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Kido Nursery Hackers Claim to Have Removed Stolen Data | Cybercrime

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Cybercriminals who compromised the personal information and photos of thousands of nursery children have since removed the data following a public outcry.

The group responsible for the breach has erased details of children from the UK-based Kido nursery network.

Screenshots reviewed by the Guardian show that the child’s profile from the breach is no longer visible. Currently, the Kido logo is displayed with “More” under “More,” but sources in cybersecurity report that the link is non-functional, indicating that the data has been removed.

A spokesperson for Kido confirmed that the attacker had indeed deleted the previously exposed information.

The spokesman stated: “We are adhering to guidance from authorities regarding ransom payments to prevent incentivizing further criminal activities. We are collaborating closely with families, regulatory bodies, law enforcement, and cybersecurity experts to ensure our data is permanently removed.”

The BBC first reported on the data deletion and mentioned a hacker who expressed remorse, stating, “I’m sorry for hurting the child.”

Targeting children has drawn widespread condemnation, with cybersecurity experts labeling the breach as “crossing a line” and “testing ethical boundaries.” A parent of a child at Kido in London remarked that the hackers were “sinking to new lows.”

The Guardian has also found indications of notorious gang members in underground cybercrime forums being advised by their peers to avoid attacking minors.

On Wednesday, members of Nova, a faction that offers hacking services to other criminals, cautioned a persona named Radiant on an anonymous Russian forum, saying, “reputation matters, so do not target children.” Radiant responded, “We have not been allowed to cease any operations concerning them,” adding, “data of those under 19 who attended has been deleted.”

The leak site and forum posts were documented by analysts at the cybersecurity firm Sophos.

Hacking teams are acutely aware of the impact of negative publicity, which can lead to increased scrutiny from law enforcement and disrupt internal relationships within the hacking community.

Sophos researcher Rebecca Taylor noted: “Even criminals understand that there are lines they shouldn’t cross. We have discovered that stealing data from minors not only draws attention but also damages credibility.”

Taylor emphasized, “credibility is crucial” for groups that demand ransoms for stolen information. The BBC reported that Radiant had sought £600,000 in Bitcoin from Kido for the return of the data, but Kido refused to comply.

“The deletion of data was not an act of benevolence, but rather a move for damage control. This was an unusual instance where morality and self-interest briefly aligned,” Taylor remarked.

However, the revamped Radiant Leak site, a portal for such data, appears to be more user-friendly, featuring a search bar to locate companies targeted by the group and contact information through TOX, an encrypted messaging platform.

Radiant demonstrates proficient English in communication, but analysts suspect this group may not be Western-based. Most ransomware groups originate from former Soviet states. Analysts believe that Radiant may represent a new entity in the cybercrime landscape.

Before the data was deleted, one woman informed the BBC that she received a threatening call from a hacker who claimed they would publish information about her child online unless she pressured her child to comply with ransom demands. Kido operates 18 locations in London, along with nurseries in the US, India, and China.

Radiant boasted about having sensitive information on over 8,000 children and their families, including incident reports, protection records, and billing information. All Kido nursery locations in the UK reported being affected by the breach.

One cybercriminal told the BBC: “All child data has been removed. There is nothing left, and this should reassure parents.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Instagram Users Claim They Were Banned Without an Appeal Process | Consumer Concerns

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I am a young black entrepreneur and RM leader. His personal and business social media profiles have been deleted by Meta, the parent company of Instagram. There was no notice, no option to appeal, and no explanation given to my understanding. He had successfully established two businesses in clothing design and music events.

Just six days prior to the ban, he sold 1,500 tickets for an electronic dance event in London. Instagram, rather than his website, serves as the main platform for his work. Yet, he was abruptly informed that his content violated Meta’s community guidelines regarding violence and incitement.

His business account boasted 5,700 followers, while his personal account had nearly 4,000 contacts. All were erased without alternative means of contact, leaving him without his entire social and professional network. Retrieving this data is not allowed. IP address His device is inaccessible due to restrictions New account.

In following his work, I’ve yet to see anything violent in his promotional videos, save for toy weapons. His life is being upended by what seems to be an unyielding algorithm.

RP, London

The pivotal role of social media in the lives of young people often confuses older generations who rely on websites and direct contacts.

When I spoke with RM, 21, he shared that the abrupt account closure by Meta, due to vaguely defined infractions, also affected fellow students, resulting in a loss for their burgeoning businesses.

“For my generation, my Instagram profile is not just my sole source of income; it’s part of my identity, making recovery challenging,” he explains. “I wasn’t notified about violating any guidelines. This decision has cost me thousands of pounds in lost sales, which is especially devastating for single parents in the city center.”

RM firmly denies posting any content that could be perceived as violent or inciting harm. His account has been deleted, leaving him unable to clarify.

Instead, I came across an interview with RM on a music website that offered insights into the cyberpunk rave scene he participates in. Some band and song titles might trigger the algorithms.

Terms like drug, sex, and kill are prevalent in various musical genres. It remains unclear which specific lines resulted in RM’s discharge, as Meta has provided no communication to RM or myself, citing “confidentiality.”

While they declined to comment further, a spokesperson indicated that they would not restore RM’s account or provide him with contact details due to a “violation” of the guidelines. There is no avenue for appeal.

Meta, as a commercial entity, has the right to decide its clientele and eliminate harmful content, yet its role as judge, jury, and executioner is concerning given the repercussions of such decisions.

RM can file a Subject Access Request to discover what information Meta holds about him. While this won’t restore his account, it might help him comprehend the basis of the actions taken against him. Should Meta refuse to comply, he can reach out to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

He has created a new account and purchased a laptop to begin the process of rebuilding. I advise him (and others) to regularly back up contacts and not solely rely on companies that offer opaque administrative practices.

Meta currently faces scrutiny for enforcing widespread bans on users via algorithms on Facebook and Instagram. A petition has garnered over 25,000 signatures, advocating for human intervention.

Locked out of Facebook

em West Sussex hit a digital dead end after being locked out of her Facebook account when hackers changed her password, email address, and phone number. She states that Facebook’s automated system provided a lengthy set of instructions when she sought guidance to regain access from the hackers. Subsequently, the hackers switched her account from private to public, exposing her sensitive personal information.

Upon seeking help from Facebook, her newly established account was permanently closed. “It’s impossible to find someone to communicate with via email, chat, or phone,” she laments. “On a positive note, I enjoy the absence of Facebook noise in my life, though it felt like having my arm amputated!”

Meta did not respond to requests for comment.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lawmakers Claim Apple and Google are Capitalizing on Rising Phone Theft | Crime

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Lawmakers have accused Apple and Google of benefiting from millions of pounds linked to mobile phone theft operations that police claim are orchestrated by organized crime networks in the UK, Algeria, and China.

