Briefs

October 8, 2004, By Alorie Gilbert. CNET News.

The group that awarded $10 million this week to the winner of an outer-space travel contest is gearing up to offer cash prizes for technology breakthroughs in medicine, computer science, transportation and a number of other arenas. ... The competitions will be aimed at people 'seeking to meet the greatest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century,' according to the WTN X Prize Web site. Those challenges could include finding a cure for cancer, AIDS or other major diseases; alleviating famine and environmental degradation; or making advances in artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, according to the Web site. The groups are soliciting suggestions for determining the rules and goals of the next contests from potential competitors and sponsors....

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