Category: Tech

Chipmakers Slow Expansions in Japan and Malaysia Amid Weak Demand and Tariff Uncertainty

2025-03-29
Chipmakers Slow Expansions in Japan and Malaysia Amid Weak Demand and Tariff Uncertainty

Leading chipmakers and packagers, including TSMC and Intel, are slowing their expansions in Japan and Malaysia due to sluggish demand for older chips and tariff uncertainties. Companies like ASE Technology and SPIL are also scaling back Malaysian expansion plans, adopting a 'wait-and-see' approach alongside numerous other chip suppliers.

2.87 Billion Twitter Users' Data Leaked: Largest Social Media Breach Ever?

2025-03-29
2.87 Billion Twitter Users' Data Leaked: Largest Social Media Breach Ever?

A massive data leak affecting a staggering 2.87 billion Twitter (now X) users has been reported on the Breach Forums. The leak allegedly stems from a disgruntled former employee who stole the data during recent layoffs. While this would be the largest social media data breach in history, X hasn't publicly acknowledged the incident. The leaked data includes user IDs, usernames, profile information, and follower counts, but notably, not email addresses. The source of the leak and the identity of the leaker remain unknown, raising significant concerns about user privacy and data security.

Tech

Can Earth's Rotation Power a Generator? Physicists Debate a Novel Claim

2025-03-29
Can Earth's Rotation Power a Generator?  Physicists Debate a Novel Claim

A controversial new study claims that electricity can be generated from Earth's rotation. Researchers have devised a device that uses Earth's magnetic field to produce a minuscule current, although only 17 microvolts. While the amount of electricity generated is tiny, the implications are significant. If scalable, this technology could provide clean energy to remote locations or for medical applications. However, the findings are disputed; some scientists express skepticism and call for further evidence to rule out other contributing factors. This research opens a new avenue for clean energy exploration, but also highlights the challenges and uncertainties inherent in scientific discovery.

Berkeley Lab Synthesizes Novel Berkelocene Molecule, Potentially Revolutionizing Nuclear Waste Management

2025-03-29
Berkeley Lab Synthesizes Novel Berkelocene Molecule, Potentially Revolutionizing Nuclear Waste Management

Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have synthesized a new molecule, berkelocene, using the ultra-rare element berkelium. This 'sandwich'-like molecule, with a berkelium atom nestled between two carbon rings, defies theoretical expectations and offers a potential breakthrough in nuclear waste management. Working with an extremely small amount of the highly air-sensitive and radioactive berkelium, researchers overcame significant challenges, identifying the new molecule through a distinctive color change and X-ray diffraction. Published in Science, this discovery lays crucial groundwork for advancing nuclear waste disposal technologies.

Quantum Drama: A Century of Debate Beyond Copenhagen

2025-03-29
Quantum Drama: A Century of Debate Beyond Copenhagen

Quantum Drama, a new book by Jim Baggott and John L Heilbron, offers a comprehensive look at the century-long history of quantum mechanics, going beyond the typical focus on the 1927 Solvay Conference. It delves into the ongoing debate surrounding interpretations of quantum mechanics, highlighting the experimental work of Aspect, Clauser, and Zeilinger on Bell's inequalities and the theoretical contributions of Zurek, Joos, and others on entanglement and decoherence. While accessible to a broad audience, some technical details might be more readily grasped by professional physicists. The book's timely release coincides with the centenary of quantum physics, providing a fresh perspective on this enduring scientific puzzle.

Chimpanzees Exhibit Engineering Skills in Tool Making

2025-03-29
Chimpanzees Exhibit Engineering Skills in Tool Making

A new study reveals that chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park exhibit engineering skills when crafting termite-fishing tools. Researchers found that chimpanzees selectively choose plants, favoring more flexible materials over stiffer alternatives. The preferred plants were 175% more flexible than those not used. This suggests chimpanzees possess a form of 'folk physics,' understanding material properties to optimize tool effectiveness. The findings offer crucial insights into the evolution of human tool use and provide a novel perspective on early human technology.