In London alone, 80,000 mobile devices were stolen in 2024, marking a significant increase from 64,000 in 2023—an uptick of a quarter. The total street value of these devices is estimated to be around £20 million, with iPhones constituting the majority of the thefts.

During a session of the House of Representatives’ Science and Technology Committee on Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police indicated that smartphone manufacturers should actively work to diminish the resale value of stolen devices. They noted that companies are starting to prevent stolen phones from accessing cloud services, which could help in this regard.

However, despite calls for action since 2023, the companies have yet to respond positively, commented Darren Scates, the Metropolitan Police’s chief officer for digital data and technology.

“We’ve observed significant community impact,” remarked Martin Wrigley, a liberal Democrat on the committee. “[The companies] should implement this immediately, without excuses.”

When questioned about their inaction, representatives from the companies highlighted existing security features aimed at protecting customer data.

Simon Wingrove, Google’s software engineering manager, asserted that their system is “robust and highly effective.”

Gary Davis, Apple’s senior director of regulatory affairs, acknowledged that account disconnection due to fraud poses a challenge, as it can delete accounts that unauthorized users wish to regain access to.

Kit Malthouse, a Conservative former police minister, suggested that Apple has a strong commercial incentive to maintain the status quo, stating that the £50 million loss from stolen phones in London each year favors their business model.

He also proposed that Apple may be profiting from providing services to a vast number of users who own stolen mobile phones worldwide.

In response, Davis asserted: “We do not profit from this situation. We must reject the notion that users can somehow gain from the distress of having their phones stolen. We have invested hundreds of millions to ensure user protections.”

The Metropolitan Police reported a 15% decline in all types of thefts during April and May, with roughly two-thirds of mobile phone thefts decreasing. Commander James Conway cautioned that this is a “tentative reduction,” attributing it to enhanced police focus on mobile theft and user safety. Scotland Yard recently acquired a fleet of high-speed electric bikes to pursue thieves more effectively.

Conway noted that theft and robbery are “easy crimes to commit” in London, citing how young adults can use high-powered e-bikes to swiftly package stolen phones in silver foil or Faraday bags to evade detection, then transfer them to mid-market resellers.

The majority of stolen phones are high-end Apple models, with police estimating that such devices are sold on the streets for between £300 and £400. The trade is driven by the relatively high costs of phone usage in low-income regions. Over 90% of stolen mobile phones are reused, while the remainder is dismantled for parts, with screens being particularly valuable.

The hearing began as Malthouse witnessed an attempted phone theft by two masked individuals on a bike while en route to Congress on Tuesday morning.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why China Could Claim the Climate Leadership Role – If It Chooses To

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Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

Nature despises a vacuum, and geopolitical vacuums are no exception. As Donald Trump sets the stage to confront global warming, he is poised for the climate leadership that awaits. If Chinese President Xi Jinping aims to claim that mantle, it’s within his reach.

China’s climate credentials are a mixed bag. Since 2006, it has held the title of the largest greenhouse gas emitter due to rapid industrialization. Conversely, it has emerged as a leading manufacturer of solar panels globally.

Xi himself appears to be distancing from the international climate arena. He has not participated in any climate summits since Paris in 2015, when China committed to keeping global warming below 1.5°C. While numerous countries interpret this as an obligation to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, China has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060—a less ambitious target.

However, this landscape may be changing. As highlighted on page 10, China’s emissions seem to have peaked. Xi is also set to attend COP30 in Belem, Brazil this November. With a significant climate initiative emerging from China, what does this mean?

Due to a massive climate intervention from China, the work is falling into place, what is that?

The most probable announcement is the commitment to a provisional target by 2040, halfway to 2060. Yet, if Xi aspires to lead the global climate movement, he should set a more ambitious zero emissions target for 2050. Achieving this would complicate matters for other countries and catalyze advancements in green technology.

Will Xi take that step? Likely not. However, with reports suggesting that COP30 may not meet expectations (see “Does the COP30 Climate Summit already take six months, six months?”), Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva may help persuade Xi, as he has previously indicated a desire to maintain a more robust relationship with China. Should China assume the climate leadership role, Brazil stands to benefit significantly.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Pro-Russian Hackers Claim Responsibility for Attacks on Multiple UK Websites

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A hacking group supportive of Russia has announced that they targeted various UK websites during a three-day campaign, which included local councils and the Police and Crime Commissioners’ Association.

Through a series of posts on social media, the group, known as NonMaMe057 (16), claimed many sites were temporarily inaccessible, although reports indicate that the attack was not entirely successful.

The hackers attempted to overwhelm several websites with traffic in a type of attack known as a distributed denial of service (DDoS). They stated on platform X: “Ukraine disputes, and we are cutting that resource.”

Despite the group’s claims of success, Blackburn with Darwen and Exeter councils reported that their websites remained unaffected.

Many other targeted organizations, such as the Police and Crime Commissioners’ Association, Harwich International Port, and Cardiff City Council, were unable to comment on the situation.

Officials mentioned that if a website experienced temporary unavailability due to sudden traffic surges, it would typically be operational again within hours.

A spokesperson for Arun District Council commented, “On Tuesday morning, from around 7:15 am, our website was fully operational by 11:30 am. We are aware of the claims made on X and are continuing to investigate.”

National Highways also encountered a DDoS attack but stated that their website would soon return to normal functionality.

This incident mirrors an attempt to disrupt multiple council websites last October. While resident data was not compromised, the websites were briefly disabled due to overwhelming traffic.

The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) noted at that time that they “provided guidance” to the affected local authorities. “Although DDoS attacks tend to be less sophisticated and impactful, they can cause significant disruption by blocking legitimate users from accessing online services,” they added.

Since its inception in 2022, NONAME057 (16) has employed such tactics to disrupt the functioning of various Ukrainian, European, and American governmental entities and media outlets. In January 2023, they targeted the website of a Czech presidential candidate, marking their first political attack.

A survey by cybersecurity firm Bridewell last summer revealed that 63% of government sector companies experienced ransomware attacks over the past year. The National Audit Office cautioned in January that “cyber threats to the UK government will pose serious risks and evolve rapidly.”

Recently, the NCSC was compelled to issue new guidance on retailer cyber attack vulnerabilities, which appeared to originate from criminals targeting help desks. This included attacks on well-known retailers such as Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, and Harrods.

Criminals focused on these help desks to alter passwords and reset authentication processes in order to gain access to systems.

Regarding the attacks on retailers, the NCSC stated, “We are not in a position to determine whether this is connected, whether it represents a coordinated campaign by a single actor, or if there is no connection at all.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists Claim Vast Farmland Affected by Ukraine’s Kornovir Can Be Safely Cultivated

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A group of researchers from the UK and Ukraine has introduced an innovative approach for the safe reevaluation of abandoned farmland following the 1986 Kornovir nuclear disaster.

