How an Oklahoma earthquake showed danger remains after years of quakes becoming less frequent
After a dramatic spike in earthquakes in the early 2010s, state regulators in Oklahoma began taking steps to limit the injection of wastewater from oil and gas extraction deep into the ground. As a result, the number of earthquakes, particularly larg.....»»
Microsoft ties executive pay to security following multiple failures and breaches
Microsoft has been criticized for "preventable" failures and poor communication. Enlarge / A PC running Windows 11. (credit: Microsoft) It's been a bad couple of years for Microsoft's security and privacy efforts. Miscon.....»»
Mayans burned and buried dead political regimes
After burning, the remains were dumped in construction fill. Enlarge / Mayans built impressive structures and occasionally put interesting items in the construction fill. (credit: Dr. Jürgen Tenckhoff) As civilizations.....»»
First mother-daughter burial from Roman times in Austria discovered
When a grave was discovered in Wels 20 years ago, the find was thought to be an early medieval double burial of a married couple and a horse due to its unusual features. Only now could the biological gender and family relationships of those buried be.....»»
Nanostructured copper surface shows potential for transparent, antimicrobial surfaces in touch displays
The interest in antimicrobial solutions for personal and multi-user touch screens, such as tablets and mobile devices, has grown in recent years. Traditional methods like sprayable alcohols or wipes are not ideal for these delicate displays. Antimicr.....»»
If you’re not using PlayStation Stars, you’re missing out
The PlayStation Stars program still isn't perfect two years later, but is a hidden gem that all players should take advantage of......»»
Blue Screen of Death: What it means and what to do if you get one
The Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD, is a common Windows error faced by many people over the years. Here's what to do if this appears on your screen......»»
What’s happening at Tesla? Here’s what experts think.
Can things be turned around at Tesla, or is this the beginning of the end? Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images | Beata Zawrzel) No car company in recent years has been able to generate more news headlines than.....»»
Wildfires in wet African forests have doubled in recent decades, large-scale analysis finds
A new study presents the first large-scale analysis of fire patterns in West and Central Africa's wet, tropical forests. The number of active fires there typically doubled over 18 years, particularly in the Congo Basin. The increases are primarily du.....»»
Human activity is causing toxic thallium to enter the Baltic Sea, finds new study
Human activities account for a substantial amount—anywhere from 20% to more than 60%—of toxic thallium that has entered the Baltic Sea over the past 80 years, according to new research by scientists affiliated with the Woods Hole Oceanographic In.....»»
Wear OS’s big comeback continues; might hit half of Apple Watch sales
Counterpoint Research projects 27 percent market share this year to Apple's 49. Enlarge / The Samsung Watch 6 classic. (credit: Samsung) Wear OS was nearly dead a few years ago but is now on a remarkable comeback traject.....»»
For the ancient Maya, cracked mirrors were a path to the world beyond
Some people fear that breaking a mirror can lead to seven years of misfortune. The history of this superstition may go back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who ascribed mysterious powers to reflected images......»»
International team cracks genomic code for earliest forms of terrestrial plant life
Plant life first emerged on land about 550 million years ago, and an international research team co-led by University of Nebraska–Lincoln computational biologist Yanbin Yin has cracked the genomic code of its humble beginnings, which made possible.....»»
Scientists" new approach in fight against counterfeit alcohol spirits
In the shadowy world of counterfeit alcoholic spirit production, where profits soar and brands are exploited, the true extent of this illegal market remains shrouded......»»
Systematic testing of natural oils on in vitro skin models
For some years now, the trend in the cosmetics and skincare sector has been toward transparency and natural, sustainable ingredients. A growing number of consumers are rejecting cosmetics that contain petroleum-derived mineral oils and silicone oils......»»
Passkey support comes to Word, Excel, and more for all consumer Microsoft accounts
We’re getting closer every day to a password-free future. Less than two years after Apple launched passkeys with iOS 16 and macOS 13, more and more companies continue adding support. Following in the footsteps of Amazon and Nintendo, among others,.....»»
A look at the past suggests atmospheric rivers inundating California could get worse
A team of paleoclimatologists with the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA Ames Research Park, has found that atmospheric rivers in the past have dumped far more rain on California than those that have occurred over the past two years......»»
Weak magnetic field may have supported diversification of life on Earth
An unusual reduction in the strength of Earth's magnetic field between 591 and 565 million years ago coincided with a significant increase in the oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans, according to a paper published in Communications Earth & Env.....»»
Great white sharks off South Africa"s coast are protected by law, but not in practice—this needs to change
In less than eight years, white sharks in South Africa have all but disappeared from their historical hotspots in False Bay and Gansbaai, on the Western Cape coast. These areas were once known as the "white shark capital of the world" and were home t.....»»
Two years later, over-the-counter hearing aids are still finding their groove
Americans have been able to buy over-the-counter hearing aids for almost two years. Have they made a difference? We ask the experts......»»
Historical data suggest hard knocks to human societies build long-term resilience
Frequent disturbances to human societies boost the ability of populations to resist and recover from subsequent downturns, a Nature paper indicates. The study, which analyzes 30,000 years of human history, has implications for future population growt.....»»