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The upper corners of this silicon nanowire transistor form a double quantum dot that can work as a qubit. [CENSORED]ure quantum computers might not be all that different from the one you’re using now. An international team of researchers have created a the most fundamental part of a quantum computer—the quantum bit, or qubit—using only a CMOS transistor that is not much different from those in today’s microprocessors. Trying to keep Moore’s Law going, manufacturers continue to shrink transistors as small as possible. But these efforts are limited by quantum effects that often appear in very small electronic devices, inhibiting their normal functioning. These otherwise-undesired effects might be a boon for quantum computers. In research detailed in ACS Nano Letters scientists show how CMOS transistors, using state-of-the-art production technologies, can be made small enough to function as a qubit, that is, they can assume either of two quantum states and or a mix of both at once—a state called superposition. “We wanted to show that the same technology that is used for our computers can be used for quantum computing experiments,” says M. Fernando Gonzalez-Zalba, at the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory in Cambridge, UK. Gonzalez-Zalba headed a group also comprising researchers from Japan, France, and Ukraine involved in a European Commission funded project called TOLOP (towards low power information and communication technologies). Their approach, which consists of controlling and reading out the quantum state of the CMOS qubit via the transistor’s gate, may substantially simplify recently reported designs of other silicon-based qubits. In their experiment the researchers obtained CMOS transistors with a gate that surrounds the channel from three sides, forming two corners with right angles. (The channel looks a bit like an elongated rectangular nanowire laying horizontal to the plane of the silicon, the gate is deposited over its middle.) The gate’s electric field at these corners is stronger than at other points on the nanowire, allowing the corners to function as electrostatic quantum traps (quantum dots), explains Gonzalez-Zalba. At a temperature below 20 Kelvin, one can isolate a single electron that can move between these two quantum dots by tunneling. Depending on how the electron is “distributed” between those two corners, you can have two different quantum states that we can use as the “one” and the “zero” of the quantum bit. However, the trapped electron can also be brought in any superposition of these two states by a fast voltage pulse at the gate. This quantum state is called coherence, and can last up to 100 picoseconds, says Gonzalez-Zalba. The gate also allows the reading out of the quantum state of the electron in the channel. For this the researchers connected it to an L-C circuit tuned to a frequency of 350 MHz. When the electron is in one or the other corner, or in a superposition state, the capacitance of the two quantum dots changes slightly, which causes a tiny detuning of the 350 MHz oscillator. The coherence time—the time a qubit can store data—is now 100 picoseconds, and the researchers expect to be able to increase it to one nanosecond. This should be long enough to perform important operations, such as error correction. Such operations require that two or more qubits become entangled, linked in such a way that measurements taken of one qubit instantly affect the other. Entanglement would be possible if two identical transistors are placed together close enough, or are in the same silicon nanowire, so that there is an electrostatic coupling between the two electrons. “If you perform an operation on one electron, it will also affect the quantum state of the other electron in a separate transistor,” says Gonzalez-Zalba. Of course, such an experiment is on the books. “These two-qubit interactions will complete the whole set of elements that are required for a quantum computer,” he says.

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Earlier this year in Arizona, Gooding & Co. sold a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale for $3.4 million. The car was among the last of the great coach-built Ferraris and the third of only four ever made of this specific model. Plus, it had a 300-horsepower V12 engine and thrilling 5-speed manual transmission. It looked like your wildest dream embodied in rubber and steel. It’s no surprise, then, that such a gem sold for so much money: It was rare, it was beautiful, and it was special. Which may make you wonder: What cars being made today will eventually be just as collectible? What Is 'Collectible'? In its simplest form, a car is considered collectible when it is “the fun car you don’t have to have,” says Hagerty President McKeel Hagerty. From a valuation standpoint, a car becomes recognized as collectible once it is fully depreciated and has started increasing in value. It is fully collectible once it has appreciated past its original purchase price. “The general rule of thumb is it takes 25 years for a vehicle to fully depreciate and start climbing in value,” Hagerty said. But in the past few years he has seen enthusiast-oriented vehicles (think 2000s-era Pontiac GTO) fully depreciate in 10-15 years before they start their climb. That’s when it becomes interesting—if you’re smart about it, you can find some pleasantly undervalued automotive gems that, given a few years, will retain and even increase in value. What pushes the pricing? The usual things: How many of them were made, how well they fared on the racetrack, how beautiful they are, and the veritable prestige of their mother brand. It explains why, say, a Honda Accord is not collectible and a Ferrari 488 is. “Most modern cars drop in value immediately and keep going down and never come back,” said Karl Brauer, the senior editor of Kelley Blue Book. “But if something is truly collectable, after some time, they will eventually swing back up and keep going. It just takes more than a year or two.” How to Spot a Gem Hagerty recently assembled a team of analysts to produce a list of the new cars most likely to do just that. Sti[CENSORED]tions included that the car must be produced within the 2016 model year and must have an MSRP of less than $100,000. Such models as the $65,900 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and the $51,700 BMW M2 took top billing. They are likely to appreciate by double-digit percentage points because of their pureness of design, their superior performance among their competitors, and the strength of their brands. The 4C captures Alfa’s famous race-track finesse in a skin akin to the much more expensive old Ferrari 360 Modena; the M2 showcases BMW’s rich heritage—it echoes the 2002tii and the Z3 M coupe—and it is being replaced by a new model this year, which means that