In an in-depth interview with the BBC, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai warns that free and open internet is under attack, and addresses controversies around tax, privacy, and data. He argues that artificial intelligence is more profound than fire, electricity, or the internet. This article helps us get to know one of the most influential (yet understated) business leaders in the world. If you are like me, you will breathe a little easier,...
Early in the COVID-19 crisis, doctors desperate for an answer to the virus began reviewing whether any drugs already available could be used as effective treatment. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic, was administered to some patients across the globe with seemingly positive effects. However, some health officials have challenged the effectiveness of the drug to treat COVID-19. On one side, there are doctors who say ivermectin can help end the pandemic if used globally. On the other...
A research team co-led by University College London has solved a decades-old mystery as to how Jupiter steadily produces spectacular bursts of X-rays, reports Phys.org. The X-rays are part of Jupiter's aurora – bursts of visible and invisible light that occur when charged particles interact with the planet's atmosphere. A similar phenomenon occurs on Earth, creating the northern lights, but Jupiter's is much more powerful, releasing hundreds of gigawatts of energy, enough to briefly power...
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a method for secure communication that uses quantum mechanics to encrypt information. While the security of QKD is unbreakable in principle, if it is incorrectly implemented, vital information could still be stolen by attackers. These are known as side-channel attacks, where the attackers exploit weaknesses in the setup of the information system to eavesdrop on the exchange of secret keys. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed...
A material engineered by University of Queensland researchers could herald the next generation of electronics with more memory, faster speeds, and advanced features, reports Tech Xplore. The carbon-based material could contribute to a growing nanoelectronics market predicted to be worth $162 billion by 2027. Professor Debra Bernhardt from UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said potential applications include telecommunications, automatic access systems, and medical equipment. "Graphene has...
Violent explosions of massive, magnetized stars may forge most of the universe’s heavy elements, such as silver and uranium, ScienceNews reports. These r-process elements, which include half of all elements heavier than iron, are also produced when neutron stars merge. But collisions of those dead stars alone can’t form all of the process elements seen in the universe. Now, scientists have pinpointed a type of energetic supernova called a magnetorotational hypernova as another potential birthplace of these...
In a windowless hangar in the California high desert, the final touches are coming together on an aircraft that could reshape aviation. The needle-nosed X-59 is all sweeping lines and unbroken curves, a narrow cockpit concealed in the centre. Designed and built by NASA and Lockheed Martin, this is the supersonic airplane of the future. And when it takes to the skies, NASA and Lockheed are hoping you won't even notice it flying by,...
The digital age is not making us stupid, says University of Cincinnati social/behavioral expert Anthony Chemero. "Despite the headlines, there is no scientific evidence that shows that smartphones and digital technology harm our biological cognitive abilities," says the professor of philosophy and psychology who recently co-authored a paper stating such in Nature Human Behaviour. In the paper, Chemero and colleagues at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management expound on the evolution of the digital age, explaining how smart...
In 1934, physicist Eugene Wigner made a theoretical prediction based on quantum mechanics that for 87 years went unseen. The theory suggested how a metal that normally conducts electricity could turn into a nonconducting insulator when the density of electrons is reduced. Wigner theorized that when electrons in metals are brought to ultra-cold temperatures, these electrons would be frozen in their tracks and form a rigid, non-electricity conducting structure – a crystal – instead...
Researchers have introduced an autonomous excavator system (AES) that can perform material loading tasks for long duration without human intervention while offering performance almost equivalent to that of an experienced human operator, Tech Xplore reports. AES is among the world's first uncrewed excavation systems to have been deployed in real-world scenarios and continuously operating for over 24 hours, bringing about industry-leading benefits in terms of enhanced safety and productivity. The researchers described their methodology...
