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.

New Scientist – News » Giant loner asteroids suggest baby planets formed quickly

Thursday 3 August 23:44:46 UTC 2017

The oldest intact asteroids hint that planets didn’t grow by slowly gathering small space rocks, but came from rapidly collapsing dust [Link]

New Scientist – News » Hot yoga classes reduce emotional eating and negative thoughts

Thursday 3 August 23:44:45 UTC 2017

There’s growing evidence that yoga can help with symptoms of depression, suggesting the practice might complement talking therapies and antidepressants [Link]

New Scientist – News » It took 2000 years to make seed for America’s famous ‘corn belt’

Thursday 3 August 23:44:44 UTC 2017

Maize reached the southern US 4000 years ago, but wasn’t farmed in cooler areas until 2000 years later – because it took that long to develop cool-hardy strains [Link]

New Scientist – News » Teacup tornado’s inner twists and writhes seen for first time

Thursday 3 August 23:44:43 UTC 2017

The first ever detailed look inside a liquid tornado could help explain everything from how storms form to the inner workings of the sun’s plasma [Link]

Mashable » Why should we protect other planets from our microbes anyway?

Thursday 3 August 23:30:16 UTC 2017

Picture this: You're an astronaut visiting Jupiter's moon Europa for the first time.  You set down one boot and then another, bouncing around on the icy surface of the low-gravity world. Now just imagine that those boots haven't been cleaned since you were training in them back on Earth.  Teeming colonies of microbes are now being spread over the world's surface, … [Link]

Slashdot » Facebook Fights Fake News With Links To Other Angles

Thursday 3 August 23:20:00 UTC 2017

Facebook is rolling out "Related Articles" that appear below news links to stories lots of people are posting about on Facebook, or that are suspected to be false news and have been externally fact checked by Facebook's partners. "Appearing before someone reads, Related Articles will surface links to additional reporting on the same topic to provide different view points, and … [Link]

Mashable » Incredible 'Witcher 3' cosplayer is our new hero

Thursday 3 August 23:12:28 UTC 2017

Cosplay tends to bleed together if you're just glancing at it on the internet. But Elena Samko's renditions of The Witcher 3's creatures and characters are absolutely jaw-dropping. They're practically unbelievable. A lot of work goes into just about any piece of cosplay. But Samko stands out for the sheer variety of looks she seamlessly pulls off. From a Noonwraith, to … [Link]

Mashable » Grubhub buys Yelp's Eat24 to tighten its grip on food delivery

Thursday 3 August 23:06:57 UTC 2017

Two of the biggest names in restaurant-related tech are joining forces. Grubhub said Thursday that it will buy Yelp's Eat24 delivery service for $287.5 million in cash, sending Yelp's stock soaring as Wall Street cheered the deal. SEE ALSO: Groupon and Grubhub join forces to get you hooked on food delivery As part of the agreement, Yelp will integrate Grubhub's ordering … [Link]

Mashable » Zach Braff's plea to play Stephen Miller on 'SNL' is waaaay too thirsty

Thursday 3 August 22:55:44 UTC 2017

Zach Braff — best known for his role as Regular White Dude in every TV show (Scrubs) and film (Garden State) he's ever been in — made a thirsty request on Twitter. His plea from Wednesday all but begged famed Saturday Night Live boss Lorne Michaels to cast him as Trump's senior policy advisor, Stephen Miller. And dear god, Zach — … [Link]

Mashable » Cool cat gives smoother high fives than most humans

Thursday 3 August 22:48:59 UTC 2017

We all want to be super smooth when shaking someone's hand or giving a high five, but even the slightest hesitation can turn a friendly greeting into an awkward interaction. While some humans have yet to master the art, check out this cool cat's slick high five followed with a fist bump. SEE ALSO: 15 Worst High Fives in Bro History … [Link]

Slashdot » Google's Message To Developers: Fix Your App's Performance Issues Else See Them Demoted On Play Store

Thursday 3 August 22:40:00 UTC 2017

Google today announced it's rolling out a change to its Play Store so that better-performing apps — meaning those that experience fewer crashes and those that don't drain your smartphone battery — will be ranked higher than apps with bugs and other performance issues. From a report: The goal with this new ranking algorithm is to ensure that the best … [Link]

Popular Science » Artificial intelligence now powers all of Facebook’s translation

Thursday 3 August 22:37:00 UTC 2017

Technology The new system is more accurate than the old method. On Thursday, Facebook announced that all of its user translation services—those little magic tricks that happen when you click “see translation” beneath a post or… [Link]

Mashable » 'Will and Grace' revival is sticking around for at least two seasons

Thursday 3 August 22:08:51 UTC 2017

If you can't get enough Will and Grace, NBC has good news, honey — the network has picked up the iconic comedy for a second season of 13 episodes, more than a month before the revival premieres on Sept. 28. NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt also confirmed that Season 1 has been bumped up to a 16-episode order. The show reunites Eric … [Link]

Mashable » Forget Trump's wall — this brewery wants a beer bar on the U.S.-Mexico border

Thursday 3 August 22:08:16 UTC 2017

Instead of a wall between Mexico and the United States, a brewery is setting up a craft beer bar on the border.  "The Bar on the Edge" was announced Thursday, but no specifics were released on when or where exactly the Scottish brewer BrewDog would open the bar on the border between Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico.  On the American side — … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » How to Make your Own Zillow Using the Onboard Developer Platform

Thursday 3 August 22:00:17 UTC 2017

Zillow is a dominant force in real estate. As the largest national portal, they have perfected the art of attracting and engaging online real estate consumers. If you are a developer looking to do the same, you can use the Onboard Developer Platform to recreate and improve upon some of Zillow's most popular features. [Link]

Slashdot » Charter Has Moved Millions of Customers To New — And Often Higher — Pricing

Thursday 3 August 22:00:00 UTC 2017

After Charter closed the acquisitions of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks in May 2016, it moved 30 percent of the customers it acquired onto new pricing plans, resulting in many people paying higher prices. "Before the merger, Charter had about 6.8 million customers; afterward, Charter had 25.4 million customers in 41 states and became the second-largest U.S. cable … [Link]

Mashable » Kid makes adorable case for why he should be NASA's planetary protection officer

Thursday 3 August 21:51:50 UTC 2017

There’s one kid who wants to be NASA's planetary protection officer more than anyone in the world. He’s a fourth grader named Jack Davis who believes he's up to the task of protecting our planet. And he wrote NASA a letter to prove it. (No, the job doesn't really involve defending the Earth from evil aliens.)  Reddit user millamber, a friend … [Link]

Mashable » IKEA is trying to rival Tesla with home solar panels

Thursday 3 August 21:45:36 UTC 2017

Ikea is getting into the solar energy business and is trying to rival Tesla.  The retail giant has partnered with Solarcentury to deliver a solar battery solution. The solar kit can be combined with existing panels or can be added to a new system.  Read more…More about Tech, Business, Mashable Video, Ikea, and Real Time Video [Link]

Mashable » This plane pattern is so meta it hurts

Thursday 3 August 21:32:04 UTC 2017

If you have to test fly an aircraft for 18 hours, with no passengers and no destination, you might as well get a little creative. While testing their newest 787 Dreamliner engines, pilots for aircraft manufacturer Boeing did just that. Boeing’s jet flew a total of 9,905 miles across 22 states, on a flight path that drew a near perfect … [Link]

