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MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for takyon

Half the strangeness of looking at an x-ray comes from the realization that the fuzzy grayness and jointed white lines you can see actually make up your very own flesh and bones. Now, because of technology developed at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, people will be able to look into their bodies and see their inner bits in vibrant color — soft tissue as red, bones as white, and fat as a murky yellow. CERN describes the technology as a "breakthrough color medical scanner."

Technically called the MARS spectral x-ray scanner, the machine is based on Medipix3 technology, which operates off read-out chips designed to detect, track and render images of particles. Medipix tech was invented in the early 2000s as a way for CERN scientists to track particles being beamed about the Large Hadron Collider, a very expensive tube that allowed for the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle in 2012. CERN says that Medipix works like a camera, "detecting and counting each individual particle hitting the pixels when its electronic shutter is open."

This results in high-resolution, high-contrast images — and when applied to the human body, allows for the rendering of clear, accurate pictures that may change the medical diagnosis game.

Source: https://www.inverse.com/article/46974-x-ray-cern-color-medical-reseach

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An Anonymous Coward writes:

CRISPR–Cas9 is poised to become the gene editing tool of choice in clinical contexts. Thus far, exploration of Cas9-induced genetic alterations has been limited to the immediate vicinity of the target site and distal off-target sequences, leading to the conclusion that CRISPR–Cas9 was reasonably specific. Here we report significant on-target mutagenesis, such as large deletions and more complex genomic rearrangements at the targeted sites in mouse embryonic stem cells, mouse hematopoietic progenitors and a human differentiated cell line. Using long-read sequencing and long-range PCR genotyping, we show that DNA breaks introduced by single-guide RNA/Cas9 frequently resolved into deletions extending over many kilobases. Furthermore, lesions distal to the cut site and crossover events were identified. The observed genomic damage in mitotically active cells caused by CRISPR–Cas9 editing may have pathogenic consequences.

[...]

We show that extensive on-target genomic damage is a common outcome at all loci and in all cell lines tested. Moreover, the genetic consequences observed are not limited to the target locus, as events such as loss-of-heterozygosity will uncover recessive alleles, whereas translocations, inversions and deletions will elicit long-range transcriptional consequences. Given that a target locus would presumably be transcriptionally active, mutations that juxtapose this to one of the hundreds of cancer-driver genes may initiate neoplasia. In the clinical context of editing many billions of cells, the multitude of different mutations generated makes it likely that one or more edited cells in each protocol would be endowed with an important pathogenic lesion. Such lesions may constitute a first carcinogenic 'hit' in stem cells and progenitors, which have a long replicative lifespan and may become neoplastic with time. Such a circumstance would be similar to the activation of LMO2 by pro-viral insertion in some of the early gene-therapy trials, which caused cancer in these patients30. Results reported here also illustrate a need to thoroughly examine the genome when editing is conducted ex vivo. As genetic damage is frequent, extensive and undetectable by the short-range PCR assays that are commonly used, comprehensive genomic analysis is warranted to identify cells with normal genomes before patient administration.

https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.4192

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MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for takyon

There’s a little-known sexually transmitted disease (STD) that’s on the rise – and could soon become a very big problem.

Sexual health experts warn that Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) has the potential to become a drug-resistant superbug within a matter of years.

Research by the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) found that over 70 percent of sexual health experts said that if current practices do not change, MG will become resistant to first and second line antibiotics within a decade. Left unchecked, they say this could result in thousands of women each year at increased risk of infertility from pelvic inflammatory disease caused by MG.

As a result of these daunting statistics, BASHH have just released draft guidelines to help the public and health services deal with this impending crisis.

“MG is rapidly becoming the new superbug: it’s increasingly resistant to most of the antibiotics we use to treat chlamydia and changes its pattern of resistance during treatment so it's like trying to hit a moving target,” Dr Peter Greenhouse, sexual health consultant from the UK, said in a statement.

Source: http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/this-littleknown-std-could-become-the-next-superbug-within-a-decade/

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MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for takyon

Toxicologists today unveiled a digital chemical safety screening tool that could greatly reduce the need for six common animal tests. Those tests account for nearly 60% of the estimated 3 million to 4 million animals used annually in risk testing worldwide.

