Bitcoin tops $60,000 on US fund approval hopes

Bitcoin breached the $60,000 mark for the first time since April on growing optimism that American regulators will greenlight the first US futures exchange-traded fund for the cryptocurrency.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-bitcoin-tops-fund.html

$590 mn in ransomware payments reported to US in 2021 as attacks surge

New data out Friday showed $590 million in ransomware-related payments were reported to US authorities in the first half of 2021, setting a pace to beat totals for the previous decade as cyber-extortion booms.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-mn-ransomware-payments-surge.html

China crackdown on Apple store hits holy book apps, Audible

Amazon's audiobook service Audible and phone apps for reading the holy books of Islam and Christianity have disappeared from the Apple store in mainland China, the latest examples of the impact of the country's tightened rules for internet firms.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-china-crackdown-apple-holy-apps.html

Nothing funny about bad year for Maine's clownish puffins

Maine's beloved puffins suffered one of their worst years for reproduction in decades this summer due to a lack of the small fish they eat.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-funny-bad-year-maine-clownish.html

California OKs new protections for leatherback sea turtles

California has added the Pacific leatherback sea turtle to its endangered species list, guaranteeing more protections for a rapidly dwindling population.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-california-oks-leatherback-sea-turtles.html

China launches 3 astronauts on 6-month space station mission

China on Saturday sent three astronauts to its space station for a record-setting six-month stay as the country moves toward completing the new orbiting outpost

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-china-astronauts-month-space-station.html

Study: Adolescents' experiences with police have harmful repercussions for later life outcomes

The criminal justice system has changed dramatically in the past half century and with these changes has come a greater potential for adolescents to encounter police. A new study examined how adolescents' experiences with police—either directly or vicariously (e.g., via witnessing an encounter)—affected their future orientation during the transition to adulthood. The study concluded that adolescents' experiences with police can serve as an important life course event with negative consequences for later life outcomes.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-adolescents-police-repercussions-life-outcomes.html

Prosecutors embrace a color-blind approach to prosecution, highlights need for cultural rescripting in prosecution

A new study explored how prosecutors think about race in criminal justice, providing ideas of how to break the color-blind approach to prosecution that can entrench racial disparities. The study found that prosecutors broadly argue that race should not be considered when processing cases.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-prosecutors-embrace-color-blind-approach-prosecution.html

Unlined waste disposal pits endanger groundwater in San Joaquin Valley

A new study by the energy science and policy research institute, Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers (PSE) for Healthy Energy shows that the disposal of over 16 billion barrels of oil and gas wastewater into unlined pits over a 50-year period has introduced salts, carcinogens, and other toxins into regional aquifers.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-unlined-disposal-pits-endanger-groundwater.html

Researchers propose new strategy for interfacial modification of organic solar cells

Surface energy (γs) plays a key role in the formation of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) films in organic solar cells fabricated by solution process. The miscibility of BHJ films can be predicted by the difference of surface energy between donor and acceptor. The vertical distribution and the stacking orientation of BHJ films can be regulated by the surface energy in the bottom interface layer. The surface energy of thin film is usually obtained by measuring contact angle using Owens-Wendt model.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-strategy-interfacial-modification-solar-cells.html

Lava flow from Spanish island volcano likened to a tsunami

The second 4.5 magnitude earthquake in two days rattled the Spanish island of La Palma on Friday, officials said, as scientists described a gushing river of molten rock from an erupting volcano as "a true lava tsunami."

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-lava-spanish-island-volcano-likened.html

With latest mission, China renews space cooperation vow

Shortly ahead of sending a new three-person crew to its space station, China on Friday renewed its commitment to international cooperation in the peaceful use of space.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-latest-mission-china-renews-space.html

Italy's ITA takes to skies in ashes of Alitalia

Italy's new national carrier ITA took its debut flight Friday, closing a turbulent chapter that witnessed the decline of the country's storied but ill-fated Alitalia after 74 eventful years.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-italy-ita-ashes-alitalia.html

S Korea seeks Interpol notice for two cyber gang leaders

South Korea said Friday it's asked Interpol for help to arrest two foreigners it alleges played a leading role in cyberattacks and large-scale extortion that targeted South Korean and U.S. companies.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-korea-interpol-cyber-gang-leaders.html

Sea lion colony in Mexico defies declining numbers

The population of California sea lions is down dramatically due to climate change, but in one natural refuge area off the coast of northwest Mexico, they are doing well and delighting tourists who dare to swim with them.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-sea-lion-colony-mexico-defies.html

Sotheby's ramps up NFT operations

Sotheby's auction house launched a dedicated platform for collectors of NFTs Thursday and announced a twice-a-year sale of the digital objects, a sign of its commitment to the craze.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-sotheby-ramps-nft.html

US grand jury indicts former pilot of Boeing 737 MAX

A US federal grand jury on Thursday charged a former Boeing chief test pilot with misleading aviation regulators during the certification process for the 737 MAX, which was involved in two fatal crashes.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-grand-jury-indicts-boeing-max.html

Asian deer's comeback marks rare China conservation success

An Asian deer's comeback from the brink of extinction marks a rare success for China's conservation efforts, which have long faced criticism for focusing on only a handful of flagship species.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-asian-deer-comeback-rare-china.html

Flying sushi: Israel readies for delivery drone traffic jams

Drone powerhouse Israel is translating the know-how of air force veterans to the delivery of sushi and ice-cream, as companies tap their expertise to avoid collisions in increasingly crowded skies.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-sushi-israel-readies-delivery-drone.html

Windows, Gates and a firewall: Microsoft's delicate castle in China

Microsoft, which will close its career-oriented social network LinkedIn in China, is one of the few US tech titans that have managed some success in the country.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-windows-gates-firewall-microsoft-delicate.html

MIT grapples with early leader's stance on Native Americans

As the third president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Francis Amasa Walker helped usher the school into national prominence in the late 1800s.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-mit-grapples-early-leader-stance.html

TSMC plans chip plant in Japan, says supply shortages easing

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. has confirmed it is planning to build a computer chip factory in Japan.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-tsmc-chip-japan-shortages-easing.html