John Gordon Ross

Anyone who works as a freelancer these days has to be at least a bit familiar with techie things. But it isn’t just that. When I was a kid and those vaguely SF puppet shows were on the television and all the other kids wanted to be Greg Gogetem or Steve Savetheuniverse, I wanted to be the guy in a white coat and glasses called Doc or Brains. Here are some technology-related feeds I find useful and/or entertaining.

Mashable » This SUV is also a drone landing pad

Tuesday 7 March 23:54:42 UTC 2017

Land Rover built an SUV that does double-time as a drone launch and landing pad.  The vehicle is meant to help with search-and-rescue operations, and will soon be a part of the Austrian Red Cross. The drone can take off from a moving SUV, send back live footage from the air, and land without the driver having to stop.  "The … [Link]

Mashable » Now anyone can order a Lyft for someone else without a Lyft account

Tuesday 7 March 23:48:49 UTC 2017

You officially don't need a Lyft account to order a Lyft.  Developers can now facilitate a Lyft ride for someone else without a Lyft account thanks to the company's new open interface announced on Tuesday. The developer would handle everything: Hailing the ride, any customer responses during the ride and billing.  The Dispatch Developer Program will be run on Lyft's open … [Link]

The Joy of Tech » JoT #2392: Your iPhone or your health?

Tuesday 7 March 23:47:56 UTC 2017

Is it even much of a choice? [Link]

Mashable » What would animals say if tech let them talk? Nothing good, probably.

Tuesday 7 March 23:43:00 UTC 2017

When you see an orangutan play a projected video game you have some thoughts: "Animals, they're just like us!" and "How long till she's playing Halo?" It's hard not to compare the reactions of animals interacting with digital technology to our own. We might even imagine starting a cross-species conversation, given some time and software updates. But, if we could use … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Gartner Clarifies Where the API Economy Is Heading

Tuesday 7 March 23:41:20 UTC 2017

At ProgrammableWeb, the application programming interface is at the epicenter of our online lives. But what people might not realize is how much the API is at the center of the future and soon present technology of every connected person’s daily life. APIs will continue to play a central role in trends like chatbots and virtual assistants, the Internet of … [Link]

Mashable » Wall Street's Charging Bull statue has a fearless new opponent for International Women's Day

Tuesday 7 March 23:39:46 UTC 2017

The Charging Bull statue on Wall Street, initially intended to represent the strength and resilience of the American people, has long since morphed into a symbol of the people who work near it: aggressive, stubborn, dominating day traders and investment bankers. On March 7, a new statue arrived that changed the dynamic of the area in a big way. SEE ALSO: … [Link]

Mashable » Your iPhone's camera could one day scan a room to pick out faces

Tuesday 7 March 23:34:11 UTC 2017

Apple is reportedly working on a "revolutionary" new camera for the upcoming iPhone 8 — and the tech giant has a new patent that might help make that system a reality.     The patent, which was first spotted by AppleInsider, reportedly came to Apple as part of its 2013 acquisition of the company behind the Xbox Kinect, PrimeSense. The filing describes … [Link]

Slashdot » How To Close the Gender Pay Gap By 2044

Tuesday 7 March 23:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares an article on FastCompany: The wage gap in developing countries could be reduced by 35% by 2030 and eliminated by 2044, according to a new report from consultancy Accenture. But in order achieve pay parity, women need to be more involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, the report notes. But, workplaces will have to … [Link]

Mashable » Even Superman has terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days

Tuesday 7 March 22:57:46 UTC 2017

Okay, so you're the Man of Steel. That doesn't exempt you from the occasional day of suck.  That's the premise behind Superman and the Miserable, Rotten, No Fun, Really Bad Day, a book based — of course — on the beloved 1972 children's classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Really Bad Day.  SEE ALSO: Behind the scenes of the … [Link]

Mashable » 5 tips you'll want to know before you start 'Ghost Recon: Wildlands'

Tuesday 7 March 22:50:34 UTC 2017

It’s time to get airdropped into Ghost Recon: Wildlands and Bolivia isn’t going to welcome you with open arms.  SEE ALSO: 7 March video games to get hyped about, plus a new console While you’re getting acclimated to the lush-yet-treacherous provincial landscapes and trying not to get killed by the Santa Blanca cartel or UNIDAD (the local military police), we’ve got … [Link]

Mashable » IMDb introduces 'F' rating to highlight female-driven films

Tuesday 7 March 22:44:54 UTC 2017

When is an F a badge of honor? In IMDb’s case, when that F stands for "female," not "fail." The database has introduced a new classification to highlight films by or about women. Individual titles will be judged along three criteria: whether it was written by a woman, whether it was directed by a woman, and/or whether it "features significant women … [Link]

Mashable » Watch this robot solve a Rubik's Cube faster than you can say Rubik's Cube

Tuesday 7 March 22:44:02 UTC 2017

If you look away from this Rubik's Cube-solving robot for even a second, you'll miss history.  The Sub 1 Reloaded cracked the notorious puzzle in just 0.637 seconds earlier this year, smashing its own mark of 0.887 seconds and setting the Guinness World Record.  The robot is the pride and joy of German engineer Albert Breer, who boosted its puzzle-solving … [Link]

Mashable » Guy replaces sister's goldfish with baby carrots to test her commitment to pet ownership

Tuesday 7 March 22:43:12 UTC 2017

Pet ownership is a responsibility one shouldn't take lightly, and we need to hold one another accountable when we suspect proper care is not being paid.  Case in point: this enterprising Twitter teen who replaced his sister's pet goldfish with baby carrots and has been waiting for days for her to notice. This is the type of ingenuity the internet was … [Link]

Mashable » For some reason, there's now a streaming service for Looney Tunes

Tuesday 7 March 22:43:07 UTC 2017

Sufferin succotash! Yet another streaming service is entering the overcrowded OTT marketplace — and this time it's dedicated to cartoons. Time Warner-owned companies Turner and Warner Bros. on Tuesday unveiled plans for Boomerang, a new streaming service set to launch in the spring. The ad-free service, which will cost $5 a month, features the entire Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes and MGM animat~ library of … [Link]

Slashdot » Trump Renominates Ajit Pai For Five More Years at the FCC

Tuesday 7 March 22:40:00 UTC 2017

According to Axios, Bloomberg, and several other publications, President Trump has nominated FCC chairman Ajit Pai for a second five-year term at the commission. "Pai's current term ended last June, though he's been able to stick around through the end of the year even without reconfirmation," reports The Verge. From the report: The nomination comes just days after Pai sat … [Link]

Mashable » Elusive whale caught on video for the first time

Tuesday 7 March 22:32:39 UTC 2017

A rare whale species has finally made its cinematic debut. Science students captured two True's beaked whales on camera during an expedition in Portugal's Azores Islands. Their video is the first-ever recording of these elusive whales in the wild.  SEE ALSO: Scientists are now spotting whales from outer space using satellites Such live sightings are extremely rare events. Marine experts know … [Link]

Mashable » Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on his new book, activist athletes and what Islam means to him

Tuesday 7 March 22:13:45 UTC 2017

People in the streets. A government in turmoil. Social unrest — and activism — everywhere you look.  It all rings bit familiar to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.  SEE ALSO: How Derek Jeter's once-mocked startup became a sports media powerhouse The man who's scored more career points than anyone in NBA history (more than Jordan, more than Chamberlain, more than anyone) converted to Islam … [Link]

Mashable » 22 photos that prove science is beautiful

Tuesday 7 March 22:00:50 UTC 2017

It’s the 20th anniversary of the Wellcome Images Awards, which celebrates images of science and medicine. Their winners’ gallery features the most diverse range of images in the contest's history. Anyone can submit to the collection, which began in 1997. The variety of images and methods of capturing them has expanded greatly over the last two decades. The awards celebrate the … [Link]

Mashable » Need some medical advice? Try asking Alexa.

