
©STR/AFP
A.I. OUTSHINES SCIENTISTS
Days before the Coronavirus strikes fear into everyone and gets the entire world shaking, Canadian A.I. BlueDot had foreseen the plague. Designed by the namesake company, BlueDot stands out for the last six years thanks to its ability to foresee world-wide infectious diseases. Thus, BlueDot had warned its clients – among prestigious U.S. and Canadian institutions – by the end of 2019, making it one of the first whistleblowers, more than a week before American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO itself.
Source : SciencePost
CARLIN’S POINT OF VIEW: This highlights the in-between times we are going through: despite the fact that artificial intelligence is getting bigger, institutions don’t seem to be trustful enough to give it credits and take actions.

© Lexus
DON’T LET THE CATS GET YOUR TONGUE!
In order to face hospitalized person’s hygienic question, designer Irena Samoilova did not let the cats get her tongue… instead she got theirs! Thanks to their 300-keratine-buds tongue, with perfect shapes and features, they embody cleanliness and tidiness. Inspired by this incredibly effective organ, Samoilova imagined a bio-inspired small device with “interchangeable papillary rolls”. Even if Lick – the product’s name – is still a prototype, it’s already in everyone’s mind as it has been chosen as a 2020 Lexus Design Award finalist.
Source : Lexus

©Caltech
FASTER THAN THE THUNDER!
A year after their « fastest camera in the world”, able to capture 10 000 billions images every second, searchers from the Californian Institute of Technology (Caltech, U.S.A.) have unveiled a brand new technology able to catch transparent objects. A hopeful break-through as this insanely precise microscope could enable scientists to observe nano-seconds longs phenomenons such as shock waves or neurons’ communication.
Source : Futura Sciences

©Greenly
GREENLY calculates your carbon footprint
Developed by the namesake company, smartphone’s app Greenly really is aware consumers’ new ally. Free as well as available on iOS for more than a week, Greenly calculates user’s carbon footprint, based on their bank statement. From the product’s brand or ingredients, to your favorite means of transport, Greenly takes everything into account to convert your whole life into figures. In addition to praising small actions, Greenly intends to develop a cash-back system.
Source : L’ADN
CARLIN’S POINT OF VIEW: Between guiltiness and inducement, our eco-anxiety finds its balance thanks to technology.

©C. Matheron/TAAF
ALBATROSS VS PIRATES
La Rochelle Université CNRS’ searchers as well as the Antarctica and French Antarctic office have made the most of albatross’ behavior peculiarities to hunt illegal fishing. Attracted to boats’ cargo, albatross on which GPS tags have been settled, help mapping boats with on-going activities. Then it’s only a matter of time for the “Ocean Sentinel” guards to find out those which have turned off their tracker.
Source : Futura Sciences
CARLIN’S POINT OF VIEW: Innovation doesn’t necessarily mean brand-new objects. Sometimes, it only takes new smart useful uses to give existing devices a second life.

GÉRALDINE BOUCHOT
TRENDS & FORECASTING EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
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