Popular Science » This giant exoplanet has a glowing atmosphere

Thursday 3 August 21:22:57 UTC 2017

Space You can't see it—but Hubble can. A recent study has used the Hubble Space Telescope to prove that a gas giant exoplanet 900 light years away has a stratosphere—just like Earth. [Link]

Slashdot » WikiLeaks Reveals CIA Tool For Hacking Webcams, Microphones

Thursday 3 August 21:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Stack: WikiLeaks has released a new set of documents in the CIA Vault 7 leak, outlining the "Dumbo" hacking tool which allows control of webcams and microphones. The release explains that the tool is capable of completely suspending processes on webcams and corrupting video recordings. Dumbo's is tasked specifically with gaining and … [Link]

Popular Science » Home studio gear to help scratch your musical itch

Thursday 3 August 20:59:39 UTC 2017

Gadgets Do it all from your own home computer A list of gear is to start you on the way to building your home studio. A high price tag doesn't magically transform your demos to professional quality recording. [Link]

Mashable » Dad's business awards Employee of the Week to many sweet doggos

Thursday 3 August 20:58:46 UTC 2017

This small business owner is doing his part to recognize the hardest-working doggos on the job are getting their recognition by naming them employee of the week. Twitter user @_illdill_ shared the info about his dad's business on Twitter, and our hearts are swooning over the heartwarming practice. His dad has to go out to families' homes for his flooring business, … [Link]

Mashable » Trump's secret weapon against North Korea: His tweets. Yep, we're all doomed.

Thursday 3 August 20:57:36 UTC 2017

I’ve never heard someone digging a hole say they can get out of said hole by continuing to dig, but that's pretty much what one Trump adviser claimed our commander-in-tweet would be able to do in regard to North Korea.  SEE ALSO: The number of tweets Donald Trump has sent since becoming president is downright shocking As noted by Gizmodo, Trump … [Link]

Mashable » Internet TV could be about to get a lot cheaper—and scarier for cable companies

Thursday 3 August 20:56:19 UTC 2017

Internet TV poses an important question: Would you give up a name-brand channel for a version you've never heard of to save money?   For instance, would you take startup Cheddar over CNBC? Newsy instead of CNN? TheBlaze instead of Fox news? Maybe not, but what if it meant a $10 bundle? "We can debate whether Cheddar, which is basically 18 … [Link]

Slashdot » Apple's Adoption Of HEVC Will Drive A Massive Increase In Encoding Costs Requiring Cloud Hardware Acceleration

Thursday 3 August 20:40:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader shares a report: For the last 10 years, H.264/AVC has been the dominant video codec used for streaming but with Apple adopting H.265/HEVC in iOS 11 and Google heavily supporting VP9 in Android, a change is on the horizon. Next year the Alliance for Open Media will release their AV1 codec which will again improve video compression … [Link]

Mashable » Report: Uber knew about faulty cars, but rented them to drivers anyway

Thursday 3 August 20:35:31 UTC 2017

Uber allegedly knew about a recall for cars leased out to drivers in Singapore but didn't deal with the problem until one of the cars caught fire, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The Wall Street Journal reviewed internal Uber emails that showed that Uber knew that Honda had recalled the Vezel SUV in April 2016 for a defective electrical component. … [Link]

Mashable » Eerie optical illusion in a pet cemetery looks just like a dog

Thursday 3 August 20:05:47 UTC 2017

Nope.  The YouTuber behind the channel DIY Prophacks was just taking leisurely bike ride near a pet cemetery recently when something caught his eye.  "[I] thought for sure there was a dog standing on this grave," he wrote on YouTube. "Turns out it was just an optical illusion created by these dead flowers." Looking at just the right angle, two … [Link]

Mashable » Leave watermelon alone

Thursday 3 August 20:04:49 UTC 2017

Watermelon is a delightful food: hydrating, sweet, and great for eating outdoors with your friends while Carly Rae Jepsen plays in the background.  This is precisely why we must stop disrespecting it. Now, I do not think watermelon recipes are disrespectful, per se. Watermelon juice, watermelon feta salad, watermelon sorbet, and watermelon-jalapeño beverages are all delicious. I am talking about all … [Link]

Mashable » What iOS 11 might look like on the iPhone 8's edge-to-edge screen

Thursday 3 August 20:02:09 UTC 2017

This year's new redesigned iPhone is all but confirmed thanks to months worth of leaks and Apple's own slip-up with the HomePod firmware that keeps revealing more and more. So we're pretty sure what the hardware will look like, but what how will iOS 11 look on an iPhone with an edge-to-edge display and a notch at the top of the … [Link]

Slashdot » Slashdot Asks: Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?

Thursday 3 August 20:00:00 UTC 2017

Teens today are more likely to be lonely, depressed and immature than any previous generation, according to analysis published in The Atlantic. According to the professor of psychology who did the analysis, who also has been researching generational differences for 25 years, the culprit is the smartphone. From the article: The advent of the smartphone and its cousin the tablet … [Link]

Mashable » 'This Is Us' Season 2 premiere will fill in 'a giant piece of the puzzle' about Jack's death

Thursday 3 August 19:45:29 UTC 2017

This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman has come to terms with the fact that we all care way too much about finding out how and when beloved Pearson patriarch Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) died, and thankfully, we won't have to wait too much longer to get answers.  "If that is a question that has haunted people, over the course of the second … [Link]

Mashable » You're not going to like where Congress is going with net neutrality

Thursday 3 August 19:42:37 UTC 2017

On Monday, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) invited a handful of America’s biggest companies to a private meeting to discuss repealing the nation’s net neutrality law, the 2015 Open Internet Order.   Walden, who chairs the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, reportedly invited the nation’s four largest internet service providers (AT&T, Charter, Comcast, and Verizon) and four tech companies (Amazon, Facebook, Google, … [Link]

Mashable » Chinese chatbots are revolting against the Communist Party

Thursday 3 August 19:33:42 UTC 2017

In the 21st century, chatbots drive social change and help people improve their sex lives. But they're not without a downside—including full-on political rebellion.  SEE ALSO: Microsoft's chatbot Zo has some interesting opinions about Windows In China, two chatbots have been removed by media company Tencent because they've done one of the most grave things a chatbot could do: turned on … [Link]

Mashable » The Nail-Bitingest Movie Moments Ever

Thursday 3 August 19:32:39 UTC 2017

Read more…More about Movies, Cinefix, Mashable Reels, Entertainment, and Movies Tv Shows [Link]

Mashable » NASA is looking for a planetary protection officer to keep space safe

Thursday 3 August 19:23:01 UTC 2017

NASA is hiring a "planetary protection officer" which involves protecting Earth microbes from contaminating extraterrestrial bioflora and vice versa. Read more…More about Space, Nasa, Science, Mashable Video, and Mars [Link]

Slashdot » For 20 Years, This Man Has Survived Entirely By Hacking Online Games

Thursday 3 August 19:20:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader writes: A hacker says he turned finding and exploiting flaws in popular MMO video games into a lucrative, full-time job. Manfred's character is standing still in the virtual world of the 2014 sci-fi online multiplayer game WildStar Online. Manfred, the real life person behind the character, is typing commands into a debugger. In a few seconds of … [Link]