NASA Adds SpaceX's Starship to Launch Services Contract Despite Setbacks

2025-03-29
NASA Adds SpaceX's Starship to Launch Services Contract Despite Setbacks

Despite recent major setbacks in Starship's past two flights, NASA has added SpaceX's still-experimental rocket to its launch services contract. This opens the door for Starship to potentially carry future NASA science missions, pending a successful orbital flight. The contract, which already includes Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, features an on-ramp provision for new providers. While Starship's reliability remains a concern, this decision offers NASA a potential crewed lunar lander for Artemis III in 2024 and an option for its planned 2026 uncrewed Mars mission.

Tech

US Crackdown on Dissent Silences Foreign Scientists

2025-03-29
US Crackdown on Dissent Silences Foreign Scientists

The US government's increasing crackdown on dissent is creating a climate of fear for foreign scientists, who risk visa cancellation, detention, and deportation for expressing critical views. The article details numerous cases of foreign students and scholars detained or deported for criticizing government policies. Universities are complying with the administration's demands for greater control over protests and faculty, in exchange for federal funding, even canceling DEI programs. Furthermore, the government is canceling research grants on topics like LGBT+ health, poverty's impact, and climate change. This chilling effect is silencing many foreign scientists and severely hindering scientific progress.

Pentagon Purges DEI Content: Historical Photos Among Thousands Flagged for Removal

2025-03-29
Pentagon Purges DEI Content:  Historical Photos Among Thousands Flagged for Removal

The Department of Defense is undertaking a massive purge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from its websites and social media, targeting over 26,000 images. This includes photos of a World War II Medal of Honor recipient, the Enola Gay, and the first women to graduate from Marine infantry training. The action stems from President Trump's executive order ending DEI programs across the federal government. The purge has led to confusion, with images containing the word "gay" mistakenly flagged for removal, impacting both individuals with that surname and the aircraft itself. Historically significant photos, such as those of the Tuskegee Airmen, may be spared. The Pentagon claims it's working to comply rapidly, but the process is proving time-consuming and complex.

How 168 Spanish Soldiers Conquered a Million-Strong Inca Empire

2025-03-29
How 168 Spanish Soldiers Conquered a Million-Strong Inca Empire

This article recounts the incredible story of 168 Spanish soldiers conquering the Inca Empire, a civilization boasting millions of inhabitants. The author delves into Pizarro's conquest, examining his background, Spanish military technology (cavalry, iron weaponry, firearms), tactical superiority, and fortuitous circumstances like the Inca civil war and smallpox epidemic. A comparison with Cortes's conquest of the Aztecs is drawn, highlighting leadership, diplomacy, and brutality. Ultimately, the article argues that the Spanish success stemmed not only from technological and tactical advantages but also from the exceptional decision-making and strategic acumen of Pizarro and other conquistadors.

Spectral JPEG XL: Crushing Spectral Image File Sizes by 10-60x

2025-03-29
Spectral JPEG XL: Crushing Spectral Image File Sizes by 10-60x

Researchers have developed a new technique leveraging JPEG XL to compress spectral images by a remarkable 10 to 60 times, shrinking them to sizes comparable to regular high-quality photos. The method prioritizes discarding less important high-frequency spectral details while preserving metadata and high dynamic range. Although lossy, this approach holds immense potential for scientific visualization and high-end rendering, addressing the storage and transfer challenges posed by massive spectral image files.

Volvo Recalls 7,483 PHEVs Due to Fire Risk

2025-03-29
Volvo Recalls 7,483 PHEVs Due to Fire Risk

Volvo is recalling 7,483 plug-in hybrid vehicles in the US due to a potential fire hazard. Affected models include the S60, V60, S90, V90, XC60, and XC90. The issue stems from a battery module production deviation that could cause a short circuit and thermal runaway. Owners are urged to stop charging their vehicles until the recall is addressed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery module if necessary, and install new monitoring software. While two incidents have been reported, no injuries or accidents have occurred.

