JPL: Brown Dwarfs Closer Than First Thought
Artist’s rendering of size comparisons.
Astronomers have hunted the skies for Y dwarfs, the coldest members of the brown dwarf family, without success until data from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer revealed the faint glow of six such orbs within a distance of 40 light years from our sun. Unlike stars that burn steadily for billions of years, Y dwarfs fade and cool due to their low mass and inability to fuse atoms at their cores. These dwarfs hold a temperature about the same as a human body.
Astronomers study brown dwarfs in order to Read more…
5 Unexpected Places You Can Be Tracked With Facial Recognition Technology
Once people realized that Facebook was basically harvesting biometric data, the usual uproar over the site’s relentless corrosion of privacy ensued. Germany even threatened to sue Facebook for violating German and EU data protection laws and a few other countries are investigating. But facial recognition technology is hardly confined to Facebook — and unlike the social networking site, there’s no “opt-out” of leaving your house.
Post-9/11, many airports and Read more…
Climate change to worsen childhood asthma
“Our study shows that these assessment models are Read more…
Sept. 11 rescuers deserve to know the whole truth
Many of us read with both astonishment and anger recently that 90,000 firefighters, peace officers, construction workers and volunteers — including those who ran toward the burning buildings during the Sept. 11 attack to rescue survivors — will not be allowed at the 10-year Ground Zero Commemoration. Of course, presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush will be present to make big speeches in front of the cameras, as will politicians from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Worse, according to the Huffington Post, emergency responders who do not go through a terrorism background check would be denied treatment for cancer and other ailments under the James Zadroga 9/11 Health And Compensation Law.
“It’s comical at best, and I think it’s an insult to Read more…
Nigerian flooding claims 102 lives: Red Cross
LAGOS — At least 102 people were killed when a dam burst in torrential rain and flooding in southwest Nigeria, a local Red Cross official told AFP Wednesday.
“The death toll for now… is 102,” said Umar Mairiga, disaster management coordinator for the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
He said the Eleyele dam collapsed and several bridges were swept away at the weekend after heavy rains fell for more than seven Read more…
IMF sees 200 billion euro capital gap at European banks
BRUSSELS — The International Monetary Fund has estimated European banks could face a capital shortfall of 200 billion euros (US$287 billion), a European source said on Wednesday.
The figure has prompted a fierce response from European officials who said the analysis was misleading, according to the Financial Times.
The newspaper, citing two officials, said the 200 billion euro figure was one estimate of the impact of marking sovereign bonds to market.
The IMF will Read more…
Germany introduces biometric cards for foreigners
In a bid to prevent identity fraud, Germany is digitalizing its residence permits for non-EU citizens. Instead of a paper document, they’ll be given a new biometric chip card – shaped like a credit card.
The new cards are based on German identity cards
From Thursday, September 1, non-EU citizens living in Germany will be given electronic chip cards in place of their existing paper residence permits.
The cards will contain a biometric photo and two fingerprints. Cardholders will also be given an individual PIN code. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees claims storing such biometric data will help prevent identity theft.
But, at a cost of 110 euros ($159) each, the new cards won’t come cheap. The special chip containing the data is manufactured at the Berlin-based Federal Printing Office. The cards – like Read more…
Is The Number Of Earthquakes Increasing? Why The 5.8 Virginia Earthquake Might Just Be A Preview Of Things To Come
Is the number of earthquakes increasing? Are major earthquakes becoming more frequent? In the aftermath of the magnitude-5.8 earthquake in Virginia, a whole lot of people are asking those questions. All over the mainstream media, “experts” are coming on and assuring the public that all of this is “normal” and that the number of earthquakes is not actually increasing. The USGS continues to insist that the frequency of major earthquakes has been “fairly constant” and that there is no reason for alarm. But is that really the truth? In this article, you will be presented with evidence that the number of earthquakes is definitely increasing. Please approach the evidence with an open mind. The truth is that this year we are on pace to have more than twice Read more…
9/11: Chemical Engineer Mark Basile Found Nanothermite in WTC Dust
Expert warns facial biometrics could compromise privacy
As facial biometric technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous, IT experts warn that these systems can easily be abused and therefore require stringent privacy policies and data encryption
As facial biometric technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous, IT experts warn that these systems can easily be abused and therefore require stringent privacy policies and data encryption.
In an interview with Information Security Media Group, Beth Givens, the founder and director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, cautioned that organizations using biometric facial solutions should encrypt their data.
“If they back up those applications with good, solid privacy policies and practices, they’ll be in good shape,” she said.
Givens explained that a major problem with facial recognition technology is the chance that Read more…
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