Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s Arrest Upends Kremlin Military Communications

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested Saturday night by French authorities on allegations that his social media platform was being used for child pornography, drug trafficking and organized crime. The move sparked debate over free speech worldwide from prominent anti-censorship figures including Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy. Jr. and Edward Snowden. However, “the Read more about Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s Arrest Upends Kremlin Military Communications[…]

Spike mutations make it even easier for SARS-CoV-2 infect the brain

Scientists have discovered a mutation in SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, that plays a key role in its ability to infect the central nervous system. The findings may help scientists understand its neurological symptoms and the mystery of “long COVID,” and they could one day even lead to specific treatments to protect and clear Read more about Spike mutations make it even easier for SARS-CoV-2 infect the brain[…]

‘Bees starving’ in disastrous year for French honey

Beekeepers across France say it has been a disastrous year for honey, with bees starving to death and production plummeting by up to 80 percent. Mickael Isambert, a beekeeper in Saint-Ours-les-Roches in central France, lost 70 percent of his honey and had to feed his colonies sugar to help them survive after a cold, rainy Read more about ‘Bees starving’ in disastrous year for French honey[…]

Strength training activates cellular waste disposal

The elimination of damaged cell components is essential for the maintenance of the body’s tissues and organs. An international research team led by the University of Bonn has made significant findings on mechanisms for the clearing of cellular wastes, showing that strength training activates such mechanisms. The findings could form the basis for new therapies Read more about Strength training activates cellular waste disposal[…]

WTF! Telegram messaging app CEO Durov arrested in France

PARIS, Aug 24 (Reuters) – Pavel Durov, the Russian-French billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening, TF1 TV and BFM TV said, citing unidentified sources. Durov was travelling aboard his private jet, TF1 said on its website, adding he had been targeted by Read more about WTF! Telegram messaging app CEO Durov arrested in France[…]

Good sleep habits important for overweight adults, different effects for men and women

New research from Oregon Health & Science University reveals negative health consequences for people who are overweight and ignore their body’s signals to sleep at night, with specific differences between men and women. The study published this week in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. “This study builds support for the importance of good Read more about Good sleep habits important for overweight adults, different effects for men and women[…]

SolarWinds left hardcoded credentials in helpdesk product

SolarWinds left hardcoded credentials in its Web Help Desk product that can be used by remote, unauthenticated attackers to log into vulnerable instances, access internal functionality, and modify sensitive data The software maker has now issued an update to address that critical oversight; its users are encouraged to install the fix, which presumably removes the Read more about SolarWinds left hardcoded credentials in helpdesk product[…]

World-first lung mRNA cancer vaccine trials launched across seven countries

Doctors have begun trialling the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine in patients, as experts hailed its “groundbreaking” potential to save thousands of lives. Lung cancer is the world’s leading cause of cancer death, accounting for about 1.8m deaths every year. Survival rates in those with advanced forms of the disease, where tumours have spread, Read more about World-first lung mRNA cancer vaccine trials launched across seven countries[…]

Google is shoving its apps onto new Windows laptops

Google is making a new desktop app called Essentials that packages a few Google services, like Messages and Photos, and includes links to download many others. The app will be included with many new Windows laptops, with the first ones coming from HP. […] The Essentials app lets you “discover and install many of our Read more about Google is shoving its apps onto new Windows laptops[…]

Microplastics are infiltrating brain tissue, studies show

[…] The paper also found the quantity of microplastics in brain samples from 2024 was about 50% higher from the total in samples that date to 2016, suggesting the concentration of microplastics found in human brains is rising at a similar rate to that found in the environment. Most of the organs came from the Read more about Microplastics are infiltrating brain tissue, studies show[…]

Peloton to charge $95 activation fee for used bikes

Peloton on Thursday said it will start charging new subscribers a one-time $95 activation fee if they bought their hardware on the secondary market as more consumers snag lightly used equipment for a fraction of the typical retail price. […] During its fiscal fourth quarter, which ended June 30, Peloton said it saw a “steady Read more about Peloton to charge $95 activation fee for used bikes[…]

Study of 18 million people finds increased mental illnesses incidence following severe COVID-19, especially in unvaccinated people

A new study that examined health data on 18 million people reveals higher incidence of mental illnesses for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated people. Vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental illnesses. The University of Bristol-led study, published in JAMA Psychiatry today [21 August], investigated associations of Read more about Study of 18 million people finds increased mental illnesses incidence following severe COVID-19, especially in unvaccinated people[…]

For first time, DNA tech offers both data storage and computing functions

Researchers from North Carolina State University and Johns Hopkins University have demonstrated a technology capable of a suite of data storage and computing functions—repeatedly storing, retrieving, computing, erasing or rewriting data—that uses DNA rather than conventional electronics. Previous DNA data storage and computing technologies could complete some but not all of these tasks. The paper, Read more about For first time, DNA tech offers both data storage and computing functions[…]

