Every day we wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and get ready for work. Following are a handful of stories from around the tech world condensed to fit into one single cup of coffee. These are the things you need to know before you step foot out of your door (or in front of a webcam) and into the real world this morning.
So sit back, grab a cup, and start your morning off right with a few “Quick Bytes” from Innovation & Tech Today.
Brain Tech Advances Create New Concerns
The advances in brain technology, led by Elon Musk’s Neuralink, have created a number of challenging new ethical questions. The South American nation of Chile is taking the changes very seriously and aims to be the first to protect its citizens “neuro rights.” Lawmakers are poised to pass a law blocking technology that aims to “increase, diminish or disturb” mental integrity without consent. They fear it could threaten the “essence of humans.”
NASA Asteroid Simulation Doesn’t End Well for Earth
Even given six months to prepare, earth is no match for a massive asteroid. A recent week-long exercise by NASA was aimed at seeing if we could protect Europe in such an event. The answer was a resounding “no”. The exercise took place during a planetary defense conference hosted by the United Nations. The next brief makes this a touch more uncomfortable. (Editor’s note: I recommend a second cup somewhere between these two stories.)
Giant Piece of Space Junk to Crash “Somewhere” on Earth
A “giant” piece of space junk is headed for earth, but scientists don’t seem to be able to pinpoint a crash location. The debris, which weighs several tons, is on an “uncontrolled re-entry phase,” and parts of it are expected to crash over the next few weeks. Scientists estimate it could land north of New York, or as far south as Chile or New Zealand.
Kroger Starts Drone Delivery Pilot Program
Grocery chain Kroger has decided to jump in the drone delivery race. The company is testing the feature at a single Ohio store near its Cincinnati headquarters. This enables cookout supplies to arrive in as few as 15 minutes. They do not say whether you can have beer delivered by drone, but it was our first question.
