September 5, 2013

One Small Step for a Robot in Space

Kirobo, a robot whose name is derived from the Japanese words for “hope” and “robot,” has made its first appearance at the International Space Station.

bigthinkeditor

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Kirobo, a robot whose name is derived from the Japanese words for “hope” and “robot,” has made its first appearance at the International Space Station.

Kirobo was developed in Japan and has facial recognition abilities. Kirobo was designed to communicate in Japanese as well as take photos.

Read more here.

The most counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful new stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday.

Collage of classical art suggesting a theme related to somatic markers.

Business

How “somatic markers” can transform your decision-making

Ditch the old brain vs. heart assumptions, and instead think about a heart-led brain.

A black and white image of a bunch of spheres, symbolizing the multiverse concept discussed by scientists.

Starts With A Bang

How logic and reasoning can fail as scientific tools

In logic, ‘reductio ad absurdum’ shows how flawed arguments fall apart. Our absurd Universe, however, often defies our intuitive reasoning.

A wooden sign indicating "assisted migration rep 2" in a pine forest under a clear blue sky.

Life

Moving trees north to save the forests

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Strange Maps

Ohio’s Circleville ditched the grid system. Then it got squared.

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Flagship NASA space telescope faces a penny-pinching death

NASA’s only flagship X-ray telescope ever, Chandra, still works and has no planned successor. So why does the President want to kill it?

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