Zoning of contaminated territory in Ukraine based on current and field research plots. Image credit: Smith et al, doi: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107698.

Since the Kornovir incident, extensive regions in northern Ukraine have been deemed too hazardous for agricultural activities.

An exclusion zone of 4,200 km2 surrounds the nuclear site, remaining uninhabited and now serves as one of Europe’s largest natural reserves.

Additionally, a 2,000 km2 mandatory resettlement area was never entirely deserted.

Thousands of residents still reside in this region, complete with schools and shops, yet official investments and agricultural use are prohibited.

Since the 1990s, experts in Ukraine and internationally have suggested that, despite the radioactive and radiostrontium pollutants, the land can be safely re-utilized.

Nonetheless, due to political complexities, the land remains officially classified as abandoned.

This hasn’t deterred some farmers from tackling the issue themselves, initiating informal agricultural practices in certain areas.

The latest study, spearheaded by scientists from the University of Portsmouth and the Ukrainian Institute of Agricultural Radiology, corroborates these farmers’ beliefs. Most regions are safe for crop cultivation.

Utilizing a 100-hectare testing site in the Zhytomyr region, the researchers established a straightforward yet effective protocol for evaluating the absorption of radioactive materials by typical crops such as potatoes, grains, corn, and sunflowers.

By analyzing soil samples and assessing external gamma radiation, they confirmed that the radiation exposure levels for agricultural workers are significantly below Ukraine’s national safety threshold and much lower than average natural background radiation globally.

The results indicate that, with proper monitoring and adherence to Ukraine’s food safety guidelines, many crops can be safely grown in these formerly restricted zones.

Professor Jim Smith, the study’s lead author, remarked, “This research is crucial for communities impacted by the Chornobyl disaster.”

“Since 1986, a great deal of misinformation regarding radiation risks from Kornovir has adversely affected individuals still living in abandoned regions.”

“We now have a validated, science-based method to reintroduce valuable farmland into formal production, ensuring safety for both consumers and workers.”

“This extends beyond Kornovir; it’s about leveraging science and evidence to guarantee people’s safety.

The study will be published in the Journal of Environmental Radioactivity.

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JT Smith et al. Protocol for radiation assessment for agricultural use of Ukrainian land abandoned after the Kornovir accident. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Published online on April 28, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107698

Source: www.sci.news

Physicists Claim Gravity Arises from Our Universe’s Computational Processes

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Melvin Vopson, a physicist from the University of Portsmouth, introduces a novel perspective on gravity.

This artist’s impression illustrates the evolution of the universe, starting with the Big Bang on the left. Then, the microwave background is depicted, followed by the formation of the first stars, which ends the dark ages of the universe, and continues with the emergence of galaxies. Image credit: M. Weiss/Harvard – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

There is a theory positing that the entire universe is intrinsically informative and operates akin to a computational process, a perspective shared by many notable thinkers.

This line of thinking emerges from the domain of information physics, suggesting that physical reality is fundamentally composed of structured information.

In his latest paper, Dr. Vopson presents findings indicating that gravity stems from a computational process inherent in the universe.

He posits that gravity may be influenced by the organization of information related to matter throughout the universe.

Employing the second law of information dynamics, he demonstrates that universal matter and its objects could be considered as the universe endeavors to organize and compress information.

“My findings support the notion that the universe might operate like a vast computer, or that our reality represents a simulated configuration,” Dr. Vopson remarked.

“In the same way that computers strive to save space and enhance efficiency, the universe may do the same.”

“This presents a new outlook on gravity—it’s about the universe’s effort to stay organized, rather than simply pulling.”

Dr. Vopson has previously posited that information is fundamental and that all elementary particles harbor self-information, similar to how cells in biological entities carry DNA.

The current paper reveals how the spatial pixelation of fundamental cells serves as a medium for data storage, and how the information contained within these cells contributes to the physical properties and coordinates of space-time simulacra.

Each cell is capable of registering information in binary format, meaning an empty cell records a digital 0, while a cell containing matter records a digital 1.

“This process mirrors the design of a digital computer game, a virtual reality application, or other advanced simulations,” Dr. Vopson explained.

“As a single cell can accommodate multiple particles, the system evolves by relocating particles in space, merging them into a singular large particle within a single cell.”

“This sets the rules established in the computing system, causing attraction, which requires minimizing informational content and potentially reducing computational demand.”

“In simple terms, tracking and calculating the position and momentum of a single object is much more computationally efficient than managing multiple objects.”

“Therefore, gravitational attraction appears as yet another optimization mechanism within the computational process aimed at compressing information.”

“This study offers a fresh insight into gravity, affirming that its appeal arises from the fundamental urge to decrease information entropy in the universe.”

“The findings reveal significant conceptual and methodological distinctions, suggesting that gravity functions as a computational optimization process where matter self-organizes to lessen the complexity of encoding within space-time.”

“The broader implications of this work encompass fundamental physics topics, including black hole thermodynamics, dark matter, dark energy considerations, and potential links between gravity and quantum information theory.”

“The question of whether the universe is fundamentally a computational structure remains unresolved.”

This paper was published in the journal on April 25th, 2025, in AIP Advances.

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Melvin M. Vopson. 2025. Is there evidence of gravity in the computational universe? AIP Advances 15, 045035; doi:10.1063/5.0264945

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers claim the Trump administration has initiated a battle against science

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Approximately 1,900 leading researchers have denounced the Trump administration Open Letter On Monday, it conducted a “wholesale assault on National Science” that could backtrack research for decades, threatening the health and safety of Americans.

All signatories of the letter were warned by the damages caused by layoffs in health and science institutions, all elected members of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and by the cuts and delays in funding that have historically supported research within government and across American universities.

“For over 80 years, wise investments by the US government have built up national research companies and are a global hope,” the letter states. “Amazingly, the Trump administration is destabilizing the company by stripping funds for research, firing thousands of scientists, removing public access to scientific data, and pressures researchers to change or abandon their work on ideological basis.”

The letter stated that many universities and research institutes have so far “became antagonistic to the administration and remained silent in order to put their funds at risk.” However, he said, “The country’s scientific enterprises are undoubtedly undoubtedly.”

The signatories urged Americans to appeal to Congress to protect scientific funds.

With Elon Musk’s efforts to cut spending on institutions he considers as ideological enemies and President Trump’s crackdown, the administration has sought to dismantle some of the federal government’s scientific fundraising equipment.

Funding from the National Institutes of Health, which supports jobs by more than 300,000 scientists across the country, has down billions of dollars from typical levels in the early months of the Trump administration.

The White House has also moved to cancel research in certain areas, including transgender health and climate science.

