Between school, homework, practice and spending time with loved ones, it’s easy to miss out on the latest in science, technology, engineering, art and math. But don’t worry, Thinkery’s got you covered. Here are some of our favorite STEAM discoveries from the previous week. It’s fuel for your weekend.
Handshake? Hug? High five? A team from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has developed a computer algorithm that is able to anticipate human interactions. Using deep learning technology, the action-prediction algorithm analyzes an initial still frame to predict how people will interact seconds later.
So, how is the algorithm able to assess the situation and correctly calculate its outcome? By watching hundreds of hours of raw video, of course. Seriously—they’ve watched more than 600 hours of television! While the algorithm is not 100 percent accurate, it’s still a very important technological advancement. The technology could potentially be used by security cameras to alert first responders when they sense an injury or emergency is imminent.
Australian artist and designer David McLeod creates spectacular, movement-based animations and renderings. His incredible Colourflow series draws inspiration from schools of fish and flocks of birds. The result is both mesmerizing and magical—digital art that completely takes your breath away.
See what we mean? We can’t stop watching!
Cue that iconic John Williams score. No, this isn’t Jurassic Park, it’s real life!
A rare pair of mummified wings encased in amber reveal that modern birds have a lot in common with their ancient predecessors. The 100-million-year-old wings—most likely belonging to a group of avian dinosaurs called Enantiornithes—show, in incredible detail, skin, muscle, claws, feather shafts, bone structure and plumage characteristics. The arrangement and microstructure of these features are similar to those found in our modern day feathered friends.