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Google tool makes AI-generated writing easily detectable

Google DeepMind has been using its AI watermarking method on Gemini chatbot responses for months – and now it’s making the tool available to any AI developer




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DNA has been modified to make it store data 350 times faster

Researchers have managed to encode enormous amounts of information, including images, into DNA at a rate hundreds of times faster than was previously possible




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Tiny battery made from silk hydrogel can run a mouse pacemaker

A lithium-ion battery made from three droplets of hydrogel is the smallest soft battery of its kind – and it could be used in biocompatible and biodegradable implants




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Simple fix could make US census more accurate but just as private

The US Census Bureau processes data before publishing it in order to keep personal information private – but a new approach could maintain the same privacy while improving accuracy




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Final Fantasy 8 Remake guru urged to dump girlfriend to focus on the game



One fan has been rebuilding Final Fantasy 8 but it's not going quickly enough for some people who suggested they cut out things like relationships to focus on the game.




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New comet makes historically close approach to Earth today, but spotting it will take some luck

Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1) was discovered in August and is now whizzing by Earth, but finding it in the sky will be a challenge.




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Updated Android malware can hijack calls you make to your bank

An updated Android trojan called FakeCall hijacks bank calls. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Android phone manufacturers and Google need to step up their game on security.



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Sportswomen of the year: The candid superstars who opened the floodgates to make sport stronger




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Rapamycin could make an epilepsy drug much safer during pregnancy

The epilepsy medication sodium valproate is linked to developmental problems in fetuses, but lab studies may now have found a way to prevent this




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RFK Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again agenda could impact food safety

RFK Jr., a lawyer-politician, could replace lawyer-politician Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human  Services. Or RFK Jr could be the next Secretary of Agriculture, replacing  Tom Vilsack, a lawyer. Deputy FDA Commissioners are sometimes lawyers. Dr. Robert Califf, a cardiologist, is the outgoing FDA Commissioner. The fact that... Continue Reading




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New Carrier Fluid Makes Hydrogen Way Easier to Transport



Imagine pulling up to a refueling station and filling your vehicle’s tank with liquid hydrogen, as safe and convenient to handle as gasoline or diesel, without the need for high-pressure tanks or cryogenic storage. This vision of a sustainable future could become a reality if a Calgary, Canada–based company, Ayrton Energy, can scale up its innovative method of hydrogen storage and distribution. Ayrton’s technology could make hydrogen a viable, one-to-one replacement for fossil fuels in existing infrastructure like pipelines, fuel tankers, rail cars, and trucks.

The company’s approach is to use liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) to make it easier to transport and store hydrogen. The method chemically bonds hydrogen to carrier molecules, which absorb hydrogen molecules and make them more stable—kind of like hydrogenating cooking oil to produce margarine.

A researcher pours a sample of Ayrton’s LOHC fluid into a vial.Ayrton Energy

The approach would allow liquid hydrogen to be transported and stored in ambient conditions, rather than in the high-pressure, cryogenic tanks (to hold it at temperatures below -252 ºC) currently required for keeping hydrogen in liquid form. It would also be a big improvement on gaseous hydrogen, which is highly volatile and difficult to keep contained.

Founded in 2021, Ayrton is one of several companies across the globe developing LOHCs, including Japan’s Chiyoda and Mitsubishi, Germany’s Covalion, and China’s Hynertech. But toxicity, energy density, and input energy issues have limited LOHCs as contenders for making liquid hydrogen feasible. Ayrton says its formulation eliminates these trade-offs.

Safe, Efficient Hydrogen Fuel for Vehicles

Conventional LOHC technologies used by most of the aforementioned companies rely on substances such as toluene, which forms methylcyclohexane when hydrogenated. These carriers pose safety risks due to their flammability and volatility. Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies in Erlanger, Germany and other hydrogen fuel companies have shifted toward dibenzyltoluene, a more stable carrier that holds more hydrogen per unit volume than methylcyclohexane, though it requires higher temperatures (and thus more energy) to bind and release the hydrogen. Dibenzyltoluene hydrogenation occurs at between 3 and 10 megapascals (30 and 100 bar) and 200–300 ºC, compared with 10 MPa (100 bar), and just under 200 ºC for methylcyclohexane.

