Governments

Dan Vergano: You’re listening to Scientific American’s Science, Quickly. I’m Dan Vergano.For the past decade, reports of UFO sightings have filled headlines and news broadcasts, and some of these have come from a surprising place: the Pentagon. Former defense officials have made a number of claims about, and released videos of, strange sightings made by military pilots.These days, the objects are officially called UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena).On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article,…

Carl Sagan popularized the maxim that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” This advice should not be optional for policy makers. In today’s world of misinformation, conspiracy driven decision-making and sensationalist-dominated governance, our capacity for rational, evidence-based critical thinking is eroding, with deleterious consequences for our ability to effectively deal with multiplying challenges of ever increasing complexity.As director of the Department of Defense’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution…

After a year of record-breaking wildfires across Canada and the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, it likely comes as no surprise that 2023 was the hottest year on record.According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), 2023 was 1.48 C warmer than the pre-industrial average from 1850-1900, beating out 2016's record of 1.25 C. Do you have a question about climate change and what is being done about it? Send an email to [email protected] As we continue to burn fossil fuels and pump greenhouse…

As It Happens6:31NASA moon mission delays are nothing to worry about, says astronaut Chris HadfieldRetired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield says that, from where he's sitting, the Artemis moon missions are coming along just fine.NASA announced Tuesday it is delaying two upcoming missions — including the flight meant to carry the first Canadian astronaut around the moon — due to technical issues with its spacecraft that could pose a danger to the crew.Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the moon in half a century, was…

A new report released by House Oversight Democrats revealed $7.3 million in payments from foreign governments to former President Donald Trump’s businesses and properties during the years he was in office. The bulk of the payments, to the tune of $5.6 million, came from China. “We know about only some of the payments that passed into former President Trump’s hands during just two years of his presidency, from just 20 of the more than 190 nations in the world, through just four of his more than 500 businesses,”…

Two of the biggest tech companies have confirmed the government and foreign agencies can spy on you using your smartphone. And they're likely helping.Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden wrote a letter to the Justice Department last Wednesday revealing unidentified foreign governments are asking Apple and Google for push notification data on you. That data can contain your personal information.CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER Phone…

By all accounts, the European Union’s AI Act seems like something that would make tech ethicists happy. The landmark artificial intelligence law, which enjoyed a huge legislative win this week, seeks to institute a broad regulatory framework that would tackle the harms posed by the new technology. In its current form, the law would go to some lengths to make AI more transparent, inclusive, and consumer-friendly in the countries where it’s in effect. What’s not to like, right?Zillow Says You’ll Buy Your Next House With……

Fuel poverty estimates mapped for 2010 (10 % indicator), 2015 (LIHC indicator) and 2019 (LILEE indicator). The maps in the bottom row show the percentage of fuel poor households in each Local Authority for the years indicated. The maps in the top row show the Local Authorities classified into deciles—effectively splitting the Local Authorities in the dataset into ten equal subsections, based on the proportion of fuel poor households in each area. Here…

US Senator Ron Wyden has said that foreign governments have been requesting push notification data from Google and…

Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google have been forced by foreign governments to provide users' data from notifications they get on their devices, according to a US lawmaker, drawing attention to a new privacy concern. In a letter published Wednesday, US Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon asked the Justice Department to allow the technology companies to discuss the practice publicly. The Democrat said the companies previously told him that the “practice is restricted from public release by the government.” The senator's letter…