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On June 9, 2021, my colleagues and I announced the discovery of 535 fast radio bursts that we detected using the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment telescope (CHIME). Detected in 2018 and 2019, these bursts of radio waves last only milliseconds, come from far across the universe, and are enormously powerful – a typical event releases as much energy in a millisecond as the Sun does over many days. Fast radio bursts are the subject of a young and emerging field in astrophysics,

TLDR: The Cryptocurrency with Ethereum and Solidity Blockchain Developer Bundle explains the entire crypto phenomenon and also explores creating your own real world cryptocurrency. If your knowledge of cryptocurrency only extends as far as shaking your head dismissively when someone brings up Elon Musk’s darling dogecoin, you might be missing the larger point. While much of the cryptocurrency market is still driven by wild speculation with minimal basis in real world logic, crypto and its

If you use such social media websites as Facebook and Twitter, you may have come across posts flagged with warnings about misinformation. So far, most misinformation – flagged and unflagged – has been aimed at the general public. Imagine the possibility of misinformation – information that is false or misleading – in scientific and technical fields like cybersecurity, public safety and medicine. There is growing concern about misinformation spreading in these critical fi

It is not the best of times for self-driving car startups. The past year has seen large tech companies acquire startups that were running out of cash and ride-hailing companies shutter costly self-driving car projects with no prospect of becoming production-ready anytime soon. Yet, in the midst of this downturn, Waabi, a Toronto-based self-driving car startup, has just come out of stealth with an insane amount of $83.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Khosla Ventures, with a

TLDR: The 2021 Complete Amazon Dropshipping and Private Label Master Class Bundle can help you launch a new side hustle with Amazon that you can grow into thousands a month. Kate was a journalist and salesperson who’d never considered starting her own business before. But after learning about dropshipping, Kate launched an anime-themed online storefront – and soon was making $32,000 a month. Meanwhile, Zach went from being an ecommerce newbie to making $23,000 in Amazon sales in jus

In their decades-long chase to create artificial intelligence, computer scientists have designed and developed all kinds of complicated mechanisms and technologies to replicate vision, language, reasoning, motor skills, and other abilities associated with intelligent life. While these efforts have resulted in AI systems that can efficiently solve specific problems in limited environments, they fall short of developing the kind of general intelligence seen in humans and animals. In a new paper s

The reports of humanity’s imminent demise at the hands of sentient killer robots have been greatly exaggerated. Based on the current state of artificial intelligence – that is, it’s really good at sifting through data and it can usually tell the difference between a dog and a cat – we don’t have to worry about “conscious” AI anytime soon. I put “conscious” in quotes because, as every article you’re likely to read on the subject will po

GPT-3 is renowned for generating two things: strikingly human-like text and toxicity. On Thursday, the model’s creators said they’ve found a way to keep the latter out of the former. OpenAI’s new technique alters AI language model “behavior” by fine-tuning on a small, curated dataset of specific values. The method aims to narrow down a language model’s universal set of behaviors to a more constrained range of values that operators embed in their individu

Here at TNW, we’ve written a lot about ebikes and a lot about Acer, but not about any ebikes powered by Acer components. As it turns out, Acer recently began making motors via its cycling sub-brand Xplova, and a new ebike company named Vvolt will be the first to bring these motors to the US in two of its four launch models. Acer partnership aside, Vvolt’s bikes look like welcome additions to the American ebike market. The company’s bikes are designed with reasonable price

The release of the draft human genome sequence in 2001 was a seismic moment in our understanding of the human genome and paved the way for advances in our understanding of the genomic basis of human biology and disease. But sections were left unsequenced, and some sequence information was incorrect. Now, two decades later, we have a much more complete version, published as a preprint (which is yet to undergo peer review) by an international consortium of researchers. Technol

Greece is known for its beautiful beaches, its breathtaking sunsets, and its fascinating history, but sure not for its EV infrastructure. Well, because there isn’t much. But that’s about to change. Astypalea, a small picturesque island in the Aegean Sea, is set to become the country’s first smart sustainable island. A few days ago, the first electric vehicles, including the first fully electric police car in Greece, were launched on the island in the presence of Greek pri

TLDR: iMazing iOS Device Manager streamlines all your file organization and backup needs across all your Apple devices at more than 50 percent off. For all their acknowledged grandeur and innovation, Apple and Apple products aren’t always the pinnacle of programming that company leaders espouse them to be.  Case in point: for years, if you needed to transfer files around to various Apple devices, you had to go through the occasionally sticky, sometimes downright finicky iTunes infras

