The human innate immune system is capable of detecting all pathogens quickly, sensitively and effectively. It does this by selectively recognizing and binding to pathogen-specific biomarkers—or bacterial calling cards—via a suite of immune receptors. However, it isn’t always capable of fighting off every bacterial infection on its own. Modern medicine can come to the rescue, but only if doctors know what to treat for. Current point-of-care detection technologies are largely…
Read MoreApple’s Angela Ahrendts Passes Retail Baton To HR Head Deirdre O’Brien
Angela Ahrendts, who left her CEO spot at Burberry five years ago to stabilize Apple’s rudderless retail business, has handed the retail reins to the company’s human resources chief Deirdre O’Brien. Ahrendts will leave the company in April “for new personal and professional pursuits,” Apple said. The fashion industry veteran came on board in 2013 to help fill a vacuum left by Ron Johnson, the former Target merchant who is credited with creating…
Read MoreComputer Chip Vulnerabilities Discovered
A Washington State University research team has uncovered significant and previously unknown vulnerabilities in high-performance computer chips that could lead to failures in modern electronics. The researchers found they could damage the on chip communications system and shorten the lifetime of the whole computer chip significantly by deliberately adding malicious workload. They have been working to understand the vulnerabilities of computer chips as a way to prevent malicious attacks on…
Read MoreSSL Pulls the Plug on DARPA’s Robotic Servicing Program
Maxar Technologies SSL has exercised their right to terminate participation in the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), citing a need to focus its resources on ensuring optimal returns when weighed against other capital priorities, such as WorldView Legion. SSL has notified DARPA that it has decided to discontinue its participation in RSGS, an option available at this time under the terms of the Other Transaction Agreement between…
Read MoreGraphene, Silicon Combo Could be Key to Next-Gen Lithium-Ion Batteries
Researchers have long been investigating the use of silicon in lithium-ion batteries, as it has the potential to greatly increase storage capacity compared to graphite, the material used in most conventional lithium-ion batteries. By some estimates, silicon could boast a lithium storage capacity of 4,200 mAh/g—11 times that of graphite. However, despite its benefits, silicon comes with its own challenges. “When you store a lot of lithium ion into your…
Read MoreBlue Origin Breaks Ground for New Rocket Engine Facility in Huntsville, Alabama, and 300 New Jobs
Blue Origin handed out the shovels and then hosted an official groundbreaking ceremony for its rocket engine production facility on Friday in Huntsville, Alabama. Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine is the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled rocket engine ever developed. The plant will be built on 46 acres at the corner of Explorer Boulevard and Pegasus Drive in Cummings Research Park. The project includes more than 300 new jobs. Bob…
Read MoreComing to a TV near you: personalized ads
The hottest new trend in TV tech is “addressable” ads, or TV ads that can be targeted to specific households via user data. By the end of this year, almost every major TV network and provider will have rolled out their version of an addressable ad product. Why it matters: It’s a huge departure from the way TV ads have been bought and sold for decades. Struggling networks hope personalized ads…
Read MoreBoeing Flying Car Prototype Completes First Test Flight
Boeing said on Jan. 23 that its prototype “flying car” — part of a project aimed at “on-demand autonomous air transportation” — has completed its first successful test flight. The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft said the test was carried out on Jan. 22 outside Washington, D.C. Boeing is among a handful of companies in the United States and around the world — including Uber and a startup…
Read MoreMicrosoft recommends switching to iPhone or Android as it prepares to kill off Windows phones
Microsoft is planning to end support for the Windows phone it once championed as a potential iPhone, BlackBerry and Galaxy killer. On Friday, the tech giant announced that anyone who still uses its Windows 10 mobile platform — once called Windows Phone — should switch over to an iPhone or an Android phone. A change to the Windows 10 Mobile support page was first spotted by Thurrott, a site that…
Read MoreDisney lost more than $1B last year because of Hulu and BAMTech
Disney is planning a splashy debut for its branded streaming video service launching later this year. But the current reality of Disney’s push into streaming is marked by some massive financial losses. The company submitted a new 8K filing with the SEC to provide financial information regarding its recently formed Direct-to-Consumer and International business segment. For the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2018, both Hulu and BAMTech helped contribute…
Read More