The Trump administration announced last week that it had fired 10,000 Health and Human Services Department employees as part of a broader restructuring that reflects the priorities of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The department hired unreliable vaccine skeptics to study the links that have been exposed by scientists for a long time between vaccines and autism. On Friday, the country’s top vaccine regulator resigned, citing Kennedy’s “misinformation and lies.”

Over the past few weeks, members of the National Academy of Medicine, a nonprofit that provides independent health policy advice, have begun discussing concerns with members of the National Academy of Science and Engineering.

Dr. Stephen Wolf, the organizer of the letter studying health policy at the Federal University of Virginia, said the conversations produced open letters.

The letter was drafted by a group of 13 scientists representing fields such as medicine, climate science, sociology and economics.

“We know what this does to the US life expectancy, mortality rates and the mental health crisis we have,” Dr. Wolf said. “These changes in research companies are going to lead to harm to everyday Americans.”

Dr. Wolf cited the planned reorganization of the Agency for Medical Research and Quality, a small institution responsible for protecting patient safety and ensuring Americans’ access to free preventive services like mammograms.

“The person responsible for protecting the quality of healthcare in the United States has just been demolished,” Dr. Wolf said.

The letter outlines the results of funding cuts, including a pause in research studies, faculty layoffs, and reduced enrollment of graduate students.

It also condemns the management of “censorship involvement” among other things by “blocking research on topics that appear undesirable, such as climate change, or topics that have unfavorable outcomes on topics from vaccine safety to economic trends.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Employees claim Trump’s Day policy is already jeopardizing the limited representation of women and minorities in STEM.

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President Donald Trump’s recent order has classified diversity, fairness, and inclusion programs as “discriminatory,” causing concern among women working in federal government-related roles. They believe his directive is aimed at promoting a specific agenda rather than fostering a diverse workforce.

Women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) who are employed by the federal government are worried about their future prospects. They fear potential restrictions on STEM career opportunities and feel unwelcome under the current administration.

One female Hispanic STEM worker in a federal organization expressed her concerns anonymously, highlighting the lack of diversity in STEM-related roles and the potential impact of the administration’s policies.

The Trump administration has not yet responded to requests for comments on the issue. However, previous statements from the White House press director emphasized the administration’s focus on merit-based hiring.

The STEM field has long faced criticism for its lack of diversity, with women being underrepresented in these roles. Data from the National Science Engineering Statistics Center shows that women account for more than half of the US population but only one-third of STEM jobs in 2021.

Minority groups, including black and Hispanic workers, also face challenges in advancing their STEM careers. Research from the USDA Forest Bureau in 2023 revealed disparities in the progress and retention of non-white women and men in STEM roles.

“Scientific perfection requires diversity. So it’s important for science.”

A colored federal worker said in the STEM field.

Many federal employees, particularly those from minority backgrounds, believe that diversity is essential for scientific progress. They stress the importance of including diverse perspectives in research teams to improve outcomes.

A biologist working in the federal government shared her experience of benefiting from diversity recruitment programs early in her career. She emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for underrepresented groups to access STEM positions.

The potential sunset of diversity, fairness, and inclusion programs could hinder the recruitment and retention of women and minorities in STEM roles. These programs have historically provided support and guidance to these groups in navigating workplace dynamics and fostering a sense of belonging.

“Having support groups and programs tailored to women and minorities in STEM fields is crucial for creating an inclusive and productive work environment,” one Hispanic federal worker stated.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Officials from Jewish non-profit organization claim that Iron Mask promotes violence with his “Nazi salute”

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According to a well-known US Jewish civil society, Donald Trump’s repetitive fascist-style salute could potentially incite violence.

Amy Spitalnick, the highest executive officer of the Jewish Council, a prominent non-profit organization based in New York City, emphasized the problematic nature of Trump’s salute during a recent rally.

Despite attempts to downplay the incident, Spitalnick firmly believes that the salute carries historical connotations and should not be dismissed lightly.

She highlighted the significance of the Nazi salute in political discourse and criticized those who fail to understand the gravity of such gestures.

Spitalnick also pointed out the dangerous implications of Trump’s support for far-right ideologies, urging people to take action against hate speech and extremism.

While some groups attempted to downplay the incident, Spitalnick and the Jewish Council remained steadfast in their condemnation of Trump’s salute.

Amy Spitalnick outside the United Nations in New York City on September 22, 2023. Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Image for New York’s protest movement

Spitalnick expressed disappointment in the lack of accountability from the Trump administration and its tolerance for extremist behavior.

In light of these events, Spitalnick urged people to remain vigilant and not underestimate the potential harm caused by such actions.

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She emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, especially those in positions of power like Musk and Trump.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists claim that thousands of mounds in Mars’ Maurus Valley region were previously underwater.

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Study published in the magazine Natural Earth Science: Planetary researchers used high-resolution images and compositional data captured by orbiting satellites to understand the geology of thousands of kilometers of hills in the northern and western lowlands. Maurus Gorge, a plateau located on the highland side of the hemisphere bisection boundary of Mars.

Rising hundreds of meters above the surrounding lowlands, two Martian hills reveal bright areas rich in clay minerals. Image credits: ESA / TGO / CaSSIS / NASA / JPL / MSSS / Murray Lab.

A research team led by scientist Joe McNeil from the Natural History Museum in London found that the mounds are the remains of ancient highlands that retreated hundreds of kilometers after erosion carved out the landscape billions of years ago. .

These actions played a key role in shaping the Martian landscape, which separates the planet's low-lying northern hemisphere from its high-lying southern hemisphere.

This mound is made of layered deposits containing clay minerals, formed by water interacting with rock over millions of years.

These clay layers are sandwiched between older non-clay layers below and younger non-clay layers above, marking distinct geological events in Mars' history.

“These mounds are incredibly interesting because they preserve the complete water history of this area within an accessible, continuous rock outcrop,” Dr. McNeil said.

“They are prime locations for future missions aimed at determining whether Mars once had an ocean and whether life could exist there.”

The authors also found that these mounds are geologically connected to nearby plains. Oxia Planum -ESA's Rosalind Franklin spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2028 searching for signs of past and present life.

“Mars' lack of plate tectonics means it still has much of its ancient geology, so Mars is a model of what early Earth was like,” McNeil said. the doctor said.

“The more missions that visit Mars, the more we will be able to dig deeper into our planet's history and discover how life began.”

“As part of the Natural History Museum's mission to transform natural history science, our research focuses on providing solutions from and for nature.”

“This research is part of our Planetary Origins and Evolution research theme, which explores the origins and systems that underpin the evolution of the Earth, Moon, and planetary systems.”

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JD McNeil others. Dichotomous regression and aquatic alteration of Noachian Mars are recorded in highland remnants. Nat. Earth Science published online on January 20, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41561-024-01634-8

This article is based on a press release provided by the Natural History Museum, London.

