science tech
ScienceUSA TODAYAfter days of uncertainty, Chinese rocket reenters atmosphere over Indian Ocean
China’s space agency said a core segment of the rocket reentered Earth’s atmosphere above the Maldives in the Indian Ocean early Sunday.
NewsThe IndependentCovax vaccine scheme set to fall short of initial targets with less than a quarter of doses delivered
Exclusive: Health campaigners are concerned the project has been left exposed as a result of its over-reliance on the Serum Institute of India
LifestyleUSA TODAYThe Best Buy 3-day sale is back with huge price cuts on TVs, headphones and more
Best Buy's famous three-day sale is back with discounts galore on some of our favorite headphones, tablets and more—get the details.
LifestyleYahoo EntertainmentDeal alert: These stellar JBL headphones are on sale for $30—that's 50 percent off!
Reviewers love the 'Pure Bass Sound' of these cans and claim they even beat out Beats.
CelebrityBusiness InsiderMelinda Gates had been seeking a divorce from Bill since 2019 after his meetings with Jeffrey Epstein became public, the WSJ reports
Bill and Melinda Gates have been married for 27 years and announced their split on May 3. Melinda was reportedly seeking divorce since at least 2019.
BusinessThe GuardianDogecoin’s value tumbles after Elon Musk calls the virtual currency a ‘hustle’
Dogecoin’s value tumbles after Elon Musk calls the virtual currency a ‘hustle’. Price falls by as much as a third after billionaire’s comments on US comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live
NewsThe IndependentNasa criticises ‘irresponsible’ China after rocket crashes into Indian Ocean
“It’s clear that China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris.”
LifestyleYahoo Life ShoppingSpring cleaning, anyone? These two top-rated robot vacs are massively on sale at Amazon today
iLife robot vacs are slim, quiet, and unbelievably powerful.
NewsBusiness InsiderAn enormous Sequoia tree is still smoldering and emitting smoke months after California's devastating wildfires
Embers from the 2020 Castle Fire continued to smolder from inside the tree, which could be 1,000 years old, despite rain and snow.
TechnologyBusiness InsiderClubhouse unleashed its long-awaited Android app as downloads are cratering, but it's still invite-only
Starting Sunday, Android users can download the Clubhouse app, but they still need an invite to use it.
TechnologyUSA TODAYAndroid users join the conversation: Clubhouse expands beyond Apple users in the US
Clubhouse is finally allowing U.S. Android users to join and chat away on the popular invite-only social audio app.
TechnologyThe WrapClubhouse Launches Android App as Twitter, Facebook Roll Out Copycat Features
Android users in the U.S. can download Clubhouse starting on Sunday Clubhouse isn’t just for iPhones anymore, with the live audio app announcing that its new Android app is available in the U.S. starting immediately. The news was first shared during Clubhouse’s weekly “town hall” on Sunday morning. American Android users can download the app from the Google Play Store, and Android users in other English-speaking markets will be able to download the app in the coming weeks, according to Clubhouse. Clubhouse, which was launched a year ago by Bay Area co-founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth, became one of the most popular apps late last year. The live audio app, which allows users to create digital “rooms” where they can chat about any topic they like, became a go-to spot for many users to connect with new people during the pandemic. It also quickly gained the attention of Hollywood stars like Tiffany Haddish and Ava DuVernay, as well as Silicon Valley bigwigs like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. (And TheWrap recently covered how the app helped keep stand-up comedians busy while they were unable to take the stage due to the pandemic.) But that momentum has lagged a bit recently, with app downloads dropping 72% from February to March, according to data from Sensor Tower. Compounding matters for Clubhouse is the fact that it’s already facing plenty of competition from several of the biggest names in tech. Twitter has already launched its own Clubhouse clone, dubbed Twitter Spaces, and Facebook is working on its own copycat app; Spotify also acquired Locker Room, another live audio app, back in March. But by launching on Android, Clubhouse can now fight back against its new competitors with two hands. Read original story Clubhouse Launches Android App as Twitter, Facebook Roll Out Copycat Features At TheWrap
NewsBusiness InsiderFauci says India needs other countries to 'chip in' to help the country curb COVID-19 spread
India continues to report large surges in positive COVID-19 cases. Crematoriums are overwhelmed and people are dying as hospitals run out of oxygen.
ScienceBusiness InsiderAs NASA celebrates its diversity, astronaut and SpaceX crew member Victor Glover discussed how it felt to be the first Black astronaut to embark on a long-term ISS trip
SpaceX's Crew-1 members answered questions about their historic mission on the International Space Station in a live Q&A hosted by NASA.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderDid Facebook's Oversight Board make the right decision to uphold Trump's suspension? Two free speech experts weigh in.
