Important Innovations

New Research Shows a Big Problem Source:  Temple University Campus Unhealthy Young American s Researchers at Temple University in Philadelphia have just released a stunning report about hunger on US college campuses.  It's a big problem.  The Temple University survey has demonstrated that 50% of students at more than 100 colleges and universities in the US can't afford to eat a balanced meal.  35% of the students are skipping meals entirely because they don't have enough money to pay for them. Food Insecurity In the US, 13% of the population are food insecure, meaning they can't afford to maintain a well-balanced, nutritious diet and in many cases go to bed hungry.  Recent surveys now indicate the number of college students going hungry is three times that.  The college population is particularly vulnerable because many are spending all of their available money on bills associated with school.  And, because of their class schedules, they can't maintain a f

New Tech: Launching Satellites From 747 Aircraft Source:  Virgin Orbit Virgin Orbit's Air Launch System Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit just successfully tested its modified 747 aircraft - Cosmic Girl - that can fire off a rocket containing a satellite and place it in orbit.  The company is planning on its first commercial launch by the end of this summer.  For a great news blog, go to Important Innovations Collection: Launching Satellites From 747 Planes : Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit  Air Launch System Source:  Virgin Orbit's  747 with rocket under its wing Close to Commercial ...

BMW to Start Producing Electric Mini's in Great Britain Source:  BMW Ready for Global Distribution Spring 2020 BMW has a major commitment to developing electric vehicles.  In fact, the automaker say it will have 25 electric vehicle models by 2023.  The global automaker just confirmed that it will build the Electric Mini's at its facility near Oxford, Great Britain despite the fact that Britain is leaving the European Union.  For a news blog with more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: BMW Going Electric : Electric Mini Production Starts in UK in Late 2019 Source:  BMW's Mini Electric Delivery in Spring 2020 BMW is kicking off its ...

Walmart Using VR To Spot Great Talent Source:  Walmart VR Goggles Deployed to Promote Employees Walmart, which is the largest private employer in the US and one of the world's biggest companies, is using Virtual Reality headsets to spot and develop managerial talent. It's not their only data tool but it is an important one to see how their employees perform in real-time situations as managers in their retail environment.  This is a great example of how VR is  being deployed to advance global business.  For more information, go to Important Innovations Collection: Walmart HR Using VR : Virtual Reality Helping to Test and Promote Employees Source:  Walmart  Technology At the Hiring Edge America's largest private ...

Another Big NASA Contract Win for Space X Source:  NASA IXPE Mission Groundbreaking Astrophysics Mission Space X has been awarded the launch contract for NASA's IXPE mission.  The mission involves the launch of a spacecraft containing three highly advanced space telescopes.  NASA says the telescopes will provide astronomers details on some of the most exotic astronomical objects in the universe - black holes, neutron stars and pulsars.  For more on this amazing mission, go to Important Innovations Collection: Space X Wins Exciting NASA Contract : Space X Will Rocket NASA Telescopes to Detail The Most "Exotic Objects" in Space Source:  NASA IXPE Mission Black Holes, Ne...

Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google Executives to Testify Source:  Stock Image  US Congressional Anti-Trust Hearings This news broke a few moments ago.  Next week, in Washington, DC, there will be a Congressional hearing concerning alleged anti-trust matters related to some of the biggest technology companies in the world.  The stakes for this Congressional hearing are big.  It's all about the tremendous market power that Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook wield.  On July 16 top executives from those four companies will testify and answer questions on Capitol Hill. Multiple Investigations The hearing will be held by the House Judiciary Committee's Anti-Trust Subcommittee.  The House Judiciary Committee is investigating the extent of competition in digital markets.  Both Democrats and Republicans are concerned about the power exercised by these companies, that are some of the world's most valuable and innovative.  There are multiple investigations currently underway i

NASA Plans Space Station for the Moon Source:  NASA Lunar Space Station Concept Lunar Vehicle to Orbit, Land and Serve as Astronaut Habitat NASA's plan is to put astronauts on the Moon again starting in 2024.  To expedite the missions, NASA plans to have a Lunar vehicle capable of orbiting and landing on the Moon.  It will also serve as a habitat for astronauts.  Canada has signed on as a partner and the European Space Agency is also interested in participating. It's called the Lunar Orbital Platform - Gateway. For details, check out this news blog Important Innovations Collection: NASA Plans New Space Station : Lunar Orbiter, Lander & Astronaut Habitat Source:  NASA Lunar Orbiter Concept Man on the Moon in 2024 NASA's plan is for ...

