Imminent arrival of InSight probe on Mars

On Sunday, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) near Los Angelewas preparing, to make the final course adjustments to maneuver the landing gear and allow it to land on Monday on the red planet. If all goes according to plan, InSight, which completes a journey…

Privacy: beware of smart toys for kids

Smart toys connected to the Internet can be fascinating, but they are not without risk, warns Option consommateurs as the holiday season approaches. The organization devoted to consumer protection has just completed a research report, unveiled on Tuesday, entitled “Children under listening: the protection of…

“Old” algorithm beats modern StarCraft opponents

An algorithm created from old artificial intelligence methods triumphed against other technically more advanced programs last weekend at a StarCraft competition in Edmonton. Despite recent advances in artificial intelligence, the “old” SAIDA has demonstrated its relevance by winning 95.91% of its 2590 matches of StarCraft: Brood War . This…

Danger in Colgate toothpaste chemical?

In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved triclosan for use in Colgate Total toothpaste. Its purpose was to help prevent gum disease. A Freedom of Information Act request from the National Resources Defense Council just resulted in the release of FDA documents in…

Amateurs Find 42 New Planets

A volunteer group of amateur astronomers claims to have discovered 42 new planets. The aptly named Planet Hunters sifted through the data captured by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope. The discovery includes as many as 15 planets that are orbiting in the “Goldilocks” or habitable zone…

the color purple is an indication of extraterrestrial life

Astronomers use the color reflected by the surface of an exoplanet to assess their chances of sheltering life. The pale blue hue of the Earth is the most sought after. Scientists who have studied the distant past of our planet suggest that another, rather unusual,…