The Linkielist

Linking ideas with the world

Rodents With Part-Human Brains Pose a New Challenge for Bioethics

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Rapid progress in research involving miniature human brains grown in a dish has led to a host of ethical concerns, particularly when these human brain cells are transplanted into nonhuman animals. A new paper evaluates the potential risks of creating “humanized” animals, while providing a pathway for scientists to move forward in this important area. Read more about Rodents With Part-Human Brains Pose a New Challenge for Bioethics[…]

To find the best parking spot, do the math

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The next time you’re hunting for a parking spot, mathematics could help you identify the most efficient strategy, according to a recent paper in the Journal of Statistical Mechanics. It’s basically an optimization problem: weighing different variables and crunching the numbers to find the optimal combination of those factors. In the case of where to Read more about To find the best parking spot, do the math[…]

US, UK and Australia want Zuckerberg To Halt Plans For End-To-End Encryption Across Facebook’s Apps – because they want to be able to spy on you. As will other criminals. What happened to the “Free world”?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Attorney General Bill Barr, along with officials from the United Kingdom and Australia, is set to publish an open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking the company to delay plans for end-to-end encryption across its messaging services until it can guarantee the added privacy does not reduce public safety. A draft of the letter, Read more about US, UK and Australia want Zuckerberg To Halt Plans For End-To-End Encryption Across Facebook’s Apps – because they want to be able to spy on you. As will other criminals. What happened to the “Free world”?[…]

Bitcoin Isn’t the World’s Most-Used Cryptocurrency – it’s a centralised one run by some private company in Hong Kong

Posted on by Robin Edgar

With Tether’s monthly trading volume about 18% higher than that of Bitcoin, it’s arguably the most important coin in the crypto ecosystem. Tether’s also one of the main reasons why regulators regard cryptocurrencies with a wary eye, and have put the breaks on crypto exchange-traded funds amid concern of market manipulation. “If there is no Read more about Bitcoin Isn’t the World’s Most-Used Cryptocurrency – it’s a centralised one run by some private company in Hong Kong[…]

Egypt caught spying on journalists and human rights activists through malware and phishing

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Back in March 2019, Amnesty International published a report that uncovered a targeted attack against journalists and human rights activists in Egypt. The victims even received an e-mail from Google warning them that government-backed attackers attempted to steal their passwords. According to the report, the attackers did not rely on traditional phishing methods or credential-stealing Read more about Egypt caught spying on journalists and human rights activists through malware and phishing[…]

Paralysed man moves in mind-reading exoskeleton

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A man has been able to move all four of his paralysed limbs with a mind-controlled exoskeleton suit, French researchers report. Thibault, 30, said taking his first steps in the suit felt like being the “first man on the Moon”. His movements, particularly walking, are far from perfect and the robo-suit is being used only Read more about Paralysed man moves in mind-reading exoskeleton[…]

Iran tried to hack hundreds of politicians, journalists email accounts last month, warns Microsoft

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Iranian government has attempted to hack into hundreds of Office 365 email accounts belonging to politicians, government officials and journalists last month, Microsoft has warned. “We’ve recently seen significant cyber activity by a threat group we call Phosphorous, which we believe originates from Iran and is linked to the Iranian government,” Microsoft’s vice president Read more about Iran tried to hack hundreds of politicians, journalists email accounts last month, warns Microsoft[…]

Attackers exploit 0-day vulnerability that gives full control of Android phones

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Attackers are exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in Google’s Android mobile operating system that can give them full control of at least 18 different phone models, including four different Pixel models, a member of Google’s Project Zero research group said on Thursday night. There’s evidence the vulnerability is being actively exploited, either by exploit developer NSO Read more about Attackers exploit 0-day vulnerability that gives full control of Android phones[…]

TensorFlow 2.0 is now available!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

TensorFlow 2.0 is driven by the community telling us they want an easy-to-use platform that is both flexible and powerful, and which supports deployment to any platform. TensorFlow 2.0 provides a comprehensive ecosystem of tools for developers, enterprises, and researchers who want to push the state-of-the-art in machine learning and build scalable ML-powered applications. Coding Read more about TensorFlow 2.0 is now available![…]

TikTok Kicks Political Ads Off Its Platform Because Screw That Noise

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The popular short-form video app will no longer run ads from politicians or candidates at any level of government because “the nature of paid political ads is not something we believe fits the TikTok platform experience,” TikTok’s VP of global business solutions, Blake Chandlee, announced in a blog post Thursday. This ban also covers “election-related Read more about TikTok Kicks Political Ads Off Its Platform Because Screw That Noise[…]

Someone Created A Funny Guide On How To Recognize Famous Painters And It’s Surprisingly Accurate (19 Pics

Posted on by Robin Edgar

If you’re not a big fan of classical art, you’d probably have a hard time pointing out what artist painted a certain painting. Well, your days of guessing are finally over – someone created a handy, albeit pretty hilarious, guide on how to recognize famous painters by their paintings and it’s surprisingly accurate. The helpful Read more about Someone Created A Funny Guide On How To Recognize Famous Painters And It’s Surprisingly Accurate (19 Pics[…]

Posted in Art

Scientists Uncover New Organic Molecules Coming Off Saturn’s Moon Enceladus

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Scientists have discovered nitrogen- and oxygen- containing organic molecules in ice grains blown out by Saturn’s moon Enceladus, according to a new study. Gas giants Saturn and Jupiter are orbited by some moons that almost seem more like planets themselves. One such moon is Saturn’s Enceladus, an icy orb thought to contain a very deep Read more about Scientists Uncover New Organic Molecules Coming Off Saturn’s Moon Enceladus[…]

silk is proven to thrive in outer space temperatures

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Their initial discovery had seemed like a contradiction because most other polymer fibres embrittle in the cold. But after many years of working on the problem, the group of researchers have discovered that silk’s cryogenic toughness is based on its nano-scale fibrills. Sub-microscopic order and hierarchy allows a silk to withstand temperatures of down to Read more about silk is proven to thrive in outer space temperatures[…]