Study explains why laws are written in an incomprehensible style

Legal documents are notoriously difficult to understand, even for lawyers. This raises the question: Why are these documents written in a style that makes them so impenetrable? MIT cognitive scientists believe they have uncovered the answer to that question. Just as “magic spells” use special rhymes and archaic terms to signal their power, the convoluted Read more about Study explains why laws are written in an incomprehensible style[…]

Florida data broker NPD says it was ransacked by cyber-thieves

A Florida firm has all but confirmed that millions of people’s sensitive personal info was stolen from it by cybercriminals and publicly leaked. That information, totaling billions of records, includes the names, Social Security numbers, physical and email addresses, and phone numbers of folks in the United States, UK, and Canada. It’s the sort of Read more about Florida data broker NPD says it was ransacked by cyber-thieves[…]

Bicycles Can Be Hacked Easily Now

[…] New research suggests that certain brands of bike parts have vulnerabilities that could allow them to be remotely compromised during competitions. The research was unveiled this week at the Usenix Workshop on Offensive Technologies by researchers from Northeastern University and UC San Diego. In their paper, researchers note that, much like modern cars, today’s Read more about Bicycles Can Be Hacked Easily Now[…]

Anova Smart sous vide cooker to start charging $2/month for 10-year-old companion app, stop Bluetooth functionality

Anova, a company that sells smart sous vide cookers, is getting backlash from customers after announcing that it will soon charge a subscription fee for the device’s companion app. […] In a blog post on Thursday, Anova CEO and cofounder Stephen Svajian announced that starting on August 21, people who sign up to use the Read more about Anova Smart sous vide cooker to start charging $2/month for 10-year-old companion app, stop Bluetooth functionality[…]

Scientists find humans age dramatically in two bursts – at 44, then 60

[…] The study, which tracked thousands of different molecules in people aged 25 to 75, detected two major waves of age-related changes at around ages 44 and again at 60. The findings could explain why spikes in certain health issues including musculoskeletal problems and cardiovascular disease occur at certain ages. “We’re not just changing gradually Read more about Scientists find humans age dramatically in two bursts – at 44, then 60[…]

Texas AG Latest To Sue GM For Covertly Selling Driver Data To Insurance Companies

Last year Mozilla released a report showcasing how the auto industry has some of the worst privacy practices of any tech industry in America (no small feat). Massive amounts of driver behavior is collected by your car, and even more is hoovered up from your smartphone every time you connect. This data isn’t secured, often isn’t encrypted, Read more about Texas AG Latest To Sue GM For Covertly Selling Driver Data To Insurance Companies[…]

Singing from memory shows most people can actually sing pitch perfect or very very close

Psychologists from UC Santa Cruz wanted to study “earworms,” the types of songs that get stuck in your head and play automatically on a loop. So they asked people to sing out any earworms they were experiencing and record them on their phones when prompted at random times throughout the day. When researchers analyzed the Read more about Singing from memory shows most people can actually sing pitch perfect or very very close[…]

Researchers figure out how to keep clocks on the Earth, Moon in sync

[…] Our communications and GPS networks all depend on keeping careful track of the precise timing of signals—including accounting for the effects of relativity. The deeper into a gravitational well you go, the slower time moves, and we’ve reached the point where we can detect differences in altitude of a single millimeter. Time literally flows Read more about Researchers figure out how to keep clocks on the Earth, Moon in sync[…]

Patreon will have to use Apple’s in-app purchase system or be removed from the App Store. Also only subscriptions now.

Apple takes a lot of strong positions, but their ultimate hill to die on might just be requiring apps to make purchases through the tech giant. The latest example comes from Patreon, which announced that Apple is requiring it to switch over to the iOS in-app purchase system or risk expulsion. Patreon’s entire purpose is Read more about Patreon will have to use Apple’s in-app purchase system or be removed from the App Store. Also only subscriptions now.[…]

Stratasys sues Bambu Lab over patents used widely by consumer 3D printers | Ars Technica

[…] In two complaints, (1, 2, PDF) filed in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, against six entities related to Bambu Lab, Stratasys alleges that Bambu Lab infringed upon 10 patents that it owns, some through subsidiaries like Makerbot (acquired in 2013). Among the patents cited are US9421713B2, “Additive manufacturing method for printing three-dimensional Read more about Stratasys sues Bambu Lab over patents used widely by consumer 3D printers | Ars Technica[…]

UK Once Again Denies A Passport Over Applicant’s Name Due To Intellectual Property Concerns – again

I can’t believe this, but it happened again. Almost exactly a decade ago, Tim Cushing wrote about a bonkers story out of the UK in which a passport applicant who’s middle name was “Skywalker” was denied the passport due to purported trademark or copyright concerns. The question that ought to immediately leap to mind should Read more about UK Once Again Denies A Passport Over Applicant’s Name Due To Intellectual Property Concerns – again[…]