Research model show a better way to contain wildfires

As wildfires scorch more land and communities get smoked out during another hot, dry summer, it’s tough to imagine using more fire to combat the problem. But that’s exactly what some scientists are proposing. 

• Researchers at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences say one key is prescribed burns, similar to those historically practiced by indigenous people in North America.

• In the past nine years, scientists have developed a model called REBURN to simulate and visualize the impacts of wildfire management strategies to see how forests and fires would respond on a landscape-wide scale.

• “We can still maintain forests and live with fire,” said the UW’s Susan Prichard. “There is a better way forward.” Read the story.

The Seattle region is poised to be one of the world’s top centers of excellence for artificial intelligence. Madrona Venture Group’s Matt McIlwain makes that case on the Shift AI Podcast with host Boaz Ashkenazy, which we’re featuring this week on the GeekWire Podcast. Read more and listen here. 

Yes, it’s possible to have a conversation on a boat going 40 mph. That’s what GeekWire Contributing Editor Alan Boyle learned on an Arc One electric boat on Lake Washington this week. California-based Arc is one of several startups targeting the luxury electric boat market, along with Seattle-based Pure Watercraft and others. Read more, and watch videos of the experience.

Now you’re cooking with … fusion? Not quite. But a new BBQ grill at Seattle-area startup Zap Energy sure looks like one of the high-tech, superheated devices that the company is using to chase the elusive fusion power dream. A recent cookout did feature a fusion menu, but a high temp of 650 degrees Fahrenheit was far from atom-smashing 60 million degrees. Read more.

Hot links:

• Pokémon Sleep, the health-oriented app that rewards gamers for getting enough rest, has reached 10 million downloads since its July release. It’s published by The Pokemon Co. of Bellevue, Wash. (Bloomberg)

• An IPO filing this week by Instacart, the grocery delivery service started more than a decade ago by former Amazon employee Apoorva Mehta, shows $428 million in 2022 profits, and $242 million in profits for the first half of this year. (Axios)

• Google is testing a text-to-speech feature for its Chrome browser, potentially matching a “Read aloud” capability that Microsoft has long offered in its Edge browser. (Android Police)