it falls at a great point in the spectrum of BMW’s historical lineup. Others, such as the $37,295 Chevrolet Camaro SS, $89,090 Dodge Viper SRT Coupe, and the $60,465 Cadillac ATS-V, embody American tradition. The new Camaro SS follows last year’s debut of the new Mustang, so it had to be good. And it is great, bringing a 455-horsepower V8 engine with its brawny body and wide-open grille. Meanwhile, that Cadillac was created to dominate similar cars from BMW (the M3) and Mercedes (the MG C63). It has a smaller V6 engine but gets 464 horsepower and even comes with an (increasingly rare on sports cars) six-speed manual transmission. So it stands out in its category. The other vehicles on the list are mostly mass produced or limited versions of a mass-produced vehicle. They include the $62,195 Ford Mustang GT350R and the $84,600 Porsche Cayman GT4. Their manageable pricing doesn’t necessarily hurt their allure: Desirability is often driven by rarity and enhanced performance or trim packages. A Ford Focus even made the list. Thirty years from now, the RS model of that line will have a much greater following that a standard-production Focus hatchback in similar condition. It's the Alfa-Romeo Giulia Super of the [CENSORED]ure, say. “If enough time passes, almost anything is collectable, and that includes cars,” Brauer said. “Any sort of special car with an enthusiast following, including Camaros and Mustangs, if you stick it away for 30 years and don’t drive it much, it’s going to be collectible.” In today’s market, and because of platform sharing (what automakers do to save money—they create one version of an underbody, as it were, for a model they can sell globally rather than many different versions tailored to specific regions), the sub-$100,000 luxury car is not that much different from a brand's nonluxury counterparts. They're all pretty good; the differentiation relies mostly on options and branding. What’s more, plenty of contemporary mainstream models—the Mazda MX-5 Miata, for instance—have stronger enthusiast followings than those of similar luxury examples. That means they’ll be highly valued three decades from now. It’ll just take some time to get there. “If you have a car—at any price–that is extremely beautiful, it helps a lot,” Brauer said. “But you really have to think about how long you’re willing to wait.” Big Ticket Items Of course, to really reach the highest echelon of collecting, you have to go exotic. Most Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, Bugattis, McLarens, and the like will be highly collectable, so it’s interesting to consider the lesser-known versions of these brands. Following the same philosophy as before—that limited-edition and higher-trim levels will retain their allure better—consider such cars as the Aston Martin Vantage V12 GT3 Special Edition, the Dodge Viper ACR Extreme, and the Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupe. Elsewhere, the $400,000 Ford GT—Ford’s Ferrari-fighting throwback halo car that recently raced in the Rolex 24-Hour Daytona raceLINK—and Porsche-fighting $130,000 Mercedes AMG GT SL are also locks for collectability. They’re loud, aggressive, and rare drivers. Perfect to be treasured for a long time. What to Watch For Thinking of making a purchase? In today’s market, the fastest-growing trend is the affinity for “poster cars” of the 1980s. The kids who grew up with those cars on their bedroom walls and in po[CENSORED]r TV shows are now at a point in life to start collecting cars. With newer items, avoid anything too utilitarian. Or at least be prepared for it to take twice as long to appreciate—a vehicle that is valued for practicality will take much longer to become collectible than a vehicle sought after for its performance and drivability appeal. “Vintage station wagons now have a cult-like following and do show up at car shows,” Hagerty said. “But it took more than double the amount of time than the performance vehicles of the same era.” The thing to remember is that cars should be enjoyed. Virtually any well-preserved auto example that is 30 years old will find a willing buyer who will appreciate it for more than just a basic form of transportation. So buy something you will have fun using. Cars must be driven to fully appreciate their mechanics and beauty—the investment value will follow naturally, if you’re patient (and gentle on that stick). “It’s safe to say the majority of vehicles purchased for the fun factor will become collectible sooner,” Hagerty said. “But you should give 100 percent consideration to it being a fun car that you want to own and be less concerned about how the masses will view it in the [CENSORED]ure.” In short, lean back, relax, and drive. And give it 30 years.

Family Mourns Loss of Third Child From Genetic Condition. A Pennsylvania family is mourning the loss of their daughter after she died of a genetic syndrome that also took the lives of her brother and sister. Erin Mading of Pittsburgh told ABC News that her daughter Isabella, 10, died on Feb. 6 from a brain cancer that was caused by the genetic condition Lynch Syndrome 3, also known as Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency, or CMMRD. "Everywhere I go, there's reminders of her and it's hard," Mading said. "I'm never going to go to the little girls department [again] to buy something for her. It's such a feeling, like it's a dream. It just doesn't seem like she's gone. I find comfort, especially with Isabella, that [the three of them are together]." 8-Year-Old Who Found True Love Dies of Cancer Toddler's Death Gives Sick Little Girl New Chance at Life Couple That Fell in Love Over Instagram Weds Isabella's brother, Cody, 17, died Aug. 31, 2010 -- just three years prior to the death of Mading's other daughter, Averi, also 17. Averi died on Dec. 24, 2013. All three children died from brain cancer caused by CMMRD. Sabella Mading photographed with her mother, Erin. "Cody was stubborn and he had the biggest heart," Mading said of her oldest child. "Averi, she was the sweetest child. She was stubborn too, but not as stubborn as Cody. She was such a sweetheart and she had a heart of gold too. She fought so hard. Of all my kids, Averi suffered the most. She fought with everything she had." "Isabella, she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up," Mading continued. "She had the best last year of her life. She was a social butterfly. From the moment she woke up, to the moment she went to bed, she was always on the go. She was silly and fun and so kindhearted. When I look back at all three of my kids...they lived life to the fullest." Cody Mading, 17, died August 31, 2010. Dr. Shawn McCandless, director of the Center for Human Genetics at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, told ABC News that while the Madings' situation is “very rare," it happens when both parents carrying the same exact gene have kids, which