PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X to sell 6-8 million in 2020, analyst says

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Jan 21, 2020 10:35 AM CST

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X could sell up to a combined 8 million units in 2020, Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicts.

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X to sell 6-8 million in 2020, analyst says

Next-gen consoles might not sell as well as their forebears. The systems will feature enthusiast-grade hardware to belt out 4K 60FPS gaming (as well as 8K gaming support) thanks to a beefy new Zen 2 CPU and Navi GPU SoC from AMD, as well as a new kind of custom SSD storage tech. These kinds of specs should bring a hefty price point of up to $500, but there's also reports the PS5 could be lower-specced to hit the magical $399 launch price to conquer next-gen sales.

Based on historical current-gen data we can make some predictions, and that's exactly what analyst Michael Pachter has done. Remember next-gen systems are extensions of PS4 and Xbox One ecosystem that will support accessories and games from the current gen. That could buffer or hinder sales figures depending on the price and extent of inter-generation support (people may be less likely to adopt an Xbox Series X if it costs too much and doesn't have a lot of new games, for example).

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Scientists build a Spider-Man-like robot that sucks its way up walls

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Jan 21, 2020 4:17 AM CST

If you know who Spider-Man is, then you have probably thought about how cool it would be to scale buildings like the web-head. Researchers thought about the same thing and decided to create the first robot that can do exactly that.

Scientists build a Spider-Man-like robot that sucks its way up walls

Researchers Xin Li and Kaige Shi from Zhejiang University in China have created a wall-climbing robot using a specially designed vacuum suction unit. Until now, climbing surfaces using suction required the surface to be unbroken, such as glass or marble. This was a requirement because the vacuum would leak through the gaps in the texture of the surface, leading to a complete loss of suction.

Scientists have solved this problem by implementing a high-speed rotating water ring that coats the space between the surface and the suction cup. This film of rotating water allows for the vacuum's suction to be unbroken, which means that suction levels are kept at an optimal rate for climbing. Li said, "There are many applications of our design, but we think the wall-climbing robot will be the most useful. Compared to other wall-climbing robots, the robot with our ZPD-based suction unit achieves surprising improvement in performance."

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Astronomers now understand 'the biggest explosions in the Universe'

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Jan 21, 2020 3:46 AM CST

A team of astronomers have managed to figure out how the biggest and brightest explosions in the universe take place and why.

Astronomers now understand 'the biggest explosions in the Universe'

The explosions we are talking about here is gamma-ray bursts that are ejected from a star. These gamma-ray bursts have been recorded numerous times, but now scientists and astronomers have worked out why and how they are so bright and big. Researchers from the University of Warwick in the UK found that tidal effects such as the Moon's position next to Earth can cause this gigantic cosmic explosions.

The team of researchers examined thousands of simulated models of binary star systems, which are solar systems that have two stars caught in each others orbit. The examination led the researchers to believe that the orbiting of these stars can cause gamma-ray bursts to take place. When a star that's ten times bigger than our sun explodes it goes supernova and collapses either into a neutron star or a black hole.

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New study: 162 million IQ points have been stolen from US children

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Jan 21, 2020 3:12 AM CST

The research which has come out of New York University's Grossman School of Medicine has found that an extremely large number of cases of IQ point theft in children.

New study: 162 million IQ points have been stolen from US children

The study, which was published in the journal of Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, measured the effects of children being exposed to different toxins such as lead, mercury, pesticides, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. The study examined the effects of these toxins in children between 2001 and 2016 and found that lead exposure resulted in a loss of 78 million IQ points. Pesticides followed behind the lead with a loss of 27 million IQ points and finally, mercury with a loss of 2.5 million IQ points.

The study found over 738,000 cases of intellectual disability, with a total loss of 162 million IQ points. So how did the children become exposed to these toxins? Flame retardants, which are polybrominated diphenyl ethers, are found in common household objects such as furniture items, electronics, and children's clothing. Pesticides can be found on fresh produce or picked up at restaurants that have incorrectly washed their produce, and lead can be found in older homes with old paint or even playgrounds.

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Microsoft announces climate change plan, will be 'carbon free' by 2030

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Jan 21, 2020 2:42 AM CST

Microsoft has announced a new climate change imitative that plans on saving the planet from the ever-growing concerns of climate change.

Microsoft announces climate change plan, will be 'carbon free' by 2030

In Microsoft's announce the company states that it plans to be "carbon negative" by the year 2030 and on top of that it plans on removing any carbon its created as a company since its fruition in 1975. The company has said that it will be pledging $1 billion to its "climate innovation fund" to assist its "aggressive program" aiming towards minimalizing climate affects. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, "The scientific consensus is clear. The world, today, is confronted with an urgent carbon crisis. If we don't curb emissions and the temperatures continue to climb, the science tells us the results will be devastating."

Nadella continues and says, "Each of us is going to need to take action, and that includes businesses. No one company can solve this macro challenge alone, but as a global technology company, we have a particular responsibility to do our part. That's why today we're announcing an ambitious new plan to help address the sustainability of our planet." By Microsoft's "carbon negative" definition, the company plans on removing more carbon that it's emitting per year.