Microsoft Kills Windows 11 Offline Installation Bypass

2025-03-29
Microsoft Kills Windows 11 Offline Installation Bypass

Microsoft is tightening its grip on Windows 11's internet-connected account requirement. The latest Insider Preview removes the bypassnro command, previously used to circumvent the need for internet connection and Microsoft account login during setup. Microsoft cites security improvements as the reason. While registry edits currently offer a workaround, this too may be patched soon. This move aligns with Microsoft's push to upgrade users to Windows 11 and phase out Windows 10, highlighting a focus on security and a specific vision for user experience.

DOGE's Risky Plan to Migrate SSA's COBOL Code Sparks Concerns

2025-03-28
DOGE's Risky Plan to Migrate SSA's COBOL Code Sparks Concerns

The core systems of the US Social Security Administration (SSA) still rely on outdated COBOL code. A group called DOGE is planning to migrate millions of lines of this code to a modern language within months, but this plan has sparked serious concerns. The migration process could result in system failures affecting millions of beneficiaries' payments. Experts warn of the extreme risk of system crashes, given the SSA's complex and fragile system, likened to a house of cards or a Jenga tower. DOGE plans to utilize AI to assist in code conversion, but testing and resolving all potential edge cases would take years, not months.

Tech

Half of US Drinking Water Contaminated with 'Forever Chemicals'

2025-03-28
Half of US Drinking Water Contaminated with 'Forever Chemicals'

The EPA's latest data reveals that nearly half of Americans have drinking water contaminated with PFAS, also known as 'forever chemicals'. These compounds, found in numerous products, persist in the environment and are linked to serious health issues like cancer and immune deficiencies. While the EPA has implemented regulations, millions remain at risk, highlighting the urgent need for widespread testing and remediation efforts.

Digital Echoes: The Unseen Costs of Constant Connectivity

2025-03-28
Digital Echoes: The Unseen Costs of Constant Connectivity

This essay explores the hidden psychological toll of our hyper-connected digital lives, focusing on the concept of "digital echoes." The author argues that the constant data collection by smart devices creates a pervasive sense of being monitored, transforming us into performers rather than participants in our own lives. Using smartphones and smart cars as contrasting examples, the piece highlights the difference in data generation and privacy implications. It advocates for a more mindful approach to technology, emphasizing single-function devices and analog alternatives to mitigate the negative effects of constant surveillance. The author concludes that future technological advancements should prioritize user privacy and focused experiences over ubiquitous connectivity and multitasking.

Tech

Your TV Is Spying on You: The Rise of Streaming Ads and the Privacy Trade-off

2025-03-28
Your TV Is Spying on You: The Rise of Streaming Ads and the Privacy Trade-off

Streaming platforms are increasingly relying on ads for revenue, even monitoring user viewing habits for personalized ad targeting. The article uses Roku as a case study, detailing its transformation from a hardware company into an advertising powerhouse, acquiring ad-tech companies to gather user data for precise ad placement. This trend isn't unique to Roku; many TV manufacturers and tech giants employ similar tactics, utilizing Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) to monitor what users watch and leverage this data for analytics and targeted advertising. While personalized ads can enhance user experience, significant privacy concerns arise. The article concludes by suggesting that opting for older, non-smart TVs and avoiding connection to smart devices is the best way to evade ads and data collection.

Bodyoids: The Ethical and Technological Tightrope of Future Medicine

2025-03-28
Bodyoids: The Ethical and Technological Tightrope of Future Medicine

Scientists propose 'bodyoids,' human-like constructs grown from cells, for medical research and organ transplantation. While offering potential solutions to ethical dilemmas like animal testing, this technology raises profound ethical questions. Do bodyoids deserve human rights? How do we define their life status? How do we secure informed consent for cell donation? These issues demand careful consideration for responsible development and application.