Mashable » Bright Lights, Big City: How Moment Factory turns Québec into art

Thursday 3 August 19:17:39 UTC 2017

Paid Content by Canada Keep ExploringQuébec is unlike anywhere you’ve ever been before.The landscape of Canada’s largest province is nothing short of otherworldly: Tall mountains, winding rivers, and a lush forest that you could get lost within — and it’s all just a quick flight north of the border. Whether you want to explore the historic Roman Catholic churches and cathedrals … [Link]

Mashable » Game Boy Color mod solves the decades-old backlighting problem

Thursday 3 August 19:13:56 UTC 2017

Using a Game Boy Color, a Game Boy Advance SP screen, and a custom kit purchased online, YouTuber This Does Not Compute successfully created a version of the Game Boy Color with a backlit screen. With a little bit of soldering and some adjustments to the Game Boy Color's plastic shell, This Does Not Compute was able to add BennVenn's … [Link]

Mashable » Trump was super critical of presidential vacations, but now he's taking his own

Thursday 3 August 19:13:24 UTC 2017

Trump needs a breather. It's been a grueling nearly eight months getting so much done in office and D.C. is practically dead in August anyway. So he might as well head to his favorite place, his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. We hear it's anything but a dump there. SEE ALSO: Donald Trump spent 1/5 of his presidency playing golf, … [Link]

Mashable » Facebook's dumbest feature is coming to desktop now, too

Thursday 3 August 19:06:08 UTC 2017

People may not be using Facebook Stories, but that isn't stopping the social network from expanding the feature to its next platform. Facebook is now testing a version of Stories for desktop, with a wider launch coming "soon," according to a company spokesperson.  SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg is still the only one using Facebook Stories and he really likes Iowa The … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Domain Group Launches Public API for Access to Australian Property-Related Data

Thursday 3 August 18:58:23 UTC 2017

Australian property services company Domain Group has launched a public API allowing third-party developers access to a specific set of property-related data. Access to data via the Domain Group API v1 is governed by both API packages and API plans. There are currently three API packages available, Agencies and Listings, Properties and Locations, and Content. The two plan levels available … [Link]

Mashable » NBC announces plan to create more opportunities for female directors

Thursday 3 August 18:56:58 UTC 2017

Thanks to the blockbuster success of Wonder Woman, Hollywood has finally realized that women can direct stuff — who knew?!  In an effort to establish parity with male directors — who still outnumber female directors 23 to 1 — NBC has launched a new "Female Forward" initiative to develop new directors in partnership with Mad Men and Homeland director Lesli Linka … [Link]

Mashable » I'm one of the local milk people Trump was talking about and I freaking love milk

Thursday 3 August 18:51:12 UTC 2017

The Washington Post recently published excerpts from transcripts they received of President Trump's tense January 27 phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. During the conversation, President Trump expressed his hesitancy to accept refugees from Australian detention centers, saying, "I guarantee you they are bad… They are not going to be wonderful people who go on to work for the … [Link]

Mashable » Google and Mystery Science teamed up to give schools free eclipse glasses

Thursday 3 August 18:47:01 UTC 2017

A highly-anticipated total solar eclipse is set to cut a path across a large portion of the United States on August 21, but not everyone has the proper gear to see it safely.  But some organizations want to change that. The company Mystery Science and Google just announced a partnership to provide 15,000 free eclipse glasses to elementary schools so that … [Link]

ProgrammableWeb.com » Plume Labs Opens API for Air Quality Data

Thursday 3 August 18:41:42 UTC 2017

Plume Labs, an environmental tech company, has opened up its Plume API to third party businesses via its AI-powered platform: Plume.io. Plume.io delivers programmatic access to a global, crowdsourced, hardware-enabled air quality data platform. [Link]

Slashdot » UK Security Researcher Who Stopped WannaCry Outbreak Arrested in US

Thursday 3 August 18:40:00 UTC 2017

Zack Whittaker, reporting for ZDNet: A security researcher who in May stopped an outbreak of the WannaCry ransomware has been arrested and detained after attending the Def Con conference in Las Vegas. Marcus Hutchins, 23, a British national, was arrested at Las Vegas airport on Wednesday by US Marshals, several close friends confirmed to ZDNet. A friend told ZDNet that … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Space cucumbers may help plants grow better water-seeking roots

Thursday 3 August 18:34:00 UTC 2017

Away from Earth’s gravity, cucumber roots head towards water. Mimicking that moisture-seeking behaviour on our planet could help plants adapt to drought [Link]

Mashable » The Secret Service wants to use a drone to protect Trump

Thursday 3 August 18:33:25 UTC 2017

The president plans to spend a couple weeks at his New Jersey golf course this August, and the Secret Service plans to monitor the place with a drone.  The drone (singular) would be tethered, and would buzz 300-400 feet above the ground, conducting video surveillance, according to Reuters. SEE ALSO: Brilliant New York Post cover perfectly sums up Trump's White House … [Link]

Mashable » Disney Parks will offer a Virtual Reality Star Wars land this year

Thursday 3 August 18:07:34 UTC 2017

Star Wars Land — or as Disney now insists on calling it, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge — is heading towards our planet at the speed of an asthmatic Bantha. We won't see it until 2019.  But if the thought of having to wait a whole two years to see it has you staring mournfully at a double sunset, there's good news … [Link]

Popular Science » How a snowflake gets its shape

Thursday 3 August 18:02:08 UTC 2017

Science Do you want to build a snowflake? Snow can be soft or stinging; perfect for skiing or prone to melt. The difference lies in the shapes of the flakes, which depend on temperature and humidity. [Link]

Mashable » 9 ways science has been totally sexist, and totally wrong

Thursday 3 August 18:00:00 UTC 2017

It’s easy to assume that just because something is scientific it's true.  That doesn't account for the glut of conflicting findings both in academia and industry over the past century and how social constructs have impacted scientific judgement. It also doesn't account for the fact that science has been — and in some cases continues to be — dominated by men … [Link]

Slashdot » Ubuntu Will Revert Window Controls To the Right-Hand Side in Next Release

Thursday 3 August 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Following a survey carried out last month, Ubuntu will begin shipping with the minimise, maximise, and close buttons on the right-hand side of windows. From a report: In the survey 46.2% of people said they prefer their window controls on the left-hand side and 53.8% said they prefer them on the right. The decision comes after seven years of window … [Link]

New Scientist – News » CRISPR skin grafts could replace insulin injections for diabetes

Thursday 3 August 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Skin grafts of gene-edited cells have boosted insulin levels in mice, and protected them from gaining weight and developing diabetes under a high-fat diet [Link]

New Scientist – News » Big, armoured dinosaur still had camouflage to evade predators

Thursday 3 August 18:00:00 UTC 2017

The world’s most impressively preserved dinosaur fossil reveals that the 5.5-metre-long Borealopelta had camouflage despite its heavy armour [Link]

Mashable » Watch this sea monster of a fish easily flip a fishermen's boat

Thursday 3 August 17:57:52 UTC 2017

They're gonna need a bigger boat.  Fishermen Jon Black and Ben Chancey were using a small canoe to fish off the east coast of Florida when the duo snagged a massive grouper. The grouper was so huge that it easily flipped the small canoe the men were using, and according to the man filming the clip, there were multiple sharks … [Link]

Mashable » The guy who stopped WannaCry is reportedly being detained in the U.S.

