undefined 6, 2024
Judge rules that Google ‘is a monopolist’ in US antitrust case
A federal judge ruled that Google violated US antitrust law by maintaining a monopoly in the search and advertising markets, acting in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. Judge Amit Mehta's decision supports the Department of Justice's claims, acknowledging Google's monopoly in general search services and text advertising but not in all parts of the ads market. Remedies will be determined in the next phase, which may include changes to Google's business practices or a breakup. Google plans to appeal, while DOJ and DuckDuckGo view the decision as a step towards greater market competition.
Olympics: from drones to special shoes, here’s how tech has been used to get ahead
The "Dronegate" scandal involves the Canadian women's football team using a drone to spy on New Zealand's practice before the Paris Olympic Games. Analyst Joseph Lombardi, head coach Bev Priestman, and official Jasmine Mander received one-year suspensions from FIFA. Canada was fined and deducted points, eventually exiting the competition after losing to Germany. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of "technological doping" in sports. Historical examples include Boris Onishchenko's rigged fencing sword in 1976 and the controversial Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit in 2008. Other notable instances include Oscar Pistorius' prosthetic legs in 2012 and Nike's Vaporfly shoes in 2016, illustrating the complex intersection of technology and fair play in sports.
OpenAI co-founder John Schulman says he will leave and join rival Anthropic
OpenAI co-founder John Schulman announced he is leaving the company to join AI startup Anthropic, funded by Amazon. This decision comes after OpenAI disbanded its superalignment team, which aimed to control advanced AI systems. Schulman, who previously led OpenAI’s post-training team, seeks to focus more on AI alignment in a hands-on role. Schulman's departure follows other key exits from OpenAI, including Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever. Despite this, Schulman emphasized continued support for AI alignment at OpenAI. Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, acknowledged Schulman's contributions to the company's strategy.
How the music industry learned to love piracy
The documentary “How Music Got Free” explores the impact of the file-sharing era on the music industry, depicting early online pirates as heroes who democratized music. It highlights how record labels profited from high CD prices, which led to the rise of piracy and a significant drop in CD sales. The film portrays streaming services as a resolution, though critics argue this narrative ignores the harm to artists, who struggle with low streaming payouts. The documentary, produced by Eminem and others, is seen as glossing over the broader negative effects of the streaming economy on musicians.
Second person with spinal cord injury gets Neuralink brain chip and it's working
Elon Musk announced that Neuralink has successfully implanted a second human with its brain chip. During a podcast, Musk described the procedure as highly effective, noting good signal and electrode performance. Neuralink aims to expand its electrode count and enhance signal processing. The second surgery had been delayed due to a medical condition of the initial patient. The first recipient, quadriplegic Noland Arbaugh, reported positive effects but faced some issues with the device. Neurosurgeon Matthew MacDougall described the surgery as straightforward, involving precise robotic electrode placement in the brain.
No, the Seine cleanup wasn’t a failure
On July 31, Olympic triathletes swam in the Seine near the Alexandre III bridge, marking a key milestone in Paris' €1.4 billion effort to clean the river. Despite initial concerns over water quality, the event proceeded after a delay. The project includes upgrading sewer systems and building stormwater basins. While swimming was banned since 1923 due to contamination, Paris aims to open dedicated swimming sites by next summer. Advanced monitoring will help maintain water quality amid climate challenges.
I don't know how CPUs work so I simulated one in code
A few months ago, I realized I didn’t fully understand how computers work, so I decided to build one. After reading "But How Do It Know?" by J. Clark Scott, which explains an 8-bit computer's inner workings, I implemented a simple computer in code. Though not an expert, I’ve created a basic CPU simulation with working keyboard input and text display. This project, built in Go, was challenging but enlightening, revealing the complexity behind modern computing concepts.
Russian fiber optic drone beats any jammer - now the Ukraine version
Kalashnikov subsidiary ZALA's 'Product 55' quadcopter, claimed to resist radio jamming, features a surprising technology: it uses a fiber-optic cable instead of radio signals. Captured Russian FPV drones have been found with spools of fiber optic cable and optical transceivers for communication. While fiber optics in missiles and drones is an old concept, it's now seeing real-world use. Despite skepticism, this method bypasses traditional radio jamming and reflects a long history of fiber-optic guidance.
Airlines are running out of flight numbers, and they don’t know what to do about it
Airlines like American, Delta, and United are running out of four-digit flight numbers due to high volume and codesharing with partners. American Airlines, for instance, has more than 9,999 flights they need to number, including regional and codeshare flights. To manage this, they use techniques like assigning the same number to multiple flights per day and using 'out and back' flight numbers. The outdated system, built on legacy tech from the 60s, complicates adding extra digits. The issue affects only a few major airlines, but solutions are challenging and costly.
China launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink
On August 6, Chinese state-owned Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) successfully launched 18 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. This marks the start of SSST's "Thousand Sails Constellation," a bid to rival SpaceX's Starlink network, which has around 5,500 LEO satellites providing global internet. LEO satellites, operating at 300km to 2,000km altitudes, are cost-effective and efficient but also have military implications. China's media has expressed concerns about Starlink's potential strategic advantage.
