Summary Many people believe humans are not improving their lot, but the facts dispute this. People tend to look at the simpler past nostalgically, through rose coloured glasses. But we are living longer, have more wealth, job security is better and we are safer than ever before. Mental health is important because in spite of…
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Summary Exponential technology growth will change the world rapidly by 2040. Surprisingly, predictions are that nearly everyone will use the metaverse. The investment Bank Citi predicts the metaverse will be worth US$13 Trillion by 2030. Once you have a headset, there are really no costs. So Mark Zutterburg may be right and although shares in…
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Summary Renewables, such as wind and solar, both with battery backup are predominant and currently being installed worldwide. However, there are some exciting alternatives being developed. This blog explores nuclear fusion and 24 hour solar transmission from outer space. Both have been around for a while but research has removed many of the problems that…
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Summary The title of this blog comes from the Sydney Morning Herald which publishes a page about Web3 every Thursday. Web3 is the next evolution of the web or internet. The first edition of the internet, Web1 was static or read only. Web2 which we use today evolved in the early 2000s and is read/write,…
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Summary Automation in the construction industry is being used increasingly to reduce build time, cost and increase accuracy. For instance, 3D printing can build all insulating concrete walls of a house in 2 days. The remainder is completed in a few weeks at maybe 50 to 60% of the cost, including all services. It will…
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Summary The human brain is incredibly complex and the best minds are trying to find out how it works so that computers can simulate it. We have a long way to go. A few basic facts: The male brain weighs around 1.4kg, about 2% of body weight. Although the male brain is 10% larger than…
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Summary Ageing is considered a disease that can be cured or even reversed and the technology is being perfected. There are 2 aspects here. One is curing or preventing diseases that are more likely as we age, such as heart problems, Alzheimer’s, arthritis and cancer. Crispr, the gene editing tool will assist. The second is…
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Summary The change to clean energy is a ‘no brainer’ because of the enormous cost savings, profits, new jobs and negated damage costs. It is too easy to continue ‘Business As Usual’ (BAU,). Fortunately, there are smart technology companies, entrepreneurs and venture capital firms out there. They will make it happen because of the opportunities…
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Summary Statistics show many more on the right of politics either deny climate change is happening or believe it is not important. On the left, the reverse is true. Why is this? Probably because the conservative right doesn’t want change. While coal is a major export earner for Australia, what should be appreciated is…
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Summary We are living in a time of abundance, not just material wealth, but a life of possibilities. Our amygdala (emotional function) has built in our need for survival. Consequently, newspapers and TV feed us as much bad news as possible. Over and over in high definition! Doom sells newspapers and TV, but the opposite…
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Summary The Metaverse is an artificial 3D setting in which anyone can mix with other people from anywhere via avatars in a setting anywhere in the world. See also AR/VR blog. Much work is being done to replace avatars with real world holograms of the participants. Covid remote working has accelerated the development to make…
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Summary Big businesses such as Google long ago started changing the way people work. They ditched 9 to 5, allowed employees to take holidays when they want them, work when they want. Google provides free facilities to eat (gourmet food all day), rest, play, meditate, sleep. Also to exercise in a variety of gyms, holiday,…
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Summary Climate Change has been debated for decades. It has long been known by experts and now accepted by the majority of the public, that the science is settled. Most first world countries are taking action. Technology is and has been developed to clean up the atmosphere from greenhouse gas emissions shown in the chart…
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Summary Future Covids and Vaccines: The rapid availability of vaccines for Covid19 shows how far the technology has progressed. Previously, mainly due to red tape for approval, it took about 10 years. Most successful are the mRNA (messenger RNA – synthetic and genetically engineered) types from Pfizer and Moderna. But Pfizer’s vaccine needs to be stored at…
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Brief Summary Quantum Computing: The computers we use today (Classical Computers, CCs) use transistors which can be off or on, 2 states, ‘go and no go’ or 0 and 1. Quantum (Quantum means the smallest possible unit of any physical property) Computers (QCs) use cubits relying on subatomic particles, ions, photons, electrons and atoms. QCs…
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What is CRISPR? 4 scientists developed CRISPR to edit DNA in 2012. This was recognised as the breakthrough of the year in 2015. Its first application is to eliminate hereditary diseases, either in a person’s body and/or eliminating it from all future children. After that, it may be used to eliminate most diseases. It has…
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What is the Khan Academy? In 2004, Salman Khan began tutoring his younger cousin, Nadia, in maths over the internet, then other cousins. Such was the interest from YouTube watchers, he quit his job as a hedge fund analyst to start the not for profit Khan Academy full time. Salman “Sal” Khan aged 44, son of…
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