US government defunds research on misinformation

Disinformation can be especially prevalent on social media sites Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has terminated government research grants for studying misinformation and disinformation. The defunding comes at a time when propaganda and scams fuelled by the latest artificial intelligence technologies are flooding social media networks, and tech companies…

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One half of the moon is hotter than the other

A map showing anomalies in the moon’s gravitational field, based on data from NASA’s GRAIL mission NASA/JPL-Caltech/MIT/GSFC Earth’s gravitational pull on the moon has revealed that our satellite’s interior is warmer on its near side, the one facing our planet, suggesting its insides are uneven. We have known that the moon’s near side looks different…

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How nitrous oxide became a deadly – but legal

Nitrous oxide – known colloquially as “laughing gas” – has many uses, from a painkiller during dental procedures to a whipping agent for canned whipped cream. While its euphoric side effects have long been known, the rise of vaping has helped create a perfect delivery vehicle for the gas – and a perfect recipe for…

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Largest all-electric flying machine begins sea trials

The seaglider hybrid vehicle begins sea trials in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island Amory Ross / REGENT An all-electric “seaglider” that can transition between floating and flying has begun sea trials in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The tests are a prelude to the vehicle’s first crewed flights, scheduled for later this year, which would make it…

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