Technology Review Feed - TR Editors' blog

A Genetic Determinant of Biological Aging in Humans?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Researchers have found a genetic variant linked to the length of telomeres.

Some people may be genetically programmed to age at a faster rate, according to new research. Scientists have identified a genetic variant linked to the length of telomeres--a region of repetitive DNA that caps the chromosomes. Previous research has shown that telomeres shorten with age and are considered a marker of biological aging. The research was published this week in the journal Nature Genetics.

An Intelligent Software Assistant Debuts

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Siri

Last year, we selected the "intelligent software assistant" Siri as one of our top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2009.

A New Era of Football?

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Emphasis on preventing long-term brain injury has league executives changing policies.

On Sunday the National Football League holds its championship game, Super Bowl XLIV. It will be the first Super Bowl since the league acknowledged the link between mild head trauma--often caused by the game's rough style of play--and long-term brain damage, and overhauled its policies toward concussions. As many football fans may have noticed, players this season were more likely to remain on the bench than return to the field after a blow to the head, thanks to new rules forbidding them from playing after showing significant signs of concussion.

Why Weight Loss Is Easier at High Altitude

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Research suggests that high altitudes suppress appetite and increase metabolism.

Want to drop a few pounds on your next vacation? Head for the mountains, the taller the better.

High-Security Chip Cracked

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Researcher opens up a chip used in various devices.

Christopher Tarnovsky, who operates the California-based consulting firm Flylogic Engineering, must strike dread into the heart of anyone working on secure computer chips.

Get Paid to Install Malware

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Botnets are using affiliate programs to infect PCs.

Sites like Amazon offer affiliate programs that pay users for sending them new customers. And now, malware authors, always quick to adopt tactics that work elsewhere, have developed their own affiliate program, which was described in a talk given today at the Black Hat DC computer security conference in Washington, DC.

Steven Pinker Tests New Genetic Screen

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:00:00 GMT

The Harvard psychologist discovers a serious genetic risk factor.

Steven Pinker, a well-known psychologist and author, who has also become something of a scientific guinea pig, was one of the first people to take a new genetic screen that predicts an individual's risk for passing on more than 100 rare, inherited diseases. The test, developed by Counsyl, is now being offered to prospective parents. (To learn more about the test, check out this web story. )

Malleable Maps, Artistic Robots and Bubble Interfaces

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

An event showcases the intersection of design and technology.

The Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction (TEI '10) conference was held in Cambridge, MA, this week. Technologists and designers from around the world gathered to demonstrate projects exploring the blurring of physical and digital user interfaces. Here are some of the most interesting projects from the conference.

Why No Flash in the iPad?

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Apple may be shutting out Flash--and much of the Web--to protect the App Store.

When Apple revealed the iPad many people were quick to point out that, like the iPhone, it lacks support for Adobe's Flash software. It's a little shocking that a device Apple has billed as "the best way to experience Web, e-mail, and photos" doesn't support such a important and commonly used Web plug-in.

Will the iPad Kill the Kindle?

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

The price and specs suggest that Apple's device will offer stiff competition.

It's not yet clear whether the iPad will live up to the breathless excitement that surrounded its launch. But, from the specs alone, it clearly spells trouble for dedicated e-readers, particularly Amazon's larger version of the Kindle.

Apple Can't Keep Google Voice Off the iPhone

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:00:00 GMT

A new version of the software works through the phone's browser.

Google helped loosened Apple's tight control over the iPhone a little today by launching Google Voice as a Web app for both the iPhone and Palm OS.

Inventing the Future at EG'10

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Intellectual Ventures' unusual engineering projects highlighted at the annual EG meeting in Monterey.

Every year, an almost bizarrely eclectic group of entertainers, technologists, artists, musicians, authors, and general "big thinkers" assemble in Monterey, CA, for EG, the Entertainment Gathering. This year, I'm lucky to be joining them, and I came prepared for a long weekend of cool new ideas.

Decode Ditches Drug Development

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

The revamped version of the company will focus on genetic research and diagnostics.

The Icelandic genomics company DeCode announced details of its rebirth yesterday, most notably dropping its drug development efforts. The company, which has churned out a huge body of genetic research in the last decade--much of it published in high profile scientific journals--filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S late last year. The company has spent more than $600 million but never turned a profit.

YouTube to Offer Video Rentals

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The company is courting independent filmmakers for pay-per-view content.

Starting tomorrow, YouTube will offer video rentals, according to a post on the site's official blog. The first available content will be five films from the 2009 and 2010 Sundance Film Festivals, and they will be online until January 31.

Genetics Doesn't Help Predict Diabetes Risk

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

A comparative study shows that lifestyle factors are more effective.

A couple of years ago, spurred by a strong family history of diabetes and journalistic curiosity, I took one of the newly available genetic tests to asses my risk for the disease. The test assessed whether I carried a variant called TCF7L2, which was discovered by scientists at deCode in 2005--almost 20 percent of people with type 2 diabetes carry two copies of the high-risk version of the gene.

Scott Brown, Voter Databases, and Social Media

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

The DNC's vaunted voter databases failed to help Democrats on Election Day.

One of the great supposed achievements of the 2008 presidential race was that President Obama and the Democratic Party gained a formidable political weapon: the most detailed databases ever amassed on the views and voting habits of registered U.S. voters. Obama had deployed social technologies on a grand scale. And Democrats were said to be ahead of Republicans in deploying distributed volunteers to make Web-enabled phone-bank calls.

Company Plans to Give Away Open-Source Robots

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Willow Garage is giving away several self-charging, mobile robots to researchers.

Willow Garage, a California-based company that has long pushed for open-source personal robots, announced late last week that it will give about 10 of its PR2 Beta robots to researchers who propose interesting open-source projects. The PR2 is a wheeled robot that can autonomously navigate inside, open doors, and even plug itself in when it's low on power.

Digital Mapmakers Help Haitian Rescue Efforts

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

A website has been working to map and verify information in Haiti.

Minutes after the earthquake hit Haiti on Tuesday night, a project called Ushahidi set to work. Ushahidi adds points of information to a map of Haiti: makeshift hospitals, locations of survivors and people still trapped and reports of unstable bridges.

Internet Explorer Flaw Implicated in Chinese Attacks

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

A bug in the browser was a key part of recent attacks by Chinese hackers.

George Kurtz, CTO of McAfee Security, revealed new details of the recent attack on Google and other companies in a blog post this afternoon. A "zero-day" bug--a previously undiscovered vulnerability--in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser seems to have been a key part of the attack.

Texting, Tweeting, and Crowd-Sourcing Help Haitian Earthquake Efforts

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:00:00 GMT

As donation information spreads, users are warned to be cautious of scams.