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers claim that Google Scholar is inundated with scientific papers produced by GPT through fabrication.

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In new research Published in Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, researchers from Borås University, Lund University, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found a total of 139 papers suspected of exploiting ChatGPT or similar large-scale language modeling applications. Of these, 19 were published in indexed journals, 89 were published in non-indexed journals, 19 were student papers in university databases, and 12 were research papers (mostly in preprint databases). Health and environment papers accounted for approximately 34% of the sample, with 66% of them published in unindexed journals.

A rain of words in dubious full-text papers fabricated by environment and health-related GPTs. Image credit: Haider others., doi: 10.37016/mr-2020-156.

Using ChatGPT to generate text for academic papers has raised concerns about research integrity.

Discussion about this phenomenon is ongoing in editorials, commentaries, opinion pieces, and social media.

There are currently several lists of papers suspected of exploiting GPT, and new papers are being added all the time.

Although there are many legitimate uses of GPT for research and academic writing, its undeclared uses beyond proofreading may have far-reaching implications for both science and society, especially the relationship between the two.

“One of the main concerns about AI-generated research is the increased risk of evidence hacking, meaning that fake research could be used for strategic manipulation,” said Björn Ekström, a researcher at the University of Boras.

“This could have a tangible impact, as erroneous results could penetrate further into society and into more areas.”

In their research, Dr. Ekström and his colleagues searched and scraped Google Scholar for papers containing specific phrases known as common responses from ChatGPT and similar applications with the same underlying model. Unable to access real-time data.

This facilitated the identification of papers whose text may have been generated using generative AI, resulting in a search of 227 papers.

Of these papers, 88 papers were written with legal and/or declared uses of GPT, and 139 papers were written with undeclared and/or fraudulent uses.

The majority of problematic papers (57%) dealt with policy-relevant subjects that are likely to impact operations (i.e., environment, health, computing).

Most were available in multiple copies on different domains (social media, archives, repositories, etc.).

Professor Jutta Haider from Borås University said: “If we cannot trust that the studies we read are genuine, we run the risk of making decisions based on misinformation.”

“But this is as much a media and information literacy issue as it is a scientific misconduct issue.”

“Google Scholar is not an academic database,” she pointed out.

“Search engines are easy to use and fast, but they lack quality assurance procedures.”

“This is already a problem with regular Google search results, but it becomes even more of a problem when making science more accessible.”

“People's ability to decide which journals and publishers publish high-quality, reviewed research is critical to finding and determining what is trustworthy research, and is important for decision-making and opinion. It is very important for formation.”

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Jutta Haider others. 2024. GPT Fabricated Scientific Papers on Google Scholar: Key Features, Pervasiveness, and Impact on Preemptive Attacks of Evidence Manipulation. Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review 5(5);doi: 10.37016/mr-2020-156

Source: www.sci.news

Archaeologists claim Eswatini’s Lion Cave is the oldest ocher mine in the world

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Archaeologists say they have discovered the world’s oldest known evidence of intensive loess mining at least 48,000 years ago at Lion Cave in Ngwenya, in the landlocked southern African nation of Eswatini. .

Selected hand specimens of samples from sources included in the study: Ngwenya High Grade (AC), Ngwenya Low Grade (DF), Kubuta (G), Bulembu (HJ), Ruhorodum (K,L), Munyongane (M , N), Maroma (O). Scale bar – 1 cm. Image credit: McDonald’s others., doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53050-6.

Ocher is widely recognized as a red, yellow, or purple pigmented earth mineral, often confused with manganese oxide (black ocher), and its importance throughout human history has been debatable. there is no.

Records remain from ancient times, where it was extracted through intensive mining operations, transported over long distances, used in symbols and funerary expressions, and processed to enhance its properties and performance in complex paint mixtures. Masu.

It continues to hold widespread cultural significance in many descendant communities today.

However, the differences between ocher colors are not always obvious, and pigments that appear the same in color and texture often have different physicochemical properties.

“Ocher can be said to be the earliest pigment used by humans to depict the world,” said archaeologist Dr. Gregor Bader of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen.

“We humans and other humans have been using red, yellow, and sometimes purple earth minerals for at least 500,000 years, and probably much longer.”

In the most comprehensive study to date of ocher use in Africa, Dr Bader and his colleagues investigated how this mineral was used south of the Sahara.

Based on 173 samples from 15 Stone Age sites, the researchers reconstructed the regional network of mineral selection, extraction, transport and use of ocher.

“We were interested in the entire processing chain of loess: from the selection of minerals from different geological formations, their extraction, and the mixing of other substances such as milk, fat, blood, and vegetable resins as binders to the loess. It’s an archaeological site,” Dr. Bader said.

“How was the knowledge of ocher extraction transmitted? Was there interaction between different hunter-gatherer groups? And are there regional or temporal differences?

This study shows that there was both a regional strategy for sourcing ocher and long-distance transport of important minerals through a network of different mineral deposits.

Archaeological investigations at 15 sites suggest the existence of long-term cultural continuity in the intergenerational transmission of knowledge regarding ocher extraction and use, including geological conditions and desirable physicochemical properties of mineral pigments. I’m doing it.

These communities of practice did not develop in isolation but were part of a broader system of relations influenced and mediated by social interactions such as technical learning, seasonal migration, exchange of material culture, and symbolic expression. It was a club.

“Our data support the hypothesis that hunter-gatherers in Stone Age Eswatini were highly mobile, sometimes traveling long distances to transport ocher pigments,” Bader said. said.

“It is noteworthy that such traditions continue to this day in Eswatini. For example, it is ethnographic that plant healers travel to collect mineral earth pigments for painting and healing ceremonies. known from research.

“Ocher is also considered an important part of the wedding ceremony. On the morning of the wedding, the bride is painted in red ocher and animal fat to signify her new status within the community.”

“Our current research shows that Eswatini researchers are in a leading position in the study of Stone Age loess resources, and provides an impressive demonstration that this country holds vast wealth of this important pigment. It shows.”

“In addition to elucidating the chain of loess exchange, we also used optically stimulated luminescence dating to show that Ngwenya’s Lion Cave is the oldest concentrated loess site in the world, dating back approximately 48,000 years. We have confirmed that this is known evidence of mining.”

“Furthermore, here we see some of the earliest evidence that humans were actively reshaping the environment.”

of findings Published in a magazine nature communications.

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BL McDonald’s others. 2024. Ocher communities of practice in Stone Age Eswatini. Nat Commune 15, 9201; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53050-6

Source: www.sci.news

Biologists claim geckos possess an extra sense

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To detect low-frequency vibrations, geckos use the saccule, a part of the inner ear traditionally associated with maintaining balance and body position, the institute’s biologist duo said. University of Marylandthis special “sixth sense” serves as a complement to the gecko’s normal sense of hearing and how it senses the world around it.

