FTC Prepares to Ban ‘Non-compete Agreements’ – What They Are and Why
Labor non-compete agreements are about to be banned by the FTC. Over third of the American workers would be relieved from them.
Electronic Arts Servers Are Reportedly Down
August 9, 2022 – Users have reported problems of connection and access to Electronic Arts (EA) servers. Apparently, the company is witnessing a serious outage that is causing issues such as loss of connection, failed
New Langya Virus Discovered in China Causing Zoonotic Disease in Humans
A new virus called Langya has been discovered in China. It has been detected in 35 people and is thought to have been transmitted by shrews. So far it’s at an early outbreak stage.
The Port of Shanghai: World’s Biggest Port Is Returning to Normal, but Supply Chains Will Get Worse Before They Get Better
According to the New York Federal Reserve’s global supply chain pressure index, which takes account of issues such as freight rates, delivery times and backlogs, supply chains are under unprecedented pressure – and have been getting worse recently.
Tech Firms Are Making Computer Chips With Human Cells – Is It Ethical?
Although the name and scenario are fictional, this is a question we have to confront now. In December 2021, Melbourne-based Cortical Labs grew groups of neurons (brain cells) that were incorporated into a computer chip. The resulting hybrid chip works because both brains and neurons share a common language: electricity.
British Farmers Are Being Offered a Lump Sum Payment to Leave the Industry – But at What Cost To Agriculture?
To attract younger blood into the fields, the UK government is running a temporary scheme to entice some of these older professionals into retirement. The idea is that they can apply to receive a lump sum exit payment of up to £100,000 – as long as they either sell their land, rent it out, give it away or plant trees on it.
The Wall of Wind Can Blow Away Buildings at Category 5 Hurricane Strength to Help Engineers Design Safer Homes
When engineers built the Wall of Wind test facility 10 years ago at Florida International University, it was inspired by Hurricane Andrew, a monster of a storm that devastated South Florida in 1992.
Russia’s Rouble Is Now Stronger Than Before the War – Western Sanctions Are Partly To Blame
One reason the rouble has strengthened is the restrictions on margin trading and on foreign investors, which has meant that trading volumes have been much lower than usual.
5 Things to Know About the Fed’s Biggest Interest Rate Increase Since 1994 and How It Will Affect You
The Federal Reserve on June 15, 2022, lifted interest rates by 0.75 percentage point, the third hike this year and the largest since 1994. The move is aimed at countering the fastest pace of inflation in over 40 years.
Could Steam-Powered Cars Decrease the CO2 in The Atmosphere
Steam power had something of a comeback in the 1970s, but not because of climate concerns. Back then, air pollution spewed by vehicles had become a serious problem filling cities with smog.
How QR Code Works and What Makes It Dangerous – A Computer Scientist Explains
QR codes are not inherently dangerous. They are simply a way to store data. However, just as it can be hazardous to click links in emails, visiting URLs stored in QR codes can also be risky in several ways.
3,100 Aircraft Worth $35 Billion Lie Unused in Arizona’s Boneyard
The Aircraft Boneyard is a U.S. Air Force facility in Arizona’s desert. It hosts over 3,100 mostly retired aircraft. The assets there are worth about $35 Billion.
New Data-Sharing Requirements From the NIH Are a Big Step Toward More Open Science
Starting on Jan. 25, 2023, many of the 2,500 institutions and 300,000 researchers that the U.S. National Institutes of Health supports will need to provide a formal, detailed plan for publicly sharing the data generated by their research.
Researchers Identified Over 5,500 New Viruses in the Ocean, Including a Missing Link in Viral Evolution
RNA viruses are best known for the diseases they cause in people, ranging from the common cold to COVID-19. They also infect plants and animals important to people.
Your Forgotten Digital Footprints Could Step on Your Job Prospects – Here’s How to Clean Up
This matters for young adults entering the job market, who usually have extensive digital footprints across multiple platforms, and extending back many years.
The War in Ukraine Ruins Russia’s Academic Ties With the West
Russia has dissolved academic connections with the West through legislation on so-called “foreign agents” and “undesirable organizations.” The government ramped up scrutiny of foreign funding and outlawed dozens of Western think tanks, charities, and universities that previously had worked in Russia.
The U.S. Is Banning Russian Oil Imports, but an Embargo That Includes European Allies Would Have More Impact
The United Kingdom, which is an oil producer, is also banning Russian oil imports, but getting other G-7 nations like Germany, Italy and Japan to join will be a hard diplomatic lift. It’s not impossible
Jeffrey Epstein’s Associate Found Dead in Paris Cell
Paris prosecutor office has announced that Jean-Luc Brunel, a fashion agent and associate of Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead in his cell in the “Prison de la Santé” Paris, France.
The Ruins of Democracy
The original idea of ruling on behalf of The People and by their will has evolved through time, and piles of values and mechanisms have been stuffed into its edifice. However, the stuffing has been
French and Russian Military Frigates Had a “Professional Interaction” in the Black Sea
The Russian frigate Essen has intercepted the French warship Auvergne in the Black Sea on December 14, 2021. The recording of their radio communication has been published by the French Army on its Twitter account.
Russia Blocks Tor, Accusing It of Enabling Illegal Content
Russia has decided to block the Tor network, accusing it of facilitating the access to illegal content. Tor is short for The Onion Router. It is a free global service aiming to conceal users’ locations and traffic; allowing them to avoid lawful and unlawful monitoring.
How the US Census Led to the First Data Processing Company 125 Years Ago – And Kick-Started America’s Computing Industry
The technological solutions devised by Hollerith involved a suite of mechanical and electrical devices. The first crucial innovation was to translate data on handwritten census tally sheets to patterns of holes punched in cards.
63% Of Workers Who File an EEOC Discrimination Complaint Lose Their Jobs
We found that at least 63% of workers who filed a complaint eventually lost their job. And about 40% of workers reporting experiencing employer retaliation, such as verbal abuse or being passed over for work opportunities like training or promotion, for filing a claim. At 46%, employer retaliation was most common for sex discrimination cases.
Sticky Baseballs: Explaining the Physics of the Latest Scandal in MLB
Cheating in baseball is as old as the game itself, and pitchers’ modifying the ball’s surface is part of that long history. Adding to the lore of cheating is a new scandal involving pitchers who may be applying sticky substances to the baseball – what players refer to as “sticky stuff” – to baseballs.
If a Satellite Falls on Your House, Space Law Protects You
According to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and 1972 Liability Convention – both adopted by the United Nations – this would be a government-to-government issue. The treaties declare that states are internationally responsible and liable for any damage caused by a spacecraft