Tag: technology

Meet The Dystopian Startups Making ‘Biological Computers’ From Human Cells

Picture a dystopian future where computers don’t just mimic human thinking – they’re powered by actual human brain cells. That future is taking shape in a Cambridge, England, lab, where a groundbreaking device called CL1 is blending biology and technology in ways that could transform how we compute. Developed by Australian startup Cortical Labs and U.K.-based bit.bio, this shoebox-sized machine houses 200,000 lab-grown brain cells wired to silicon circuits, creating a “biological computer” that’s already turning heads.

Unlike traditional computers, which guzzle energy, CL1 operates with the efficiency of a human brain. “Our brains process information using a fraction of the power that modern electronics need,” Hon Weng Chong, CEO of Cortical Labs, told FT. “This could open doors to smarter robots, stronger cybersecurity, and immersive virtual worlds.”

Oh, joy.

Low-energy computing has fueled a race to develop biological systems, with Cortical Labs leading alongside competitors like FinalSpark in Switzerland and Biological Black Box in the U.S.CL1’s brain cells, grown from human skin-derived stem cells, are carefully arranged in layers: one type sparks electrical activity, while another keeps it in check. “It’s like balancing a gas pedal and brakes,” Chong explains. This precision, says bit.bio’s Tony Oosterveen, gives CL1 an edge over rival approaches using less uniform “mini-brains.” The result is a platform for testing how brain cells handle information, with early experiments already yielding insights for neuroscience and drug development.

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Trump admin targets ‘ghost students,’ AI scammers stealing tens of millions in federal college aid

The Department of Education is cracking down on “ghost students,” AI scammers and others whom they say have recently swindled of tens-of-millions of dollars from the federal government – including roughly $8.4 million alone from California community colleges.

Within California’s system of 116 community colleges, 31% of applications last year – or 1.2 million – were found to be likely fraudulent, according to data from the office of the chancellor for the college system.

What makes the system vulnerable is that anyone who applies is admitted and more students not having to attend class as a result of the increase in remote learning since the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The scammers, with the help of stolen identities, bots and artificial intelligence join classes and stay enrolled until they receive their financial aid checks, according to The Los Angeles Times.

“The biggest target for fraud rings tends to be community colleges and lower-cost institutions,” Jason Williams, an official with the Education Department’s Office of Inspector General, said on a recent agency podcast. “This is because their tuition costs are lower than other schools, which increases the student aid award balance for the fraudulent student.”

While prevalent in California, the problem of fake applications is nationwide, with reports of fraud rings in states including Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri and Nevada. 

The Education Department reported in May nearly $90 million in disbursements recently to ineligible recipients across the U.S., including thousands of deceased individuals receiving some form of payment. 

In Mississippi, a mother and daughter team recruited anyone in the area willing to participate. They then used these identities to apply for student aid, register for classes and collect the checks when the money was disbursed. They were later put in prison after obtaining $2.5 million. 

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People Are Being Involuntarily Committed, Jailed After Spiraling Into “ChatGPT Psychosis”

As we reported earlier this month, many ChatGPT users are developing all-consuming obsessions with the chatbot, spiraling into severe mental health crises characterized by paranoia, delusions, and breaks with reality.

The consequences can be dire. As we heard from spouses, friends, children, and parents looking on in alarm, instances of what’s being called “ChatGPT psychosis” have led to the breakup of marriages and families, the loss of jobs, and slides into homelessness.

And that’s not all. As we’ve continued reporting, we’ve heard numerous troubling stories about people’s loved ones being involuntarily committed to psychiatric care facilities — or even ending up in jail — after becoming fixated on the bot.

“I was just like, I don’t f*cking know what to do,” one woman told us. “Nobody knows who knows what to do.”

Her husband, she said, had no prior history of mania, delusion, or psychosis. He’d turned to ChatGPT about 12 weeks ago for assistance with a permaculture and construction project; soon, after engaging the bot in probing philosophical chats, he became engulfed in messianic delusions, proclaiming that he had somehow brought forth a sentient AI, and that with it he had “broken” math and physics, embarking on a grandiose mission to save the world. His gentle personality faded as his obsession deepened, and his behavior became so erratic that he was let go from his job. He stopped sleeping and rapidly lost weight.

