⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #52
A curated selection of pro-progress and anti-progress news items from the week that was
In case you missed it ...
🌎🎇 Geopolitics + superintelligence: 8 scenarios (Monday)
🗽⤴ Elon Musk's America Party: Is It Up Wing? (Wednesday)
🎇 An age of transformation: My chat (+transcript) with techno-futurist Peter Leyden (Thursday)
🔚 Lessons from the end of the world: Why we take civilization for granted (Friday)
⤴ Up Wing Things
🚀 ChatGPT pilots spacecraft in simulation. In a recent spacecraft simulation challenge, researchers discovered that ChatGPT can pilot a spaceship surprisingly well. Using prompt engineering and a translation layer to convert text commands into spacecraft maneuvers, the team showed that LLMs can navigate realistic space missions with minimal fine-tuning. This approach could pave the way for future autonomous satellite control and deep-space exploration. ChatGPT has already successfully completed multiple mission scenarios in the Kerbal Space Program challenge, demonstrating readiness for real-world aerospace applications. (Space)
👂 Breakthrough treatment restores hearing in those with genetic deafness. New research shows gene therapy can restore hearing in toddlers and young adults born with OTOF-related deafness — a genetic condition that disrupts auditory signal transmission. Using a modified virus to deliver a healthy copy of the OTOF gene directly into the inner ear, researchers observed rapid and significant hearing improvements, particularly in children aged five to eight. In one remarkable case, a seven-year-old began responding to sound just three days after treatment. With only mild side effects reported, this breakthrough marks a major milestone in treating congenital hearing loss and paves the way for future gene therapies targeting other forms of genetic deafness. (The Conversation)
💲 In-space manufacturing company is gaining investors’ attention. Varda Space Industries is gaining momentum and investor confidence in its mission to pioneer manufacturing in space. The California-based startup recently secured $187 million in funding, bringing its total to $325 million since 2021. With four successful missions this year and more planned, Varda is expanding its autonomous spacecraft capabilities for pharmaceutical research, defense applications, and microgravity experiments:
The W-4 mission, launched on June 24 as part of SpaceX's 14th Transporter mission on the Falcon 9 rocket, is notable because, for the first time, Varda flew its own spacecraft bus and reentry vehicle to support the capsule in flight. Previous missions used hardware developed by Rocket Lab.
The company’s reentry capsules have already supported payloads for NASA and the US Air Force and serve as test beds for high-speed technologies, reentering Earth’s atmosphere at speeds up to Mach 25. (Ars)
🎸 Music platform launches feature inspired by ChatGPT. After ChatGPT falsely claimed that sheet music platform Soundslice could import ASCII tablature — a text-based guitar notation — the company decided to build the feature for real. The confusion came to light when users began uploading screenshots of ChatGPT conversations referencing the non-existent tool. Instead of pushing back, co-founder Adrian Holovaty and his team saw an opportunity and developed the importer, turning AI-generated misinformation into a legitimate product update. The new feature is now live on Soundslice, allowing guitarists to import and play back ASCII tabs — a capability that never existed on the platform until now, thanks to ChatGPT. (Ars)
🩺 Robot performs gallbladder surgery with complete accuracy. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a surgical robot, SRT-H (Surgical Robot Transformer-Hierarchy), that can autonomously perform gallbladder removals with a 100 percent success rate without manual intervention. The robot successfully completed all 17 steps of the procedure across eight operations. Trained on real surgical videos, the robot can respond to voice commands, adapt in real time, and carry out complex tasks with precision. The robot displays high levels of versatility:
SRT-H houses the same machine learning architecture that drives ChatGPT, so the robot can respond to spoken commands from observing medical staff, correcting and learning in real time. It could also adapt its moves if the tissue it was working with appeared different to what was expected during the procedure. So even though its foundational training is based on imitation, it has the flexibility to learn and improve, much like a human surgeon.
