The SpaceX Crew Dragon splashdown into the Gulf of Mexico today will be the first splashdown in 45 years. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/how-to-watch-spacex-crew-dragon-splashdown-aug-2-2020…
Tag: arrival
NIST Study Finds That Masks Defeat Most Facial Recognition Algorithms
In a report published today by the National Institutes of Science and Technology (NIST), a physical sciences laboratory and non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, researchers attempted to evaluate the performance of facial recognition algorithms on faces partially covered by protective masks. They report that even the best of the 89 commercial facial recognition algorithms they tested had error…
Uber Drivers To Launch Legal Bid To Uncover App’s Algorithm
AmiMoJo shares a report from The Guardian: Minicab drivers will launch a legal bid to uncover secret computer algorithms used by Uber to manage their work in a test case that could increase transparency for millions of gig economy workers across Europe. Two UK drivers are demanding to see the huge amounts of data the ride-sharing company collects on them and…
To find giant black holes, start with our solar system’s center
A new study from researchers at Vanderbilt University suggests that to find the most massive black holes, measure the effects of their gravitational waves on the flashes of light coming from pulsars. The best location to do that is at the precise gravitational center of the solar system. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/black-holes-gravitational-waves-pulsars-solar-system…
Halfway Through ISS Mission, NASA Astronauts Anticipate Their Ride Back to Earth
“They’ve been up there about a month now, floating around on the International Space Station, keeping tabs on their ride home,” reports the Washington Post: “Certainly, the highlight for both Doug and I was the initial arrival at space station, coming through the hatch again and being on board after several years of working on a new spacecraft,” Behnken said in…
Asteroid Day, June 30, live from Luxembourg
The 6th annual Asteroid Day will be held as a digital event on June 30, 2020. It’ll feature presentations with experts, panel discussions, and question-and-answer periods. Here’s how to participate. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/international-asteroid-day-june-30…
What is a derecho? An atmospheric scientist explains these rare but dangerous storm systems
The derecho in the U.S. East on June 3, 2020, killed 4 people and left a million without power. A Colorado derecho on June 6 had winds in excess of 100 mph. Europe, Asia and South America also have derechos. Here’s what scientists know about them. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/what-is-a-derecho-storm-system…
Dance of 3 stars confirms Einstein’s ‘most fortunate thought’
Researchers in Europe have now confirmed the universality of free fall – which Einstein called his most fortunate thought – with extremely high precision. To do it, they spent 8 years tracking a triple star system containing a millisecond pulsar. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/pulsar-psr-j03371715-einstein-universality-of-free-fall…
California To Allow Movie Theaters To Reopen In Most Counties
California counties, including Los Angeles County, could decide to reopen movie theaters as early as Friday. The Los Angeles Times reports: Each local health officer has the authority to decide whether to move forward with relaxing restrictions on reopening theaters. While the state provides guidance on how businesses can reopen, counties decide when they occur. The new rules would limit the…
Why a Voting App Won’t Solve Our Problems This November
XXongo writes: Although the problems with internet voting have been pointed out over and over again, with the arrival of COVID-19, the idea has again been brought up as a way to avoid the problems of in-person voting. If we can do banking by internet, why can’t we do online voting? But, voting by an app is still a really stupid…