Monkey business for the geek in you!
The prevalence of bizarre and uncanny content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) on platforms like TikTok and Facebook shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, it has become a profitable venture for creators, platforms, and even middlemen who teach others how to join in on the AI gold rush. Platforms have created incentive programs…
Meta has announced the introduction of “Teen Accounts” on Instagram, which aim to enhance the safety and age-appropriate experiences of teenagers on the platform. These accounts will be set to private by default, have maximum content and messaging restrictions, pause notifications at night, and offer new ways for teens to indicate their content preferences. Notably,…
During the early days of the internet, anonymity was a key feature. It was a place where anyone could be anyone and find anything they wanted. However, as marketers discovered the potential for making money online, the internet began to change. Consolidation took place, with platforms like Facebook, Amazon, and Google dominating the online landscape….
The Australian federal government is intensifying its efforts to combat scams, which resulted in losses of over A$2.7 billion for Australians last year. In response, the government has released a draft scam prevention framework aimed at protecting the community from scams. The framework takes a comprehensive approach to address vulnerabilities that scammers exploit. While the…
In a groundbreaking achievement, two astronauts successfully completed the first-ever commercial spacewalk using SpaceX’s new, streamlined spacesuits. Tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, who funded the mission, and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis spent nearly 30 minutes outside their spacecraft at an altitude of approximately 700 km, surpassing the distance traveled by any human since the Apollo Moon…
The federal government has introduced a new bill in parliament to combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation on the internet. However, experts have criticized the government’s plans to ban young people from social media platforms and its privacy reforms, stating that bans are ineffective and privacy protections are inadequate for the digital age. The…
Recent research published in Science has revealed that engaging in fact-based conversations with AI chatbots can help individuals who believe in conspiracy theories to break free from their beliefs. The study, conducted by Thomas Costello and his team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, offers hope in addressing the issue of conspiracy theories, some of…
The idea of banning children under 16 from social media may seem appealing to overwhelmed parents, but evidence suggests that it will not have a positive impact on youth mental health. In fact, it may make children more vulnerable online. Online spaces provide an avenue for children to socialize with their peers, which is crucial…
Crystals Can Help Predict Volcanic Eruptions If you had a crystal ball that could predict when a volcano would erupt, it would be incredibly valuable for the millions of people who live near active volcanoes. Surprisingly, certain crystals can actually assist in forecasting volcanic eruptions. These crystals are formed in molten rock as it moves…
The federal government has announced its commitment to implementing a national plan to prohibit children from accessing social media platforms. While specific details are still limited, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recognizes that no government can completely shield children from all online threats, but efforts must be made to ensure their safety. However, banning children from…
The South Australian government is pushing forward with plans to prohibit children under the age of 14 from using social media. Additionally, teenagers aged 14 and 15 would require parental consent to have social media accounts. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has warned that social media companies that do not comply with the new regulations…
A team of scientists recently made a $150,000 gamble by pointing the Keck telescope at Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawai’i towards what appeared to be empty space. Their hope was to uncover the hidden gas that surrounds galaxies in the universe. To their delight, their gamble paid off, and they were able to capture the…
Scientists have reconstructed Earth’s plate tectonics over the past 1.8 billion years using information from rocks on the planet’s surface. This is the first time that Earth’s geological record has been used to look so far back in time. The research, led by Xianzhi Cao from the Ocean University in China, has been published in…
The Australian federal government has introduced a proposed set of mandatory guardrails for high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) and a voluntary safety standard for organizations using AI. The guardrails focus on accountability, transparency, record-keeping, and human oversight of AI systems. The proposed requirements for high-risk AI aim to prevent or mitigate potential harms to Australians. The…
The New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, has announced a series of reforms aimed at strengthening legal responses to family violence in the state. These reforms come in the wake of the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst by her former partner earlier this year. One of the key aspects of the reforms is the revision…
A new systematic review conducted by the World Health Organization has found no link between mobile phone use and brain cancer. The review, published in the journal Environment International, examined over 5,000 studies and concluded that exposure to radio waves from mobile phones and wireless technologies does not increase the risk of brain cancer. This…
Brazil, the country with the fifth largest number of internet users, has recently banned the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The ban came into effect following a dispute between Elon Musk, the owner of X, and Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. De Moraes had previously ordered the platform to block…
Scientists have made a surprising discovery about Earth’s core using a new method of studying seismic waves. They have found a large donut-shaped region around the Equator, a few hundred kilometres thick, where seismic waves travel about 2% slower than in the rest of the core. This region is believed to contain more lighter elements…
The Paralympic Games, which has become a prominent global event, has its roots in rehabilitation. The first official Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960, but its origins can be traced back to 1948 when neurologist Ludwig Guttmann organized the Stoke Mandeville Games in England for veterans of World War II with spinal cord…
In our quest to learn about the appearance of people from ancient times, computer-assisted reconstructions of their faces have gained popularity. For instance, in 2020, a digital artist used artificial intelligence technology to recreate the faces of Roman emperors in a photo-realistic manner. Facial reconstructions can be done by adding realistic skin, eyes, and hair…