Tuesday 7 March 22:00:27 UTC 2017

Too busy to call your doctor's office? Well now you can simply shout at Alexa from the comfort of your couch for slightly similar results. Amazon's helpful, know-it-all bot is working with WebMD, aka a hypochondriac's BFF, to deliver users a variety of answers to their burning health-related questions, like "how to treat a sore throat." SEE ALSO: The next skill … [Link]

Slashdot » RadioShack Is Preparing to File For Bankruptcy Again

Tuesday 7 March 22:00:00 UTC 2017

BarbaraHudson writes: Bloomberg is reporting that the "new" RadioShack is preparing to file for bankruptcy. From the report: "General Wireless Operations, the RadioShack successor created by a partnership between Sprint Corp. and the defunct retailer's owners, is preparing to file for bankruptcy, according to people familiar with the matter. A filing could happen within the coming days and will probably … [Link]

Mashable » Android may soon beat Windows as the world's most popular OS

Tuesday 7 March 21:59:17 UTC 2017

Windows, once the undisputed king of operating systems, is facing a new contender for the throne.  StatCounter, a web analytics company, found that Android came very close to matching Windows' market share last month. Google's mobile OS was used by 37.4 percent of people connecting to the internet in February 2017 versus 38.6 percent who used Windows. Apple's iOS came in … [Link]

Mashable » Ciara's new maternity photoshoot is definitely extraordinary

Tuesday 7 March 21:38:30 UTC 2017

Looks like the shoot was a real "Body Party." In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Ciara opened up about her pregnancy, upcoming music and son, Future Jr. The singer did not reveal her due date saying "I got this baby and my album." Ciara also gushed about her husband, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, explaining that their relationship is, "even greater… … [Link]

Mashable » Instagram rips off yet another feature from Snapchat

Tuesday 7 March 21:38:06 UTC 2017

Are you ready for this? Instagram just copied yet another feature from Snapchat. Instagram updated its apps Tuesday with a new "geostickers" feature in Stories that is nearly the same as — you guessed it — Snapchat's geofilters. SEE ALSO: Get ready to see less #ad and #spon on Instagram Debuting first in New York City and Jakarta, Indonesia, the new … [Link]

Mashable » YouTube is going big for International Women’s Day

Tuesday 7 March 21:30:23 UTC 2017

YouTube is utilizing International Women's Day as a chance to share the stories of inspirational women from around the world. The Google-owned video platform on Tuesday unveiled its latest social good campaign called "#HerVoiceIsMyVoice." The goal is to "shine a brighter light on the incredible and strong women within the YouTube community," Danielle Tiedt, Chief Marketing Officer at YouTube, said in … [Link]

Mashable » Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' has a billion YouTube views less than a week after its release

Tuesday 7 March 21:24:35 UTC 2017

You probably figured this out by hearing "Shape of You" everywhere you go, but Ed Sheeran's new album is a hit. Sheeran received over 1 billion YouTube views on Divide songs less than two days after the album's release.  SEE ALSO: 'Divide' is a choose-your-own adventure Ed Sheeran experience Sheeran released the audio of each of the album's tracks on YouTube … [Link]

Slashdot » China's ZTE Pleads Guilty, Will Pay $1.19 Billion For Violating US Trade Sanctions

Tuesday 7 March 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp will plead guilty and pay $1.19 billion ($892 million in the Iran case) to settle allegations it violated U.S. laws that restrict the sale of American-made technology to Iran and North Korea, the company and U.S. government agencies said on Tuesday. ZTE entered into an agreement … [Link]

Popular Science » City folk: You could probably share rides a lot more often than you do

Tuesday 7 March 21:14:00 UTC 2017

Cars Sharing is caring, you guys A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports aims to determine how shareable rides across four major cities around the world really are. [Link]

Mashable » How to banish ads from your Instagram feed

Tuesday 7 March 20:55:05 UTC 2017

I’ve got a little secret: I haven't seen ads in my Instagram feed in more than a year. You're probably wondering how that's even possible. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure why it works, but it does, and here's how you can (or at least try to) banish them from your Instagram feed as well. SEE ALSO: 12 awesome Instagram features you're … [Link]

Mashable » What it was like to play VR games after a concussion

Tuesday 7 March 20:53:32 UTC 2017

This is either the worst time to get a concussion or, the curious journalist inside of me says, the best.  A week before I’m set to fly off to San Francisco for GDC, the annual Game Developers Conference, I lose my footing on a slushy mountain while hiking in NY and slam my head on a rock. I feel the world … [Link]

Slashdot » Dell Doubles Down On High-End Ubuntu Linux Laptops

Tuesday 7 March 20:40:00 UTC 2017

Dell became the first major OEM to offer a laptop with Linux pre-installed in it in 2007. Ten years later, the company says it is more committed than ever to offering Linux-powered machines to users. From a report on ZDNet: The best known of these is the Dell XPS 13 developer edition, but it's not the only Linux laptop Dell … [Link]

Mashable » Barack Obama got a leather jacket because he is a fashion dad now

Tuesday 7 March 20:21:58 UTC 2017

Barack Obama does not need us anymore. Don't believe us? Look at his new outfit. Still looking well-rested from their extended vacation, the president and Michelle were spotted leaving the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. on Sunday. And while Michelle looked extremely chic in black (no surprise there), Barack appears to have traded in his dad jeans for a … [Link]

Popular Science » 22 stunning images that turn science into art

Tuesday 7 March 20:18:37 UTC 2017

Science The 2017 Wellcome Image Award winners For two decades, Wellcome Images has presented awards to the best scientific and medical images that enter its collection each year. Check them out here. [Link]

Mashable » Ed Sheeran reveals 'Love Yourself' could have been a NSFW Rihanna jam

Tuesday 7 March 20:12:53 UTC 2017

It’s not too late to do this song properly, Riri. During a SiriusXM interview with Howard Stern, Ed Sheeran explained why he gave up the hit song "Love Yourself" to Justin Bieber. Sheeran explained that it felt like a throwaway at the time because it was never going to make it onto one of his albums. He also divulged that he … [Link]

Mashable » Uber CEO admits he needs a right-hand (please be a wo)man

Tuesday 7 March 20:07:05 UTC 2017

Uber needs someone else to keep it afloat. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in an all-hands meeting on Tuesday that the company needs "a No. 2 executive" or Chief Operating Officer, as reported by Recode's Kara Swisher. The news of Kalanick interested in a search for a COO was first reported by The Information. SEE ALSO: Uber's Travis Kalanick: Yep, I'm … [Link]

Mashable » Apple has a new (old) iPhone to help win over Asia

Tuesday 7 March 20:03:04 UTC 2017

When Apple launched the iPhone 7, it began to officially phase out the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but now a new variant of the three-year-old iPhone is landing in a few places. Who is it for?  A lot of people, apparently. Apple is launching a new 32GB model of the iPhone 6, its flagship smartphone that first introduced in … [Link]

Mashable » Airbnb CEO will pull a Zuckerberg, travel the world

Tuesday 7 March 20:03:02 UTC 2017

Is Airbnb's CEO running for president of the world?  Like Mark Zuckerberg, Brian Chesky will embark on a tour to meet the people who use his service. While Zuckerberg's 2017 tour was domestic, renewing rumors of his political aspirations, Chesky's will be international.  Chesky will travel to six cities over the next two weeks to meet Airbnb hosts in different parts … [Link]

Mashable » Zayn accepted an award he didn't win, so iHeartRadio made up a new category for him

Tuesday 7 March 20:00:44 UTC 2017

The Academy should be grateful they haven't pissed off Harmonizers and the Zquad.  In the pop music version of the great Oscars envelope mix-up, Zayn accepted an iHeartRadio Music Award via a very cute Snapchat featuring his girlfriend, Gigi Hadid, while they were abroad for Paris Fashion Week. The problem is that the award was supposed to go to Fifth Harmony. … [Link]

Slashdot » Payments Giant Verifone Investigating Breach

Tuesday 7 March 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Verifone is investigating a breach of its internal networks that appears to have impacted a number of companies running its point-of-sale card terminals, security reporter Brian Krebs reports. From the report: Verifone says the extent of the breach was limited to its corporate network and that its payment services network was not impacted. San Jose, Calif.-based Verifone is the largest … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » iOS 10 Series: Creating VoIP Apps with CallKit

Tuesday 7 March 19:53:25 UTC 2017

One of the most distinguished features to come out of Apple's last WWDC is the ability for third-party communications apps, like Skype, Viber, and WhatsApp, to tap into the system level and allow users to interact with incoming calls on the same level of intimacy as regular phone calls. [Link]

Mashable » Creative 'Overwatch' players bring boss battles to the game

Tuesday 7 March 19:53:20 UTC 2017

With the new custom game browser in Overwatch, players are coming up with some really inventive new game modes. One of the best genres by far is boss battles, where multiple players team up against one super-powered hero in an epic fight to the death. Whether the games are called "boss battle," "raid boss" or "Reinhardt vs. Torbletts," the new boss … [Link]

Mashable » 5-year-old girl becomes the youngest ever person to qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee

Tuesday 7 March 19:45:26 UTC 2017

In today's news: a five-year-old is better at spelling than you. Edith Fuller just made history by becoming the youngest person to ever qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee at only 5 years old, after expertly out-spelling more than 50 competitors at the 2017 Scripps Green Country Regional Spelling Bee in Tulsa, Oklahoma. SEE ALSO: These twins battled each other … [Link]

