3-D images of fabric "sandwich" can help measure textile friction
To quantify exactly how itchy a wool sweater might be when worn directly against the skin, or how soft a blanket spread on your bed can be, North Carolina State University researchers developed a method of measuring fabric's roughness using 3-D imagi.....»»
Scent sells—but the right picture titillates both eyes and nose, research finds
Scented products with relevant images on their packaging and branding, such as flowers or fruit, are more attractive to potential customers and score better in produce evaluations, new research confirms......»»
AT&T announces $7 monthly add-on fee for “Turbo” 5G speeds
AT&T Turbo puts you in a faster lane but requires unlimited data and extra fee. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg) AT&T is now charging mobile customers an extra $7 per month for faster wireless data speeds. AT&T.....»»
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......»»
Twisting and binding matter waves with photons in a cavity
Precisely measuring the energy states of individual atoms has been a historical challenge for physicists due to atomic recoil. When an atom interacts with a photon, the atom "recoils" in the opposite direction, making it difficult to measure the posi.....»»
Two small NASA satellites will measure soil moisture, volcanic gases
Two NASA pathfinding missions were recently deployed into low-Earth orbit, where they are demonstrating novel technologies for observing atmospheric gases, measuring freshwater, and even detecting signs of potential volcanic eruptions......»»
Email Microsoft didn’t want seen reveals rushed decision to invest in OpenAI
Microsoft CTO made a "mistake" dismissing Google's AI as a "game-playing stunt." Enlarge (credit: HJBC | iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus) In mid-June 2019, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and CEO Satya Nadella recei.....»»
Dave & Buster’s is adding real money betting options to arcade staples
"Gamification layer" platform promises to streamline your friendly Skee-Ball wagers. Enlarge / It's a good thing this kid is too young to bet on Skee-Ball, because his dad is getting beat. (credit: Getty Images) Anyone w.....»»
Congress lets broadband funding run out, ending $30 low-income discounts
ACP gave out last $30 discounts in April; only partial discounts available in May. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | Yuichiro Chino) The Federal Communications Commission chair today made a final plea to Congress, asking f.....»»
Satellite images of plants" fluorescence can predict crop yields
Cornell researchers and collaborators have developed a new framework that allows scientists to predict crop yield without the need for enormous amounts of high-quality data—which is often scarce in developing countries, especially those facing heig.....»»
AM radio law opposed by tech and auto industries is close to passing
A recent test of the emergency alert system found only 1 percent got it via AM. Enlarge / Congress provides government support for other industries, so why not AM radio? (credit: Getty Images) A controversial bill that.....»»
Supreme Court decides not to block Texas law that age-gates porn websites
Court denies application for a stay but could still hear challenge to the law. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | PA Thompson) The US Supreme Court yesterday denied a request to block a Texas law that requires age-verificat.....»»
ChatGPT shows better moral judgment than a college undergrad
Take the "Moral Turing Test" yourself to see whether you'd trust "artificial" moral advice. Enlarge / Judging moral weights (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) When it comes to judging which large language models are.....»»
Improved AI process could better predict water supplies
A new computer model uses a better artificial intelligence process to measure snow and water availability more accurately across vast distances in the West, information that could someday be used to better predict water availability for farmers and o.....»»
CenturyLink left users with no service for two months, then billed them $239
Yet again, CenturyLink failed to fix a long outage until Ars emailed the company. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Telecom provider CenturyLink left a couple in Oregon without landline phone service for two.....»»
Daily Telescope: The Horsehead Nebula as we’ve never seen it before
Webb delivers with a new look on an iconic classic. Enlarge / The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the sharpest infrared images to date of one of the most distinctive objects in our skies, the Horsehead Nebula. (credit:.....»»
Europe’s ambitious satellite Internet project appears to be running into trouble
The devil, as always, is in the details. Enlarge / EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton wants Europe to have its own secure satellite communications network. (credit: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images) It has be.....»»
Mysterious “gpt2-chatbot” AI model appears suddenly, confuses experts
Mystery LLM highlights transparency issues in AI testing. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) On Sunday, word began to spread on social media about a new mystery chatbot named "gpt2-chatbot" that appeared in the LMSYS Chatbot.....»»
AWS S3 storage bucket with unlucky name nearly cost developer $1,300
Amazon says it's working on stopping others from "making your AWS bill explode." Enlarge / Be careful with the buckets you put out there for anybody to fill. (credit: Getty Images) If you're using Amazon Web Services and.....»»
Health care giant comes clean about recent hack and paid ransom
Ransomware attack on the $371 billion company hamstrung US prescription market. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) Change Healthcare, the health care services provider that recently experienced a ransomware attack that hamst.....»»
Binance’s billionaire founder gets 4 months for violating money laundering law
US prosecutors sought 3-year sentence for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. Enlarge / Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao arrives at federal court in Seattle for sentencing on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (credit: Getty Images | Changpen.....»»