As sea levels rose, coastal cities developed various environmental retrenchment strategies. Some mandated a gradual drawdown of development in areas most at risk. Others hardened infrastructure and developed megaprojects to manage storm surges and keep the rising sea at bay. A few cities approved vertical retrenchment strategies.
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After the AI revolution of the 2030s, humans struggled to keep pace with robots. Thankfully, some small but powerful innovations, like the Weyland PowerGlove PG-10, proved to be equalizers for those working to revitalize America’s infrastructure
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As the impact of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes has increased over the last twenty years, a new breed of disaster response fleet vehicles has emerged to aid initial and long-term recovery efforts.
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Well, it has taken over a decade, but we now have a handle on the trash that once covered Mt. Everest's climbing routes and basecamps. As the number of climbers increased in the 2020s, the trash challenge on the mountain seemed unsurmountable.
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The war in Ukraine made the importance of drone and artillery defense clear to everyone. A groundbreaking technology emerged, leveraging acoustic wave energy and microwave energy (A.W.E.M.E) to create planar barriers to protect troops from frontal or overhead attacks. Today, a downscaled version known commercially as the SoundSentinel™, safeguards crops from insects.
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I remember driving with my dad and occasionally passing by groups of those convicted of minor offenses serving their community service hours on a roadside cleanup crew. Back then, small groups wore hi-vis vests, carried trash bags, and picked up garbage along the roadways. A van or bus with a supervisor was somewhere nearby. That scene is very different today.
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These Bastion glasses are excellent. I bought them a couple of months ago because my eyes were getting tired, and the city’s poor air quality was starting to impact my health. They filter for UV, shift tint according to lighting conditions, and protect against the possibility of incidental overlapping LIDAR from all of the self-driving vehicles that I pass on my walking commute. They also provide filtered air close to my nose, which has helped my breathing considerably.
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I’ve come to love my trusty TRACER companion, Max. He is always there for me, helping me maximize my workdays. Thanks to the TRACER virtual leash system, he is just a few steps away, faithfully following in my footsteps and carrying the heavy loads I am responsible for delivering to their final destination.
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As we continue to extend our areas of exploration on the lunar surface, we have come to rely on grid pods as an extended safety envelope when away from one of our main facilities. Grid pods, placed at one-mile intervals, ensure that teams are never far away from essential life support systems, supplies, and a place to repair equipment or recuperate and recharge.
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We finally received the first of five autonomous water rescue craft last month. Since then, three people have been saved from rip tides. These craft use an array of sensors to locate swimmers in distress. Once identified, the craft approach and the two vertical motors up front dip the hinged netted rescue area below swimmers.
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Improving the performance of that first car has been a time-honored tradition amongst auto enthusiasts. What does the future hold for weekend garage projects as we move into the new era of electric-powered automobility? Will the focus be on power, efficiency, torque, range extension, or perhaps all of the above? And with the right to repair access disputed by some electric vehicle manufacturers, will this even be possible? What does safe electric vehicle modification look like in the 21st century?
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Now that fusion power can be supplied via compact and lightweight equipment, new forms of mobility are popping up everywhere. Various defense forces are exploring how H.O.V.E.R. (Human Operated Vertical Equipment for Reconnaissance) technologies can help protect infantry as they conduct nearly silent patrols at extended ranges with a full equipment loadout. First responders use similar H.O.V.E.R. (Human Operated Vertical Equipment for Rescue) systems in search and rescue operations.
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I suppose they have a beauty of their own, but it has taken a while to get used to them. These square-column trees were introduced in Scandinavia about a decade ago to maximize sustainable forest material output. Their shape has been bioengineered to maximize transport efficiency to mills and reduce the milling needed to produce lumber products.
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When they started modifying the city’s coastline in 2021 to accommodate rising sea levels, I knew it was just the beginning. The continued rise of the seas redefined our streets, and the rise of EVTOL travel has reshaped the roofscape of our metropolis.
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Well, here it is, right on time. Many debated the merits of allowing aerial delivery by drones within city limits years ago, but now it is commonplace. Breakthroughs in drone safety and making them much quieter were key to growing acceptance. Now, units with balconies in New York command a premium over those without them due to the convenience of balcony delivery.
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I’ve ridden some epic long-distance motorcycle journeys and always captured key moments in my mind. I never wanted to pull over to fumble with a camera or nurse GoPro batteries and miss out on the true essence of a ride. Now, I capture memorable stretches of trips and spirited riding sessions with a simple button press.
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The wildfires have been devastating over the past decade in our county. In the paper last week, I read that new wildfire seed globes will be used during this fire season. They come in various sizes and contain water and seeds of plants native to our area.
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Our visit to Austin last weekend was great. There was so much to do, and it was easy to get around. The ThinLane electric people movers can accommodate up to four people in the bike lanes that run all over the city. We downloaded the app and used them all weekend to get around town.
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