“He was like, ‘just talk to [ChatGPT]. You’ll see what I’m talking about,'” his wife recalled. “And every time I’m looking at what’s going on the screen, it just sounds like a bunch of affirming, sycophantic bullsh*t.”

Eventually, the husband slid into a full-tilt break with reality. Realizing how bad things had become, his wife and a friend went out to buy enough gas to make it to the hospital. When they returned, the husband had a length of rope wrapped around his neck.

The friend called emergency medical services, who arrived and transported him to the emergency room. From there, he was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric care facility.

Numerous family members and friends recounted similarly painful experiences to Futurism, relaying feelings of fear and helplessness as their loved ones became hooked on ChatGPT and suffered terrifying mental crises with real-world impacts.

Central to their experiences was confusion: they were encountering an entirely new phenomenon, and they had no idea what to do.

The situation is so novel, in fact, that even ChatGPT’s maker OpenAI seems to be flummoxed: when we asked the Sam Altman-led company if it had any recommendations for what to do if a loved one suffers a mental health breakdown after using its software,the company had no response.

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Russia Launches Another Massive Drone Strike On Kyiv

The Russian Federation launched another massive drone and missile strike on the nation of Ukraine today in the ongoing war; over 400 drones, and 40 missiles were used, according to local news reports.

Many of the attacks appear to have targeted civilian infrastructure, as Russia pressures the Ukrainian population.

There is no moral authority on either side, as targeting civilians has become a feature of this war for both combatants.

Ukraine continues its ‘mobilization’, further traumatizing the population, as the draft age appears to have been reduced to 18 as Ukraine runs out of soldiers.

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Germany Pressures Apple and Google to Ban Chinese AI App DeepSeek

Apple and Google are facing mounting pressure from German authorities to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their app stores in Germany over data privacy violations.

The Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Meike Kamp, has flagged the app for transferring personal data to China without adhering to EU data protection standards.

Kamp’s office examined DeepSeek’s practices and found that the company failed to offer “convincing evidence” that user information is safeguarded as mandated by EU law.

She emphasized the risks linked to Chinese data governance, warning that “Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies.”

With this in mind, Apple and Google have been urged to evaluate the findings and consider whether to block the app in Germany.

Authorities in Berlin had already asked DeepSeek to either meet EU legal requirements for data transfers outside the bloc or remove its app from German availability.

DeepSeek did not take action to address these concerns, according to Kamp.

Germany’s move follows Italy’s earlier decision this year to block DeepSeek from local app stores, citing comparable concerns about data security and privacy.

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Scientists Achieve the “Impossible,” Unlocking Room-Temperature Quantum Circuits Using Magnetic Graphene

Scientists have just taken a significant step toward a long-awaited dream by creating ultra-thin, magnetically-controlled quantum devices that don’t need bulky magnets to function. 

In a groundbreaking study, a research team led by physicists at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has experimentally confirmed the elusive quantum spin Hall effect (QSH) in magnetic graphene, eliminating the need for an external magnetic field. This study represents a significant advancement in our understanding of quantum physics, opening up new possibilities for future technologies.

This first-of-its-kind achievement means future quantum circuitry could be smaller, faster, and far more practical than ever imagined.

“Spin is a quantum mechanical property of electrons, which is like a tiny magnet carried by the electrons, pointing up or down,”  lead author and researcher at TU Delft and Harvard University, Dr. Talieh S. Ghiasi, explained in a statement. “We can leverage the spin of electrons to transfer and process information in so-called spintronics devices.”

“Such circuits hold promise for next-generation technologies, including faster and more energy-efficient electronics, quantum computing, and advanced memory devices.” This breakthrough not only validates theoretical predictions but also propels us into a future of advanced and efficient technologies.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, detail how the team successfully induced a quantum spin Hall state in graphene by layering it on top of a van der Waals antiferromagnetic material called CrPS₄. 

This layered structure fundamentally alters the band structure of graphene, introducing spin-orbit and exchange interactions that are strong enough to give rise to exotic, topologically protected edge states. These special states allow electrons to move along the edges of the material without resistance and with their spins locked in opposite directions—a hallmark of QSH behavior.