The computerized tool—built on a massive database of molecular structures and existing safety data—appears to match, and sometimes improve on, the results of animal tests for properties such as skin sensitization and eye irritation, the researchers report in today's issue of Toxicological Sciences. But it also has limitations; for instance, the method can't reliably evaluate a chemical's risk of causing cancer. And it's not clear how open regulatory agencies will be to adopting a nonanimal approach.

[...] On average, the computational tool reproduced the animal test results 87% of the time. That's better than animal tests themselves can do, Hartung says: In reviewing the literature, his group found that repeated animal tests replicated past results just 81% of the time, on average. "This is an important finding," Hartung says, because regulators often expect alternative methods to animal testing to be reproducible at the 95% threshold—a standard even the animal tests aren't meeting.

[...] The screening method has weaknesses. Although it can predict simple effects such as irritation, more complex endpoints such as cancer are out of its reach, says Mike Rasenberg, who heads ECHA's Computational Assessment & Dissemination unit. "This won't be the end of animal testing," he predicts, "but it's a useful concept for looking at simple toxicity."

Source: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/07/new-digital-chemical-screening-tool-could-help-eliminate-animal-testing

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MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for takyon

Nutaku - the site which fulfills all your hentai browser gaming needs - promises the "world's first adult gaming esports tournament" with the Lewd Gaming Championship. I suppose it was only a matter of time before somebody decided to bring esports and anime boobs together.

This tournament is sponsored by YouPorn, and offers a $25,000 prize pool for 64-players in a single-elimination tournament in Tits 'n' Tanks. Further format and qualification details are still on the way. All participants will also receive a YouPorn Premium membership, which - I'm told - offers exclusive content, HD video, and an ad-free viewing experience.

Source: https://www.pcgamesn.com/nutaku-lewd-gaming-championship

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Phoenix666 writes:

On Thursday, Blockbuster Alaska announced that the rental chain's last two Alaskan stores will shut down on Monday, with liquidation sales to follow. The news means that only one Blockbuster store will remain in the United States, in Bend, Oregon.

"We hope to see you at our stores during the closing, even if it's just to say 'Hello,'" the final two shops' managers posted in a Facebook announcement on Thursday. "What a great time to build your media library and share some Blockbuster memories with us."

Blockbuster fans, act now to return your late videos! Perhaps your late fees can keep them alive.

Original Submission

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for Bytram

It looks like something badly CGI'd into a disaster movie, but it's real: an 11 million ton iceberg, slowly moving toward a village, threatening to destroy everything in its path.

Just look at this thing.

[YouTube video]

A massive section of the iceberg falls off at around 30 seconds in, which gives you a sense of the scale here. If the iceberg becomes destabilised, and a larger chunk is broken off, it could create a tsunami, which could potentially destroy the town of Innaarsuit. This sped up GIF does a good job of illustrating the iceberg's movement.

Source: https://www.cnet.com/news/watch-this-gigantic-terrifying-iceberg-slowly-move-toward-a-tiny-greenland-village/

Original Submission

martyb writes:

Jeff Bezos Plans to Charge at Least $200,000 for Space Rides:

Potential customers and the aerospace industry have been eager to learn the cost of a ticket on Blue Origin's New Shepard space vehicle, to find out if it is affordable and whether the company can generate enough demand to make a profit on space tourism.

Executives at the company, started by Amazon.com Inc founder Bezos in 2000, told a business conference last month they planned test flights with passengers on the New Shepard soon, and to start selling tickets next year.

The company, based about 20 miles (32 km) south of Seattle, has made public the general design of the vehicle - comprising a launch rocket and detachable passenger capsule - but has been tight-lipped on production status and ticket prices.

Blue Origin representatives did not respond to requests for comment on its programs and pricing strategy. Bezos said in May ticket prices had not yet been decided.

One Blue Origin employee with first-hand knowledge of the pricing plan said the company will start selling tickets in the range of about $200,000 to $300,000. A second employee said tickets would cost a minimum of $200,000. They both spoke on condition of anonymity as the pricing strategy is confidential.

