Robotics, "wind drought" and brain secrets

#313 Outriders Magazine

Brain tricks: crying, blinking, remembering and altruism

According to research conducted by Swiss-German scientists, the areas of our brain responsible for reward processing are activated when we make choices that bring happiness to ourselves and others. This activation leads to feelings of satisfaction and pleasure. Our decision-making process involves considering not only our desires but also the desires of others. This allows us to compare different options and choose the best one, suggesting that our choices are not solely driven by self-interest.

Crying uncontrollably is a unique human trait that can help us connect with others. While many animals have a reflex tear reaction, only humans experience psychoemotional tears. Furthermore, we are more likely to offer help when we see others' tears as they invite us to help. On the other hand, blinking keeps our eyes lubricated and plays a vital role in visual information processing. When we blink, the rapid movement of the eyelid changes the light pattern, which effectively stimulates the retina. It creates a different visual signal to the brain than when our eyes are open and focused on a specific point.

Have you ever wondered why we often forget about less critical, mundane matters, such as whether we have locked the front door? According to American scientists, we tend to remember certain aspects of an experience, such as the big picture or overall context, rather than more minor details. "Our brains cannot remember everything we experience, so we must selectively forget unimportant information," explain the researchers.

Metals: USA, Great Britain, China and Russia

Britain and the United States have imposed a ban on the sale of Russian aluminium, copper and nickel on the London Metal Exchange (LME). This ban will cause a decline in demand and prices for Russian supplies. However, Russians can still sell their metals to buyers outside the US and UK who are not part of the LME. The LME is where the majority of global metals trade takes place. Furthermore, some traders exploit legal loopholes to profit from the large aluminium stocks on the LME.

To avoid the effects of Western sanctions and taxes, Chinese companies and the Russian Copper Company (RCC) have resorted to trading new copper wire rods disguised as scrap. The wire rod, shredded in China's isolated Xinjiang region, is difficult to distinguish from scrap. This allows Chinese and Russian exporters and importers to benefit from the differences in tariff rates applied to scrap and new metal.

US President Joe Biden has proposed a 25% increase in US tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminium products. This proposed higher tariff would apply to goods worth more than $1 billion. Currently, products of interest are subject to a 7.5% customs duty. Additionally, an investigation is being launched into Chinese trade practices in the shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sectors, which may also lead to higher tariffs.

Green energy development in 2023 and "wind drought"

Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are great examples of the global energy landscape. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that these countries are the only ones that derive almost all (over 99.7%) of their electricity from renewable sources. In recent years, 40 more countries, including 12 European nations, have made significant progress in this direction, generating at least 50% of their electricity from renewable sources. These countries, namely Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, and Portugal, are leading the global transition to renewable energy.

The Global Wind Report shows that 117 GW of new wind capacity was installed worldwide in 2023, marking a 50% increase from the previous year and the best result in history. China, the USA, Brazil, and Germany provided the most wind energy capacity 2023. However, the wind industry must increase annual growth to at least 320 GW by 2030 to meet the COP 28 commitment. The global total wind capacity currently stands at 1,021 GW.

Currently, about 6.5% of the world's electricity is generated by wind, but this percentage may increase to over ⅓ by 2050. Scientists from the Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford have analysed global climate data since 1979, identifying locations prone to "wind drought" and areas where wind can often be present. According to the data, northwestern Europe is vulnerable to a lack of wind, and more stable and reliable locations are the North American Midwest, Australia, the Sahara, Argentina, Central Asia, and South Africa.

Retired robot, "Emo" and cyborg cockroaches

Boston Dynamics has announced that it is retiring its most famous humanoid robot, Atlas HD, after 11 years of service. Atlas HD was known for its ability to overcome obstacle courses and perform jumps and somersaults, making it a significant milestone in the humanoid robot industry. Boston Dynamics has already introduced the successor to the hydraulic robot – the new Atlas, a fully electric model with an even more comprehensive range of motion, as seen in the published video. 

Emo is an anthropomorphic robot that mimics human facial expressions in real time. Its built-in cameras detect subtle changes in human facial expressions, analyse them, and use 26 actuators and a flexible, skin-like silicone coating to recreate the predicted facial expression. Although Emo does not have a voice yet, integrating the robot with AI chatbot features could enable it to respond even more accurately. 

Scientists from Singapore recently conducted an experiment involving a swarm of cockroaches equipped with small computer "backpacks" in a desert area. With this technology, researchers remotely controlled the insects by transmitting commands through computer electrodes to the cockroaches' sense organs. The experiment aims to determine whether cyborg insects could be used in search and rescue missions after natural disasters.