Ayrton’s proprietary oil-based hydrogen carrier not only captures and releases hydrogen with less input energy than is required for other LOHCs, but also stores more hydrogen than methylcyclohexane can—55 kilograms per cubic meter compared with methylcyclohexane’s 50 kg/m³. Dibenzyltoluene holds more hydrogen per unit volume (up to 65 kg/m³), but Ayrton’s approach to infusing the carrier with hydrogen atoms promises to cost less. Hydrogenation or dehydrogenation with Ayrton’s carrier fluid occurs at 0.1 megapascal (1 bar) and about 100 ºC, says founder and CEO Natasha Kostenuk. And as with the other LOHCs, after hydrogenation it can be transported and stored at ambient temperatures and pressures.

Judges described [Ayrton's approach] as a critical technology for the deployment of hydrogen at large scale.” —Katie Richardson, National Renewable Energy Lab

Ayrton’s LOHC fluid is as safe to handle as margarine, but it’s still a chemical, says Kostenuk. “I wouldn’t drink it. If you did, you wouldn’t feel very good. But it’s not lethal,” she says.

Kostenuk and fellow Ayrton cofounder Brandy Kinkead (who serves as the company’s chief technical officer) were originally trying to bring hydrogen generators to market to fill gaps in the electrical grid. “We were looking for fuel cells and hydrogen storage. Fuel cells were easy to find, but we couldn’t find a hydrogen storage method or medium that would be safe and easy to transport to fuel our vision of what we were trying to do with hydrogen generators,” Kostenuk says. During the search, they came across LOHC technology but weren’t satisfied with the trade-offs demanded by existing liquid hydrogen carriers. “We had the idea that we could do it better,” she says. The duo pivoted, adjusting their focus from hydrogen generators to hydrogen storage solutions.

“Everybody gets excited about hydrogen production and hydrogen end use, but they forget that you have to store and manage the hydrogen,” Kostenuk says. Incompatibility with current storage and distribution has been a barrier to adoption, she says. “We’re really excited about being able to reuse existing infrastructure that’s in place all over the world.” Ayrton’s hydrogenated liquid has fuel-cell-grade (99.999 percent) hydrogen purity, so there’s no advantage in using pure liquid hydrogen with its need for subzero temperatures, according to the company.

The main challenge the company faces is the set of issues that come along with any technology scaling up from pilot-stage production to commercial manufacturing, says Kostenuk. “A crucial part of that is aligning ourselves with the right manufacturing partners along the way,” she notes.

Asked about how Ayrton is dealing with some other challenges common to LOHCs, Kostenuk says Ayrton has managed to sidestep them. “We stayed away from materials that are expensive and hard to procure, which will help us avoid any supply chain issues,” she says. By performing the reactions at such low temperatures, Ayrton can get its carrier fluid to withstand 1,000 hydrogenation-dehydrogenation cycles before it no longer holds enough hydrogen to be useful. Conventional LOHCs are limited to a couple of hundred cycles before the high temperatures required for bonding and releasing the hydrogen breaks down the fluid and diminishes its storage capacity, Kostenuk says.

Breakthrough in Hydrogen Storage Technology

In acknowledgement of what Ayrton’s nontoxic, oil-based carrier fluid could mean for the energy and transportation sectors, the U.S. National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) at its annual Industry Growth Forum in May named Ayrton an “outstanding early-stage venture.” A selection committee of more than 180 climate tech and cleantech investors and industry experts chose Ayrton from a pool of more than 200 initial applicants, says Katie Richardson, group manager of NREL’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, which organized the forum. The committee based its decision on the company’s innovation, market positioning, business model, team, next steps for funding, technology, capital use, and quality of pitch presentation. “Judges described Ayrton’s approach as a critical technology for the deployment of hydrogen at large scale,” Richardson says.

As a next step toward enabling hydrogen to push gasoline and diesel aside, “we’re talking with hydrogen producers who are right now offering their customers cryogenic and compressed hydrogen,” says Kostenuk. “If they offered LOHC, it would enable them to deliver across longer distances, in larger volumes, in a multimodal way.” The company is also talking to some industrial site owners who could use the hydrogenated LOHC for buffer storage to hold onto some of the energy they’re getting from clean, intermittent sources like solar and wind. Another natural fit, she says, is energy service providers that are looking for a reliable method of seasonal storage beyond what batteries can offer. The goal is to eventually scale up enough to become the go-to alternative (or perhaps the standard) fuel for cars, trucks, trains, and ships.




