GOOD

Self-Driving Truck Completes A 120-Mile Beer Delivery

It was created by a San Francisco startup.

 Tod Perry
10.25.16

If you’re cruising down the highway and see an 18-wheeler pull up next to you with no driver in the front seat, don’t worry, it’s probably just a self-driving semi. Created by Otto, which was purchased by Uber earlier this year, these modified semis are designed to navigate the nation’s highways byways, no human required. Recently, Uber loaded up its first self-driving truck with 50,000 cans of Budweiser and sent it on a 120-mile run through Colorado from a brewery in Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.

There are four major modifications that allow Uber’s trucks to drive themselves. Laser detection systems and radars are placed around the vehicle so it can sense its rapidly-changing surroundings. A forward-facing camera is added to the top of the truck to show the path forward. And a highly-detailed mapping system is installed in the vehicle to help it stay on course. These specially-modified trucks must be driven by a human on the side streets, but once they hit the interstate, they can be flipped into self-driving mode.

Although Uber’s self-driving semi’s first run went off without a hitch, drivers shouldn’t be worried about their jobs just yet. As American consumers increasingly buy more goods online, the trucking industry has had a hard time hiring enough drivers to do the work. The American Trucking Association pegs the current shortfall at 48,000 drivers, and says it could hit 175,000 by 2024. While Uber’s first test run may revolutionize how freight moves across the country, consumers should demand that Uber answer the only question that matters: When the 50,000 beers arrived at their destination, were they still cold?

Food

We're finally starting to take climate change seriously, survey finds

Photo by Li-An Lim on Unsplash

The future generations will have to live on this Earth for years to come, and, not surprisingly, they're very concerned about the fate of our planet. We've seen a rise in youth activists, such as Greta Thunberg, who are raising awareness for climate change. A recent survey indicates that those efforts are working, as more and more Americans (especially young Americans) feel concerned about climate change.

A new CBS News poll found that 70% of Americans between 18 and 29 feel climate change is a crisis or a serious problem, while 58% of Americans over the age of 65 share those beliefs. Additionally, younger generations are more likely to feel like it's their personal responsibility to address climate change, as well as think that transitioning to 100% renewable energy is viable. Overall, 25% of Americans feel that climate change is a "crisis," and 35% feel it is a "serious problem." 10% of Americans said they think climate change is a minor problem, and 16% of Americans feel it is not a problem that worries them.

The poll found that concern for the environment isn't a partisan issue – or at least when it comes to younger generations. Two-thirds of Republicans under the age of 45 feel that addressing climate change is their duty, sentiments shared by only 38% of Republicans over the age of 45.

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The Planet

British people guessed what Americans pay for basic healthcare and were stunned by the answers

via Politics Joe / YouTube

The healthcare systems in the United States and the United Kingdom couldn't be more different.

The UK's National Health Service is the largest government-run healthcare system in the world and the US's is largest private sector system.

Almost all essential health services in the UK are free, whereas in America cost can vary wildly based on insurance, co pays and what the hospitals and physicians choose to charge.

A medical bill in the US

One of the largest differences is cost. The average person in the UK spends £2,989 ($3915) per year on healthcare (most of which is collected through taxes), whereas the average American spends around $10,739 a year.

So Americans should obviously be getting better care, right? Well, the average life expectancy in the UK is higher and infant mortality rate is lower than that in the US.

RELATED: The World Health Organization declares war on the out of control price of insulin

Plus, in the U.S., only 84% of people are covered by private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Sixteen percent of the population are forced to pay out of pocket.

In the UK, everyone is covered unless they are visiting the country or an undocumented resident.

Prescription drugs can cost Americans an arm and a leg, but in the UK, prescriptions or either free or capped at £8.60 ($11.27).

via Wikimedia Commons

The one drawback to the NHS system is responsiveness. In the UK people tend to wait longer for inessential surgeries, doctor's appointments, and in emergency rooms. Whereas, the US is ranked as the most responsive country in the world.

RELATED: Alarmingly high insulin prices are forcing Americans to flock to Canada to buy the drug

The New York Times printed a fair evaluation of the UK's system:

The service is known for its simplicity: It is free at the point of use to anyone who needs it. Paperwork is minimal, and most patients never see a bill. … No one needs to delay medical treatment until he or she can afford it, and virtually everyone is covered. …

According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States spent 17.2 percent of its economic output on health care in 2016, compared with 9.7 percent in Britain. Yet Britain has a higher life expectancy at birth and lower infant mortality.

Citizens in each country have an interesting perspective on each other's healthcare systems. UK citizens think it's inhumane for Americans have to pay through the nose when they're sick or injured. While Americans are skeptical of socialist medicine.

A reporter from Politics Joe hit the streets of London and asked everyday people what they think Americans pay for healthcare and they were completely shocked.

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Health

A disabled woman's post on fake service animals perfectly explains why it's a big problem

via Found Animals Foundation / Flickr

Service dogs are true blessings that provide a wide array of services for their owners based on their disability.

They can provide preventative alerts for people with epilepsy and dysautonomia. They can do small household tasks like turning lights on and off or providing stability for their owners while standing or walking.

For those with PTSD they can provide emotional support to help them in triggering situations.

However, there are many people out there who fraudulently claim their pets are service or emotional support animals. These trained animals can cause disturbances in businesses or on public transportation.

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Communities