GOLD COAST, Australia (AFP) — A humpback whale calf is rescued after getting entangled in a shark net off the Gold Coast for some two hours. https://youtu.be/ov_f_3Ta6kc
Life
You look familiar: humans recognize 5,000 faces, study says
by Patrick GALEY Agence France-Presse From family and friends to strangers on the subway and public figures on 24-hour news cycles, humans recognize an astonishing 5,000 faces, scientists said Wednesday in the first study of its kind. Through most of history humans lived in small groups of a hundred or so individuals, a pattern that has changed drastically in recent centuries. A study by scientists at Britain’s University of York found that our facial recognition […]
The importance of ice shelves
(AFP) — Videographic looking at the importance of ice shelves. Earth’s surface has warmed one degree Celsius — enough to lift oceans and unleash storms, floods and droughts — and is on track toward an unlivable 3C or 4C rise, scientists say. https://youtu.be/DnojXKd0wJ0
Philippines revs up flagging green energy engine
by Cecil MORELLA Agence France Presse SANTO TOMAS, Philippines (AFP) — Deep below the ancient volcanoes scattered around the Philippines sits a simmering stockpile of intense heat that officials hope will help revive the nation’s sputtering green energy machine. The Philippines — thanks to its spot in the Ring of Fire zone of Pacific volcanoes — has long been one of the world’s top producers of geothermal power, but years of neglect have sent the […]
Instagram ramps up battle against bullying
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Instagram on Tuesday added more weapons to battle cyber bullying, using artificial intelligence to scan photos for abusive content at the Facebook-owned service. The move comes after Facebook also increased anti-harassment measures, following a survey which said young victims of online abuse feel social media firms aren’t doing enough to fight the problem. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said artificial intelligence is being used to detect signs of bullying and […]
Google launches connected speaker with screen, but no camera
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Google on Tuesday launched a new version of its connected speaker with a touchscreen display designed to be a hub for smart home devices but without a camera for privacy reasons. The Google Home Hub, competing against Amazon’s Echo Show, was unveiled at a New York media event at which the tech giant also announced its upgraded Pixel 3 smartphone and a new tablet computer dubbed Pixel Slate. The […]
Japan space tourist says moon training ‘shouldn’t be too hard’
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Billionaire Japanese tycoon and future space tourist Yusaku Maezawa’s training to go the moon should not be too tricky, he joked Tuesday, adding that he planned to use free time from his six-hour work day to squeeze it in. The 42-year-old Maezawa paid an undisclosed sum for a ticket on fellow tycoon Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket around the moon as early as 2023 and the passionate art collector also plans to […]
Foreigners snap up Istanbul’s iconic waterfront mansions
by Fulya OZERKAN Agence France Presse ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — They are among Istanbul’s most iconic sights — magnificent waterside mansions strung out along the Bosphorus as the waters of the strait dividing Europe and Asia lap almost at their front doors. Once the preserve of the Ottoman elite and affluent foreigners working in what was Constantinople, the mansions, known as yalis, were made famous in novels and more recently through modern Turkey’s hugely successful […]
Gold Coast’s Light Rail System, changing the scene of Australia’s public transport
By Patricia Madronio, Diego Madronio, Xelinne Ryan-Andrews and Mark Calaguas EBC Australia Bureau, Eagle News Service (Eagle News) — Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia and with population growth comes increased travel demands. In order to counter congestion, maintain the great lifestyle in the city, and turn Gold Coast into a mature and world-class destination, the Australian government launched a light rail master plan. Now almost a $2 billion investment, […]
Three museums to visit in Seoul
By Emily Manuel Contributor Eagle News and Features Seoul is known as the land of K-Drama and K-Pop. It’s also a favorite destination for shopping and food. For those who like immersing themselves in culture, there are several palaces where one can rent a hanbok, or a traditional Korean attire, to enter for free. With so many attractions to see, it’s not surprising that a visit to a museum is not always on […]
Trouble for Hubble: gyro fails on space telescope
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Hubble space telescope, which has been in orbit since 1990, has temporarily suspended operations because of a gyroscope failure, the US space agency said Monday. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said Hubble went into “safe mode” on Friday. “Hubble entered safe mode after one of the three gyroscopes actively being used to point and steady the telescope failed,” NASA said in a statement. “Safe mode puts the […]
UN warns paradigm shift needed to avert global climate chaos
INCHEON, South Korea (AFP) — Avoiding global climate chaos will require a major transformation of society and the world economy that is “unprecedented in scale,” the UN says in a landmark report that warns time is running out to avert disaster. https://youtu.be/f97yGa9fznU