Mashable » Scientists store digital files in an unlikely place: DNA

Tuesday 7 March 19:39:55 UTC 2017

A new coding technique could make it possible to condense your entire digital library onto a microscopic hard drive. Except the hard drive won't consist of metals and plastic. It will be made of DNA. Scientists in New York have developed a way to compress digital files and squeeze the data into the four base nucleotides of DNA: A, G, C … [Link]

Mashable » Blue Origin shares a preview of its giant New Glenn rocket

Tuesday 7 March 19:32:13 UTC 2017

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has finally revealed how its upcoming New Glenn rocket will launch and then reuse a rocket stage by landing it back on Earth. The process, detailed in a computer animation on Tuesday, sure looks familiar, and not just because the creepy animated humans were used in the company's last video.  SEE ALSO: Forget about Mars for … [Link]

Mashable » This 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' homemade trailer is so similar to the original that even we were confused

Tuesday 7 March 19:30:00 UTC 2017

The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is upon us so we've taken on a near galactic task in recreating the 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' trailer using only homemade items! Check out the full version. Check out the behind-the-scenes. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more…More about Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt, … [Link]

Mashable » This trailer for 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' is made from homemade toys and props

Tuesday 7 March 19:30:00 UTC 2017

Ok, the sequel may seem lightyears away but don't freak! We've recreated the new trailer using homemade toys and props for your enjoyment until the new Marvel movie is released in May!  Check out the side-by-side comparison. Check out the behind-the-scenes. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more…More about Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Chris Sullivan, Karen Gillan, and … [Link]

Mashable » Go behind-the-scenes of this homemade 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' trailer

Tuesday 7 March 19:30:00 UTC 2017

The Homemade Movies gang went for a long trip around the intergalactic DIY zone to recreate this entirely homemade trailer. Make sure to see how they used homemade items in this exclusive behind-the-scenes. Check out the full version. Check out the side-by-side comparison. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more…More about Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Chris … [Link]

Slashdot » Music Charts No Longer Make Sense

Tuesday 7 March 19:20:00 UTC 2017

American rapper Future's back to back new albums have created a stir among music enthusiasts and the studios alike. Billboard today refreshed its weekly US Top 200 chart, and the American rapper officially became the first artist to ever knock his own album out of the #1 spot with another one of his albums. Future released the self-titled FUTURE on … [Link]

Mashable » Smartphones are only a luxury if you have money

Tuesday 7 March 19:01:31 UTC 2017

Do you want healthcare or a smartphone?  That was the choice posited by Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz on Tuesday morning. His comments made it seem as though smartphones are an extravagance.  SEE ALSO: A new app turns your smartphone into an accident-detecting dashcam "Americans have choices," Chaffetz said. "So maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Dwolla Moves Same Day ACH Out of Pilot, Now Available to Access API Partners

Tuesday 7 March 18:55:42 UTC 2017

Dwolla, a banking system integration and transfers platform provider, has announced that Same Day ACH is now out of pilot and available to all approved Access API partners. On September 23, 2016, NACHA, The Electronic Payments Association that is the ACH Network Administrator, adopted a rule that enables same-day processing of any ACH payment. Before the rule was enacted, most … [Link]

Mashable » A Google Pixel 2 without a headphone jack wouldn't be the end of the world

Tuesday 7 March 18:55:39 UTC 2017

Get all your tears and frustration out now because it's only a matter of time before your favorite smartphone follows Apple and drops the headphone jack. Though it sure looks like Samsung's Galaxy S8 will keep the headphone jack, Google is reportedly looking to kill the classic headphone port for the Pixel 2, 9to5Google reports. SEE ALSO: Google says the Pixel … [Link]

Mashable » 'Star Trek: Discovery' has found its captain

Tuesday 7 March 18:55:35 UTC 2017

Jason Isaacs is beaming up to Star Trek: Discovery, where he's been tapped to play Captain Lorca, the leader of the titular starship in CBS All Access' new series. Discovery will differ from previous installments of the franchise in that the ship's captain will not be the lead character of the series; the show's protagonist will instead be a lieutenant commander … [Link]

Mashable » Harvard dropout to give Harvard commencement speech

Tuesday 7 March 18:48:20 UTC 2017

Harvard’s most famous dropout (okay, maybe second) is going to be giving the commencement speech at the prestigious college's upcoming graduation. Harvard University announced on Tuesday that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be the featured speaker at the institution's 366th commencement on May 25, 2017. He won't be the first dropout to speak. Bill Gates spoke at Harvard commencement in 2007, … [Link]

Mashable » Calm down. Here's what you actually need to know about the WikiLeaks dump

Tuesday 7 March 18:47:51 UTC 2017

On Tuesday, WikiLeaks published a massive trove of unverified documents it claims came from "an isolated, high-security network situated inside the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence." The documents, dated from 2013 to 2016 and dubbed "Vault 7" by WikiLeaks, describe powerful tools the agency has allegedly used to break into smartphones, computers and televisions.  SEE ALSO: WikiLeaks document dump alleges the … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Ozlo Opens AI Platform via API Suite

Tuesday 7 March 18:42:13 UTC 2017

Ozlo, artificial intelligence solution provider, recently opened its platform to third party users. Ozlo differentiates itself from other AI providers through a probabilistic approach to solving problems that uses both facts and subjective analysis to enhance conversations between a human user and machine. Ozlo provides access to its multi-tiered AI platform through a suite of APIs (i.e. Search API, Similarity … [Link]

Mashable » Switch and 'Zelda' were Nintendo's biggest U.S. launches ever

Tuesday 7 March 18:41:16 UTC 2017

Your non-gamer relatives might have lined up to snag a Wii on day one, but Nintendo's Switch is apparently an even bigger deal. The new console and its marquee launch title — The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — both broke launch records for Nintendo in the Americas. We're just missing one thing: actual numbers. SEE ALSO: There's a … [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Releases Visual Studio 2017

Tuesday 7 March 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Reader Anon E. Muss writes: Microsoft on Tuesday released Visual Studio 2017. The latest version of the venerable Integrated Development Environment supports a variety of languages (C/C++, C#, VB.net, F#, Javascript/Typescript, Python, etc.) and targets classic "Win32" desktop, Universal Windows Platform (UWP, also known as "Metro"), .NET, ASP, node.js, etc.). A "Community Edition" is available at no cost for individual … [Link]

Mashable » Edward Snowden weighs in on WikiLeaks CIA dump

Tuesday 7 March 18:37:48 UTC 2017

While the waves are still being felt from Tuesday's huge document dump by WikiLeaks focusing on CIA hacking techniques, we now know what Edward Snowden, the world's most famous whistleblower, thinks of the information held inside. SEE ALSO: WikiLeaks document dump alleges the CIA can hack almost everything Posting on Twitter Tuesday morning, Snowden said that the leak "looks authentic" and … [Link]

Mashable » 'Kong: Skull Island' review roundup: This monster mash is a total smash

Tuesday 7 March 18:15:02 UTC 2017

Kong is king again. Critics are hot on Kong: Skull Island, which is currently drawing an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its wide release this weekend. The monster movie reboot goes into the heart of the jungle with a star-studded cast (including Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson), and, according to reviews, returns with a rip-roaring adventure reminiscent of Apocalypse Now … [Link]

Mashable » Scientists could end up flying blind about Arctic sea ice at the worst possible time

Tuesday 7 March 18:06:30 UTC 2017

All is not well in the Arctic, where sea ice is in a long-term precipitous decline due to human-caused global warming. In February, for example, Arctic sea ice set a monthly record low, with sea ice extent coming in 455,600 square miles below the February 1981 to 2010 average. That means that, at the end of February, the Arctic was missing … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Oldest, biggest black holes may have come from enormous stars

Tuesday 7 March 18:02:00 UTC 2017

Big black holes from just after the big bang couldn't have formed the way modern ones do – but they could come from the collapse of the largest stars ever [Link]

Slashdot » Android is About To Eclipse Windows as the World's Most-Used Operating System

Tuesday 7 March 18:00:00 UTC 2017

John Falcone, writing for CNET: Android is poised to overtake Windows as the world's most-used operating system. That's the word from web analytics service StatCounter, which monitors worldwide web traffic with an eye towards device operating systems. The firm found that 37.4 percent of devices online were Android — just a hair behind Windows at 38.6 percent. Perhaps the bigger … [Link]

Mashable » How to participate in the Women's Strike if you can't skip work

Tuesday 7 March 17:55:06 UTC 2017

We’re about to find out just how much girls run the world — and the global economy. The International Women's Strike, also called A Day Without a Woman, encourages women to skip work and ditch unpaid labor on International Women's Day. The March 8 strike will take place in more than 50 countries around the world, calling for gender equality, reproductive … [Link]

Mashable » Ben & Jerry's will sell ice cream that tastes like your favorite cereal

