McDonald’s Japan has ended its popular Pokémon card Happy Meal promotion, which initially sold out within a day due to high demand. The campaign aimed at children came with toys and Pokémon cards but was marred by resellers buying the meals and discarding the food, leaving trash behind. The company apologized for not preparing adequately … Read more
Researchers have successfully tested a new approach to monitoring the Earth’s atmosphere by using lightweight flying structures that harness sunlight for flight. The innovative device, which utilizes photophoresis, can collect crucial data such as wind speed, pressure, and temperature in the mesosphere, a layer of the atmosphere between 50-85km above the surface. The team achieved … Read more
YouTubers are speaking out against YouTube’s new plan to use AI to detect underage users in the US, citing concerns over privacy and anonymity. A Change.org petition has gathered tens of thousands of signatures, aiming to halt the rollout of the age verification system. The system estimates user ages based on various signals, including video … Read more
Apple Inc. is revamping its artificial intelligence strategy with a new lineup of devices that include lifelike virtual assistants, home security cameras, and smart displays. The company’s focus on robots and AI technology marks a significant shift in its product development. A major component of this plan is the release of a tabletop robot set … Read more
The Federal Reserve is poised to cut interest rates for the first time in eight months, according to economists and market sentiment. The decision comes after a weak jobs report revealed a sharp slowdown in the labor market, which could prompt the Fed to reduce borrowing costs as a means of warding off an economic … Read more
Yahoo has consolidated its brands under a single umbrella, including popular websites and apps such as Yahoo, AOL, Engadget, In The Know, and Makers. To better protect user data and prevent third-party access for non-essential purposes, users can opt-out of tracking cookies and personal data by clicking “Forget All”. Users can also adjust their settings … Read more
A team of scientists on Valentine’s Day in 2018 uncovered a significant fossil discovery in northeastern Ethiopia’s badlands. Field assistant Omar Abdulla spotted an ancient molar, exposed by wind erosion, which sparked the team’s interest in exploring the area. The find suggests that human evolution occurred through complex branching and hybridization, supporting the idea of … Read more
The humble potato owes its existence to an ancient genetic mash-up between two wild plant lineages. A recent study on 100 wild and cultivated potato genomes revealed that the potato family tree belongs to a group called Petota, which has the unique ability to grow underground tubers. The discovery dates back to millions of years … Read more
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently terminated $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine research, claiming he had reviewed the science. However, his press release linked to a 181-page document fails to support this claim. The document, compiled by outside authors, is not a government analysis or systematic review … Read more
The US State Department’s 2024 Human Rights Report has sparked criticism from human rights groups, who claim the report contains omissions and mischaracterizations that fit the current administration’s political agenda. The German government has rejected the report, with Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer stating that there is no censorship in Germany and freedom of expression … Read more