Author: Robin Edgar

Organisational Structures | Technology and Science | Military, IT and Lifestyle consultancy | Social, Broadcast & Cross Media | Flying aircraft

JWST Delivers A Fantastic New Image Of Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Before a massive star explodes as a supernova, it convulses and sends its outer layers into space, signalling the explosive energy about to follow. When the star does explode, it sends a shockwave out into its own ejected outer layer, lighting it up as different chemical elements shine with different energies and colours. Intermingled with Read more about JWST Delivers A Fantastic New Image Of Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A[…]

Newly created ultra-hard material rivals diamond

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle and unveiled a near unbreakable substance that could rival diamond as the hardest material on Earth. The research is published in the journal Advanced Materials. Researchers found that when carbon and nitrogen precursors were subjected to extreme heat and pressure, the resulting materials—known as carbon nitrides—were tougher than cubic Read more about Newly created ultra-hard material rivals diamond[…]

Nuclear fission seen for 1st time in space

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Scientists have discovered the first indication of nuclear fission occurring amongst the stars. The discovery supports the idea that when neutron stars smash together, they create “superheavy” elements — heavier than the heaviest elements of the periodic table […] “People have thought fission was happening in the cosmos, but to date, no one has been Read more about Nuclear fission seen for 1st time in space[…]

1M non-profit donors PII exposed by unsecured DonorView database

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Close to a million records containing personally identifiable information belonging to donors that sent money to non-profits were found exposed in an online database. The database is owned and operated by DonorView – provider of a cloud-based fundraising platform used by schools, charities, religious institutions, and other groups focused on charitable or philanthropic goals. Infosec Read more about 1M non-profit donors PII exposed by unsecured DonorView database[…]

Polish Hackers Repaired Trains the Manufacturer Artificially Bricked. Now The Train Maker NEWAG Is Threatening Them

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] three white-hat hackers helped a regional rail company in southwest Poland unbrick a train that had been artificially rendered inoperable by the train’s manufacturer after an independent maintenance company worked on it. The train’s manufacturer is now threatening to sue the hackers who were hired by the independent repair company to fix it. The Read more about Polish Hackers Repaired Trains the Manufacturer Artificially Bricked. Now The Train Maker NEWAG Is Threatening Them[…]

Mind-reading AI can translate brainwaves into written text

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Using only a sensor-filled helmet combined with artificial intelligence, a team of scientists has announced they can turn a person’s thoughts into written words. In the study, participants read passages of text while wearing a cap that recorded electrical brain activity through their scalp. These electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were then converted into text using an Read more about Mind-reading AI can translate brainwaves into written text[…]

US Law enforcement can obtain prescription records from pharmacy giants without a warrant

Posted on by Robin Edgar

America’s eight largest pharmacy providers shared customers’ prescription records to law enforcement when faced with subpoena requests, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. The news arrives amid patients’ growing privacy concerns in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade. The new look into the legal workarounds was first detailed in a Read more about US Law enforcement can obtain prescription records from pharmacy giants without a warrant[…]

Italian “Piracy Shield” Instant Facisct Takedown Orders Apply to All ISPs, DNS & VPN Providers & Google

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Italy’s Piracy Shield anti-piracy system reportedly launched last week, albeit in limited fashion. Whether the platform had any impact on pirate IPTV providers offering the big game last Friday is unclear but plans supporting a full-on assault are pressing ahead. […] When lawmakers gave Italy’s new blocking regime the green light during the summer, the Read more about Italian “Piracy Shield” Instant Facisct Takedown Orders Apply to All ISPs, DNS & VPN Providers & Google[…]

Jury finds Google’s Play store is illegal monopoly – now… Apple?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The case was heard by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. As The Register has reported, the matter tested Epic’s allegations that Google stifles competition by requiring developers to pay it commissions even if they use third-party payment services, and paid some developers to secure their exclusive presence on the Read more about Jury finds Google’s Play store is illegal monopoly – now… Apple?[…]

Proposed US surveillance regime makes anyone with a modem a big brother spy. Choice is between full on spying and full on spying.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Under rules being considered, any telecom service provider or business with custodial access to telecom equipment – a hotel IT technician, an employee at a cafe with Wi-Fi, or a contractor responsible for installing home broadband router – could be compelled to enable electronic surveillance. And this would apply not only to those involved with Read more about Proposed US surveillance regime makes anyone with a modem a big brother spy. Choice is between full on spying and full on spying.[…]

Zooniverse – help explore space, the planet, medicine, science!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] At the Zooniverse, anyone can be a researcherYou don’t need any specialised background, training, or expertise to participate in any Zooniverse projects. We make it easy for anyone to contribute to real academic research, on their own computer, at their own convenience.You’ll be able to study authentic objects of interest gathered by researchers, like Read more about Zooniverse – help explore space, the planet, medicine, science![…]

Frostquakes are a thing now – being found in the North

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A new study has identified a potentially growing natural hazard in the north: frostquakes. With climate change contributing to many observed changes in weather extremes, such as heavy precipitation and cold waves, these seismic events could become more common. Researchers were surprised by the role of wetlands and drainage channels in irrigated wetlands in origin Read more about Frostquakes are a thing now – being found in the North[…]