Discussions surrounding the defensibility of Facebook's Oversight Board ruling have gained momentum. Experts offer up their opinions.
TechnologyThe TelegraphTikTok stole my voice, says woman behind viral text-to-speech feature
Her voice is instantly recognisable to millions of TikTok users, but until recently, Beverly Standing had no idea she was part of the app. Ms Standing, a professional voice actor in Ontario, Canada, is better known as the “voice of TikTok”, the computer generated speech that narrates thousands of videos on the app. Since launching in late 2020, TikTok’s text-to-speech feature has become one of its most viral features, giving the effect of having a virtual assistant like Siri narrating a user’s videos. But Ms Standing, whose recordings made for a different company in 2018 were used to build the feature, says she never gave permission for her voice to be used. She is now suing TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, in a US court, and seeking damages. “I was dumbfounded when I first found out,” said Ms Standing. “I thought ‘this is wild, I’m the voice of TikTok’. But that’s not right, I’m not getting paid for it.” Ms Standing said she had made the voice recordings for the Chinese Institute of Acoustics, a state-backed research organisation, via a representative in Edinburgh. She said she had recorded around 10,000 sentences for what she was told was a language translation service. She said she had been paid a “decent amount” for the work, but that there had been no mention that it might be sold on or licensed.
BusinessThe TelegraphCitymapper crowdfunding campaign gets £35m investor interest
The travel app Citymapper has received £35m in expressions of interest for a planned crowdfunding campaign which it hopes will capitalise on the restart of travel. The London headquartered app, which provides route guides and live public transport data, is set to launch the crowdfunding effort on Thursday. The start-up said the interest was far above the number of shares on offer, although it has yet to begin its formal offering on the funding site Crowdcube. The outpouring of interest comes despite Citymapper warning on its registration website that during the pandemic travel volumes on its app dropped by 90pc. The company said it had invested in alternative transport options, such as cycling and micromobility. It has added options such as Ford-owned Spin scooters to its app. While its main app remains free, Citymapper has attempted to monetise its popularity with a membership option. In February last year, it also launched a subscription-based “Club” function, costing £2.99 per month, that added premium features such as a voice assistant and weather warnings. A higher tier of membership lets users suggest new features for the app and costs £100 per year. Its decision to turn to crowdfunding comes after the start-up raised just over £10m in 2020. Its investors include Index Ventures and Balderton Capital. But despite raising tens of millions of pounds from investors, the 10-year-old company has yet to turn a profit. According to its latest accounts, in 2019 it burnt through £8.9m, although revenues increased from just £516,000 the year before to £5.8m. In 2019, it launched a travel card, which costs £33 a month and provides unlimited public transport in parts of London. However, usage fell during the pandemic as travel ground to a halt. Citymapper’s crowdfunding website says investors could stand to get a return “through an IPO, sale or merger of Citymapper”, but warns that may “lose [their] investment if the company is unsuccessful”. Bill Earner, Citymapper managing director, said: “We’re really excited and humbled by all the support we’ve received so far.”
LifestyleUSA TODAYYou can get a ton of Amazon devices on sale ahead of Prime Day 2021
Amazon devices, including the Echo Dot 4th generation smart speaker, Echo Show 5 and more, are seriously discounted ahead of Prime Day 2021.
BusinessThe TelegraphBiden administration to step up cybersecurity after hackers shut down major US pipeline
The Biden administration is to step up cybersecurity after a ransomware attack crippled the biggest oil pipeline on the US east coast. An executive order is expected within weeks instructing federal agencies and contractors to plug security gaps that have left them vulnerable to a wave of cyberattacks in recent months. The latest assault, on the 5,500 mile Colonial Pipeline which provides nearly half the fuel used on the US East Coast, is believed to have been carried out by DarkSide, a cybercriminal group operating out of Russia and Eastern Europe. It wrought havoc on the company's computer network forcing the shutdown of the pipeline which runs from New Jersey to Texas. It is feared the attack could cause a further spike in fuel prices in the US which have already been soaring in recent months. Colonial, which normally ships 2.5 million barrels a day, serves consumers in the mid-Atlantic and southeast of the US. Its customers include the world's busiest passenger airport in Atlanta. In a statement confirming that it had been the victim of a ransomware attack, the company said it had called in cybersecurity experts to conduct an investigation. In only the last few days cyberattacks have been reported on the police department in Washington DC, in which criminals threatened to release details about informants and the Illinois Attorney General's office. Experts say that ransomware attacks have proliferated in recent months targeting hospitals, municipalities and police departments. In February drastically increased changed the level of sodium hydroxide in water after penetrating cybersecurity at a Florida treatment plant. The hundredfold increase in the proportion of the chemical, the main ingredient in drain cleaners, made the water undrinkable. As many as 2,400 organisations were hit by ransomware demands last year. According to a report issued by a ransomware task force, the amount paid by victims more than tripled last year, compared with 2019 reaching an estimated $350 million (£250 million). The Biden administration has vowed to take on the cybercriminals. Alejandro Majorkas, the Homeland Security Secretary, said this was "one of our most important priorities right now" as he announced a "60-say sprint" to tackle ransomware. Bloomberg reported the DarkSide hackers took nearly 100 gigabytes of data from Colonial's network. DarkSide, which made no mention of the Colonial attack on its dark-net website, emerged last August carrying out a series of ransomware attacks on an array of organisation. It even issued a press release at the time. "We are a new product on the market, but that does not mean that we have no experience and we came from nowhere," the criminals boasted.