Tech bioethics

NSO Group's Pegasus Spyware Fails to Stay Hidden: Journalists Expose Flaws

2025-03-28
NSO Group's Pegasus Spyware Fails to Stay Hidden: Journalists Expose Flaws

A new report details attempted hacks against Serbian journalists using NSO Group's Pegasus spyware. Amnesty International researchers traced phishing links directly to NSO Group's infrastructure, exposing serious flaws in the company's and its clients' attempts at stealth. Pegasus has been used to target at least 130 individuals globally, including journalists and activists, over the years. Apple has also helped expose attacks by notifying victims. NSO Group's sale of its software to countries that misuse it is contributing to its exposure. The incident highlights NSO Group's operational security failures and the threat its spyware poses to human rights.

Tech

Cretaceous Amber Yields a Wasp with a Venus Flytrap-Like Abdomen

2025-03-28
Cretaceous Amber Yields a Wasp with a Venus Flytrap-Like Abdomen

A new genus of wasp, †Sirenobethylus, has been discovered in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. This remarkable insect possesses a unique abdominal apparatus resembling a Venus flytrap, hypothesized to temporarily grasp and immobilize prey during oviposition. The discovery suggests a broader range of parasitoid strategies in mid-Cretaceous Chrysidoidea than exists today, highlighting the evolutionary diversity of this group.

UK Gov's AI Talent Crisis: Lack of Tech Skills & Broken Hiring Processes

2025-03-28
UK Gov's AI Talent Crisis: Lack of Tech Skills & Broken Hiring Processes

A former director of data science at the UK prime minister's office revealed a critical shortage of tech talent within government data departments. Laura Gilbert testified that many government officials in data roles lack the technical skills needed, making it difficult for them to find similar jobs in the private sector. While pockets of excellence exist within the Government Digital Service (GDS), the overall skill level is inconsistent, and hiring processes fail to effectively identify truly skilled candidates. Despite a government initiative, the "Blueprint for Modern Digital Government," promising significant investment in AI talent development and technology upgrades, Gilbert highlighted the need for long-term commitment to data integration, citing the poor track record of past projects. A parliamentary report further underscored the problem, revealing that outdated IT systems hinder AI adoption and funding allocation remains an issue. This highlights the immense challenges the UK government faces in its digital transformation journey.

Hollywood's Silent Deal: AI-Generated Fake Movie Trailers Flood YouTube

2025-03-28
Hollywood's Silent Deal: AI-Generated Fake Movie Trailers Flood YouTube

AI-generated fake movie trailers are flooding YouTube, so realistic they've even fooled French national television. Created for fun or profit, these trailers garner billions of views. Hollywood studios' response is baffling: instead of enforcing copyright, some are sharing ad revenue with creators. This has drawn criticism from SAG-AFTRA, who see it as disregard for actors' rights. The article explores the impact of AI on movie marketing and copyright, and Hollywood's ambiguous stance on this emerging challenge.

Tech

FTC Staff Ordered to Stop Calling Agency 'Independent'

2025-03-28
FTC Staff Ordered to Stop Calling Agency 'Independent'

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has instructed its staff to stop referring to the agency as 'independent' in complaints, marking another move by the Trump administration to assert greater control over the historically independent body. This follows President Trump's executive order allowing the White House to review independent agencies and the firing of two Democratic commissioners, leading to a lawsuit. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson publicly supports Trump's actions, claiming the President's authority will be upheld. This highlights the ongoing challenges to the independence of US government agencies and the influence of political interference.

