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Important Innovations Collection: Warming Up to Siberia

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Climate Change Warming Siberia Source:  Siberia Stock Image New Science:  Large Parts of Asian Russia will be Habitable by 2080 This is another dramatic example of the impact of Global Warming.  New science, just released by a team of US and Russian scientists, forecasts that large parts of Siberia will have much warmer temperatures and be habitable for humans by 2080.  For a great news blog on this go to Important Innovations Collection: Warming Up to Siberia : New Science Reveal Climate Change Could Make Siberia Habitable Global Warming's Impact on Asian Russia By late in the 21st century...

Blockbuster Defense Deal

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United Technologies and Raytheon Merger Source:  Raytheon Aerospace Creates a $160 Billion Defense & Aerospace Giant In a blockbuster announcement, United Technologies, with a market value of $114 billion and Raytheon, with a market value of $52 billion, have agreed to merge their aerospace and defense businesses.  That creates an industry leader valued at $160 billion.  The new company will be called Raytheon Technologies Corporation.  The companies anticipate annual cost savings a $1 billion. Merger of Equals The companies term this a "merger of equals".  It's an all stock deal.  The companies  say that by joining forces they have "unsurpassed technology and expanded R&D capabilities" to deliver innovation.  They add the merger will "deliver cost and revenue synergies". There was some speculation that the two New England based companies were talking, but Sunday's announcement that the two global aerospace businesses are mergin

Being Bullet Proof

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Vehicle Armor - As Good As Steel, Half the Weight Source:  NCSU Prof. Afsaneh Rabiei and her Invention CMF New Invention - Composite Metal Foam Engineers at North Carolina State University have invented a composite metal foam (CMF) that is able to stop .50 caliber armor piercing bullets.  The lead inventor is NCSU Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Afsaneh Rabiei.  They've done so by embedding steel spheres inside the steel matrix of the CMF. New Armor Plate for Military Vehicles The new material for bullet proofing is designed for military vehicles.  The invention is as strong and protective as steel but is half the weight.  That will enable designers of military vehicles to make them much lighter. Withstands Rounds at Impact Velocities of 885 mph The foam is placed between a ceramic faceplate and thin aluminum backplate.  The armor is strong enough to absorb 78% of the kinetic energy from .50 caliber armor piercing bullets with an impact velocity of 8

Important Innovations Collection: Global Oceans Awash in Plastic

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On World Ocean Day, a Rising Tide of Plastic Pollution Source:  Monterey Bay Awash in Plastic On World Ocean Day 2019 there is growing evidence that the global problem of ocean pollution from plastic waste is getting worse.  By latest estimates there are 5 trillion pieces of plastic waste in global oceans.  Every year another 8 million metric tons of plastic are dumped in the ocean.  Once pristine ocean areas from California to Spain are facing pollution problems.  For a detailed news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Global Oceans Awash in Plastic : World Ocean Day Source:  Monterey Bay Aqarium - Monterey Shoreline Once Pristine Locations from Monterey, CA to Spain's Basque C...

Linking the Brain to Machines

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US Defense Department's DARPA Investing Millions in BMIs Source:  DARPA Brain Machine Interfaces - the New Frontier Brain-Machine Interfaces (BMIs). The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA -  is investing millions of dollars into its Next Generation, Non-Surgical Neurotechnology program.  The purpose is to provide BMIs to the US military for overwhelming technological advantages. Breakthrough R&D DARPA has just launched a radical approach.  Wireless BMIs that do not require surgery to link the brain and technology.  Six academic teams have just been tapped to come up with radically different, innovative approaches.  The concepts include connecting by acoustic signals, electromagnetic waves, infrared beams, genetically enhanced neurons and nanotechnology.  It's a 4 year research program and each university team is said to be getting $20 million. MegaTrend  This is an important trend to follow.  Besides DARPA in the US, billiona

Tech: Kids Watching Flying Parents

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For Kids: New Tech to Let Them Know Where Parents Are on Flights Source: West Jet Gadget for Connections In Flight The WestJet Flight Light innovation is a gadget that enables children and their parents who are inflight to connect in real-time.  This is an interesting gadget that serves a need for millions of kids with parents who are travelling. WestJet is based in Canada and their invention provides kids a visual image of where their parents are as they travel by plane to a destination.  The image is on the ceiling of the child's room at night. R/T Communications This device communicates by Bluetooth with a smartphone App that the parent  uses to enter their flight at WestJet.  The flight data goes to the WestJet Flight Light where it's projected onto the ceiling, as a continuous updating airplane and flight map.  Parents can also send text messages and emogies for projection alongside the map.

