Author: Robin Edgar

How’s this for sci-fi: A cosmic river of 4,000 stars dazzles lifeforms as it flows through a galaxy. And that galaxy is the Milky Way

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If you’re living in Earth’s southern hemisphere, chances are you may be able to see some of the stars in a newly identified cosmic river that’s flowed through the Milky Way for hundreds of millions of years. Astronomers say the freshly discovered gigantic cluster of stars is passing relatively close to our Solar System. The Read more about How’s this for sci-fi: A cosmic river of 4,000 stars dazzles lifeforms as it flows through a galaxy. And that galaxy is the Milky Way[…]

New experimental drug rapidly repairs age-related memory loss and improves mood

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A team of Canadian scientists has developed a fascinating new experimental drug that is purported to result in rapid improvements to both mood and memory following extensive animal testing. It’s hoped the drug will move to human trials within the next two years. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a key neurotransmitter, and when altered it can Read more about New experimental drug rapidly repairs age-related memory loss and improves mood[…]

This Person Does Not Exist Is the Best One-Off Website of 2019

Posted on by Robin Edgar

At a glance, the images featured on the website This Person Does Not Exist might seem like random high school portraits or vaguely inadvisable LinkedIn headshots. But every single photo on the site has been created by using a special kind of artificial intelligence algorithm called generative adversarial networks (GANs). Every time the site is Read more about This Person Does Not Exist Is the Best One-Off Website of 2019[…]

Use an 8-char Windows NTLM password? Don’t. Every single one can be cracked in under 2.5hrs

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a Twitter post on Wednesday, those behind the software project said a hand-tuned build of the version 6.0.0 HashCat beta, utilizing eight Nvidia GTX 2080Ti GPUs in an offline attack, exceeded the NTLM cracking speed benchmark of 100GH/s (gigahashes per second). “Current password cracking benchmarks show that the minimum eight character password, no matter Read more about Use an 8-char Windows NTLM password? Don’t. Every single one can be cracked in under 2.5hrs[…]

The EU Just Finalized Copyright Legislation That breaks the Web, despite EU country opposition

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The last time the EU tweaked its copyright laws was in 2001, so the idea of updating regulations in the information age made a lot of sense. But critics became alarmed by two sections of the bill: Article 11 (aka the “link tax”) and Article 13 (aka the “upload filters”). In 2018, critics like Tim Read more about The EU Just Finalized Copyright Legislation That breaks the Web, despite EU country opposition[…]

Finland basic income trial left people ‘happier but jobless’

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Giving jobless people in Finland a basic income for two years did not lead them to find work, researchers said. From January 2017 until December 2018, 2,000 unemployed Finns got a monthly flat payment of €560 (£490; $634). The aim was to see if a guaranteed safety net would help people find jobs, and support Read more about Finland basic income trial left people ‘happier but jobless’[…]

Researchers Developed a Technique to Turn Nearly a Quarter of Our Plastic Waste into Fuel

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A team of chemists at Purdue may have found a partial solution to our plastic woes. As detailed in a paper published this week in Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, the chemists discovered a way to convert polypropylene—a type of plastic commonly used in toys, medical devices, and product packaging like potato chip bags—into gasoline and Read more about Researchers Developed a Technique to Turn Nearly a Quarter of Our Plastic Waste into Fuel[…]

QNAP NAS user? You’d better check your hosts file for mystery anti-antivirus entries

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Network attached storage maker QNAP’s customers have reported being hit by a mystery issue that disables software updates by hijacking entries in host machines’ hosts file. The full effects are, as yet, unknown – but users have reported that the most visible symptom is that some 700 entries are added to the /etc/hosts file that Read more about QNAP NAS user? You’d better check your hosts file for mystery anti-antivirus entries[…]

Android phones can be hacked remotely by viewing malicious PNG image

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Your Android could be pwned by simply viewing an innocent-looking image – be it from browsing the internet or an image received via text – according to the Android Security Bulletin issued this month. While this certainly doesn’t apply to all images, Google discovered that a maliciously crafted PNG image could be used to hijack Read more about Android phones can be hacked remotely by viewing malicious PNG image[…]

Tencent-backed AI firm aims to free up parents and teachers from checking children’s maths homework – and analyses most common mistakes countrywide

Posted on by Robin Edgar

a Beijing-based online education start-up has developed an artificial intelligence-powered maths app that can check children’s arithmetic problems through the simple snap of a photo. Based on the image and its internal database, the app automatically checks whether the answers are right or wrong. Known as Xiaoyuan Kousuan, the free app launched by the Tencent Read more about Tencent-backed AI firm aims to free up parents and teachers from checking children’s maths homework – and analyses most common mistakes countrywide[…]

Ubisoft And Mozilla Announce A.I. Coding Assistant Clever-Commit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Video game publisher Ubisoft is working with Mozilla to develop an artificial intelligence coding assistant called Clever-Commit, head of Ubisoft La Forge Yves Jacquier announced during DICE Summit 2019 on Tuesday. Clever-Commit reportedly helps programmers evaluate whether or not a code change will introduce a new bug by learning from past bugs and fixes. The Read more about Ubisoft And Mozilla Announce A.I. Coding Assistant Clever-Commit[…]

One click and you’re out: UK makes it an offence to view terrorist propaganda even once