U.S. Plans to Test DNA of Immigrants in Detention Centers

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Trump administration is moving to start testing the DNA of people detained by U.S. immigration officers, according to reports of call on Wednesday between senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials and reporters. Justice Department officials are reportedly developing a new rule that would allow immigration officers to begin collecting the private genetic information Read more about U.S. Plans to Test DNA of Immigrants in Detention Centers[…]

Zimbabwe shuts down mobile money because cash is being sold at a premium of 50%: basically two competing currencies with the same label

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Mobile money is fast blossoming in Africa, boosted by rising mobile adoption across the continent, but in Zimbabwe—which is battling a severe financial crunch—the most common cash-in and cash-out functionalities have just been killed off as the government battles to contain the country’s economic crisis. Cash-out is process of converting mobile wallet balances into hard cash Read more about Zimbabwe shuts down mobile money because cash is being sold at a premium of 50%: basically two competing currencies with the same label[…]

​Docker has a business plan headache, another showcase for FOSS money making failure

Posted on by Robin Edgar

We love containers. And, for most of us, containers means Docker. As RightScale observed in its RightScale 2018 State of the Cloud report, Docker’s adoption by the industry has increased to 49 percent from 35 percent in 2017. All’s not well in Docker-land There’s only one problem with this: While Docker, the technology, is going Read more about ​Docker has a business plan headache, another showcase for FOSS money making failure[…]

ETSI launches specification group on Securing Artificial Intelligence

Posted on by Robin Edgar

ETSI is pleased to announce the creation of a new Industry Specification Group on Securing Artificial Intelligence (ISG SAI). The group will develop technical specifications to mitigate threats arising from the deployment of AI throughout multiple ICT-related industries. This includes threats to artificial intelligence systems from both conventional sources and other AIs. The ETSI Securing Read more about ETSI launches specification group on Securing Artificial Intelligence[…]

EU court of justice rules opt in is not on if the tickbox is pre ticked

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a court case vs Planet 49 the EU has ruled that you can’t start collecting data just by showing a warning that you are doing so or by having a preselected tickbox stating it’s OK to collect data. The user has to actually go and click the tickbox or OK before any data collection Read more about EU court of justice rules opt in is not on if the tickbox is pre ticked[…]

EC rules make household appliances more sustainable by forcing right to repair

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a continued effort to reduce Europe’s carbon footprint and to make energy bills cheaper for European consumers, the Commission today adopted new eco-design measures for products such as refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers and televisions.Improving the ecodesign of products contributes to implementing the ‘Energy efficiency first’ principle of the EU’s Energy Union priority. For the Read more about EC rules make household appliances more sustainable by forcing right to repair[…]

Thousands of ships fitted with ‘cheat devices’ to divert poisonous pollution into sea

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Global shipping companies have spent billions rigging vessels with “cheat devices” that circumvent new environmental legislation by dumping pollution into the sea instead of the air, The Independent can reveal. More than $12bn (£9.7bn) has been spent on the devices, known as open-loop scrubbers, which extract sulphur from the exhaust fumes of ships that run on heavy fuel Read more about Thousands of ships fitted with ‘cheat devices’ to divert poisonous pollution into sea[…]

MS really really wants to know who is using Windows, make it very hard for Win 10 users to create local accounts.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft has annoyed some of its 900 million Windows 10 device users after apparently removing the ‘Use offline account’ as part of its effort to herd users towards its cloud-based Microsoft Account. The offline local account is specific to one device, while the Microsoft Account can be used to log in to multiple devices and Read more about MS really really wants to know who is using Windows, make it very hard for Win 10 users to create local accounts.[…]

House Antitrust Investigators Now Scrutinizing Google’s Plans to Add DNS Encryption to Chrome

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Antitrust investigators with the House Judiciary Committee are looking into Google’s plans to add Domain Name System over Transport Layer Security (DNS over TLS) to its Chrome browser, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, in the latest escalation of scrutiny over the company’s business practices. The Department of Justice has also heard complaints, a Read more about House Antitrust Investigators Now Scrutinizing Google’s Plans to Add DNS Encryption to Chrome[…]

Flying Replacement Batteries Could Massively Boost a Drone’s Flight Time

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Borrowing a trick from the Air Force, whose planes can complete long-range missions thanks to in-flight refueling from tanker aircraft, researchers at UC Berkeley showed off a novel way to keep small drones in the air almost indefinitely: flying replacement batteries that can be swapped without landing. The use of four propellers not only helps Read more about Flying Replacement Batteries Could Massively Boost a Drone’s Flight Time[…]

Facebook, WhatsApp Will Have to Share Messages With U.K. Police, breaking encryption. Don’t they realises this gives criminals access too?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Social media platforms based in the U.S. including Facebook and WhatsApp will be forced to share users’ encrypted messages with British police under a new treaty between the two countries, according to a person familiar with the matter. The accord, which is set to be signed by next month, will compel social media firms to Read more about Facebook, WhatsApp Will Have to Share Messages With U.K. Police, breaking encryption. Don’t they realises this gives criminals access too?[…]

Massive wave of account hijacks hits YouTube car community creators, bypassing 2FA

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Over the past few days, a massive wave of account hijacks has hit YouTube users, and especially creators in the auto-tuning and car review community, a ZDNet investigation discovered following a tip from one of our readers. Several high-profile accounts from the YouTube creators car community have fallen victim to these attacks already. The list Read more about Massive wave of account hijacks hits YouTube car community creators, bypassing 2FA[…]