Thursday 3 August 17:53:11 UTC 2017

Does no good deed truly go unpunished? The infosec community is scratching its head this morning following the news that Marcus Hutchins, the 23-year-old security researcher who singlehandedly stopped the spread of the global ransomware WannaCry, is reportedly being detained in an unknown location by U.S. authorities.  SEE ALSO: Security researcher says he's figured out how to decrypt WannaCry Motherboard first … [Link]

Mashable » Sudden realization: The only way to play video games is with 16 4K monitors

Thursday 3 August 17:44:39 UTC 2017

Playing games in 4K is already pretty awesome, but playing games in 16K is a whole other world of awesome. The YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips managed to rig up a 16K-resolution setup using a super-beefy computer and 16 4K-resolution monitors. The team tested it out on Minecraft, Tomb Raider, and Civilzation VI among other games. Some of the games … [Link]

Mashable » 12 Chrome extensions that are pretty much guaranteed to improve your inbox

Thursday 3 August 17:41:16 UTC 2017

Are Gmail and Chrome your go-to tools? If you responded with an enthusiastic “yes,” then I’m about to make your life a whole lot easier. I’ve scrounged up some of the best Chrome extensions to make getting through email easier, faster, and even more fun! Check ’em out: 1. Send an email later with Right Inbox Maybe you have your best … [Link]

Mashable » James Comey is writing a book about leadership for a cool $2 million

Thursday 3 August 17:30:08 UTC 2017

Former FBI Director James Comey is now a world-famous notetaker, so I guess it makes sense he'd cash in on that habit with a book deal now that he has a little more free time.  Comey is writing a book about leadership due out in the spring of 2018, according to Flatiron Books, his newly announced publisher. His deal is reportedly … [Link]

Mashable » No-nonsense referee trolls a kids' pick-up basketball game

Thursday 3 August 17:28:04 UTC 2017

If you think NBA refs are bad, just wait 'til you get a load of this guy. YouTube user Giovanni Giusti filmed himself refereeing these kids trying to play a pick-up game of basketball, and he seems to be making up the rules as he goes along. He even manages to call traveling on players who don't have the ball. … [Link]

Mashable » These teen girls from Kenya invented an app to end female genital mutilation

Thursday 3 August 17:27:52 UTC 2017

Five teenage girls from Kenya are headed to California to make their dream of ending female genital mutilation (FGM) in their country a reality. The bright teens invented an app called i-Cut, which provides girls with easy access to legal and medical assistance before and after FGM. The app has earned them a place in the 2017 Technovation Challenge, a competition … [Link]

Mashable » Robert Hardy, Cornelius Fudge in 'Harry Potter' films, dies at 91

Thursday 3 August 17:25:43 UTC 2017

British actor Robert Hardy, best known for playing Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter movies and Siegfried Farnon in the All Creatures Great and Small TV series, has died. He was 91. SEE ALSO: How 'Harry Potter' helped me understand British politics Hardy's family announced his passing in a statement today, writing, "Gruff, elegant, twinkly, and always dignified, he is celebrated … [Link]

Slashdot » Inside Mozilla's Fight To Make Firefox Relevant Again

Thursday 3 August 17:20:00 UTC 2017

News outlet CNET has a big profile on Firefox today, for which it has spoken with several Mozilla executives. Mozilla hopes to fight back Chrome, which owns more than half of the desktop market share, with Firefox 57, a massive overhaul due November 14. From the report: "It's going to add up to be a big bang," Mozilla Chief Executive … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Bieber is getting into the plain white tee business

Thursday 3 August 17:18:42 UTC 2017

Justin Bieber understands the timeless demand for classic white tees, and how hard it is to find the perfect one.  He's here to fill that hole in the marketplace with exactly what you need, because, well, what else is he supposed to do now that he's not on tour?  The singer is partnering with Hanes and celebrity stylist Karla Welch to … [Link]

Popular Science » I floated in zero-g with former astronaut Scott Kelly

Thursday 3 August 17:16:07 UTC 2017

Space And no, I did not throw up. What its like to float in a zero g plane. [Link]

Mashable » Mow your lawn this Saturday and get a free video game about mowing your lawn

Thursday 3 August 17:11:41 UTC 2017

If you share a picture of yourself mowing your lawn this Saturday, you can get a free copy of the upcoming action/lawn-mowing game Law Mower. Law Mower developer Scoria Studios announced Wednesday that people who mowed their lawns and posted a picture of their accomplishment on Twitter on Aug. 5 will receive a free copy of the upcoming game, scheduled to … [Link]

Mashable » Google is building a killswitch that will force the internet to play by its rules

Thursday 3 August 17:10:26 UTC 2017

Switch on the ad blocking toggle that appeared this week in Google's experimental version of Chrome, and nothing will happen. The feature is out of service at the moment, according to a Google spokesperson, a shell of a tool with which its developers can tinker while the search giant hammers out the operational details through an ad industry trade group. SEE … [Link]

New Scientist – News » What the first flower on Earth might have looked like

Thursday 3 August 16:45:53 UTC 2017

Some time between 250 and 140 million years ago, the very first flower bloomed – an enormous evolutionary study offers clues about its appearance [Link]

Slashdot » EPA Reverses Course on Ozone Rule

Thursday 3 August 16:40:00 UTC 2017

The Trump administration said late Wednesday that it would not delay an Obama-era regulation on smog-forming pollutants from smokestacks and tailpipes (Editor's note: the link could be paywalled; alternative source), a move that environmental groups hailed as a victory. From a report: The Environmental Protection Agency decision came a day after 16 state attorneys general, all Democrats, filed a lawsuit … [Link]

Mashable » 6 Cases That Completely Transform What Your iPhone Can Do

Thursday 3 August 16:39:30 UTC 2017

Read more…More about Iphone, Iphone Cases, Mashable Reels, Tech, and Consumer Tech [Link]

Mashable » This cheap, ugly gadget will really let you watch TV for free

Thursday 3 August 16:36:23 UTC 2017

I’ll be the first to admit that I own way more gadgetry than any sane person needs. Just on my desk right now, I have two laptops, half a dozen smartphones, two tablets, three sets of headphones, and two cameras.  But one of the best gadgets I own is a cheap, ugly piece of plastic. I've been using it for at … [Link]

New Scientist – News » One day without notifications changes behaviour for two years

Thursday 3 August 16:36:00 UTC 2017

Turning off phone notifications for 24 hours amped anxiety, but raised productivity. Two years on, the experience is still helping people call the shots [Link]

Mashable » 3 things to kill before they kill your creativity

Thursday 3 August 16:34:13 UTC 2017

Death doesn’t exactly make for uplifting bumper stickers or catchy memes. Much less does it lend itself to a subject like creativity. Especially if you’re looking to write a bestseller.   So it’s more than a little unusual that death runs like an undercurrent not only through Ryan Holiday’s most recent book, Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work … [Link]

Mashable » Adorable toddler doesn't really want her aunt to take a selfie

Thursday 3 August 16:30:21 UTC 2017

Some people really know how to steal the spotlight. And most of those people are children. Twitter user @bbygirlniy posted a video of her adorable baby niece rambunctiously ruining a lovely selfie she was trying to take.  Niy is seen serving up looks in the grass as her niece Gaia runs by and curiously picks up the camera. Gaia proceeds to … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Hidden cancers detected by combining genetic tests with MRI

