They say Amazon should stop offering custom cloud computing services that help the oil and gas industry explore for and extract more fossil fuels.
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Sunday 14 April 2019
Net Neutrality Vote Passes House, Fulfilling Promise by Democrats
The legislation, called the Save the Internet Act, faces long odds in the Republican-led Senate.
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Tech We’re Using: Lifting Journalism by Knowing What Readers Are Looking For
Claudio E. Cabrera, who specializes in search engine optimization, describes how he keeps track of what’s hot in search and how that informs coverage — and what the limits are.
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Plane with the largest wingspan in the world takes flight
It has a wingspan the length of an American football field, and could launch satellites into orbit.
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Spy on your smart home with this open source research tool
Researchers at Princeton University have built a web app that lets you (and them) spy on your smart home devices to see what they’re up to.
The open source tool, called IoT Inspector, is available for download here. (Currently it’s Mac OS only, with a wait list for Windows or Linux.)
In a blog about the effort the researchers write that their aim is to offer a simple tool for consumers to analyze the network traffic of their Internet connected gizmos. The basic idea is to help people see whether devices such as smart speakers or wi-fi enabled robot vacuum cleaners are sharing their data with third parties. (Or indeed how much snitching their gadgets are doing.)
Testing the IoT Inspector tool in their lab the researchers say they found a Chromecast device constantly contacting Google’s servers even when not in active use.
A Geeni smart bulb was also found to be constantly communicating with the cloud — sending/receiving traffic via a URL (tuyaus.com) that’s operated by a China-based company with a platform which controls IoT devices.
There are other ways to track devices like this — such as setting up a wireless hotspot to sniff IoT traffic using a packet analyzer like WireShark. But the level of technical expertise required makes them difficult for plenty of consumers.
Whereas the researchers say their web app doesn’t require any special hardware or complicated set-up so it sounds easier than trying to go packet sniffing your devices yourself. (Gizmodo, which got an early look at the tool, describes it as “incredibly easy to install and use”.)
One wrinkle: The web app doesn’t work with Safari; requiring either Firefox or Google Chrome (or a Chromium-based browser) to work.
The main caveat is that the team at Princeton do want to use the gathered data to feed IoT research — so users of the tool will be contributing to efforts to study smart home devices.
The title of their research project is Identifying Privacy, Security, and Performance Risks of Consumer IoT Devices. The listed principle investigators are professor Nick Feamster and postdoctoral researcher Danny Yuxing Huang at the university’s Computer Science department.
The Princeton team says it intends to study privacy and security risks and network performance risks of IoT devices. But they also note they may share the full dataset with other non-Princeton researchers after a standard research ethics approval process. So users of IoT Inspector will be participating in at least one research project. (Though the tool also lets you delete any collected data — per device or per account.)
“With IoT Inspector, we are the first in the research community to produce an open-source, anonymized dataset of actual IoT network traffic, where the identity of each device is labelled,” the researchers write. “We hope to invite any academic researchers to collaborate with us — e.g., to analyze the data or to improve the data collection — and advance our knowledge on IoT security, privacy, and other related fields (e.g., network performance).”
They have produced an extensive FAQ which anyone thinking about running the tool should definitely read before getting involved with a piece of software that’s explicitly designed to spy on your network traffic. (tl;dr, they’re using ARP-spoofing to intercept traffic data — a technique they warn may slow your network, in addition to the risk of their software being buggy.)
The dataset that’s being harvesting by the traffic analyzer tool is anonymized and the researchers specify they’re not gathering any public-facing IP addresses or locations. But there are still some privacy risks — such as if you have smart home devices you’ve named using your real name. So, again, do read the FAQ carefully if you want to participate.
For each IoT device on a network the tool collects multiple data-points and sends them back to servers at Princeton University — including DNS requests and responses; destination IP addresses and ports; hashed MAC addresses; aggregated traffic statistics; TLS client handshakes; and device manufacturers.
The tool has been designed not to track computers, tablets and smartphones by default, given the study focus on smart home gizmos. Users can also manually exclude individual smart devices from being tracked if they’re able to power them down during set up or by specifying their MAC address.
Up to 50 smart devices can be tracked on the network where IoT Inspector is running. Anyone with more than 50 devices is asked to contact the researchers to ask for an increase to that limit.
The project team has produced a video showing how to install the app on Mac:
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Giga takes campsite device-charging for a spin
While some people might say that electronic devices have no business being on camping trips, the fact is that items such as LED lanterns, GPS units, two-way radios and cameras all have batteries that need charging. The Giga is designed to meet that need, using the power of the wind.
.. Continue Reading Giga takes campsite device-charging for a spinCategory: Outdoors
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New process uses two kinds of light to make organs safer for transplant
It goes without saying that the greater the number of organs available for transplant, the better for patients in need of them. A newly-developed technique could help, as it uses light to kill viruses and bacteria that might otherwise make donated organs unsuitable for use.
