Tag Archives: Utilizing

British Companies Utilizing “Bossware” to Monitor Employee Activities, According to Research

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A significant portion of UK employers, about one-third, are utilizing “bossware” technology to monitor employee activities, predominantly through methods like email and web browsing surveillance.

Private sector firms are the most inclined to implement onsite monitoring, with one in seven employers reportedly recording or assessing screen activities, as per a comprehensive UK study on office surveillance.

These insights, disclosed by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) to the Guardian, are derived from feedback from numerous UK managers, indicating a recent uptick in computer-based work monitoring.

According to 2023 research by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), less than 20% of respondents believed they were being monitored by their employers. The finding that roughly one-third of managers are aware of their organizations tracking employees’ online activities on company devices likely underrepresents the issue.

Many of these surveillance tools are designed to mitigate insider threats, safeguard confidential data, and identify dips in productivity. However, this growing trend seems to be inducing anxiety among employees. CMI highlights that many managerial figures oppose such practices, arguing they erode trust and infringe on personal privacy.

A manager at an insurance firm developing an AI system for monitoring staff screen activity expressed feelings of “unease,” questioning, “Do they trust employees to perform their roles? Is there an intention to replace them with AI?”

One employee monitoring service provides insights into workers’ “idle hours,” tracks “employee productivity,” flags unapproved AI or social media use, and offers “real-time data on employee behavior, including screenshots, screen recordings, keystrokes, and application usage.”

In light of these findings, the ICO emphasized that employers “must inform employees about the nature, scope, and reasons for surveillance,” noting that excessive monitoring “can infringe on personal privacy,” especially for remote workers. They warned of potential actions if necessary.

Last year, the ICO prohibited outsourced company Serco from utilizing facial recognition technology and fingerprint scanning to manage staff attendance at various leisure centers.

Monitoring often includes ensuring that inappropriate content isn’t accessed, according to CMI. However, they cautioned, “If it feels like an invasion, there can be long-term implications.”

Petra Wilton, policy director at CMI, stated, “If implemented, this could be of significant concern to employers and raise serious data privacy and protection issues.”

Recent examples of workplace surveillance methods include: HSBC’s installation of numerous security cameras and 1,754 biometric readers as a means of accessing their new London headquarters.

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PWC has recently rolled out a “traffic light” system utilizing badge swipes and WiFi connection data to ensure staff attend the office at least three days a week. A spokesperson from PWC noted this was “well received by most of our employees.”

A former senior public transport worker, who requested anonymity, shared their experience of facing online surveillance, describing it as “distracting and deeply intrusive.”

“It began with surveillance, and I eventually left because I was extremely frustrated,” they noted. CMI research revealed that one in six managers would contemplate seeking new employment if their organization started monitoring online activities on work devices.

Among managers aware of their employers monitoring them, 35% indicated surveillance of emails. Overall, tracking login/logout times and system access emerged as the most prevalent form of monitoring.

The survey showed that 53% of managers endorse monitoring employee online activity on company devices, but 42% feel this not only undermines trust but also fails to enhance performance, potentially resulting in misuse or unjust disciplinary action.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Utilizing Space and Underwater Curtain Mirrors: Will Technology Save the Arctic Ice Caps in Time?

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wGlacier researcher John Moore began exploring the Arctic Circle in the 1980s. The continuous warming of this area has led to the disappearance of many glaciers, as noted in The Arctic heats 4 times faster. They have simply melted away, outpacing global averages.

Four decades later, Moore’s research network identified an Arctic university. 61 Potential Interventions aim to slow, halt, and reverse the impacts of regional climate change. These concepts are regularly updated. Some will be discussed at a meeting in Cambridge this week, where scientists and engineers will explore whether radical technical solutions can buy time and mitigate the loss of polar ice caps.

Dr. Sean Fitzgerald excavates the ice. Photo: Real Ice/Cambridge University

“We aim to distill them down to about 10 concrete ideas,” Moore asserts, although he hasn’t yet shared specific developments. He emphasizes that the study should exclude “non-starters and hopeless ideas.” If no action is taken over the next 30 years, it may indeed be too late.

The focus should be on rationally valuing these interventions; otherwise, they are merely speculation.

These include methods such as Solar Radiation Management (SRM), brightening Arctic clouds to stabilize ice sheets, giant underwater curtains to prevent warm water from melting glaciers, and deploying vast mirrors in space. Ideas once considered science fiction are becoming more mainstream.

“None of these ideas will solve every issue,” Moore states, emphasizing the need to weigh potential costs against perceived benefits.

Dr. Sean Fitzgerald, director of the Climate Restoration Center at Cambridge University, which is hosting the conference, reflects on a 30-year journey of “unpaid progress” that has slowed the climate crisis, shifting focus towards preserving the Arctic.

“I felt obligated to expand knowledge into broader fields,” he notes. Among the more unusual ideas discussed is the concept of a 10km sunshade suspended between airships the size of Zeppelins and creating corridors for fixed rafts to assist Arctic wildlife reliant on ice. Other measures, such as the initiative by British startup Real Ice and a Dutch company, are underway, which involve pumping water onto ice to refreeze it.

Critics voice concerns about the ethical and legal implications of many proposed interventions, making geoengineering a contentious topic. For instance, in 2021, the Sami Council, representing the Saami people in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia, voiced opposition against Harvard-led pilot projects that aimed to test stratospheric aerosol injection (Science), which simulates volcanic eruptions by dispersing aerosols in the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. The Sami Council branded the plan as a “real moral hazard.”