Note that Blue Origin is advertising suborbital flights which, basically, just go "up and down". Virgin Galactic's flights also are sub-orbital. SpaceX's flights, on the other hand, actually reach orbital which requires much greater velocity.

Previously: Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin Expects to Sell Tickets for Manned Suborbital Flights in 2019

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martyb writes:

Rolls-Royce wants to build a flying taxi:

[...F]lying cars are happening again? Make up your mind! I can't handle all this uncertainty. Let's add it all up, shall we?

We have an Airbus and Audi partnership, currently trying to build a city car/flying taxi concept. We have Uber building a flying taxi hub in Paris. Then we have Kitty Hawk, a secret company founded by Google co-founder Larry Page -- it's working on a project called Cora. Yes, it's another flying taxi.

[...] But guess who else is joining the flying taxi race... Rolls-Royce.

Not the Rolls-Royce of luxury cars fame, Rolls Royce the engine company, that split from the car company decades ago.

That Rolls-Royce is looking to get into the flying taxi game and has drawn up plans to create an electric vehicle that could potentially reach speeds of 400 kilometres per hour (around 250 miles per hour). Rolls-Royce believes it could be ready to launch as early as the next decade, a timeline that's consistent with many of its potential competitors.

Wonder if they will give a special rate to Danny DeVito?

Original Submission

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for Fnord666

...Apple released iOS 11.4.1 for iPhones and iPads—a small update that fixes a couple bugs and introduces a new security feature. This is the fifteenth update since iOS 11 released last September. It's available to the same devices as iOS 11.4—the iPhone 5S and later, the iPad Air and later, the iPad mini 2 and later, and 2015 iPod touch.

The notes users will see when they go to the Settings app to update their phones are as follows:

iOS 11.4.1 includes bug fixes and improves the security of your iPhone or iPad. This update:

• Fixes an issue that prevented some users from viewing the last known location of their AirPods in Find My iPhone
• Improves reliability of syncing mail, contacts, and notes with Exchange accounts

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for Fnord666

FCC plans to stop reviewing informal complaints—filing a formal one costs $225.

Ajit Pai's Federal Communications Commission is proposing that it stop reviewing the vast majority of consumer complaints about telecom companies. Going forward, consumers harmed by broadband, TV, and phone companies would have to pay $225 in order to get an FCC review of their complaints.

The FCC accepts two types of complaints: informal ones and formal ones. It costs nothing to file an informal complaint and $225 to file a formal one; given that, consumers almost always file informal complaints. Besides the filing fee, formal complaints kick off a court-like proceeding in which the parties appear before the FCC and file numerous documents to address legal issues. It isn't an easy process for consumers to go through.

[...] Chairman Pai's proposal to change the informal complaint procedure comes in a larger proposal about formal complaints; the change to informal complaints is explained in a footnote. "We delete the phrase 'and the Commission's disposition' from the last sentence of that rule because the Commission's practice is not to dispose of informal complaints on substantive grounds," the footnote says.

Customers will still be able to submit informal complaints, and telecom providers will still be required to respond to them within 30 days. But consumers who don't get what they want from the ISP will have to file a formal complaint and pay the $225 in order to get the FCC to take any action.

Even if the telecom provider fails to reply to an informal complaint, the only recourse would be filing a formal one. "[T]he Commission will notify the complainant that if the complainant is not satisfied by the carrier's response, or if the carrier has failed to submit a response by the due date, the complainant may file a formal complaint," the proposed version of the FCC complaint rule says. By contrast, the current version of the rule says that "the Commission will contact the complainant regarding its review and disposition of the matters raised. If the complainant is not satisfied by the carrier's response and the Commission's disposition, it may file a formal complaint."

Democrats from the FCC and Congress say the change will make it more difficult (and expensive) for consumers to get complaints resolved. "This is bonkers. It's unacceptable," FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement to Ars.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/07/ajit-pais-fcc-wants-to-stop-reviewing-your-complaints-unless-you-pay-225/

But, see also: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/07/11/no-fcc-is-not-forcing-consumers-pay-file-complaints/.