heightens the risk of cancer. “The cause of Lynch Syndrome is to have a mutation in one of the genes that’s important for repairing mismatched DNA,” McCandless said. “The issue for this family is that the parents clearly are both carriers. They have defects of the same gene so for them, every time they have a baby, there’s a one-in-four chance that the baby would be affected and that’s the same if you have parents with cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia." “To have three of their five children affected, it’s actually not that surprising once you know the probability is one-in-four pregnancies,” he continued. “They seem like a really amazing family and it breaks your heart to read their story. It’s a very sad and unusual situation.” Averi Mading, 17, died on December 24, 2013. Mading has two other children, Kylie, 20, and Olivia, 14. After her son Cody was diagnosed with CMMRD, all of the Mading children were tested for the cancer-causing gene mutation. While Olivia's results came back negative, Kylie has opted out of testing -- a decision that Mading said she supports. "[She] still does not [want to be tested]," Mading said. "She doesn't want to know. I think she was afraid. She was 14 when Cody got sick. Kylie is 20 and I respect her decision. The funny thing is, we don't have anyone in our family who had cancer. People say, 'Why would you have five children if you knew about this?' but we didn't know until Cody was 16 and we already had all five of our kids. I never thought, 'Why me? Why them?' I think God has to have a bigger purpose. There has to be a bigger purpose of all of this. I want my children's lives to make a difference and I want to do everything I can...to help find a cure. That's what I am dedicating my life to now." Photographed from left to right are all five Mading children: Kylie, 20, Olivia, 14, Cody, 17, Isabella, 10, and Averi, 17. Mading said she plans on helping to develop more grief counseling for families and increase funding for CMMRD. Since there was no awareness ribbon for the disorder, she and her family created one with a cheetah print design.

At least 46 people have been killed in a double car bombing in the Syrian city of Homs, a monitoring group has said. Most of the dead appear to be civilians, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It is not yet clear who was behind the bombing but the so-called Islamic State (IS) has targeted the area in the past. Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry has said a "provisional agreement" has been reached with Russia on a partial truce in the conflict. After speaking with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Mr Kerry said the world was "closer to a ceasefire today than we have been". Earlier this month, world powers involved in Syria agreed to seek a "cessation of hostilities" but the Friday deadline has come and gone. Mr Kerry said on Sunday that he and Mr Lavrov had agreed the terms of the cessation but stressed that details still needed to be resolved. Homs carnage The attacks in Homs happened in a predominantly Alawite district, the minority sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs. The Observatory warned that, with a large number of people injured, the death toll was likely to rise. Syrian state television gave a toll of at least 25 dead. Homs, one of the early centres of the uprising against President Assad, was once dubbed the "capital of the revolution". But rebels left the city late last year under a ceasefire deal, leaving the city in government hands. The Observatory also said that at least 50 Islamic State fighters had been killed in an advance by government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, east of the northern city of Aleppo in the past 24 hours. The latest violence comes as President Assad says he hopes to be remembered as the man who "saved" Syria. Asked by Spanish newspaper El Pais where he would see himself in 10 years' time, he said: "If Syria is safe and sound, and I'm the one who saved his country - that's my job now, that's my duty." Mr Assad also said his army was close to encircling rebel-held parts of the key northern city of Aleppo, and were advancing on Raqqa, the main stronghold of IS fighters. He said he was ready to implement a temporary truce as long as there were guarantees what he called "terrorists" would not use it to improve their positions. Separately, Amnesty International has criticised Turkey for refusing entry to some Syrians wounded in the latest fighting, urging it to keep its border open. Amnesty's crisis response director, Tirana Hassan, said: "Turkey's highly selective practice is appalling - only severely injured people are allowed entry to seek medical treatment while everyone else fleeing the violence is left unprotected."

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It's 2016 and there's a feeling of hope and renewal in the air. That can mean only one thing: It's time for some New Year's resolutions. What did you vow to change this year? Are you going to learn a new skill? Pay off your credit card debt? Lose 40 pounds? Whatever your plans are, don't forget to throw in a few resolutions that involve the technology in your life. The best part of tech resolutions is they're fairly easy to keep and can improve your life almost right away. We've got seven suggestions below on how to make technology central to your plans for an awesome 2016. Get personal with your tech If you haven't done so already, give one of the many digital personal assistants hiding in your devices a try. If you're on an iPhone there's Siri, for Android users there's Google Now, and for Windows 10 PCs and phones there's Cortana. It may feel strange talking to your device, but there's really no better way to set a reminder, alarm, or calendar appointment, or just get a quick update on the weather. If you're already familiar with the personal assistants, a good resolution might be to consolidate with a single choice. Windows 10 PC users, for example, might want to stick with the newly released, stable Cortana for Android and iOS for total cross-platform integration. Regardless of which one you choose, we've got some great tips on how to make the most of Google Now, Cortana, and Siri. Play a game This was an incredible year for games, with something for everybody. Why not kick off 2016 with some fantastic entertainment? For open-world adventure you can't beat the amazing Witcher 3, which took PCWorld's Game of the Year honors. Anyone looking for something a little lower-key can check out 2013's Crypt of the NecroDancer, which is a fun 2D platformer that depends as much on your sense of rhythm as your old-school joystick moves. There's also the incredible 80 Days, a choose-your-own-adventure story inspired by Jules Vernes' Around the World in Eighty Days. If you're on a laptop that just doesn't have the GPU chops for serious