At first, I thought this was an elaborate joke because fossil fuels are effectively "CO2 batteries."
Instead, it's compressed gas. Which is fine and possibly the best solution in certain contexts. But, it isn't exactly revolutionary or necessarily preferable to Li-ion most of the time.
Well, with this ERC fund, we are trying to attract high quality research scientists. While there are many of these who also have entrepreneurial ambitions, it is a venn diagram, not a circle.
However, your critique of the wealth tax on unrealized gains is a big problem more generally. I have some interaction with the startup ecosystem these days here. Anecdotally, I have seen several founders choose to incorporate elsewhere in Europe or the US because of it. Unfortunately, it's incredibly hard to quantify how many do not stay here because of it.
This aspect of the tax has had significant opposition for years, but nothing ever seems to come from it.
Opposition to tax on realized gains/assets is less vocal. Someone else here characterized that part as similar to property taxes in the US and I think that is fairly accurate.
ETA: we are looking for evolutionary biologists. Not many entrepreneurial personalities here, more like a lot of bird watchers (I say this lovingly). Over in the groups with translation potential is a different story of course.
This reads like a bitter ex-employee. I guess you were in Germany?
There are plenty of European countries that do use English as the working language for technical fields, if there is not enough domestic talent.
What you say about the US research ecosystem may have been true until January 2025 but it is unfortuantely no longer the case. At the same time, the EU is finally getting its act together in both defense AND research funding. So I would forecast a sunnier future in Europe for scientists than the the US, at least for the next generation.
My department (at a Norwegian university) is working on a headhunting plan. The way the ERC grants are structured, the applicant needs a sponsoring institute. So, we are identifying researchers who are working on relevant topics, if we think it will be a good fit (and/or if we have successfully collaborated with them in the past).
Some of the details are still being ironed out. The beauracracy is real! Even so, I guess the first emails will go out late next week.
I am glad the article finally made it through who/whatever is trying to keep it down.
But, c'mon Dan. I posted this 23 hours ago. That post is 2 hours old. How did it get flagged as a dupe? I searched before posting and could not find it anywhere.
I am generally very happy with the work dang does to keep this a community I enjoy.
It is more the lack of intervention on what is obviously a concerted effort to suppress discussion (specifically of involvement with the Com) that I find disturbing.
> xAI will continue on this steep trajectory of progress over the coming months, with multiple exciting technology updates and products soon to be announced.
There is a lot of potential for using AI in drug discovery and development, biotech more broadly and chemistry/material science. Pharma is investing heavily in this right now. If useful, the output here could potentially also support Neuralink and even SpaceX.
Coupled with the line about the "true nature of the universe", I guessed this was really about entering that space.
But when you look at the careers page [https://x.ai/careers#open-roles], they are only hiring AI engineers. No biochemists or MDs, material scientists or any other natural science domains. So, if natural science discovery is actually on the road map, either:
- it is in the long term future
- they have no idea what they are doing
More likely, they are not going for natural science and this is basically just a play to compete with openAI. And, in that case, I don't understand how they convinced investors to put 6 billion dollars into it.
In 2013, I had an internship at a kind of industrial incubator and fund in Kongsberg, Norway[https://kongsberginnovasjon.no/?lang=en]. Although that was 11 years ago now, and a lot has certainly changed in the industry, physics has not.
At the time, they had an explicit focus on alternative energy technologies, so recieved a lot of proposals similar to this. I do not remember the details of my analyses anymore, but I do remember that every single one of them was rejected because none of them passed a basic back-of-the-envelope plausibility evaluation.
These projects basically fail because their output is poor compared to other solutions of similar or even lower cost.
It is also important to consider how much energy it takes to manufacture their solution in the first place. How long does it take for them to actually become net carbon negative? Does it even happen in the lifetime of the product? Sometimes the answer is no (in which case, what is even the point?)
I am about a month away from finishing my teaching degree (math). My experience so far AND the best research is extremely clear on the following:
Kids learn best by working in small groups with other kids.
These groups need to be gently guided by adults, but they should mostly be left to do a lot of independent exploration and discussion amongst themselves. The teacher is there to prod discussion in productive directions, provide feedback, answer questions, give hints and encouragement where needed. Admittedly, AI could do certain part of the teachers job, but it can never replace a peer group.
Exactly. If you are going to use this, I believe you should also become a patron* of the podcasts you do it to. And, in that case, you often have access to an ad-free version anyway.
*or "tip" or whatever other monetization channel they have. Very few rely solely on ads.
I would guess it is possible to go through this list if you make it your full time job for a year or so. That might be worth it depending on your priorities. Regardless, it bears mentioning.
We bought a two-unit house together with another couple, with the same idea in mind. They have a kid the same age as our youngest (18 months) and also do not have any family nearby to help with childcare.
It took over a year of planning and searching to find a place that we could all agree on. It was also hard to find a bank to give a loan to 4 adults because it is so unconventional.
In my mind, I call it "our modern village". So far, we have only had a couple of group dinners, because we are all so busy with renovations, jobs and kids etc. Modern adult life. So, those are dinners that would not have happened otherwise. Its also great to share chores like organizing the storage shed, mowing the lawn etc.
I am really pleased with our decision so far, although I am really looking forward to these renovations being done.
I interned with these guys back in 2012 when I was a student. They are a really great team with an inspiring vision. So glad to see them here on the front page!