This new technology may soon be able to translate your pet's sounds into words

Animal lovers may soon be able to strike up conversations with their furry friends, according to a report commissioned by internet giant Amazon. One author of the study, futurist William Higham, believes the technology could be a reality within the next decade.

The findings come from a report called "Shop the Future" which was commissioned to coincide with the launch of the retailer's new platform under the same name. Alongside Higham, the paper was co-authored by London-based futurist Anne Lise Kjaer.

The idea of so-called pet translators has existed for a few years now, but the technology behind the products is yet to catch up to the vision. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning projects being spearheaded by academics that may soon change.

"Innovative products that succeed are based around a genuine and major consumer needs. The amount of money now spent on pets – they are becoming fur babies to so many people – means there is huge consumer demand for this," Higham told The Guardian.

The authors predicted that future pet translator applications will be able to play back a pet's barks or miaows and tell you what they mean. In the near-future, devices may be placed directly into a dog's collar which would tell the owner what it wants. Despite the lofty ambition, however, any timescale for release remains murky.

The Amazon-funded researcher based his analysis on the work of professor Con Slobodchikoff from Northern Arizona University, who has dedicated 30 years to studying the language and behaviours of North American prairie dogs using cutting-edge technology.

Using his research, Slobodchikoff is currently attempting to raise the necessary funds to build a fully-fledged cat and dog translation device.

"So many people would dearly love to talk to their dog or cat or at least find out what they are trying to communicate," Slobodchikoff said. "A lot of people talk to their dogs and share their innermost secrets. With cats I'm not sure what they'd have to say.

"A lot of times it might just be 'you idiot, just feed me and leave me alone'."

The professor plans to use algorithms to the "language" of pets using huge databases of recorded sounds. Not everyone is convinced it will work. Juliane Kaminski, a psychologist at Portsmouth University, believes animals' sounds are not language as we know it.

"We would not describe dogs' forms of communication as language in the scientific sense [but] they do give out rudimentary signals of what they want and how they're feeling," she said, noting this could be as simple as the wagging of their tails to the left or right.

Some similar products already exist – albeit in rudimentary stages. Back in 2010, Google released its "Translate for Animals" tool which remains in a beta stage. "We hope that Translate for Animals encourages greater interaction and understanding between animal and human," the firm said.

Source: http://www.msn.com

The most deadly creature: the Box Jellyfish

It seems to go without saying that the most poisonous, deadliest and meanest of all the jellyfish inhabits Australia. The variety of box jellyfish known as the sea wasp or marine stinger is widely regarded as one of the most deadly creatures on earth. Along with other box jellies they have been responsible for at least 5,568 deaths recorded since 1954. The Australian variety causes around 1 death a year on average with a further 100 in South East Asia.

As with so many of the deadliest animals it is said that from certain angles there are skull-like marking – in this case on the largely transparent bell. The 15 tentacles can reach up to 3 metres (10 ft) long and each is covered in around half a million venom infused, microscopic darts. It is estimated that each animal contains enough venom to kill 60 adult humans. The venom acts fast too and it can kill within minutes causing cardiovascular collapse. It also attacks the nervous system and skin cells.

The actual sting has been compared to being branded with a red hot iron. It is said that the pain can be so severe that it may result in shock leading to drowning or heart failure on its own. Whilst stings are often survived pain can continue for weeks and there may be permanent scarring resembling whip marks across affected areas.

With 24 eyes, four brains and an impressive 60 anal regions (whatever they are) the box jelly fish are definitely an advanced and formidable creature.

Source: www.planetdeadly.com

Kisses transfer 80 million bacteria

Every time you share a long kiss with your partner, you transfer 80 million bacteria to his or her mouth. That’s the somewhat icky conclusion of a new study of 21 intimate couples at a zoo in Amsterdam. When scientists swabbed the mouths of the participants before and after they locked lips, they didn’t detect a huge change in the bacterial composition—or microbiota—of their mouths.

That could be because the couples had already kissed so many times, they had become home to the same bacterial populations. It could also be that people who fall in love have similar lifestyles and similar diets, which can influence the mouth’s microbiota. To estimate just how many bacteria are transferred during make-out sessions, the team asked the volunteers for one more kiss, right after one of the partners had been drinking a probiotic yogurt, which is filled with bacteria not commonly found in the mouth.

The test revealed that people transfer about 80 million bacteria to each other during a kiss, as the team reports today in Microbiome. That may sound like a lot, but the mouth is home to about a billion bacteria. So perhaps it’s not so icky after all.

