The first live, public debate between an artificial intelligence system and two human debaters has happened. Using language and reasoning to debate is far more complicated than playing a game and the AI system matched the humans. Once AI is capable of persuasive arguments, it can be applied as a tool to aid human decision-making. One example of this might be boardroom decisions, where there are conflicting points of view. The AI system could, without emotion, listen to the conversation, take all of the evidence and arguments into account and challenge the reasoning of humans where necessary. The machine wouldn?t make the decision but would contribute to the discussion and act as another voice at the table. www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jun/18/artificial-

Owlstone Medical has developed a breathalyzer for disease. With a focus on non-invasive diagnostics for cancer, inflammatory and infectious diseases, the company aims to save thousands of lives and millions in healthcare costs. www.owlstonemedical.com

A new partnership with the University of Tasmania is planning to commercialise rock lobster production research and establish the world's first hatchery for rock lobsters. Despite the high value of rock lobsters the long and complex lifecycle has made it impossible before now to produce the species in a commercially scalable hatchery. Australian companies are being offered the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Tasmania to scale-up and commercialise its innovative rock lobster aquaculture systems and related technologies.. http://www.imas.utas.edu.au/news/news-items/world-leading-aquaculture-breakthrough-to-transform-lobster-production

I am involved with an Australian Research Scientist who has found ways of using Chicken feathers to make plastics for a wide range

A Hello Kitty bullet train debuts this week in Japan. The white eight-car train, which is decorated with drawings of pink ribbons and images of Hello Kitty, offers daily round trip runs between Osaka and Fukuoka. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/06/26/business/hello-kitty-bullet-train-shown-media-ahead-debut/#.WzMUqharXDs

Il Cinema Ritrovato acts as a time machine, exploring three centuries of cinema, from the end of the 1800s to the start of the twenty-first century. You can discover never-before-seen works and rediscover those you?ve loved before with the screening of the best copies, newly restored, and with ideal projection conditions. The film festival has been held over 9 days in June for the past 14 years in Bologna.