Robot artist sells art for $688,888, now eyeing music career

Sophia is a robot of many talents—she speaks, jokes, sings and even makes art. In March, she caused a stir in the art world when a digital work she created as part of a collaboration was sold at an auction for $688,888 in the form of a non-fungible token (NFT).

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-robot-artist-art-eyeing-music.html

In apology, Amazon admits some drivers have to 'pee in bottles'

E-commerce giant Amazon has apologized to a US lawmaker after falsely denying that some of its drivers are forced at times to urinate in plastic bottles.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-amazon-drivers-pee-bottles.html

Data from 500 mn Facebook accounts posted online: reports

Data affecting more than 500 million Facebook users that was originally leaked in 2019, including email addresses and phone numbers, has been posted on an online hackers forum, according to media reports and a cybercrime expert.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-mn-facebook-accounts-online.html

In show of Pharaonic heritage, Egypt parades royal mummies

Egypt held a gala parade on Saturday celebrating the transport of 22 of its prized royal mummies from central Cairo to their new resting place in a massive new museum further south in the capital.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-pharaonic-heritage-egypt-parades-royal.html

Births among endangered right whales highest since 2015

North Atlantic right whales gave birth over the winter in greater numbers than scientists have seen since 2015, an encouraging sign for researchers who became alarmed three years ago when the critically endangered species produced no known offspring at all.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-births-endangered-whales-highest.html

Google to restrict which apps can view already installed applications on your device

Google has announced an update to its Developer Program Policy that will help to prevent applications from viewing which other apps are installed on an Android device. The company states that they consider installed apps to be private user information and therefore, aim to protect Android users by keeping this data secure.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-google-restrict-apps-view-applications.html

Apple patents force-sensitive input structure for electronic devices

Apple's MacBook team has announced the development of a force-sensitive input structure for electronic devices, recently approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-apple-patents-force-sensitive-electronic-devices.html

University of California victim of nationwide hack attack

The University of California is warning its students and staff that a ransomware group might have stolen and published their personal data and that of hundreds of other schools, government agencies and companies nationwide.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-university-california-victim-nationwide-hack.html

TikTok videos pushing QAnon, COVID vaccine conspiracies surging despite crackdown, report says

TikTok videos promoting QAnon and anti-vaccine conspiracies are surging in popularity despite a crackdown by the popular social media app, according to a new report shared exclusively with U.S. TODAY.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-tiktok-videos-qanon-covid-vaccine.html

April, the giraffe that became an online star, dies

April, the giraffe that became a sensation when a rural New York zoo livestreamed her 2017 pregnancy and delivery, was euthanized Friday because of advancing arthritis, the zoo said.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-april-giraffe-online-star-dies.html

Unopened Super Mario Bros. game from 1986 sells for $660,000

An unopened copy of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. that was bought in 1986 and then forgotten about in a desk drawer has sold at auction for $660,000.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-unopened-super-mario-bros-game.html

Piece of SpaceX rocket debris lands at Washington state farm

A piece of burning rocket debris seen streaking across the Pacific Northwest sky last week crashed on a farm in eastern Washington state, authorities said.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-04-piece-spacex-rocket-debris-washington.html

US lawmakers press online ad auctioneers over user data

A bipartisan group of US senators on Friday sent letters to major digital ad exchanges, including Google and Twitter, asking whether user data was sold to foreign entities who could use it for blackmail or other malicious ends.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-lawmakers-online-ad-auctioneers-user.html

LinkedIn gives staff week off for well-being

Professional social network LinkedIn is giving nearly all of its 15,900 full-time workers next week off as it seeks to avoid burnout and allow its employees to recharge, the company told AFP Friday.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-04-linkedin-staff-week-well-being.html