Inuit hunters navigate through meltwater in West Greenland. Photo: Lawrence Hislop/Alendal

With these sensitivities in mind, the Cambridge Conference will address ethics, governance, sustainability, and general engagement.

The interventions have undergone extensive study, including those identified by Moore for mitigating the Arctic climate emergency. However, many proposals are unlikely to go beyond theoretical stages and require substantial funding or large-scale implementation.

Thus far, ocean-based concepts present additional uncertainties, limitations, and risks, and the study has deemed them “unsuitable for further consideration,” scoring very low against most evaluation criteria.

One such idea, modifying ocean currents, was first proposed during the Cold War, when suggestions were made to block the Bering Strait to enhance Arctic livability. Years later, climate activist Rolf Schttenhelm proposed a similar initiative aimed at increasing Arctic sea ice.

One small-scale solution currently being implemented involves pumping water onto ice to refreeze it. Photo: Real Ice/Cambridge University

“It’s very easy to make mistakes, and no one knows the definitive answer,” Moore reflects. “Local benefits must be balanced with the hope for global gains.”

Fitzgerald remains cautious about any solutions he considers to be frontrunners, underscoring the importance of keeping an open mind and exploring a variety of approaches.


Meanwhile, SAI and Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) are drawing significant interest. Professor Peter Wadham, leader of the Polar Ocean Physics Group at Cambridge University, describes MCB as a “very powerful” option. “It’s advantageous because it can be implemented on a small scale, allowing for cessation of activities if negative impacts arise,” he asserts.

Wadham is less enthusiastic about SAI, labeling it a risky long-term strategy compared to MCB. Additionally, he finds the proposal to thicken sea ice unrealistic due to the sheer energy required. “It could work in limited scenarios,” he notes, “but not at an impactful scale. Marine Cloud Brightening stands out as the best and most thoughtfully designed approach.”

Hunters return to Kullorsuaq, the Inuit village in Greenland, nearby Melville Bay. Photo: Reda/Universal Images/Getty

Earlier this year, UK scientists announced plans for outdoor geoengineering trials, including Marine Cloud Brightening, funded by a £50 million government initiative. However, opposition has emerged from various sectors; a discussion was held in the UK Parliament this week, and the state of Tennessee has passed legislation banning geoengineering in the US.

In critique claiming that potential disasters outweigh the benefits, Fitzgerald advises: “The risks of attempting action should be assessed alongside those of inaction. Given the rapid pace of climate change, our research efforts must accelerate.”

He adds, “If we believe current conditions are dire, we must consider what the next century may hold.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Concerns Emerged from Foresight AI Utilizing 57 Million NHS Medical Records

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The Foresight AI Model employs information derived from records of hospitals and family practitioners across the UK

Hannah McKay/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The developers assert that an AI model trained with medical records of 57 million individuals through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) could eventually assist physicians in anticipating illness and hospitalization trends. Nonetheless, other academics express significant concerns over privacy and data protection associated with the extensive utilization of health data, acknowledging that even AI developers are unable to ensure the absolute protection of sensitive patient information.

This model, branded as “Foresight,” was initially created in 2023. Its first iteration leveraged OpenAI’s GPT-3, the prominent language model (LLM) that powered the original ChatGPT, using 1.5 million authentic patient records from two hospitals in London.

Recently, Chris Tomlinson from University College London and his team broadened their objectives, claiming to develop the world’s first “national generative AI model for health data” with significant diversity.

Foresight utilizes Meta’s open-source LLM, LLAMA 2, leveraging eight distinct datasets of medical information routinely collected by the NHS between November 2018 and December 2023, including outpatient appointments, hospital visits, vaccination records, and other relevant documents.

Tomlinson notes that his team has not disclosed any performance metrics for Foresight, as it is still undergoing evaluation. However, he believes that its potential extends to various applications, including personalized diagnoses and forecasting broader health trends such as hospital admissions and heart conditions. “The true promise of Foresight lies in its capacity to facilitate timely interventions and predict complications, paving the way for large-scale preventive healthcare,” he stated at a press conference on May 6.

While the foreseeable advantages remain unsupported, the ethical implications of utilizing medical records for AI learning at this magnitude continue to raise alarms. Scholars argue that all medical records undergo a ‘degeneration’ process before integration into AI training, yet the risk of re-identifying these records through data patterns is well-established, especially in expansive datasets.

“Creating a robust generative AI model that respects patient privacy presents ongoing scientific challenges,” stated Luc Rocher at Oxford University. “The immense detail of data advantageous for AI complicates the anonymization process. Such models must operate under stringent NHS governance to ensure secure usage.”

“The data inputted into the model is identifiable, so direct identifiers will be eliminated,” remarked Michael Chapman, who oversees the data fueling Foresight, in a speech at NHS Digital. However, he acknowledged the perpetual risk of re-identification.

To mitigate this risk, Chapman explained that AI functions within a specially created “secure” NHS data environment, guaranteeing that information remains protected and accessible solely to authorized researchers. Amazon Web Services and Databricks provide the “computational infrastructure,” yet they do not have access to the actual data, according to Tomlinson.

Regarding the potential to expose sensitive information, Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye from Imperial College London suggests evaluating whether a model can retain the information it encounters during training. When asked by New Scientist whether Foresight has undergone such testing, Tomlinson indicated that it has not, but they are contemplating future assessments.

