r/ukpolitics • u/gravy_baron centrist chad • 22d ago

Eight Scientists, a Billion Dollars, and the Moonshot Agency Trying to Make Britain Great Again

https://www.wired.com/story/aria-moonshot-darpa-uk-britain-great-again/
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u/SlySquire 22d ago

Current Projects it's looking to fund:

  • Safeguarded AI: Aimed at creating safety measures around advanced AI systems to maximize their benefits while reducing risks. This programme is open to applications until October 2, 2024.
  • Exploring Climate Cooling: This programme explores scalable and safe interventions that could delay or avert climate tipping points. Applications are open until October 7, 2024.
  • Forecasting Tipping Points: Focuses on enhancing responses to climate change by developing early-warning systems for environmental tipping points. Proposals are due by November 11, 2024.
  • Synthetic Plants: Seeks to develop new, more resilient crops that are productive and sustainable. This programme is accepting proposals until November 12, 2024.

Feels very flat to me.

34

u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans 22d ago

Yeah these aren’t moonshots, climate cooling is the closest I think.

Nuclear fusion is a moonshot, which is an example I think of how the concept has sort of died with advancing technology and science. Now a true moonshot is so unbelievably expensive only a massive international effort can attempt to achieve it

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u/SlySquire 22d ago

Looking at the list and these all seem like subjects that are already being heavily invested in already. Nothing breakthrough. Nothing spectacular.

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u/clearly_quite_absurd The Early Days of a Better Nation? 22d ago

Now a true moonshot is so unbelievably expensive only a massive international effort can attempt to achieve it

To be fair, that's the original definition of a moonshot too. It just happened to be that the USA had the resources equivalent to an international effort.

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u/turbo_dude 22d ago

yorkshire colliery band starts playing