Researchers develop ‘green liver’ houseplant that cleans the air in your home
Researchers have developed a houseplant that can clean the air in your home. By genetically modifying a common houseplant, pothos ivy, to absorb chloroform and benzene, they created a plant that can "eat" these potentially dangerous compounds and use them to fuel their own growth.
Blizzard launches ‘Discipline Tracker’ to name and shame ‘Overwatch’ cheaters
Blizzard has brought in a new system to name and shame cheaters who break Overwatch's rules. The Discipline Tracker is a list of the players who have been disciplined by Blizzard for breaking the rules, showing details like the player's name, their team, and details about what infractions they committed.
Google Lens celebrates its first anniversary with redesign, OCR update
Google's image recognition app Lens has been updated to more accurately pull information from visual images that you snap using your smartphone camera. Instead of having to search using text, you can now take a picture with your phone and use that picture to search for information and similar items.
Gorgeous images show storms and cloud formations in the atmosphere of Jupiter
NASA's Juno mission arrived at Jupiter in 2016. Since then, the solar-powered spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter and collecting data. Now, NASA has shared an update on the progress of the mission as it reaches its halfway point, releasing stunning images of the planet as seen from orbit.
Bright ‘hyperactive’ comet should be visible in the sky this weekend
NASA has announced that an unusual green comet, 46P/Wirtanen, will be visible in the night sky this month as it makes its closest approach to Earth in 20 years. It is one of the closet comet flybys of the last 70 years, and it may be possible to see the comet even without a telescope.
Lawsuit alleges Apple falsely advertised the screen size of the iPhone X
A lawsuit alleges that Apple was dishonest in the way that it marketed the iPhone X, with two plaintiffs seeking class action status against the company for false advertising. The lawsuit alleges that despite Apple's marketing campaign, the new iPhone is not in fact all screen because of the notch.
iOS jailbreak app store Cydia shuts down purchasing
For years, iOS users who want to use their devices without the constraints imposed by Apple have been jailbreaking their devices in order to install software from outside of the Apple App Store ecosystem. But now the popular app store alternative Cydia will no longer be accepting purchases.
Apple pushing update to iPhone in China in response to legal troubles
Apple has been facing legal issues in China, where sales on some iPhone models are facing a ban due to alleged infringements of patents from Qualcomm Inc. On Friday, Apple announced that it will push out a software update to users in China in hopes of resolving any potential legal issues.
Hitting ‘Check for updates’ in Windows 10 opts you into beta releases
Microsoft revealed this week that clicking the Check for updates button in Windows can opt you in to testing beta code for your operating system. They argue that people who click the button are advanced users who are seeking updates, so they will be updated to the latest optional release.
New experiment casts doubt on claims to have identified dark matter
A South Korean experiment called COSINE-100 has attempted to replicate the claims of dark matter observed by the Italian DAMA/LIBRA experiment, but has failed to replicate the observations. This makes the fringe position that dark matter has already been identified more untenable.
Can Microsoft’s Airband Initiative close broadband gap for 25M Americans?
A new report from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that 25 million Americans do not have access to broadband internet -- more than 19 million living in rural communities. Broadband adoption in the U.S. has plateaued at 70 percent since 2010. Can Microsoft's Airband Initiative help?
White dwarf star unexpectedly emitting bright ‘supersoft’ X-rays
The Chandra Observatory has discovered a white dwarf star emitting supersoft X-rays, calling into question conventional wisdom about how X-rays are produced by dying stars. The star ASASSN-16oh is producing supersoft X-rays that are not due to fusion, but instead due to hot gasses in the accretion disk.
Google to end support for Android devices running Ice Cream Sandwich
Anyone with an old phone that is still running Android 4.0 may want to look into upgrading their phone, as Google has announced that it will be ending support for this older version of Android. This change will only affect the 0.3 percent of Android users who are running Ice Cream Sandwich.
New version of ‘The Stanley Parable’ coming to consoles in 2019
Seven years after its release, The Stanley Parable is back with an upcoming Ultra Deluxe edition with new content which will be available on consoles as well as PC. The developers haven't announced which specific consoles the game will be available on, only that the new edition will be available in 2019.
A can of beans costs more than a gold ring in ‘Red Dead Online’ economy
Red Dead Online opened in public beta this week and the responses have been positive. But one aspect of the online game has been causing a lot of controversy -- the in-game economy. Many players complain that prices for in-game items are too high and that earning currency requires too much grinding.