The cure for disposable plastic crap is here - and it’s loony
Innovations to combat single-use plastics include Julia Marsh's seaweed-based bioplastics from Sway, which decompose quickly and reduce landfill waste. Meanwhile, Kjell Olav Maldum's Infinitum in Norway excels at recycling PET bottles through advanced technology and supportive policies. These efforts aim to cut down on single-use plastics and enhance recycling practices, addressing the global plastic waste crisis from multiple angles.
PC gamers still prefer Windows 10 over Windows 11
In July 2024, Windows 11 saw a decline to 45.81% of Steam users, while Windows 10 increased to 50.16%. Despite similar gaming performance, Windows 10's core isolation might give it an edge. Windows 10 will lose support in October 2025. Meanwhile, Linux and macOS usage on Steam is stable, with Nvidia's RTX 3060 leading GPU stats, though it may soon be discontinued in favor of the RTX 4060.
The lawless mining gangs targeting the Amazon’s precious green energy minerals
In Brazil's Roraima state, illegal mining has surged, with cassiterite, a key tin ore, nicknamed "black gold." Essential for renewable energy tech, demand for cassiterite has risen sharply, driving up prices by 29% this year. This rush has led to environmental damage and threats to Indigenous lands, particularly the Yanomami. Seizures of cassiterite and other minerals like manganese and copper have been significant, though enforcement has waned under recent administrations. The rise in cassiterite mining underscores its critical role and growing market value.
NASA might delay return stranded starliner astronauts to earth
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, currently docked at the ISS, faces delays in returning to Earth due to technical issues. NASA is now considering alternative plans, including delaying SpaceX’s Crew 9 launch and potentially using Crew Dragon to bring Starliner’s crew home. Starliner’s mission was plagued by thruster failures and helium leaks, leading to indefinite postponement of its return. While NASA initially hoped for a Starliner return by July, it now seems Crew Dragon may be needed, marking a setback for Starliner and raising doubts about its reliability.
Apple releases new Safari feature to hide ‘distracting’ parts of the web
Apple is introducing a “Distraction Control” feature to help users hide intrusive website elements like email sign-up forms and cookie pop-ups. Available later this year on macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, it will let users block these distractions and keep them hidden as they browse. The feature won’t hide ads or dynamic content and can be toggled on or off from a browser bar. This update, part of Safari’s new tools, also includes highlights and AI-driven Reader mode.
I never thought I’d be an academic scientist - but I’m glad I followed my gut
Despite excelling in my chemistry master's and national exams, I felt uncertain about pursuing a Ph.D. I wasn't passionate about science; my focus had been on securing a stable career. However, my lab research sparked a growing interest in academia. Although advised against it, I chose to pursue a Ph.D. Despite feeling inadequate compared to more passionate peers, I found that my pragmatic approach allowed me to steadily progress. Now, as a postdoc, I appreciate solving problems for my own satisfaction, realizing that a lack of passion doesn’t diminish my capability or worth in academia.
How Asia's rice terraces are inspiring modern flood control
Asian cities are increasingly adopting traditional agricultural designs to manage flooding. Kotchakorn Voraakhom, inspired by childhood flooding in Bangkok, now designs parks and rooftop gardens using rice terrace principles. Her notable project at Thammasat University features a rooftop farm that reduces runoff and lowers temperatures. In China, Yu Kongjian's "sponge city" concept uses terracing to mitigate floods and purify water. This approach, integrating ancient wisdom with modern needs, shows promise for addressing urban flooding and climate change impacts across Asia and beyond.
Xiaomi's self-optimizing autonomous factory will make 10M+ phones a year
Xiaomi's new Smart Factory in Beijing is a 100% automated production facility, capable of diagnosing and fixing issues independently. Spanning 80,000 square meters, it produces foldable phones like the MIX Fold 4 and MIX Flip at a rate of one every three seconds. Unlike previous automated factories, Xiaomi's system, powered by its "Pengpai Intelligent Manufacturing Platform," can evolve and optimize itself over time. This represents a significant advance in factory automation, blending AI with manufacturing for enhanced efficiency and autonomy.
A glimpse into the future of AI electric cars
EV sales face challenges due to quality issues and declining demand, with many owners considering a return to ICE vehicles. New battery tech like solid-state and sodium-ion promises longer ranges and faster charging. Autonomous driving is advancing slowly, with Level 5 expected by 2030. AI in cars will soon handle tasks like diagnostics and personalization, potentially shifting car ownership towards subscription models.
Robot dentist performs world's first fully automated procedure
A robot has achieved a world first by completing a fully-automated dental procedure on a human. Using AI, 3D imaging, and a robotic arm, Perceptive's technology aims to enhance precision and speed for procedures like fillings and crowns. CEO Dr. Chris Ciriello highlighted the breakthrough's efficiency. With $30M in funding and backing from Edward Zuckerberg, Perceptive envisions reducing crown placements to just 15 minutes, compared to the current two-hour process.