Important Innovations Collection: NASA Space Station Vacations

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Tourist Space Vacations Source:  NASA - ISS NASA To Bring Private Citizens to International Space Station This is a first and a strong harbinger of the commercialization of space. NASA, for $50 million +++ will fly private citizens to the International Space Station, starting in early 2020.  It would be the ultimate vacation onboard the ISS for up to thirty days and the ultimate field trip into outer space for research.  For at the look at the future of space commercialization, go to  Important Innovations Collection: NASA Space Station Vacations : $50 Million ++ Flight That's Out of this World Source:  NASA - ISS Dawn of Space Tourism NASA is opening the International Space ...

New Tech to Watch Your Pet Remotely

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AI Algorithm Monitors Your Pet Source:  Comcast "Pet Filter" from Comcast Comcast has just unveiled advanced AI technology for pet lovers to remotely monitor their pets.  Comcast has created its own AI algorithm to zero in on pet activity.  They call it the Pet Filter.  The company says it something different from other solutions commercially available.  It detects anything from a dog sitting still to one running outside in your yard 30 feet away and distinguishes that activity from cars and people. Spot On Xfinity Pet Camera The new system "Pet Filter" is for Comcast Xfinity Home security cameras. The filter enables the system to detect pets in video clips and allows customers to check their pet's movements. The system's cameras and continuous video recording service zoom in on pet activity.  When pet motion is detected, it creates a smart thumbnail image, allowing the customer to find it quickly and easily.  It lets you see what your

Important Innovations Collection: Ai-Da -- Robot Artist

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Ai-Da - Robot Artist Source:  Aiden Meller's Ai-Da Humanoid has 1st Solo Art Exhibit Next Week Humanoid robot artist Ai-Da has a sold out 1st, solo art exhibition in the UK next week.  Inventor and art gallery owner Aiden Meller have sold over a million pounds of her artwork.  This extraordinary piece of robotics is loaded with AI algorithms created by scientists at the University of Oxford and paints by sight with the cameras in her eyes.  For a great news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Ai-Da -- Robot Artist : Ai-Da's First Solo Art Exhibit Source:  Aiden Meller's Ai-Da Already a Sell-out Ai-Da has been described by her British in...

Important Innovations Collection: E-Friendly, Airless Tires

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Airless Tires - No Flats, No Blowouts Source:  Michelin New Innovation from Michelin and GM The Uptis is a non-inflating replacement for traditional air inflated vehicle tires.  It's a new innovation created by a Michelin - GM partnership.  The companies say the new prototype tire eliminates the risk of blowouts and flats.  For a great news blog on this, go to Important Innovations Collection: E-Friendly, Airless Tires : Michelin & GM Innovation Partnership Source:  Michelin The Uptis - Reinventing Tires The Uptis is a non-inflating replacement fo...

Important Innovations Collection: AI Inspired Food and Snacks

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IBM's Watson AI Now a Top Chef in Global Food Company Kitchen Source:  IBM Watson Logo Spain's Cerealto Siro Cooking with Watson's AI Cerealto is one of the world's biggest food companies.  It sells 4 million products a year and introduces 250 new cereals to the global market every year.  IBM and Cerealto just unveiled a very innovative partnership.   IBM's Watson Artificial Intelligence is being integrated into Cerealto's food innovation process to create new foods and snacks at the cutting edge of consumer's nutritional goals and taste trends.  For a great news blog to tell you what's new in the kitchen, go to  Important Innovations Collection: AI Inspired Food and Snacks : IBM's Watson Cooking in the Kitchen Source:  IBM Watson Logo Watson's AI Inspiring Food Innovations at Spain's Cerealto S...

Important Innovations Collection: Pelebox Smart Locker

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Pelebox Smart Locker  Digital Wall Enables Rapid Dispensing of Medications The Pelebox Smart Locker system is designed for rapid dispensing of medications.  The digital wall created by a South African innovator just received the Royal Academy of Engineering 2019 Africa Prize. It's estimated that nearly 5 million patients in South Africa alone could benefit from this innovation.   For a great new blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Pelebox Smart Locker : Award Winning System for Rapidly Dispensing Medication Source:  Innovator Neo Hutiri and his Pelebox Innovation from South Africa Th...

Flying Eco-Friendly Skies

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United Airlines' Eco-Skies Source:  United Airlines Green, Clean Flying United Airlines called yesterday's Chicago to Los Angeles commercial flight "the Flight for the Planet" and a world first.  For the first time on a single, commercial flight, four eco-friendly components were utilized:  sustainable aviation biofuel, efforts to achieve zero cabin waste, operational efficiencies and carbon offsets. Commitment to Sustainable Flying from the Top United Airlines President Scott Kirby is  personally committed to finding innovative ways for a more sustainable flying future.  His goal is to establish United as the world's most environmentally friendly airline. Flying Green Yesterday's flight was 30% powered by aviation biofuel.  Kirby wants all United flights eventually powered by biofuels.  To cut fuel burn while on the runway, the pilots used one engine instead of two.  The pilots also used a continuous rather than stepped descent to land at LAX