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Katherine Bennell-Pegg: Australia’s First Astronaut Makes History



This is a sponsored article brought to you by BESydney.

In July 2024, Sydney woman Katherine Bennell-Pegg made history as the first astronaut to graduate under the Australian flag and the first female astronaut in Australia. Her journey, marked by determination and discipline, showcases Australia’s growing prominence in space exploration and research.

From her academic achievements at the University of Sydney (USYD) to her rigorous training at the European Space Agency (ESA), Bennell-Pegg’s success has paved a path forward for aspiring space and aerospace professionals in Australia and globally.

A journey to the stars begins in Sydney

Katherine Bennell-Pegg was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and grew up in the Northern Beaches area. Her fascination with space began at an early age.

“I always dreamed of being an astronaut,” Bennell-Pegg shared in her “Insights from an Australian Astronaut” Space Forum Speech in July 2024. “When I was young, it was for the adventure, but after more than a decade working in space, it’s now because I know the role it plays in tackling real-world problems and developing new knowledge that can benefit our society, environment and science.”

Sydney: A Hub for Space Innovation


Sydney, the vibrant heart of the state of New South Wales (NSW), stands at the forefront of aerospace innovation in Australia. With its world-class research facilities, leading academic institutions and strategic geographic positioning, Sydney is not only Australia’s gateway to the Indo-Pacific but also a burgeoning hub for international aerospace endeavours.

NSW is home to more than 40 per cent of Australia’s aerospace industry. Substantial investments from both the state and federal governments support this concentration of capabilities, underpinning Sydney’s role as a leader in aerospace. From advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity to quantum technologies and space exploration, this progressive city is truly thriving.

Sydney’s appeal as a desirable location for hosting aerospace conferences and business events is bolstered by its comprehensive infrastructure, vibrant startup community and strategic position as a transport hub.

Sydney’s track record of successfully hosting events highlights the city’s ability to organise impactful international gatherings, including:

  • Australian Space Summit
  • New Horizons Summit
  • CubeSatPlus2024 - NEW SPACE: Unbounded Skies

Sydney will also host the 76th International Astronautical Congress from 29 September to 3 October 2025 and the 34th Congress of the International Council for the Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) to be held 13 to 17 September 2026. Both will take place at ICC Sydney, further solidifying Sydney’s status as a central hub for aerospace events.

Would you like to know more about Sydney’s credentials in Aerospace? Download our Aerospace eBook or visit besydney.com.au

Sydney proved to be the ideal location for Bennell-Pegg’s journey to begin. She studied at the University of Sydney, where she earned a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) in Aeronautical Engineering (Space) and a Bachelor of Science (Advanced) in Physics.

Sydney’s universities are at the forefront of aerospace education and research. Institutions such as the University of Sydney (USYD), the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) attract students from around the world. UNSW Sydney, with its School of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Mechatronic Engineering, is renowned for its innovative research in space technology and satellite systems, while UTS provides cutting-edge programs in aerospace engineering and physics, emphasizing practical applications and industry partnerships. USYD excels in aeronautical engineering and space science, supported by advanced facilities and strong ties to major aerospace organisations. Together, these universities offer comprehensive programs that integrate theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, preparing students for dynamic careers in the rapidly evolving aerospace and space sectors.

Having excelled in her studies at USYD, Bennell-Pegg was awarded the Charles Kuller Graduation Prize for her top-placed undergraduate thesis. Subsequently, her quest for knowledge took her to Europe, where she earned two Master of Science degrees: one in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University and another in Space Technology from Luleå University of Technology.

Reflecting on her educational path, Bennell-Pegg stated, “With the encouragement of my parents, I researched what it would take to become an astronaut and worked hard at school, participating in everything from aerobatic flying lessons to amateur astronomy.”

Inside the rigorous training regimen of an astronaut

Bennell-Pegg’s professional career began with roles at Airbus UK, where she contributed to numerous space missions and concept studies, such as Martian in-situ resource utilisation and space debris removal. Her expertise led her to the Australian Space Agency, where she became the Director of Space Technology.

In 2021, Bennell-Pegg was invited by the European Space Agency (ESA) to undertake Basic Astronaut Training at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany. When the ESA application opened in 2021, it was the first opening in 15 years. Bennell-Pegg jumped at the opportunity to apply alongside over 22,000 others from 22 countries. She endured six knock-out rounds, including medical, psychometrics, psychology and technical tests and made it to the group of 25 who passed.

