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Showing posts from May, 2021

How the ‘Wandering Meatloaf’ Got Its Rock-Hard Teeth

The dentition of the gumboot chiton, a lumbering mollusk, contains a super-hard mineral never before seen in a living animal. https://nyti.ms/3p9aIFr

Two New Laws Restrict Police Use of DNA Search Method

Maryland and Montana have passed the nation’s first laws limiting forensic genealogy, the method that found the Golden State Killer. https://nyti.ms/3c3ra56

Air Force Tries Virtual Reality to Stem Suicide and Sexual Assault

Officials are hoping that an immersive virtual reality experience aimed at getting airmen to intervene will succeed where years of traditional training have failed. https://nyti.ms/3vGi71C

Cell Service in the Hamptons is...Not Good

An influx of residents during the pandemic has strained cellphone and internet signals, making a booster the new must-have accessory. https://nyti.ms/3yOLTmR

Uber and Lyft Surges: What to Know

The companies say they are charging extra because they don’t have enough drivers to match rebounding customer demand. https://nyti.ms/2SJvD5R

Cell Service in the Hamptons is Not Good

An influx of residents during the pandemic has strained cellphone and internet signals, making a booster the new must-have accessory. https://nyti.ms/2TiS3v6

How 'The Drivers Cooperative' is Trying to Compete with Uber and Lyft in NY

About 2,500 drivers in New York are organizing to create what they say is a better deal for drivers than what the ride-hailing giants offer. https://nyti.ms/3wGKHjz

Will the Next Space-Weather Season Be Stormy or Fair?

As another 11-year cycle of solar activity begins, scientists debate how violent our stellar friend is likely to be. https://nyti.ms/3yNoMsI

Senate Poised to Pass $195 Billion Bill to Bolster Competitiveness With China

The legislation, which has bipartisan support, would be the first major industrial policy effort in decades. https://nyti.ms/34qHokg

Twitter Calls on Indian Government to Respect Free Speech

After the government targeted posts criticizing its response to the coronavirus spread, Twitter said it would push back on what it called “intimidation tactics.” https://nyti.ms/3hYhJaB

The Future Is Velvet Ropes

If digital-world nightclubs get harder to access, we risk missing out on new ideas. https://nyti.ms/3wEl4A0

Space Station May Host Wave of TV Shows and Films

A Discovery reality TV competition, a Russian medical thriller and more productions could be heading to the orbital outpost in the next year. https://nyti.ms/2TjUa1U

5 Tips to Take Command of Your iPhone

Recent updates to Apple’s mobile operating system offer new ways to open apps, chat with friends and interact with your device. https://nyti.ms/3uo7PBK

A New Crop in Pennsylvania: Warehouses

Huge facilities have sprouted up in and around the Lehigh Valley, fueled by the astonishing growth of e-commerce. Some residents say the area’s landscape and long-term economic health could be threatened. https://nyti.ms/3fPWXaH

Rent the Runway Is Bouncing Back

The pandemic hit the world of clothing rental hard. Now, companies like Rent the Runway say the market is booming like never before. https://nyti.ms/2QP51jk

Archaeologists vs. Computer: New Study Fuels Sorting Competition

When it came to the tedious task of categorizing pottery fragments, a deep-learning model was found to be just as accurate, and far more efficient, as four human experts. https://nyti.ms/3oNRPb7

The Costly Pursuit of Self-Driving Cars Continues On. And On. And On.

Many in Silicon Valley promised that self-driving cars would be a common sight by 2021. Now the industry is resetting expectations and settling in for years of more work. https://nyti.ms/34eeP9A

TikTok, the Fastest Way on Earth to Become a Food Star

The app offers explosive growth for content creators. Gen Z cooks are taking advantage. https://nyti.ms/3ww2Gcg

Blind Man's Sight Partially Restored with 'Optogenetics' Gene Therapy

Using a technique called optogenetics, researchers added light-sensitive proteins to the man’s retina, giving him a blurry view of objects. https://nyti.ms/3oJtljc

The Costly Pursuit of Self-Driving Cars Continues On. And On. And On.

Many in Silicon Valley promised that self-driving cars would be a common sight by 2021. Now the industry is resetting expectations and settling in for years of more work. https://nyti.ms/2T5BAdC

Amazon’s Great Purge

Evictions of some popular products tell us a lot about untrustworthy internet reviews. https://nyti.ms/3yq0pRX

Shoshana Zuboff Explains Why You Should Care About Privacy

In a wide-ranging interview, the author of “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism” talks about why people should pay attention to how big tech companies are using their information. https://nyti.ms/3bHNgtq

Irish Hospitals Hit by Cyberattacks, Forcing an I.T. Shutdown

Hospitals in Ireland, New Zealand and Scripps Health in San Diego are reeling from digital extortion attacks. https://nyti.ms/3ugntiN

Twitter Has a New Verification Process

The company is changing the verification process after confusion and contention, making it easier for select users to request to be verified. https://nyti.ms/3f1H81s

Once Tech’s Favorite Economist, Now a Thorn in Its Side

Paul Romer’s call for government activism, particularly toward the big tech companies, reflects “a profound change in my thinking.” https://nyti.ms/3oxGHPq

Should Alexa Read Our Moods?

