Google announces ChatGPT rival ‘Bard’ with botched ad
In a few short weeks, Google will be rolling out its AI powered chatbot ‘Bard’ and it has everything to do with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Another has entered the field of battle... and already faltered. Last month, we wrote a story about ChatGPT and questioned whether a coming premium tier of...
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Opinion – Netflix’s anti-password sharing plan will surely backfire
Netflix has finally done it. Months of speculation re incoming anti-password sharing plans have manifested angering subscribers the world over. Are streaming platforms now completely out of touch? Once the undisputed king of the streaming farmyard, Netflix now seems hellbent on alienating its subscribers with a continuous slew of dodgy...
Gen Z rejects consumer culture with ‘de-influencing’
Instead of waxing lyrical about the latest launches, social media content creators are increasingly advising followers against purchases and calling criticism to cult-favourite products. Social media has always been synonymous with influencing. From the earliest stages of Instagram to our current, obsessive product pushing culture, nearly everyone...
Scientists believe live bacteria could be eating ocean plastic
It’s hard to believe any living thing could survive on a diet consisting of plastic, but new research has revealed that certain bacteria have found a way to ingest ocean pollution – making it disappear altogether. If you’ve been visiting Thred for a while, you’re likely well-versed in how serious...
Spotify lays off 6% of work force in latest tech cuts
Music streaming platform Spotify is to cut 6% of its 10,000 employee work force, after hiring aggressively over the pandemic period. It is line with other tech companies who have stripped back their workforces. Spotify will be letting 6% of its work force go after major cuts to improve...
Scientists create ‘vagina on a chip’ to advance sexual health research
Medical conditions affecting people with vulvas are notoriously understudied, but recent developments in the field suggest that things might finally be about to change. Scientists at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University have created the world’s first ‘vagina on a chip,’ a development that could prove significant in bridging...
New study suggests vaping damages the immune system
Though scientists still know little about the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on the human body, they just found the devices to be causing significant cellular and molecular changes in the lungs. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that vapes are all the rage. Replacing one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide, these days they are, quite literally, everywhere. Regularly seen in the hands of
Australia legalises therapeutic use of MDMA and psilocybin
In a world first, the country has officially recognised psychedelics as legitimate medicines. From July, authorised psychiatrists will be able to prescribe the drugs for treatment-resistant mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. For decades, scientists and researchers have sought to prove the extraordinary medical potential of psychedelic drugs. Time and time again these mind-altering compounds have shown genuine promise in alleviating some of the most intractable (and expensive)...
Researchers create WiFi device able to detect people through walls
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, have created a method for accurately detecting the shape and movement of human bodies through walls using WiFi routers. Is this a privacy nightmare waiting to happen? Remember Lucius Fox’s super invasive sonar technology in the finale of The Dark Knight? Well this is eerily similar, except that it’s real. Scientists have reportedly developed technology able to detect the precise shape and movement of human...
The Sims 4’s latest update adds new diverse cosmetics
Last year, the game collaborated with two LGBTQ+ organisations on a feature enabling players to explore a fuller range of sexual and romantic identities. In a bid to promote even more inclusivity, its character creator now offers top surgery scars, binders, medical wearables, and more. Ever since The Sims burst onto the scene over 20 years ago, it’s remained one of the most iconic PC games out there. To date,...