While procedures were done on realistic human-like models, the results closely matched human performance. Built on the same AI architecture as ChatGPT, SRT-H represents a meaningful step toward autonomous surgery. (NA)
🦆 Army tests robotic coyotes to keep birds from fighter jets. The US Army is testing a novel solution to prevent bird-aircraft collisions: robotic coyotes. Developed by the Army Engineer Research and Development Center, these autonomous machines mimic predators to scare birds away from airfields — reducing the risk of costly and dangerous bird strikes. Outfitted with AI and sensors, the robotic coyotes patrol runways around the clock, adapting to wildlife behavior over time. Trials have already successfully taken place at key air stations and forts. (The Debrief)
🐁 Copper supplement reverses Parkinson’s symptoms in mice. Scientists at the University of Sydney have made a breakthrough in Parkinson’s research by identifying a malfunctioning protein that contributes to the disease among affected patients:
Normally, the SOD1 protein provides protective benefits to the brain but, in Parkinson's patients, it becomes faulty, causing the protein to clump and damage brain cells. The newest study … builds on this research. It found that targeting the faulty SOD1 protein with a drug treatment improved the motor function in mice bred to have Parkinson-like symptoms.
In mouse models, restoring this protein’s function using a targeted copper supplement dramatically improved motor symptoms, effectively reversing Parkinson-like movement issues. All treated mice showed significant improvement after just three months of treatment. This promising discovery builds on over a decade of research and opens the door to potential human clinical trials. This approach offers hope for future therapies that could slow or halt disease progression. (SD)
🍓 Dyson brings high-tech innovation to sustainable strawberry farming. Dyson has turned its engineering prowess to agriculture with a cutting-edge vertical farming operation in England. Inside a 26-acre glasshouse, 1.2 million strawberry plants grow on massive rotating wheels, tended by UV-light robots and beneficial insect distributors. When the strawberries are ripe, robotic arms delicately harvest the fruit, with 200,000 picked in a single month. Powered sustainably, the facility produces 1,250 tons of strawberries annually. By using advanced technology and local growing methods, Dyson reduces the need for imported fruit and makes year-round strawberry production possible — even in the UK’s traditionally short growing season. (NA)
🎒 New training prepares teachers for AI learning. Microsoft, OpenAI, and the American Federation of Teachers are launching the National Academy for AI Instruction to support K–12 educators in using artificial intelligence in their classrooms. Set to open later this year in New York City, the academy plans to offer workshops and online courses to about 400,000 union members over five years. Backed by $23 million in funding from tech companies, the program aims to help teachers understand and apply AI tools responsibly. The program is founded on the belief that:
educators must have a seat at the table in how AI is integrated into their profession. The new academy could help teachers better understand fast-changing AI technologies and evolve their curriculum to prepare students for a world in which the tools are core to many jobs.
The courses will also count toward continuing education credits, with the goal being to provide practical professional development as AI becomes a bigger part of education. (Wired)
☢️ French regulator approves nuclear reactor life extension. The French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority has approved extending the operation of EDF’s 1300 MWe nuclear reactors beyond their original 40-year lifespan, provided essential upgrades are completed. These reactors, which began operating between 1985 and 1993, will undergo detailed safety reviews every 10 years to ensure continued compliance. EDF plans to invest around €6 billion to support these upgrades. The authority’s decision follows extensive public consultations and highlights the importance of modernizing equipment initially designed for a 40-year operation, ensuring safe and reliable energy production through 2040 and beyond. (WNN)
On sale everywhere ⏩ The Conservative Futurist: How To Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised
⤵ Down Wing Things
🔬 Cancer research set back by cuts from Trump administration. The National Cancer Institute, long a global leader in cancer research, is reeling from sweeping funding cuts and staff upheaval under the Trump administration. Once buoyed by bipartisan support, the agency now faces mass resignations, halted grants, and disrupted clinical trials. Programs focused on health equity and minority training have been abruptly defunded, while vital research tools and communications have gone dark. Experts warn the chaos could stall decades of progress against cancer, risking lives and undermining trust. Critics say the changes amount to a dangerous “scrubbing of science” that could have lasting global consequences. (KFF)
📉 OECD warns income growth will slow as populations age. The OECD warns that aging populations in wealthy countries could significantly slow income growth by 2060 unless action is taken. Due to declining fertility rates, the working-age population in OECD nations is projected to shrink by eight percent, with some countries seeing drops of over 30 percent. As more people move past working age, slower economic growth is expected. While technology like AI may improve productivity, it cannot fully replace human labor or relieve the increasing burden on younger generations. The OECD urges governments to boost workforce participation among women, older adults, and migrants to offset this trend. Without these efforts, younger workers will face higher tax burdens to support aging populations and maintain current living standards. (WSJ)
🚗 Tesla’s grip in China slips as local rivals surge ahead. Tesla is facing growing challenges in China, its crucial second-largest market. Once the undisputed EV leader, Tesla’s market share has declined as local competitors like BYD and Xiaomi innovate with features tailored to Chinese consumers:
Tesla’s most immediate challenge in China is its shrinking market share, even as the country’s EV market has mushroomed. In May, Tesla sold slightly fewer than 40,000 cars in China, down 30% from the same month a year earlier, while the overall market for new-energy vehicles—a category that includes full EVs and plug-in hybrids—rose 28%.
