UFO Whistleblowers Would Get Immunity Under New Amendment
Howard Altman writes via The Drive: In an effort to protect those with information about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and increase the influx of reports about them, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc) has introduced (PDF) an amendment to the Fiscal Y.....»»
Judge tosses social platforms’ Section 230 blanket defense in child safety case
Judge: Section 230 doesn’t cover platform design defects allegedly harming kids. Enlarge (credit: ljubaphoto | E+) This week, some of the biggest tech companies found out that Section 230 immunity doesn't shield them f.....»»
Teenage social media addiction lawsuits can proceed, rules judge
The First Amendment doesn’t protect developers from lawsuits alleging that apps like Instagram and TikTok led to social media addiction among teenagers, a US district judge has ruled … more….....»»
Top consultancy undermining climate change fight: whistleblowers
The world's top management consultancy McKinsey & Company is using its position as a key advisor to the UN's COP28 climate talks to push the interests of its big oil and gas clients, undermining efforts to end the use of the fossil fuels driving glob.....»»
Dealerships must report certain data security breaches, FTC says
The FTC voted 3-0 to approve an amendment to the Safeguards Rule that requires nonbanking financial institutions such as car dealerships and payday lenders to notify the agency no later than 30 days after the discovery of a security breach involving.....»»
UK study finds some species of seabirds are showing signs of developing immunity to avian influenza
As part of a major research consortium announced last June, the UK's top scientists have discovered that some seabirds are demonstrating immunity to avian influenza......»»
Chloroplasts do more than photosynthesis: They"re also a key player in plant immunity
Scientists have long known that chloroplasts help plants turn the sun's energy into food, but a new study, led by plant biologists at the University of California, Davis, shows that they are also essential for plant immunity to viral and bacterial pa.....»»
When not to reward whistleblowers
The use of whistleblowing to challenge teacher absence in the developing world is worth considering, but its effectiveness can be dampened by offering monetary rewards for reporting absent colleagues, according to a field experiment conducted by Stef.....»»
Biologists find salicylic acid and RNA interference mediate antiviral immunity of plant stem cells
Viruses are a threat to all organisms, including plants. A small group of plant stem cells, however, successfully defends itself from infection......»»
SCOTUS to decide if Florida and Texas social media laws violate 1st Amendment
SCOTUS will likely rule on the high-stakes social media cases in 2024. Enlarge (credit: Pitiphothivichit | iStock / Getty Images Plus) On Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to decide if two laws crafted by Republicans in F.....»»
How bats evolved to avoid cancer
A new paper titled "Long-read sequencing reveals rapid evolution of immunity and cancer-related genes in bats" in Genome Biology and Evolution shows that rapid evolution in bats may account for the animals' extraordinary ability to both host and surv.....»»
New research unveils Pseudomonas cyclic lipopeptide medpeptin"s role in modulating plant immunity
A research study conducted by Hai-Lei Wei's research team at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China has revealed significant insights into the biosynthesis and modulation of plant immunity by a novel cyclic lipopeptide called medpeptin.....»»
TikTok ban: 18 states back Montana, as company cites 1st Amendment
While we’re still waiting to hear whether a federal TikTok ban will be imposed, some 18 state attorneys general are backing Montana’s state-level ban on the short video app. The ban is due to take effect on January 1, 2024. TikTok is seeking t.....»»
Many don"t know key facts about US Constitution, study finds
Many Americans do not know what rights are protected under the First Amendment and a substantial number cannot name all three branches of government, according to the 2023 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey......»»
Order limiting Biden admin contacts with social networks is mostly overturned
Court: White House likely violated 1st Amendment, but injunction went too far. Enlarge / President Joe Biden at the White House on September 6, 2023. (credit: Getty Images | Chip Somodevilla ) The White House and FBI lik.....»»
Exclusive: X violated its own policy by blocking First Amendment group’s ads
The ads were blocked in error, according to X. Enlarge (credit: NurPhoto / Contributor | NurPhoto) X, formerly known as Twitter, spent the summer hastily rebranding and vying to win advertisers back, but at least one adv.....»»
The physics of fat droplets reveal DNA danger
Fat is a normal and necessary part of the body. Fat cells store and release energy, as well as play significant roles in hormonal regulation and immunity......»»
Study demonstrates immune defense was key for plants conquering land
A new study, led by Hirofumi Nakagami at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany, demonstrates that one of the two branches of plant immunity was likely to have evolved early during the establishment of plants on dry.....»»
Inflammation slows malaria parasite growth and reproduction in the body, research finds
Research led by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) and the Kirby Institute found that inflammation in the body can slow down the development of malaria parasites in the bloodstream—a discovery that may consti.....»»
Instead of obtaining a warrant, the NSA would like to keep buying your data
The agency opposes an amendment that prevents it from using data brokers. National Security Agency headquarters. (credit: Trevor Paglen, Wikimedia Commons) An effort by United States lawmakers to prevent government agenc.....»»
Scientists identify fungal proteins responsible for suppressing host plant immunity from infection
While infectious fungal plant diseases relentlessly wreak havoc on many crops, they are also picky when choosing their hosts. Each fungus generally exhibits a specific host range, but the mechanism of this specificity has not been well understood......»»