Thursday 3 August 16:30:00 UTC 2017

If genetic screening says you’re predisposed to cancer, what can you do about it? Whole-body scans could be a way to find tumours before they turn deadly [Link]

New Scientist – News » Cancer runs in my family, but now we can pick it up in time

Thursday 3 August 16:30:00 UTC 2017

When Natalie Coutts found out she was genetically predisposed to cancer, she was devastated. But regular screens for early tumours now let her feel in control [Link]

Mashable » Uber paints a techie world for truckers — as it expands its trucking business

Thursday 3 August 16:11:40 UTC 2017

Uber isn't just about picking people up for a night out or helping with commutes to work. SEE ALSO: A lawsuit filed in NYC claims Uber is in violation of human rights laws The ride-hailing giant is also a trucking business. The same technology (a smartphone and algorithms) that help connect commuters with drivers also can help connect truckers with … [Link]

Mashable » After a good dog chewed up a stuffed animal, an animal shelter turned it into a murder mystery

Thursday 3 August 16:09:34 UTC 2017

Like a pet version of Law and Order, an animal shelter in Wisconsin is trying to settle a case involving a suspicious doggo and his stuffed animal companion.  Hank the dog at the Fox Valley Humane Association has a best friend. And that best friend happens to be a stuffed animal named Fuzzy Purple Hippo, pictured together below. Hank and his … [Link]

Slashdot » Private Valuations Aren't Grounded in Reality, Study Finds

Thursday 3 August 16:00:00 UTC 2017

Unicorns aren't real, and neither are the valuations ascribed to many of the startups that say they're worth $1 billion or more, study finds. From a report: About half of private companies with valuations exceeding $1 billion, known as unicorns, wouldn't have earned the mythical title without the use of complex stock mechanics, according to a study by business professors … [Link]

Mashable » Read these quotes from Trump's calls with world leaders, then hide under your desk

Thursday 3 August 15:56:50 UTC 2017

United States President Donald Trump is either a modern poet … or a man incapable of speaking without losing his train of thought every 10 words.  If you are as yet undecided, consider these transcripts of his calls with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, published Thursday by The Washington Post.  SEE ALSO: Filipinos are confused … [Link]

Mashable » Stiletto skates are perfect for your next black tie roller disco

Thursday 3 August 15:56:40 UTC 2017

Want to show up all the posers at your next roller-skating party?  Consider dropping $2,600 on the new Anya 100 Patch Pump Roller from Saint Laurent, which are 1) gorgeous and 2) exactly what would've happened if Lady Gaga had ever commissioned a custom pair of Heelys. The stilettos, which are part of Saint Laurent's fall collection, feature one of two … [Link]

Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' star Sophie Turner said her social media followers help her land gigs

Thursday 3 August 15:51:52 UTC 2017

In a not so shocking turn of events, it turns out being popular on social media really helps you out if you're an actor looking to book gigs.  That, and a knack for acting, at least helped Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner land her roles. In a new interview with Porter Magazine, the actress disclosed that her large following has … [Link]

Mashable » This magnetic screwdriver will make your next DIY project flawless

Thursday 3 August 15:44:15 UTC 2017

A tool kit from Lamello features an electric screwdriver that uses magnetism to join two interlocking screws within the wood, creating a seamless connection. Read more…More about Design, Diy, Wood, Building, and Tools [Link]

Popular Science » Climate change is making our favorite carbs less nutritious

Thursday 3 August 15:43:20 UTC 2017

From Our Blogs: Nexus Media News Crops are losing protein and iron as the planet warms. New research shows that rising concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide are producing crops with less protein and iron. [Link]

Mashable » Cosplayers receive a lovely surprise when a talented melodica player belts out their themes

Thursday 3 August 15:32:04 UTC 2017

How cool would it be to have your theme song played behind you wherever you go? YouTuber LilyPichu gave a taste of that majestic life to a couple of unsuspecting cosplayers at Indy Popcon in July. Carrying a pink melodica (that little piano keyboard that you blow into), she played songs like "Let It Go" and the "Legend of Zelda" … [Link]

Mashable » Elon Musk compared losing Tesla Model 3 pre-orders to selling hamburgers

Thursday 3 August 15:31:29 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ 3's base model will cost $35,000.","image":&q~ first sleek Model 3s are on the road","sources":[{&q~ musk,future,future tech,standalone-featured,real-time,~ video,real time,real-time-video,real time video,elon musk tesla,real time news","sec0":null,&q~ musk,future,future tech,standalone-featured,real-time,~ video,real time,real-time-video,real time video,elon musk tesla,real time news","videoSeriesName&qu~ More about Tesla, Model 3, Electric Cars, Cancellation, and Reservation [Link]

Mashable » The origin of the 'Right in front of my salad' meme is glorious and very NSFW

Thursday 3 August 15:23:52 UTC 2017

Warning: This article contains some very NSFW content. And by that we mean porn. OK, proceed.  You might have noticed a new, veggie-based meme going around Twitter or Tumblr, but you might not know of its sexy origins. The meme is an annoyed woman saying, "Right in front of my salad?" It's really a great response to anything that you find … [Link]

Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' fan has the perfect theory about Ser Davos' role in Season 7

Thursday 3 August 15:22:00 UTC 2017

Warning: Contains more Game of Thrones Season 7 spoilers than you can shake an onion at. It's becoming more and more clear that Ser Davos is one of the best characters in Game of Thrones. No, really. He's reliable, he's honest, and — as we saw in that brilliant Jon-meets-Dany scene from episode 3 — he's got some previously undiscovered comedy … [Link]

Slashdot » Thousands Show Up For Jobs at Amazon Warehouses in US Cities

Thursday 3 August 15:20:00 UTC 2017

Thousands of people showed up Wednesday for a chance to pack and ship products to Amazon customers, as the e-commerce company held a giant job fair at nearly a dozen U.S. warehouses. From a report on Associated Press: Although the wages offered will make it hard for some to make ends meet, many of the candidates were excited by the … [Link]

Mashable » The guy with the best hair in video games is selling hair gel in Japan

Thursday 3 August 15:18:12 UTC 2017

Street Fighter's Guile has the best hair in all of video games. It's only appropriate that he's become the poster child for a brand of hair gel in Japan. Guile, with his golden, perfectly sculpted 'do, is the new spokesperson for J-Gel, a hair gel from the Japanese cosmetic company Yanagiya. Being a 400-year-old company, Yanagiya knows a perfect spokesperson when … [Link]

Mashable » YouTube star gives us a look at RED's mysterious holographic phone

Thursday 3 August 15:01:35 UTC 2017

The world's first smartphone with a supposed "holographic display" — the RED Hydrogen — is no longer a mystery. YouTube star Marques Brownlee, better known by his fans as MKBHD, published a video on Wednesday giving us a closer first look at the phone's design. And, well, let's just say it's no skinny iPhone. SEE ALSO: Android's first serious augmented … [Link]

Mashable » IKEA now sells solar panel battery storage — and you don't have to build it yourself

Thursday 3 August 14:57:59 UTC 2017

The word IKEA usually brings to mind memories of endless, sweaty afternoons spent decrypting their assembly instructions to build that BILLY bookcase.  SEE ALSO: Apple ARKit developer beats IKEA to the punch with AR furniture app But IKEA is also a synonym of Scandinavian environmental care. So it doesn't exactly come as a surprise that the company has started offering a … [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla Burns Through Record Cash To Bring the Model 3 To Market

