Science has come a long way in a matter of decades, yet there are so many unanswered questions which geeks would’ve loved to discuss with geniuses who the laid foundation for numerous discoveries in their lifetime. Albert Einstein had such rare intellect, that scientists even studied his brain after his death, to find out why his mind wasn’t like that of a normal human being.
But while Einstein’s teachings and words of wisdom continue to guide the world towards scientific temper, is modern tech capable of recreating his intellect to help emerging talent?
The Swiss pavillion at Expo 2020 in Dubai is trying to answer this question through Einstein himself, by featuring a digital twin of the late German physicist. Capable of smart interactions thanks to the power of AI, the virtual rendition of a young Albert Einstein, comes with another layer of authenticity added by natural language processing and accurate recreation of gestures as well as facial expressions.
In addition to the computer generated genius, that is programmed to answer thousands of questions from curious minds, the Swiss pavillion also has mechanisms for futuristic farming. Among other feats of researchers from the country, a project in collaboration with Google Earth to assess damage to the environment via satellite imaging, will also be on display.
It’s part of an initiative to understand how restoring soil organic carbon in agricultural land, can bring down the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment, to tackle climate change. Scientists will also unveil their findings about the development of microalgae as an alternative to meat, to ensure sustainable food supply in the Middle Eastern desert.
But the highlight at the Swiss section will be technology that can squeeze out drinking water from the atmosphere, through a zero-energy process. It’ll be a timely addition, in the light of plans to extract water from air in the Emirati desert.
The method that uses silver or silica glass to reflect sunlight into a metallic cone, for accelerating the cooling process which creates water droplets, is suitable for the coastal areas of UAE and neighbouring countries.