- Tech NewsGoogle
Google Removes ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Clause From Its Code of Conduct
Google’s unofficial motto has long been the simple phrase “don’t be evil.” But that’s over, according to the code of conduct that Google distributes to its employees. The phrase was removed sometime in late April or early May, archives hosted by the Wayback Machine show. “Don’t be evil” has been part of the company’s corporate … Continued
By Kate Conger - Tech News
Thousands of Amateur Radio Operators Measured the Solar Eclipse’s Effects on the Atmosphere
Astronomers and space fans may have set up lawn chairs outside to watch the eclipse, but Nathaniel Frissell set up his ham radio. As the sky dimmed and daylight turned into an uncanny dusk, the reports started coming in: Communication was dying off over the 20 meter (14 MHz) radio band. Frissell (call sign W2NAF) … Continued
- io9
Colony Finally Showed Us a Damn Alien, and It Was Good
It took three seasons but we finally got it. A god dang alien on a show about aliens invading god dang earth. God dang this is great! Colony—about a family struggling to survive on an Earth colonized by aliens who seem to use humans themselves as a natural resource—has had a bad habit of teasing … Continued
By Alex Cranz - EartherEarth Science
It’s No Illusion: Field Biology Is Just Like Arrested Development
You may not think that Arrested Development—the internet-favorite show about a family of incompetent SoCal real estate developers—has much of anything to do with field biology. But Twitter has proven otherwise over the past week. Turns out, a lot of biologists can find a voice for their daily struggles through the equally ignominious experiences of … Continued
Asia Murphy - io9Toys and Collectibles
Space Cats Fight Fascism Is a Card Game With a Great Name and an Even Better Mission
It all started after the 2016 election. The TESA Collective, which makes games and tools about social causes, was in a bind. They wanted to make a game that would inspire players to change the world, but they knew people also needed a break from all the crap. How could they accomplish their goal and … Continued
- Tech NewsPrivacy and Security
Just 13 States Have Requested Funds Congress Set Aside to Secure Election Systems
Thirteen states have withdrawn a total of nearly $88 million from an election security fund established by Congress in March, but more than 75 percent of the funding has yet to be dispersed. The $380 million fund, established as part of Congress’ omnibus appropriations bill, is meant to aid state officials in securing and improving … Continued
By Dell Cameron - ScienceHealth
For the Love of God, Keep Your Literal Ass Away From the Pool When You’re Sick
Given that summer is somehow only a short while off for Americans, here’s a timely reminder courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Please, we beg you, keep your disgusting butt away from the swimming pool or hot tub if you’re feeling the least bit like you might have diarrhea. On Thursday, the CDC … Continued
By Ed Cara - io9
All the Clues Steven Universe Dropped About Its Big Revelation You Never Realized
One of the best things about Steven Universe is how infinitely re-watchable the entire series is. But now that Steven and the Crystal Gems are uncovering new truths about the Diamonds, the primary but mysterious antagonist of the show, watching it from the beginning is a completely different experience. There have always been layers upon … Continued
- ScienceSpace
Hubble’s Latest Batch of Space Porn Is Some of the Best We’ve Ever Seen
Space is mind-bogglingly vast, and it’s practically impossible for our puny brains to comprehend just how huge it really is. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, an international team of astronomers has completed an exhaustive survey of star-forming galaxies in the local Universe. The resulting catalog won’t help you fathom the immensity of the cosmos, but … Continued
- io9
Someone Needs to Save The Expanse, Immediately
By now, The Expanse faithful have all heard the sad news: The show is not getting a fourth season on Syfy. Since that decision appears to be based mostly on broadcast rights and first-run ratings, fans are crossing every finger that the critically-acclaimed, Hugo-winning show (which is funded and produced by a company separate from Syfy) … Continued
By Cheryl Eddy - Tech News
Gary Lives! …Or Does He?
Since Elon Musk launched his tunneling project, The Boring Company, in late 2016, he has often said that his goal is for his boring machines to outpace his pet snail, Gary, in a race. “We want to beat Gary,” Musk announced last year. “Victory will be beating the snail.” But here at Gizmodo, we have … Continued
By Kate Conger - io9
Weird New ThunderCats Cartoon, Ho!
The ThunderCats are back… but they’re really, really not looking how you’d think they would. Announced through EW today, Warner Bros. Animation is reviving the beloved 1985 animated series as ThunderCats Roar. Although no format for the new show has been revealed yet, the series will feature a radically different (one might even call it… … Continued
- io9
Stan Lee Sues Company He Co-Founded for $1 Billion for Stealing His Identity
This week, Stan Lee’s official Twitter page lit up with a new announcement, supposedly written by the man himself, explaining that he was now in control of the social media page for the first time. Lee’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts, he said, had been “hijacked” and are still being run by people impersonating him. … Continued
- Tech NewsNews
Chinese School Piloting Face-Recognition Software to Make Sure Students Pay Attention in Class
At least one school in China is trying out face recognition software that scans students’ faces to check if they’re paying attention in class, Epoch Times reports. Called “smart eyes,” the tech reportedly provides teachers with real-time data on students, whose “moods” are categorized as surprised, sad, antipathy, angry, happy, afraid, or neutral. Hangzhou Number … Continued
- io9
The She-Ra Reboot Debuts the First Shadowy Look at the New Princess of Power
She may be cloaked in shadow, but this is our first glimpse at the all-new Princess of Power, making her way to Netflix soon. And now we know who will be voicing She-Ra and her friends (and villains), too Revealed by Entertainment Weekly today, Netflix and Dreamworks Animation’s reboot of the beloved series will be … Continued
- EartherEnvironmental Justice
Nine African Cities Plan to Go Zero Carbon by 2050
African cities are stepping up to the plate on climate action. Cities throughout the massive continent know how far-reaching and severe the impacts of rising temperatures will be, so they’re not standing down. Nine cities—including Tshwane, South Africa; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lagos, Nigeria—pledged this week to achieve “zero carbon” economies by 2050, according … Continued
- Tech NewsDesign
The Future Is Knit: Why the Ancient Art of Knitting Is High-Tech Again
When you think about knitting, you might picture grandmas clicking big wooden needles or something wintery, like a snow-covered lodge. But knitting is everywhere, producing just about everything you put against your skin each day, from socks and t-shirts to hoodies and beanies. And thousands of years after it was first invented, new kinds of … Continued
- io9
The 10 Craziest Things That Happened on Gotham This Season
With its utter refusal to even approach traditional Batman canon, Gotham has always been entertainingly bizarre. But season four was a cavalcade of craziness that would even give the Joker pause—or Jokers, rather. If you don’t watch this delightfully bonkers show, here’s all the madness you missed. 1) Gordon enlists the mafia to end Penguin’s … Continued
By Rob Bricken - ScienceSpace
China to Launch Mission to Moon’s Far Side on Monday
China’s mission to explore the Moon’s far side is set to launch in part on Monday (Sunday in the US). As the Guardian reports: The Chang’e 4 relay satellite will be stationed about 60,000km (almost 40,000 miles) behind the moon and provide a communications link for a rover that is designed to land and explore … Continued
- Tech NewsGadgets
AT&T and Verizon are Too Busy Seeing $$$ to Get Worked Up About the T-Mobile-Sprint Merger
With Sprint and T-Mobile having agreed to a $26.5 billion merger (assuming the deal gets approved by federal regulators), 126 million people are looking at significant change to their wireless coverage. How do competitors AT&T and Verizon feel about their potential rival? It seems both companies are totally chill. When asked about the impending merger … Continued