ScienceBusiness InsiderPacks of hyenas hunted Neantherthal man as prey and devoured their corpses in caves, a new find has revealed
The knawed bones of Neanderthals who were hunted and mauled by hyenas have been found in an Italian cave just outside of Rome.
CelebrityBusiness InsiderBill and Melinda Gates waited until their youngest daughter turned 18 before they announced divorce, reports say
The couple wanted to wait until their younger daughter had graduated high school "and the idea was that they stayed together through that," a source told People.
ScienceCBCScientists seek to understand increase in grey whale deaths on West Coast
The recent sighting of an emaciated grey whale off Vancouver Island and the discovery of a dead whale washed up on a B.C. beach highlights concerns that the marine mammals are dying in increasing numbers. Angela Menzies was beachcombing with her son on northern Vancouver Island in April when they spied something on the beach that looked like a huge tree trunk, but with a fin. As they got closer they realized it was a grey whale. "My seven-year-old kept saying, 'Mom, I don't want to see this, it's sad to see a whale dead,'" Menzies said. Officials have not released a cause of death, but they say dead grey whales on the West Coast of Canada have been increasing in number since 2018. A dead grey whale washed up on a beach on Haida Gwaii in 2019.(Fisheries and Oceans Canada) Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says 21 of the animals, which can grow up to 15 metres long and weigh 40 tonnes, have been found dead since then. Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) in the U.S. say those 21 whales are among the 450 grey whale strandings that have occurred in the past two years in what it calls an "unusual mortality event." "Mortalities of grey whales have been observed along the entire west coast of North America from Mexico to Alaska," it says in a section of its website dedicated to tracking deaths of the animals since 2019. NOAA declares an unusual mortality event when a number of criteria are met, including a dramatic increase in deaths compared to prior records and the animals themselves exhibiting poor health. Not only have dead grey whales been found regularly up and down the West Coast, others have been spotted swimming in coastal waters looking unwell. In B.C. in April, one was seen off the waters of downtown Victoria, looking emaciated and unhealthy. It was later photographed off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, but has not been seen since. An emaciated grey whale swims off the coast of northern Vancouver Island in April. The same whale was believed to have been seen swimming of the coast of Victoria, B.C.(Jared Towers/Fisheries and Oceans Canada) Scientists believe that in addition to the recorded grey whale strandings, many more are dying in the ocean and not washing up to be found. "They may simply sink at sea or drift farther out to sea or they may come to shore in an unpopular region and may not be counted," said Anna Hall, a marine biologist who studies how underwater sounds affect marine mammals along with pollution. NOAA estimates that the recorded strandings only represent up to about 13 per cent of all deaths. In January it said the population of grey whales that migrate along the West Coast has declined by about 24 per cent since 2016 to about 20,580 animals. There are three distinct groups of grey whales, two of which are considered endangered in Canada. The Northern Pacific Migratory population, which is not at risk, and the Pacific Coast Feeding Group population, which is endangered along with the Western Pacific population. Why? Scientists don't know for sure what is causing the deaths, but they suspect it could be related to an insufficient food supply. Some of the deaths have been caused by boat strikes. Investigators are evaluating ecosystem changes that may be impacting grey whale habitat and food supply, but they're also looking into impacts from harmful algal blooms, infectious disease, natural predation, and human interactions. A dead grey whale lies on Limantour Beach in Point Reyes Station, California on May 23, 2019.(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) It's not the first time grey whales have experienced an unusual mortality event. In 1999 and 2000 the population dropped 23 per cent before recovering and increasing in number to 27,000 by 2016. Researchers never identified a specific cause for that die-off, but noted many of the animals appeared malnourished. Hall is hopeful whatever is causing the die-off now will pass and the species will recover again. "Grey whales we know can be resilient," she said. "They have demonstrated resilience, while facing tremendous human pressures … that goes back to the commercial whaling days." To help the whales, Hall wants boaters to keep their distance, but also report any sightings of emaciated or dead whales to DFO.
