Shizuoka Prefecture
New species looks like a fuzzy pink hermit crab wig
Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Humans don't need to blast off into space to find some truly alien-looking wonders. The deepest depths of our ocean are like another planet, teeming with the charismatic "Casper" octopus, the carnivorous (aka the flying spaghetti monster), and even some sharks . A team from Kumamoto University in Japan recently uncovered a deep-sea anemone that has a tight bond with hermit crabs. These wispy pink invertebrates build shell-like "homes" for the crabs.
Denmark bans civilian drone flights due to EU summit
A mobile radar installation is positioned near the strait between Denmark and Sweden on Friday. COPENHAGEN - Denmark will ban all civilian drone flights across the country over the coming days to ensure security as Copenhagen hosts an EU summit gathering heads of government, the transport ministry said Sunday. Mysterious drone sightings across Denmark since Sept. 22 have prompted the closure of several airports, with Denmark hinting at possible Russian involvement, though Moscow denies the charge. Drones were observed over Danish military sites Saturday night for the second straight day, Denmark's army said on Sunday. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
Toyota opens Woven City as doubts swirl over cost and purpose
Toyota has opened the doors to the first phase of Woven City, its experimental town meant to act as an incubator for technologies from autonomous driving to artificial intelligence. Woven City aims to serve as a test bed for the innovative technology the world's No. 1 automaker needs to regain its competitive edge in an industry dominated by battery-powered cars with sophisticated software. Still, it was unclear during a Thursday tour for media and stakeholders how the city might fit that requirement. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories.
SoftBank's Vision Fund mulls 20% job cuts after Son's pivot to AI
SoftBank's Vision Fund mulls 20% job cuts after Son's pivot to AI SoftBank Group's Vision Fund is considering cutting as much as 20% of its staff. SoftBank Group's Vision Fund is considering cutting as much as 20% of its staff, a person familiar with the matter said, underscoring a shift in CEO Masayoshi Son's focus to ambitious bets on artificial intelligence. The unit, which employed about 282 people as of the end of March, may shed more than 50 roles, the person said, asking not to be identified discussing private deliberations. The reduction extends years of cutbacks as the Vision Fund unit shrank in importance next to Son's growing appetite for big AI bets. Those include a plan to invest about $30 billion in OpenAI and a $6.5 billion deal to acquire chip designer Ampere Computing, which faces regulatory scrutiny.
Robot tour guides in Tokyo offer way for those with disabilities to work
Tours are being offered in Tokyo using a shoulder-mounted robot equipped with a camera, speaker and microphone. The robot twitches its wing-like arms, which it can fold together as if in prayer when visiting a temple. In the business district of Tokyo's Nihonbashi, groups of tourists are on guided tours of the area. But rather than being accompanied by a person, they're being shown around by a shoulder-mounted robot. If all goes well, these bilingual human-controlled robots, conversant in English and Japanese, could become a common sight in the capital. Created by robotics company OryLab, OriHime is a white robot with green eyes, weighing 4 kilograms.