Employing such an extensive dataset without engaging the public regarding data usage may erode trust, cautions Caroline Green at Oxford University. “Even anonymized data raises ethical concerns, as individuals often wish to manage their data and understand its trajectory.”

Nevertheless, prevailing regulations offer little leeway for individuals to opt out of the data utilized by Foresight. All information incorporated into the model emanates from NHS datasets gathered on a national scale and remains “identified.” An NHS England representative stated that the existing opt-out provisions do not apply, asserting that individuals not wishing to share their family doctor data will not contribute to the model.

As per the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals should retain the option to withdraw their consent concerning personal data usage. However, training methods involving LLMs like Foresight make it impossible to eliminate a single record from an AI tool. An NHS England spokesperson commented, “The GDPR does not pertain since the data utilized to train the model is anonymized, and therefore we do not engage with personal data.”

While the complexity of GDPR concerning the training of LLMs presents novel legal issues, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office indicates that “identified” data should not be viewed as equivalent to anonymous data. “This perspective arises because UK data protection laws lack a definition for the term, which can lead to misunderstanding,” the office emphasizes.

Tomlinson explains that the legal situation is compounded as Foresight is only engaged in studies pertaining to Covid-19. This means that exceptions to data protection laws instituted during the pandemic remain applicable, points out Sam Smith from Medconfidential, a UK data privacy advocacy group. “This Covid-specific AI likely harbors patient data, but such information cannot be extracted from the research environment,” he asserts. “Patients should maintain control over their data usage.”

Ultimately, the conflicting rights and responsibilities surrounding the utilization of medical data in AI developments remain ambiguous. “In the realm of AI innovation, ethical considerations are often overshadowed, prompting a reevaluation beyond merely initial parameters,” states Green. “Human ethics must serve as the foundational element, followed by technological advancements.”

The article was updated on May 7, 2025

Corrections regarding the comments made by the NHS England spokesperson were duly noted.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Utilizing Urban Waste to Foster Urban Agriculture

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Cities produce a lot of waste. What we consider to be biodegradable or compostable materials is Organic waste. Remaining food scraps, fallen trees, and cow poop are all examples of organic waste. When organic waste breaks down in landfills, it releases called greenhouse gases methane. Methane traps heat in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. To reduce methane emissions, urban areas like Chicago, Illinois are trying to divert organic waste from landfills.

One way scientists have proposed to deflect organic waste is to use it as fertilizer on urban farms. Organic waste is a good potential fertilizer as it contains nutrients like nitrogen and carbon that the plant needs to grow. Researchers suggest that using organic waste on urban farms will allow cities to reuse waste and reduce chemical or mineral fertilizers.

Soil microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi break down organic materials for energy, making nutrients available to plants and other organisms in the process. Scientists should see the community of various microorganisms in the soil Soil microbiota. Because all microorganisms require energy, the soil microbiota is shaped by different energy sources in the soil. For example, some microorganisms prefer to get energy from sugar in plant materials, while others prefer to use the nitrogen found in animal fertilizers.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis and University of Wisconsin Madison wanted to know whether adding organic waste mixtures to the soil could alter the soil microbiome and improve crop growth compared to traditional mineral fertilizers. They produced four mixtures of organic waste collected in San Francisco, California. One was a liquid mixture of expired supermarket produce, one was food scrap compost, one was a mixture of plant-eating animal poop at a nearby zoo, and one was a dead plant-like garden compost. Researchers also included a control mixture, called nitrogen compounds, which contain the main ingredients of mineral fertilizers.

The researchers hypothesized that adding organic waste to the soil would increase the number and diversity of soil microorganisms compared to mineral fertilizers. They tested their hypothesis by cultivating tomato plants in greenhouse experiments. They applied a mixture of organic waste to the soil of local urban farms and placed the soil in a pot with tomato seedlings.

Researchers grew tomato plants for 75 days, then harvested and sampled the soil microbiota. They used a process of identifying microorganisms based on DNA. 16S rRNA Sequence. They measured the amount of carbon in bacterial and fungal cells.

The team found that soil treated with liquid food waste and animal poop had 127% and 120% more microorganisms than soil treated with urea. They discovered that microbial identity has also changed. For example, three of the four soils with organic waste mixtures contain more carbon cycling microorganisms; planutomyceota Bacteria than soil with urea. They concluded that the organic waste mixture maintained or improved the soil microbiota.

However, the researchers were surprised that the organic waste mixture did not change the microbial diversity or amount of microorganisms involved in soil nitrogen cycling. The team suggested that microbial diversity could still increase if the soil is fertilized for a long period.

The team then looked into the tomato plants. They determined the quality of the plant by measuring the height and weight of the plant, as well as the number and size of tomato fruit. They also analyzed the taste of tomatoes by measuring the soluble sugars of the fruit. They found that plants treated with organic waste had 15% to 75% smaller and 15% to 65% lower fruit yields than plants treated with urea. However, the tomatoes were all the same size, and some plants grown with organic waste had tomatoes with better taste. Researchers agreed that organic waste mixtures can improve the quality of certain crops, such as fruit taste, but further research is needed.

The team concluded that organic waste mixtures can support the healthy microbiota of urban agricultural soils. They proposed that farmers could use organic fertilizers as an alternative to mineral fertilizers such as urea. They suggested that reusing local waste would help bring more fresh food to urban communities.