.. Continue Reading New process uses two kinds of light to make organs safer for transplantCategory: Medical
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Quivering strips provide wind power where turbines cannot
Back in 2014, US Army engineers Charles Marsh and Carl Feickert envisioned a wind-power system inspired by Venetian blinds fluttering in an open window. They have since teamed up with eight colleagues, creating a system that generates power in breezes that are too light to turn the blades of a traditional wind turbine.
.. Continue Reading Quivering strips provide wind power where turbines cannotCategory: Energy
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Panasonic aims for transparency in the living room with see-through OLED display
Panasonic has included a transparent OLED display concept as part of a Salone del Mobile installation from Swiss furniture brand Vitra. Looking like a glass cabinet, the display concept is the first of a number looking at how new technologies can be seamlessly integrated into the modern home.
.. Continue Reading Panasonic aims for transparency in the living room with see-through OLED displayCategory: Around The Home
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Compact tiny house inspired by Danish lifestyle movement
Wind River Tiny Homes' previous model was centered around the view, but its newest home, the Lykke, is more concerned with cozy nights in. The compact tiny house is named after the Danish word for happiness and draws design cues from the Hygge lifestyle movement hailing from that part of the world.
.. Continue Reading Compact tiny house inspired by Danish lifestyle movementCategory: Tiny Houses
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Pro-Ject spins out affordable audiophile X1 turntable
Vinyl lovers at the audiophile end of the spectrum can pay a small fortune for a top notch turntable. But Austrian hi-fi manufacturer Pro-Ject has added a new turntable to its X line that promises true audiophile sounds at an affordable price.
.. Continue Reading Pro-Ject spins out affordable audiophile X1 turntableCategory: Home Entertainment
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Geely launches Geometry A, a Chinese Model 3 competitor with global ambitions
On top of its understated good looks and highly competitive pricing, the Geometry A offers proper long-range electric motoring with up to 500 km (310 miles) of range. It's the first car for Geely's new electric marque, and the first of 10 pure electrics the company will launch in the next 6 years.
.. Continue Reading Geely launches Geometry A, a Chinese Model 3 competitor with global ambitionsCategory: Automotive
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Oil-eating bacteria discovered at the bottom of the Mariana Trench
Plunging down to a depth of about 11,000 m (36,000 ft), the Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the ocean, so it's no surprise that we don't really know what's down there. New species and strange sounds have turned up recently, and now researchers have discovered a new group of oil-eating bacteria.
.. Continue Reading Oil-eating bacteria discovered at the bottom of the Mariana TrenchCategory: Science
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Fecal transplants result in massive long-term reduction in autism symptoms
Scientific research continues to uncover interesting connections between the gut microbiome and human health, including everything from depression to PTSD to autoimmune disease. Another example of this are the emerging ties between gut health and autism, with an exciting new study demonstrating how boosting microbial diversity via fecal transplants can dramatically reduce its symptoms in the long term.
.. Continue Reading Fecal transplants result in massive long-term reduction in autism symptomsCategory: Medical
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Performance damn near unlimited: 400-Nm Essence e-Raw redefines two-wheeled lunacy
This electric monster managed to sneak by under our radar, but it deserves some serious attention. Coming out of Lyons, France, Essence Motorcycles is making a massively powerful, long-range e-streetfighter with eye-popping looks and performance so extreme it's actually hard to imagine.
.. Continue Reading Performance damn near unlimited: 400-Nm Essence e-Raw redefines two-wheeled lunacyCategory: Motorcycles
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NASA's twin study shows how space travel affects genes, cognition, aging and gut microbiome
Ever since the first astronauts went up, we've known that life in space profoundly affects the human body. To investigate the extent of those changes, NASA conducted a comprehensive study comparing the genes and biology of identical twins Scott and Mark Kelly, after Scott spent almost a year in space while Mark stayed on Earth as a control. And now the results of that study have finally been released.
.. Continue Reading NASA's twin study shows how space travel affects genes, cognition, aging and gut microbiomeCategory: Biology
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Reconstructed Heath Robinson, precursor to the Colossus computer, unveiled
A reconstruction of a major piece of cybernetic history and the precursor to Colossus, the world's first programmable electronic digital computer, has made its public debut at the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, UK. The working replica of the Heath Robinson code-breaking machine that was used to read secret top-level Nazi messages during the Second World War was unveiled by wartime Wren Irene Dixon.
.. Continue Reading Reconstructed Heath Robinson, precursor to the Colossus computer, unveiledCategory: Computers
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In Tenta's transportable tiny house comes ready to drop in place
Spanish architectural studio In Tenta has created a prefabricated tiny house that can be placed in almost any location or setting. Dubbed DROP Box N-240, the modular dwelling is easily transportable and comes ready to provide a quick and easy pop-up tiny house or hotel suite.