The time to debate the power of voice technology is now. (Before Alexa starts suggesting comfort foods.) https://nyti.ms/3406fLS

Should Alexa Read Our Moods?

The time to debate the power of voice technology is now. (Before Alexa starts suggesting comfort foods.) https://nyti.ms/3u2dxt5

Mob Violence Against Palestinians in Israel Is Fueled by Groups on WhatsApp

Jewish extremists have formed more than 100 new groups on the Facebook-owned encrypted messaging app in recent days to target attacks. https://nyti.ms/3v1SKHj

After Media Detour, AT&T Confronts Old Problems

Following its spinoff of WarnerMedia, AT&T is back to primarily being a wireless company, with all of the challenges that entails. https://nyti.ms/33X9TWA

OnlyFans Isn’t Just Porn ;)

Despite all assertions that the site isn’t powered by its sexual content, the platform is synonymous with porn. What is it really? https://nyti.ms/3ov0Be6

Behind Every Hero or Villain, There Is Tech Support

Cutting-edge technology is often used in comics by the able assistants who fall under the trope “the guy in the chair.” But they are not always men and are not always helping the hero. https://nyti.ms/3yklVHC

Trump Justice Dept. Tried to Use Grand Jury to Identify Nunes Critic on Twitter

An unsealed court filing shows that the social media company fought the subpoena, which the Biden administration is said to have withdrawn. https://nyti.ms/3tRIjEF

Bill Gates Had Reputation for Questionable Behavior Before Divorce

Melinda French Gates voiced concerns about her husband’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and a harassment claim against his money manager. He also had an affair with an employee. https://nyti.ms/3tVuJA6

How a Colorado Campus Became a Pandemic Laboratory

Colorado Mesa University and the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard have spent the last year exploring new approaches to managing outbreaks. https://nyti.ms/3bzMzCq

Rural Areas Are Looking for Workers. They Need Broadband to Get Them.

Rural communities have long complained about their lack of internet access. The pandemic and President Biden’s infrastructure plan are giving them hope for a solution. https://nyti.ms/2RhRnWq

Dogecoin Went Wild in 2021. Here's What It Taught Us.

Created as a cryptocurrency parody in 2013, Dogecoin languished for years. Then, in 2021, it went absolutely wild. What have its holders learned? https://nyti.ms/2QjryVc

The Assorted Teachings of Dogecoin

Created as a cryptocurrency parody in 2013, Dogecoin languished for years. Then, in 2021, it went absolutely wild. What have its holders learned? https://nyti.ms/2QqbuRO

How Lies on Social Media Are Inflaming the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Misinformation has flourished on Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and other social media about the violence between Israelis and Palestinians. https://nyti.ms/3ogwQO1

Lies on Social Media Inflame Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Misinformation has flourished on Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and other social media about the violence between Israelis and Palestinians. https://nyti.ms/3bqVEOa

Colonial Pipeline Paid Roughly $5 Million in Ransom to Hackers

The payment clears the way for gas to begin flowing again, but it risks emboldening other criminal groups to take American companies hostage by seizing control of their computers. https://nyti.ms/3y3g8pE

Biden Signs Executive Order to Bolster Federal Government’s Cybersecurity

President Biden’s order places strict new standards on software sold to the government. https://nyti.ms/2RSISRz

Pipeline Hack Points to Growing Cybersecurity Risk for Energy System

Energy infrastructure has increasingly come under assault, and analysts said the attack that cut off fuel supplies this week should be a “wake-up call.” https://nyti.ms/2RLVUjE

Tesla stops accepting Bitcoin as payment for its cars.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, blamed the amount of energy, increasingly generated from fossil fuels, used by Bitcoin. https://nyti.ms/3holLJk

Colonial Pipeline Resumes Operation: Latest News on the Shutdown

As drivers scrambled for fuel, the pipeline operator said supplies would resume flowing from Texas to the East Coast in the coming days. https://nyti.ms/33EWK4k

Inside Jeff Bezos’s Obsessions

Amazon has had a boss with big ideas and incredible persistence. That hasn’t always been helpful. https://nyti.ms/3yh6QXo

Dozens of state prosecutors tell Facebook to stop its plans for a children’s version of Instagram.

“Without a doubt, this is a dangerous idea that risks the safety of our children and puts them directly in harm’s way,” Letitia James, New York’s attorney general said in a statement. https://nyti.ms/3hggvr9

What to Do If Your Car is Recalled

Recalls are common, but receiving a notice can still be unnerving. Here’s what to expect. https://nyti.ms/2SAuTzX

As Scrutiny of Cryptocurrency Grows, the Industry Turns to K Street

Companies behind digital currencies are rushing to hire well-connected lobbyists, lawyers and consultants as the battle over how to regulate them intensifies. https://nyti.ms/3uDqzOB

Pipeline Shutdown Has Had Little Impact on Supplies So Far

But some energy analysts warned of possible shortages and higher prices if the suspension continues into the week. https://nyti.ms/3uAgFgD

Online Cheating Charges Upend Dartmouth Medical School

The university accused 17 students of cheating on remote exams, raising questions about data mining and sowing mistrust on campus. https://nyti.ms/3txRzxI