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Source: sciworthy.com

Utilizing Neuroscience to Discover the Ideal Children’s Toy

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“Lloyd,” he told me. “His name is Lloyd.” Of course. Why is the green Lego Ninjago called a different name? This plastic figurine has shot to the top of son Sam's Christmas list.

Anyone who knows young children will relate. While they covet the Barbie Color Reveal Deluxe Styling Head, which promises instant but fleeting joy, we want to buy a woodland activity kit that is sure to nourish the body and mind.

If you are despairing of such a choice, help is readily available. Thanks to our increased understanding of the cognitive benefits of specific toys, we now have a better understanding of the relative merits of different toys. This Christmas, I decided to use this research to identify the perfect toy, or at least get as close to it as possible.

If you dig deeper into this world, you'll quickly discover that some toys are really better for young brains than others, and that computer games aren't as evil as you think. Now you know the secret to buying toys without getting bored. Cupboard.

Although toys may seem like a relatively recent invention, they have been a part of our lives for thousands of years. Analysis of rock fragments dating back 60,000 to 80,000 years in South Africa's Western Cape suggests that children may have been tinkering with dull and functionally useless copies of adult stone tools. Ta. These ancient playthings are thought to have been key to the development of cognitive skills, such as the ability to imagine alternative scenarios and come up with new ideas.

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Far Right in Europe is Utilizing AI-Generated Content as a Weapon

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FThe fake images, created using generative artificial intelligence techniques, aim to stoke fears of a migrant “invasion” among leaders like Emmanuel Macron and far-right parties in Western Europe. This political weaponization is a growing concern.

Experts point to this year’s European Parliament elections as the starting point for the far right in Europe to deploy AI-based electoral campaigns, which have since continued to expand.

Recently, anti-immigrant content on Facebook came under scrutiny by Mark Zuckerberg’s independent oversight board as it launched an investigation. German accounts featuring AI-generated images with anti-immigration rhetoric will be examined by the supervisory board.

AI-generated right-wing content is on the rise on social media platforms in Europe. Posts from extremist groups depict disturbing images, like women and children eating insects, perpetuating conspiracy theories about “global elites.”

The consistent use of AI-generated images with no identifying marks by far-right parties and movements across the EU and UK suggests a coordinated effort in spreading their message.

According to Salvatore Romano, head of research at AI Forensics, the AI content being shared publicly is just the beginning, with more concerning material circulating in private and official channels.

William Alcorn, a senior research fellow, notes that the accessibility of AI models appeals to fringe political groups seeking to exploit new technologies for their agendas.




Some of the AI-generated images posted on X by the L’Europe Sans Eux account. Illustration: @LEuropeSansEux

AI technology makes content creation accessible without coding skills, which has normalized far-right views. Mainstream parties remain cautious about using AI in campaigning, while extremists exploit it without ethical concerns.

Germany

Supporters of Germany’s far-right party AfD use AI image generators to promote anti-immigration messages. Meta’s content moderation committee reviewed an image showing anti-immigrant sentiments against a blonde, blue-eyed woman.

AI-powered campaign ads by AfD’s Brandenburg branch contrast an idealized Germany with scenes of veiled women and LGBTQ+ flags. Reality Defender, a deepfake detection firm, highlighted the speed at which such images can be generated.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Conversation with Kathy Willis: Utilizing the therapeutic properties of plants to alleviate anxiety and enhance overall health

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We all know that being in nature is good for our health and mental wellbeing. But how does its magic work? For example, how do we explain research showing that patients who had gallbladder surgery and had a green view from their hospital windows spent less time in nature afterwards? They recovered three times faster and required far fewer painkillers than those simply staring out of a brick wall.?

It was this mystery that led botanist Kathy Willis on her latest mission. Former scientific director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, and now professor of biodiversity at St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, she says the discovery has changed her life. In her new book, Good NatureIn this article, she explores a growing body of research that illuminates what happens to our brains and bodies when we connect with nature. Though we tend to think of ourselves as a visual species, it turns out the benefits we derive from our other senses — smell, hearing, touch, and the mysterious “hidden senses” — are just as impressive, and sometimes even more so. There's still much to discover, but as she says, New ScientistWe have already learned many things that can improve our lives.

Kate Douglas: What happens when you observe nature?

Kathy Willis: It induces different pathways in our body. Lowers heart rate and blood pressure, Decreased stress hormones such as adrenaline And our Brainwave activity There is an increase in areas that indicate we are in a calmer, more clear minded state.

Are there any “natural” colors we should look for?

Looking at physiological indicators of calmness, Green and white leavesand Yellow or white flowers…

Source: www.newscientist.com

Utilizing Chatbots to Combat Phone Scammers: Exposing Real Criminals and Supporting True Victims

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A scammer calls and asks for a passcode, leaving Malcolm, an older man with a British accent, confused.

“What business are you talking about?” Malcolm asks.

Again, I received a scam call.

This time, Ibrahim, cooperative and polite with an Egyptian accent, answered the phone. “To be honest, I can’t really remember if I’ve bought anything recently,” he told the scammer. “Maybe one of my kids did,” Ibrahim continued, “but it’s not your fault, is it?”

Scammers are real, but Malcolm and Ibrahim aren’t. They’re just two of the conversational artificial intelligence bots created by Professor Dali Kaafar and his team, who founded Apate, named after the Greek goddess of deception, through his research at Macquarie University.