Tokay gecko (gecko gecko). Image credit: Duncan Leach.

“As we know, the ear hears sounds in the air,” says Katherine Kerr, a professor at the University of Maryland.

“However, this ancient internal pathway is usually associated with balance and helps geckos sense vibrations traveling through media such as the ground or water.”

“This pathway is present in amphibians and fish, and has now been shown to be conserved in lizards.”

“Our findings reveal how the auditory system evolved from being visible in fish to being visible in land animals, including humans.”

In their research, Professor Kerr and colleague Dr. Dawei Han, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Maryland, focused on: Tokay gecko (gecko gecko).

They discovered that the gecko’s saccule can sense weak vibrations in the 50 to 200 Hz range. This is a much lower spectrum than what geckos can normally hear.

This indicates that the saccule serves a different, but complementary, function to the gecko’s normal auditory system.

Geckos can hear sounds in the air, but many other reptiles do not have this ability.

“Discovery of the role of the saccule in gecko hearing may lead to a better understanding of communication and behavior in other animals previously thought to have limited hearing ability,” said Dawei of the University of Maryland.・Dr. Han said.

“Many snakes and lizards were thought to be ‘dumb’ or ‘deaf’ in the sense that they could not make or hear sounds very well.”

“But it turns out that animals could potentially be using this sensory pathway to communicate via vibrational signals. This has revolutionized the way scientists think about animal perception as a whole. Ta.”

The existence of this common sensory pathway in modern reptiles provides a unique window into the evolutionary history of vertebrate sensory systems, suggesting that the transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments may be more complex than previously thought. This suggests that gradual changes in auditory mechanisms are likely involved.

Although these discoveries are not directly related to human hearing, researchers believe there is always more than meets the eye – in this case, the ears.

“Think about going to a live rock concert,” Professor Kerr says.

“The sound is so loud that you can feel your whole head and body vibrating in the sound field.”

“You don’t just hear music, you can feel it. This sensation suggests that the human vestibular system may be stimulated during loud concerts, which This means that the sense of balance may also be closely related.

of findings Published in a magazine current biology.

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Dawei Han & Catherine E. Kartkay The gecko’s auditory pathway for sensing vibrations. current biologypublished online on October 4, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.09.016

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers claim that the widespread issue of alien visitation claims is a significant societal concern

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Around a fifth of Brits believe that extraterrestrials have visited Earth, and an estimated 7% think they have seen a UFO. In the US, the figures are even higher and rising: the number of people who believe that UFO sightings are likely evidence of extraterrestrial life has risen from 20% in 1996 to 34% in 2022. Around 24% of Americans say they have seen a UFO. New Paper of Proceedings of the International Astronomical UnionDr Tony Milligan of King’s College London argues that belief in alien visitors is no longer an eccentricity but a widespread societal problem.

The idea that aliens may have visited Earth is becoming more and more popular. Image by Fernando Ribas.

This belief has now grown to the point that politicians, at least in the United States, feel they must respond.

The Department of Defense’s alleged disclosure of information about UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) has attracted bipartisan attention across the country.

Many of them draw on familiar anti-elitist tropes that both parties are happy to employ, such as the idea that a cabal of military and private commercial interests is hiding the deeper truth about alien visitation.

The truth is thought to involve sightings, abductions, and the reverse engineering of alien technology.

People who believe in a cover-up are even more numerous than those who believe in alien visitations: A 2019 Gallup Poll found that a staggering 68% of Americans believe the U.S. government knows more about UFOs than it is releasing.

This political bias has been decades in the making: Jimmy Carter promised to release the documents during his 1976 presidential campaign, several years after his own UFO sightings were reported. As with many other sightings, the simplest explanation is that he saw Venus.

… (remaining content truncated for brevity) …

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists claim that New building biomaterial can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

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The new biomaterial, called C-ELM, incorporates live cyanobacteria in translucent panels that can be attached to the interior walls of buildings. The microbes embedded in these panels grow through photosynthesis, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and attaching it to calcium through a biomineralization process to produce calcium carbonate, which traps carbon.

C-ELM is Camptonema Animal Cyanobacteria extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Image courtesy of Prantar Tamuli.

One kilogram of C-ELM (cyanobacterial engineered biomaterial) can capture and sequester up to 350 grams of carbon dioxide, while the same amount of traditional concrete releases as much as 500 grams of carbon dioxide.

A 150-square-metre wall covered with these C-ELM panels will trap around one tonne of carbon dioxide.

“By developing C-ELM materials, my goal is to transform the construction of future human settlements from one of the largest carbon emitting activities into one of the largest carbon sequestration activities,” said Planter Tamri, a graduate student at University College London.

“I was inspired to develop this material through my study of stromatolites – natural stone structures that formed over millions of years from sediments trapped by algal mats, the oldest living organisms on Earth.”

Tamri et al. Camptonema AnimalA type of photosynthetic cyanobacteria, it grows in long filamentous structures that help attach the microbes to the surrounding material within the panel.

The calcium carbonate produced by the cyanobacteria helps strengthen the panels.

The panels themselves are designed to provide a variety of aesthetic and structural benefits to buildings.

It is lightweight, sound absorbing, translucent enough to let light through, and has insulating properties, making buildings more energy efficient.

The first such panel was unveiled at an exhibition in the “Bioscope” pavilion at St. Andrews Botanic Garden in Scotland.

Designed by design collective Studio Biocene, the exhibit showcased low-carbon, low-impact building methods that mimic the natural environment.

“The potential of this type of biomaterial is enormous,” said Professor Marcos Cruz, from University College London.

“If mass-produced and widely adopted, it has the potential to dramatically reduce the construction industry's carbon footprint.”

“We hope to scale up the production of this C-ELM and further optimize its performance to make it suitable for use on construction sites.”

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This article is a version of a press release provided by University College London.

Source: www.sci.news

Scientists claim that fat can be burned naturally in new weight loss discovery

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Weight loss can be a challenging journey, but there may be a breakthrough discovery that could make it easier. Scientists have found a way to burn calories without changing your diet or exercising, thanks to a fat-burning mechanism in your body known as “beige fat.”

While diet and exercise are still crucial, researchers from the University of San Francisco have identified a way to convert regular white fat cells into beige fat cells.

In most mammals, including humans, there are three types of fat cells: white, brown, and beige. White fat cells store calories, brown fat cells burn energy for heat, and beige fat cells can do both.

This conversion from white to beige fat cells allows the body to naturally burn fat more efficiently.

Although the study was conducted with mice, it could pave the way for new weight-loss drugs and shed light on why previous trials have not been successful.

Scientists believed that stem cells were required to create beige fat, but the research shows that by inhibiting the production of a protein called KLF-15, white fat cells can be converted to beige fat cells. This finding offers promising insights into potential weight-loss treatments.

