Archive for September, 2020
Unusual Features of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome Suggesting Sophisticated Laboratory Modification Rather Than Natural Evolution and Delineation of Its Probable Synthetic Route
September 14th, 2020Via: Zenodo: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has led to over 910,000 deaths worldwide and unprecedented decimation of the global economy. Despite its tremendous impact, the origin of SARS-CoV-2 has remained mysterious and controversial. The natural origin theory, although widely accepted, lacks substantial support. The alternative theory that the virus may […]
Phosphine Detected In The Atmosphere of Venus
September 14th, 2020Via: Reuters: Scientists said on Monday they have detected in the harshly acidic clouds of Venus a gas called phosphine that indicates microbes may inhabit Earth’s inhospitable neighbor, a tantalizing sign of potential life beyond Earth. The researchers did not discover actual life forms, but noted that on Earth phosphine is produced by bacteria thriving […]
If You’re About to Build a PC…
September 14th, 2020I don’t do much PC hardware commentary, but if there was ever a time for it, this is it. If you follow computer news at all, you know that we’re in for an interesting couple of months. (Never mind the upcoming U.S. Presidential election disaster. *pfft*) Nvidia’s RTX 3000 series cards have been announced and […]
How Big Oil Misled The Public Into Believing Plastic Would Be Recycled
September 13th, 2020Via: NPR: Laura Leebrick, a manager at Rogue Disposal & Recycling in southern Oregon, is standing on the end of its landfill watching an avalanche of plastic trash pour out of a semitrailer: containers, bags, packaging, strawberry containers, yogurt cups. None of this plastic will be turned into new plastic things. All of it is […]
Nvidia Nears Deal to Buy Chip Designer Arm for More Than $40 Billion
September 12th, 2020Update: Immediate Hissy Fit Via: Reuters: Nvidia Corp’s $40 billion agreement to acquire Arm Ltd from SoftBank Group Corp is likely to meet strong opposition from Nvidia’s chip industry rivals, analysts say, with murmurs of protest emerging in South Korea and China within hours of the deal’s announcement. — Massive. Via: Reuters: Nvidia Corp is […]
COVID-911: From Homeland Security to Biosecurity
September 12th, 2020Via: Corbett Report: 9/11, as we were told repeatedly in the days, weeks, and months after the attack, was the day that changed everything. And now a new event has come along to once again throw the world into chaos. But whereas the post-9/11 era introduced America to the concept of homeland security, the COVID-19 […]
The COVID-19 Pandemic Keeps Proving Deadly to Liberty
September 12th, 2020Via: Reason: As the pandemic rages on, nominally free countries are sliding down a path blazed by authoritarian regimes. This week, the British government announced limits on gatherings of people who don’t live together to groups of no more than six. Although the restriction seriously attacks freedom of assembly, it barely raised an eyebrow in […]
Vinyl LPs Sell More Than CDs For The First Time In 3 Decades
September 10th, 2020Via: Synthtopia: Vinyl LPs are a more important physical format for music than CDs for the first time in more than 30 years, according to the latest revenue figures from the RIAA (pdf).
54 Percent of Americans Won’t Take COVID-19 Vaccine
September 10th, 2020Via: Axios: Only 14% of Americans think a coronavirus vaccine will be widely available before the November election, and even if it is, most Americans say they won’t take it, according to a new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Northrop Grumman Wins $13.3 Billion Contract To Build New ICBM
September 10th, 2020Via: ZeroHedge: Defense firm Northrop Grumman has announced it has landed a major defense contract to lead in developing America’s Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program. It won a whopping $13.3 billion Air Force contract to build the Pentagon’s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), crucial in nuclear deterrence. A Northrop Grumman press release said that a […]