Apetto’s goal is to use conversational AI to eradicate phone fraud worldwide, leveraging existing systems that allow telecommunications companies to redirect calls when they identify them as coming from scammers.

Kafal was inspired to strike back at phone scammers after he told a “dad joke” to the caller in front of his two children as they enjoyed a picnic in the sun. His pointless chatter kept the scammer on the line. “The kids had a good laugh,” Kafal says. “I thought the goal was to trick them so they would waste their time and not talk to other people.

“In other words, we’re scamming the scammers.”

The next day, he called in his team from the university’s Cybersecurity Hub. He figured there had to be a better way than his dad joke approach — and something smarter than a popular existing technology: Lennybot.

Before Malcolm and Ibrahim, there was Lenny.

Lenny is a rambling, elderly Australian man who loves to chatter away. He’s a chatbot designed to poke fun at telemarketers.

Lenny’s anonymous creator posted this on Reddit. They say they created the chatbot as “a telemarketer’s worst nightmare… a lonely old man who wants to chat and is proud of his family, but can’t focus on the telemarketer’s purpose.” The act of tying up scammers is called scamming.

Apate bot to the rescue

Australian telecommunications companies have blocked almost 2 billion scam calls since December 2020.

Thanks to $720,000 in funding from the Office of National Intelligence, the “victim chatbots” could now number in the hundreds of thousands, too many to name individually. The bots are of different “ages,” speak English with different accents, and exhibit a range of emotions, personalities, and reactions; sometimes naive, sometimes skeptical, sometimes rude.

Once a carrier detects a fraudster and routes them to a system like Apate, bots go to work to keep them busy. The bots try different strategies and learn what works to keep fraudsters on the phone line longer. Through successes and failures, the machines fine-tune their patterns.

This way, they can collect information such as the length of calls, the times of day when scammers are likely to call, what information they are after, and the tactics they are using, and extract the information to detect new scams.

Kafal hopes Apate will disrupt the call fraud business model, which is often run by large, multi-billion-dollar criminal organizations. The next step will be to use the information it collects to proactively warn of scams and take action in real time.

“We’re talking about real criminals who are making our lives miserable,” Kafal said. “We’re talking about the risks to real people.”

“Sometimes people lose their life savings, have difficulty living due to debt, and sometimes suffer mental trauma. [by] shame.”

Richard Buckland, a cybercrime professor at the University of New South Wales, said techniques like Apate were different to other types of fraud, some of which were amateurish or amounted to vigilante fraud.

“Usually fraud is problematic,” he said, “but this is sophisticated.”

He says mistakes can happen when individuals go it alone.

“You can go after the wrong person,” he said. Many scams are perpetrated by people in near-slave-like conditions, “and they’re not bad people,” he said.

“[And] “Some of the fraudsters are going even further and trying to enforce the law themselves, either by hacking back or engaging with them. That’s a problem.”

But the Apate model appears to be using AI for good, as a kind of “honeypot” to lure criminals and learn from them, he says.

Buckland warns that false positives happen everywhere, so telcos need a high level of confidence that only fraudsters are directing AI bots, and that criminal organisations could use anti-fraud AI technology to train their own systems.

“The same techniques used to deceive scammers can be used to deceive people,” he says.

Scamwatch is run by the National Anti-Fraud Centre (NASC) under the auspices of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and an ACCC spokesman said scammers often impersonate well-known organisations and use fake legitimate phone numbers.

“Criminals create a sense of urgency to encourage their targeted victims to act quickly,” the spokesperson said, “often trying to convince victims to give up personal or bank details or provide remote access to their computers.”

“Criminals may already have detailed information about their targeted victims, such as names and addresses, obtained or purchased illegally through data breaches, phishing or other scams.”

This week Scamwatch had to issue a warning about what appears to be a meth scam.

Scammers claiming to be NASC officials were calling innocent people and saying they were under investigation for allegedly engaging in fraud.

The NASC says people should hang up the phone immediately if they are contacted by a scammer. The spokesperson said the company is aware of “technology initiatives to productize fraud prevention using AI voice personas,” including Apate, and is interested in considering evaluating the platform.

Meanwhile, there is a thriving community of scammers online, and Lenny remains one of their cult heroes.

One memorable recording shows Lenny asking a caller to wait a moment. Ducks start quacking in the background. “Sorry,” Lenny says. “What were you talking about?”

“Are you near the computer?” the caller asks impatiently. “Do you have a computer? Can you come by the computer right now?”

Lenny continues until the conman loses his mind. “Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.”

“Can we wait a little longer?” Lennie asked, as the ducks began quacking again.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Utilizing Last Names to Capture Serial Killers: A Scientist’s Method

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Joseph James DeAngelo, also known as the Golden State Killer, pleaded guilty to various crimes almost four years ago, marking the beginning of a new era in crime-solving known as Forensic Detective Genetic Genealogy (FIGG).

While DNA testing has been used for years to link crimes to suspects, cases can come to a standstill when there are no suspects to test DNA samples on. This is where FIGG comes into play.

Dr. Tuli King, speaking at the Cheltenham Science Festival, explained that DNA databases can help identify genetic relatives of DNA found at a crime scene. Investigators use DNA matches to create a family tree and track down potential suspects based on evidence and relatives related to the DNA sample.