Thursday 3 August 14:42:00 UTC 2017

Dana Hull, reporting for Bloomberg: Tesla's Elon Musk keeps getting the green light to do what it takes to bring electric cars to the masses, regardless of how much it's going to cost. The company burned through $1.16 billion in cash in the second quarter by spending on capacity for its cheapest model yet and boosting battery output. Investors fixated … [Link]

Mashable » This gadget makes road trips more tech-friendly

Thursday 3 August 14:32:22 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Until cars are equipped with more charging ports, the fight to charge your gadget will be a fierce one.  This handy charger fits in the cup holder and can charge up to five gadgets at a time. Built with premium circuitry, the iXCC charger … [Link]

Mashable » Even this chicken sandwich is getting in on the Anthony Scaramucci fall out

Thursday 3 August 14:22:04 UTC 2017

The Mooch may never live this one down. After just 10 (highly eventful!) days in the Trump Administration inner circle, White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci was pushed out Monday.  Now, even pre-packaged sandwiches from Ireland are in on the joke that was the Mooch's extremely brief, incredibly dramatic White House tenure. SEE ALSO: Anthony Scaramucci's memoir is already here, and … [Link]

Mashable » Fund this Kickstarter campaign for your shot at a seriously smart watch

Thursday 3 August 14:21:58 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Wearable tech is having a moment – and nothing more so than smartwatches. Powered by Android Wear and compatible with iOS, the Ticwatch Sport and Ticwatch Express watches use Google Assistant and all of the apps available in Google Play in an effort to … [Link]

Mashable » This liquid plastic welder will save your phone changer

Thursday 3 August 14:03:20 UTC 2017

Keep your gadgets and cords looking pristine thanks to this pretty cool device.  It uses a UV light and liquid to recreate bonds in plastic.  Read more…More about Tech, Mashable Video, Phone Charger, Real Time, and Real Time Video [Link]

Slashdot » Mozilla's Send is Basically the Snapchat of File Sharing

Thursday 3 August 14:02:00 UTC 2017

Mozilla has launched a new website that makes it really easy to send a file from one person to another. From a report: The site is called Send, and it's basically the Snapchat of file sharing: after a file has been downloaded once, it disappears for good. That might sound like a gimmick, but it underscores what the site is … [Link]

Mashable » This tough, high quality keychain helps keep pills close

Thursday 3 August 14:01:33 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Toss that cheap pill fob away and upgrade to a pill carrier with durability and style. This simple, high-quality keychain is designed to be indestructible. Not only is it easy to open, but it also has a secure closing to make sure you won’t … [Link]

Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' fan theory predicts the most ironic end to House Lannister

Thursday 3 August 14:00:00 UTC 2017

As usual, while everyone's in tears mourning the death of Olenna, Cersei couldn't be happier to dance on another Tyrell grave.  But the tyrannical queen might be calling her eventual victory too early. And that miscalculation could mean the end of House Lannister in the most ironic demise imaginable. Because there was something fishy about how easily Cersei swayed Tycho Nestoris, … [Link]

Mashable » Sorry, Stephen King. Critics hated 'The Dark Tower'

Thursday 3 August 13:56:01 UTC 2017

The Dark Tower is a movie that we thought would be really cool. It sounds great, it's based on Stephen King's novels, and it had awesome trailers.  But honestly, according to Mashable's Angie Han, it's just boring. As much as we want to like the Idris Elba/Matthew McConaughey mashup of King's classic books, it just didn't do it for us.  SEE … [Link]

Mashable » This design studio creates giant moving sculptures that are suspended in midair

Thursday 3 August 13:54:02 UTC 2017

Poetic Kinetics is a studio that specializes in larger than life sculptures, many of which bring new life into public spaces around the world. Their most recent installation in St. Petersburg, Russia resembles a firebird, whose tail and wings span over 32,500 square feet.  Read more…More about Design, Mashable Video, Sculpture, Real Time Video, and Kinetic [Link]

Mashable » Women share the painful reality of Ireland's abortion ban in powerful video

Thursday 3 August 13:52:12 UTC 2017

In the Republic of Ireland, a constitutional ban on abortion means that only women whose pregnancies put their lives at risk can have access to safe, legal abortion services. Amnesty International has created a powerful video highlighting that women from all backgrounds and demographics in Ireland are at risk because of the Eighth Amendment.  The video — entitled "25 annoying … [Link]

Mashable » Anthony Scaramucci's memoir is already here, and oh yeah, we have excerpts

Thursday 3 August 13:16:33 UTC 2017

Anthony Scaramucci got fired as he lived: rapidly and with no purpose. The former White House communications director is already back in the dust after having crawled out of it for 10 glorious days in our lives, days marked by chaos and glory and favorable Joe Paterno quotes. In a White House that thrives that weekly purges, Scaramucci was one of … [Link]

Mashable » Android's first serious augmented reality phone is finally here

Thursday 3 August 13:00:58 UTC 2017

Read more… {"player":{"descript~ the AR phone wars have.","image":&quot~ first serious augmented reality phone is finally here","sources":[{&q~ reality,ar,project tango,asus,zenfone ar","sec0":null,&quo~ reality,ar,project tango,asus,zenfone ar","videoSeriesName&quot~ More about Google, Android, Smartphones, Tango, and Augmented Reality [Link]

Slashdot » China Is Perfecting a New Method For Suppressing Dissent On the Internet

Thursday 3 August 13:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Vox: The art of suppressing dissent has been perfected over the years by authoritarian governments. For most of human history, the solution was simple: force. Punish people severely enough when they step out of line and you deter potential protesters. But in the age of the internet and "fake news," there are easier … [Link]

Popular Science » What to do with your pet if you need to evacuate

Thursday 3 August 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Animals Leaving them behind could be disastrous. A recent study shows that forcing people to leave behind their furry friends can lead to problems ranging from mental health to refusal to evacuate. [Link]

Popular Science » China's army is showing off its new tanks, stealth fighters, and missiles

Thursday 3 August 12:54:00 UTC 2017

From Our Blogs: Eastern Arsenal It's all part of the PLA's 90th anniversary celebration. The PLA shows off its latest high tech tanks, stealth fighters, artillery, and ICBMs. Read on. [Link]

New Scientist – News » NASA’s planetary protection officer will defend Mars, not Earth

Thursday 3 August 12:45:00 UTC 2017

A NASA job advert has made for excited headlines, but the agency isn’t hiring someone to protect us from aliens – it wants someone to protect alien microbes from us [Link]

Mashable » Apple’s greed is killing the planet (and screwing you, too)

Thursday 3 August 12:19:42 UTC 2017

Your iPhone won't last forever, even if you want it to. You'll crack the screen, or its battery will crap out, and if the physical flaws don't get you, the software will: Some approaching iOS update will either slow that sucker down or render it obsolete.  And then you'll have to buy a new one. Which sucks, assuming you'd prefer not … [Link]

Mashable » Teen tweets boyfriend's hilariously misspelled message thread, goes viral

Thursday 3 August 12:06:42 UTC 2017

Misspelled words are the bane of any fast-fingered texter, but they can have their upsides too. In the case of 18-year-old Neve McGuinness form Newcastle, UK, they can help you go viral. SEE ALSO: Say hi to Sarahah, the anonymous messaging app ruining Snapchat for teens McGuinness posted the tweet below on Sunday. The picture is a screengrab of her phone … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Al Gore’s Inconvenient Sequel could just make climate rift worse

