HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Finding New Semiconductor Materials Through 'Doping'
“Doping" introduces impurities into a material in order to give it semiconducting properties, and can be studied on a fundamental level with supercomputers.
'Creepy' Laughter Coming from Alexa
Imagine being in the midst of a conversation with a friend or on the verge of falling asleep when suddenly laughter emerges, unprompted, from your voice-activated assistant. This has been the reality for a number of Amazon Echo and Echo Dot users who have been detailing their experiences all over the internet in recent weeks.
A Smartphone Case That Can Check Blood Pressure is in Development
Checking your blood pressure in the future could be as simple as touching a smartphone case, according to developers who have been working on such a device.
Vanishing Electronic Chips? A New Breakthrough Allows Circuits to Disintegrate
The technology could be used to prevent unauthorized theft of data such as medical or personal information
Tech Companies Join Forces to Combat Wildlife Trafficking
Hoping to “collectively reduce wildlife trafficking across platforms by 80 percent by 2020,” 21 tech companies have joined forces to create The Global Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online.
Google Maps Street View Adds 11 Disney Parks
Want a Disney vacation without the cost or the long lines, all from the comfort of your own home? Google Maps Street View makes this vision a (virtual) reality with the recent addition of 11 Disney parks.
Driving While Talking on Cell Phone Still Hazardous
While it is no secret that driving while talking on the phone is a distraction that can lead to accidents and other driving mishaps, researchers analyzing recent studies on the topic believe that the updated data provides even more compelling evidence of the dangers, and thus a platform, for governments looking to enact legislation to restrict drivers’ cell phone use.
Former Google Exec Warns that Murderous Robots Are Only a Decade or Two Away
As artificial intelligence continues to rapidly develop, many experts have expressed concern over the inevitable creation of murderous robots, with one former Google exec predicting that reality is only a decade or so off.
Reducing Carbon Emissions is Good for the Planet, But Also Good for Your Wallet
Researchers from Concordia University’s Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering have found a power method that reduces carbon to help the environment, while also cutting costs.
Amazon Takes Pictures of Your Front Door as Proof of Package Delivery
As Amazon Logistics — the delivery arm of Amazon — grows, so too do the features offered by the company, including an option to receive pictures of delivered packages placed at or near entrances to customers’ homes.
Japan to Launch AI System to Predict Crime
Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Japanese police force is expected to begin employing predictive policing using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Software Engineer Built a Facial Recognition Device...for His Cat
Considering that most cat owners are often at the mercy of their cat's every whim, one software engineer in Holland managed to take the guess work out of his cat's comings and goings using facial recognition technology.
Are Smartphones to Blame for Uptick in U.S. Pedestrian Deaths?
With U.S. pedestrian deaths hitting numbers not seen in decades, researchers set out to determine the cause for the increase, even going as far as suggesting that a simultaneous increase in both smartphone and marijuana usage may be partly to blame.
Smart Safe Protects Valuables Remotely
The smart safe keeps anything from money, passports, medicine and jewelry safe. Users can access the safe in one of three ways: Using an emergency key, an exterior keypad or a smartphone app from almost anywhere.
Study Suggests That Basic Password Guidance Can Improve Account Security
A study concerning account passwords suggests that better guidance and detailed support will help users create harder-to-crack passwords.
Search Results for AI Faster, More Accurate Than Human Lawyers
Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be more accurate than actual lawyers when it comes to reviewing legal documents, so says research from legal AI platform LawGeex.
Artificial Intelligence Used to Help Police Make Custody Decisions
Such a decision — which has potential implications for the suspect, the police and the public alike — is common in the law enforcement world, often occurring as much as hundreds of thousands of times a year.
Children Struggle with Mechanics of Holding a Pencil Thanks to Time Spent on Touchscreen Devices
As small children are spending more and more time on electronic devices such as touchscreen phones and tablets, experts believe that their excess use is getting in the way of children naturally developing their finger muscles enough to properly hold pencils upon starting school.
Uber Set to Debut New Service
The service, which was first tested in San Francisco and Boston in November, will launch this week in Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Philadelphia, Washington and Miami.
Urban Mining to Help Create New Source for Raw Materials
The valuable materials in everything from automobiles and medical implants to mobile phone components often come from countries such as China. However, once those materials become components in an electronic device, they aren't likely to be used again.