Did Facebook Inflate Its Advertising Metrics?

Business Insider reports:
Facebook executives knew for years its “potential reach” advertising metric was inflated and overruled an employee warning to adjust it to avoid a revenue hit, plaintiffs of a lawsuit against the social media giant argued in an unredacted court filing. Gizmodo writes:
In a nutshell, this class action suit, which was first filed back in 2018, alleges that Facebook massaged…

Researchers Try Using CRISPR To Genetically Engineer Zika-Resistant Mosquitoes

A new research study at the University of Missouri is using CRISPR gene-editing technology to produce mosquitoes that are unable to replicate Zika virus and therefore cannot infect a human through biting. Slashdot reader wooloohoo shared an announcement from Cornell’s Alliance for Science: Alexander Franz, an associate professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, collaborated with researchers at Colorado State…

Space nematodes: A giant leap for interplanetary agriculture

In a successful return-to-space mission, research study results indicate that beneficial insect-killing nematodes (small round worms) can be used in the future for natural control of insect pests when humans are growing crops in space. The research objective was to study entomopathogenic (insect-killing) nematodes (EPNs) foraging and infection dynamics in space onboard the International Space Station (ISS) between December 2019 and…

Did ancient Mars have rings?

A new study of Mars’ smallest moon Deimos, by scientists from the SETI Institute and Purdue University, suggests that the planet used to have rings a few billion years ago. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/did-ancient-mars-have-rings-deimos…

Moving online: What you can implement now

By Linlin Xia and Alexandra Urban, Teaching & Learning Team, Coursera Online, live sessions provide effective synchronous learning opportunities and create a space to engage with your students while remote. In particular, live events are optimal for: Mastering content that requires students’ active participation in collaborative problem solving Fostering peer-to-peer interaction, especially when distance or […]
The post Moving online: What you…

Eggshells support idea that dinosaurs were warm-blooded

Were dinosaurs warm-blooded or cold-blooded? According to a new study that analyzed the chemistry of dinosaur eggshells, the answer is “warm”. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/eggshells-suggest-dinosaurs-warm-blooded…

Quantum computers flip the script on spin chemistry

To build cheaper and more efficient sustainable energy options, we need to know a lot more than we currently do about the chemical reactions that convert solar energy into electricity. One of the best ways to do that is through computer models that simulate complex molecular interactions. Although classical computers have served this purpose well over the past few decades, we…

What it’s like to trip on psilocybin for a scientific research study

The psychoactive compound psilocybin may hold promise for treating depression, but how do we know it’s safe? Sam Wong volunteered for a study to find out Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2230189-what-its-like-to-trip-on-psilocybin-for-a-scientific-research-study/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

NASA Astronaut’s Blood Clot In Space Gets Treated By Doctor On Earth

Doctor Stephan Moll, a blood-clot expert from the University of North Carolina, helped develop a treatment plan for a NASA astronaut who discovered a blood clot in the jugular vein partway through a long-term mission on the International Space Station. CNET reports: NASA hasn’t revealed the crew member’s name or when the incident happened, though the astronaut discovered the clot two…

Most Americans Think They’re Being Constantly Tracked, Study Finds

An anonymous reader quotes a report from MIT Technology Review: More than 60% of Americans think it’s impossible to go through daily life without being tracked by companies or the government, according to a new Pew Research study. It’s not just that Americans (correctly) think companies are collecting their data. They don’t like it. About 69% of Americans are skeptical that…