Thursday, March 31, 2016

MetLife defeats Jack Lew, Ponzi schemes galore and why Golden State is so good

The Obama administration was delivered a massive blow in its effort to regulate the financial industry. A judge struck down the “Too Big to Fail” designation of MetLife Corp. (MET) as a company that is "systemically important" to the U.S. economy. Shares of MET stock jumped more than 5%, as the designation would have brought the company under the regulatory eye of the Federal Reserve and would have changed its capital requirements to far more conservative levels.

This beetle-computer hybrid is controlled by humans


Researchers have created a remote-controlled living robot beetle with adjustable gait and walking speed

By: Matthew Reynolds,

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MetLife defeats Jack Lew, Ponzi schemes galore and why Golden State is so good

The Obama administration was delivered a massive blow in its effort to regulate the financial industry. A judge struck down the “Too Big to Fail” designation of MetLife Corp. (MET) as a company that is "systemically important" to the U.S. economy. Shares of MET stock jumped more than 5%, as the designation would have brought the company under the regulatory eye of the Federal Reserve and would have changed its capital requirements to far more conservative levels.

This beetle-computer hybrid is controlled by humans


Researchers have created a remote-controlled living robot beetle with adjustable gait and walking speed

By: Matthew Reynolds,

Continue reading...

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

WIRED will now predict your political views (you naïve thing)


Most people are convinced that they see the world the way it really is, but psychologists call this phenomenon 'naïve realism'

By: Thomas Gilovich and Lee Ross,

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WIRED will now predict your political views (you naïve thing)


Most people are convinced that they see the world the way it really is, but psychologists call this phenomenon 'naïve realism'

By: Thomas Gilovich and Lee Ross,

Continue reading...

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Uncertainty can 'cause more stress' than pain


The anticipation of pain can cause far more stress than knowing for certain that you're about to be given an electric shock, a UCL study has found. 

By: Emily Reynolds,

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Fed will be forced to lower interest rates and declare war on cash

The simple and easy to understand chart shown below quite clearly illustrates why the Fed has no option but to lower interest rates. Central bankers worldwide have already embraced negative rates, so it is just a matter of time before our central bankers are forced to walk down the same path.

Uncertainty can 'cause more stress' than pain


The anticipation of pain can cause far more stress than knowing for certain that you're about to be given an electric shock, a UCL study has found. 

By: Emily Reynolds,

Continue reading...

Fed will be forced to lower interest rates and declare war on cash

The simple and easy to understand chart shown below quite clearly illustrates why the Fed has no option but to lower interest rates. Central bankers worldwide have already embraced negative rates, so it is just a matter of time before our central bankers are forced to walk down the same path.

Monday, March 28, 2016

WIRED Awake: 10 must-read articles for 28 March


Your WIRED.co.uk daily briefing. Today, Facebook has apologised for a Safety Check error that led to people around the world being texted in the wake of the Sunday's bombing in Lahore, Japan's Hitomi X-ray satellite has lost communication with Earth, Microsoft has issued a formal explanation for the actions of its short-lived machine learning chatbot, Tay, and more.

By: WIRED.co.uk,

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WIRED Awake: 10 must-read articles for 28 March


Your WIRED.co.uk daily briefing. Today, Facebook has apologised for a Safety Check error that led to people around the world being texted in the wake of the Sunday's bombing in Lahore, Japan's Hitomi X-ray satellite has lost communication with Earth, Microsoft has issued a formal explanation for the actions of its short-lived machine learning chatbot, Tay, and more.

By: WIRED.co.uk,

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Friday, March 25, 2016

WIRED Awake: 10 must-read articles for 25 March


Your WIRED.co.uk daily briefing. Today, scientists have created a synthetic microbe with just 473 genes, researchers have analysed Zika's DNA to find that it didn't come to Brazil with the World Cup, the first Oculus Rift consumer VR headsets have shipped and more.

By: WIRED.co.uk,

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Starboard’s Revolt, Ackman’s Blues, A Frosty February for Hedge Funds and New Jersey’s Performance Problems

The big news this week is a report that activist hedge fund Starboard Value is pushing to remove the entire board of directors at Yahoo! Inc. The Wall Street Journal first reported on a letter that indicates Starboard is preparing to nominate nine directors to the company's board of directors, as the hedge fund remains discontent with the turnaround effort under CEO Marissa Mayer.

This would be the largest company to ever have its full board of directors replaced by an activist investor.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

BBC micro:bit, 10 years of Twitter: Podcast 260

Wired podcast

The BBC has sent one million pocket-sized computers to schools, and we discuss 10 years of Twitter. 

By: WIRED.co.uk,

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Lego Batman trailer is an antidote to 'Batman v Superman'



    

Lego Batman trailer is an antidote to 'Batman v Superman'

By: Matt Kamen,

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Sony bets on mobile gaming with new studio, ForwardWorks


Sony has plans to open a new game development studio focused exclusively on bringing existing PlayStation franchises to mobile gaming.

By: Matt Kamen,

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Watch WIRED put the Bentley Bentayga 'luxury SUV' to the test


Teased to within an inch of its life, the release of the Bentayga from Bentley has been much anticipated, and straplines like "the world’s first luxury SUV" have certainly helped build the brand momentum before launch.

By: Jeremy White,

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Local Motors wants to 3D-print your next car out of plastic


Local Motors' 3D-printed car, the LM3D Swim, took just two months to turn from a design into a prototype - now they want to print it in a factory near you

By: Daniela Walker,

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The Moon used to spin on a different axis


Though the early history of the moon isn't well understood, a new study suggests that it used to "spin on a different axis" that was subject to "polar wander".

