…to synthesized speech. This could be a huge breakthrough for people locked in (one of my personal nightmares).
Category Archives: Technology and Society
A Third Of A Century
Today is my birthday, which also means that it’s the anniversary of the loss of the Challenger and its crew (and the beginning of the long drawn-out end of the Shuttle program). Hard to believe it’s been that long.
Climate Models
When are they useful?
Climate And Natural Disasters
Note that despite the phrase “climate-influenced natural disasters,” this article at SciAm doesn’t actually provide any evidence of it.
Space Policy
This anti-business piece is sort of a mess:
Indeed, legislation has been proposed in Congress since the UAG was formed that promotes the Council’s professed goals of expedition, streamlining, and commercial dominance, and it enjoys bipartisan support from lawmakers representing “states and districts where aerospace technology plays a significant role in the local economy,” according to an analysis from Daily Kos. This shared financial interest has brought together far-right, anti-science legislators like Ted Cruz and Lamar Smith in co-sponsorship with Democrats from states with aerospace-heavy economies. [Emphasis mine]
The premise is that space is supposed to be about science, but that has never been true. And as Mark Whittington pointed out on Twitter, it wasn’t Ted Cruz or Lamar Smith who were running ads blasting their opponents for supporting a mission to Europa.
Alzheimer’s
Caused by gum disease? This is huge, if true. A vaccine against both gum disease and Alzheimer’s would be an amazing health breakthrough.
[Friday-afternoon update]
Oh, well…
.@newscientist: This headline is irresponsible. The study was performed mostly in mice, and the evidence in humans is indirect and flimsy. https://t.co/B2GmKAgSmt
— Nsikan Akpan (@MoNscience) January 25, 2019
TSA
Long past time to privatize it. Same with ATC. It’s stupid to let the air industry be hostage to shenanigans in DC.
Jeff’s Space Colonies
The impending divorce doesn’t seem to have dampened his vision. Speaking of Blue Origin, apparently this morning’s New Shepard flight was a complete success.
Lab-Grown Meat
Does it have a future? Maybe, but it’s a tough roe to how for now.
Rover Update
Bob Zimmerman has the latest in activity on both the moon and Mars. Looks like we’ve lost an Opportunity, so to speak.