Tuesday 7 March 17:51:02 UTC 2017

Ben and Jerry's wants you to trade your morning bowl of cereal for a morning bowl of ice cream, and they've got the flavors to make it worth your while.  The ice cream brand announced Tuesday that it will sell cereal-flavored scoops in shops across the country. This new breakfast-inspired offering comes in three flavors reminiscent of those sugary cereals your … [Link]

Popular Science » Yes, having sex makes you better at your job

Tuesday 7 March 17:34:48 UTC 2017

Health It may be NSFW, but it’s a safe bet for improving your workplace productivity Newsflash: engaging in an activity like sex—which feeds the pleasure and reward centers of your brain—helps you feel happier and more motivated the next day. [Link]

Mashable » Wikileaks' CIA dump contained WAY more bad memes than you would think

Tuesday 7 March 17:32:44 UTC 2017

Wikileaks dumped a huge cache of CIA documents and files this morning in the first of a series of Vault 7 leaks, and in doing so, showed the world the agency's horrible taste in memes.  The whole leak, codenamed "Year Zero," can be viewed via torrent download. When you check out all the files on your PC, you'll find more than … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Best anti-ageing exercise is high intensity interval training

Tuesday 7 March 17:30:00 UTC 2017

Exercise is the best anti-ageing pill, but which routine is most effective? A study reveals that HIIT is better than weight training at rejuvenating cells [Link]

Mashable » See Darren Criss menace Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist in 'The Flash' musical episode

Tuesday 7 March 17:30:00 UTC 2017

Glee alums Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist will reunite with their former co-star Darren Criss in The Flash's upcoming musical crossover with Supergirl, and Mashable has an exclusive first look at the trio in action. Gustin doesn't seem particularly thrilled to see his fellow Warbler in the sneak peek image above — but that's probably because Criss is playing the villainous … [Link]

Slashdot » For the First Time, More US Households Have Netflix Than a DVR

Tuesday 7 March 17:20:00 UTC 2017

For the first time, U.S. households with the Netflix video-streaming service outnumber those that own a digital video recorder (DVR), a dramatic rise from just five years ago, according to new data. From a report: About 54% of U.S. adults said they have Netflix in their household — while 53% have a DVR, according to Research Group's annual on-demand study. … [Link]

Mashable » Shut it down: Jesus is on Tinder now

Tuesday 7 March 17:17:26 UTC 2017

Jesus may be your lord and savior, but could he also be your next boyfriend? Just swipe right on his amazing Tinder profile to find out. A dating app doesn't seem like the most obvious place to find the son of God, but this is 2017. Anything can happen. And Jesus has recently been popping up on Tinder, where he displays … [Link]

Popular Science » Blue Origin's next rocket may finally get sea legs

Tuesday 7 March 17:09:01 UTC 2017

Space Simulation shows the New Glenn landing on a drone ship Although Blue Origin beat SpaceX in landing a rocket booster on solid ground, SpaceX has mastered the art of sea landings, which are more difficult. [Link]

Popular Science » Raindrops spew bacteria into the air as they burst—and it's kind of beautiful

Tuesday 7 March 17:09:00 UTC 2017

Science Watch it for yourself A new study explains how some bacteria end up airborne. Read on. [Link]

Popular Science » How to recycle your phone no matter where you live

Tuesday 7 March 17:05:01 UTC 2017

DIY Don't just dump your old mobile With a variety of private and public recycling schemes now up and running in every state, there's no excuse for not disposing of your electronics in an environmentally… [Link]

Slashdot » Chatbot that Overturned 160,000 Parking Fines Now Helping Refugees Claim Asylum

Tuesday 7 March 16:40:00 UTC 2017

Elena Cresci, writing for The Guardian: The creator of a chatbot which overturned more than 160,000 parking fines and helped vulnerable people apply for emergency housing is now turning the bot to helping refugees claim asylum. The original DoNotPay, created by Stanford student Joshua Browder, describes itself as "the world's first robot lawyer", giving free legal aid to users through … [Link]

Mashable » CIA hack of Samsung TVs was named after a Doctor Who monster

Tuesday 7 March 16:39:43 UTC 2017

WikiLeaks’ sudden dump of secret CIA documents includes a lot of detail on the exact methods the agency has been allegedly using to hack various devices. One of the more colorful descriptions is the tool created to hack Samsung smart TVs, which turned them into covert microphones. The CIA called the hack "Weeping Angel." SEE ALSO: Exit the 12th Doctor: Peter … [Link]

Mashable » Barbra Streisand doesn't need people, she needs pancakes

Tuesday 7 March 16:38:44 UTC 2017

People who need pancakes are not the luckiest people in the world – they're the most disgusted with the current state of the world.  Formidable songstress and political activist Barbra Streisand has admitted to letting the current state of political affairs get to her in the most relatable of ways: stress eating.  Donald Trump is making me gain weight. I start … [Link]

Mashable » The 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' trailer gets an intergalactic homemade makeover

Tuesday 7 March 16:30:00 UTC 2017

Ok, the sequel might seem like it's lightyears away but don't freak. We've recreated the new trailer using homemade toys and tricks to keep you entertained till the new Marvel movie opens in May. Check out the side-by-side comparison. Check out the behind-the-scenes. Visit CineFix for more episodes and movie-related content. Read more… More about Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Zoe … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Raindrops make soil bacteria take off and fly through air

Tuesday 7 March 16:30:00 UTC 2017

When raindrops hit the ground, they throw microbes into the air in aerosols – with possible implications for the climate, agriculture and diseases [Link]

Mashable » Couple married for 37 years preserves their love through delightful matching outfits

Tuesday 7 March 16:23:50 UTC 2017

Every couple expresses their love differently. Some post lovey-dovey photos aggressively on social media. Some get each other personalized gifts. Some just like to Netflix and pizza. One Japanese couple expresses their love through wearing tasteful, matching outfits almost every single day. Considering they have been married for 37 years, maybe this is the secret to long-lasting marriage that we've all … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Subway chicken row shows faith in food is still a battleground

Tuesday 7 March 16:22:00 UTC 2017

Complex, opaque supply chains mean consumer trust in processed foods is vulnerable like never before. What can be done, wonders science writer Nicola Temple [Link]

Popular Science » A hydration bladder for 78 percent off? I'd buy it.

Tuesday 7 March 16:05:01 UTC 2017

Gadgets It's $9. Water you waiting for? Hydration bladder for 78 percent off? I'd buy it. Read on. [Link]

Slashdot » Microsoft Says It Is Working On Fix After Users Report Skype, Outlook, Xbox Live Outages

Tuesday 7 March 16:01:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: A huge outage hit Microsoft services Tuesday morning, with users across the globe experiencing problems accessing Outlook, Xbox and Skype. Users were unable to log onto the Outlook email client via mobile devices and received an error message when trying to access the desktop version of the service. Users also reportedly experienced problems with … [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert unravels Trump's ties to Putin with his handy dandy 'Figure-It-Out-A-Tron'

Tuesday 7 March 15:56:27 UTC 2017

Stephen Colbert is very determined to help us figure this whole Russia-Trump thing out. On The Late Show, he brought out his technologically advanced "Figure-It-Out-A-Tron" AKA his chalkboard to untangle the twisted web that possibly connects Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin and Russia. After explaining the connection between Russia and Jeff Sessions, the FBI, the CIA and so on, Colbert … [Link]

Mashable » Alec Baldwin might soon step away from his 'SNL' Trump impression

Tuesday 7 March 15:45:55 UTC 2017

It was fun while it lasted. Although Alec Baldwin has captured America's attention with his impression of President Trump, it seems like the actor will be taking a step back from it after the current season of Saturday Night Live. SEE ALSO: Alec Baldwin is co-writing a parody Donald Trump memoir and Trump probably isn't so thrilled Baldwin sat down for … [Link]

Mashable » Even in the White House, Trump can't escape Hillary Clinton

Tuesday 7 March 15:45:17 UTC 2017

Donald Trump's weird week just got weirder as he strolled out to surprise a White House tour group only to make his grand entrance in front of a portrait of former first lady and his 2016 rival Hillary Clinton. SEE ALSO: Looks like Hillary Clinton and the internet are on the same page about this Mike Pence email thing Trump casually … [Link]

Mashable » A camera made from 23,000 drinking straws offers a very unique perspective

Tuesday 7 March 15:32:12 UTC 2017

In an age where we would go to any lengths to get a unique photo, two artists, thirsty for something new, have created a camera that offers peak uniqueness. SEE ALSO: Taking underwater photos with your iPhone just got way easier Michael Farrell and Cliff Haynes have developed something called the Straw Camera. The name of the camera indicates exactly what … [Link]

