What's Emerging end of November 2021
A newsletter on interesting stuff that is emerging around the world so you can think about strategy
Introduction
Welcome to our second last newsletter for 2021
Things generally slow down from here over the summer period for us as people go on summer holidays and do not want to work on major projects with some people away. So if you want to look at a new project for next year this is the idea time to contact us. In the next few weeks, Paul will continue working with a council on their community vision and working with the AFL Players Association on their next strategic plan (with futurist Reanna Browne who is the lead consultant). Paul will also continue working in his role as advisor for foresight and strategy to Save the Children Australia He is also running a project on how to maximise the adoption of new irrigation technologies in the Dairy and Cotton industries via the use of Sense Maker narrative collection techniques. He will also be starting work on the new project with Vision Australia on their 10 year vision and strategic planning and working with the General Melbourne Cemetery Trust on strategy.
Paul has also become a board director of Social Venture Partners Melbourne which invests in innovative organisations in the not for profit sector seeking to maximise the potential of young people. They are always looking for new partners to join and help them with their mission.
Please Contact Us if you want to talk about any of these approaches for your organisation or industry or want a presentation for your organisation or conference.
Stay safe out there. The Omicron variant may mark a whole new phase of the Pandemic and things might be a little tumultuous over the next few months.
The Emergent Futures Team
In case you missed it. The most popular link from the last edition:
How to survive a venomous snakebite — from a professional who's been bitten before
This was by far the highest opened link with 50% more clicks than any other link. Now that summer seems to have finally arrived in Melbourne it may be even more pertinent.……Read more
What are we Writing About?
All current client work and presentations have been commercial in confidence so there is nothing in this section this edition. Go to our Home Page to look under our latest work for previous articles and presentations.
What’s Emerging
Distilled Thoughts on Hydrogen
This is from earlier in the year but it is a very good critique of the hydrogen hype that seems to be sweeping the world and the Australian Government in particular ……. Read more
These weird virtual creatures evolve their bodies to solve problems
these "unimals" (short for “universal animals”) could in fact help researchers develop more general-purpose intelligence in machines. .....…. Read more
GMG Commences Construction of Graphene Aluminium-Ion Battery Pilot Plant
Pilot production of a prototype coin cell battery is targeted before the end of 2021 and a pouch pack commercial prototype battery is targeted before the end of 2022. Subject to successful commercial prototypes and a final investment decision, GMG expects to construct an initial commercial coin cell G+AI Battery manufacturing facility, followed by first production and sales of G+AI Batteries.….. Read more
Injectable 'dancing molecules' repair spinal cord injury, restore mobility in paralyzed mice
The key to the therapy is “dancing molecules,” explained lead author Samuel Stupp, Ph.D., a professor at Northwestern. His team mutated two peptide sequences: one that reduced scarring and the other that promoted the formation of blood vessels. That controlled the motion of the molecules in the nanofiber matrix in ways that promoted regeneration..…… Read more
Covid-resistant people point way to universal coronavirus vaccine
Many groups are already trying to develop coronavirus vaccines that provide broader protection, says Olga Pleguezuelos at UK-based company SEEK. Her team has already created such a vaccine based on the most conserved parts of coronavirus proteins. “It’s a matter of time before another of these members [of the coronavirus family] creates an epidemic or pandemic,” she says. “If we end up with something that is as infectious as covid and as lethal as MERS, then we are in serious trouble…..Read more
E-bike company Zoomo secures huge funding injection from Atlassian founders
Zoomo, an Australian-based electric bike company, has secured an impressive $80 million funding deal from three venture investment firms, two of which are headed by Atlassian founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar....….. Read more
Nvidia’s New Supercomputer Will Create a ‘Digital Twin’ of Earth to Fight Climate Change
The system will be called Earth-2 and will be built using Nvidia’s Omniverse, a multi-GPU development platform for 3D simulation based on Pixar’s Universal Scene Description.…. Read more
Stanford course allows students to learn about virtual reality while fully immersed in VR environments
The Virtual People course is among the first and largest courses to be taught almost entirely in virtual reality, or VR, with several hundred students in the summer and fall courses. These students participate in the all-remote class via a VR headset, worn over their eyes like an opaque scuba mask, plus two handheld controllers to move about the virtual environments.....….. Read more
China's Baidu is Now the World's Largest Robotaxi Operator After Completing 115,000 Fully-Autonomous Rides in Q3
The autonomous ride-hailing service now operates in Beijing, Guangzhou, Changsha, Cangzhou, and Shanghai. Baidu aims to expand its Apollo Go service to 65 cities by 2025 and 100 cities by 2030, Mr. Li said. The Apollo fleet of self-driving vehicles has accumulated over 10 million test miles, up 189% year over year. Baidu also said it received 411 autonomous driving permits in China to scale the service......…..Read more
Instagram will now let you rage shake your phone to report a problem
Paul: they are going to need a bigger complaints department.....….….Read more
Canberra engineer helps develop 'game-changer' iodine electric propulsion system for satellites
For decades, space agencies have been searching for an alternative propulsion system to electrical ion engines powered by xenon gas, which is expensive, heavy and rare. Working remotely for Paris-based company ThrustMe, principal engineer Trevor Lafleur helped to develop a propulsion system that uses iodine as a cheap and compact fuel..…….Read more
Polymer discovery gives 3D-printed sand super strength
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory designed a novel polymer to bind and strengthen silica sand for binder jet additive manufacturing, a 3D-printing method used by industries for prototyping and part production. The printable polymer enables sand structures with intricate geometries and exceptional strength—and is also water soluble...…. Read more
UK to mandate EV chargers in new homes and buildings
The new measures announced by Boris Johnson will include 145,000 chargers in new homes and buildings, adding to 250,000 home and workplace points already installed in the UK. Additionally, existing buildings undergoing “largescale renovations” with more than 10 spaces will be required to install points, under new rules....…Read more
Cell-cultured breastmilk: scientists want to give formula-fed babies another option
While no cell-cultured breastmilk is yet commercially available, several companies are working on it. Some of those closest to releasing a product include US-based BIOMILQ, Israeli BioMilk, and US-Singaporean TurtleTree Labs.In Australia, stem cell scientist and entrepreneur Luis Malaver-Ortega has founded a company called Me& Food Tech to produce breastmilk using novel cell-based technologies.....……. Read more
Business Tips
How to keep living with uncertainty as we learn more about Omicron
Paul: Some useful tips here. I have had conversations with a number of people in the last few days feeling very uncertain about what this all might mean..…… Read more
8 iPad apps that take the Apple Pencil from accessory to necessity
Paul: I currently only use PDF Expert in this list and find the Pencil very useful for annotating and also creating Wardley maps on the iPad. Going to check out a couple of others……Read more
Are Doctors Comfortable With Holiday Gatherings This Year?
24 physicians, public health experts share their holiday plans in light of COVID. Paul : certainly going to be heeding the advice on minimising contact, outside function, and lateral flow tests prior to an event with my elderly parents...…. Read more
The ‘Zelle Fraud’ Scam: How it Works, How to Fight Back
Useful information on how to avoid scams .……Read more
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