Rogue killer drone hunted human target without orders
According to a UN report, a “lethal” weaponized drone “hunted down a human target” without being told to for the …
TECHNOLOGY
Your phone and your brain – what we know so far
A defining characteristic of the way many people live today is persistent online connectedness. Since the introduction of smartphones about …
Misinformation: Tech companies are removing ‘harmful’ coronavirus content
The “infodemic” of misinformation about coronavirus has made it difficult to distinguish accurate information from false and misleading advice. The …
Twitter to ask users to rethink abusive messages
In an effort to reverse the flood of abuse on the platform, Twitter is rolling out a new feature which …
Smartwatches are a bigger distraction to drivers than mobile phones
An estimated 73.4 million people will be using wearable technologies in the United States by 2022. Wearables are smart electronics …
How we proved a Rembrandt painting owned by the University of Pretoria was a fake
The paintings of Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn are displayed in prestigious art galleries in capital cities around the world.…
Malaria control needs longer lasting repellents. We’re a step closer to finding one
Malaria is one of the leading causes of illness and death around the world. The disease is primarily caused by …
Microsoft is pulling the plug on Internet Explorer
Microsoft made an announcement on Wednesday that they will no longer support the Internet Explorer web browser.
Microsoft Edge
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Gaza’s enhanced rocket technology challenges Israel’s defences
Gaza militants have launched their “Sword of Jerusalem” rocket war with Israel by firing a symbolic salvo at Jerusalem and …
Data breaches: how much your personal data is worth to cybercriminals
Data breaches have become common, and billions of records are stolen worldwide every year. Most of the media coverage …
China may gain a monopoly on space stations
China launched Tianhe-1, the first and main module of a permanent orbiting space station called Tiangong (Heavenly Palace 天 宫)…
WhatsApp’s sights are fixed on India
The roll out of WhatsApp’s new privacy policy, which critics warn will lead to more data sharing with its parent …
How dating apps have adapted to COVID-19
The pandemic has challenged and changed how most people date and hookup.
ALSO READ: Parents, for your teens sexual health, …
Huawei’s ability to eavesdrop on KPN is a wake-up call
Chinese technology provider Huawei was recently accused of being able to monitor all calls made using Dutch mobile operator KPN. …
Four ways to make sure your passwords are safe and easy to remember
For more than 15 years, there have been various predictions from tech leaders about the death of passwords. Bill Gates …
After a year of Zoom meetings, we’ll need to rebuild trust through eye contact
The pandemic has exacerbated an already troubling trust deficit across political, economic and demographic divides.
ALSO READ: US passes emergency …
What’s the Valneva COVID-19 vaccine?
A COVID-19 vaccine from French company Valneva has yet to complete clinical trials. But it has caught the eye of …
Talking dogs, really?
The Internet has recently been flooded with a wealth of videos of dogs Stella and Bunny pressing buttons on boards …
Female robots are seen as being the most human. Why?
With the proliferation of female robots such as Sophia and the popularity of female virtual assistants such as Siri (Apple), …
Big Chinese rocket segment set to fall to Earth
Tracking radars are closely following the gradual fall to Earth of a large Chinese rocket segment.
Long March-5b
The …
SpaceX’s Starship prototype lands successfully
On Wednesday, SpaceX launched its latest prototype of its mega-rocket system six miles above Texas, its fifth launch since December.…
A giant piece of space junk is hurtling towards Earth
A large piece of space debris, possibly weighing several tonnes, is currently on an uncontrolled reentry phase (that’s space speak …
“Please call me” inventor vs. Vodacom
Nkosana Makate, the “Please call me” inventor, will face Vodacom in court today until Friday.
Vodacom offered Makate R47 …
What can hackers do with your mobile number?
Boris Johnson’s personal phone number has been publicly available on the internet for 15 years, it has been revealed. …
What are ‘internal waves’ that possibly sank the Indonesian sub?
Last week might have been the first time you ever heard of “internal waves” — the phenomenon suspected of causing …
Robots are coming and the fallout will largely harm marginalized communities
COVID-19 has brought about numerous, devastating changes to people’s lives globally. With the number of cases rising across Canada and …
High-tech contact lenses may replace smart phones
Contact lenses are the result of an accidental discovery made during the Second World War. Ophthalmologist Harold Ridley noticed that …
Children own around 3 digital devices on average
More than nine out of ten parents think digital media and technologies are a negative distraction in their lives. And …
Apple’s new ‘app tracking transparency’ and Facebook
Apple users across the globe are adopting the latest operating system update, called iOS 14.5, featuring the now-obligatory new …
Submarines are meant to hide but what if one disappears?
In waters north of Bali, a frantic search is underway for the Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala, missing with 53 crew …
SA now has an app to report Covid-19 vaccine side-effects
SAHPRA has launched a new app that makes reporting side-effects patients experience when using medication and vaccines much easier, this …
Climate change: Growing doubts over ‘chip fat’ biofuel
New research questions the environmental impact of rising imports of used cooking oil (UCO) into the UK and Europe.
Chip
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Tik Tok sued for billions over use of children’s data
Popular app, TikTok is facing a legal challenge from former children’s commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, over how it collects …
Zoom fatigue and distracted driving share a problem
Feeling exhausted at the end of a long day of video-conferencing? Do your back, shoulders and mind ache after a …
The Ingenuity flew on Mars – why it’s important
Yesterday at 9pm Australian Eastern standard time, the Ingenuity helicopter — which landed on Mars with the Perseverance rover in …
Why your social media habit is probably not an addiction
Social media apps are useful sources of information. They help us catch up with the activities of friends, news, current …
Why Google should be honest over location data tracking
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has had a significant win against Google. The Federal Court found Google misled some …
An AI version of Albert Einstein now exists
The latest virtual companions created by UneeQ, a New Zealand and Austin-based company that specializes in “digital humans”, include an …
Facebook faces legal action over data leak
Facebook users whose data was released in a massive data leak are being encouraged to take legal action against the …
We’re on the hunt for novel ways to assess the risk of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is characterised by elevated blood glucose levels. This can cause complications that lead to damage to the …
GenZ: not all digital natives look alike
Gradually over the past few years, the once-ubiquitous discussions about millennials are being replaced by an interest in the new …
More coal-fired power or 100% renewables?
The big question facing Australia’s National Electricity Market is how to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 without disrupted energy supplies …
Scientists invent home COVID-19 test using coffee machine capsules
Transitioning to home working had its challenges for us all, but when your job involves researching biological applications for nanotechnology, …
How social media turns online arguments between teens into real-world violence
The deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in January exposed the power of social media to influence real-world behavior and …
3D-printed organs could save lives
Due to the global organ shortage and limited organ donors, thousands of patients are left wanting organs and tissues in …
Phone wet and won’t turn on? Here’s how to fix it
If you’ve ever gotten your phone wet in the rain, dropped it in water or spilt liquid over it, you’re …
New pest threatens Africa’s cycads
Cycads, the world’s oldest seed-producing plants, are facing extinction. Africa is home to a variety of cycad species and …
Perfecting self-driving cars – can it be done?
Robotic vehicles have been used in dangerous environments for decades, from decommissioning the Fukushima nuclear power plant or inspecting underwater …
Check if your number was leaked in Facebook data breach
If you are concerned that your data was leaked in the Facebook data breach, there is a way to …
Facebook data breach: what happened
Over the long weekend reports emerged of an alleged data breach, impacting half a billion Facebook users from 106 countries.…