Mashable » The CIA is interested in hacking your car, WikiLeaks claims

Tuesday 7 March 15:31:47 UTC 2017

WikiLeaks has published a trove of files it says are linked to the CIA's hacking operations — which apparently includes efforts to hack into cars.  SEE ALSO: WikiLeaks document dump alleges the CIA can hack almost everything The first in a series called "Vault 7," "Year Zero" supposedly comprises 8,761 documents and files from an isolated, high-security network situated inside the … [Link]

Mashable » Pete Davidson explains his 'SNL' absence: I'm 'happy and sober for the first time in 8 years'

Tuesday 7 March 15:29:41 UTC 2017

Pete Davidson's Saturday Night Live tenure has been jam-packed, but the 23-year-old has been less visible on the show lately. Davidson revealed in an Instagram post on Monday that he recently gave up drugs and stepped back from the show to focus on his health. SEE ALSO: A reminder from 'SNL': For the love of god, do not use feminism to … [Link]

Mashable » There's a Nokia 3310 with a gold Putin face on it waiting for you

Tuesday 7 March 15:25:20 UTC 2017

If you, for one, are ready to welcome our new Russian overlords, there's good news: you can get one of those new-fangled throwback Nokia 3310 phones with a gold-encrusted Vladimir Putin face. SEE ALSO: The Trump-Putin New Yorker cover is clear about who's really in charge The phone is a product of Elijah Giacometti, an Italian jeweler who, as The Outline … [Link]

Mashable » You can create your own augmented reality experiences with this app

Tuesday 7 March 15:23:47 UTC 2017

2017 is the year tech will change the way we interact with the world around us. Augmented reality is the emerging tech that’s slowly disrupting our lives. Perhaps you spent a good chunk of last year running around after Pokemon IRL? Or sent a Snap of you with an adorable pair of dog ears to your nearest and dearest on Snapchat? … [Link]

Mashable » Selling counterfeit goods in China could put you in prison for a week — if one billionaire gets his way

Tuesday 7 March 15:21:04 UTC 2017

Amazon is plagued by counterfeit sellers – and so is its biggest rival.  Jack Ma, the chief executive of Alibaba, is finally doing something about it. Ma called on the Chinese government on Tuesday to crack down on counterfeiters.  “If, for example, we imposed a seven-day prison sentence for every fake product sold, the world would look very different both in … [Link]

Slashdot » Robots in Warehouses To Jump 15X Over Next 4 Years

Tuesday 7 March 15:20:00 UTC 2017

The worldwide warehouse and logistics robot unit shipments will increase from 40,000 robots in 2016 to 620,000 robots annually by 2021, according to highly reliable numbers from Tractica, which adds that the $1.9 billion market in 2016 is expected to jump a staggering tenfold to an annual $22.4 billion by the end of 2021. From a report on TechRepublic: As … [Link]

Mashable » Nike to release sport hijabs for Muslim women athletes

Tuesday 7 March 15:15:35 UTC 2017

It’s been quite a week of inclusivity for Nike after the sporting brand released a plus-size clothing line for women, but it looks like things aren't slowing down.  Now it seems Nike is releasing Nike Pro Hijab for Muslim women athletes that will become available as soon as Spring 2018. SEE ALSO: Nike finally releases plus-size clothing line for women “The … [Link]

Mashable » Hyperloop One shows first photos of its desert test loop

Tuesday 7 March 15:10:26 UTC 2017

They're building a tube in the desert. After some delays, lots of controversy and maybe a little concern about the longevity of the enterprise, HyperLoop One, the next-gen transportation company, is building a full-scale test track (test tube?) in the Nevada desert. SEE ALSO: 5 tough questions for Hyperloop One Unveiled at Dubai's Middle East Rail Conference, the images and … [Link]

Mashable » WikiLeaks document dump alleges the CIA can hack almost everything

Tuesday 7 March 15:09:38 UTC 2017

If the CIA wants to peer inside your digital life, it'll find a way, no matter what you've done to protect yourself.  That's the basic message inherent in a trove of documents dumped by WikiLeaks Tuesday that allegedly exposes a slew of CIA hacking techniques.  SEE ALSO: Julian Assange tweeted for the first time, as if the world needs more tweets … [Link]

Mashable » February recap: 5 trending topics to spark watercooler conversation

Tuesday 7 March 15:02:15 UTC 2017

In all likelihood, your morning looks a little like this: You hit snooze three times on your smartphone, jump out of bed like a madman twenty minutes before you're supposed to be at work, and get halfway to the office before realizing you're wearing mismatched shoes. And forget about reading the news—you're more concerned about the emails piling up in your … [Link]

Popular Science » The embattled campaign for Canada's national bird

Tuesday 7 March 15:00:55 UTC 2017

Animals Will the gray jay ever take its rightful place? The government never did pick a feathered emblem for Canada. But a committed band of bird-lovers is hoping to change that. [Link]

Mashable » A pizza place got super judgy over one pineapple-lover's order

Tuesday 7 March 14:44:34 UTC 2017

If you love pineapple on your pizza, you might feel a little wounded these days (thanks, Iceland!). And things aren't getting any easier for you.  One hapless twitter user tried to order her favorite tropically-topped pie and was – as Cher Horowitz might put it – brutally rebuffed by an unnamed pizza place. SEE ALSO: Pizza dipped in milk is the … [Link]

Mashable » Google can finally translate Hindi sentences like a pro

Tuesday 7 March 14:43:00 UTC 2017

You can now count on the Google Translation app to settle your dinner-table debates over popular Hindi dialogues and what they actually mean.  Google says it has improved the way its namesake translation service parses Hindi, Russian and Vietnamese languages, now funnelling them through its AI-powered deep neural networks. SEE ALSO: Google figured out how to turn pixelated images into high-res … [Link]

Mashable » 'PooPerch' is a shelf for your phone while you use the toilet

Tuesday 7 March 14:41:03 UTC 2017

‘PooPerch’ hangs under your toilet paper holder and provides a convenient, safe space for your phone.  Read more…More about Mashable Video, Real Time Video, Real Time, Real Time Video, and Real Time Video [Link]

Slashdot » WikiLeaks Reveals CIA's Secret Hacking Tools and Spy Operations

Tuesday 7 March 14:41:00 UTC 2017

Mark Wilson, writing for BetaNews: WikiLeaks has unleashed a treasure trove of data to the internet, exposing information about the CIA's arsenal of hacking tools. Code-named Vault 7, the first data is due to be released in serialized form, starting off with "Year Zero" as part one. A cache of over 8,500 documents and files has been made available via … [Link]

Mashable » Someone has invented a waterproof toupee that looks just like real hair

Tuesday 7 March 14:25:43 UTC 2017

A young British couple have designed a toupee that's unlike any other conventional hair replacement.  'Quiff and Co' have become a massive hit online for their waterproof and durable hair piece that you could never tell apart from real hair. Read more…More about England, British, Ant And Stevie, Quiff And Co, and Male Pattern Baldness [Link]

Mashable » Jimmy Kimmel embarrassed Emma Watson with some 'Harry Potter' outtakes

Tuesday 7 March 14:14:11 UTC 2017

On Monday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Jimmy Kimmel spoke with Emma Watson about her unique acting career, which of course all started from her very first role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. Kimmel then showed an outtake from one of the very first films, featuring young Harry, Ron and Hermione. It turns out Watson was very well … [Link]

Popular Science » Here's the first video of one of the planet's most elusive beaked whales

Tuesday 7 March 14:12:00 UTC 2017

Animals We've finally seen a True's beaked whale in its natural habitat We've known about True's beaked whale for almost a century—here's why they're so hard to spot. [Link]

Mashable » This English breakfast pie is maybe the most British thing ever

Tuesday 7 March 14:04:07 UTC 2017

There is nothing more quintessentially British than a good old fashioned fried breakfast. Except, perhaps, for a fried breakfast encased in a pie.  SEE ALSO: When it comes to the full English breakfast, bacon is queen The "Brekkie Pie" comprises all the ingredients you'd typically find in an English fry up — bacon, fried egg, baked beans and tomatoes and HP … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Reports BBC To Police Following Publication's 'Sexualized Images' Investigation

Tuesday 7 March 14:00:00 UTC 2017

"Grave doubts" have emerged about the effectiveness of Facebook's moderation system after an investigation by the BBC last year revealed the social network was failing to remove sexualised images of children even after they were reported. Damian Collins, chair of the culture, media and sport committee, made the comments as he criticised Facebook's handling of the images, dozens of which … [Link]

Mashable » Entirely pink Starburst packs are coming your way

Tuesday 7 March 14:00:00 UTC 2017

You know that feeling when you unwrap the Starburst bag and the first one is pink…and the second one is pink? Imagine if you could feel that sense of wonder, accomplishment without any of the hard work of just hoping? You will be able to do just that starting in early April, when Starburst releases All Pink packs for a limited … [Link]