Tech

2,200-Year-Old Pyramid Unearthed Near Dead Sea

2025-03-28
2,200-Year-Old Pyramid Unearthed Near Dead Sea

Archaeologists in Israel have unearthed a mysterious pyramid-shaped structure and way station dating back 2,200 years near the Dead Sea. The exceptionally well-preserved site contains a wealth of artifacts, including papyrus fragments with ancient Greek writing, bronze coins, vessels, and organic materials like wood and fabrics, all remarkably preserved by the desert's dry climate. The purpose of the pyramid remains unknown, with possibilities ranging from a monument to a guard tower. Excavations continue, promising further insights into this intriguing discovery from the Ptolemaic or Seleucid era.

Unexpected Exciton Mobility at Cryogenic Temperatures: Phasons in Moiré Superlattices

2025-03-28
Unexpected Exciton Mobility at Cryogenic Temperatures: Phasons in Moiré Superlattices

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have discovered that phasons, low-temperature quasiparticles in moiré superlattices, enable interlayer excitons to move even at extremely low temperatures where motion should cease. This challenges conventional understanding and opens new avenues for improving the stability of quantum technologies by leveraging excitons as qubits. The discovery, made possible by the Molecular Foundry's Imaging and Manipulation of Nanostructures facility, provides fundamental insights into materials science and offers a promising path forward for quantum information science.

US Research Funding Cuts Drive Scientists to Consider Exiting the Country

2025-03-28
US Research Funding Cuts Drive Scientists to Consider Exiting the Country

Massive cuts to US research funding and the halting of federally funded science under the Trump administration have prompted a crisis for many US scientists. A Nature poll revealed that over 1200 scientists are considering leaving the US, with Europe and Canada being top destinations. Early-career researchers are particularly affected, with many graduate students and PhD candidates seeking opportunities abroad. Funding cuts, mass firings, and restrictions on academic freedom have created uncertainty, forcing scientists to seek opportunities elsewhere, posing a significant blow to US scientific progress.

Saltwater-Soluble Plastic Breakthrough

2025-03-28
Saltwater-Soluble Plastic Breakthrough

Scientists at RIKEN in Japan have developed a new type of plastic that's as durable as conventional plastic but dissolves quickly in saltwater, leaving behind safe compounds. Made from supramolecular polymers with reversible bonds, this plastic offers a potential solution to plastic pollution. While strong enough for everyday use, a simple scratch on a hydrophobic coating allows saltwater to initiate rapid decomposition into nitrogen and phosphorus, beneficial nutrients for plants and microbes. Although excess nutrients can also be harmful, controlled decomposition in specialized facilities could recover these elements for reuse.

EU's Reliance on Russian Gas Undermines 2027 Target

2025-03-28
EU's Reliance on Russian Gas Undermines 2027 Target

A new report reveals that EU imports of Russian gas surged by 18 percent in 2022, undermining its goal of ending reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027. Despite stable gas demand, increased imports from Italy, Czechia, and France were facilitated by the use of 'shadow' vessels and 'whitewashing' of origins. The EU spent €21.9 billion on Russian fossil fuels last year, exceeding aid to Ukraine. Experts criticize the EU's lack of legally binding targets and a concrete plan, arguing continued reliance on Russian gas jeopardizes security, exposes the bloc to price volatility and blackmail, and undermines support for Ukraine.

EU Forces Apple to Ditch Proprietary Wi-Fi for Wi-Fi Aware

2025-03-28
EU Forces Apple to Ditch Proprietary Wi-Fi for Wi-Fi Aware

Under pressure from the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is abandoning its proprietary peer-to-peer Wi-Fi protocol, Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL), in favor of the industry-standard Wi-Fi Aware (NAN). An EU interoperability roadmap mandates Apple support Wi-Fi Aware 4.0 in iOS 19 and version 5.0 thereafter, effectively retiring AWDL. This article explores the history (from Wi-Fi Direct to AWDL to Wi-Fi Aware), Wi-Fi Aware's technical superiority, and why this shift unlocks true cross-platform peer-to-peer connectivity for developers. This means iPhones and Androids will finally speak a common language for local wireless networking, opening up possibilities for cross-platform apps and features.

Tech
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