Rubion Strawberry Picking Robots Source:  Octinion's Rubion Robot Launched to Coincide with Wimbledon's Famous Berry Consumption Belgium based R&D company Octinion has developed the world's first strawberry picking robot.  Their Rubion robot relies on photonic sensors and a unique soft touch gripper to select and pick ripe strawberries as safely as a human.  They launched the Rubion, which has been five years under development, to coincide with the famous consumption of strawberries at Wimbledon.  They say it would take 14 of their robots less than 7 days to pick and package all of the strawberries needed for the Wimbledon crowds. Fully Autonomous, Spots Ripe Fruit and Picks The soft fruit picking robot navigates the strawberry plants, picks ripe ones and places them in containers.  It's equipped with photonic sensors that detect the light that bounces off ripe strawberries.  It has a patented, soft touch gripper that gently plucks the berries off

Virgin Galactic Going Public on the NYSE Source:  Virgin Galactic Space Plane World's 1st Space Tourism Company to be Publicly Listed  Sir Richard  Branson announced today that he is taking Virgin Galactic public on the New York Stock Exchange.  It will be the world's first space tourism company to be listed and publicly traded.  He's doing it by merging the company with Social Capital Hedosophia, which is listed on the NYSE. Social Capital will get a 49% stake in Virgin Galactic for $1.3 billion.  For more details, go to my fellow journalist Ed Kane's news post, at Important Innovations Collection: Virgin Galactic Going Public on NYSE : Space Tourism Headed to NYSE Source:  Virgin Galactic Space Plane World's First Listed Space Tourism Company Richard Branson is ...

Latest Book "Big Space News 2019" by Journalist Ed Kane Now Live on Kindle and Amazon - Free Kindle Borrow Available "Big Space News 2019" by journalists Ed Kane and me, Maryanne Kane has just been published and is live on Kindle and Amazon.  We've written a series of news summaries on the top breakthroughs and discoveries in space so far this year, of which there have been many. If you like, you can borrow it for free on Kindle.  For more details about the many big news stories contained in the book, go to Important Innovations Collection: "Big Space News 2019" by Edward Kane : My New Book Live on Kindle and Amazon ASIN: B07TYG31KM ,  ASIN: 1079271104 Free Borrow on Kindle I'm so pleased to...

That's the Question in Europe Source:  Intel European Union Votes for 5 G European Union nations have opened their roadways to 5G connected cars.  They also rejected a European Commission recommendation for a Wifi based standard that VW supports.  The 5G vote is considered a win for BMW and Qualcom that support a 5G system.  The vote reversed a EU vote in April that endorsed Wifi over 5G. Split Decisions Telecom and automotive companies are divided over which tech is safer and works better.  The European Commission argued that Wifi, unlike 5G, is available now and would make roads safer.  Wifi basically connects cars to cars.  5G connects both cars and devices in the surrounding environment, including traffic data, navigation and entertainment.  Among the supporters of 5G, Daimler, BMW, Ford, Intel and Deutsche Telecom.  Wifi's supporters include Toyota, Renault, NXP, among others.  The European Union is expected to formalize its 5G decision later this summer.

VR, AI and AR Combining Forces to Advance Medicine Source:  University of Michigan New Tech Enables Doctors to See Patient Pain for Better Treatment New technology that allows doctors to see their patient's pain, including its location and intensity, has just been unveiled by scientists at the University of Michigan.  It combines virtual reality, artificial intelligence and augmented reality and is called the CLARAi VR.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Virtual Reality Advancing Medicine : VR Seeing Your Pain Source:  University of Michigan VR, AI & AR Showing Doctors Where It Hurts New technologies, including Virtu...

New Book on Important Space Breakthrough So Far in 2019 Source:  NASA Space experts are calling 2019 the year of a new space renaissance. Just in the past six months, major discoveries, explorations and innovations have been rocketing in from space.  For a handy reference guide, we're finalizing a book on big news stories on space so far this year.  For more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: New Book on Space Discoveries & Exploration : Source:  NASA New Book on Space I’m in the process of finalizing a very fascinating book “Big Space News 2019” with fellow journali...