Posted on by Robin Edgar

It will be an offence to view terrorist material online just once – and could incur a prison sentence of up to 15 years – under new UK laws. The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill was granted Royal Assent yesterday, updating a previous Act and bringing new powers to law enforcement to tackle terrorism. But Read more about One click and you’re out: UK makes it an offence to view terrorist propaganda even once[…]

Refillable’ technology could provide enough energy to drive an electric car up to 3,000 miles

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A new type of electric vehicle power using “refillable” technology has taken another giant leap in advancing alternative energy with testing that shows it could provide enough energy to run a car for about 3,000 miles. The technology employs a novel type of “flow” battery that is being successfully tested in golf carts and industrial Read more about Refillable’ technology could provide enough energy to drive an electric car up to 3,000 miles[…]

Decision making in space – different than on earth

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Dr. Elisa Ferre, senior lecturer in psychology, and Maria Gallagher, lead author and Ph.D. student, both from Royal Holloway, investigated how alterations in gravity changed decision making. Astronauts are primarily trained in physical fitness and given the right equipment, but are rarely proficient in how their brain functions will work millions of miles away from Read more about Decision making in space – different than on earth[…]

AI technology addresses parts accuracy, a major manufacturing challenge in 3-D printing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Imagine using machine learning to ensure that the pieces of an aircraft fit together more precisely, and can be assembled with less testing and time. That is one of the uses behind new technology being developed by researchers at Purdue University and the University of Southern California. “We’re really taking a giant leap and working Read more about AI technology addresses parts accuracy, a major manufacturing challenge in 3-D printing[…]

Scientists develop first fabric to automatically cool or insulate depending on conditions

Posted on by Robin Edgar

University of Maryland researchers have created a fabric that can automatically regulate the amount of heat that passes through it. When conditions are warm and moist, such as those near a sweating body, the fabric allows infrared radiation (heat) to pass through. When conditions become cooler and drier, the fabric reduces the heat that escapes. Read more about Scientists develop first fabric to automatically cool or insulate depending on conditions[…]

Nanomachines taught to fight cancer

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Scientists from ITMO in collaboration with international colleagues have proposed new DNA-based nanomachines that can be used for gene therapy for cancer. This new invention can greatly contribute to more effective and selective treatment of oncological diseases. The results were published in Angewandte Chemie. Gene therapy is considered one of the promising ways of treating Read more about Nanomachines taught to fight cancer[…]

Ster uses Adscan AI to allow you to test your TV advert (dutch)

Posted on by Robin Edgar

AdScan biedt elke adverteerder een snelle gratis pre-test om in kaart te brengen welke elementen beter of minder scoren en daarmee effect hebben op de ontvangst en het effect van die specifieke commercial. AdScan is een machine learning-tool die op basis van de inhoud van reclames een voorspelling kan doen over hoe een panel van Read more about Ster uses Adscan AI to allow you to test your TV advert (dutch)[…]

Many popular iPhone apps secretly record your screen without asking

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Many major companies, like Air Canada, Hollister and Expedia, are recording every tap and swipe you make on their iPhone apps. In most cases you won’t even realize it. And they don’t need to ask for permission. You can assume that most apps are collecting data on you. Some even monetize your data without your knowledge. Read more about Many popular iPhone apps secretly record your screen without asking[…]

Biohackers Encoded Malware in a Strand of DNA

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In new research they plan to present at the USENIX Security conference on Thursday, a group of researchers from the University of Washington has shown for the first time that it’s possible to encode malicious software into physical strands of DNA, so that when a gene sequencer analyzes it the resulting data becomes a program Read more about Biohackers Encoded Malware in a Strand of DNA[…]

Stock market shows greater reaction to forecasts by analysts with favorable surnames

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Financial analysts whose surnames are perceived as favourable elicit stronger market reactions to their earnings forecasts, new research from Cass Business School has found. The researchers found that following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, market reactions weakened for forecasts from analysts with Middle Eastern surnames. They also found that following the French and German governments’ opposition Read more about Stock market shows greater reaction to forecasts by analysts with favorable surnames[…]

Visualizing the Crime Rate Perception Gap

Posted on by Robin Edgar

  The Crime Rate Perception Gap There’s a persistent belief across America that crime is on the rise. Since the late 1980s, Gallup has been polling people on their perception of crime in the United States, and consistently, the majority of respondents indicate that they see crime as becoming more prevalent. As well, a recent Read more about Visualizing the Crime Rate Perception Gap[…]

The “Do Not Track” Setting Doesn’t Stop You from Being Tracked – by Google, Facebook and Twitter, among many more

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Most browsers have a “Do Not Track” (DNT) setting that sends “a special signal to websites, analytics companies, ad networks, plug in providers, and other web services you encounter while browsing, to stop tracking your activity.” Sounds good, right? Sadly, it’s not effective. That’s because this Do Not Track setting is only a voluntary signal Read more about The “Do Not Track” Setting Doesn’t Stop You from Being Tracked – by Google, Facebook and Twitter, among many more[…]

Zooniverse – crowd sourced classification of real scientific questions

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research. This research is made possible by volunteers — hundreds of thousands of people around the world who come together to assist professional researchers. Our goal is to enable research that would not be possible, or practical, otherwise. Zooniverse research results in new Read more about Zooniverse – crowd sourced classification of real scientific questions[…]