gameplay, check out our eGPU tutorial to learn how to play today's top titles without buying a new PC. Smarten up that house It's time to enter the age of the smart home. You don't have to overhaul your whole house with fancy door locks, thermostats, and smart lighting designs. Start small with a wireless nanny cam, a coffeemaker you can program from your phone, a USB charging port that you add to your wall outlet, or one of these 5 awesome gift ideas. Once you're ready to take your smart-home improvements to the next level keep up to date with the latest news and reviews over at TechHive. Try Windows 10 Yes, Microsoft is going way too far with its upgrade prompts, but the fact is, Windows 10 is a really great operating system, especially if you're coming from Windows 8 or 8.1. If you haven't tried it yet, the new year is a great time to get started. There are tons of killer Windows 10 machines out there for you to try, from desktops to hybrid laptops. Or simply upgrade the OS on the PC you're already using. Windows 7 and 8 will be supported for years to come, but Windows 10 is where Microsoft is focusing its attention. Cut the cord You still have cable? Well, there's never been a better time to cut that cord. You can get a limited but growing selection of live broadcast television on your PC and mobile devices with Sling TV. Then add services like CBS All Access, HBO Now, Netflix, Showtime streaming, or sports subscriptions such as MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter Live, and UFC Fight Pass. Subscribing to even several of those services will still come in under your $100-plus cable bill, and you can view all of your content across multiple devices. Want to know more about cutting the cord? Check out Jared Newman's weekly take on the world without cable in Cord-Cutter Confidential. Get fit with fit tech Every year millions of people make a New Year's vow to get in shape, but never really stick to it. Tech can't do that 6 AM run for you, but a fitness tracker, smartwatch, or set of carefully chosen smartphone apps can help you once you're out the door. If you got a new wearable over the holidays, then you've got the tools you need. Smartphone users can also get in on the action without a band attached to their wrists. If you have an Android phone, Google Fit can track your activity; iOS users can use the built-in Health app and the selection of apps that plug into Apple's HealthKit. For food tracking, try My Fitness Pal or Lose It! Now all you have to do is avoid hitting that snooze button in the morning. Get secure Finally, it wouldnt be a proper tech-resolutions rundown if we didn't have our annual talk about security. Start using a password manager so you don't have to remember all those long passwords of random letters and numbers, and don't forget about two-factor authentication. Once that's done, what's your back-up situation like? At a minimum you should have three copies of your stuff: one on your PC, one on a physical backup at home, and a third offsite (cloud backups are a good choice for this one). With three copies of your data you should have more than enough redundancy to protect against hardware crashes, home invasions, and fires. New Year's resolutions can always be broken, but these vows to use tech to improve your life are much easier to keep than promising to never fall asleep during afternoon staff meetings.

IBM on Tuesday introduced the z13s, a mainframe computer system optimized for hybrid cloud deployment. The z13s is designed to provide advanced cryptography for mid-sized firms that need a high level of data protection. The advanced cryptography includes built-in hardware security features that effectively double the speed of data encryption and decryption over prior generations of computers without compromising overall performance of the system, the company said. IBM has integrated the mainframe technology with its IBM Security software solutions, and it has made available to z system customers a new Cyber Security Analytics service that will help identify malicious activity by learning behavior over time. It has partnered with several security firms under its Ready for IBM Security Intelligence partner program to enhance security for z customers: BlackRidge Technology, which authenticates user or device identity before network connections are made; Forcepoint, which offers a Trusted Thin Client system that secures sensitive data at its endpoint; and RSM Partners, which offers penetration testing and security reviews. "Fast and secure transaction processing is core to the IBM mainframe, helping clients grow their digital business in a hybrid cloud environment," said Tom Rosamilia, senior vice president of IBM Systems. Protecting Sensitive Data Banco do Nordeste, the largest regional development bank in Latin America, has acquired two new z systems to support its mobile and automated banking systems, IBM noted. "As our business continues to grow, we need a computing platform that can grow with us -- while at the same time offering the security and reliability banks require," said Claudio Freire, superintendent of information technology at Banco de Nordeste. The IBM announcement is just one example of the fierce maneuvering among rivals to engage growing corporations on how cloud-based systems can expand their capacity for storing and transacting data without the need for massive infrastructure investments. Microsoft in November announced plans to make its Azure Active Directory services widely available in the cloud-based environment, for example, while assuring customers that it would offer an industry-leading level of data security. Power and Speed The combination of speed and security in IBM's x13s will provide a level of protection and efficiency for mid-sized companies that normally is not available in one package, said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. "Since IBM z system products perform encryption apart from the primary system components, that means that z13s customers will be able to encrypt and decrypt twice as many online or mobile transactions as they did before without impacting system performance," he told the E-Commerce Times. "If you want to fully ensure the privacy and security of business transactions, encryption is the surest approach," King said. Certain types of businesses have been reluctant to trust their data in a cloud-based environment, but a system like the one that IBM is offering will make that transition much more secure, said Jeff Kaplan, managing director of ThinkStrategies. "Given IBM's primary focus on satisfying the needs of large-scale enterprises and data-driven mid-sized businesses that are generally hesitant to move to the cloud but are moving cautiously in this direction," he told the E-Commerce Times, "it is essential for IBM to offer cloud solutions that promise the best possible security capabilities."