Regulatory hurdles have stalled Tesla’s Full Self-Driving rollout, while Musk’s strained ties with President Trump have lessened his influence with Beijing. Despite strong government support and Tesla’s role in advancing China’s green economy, the company’s reluctance to adapt to local preferences and regulatory setbacks threaten to erode its market position as domestic rivals continue to pull ahead. (WSJ)
🦠 Measles cases surge amid rising vaccine hesitancy. The US is facing its highest number of measles cases in 33 years, with over 1,200 confirmed infections across 38 states. This resurgence marks a concerning reversal since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. Most cases occur among unvaccinated individuals, fueled by rising vaccine distrust. The largest outbreak is in West Texas, with cases spreading to neighboring states. Public health experts warn that declining vaccination rates threaten to undo decades of progress, highlighting the urgent need to restore confidence in vaccines and strengthen immunization efforts to protect communities nationwide. (Wapo)
⚙️ America losing ground in advanced manufacturing. MIT economist David Autor, who first revealed the devastating “China shock” of the 2000s that cost millions of US manufacturing jobs, now warns of an even greater threat: losing the race in advanced manufacturing. While traditional manufacturing jobs — mainly low-tech and labor-intensive — are unlikely to return, Autor highlights the critical importance of sectors like semiconductors, AI, and clean energy. He urges strategic investment in these advanced industries to maintain US innovation and economic leadership. Autor warns of a “China Shock 2.0” impacting the American economy:
We’re in the midst of a totally different competition with China now that’s much, much more important. … We’re talking about … the sectors where the US still maintains competitiveness … China’s capacity for high-tech, low-cost, incredibly fast, innovative manufacturing is just unbelievable. And the Trump administration is basically fighting the war of 20 years ago. The loss of those jobs, you know, was devastating to those places. It was not devastating to the US economy as a whole. If we lose Boeing, GM, and Apple and Intel—and that’s quite possible—then that will be economically devastating.
Without serious, focused policies, communities will continue to struggle with lost jobs and declining wages, while the US risks falling behind in critical advanced manufacturing sectors. (MIT)
🛰️ Russia’s military satellites escalate space rivalry with US. Russia is ramping up its military space activity despite lagging behind the US and China in launches and technology. Recent secretive satellite launches and maneuvers near US spy satellites suggest Moscow is focusing on counter-space tactics, including potential anti-satellite weapons. Russian “Nivelir” satellites have closely shadowed American reconnaissance satellites, releasing smaller objects that may be weaponized. While Russia’s space power is waning, these moves signal a strategic attempt to challenge U.S. dominance in orbit — turning space into the latest arena for geopolitical rivalry reminiscent of Cold War tensions. (Ars)
"The OECD urges governments to boost workforce participation among women,...." (Gee, I wonder how we got to negative population growth? Total mystery, apparently.)