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Never-before-seen virus hits China, outbreak spreads 'human-to-human'

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Jan 21, 2020 2:20 AM CST

A mystery virus broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan in the last few days, with cases now being reported in the hundreds, evidence is suggesting that it's being transmitted "human-to-human".

Never-before-seen virus hits China, outbreak spreads 'human-to-human'

The virus outbreak was reported back in December and was linked to a live-animal market in Wuhan called the South China Seafood Wholesale Market. Researchers who are investigating the origin of the virus confirmed that the virus was a never-before-seen coronavirus, which is in the same family as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The researchers suspect that the virus originated in the animals at the market and found viable human hosts, which then eventuated into the now current outbreak.

At the moment, China's state-run media has said that 218 cases of the virus confirmed, while that number seems low it's an important factor to remember is that China controls their media, so this number is likely much higher. According to SARS expert Zhong Nanshan, "Now we can say it is certain that it is a human-to-human transmission phenomenon. We expect the number of infected cases will increase over the Lunar New Year travel period, and we need to prevent the emergence of a super-spreader of the virus".

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US spends $4.5m on heat-based facial recognition that works at 1,600ft

Jak Connor | Audio, Sound & Speakers | Jan 21, 2020 1:47 AM CST

According to a couple of new contracts posted on the federal spending database, the United States military is cashing in on developing a new form of facial recognition technology.

US spends $4.5m on heat-based facial recognition that works at 1,600ft

If you assumed that the US military was already using facial recognition technology on the battlefield, then you would have been right. The current use of facial recognition technology today is to identify potential targets, but the current technology relies on images from standard cameras. The US military wants to move away from the traditional camera and jump into something that is a bit more technologically advanced -- such as facial recognition technology that reads heat signatures.

The new contracts reveal the US military's motivation towards developing a new technology that can analyze infrared images to identify individuals. Department of Defense (DoD) states the following when calling for contractors, "Sensors should be demonstrable in environments such as targets seen through automotive windshield glass, targets that are backlit, and targets that are obscured due to light weather (e.g., fog)".

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Toshiba's new PC algorithm is 10x faster than laser quantum computers

Jak Connor | Computer Systems | Jan 21, 2020 1:20 AM CST

Toshiba research scientists have created a new algorithm that is capable of sifting through extremely large number sets ten times faster than laser-based quantum computers.

Toshiba's new PC algorithm is 10x faster than laser quantum computers

The two Toshiba research scientists are Hayato Goto and Kosuke Tatsumura, and back in 2015, Goto originally created the idea for the new algorithm after noticing how some parts of a complex system can go through a bifurcation process once new inputs are implemented. It took Goto a further two years to implement the new algorithm, which has been called "Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm". Goto then partnered with Tatsumura, and with his knowledge, the researchers were able to make the new algorithm scalable.

After some time tweaking the design process, the researchers were able to get the algorithm to not only work on a traditional computer with off the shelf components but also a cluster of server CPU's and field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Using an FPGA, the reports of Toshiba's new algorithm is to be up to ten times faster than a laser-based quantum computer. Toshiba plans on selling the "Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm" to stock trading companies, social networks, and manufacturing companies. Toshiba is aiming this new algorithm at solving companies' combinatorial optimization problems.

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SpaceX hits new milestone, successful Crew Dragon escape test in HDR

Jak Connor | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Jan 21, 2020 1:06 AM CST

SpaceX is on its way to ferrying humans to the International Space Station, and the private space exploration company has just reached a new milestone.

SpaceX hits new milestone, successful Crew Dragon escape test in HDR

SpaceX has just reached a new milestone in their quest to be able to ferry humans back and forth from International Space Station to Earth. Just a couple days ago, the Space exploration company live-streamed an in-flight test of Crew Dragon's launch escape system at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The above video (which I have skipped to 40 seconds before the initial launch) shows the Dragon capsule attached to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. As the timer ticks down and the launch sequence begins, we can see Falcon 9 blasting off from its launch platform. As expected, the Falcon 9 rocket broke apart and exploded right after the Dragon detached and begun free-falling back down to Earth. Parachutes were then deployed on its re-entry before it safely landed in the Atlantic ocean.

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Facebook name translation fail, Chinese President named 'Mr. Sh*thole'

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Jan 21, 2020 12:31 AM CST

Facebook has taken one on the chin, as recently the big company incorrectly translated the Chinese President's name into something extremely rude.

Facebook name translation fail, Chinese President named 'Mr. Sh*thole'

Facebook has openly apologized for displaying Chinese President Xi Jinping's name as "Mr. Sh*thole" when translating it from Burmese to English. So how was this translation error realized? China's President was visited by Myanmar's President and was required to sign a bunch of new agreements. Translations of these new agreements were then published on Burmese state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's Facebook page.

When readers translated the statements from Burmese to English, they were shocked at the multiple references to Xi Jinping's name and the wording "Mr. Sh*thole". Facebook has since apologized for the error, claiming it happened due to "technical issue". The company also said that Xi Jinping's name wasn't present in their database, so they took a wild stab in the dark at translating it and failed.

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