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European countries should prepare for a far-reaching debate on the “profound lifestyle changes” required to limit climate change, according to a leaked European commission document. The commission will tell foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday that a Europe-wide debate is needed on how to limit global warming to 1.5C, according to a staff working document for ministers seen by the Guardian. It was written in response to last December’s Paris climate summit, which agreed a plan for cutting emissions to net zero after mid-century, and an intent to peg global warming to 1.5C. Temperatures have already risen by 1C since pre-industrial times and slamming the brakes on climate change “is by no means an easy undertaking”, the document says. “It will require exploring possibilities for realising ‘negative’ emissions as well as profound lifestyle changes of current generations.” Negative emissions can refer to carbon capture and storage technology powered by biomass, geo-engineering of the atmosphere and oceans, or CO2 removal that sucks emissions out of the air. A review of the ambition of the bloc’s pledge to cut CO2 emissions by at least 40% from 1990 levels by 2030 will be crucial, the paper adds. This will take place after a report is published by the UN’s climate panel, the IPCC, in 2018. “There is no requirement that the EU updates its 2030 headline target as a result of this process in 2020, but the timeframe presents the EU with an opportunity to do so,” it says. The decade’s end will be “the only significant political moment before 2030 to leverage more ambition from other major economies like China and India,” as well as the US and Brazil, the document states. However, the European commission is known to already be developing scenarios for increased emissions cuts through energy savings and a new renewable energy directive. In that context, green groups said they were disappointed that action on the hard-won 1.5C target was being delayed. “The EU has to redo its homework and set out a pathway to meet stricter energy efficiency and renewables targets,” said Greenpeace EU’s climate policy adviser, Bram Claeys. “We can’t have confidence in a plan that plays fast and loose with global warming and fails to accelerate Europe’s shift to 100% renewable energy.” Wendel Trio, the director of Climate Action Network-Europe, said: “Like all other countries, the EU needs to ensure its policies are coherent with what was agreed in Paris, and needs to substantially increase its targets for 2020, 2030 and 2050. This discussion needs to take place now, and not be postponed for another three to five years as the European commission is proposing.” EU leaders are expected to discuss the possibility of raising the EU’s 2030 target at a summit on 17-18 March. But powerful figures in the commission will try to ensure this happens through a revision of the bloc’s carbon market rules in 2023. The EU’s climate chief, Miguel Arias Cañete, has already signalled that he would like the union to ratify the Paris climate agreement at a conference in New York on 22 April. “It is in the EU’s interest to join early, alongside major economies such as the US and China, and alongside other ‘high ambition’ countries,” the paper says. Other legal scenarios could also allow the agreement to enter into force without the EU’s participation. Decisions to increase climate ambition will be hard fought, with coal-dependent countries such as Poland likely to dig their heels in. “The potential scale of such a deep transformation will require a wide societal debate in Europe,” says the document, which was jointly prepared by the European commission and its foreign office, the European external action service. A 2C rise in global temperatures could have consequences including the migration of 20% of the world’s po[CENSORED]tion from cities flooded by sea level rise, such as New York, London and Cairo, according to a study published this month.

Russia plans to modify some of its intercontinental ballistic missiles to destroy asteroids before they hit Earth, according to a top Russian rocket researcher. Sabit Saitgarayev of Russia's Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau revealed the effort during an interview last week with the government-owned TASS news agency. The United States is also working on ways to prevent asteroids from hitting Earth, but is taking a very different approach. Instead of blowing up the space rocks, NASA plans to shove them away from the planet. It is the latest frontier in efforts by both countries to tackle a threat to the planet that dates at least from the extinction of the dinosaurs. The Russian missiles would be used to target smaller asteroids of 20 meters to 50 meters in diameter. These smaller asteroids can cause significant damage and can sometimes be detected only by observatories a few hours in advance of their reaching Earth. Sometimes, they aren't detected at all. In 2013, a 20-meter-wide meteor exploded in the sky over Chelyabinsk, Russia, with the estimated force of 300,000 tons of TNT or more, shattering glass in buildings and leaving more than 1,000 people injured. None of Earth's space agencies saw it coming. "Unfortunately, we only know about roughly 1% of those asteroids that get down to the 30-meter size, so there's a tremendous amount out there that we have yet to discover," noted Jason Kessler, the director of NASA's effort to find all asteroid threats to human po[CENSORED]tions. Larger asteroids can cause much more damage but can be detected early by space observatories using advanced telescopes and infrared technology. Kessler said that NASA calculates it has "discovered about 95% of the one kilometer or larger asteroids," roughly the size of the one thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs upon impact. READ: How to land a space probe on a comet Unlike rockets that deliver satellites to orbit or ferry people and supplies to the space station, intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, are designed to be used during a war and can launch at a moment's notice. The prospect of Russia modifying nuclear missiles for outer space is likely to cause alarm within the U.S. military. The office of the Director of National Intelligence has already expressed concern about Russian military activities in space. Its 2016 threat assessment says that Russia continues "to pursue weapons systems capable of destroying satellites on orbit." The assessment notes that "the Russian Duma officially recommended in 2013 that Russia resume research and development of an airborne antisatellite missile to 'be able to intercept absolutely everything that flies from space.'" Russia has large numbers of nuclear-armed ICBMs in its strategic arsenal that could potentially be converted. It is unclear if the Russian plan would use a conventional explosive in the repurposed missile, but its targeting system is likely to require significant modifications. Saitgarayev acknowledged in the TASS interview that the modifications would take time and cost millions of dollars but said they are aiming to test the new missile against