Menu

Blog

Page 4

Nov 11, 2024

Could Data Be Stored in Plastic? Here’s How It Works

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, computing

A new technique enables data storage in synthetic polymers, allowing direct bit access without full sequence decoding, significantly increasing storage density and stability, demonstrated by encoding a university address in ASCII within a polymer.

The need for data storage is growing, with many types of data requiring long-term preservation. Synthetic polymers present an efficient alternative to traditional storage media, as they can store information using less space and energy. However, conventional retrieval methods, like mass spectrometry, limit the length—and therefore the storage capacity—of individual polymer chains. Now, as reported in Angewandte Chemie, researchers have developed a new approach that overcomes this limitation, enabling direct access to specific data bits without having to read the entire chain.

Advantages of polymer storage over DNA.

Nov 11, 2024

Stanford Scientists Overturn Mendel’s Law With Shocking Cancer Discovery

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

A trio of research papers from Stanford Medicine researchers and their international collaborators transforms scientists’ understanding of how small DNA circles — until recently dismissed as inconsequential — are major drivers of many types of human cancers.

The papers, published simultaneously in Nature on Nov. 6, detail the prevalence and prognostic impact of the circles, called ecDNA for extrachromosomal DNA, in nearly 15,000 human cancers; highlight a novel mode of inheritance that overthrows a fundamental law of genetics; and describe an anti-cancer therapy targeting the circles that is already in clinical trials.

The team, jointly known as eDyNAmiC, are a group of international experts led by professor of pathology Paul Mischel, MD. In 2022, Mischel and the eDyNAmiC team were awarded a $25 million grant from the Cancer Grand Challenges initiative to learn more about the circles. Cancer Grand Challenges, a research initiative co-founded by Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Institute in the United States, supports a global community of interdisciplinary, world-class research teams to take on cancer’s toughest challenges.

Nov 11, 2024

Infection Aftershock: COVID-19’s Long-Term Impact on Your Heart

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

New research indicates that people who contracted COVID-19 early in the pandemic faced a significantly elevated risk of heart attack, stroke, and death for up to three years post-infection.

Those with severe cases saw nearly quadruple the risk, especially in individuals with A, B, or AB blood types, while blood type O was associated with lower risk. This finding highlights long-term cardiovascular threats for COVID-19 patients and suggests that severe cases may need to be considered as a new cardiovascular risk factor. However, further studies on more diverse populations and vaccinated individuals are needed to validate these results.

Long-term cardiovascular risks linked to COVID-19 infection.

Nov 11, 2024

From Science Fiction to Reality: Simple Lens Swap Turns Ordinary Cameras Into Hyperspectral Devices

Posted by in categories: futurism, innovation

Scientists have created a compact spectral singlet lens that turns standard cameras into hyperspectral ones, reducing system size and complexity. This breakthrough could expand hyperspectral imaging into portable applications, with future improvements underway.

The information we gather shapes our understanding and perspectives of the world. For centuries, optics has sought to interpret the multidimensional data around us through the “toolbox” of light. In the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton introduced the lens imaging formula and conducted his famous color spectrum experiment, laying foundational insights in the field.

Since then, lenses and spectrometers have been extensively studied as essential optical components for capturing information. Cascading these two components can allow us to acquire more information – both spatial and spectral data. However, such a configuration leads to tradeoffs among device footprint, spectral resolution, and imaging quality, impeding portability and miniaturization of hyperspectral cameras.

Nov 11, 2024

Shocking New Memory Tech: Crystal-to-Glass Transformation Using a Billion Times Less Energy

Posted by in categories: computing, materials

A breakthrough discovery in indium selenide could revolutionize memory storage technology by enabling crystalline-to-glass transitions with minimal energy.

Researchers found that this transformation can occur through mechanical shocks induced by continuous electric current, bypassing the energy-intensive melting and quenching process. This new approach reduces energy consumption by a billion times, potentially enabling more efficient data storage devices.

Revolutionary discovery in memory storage materials.

Nov 11, 2024

Bitcoin Fog Founder Sentenced to 12 Years for Cryptocurrency Money Laundering

Posted by in categories: bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, economics

Bitcoin Fog founder sentenced to 12 years for laundering $400M in criminal proceeds using his darknet mixer.

Nov 11, 2024

AndroxGh0st Malware Integrates Mozi Botnet to Target IoT and Cloud Services

Posted by in categories: cybercrime/malcode, internet

The threat actors behind the AndroxGh0st malware are now exploiting a broader set of security flaws impacting various internet-facing applications, while also deploying the Mozi botnet malware.

“This botnet utilizes remote code execution and credential-stealing methods to maintain persistent access, leveraging unpatched vulnerabilities to infiltrate critical infrastructures,” CloudSEK said in a new report.

AndroxGh0st is the name given to a Python-based cloud attack tool that’s known for its targeting of Laravel applications with the goal of sensitive data pertaining to services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), SendGrid, and Twilio.

Nov 11, 2024

Hackers now use ZIP file concatenation to evade detection

Posted by in category: cybercrime/malcode

Hackers are targeting Windows machines using the ZIP file concatenation technique to deliver malicious payloads in compressed archives without security solutions detecting them.

The technique exploits the different methods ZIP parsers and archive managers handle concatenated ZIP files.

This new trend was spotted by Perception Point, who discovered a a concatentated ZIP archive hiding a trojan while analyzing a phishing attack that lured users with a fake shipping notice.

Nov 11, 2024

Google says “Enhanced protection” feature in Chrome now uses AI

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, security

Google has quietly updated the description of one of Chrome’s security features, “Enhanced protection,” to confirm that it will be powered by AI in a future release.

It’s unclear what has changed, but as spotted by Leo on X, Google is updating its Enhanced protection mode in Chrome’s Safe Browsing feature to include AI-powered protection.

This feature now uses AI to provide real-time protection against dangerous sites, downloads, and extensions.

Nov 11, 2024

Aliens Are Breaking the Laws of Physics to Visit Us on Earth, New Theory Claims

Posted by in categories: alien life, physics

If we take the mortal danger of the “Tic-Tac” UAP maneuvers literally, we need to believe that “these objects suggest a form of physics we have not yet discovered,” says one sci-fi writer.

Page 4 of 11,98212345678Last