Tech: Keeping AI out of weapons systems

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July 9—This week, drones are reshaping search and rescue missions, a low-tech way to help frogs fend off fungal disease, and how "digital twins" refine swimming techniques for Olympic athletes. Enjoy! --Ben Guarino, Associate Editor, Technology

Top Stories

The Head of NASA Science Spent a Whole Weekend Building a LEGO Rocket Scientific American sat down with Nicola Fox, head of NASA science, to talk about her LEGO-building hobby, the agency's massive Space Launch System rocket and the NASA science she's most excited about Meghan Bartels

'Digital Twins' Give Olympic Swimmers a Boost In the Paris 2024 summer Olympics, swimmers will be guided by their digital twin. Here's how they work to help the fastest swimmers break records Katherine Douglass, partner content; Augustus Lamb, expert writer; Jerry Lu, expert writer; Ken Ono, expert writer; William Tenpas, expert writer; The Mathematical Intelligencer

Drones Are Doing the Dirty, Dangerous Work of Search and Rescue As drones get less expensive and computer vision systems improve, rescuers are getting help from artificial eyes in the sky Sarah Scoles

We Cannot Cede Control of Weapons to Artificial Intelligence I watched United Nations delegates debate AI-based weapons that can fire without human initiation. Humans cannot be taken out of that decision-making Kate Graham-Shaw

'Frog Saunas' Could Protect Species from Devastating Fungal Disease A low-tech immune boost may help some species of frogs survive a brutal fungal disease that's already ended 90 species Meghan Bartels

From Diagnosing Brain Disorders to Cognitive Enhancement, 100 Years of EEG Have Transformed Neuroscience The EEG has shaped researchers' understanding of cognition for everything from perception to memory Erika Nyhus ; The Conversation US

A Combination COVID and Flu Vaccine Is Coming Soon The first large trial of a COVID and flu vaccine combo suggests it boosts immune protection even more than single-target shots Freda Kreier; Nature magazine

New Supreme Court Decisions Jeopardize Efforts to Curb Pollution and Climate Change Four recent Supreme Court decisions will together make it much harder for the federal government to take action on climate change Akielly Hu; Grist

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