the larger 355-yard asteroid Apophis that is due to pass close to Earth in 2036. Astrophysics professor Henry Melosh of Purdue University cautioned against the nuclear option, calling the effort "misguided and potentially dangerous." Melosh worked on NASA's Deep Impact mission. The spacecraft dropped an impactor onto a comet in 2005. Melosh downplayed the threat posed by smaller asteroids and told CNN, "There are other, safer ways to deflect asteroids with long lead times." He pointed to kinetic deflection, which would fire a rocket into the asteroid to knock it off course, or gravity tractors, which uses a spaceships gravity field to nudge the asteroid off its trajectory. "For now, the best thing we can do is to identify potentially hazardous asteroids in space and project their time and location of impact," he said. According to Melosh, there are also ongoing efforts at the two U.S. nuclear weapons research centers, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, to investigate the possibility of using nuclear weapons against larger asteroids with long warning times. Paul Miller, associate division leader of the Design Physics Division at Lawrence Livermore, told CNN that the institution was "supporting NASA by modeling deflection techniques, including kinetic impactors or nuclear explosions." Miller added, "We know of no interest in the U.S. in repurposing ICBMs" and questioned their utility in preventing asteroid impacts. Deflection intercepts need to occur months, years or decades in advance, and the associated intercept locations are typically very far from Earth, he said. And he assessed that other developments would be more effective. As asteroid detection surveys improve, he said, "they should provide decades of warning. In that case, a ready-to-launch capability is unnecessary." NASA wouldn't address the possibility of using nuclear weapons to destroy asteroids and would not comment on the viability of the Russian undertaking, but is emphasizing its nonnuclear approach. One way NASA plans to protect Earth from asteroids is to push the asteroids away from the planet. The space agency is developing an Asteroid Redirect Mission -- the "first-ever robotic mission to visit a large near-Earth asteroid" and "redirect it into a stable orbit around the moon." This mission is primarily intended to study asteroids and is projected to be ready for deployment in the 2020s. Ben Reed, who heads up the team developing the Redirect Mission, told CNN in June that the robotic lander could use its thrusters to nudge an asteroid off a collision course with Earth. Or alternatively, he said, the lander could use its own gravitational pull to make slight changes to an asteroid's trajectory if it were deemed a danger. "We have the technologies to mitigate any potential threats," Reed said. NASA also announced in January that it has formalized its program for detecting and tracking asteroids that could threaten Earth. The new program is called the Planetary Defense Coordination Office. NASA said the office will take a leading role in coordinating a response to any potential asteroid impacts. In a press release announcing the office, the agency said its "long-term planetary defense goals include developing technology and techniques for deflecting or redirecting objects that are determined to be on an impact course with Earth."

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For elite members of the video game industry, the D.I.C.E. Summit isn't merely a chance to schmooze at the poker table or on the golf course in Las Vegas. It's also an opportunity to address issues and innovations, ranging from gender diversity to virtual reality. "It's really about people in the industry taking a break from what they're working on and re-engaging in this medium they're so passionate about," said Martin Rae, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, which organizes the D.I.C.E. Summit. While the 15th annual gathering officially starts Tuesday with poker, golf and "Magic: The Gathering" tournaments, the serious business begins Wednesday morning, when the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Foundation will unveil a new initiative to promote gender diversity in the gaming industry. According to the Electronic Software Association trade group, about 44 percent of gamers are woman, but only about 18 percent of game developers surveyed at last year's Game Developers Conference were female. "We want to focus on helping women receive an education in games and get them integrated into the industry," said Rae. "Once they're engrained in the culture, game design will naturally move in new directions." Unlike other gaming industry gatherings, such as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the D.I.C.E. Summit—which stands for design, innovate, communicate and entertain—is more business-minded and features a guest list that's intentionally kept small. For this year's summit, organizers expect about 700 attendees at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. "I'm really looking forward to what conversations we'll be having because last year, everyone was talking about mobile and user-acquisition spending," said Min Kim, co-founder of Nexon America and the interactive academy's chairman. "I'm done with that. I'm looking forward to people talking about games like 'Hearthstone' and how that became so successful. It's not just marketing." The conference invited such gaming industry veterans as "Civilization" creator Sid Meier, "Fallout" creative director Todd Howard, Electronic Arts chief creative officer Richard Hilleman and "Rise of the Tomb Raider" writer Rhianna Pratchett to present talks. Randy Pitchford, the president and CEO of "Borderlands" publisher Gearbox Software, will be joined by magician Penn Jillette for a session Wednesday on the intersection of illusion and interactivity. The talk will conclude with the pair performing a magic trick that moves from the real world into virtual reality. "Metal Gear Solid" creator Hideo Kojima and "Pacific Rim" filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will appear on stage together Thursday for the first time since their top-secret collaboration "Silent Hills" was canceled by publisher Konami. "Kojima-san is being inducted into our hall of fame this year, and it was his idea to have del Toro on stage with him," said Rae. "We don't know where the conversation will go, but we thought it would be fascinating, and the audience would love it." For the first time, much of the summit's mingling will take place behind closed doors in afternoon roundtable sessions where attendees will have an opportunity to freely discuss issues affecting the gaming industry, such as online betting. The new format was adapted from the European version of the D.I.C.E. Summit. "I think most of us are interested in looking ahead," said Ted Price, president and CEO of "Ratchet & Clank" developer Insomniac Games and the interactive academy's vice chairman. "I think that's why we want to participate in the roundtables. When you're face to face with experts from all corners of the industry, it's incredibly valuable to gain insight into what might be coming."

