Lawmakers in Congress are expected to introduce landmark legislation this week that will ban facial recognition technology from public housing. Called the No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act, the proposed bill would prohibit housing units that receive funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development from using technology like facial recognition. It would also require HUD to submit a report…
Tag: STEM
Scientists 3D-Print Human Skin and Bone For Mars Astronauts
Scientists from the University Hospital of Dresden Technical University in Germany have successfully bio-printed skin and bone samples upside down to help determine if the method could be used in a low-gravity environment. CNET reports: The skin sample was printed using human blood plasma as a “bio ink.” The researchers added plant and algae-based materials to increase the viscosity so it…
Researchers Awaken Ancient Lifeforms Exposed By Thawing Ice Caps and Permafrost
“Researchers in a warming Arctic are discovering organisms, frozen and presumed dead for millennia, that can bear life anew,” reports the Washington Post: These ice age zombies range from simple bacteria to multicellular animals, and their endurance is prompting scientists to revise their understanding of what it means to survive… Mosses have forged a tougher path. They desiccate when temperatures plummet,…
Near-Death Experiences May Stem from the Brain Blending Waking and Dreaming States, Study Suggests
Although the exact cause of these experiences remains a mystery, the authors say the phenomenon may be tied to certain sleep abnormalities. Source: https://www.livescience.com/65838-near-death-experiences-rem-sleep.html
US Beekeepers Lost 40 Percent of Honeybee Colonies Over Past Year, Survey Finds
Beekeepers across the U.S. lost four in 10 of their honeybee colonies over the past year, as the worst winter on record for tracked bee populations raised fresh concerns over the plight of the crucial pollinators. The Guardian reports: Over the past winter, 37% of honeybee colonies were lost to beekeepers, the worst winter decline recorded in the 13-year history of…
Today in science: Sally Ride in space
She was the 1st American woman in space, eventually flying on 2 Space Shuttle missions. She played a key role in the investigation of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. And she inspired people. Source: https://earthsky.org/space/sally-ride-1st-american-woman-in-space-june-18-1983…
There’s only a 1 in 7000 chance an asteroid will hit the Earth in September
Whenever scientists announce an upcoming close encounter with an asteroid, certain corners of the internet light up like the synaptic rush that accompanies a meth binge, with panicky headlines shouted straight from the brain stem. But never mind that. We’re not that corner of the internet. We’re sober, yo! Source: https://phys.org/news/2019-06-chance-asteroid-earth-september.html…
‘Pumping Heart Patch’ Ready For Human Use
A “pumping” patch containing millions of living, beating stem cells could help repair the damage caused by a heart attack, according to researchers. Reader dryriver shares a report: Sewn on to the heart, the 3cm (1in) by 2cm patch, grown in a lab from a sample of the patient’s own cells, then turns itself into healthy working muscle. It also releases…
YouTube To Remove Thousands of Videos Pushing Extreme Views
YouTube said on Wednesday that it plans to remove thousands of videos and channels that advocate for neo-Nazism, white supremacy and other bigoted ideologies in an attempt to clean up extremism and hate speech on its popular service. From a report: The new policy will ban “videos alleging that a group is superior in order to justify discrimination, segregation or exclusion,”…
Stem cell patch may help repair damage caused by heart attacks
Heart patches with a beat could help repair damage after a heart attack. The patches have shown promise in animals and will soon be tested in humans Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2205241-stem-cell-patch-may-help-repair-damage-caused-by-heart-attacks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…