AI discovers the first new antibiotic in over 60 years
A deep-learning algorithm has helped scientists identify new compounds that are effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a public health threat that causes thousands of deaths annually. With doctors concerned that antibiotics have become increasingly ineffective since Fleming first purified penicillin in 1928, the recent discovery of a compound which...
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Search engines are amplifying misinformation
A study published in Nature last week has uncovered that using online search engines to vet conspiracies can actually compound the probability that someone will believe it. In November, UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay sounded the alarm on the intensification of misinformation and hate speech online, which she said poses...
Omegle shuts down after 14 years over sexual abuse controversy
The once-hyped social site is shuttering after years of controversy. Its death is a sign of the times. Long before the advent of Instagram or TikTok, socialising online meant updating your Facebook status or booting up Omegle. Launched in 2009, the latter was unique in that it allowed users to engage...
UNESCO unveils action plan to regulate social media platforms
According to a new survey, more than 85 per cent of people are worried about the impact of online disinformation and 87 per cent believe it has already harmed their country’s politics. On Monday, UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay sounded the alarm on the intensification of disinformation and hate speech online,...
UNESCO is planning a virtual museum of stolen artefacts
The project aims to highlight Britain’s colonial history, and its ongoing impact on global communities. The subject of imperialism has surrounded British museums since their inception, but the topic has gained particular momentum in recent years. Discussions of cultural heritage and restitution have started to drive tangible changes in the...
Tinder rolls out new ‘SELECT’ feature for $499 USD a month
The new premium tier will allow paying users to see the ‘most sought after profiles’, promises to boost their profile, and grants the ability to DM others even if they haven’t matched. Tinder is rolling out an exclusive and expensive new feature called ‘SELECT’. Operating as an invite-only subscription model,...
What is going on with Elon Musk’s Neuralink?
The entrepreneur Elon Musk’s latest venture Neuralink is raising ethical and moral concerns. Elon Musk may be one of the world’s richest people, proud front-man of some of the biggest brands on the planet. But he’s most recently made a name for himself as a brazen risk-taker - for better or worse. After taking over Twitter in late 2022, Musk has rebranded the platform ‘X’, overhauled its staff, and launched numerous...
Microsoft’s Paint update adds layers and transparency features
Microsoft has announced a new update to its flagship image editing software Paint, which will include layers, transparency support, and background removal tools. It could make advanced image editing far more accessible to young people. A new update to Microsoft’s Paint could make image editing much easier and accessible for beginners, especially students and young designers. In a statement to Windows Insiders, Microsoft said that it was ‘beginning to...
How are noise cameras tackling sound pollution?
The technology, which is paired with a sound meter to detect noise of at least 85 decibels from a source of 50ft or more away, has recently been installed across several cities in the US to help police identify vehicles that have been illegally modified to be louder. While having to tolerate noise is the reality of residing in any major city, there’s one sound in particular that’s a highly...
New study reveals the extent of teenage smartphone use
A recent report from Common Sense Media has found that, on average, half of 11 to 17-year-olds get at least 237 notifications a day, raising concerns that this is affecting the cognitive ability, attention span, and memory of their still-developing brains. It’s no secret that young people are addicted to their phones. So much so, in fact, that Gen Z spends half its waking hours on screen time. Until now, however,...
