Science

Massachusetts Lawmakers Want Comcast to Stop Grifting Customers Until the Pandemic Is Over

Comcast celebrated the new year by rolling out its data caps and predatory overage fees to millions of customers in the northeastern United States, but lawmakers in Massachusetts aren’t having it. They’ve proposed a temporary ban on data caps, additional fees, and price hikes on home-internet services to keep folks…Read more...
Tags: Science, Net Neutrality, Massachusetts, Companies, Broadband, United States, Comcast, Telecommunications, Internet Access, Social Issues, Xfinity, Information and Communications Technology, Internet Service Provider, Data Transmission, Data Cap, Technology_internet

Elon Musk blasted the FAA for canceling a Starship test launch, but the agency said 'outstanding safety issues' were at play

Elon Musk, who founded SpaceX in 2002. PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images SpaceX was ready to attempt a Starship rocket test flight on Thursday, but it couldn't get clearance from the FAA. Elon Musk criticized the agency on Twitter, saying that with its rules "humanity will never get to Mars." However, the FAA told Insider it was working with SpaceX to "resolve outstanding safety issues."  Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. SpaceX was ready to launch its latest prototype ...
Tags: Transportation, Twitter, Space, Spacex, Elon Musk, Texas, Science, News, Washington Post, Trends, Ars Technica, Earth, Mars, Faa, Spaceflight, Rocket Launch

Spotify Could One Day Recommend Songs Based on How Your Voice Sounds

Spotify’s powerful algorithm makes finding music you like a breeze. But what if it could recommend music based on how you sound?Read more...
Tags: Spotify, Science, Computing, Business Intelligence, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Data Management, Digital Audio, Technical Communication, Records Management, Technology_internet, Entertainment_culture, Knowledge Representation

Novavax says its coronavirus vaccine was highly effective in a UK trial, but it didn't work nearly as well against the variant first found in South Africa

Kate Bingham, Chair of the Government's Vaccine Taskforce, after starting her Novavax trial. Kirsty O'Connor/PA Images via Getty Images Novavax on Thursday said that its vaccine was 89% effective at preventing cases of COVID-19, based on results from a UK trial. In a trial in South Africa, the vaccine was far less effective, likely because of a coronavirus variant that has emerged there. Novavax is still signing up volunteers for a trial of its experimental shot in the US and Mexic...
Tags: UK, Science, News, Mexico, US, Trends, South Africa, Healthcare, Pfizer, Vaccine, Novavax, Moderna, Stanley Erck, Food and Drug Administration Read, Kate Bingham, Kirsty O Connor

GameStonk Goes to the Moon—Wait, No, It's Going to Congress Instead

Congress will hold hearings on the GameStonks fiasco.
Tags: Science, Money, Congress, Finance, Economy, Social Issues, Stock Market, Short, Robinhood, Hedge Fund, Gamestop, Financial Markets, Melvin Capital, Congress Instead, Stock Trader, Rwallstreetbets

Pittsburgh's mayor tells Ted Cruz to 'leave us out' after dragging the city into his climate change attack

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images When Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas threw cold water on President Joe Biden's decision to rejoin the Paris climate agreement, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto was hit in the crossfire. Cruz condemned Biden's executive order and said "President Biden indicates that he's more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh." "Last time I checked, Sen. Cruz did not...
Tags: Politics, Texas, Science, News, Climate Change, Colorado, Washington, France, Finance, Senate, China, US, International, Trends, Joe Biden, Analysis

Toothbrushes Might Not Be Covered in Poo After All

If you’ve worried that your toothbrush, being usually in the same room as your toilet, is perpetually covered in microscopic fecal matter, well, here’s some relief. According to a new study, our brushes are full of bacteria found in our mouths, but they’re not full of bacteria from our guts. In other words, our…Read more...
Tags: Science, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Microbiome, Mouth, Antimicrobial resistance, Health Sciences, Human Microbiome, Oral Hygiene, Branches Of Biology, Technology_internet, Disaster_accident, Tooth Brushing, Human Tooth

Intriguing 'Life' Signal on Venus Was Plain Old Sulphur Dioxide, New Research Suggests