By: Emily Reynolds,

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Review: Batman v Superman sets up a Justice League we don't need


Superheroes these days seem to spend as much time fighting each other as they do saving the world. No Avengers is complete without the obligatory internecine throw-down. Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers trading punches with Tony Stark; the X-Men are always squabbling. But, of course, Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice is the daddy of all spandex wrestling bouts. The Dark Knight v the Caped Crusader; wits v brawn; man v god. And holy cash-ins is it ugly.

By: Oliver Franklin-Wallis,

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Here's what you'll actually do in Pokémon Go



    

New details and official screens have emerged for the upcoming Pokémon Go, giving more insight into how the augmented reality smartphone game will actually work.

By: Matt Kamen,

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Female fish develops male organs, impregnates itself


A female fish has undergone a rare process in which it grew male reproductive organs and impregnated itself, going on to have offspring. 

By: Emily Reynolds,

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Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Half of all mobile games money comes from 0.19% of uses


A new report concludes that 48 percent of all mobile games spending comes from a minuscule 0.19 percent of users.

By: Matt Kamen,

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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Global adoption of veganism could save 8 million lives


Global adoption of a vegan diet would save more than eight million lives by 2050 and reduce greenhouse emissions by two thirds, according to new research from Oxford University.


 

By: Emily Reynolds,

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Monday, March 21, 2016

Apple's iOS 9.3 is available to download from today


The biggest new feature is 'Night Shift', which will change screen colours towards the warmer end of the spectrum at night.

By: Matt Burgess,

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Saturday, March 19, 2016

Alzheimer's could be treated with lab grown neural networks


Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS could be treated with the help of a new, lab-grown, neural network.

By: Emily Reynolds,

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Meicai is closing the gap between fields and dinner plates


Chinese startup Meicai uses an app to connect farmers and restaurants, helping raise wages and lower costs.

By: David Rowan,

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Sony announces PlayStation VR launch bundles


Sony has revealed the first hardware bundle for PlayStation VR, with pre-orders opening for the virtual reality headset on 22 March. Unfortunately, that's currently only for the US and Canada.

By: Matt Kamen,

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Friday, March 18, 2016

Swedish student builds steam-powered Raspberry Pi


Steampunk isn't just for enthusiastic live-action role players with a fondness for Victorian aesthetics - it's a viable way of powering a Raspberry Pi.

By: Matt Kamen,

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Nasa: nuclear is 'most effective' way of getting humans to Mars


Nasa administrator Charles Bolden has claimed that nuclear thermal propulsion is the "most effective" way of sending humans to Mars.

By: Emily Reynolds,

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TalkTalk ditches passwords for voice recognition


TalkTalk is letting customers use their voices as passwords.

By: Matt Burgess,

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How VPN use varies by country


On the internet, two-fifths of Indonesians are invisible. More than a third of Vietnamese and Saudi Arabians don't show up either.

By: Kathryn Nave,

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We took a ride on the world's first VR rollercoaster


WIRED travelled to Alton Towers in Staffordshire to take a ride on Galactica, the world's first rollercoaster fully dedicated to virtual reality.

By: Jeremy White,

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Sex dust scepticism, DJI drone review: Podcast 259

Wired podcast

We review the DJI Phantom 4 drone and ask a nutritionist what's in Gwyneth Paltrow's 'Sex Dust' smoothie.

By: WIRED.co.uk,

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Nokia OZO VR camera launches in Europe for €55,000


The Nokia OZO camera captures 360-degree footage and audio in 3D for playback on virtual reality headsets.

By: Matthew Reynolds,

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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Nike unveils self-lacing Hyperadapt trainers


Great Scott! Nike has revealed a line of self-lacing trainers, the Nike Hyperadapt 1.0. The shoes, which will launch later in 2016, are the first to use what the sportswear brand is calling “electro-adaptive reactive laces (EARL)”. Activated with a button on the outer of the shoe, the system adapts to the foot shape of the wearer, and can also be tightened or loosened with a button. The company had previously made a pair of self-lacing Air Mag trainers – based on the shoes worn in Back To The Future II – but this is the first time the technology will be available for widespread purchase. 

By: Oliver Franklin-Wallis,

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Tuesday, March 15, 2016

PlayStation VR launches in October for £349


PlayStation VR will launch worldwide in October, with a recommend UK retail price of £349.

By: Matt Kamen,

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Monday, March 14, 2016

This tech tricks your brain into hearing surround sound


Ambidio, backed by will.i.am and Horizons Ventures, says it can make any laptop sound better.

By: Steve May,

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Saturday, March 12, 2016

The Division interview: abandoned features and DLC plans


Magnus Jansen, creative director at developer Massive Entertainment, talks about abandoned features and finding hope for humanity in violent games.

By: Matt Kamen,

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Friday, March 11, 2016

Want a more secure password? Doodle it


If remembering your phone's passcode is proving too much, some good news - you may be able to unlock your device with a doodle.

By: Emily Reynolds,

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Bees are being poisoned by 57 pesticides used in the EU

Honey bees

Researchers used a new test to analyse exactly which of the 200 pesticides licensed for use in the EU play a role in honeybee deaths.

By: K.G Orphanides,

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In pictures: world's largest cruise ship starts testing



    

The 70 metre high vessel, which cost €1 billion (£783 million) to build, will eventually carry 6,296 passengers and 2,384 crew.

By: James Temperton,

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