tech

close Video New study suggests lasers could be used to signal aliens Scientists from MIT published a paper describing how a powerful laser coupled with a massive telescope could create a detectable beacon for interstellar travelers. Calling all aliens! The search for extraterrestrial life is alive and well, and this week, two scientists from MIT breathed new life into the effort with an out-of-this-world idea for contacting non-earthlings. The plan is simple: create a laser that has the ability to let distant planets, some tens of thousands of light years away, know that we exist. The two researchers have published a new paper in The Astrophysical Journal, theorizing that we could build the laser, then combine it with a massive telescope, to make a detectable beacon for interstellar travelers. DRONE FLEET COULD HELP FIND LOST HIKERS, MIT RESEARCHERS SAY The good news is that the technology needed is less science fiction and more science fact. The … [Read more...] about Fox on Tech: Using lasers to find aliens

close Video Facebook-New York Times fight gets ugly Facebook slammed a blockbuster New York Times report for 'inaccuracies' after the newspaper painted a scathing portrait of Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, the company's top leaders. Following a scathing report from The New York Times that questioned whether Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg acted urgently enough to counter the Russian disinformation campaign, Zuckerberg said the social networking giant would create an independent oversight committee to help deal with moderating certain issues related to content posted on its site. In a Thursday post to his page, Zuckerberg gave some initial details on how the oversight body, which would also have to uphold Facebook's core principles of giving people a voice while keeping them safe, would operate. "First, it will prevent the concentration of too much decision-making within our teams," Zuckerberg wrote. "Second, it will create … [Read more...] about Facebook will create independent oversight committee to deal with content issues

President Trump gives two thumbs up to supporters at a rally earlier this year. (AP) President Trump’s supporters now have an alternative to Facebook after several users have complained about having posts blocked or accounts deleted entirely. Addison Riddleberger, the founder of the new platform, told Fox News he’s still in the dark about why Facebook disabled his account 24 hours before the midterm elections, shutting down his pages “Standing for Americans,” “Freedom Catalog,” and “Patriotic Folks.” And now “Trump Town” has opened its virtual doors to anyone wary of getting blocked on other social media platforms. “It’s geared toward Trump supporters and conservatives who’ve been ostracized from other online platforms for simply having a countering opinion,” Riddleberger said. The site looks and feels like Facebook with the name being the biggest difference. "Trump Town" is a new social … [Read more...] about Banned from Facebook? New pro-Trump social network offers alternative

The president of George Soros' foundation blasted Facebook executives over allegations that the company had funded a Republican-opposition research firm to discredit Soros in part by leveraging anti-Semitic sentiment toward the billionaire liberal donor. The New York Times initially reported the allegations Wednesday evening as part of an investigation into Facebook's handling of data exposure through the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the spread of false information linked to Russia. According to the Times investigation, Facebook engaged Washington-based consultant Definers Public Affairs to help maintain its image as it trudged through a wave of negative coverage. The Times said reporters received a research document from Definers after the House hearing this summer that suggested Soros was behind a movement against Facebook. An official from Soros' foundation reportedly told the Times it had not supported the "Freedom from Facebook" group targeted by the company and … [Read more...] about Soros Foundation Chastises Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg for Alleged Attempt to Vilify the Billionaire Liberal Donor

The logo of American entertainment company Netflix is pictured at an event in Netflix. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File) As Netflix continues to grow its user base, it is also facing growing competition from new and existing streaming services. But the company is happy to experiment, and the latest idea being tested is a cheaper, mobile-only subscription option. Before mobile-focused streamers start getting excited, note that this is just an experiment and one limited to Malaysia for now. It's also quite restricted. As Quartz reports, for the equivalent of $4 per month, it's possible to stream Netflix to any smartphone or tablet. It's not possible to stream to other devices such as a TV, although someone is bound to come up with a workaround. The other big restriction is on stream quality, with the mobile plan only allowing for standard definition streams. That should be enough to turn most people off trying to hook up a TV, but it could also prove to be a limit too far for consumers … [Read more...] about Netflix tests $4 mobile-only subscription