Month: December 2022
Black hole collision
astronomical explosion is thought to have been triggered by the collision of stars with a black hole, Gamma ray bursts are the most powerful explosions known in the universe. This particular explosion, from a nearby galaxy, was detected in December 2021. Scientists said the blast, named GRB 211211A, was relatively lengthy with more infrared light
twitter serves as a “servant quarter”
In May 2020, before Mr Musk’s takeover, Twitter told employees they could work from home “forever” if they so wished because its remote-working measures during Covid lockdowns had been a success. Twitter office space has been converted into bedrooms, which San Francisco authorities are probing as a possible building code violation. San Francisco’s Department of
TSMC invests $40bn in US plant
TSMC is the world’s largest maker of micro chips for other companies, with clients including Apple. In August, President Biden signed a law committing $280bn (£232bn) to high tech manufacturing and scientific research amid fears that the US was losing its technological edge to China. The investments include tax breaks for companies that build computer
Haidar al-Zaidi jailed over a tweet in Iraqi
Zaidi was arrested in June in connection with a tweet that included a photograph of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and lamented how only in Iraq would a “spy” be given the label of “martyr”. An activist has been sentenced to three years in prison in Iraq for allegedly writing a tweet deemed to have insulted an
The new AI chatbot
ChatGPT was publicly released on Wednesday by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research firm whose founders included Elon Musk. ChatGPT is the latest in a series of AIs which the firm refers to as GPTs, an acronym which stands for Generative Pre-Trained Transformer. The results have impressed many who’ve tried out the chatbot. OpenAI chief executive
Ethereum change to cut power demand in crypto mining
Ethereum relies on a blockchain just Like all cryptocurrencies, a giant, constantly updating database, logging every transaction. Previously, this was maintained and verified by a system called Proof of Work, used by many cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. A change in the way the cryptocurrency Ethereum works may have cut its power consumption by country-sized amounts. Bitcoin,
Neuralink firm facing animal testing investigation
Elon Musk’s medical device company is reportedly being investigated for alleged animal welfare violations. Staff have complained that animal testing is being rushed and is causing needless suffering and deaths. Some employees’ reportedly tied the failed tests to pressure from Mr Musk to accelerate research as the company works to develop its brain implant, which
Nasa’s Orion spacecraft return
Nasa is planning a series of ever more complex outings for the capsule and its launch rocket – as part of its Artemis programme. Orion set off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 16 November. It was put into an extended loop around the Moon that saw it reach some 430,000km beyond Earth
Taiwan’s fight against mobile fraud
Anyone who has lived in Taiwan, regardless of age or nationality, is familiar with one method used by fraudsters burst dialling. Answering an unknown number leads to you hearing a brief dialling sound, and then a pre-recorded message starts playing. These calls are made by auto-dial systems capable of making hundreds a minute. It’s an
Covid restrictions hit Foxconn company
Foxconn has faced discontent among its workers in the factory, and has attempted to find new employees by offering a 1,000 yuan (£117) bonus to people who recruit a friend or family member. After mass protest in China, China has signalled a shift in its Covid stance and moved to ease some virus restrictions, despite