Mashable » Nest beefs up security with two-factor authentication

Tuesday 7 March 14:00:00 UTC 2017

Smart thermostat Nest is about to get a lot more secure.  The company just added an important security feature that you should enable if you care about keeping your IoT-enabled home safe: two-factor authentication. SEE ALSO: Nest camera catches the glorious rise and fall of a dog trying to steal food The feature works just like it does anywhere else — … [Link]

Mashable » People are calling for this 'sexist' and 'degrading' advert to be removed

Tuesday 7 March 13:53:14 UTC 2017

Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) has been accused of "degrading" women and sexism in its latest advertising campaign in France.  SEE ALSO: People call out this advert featuring a woman's bottom as sexist The image of a model in a leotard and roller skates bent over a stool has caused an outcry on social media, with many calling for the ad to … [Link]

Mashable » Vegans, this plant-based leather is made just for you

Tuesday 7 March 13:51:57 UTC 2017

Green Banana Paper is repurposing banana plants left over after a harvest and recycling them into customizable leather-like wallets.  Read more…More about Wallets, Banana Fibres, Banana Plant, Real Time Video, and Real Time Video [Link]

New Scientist – News » Signal-tracking satellite would build its own antenna in space

Tuesday 7 March 13:46:28 UTC 2017

A British company is working on manufacturing parts in space using pultrusion technology. It plans to use it on satellites designed to track radio signals [Link]

Mashable » Russia finally approved 'Beauty and the Beast — but there's a caveat

Tuesday 7 March 13:41:49 UTC 2017

Russia has finally approved the release of Disney's Beauty and the Beast — but there's a caveat.  The country's culture minister, Vladimir Medinsky, told the Associated Press that it granted a screening license to the film with a 16+ age restriction.  SEE ALSO: 'Beauty and the Beast' director reveals Disney's first openly gay character That's the equivalent to Rated R movies … [Link]

Mashable » Watch this flock of birds form hauntingly beautiful patterns in the sky

Tuesday 7 March 13:35:23 UTC 2017

If you ever find yourself standing below a large flock of starlings, you'd do well to turn your camera on. SEE ALSO: Falcon tries to catch a flying dinner in mesmerizing video On Sunday, Al Kitching shared a video on Twitter of a starling murmurationAccording to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), this is "a mass aerial stunt" … [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert calls Anderson Cooper out for muting Trump's tweets

Tuesday 7 March 13:32:58 UTC 2017

Everyone knows the only way to manage frenemies on Twitter is through the mute button. It gets around the awkwardness of having said frenemey know you have blocked them, or unfollowed them.  No one knows this better than Anderson Cooper, who admitted on Monday night to Stephen Colbert that he has muted CNN's number one frenemy: the 45th President of … [Link]

Mashable » Ricky Gervais laughter makes the perfect 'Big Bang Theory' backing track

Tuesday 7 March 13:32:19 UTC 2017

Turns out Ricky Gervais has enough laughter for an entire audience. SEE ALSO: J.K. Rowling and Ricky Gervais join forces to shut down Donald Trump YouTuber Owen Cooper recently proved as much when he decided to edit a clip of The Big Bang Theory to replace all the canned laughter with the trademark, hyperactive laughter of Gervais. Frankly, all episodes … [Link]

Mashable » How to stalk your competitors' negative reviews for new customers

Tuesday 7 March 13:30:00 UTC 2017

Stalking your competitors' reviews can be an extremely effective technique for getting new customers. That said, it's a strategy that's more art than science, and must be done very carefully.Responding directly to negative feedback left for your competitors is generally a very bad idea. It can make you look like a jerk, and will more than likely make your competitors pretty … [Link]

Popular Science » In war, it's not just your allies that matter—their allies matter too. And so do theirs.

Tuesday 7 March 13:30:00 UTC 2017

Military Friends of friends of friends are basically friends A new study shows that conflict is unlikely between nations that are connected within three degrees by alliances. Read on. [Link]

New Scientist – News » First-ever underwater video of the elusive True’s beaked whale

Tuesday 7 March 13:00:00 UTC 2017

The deep-water whale spends most of its life on hour-long dives kilometres below the ocean surface. The new footage is a step towards understanding them better [Link]

Slashdot » Mozilla Firefox 52 Released As ESR Branch, Will Receive Security Updates Until 2018

Tuesday 7 March 13:00:00 UTC 2017

prisoninmate quotes a report from Softpedia: Back in January, we told you that the development of the Mozilla Firefox 52.0 kicked off with the first Beta release and promised to let users send and open tabs from one device to another, among numerous other improvements and new features. Nine beta builds later, Mozilla has pushed today, March 7, the final … [Link]

Popular Science » This is how your brain constructs emotions

Tuesday 7 March 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Health Book excerpt: How emotions are made For my daughter’s twelfth birthday, we exploited the power of simulation (and had some fun) by throwing a “gross foods” party. Read on. [Link]

Mashable » You can tell the difference between hot and cold water just by listening to it

Tuesday 7 March 12:48:31 UTC 2017

This is one of those weird things that sounds impossible, but the moment you listen to the sound it'll make perfect sense. SEE ALSO: There's an important reason for these strange patterns on British roads For his guest video on Tom Scott's YouTube channel, science vlogger Steve Mould demonstrates the difference between the sounds of cold and hot water being … [Link]

Mashable » Patagonia and Google look to defend public lands with stunning VR film series

Tuesday 7 March 12:36:24 UTC 2017

The Bears Ears region in southeastern Utah has many claims to fame. It's the sacred home to five Native American tribes, a popular spot for rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts from around the U.S., and the location of tens of thousands of archaeological sites. But despite Bears Ears' importance, which earned it a national monument designation just weeks before President Barack … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Bumblebees can tell who visited flowers by smelly footprints

Tuesday 7 March 12:24:00 UTC 2017

The bees leave fragrant footprints on flowers and can tell the difference between their own footprint scent and that of other bees, which may help them hunt for food more efficiently [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Hawking reminds us technology will kill us all and it's all our fault

Tuesday 7 March 12:09:15 UTC 2017

We are well into 2017 and the situation hasn't got any better, so here comes the routine alert from world-renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking that we're all gonna die — and it's all our fault.  SEE ALSO: Smart people everywhere celebrate Stephen Hawking's 75th birthday During an interview with The Times, Hawking repeated the concept that humanity faces existential threats from … [Link]

Mashable » 11 things we get to know about the Wonder Woman movie ahead of time

Tuesday 7 March 11:37:00 UTC 2017

Warning: This post inevitably contains spoilers, if you consider anything studios purposely show journalists before release a "spoiler." The new Wonder Woman movie is due for release in June and unsurprisingly there's a huge amount of speculation around it. If the trailers weren't enough to satisfy your appetite, we have a little bit more to keep you going until it hits … [Link]

Mashable » The cast of 'Harry Potter' have a WhatsApp group and it sounds simply magical

Tuesday 7 March 11:31:03 UTC 2017

Imagine being in a WhatsApp group chat with Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, and the entire main cast of the Harry Potter films.  Seriously, just think about it. What do they message each other about? Which emoji does Radcliffe favour? Do they share old behind-the-scenes photos and laugh about random on-set memories? SEE ALSO: 5 articles that'll only make sense to true … [Link]

O'Reilly News and Commentary » #Ebook Deal/Day: Infrastructure as Code (IAC) Cookbook – $19.99 (Save 50%) Use code DEAL

Tuesday 7 March 11:26:41 UTC 2017

Get "Infrastructure as Code (IAC) Cookbook" today using code DEAL and save 50%!This sale ends at 2:00 AM 2017-03-08 (PDT, GMT-8:00). [Link]

Mashable » Thailand's red taxis are taking the petty route to drive Uber and Grab out of town

Tuesday 7 March 11:26:14 UTC 2017

Threatened by the entrance of Uber and Grab's ride-hailing service, some 200 drivers in tourist-friendly Chiang Mai, Thailand, have decided to band together to drive out the new threat. The Bangkok Post has reported that the drivers of the song taew — the iconic red modified pickup trucks operated as mini buses — are collectively photographing and reporting Uber and Grab drivers … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Older people are just as good at judging music as younger adults

Tuesday 7 March 11:20:06 UTC 2017

Many of the brain's executive functions decline as we age, but older people can spot a lack of harmony as adeptly as young people [Link]

Mashable » The cast of 'Will & Grace' is taking adorable on-set selfies and we can't get enough

Tuesday 7 March 11:09:23 UTC 2017

As the world awaits the return of Will and Grace, the cast has been sharing on-set selfies while filming the revival promo over the weekend.  SEE ALSO: NBC just announced 'Will & Grace' is coming back, and we're screaming Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally showed their excitement at their backstage reunion by posting a series of selfies … [Link]

Mashable » Can Singapore's smallest mobile operator hope to compete in a country of 250 million?