Thursday 3 August 12:05:00 UTC 2017

Perhaps the veteran Democrat should have stayed in the wings for the follow-up to hit documentary An Inconvenient Truth, suggests Adam Corner [Link]

Mashable » 'Game of Thrones' fan has an epic theory about Daenerys and Azor Ahai

Thursday 3 August 11:29:53 UTC 2017

Warning: Contains big, dragon-sized Game of Thrones spoilers. It looks like this Season of Game of Thrones could be a good one for fulfilled prophecies. Just the other day we had a theory about Quaithe's weird speech to Daenerys from the books and how that might be about to come true, and now we have another one all about the legendary … [Link]

Mashable » Kit Harington backs learning disability campaign in simple but powerful video

Thursday 3 August 11:25:39 UTC 2017

We all know that in Game of Thrones Jon Snow is fighting to bring justice and equality to his people in the North.  SEE ALSO: Kit Harington confirms Jon is definitely crushing on Dany in 'Game of Thrones' episode 3 Off-screen, the actor who plays the King in the North, Kit Harington, is involved in similar, noble battles to support … [Link]

Mashable » 8 courses to help get your budget under control, and fast

Thursday 3 August 11:18:25 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. Managing your money can be hard. How much should you put in your 401(k)? What even is a 401(k)? Will you really be rich enough to buy a house if you stop splurging on avocado toast?  SEE ALSO: The classic wallet gets a redesign, … [Link]

Mashable » This shower speaker might finally make you a morning person

Thursday 3 August 11:16:13 UTC 2017

Just to let you know, if you buy something featured here, Mashable might earn an affiliate commission. The few minutes you spend in the shower each morning give you a precious respite from the chaos of the day. Or, maybe you're just bored. If that’s the case, you should consider purchasing a powerful, Bluetooth-enabled shower speaker like the XXL Shower Speaker.  … [Link]

Mashable » Tesla's Model Y will be based on Model 3 and will come sooner than we thought

Thursday 3 August 11:13:53 UTC 2017

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has changed his mind about the company's upcoming Model Y electric crossover. During Tesla's earnings call Wednesday, Musk said that the Model Y will be "using substantial carryover from Model 3, in order to bring it to market faster."  SEE ALSO: Elon Musk talks of his life's 'highs' and 'lows' in a few painfully honest tweets This … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Nano aluminium offers fuel cells on demand – just add water

Thursday 3 August 10:49:00 UTC 2017

The accidental discovery of a new aluminium alloy could lead to portable hydrogen and could kick-start the struggling hydrogen economy [Link]

Mashable » 4chan hackers take over city billboard to broadcast hate memes

Thursday 3 August 10:34:37 UTC 2017

Members of 4chan's /pol/ board, the hotbed of the alt-right, are pretty active in Britain, as the conspiracy theories around Grenfell Tower fire and the terror attack at Ariana Grande concert show.  SEE ALSO: No, Usain Bolt is not donating $2 million to Grenfell Tower fire victims But this time they have stepped up their game.  Hackers from /pol/ claimed responsibility … [Link]

Mashable » Japan has discovered a way to make ice-cream that doesn't melt

Thursday 3 August 10:06:36 UTC 2017

These popsicles are ready to take on the summer heat. Japan's Biotherapy Development Research Centre has created what could possibly change life as we know it — ice-cream that doesn't melt. SEE ALSO: The internet is having none of this ice cream-cotton candy 'burrito' And it wasn't even on purpose. The research centre in Kanazawa city had asked a pastry chef … [Link]

Slashdot » Verizon's New Rewards Program Lets It Track Your Browsing History

Thursday 3 August 10:00:00 UTC 2017

The new "Verizon Up" rewards program released this week by Big Red awards users a credit for every $300 they spend on their Verizon bill that can be redeemed toward various rewards. The only catch is that Verizon requires you to enroll in Verizon Selects, a program that allows the company to track a huge chunk of your personal data. … [Link]

Mashable » This Dutch model looks EXACTLY like Gigi Hadid. Seriously, it's uncanny.

Thursday 3 August 9:52:09 UTC 2017

All this time, we've been thinking Gigi Hadid is one of a kind. Turns out, she's got a Dutch doppelganger who's the spitting image of her.  Seriously, it's uncanny.  SEE ALSO: Gigi Hadid gets real about her heritage, Zayn's tattoos and more in '73 Questions' London-based model Iza Ijzerman is freaking the internet out because of her striking resemblance to Hadid. … [Link]

Mashable » Stephen Colbert interviewing cartoon Donald Trump is hilariously confusing

Thursday 3 August 9:46:51 UTC 2017

It's probably not that easy to get an interview with Donald Trump these days, but sometimes a cartoon version is good enough. Especially if that cartoon version is speaking only in actual Donald Trump quotes from a real Wall Street Journal interview transcript. SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert compares Trump's military history with transgender soldiers who serve Stephen Colbert interviewed cartoon … [Link]

Mashable » The LG V30 will have a huge, 6-inch OLED screen

Thursday 3 August 9:43:29 UTC 2017

Unlike most smartphone makers, LG doesn't exactly keep the details about upcoming phones under wraps. Instead, the company slowly releases info on the devices' key features in the weeks ahead of the launch, and this is exactly how it's treating the upcoming V30 flagship.  The V30 is due to officially be unveiled August 31, ahead of the IFA trade show in … [Link]

Mashable » Aziz Ansari deleted the internet from his phone, and it makes total sense why

Thursday 3 August 9:31:42 UTC 2017

His character Dev Shah in Netflix's Master of None is just like any other 30-something using Tinder or posting selfies on Instagram. SEE ALSO: Aziz Ansari's 'Master of None' is funny, thoughtful and heartbreaking But IRL comedian Aziz Ansari has taken a rather radical decision to wipe the internet, including Twitter, Instagram, email, and browser, out of his phone.  In an … [Link]

Mashable » Food delivery drivers talk about naked customers and other awkward encounters on the road

Thursday 3 August 9:18:53 UTC 2017

Like any customer service job, food delivery is fraught with the awkwardness that can only come from interacting with other human beings constantly. But some of these Deliveroo drivers have extra odd tales to tell. SEE ALSO: UberEats driver sends the most salty reply to customer's simple question 22-year-old rider Shafiq said he was making a delivery, when he was approached … [Link]

Mashable » Here lies possibly the world's shortest political interview

Thursday 3 August 9:18:23 UTC 2017

Australia has been lagging the world in legalising marriage equality. But in recent days, there have been hints the country's government will allow politicians to vote on whether LGBTQ couples can marry. It's instead of the government's proposal for a public vote, something that's been labelled costly and "a waste of time."  SEE ALSO: Japanese beer giant is recognising employees' same-sex … [Link]

Mashable » Clothing brands are making dedicated AirPod pockets now, if that makes sense to you

Thursday 3 August 9:13:18 UTC 2017

Because it's not odd-looking enough to wear earphones that look like they got abruptly chopped off, now you can dangle your Apple AirPods out of little pockets on your clothes. Drake's favourite brand, Stone Island, will put dedicated AirPod pockets in its upcoming Fall/Winter collection. SEE ALSO: How fashion brands are saving Android Wear smartwatches It's probably debatable whether you're more … [Link]