Scientists stunned the world last year by claiming to have discovered traces of phosphine in the Venusian clouds. New research suggests this gas—which, excitingly, is produced by microbes—was not actually responsible for the signal they detected. Instead, it was likely sulfur dioxide, a not-so-thrilling chemical.Read more...
Tags: Astronomy, Science, Planets, Venus, Astrobiology, Atacama Large Millimeter Array, Radio Telescopes, Life On Venus, James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, Phosphine, Technology_internet, Entertainment_culture, Astronomical Objects

Novavax says its coronavirus vaccine was 89% effective in a UK trial, but it didn't work nearly as well in a second study

Kate Bingham, Chair of the Government's Vaccine Taskforce, after starting her Novavax trial at the Royal Free Hospital, north London on October 13, 2020. Kirsty O'Connor/PA Images via Getty Images Novavax on Thursday said that its vaccine was 89% effective at preventing cases of COVID-19, based on results from a UK trial. In a trial in South Africa, the vaccine was far less effective, possibly because of a coronavirus variant that has emerged there. Novavax is still signing up volu...
Tags: UK, Science, London, News, Maryland, Mexico, US, Trends, South Africa, Healthcare, Pfizer, Vaccine, Royal Free Hospital, Novavax, Moderna, Kate Bingham

Novavax vaccine seems effective against COVID-19, its new strains, in study

Novavax Inc. said Thursday that its COVID-19 vaccine appears 89% effective based on early findings from a British study and that it also seems to work — though not quite as well — against new mutated strains of the virus circulating in that country and South Africa. The announcement comes amid worry about whether a variety of vaccines being rolled out around the world will be strong enough to protect against worrisome new variants – and also the world needs new types of shoots to boost scarce su...
Tags: Health, Business, Science, News, Maryland, Sport, World news, Britain, Soccer, South Africa, LA County, Novavax, Novavax Inc, LA City Council, Granada Hills, Top Stories LADN

Documentary+ Is the Latest Free Service to Enter the Streaming Wars

Another free, ad-supported streaming service with a focus on non-fiction films launches today, this one hoping to win over the documentary crowd.Read more...
Tags: Science, Internet Television, Spike Jonze, Screenwriters, Bryn Mooser, Kanopy, CuriosityStream, HBO Max, Video On Demand Services, Technology_internet, Entertainment_culture, Business_finance, Mass Media In The United States

This mayor has a simple message for Ted Cruz and Republicans who keep using his city's name

Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images When Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas threw cold water on President Joe Biden's decision to rejoin the Paris climate agreement, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto was hit in the crossfire. Cruz condemned Biden's executive order and said "President Biden indicates that he's more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh." "Last time I checked, Sen. Cruz did not...
Tags: Politics, Texas, Science, News, Climate Change, Colorado, Washington, France, Finance, Senate, China, US, International, Trends, Joe Biden, Analysis

The 10 Best Deals of January 28, 2021

Thursday’s Best Deals | Kinja DealsRead more...
Tags: Science, Technology, Electronics, Oled, Science and Technology, Soundbar, Vizio Inc, Human Interest, 4K resolution, Ultra High Definition Television, Television Technology, Technology_internet, Business_finance

Snipping Tool Bug is Keeping Windows Insider Users From Copy-Pasting Screenshots

Windows Insider members have found an issue with Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 feature pack, one that affects part of the screen-snipping utility.Read more...
Tags: Science, Microsoft, Windows Phone, Windows 10, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Windows Vista, Screenshot, Snipping Tool, Print Screen, Snip Sketch, Technology_internet, Windows Nt, User Interface Techniques, Screenshot Software

I Threw $1,000 Into That Stonks Game Because Why Not

My partner and I spent $1000 on a game yesterday. We didn’t spend it on Pokémon cards, or Fortnite V-bucks, or decide to become whales in Genshin Impact. But, at my insistence, we combined some funds, downloaded the Robinhood trading app, and bought some stock.Read more...
Tags: Science, California, Reddit, Websites, Robinhood, Gamestop, Technology_internet, Disaster_accident, Rwallstreetbets, Economy Of California