Tuesday 7 March 11:02:16 UTC 2017

Singapore’s smallest mobile operator is looking to hit the big time. Circles.Life, the country's only Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), announced on Tuesday its plans to expand into larger countries such as Hong Kong and Indonesia within the next year. SEE ALSO: Why unlimited data is making a comeback An MVNO is unlike a traditional mobile operator, in that it doesn't … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook reports the BBC to police for sending sexualised images of children

Tuesday 7 March 10:59:40 UTC 2017

Facebook reported BBC journalists to the police after they provided, under request, sexualised images of children discovered on the social network's private groups. SEE ALSO: Facebook's new 'Trending Topics' update is here — now with less fake news The episode occurred as part of a BBC investigation into Facebook's content moderation systems, which the news organisation says isn't effective.  The BBC … [Link]

Mashable » Emma Watson defends her 2014 comments about Beyoncé

Tuesday 7 March 10:50:22 UTC 2017

It’s now been a week since Emma Watson's braless Vanity Fair photoshoot, which sparked a massive reaction and began an ongoing back-and-forth about whether or not her actions were hypocritical. And it doesn't look like the debate is going to die down anytime soon. SEE ALSO: Emma Watson schools critics on what feminism actually means The most recent talking point concerns … [Link]

Mashable » Minister slammed on Twitter for saying women need protection from 'hormonal outbursts'

Tuesday 7 March 10:38:32 UTC 2017

Indians are miffed with their Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi. And why not? In a rather bizarre statement made on a television show, Gandhi defended the imposition of early curfews on girls' hostels (known as dormitories elsewhere) across the country, saying young women needed protection from their own "hormonal outbursts." SEE ALSO: Women in this country are marching for … [Link]

Mashable » Her father refused to, so woman's boss walks her down the aisle to marry her bride

Tuesday 7 March 10:20:35 UTC 2017

Being gay can be especially tough in some conservative Asian cultures, but supportive workplaces can make all the difference. This video posted by HSBC Bank in Taiwan tells the story of one of its employees, Jennifer. In an interview segment in the video, she reveals that her parents don't acknowledge her relationship with her partner, and refused to attend their … [Link]

Mashable » Girls in India will receive solar lamps this International Women's Day for an important reason

Tuesday 7 March 10:19:05 UTC 2017

This International Women’s Day, a South Korean conglomerate is planning bring light to thousands of kids in India.  SEE ALSO: This airline just flew around the world with an all-female crew Samsung India has announced that it will be distributing 10,000 solar lanterns to girl students in the country. Not-for-profit organization CAF India is also part of the initiative.  The solar … [Link]

Slashdot » New Sponge Can Soak Up and Release Spilled Oil Hundreds of Times

Tuesday 7 March 10:00:00 UTC 2017

Seth Darling and his colleagues at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois have created a new material that can absorb up to 90 times its own weight in spilled oil and then be squeezed out like a sponge and reused. This is compared to most commercial products used for soaking up oil, called "sorbents," which act like a paper towel and … [Link]

Mashable » Donald Trump-inspired app counts how often men interrupt women

Tuesday 7 March 9:25:16 UTC 2017

Tired of being interrupted? A new app claims it may be able to help. Called Woman Interrupted, the app uses your smartphone's microphone to analyze conversations and track how many times men interrupt women in a given conversation.  SEE ALSO: Lego's next release screams girl power and we're totally here for it Created by Brazilian ad agency BETC to coincide with … [Link]

Mashable » Turtle living in wishing pond gets surgery after years of eating of coins left by tourists

Tuesday 7 March 9:12:04 UTC 2017

The Thai sea turtle that spent years eating coins off the bottom of a wishing pond has undergone a successful surgery. The 25-year-old, nicknamed Omsin (Thai for "piggy bank"), was found with an engorged stomach full of heavy coins, and she made headlines as a warning to people casting coins into ponds for good luck. SEE ALSO: Scientists are catching sea … [Link]

Mashable » American paparazzi confuse Deepika Padukone with Priyanka Chopra and she isn't amused

Tuesday 7 March 8:38:25 UTC 2017

They’re both bonafide Bollywood stars. They're both pursuing Hollywood. They've both appeared on the same talk shows. They've both attended the Oscars.  But dear paparazzi, they are NOT the same!  SEE ALSO: In her head, Deepika Padukone is having 'amazing babies' with Vin Diesel For the second time, the American media has mistaken Deepika Padukone of xXx: Return of Xander Cage … [Link]

Mashable » Brother and sister fight over a guy in Coke's new ad

Tuesday 7 March 8:16:30 UTC 2017

Nothing like some good old sibling rivalry.  Coke's new ad features a brother and sister that are both fighting over the attractive guy cleaning their pool. The video, which has been viewed almost three million times, has been praised for being inclusive and supporting diversity.  But the real question is, who gets the guy in the end? Watch to find … [Link]

Slashdot » NASA Proposes a Magnetic Shield To Protect Mars' Atmosphere

Tuesday 7 March 7:00:00 UTC 2017

New submitter Baron_Yam writes: Apparently it is no longer necessarily science fiction to consider terraforming the red planet in a human lifetime. NASA scientists have proposed putting a magnetic shield at the Mars L1 Lagrange Point, diverting sufficient solar wind in hopes that the Martian atmosphere would thicken and heat the planet to the point of melting the ice caps, … [Link]

Mashable » People are furious that 'Madam Secretary' will feature a lecherous Filipino president

Tuesday 7 March 6:30:45 UTC 2017

This weekend, an episode of CBS political drama Madam Secretary will feature a lecherous Filipino president getting punched in the face. SEE ALSO: The 'Humans of Payatas' features inspiring stories about people living in its slums The episode, scheduled to air on Saturday, was promoted with a trailer that's getting people talking, because many are drawing parallels with the real president … [Link]

Mashable » Everyone's favourite physicist has a far-out live show about space (and aliens)

Tuesday 7 March 6:30:21 UTC 2017

You may remember physicist Brian Cox from such hits as "patiently explaining climate change to a diehard denier" and "taking on the government to protect the BBC." He's an international treasure, in other words, and Australia's ABC network has given him a brand new space show. As thanks, presumably. SEE ALSO: Forget about Mars for a minute: Let's talk about these … [Link]

Mashable » Let Cookie Monster teach you about the illustrious true history of cookies

Tuesday 7 March 6:11:48 UTC 2017

No surprises that Sesame Street's Cookie Monster knows a helluva lot about cookies. Everyone's favourite blue fuzzball has appeared in a new video for Bon Appétit, where he goes through a hundred years of cookie history with a pair of kids.  If only history lessons at school were this entertaining. And delicious.  Read more… More about Food, Videos, Video, Cookie … [Link]

Mashable » 13 mildly sassy out-of-office replies to use when joining the Women's Strike

Tuesday 7 March 5:52:51 UTC 2017

On Wednesday, women from across the United States and beyond will participate in a historic strike, protesting on behalf of all the marginalized groups currently threatened by the Trump administration. The strike offers a unique opportunity for women-identified people to potentially disrupt the flow of capitalism, if only for a day, and share a powerful message of dissent.  It'll also allow … [Link]

Mashable » Hey, Silicon Valley: Your culture sucks, so quit raving about it

Tuesday 7 March 5:31:12 UTC 2017

Back when the iPhone was a mere twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye, "culture" didn't mean all that much in Silicon Valley. Now, it means even less.  While a fair and equitable work community is worth striving for, endlessly mentioning your company culture is a tired marketing ploy, and one that many women in tech have known to be only lip service … [Link]

Mashable » Steve Aoki's 'Ghost In The Shell' remix is getting ripped apart by fans

Tuesday 7 March 5:14:46 UTC 2017

It hasn't been the most pleasant year for those behind the reboot of Japanese anime classic, Ghost In The Shell. The upcoming film's been dogged by criticisms of whitewashing ever since it was announced Scarlett Johansson would play the lead role of Major Motoko Kusanagi — a clearly very Japanese character. And it seems the disappointments won't end. This one's thanks … [Link]

Mashable » Sonos puts your sound bar where it belongs, under your TV

Tuesday 7 March 5:01:00 UTC 2017

Now that I know about Sonos Playbase, I wonder if Sonos was spying on me.  SEE ALSO: Study: People who listen to music out loud have more sex When the company announced Playbase Tuesday, it noted that roughly 70% of all flat screen TVs in the U.S. are not mounted to the wall. It felt like a stat pulled directly from … [Link]

Mashable » Chinese orchestral mash-up of all your favourite Disney songs is pretty amazing