For DeAngelo, the turning point was when a genealogist uploaded their analysis of crime scene DNA to consumer ancestry websites like GED Match, leading to his capture and sentencing in 2020.

Since DeAngelo’s case, over 500 cases have been solved using FIGG, with more people uploading their DNA to databases, increasing the chances of catching criminals.

However, the use of publicly available DNA data for crime-solving raises ethical concerns, with the importance of informed consent and privacy being paramount.

Despite the ethical implications, FIGG is expected to continue playing a crucial role in solving serious crimes, potentially expanding to utilize genetic markers like surnames to aid investigations.

As technology advances, the use of DNA in solving crimes may evolve further, with possibilities including tracing surnames to narrow down suspect lists and aid investigations.

While the use of surnames in crime-solving is an interesting concept, it may require a large database and further research to be implemented effectively.

Experts like Tuli King, who have extensive experience in genetic genealogy, are at the forefront of utilizing DNA technology to solve complex cases and communicate the science to the public.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Utilizing Quantum Forces for Automated Assembly of Small Devices

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Triangular gold flakes can be manipulated using mysterious quantum forces

George Zograf

A tiny gold device for controlling light is built using strange quantum effects hidden in seemingly empty space.

In 1948, physicist Hendrik Casimir theorized that when objects are brought close together in space, some objects experience a very weak gravitational pull due to imperceptible flickering of quantum fields in the gaps between them. Ta. Researchers then confirmed this Casimir effect in the laboratory. Betul Kyucukoz and his colleagues at Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology have found a way to make this useful.

They wanted to build a cavity that would trap the light using two pieces of gold placed parallel to each other, so that the light would bounce back and forth between them and would not be able to escape. First, we created the bottom edge of the cavity by transferring triangular gold flakes ranging in size from 4 to 10 microns onto a small piece of glass. The top end of the cavity also contained a triangular gold flake, but instead of holding it in place with an instrument, the researchers attached it to the glass in a salt water solution containing an additional triangular gold flake. The gold flakes were then dipped in and then allowed to develop. Instead, work naturally.

One of those forces was the electrostatic force caused by the charge associated with the dissolved salt. Another is the Casimir effect. Kyuchkoz said he observed the experiment under the microscope many times and could always see the Casimir effect in action. This causes the floating gold flakes to move towards the gold flake where one is imprinted on the glass, and then he moves over the imprinted gold flake until the triangular footprints of the two flakes match. It was rotated.

This completes the assembly of a cavity that can trap light. The researchers were able to significantly control the cavity formation process, Kyucukoz said. For example, by using different concentrations of salt, we can adjust the strength of the electrostatic force so that the distance between the flakes is different for each cavity, creating cavities with slightly different dimensions of 100-200 nanometers. It can trap colored light.

Raul Esquivel Sirbento The professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico said the idea of self-assembly, likened to throwing a Lego set into a pot and a structure emerges without having to manually press the pieces together, is not new. But he said his team’s experiment was more detailed and controlled than previous attempts to exploit the Casimir effect for similar purposes. But the Casimir effect can be very subtle, so there may be other effects here as well that haven’t been detected yet, Esquivel Servent said.

In the future, Küçüköz and his colleagues hope to use the cavity as part of more complex experiments with light, such as placing objects inside the cavity between two gold flakes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

UK Case Ruling Prohibits Sex Offenders from Utilizing AI Tools

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A convicted sex offender who created over 1,000 indecent images of children has been forbidden from using any “AI creation tools” for the next five years, marking a significant case in this realm.

Anthony Dover, 48, was instructed by a British court in February not to use artificial intelligence-generated tools without prior police authorization, as part of a sexual harm prevention order issued in February.

The prohibition extends to tools like text-image generators that produce realistic-looking photos from written commands, as well as the manipulation of websites used to generate explicit “deepfake” content.

Mr. Dover, who received a community order and a £200 fine, was specifically directed not to utilize the Stable Diffusion software known to be exploited by pedophiles to create surreal child sexual abuse material.

This case is part of a series of prosecutions where AI-generated images have come to the forefront, prompting warnings from charities regarding the proliferation of such images of sexual abuse.

Last week, the government announced the creation of a new crime that makes it illegal to produce sexually explicit deepfakes of individuals over 18 without their consent, with severe penalties for offenders.

Using synthetic child sexual abuse material, whether real or AI-generated, has been illegal under laws since the 1990s, leading to recent prosecutions involving lifelike images produced using tools like Photoshop.

These tools are increasingly being used to combat the dangers posed by sophisticated synthetic content, as evidenced by recent court cases involving the distribution of such images.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) emphasized the urgent need to address the production of AI-generated child sexual abuse images, warning about the rise of such content and its chilling realism.

Law enforcement agencies and charities are working to tackle this growing trend of AI-generated images, with concerns rising about the production of deepfake content and the impact on victims.

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Efforts are underway to address the growing concern over AI-generated images and deepfake content, with calls for technology companies to prevent the creation and distribution of such harmful material.

The decision to restrict adult sex offenders from using AI tools may pave the way for increased surveillance of those convicted of indecent image offenses, highlighting the need for proactive measures to safeguard against future violations.

While restrictions on internet use for sex offenders have existed, limitations on AI tools have not been common, underscoring the gravity of this case and its implications for future legal actions.