Original Submission

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for Fnord666

Reclusive artist walked away from Marvel in 1968, kept drawing for decades.

New York police confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Friday that one of Marvel Comics' legendary staffers, Steve Ditko, was found dead in his apartment this week. Ditko was 90.

The creator of Dr. Strange and the original artist (plus "co-creator," according to Stan Lee) for Spider-Man had been found days earlier, on June 29, and police told THR that they believed he had been dead for two days when he was found. Reports indicate Ditko left behind no family or survivors.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/07/marvel-comics-legend-spider-man-co-creator-steve-ditko-found-dead-at-90/

Original Submission

canopic jug writes:

Glyn Moody writes a blog post at Private Internet Access about how users are steered into accepting terms and conditions which are against their own interests. Even after the advent of the GDPR, and even though users theoretically can change their privacy settings to optimize protection for their personal data, they usually don't. One of the reasons is because it requires effort and thus people mostly accept the defaults through inaction. However, it turns out there are other issues because of the use of user interfaces carefully crafted to trick users into doing things they might not otherwise do, a practice some label "dark patterns".

Brignull runs a site called Dark Patterns, which includes a “hall of shame” with real-life examples of dark patterns, and a list of common types. One of these is “Privacy Zuckering”, where “You are tricked into publicly sharing more information about yourself than you really intended to. Named after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.” A free report, “Deceived by Design“, funded by the Norwegian Consumer Council, reveals that top sites have recently been engaging in “Privacy Zuckering” to undermine the GDPR and its privacy protections. The report explores how Facebook, Google and Microsoft handled the process of updating their privacy settings to meet the GDPR’s more stringent requirements. Specifically, the researchers explored a “Review your data settings” pop-up from Facebook, “A privacy reminder” pop-up from Google, and a Windows 10 Settings page presented as part of a system update. Both Facebook and Google fare badly in terms of protecting privacy by default.

More details can be found in a report by the Norwegian Consumer Council, entitled Deceived by Design: How tech companies use dark patterns to discourage us from exercising our rights to privacy (warning for PDF).

Original Submission

canopic jug writes:

Law enforcement has been fielding several calls per month for a long time now from new victims of a team of scammers impersonating powerful women in the film industry. The scammers appear to be working out of Indonesia and fleece victims for large sums, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars each. In addition to the financial aspect, the main contact for the frauds appears to go an extra mile to engage, manipulate, and toy with the victims.

For more than a year, some of the most powerful women in entertainment — including Amy Pascal, Kathleen Kennedy, Stacey Snider and a 'Homeland' director — have been impersonated by a cunning thief who targets insiders with promises of work, then bilks them out of thousands of dollars. The Hollywood Reporter has obtained exclusive audio recordings of the savvy imposter as victims come forward and a global investigation heats up.

From The Holywood Reporter: Hunting the Con Queen of Hollywood: Who's the "Crazy Evil Genius" Behind a Global Racket?

[Ed note: I'll admit this is not in line with our usual tech-related fare. I was torn whether or not to run it. Then again, it is the weekend and the story has bearing on how can one really trust something as being what it appears to be (think along the lines of malware). I can spot spam e-mails from a mile away, but that's mostly because it's in my area of expertise. How well would I resist such a scam were it perpetrated on me is another matter. What do my fellow Soylentils think? Should I have just binned it? Was it worth running? Maybe only one per weekend? --martyb]

Original Submission

canopic jug writes:

In a surprise to no one, researchers find yet again that Internet content filters don’t prevent access to porn. Specifically a paper entitled Internet Filtering and Adolescent Exposure to Online Sexual Material from a pair of researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute in the United Kingdom finds that teens are not slowed down during their search for porn in any meaningful way by content filters. The study looked at around 20,000 subjects around the EU and UK, ages 11 through 16, and found no statistically or practically significant protective effects from filters.

This research follows the controversial news that the UK government was exploring a country-wide porn filter, a product that will most likely fail. The UK would join countries around the world who filter the public Internet for religious or political reasons.

The bottom line? Filters are expensive and they don’t work.

Original Submission