Technology News Era

The Gaia spacecraft has unearthed a new treasure trove of secrets about our galaxy — and beyond. The European Space Agency (ESA) mission plans to produce the largest, most precise 3D map of the Milky Way. To achieve this lofty goal, Gaia is surveying almost 2 billion celestial objects. Using two optical telescopes, the satellite is monitoring their motions, luminosity, temperature, and computation. Every observation could unravel new details about Earth and the surrounding Universe. The new release fills in some big gaps in the maps. Gaia had already provided a pretty comprehensive view of the Milky Way and beyond… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/yzHQGFD

Lyon-based Mecaware has raised €40mn in funding to industrialise its battery recycling technology, designed to produce strategic raw materials. Founded in 2020, the startup has positioned itself in the recycling of end-of-life batteries and production scrap of battery manufacturing plants. Its technology, born from research at the University of Lyon, is based on a chemical process that uses CO2 to separate different metals in battery cells in order to recover, restore, and reuse them. Mecaware says that its metal extraction process is not only eco-friendly and cost-effective, but also one of a kind worldwide. With the fresh capital — backed… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/rsyFMx6

Spanish startup PLD Space successfully blasted the first-ever private European rocket into orbit on Saturday, in a potential turning point for the continent’s struggling space industry.    The first launch of the Miura 1 took place at 02:19 CEST (00:19 UTC) on October 7 from a site in southwest Spain.   The flight lasted 306 seconds. Miura 1 reached a maximum altitude of 46 kilometres, before falling back down to Earth and splashing into the Atlantic Ocean. The company recovered the rocket a few hours later. This is the first Spanish rocket launch countdown🚀 ⏱  We have demonstrated that we are capable… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/4EXqo7R

Helixx has unveiled the first demonstrator vehicle from the startup’s “factory in a box” system. The commercial delivery van was built to validate a new form of carmaking. Using software-led production and site designs that are customised to local needs, the factories can be built anywhere in the world. Once the facilities are installed, they can rapidly assemble low-cost electric vehicles. The concept applies the McDonald’s franchise model to vehicle production. Helixx supplies the materials, designs, processes, and expertise as a white-label license. The customers then assemble the actual vehicles. It’s a blueprint that promises rapid results. According to Helixx, the system… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Maiw86A

The EU’s landmark AI Act would hurt smaller European companies and only benefit big players who can cover the high costs of compliance, the US warns. According to documents seen by Bloomberg, the State Department’s analysis of the upcoming legislation is sounding the alarm on the European Parliament’s version of the act. Of particular worry are the rules surrounding large language models (LLMs), which form the base of most generative AI products. The analysis found a number of these rules “vague or undefined.” It also raised concerns over the act’s focus on the development risks involved in AI models, rather… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/weRD5lK

This Thursday, German startup Wingcopter launched a drone and electric cargo-bike delivery project to bring everyday consumer goods to remote rural areas in Central Germany.  Just as with ordinary grocery delivery, customers in Michelstadt, Hesse, will be able to place their orders via a website and decide on a convenient delivery time slot. Autonomous Wingcopter drones will then deliver non-perishable products from a local supermarket to a drop-off point outside of villages. The final stretch to the customer’s door will be covered by cargo-bikes (with human) from e-bike producer Riese & Müller.  Initially, the pilot project, named “LieferMichel,” will offer… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/Uay5jm2

The recent AI boom has forced governments across the globe to consider frameworks with which to address the technology’s unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Against this background, UNESCO has teamed up with the Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure (NCCA) to launch an AI supervision project. The project — also backed by the European Commission — aims to equip the EU’s national agencies with the necessary tools and knowledge to ensure compliance of AI systems with the requirements of the upcoming AI Act and with UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. The UN agency first published its guidelines in 2021 as… This story continues at The Next Web from The Next Web https://ift.tt/lxmFNyV