Revamped WeWork rises in Nasdaq debut

The office-sharing company WeWork made a strong Wall Street debut on Thursday, two years after a previous attempt disintegrated in spectacular fashion.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-revamped-wework-nasdaq-debut.html

Regulator seeks transparency for payment systems of big tech

In its first significant action under a new director, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is ordering Apple, Amazon, PayPal and other tech giants to reveal how their proprietary payment networks function.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-transparency-payment-big-tech.html

NTSB: Driver was behind wheel at time of Texas Tesla crash

A driver was behind the wheel when a Tesla electric car crashed and burned last April near Houston, killing two men, neither of whom was found in the driver's seat.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-ntsb-driver-wheel-texas-tesla.html

A technique to automatically generate hardware components for robotic systems

As robots become increasingly sophisticated and advanced, they will typically require a growing amount of hardware components, including robotic limbs, motors, sensors and actuators. In addition, robots have integrated computers that process data collected by their sensors and plan their future actions accordingly.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-technique-automatically-hardware-components-robotic.html

$1,000,000,000,000? Elon Musk could become the world's first trillionaire due to SpaceX

Elon Musk could become the world's first trillionaire, according to a prediction made by investment firm Morgan Stanley.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-elon-musk-world-trillionaire-due.html

100s more archaeological sites found on Mexico train route

Mexican experts said Thursday they have detected the ruins of almost 2,500 pre-Hispanic structures and 80 burial sites on just one-sixth of the route of the president's controversial "Maya Train" project on the Yucatan peninsula.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-100s-archaeological-sites-mexico-route.html

NASA launches tool that measures Western water loss

NASA on Thursday launched an online platform with information on how much water evaporates into the atmosphere from plants, soils and other surfaces in the U.S. West, data it says could help water managers, farmers and state officials better manage resources in the parched region.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-nasa-tool-western-loss.html

Amid air quality concerns, districts embrace electric buses

For several years, the Miami-Dade County Pubic Schools had toyed with replacing some of its 1,000 diesel buses with cleaner electric vehicles. But school leaders said the change would be too costly.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-air-quality-districts-embrace-electric.html

New Zealand sets 90% vaccine target to end lockdown

New Zealand set a 90-percent vaccination target Friday for scrapping lockdowns as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unveiled a plan to open up despite the stubborn grip of the Delta variant.

What is the 'delta plus' variant of the coronavirus?

What is the "delta plus" variant?

US intelligence services see security threat in climate change

US intelligence services said Thursday for the first time that climate change poses wide-ranging threats to the United States' national security and stability around the world.

As virus cases rise, so do pleas for Russians to get vaccine

As she stood in the courtyard of the morgue holding the body of her grandmother who died of COVID-19, Ramilya Shigalturina had a message for anyone still resisting vaccinations.

US seals agreement to end European digital taxes

The United States has resolved a key point of trade friction with Europe after inking a deal to end controversial digital services taxes on American tech giants.

US intelligence services see security threat in climate change

US intelligence services said Thursday for the first time that climate change poses wide-ranging threats to the United States' national security and stability around the world.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-intelligence-threat-climate.html

US seals agreement to end European digital taxes

The United States has resolved a key point of trade friction with Europe after inking a deal to end controversial digital services taxes on American tech giants.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-agreement-european-digital-taxes.html

Canada hospitals use drones to carry lungs for transplant

In the dark of night, a drone takes off from a Toronto hospital rooftop, the hum of its rotors barely audible over the bustling sounds of the cars and pedestrians below in Canada's largest metropolis.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-canada-hospitals-drones-lungs-transplant.html

Samsung SDI and Stellantis in vehicle battery deal

South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI will jointly produce electric vehicle batteries in the US with global carmaker Stellantis, the South Korean firm said Friday—its partner's second such deal in a week.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-10-samsung-sdi-stellantis-vehicle-battery.html

Shape-shifting materials with infinite possibilities

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a shape-shifting material that can take and hold any possible shape, paving the way for a new type of multifunctional material that could be used in a range of applications, from robotics and biotechnology to architecture.  

source https://phys.org/news/2021-10-shape-shifting-materials-infinite-possibilities.html

Canada hospitals use drones to carry lungs for transplant

In the dark of night, a drone takes off from a Toronto hospital rooftop, the hum of its rotors barely audible over the bustling sounds of the cars and pedestrians below in Canada's largest metropolis.

Samsung SDI and Stellantis in vehicle battery deal

South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI will jointly produce electric vehicle batteries in the US with global carmaker Stellantis, the South Korean firm said Friday—its partner's second such deal in a week.

Fat cells found to play a central role in cognitive decline and neurodegeneration

Findings published this week reveal new insights into the role of fat cells in cognitive decline and neurodegeneration, according to a study that involves the oxidant amplification loop led by Marshall University scientists.

Shape-shifting materials with infinite possibilities

Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a shape-shifting material that can take and hold any possible shape, paving the way for a new type of multifunctional material that could be used in a range of applications, from robotics and biotechnology to architecture.  

When and why did human brains decrease in size 3,000 years ago? Ants may hold clues

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Now, a new study has brought us closer to understanding some of its evolution. It shows that human brains decreased in size approximately 3,000 years ago. By studying ants as models to illustrate why brains may increase or decrease in size, the researchers hypothesize that brain shrinkage parallels the expansion of collective intelligence in human societies.