Oil extraction: Venezuela, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea

The Venezuelan government has taken action against high-level energy officials and a former oil minister concerning an investigation into lost revenues, high treason, and money laundering at Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). Additionally, the local authorities plan to hire a little-known local company, A&B Investments, to take over key oil fields in the oil-rich Orinoco Belt that were previously operated by American ConocoPhillips, together with PDVSA.

Equatorial Guinea's oil extraction sector is facing significant difficulties. Total oil production in the country has dropped to about one-third of its peak since the oil boom in the early 2000s. ExxonMobil Corporation's departure from the country after almost 30 years of operations has further exacerbated the situation. The arrests of foreigners working in the oil sector have also contributed to a bleak outlook for Equatorial Guinea. According to IMF data, the country's economic growth is expected to decline by 5.5% this year, making it the worst-performing economy in the world.

New regulations in Nigeria require all oil producers to sell their oil to domestic refineries to decrease the country's dependence on imported refined products. Producers will only be permitted to export oil after fulfilling their domestic supply obligations. Nigeria has at least five modular refineries that produce diesel and kerosene, in addition to the Dangote refinery, which can produce 650,000 barrels daily. The state-owned Port Harcourt refinery is also set to come online this year.

Drought in Kenya and Colombia and the revitalization of European rivers

Europe made significant progress in river revitalization by removing almost 500 dams and other barriers from its rivers in 2023. This step has helped restore waterways to their natural state and was a 50% increase compared to the previous year. The leaders in river revitalization are France, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark. However, it is essential to note that 150 thousand out of the 1.2 million barriers on European waterways are outdated and potentially dangerous.

Kenya is facing severe drought, and the people of Samburu County are struggling to survive. During the three-year drought in the Horn of Africa, 80% of cows in the region died, ruining residents' livelihoods. To help farmers who need new breeding animals due to climate change, shrinking land for grazing, and drying up water sources, the authorities have purchased 4,000 camels. The global camel population has doubled over the past 20 years, which the United Nations Agriculture and Investment Organization partly attributes to the animal's suitability for climate change.

Bogota, the capital of Colombia, located in the humid northern Andes region, is experiencing continued dry weather caused by the impact of El Niño. The city's water reserves are at critically low levels, threatening the water supply for millions of residents. To reduce water consumption, new measures have been announced. Houses that use more than 22 m³ of water monthly must pay additional fees. Financial penalties of up to $300 are also possible for people washing cars on the streets or performing other water-wasteful activities. These measures are crucial to ensure that the city's water reserves are not depleted and to secure the water supply for its residents.

"Bad Bot Report", penalties for deepfake materials and AI cybercrime

Under UK Ministry of Justice legislation, the creation of sexually explicit deepfake material is now considered a criminal offence, regardless of whether it is shared or not. The individuals who create such deepfakes without the other person's explicit consent will be included in the criminal register and punished with an unlimited fine. If the deepfake is shared widely, then its author could face imprisonment. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in the number of American families and children falling victim to fraud, which is being carried out using photos and videos created using artificial intelligence. Additionally, the number of materials on the internet that depict child sexual abuse is increasing, with perpetrators mainly using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

According to Cifas, criminals are using AI-based technology, deepfakes, social media and social engineering tactics to attack consumers and steal their data. In 2023, identity theft was the most common type of fraud, accounting for almost two-thirds of incidents. Cifas members were able to prevent fraud losses worth GBP 1.8 billion. Meanwhile, a report by Imperva ("Bad Bot Report'') last year revealed that bots are increasingly taking over social media. Bots generated 49.6% of all internet traffic worldwide, and in Ireland, up to 71% of internet activity was automated. This growth is due, in part, to the adoption of generative AI and large language models.

The new axis of evil according to the USA, South Africa position and the ECOWAS problems

It is becoming increasingly common in the United States to view various conflicts worldwide as part of a single narrative. Opposed to the West are Iran, Russia, North Korea, and China, along with smaller yet influential groups like Hamas and the Houthis. This new axis of evil is not connected religiously or ideologically but economically. The sanctions and export controls imposed on it have caused it to need trade, money, weapons, and natural resources.

South Africa has recently positioned itself closer to Russia than the West, despite the US, UK, and European Union being the country's leading investors and key trading partners. The country seems to prefer its position within the BRICS group, which includes Russia and China, and whose authorities have not yet condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Keith B. Richburg from The Washington Post, this attitude is rooted in the African National Congress that rules South Africa. Its military wing fought against apartheid since the 1960s and was considered a pro-communist terrorist organisation in the US and Great Britain. However, it found support in the Soviet Union, China, and Cuba.

Experts suggest that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must either reform or collapse. The military coups in West African countries, the resignation of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from membership, the countries' turn towards Russia, and the effective sanctions system have all made it clear that the organisation lacks authority, legitimacy, and effective instruments of action.