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Quantum holds the key to secure conference calls

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have demonstrated the first quantum-secure conversation between four parties simultaneously, using Quantum Key Distribution and multi-party entanglement to share keys securely. This breakthrough has potential to drastically reduce resource costs for conference calls in quantum networks.

SourceHeriot-Watt University·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 6, 2021

Overcoming tab overload

A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers has developed a new extension called Skeema, which helps users group their browser tabs into tasks and organize, prioritize, and switch between them. This tool addresses the issue of tab overload and improves online productivity by merging tab management and task management in a browser.

Restricting internet searches causes stock market instability: study

A new study published in the Journal of Financial Economics found that restricting internet searches for investors can lead to increased stock market instability. The research, conducted by RMIT University, discovered that firms regularly searched on Google were 19% more unstable after Google's withdrawal from mainland China in 2010.

SourceRMIT University·JournalJournal of Financial Economics·DateApr 28, 2021

Internet trends suggest COVID-19 spurred a return to earlier values and activities

During COVID-19, internet trends revealed a surge in community-oriented values, with words like 'help' and 'sacrifice' increasing on Twitter. The pandemic also inspired people to adopt basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter, as seen in Google searches for terms like 'grow vegetables' and 'sewing machine'.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalHuman Behavior and Emerging Technologies·DateFeb 18, 2021

Citizens versus the internet

The article highlights four major challenges in the online world: manipulative choice architectures, personalized information, false and misleading information, and distracting environments. To address these challenges, researchers propose interventions such as boosting tools, self-nudging, and media literacy education.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Development·JournalPsychological Science in the Public Interest·DateFeb 12, 2021

Digital health divide runs deep in older racial and ethnic minorities

A study by Florida Atlantic University found a deep digital health divide among older adults of African American, Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic American, and European American backgrounds. Factors contributing to this disparity include age, education level, income, and ethnic group affiliation. The researchers emphasize the need for univers...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·DateFeb 3, 2021

How the spread of the internet is changing migration

A study of over 150 countries links Internet penetration with migration intentions and behaviours, suggesting that digital connectivity plays a key role in shaping migration decisions. The association between Internet use and intention to migrate is stronger among women and those with less education, particularly for economic migrants.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPopulation and Development Review·DateDec 16, 2020

Chicago neighborhoods with barriers to social distancing had higher COVID-19 death rates

A new study found that Chicago neighborhoods with limited internet access and low health insurance coverage had higher COVID-19 death rates. Neighborhoods with high rates of COVID-19 mortality were often characterized by social vulnerability factors such as low educational attainment and high percentages of Hispanic/Latino residents.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalAnnals of Epidemiology·DateDec 3, 2020

Corporations directing our attention online more than we realize

A new study by University of Illinois researchers Harsh Taneja and Angela Xiao Wu found that corporations use 'nudging' techniques to influence online attention, often in hidden ways. The researchers analyzed clickstream data from a million people and identified common clusters of websites that reflect corporate ownership, partnerships...

Millions, in record numbers, seek police reforms

A new study reveals that millions of people in the US have searched for information on Google regarding police reform, with searches increasing by over 150-fold in the days following George Floyd's death. The study found that specific reform topics such as police union reform and training had high search volumes across all states.

SourceElevated Science Communications·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateOct 21, 2020

Securing the internet

Researchers studied AS interdependence, peering relationships, and cybersecurity threats. They found that organisations can't control their partners' choices, increasing the attack surface. However, some connections can reduce security threats by facilitating information sharing. Education and awareness are key to improving cybersecuri...

A novel strategy for quickly identifying twitter trolls

A novel strategy for quickly identifying Twitter trolls uses linguistic features, including repeated words and word pairs, to distinguish between genuine and deceptive messages. The algorithm requires as few as 50 tweets for accurate identification, offering a potential tool for combating hybrid warfare while preserving freedom of speech.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 12, 2020

ACM SIGCOMM underscores importance of communications technologies that keep daily life functioning

The ACM SIGCOMM conference emphasizes the importance of communications technologies in maintaining daily life. The virtual event showcases research papers on various topics, including programmable switches and video applications. Keynote speakers are recognized for their contributions to data network architectures, and the conference a...

Plate tectonics goes global

Researchers discovered evidence of ancient subduction in China and six other continents, revealing that plate tectonics went global 2 billion years ago. This finding provides the first global evidence for the operation of plate tectonics at this age.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalJournal of Mathematical Sciences Advances and Applications·DateAug 5, 2020