technology

Russian meteor blast had force of 300-kiloton nuclear warhead

"The meteor that exploded over the Ural Mountains in Russia Friday now appears to have been a small asteroid clearly unrelated to 2012 DA14, which flitted past Earth Friday afternoon. Researchers now say the object had a mass of 7,000 metric tons (7,700 US tons) and a diameter of about 50 feet. The asteroid's breakup at an altitude some 12 to 15 miles above Russia's Chelyabinsk region represents the largest recorded asteroid encounter since 1908, when another asteroid or comet exploded over the Tunguska River in Siberia, leveling some 820 square miles of forest." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRussian meteor blast had force of 300-kiloton nuclear warhead

Why Do Millions of Russians Have Car Dashboard Cams?

"According to a report last year by Al Jazeera, an estimated one million Russian motorists have dashboard video cameras installed in their cars. This is not to capture moments like the meteor flight or even miraculous survivals of horrifying highway crashes. No, Al Jazeera reported that the cams are there to help stamp out police corruption." Continue reading →

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Government Ban On Bitcoin Would Fail Miserably

"Government prohibition doesn’t even do a good job of keeping drugs out of prisons. The demand for an item, in this case digital cash with user-defined levels of privacy, does not simply evaporate in the face of a jurisdictional ban. One could even make the case that it becomes stronger because an official recognition that Bitcoin is not only a 'renegade' currency but a 'so-effective-it-had-to-be-banned' currency would imbue the cryptographic money with larger than life qualities. Ironically, the ban would create something like theStreisand effect for Bitcoin generating an awareness for entire new demographic groups and new classes of society." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGovernment Ban On Bitcoin Would Fail Miserably

Armed cops storm house after owner posts picture of TOY weapon on Facebook

"Mr Driscoll's picture showed an Action Man plastic figure and in the background was a toy mortar gun, around six inches tall. The mortar gun was next to a TV remote control clearly showing its small size but someone who saw it contacted police. Five officers, including two armed with submachine guns, then arrived at his home in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Mr Driscoll said: 'I was shocked and stunned. It was just mad. Five officers turned up in unmarked police cars. They flashed the search warrant in my face and said it was lucky I was in so they didn't have to break my door down.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingArmed cops storm house after owner posts picture of TOY weapon on Facebook

Welcome to the Malware-Industrial Complex

"Freshly discovered weakness in a popular piece of software, known in the trade as a 'zero-day' vulnerability because the software makers have had no time to develop a fix, can command prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars from defense contractors, security agencies and governments. This trade in zero-day exploits is poorly documented, but it is perhaps the most visible part of a new industry that in the years to come is likely to swallow growing portions of the U.S. national defense budget, reshape international relations, and perhaps make the Web less safe for everyone." Continue reading →

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Cyber security battle looms after Obama issues executive order

"President Barack Obama’s order aimed at ramping up protection from cyberattacks will address only a small portion of threats and sets up a fresh battle in Congress over legislation. Obama acted this week after two failed attempts in Congress to pass measures to protect critical infrastructure from computer attacks. Because most of the networks in question are in private hands, officials say they must rely on voluntary reporting by industry of any cyber threats or attacks. Legislation would be needed to shield businesses from liability when they do report potential malware threats." Continue reading →

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Taiwanese billionaire launches Asian ‘Nobel prize’

"One of Taiwan’s richest men on Monday launched what has been widely touted as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Samuel Yin, head of the sprawling Ruentex business empire, said that by donating Tw$3 billion ($101 million) for the Tang Prize he had fulfilled one of his biggest dreams. 'I hope that the prize will encourage more research that is beneficial to the world and humankind, promote Chinese culture and make the world a better place,' he said. Beginning in 2014 prizes will be awarded every two years in four different categories — sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology and the 'rule of law' — to individuals, regardless of nationality." Continue reading →

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30-story building built in 15 days – Construction time lapse

"What can you accomplish in 360 hours? The Chinese sustainable building company, Broad Group, has yet attempted another impossible feat, building a 30-story tall hotel prototype in 360 hours, after building a 15-story building in a week earlier in 2011. You may ask why in a hurry, and is it safe? The statistics in the video can put you in good faith. Prefabricated modular buildings has many advantages over conventional buildings." Continue reading →

Continue Reading30-story building built in 15 days – Construction time lapse

Yahoo, Dell Swell Netherlands’ $13 Trillion Tax Haven

"The Netherlands, in the heart of a continent better known for social welfare than corporate welfare, has emerged as one of the most important tax havens for multinational companies. Now, as a deficit-strapped Europe raises retirement ages and taxes on the working class, the Netherlands’ role as a $13 trillion relay station on the global tax-avoiding network is prompting a backlash. The Dutch Parliament is scheduled to debate the fairness of its tax system today. Lawmakers from several parties, including members of the country’s governing coalition, say they want to remove a stain on the nation’s reputation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingYahoo, Dell Swell Netherlands’ $13 Trillion Tax Haven

FDA on the verge of approving first bionic eye for the blind

"After years of research, the first bionic eye has seen the light of day in the United States, giving hope to the blind around the world. Developed by Second Sight Medical Products, the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System has helped more than sixty people recover partial sight, with some experiencing better results than others. Consisting of 60 electrodes implanted in the retina and glasses fitted with a special mini camera, Argus II has already won the approval of European regulators. The US Food and Drug Administration is soon expected to follow suit, making this bionic eye the world’s first to become widely available." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFDA on the verge of approving first bionic eye for the blind