HiBeam is our weekly look ahead at the future of technology, transportation, community, Atlanta, sports and creativity. Join us as we look at what lies beyond the horizon.
Offsetting is More Than Talk for Delta
While many of the world’s top airlines have carbon offsetting programs in place, flights have some of the highest carbon footprints of any mode of transportation. Hometown Delta Air Lines Managing Director Amelia DeLuca eloquently spoke through the complexities of reducing carbon emissions including sustainable aviation fuels. The problem is that the forest conservation schemes that the programs rely on involve credits from private companies and a lot of guesswork. The outcomes can be difficult to quantify and have been accused of only benefitting a company’s public relations. But governments across the world are considering steps to reduce deforestation, and the best thing for airlines to do is purchase credits from governments, instead of relying on the words of private companies.
Researchers Borrow Inspiration from Fish for Deep-Diving Robot
Not surprisingly, the adaptations that fish have made over the millennia might hold the keys to underwater exploration. The depths of the ocean remain a mystery, and despite a great deal of interest, exploration vessels that can handle both the cold temperatures and pressure in the deep blue sea are expensive, unwieldy, and still have limitations. The hadal snailfish, an inhabitant of the Pacific Ocean’s deepest part, the Mariana Trench, is said to have inspired the design of a soft robot, such as the ability to deform instead of breaking under high pressure, and fins that propel it through the water.
Smartwatches Detect COVID Days Prior to Symptoms
Researchers at Stanford University have found that wearable devices can predict a COVID infection up to four before symptoms show, sometimes even up to nine. The devices (Empatica, Garmin, and Fitbit are participating) monitor biometrics like heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and skin temperature that could indicate an infection. “The future is really, really big, and you could do any number of things with these wearable devices,” said Dr. Tejaswini Mishra, one of the researchers studying the devices. As we navigate the end of the pandemic, such technology could help us better control infectious illnesses in the future.
Fixing The Roads We Have
The Interstate Highway System revolutionized interstate travel and opened America’s economy to better trade opportunities. Today, the most useful roads have already been built and every major city in the continental US can be accessed via car. So what’s the point of expanding highways and building new roads when our existing roads are crumbling? Cities across the country are still pouring billions into building unnecessary roads. For once both sides of the aisle agree that infrastructure needs a serious revamp, and hopefully, Biden’s American Jobs Plan will give incentives to fix what we already have as we work to dial back the centrality of the car in American life.
AR Meets the NBA Meets the Avengers
Welcome to the Space Jam, this time with the Avengers. In early May, ESPN aired a different kind of basketball game – a collaboration between the NBA and Marvel’s Avengers. The premise of the game was that the Avengers needed a new addition to their crew and decided that the best way to find that person was at a New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors game. The special featured AR effects like trails following the ball, logos appearing when players scored and occasionally, Avengers like Iron Man could be seen dangling from the scoreboard. Here’s a good write-up from ESPN about the production side.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Atlanta Moves to the Neighborhood
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta has sold its Midtown location and has plans to move to the Adair Park neighborhood. The goal of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to provide mentors to children who face adversity and “ignite the power and promise of youth.” By selling the Midtown location, BBBSMA made a considerable profit that they’re now able to put into their Adair Park location at the MET. The move also puts them closer to many of the families they serve and provides better accessibility. Welcome to the neighborhood!