Ultrasound Enables Remote 3-D Printing–Even in the Human Body

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Mechanical engineers Shervin Foroughi and Mohsen Habibi were painstakingly maneuvering a tiny ultrasound wand over a pool of liquid when they first saw an icicle shape emerge and solidify. […] Most commercial forms of 3-D printing involve extruding fluid materials—plastics, ceramics, metals or even biological compounds—through a nozzle and hardening them layer-by-layer to form computer-drafted Read more about Ultrasound Enables Remote 3-D Printing–Even in the Human Body[…]

AI made from living human brain cells performs speech recognition

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Balls of human brain cells linked to a computer have been used to perform a very basic form of speech recognition. The hope is that such systems will use far less energy for AI tasks than silicon chips. “This is just proof-of-concept to show we can do the job,” says Feng Guo at Indiana University Read more about AI made from living human brain cells performs speech recognition[…]

Bad genes: 23andMe leak highlights a possible future of genetic discrimination

Posted on by Robin Edgar

23andMe is a terrific concept. In essence, the company takes a sample of your DNA and tells you about your genetic makeup. For some of us, this is the only way to learn about our heritage. Spotty records, diaspora, mistaken family lore and slavery can make tracing one’s roots incredibly difficult by traditional methods. What Read more about Bad genes: 23andMe leak highlights a possible future of genetic discrimination[…]

This mathematical trick can help you imagine space-time

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The following is an extract from our Lost in Space-Time newsletter. Each month, we hand over the keyboard to a physicist or two to tell you about fascinating ideas from their corner of the universe. You can sign up for Lost in Space-Time for free here. Space-time is a curious thing. Look around and it’s easy Read more about This mathematical trick can help you imagine space-time[…]

23andMe frantically changed its terms of service to prevent 6.9m hacked customers from suing about losing their (and their entire family’s) DNA

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Genetic testing company 23andMe changed its terms of service to prevent customers from filing class action lawsuits or participating in a jury trial days after reports revealing that attackers accessed personal information of nearly 7 million people — half of the company’s user base — in an October hack. In an email sent to customers Read more about 23andMe frantically changed its terms of service to prevent 6.9m hacked customers from suing about losing their (and their entire family’s) DNA[…]

Your mobile password manager might be exposing your credentials because of Webview

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A number of popular mobile password managers are inadvertently spilling user credentials due to a vulnerability in the autofill functionality of Android apps. The vulnerability, dubbed “AutoSpill,” can expose users’ saved credentials from mobile password managers by circumventing Android’s secure autofill mechanism, according to university researchers at the IIIT Hyderabad, who discovered the vulnerability and Read more about Your mobile password manager might be exposing your credentials because of Webview[…]

Google calls Drive data loss “fixed,” locks forum threads saying otherwise

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Google is dealing with its second “lost data” fiasco in the past few months. This time, it’s Google Drive, which has been mysteriously losing files for some people. Google acknowledged the issue on November 27, and a week later, it posted what it called a fix. It doesn’t feel like Google is describing this issue Read more about Google calls Drive data loss “fixed,” locks forum threads saying otherwise[…]

Attacks abuse Microsoft DHCP to spoof DNS records and steal secrets

Posted on by Robin Edgar

A series of attacks against Microsoft Active Directory domains could allow miscreants to spoof DNS records, compromise Active Directory and steal all the secrets it stores, according to Akamai security researchers. We’re told the attacks – which are usable against servers running the default configuration of Microsoft Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers – don’t Read more about Attacks abuse Microsoft DHCP to spoof DNS records and steal secrets[…]

Greedflation: corporate profiteering ‘significantly’ boosted global prices, study shows

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Profiteering has played a significant role in boosting inflation during 2022, according to a report that calls for a global corporation tax to curb excess profits. Analysis of the financial accounts of many of the UK’s biggest businesses found that profits far outpaced increases in costs, helping to push up inflation last year to levels Read more about Greedflation: corporate profiteering ‘significantly’ boosted global prices, study shows[…]

Your Organs Might Be Aging at Different Rates

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The number of birthdays you’ve had—better known as your chronological age—now appears to be less important in assessing your health than ever before. A new study shows that bodily organs get “older” at extraordinarily different rates, and each one’s biological age can be at odds with a person’s age on paper. […] The team sampled Read more about Your Organs Might Be Aging at Different Rates[…]

Nearly Every Windows and Linux Device Vulnerable To New LogoFAIL Firmware Attack

Posted on by Robin Edgar

“Researchers have identified a large number of bugs to do with the processing of images at boot time,” writes longtime Slashdot reader jd. “This allows malicious code to be installed undetectably (since the image doesn’t have to pass any validation checks) by appending it to the image. None of the current secure boot mechanisms are Read more about Nearly Every Windows and Linux Device Vulnerable To New LogoFAIL Firmware Attack[…]

Governments, Apple, Google spying on users through push notifications – they all go through Apple and Google servers (unencrypted?)!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google and Apple (AAPL.O). Although details were sparse, the letter lays out yet another path by which governments can track smartphones. Apps of all kinds rely on push notifications to alert smartphone users to Read more about Governments, Apple, Google spying on users through push notifications – they all go through Apple and Google servers (unencrypted?)![…]

Global Climate Tipping points: threats and opportunities accelerate and going very quickly now. Action is needed.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The world has reached a pivotal moment as threats from Earth system tipping points – and progress towards positive tipping points – accelerate, a new report shows Story highlights Rapid changes to nature and societies already happening, and more coming The report makes six key recommendations to change course fast A cascade of positive tipping Read more about Global Climate Tipping points: threats and opportunities accelerate and going very quickly now. Action is needed.[…]