Robotaxies & Denisovans

Waymo Robotaxis

According to The Washington Post, California regulators have approved Waymo, Alphabet's (Google’s parent company) self-driving car division, to expand its robotaxi service on highways in the Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles. Despite local opposition, the California Public Utilities Commission permitted Waymo to deploy robotaxis on local roads and freeways at speeds up to 65 mph. Waymo plans a careful and incremental expansion with no immediate inclusion of highways. Many have concerns about the impact of autonomous vehicles on city streets, but Waymo has also received support from various groups.

Waymo robotaxi in the streets of San Francisco. @Waymo

Apple’s Discontinuation of Auto-Car

You’ve likely used Apple Carplay, but have you heard of Apple’s Car project? According to The Washington Post, Apple is discontinuing its decade-long project to create an electric car with autonomous features. Despite recent testing activities, the company needed to catch up to industry leaders. The decision surprised around 2,000 employees working on the project, known as "Project Titan." Apple will now shift its focus to generative artificial intelligence efforts. The move follows extensive testing of autonomous cars, covering over 450,000 miles in California. Incidents during testing this year, resulting in minor vehicle damage, contributed to the decision.

Apple store. @Andy Wang

Denisovans

According to The New York Times, Denisovans, an ancient human group, are still a mystery because we have only found a few of their bones, such as a broken jaw, a finger bone, and some skull pieces. However, studying their DNA has shown that they could live in many places, from Siberia to the Pacific islands. Their DNA also indicates that they mixed with modern humans as they moved out of Africa. New information from Tibet and Laos shows that Denisovans lived in more places than we thought. Their genes can still be found in people today, giving them benefits like living at high altitudes and fighting diseases. Scientists are still learning more about the Denisovans' complicated history and how they interacted with other early humans.

Portrait of a juvenile female Denisovan. @Smithsonian Magazine

Mystery Sea Slug

Did you know that 95% of the world’s oceans remain unexplored? That means there are often new species of creatures constantly being discovered. According to the BBC, A new sea slug species, Pleurobranchaea Britannica, has been located off the southwest coast of England. Belonging to a group typically found in warmer waters, its presence suggests a potential migration northward due to climate change. Sea slugs, known for their beauty, are crucial indicators of marine ecosystem health. This finding underscores the ongoing need for research to understand the impact of climate change on marine life, including potential effects on fish stocks and disruptions to the food chain.

Pleurobranchaea britannica. @BBC

A.I & Energy

According to The New York Times, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is transforming the data center market, raising concerns about sustainability. Compared to traditional centers built for internet users' proximity, A.I.'s demand for large-scale centers challenges environmental goals. The power needs of these data centers have significantly increased, outpacing investments in renewable energy. The industry needs help achieving net-zero goals amid a surge in electricity demand. Now, action is required to address the environmental impact of power-hungry data centers and find sustainable solutions.

Data Center. @Taylor Vick

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