Someone Hacked a 17-Year-Old iPod to Stream Spotify

There hasn’t been much attention paid to the iPod since the iPhone arrived, and that’s a crime, because it was a brilliantly simple device with a wonderful user interface. To help make it relevant again, Guy Dupont gave a 17-year-old iPod a much-needed upgrade with the ability to wirelessly stream Spotify so that it…Read more...
Tags: Iphone, Ios, Spotify, Science, Technology, Ipod, Itunes, Operating Systems, Apple Inc, Portable Media Players, Portable Electronics, Digital Audio Players, iOS Jailbreaking, Guy Dupont

The Atlantic Ocean is getting wider every year, pushing the Americas away from Europe and Africa. We may finally know why.

A map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. NASA Earth Observatory map by Joshua Stevens, using data from Sandwell, D. et al. (2014). The tectonic plates under the Americas, Europe, and Africa are being pushed apart as the Atlantic Ocean widens year by year. New research reveals what's pushing the plates apart: Material from deep within the Earth is bursting upward at an undersea ridge in the middle of the Atlantic.  Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The Atlantic Ocean grows 1.5 i...
Tags: Europe, Science, News, Africa, Americas, Trends, Earth, Nature, Atlantic, Geology, Pacific, Pacific Ocean, Seismology, Yellowstone, Atlantic Ocean, University Of Southampton

Facebook's Oversight Board Issues First Five Rulings for Everyone to Get Mad About

Facebook’s Oversight Board, the supposedly independent entity the company created to quell some of the heat over its moderation policies, announced its first five decisions on Thursday. The oversight panel, of 20 academics, lawyers, and human rights activists, overruled Facebook moderators on four of…Read more...
Tags: Facebook, Science, Facebook 's Oversight Board

What to Make of Claudia Conway's Domestic Violence Allegations

“So, Kellyanne, you’re going to fucking jail,” said 16-year-old Claudia Conway, daughter of former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, in a TikTok posted Monday night. She was reacting to news that a topless photo of herself was briefly posted to her mother’s Twitter account, the veracity of which she confirmed. In the…Read more...
Tags: Science, Software, Culture, Social Issues, Child Abuse, Trump, Claudia, Youth Culture, Kellyanne Conway, Kellyanne, George Conway, Video Software, Music Software, Tiktok, Claudia Conway, Application Software

Ridiculously Tiny Chameleons Discovered in Madagascar

Researchers have found a minuscule chameleon in Northern Madagascar, which they believe to be the smallest reptile on the planet. Small body, big attitude—just look at that face.Read more...
Tags: Science, Animals, Madagascar, Mini, Chameleon, Lizard, Brookesia, Technology_internet, Fauna Of Madagascar, Andolalao Rakotoarison, Brookesia Confidens, Brookesia Minima, Northern Madagascar

QAnon Congresswoman Also Believes a Space Laser Sparked California's Deadliest Wildfire

It appears no conspiracy is too outlandish for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to peddle. There’s QAnon, false flag conspiracies about the Parkland shooting, and the whole election fraud lie. Now we can add a new one: That the deadly 2018 Camp Fire was ignited, intentionally, by a space laser so California could build a…Read more...
Tags: Science, California, Articles, Social Issues, Wildfire, Conspiracy Theories, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Alt Right, QAnon, Camp Fire, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pseudohistory, Disaster_accident, Religion_belief, Fringe Theory, Terrorism In The United States

Researchers Turned a Living Venus Flytrap Into a Cyborg Robotic Gripper

It’s not uncommon for robot-building engineers to take inspiration from one of Mother Nature’s designs, but this might be the first time we’ve seen one of her creations, a Venus flytrap plant, used to simplify the creation of an actual robotic component—in this case, a gripper capable of picking up delicate objects.Read more...
Tags: Science, Articles, Robot, Plant, Venus Flytrap, Dionaea, Cyborg, Organisms, Flytrap, Branches Of Biology, Technology_internet, Plant Cognition, Dionaea Muscipula Bohemian Garnet, Dionaea Muscipula Fused Tooth

