58295077
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
The BBC reports that Linkedin is taking an aggressive stance against Sell Hack, telling users to uninstall the Chrome browser plug-in and pursuing legal action against the firm. Linkedin has delivered Sell Hack a cease-and-desist letter and is, '... doing everything we can to shut Sell Hack down.'
58263889
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Reuters is reporting that the U.S. National Security Agency managed to have security firm RSA adopt not just one, but two security tools, further facilitating NSA eavesdropping on Internet communications
The newly discovered software is dubbed 'Extended Random', and is intended to facilitate the use of the already known 'Dual Elliptic Curve' encryption software's back door. Researchers from several U.S. universities discovered Extended Random and assert it could help crack Dual Elliptic Curve encrypted communications 'tens of thousands of times faster'.
58238603
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Reuters reports that Mt. Gox employees began to question the handling of funds at least two years ago. Although only CEO Mark Karpeles had full access to financial records, a group of a half-dozen employees began to suspect client funds were being diverted to cover operating costs, which included Karpeles' toys, such as 'racing version of the Honda Civic imported from Britain'. Employees confronted Karpeles in early 2012, only to be given vague assurances with a "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" ring. Unfortunately, since Mt. Gox was not regulated as a financial institution under Japanese law, it is unclear what recourse might be gained in pursuing this question.
58164157
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Using New Caledonian crows captured from the wild, scientists have demonstrated the corvids' ability to master the task of retrieving food by displacing water, inspired by the classic Aesop fable of the "Crow and the Pitcher". Per the researchers: 'In their understanding of physics — how objects displace water — the crows were comparable to 5-to-7-year-old children ...' Reuters provides an approachable summation of the news, here.
57981427
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Using sophisticated pattern matching software, researchers have had substantially better success with a computer, than was obtained with human subjects, in spotting faked facial expressions of pain. [Original, paywalled article in Current Biology] From the Reuters piece: '... human subjects did no better than chance — about 50 percent ...', 'The computer was right 85 percent of the time.'
57909969
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Coronal mass ejections, with severity comparable to the 1859 Carrington event, missed Earth by only 9 days, in 2012, according to researchers. The Carrington event caused widespread damage to the telegraph system in the U. S., and a similar occurrence would be devastating to modern electronics, it is thought. NASA's STEREO A spacecraft is responsible for detecting the event. From the Reuters article, 'Had it hit Earth, it probably would have been like the big one in 1859, but the effect today, with our modern technologies, would have been tremendous.' The potential global cost for such damage is pegged at $2.6 trillion.
57795715
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Evidence for the Big Bang has received a remarkable boost from the apparent finding of the B-mode polarisation of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation. This event traces the origins of the universe's expansion back to "... first trillionth, of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second," of its existence. From the BBC article: "'Detecting this signal is one of the most important goals in cosmology today. A lot of work by a lot of people has led up to this point,' said Prof John Kovac of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and a leader of the BICEP2 collaboration."
Already there is talk of a Nobel for this research.
57661249
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Ultraviolet light flashes, or "corona", may be scaring animals and altering behavior. An international scientific team, first studying behavioral anomalies in reindeer near power lines, have found that sporadic flashes of UV from the lines are probably responsible. As most mammals can see into the UV spectrum, this has broad implications for the disruption of animal behavior. From the BBC article: "Since, as the researchers added, coronas 'happen on all power lines everywhere', the avoidance of the flashes could be having a global impact on wildlife."
57593957
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Parents angered by Google's policy which facilitates children making in-app purchases without "reasonable [parental] controls", have filed suit in the U.S. This recalls a kefuffle, last year, regarding a similar policy at Apple.
57150835
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
The BBC reports that insurers are denying coverage to energy producers because of weak defenses against cyber attack. Lloyd's of London reports a 'huge increase' in demand for such policies, but audits they commissioned found 'protections were inadequate'. To quote Ed Skoudis 'War games' expert, '... it's surprising no big incident has happened given how weak the infrastructure is. It's very hackable.'
57059721
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Reuters reports Google has initiated lobbying efforts to stymie attempts by some states to enact distracted driver laws aimed at wearable technologies, such as Google Glass. Given the toll on our highways shown to arise from distracted drivers, is this responsible corporate behavior or "doing evil"?
56923457
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
John Cryan, a researcher at the University College Cork, explains the relationship between the bacteria in your gut and your intelligence. It seems the flora in your intestines can influence brain development as well as aspects of health and nutrition which affect such things as hormones and neurotransmitters.
Note: Please hold the George W. Bush jokes until after the break.
56885467
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
Spike Aerospace, designers of the S-512 supersonic passenger aircraft, plan to replace windows with camera-fed viewscreens. Touted as giving passengers control over the view, it raises questions about keeping passengers in the dark, perhaps literally.
56607251
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
The BBC provides some insights into the next generation satellites being built for Google, by contractor DigitalGlobe in Colorado. The resolution of these satellites' cameras is said sufficient to provide clarity down to 10 inches. Unfortunately, the public will be allowed only half that image quality, the best being reserved for the U. S. military.
56372861
submission
Rambo Tribble writes:
The commercial aviation industry is scrambling to get ahead of a new threat to air travel, burning or exploding lithium batteries. As portable devices have become more popular, improperly stored or defective lithium batteries have caused a number of incidents on airliners. The BBC article includes a short video showing the remarkably violent force even a small battery can produce. Important safety tip: this is one electrical fire you want to fight with water.