The Zeus Technologies™ Blog: 07/30/21

Friday, July 30, 2021

Twitter to offer 'bounty' to find algorithmic bias

Twitter said Friday it would offer a cash "bounty" to users and researchers to help root out algorithmic bias on the social media platform.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-07-twitter-bounty-algorithmic-bias.html

US watchdog upholds SpaceX's Moon lander contract

NASA did not violate regulations when it decided to give SpaceX the sole contract to build a Moon lander, a watchdog said Friday, in a ruling that denied challenges by competitors Blue Origin and Dynetics.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-07-watchdog-spacex-moon-lander.html

California wildfire flares but within line crews have built

California's largest wildfire so far this year was flaring up Friday but it was because the flames were chewing through unburned islands of vegetation within a perimeter that firefighters have built, authorities said.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-07-california-wildfire-flares-line-crews.html

In the absence of genetic variation, asexual invasive species find new methods of adapting to their environment

Without the benefits of evolutionary genetic variation that accompany meiotic reproduction, how does an asexual invasive species adapt over time to a new environment to survive? In all-female weevil species that produce only female offspring from unfertilized eggs, the insects' survival techniques have led to the surprising discovery that these creatures can pass down gene regulation changes to future generations.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-07-absence-genetic-variation-asexual-invasive.html

Bird brains left other dinosaurs behind

Today, being "birdbrained" means forgetting where you left your keys or wallet. But 66 million years ago, it may have meant the difference between life and death—and may help explain why birds are the only dinosaurs left on Earth.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-07-bird-brains-left-dinosaurs.html

Beware using telemedicine for voice and speech therapy

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, people across the world have experienced how teleconferencing platforms like Zoom help folks stay connected—playing games with friends, hosting virtual weddings, and even visiting a doctor. But when it comes to telemedicine, not all medical care is easily translated to a remote format.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-07-beware-telemedicine-voice-speech-therapy.html

'Greening' biomaterials and scaffolds used in regenerative medicine

Green manufacturing is becoming an increasingly critical process across industries, propelled by a growing awareness of the negative environmental and health impacts associated with traditional practices. In the biomaterials industry, electrospinning is a universal fabrication method used around the world to produce nano- to microscale fibrous meshes that closely resemble native tissue architecture. The process, however, has traditionally used solvents that not only are environmentally hazardous but also pose a significant barrier to industrial scale-up, clinical translation, and, ultimately, widespread use.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-07-greening-biomaterials-scaffolds-regenerative-medicine.html

Blood-sucking flies may be following chemicals produced by skin bacteria to locate bats to feed on

We humans aren't the only animals that have to worry about bug bites. There are thousands of insect species that have evolved to specialize in feeding on different mammals and birds, but scientists are still learning how these bugs differentiate between species to track down their preferred prey. It turns out, the attraction might not even be skin-deep: a new study in Molecular Ecology found evidence that blood-sucking flies that specialize on bats may be locating their preferred hosts by following the scent of chemicals produced by bacteria on the bats' skin.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-07-blood-sucking-flies-chemicals-skin-bacteria.html

Power & renewables M&A soars on back of green policies | White & Case LLP

M&A into renewables and green energy will be a key factor for delivering investment at this scale. These long-term drivers already appear to be driving ...

Inside 'Loki' Season 1 With Head Writer Michael Waldron. Plus: Summer Reading ...

Then, Ringer staff writer Zach Kram joins to share his summer reading recommendations for Loki fans interested in discovering more time travel stories ...

This Sonoma Luxury Resort's $95000 Astronomy Experience Is Almost Out of This World

This Sonoma Luxury Resort's $95,000 Astronomy Experience Is Almost Out of This World. It comes with pro-level stargazing, stellar wines, private jets ...

Ultrafast X-ray provides new look at plasma discharge breakdown in water

A better understanding of the phenomena could lead to advances in green energy production. Date: July 30, 2021; Source: Texas A&M University ...

Cryptocurrency industry fears big tax hit in infrastructure bill

Buried in the still-unreleased bipartisan infrastructure package is a sweeping crackdown on cryptocurrency transactions that could generate significant ...

World's first commercial re-programmable satellite blasts into space

The world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite lifted off from French Guiana on Friday on board an Ariane 5 rocket, ushering in a new era of more flexible communications.

Health officials: Masks prevent COVID-19 transmission. Vaccines prevent deaths.

State health officials on Friday laid out a number of recommendations for Hoosiers to take amid the surging coronavirus, but stopped short of making any potentially politically unpopular mandates to stop the spread. Hoosiers should wear masks indoors in ...

XRP: How and when to long this bullish pattern

Battered and bruised throughout July, XRP has finally enjoyed a strong bull run of late. Its weekly gains of 22% were the highest among the top 10 ...

Study: Vaccinated people can carry as much virus as others

In another dispiriting setback for the nation's efforts to stamp out the coronavirus, scientists who studied a big COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts concluded that vaccinated people who got so-called breakthrough infections carried about the same amount of ...

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