Source: http://www.sciencemag.org

US tests Apache helicopters with mounted laser beams

An Apache helicopter has successfully acquired and hit an unmanned target with a laser gun for the first time in history.

Mounted on an Apache AH-64 attack helicopter, the high energy laser tracked and directed energy on the stationary target which was a little less than a mile away.

The achievement proves that laser weapons are no longer the work of science fiction.

Weapon manufacturer Raytheon said that never before has a fully integrated laser system been able to successfully shoot a target from a rotary-wing aircraft over an array of flight regimes, air speeds, and altitudes.

The feat was made possible by combining a variant of the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) — an advanced, electro-optical, infra-red sensor — with the laser used in the attack.

According to a defense specialist, the MTS was responsible for providing targeting information, situational awareness, and beam control.

Vice president of advanced concepts and technologies for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems Art Morrish said collecting data such as the impact of vibration, dust, and rotor downwash would help shape future high-energy laser systems.

“Our goal is to pull the future forward,” Morrish said. “This data collection shows we’re on the right track.”

According to the Pentagon, laser weapons bring sharp advantages to the battlefield as they are silent and invisible to the human eye.

Not only does this make them more difficult for enemies to detect, but lasers are more accurate in hitting targets because they have a near-perfectly straight trajectory.

As lasers don’t have the arc flight path of artillery rounds, they are “more effective at addressing rocket, artillery, mortar, or RAM threats, as well as unmanned aircraft systems and cruise missiles.”

Used by the US military since 1986, the Apache helicopters have previously relied on weapons such as a 30-millimeter gun, 70-millimeter rockets, and heavy-duty AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

As lasers don’t run out of bullets, this discovery could be a cost effective solution for the military seeing as each AGM-114 Hellfire missile costs $110,000.

The test was conducted by Raytheon and the US Army Apache Program Management Office in collaboration with US Special Operations Command at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Source: http://nypost.com

Aston Martin Vantage AMR range launched

Aston Martin has launched its first range of road-going high-performance AMR models, the Vantage AMR. Bringing a bit of Aston’s title-winning FIA WEC sportscar racers to the road, the firm plans to make 200 V8 Vantage AMRs and just 100 V12 Vantage AMRs. They will cost from £97,995 and deliveries will begin later in 2017.

The AMR range was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show back in March: it’s designed to accentuate Aston’s sportiness by bringing to the road inspiration or direct influence from the track. There will be two levels of AMR, as seen with this new Vantage range: entry-level Vantage AMR models and more extreme Vantage AMR Pro versions that have extra work by the bespoke Aston Martin Q division.

Pick from four colours for the Vantage AMR: Stratus White with orange graphic, Ultramarine Blue with blue graphic, Zaffre Blue with red graphic and Scintilla Silver with grey graphic. There’s also an AMR Halo Pack, which mimics the 2016 Vantage GTE World Endurance Championship racer: it’s Stirling Green with Lime Green accents. It even has a Union Jack AML wings badge on the nose.

There are complementary colours inside, including more Lime Green for the Halo Pack, and optional lightweight carbon fibre seats for the purists. They can also choose from either a six-speed manual with the 430hp V8 Vantage or seven-speed manual on the 595hp V12 Vantage (that’s 30hp up on the regular 565hp), although most will probably go for a paddleshift auto. You can also have either as a coupe or a roadster.

“It’s a real thrill to see our first AMR model go into production said Aston president and CEO Dr Andy Palmer. The Vantage is “the perfect model with which to introduce the exciting AMR range. Unmistakable in look and feel, the Vantage AMR will appeal to our most enthusiastic customers. These are people who love our cars for their motorsport pedigree, and for their unmistakable dynamic and emotional qualities.”

There’s more on top: Aston’s offering an AMR Accessories range, with cool things such as an Aston-branded GoPro track day camera. But Aston reckons the AMR Aero Kit is the coolest. Developed in conjunction with the Aston Martin Racing team, the carbon fibre kit includes front splitter and dive plates, side sills and a fixed rear spoiler. Pair it with forged alloy AMR Vantage wheels and a 14kg-lighter titanium exhaust for racing perfection.

Consider the Vantage AMR range a run-out special; the new Aston Martin Vantage arrives in 2018, complete with V8 engines from Mercedes-AMG. Expected launch location? Quite possibly the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. 

Source:www.msn.com