Top news stories for the week 31

Monday, Aug 02

Google to build its own chip for new Pixel smartphone

Google on Monday unveiled a new flagship Pixel smartphone powered by its first mobile chip to put artificial intelligence in people's hands.

Aug 02, 2021

0

7116

Turning network traffic data into music

Cybersecurity analysts deal with an enormous amount of data, especially when monitoring network traffic. If one were to print the data in text form, a single day's worth of network traffic may be akin to a thick phonebook. ...

Aug 02, 2021

0

1800

'Vultur' malware uses new technique to steal banking credentials

A team of researchers at the security firm ThreatFabric is reporting on their website blog page that they have found instances of a new kind of malware in Android apps downloaded from Google Play that attempt to steal banking ...

Aug 02, 2021

1

1584

A tactile sensing mechanism for soft robotic fingers

In recent years, numerous roboticists worldwide have been trying to develop robotic systems that can artificially replicate the human sense of touch. In addition, they have been trying to create increasingly realistic and ...

Aug 02, 2021

0

783

Square to buy installment payment firm Afterpay in $29B deal

Digital payments company Square Inc. says it has agreed to acquire Afterpay, which provides a "buy now, pay later'' option for merchants, in an all-stock deal valued at about $29 billion.

Aug 02, 2021

0

552

Smart necklace could track your detailed facial expressions

Human facial movements convey emotions, and help us communicate nonverbally and perform physical activities, such as eating and drinking.

Aug 02, 2021

0

419

Stinkweed could make a cleaner bio-jet fuel, study finds

A common farm weed could make a 'greener' jet fuel with fewer production-related environmental impacts than other biofuels, a new study indicates.

Aug 02, 2021

0

322

Tuesday, Aug 03

Getting smart about off-grid desalination

Small changes in membrane design can have a large impact on the performance of a new technology developed at KAUST that uses waste heat from solar cells for seawater desalination.

Aug 03, 2021

0

829

Vapor-collection technology saves water while clearing the air

About two-fifths of all the water that gets withdrawn from lakes, rivers, and wells in the U.S. is used not for agriculture, drinking, or sanitation, but to cool the power plants that provide electricity from fossil fuels ...

Aug 03, 2021

1

756

Researchers use AI to unlock the secrets of ancient texts

The Abbey Library of St. Gall in Switzerland is home to approximately 160,000 volumes of literary and historical manuscripts dating back to the eighth century—all of which are written by hand, on parchment, in languages ...

22 hours ago

0

566

Tencent limits gaming for kids after official media critique

China's biggest gaming company, Tencent Holdings, said Tuesday it will limit gaming time for minors and ban children under age 12 from making in-game purchases after a state media article called games "spiritual opium."

Aug 03, 2021

0

299

Stellantis posts strong inaugural earnings, steps up electric drive

US-European auto giant Stellantis, formed by Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler this year, posted Tuesday a sizeable first-half net profit and announced that its Alfa Romeo and Lancia brands would go fully electric.

Aug 03, 2021

0

179

China gaming shares dive after 'spiritual opium' warning

Shares of Tencent and other major Chinese gaming companies plummeted Tuesday after a state-run media article described online games as "spiritual opium", prompting the tech giant to consider a playing ban on children under ...

Aug 03, 2021

0

174

AP, Reuters to help Twitter elevate more credible info

Twitter has signed a deal with The Associated Press and Reuters to help elevate accurate information on its platform. Twitter said Monday that the program will expand its existing work to help explain why certain subjects ...

Aug 03, 2021

0

148