This historic invitation marked the first time an international astronaut candidate was offered training by the ESA.

“The training was demanding, but it was also an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the field and to be part of a team that is pushing the boundaries of human exploration.”—Katherine Bennell-Pegg

Bennell-Pegg’s training regimen was intense, encompassing physical conditioning, complex simulations, and theoretical classes designed to prepare candidates for long-duration missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond. This included:

  • Studies in biology, astronomy, earth sciences, meteorology, materials, medical and fluids, both in theory and in labs.
  • Radiation research – an area of expertise for Australia. This will increase as humans travel back to the Moon.
  • Medical operations: Astronauts need to be able to perform medical procedures on themselves and others.
  • Training for expeditions: This included honing team dynamics through behavioral training, ocean and winter survival training, rescue and firefighting.

Sharing her thoughts on this transformative experience, Bennell-Pegg said, “The training was demanding, but it was also an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the field and to be part of a team that is pushing the boundaries of human exploration.”

In April 2024, Bennell-Pegg completed her training, graduating with her ESA classmates from “The Hoppers” group. Upon graduation, she became fully qualified for assignments on long-duration missions to the ISS, making her the first Australian female astronaut and the first person to train as an astronaut under the Australian flag.

“I want to use this experience to open doors for Australian scientists and engineers to utilize space for their discoveries,” Bennell-Pegg said. “I hope to inspire the pursuit of STEM careers and show all Australians that they too can reach for the stars.”

Elevating Australia’s role in space exploration

Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s achievements represent a significant milestone. Her journey from the University of Sydney to the rigorous training programs at the European Astronaut Centre showcases the potential of Australian talent in the global space community.

“Being the first astronaut trained under the Australian flag is an incredible honor,” Bennell-Pegg said. “I’m grateful for the support that has fueled me through intense training and opened doors for more Australians in space exploration. Whether I fly or not, there is much to accomplish here on Earth. I’m excited to leverage this experience to inspire future generations in STEM and elevate Australia’s presence in the global space community. Becoming an astronaut is just the beginning.”

Bennell-Pegg’s dream to become an Australian astronaut is more than just a personal triumph; it is a win for anyone who aspires to a career in space or aerospace. Sydney, with its world-class educational institutions, advanced manufacturing facilities scheduled for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and expanding opportunities in aerospace and defence, is an ideal starting point for anyone looking to make their mark in these sectors.

Would you like to know more about Sydney’s credentials in Aerospace? Download our Aerospace eBook or visit besydney.com.au





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How to Make a Mammal in Nine Evolutionary Steps

From the formation of inner ear bones to the rise of hair to cover our bodies, these developments made us distinct from other animals




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Kamala Harris Makes History With VP Nomination

Harris has made history multiple times over.

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]





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Alex Marlow: Yale Embarrasses Itself with Woke ‘Beyonce Makes History’ Course


On “The Alex Marlow Show” on Tuesday, Breitbart Editor-in-Chief and host Alex Marlow mocked Ivy League schools like Yale for degrading themselves with things like Yale’s Beyoncé course. Marlow said, “Yale University’s going to offer a Beyoncé makes history course in 2025. So, that’s what they’re doing. We’re just kicking butt and taking names and then they’re — they’ve got a new Beyoncé course over at Yale. Do the Ivy Leagues know that they degrade themselves and debase themselves? I love it. Because, as people have been pointing out, there’s no surer sign of people moving to the left than…when they go to college. That’s where it’s at. That is the fountain of leftism in our society…the universities. … And, not to mention, they infect our cities.” “The Alex Marlow Show,” hosted by Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, is a weekday podcast produced by Breitbart News and Salem Podcast Network. You can subscribe to the podcast on YouTube, Rumble, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Follow Breitbart.tv on Twitter @BreitbartVideo

The post Alex Marlow: Yale Embarrasses Itself with Woke ‘Beyonce Makes History’ Course appeared first on Breitbart.






