A host of Instagram users were logged out of the app earlier today, causing varying degrees of panic that their accounts had been hacked. Fret not! It turns out that no one was hacked, but rather a bug was the culprit. Users reported being logged out…
Technical
The creators of ‘The Martian’ and ‘XKCD’ will chat live on Facebook today
It's been a big year for Andy Weir, author of acclaimed sci-fi novel The Martian. His bestselling book — originally published serially for free on his personal website — was turned into a similarly excellent movie starring Matt Damon and Jessica Ch…
VTech’s data breach includes children’s photos and chat logs
News of VTech's data breach affecting nearly 5 million customers first broke last week, and now it appears other kinds of info were easily accessible to hackers. Motherboard reports that the company kept photos of parents and children alongside "a ye…
Researchers confirm Humpty Dumpty really can’t be put together again
Researchers at the Federal University of ABC, in Brazil, have made a major breakthrough: they've confirmed that thermodynamic processes cannot be reversed, even in a quantum system. This revelation not only explains a fundamental aspect of our univer…
Mind-controlled robot gives the disabled a taste of home
Brain-controlled robot limbs have already helped the disabled gain some mobility, but full-fledged robots have proven elusive: how do you use thoughts to steer a free-roaming machine? Swiss researchers think they have the answer. They've developed…
TiVo’s QuickMode viewing feature hits all Roamio DVRs
Tivo's QuickMode option, which lets you speed up recorded shows with pitch-corrected audio, is available on every Roamio DVR as of today. The feature arrived last week for the TiVo Bolt, the company's latest set-top box, but it is now officially expa…
Amazon and Jeremy Clarkson hint at the future of delivery drones
Former Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson isn't just working on a new motoring show for Amazon… he's helping the internet giant pitch its vision for delivery drones, too. Amazon has unveiled a splashy new Prime Air ad where Clarkson shows off a new,…
VW reportedly knew its fuel economy figures were wrong a year ago
If one report is accurate, Volkswagen execs didn't just know that their cars' emission estimates were fishy — they knew the fuel efficiency figures were off, too. German newspaper Bild claims that top brass was aware of misleading fuel economy estim…
Ben Heck’s controller mods tutorial
For a while now Ben and Felix have been making and selling single handed accessibility controllers. In this episode Ben will tear down the XBox One gamepad and show you how to do mods of your own, from the pin-outs to the connections for the directio…
The Coin universal card is ready for 2012
If your wallet is bursting at the seams with credit, gift and loyalty plastic, the Coin universal card is supposed to lighten the load. Just add all your information to the app, sync it with Coin and get ready to buy all the things with a swipe or an…
Bill Gates is launching a multibillion-dollar clean energy fund
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is set to reveal a massive clean energy project on Monday, during the first day of the United Nations climate change summit in Paris. According to Reuters, which originally reported the news, the French government has…
Lenovo teams with Razer on gaming PCs
When you think of gaming PCs, Lenovo probably isn't your first choice. It has gaming PCs, but it's often far more tempting to either go with a game-centric brand or build a system yourself. Lenovo may have a way to improve its reputation, though. It'…
Stretchable square of rubber doubles as a keyboard
There's a whole branch of science that's dedicated to turning flexible surfaces into sensors that can be used as an artificial substitute for skin. These materials could then be used to give robots a sense of touch, or even to restore feeling for peo…
6 hypermiling cars that get over 100 miles per gallon
By Cat DiStasioFuel efficiency is one rating that can really set a car apart from the pack. Although you can't yet walk into just any dealership and drive away in a vehicle that gets more than 100 miles a gallon, there are some sweet rides out there…
Valve’s Gabe Newell is backing a smart sous vide cooking tool
Valve founder Gabe Newell isn't just interested in gaming technology, like living room computers and virtual reality — he also appreciates the science behind a well-prepared meal, too. The legendary game developer has poured money into ChefSteps to…