Tuesday 7 March 4:58:50 UTC 2017

You've never heard Disney songs like this before.  This instrumental medley of 12 theme songs featuring traditional Chinese instruments is the ultimate mash-up of East-meets-West.  Singapore's TENG ensemble uses traditional instruments like the Guzheng and Pipa as well as Western instruments in its performances. They've got everything from Snow White to Frozen covered — just go on and have a … [Link]

Mashable » Oculus Rift's 'Robo Recall' is the game VR has been waiting for

Tuesday 7 March 4:56:49 UTC 2017

Back in 2015, hidden in a tiny soundproof room at CES in Las Vegas, a demo for a cops-versus-giant robot game called Showdown blew me away.  At one point, I watched in amazement as fully rendered, three-dimensional bullets whizzed by my virtual face in slow motion. When I took the Oculus Rift off, all I could think was, "this is the … [Link]

Mashable » The internet is very upset about the mistake on Trump's green #MAGA hats

Tuesday 7 March 3:52:17 UTC 2017

It’s not St. Patrick's Day until you've got your green and gold "Make America Great Again" hat securely on your head. SEE ALSO: Muslim group subtly trolls Trump with 'Making America Great' billboards That's why the GOP and Donald Trump's team have been pushing sales of the $50 hat since last week — to make sure you show your Trump support … [Link]

Mashable » Sexual abuse survivor Thordis Elva defends forgiving her rapist on TV

Tuesday 7 March 3:34:35 UTC 2017

It’s the controversial TED talk that everybody saw.  Icelandic writer Thordis Elva shared the stage with her high school boyfriend and rapist, Australian man Tom Stranger — both inviting the audience to discuss sexual violence in a new way.  However, sharing a stage, co-writing a book (South of Forgiveness) and forgiving one's rapist is a concept many are uncomfortable with.  So … [Link]

Slashdot » Nintendo Switch Owners Complain About Dead Pixels, Nintendo Says They're 'Normal'

Tuesday 7 March 3:30:00 UTC 2017

Nintendo says the dead or stuck pixels Switch owners are complaining about are "normal" and not defects. "New Switch players have taken to online discussion boards, including a 2,000-comment strong Reddit post, to complain of screen issues distracting play, unbecoming of a $300 handheld gaming machine," reports The Guardian. From the report: In a support document entitled "There are black … [Link]

Mashable » 'Get Out (of the White House)' proves truth is scarier than fiction

Tuesday 7 March 3:20:54 UTC 2017

Ready to be scared? The box office-smashing, fear-inducing fright fest that is Get Out has been stunning audiences with its sharp exploration of racism. But sometimes (usually) the scariest things are the most familiar.  Like President Donald Trump's line "I am the least racist person you'll ever meet," the people in the town the movie's main character (Daniel Kaluuya) visits … [Link]

Mashable » Internet quickly turns GOP's Obamacare replacement plan into a meme

Tuesday 7 March 3:12:54 UTC 2017

The Republicans unveiled their healthcare plan on Monday night and it's looking like a weak replacement for Obamacare.  It defunds Planned Parenthood, rolls back the Medicaid expansion, restricts abortion, and lets insurers jack up premiums by 30 percent if there's a lapse in coverage. Oh! And there's a big tax cut for CEOs making more than $500,000 and a weirdly specific … [Link]

Mashable » Some people aren't cool with having less sexist pedestrian traffic lights, go figure

Tuesday 7 March 3:07:34 UTC 2017

Pedestrian lights are the latest frontier for equality in one city. A lobby group called the Committee for Melbourne is behind a push for the Australian city to have half of its pedestrian lights feature a female silhouette, as opposed to the usual male version. But not everyone is happy. Even those aware that the lights won't actually resemble an old … [Link]

Slashdot » Amazon Shares Data With Arkansas Prosecutor In Murder Case

Tuesday 7 March 2:05:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Associated Press: Amazon dropped its fight against a subpoena issued in an Arkansas murder case after the defendant said he wouldn't mind if the technology giant shared information that may have been gathered by an Amazon Echo smart speaker. James Andrew Bates has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of … [Link]

Slashdot » Poachers Are Trying To Hack Animal Tracking Systems

Tuesday 7 March 1:25:00 UTC 2017

Orome1 quotes a report from Help Net Security: Animal tracking through electronic tagging has helped researchers gain insight into the lives of many wild animal species, but can also be misused by wildlife poachers, hunters, animal-persecution groups and people interested in seeing and interacting with the animals — all to the detriment of our animal brethren. A recent paper by … [Link]

Mashable » The reasons why social media can make you feel both magical and miserable

Tuesday 7 March 1:19:05 UTC 2017

The internet can lift you up as quickly as it tears you down.  At least that's how it seems to some teens and young adults who build rewarding relationships on social media but also, at times, feel rejected or excluded by friends and strangers.  SEE ALSO: Forever alone: Why too much social media use might lead to loneliness This complicated grey … [Link]

Mashable » The White House just plagiarized an ExxonMobil press release

Tuesday 7 March 1:12:16 UTC 2017

The Donald Trump White House has a decidedly mixed record when it comes to the accuracy of its press releases, but lifting an entire paragraph from someone else's statement? That's unfortunate. On Monday, Trump released a statement congratulating ExxonMobil for its latest "job-creating investment program." While it's not entirely unheard of for the government to coordinate statements with private companies, issuing … [Link]

Mashable » Is that Bulbasaur on wheels? Nope, it's Volkswagen's new concept car.

Tuesday 7 March 1:07:32 UTC 2017

If you're a fan of Pokémon, you just might see a familiar face in Volkswagen's first fully autonomous concept vehicle. The ride is called Sedric (as in self-driving car), and let's be real, it looks like Bulbasaur with those wide-spaced "eyes." And it doesn't look like anything you'll find on the road today.  Sedric isn't meant to be controlled by a … [Link]

Slashdot » Toronto Start-Up Will Send a Mechanic To Your Driveway To Repair Your Car On Demand

Tuesday 7 March 0:45:00 UTC 2017

Toronto-based startup Fiix, part of Y Combinator's Winter 2017 class, has built a platform to send a mechanic to your home to fix your car within hours of being requested. TechCrunch reports: Customers request service by calling or chatting with the company on the website. Interestingly, Fiix prefers to deal with customers over the phone so they can accurately diagnose … [Link]

Mashable » New settlement allows civilian review of NYPD surveillance

Tuesday 7 March 0:39:37 UTC 2017

Residents of New York City are on their way to having new oversight of their police department's counterterrorism operations, which often includes surveillance.  A new settlement filed Monday would permit a civilian representative to report police to a judge whenever the representative feels officers violate guidelines that restrict how far police can go in monitoring religious and political groups. The lawsuit … [Link]

Mashable » 'Supergirl' is planning the 'Lois and Clark' reunion of our dreams

Tuesday 7 March 0:30:31 UTC 2017

Last week's Supergirl revealed that Jeremiah Danvers (Dean Cain) is no longer the hero he once was before being captured by Cadmus. After 10 years trapped inside the shadowy group, he returned to his family for what seemed like a heartwarming reunion — only to betray his former allies at the DEO and steal a list detailing the names and whereabouts … [Link]

Mashable » 'A Separation,' our next MashReads book, shows how sticky things get when relationships die

Tuesday 7 March 0:21:45 UTC 2017

Reactions to loss can take many forms. Whether it's a quiet withdrawal or hiring a professional weeper, every breakdown of a relationship can provoke something unexpected in all of us. These are the type of themes explored in Katie Kitamura's new book A Separation, Mashable's March pick for MashReads, our monthly book club. SEE ALSO: MashReads Podcast: 'History Is All You … [Link]

Mashable » Shots of a passenger ferry going through intense waves are totally real

Tuesday 7 March 0:13:16 UTC 2017

Australia’s Sydney Harbour is far from what you'd call the high seas. But recent windy weather has led to some rocky trips on the Manly passenger ferry, which have also led to some amazing photographs of the challenging waves faced by these commuter boats on Saturday. SEE ALSO: Global warming made Australia's record-breaking, sizzling summer 50 times more likely Captured by … [Link]

Mashable » Trump still refuses to wear his tie correctly and tapes it down instead

Tuesday 7 March 0:09:17 UTC 2017

Donald Trump is a man of quick fixes — a big wall to deal with immigration, random rallies to build popularity, or "alternative facts" to blur away undesirable truths. So it's no wonder he has quite the fix for keeping his tie in place — clear office tape. SEE ALSO: Nike finally releases plus-size clothing line for women Months ago, Trump … [Link]

Slashdot » US Wind Capacity Surpasses Hydro, Overall Generation To Follow

Tuesday 7 March 0:05:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Wind power is now the largest source of renewable energy generating capacity, passing hydroelectric power in 2016. And since the two sources produce electricity at nearly the same rate, we'll soon see wind surpass hydro in terms of electricity produced. Wind power capacity has been growing at an astonishing pace (as … [Link]

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