Biotechnology is creating ethical worries—and we’ve been here before
A new book explores 3 capabilities that are here now, whether we're ready or not. Enlarge (credit: TEK IMAGE / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY) Matthew Cobb is a zoologist and author whose background is in insect genetics and the.....»»
Differential privacy in AI: A solution creating more problems for developers?
In the push for secure AI models, many organizations have turned to differential privacy. But is the very tool meant to protect user data holding back innovation? Developers face a tough choice: balance data privacy or prioritize precise results. Dif.....»»
Vast France building project sunk by sea level rise fears
An ambitious housing project in the northwestern French city of Caen has run aground over worries that rising waters driven by climate change could make the area unlivable within the century......»»
Young professionals are struggling to socially adapt in the workplace; how educators can help
Despite ongoing worries about how artificial intelligence will affect jobs, research shows that employers increasingly value something that only human workers can provide—soft skills. These include knowing how to communicate with co-workers, put ot.....»»
Ethanol: A viable alternative to sugar-based carbon sources for biomanufacturing
In a recent review published in Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, a research team led by Associated Professor Wang Peng from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Dr. Rodrigo Lede.....»»
Joanna Stern made an AI bot that can answer all your iPhone 16 questions
Joanna Stern at The Wall Street Journal is an expert at coming up with clever and inventive new angles for her Apple product reviews. For this year’s iPhone 16 launch, Joanna tried something entirely new by creating “Joannabot,” which she descr.....»»
First liquid-liquid extraction trial finds porous liquids can separate harmful or unwanted alcohols from mixtures
A world-first study has successfully used porous liquids to achieve liquid-liquid separation for the first time, creating exciting potential for advancing both environmental sustainability and public health......»»
Apple A16 chips now being made in the US, creating a mystery
Apple A16 chips are now being made in TSMC’s US chipmaking plant in Arizona, according to a new report. It’s said that while yield rates are lower than those achieved in Taiwan, they are very close to hitting the same standards. The big myster.....»»
Ghost: Criminal communication platform compromised, dismantled by international law enforcement
Another encrypted communication platform used by criminals has been dismantled and its alleged mastermind arrested, the Australian Federal Police has announced on Tuesday. “AFP Operation Kraken charged a NSW man, aged 32, for creating and admin.....»»
Denver"s experiment in providing a soft landing for newly arrived migrants is expensive but necessary, says researcher
The burden of supporting asylum-seekers with food and housing often falls to cities, creating severe budget crunches. But Denver is piloting a new approach designed to integrate immigrants into the workforce faster......»»
Ethics of biobanking for conservation: Researchers adjust ethical assessment tool for the use of genome research banks
In the face of the global biodiversity crisis, more and more biobanks are being set up to safeguard and potentially restore genetic diversity. Preserved tissue or cells allow scientists and conservationists to overcome spatial and even temporal fragm.....»»
Q&A: Experts discuss ongoing atmospheric effects of San Bernardino fires on Southern California communities
Several Southern California communities, including Riverside, are being hit with smoke from the huge Line Fire in the San Bernardino Mountains, creating what the Environmental Protection Agency classifies as "very unhealthy" air quality......»»
An Amazon river dries up, creating hellish crossing for villagers
Only the youngest and strongest villagers now brave the crossing of a vast, blistering stretch of sand where, in normal times, the waters of the mighty Madeira River flow in the Brazilian Amazon......»»
You can buy a diamond-making machine for $200,000 on Alibaba
Making diamonds is cheaper than ever, creating a weird problem: too many diamonds. Enlarge (credit: eugenekeebler via Getty Images) In an age when you can get just about anything online, it's probably no surprise that yo.....»»
Biomolecules inside living cells can now be seen with infrared light thanks to new method
To accelerate biotechnology innovations, such as the development of lifesaving drug therapies, scientists strive to develop faster, more quantitative and more widely available ways to observe biomolecules in living cells......»»
Pay-by-weight airfares are an ethical minefield; we asked travelers what they actually think
Imagine checking in for a flight with your two teenage children. At the counter, you are told that your youngest teenager's suitcase is two kilograms over the limit. You get slapped with a $75 penalty for their excess luggage......»»
Cops lure pedophiles with AI pics of teen girl. Ethical triumph or new disaster?
New Mexico sued Snapchat after using AI to reveal child safety risks. Enlarge (credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images) Cops are now using AI to generate images of fake kids, which are helping them catch child predators onl.....»»
New AI standards group wants to make data scraping opt-in
The Dataset Providers Alliance wants to make AI data licensing ethical. Enlarge / They know... (credit: Aurich / Getty) The first wave of major generative AI tools largely were trained on “publicly available” data—.....»»
What is societal collapse? Lessons from the past can help us understand our future, but only to a point
As the climate crisis accelerates, it's hard not to wonder if today's societies can adapt. Growing worries over climate change have sparked interest in the collapse of ancient civilizations and the rise of the (often apocalypse-themed) "cli-fi" genre.....»»
9to5Mac Overtime 029: The story of LumaFusion w/ co-founder Terri Morgan
Luma Touch co-founder Terri Morgan joins us to discuss creating LumaFusion, early struggles to gain traction, thoughts on AI and creativity, opinions on in-app subscriptions, and what’s new in LumaFusion 5.0. 9to5Mac Overtime is a weekly video-.....»»
How "collecting fog" could help solve global drinking water problems
UNSW experts say creating water from the air around us could be a significant tool in meeting the needs of millions of people around the world......»»