteries can sometimes be hazardous, let’s first refresh how they work. A li-ion battery comprises of four key elements: a positive electrode (the cathode), a negative electrode (the anode), an electrolyte, and a separator. The structure of a lithium-ion battery (Credit: Jianan Zhang et al) The el
Bigger is always better. Many of us think this is true when it comes to building our online networks of social media friends, connections and followers. But new research suggests the opposite may be closer to the truth: curating small networks of trusted connections may be smarter in the long run. While this may seem counterintuitive, it also comes with a caveat. We often feel compelled and are even encouraged by social media platforms, to grow our networks. Consider all the prompts about “someo
It seems weird there was a time when the MacBook Pro didn’t exist. Apple’s most premium portable computer is an integral part of its lineup, something I associate with the company as much as the iPhone. All things have to start somewhere though — and the MacBook Pro’s public life began on January 10, 2006. It was at Macworld in San Francisco where Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s new computer, which was the spiritual successor to the PowerBook G4. The whole presentation is on YouTube, but you can wat
The big hot-off-the-presses Apple rumor right now is that the company is not building a metaverse. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, despite aiming to release a mixed reality headset this year, the Cupertino-based tech giant thinks the idea of craftings its own virtual environment is “off-limits.” “Here’s one word I’d be shocked to hear on stage when Apple announces its headset: metaverse. I’ve been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to —
CES 2021 saw new the introduction of standards like HDMI 2.1 and Mini-LED, you know, things that’ll give us serious headaches when we plan to buy a new TV. But did you think those were tough to understand? Well, wait until you read about this year’s standards. Here we go: Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 Don’t you love it when a tech standard breaks its standard series and randomly introduces a new update? The new Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 update will improve the wireless connectivity in one specific area: uploads (or
Commercial spaceflight companies such as Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are now offering exclusive opportunities for celebrities and civilians to travel to space. Traditionally, astronauts have been subject to rigorous training and medical scrutiny before going to space, and the risk of death from natural causes was considered remote. But in this new era of space tourism, it appears medical screening may not be carried out, and only minimal pre-flight training provided. With a wide variety of p