Geneticists have assembled the largest sets of African genomic data available to date, creating a resource that will help researchers understand the genetic structure of Africa as well as the effects of genetic variation on protein function and disease. The findings underscore the importance of including globally diverse participant cohorts in genetics research.
Saudi Arabia reportedly groomed Twitter employee to spy on user accounts
On Saturday, The New York Times published a report detailing Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat dissent on platforms like Twitter, such as slain US journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was subjected to intense and personal attacks online before his death. As part of those efforts, the kingdom’s reportedly worked to groom a Twitter employee to spy on user accounts.
According to the Times, western intelligence officials contacted the social media company, saying that the Saudi government was “grooming” one of its employees, Ali Alzabarah, “to spy on the accounts of dissidents and others.” Alzabarah worked at Twitter beginning in 2013 as an engineer with access to user accounts, and was convinced by Saudi intelligence officials to look into…
9 new trailers you should watch this week
So I finally made it back to theaters to go see First Man, the Neil Armstrong biopic from La La Land director Damien Chazelle. Like my colleague Bryan Bishop wrote, I think the film gets a little stuffed up by Armstrong’s stoicism, preventing us from getting too close to him. But that being said, the reason the film stands out at all is because of the way it tries so hard to dive into his character.
Everyone knows the events of the moon landing, at least generally enough. So instead of worrying about telling that beats of the story in excruciating, inspiring detail, the film gets to hone in on what Armstrong and others around him — his wife, his kids, his colleagues — are all feeling as this daring journey rockets along.
It makes the…
Hackers accessed records of 75,000 people in government health insurance system breach
Hackers breached a government healthcare system earlier this week, compromising the personal data for 75,000 individuals, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (via TechCrunch). The data was taken through a system used by insurance agents and brokers.
The CMS says that on October 13th, it detected “anomalous activity in the Federally Facilitated Exchanges, or FFE’s Direct Enrollment pathway for agents and brokers,” a system used by agents and brokers to help people applying for health insurance. CMS says that “approximately 75,000 individuals’ files were accessed,” and that after the breach was verified on the 16th, it took steps to secure the system.
The center says that it shut down the Direct Enrollment system…
It’s your last chance to get a free copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 in the latest PS4 Pro bundle
The busy product launch season is beginning to wind down, though we’re still expecting big news for both the iPad and Mac lineup out of Apple’s October 30th event in Brooklyn. In terms of what’s next, Black Friday and Cyber Monday will present an opportunity to buy a lot of this year’s best tech at a rare discount. We’re not there quite yet, but there are a few deals that are worth checking out in the meantime.
Not without its share of prerelease controversy, Red Dead Redemption 2 will release next Friday, October 26th, and if you haven’t yet purchased a console to play it on, this is your last chance to buy the PS4 Pro bundle that includes the game for free.
Tesla stopped promoting the ‘Full Self-Driving’ option for its cars
Tesla has pulled a long-standing promise of a “Full Self-Driving” option for its cars from the order page on the company’s website.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, said on Twitter that the option will be temporarily available “off menu,” much like Animal Style fries at an In-N-Out burger joint. It will quickly leave the secret menu, though, and won’t come back until the company is ready to roll it out. The Full Self-Driving option was “causing too much confusion” for customers to justify keeping it front and center, he said. The company declined to comment.
Three years ago, Musk claimed that Tesla’s vehicles would be ready and able to completely drive themselves without any…
Android’s new multitasking is terrible and should be changed back
On its surface, Google’s new approach to switching between apps looks a whole lot like the one Apple introduced with the iPhone X. It relies on swipes and shares two of the same fundamental gestures: one swipe up from the bottom…
Dungeons & Dragons Art Is Finally Getting the Respect It Deserves
It’s no longer just valued in game stores and comics shops.
Apple Data Downloads, A Dating App for Trump Fans, and More Security News This Week
North Korean bitcoin theft, Fake FCC complaints, and more security news this week.
Photo Gallery: Pulsars Beam Like Lighthouses in the Cosmos
Their spin rate is so consistent that people who navigate spacecraft around our solar system use them as mile markers to know exactly where they are.