DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist

DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF

                                                                      

                 By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane

TESLA MODEL S PLAID CAN NOW HIT 200 MPH 

                                                                    Source: Tesla

• Tesla's most powerful EV, Tesla Model S Plaid has just been made more powerful
• It has a new performance Track Package that increases the top speed from the current 163 mph to 200 mph, as originally promised by Tesla CEO Elon Musk
• The Tesla package also includes a brand new set of tires
• Track Package costs between $15,000 and $20,000 and is on top of the current base price of $107,490 starting price
• Model S Plaid is a very powerful, 4-door sedan with 3 electric motors, 1,020 hp and 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 1.9 seconds
• Track Package is available for purchase next month.

KANGAROOS CAN CALCULATE ODDS

                                                        Source: University of Barcelona and Stock

• I find scientific discoveries about the unknown and fantastic intellectual abilities of animals fascinating, such as parrots learning to make video calls to favorite bird friends and dogs making smart phone calls to their owners
• Now, scientists have discovered that one of the tallest animals on the planet - kangaroos - are able to calculate odds or specifically determine how and when they will get their favorite treat
• The research comes from scientists at the University of Barcelona and was just published in Scientific Reports
• They demonstrated that giraffes can statistically calculate the odds of getting their preferred treat from their handler
• The animals made the calculation based on the proportions of food in several containers in order to maximize refills of their favorite
• The scientists say the giraffes showed sophisticated statistical reasoning, similar to humans
• As giraffes' brains are small compared to their body size, this questions the theory that a large brain size is necessary for complex statistical skills
• The scientists also think that more animal species may have statistical reasoning like that just discovered in giraffes.

NEW INTERACTIVE WAY TO MAP EARTH - GEODESIC LINES

                                        Source:  Esri and Stock

• Ever wonder when you look from the shore out across the ocean, what land is the first directly beyond the distance of your vision?
• UK cartographers have devised an interactive map that answers your question by using geodesic lines, following the curvature of the Earth to pinpoint exactly what landmass is the first on your horizon
• This innovative system has been developed by EsriUK and it is built around 2,000 Shore points on the UK coastline
• Examples:  from South Wales, by following the Earth's curvature thru geodesic lines, next sighting is Brazil
• From Norfolk, you're in direct line with Russia
• From Land's End, UK, you're exactly 4,559 miles directly across from the Bahamas
• This interactive mapping has been created for the UK, but it appears to be of use for many coastal locations to answer your question: what is the land directly across the ocean from me?.