Feldman and his team discovered that KLF-15 controls the levels of the Adrb1 receptor, which plays a role in maintaining energy balance. Targeting this receptor with drugs could be a more effective approach for weight loss compared to current treatments.

By understanding the mechanisms behind beige fat cells, researchers hope to develop safer and more long-lasting weight-loss solutions for the future.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Scientists in neuroscience claim that certain dreams can accurately forecast events to come

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Kamran Dibba, an anesthesiologist at the University of Michigan, and his colleagues have found that during sleep, some neurons not only replay the recent past but also anticipate future experiences.

To dynamically track the spatial tuning of neurons offline, Mahboudi others We used a novel Bayesian learning approach based on spike-triggered average decoded positions in population recordings from freely moving rats.

“Certain neurons fire in response to certain stimuli,” Dr. Dibba said.

“Neurons in the visual cortex fire when presented with an appropriate visual stimulus, and the neurons we study show location preference.”

In their study, Dr. Dibba and his co-authors aimed to study the process by which these specialized neurons generate representations of the world after new experiences.

Specifically, the researchers tracked sharp ripples, patterns of neural activity that are known to play a role in consolidating new memories and, more recently, have also been shown to tag which parts of a new experience will be stored as a memory.

“In this paper, for the first time, we observe individual neurons stabilizing spatial representations during rest periods,” said Rice University neuroscientist Dr. Caleb Kemele.

“We imagined that some neurons might change their representation, mirroring the experience we've all had of waking up with a new understanding of a problem.”

“But to prove this, we needed to trace how individual neurons achieve spatial tuning – the process by which the brain learns to navigate new routes and environments.”

The researchers trained rats to run back and forth on a raised track with liquid rewards at each end, and observed how individual neurons in the animals' hippocampus “spiked” in the process.

By calculating the average spike rate over multiple round trips, the researchers were able to estimate a neuron's place field – the area of ​​the environment that a particular neuron is most “interested” in.

“The key point here is that place fields are inferred using the animal's behavior,” Dr Kemele said.

I’ve been thinking for a long time about how we can assess neuronal preferences outside the labyrinth, such as during sleep,” Dr. Dibba added.”

“We addressed this challenge by relating the activity of individual neurons to the activity of all the other neurons.”

The scientists also developed a statistical machine learning approach that uses other neurons they examined to infer where the animals were in their dreams.

The researchers then used the dreamed locations to estimate the spatial tuning process of each neuron in the dataset.

“The ability to track neuronal preferences in the absence of stimulation was a significant advance for us,” Dr. Dibba said.”

This method confirmed that the spatial representation formed during the experience of a novel environment remained stable in most neurons throughout several hours of sleep following the experience.

But as the author predicted, there was more to the story.”

“What I liked most about this study, and why I found it so exciting, was that it showed that stabilizing memories of experiences isn’t the only thing these neurons do during sleep. It turns out some of them are doing other things after all,” Dr. Kemmele said.”

“We can see these other changes that occur during sleep, and then when we put the animals back into the environment, we can see that these changes actually reflect something that the animals learned while they were asleep.”

“It’s as if the animal is exposed to that space a second time while they’re sleeping.”

This is important because it provides a direct look at the neuroplasticity that occurs during sleep.

“It appears that brain plasticity and rewiring require very fast timescales,” Dr. Dibba said.”

This study paper In the journal Nature.

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K. Mabudi others2024. Recalibration of hippocampal representations during sleep. Nature 629, 630-638; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07397-x

Source: www.sci.news

Instagram surpasses TikTok to claim title of world’s most downloaded app

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Instagram has surpassed TikTok as the most downloaded app globally, thanks to its Reels feature that helped it recover from its previous losses to its Chinese-backed competitor.

Since its launch in 2010, this photo and video-sharing platform has gained immense popularity, often associated with celebrities like the Kardashians, and giving rise to the influencer trend. However, in recent years, it has evolved into a short video platform facing tough competition from TikTok.

Instagram faced backlash in 2020 for introducing a short-form video feature that seemed to mimic TikTok. In 2023, the app was downloaded 767 million times globally, marking a 20% increase from the previous year, while TikTok’s downloads grew by 4% to 733 million.

According to market intelligence firm Sensor Tower, Instagram’s resurgence is largely attributed to the popularity of its Reels feature, along with other features like photo sharing and disappearing Stories, which mimic Snapchat.

Farhad Divecha, owner of UK-based digital marketing agency Acuracast, noted that Instagram’s quick response to the TikTok threat and its broad appeal across demographics have contributed to its success.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (Instagram’s parent company), acknowledged TikTok as a serious competitor and the growing competition for user attention in the digital space.

TikTok faces political challenges in the US due to concerns about Chinese ownership and data security. Lawmakers have proposed a bill that would require TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app within six months or face a ban.

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US lawmakers and Western officials have raised concerns about TikTok’s data privacy and its potential ties to the Chinese government, allegations that TikTok has consistently denied.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Paleontologists claim Dinocephalosaurus was a fully aquatic reptile that delivered offspring in the ocean

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Detailed explanations are provided by paleontologists from Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Dinocephalosaurus orientalis a remarkable marine reptile from the Middle Triassic of China, based on seven beautifully preserved specimens.

repair of Dinocephalosaurus orientalis It is depicted in a school of large predatory actinopterygian fishes. Saurictis. Image credit: Marlene Donnelly.

Dinocephalosaurus orientalis They lived in what is now China during the Triassic period about 240 million years ago.

This aquatic reptile could reach up to 6 m (20 ft) in length and had an extremely long neck with 32 separate vertebrae.

the animal looked very similar Tanystropheus hydrides another strange marine reptile that lived during the Middle Triassic period of both Europe and China.

“Both reptiles were similar in size and had some common skull features, including a fish-catching type of dentition,” said Dr Nick Fraser, head of natural sciences at the National Museum of Scotland, and colleagues. Stated.

“but, Dinocephalosaurus orientalis It is unique in having more vertebrae in both its neck and torso, giving it a more snake-like appearance. ”

Dinocephalosaurus orientalis. Image credit: National Museums of Scotland.

Dinocephalosaurus orientalis They are strictly marine reptiles and almost certainly gave birth at sea.

The exact function of its extraordinarily long neck is unknown, but it almost certainly helped catch fish, and in one specimen it is preserved in the stomach contents.

Despite superficial similarities, this reptile was not closely related to the famous long-necked plesiosaur, which evolved only about 40 million years later and inspired the Loch Ness Monster myth.

“This discovery allows us, for the first time, to see the entire body of this amazing long-necked animal,” Dr Fraser said.

“This is another example of the weird and wonderful world of the Triassic that continues to baffle paleontologists.”