For years, scientists have sought to harness spin—an intrinsic property of electrons—in place of charge to create next-generation “spintronic” devices. However, achieving long-distance, coherent spin transport —a state in which the spins of electrons remain in a fixed relationship over a long distance —has been notoriously difficult. Conventional methods required strong magnetic fields to split electron spins and create the necessary quantum edge states.

This study demonstrates that magnetism can originate from within. By carefully choosing a magnetic partner material for graphene—specifically, CrPS₄—the researchers induced both magnetism and spin-orbit coupling within the graphene itself. As a result, they achieved spin-polarized, helical edge states that persisted even at room temperature.

“The detection of the QSH states at zero external magnetic fields, together with the AH [anomalous Hall] signal that persists up to room temperature, opens the route for practical applications of magnetic graphene in quantum spintronic circuitries,” the researchers wrote in the study. This breakthrough paves the way for a new era of practical and efficient quantum technologies.

The experimental setup involved layering monolayer graphene on a flake of CrPS₄ and encapsulating it with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). CrPS₄ is an air-stable magnetic semiconductor with a Néel temperature of around 38 K and strong interlayer antiferromagnetic coupling.

Using advanced electrical transport measurements, the team demonstrated that this configuration induces staggered potential and spin-orbit interactions within the graphene. These alterations open a topological gap in the graphene’s bulk, allowing gapless “helical” edge states to form—essentially creating a quantum spin Hall insulator.

Key evidence was obtained by measuring the conductance of the device near the charge neutrality point at zero magnetic fields. The conductance plateaued at precisely 2e²/h—matching theoretical predictions for QSH states where two spin-polarized channels counter-propagate along opposite edges of the device without dissipation.

The researchers confirmed these observations across various device geometries and probing configurations, ruling out conventional transport mechanisms. They also observed a large anomalous Hall (AH) effect—a separate spin-related quantum phenomenon—which persisted even at room temperature, further validating the presence of induced magnetic and spin-orbit interactions in the system.

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The Next Energy Revolution Is Coming. Is The DOE Ready?

The last energy revolution that changed the world — natural gas fracking — happened in part thanks to the Department of Energy (DOE). Early R&D funding, support for horizontal drilling, and key public-private partnerships helped fracking get off the ground and turn America into an energy powerhouse.

Now, we are on the cusp of another energy revolution, this time focused on the clean technologies of advanced nuclear, geothermal, natural hydrogen, and fusion. Fortunately, the United States is rich in these energy resources. The challenge with these technologies isn’t a lack of supply; it’s the speed and scale at which we can bring this energy online. 

American innovators and entrepreneurs are ready to deliver solutions, but outdated bureaucracy and inefficiency within the DOE threaten to delay progress. With a leader like Secretary Chris Wright, who brings real-world experience from the private sector, the DOE has an opportunity to once again become a force multiplier for energy innovation — if it embraces smart, structural reforms.

Here’s where the DOE can start.

1. Streamline Contracting and Applications

The DOE’s current application and contracting process is burdensome and redundant. Companies often face unnecessary delays just trying to navigate paperwork, such as being required to secure community benefits agreements or labor partnerships before the technology in question is even commercially viable. To make matters worse, organizations must submit separate applications for each DOE program or office, even when pursuing similar goals.

The DOE can address this issue by standardizing applications across the department, eliminating duplicative requirements, and leveraging modern tools like AI to automate non-critical aspects of the process. These changes would increase efficiency, lower barriers to new entrants, and accelerate the introduction of transformative technologies to market.

2. Cut NEPA Red Tape — Where DOE Has Authority

While protecting the environment and holding polluters accountable is an essential role for the government, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has been weaponized to stall or block critical energy projects. While the DOE does not have full control over NEPA’s broader structure, and Congress should seriously consider repealing this outdated law, DOE does have discretion over how NEPA is applied to its programs and supported projects.

One key opportunity is for DOE to expand the use of categorical exclusions — designations for projects that do not significantly impact the environment and therefore do not require full-scale environmental assessments. This is especially important for new energy technologies that haven’t yet reached commercial scale or environmental risk.

DOE can also streamline internal review timelines, accelerate grant negotiations, and release funding as soon as projects meet agreed-upon milestones. These kinds of administrative reforms are entirely within DOE’s control and could make a real difference in the pace of deployment.

