Join the French air force on a mission in the Balkans and discover Israel's expertise in using drones in Gaza. Learn how artificial intelligence predicts new crystal structures with potential applications in superconductivity. Explore the exciting potential of AI in scientific fields and look forward to an upcoming Christmas show.
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Quick takeaways
Israel is utilizing its expertise in drones for offensive operations in Gaza, using smaller tactical drones for operations inside buildings and tunnels.
Google DeepMind has discovered 2.2 million new crystal structures using machine learning, opening up possibilities for advancements in various fields.
Deep dives
Israel's Expertise in Drone Technology in Use in Gaza
Israel has a long history of military use of drones and is utilizing this expertise in their offensive operations in Gaza. Alongside the usual high-flying surveillance drones, smaller tactical drones are being employed for operations inside buildings and tunnels. Israeli startup Extend supplies these drones to the IDF, which are specifically designed for indoor and underground operations. These drones have the ability to recognize objects, avoid collisions, and carry payloads such as breaching charges to open doors or sensors to detect people through walls. The use of smart drones in Gaza demonstrates the advancements in drone technology for military purposes.
AI Predictions Discover Two Million New Crystal Structures
Google DeepMind has utilized machine learning to predict and discover approximately 2.2 million new crystal structures that were previously unknown to science. Testing the accuracy of these predictions, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley were able to successfully synthesize 41 out of 58 chosen structures. The potential applications of these newly discovered crystals are vast, including superconductors for electrical grids and lithium-ion conductors for batteries in electric vehicles. This development opens up possibilities for significant advancements in various fields, as it increases the pool of potential crystal structures by more than 10-fold.
France's Active Role in NATO's Eastern Flank
France's military focus has shifted from the African Sahel region to NATO's eastern flank in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. French forces have become more involved in NATO air-policing operations and have deployed troops to Romania. With the aim of detecting potential opponents, French forces use drones equipped with through-the-wall radar technology, capable of looking into the next room or building. The increased French presence along NATO's eastern flank demonstrates a strategic shift and commitment to collective interests in the face of geopolitical challenges in Europe.
Our correspondent joins the French air force on a mission in the Baltics, seeing increasing support for NATO just as the country draws down in Africa. Drones have by now become a standard feature of warfare, but in Gaza the demands are different—and Israel has much expertise to draw upon (09:36). And artificial intelligence predicts the structures of 2m brand-new materials (16:38).
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