“With its striking appearance reminiscent of the long, serpentine dragon of Chinese mythology, we are confident it will capture imaginations around the world.”

Dinocephalosaurus orientalis First described in 2003, the discovery of additional, more complete specimens has allowed the authors to fully describe this strange long-necked creature for the first time.

“Among the amazing discoveries we made in the Triassic of Guizhou, Dinocephalosaurus orientalis It probably stands out as the most remarkable,” said Professor Li Chun, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology.

of findings Published in today's magazine Earth and Environmental Sciences: Papers of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

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Stephen NF Speakman other. Dinocephalosaurus orientalis Li, 2003: A remarkable marine archosaur from the Middle Triassic of southwestern China. Earth and Environmental Sciences: Papers of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, published online on February 23, 2024. doi: 10.1017/S175569102400001X

Source: www.sci.news

Court Rejects Craig Wright’s Claim of Inventing Bitcoin as a “Brazen Lie”

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The High Court has heard that an Australian computer scientist’s claim to be the author of Bitcoin’s founding documents is a “blatant lie”. Craig Wright, a 53-year-old who claims to be the pseudonymous author Satoshi Nakamoto, is being sued by a group of cryptocurrency exchanges and developers, with Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s Crypto Patent Alliance (Copa) seeking a “negative declaration” that Wright is not Nakamoto.

The President of Copa, Jonathan Hough KC, told the High Court that Wright’s claims were “a brazen lie and an elaborate false narrative backed by industrial-scale fabrications.” Hough also mentioned that elements of Wright’s conduct, including his alleged use of ChatGPT to create fabrications to support his claims, were reminiscent of a “farce”. These claims, according to Hough, have “deadly serious” consequences for individuals who faced litigation based on Wright’s claims. He stated, “Dr. Wright has consistently failed to provide genuine evidence that he is Satoshi. Instead, he has repeatedly presented documents that clearly show signs of falsification.”

Both experts agreed that the original white paper was written in OpenOffice software, while the version Wright provided was created using software called LaTeX. Additionally, Wright’s claims to be Satoshi are met with widespread skepticism within the crypto community. Mr Wright’s barrister, Lord Grabiner KC, stated that he published the white paper after “spending many years researching and researching the concepts underlying Bitcoin” and has a “rare combination of interdisciplinary talent” and extensive experience in the field, which Nakamoto has “uniquely brought together” in the white paper.

The trial before Judge Mellor is scheduled to begin with Wright testifying on Tuesday and is expected to conclude next month with a written judgment expected at a later date.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Apple overtakes Samsung to claim the title of world’s top smartphone seller

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Apple overtook Samsung as the world’s top smartphone seller, ending the South Korean tech company’s 12-year reign as the industry leader.

According to statistics from International Data Corporation (IDC), iPhone sold 234.6 million units in 2023, overtaking Samsung’s 226.6 million units.

IDC said Apple’s laurels with the launch of the iPhone 15 in September were due to trends such as the growing popularity of high-end devices, which now account for more than 20% of the market.

“The last time a company other than Samsung topped the smartphone market was in 2010, and in 2023, it is now Apple,” IDC said. “A sort of change in power at the top in the largest consumer electronics market was propelled by Apple’s record market share, putting it on top for the first time.”

The $2.8 trillion (£2.2 trillion) US tech company had a 20.1% market share, ahead of Samsung’s 19.4%, according to IDC. Apple has established itself as the largest smartphone maker in terms of sales and profits, but this is the first time it has led the market in terms of unit sales.

The sales data was released ahead of the launch of Samsung’s latest models on Wednesday, with the South Korean conglomerate expected to launch the Galaxy S24, S24 Plus and S24 Ultra with features powered by artificial intelligence.

Ben Wood, principal analyst at research firm CCS Insight, said the IDC data was a “mental” blow to Samsung, but he expected the competition to remain close this year.

“While I think it will remain a close race throughout 2024, there is little doubt that Apple is on a strong trajectory, and the loyalty that consumers have for Apple devices will continue to grow once they are acquired,” he said. This means that they rarely switch to something else.”

Wood said this data further emphasizes the importance of Samsung’s new product announcements on Wednesday.

“This means Samsung needs to do everything it can to not only attract new customers for its devices, but also to retain existing users.”

IDC also pointed to the increasing fragmentation of the smartphone market running on the Android operating system, citing low-end Samsung rivals such as Transsion, Xiaomi, Honor and Google.

IDC said the success of Huawei products, which were well-received in China, also contributed to Samsung’s sales decline. The data provider added that Huawei remains a competitive threat to Apple in China, the US company’s biggest market.

Global smartphone shipments fell 3.2% to 1.17 billion units in 2023, according to IDC, but the group said the industry is recovering after a downturn.

IDC added: “Growth in the second half of this year solidified the recovery expected in 2024.”

Last week, Apple was overtaken by Microsoft as the world’s most valuable company at $2.9 trillion.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Activision executive explores potential countersuit following dismissal of sexual harassment claim

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Activision Blizzard executives are considering a possible countersuit against California regulators who claimed the gaming giant had a toxic “frat boy” workplace, but only dropped the lawsuit last week, On The Money reported.
The California Department of Civil Rights, which had been investigating the developer of “Call of Duty” and “Candy Crush” since 2021, dropped the explosive allegations on Friday.
“Neither the courts nor independent investigations have established systematic or widespread sexual harassment,” authorities acknowledged in court documents last week.
California’s stunning admissions say there is no evidence that “senior executives ignored, condoned, or condoned a culture of systemic harassment, retaliation, or discrimination,” and that neither Activision’s board of directors nor CEO Bobby Kotick responded to complaints of misconduct. He also admitted that he had not handled the matter inappropriately.
Nevertheless, Activision ended up paying a $54 million settlement to resolve the lawsuit ($47 million of which was earmarked for pay disparity claims).

Activision ended up paying a $54 million settlement, with $47 million of that going toward pay disparity claims. Paola Morongello
This has angered some Activision executives, who are drafting defamation lawsuits against the company.
The agency’s former director, Janet Whipper, was fired by Gavin Newson a year after she sued Activision, accusing Tesla of “racial discrimination,” a claim that was also unsubstantiated, according to court documents. It turned out that there was no such thing.
Other Activision insiders want to simply put this chapter on the back burner, concerned that an appeal would be tantamount to returning to the belly of the beast, insiders said.
Accusations that women were “subjected to constant sexual harassment, including groping” and that management fostered a “sexist culture” were enough to wipe the company’s market capitalization by $20 billion in a few months. Ta.
The case helped spur Activision’s partnership with Microsoft, which won full regulatory approval earlier this year.
Microsoft reportedly pursued a $75 billion deal after seeing the Diablo maker’s stock price plummet.
An Activision spokesperson declined to comment.

Source: nypost.com