UK defends Oxford vaccine as Germany advises against use on over-65s

Boris Johnson and head of UK regulator say vaccine produces immune response in all age groupsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe makers of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and UK government agencies have defended the vaccine’s efficacy after German authorities recommended it should not be used on people aged 65 or above, citing a lack of data. Related: Coronavirus live news: Paris hospitals to suspend jabs next week; Bolsonaro vows quick vaccine rollout C...
Tags: Health, Europe, Business, Politics, UK, Science, Germany, UK News, World news, Paris, Oxford, Astrazeneca, Pharmaceuticals industry, Boris Johnson, Vaccines and immunisation, University of Oxford

The Best Two-Player Board Game, According to Our Readers

Holy cow. Whenever we write these Co-op pieces where we ask our readers to help pick the best products, we always get wonderful insights from the comments, with some cheekiness mixed in for good measure. But I was not prepared for how passionate the response would be when we asked people for their favorite two-player…Read more...
Tags: Games, Science, Game, Video Games, Social Issues, Civilization, Card Games, Card Game, Baduk, Cribbage, 7 Wonders, Rules Of Cribbage

Tim, It's Pronounced Facebook

It’s been a big day in privacy land for Apple, but among a flurry of privacy-related announcements from the Cupertino-based company, the juiciest was perhaps a speech by CEO Tim Cook at CPDP 2021. In the roughly 15-minute opening keynote, Cook took several, savage potshots at a certain social media company that might…Read more...
Tags: Apple, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Science, Technology, Cook, Privacy, Tim Cook, Computing, Apple Watch, Cupertino, Apple Store, Nerd Culture, Apple Inc, Internet Privacy, Businesspeople

Discord Gives WallStreetBets Another Chance and Offers Help

From the flaming ashes of the GameStop stock clusterfuck, the WallStreetBets Discord group returns from the dead.Read more...
Tags: Science, Software, Computing, Freeware, Robinhood, Gamestop, Discord, Alt Tech, Rwallstreetbets, Moderation System, Proprietary Software, WallStreetBets Discord

Robinhood Sued by Furious GameStop Stockholders

Stock-trading app Robinhood now faces a class-action lawsuit after it blocked stock purchases of GameStop and other companies favored by Reddit’s WallStreetBets community on Thursday morning.Read more...
Tags: Science, Money, Finance, Reddit, Short, Stock, Robinhood, Hedge Fund, Gamestop, Financial Markets, Financial Regulation, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Rwallstreetbets

Why has Germany advised against Oxford/AstraZeneca jab for over-65s?

Explainer: Move attributed to ‘insufficient data’ but experts say no evidence vaccine doesn’t workCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageGerman authorities have advised that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab should not be given to those aged 65 or above. We take a look at why, and what experts make of it.Why has Germany advised the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab should only be used in adults under 65? Continue reading...
Tags: Europe, Science, Germany, Medical Research, Infectious Diseases, Astrazeneca, Vaccines and immunisation, Coronavirus, Oxford AstraZeneca

The Nerd's Watch: The Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Streaming in February

Viewers are turning to streaming entertainment more than ever thanks to the global pandemic, and the plethora of services can serve as a much-needed escape. At the start of each month, most streamers do a little shuffle, adding new movies and taking some away—and io9 is here to help with your decision making.Read more...
Tags: Hbo, Science, Films, It, Star Trek, Netflix, Social Issues, Zack Snyder, Human Interest, Horror Film, HBO Max, Creative Works, English Language Films, Batman In Film, Technology_internet, Entertainment_culture

UCLA Scientists Successfully 'Jump-Start' the Brains of People in a Coma-Like State

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles are continuing to find success using ultrasound to “jump-start” the brains of people stuck in a minimally conscious state. In a report out this month, they detail two patients with chronic and severe brain injuries who experienced improvements in their awareness…Read more...
Tags: Science, Articles, Consciousness, Philosophy, Ultrasound, Coma, Ucla, Acoustics, University of California Los Angeles, Neurological Disorders, Intensive Care Medicine, Technology_internet, Entertainment_culture, Branches Of Philosophy, Neurotrauma, Minimally Conscious State