BusinessThe Canadian PressCompanies offer vaccinated customers freebies and discounts in marketing push
TORONTO — Canadian companies are trying to move the needle on COVID-19 vaccinations with discounts and freebies for customers who show proof they've received their first dose. Insurers, food businesses and even tech companies are unveiling promotions aimed at convincing people to get the jab in exchange for savings and giveaways. Experts say the offers lend corporate clout to an important cause, but also encourage consumers to return to favourite shops or discover new and local brands amid temporary lockdowns. "You might be reluctant to over-expose yourself in non-discretionary places and that's all part of this strategy," said Joanne McNeish, a Ryerson University professor specializing in marketing. "It's a way of carefully getting their brand in front of people." Vaccine-related promotions are being used by Canadian companies including Sombrero Latin Food. The grocery purveyor is offering Latin American candy to people who post a vaccine selfie or help relatives or neighbours book appointments, but stresses that vaccination is a "personal decision" and the promotion is not meant to pressure people. "We just wanted to spread a little joy to those that felt comfortable," business development manager Corina Pardo said. "After waiting so long, we wanted each vaccination to be a little celebration." Meanwhile, Polarity Brewing in Whitehorse will give vaccinated customers a $6 discount on a beer or food purchase. In Kitchener, Ont., TheMuseum will offer free admission to the vaccinated through a campaign called Jabbed Like Jagger — a reference to Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who has encouraged vaccination and will feature heavily in an upcoming exhibit on his band. Manulife Financial Inc. will give some of its vaccinated customers enrolled in its Vitality program rewards points that can be used towards gift cards or gadgets and Toronto-based financial app Drop is offering $50 in cash rewards to users who post a vaccine selfie on social media and tag the brand. Such offers build on a U.S. trend that materialized when widespread vaccination began and the country needed to deal with the hesitant, anti-vaxxers and people forgoing their second dose. Companies wanted to help. Burger joint White Castle offered free dessert-on-a-stick, Budweiser gave out $5 to be spent on beer, Greenhouse of Walled Lake in Michigan made free cannabis pre-rolls available and Krispy Kreme promised a doughnut everyday for the rest of the year. While most praised the incentives, critics complained frequent doughnut consumption is unhealthy and Krispy Kreme had to defend itself. Boston Pizza also experienced a problem linked to a promotion, when the chain's Front Street location in Toronto offered a 15-per-cent discount to vaccinated patrons. Director of communications Marian Raty said in an email that the location was ordered to discontinue the offer, without offering additional details. The location did not respond to requests for comment. McNeish, however, thought the discount was "clever" because it was low enough to be enticing but not inspire much abuse and offered by a location across from a vaccine centre and in an area that has seen business significantly slow. "In that poor location, the foot traffic has been almost nothing," she said. "They must be thrilled that the foot traffic with the vaccine clinic there is maybe getting them back closer to normal." While its hard to measure how likely any of the promotions are to generate repeat customers or encourage hesitant Canadians to get a vaccine, McNeish believes the deals are a nice perk for those anxious for the jab and one of many convincing factors for others. "This definitely nibbles at the edges of people who are just soft hesitators and helps show here's yet another reason (to get the vaccine)," she said. Dr. Nazeem Muhajarine, an epidemiologist and University of Saskatchewan professor specializing in community health, said people ideologically against vaccines are unlikely to be swayed by rewards, but they may encourage undecided people. "They might jump off the fence and get their own vaccine," he said. "Something like this could tip the balance." While Muhajarine has yet to notice specific deals in Saskatoon, he was impressed to see businesses that have struggled during the pandemic were willing to use brand recognition to advance an important message. "They aren't just complaining about the slow down of the economy or that they have been asked to shut down or go to only curbside delivery," he said. "Businesses want to be part of the solution." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:MFC) Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press
BusinessBusiness InsiderDogecoin plummets during Elon Musk's 'Saturday Night Live' hosting gig as Robinhood experiences issues
Robinhood said crypto trading was "back up and running" about 30 minutes after reporting difficulties.
HealthBusiness InsiderFauci says there's 'no doubt we have been undercounting' the number of people who died from COVID-19
A new study estimates that more than 900,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, nearly double the amount recorded by health officials and trackers.