Mattel last week announced that it is giving its ThingMaker a high-tech makeover by equipping it with 3D capabilities. Using the original 1960s iteration, children could create small toys, such as dragons and flowers, by pouring liquid plastic into molds, which were heated and cooled. The updated ThingMaker was designed in partnership with Autodesk, which created the 3D app that works in tandem with the printer. The app and printer will let children design, create and print their own toys. "We initially announced our collaboration with Mattel back in April 2015 to provide an experience for kids and families where they could combine physical toys with a digital making adventure," said Jennifer Gentrup, spokesperson for Autodesk consumer and 3D printing. "So, Autodesk helped develop the ThingMaker design app for Mattel, and the app was launched with Mattel's printer," she told TechNewsWorld. The printers, slated to hit shelves in the fall, can be preordered from Amazon. The price is expected to be US$299.99, Mattel said. How It Works The app will provide kids with a couple of ways to make their own 3D-printed objects. For example, they can choose one of the templates included in the app, or they can come up with something unique, using hundreds of parts available. The parts, or 3D files, then are sent to the printer where they are printed in batches and ultimately assembled using ball and socket joints, Mattel said. The 3D ecosystem for kids is a response to a quickly growing 3D printer market. Companies like Barnes & Noble are selling relatively inexpensive models, priced at about $350 to $400, in stores and online. What Can Parents and Kids Expect? How do the toys to measure up in comparison with other 3D printers? Most desktop models, like the kind available in stores today, are inferior to their industrial or business-oriented counterparts. The most common type of desktop printer is a fused deposition modeling printer, or FDM, according to Max Mittler, an executive assistant at Solid Prototype. "There are so many different types of printers out there, but if you print using a desktop printer, then you're going to get FDM printing," he told TechNewsWorld. "For those types of printers, you're going to see the little build lines. It won't be smooth. That's because of the method the 3D printer uses. Ours uses a liquid resin, which lays down full layers at a time which creates solid models. FDM printers, on the other hand, will create a 2D with a support built inside," Mittler said. In addition to the lack of smoothness, desktop models won't be able to produce the level of detail more sophisticated printers can. "The biggest difference is going to be in what we call 'resolution.' We use PolyJet printers (stereolithography, or SLA), so it looks just like an injection-molded part. It's got a smooth finish," Mittler added. It makes sense that Mattel would create a 3D printer for kids, he noted. "This is definitely a natural progression for 3D printing," Mittler said. "It's become more and more po[CENSORED]r. Most of our customers already have their own 3D printers at home."

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While concept cars are rarely production ready, they frequently capture our imagination and make us wonder what it would be like if they actually made it out of the concept phase and down the production line. Here are ten concepts that we wish had become reality. Saleen S5S Raptor The S5S Raptor was Saleen's 2008 vision for a supercar that slotted in below the maniacal S7. The best part about it was that it was damn good looking. Had it been built, it would have been powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that made 650 hp. However, because of Saleen's obvious financial woes, the car never wound up being built and we never got another great, American supercar. Volkswagen W12 Nardo The name, of course, comes from the Nardo test track, where Volkswagen set records with the prototype car. However, instead of building this car, VW went ahead and built the Bugatti Veyron instead. You can definitely see tones of the W12 Nardo in the Veyron, but there is something even cooler about the idea of a supercar from the company that brought you the people's car. Bugatti Galibier In 2009, Bugatti released the Galibier concept: A sedan wearing the Bugatti badge that could potentially be the Veyron's successor. It certainly looked related to the Veyron, too. It even kept the Veyron's W16 engine, but, ultimately, Bugatti went with the Chiron as the Veyron's successor instead of this crazy super sedan. Cadillac Sixteen Beneath the hood that stretched past the horizon lay a V16 engine that was good for 1000 hp and 1000 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac unveiled the concept in 2003 as a nod to the famed Cadillac V16 from the 1930s. The engine was a 13.6-liter beast, and it was such a pity that these never made it to the road. It could have resurrected the great American grand touring luxury tradition. Chrysler Atlantic Over twenty years ago, Chrysler showed the Atlantic Concept at the Detroit Auto Show. It came from the same design-era as the Plymouth Prowler, which explains the retro-Art Deco-1930's looks. It had a 4.0-liter straight-eight engine, fashioned from two Neon engines mounted together. And what business did Chrysler have trying to build this expensive and exotic car? None at all, which is why it never happened. Looks absolutely gorgeous, though. Maybach Exelero In 2005, Maybach unleashed the land yacht of concepts, the Exelero. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.9-liter V12 , the Exelero made 691 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque. The top speed was an insane 218 mph. There was only one ever made (because more than that would have been just too much opulence for one world) and cost about $8 million. Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force The Ener-G-Force was a vision for the G-Wagen of the [CENSORED]ure. It had a fuel cell drivetrain which was estimated to have a 500-mile range. And with those huge wheels, it looked like it had the off-roading ability to climb up a wall. Mini Cooper Rocketman We were smitten with Mini's Rocketman concept back in 2011. The Rocketman remained more faithful to the original Mini than, well, the current Cooper. It was about the same size as the original, and could still seat four people. How can you look at this tiny, huggable car, and not feel joy? Maserati Birdcage In 2005, Maserati created a concept that was inspired by the Maserati Tipo 63 race car. When it raced over 50 years ago, it was innovative and advanced because it had a tubular spaceframe chassis. The Birdcage concept used a carbon fiber tub from a Maserati MC12. It had a 6.0-liter V12 and made over 700 hp. The body was designed by Pininfarina and had no doors. Instead, you could lift the top off to climb in or out. It was rad, but so, so far from reality that it was never put into production. And that's unfortunate. Spyker D12 Peking-to-Paris Despite the clumsy name, we still loved the D12 Peking-to-Paris because it was a Spyker. Back in 2006, after the launch of the C8 Laviolette, Spyker decided that it wanted in on the luxury SUV business. Borrowing a W12 engine from Audi, the D12 made 500 hp and had AWD. Production was expected to start the following year, but never did. In 2014, Spyker declared bankruptcy. A real shame, too, because how many other SUVs have suicide doors?