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Big Data Centers Are Booming, But Secret Deals Draw Local Opposition

From Georgia to Oregon, New England to New Mexico, data center projects are drawing opposition in local government hearings by residents concerned about the voracious demand for electricity, water consumption, and noise. Critics also argue that data centers don’t produce the jobs other land uses generate.

In Texas, people in small towns question data center development in the broader context of rapid rural industrialization.

In Pennsylvania, ad hoc groups say data centers are tapping into nearby natural gas fields, increasing the frequency of fracking, and straining water supplies.

In Indiana, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, and across the country, residents say the scale and proximity of these high-tech campuses degrade their neighborhoods and devalue properties.

Objections vary, depending on proposal and site, but a common complaint is state and local governments offering data center projects tax incentives that are often shielded from public scrutiny through nondisclosure agreements.

Companies say these pacts shield proprietary corporate intelligence, but the perceived lack of transparency fosters suspicion and anger when residents realize local planners are set to approve a proposal they knew little to nothing about until it appeared to be a done deal.

“Just from our experience, it seems like one of the big concerns is that, yeah, there is no community outreach,” Kamil Cook, Public Citizen’s Texas climate and clean energy associate, told the Epoch Times. “There’s no method by which the community can be informed in a way that actually makes it seem like their voice is valued and that they have a choice in these matters.”

Much of this local opposition appears rooted in the complaint that people “weren’t informed to begin with, were ignored at some point,” said Joe Warnimont, who co-authored a February HostingAdvice.com survey. The survey of 800 people in 16 states found that 93 percent agreed that “cutting-edge AI data centers are vital to the United States,” but only 35 percent want one in their town.

“The main insights are there is clearly a disconnect between what the local residents experience and what is being sold to these communities from developers,” Warnimont told The Epoch Times.

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AI = Slavery

I wrote in Part 1 about the human conditioning test for acceptance of artificial intelligence running our Government and Business World. The test was quite simple: How much “Self-Service” are people willing to take before we say “Enough is Enough!”.

We failed miserably. What’s worse, there seems no end to how much crap we can take. At least for as long as the food and EBT cards holds out.

Why is that important?

Its because self-service is what we will all be doing, endlessly, in an AI driven internet only world where human interaction is transactionally eliminated in all but social relationships.

Few bother to fight, especially when the alternative of resistance requires a certain amount of inconvenience, persistence and even courage.

After all, people still have Amazon and Bank of America accounts and take their offspring to Disneyland in between Church visits. Easy peasy.

We not only accept our self service Internet of Things world but do so gladly and even without asking for a discount that the generation ahead of us would and did require. Consequently, just like our Covid Lockdown test, we met a necessary standard proving we will do nearly anything we are told. Don’t believe me? How soon we forget.

How about people with MDs telling 80 olds to wear ill fitting dust masks in 90 deg heat? What about those same Doctors injecting infants with a near zero risk of dying from Covid with still experimental mRNA treatments after reports of severe injury was publicly known and easy to find (if not from your own patients)? Or, that we allowed churches to close for the first time in American history?

Only an illegal monopolistic and powerful brainwashing legacy media could make all that happen. But, it did happen because we lost our ability to distinguish truth from propaganda. Somehow, it seemed comfortable. And safe.

That means full steam ahead towards our future nightmare in a 1984 Brave New World. A world made possible in our lifetimes by Artificial Intelligence.

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Did AI Almost Start World War III?

Recall that the Covid fiasco went into overdrive when Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London generated a wildly incorrect estimate of the fatality rate of the virus from China. He had two forecasts, one without lockdowns (death everywhere) and one with (not terrible). The idea was to inspire the replication of the CCP’s extreme methods of people control in the West. 

That model, first shared in classified realms, flipped the narrative. Once select advisors – Deborah Birx and Anthony Fauci among them – presented it to Trump, he went from opposing lockdowns to getting in front of the seemingly inevitable. 

Before long, every Gates-funded NGO was pushing more such models that proved the point. Masses of people observed the models as if they were an accurate reflection of reality. Major media reported on them daily. 

As the fiasco dragged on, so did data fakery. The PCR tests were generating false positives, giving the impression of an unfolding calamity even though medically significant infections were highly limited. Infections and even exposures were redefined as cases, for the first time in epidemiological history. Then came the subsidized “deaths from Covid” that clearly generated waves of misclassification that underscore the overestimation of the fatality rate.

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