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‘D55’: Dhanush teams up with ‘Amaran’-maker Rajkumar Periasamy for his next; film goes on floors

Tentatively called D55, the film is produced by Sushmita Anbuchezian under the Gopuram Films banner




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Hiro Murai to make feature film debut with samurai epic, ‘Bushido’ for A24

The film looks to deliver an exploration of samurai culture in a tumultuous era that aligns with a renewed global interest in samurai narratives, spurred by FX’s ‘Shōgun’






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20 of the Most Adorable Animals To Help Make Anyone's Day

From a monkey that weighs only a few ounces to a 100-pound rodent, get to know some of these adorable creatures.




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Sydney’s iconic City Gym gets $1.5 million makeover

Sydney’s iconic City Gym in Darlinghurst is open for business after a $1.5 million renovation. The gym, which opened in 1978—the same year the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras ...

The post Sydney’s iconic City Gym gets $1.5 million makeover appeared first on Star Observer.




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Gus the penguin makes mysterious solo trip to popular Australian beach

An emperor penguin found malnourished far from its Antarctic home on the Australian south coast is being cared for by a wildlife expert, a government department said Monday.




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Apple's latest Find My update makes it easier to find lost items

If you have an iPhone that can run iOS 18, you can now download and install the public beta of iOS 18.2. One of the most useful new features is the capability to share the location of a lost item connected to Apple's Find My network with a third party. You can already share an item's location with people in your contacts list, but Apple says this could help in instances wherein you have to rely on the help of a stranger.

When you choose "Share Item Location" in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad or Mac, you'll get the option to share a link that shows the location of your missing item. The link's recipient will be able to open it on any device, and they'll also be able to see your Apple account email and/or phone number so that they can get in touch with you. You'll be able to see how many people visited the link, which expires after you're reunited with your lost belonging or after a week if you haven't found it by then.

Along with benevolent strangers, you'll be able to share the locations of misplaced AirTags and Find My accessories with select airlines. Apple has worked with several of them to integrate this feature into their systems. Only a small number of airline staff can access each Share Item Location link, and Apple says they'll first need to authenticate themselves with an Apple Account or partner email address.

Apple

More than 15 airlines will start supporting this feature in the coming months, including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling. Apple says that more airlines will get involved over time to help track down mishandled or delayed bags.

Air transport tech company SITA is also incorporating Share Item Location into WorldTracer, its baggage-tracing system. According to Apple, this is used by more than 500 airlines and ground handlers at more than 2,800 airports.

Of course, installing beta software does have its downsides. There's a higher chance of running into bugs, and some apps or features might still not work as Apple had intended. If you don't mind and want to test iOS 18.2, you'll have to enable Beta Updates under Software Updates in your device's Settings menu. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 18.2 proper in December.

Meanwhile, as luck would have it, there's an early Black Friday deal on AirTags at the time of writing. You can scoop up a four-pack for a record low of $70.

Update, November 5 2024, 9:10AM ET: This story has been updated to clarify that these new features are in the developer beta of iOS 18.2. The public beta for that software isn't available just yet.

Update, November 11, 2024, 3:12PM ET: This story has been updated to include details of the airline integration and to note that a public beta of iOS 18.2 is now available.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-latest-find-my-update-makes-it-easier-to-find-lost-items-133049512.html?src=rss




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The Morning After: Apple makes its iOS Find My features much more useful

One of the most useful new features in the public beta of iOS 18.2 is the capability to share the location of a lost item connected to Apple’s Find My network. Sure, you could already share an item’s location with people in your contacts list, but Apple says this could help when you have to rely on the help of a stranger.

When you choose Share Item Location in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad or Mac, you get the option to share a link that shows the location of your missing item. The link’s recipient will be able to open it on any device, and they’ll also be able to see your Apple account email and/or phone number so they can get in touch with you. You can even share the information with selected airlines. Apple has apparently worked with several carriers to integrate this feature into their systems.

Better still, air transport tech company SITA is also incorporating Share Item Location into WorldTracer, its baggage-tracing system. Apple says more than 500 airlines and ground handlers at 2,800-plus airports use it. Perfect for when I head to Portugal in just five days’ time. Yes, brag.

For now, it’s part of the public beta, so if you want the feature, you’ll have to install iOS 18.2.

— Mat Smith

The biggest tech stories you missed

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Engadget

It’s not been a great year for Sonos, but still, here comes its latest upgraded soundbar. While the design is mostly unchanged from the Arc that debuted in 2020, there are several key changes inside the Arc Ultra that make this a better all-in-one solution. Sonos is promising better bass performance, thanks to new speaker tech debuting in the Arc Ultra, but just how good can it be? $999 worth of good?

