These are the articles, movies and extra that caught the eye of TechCentral’s editorial crew previously 48 hours.
Age of Empires at 25: the technique sport that impressed a technology of historians: Age of Empires II didn’t simply construct civilisations, it constructed a technology of historians. This technique sport lured in each gamers and historians alike, from inventive map editors to wannabe trebuchet consultants. For some, it sparked a love for historical past; for others, it simply saved their dads fortunately occupied for many years. Who knew villagers may encourage scholarly pursuits? Learn extra in The Guardian. DM
Scientists witness the beginning of water molecules on the smallest scale but: Scientists have lastly caught water molecules within the act of forming. Utilizing palladium, Northwestern engineers noticed the smallest water bubbles ever, breaking new floor in understanding how water involves be. This discovery may assist convey water to dry locations – or different planets! Learn extra on Gizmodo. DM
A courts reporter wrote about a number of trials. Then an AI determined he was really the offender: A German reporter typed his title into AI, just for it to wrongly label him as a prison. Martin Bernklau, a courts journalist, grew to become the sufferer of AI “hallucinations”, which combined up his reporting on crimes with accusations in opposition to him. It’s a cautionary story. Learn extra at NiemanLab. DM
Map of grownup insect’s mind presents clues on neurological illnesses: Scientists have created the primary full map of an grownup insect mind, charting the 140 000 neurons and 50 million synaptic connections in a fruit fly. This “connectome” may assist unravel how brains work and make clear neurological illnesses in people, as flies share many organic similarities. Learn extra on FT.com (onerous paywall). DM
2024 local weather tech corporations to look at: Kairos Energy and its molten salt–cooled nuclear reactors: Modular nuclear reactors are pegged as the subsequent evolutionary step in nuclear power technology expertise. Kairos Energy is investing in expertise to make modular reactors a actuality whereas making nuclear vegetation safer, too. Learn extra within the MIT Know-how Assessment (comfortable paywall). NN
Have an concept for coping with area waste? Nasa needs to listen to from you: Area particles has grow to be such a urgent downside that Nasa has arrange a US$3-million prize fund for innovators who provide you with workable options to the issue. Learn extra on The Register. NN
New course of vaporises plastic baggage and bottles, yielding gases to make new, recycled plastic: A brand new chemical course of can basically vaporise plastics that dominate the waste stream as we speak and switch them into hydrocarbon constructing blocks for brand spanking new plastics. Extra on UC Berkeley Information. TS
Google’s AI generated a ‘podcast’ from one in every of my articles and it’s extremely convincing and creepy simply how nicely it could actually mimic people speaking: A podcast on the click on of a button? Google’s new AI instrument can do it. It’s referred to as NotebookLM and it’s basically a abstract bot. Enter a doc, hit generate, and out pops a briefing doc, FAQ or research information. What’s extra, it could actually generate a podcast protecting the doc’s contents, hosted by fleeting ephemeral beings with chirpy American accents. Extra on PC Gamer. TS
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