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Human Progress Logo Human Progress

01 / 05
A New Search for Ripples in Space from the Beginning of Time

New York Times | Scientific Research

A New Search for Ripples in Space from the Beginning of Time

“A new $110 million observatory in the high desert of northern Chile, $90 million financed by the foundation, could uncover key clues about what happened after the Big Bang by looking at particles of light that have traveled across the universe since almost the beginning of time.

The data could finally provide compelling corroboration for a fantastical idea known as cosmic inflation. It holds that in the first sliver of time after the universe’s birth, the fabric of space-time accelerated outward to speeds far faster than the speed of light.

Alternatively, the observatory’s measurements could undercut this hypothesis, a pillar in the current understanding of cosmology.”

From New York Times.

Associated Press | Leisure

Here’s How AI Is Helping Make Your Wine

“As AI continues to grow, experts say that the wine industry is proof that businesses can integrate the technology efficiently to supplement labor without displacing a workforce. New agricultural tech like AI can help farmers to cut back on waste, and to run more efficient and sustainable vineyards by monitoring water use and helping determine when and where to use products like fertilizers or pest control. AI-backed tractors and irrigation systems, farmer say, can minimize water use by analyzing soil or vines, while also helping farmers to manage acres of vineyards by providing more accurate data on the health of a crop or what a season’s yield will be.

Other facets of the wine industry have also started adopting the tech, from using generative AI to create custom wine labels to turning to ChatGPT to develop, label and price an entire bottle.”

From Associated Press.

New Scientist | Space

Medicines Made in Space Set to Land in Australian Outback

“Sometime this week, a 1-metre-wide capsule will fall from the sky and land in the South Australian desert carrying a cargo of drugs.

Since launching on a SpaceX rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 14 January, a reactor on board the capsule has been manufacturing an undisclosed, proprietary pharmaceutical compound.

Varda, the US-based company that built the capsule, is aiming to show that producing drugs in low Earth orbit is cost-effective and offers advantages over manufacturing them on the ground.”

From New Scientist.

Bloomberg | Motor Vehicles

Softbank-Backed Self-Driving Firm Wayve Nears Commercial Debut

“Wayve Technologies Ltd., the self-driving startup that raised more than $1 billion last year from investors including SoftBank Group Corp., said it’s nearing a commercial debut with major automakers.

The London-based company will launch its driver-assistance system with global automakers in the US and Germany ‘in the near term,’ Chief Executive Officer Alex Kendall said in an interview. He declined to provide a timeline or name any of the carmakers.

Wayve on Monday also published new data claiming its artificial intelligence-powered software can adapt to US driving behaviors faster and at a lower cost than existing approaches.”

From Bloomberg.

Global Energy Association | Energy Consumption

Almost 100 Million Africans Have Gained Electricity in Recent Years

“According to Dr. Kevin Kariuki, Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate Change & Green Growth, African Development Bank, in 2019, the African Development Bank reported that an additional 96 million African households had gained access to electricity between 2015 and 2019 and between 2019 and 2024, this trend has been sustained…

Northern African countries have nearly achieved universal access.

For sub-saharan counties :

  • West African countries are in good track.
  • Southern African countries driven by some countries known as power houses are progressing as well.
  • It appears that the least energy developed sub-regions are East and Central Africa. With big infrastructure projects taking shape across East Africa, developing a reliable power sector is now more important than ever.

In Central Africa,  from Chad to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR), countries are stepping up initiatives to overcome this energy poverty. Gabon and Equatorial Guinea have reached 90 % electrification rate. Some countries as Rwanda and Kenya are targeting universal access for 2025-2030.”

From Global Energy Association.