AnalogFolk Group has announced it is investing in Untold Fable. This new global content production company is the world’s first community-based content company to produce both video and audio content via a technology platform that’s home to a curated network of production talent built with diversity at its heart.
Recognizing the growth of audio across entertainment and advertising, Untold Fable will not only be home to filmmakers but boast studios, sound designers

BrewDog built itself up as an anti-establishment rule-breaking brand that doesn’t-give-a-shit. Now it’s facing harsh criticism from staff over its working conditions that may force it to start.
BrewDog has always worn rule-breaking as a badge of honour and a statement of intent. But newly surfaced allegations of a "culture of fear" at the company – and its subsequent response – threaten to become more emblematic of the craft brand than its anarchic public-facing persona.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) says it will ‘monitor’ a rise in the number of gambling ads to which children are exposed after documenting an increase from 2.5 in 2019 to 2.8 in 2020.
The upward trend is revealed in the watchdog’s latest Trends in Advertising report, but is downplayed as representing only a ‘small increase’.
A delicate balanceScheduling restrictions are in place to minimize the likelihood of under-18s being exposed to ads for age-related

Corporate giant Amazon is taking heat over reports of its WorkingWell initiative, a physical and mental health programme intended to improve employee health in the retail giant’s fulfilment centres. A leaked pamphlet, which Amazon has claimed was created in error and is not being circulated, encourages workers to invest in their own fitness and become “industrial athletes”. One aspect attracting particular attention is a plan for “AmaZen Booths”. Also called Mindfu

Netflix is cashing in on the appeal of its biggest shows with the launch of an online store dedicated to selling branded merchandise, lifestyle products and apparel.
What Netflix has in store for youNetflix.shop is positioned as a way for fans to connect with their favorite actors and series when not binge-watching the latest season by snapping up a range of linked products.
Part of an effort by Netflix to maintain relevancy when screens are switched off, the shop will complement other init

The Drum’s social media executive Amy Houston explores if brands can truly be LGBT+ allies, if social networks are doing enough to protect the community against harassment and hate speech, and why rainbow-washing is extremely harmful.
The rainbow flag was first designed in 1978 by American artist and gay rights activist Gilbert Baker, and forty years later it is still proudly flown by the LGBT+ community and allies as a symbol of identity and support. The colorful hues are instantly recogn

Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. I get a ton of emails every day, and not all of them are relevant to me. So when I check my inbox after every few hours, I need to quickly delete or archive emails that are not needed. Thankfully, Gmail’s swipe gestures on its mobile apps let me go through emails in no time. Here’s how you can use them: Open the Gmail app on your iOS or Andro

Another week, another wave of account news, reviews, agency launches, rebrands and acquisitions. Check out our global round-up to see what business is on the move (and why it matters) below, then head over to our Business on the Move hub to read about more market maneuvers.
Over the past seven days, we’ve seen fresh appointments, reviews and acquisitions at Greenpeace, Click Frenzy and Chanel.
Looking for a new agency partner of your own? Check out The Dr

Around the world, bitcoin has a mixed reputation. Owning and using the cryptocurrency is legal in a majority of nations, tolerated in many others, and outlawed by a relatively small number. El Salvador has just become the first nation to formally adopt the cryptocurrency as legal tender, and a handful of other Latin American leaders have indicated that they would follow suit. This marks a sharp change in bitcoin’s reputation on the global stage. Backed by a public ledger ca

Burger King has authored a tongue-in-cheek ode to difficult diners with an unflattering portrayal of some of its more self-centered customers, warts and all.
‘We Missed You’ marks a return to the old ways with an admission that ingrained habits die hard, but whatever your failings, you will always be welcome at your nearest Burger King outlet.
Geared towards audiences across France and Belgium, the French language campaign depicts the annoying but endearing habits of patrons, ranging

After a frustrating delay the Uefa Euros 2020 is finally here. From the BBC to Snickers, Adidas to ITV, thanks to brands, sponsors and broadcasters hyping up footie fans, people across Europe are raring to go. Before the first match kicks off in Rome, The Drum has rounded up the best Euros ads so far. 
The biggest struggle the Uefa Euros 2020 was supposed to face was how to pull off a tournament with games in 11 countries. Then came the pandemic and the tournament went i

Advertisers are increasingly leaning in on a variety of measurement solutions to enable metrics-driven media investments across channels. However, making sense of it all is often easier said than done. Amazon Advertising’s head of measurement success Maggie Zhang breaks down the solution into three steps.
With a growing number of touchpoints throughout a complex customer journey, conducting measurements to understand marketing success and proving return on investment has become table stake