The company behind Stable Diffusion, Stability AI, has taken steps to prevent abuse of their software, emphasizing the importance of responsible technology use and compliance with legal guidelines.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Researchers to investigate solar eclipses utilizing aircraft and NASA spacecraft

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Millions of people across North America are eagerly awaiting the total solar eclipse on April 8th, which promises to be a spectacular show. This rare event will see the moon completely obscuring the sun, providing a unique opportunity for scientific study.

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy emphasized the significance of this event, stating that it allows scientists to observe the Earth, moon, and sun in a new light. The agency’s primary focus is on studying the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, which is usually obscured by the sun’s brightness. During a total solar eclipse, the corona becomes visible as a faint light surrounding a glowing halo.

Researchers are particularly interested in the corona as it plays a crucial role in transferring heat and energy to the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emitted from the sun’s atmosphere. Understanding the corona’s behavior can provide insights into solar phenomena such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms, which can impact Earth’s communications and power systems.

Scientists like solar astrophysicist Amir Caspi are taking advantage of this celestial event to study the sun’s atmosphere in detail. By using specialized instruments aboard aircraft and satellites, researchers hope to solve long-standing mysteries related to the sun’s corona and the solar wind.

The upcoming solar eclipse will also see spacecraft like NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter observing the sun from different vantage points. These missions aim to gather valuable data about the sun’s atmosphere and solar wind, providing unprecedented insights into solar activity and its potential effects on Earth.

As the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle, researchers are eager to capture any potential solar eruptions and study their impact on space weather. The data collected during the solar eclipse will contribute to our understanding of solar phenomena and improve our ability to forecast space weather events.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Utilizing Cloud Technology as the Building Blocks for AI: Driving Business Innovation with Azure

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The cloud has transformed the way the world operates, yet it doesn’t always receive the recognition it deserves for enabling valuable digital experiences.

Businesses of all sizes, including companies like ASOS powered by Microsoft Azure cloud platform, leverage cloud technology to power their operations and deliver customized customer experiences.

One of the most impactful aspects of cloud technology is its ability to democratize access to computing power, allowing disruptors and innovators to enter new industries.

Tosca Colangeli, general manager at Microsoft UK, emphasizes that the cloud makes digital transformation accessible, enabling businesses to scale as needed and disrupt traditional industries.

Cloud technology grants businesses access to computing power over the Internet, eliminating the need for private physical servers on their premises. It also provides enhanced security and flexibility, allowing for tailored resource allocation and disaster recovery.

As much as you use
Colangeli highlights the importance of paying for resources as needed, allowing businesses to adapt to peak trading periods and manage disaster recovery efficiently.

Cloud flexibility has revolutionized business operations and innovation, especially in the face of the rapid changes driven by AI.

ChatGPT took 2 months”

According to Gartner, global cloud spending is projected to account for over 45% of total enterprise IT spending by 2026.

In light of the increasing demand for cloud and AI services, businesses must embrace the cloud as the cornerstone of their operations and embed it within their organizational culture.

Colangeli emphasizes the need for businesses to focus on data as a top priority, as the success of AI is heavily reliant on quality, accessible data.

Additionally, using AI responsibly and adopting a flexible, adaptable approach will be crucial for businesses to stay competitive in the evolving technological landscape.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

Utilizing New Technology to Detect Cancer Early: The Impact on Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust in West Yorkshire

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A West Yorkshire NHS Trust is utilizing advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence and surgical robots, to achieve crucial cancer targets and alleviate widespread pressure on hospitals.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS The Foundation Trust is meeting three important cancer targets established by the government.

These targets include a waiting time of 28 days for patients who receive an emergency referral and are diagnosed with an infection or cancer, a 31-day wait from the patient’s treatment decision to the first treatment, and a 62-day wait from the emergency GP referral to the first treatment.

Sky News was given a tour of the innovations behind the hospital’s results, starting with a diagnostic test called Cytosponge. The Cytosponge is a small capsule with a string attached that is swallowed by the patient. When dissolved in the stomach, a brush collects cells from the esophageal lining, which are then analyzed for abnormalities.

image:
New diagnostic test site sponge could help doctors find cases of esophageal cancer faster

Cytosponges are used as an alternative to longer and more invasive endoscopies. Patients find the cytosponge less invasive and report a quicker procedure time.

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Source: news.sky.com

Utilizing DNA from Polar Bear Snow Tracks to Support Conservation efforts

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Researchers have developed a breakthrough method to protect polar bears by analyzing DNA from footprints in the snow. This non-invasive technique can also be applied to other snow-dwelling animals such as lynx and snow leopards, providing a safer and more efficient way to collect data essential to wildlife conservation.

Scientists have discovered a way to capture DNA Observations from snow tracks – a promising non-invasive way to monitor elusive animals like polar bears.

The polar bear is a symbol of the Arctic, an elusive and vulnerable animal. Close monitoring of polar bear populations is critical to polar bear conservation, but polar bears are so difficult to find that critical data about population size and connectivity between those populations is lacking. I am. Scientists have now developed a helpful new tool: DNA analysis using skin cells shed from bear tracks in the snow.

Dr Melanie Lancaster of the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Arctic Program said: ‘Finding polar bears in the Arctic, let alone counting them and understanding how they are coping with climate change, is particularly difficult. “And it’s expensive and time-consuming.” , senior author of the study Frontiers of conservation science.

