Photo courtesy Washington Post
The 1,230-kilometre Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline being laid between Russia and Germany is causing major concern for the U.S. and some European countries. Germany is looking to access a low-cost gas supply from Russia, but the U.S., Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia maintain the project will give too much leverage to Russia. The pipeline has been under construction for several years but has been delayed because of U.S. sanctions. The...
A white-faced saki monkey has a snack at the Korkeasaari Zoo in Finland.
Video screenshot by Amanda Kooser/CNET
Helsinki, Finland's Korkeasaari Zoo is doing its best to keep its white-faced saki monkeys from getting bored. Researchers from Aalto University have set up a video monitor that allows the primates to watch a series of videos, which they say provides stimuli and improves their well-being. The researchers say it seems to have helped because there is less scratching by the...
Facebook Inc. and the Government of Australia say they have come to an understanding after the social network platform shut down news service to Australian Facebook users and publishers last week. Facebook says it plans pay $1 billion to publishers over the next three years. Facebook reacted sharply after the Australian government proposed a bill that would have forced some Internet platforms to negotiate payment with individual publishers. Those same issues are being discussed...
With art becoming recognized almost as much for its investment value as for its esthetics, art auction houses including industry powerhouse Sotheby's have entered the art loans business. The loans component has even progressed to the point of reselling art loans to investors. AS CNBC points out, investors should be aware of the risks of using art as an investment product.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/25/the-wealthy-are-borrowing-billions-against-their-art-collections-.html
Our farmers are dwindling and they are getting older. In an in-depth investigation, the BBC highlights programs around the world that are empowering women, and those of any race and age to take on more influential roles in agriculture. Such initiatives could help millions rise from poverty.
https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-reason-we-are-running-out-of-farmers/
Semiconductor manufacturers in South Korea and Taiwan are seeing sales soar as they struggle to catch up with worldwide shortages of their product. Analysts say that global chip supply is handled largely by powerhouses Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. According to BNN Bloomberg, companies shipping those chips to makers of vehicles, smartphones and electronic games helped spark a 16.7% increase in South Korean exports in the first two weeks of February alone.
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/global-scramble-for-scarce-chip-supplies-drives-asia-growth-1.1566754
While the use of computing technology has resulted in tremendous advances in all areas of life, research into quantum computing technology suggests it could propel those advancements to unimagined levels. For instance, it could dramatically speed the development of highly effective drugs. But the going has been tough because there is a fundamental difference between quantum computing and what we know about classical computing. As writer Richard Yonck explains in Geekwire, “A quantum computer is...
Astra Inc., based in Almeda, Calif., is one of many space companies jostling for business in the small payload market. The company built four rockets last year but has yet to have a successful launch. It is counting on a $500-million financing derived through a planned merger with Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) Holicity Inc. As CNBC points out, Astra is competing with numerous small rocket launchers including BlackSky Holdings Inc., AST & Science...
Global smartphone sales overall were down by 5.4% in Q4 of 2020 and 12.5% for the full year. Apple, however, bucked the trend with smartphone shipments growing by 3.3%. Samsung, the most recent leader, saw sales fall by 14.6%. Apple has 20.8% of the global smartphone market coming out of the fourth quarter. According to information and advisory firm Gartner Inc., Apple's 5G iPhone 12 put the company over the top.
https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-02-22-4q20-smartphone-market-share-release
With the majority of the downtown office workforce ensconced at kitchen tables or spare bedrooms, developers and owners of office buildings are brainstorming about how to attract workers back to the traditional corporate workspace. The key, writes Andrew Marquardt with Fortune Magazine, is the touchless building and ultra-quality HVAC systems.
https://fortune.com/2021/02/21/covid-safe-offices-buildings-skyscrapers/