SpaceX small satellite launch delayed once again for additional inspections
SpaceX had been due to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 64 small satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California this weekend, but the launch had to be delayed in order to conduct extra inspections of the craft. SpaceX now hopes to go ahead with the launch on Monday instead.
Video shows ‘Alexa in space’ aboard the International Space Station
Back in June an A.I. robot called CIMON was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to act as a voice-powered assistant to the astronauts there. Now the European Space Agency has released a video showing CIMON interacting with the ISS crew for the first time, albeit rather awkwardly.
Survey of teens says social media lets them connect with friends and get support
A survey of teenagers points out the ways that social media sites can be beneficial to them. The biggest positives of social media use the teens identified were feeling more connected to their friends,the ability to interact with different people, and as a venue to get support when they are struggling.
There are no custom moves or equippable items in ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’
New details about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate have been revealed. Two features that will not be in Ultimate are custom moves and equippable items, which were previously available to customize character stats. There will be a customizable character, however: the Mii Fighter makes a return.
Will ‘Red Dead Online’ release this week or will it be delayed?
Fans have been waiting impatiently for the release of Red Dead Redemption 2's online multiplayer mode, called Red Dead Online, which is supposed to be opening in beta mode in November. However, some are skeptical of whether the multiplayer mode will actually be made available this month.
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule to take test flight on January 7, 2019
Elon Musk's SpaceX company will sent its Crew Dragon capsule on its maiden test flight on January 7, 2019. The first flight will be called the Demo-1, and the capsule will be launched stop a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch will take place from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.
Breathtaking video: A Soyuz rocket launch as seen from space
The European Space Agency has released an incredible time-lapse video of the launch of the Russian Progress MS-10 cargo spacecraft on November 16 -- as seen from the International Space Station. ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst captured the images using a camera in the Cupola module of the ISS.
Smart speakers used primarily for music and information — and shopping
A survey of Alexa and Google Home users shows most people use their devices for core functions and had issues discovering third-party apps. Despite this, users are generally very satisfied with their devices and would recommend them to others. A significant number of people use their device for shopping.
Ancient crater the size of NYC discovered under the Greenland ice sheet
A huge crater has been discovered beneath the ice of Greenland, and is thought to be the result of a meteorite impact millions of years ago. The crater is one of the largest ever discovered, measuring 19 miles across, and is the first to be found beneath the Greenland ice sheet.
‘Super-Earth’ discovered orbiting nearby star
Astronomers have discovered a large planet circling a sun nearby to Earth called Barnard's Star. The potential new planet is thought to be cold and icy and has a size of around 3.2 times the Earth. It is called Barnard's Star b and to lies 37 million miles from Bernard's Star.
‘Fortnite’ named Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick awards
This year's Golden Joysticks, the gaming awards handed out by GamesRadar, have been announced and Fortnite has been named the Ultimate Game of the Year. It beat out Red Dead Redemption 2 for best game, but Red Dead was named the critics' choice. Mobile Game of the Year went to PUBG Mobile.
‘Blockchain gaming’ startup gets $16 million in Series A funding
A new gaming startup, Mythical Games, has raised $16 million in Series A funding to work on their concept of blockchain gaming. The aim is for the startup to develop games for the PC, console, and mobile markets which use the blockchain for the distribution and tracking of in-game items.
Quantum-based accelerometer can locate objects without GPS
Researchers at Imperial College London have created a quantum "compass" that allows navigation without reliance on satellites. The instrument, technically called a standalone quantum accelerometer, is small enough to be transportable and has a very high level of accuracy.
Ancient continent discovered beneath the ice of Antarctica
The ice sheets of Antarctica could be hiding the remains of a long-lost continent, according to satellite data collected by the ESA. They created a 3D map of the crust beneath the Antarctic ice sheet which shows a similarity to the crust in Australia and India, suggesting they used to be joined.
Tesla raises prices and simplifies options on Model S and Model X
Tesla is making changes to its offerings of the Model S and Model X. The lower-range 75D models will increase in price, while the higher-range 100D models will decrease in price. Fewer options for the interiors and configurations will be offered in the future in order to streamline production.
‘Bionic mushroom’ can generate electricity without using fossil fuels
Researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey have come up with an unexpected way to produce electricity without fossil fuels: A mushroom covered with bacteria. The mushroom provides a safe environment for special cyanobacteria that generate electricity when light is shone on them.