Continue reading.

If you want an excellent midrange smartphone or an upgrade from that crunchy Android of yours from 2014, just get yourself the Pixel 8a, down $100 to $399. With Google’s Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a supports many of the same AI features as the flagship Pixel devices. The cameras are excellent, and it has a gorgeous (and smooth) 6.1-inch 120Hz OLED display. The only caveat is… we’ve seen it drop to $380 briefly. Still, it’s a deal. We gave it a score of 90 in our review.

Continue reading.

For the first time in over two years, Overwatch 2 players will be able to group up in teams of six for a three-week event starting today. But there’s a twist: You won’t be able to select Kiriko or Sombra or battle it out with an additional player on each side on Push maps just yet. Yes, you’ll be limited to the first 21 heroes, kitted out with their old movesets and ultimates. Did someone call for Symmetra, teleport savior? No, but they will.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121525242.html?src=rss




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The best gifts under $50 that make great stocking stuffers

We wouldn’t blame you if you try to do all of your tech shopping around the holidays. That’s when you can typically get the best sales, both on relatively affordable gear and (more importantly) on big-ticket items. But it would be wrong to think that only the most expensive tech is worth gifting. Since we at Engadget test a plethora of gadgets every year, we know that there are some hidden (and not so hidden) tech gems at lower price ranges — you just have to know where to find them. That’s where we come in — these are the best tech gifts under $50 that you can get this year.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-gifts-under-50-holiday-stocking-stuffers-130049028.html?src=rss




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Signal makes it easier to start group video calls

Signal users may be familiar with the problem of creating group chats just for a group call, but that’s about to become a thing of the past. You can now share a call link and let up to 50 people hop in, all in the span of a few seconds. The days of selecting contacts one by one are over.

Now, all you have to do is create a call link after going to the Calls tab and send it to whomever you want. The link is also reusable, which is convenient if you have fixed call times. Participants can raise their hands and send emojis. Hosts can set the room up so people must be approved before joining the conversation.

Based on Signal’s blog post, the new group call experience highly resembles Zoom. Those interested in privacy yet desire a conference call-like experience may find the new update helpful. Like Zoom, the desktop app offers more options.

Besides Zoom, these features will be familiar to frequent users of Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and some WhatsApp users. Raising hands is found on all three platforms as a non-verbal way to signal the speaker. WhatsApp does have a lower participant count of 32 people after an update in June. While there’s no raise hands function, doing certain gestures can send emojis for all to see. It’s worth noting that many apps with group call functionality are adopting similar features.

These new features are available on Android, iOS, Windows and macOS. If you don’t see them yet, we recommend updating your Signal app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/signal-makes-it-easier-to-start-group-video-calls-153519653.html?src=rss




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Cineplex says it will make online purchase fee more obvious following penalty

Cineplex Inc. says it will continue adding a fee to some online ticket purchases after being penalized earlier this fall for alleged deceptive marketing, but it will adjust how the charge is communicated to moviegoers.




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This might make you care about Brexit

THOUSANDS of fans stay up late to watch the English Premier League. But the UK leaving the EU could change all that.




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Can AI make life easier for people with dementia?

AI projects are underway to help ease the challenges of dementia.




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Factory to make blades as part of £1bn deal

The deal secured by the Hull facility is for the East Anglia TWO project off the Suffolk coast.




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DFAT makes room for women

The Department of Foreign Affair­s and Trade has renamed its meeting rooms in honour of pionee­ring female diplomats.




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How to Make Your Own Zoetrope

Put your own spin on a zoetrope with homemade drawings—or carve one into a pumpkin




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Transparency Shocker: Biosimilars Are Getting Cheaper—But Hospitals and Insurers Can Make Them Expensive

Here on Drug Channels, we have long highlighted the boom in provider-administered biosimilars. In contrast to the pharmacy market, adoption of these biosimilars is growing, prices are dropping, and formulary barriers continue to fall.

Novel transparency information reveals that this good news doesn’t always translate into savings. Below, we rely on a unique data set from Turquoise Health to examine how much four national commercial health plans—Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare—paid hospitals for Avastin and its two most significant biosimilar competitors.

As we demonstrate, health plans pay hospitals far above acquisition costs for biosimilars. What’s more, plans can pay hospitals more for a biosimilar than for the higher-cost reference product. The U.S. drug channel system is warping hospitals’ incentives to adopt biosimilars, while simultaneously raising costs for commercial plans.

