the conversation
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Hundreds of Fish Species Are Consuming Plastic, Including Many That Humans Eat
Trillions of barely visible pieces of plastic are floating in the world’s oceans, from surface waters to the deep seas. These particles, known as microplastics, typically form when larger plastic objects such as shopping bags and food containers break down. Researchers are concerned about microplastics because they are minuscule, widely distributed and easy for wildlife…
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Robot Jellyfish Could Help Service Offshore Windfarms
Some of the last areas of pristine and untouched wilderness on Earth exist beneath the seas. Yet these marine ecosystems are under threat from deep-sea mining projects, oil rigs and offshore wind farms. When these facilities are built and maintained, they tend to damage the rich ecological networks around them. Roboticists and engineers are working…
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AI Can Now Learn To Manipulate Human Behaviour
Artificial intelligence (AI) is learning more about how to work with (and on) humans. A recent study has shown how AI can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making. It may seem cliched to say AI is transforming every aspect of the way we live and…
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Transparent Wood Could Be an Energy-Efficient Alternative to Glass
Wood is an ancient material humans have been using for millions of years, for the construction of housing, ships and as a source of fuel for burning. It’s also a renewable source, and one way to capture excess carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere. Today, the main component of wood – cellulose – is produced…