Pinterest just banned all weight loss ads
The image-sharing service has become the first major social media platform to prohibit any language and imagery that denigrates – or idealises – a certain body type. If, like me, you’re tired of being bombarded with dubious body-shaming ads while scrolling through social media, you’ll be happy to hear that...
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YouTube’s ‘recommendations’ still pushing harmful videos
YouTube’s recommendation algorithm is reportedly guilty of sharing videos featuring misinformation, violence, hate speech, and other content in violation of its own policies. With more than 2 billion monthly visitors, and a billion hours of content viewed every day, YouTube remains the undisputed mecca of long form video content in...
New tool created for teens to report leaked nudes online
The charity Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has launched a tool for under-18s who are concerned their intimate photos will be shared online. Content can be reported and prevented from being reuploaded. Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has created a tool designed to give children new powers to prevent their private or...
Big tech threatens to quit Hong Kong over vague privacy laws
An internet coalition including Facebook, Google, Apple, Twitter, and Amazon could be about to halt its services in Hong Kong if a proposed anti-doxxing law is to go ahead. Big tech is getting serious about free expression, and an entire region now faces the possibility of being unfriended. A Singapore-based internet...
Frame is the one-stop portal for ‘approachable’ therapy online
As mental health services continue migrating online, Frame is providing a portal to make therapy feel more ‘approachable’ for clients and accessible for practitioners. Covid-19, for better or worse, has shaken up countless industries over the last 18 months and the face of therapy looks to have changed forever. Being forced...
Could ocean geoengineering help to thwart climate change?
Marine scientists across the globe believe ocean geoengineering may offer the means to effectively thwart climate change. But could trapping gigatons of carbon underwater have unforeseen consequences? With Cop26 fast approaching in November, dozens of ocean geoengineering projects are currently being trialled to test the feasibility of trapping carbon emissions...
‘Cyber seeds’ may one day grow our vehicles and medical devices
A ‘cyber seed’ capable of growing manmade structures has been developed by researchers, though it will be some years before we’re using them. Want to hear the most farfetched, yet scientifically feasible story ever? Researchers have managed to create a ‘cyber seed’ composed of hundreds of pieces of digitally encoded information, which will algorithmically grow into any pre-set design. Granted, it sounds mental, but the science is solid. Mysteriously developed by...
Regulatory hurdles for flying taxis almost cleared
Talk of flying taxis called eVTOLs were all the rage in 2019. But, only now has the concept gathered enough investment and regulatory ticks to be considered a realistic prospect. This time, they really are close to take-off. While aviation endeavours to make biofuel a staple of the industry, can eVTOLs become a popular choice for eco-conscious flyers? Back in 2019, you may recall that big tech start-ups were racing...
Rocket mining robot built to collect water from the Moon’s crust
Aerospace manufacturer Masten Space Systems has built a roaming rover capable of mining water from the moon’s crust using rocket blasts. We’re reportedly closer to achieving one of NASA Artemis’ key goals - establishing a human presence on the Moon within the next three years. Case in point, with the staggering costs of shipping supplies from Earth, how will NASA create a water network on the lunar surface for drinking,...
‘Mount Recyclemore’ sculpted from e-waste ahead of G7 summit
A giant sculpture made from electronic waste has been constructed across the water from a hotel in Cornwall, where this year’s G7 summit is being hosted. The artwork depicts the faces of the world’s seven most powerful democratic leaders and aims to draw attention to e-waste that is generated by devices not recycled or resold each year. According to a report published by the UN, 53.6 million tonnes of electronic...