TO A non-Christian, or even to a Christian who prefers to keep doctrine and worship as simple as possible, the Catholic and Orthodox churches can look pretty similar. Both use elaborate ceremonies of ancient origin and have multiple ranks of robed clergy; both claim continuity with the dawn of the Christian era; both have rich theological and scholarly traditions and generally, long institutional memories. Only an apparently tiny difference separates the versions they use of the creed setting out their basic beliefs in a triune God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Why, then, do the two religious bodies not simply unite? On February 12th Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox church, will meet in Cuba. Though not unprecedented in the last ten centuries such a meeting is nonetheless unusual. Why? Part of the answer is that precisely because both institutions have long memories, differences which emerged many centuries ago still matter. The formal parting between the Christian West and the Christian East occurred in 1054; to some extent it reflected cultural and geopolitical competition between the Greek-speaking "east Roman" empire, in other words Byzantium, and Latin-speaking western Europe where Roman authority had collapsed in the fifth century, but new centres of power had emerged. Tensions rose in the early 11th century when the Catholic Normans overran Greek-speaking southern Italy and imposed Latin practices on the churches there. The Patriarch of Constantinople retaliated by putting a stop to outposts of Latin-style worship in his home city, and the pope sent a delegation to Constantinople to sort the matter out. The delegation's leader, Cardinal Humbert, excommunicated the Patriarch; the Patriarch promptly did the same to the visitor. In the run-up to that final rupture there had been growing differences over the pope's claim to authority over the whole of Christendom, in contrast with the Orthodox view that all the ancient centres of the Christian world (Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem as well as Rome and Constantinople) were approximately equal in status. The Orthodox took issue with the pope for mandating a version of the creed which in their view amounted to a subtle downgrading of the Holy Spirit. To this theological difference was added a massive geopolitical grievance: in 1204 Latin armies ransacked Constantinople, which was still the Christian world's greatest centre of commerce and culture and imposed a Latin regime for about six decades. In the Orthodox collective memory, this act of betrayal by fellow Christians weakened the great city and rendered inevitable its conquest by the Muslim Turks in 1453. Having gone their separate ways, the Christian West and Christian East spawned different theological traditions. The West developed the idea of purgatory and of "penal substitution" (the idea that Christ's self-sacrifice was a necessary payoff to a punitive Father-God). Neither teaching appeals to Orthodox Christians. The East, with a penchant for mixing the intellectual and the mystical, explored the idea that God was both inaccessible to human reason but accessible to the human heart. To the Orthodox believer, Catholic theology seems excessively categorical and legalistic; to the Catholic mind, Orthodox thinking in its mystical flights can seem vague and ambivalent. In a few hours of set-piece discussion in Havana airport on February 12th, the pope and Patriarch will hardly be able to resolve these centuries-old differences. But at least they may understand each other a little better.

The perilous flight of refugees continues, with some 67,000 asylum seekers traveling to Europe last month. Meanwhile, the European Union and international donors are poised to increase their aid to one desperate group: Syrians displaced by war. The refugees keep coming. Forced from their homes by war and economic deprivation, tens of thousands of migrants made the perilous journey to Europe last month. These asylum seekers, the latest surge in a great tide of human movement, have braved winter weather, stormy seas and closed borders in their escape from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa. On Thursday in London, the European Union and international donors are expected to pledge to increase their aid to Syrians displaced by war. The toll, whether measured in lives or in dollars, is staggering. More People, Fewer Choices More than 67,000 migrants have arrived in Europe by sea since the start of the year. By comparison, 5,000 migrants made the journey across the Mediterranean in January 2015, according to the International Organization for Migration. These newcomers join more than one million people who sought refuge in Europe last year. But more telling than the total number of migrants is the number who have been formally resettled: 190 in 2015, despite pledges to relocate almost 200,000. “We have to go,” said Mohamed Salem Abrahim, a 17-year-old Afghan trying to make his way to Germany. Mohamed arrived in Greece two months ago after traveling through Iran and catching a leaky boat from Turkey. “What is the choice — to stay in our country and be killed, or come to Europe where we can be free?” Desperate Children This year, 368 people have died making the journey across the Mediterranean, 60 of them children, migration figures show. Since the beginning of the year 19,781 minors have arrived in Europe, almost one-third of the total number of people making the journey. On Saturday, 10 children drowned when a boat carrying them and their families crashed on rocks near Ayvacik, a Turkish resort town. Photos of at least two of the children, their lifeless bodies on a rocky shore, were disturbingly similar to the photographs of the 3-year-old Syrian boy Alan Kurdi that circulated on the Internet in September. The public outcry over repeated images of smartly dressed children washed up on Europe’s shores has been muted. Women and children now make up most of the migrants entering Europe, surpassing single men, who were once the majority of travelers, according to Unicef. For children, the journey is far more dangerous than a single boat trip. At least 10,000 unaccompanied minors have disappeared in Europe over the past year, according to Europol, the European division of Interpol. Many of those children have slipped through the bureaucratic cracks and found shelter with family members, but the police warned that many others have likely been kidnapped by traffickers. New Restrictions Citizens from 149 countries applied for asylum in Europe in 2015, according to the European Union, but the vast majority came from just three places: Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Germany, followed by Hungary and Sweden, received the most asylum applicants last year. During the first half of 2015, 668,000 immigrants, including other Europeans and asylum seekers, entered Germany, according the German Interior Ministry, and the total for last year is expected to be around one million. It is increasingly difficult for those who arrive in Greece and elsewhere to make their way to northern Europe as more countries close their borders to migrants. Mounting Costs Leaders from Europe and other world powers, including the United States, are expected to double, to $2 billion, the amount of aid they pledged to Syrian migrants last year. That is in addition to nearly $3 billion European Union leaders pledged to Turkey in November to help its government keep refugees from leaving that country for Europe.