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Harvard scientists have found a better way to 3D print organs
Scientists have experimented with growing organs in labs for years, but we're still years away from the technology being ready. Lab-grown organs are often too small for human use and lack an efficient mechanism for delivering oxygen. A group of scientists at Harvard's Wyss Institute have now developed a solution that will 3D print blood vessels on living tissues. Their paper, published today in Science Advances, explains how a new technique called the SWIFT method (Sacrificial Writing Into Functional Tissue), will enable the creation of larger, more effective organs.
Facebook hit by US antitrust probe from eight attorneys general
Facebook is being put under the microscope for possible antitrust violations. Letita James, attorney general for New York state, announced today that she will be leading a bipartisan investigation into the company. The exact scope of their work, however, is unclear at the moment. In a statement, the attorney general said it would focus on Facebook's "dominance in the industry and the potential anticompetitive conduct stemming from that dominance." Which could mean anything and everything, essentially. James did confirm, at least, that the investigation team will include attorneys general from Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia.
The first ever black hole image lands scientists $3 million prize
The scientists that captured the first image of a black hole are being rewarded with a $3 million prize. The Breakthrough prize, known as the "Oscars of Science," is sponsored by Silicon Valley execs such as Mark Zuckerberg and Sergey Brin, and recognizes top scientists in fields including life sciences, physics and math.
The Morning After: Sony forgot to put a tape deck in its retro Walkman
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Old-school tech is everywhere this morning as we're looking at Nokia, a PS2, Sony's 40th-anniversary Walkman and the return of PowerTools for Windows. Also, Nintendo is preparing another fitness push, and there are already rumors about Apple's 2020 iPhones.
Google is making its differential privacy tool available to all developers
Google wants to make it easier for other companies to safeguard their user's privacy. In a blog post, the tech giant announced today that it is releasing an open-source version of its differential privacy library. Differential privacy -- still a relatively new form of data science -- has been used by tech companies to mine large amounts of user data without violating individual privacy. In practice, the tool injects random noise into your personal data so it's impossible to tell individual users apart.
These engineers and tech execs want to create a peaceful lunar settlement
A group of Silicon Valley tech executives and engineers want to create a peaceful, multinational lunar settlement. According to Bloomberg, the San Francisco-based Open Lunar Foundation plans to invest in hardware "to accelerate the exploration and settlement of the moon." And it's committed to creating a kind of cooperative that wouldn't be tied to one particular country or billionaire.
The Morning After: Porsche unveils its first electric sports car
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. The latest electronics tradeshow has begun, and our team will have live coverage coming in from IFA 2019 all week. Few of the things on display will be as intriguing as a new Porsche, so check out our first impressions of the Taycan Turbo and then get ready for some classic SNES action on your Switch.
NASA ramps up its efforts to understand space weather
This week, NASA selected three proposals for missions that could help us better understand the Sun-driven space weather that occurs near Earth. Space weather, like solar flares, can impact spacecraft and astronauts, and it has the potential to disable utility grids on the ground. As NASA prepares to send more astronauts to space and we become increasingly reliant on technology, the need to protect both has become more pressing.
Michigan is the first state to ban flavored e-cigarettes
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced today that the state will ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in an attempt to curb youth vaping, which the US surgeon general calls an "epidemic." While cities such as San Francisco have recently put similar restrictions in place, Michigan is the first state to declare a ban.
The Taycan EV takes Porsche into a new world of technology
We're sideways. Again. After a blistering takeoff that pushed my internal organs towards my spine, the driver behind the wheel of the pre-production Porsche Taycan (pronounced "tie khan") turns off the traction control and the vehicle does something other EVs don't. It becomes a full-fledged sports car, its tires spinning on the edge -- and spilling over -- the traction event-horizon. We're drifting and the driver -- that also happens to be one of the regenerative braking engineers -- tells me about how the Taycan recuperates energy back into the battery. Meanwhile, I'm smiling because a proper electric sports car is coming to market from a company with a history defined by fast cars.
You can block images on Gmail for iPhone now
Gmail users can now finally opt out of having images load automatically on the iPhone app. The email client unveiled its latest update to the App Store that includes an option for those who want to stop their messages from being tracked or who don't need to see every single external image sent to their inbox. To activate, simply go to Settings, select your account, go to Images and select "Ask before displaying external images". Android users have had this option for a while now.
GM will offer free OnStar crisis support during Hurricane Dorian
As Hurricane Dorian begins crawling towards Florida's coast, automakers are doing their part to help. GM announced today that they will offer free OnStar Crisis Assist services to all owners of properly equipped Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles who live in the impacted region. The connected car platform can help those fleeing disasters with real-time directions, free calls, routing to shelter, food and water, providing an in-vehicle WiFi hot spot, booking hotel rooms and more.
SpaceX wouldn't move its satellite despite collision warning, ESA claims (updated)
There's a high-stakes traffic issue in the space around our planet. The European Space Agency's Aeolus Earth observation satellite had to perform a maneuver to prevent collision with SpaceX's Starlink satellite 44.
Facebook is considering hiding 'Like' counts as part of new test
Facebook-owned Instagram made waves earlier this year when it began a test that removed 'Like' counts on users posts — after all, what good is social media for if it doesn't stroke your ego? According to a recent leak, though, that shift in philosophy will take hold on Facebook proper for some users.
After Math: More, more, mooooooore
Woke up this morning with the "more, more, mooooooore" refrain from Lady Marmalade stuck in my head despite not having heard that song in close to a decade because sure why the hell not. So, since I can't get the demonsong out of my ear, let's get it into yours while we take a look at some of our more, more, mooooooore expansionary headlines of the week. We're getting itchi gitchi ya ya here.
Hitting the Books: Robots came for our jobs, then they came for our coffee
Welcome to Hitting the Books. With less than one in five Americans reading just for fun these days, we've done the hard work for you by scouring the internet for the most interesting, thought provoking books on science and technology we can find and delivering an easily digestible nugget of their stories.
Volocopter proves its air taxi can work with air traffic control
In order for air taxis and delivery drones to succeed, they'll have to play nicely with air traffic control systems. Yesterday, a Volocopter air taxi proved it's ready to do just that. The Volocopter 2X performed a series of tests at the Helsinki international airport, where it demonstrated its ability to integrate with both manned and unmanned air traffic management systems.
Arecibo Observatory nets $19 million grant to search for dangerous asteroids
NASA has ensured the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico can continue its search for near Earth objects (NEOs) that pose a threat to the planet with a $19 million grant. The fund was awarded to the University of Central Florida, which operates the observatory on behalf of the National Science Foundation.
Senators demand answers from Amazon about unsafe products
A group of three US senators today sent a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asking for a "sweeping internal investigation" into the company's consumer safety policies. The letter was written in response to a recent Wall Street Journal investigation that found more than 4,000 items for sale on the retail website that federal agencies had declared unsafe. The products ranged from unregistered pesticides to banned toys that the FDA listed as choking hazards.
The Trump Administration just revived the Cold War-era Space Command
Today, President Trump and Vice President Pence announced the return of the US Space Command -- a Cold War-era division of the Air Force that's been on a 17-year hiatus. The revival of the US Space Command is meant to "ensure the protection of America's interests in space," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at a news conference Wednesday. But it could be confused with Space Force -- the sixth branch of the military that Trump hopes to create -- or the existing Air Force Space Command, which focuses on Air Force operations in space.
