While 3D Printing Cools Down Earth, Space Research and Social Media Heat Up
Emerging Tech Roundup — December 23
The Quantious team’s top picks for timely trending news in the tech world.
This week in tech: NASA Studies Jupiter’s Temperature Patterns, Virgin Orbit Gets Licenses For Space Launch, Deforestation Potentially Decreases with 3D-printing Wood, Elon Musk Seeks New Twitter CEO, Snapchat+ Adds New Customization Features, Apple Debates Rumored Search Engine, and Google Tests Search in Video Feature
NASA Study Reveals Strange Temperature Patterns in Jupiter’s Atmosphere
(Gizmodo, December 20)
A four-decade-long study documenting temperatures in Jupiter’s atmosphere has revealed unexpected behavior in the planet’s weather over time. This study, the longest to track Jupiter’s troposphere temperatures, observed a surprising relationship between temperatures in the northern and southern hemispheres. As one heats up, the other cools down. The atmosphere shows natural cycles, and researchers now seek to understand what drives these patterns and why they occur at the time they do.
Virgin Orbit Gets the Licenses it Needs For the UK’s First Space Launch
(Engadget, December 21)
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved a historic first launch license from Spaceport Cornwell, with Virgin Orbit set to make the first-ever space flight from UK soil. The company plans to launch nine satellites in January next year. The license was issued within 15 months, along with a range control license that allows Virgin Orbit to issue warning notices and monitor the progress of missions.
We Can Now 3D Print as Much Wood as We Want Without Cutting a Single Tree
(Interesting Engineering, December 19)
A global forest survey revealed that humans have wiped out 54 percent of the total tree population on Earth, but researchers have found a way to produce timber without further contributing to deforestation. The world’s first 3D-printed lab-grown wood allows for the production of bio-printed wooden pieces, meaning wooden tables can be produced with no contribution to waste and deforestation.
Elon Musk Says He Will Step Down as Twitter CEO When He Finds a Successor
(Interesting Engineering, December 21)
Elon Musk has announced he will resign as CEO after finding someone new to take the job, following his Twitter poll asking users if he should step down. Musk has run a number of Twitter polls to make decisions as head of the social media company. Once a new CEO is found, Musk will continue to run the software and server teams at the company.
Snapchat+ Adds New Customization Feature and the Option to Gift a Subscription
(Tech Crunch, December 21)
Snapchat is introducing three new features for Snapchat+, its #3.99 subscription service. Snapchat+ subscribers now have further personalization tools with the ability to customize the camera capture button with new colors or shapes and add a custom background to their chats. The update also encourages subscribers to ”gift” a 12-month Snapchat+ subscription to their friends for $39.99.
Apple Pushing to Launch Search Engine to Rival Google
(Mac Rumors, December 19)
Apple is reportedly working on an online search engine that will rival Google. Reports around the rumored feature have resurfaced, with recent statements that the company is still at least four years away from launching. The development of an in-house rival could increase Apple’s leverage with Google, though improving the Spotlight feature seems to be the team’s top priority.
Google Search Testing Search in Video
(Search Engine Land, December 20)
Google is testing its new “Search in video” feature, which allows users the ability to search for spoken words mentioned in a video. Now users can simply enter a search term using the feature, and find what they’re looking for within the video. This is being piloted in India, though there is some testing in the U.S.