It’s been 30 years since Nasa last visited Venus, with the Magellan orbiter in 1990. Now, two new missions have been selected to explore the deadly atmosphere, crushing pressures, and volcanic landscape. The process dates back to February 2020, when Nasa announced that four missions were to undergo a nine-month peer-review process for feasibility. They were all part of the Discovery program, started by Nasa in 1992 to bring together scientists and engineers to cre

A few days ago, Nissan donated an all-electric LEAF sedan to the Vatican to help the small state in its environmental goal to gradually replace its service vehicles with an all-electric fleet. It’s part of Pope Francis’ commitment to turn the Vatican carbon neutral by 2050, as he announced in December 2020. The Church also plans to increase the number of charging stations, especially around several of the major basilicas in Rome. Pope Francis has supported environmental initiat

More and more businesses are taking sustainability seriously. The Purposeful Company recently announced that 14 of the UK’s top companies have pledged to put employees, communities and broader society higher on their boardroom agenda.
In the UK, on average, one company per day is gaining B Corp certified status. Even the FT has recently said that “rewards await those who put sustainability ahead of short-term gains”.
There has also recently been a wave of books devoted to the c

In her new column for The Drum, Ally Owen catches up with individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to understand how she can become a better ally. Larisa Wong is her first guest.
 
Our industry is now at a point where we all agree we have a talent crisis and need to diversify our intake. It’s about future-proofing our workplaces and delivering equitable outcomes for all.
But if you are from a group underserved by employers, getting in is one challenge and getting on is another. A

At its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) last year, Apple announced that it’ll allow you to sign in to websites on Safari using Face ID and Touch ID. This year, the company is taking this tech a step further by introducing passwordless sign-ups. In a developer session titled “Move beyond passwords,” Apple unveiled a new tech called Passkeys that’ll allow you to sign up for services without any passwords. Here’s how it’ll work: when you visit a websit

Nick Richardson, founder and CEO of The Insights Family, looks at the growing muscle of a new bunch of influencers: the digital-first kids. He unravels their growing influence on purchase decisions across categories in markets like India.
As influencers become the new norm of marketing, a subset of influencers – kids – is becoming even more powerful. This generation of children, who grew up in a world of unprecedented access to devices and technology, feel as comfortable existing in

The Drum’s upcoming virtual event is five days of behind-the-scenes presentations, expert speakers from both brands and agencies, and editorial-led discussions that seek to answer the most pressing questions facing creatives today. Here, our three regional editors share their top picks from this year’s agenda.
The festival will run from June 14-18 and is free to attend. 
Inside Dove’s mission to build self-esteem through creativity
Cameron Clarke, Editor
No campaign has ca

“It’s not an earthquake that kills people, but the collapse of a poorly built building.” Build Change, a foundation dedicated to preventing housing loss caused by natural disasters such as earthquakes and windstorms, is announcing the “Intelligence Supervision Assistant for Construction” (ISAC-SIMO) app. It’s an open-source, AI-powered quality assurance tool for construction. And it could save countless lives. Meet ISAC-SIMO: The tool utilizes machine learnin

Cooperation between people holds society together, but new research suggests we’ll be less willing to compromise with “benevolent” AI. The study explored how humans will interact with machines in future social situations — such as self-driving cars that they encounter on the road — by asking participants to play a series of social dilemma games. The participants were told that they were interacting with either another human or an AI agent. Per t

Renegade Game Studios, a company that makes numerous products for the World of Darkness, is hosting a free two-day online event called “Elysium: Weekend of Darkness” from 11 June thru 12 June. If you’ve ever wanted to play the Vampire: The Masquerade tabletop roleplaying game, but you’re not sure how to get started, this event’s for you. It’s also for returning players, people who want to check out the Rivals card game, fans of the popular LA By Night TV

Indian streaming platform Zee5 is set to enter the US market later this month on June 22. It’s launching a subscription-only service, and aims to attract a large share of 5.4 million South Asians living in the country. The firm is pricing the service at $49.99 per year as an introductory offer, and aims to change it to $84 at an unspecified time. The launch price is close to what some other services such as Apple TV+ ($4.99 per month) charge. But if you and your family are fans of south a

Microplastics are everywhere, from the Mediterranean seafloor to Mount Everest, and the tiny fragments of litter can take hundreds of years to degrade. They can also absorb heavy metals and pollutants that could harm humans or animals that inadvertently consume them. At less than 5mm in length, the polymers are hard to remove manually. But there may be a more efficient method of eliminating the plastic scourge: attacking them with bacteria-sized robots. Scientists at the Uni