Saturday 6 March 2021

Facebook enhances AI computer vision with SEER

At a time when many versions of AI rely on pre-established data sets for image recognition, Facebook has developed SEER (Self-supERvised) – a deep learning solution able to register images on the Internet independent of curated and labeled data sets.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-facebook-ai-vision-seer.html

Airline IT provider hacked, frequent flyer data breached

The hack of a company that manages ticket-processing and frequent-flier data for major global airlines—including Star Alliance and OneWorld members—has compromised the personal data of an unspecified number of travelers.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-airline-hacked-frequent-flyer-breached.html

Study marks major milestone for Louisiana coastal plan

A nearly $2 billion plan to divert water and sediment from the Mississippi River to rebuild land in southeastern Louisiana—considered the cornerstone of the state's efforts to protect its rapidly eroding coast—has passed a major milestone with the publication of the long-awaited Army Corps of Engineers environmental impact study.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-major-milestone-louisiana-coastal.html

US safety agency cites 'metal fatigue' in Boeing 777 incident

A key US safety regulator said Friday initial investigations confirm metal fatigue was a factor in last month's scare when a Boeing 777 engine caught fire and rained debris on houses below.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-safety-agency-cites-metal-fatigue.html

Flamingos poisoned by illegal lead pellets in Greek lagoon

On a country road that the locals have dubbed 'Flamingo Street' Stavros Kalpakis walks alongside the tall reeds of Agios Mamas, a small northern Greek lagoon, peering through binoculars.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-flamingos-poisoned-illegal-pellets-greek.html

Building networks not enough to expand rural broadband

Public grants to build rural broadband networks may not be sufficient to close the digital divide, new Cornell University research finds.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-networks-rural-broadband.html

With unfair police treatment, the tragedy is not limited to the incident itself

New research using a nationally representative sample of more than 12,000 participants shows the collateral consequences victims are likely to confront following unfair treatment by police.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-unfair-police-treatment-tragedy-limited.html

New 'split-drive' system puts scientists in the (gene) driver seat

Powerful new genetic engineering methods have given scientists the potential to revolutionize several sectors of global urgency.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-split-drive-scientists-gene-driver-seat.html

Deeper understanding of host-dependent long-distance movement of viruses in plants

Some plant viruses systemically infect plants and cause huge losses in yield though our understanding of how systemic infections occur is largely unknown. A new study from the College of Biological Sciences at China Agricultural University provides extends our understanding of how virus-host interaction determines the systemic spread of a virus in different plant hosts.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-deeper-host-dependent-long-distance-movement-viruses.html

Physics camp has proven benefits for high school girls

Even a small effort up front can boost the abilities and confidence of girls as they anticipate taking challenging science courses.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-physics-proven-benefits-high-school.html

NASA's new Mars rover hits dusty red road, 1st trip 21 feet

NASA's newest Mars rover hit the dusty red road this week, putting 21 feet on the odometer in its first test drive.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-03-nasa-mars-rover-dusty-red.html