Quantic’s Weekly Roundup – August 2020 (4)

Quantic’s Weekly Roundup is a satisfying mix of the latest breaking news, business, STEM and social science stories. Here are your headlines for this week:

Play the Game: Harbor, an emergency preparedness platform, aims to gamify the process of doing everyday preparation for disasters. The program takes a look at the user’s location and the general state of their home to determine types of risks to that individual user and their property. The platform curates a weekly checklist for the user to stay prepared, whether it’s keeping track of the amount of water on hand, or checking the battery levels and functionality of a smoke alarm.

Look Ma, No Hands: In mid-August, the UK government’s Department for Transport (DfT) issued a call for evidence on the use of Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS), which marks a tentative but positive step towards automated driving technology being permitted for use on the UK’s roads, which could see the first such systems hitting the pavement as early as Spring 2021.

Brain Power: The interface for Elon Musk’s brain-hacking company, Neuralink, will allow people with neurological conditions to control phones or computers with their minds. Musk will give a progress update today and hopes to create a “superhuman condition.” The device the company is developing consists of a tiny probe containing more than 3,000 electrodes attached to flexible threads thinner than a human hair, which can monitor the activity of 1,000 brain neurons. 

Seas the Opportunity: Across the globe, seaweed production has doubled and is becoming a booming business. Why? Not only is it used in many cosmetics, food products and medicines, but scientists suggest it can help fight climate change and offset carbon emissions. It can now be used in other forms, working with textiles and plastic alternatives, including biodegradable packaging, water capsules, and drinking straws.