The namesake of my alma mater once said: “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” What would happen if we disinfected the entire channel?
Read more »
       




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FTC Finalizes “Click-to-Cancel” Rule to Make It Easier for Consumers to End Recurring Subscriptions and Memberships

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Boiling It Down: Conveying Complexity For Decision-makers

By Ankit Mahadevia, former CEO of Spero Therapeutics, as part of the From The Trenches feature of LifeSciVC Drug development is complex. So is running a business. Sometimes, the work of doing both can make your head spin. In my

The post Boiling It Down: Conveying Complexity For Decision-makers appeared first on LifeSciVC.




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Will Your Family Make You a Better Trial Participant?

It is becoming increasing accepted within the research community that patient engagement leads to a host of positive outcomes – most importantly (at least practically speaking) improved clinical trial recruitment and retention.

But while we can all agree that "patient engagement is good" in a highly general sense, we don't have much consensus on what the implications of that idea might be. There is precious little hard evidence about how to either attract engaged patients, or how we might effectively turn "regular patients" into "engaged patients".

That latter point - that we could improve trial enrollment and completion rates by converting the (very large) pool of less-engaged patient - is a central tenet of the mHealth movement in clinical trials. Since technology can now accompany us almost anywhere, it would seem that we have an unprecedented opportunity to reach out and connect with current and potential trial participants.

However, there are signs that this promised revolution in patient engagement hasn't come about. From the decline of new apps being downloaded to the startlingly high rate of people abandoning their wearable health devices, there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that we aren't in fact making very good progress towards increasing engagement. We appear to have underestimated the inertia of the disengaged patient.

So what can we do? We know people like their technology, but if they're not using it to engage with their healthcare decisions, we're no better off as a result.

Daniel Calvert, in a recent blog post at Parallel 6 offers an intriguing solution: he suggests we go beyond the patient and engage their wider group of loved ones. By engaging what Calvert calls the Support Circle - those people most likely to "encourage the health and well being of that patient as they undergo a difficult period of their life" - trial teams will find themselves with a more supported, and therefore more engaged, participant, with corresponding benefits to enrollment and retention. 

Calvert outlines a number of potential mechanisms to get spouses, children, and other loved ones involved in the trial process:
During the consent process the patient can invite their support team in with them. A mobile application can be put on their phones enabling encouraging messages, emails, and texts to be sent. Loved ones can see if their companion or family member did indeed take today’s medication or make last Monday’s appointment. Gamification offers badges or pop-ups: “Two months of consecutive appointments attended” or “perfect eDiary log!” Loved ones can see those notifications, like/comment, and constantly encourage the patients. 
Supporting materials can also be included in the Support Circle application. There are a host of unknown terms to patients and their team. Glossaries, videos, FAQs, contact now, and so much more can be made available at their fingertips.
I have to admit I'm fascinated by Calvert's idea. I want him to be right: the picture of supportive, encouraging, loving spouses and children standing by to help a patient get through a clinical trial is an attractive one. So is the idea that they're just waiting for us to include them - all we need to do is a bit of digital communication with them to get them fully on board as members of the study team.

The problem, however, remains: we have absolutely no evidence that this approach will work. There is no data showing that it is superior to other approaches to engage trial patients.

(In fact, we may even have some indirect evidence that it may hinder enrollment: in trials that require active caregiver participation, such as those in Alzheimer's Disease, caregivers are believed to often contribute to the barriers to patient enrollment).

Calvert's idea is a good one, and it's worthy of consideration. More importantly, it's worthy of being rigorously tested against other recruitment and retention approaches. We have a lot of cool new technologies, and even more great ideas - we're not lacking for those. What we're lacking is hard data showing us how these things perform. What we especially need is comparative data showing how new tactics work relative to other approaches.

Over 5 years ago, I wrote a blog post bemoaning the sloppy approaches we take in trial recruitment - a fact made all the more painfully ironic by the massive intellectual rigor of the trials themselves. I'm not at all sure that we've made any real progress in those 5 years.

In my next post, I'll outline what I believe are some of the critical steps we need to take to improve the current situation, and start bringing some solid evidence to the table along with our ideas.

[Photo credit: Flikr user Matthew G, "Love (of technology)"]







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