Mashable » Justin Bieber reveals why he cancelled tour in honest Instagram post

Thursday 3 August 9:10:29 UTC 2017

About a week or so ago, Beliebers across the world were given some truly grim news: Justin Bieber had cancelled his Purpose World Tour due to "unforeseen circumstances". SEE ALSO: Video shows the moment Justin Bieber accidentally hit a photographer with his car Now, the singer has broken his silence on Instagram. The following post doesn't go into specifics, but it … [Link]

Mashable » Everything you need to know about the multiverse in 'The Dark Tower'

Thursday 3 August 8:30:00 UTC 2017

If you like your fantasy worlds full of ominous black structures and universe-vomiting turtles, you're probably going to enjoy The Dark Tower. SEE ALSO: Everything You Should Know About 'The Dark Tower' Chances are you've already seen the trailer. For anyone not familiar with Stephen King's mighty eight-book series, though, you may be a bit fuzzy on some of the details. … [Link]

Slashdot » Being Outside Could Become Deadly In South Asia, Says Study

Thursday 3 August 7:00:00 UTC 2017

An anonymous reader quotes a report from ABC News: Venturing outdoors may become deadly across wide swaths of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh by the end of the century as climate change drives heat and humidity to new extremes, according to a new study. These conditions could affect up to a third of the people living throughout the Indo-Gangetic Plain unless … [Link]

Mashable » Amazon under investigation for violating Iran sanctions

Thursday 3 August 3:58:17 UTC 2017

Turns out when you sell a lot of stuff to a lot of people, you sometimes, maybe violate international sanctions.  #AmazonProblems SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day: Amazon’s not-so-secret plan to rule the retail world In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, the company said it is under investigation for selling around $34,000 of music, clothes, electronics, jewelry, … [Link]

Mashable » August is an awesome month for skywatching: Here's how to make the most of it

Thursday 3 August 3:48:38 UTC 2017

Get out your comfy blankets and red light flashlights: August is going to be quite a month for skywatchers.   Usually this month is a great time to watch the skies — it’s warm and home to one of best meteor showers of the year — but August 2017 in particular will be jam-packed with some particularly great events, including not one … [Link]

Slashdot » Why the Bitcoin Network Just Split In Half and Why It Matters

Thursday 3 August 3:30:00 UTC 2017

In a report via Ars Technica, Timothy B. Lee explains why the Bitcoin network split into two and why it matters: On Tuesday, a faction of the Bitcoin community launched an audacious experiment: a new version of Bitcoin called Bitcoin Cash that's incompatible with the standard version. As a result, the Bitcoin network split into two mutually incompatible networks that … [Link]

Mashable » 'Zombie' caterpillars are exploding to their deaths

Thursday 3 August 3:25:05 UTC 2017

A strange thing is happening to caterpillars in the the English countryside: they're exploding. The oak eggar moth caterpillar in Lancashire, England, has been infected by a baculovirus. The virus makes the caterpillars climb to the top of plants, toward the sun.  SEE ALSO: Bug lovers celebrate National Moth Week by posting photos of the colorful, fuzzy creatures This is not … [Link]

Mashable » 'The Dark Tower' commits the unforgivable sin of being boring

Thursday 3 August 3:14:51 UTC 2017

The Dark Tower isn't really a movie for people who've never read Stephen King's Dark Tower books. It hardly bothers to serve up any exposition, so newbies are thrown right into the deep end of its convoluted mythology.  But it's probably not for people who have read the books, either. The movie version is disappointingly lacking in the magic of King's … [Link]

Mashable » Small beauty vlogger innovates new makeup use for pantyliner

Thursday 3 August 2:51:51 UTC 2017

Beauty vlogging is a saturated space, and as such it helps to get a little gimmicky. This can mean filming makeup application atop a moving vehicle or tossing a fidget spinner into the mix or, in the case of this 8-year-old, finding a new use for the humble pantyliner.  SEE ALSO: Budding little makeup artist melts hearts during her first tutorial … [Link]

Mashable » Hero worker saves kangaroo stuck in a trench

Thursday 3 August 2:31:16 UTC 2017

Sometimes you need a hero. Like Fritz White from Goondiwindi, Australia, who helped fetch this poor kangaroo that was stuck down a trench, according to The Chronicle. White was at work when he spotted the roo lying face up in the hole, so decided to give it a hand by lifting the animal out by its arms. What a guy. … [Link]

Mashable » Hackers say they stole 1.5 terabytes from HBO. Here's what that means.

Thursday 3 August 1:14:17 UTC 2017

One point five terabytes.  That's the amount of data hackers claim to have stolen from HBO. It's a cache that, at a minimum, includes unreleased episodes of various shows, at least one Game of Thrones script, and the personal information of a senior HBO executive. We know this because the hackers posted a sampling of the goods online, although the website … [Link]

New Scientist – News » Enormous exoplanet has an atmosphere hot enough to boil iron

Thursday 3 August 1:13:41 UTC 2017

A planet nearly double the size of Jupiter and 900 light years away has a glowing stratosphere and an atmosphere hot enough that iron there exists as a vapour [Link]

Slashdot » Tesla Factory Workers Pushing For a Union Send Letter of Requests To Company's Board Members

Thursday 3 August 0:45:00 UTC 2017

One of the many challenges facing Tesla right now is the escalating worker complaints about pay and safety. At its California factory, a move to unionize is gaining steam. Workers recently sent a letter to Tesla's independent board members requesting access to the automaker's safety plan as well as clarity on compensation and a promise of no retaliation against employees … [Link]

Slashdot » CBS Delaying 'Star Trek: Discovery' To Maintain Quality

Thursday 3 August 0:25:00 UTC 2017

New submitter Zorro shares a report from Fox News: The premiere of "Star Trek: Discovery" on CBS' subscription streaming service, CBS All Access, was postponed nine months to maintain the quality of the brand. Executive producer Alex Kurtzman told the Television Critics Association Tuesday that they "spent a lot of time" discussing how to create this new world for TV … [Link]

Mashable » White House reading letters from kids is a cheap form of distraction

Thursday 3 August 0:09:50 UTC 2017

Politicians using kids to improve their image is nothing new, but the White House's current technique is gross. In an attempt to shine a positive light on Trump after weeks of controversy — the failed GOP health care bills, Anthony Scaramucci's foul mouth, Russia, Russia, Russia — the White House communications team has been reading letters that stroke the president's ego … [Link]

Mashable » Mark Zuckerberg hired a presidential pollster and everyone's freaking out

Thursday 3 August 0:07:58 UTC 2017

For someone who insists he has no interest in running for office, Mark Zuckerberg is really, really good at surrounding himself with top political strategists. The latest: Zuckerberg's philanthropic foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, has reportedly hired Joel Benenson, who was the chief strategist for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. SEE ALSO: No, Mark Zuckerberg isn’t running for office—his tour is … [Link]

Slashdot » Man Used DDoS Attacks On Media To Extort Them To Remove Stories

Thursday 3 August 0:05:00 UTC 2017

New submitter troublemaker_23 shares a report from iTWire: A 32-year-old man from Seattle who was arrested for mounting a series of distributed denial of service attacks on businesses in Australia, the U.S. and Canada, wanted articles about himself removed from various news sites, including Fairfax Media. According to an FBI chargesheet filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern … [Link]

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