.. Continue Reading In Tenta's transportable tiny house comes ready to drop in placeCategory: Tiny Houses
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Ketamine may relieve depression by mending broken bridges in the brain
Though it is already administered in off-label doses at clinics across the US for its rapid anti-depressant effects and, significantly, was approved in nasal spray form by the FDA last month, there remains a lot to learn about ketamine and its close chemical relatives. A new study has shed more light on how it can stave off depressive symptoms, with experiments on mice revealing how it repairs busted circuits in the brain.
.. Continue Reading Ketamine may relieve depression by mending broken bridges in the brainCategory: Medical
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Bruder drops a hard hat on its ultra-capable beauty-and-beast off-road caravan
Already an absolutely muscular, angry bull of an off-road caravan, the Bruder EXP-6 gets a touch tougher when you strap a helmet on. The recently launched 2019 EXP-6 GT replaces the pop-up roof with a raised hard roof capable of accommodating average- and above-average-height adults. Beyond that, it's still the same stormproof, go-anywhere boutique motel with custom adjustable air suspension, burly composite shell and cushy interior.
.. Continue Reading Bruder drops a hard hat on its ultra-capable beauty-and-beast off-road caravanCategory: Outdoors
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Israel's Beresheet Moon landing mission ends in failure
Israel's first attempt to land a spacecraft on the Moon has ended in failure. At about 7:23 pm Israel time, interrupted communications and an engine malfunction aboard the unmanned Beresheet lander resulted in the craft being unable to reduce its velocity sufficiently to prevent it from crashing into the lunar surface.
.. Continue Reading Israel's Beresheet Moon landing mission ends in failureCategory: Space
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SpaceX nails triple rocket landing following Falcon Heavy's first commercial launch
SpaceX made history today as it not only successfully flew is Falcon Heavy rocket on its first commercial mission, but also recovered all three of the first-stage boosters for the first time. The Arabsat-6A mission to send a high-capacity telecommunications satellite into geosynchronous orbit is the second flight of the Falcon Heavy, which is the most powerful rocket currently operating and the fourth most powerful ever built.
.. Continue Reading SpaceX nails triple rocket landing following Falcon Heavy's first commercial launchCategory: Space
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Robotic recycling hand knows which materials it's grabbing
In municipal recycling facilities, workers pick through discarded items going past on a conveyor belt, sorting them according to their material. While this setup is a source of employment, it's also costly, limiting the economic feasibility of such operations. A new material-detecting robot hand, however, could help bring costs down.
.. Continue Reading Robotic recycling hand knows which materials it's grabbingCategory: Robotics
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Cell-herding ultrasound developed for better bioprinting
We've been hearing a lot lately about how living cells can be combined with polymer gels, the mix then being 3D-printed to create biological tissue for use in transplants or experimentation. Such material could soon be getting even more like the real thing, thanks to new ultrasound tech.
.. Continue Reading Cell-herding ultrasound developed for better bioprintingCategory: Science
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Device offers hope for workers who aren't comfy in their cubicles
If you work in an office cubicle, then you likely don't have much control over the factors that determine your comfort level. Well, a new device could at least let the powers-that-be know if things need improvement, by monitoring the environment in your cubby hole.
.. Continue Reading Device offers hope for workers who aren't comfy in their cubiclesCategory: Good Thinking
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Thorens unveils new reel-to-reel tape machine ahead of Munich debut
Responding to what it calls a phoenix-like rise in demand for quarter inch tapes, high-end audio brand Thorens has announced a new reel-to-reel developed with Germany's Ballfinger. The TM 1600 will make its public debut at the High End Show in Munich next month.
.. Continue Reading Thorens unveils new reel-to-reel tape machine ahead of Munich debutCategory: Home Entertainment
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Alex Chinneck makes an ordinary building extraordinary with unzipped facade
Alex Chinneck's surreal artistic works offer a fascinating twist on everyday architecture. His latest project involves him apparently unzipping an aged building's facade during Milan Design Week (aka Salone de Internazionale del Mobile di Milano).
.. Continue Reading Alex Chinneck makes an ordinary building extraordinary with unzipped facadeCategory: Architecture
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GMC puts carbon fiber to work in its truck beds
Starting in early June, GMC will begin offering carbon fiber truck beds for its Sierra line of pickups. The Sierra CarbonPro will be offered with the Denali and AT4 half-ton pickups. This is the first purpose-built production carbon fiber truck bed and GMC developed a carbon fiber composite specifically for it.
.. Continue Reading GMC puts carbon fiber to work in its truck bedsCategory: Automotive
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Smash-proof guitar lives up to its name
Rock guitarists sometimes have a strange relationship with their instruments. The Who's Pete Townshend has smashed many guitars throughout his long career, Jimi Hendrix set fire to his psychedelic Stratocaster at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, and more recently Muse's Matthew Bellamy sacrificed 140 guitars during one tour. But when Sandvik decided to make an unbreakable all-metal guitar, naturally the company asked fellow Swede Yngwie Malmsteen to try and destroy it.
.. Continue Reading Smash-proof guitar lives up to its nameCategory: Music
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