Important Innovations

Another $472 Million in Funds from US Government Source:  Moderna Cambridge, MA Potentially Quick Vaccine Development and Delivery Cambridge, MA based Moderna just announced it has received an additional $472 million in funding from the US government's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).  That brings the total from BARDA to support the development of Moderna's novel COVID vaccine to $955 million. mRNA Moderna is the first pharma company in the US to begin human trials on a COVID vaccine.  Tomorrow, July 27th, a Phase 3 study  involving 30,000 participants will get underway with Moderna collaborating with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  Moderna's vaccine candidate uses synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) to help the body immunize against the virus. Potential Quick Delivery Moderna says it can deliver 500,000 doses of the vaccine per year and possibly 1 billion doses per year starting in 2021.  Experts say thei

DARPA's AI System to Predict the Future KAIROS - Schema-based Artificial Intelligence System The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency - DARPA - is developing a schema-based, AI system to predict the future of major global events for the US government. This is a world first, knowledge-directed artificial intelligence reasoning over schema system. To put it simply, schema is common language people use to describe and make sense of global events. KAIROS Mission The purpose is to help the US Defense Department better understand and predict world events that could lead to chaos or unrest.  The end result is to provide actionable understanding and predictions on how major, dynamic events will unfold.  For a great news blog on this, go to my journalist colleague Ed Kane's blog at Important Innovations Collection: DARPA's Tech to Predict Future : KAIROS - System to Forecast the Future Source:  DARPA's KAIROS Project Combines AI and Sc

DARPA's EXACTO for US Military DARPA's EXACTO Bullet US Government Bulls-Eye Project with Classified Technology The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is developing a smart bullet for the US Military.  The project EXACTO ammunition is a matter of public record.  But the guidance system, that's apparently so successful, is top secret.  It's a bullet that changes and corrects its direction after being fired and in flight to accurately hit the target. No More Misfires  This is a real-life project that could soon end misfiring problems caused by shooter errors, bad weather conditions and wind.  The goal is to save the lives of US troops by arming them with smart bullets with bulls-eye guidance systems. EXACTO Ammunition EXACTO uses a built-in guidance system to keep the bullet on target and be bulls-eye.  The specifics on how the guidance system works are classified.  This is a DARPA government project to provide the US mil