Innovative forensic techniques in preservation

The scientists were inspired by forensic techniques that can be applied to trace amounts of degraded DNA samples. These techniques eliminate the need to physically capture bears, which can be stressful and dangerous for both bears and humans, and is a concern for some local indigenous communities. Instead, scientists can look at the source of accidentally released DNA: environmental DNA.

A polar bear in Utchagvik, Alaska.Credit: Elizabeth Kruger, World Wildlife Fund

“Many Inuit have expressed concerns about invasive research methods,” said the article’s author, Elizabeth Krueger of the World Wildlife Fund. “People are concerned about the welfare of individual polar bears and the health and safety of those who may later harvest the bears. This is one reason we are so excited about new methods like this. The person collecting the samples does not need to see or even be seen by the polar bear.”

Environmental DNA: a non-invasive tool

A common form of environmental DNA is deposited when animals defecate. However, the quality of DNA is not always sufficient for the individual-level analysis required for preservation. Furthermore, in the case of territorial animals like her other two, seed Scientists tested lynx and snow leopards, and the collection of faeces can affect the animals’ behavior. So the researchers focused on the skin cells in snowy footprints.

“Trucks typically contain fresh cells and the DNA is intact due to the cold ‘storage’ temperatures. “The DNA that passes through the intestine is further degraded, making it more difficult to study,” said lead author Dr Michaela Helström from MIX Research Sweden AB.

Real-world tracking and sampling

The researchers collected snow from individual footprints made by polar bears in Alaska and Eurasian lynx in Sweden in the wild and in captivity. They also collected snow from footprints made by captive snow leopards. Additional substances such as hair, saliva, and mucus were also sampled to ensure that the traces yielded accurate genotypes.

Twenty-four wild polar bear tracks and 44 wild lynx tracks were sampled. The researchers melted and filtered the snow to collect environmental DNA and analyzed the microsatellites. Although the concentration of DNA recovered from footprints collected in the wild was very low, we were able to recover nuclear DNA from 87.5% of wild polar bear footprints and 59.1% of wild lynx footprints. We were able to genotype 13 of the wild polar bear samples and identify 12 different individuals.

They were able to genotype 11% of the lynx footprints, but this percentage increased significantly when scientists examined only footprints sampled by trained personnel. They were able to recover nuclear DNA from 76% of the samples collected by trained personnel and genotype 24% of the samples.

A step-by-step approach

This technology has great potential to inform conservation of these animals, better understand animal populations and behavior, and manage conflicts with humans through accurate animal identification. Although non-invasive sampling has a low success rate, it is easy to collect and can greatly expand sample size.

“We hope this method will be adopted by the polar bear research community as a new way to collect information about polar bears, with the participation of hunters, volunteers, and indigenous communities,” Lancaster said. “We also hope that this method can be extended to other animals that live in snowy environments. We have started by showing that this method works for lynx and snow leopards as well. I did.”

Reference: “Capturing environmental DNA from snow tracks of polar bears, lynx, and snow leopards for individual identification” Michaela Hellström, Elisabeth Kruger, Johan Neslund, Mia Bister, Anna Edlund, Patrick Hernvall, Viktor・Birgerson, Rafael Augusto, Melanie L. Lancaster, October 11, 2023. Frontiers of conservation science.
DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.1250996

Source: scitechdaily.com

Utilizing Webb’s Advanced Optical Techniques to Unravel the Mysteries of the Ring Nebula

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New images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) reveal intriguing details of the Ring Nebula. These images show approximately 10 concentric arcs located just beyond the outer edge of the main ring, suggesting the presence of a low-mass companion star orbiting the central star at a distance similar to that between Earth and Pluto. Researchers from the Royal Observatory of Belgium, Griet van de Steene and Peter van Hof, are part of the international team of astronomers who released these breathtaking images. In their research paper, they analyze these features and discuss their implications for the star’s evolution.

The Ring Nebula, located about 2,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra, is a well-known and visually striking planetary nebula. It displays a donut-shaped structure consisting of glowing gas, which was shed by a dying star as it reached the end of its lifecycle. The web’s NIRCam (near-infrared camera) and MIRI instruments have captured stunning footage of the nebula, providing scientists with an opportunity to study and understand its complex structure.

The recent images obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam reveal intricate details of the filamentary structure of the inner ring of the Ring Nebula. This inner region contains about 20,000 dense spherules and is rich in hydrogen molecules. Additionally, the outer region of the nebula contains a thin ring with enhanced emission from carbon-based molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These details were analyzed and described in a research paper by Griet van de Steene, Peter van Hof, and their team.

The Webb images also show peculiar spikes extending outward from the central star on the outside of the ring. These spikes, observed in the infrared but faint in the visible spectrum captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, may be caused by molecules forming in the shadow of the densest part of the ring, shielded from direct radiation from the hot central star.

Furthermore, the researchers discovered 10 concentric arcs in a faint halo outside the ring. These arcs indicate the possible presence of a companion star orbiting at a distance similar to that between our Sun and Pluto. The interaction between the central star and this companion star may have shaped the nebula into its distinctive elliptical form.

The detailed images captured by the Webb telescope provide valuable insights into the process of stellar evolution. By studying the Ring Nebula, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the life cycles of stars and the elements they release into space. Griet van de Steene and Peter van Hof, along with their team of experts in planetary nebulae and related objects, are actively researching and analyzing the Ring Nebula using imaging and spectroscopy techniques.

Source: scitechdaily.com