Humans could live up to 150 years

Big Data, General, Health, Science, Social Issues

The human lifespan has never been longer around the world. The average human lifespan is now 79 years, a significant increase compared to the 30 or 40 years you would have got only a century ago. Now however, new research has shown that humans could live up to a staggering 150 years. For those with a fear of ageing or desire for mortality, the research is interesting asit caps the ability of the human body and mind to pass the century and a half mark. 

It used to be that turning 100 years old got a telegram from the Queen of England herself. These days however, more people are turning into centurions than ever before. While just over 20,000 people made it to their hundred birthdays in the 1950s, that figure has grown to over 100,000 people as we enter the 21st century. With the monumental increase in the number of people turning 100 each year, the traditional birthday telegram has been postponed until the receiver reaches 105 years old. 

The mystery of whether it is ever possible to avoid death has now reached a conclusion. Researchers from the Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development have understood from their studies that the human lifespan cannot exceed that of 150 years. One researcher described the impetus for the study: “the question of ‘What’s the longest life that could be lived by a human complex system if everything else went really well, and it’s in a stressor-free environment?’”

By removing stressor factors and ensuring the health and wellbeing of the human, researchers suggest the human lifespan could be extended for roughly another 70 years – nearly doubling the current lifespan of the average human. With fewer stressors they argued that the human’s metabolic ability to renew and regenerate healthy cell tissue is improved, and thus lifespan is too.

Denmark helps the USA to spy on Merkle via undersea comms cable

Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Business, Communications, Countries, Data Management & Networks, Digital Systems Technology, Europe, Government, Regulation News, Technology, USA

Denmark is not the first country you would usually think of when naming countries likely to be involved in underhand spying affairs, but recent revelations prove otherwise. The nation’s sweet image as one of our friendlier Scandanavian countries with happy people and high standards of living has been abruptly smashed in the global media sphere this week. Recent reports have accused Denmark of collaborating with the United States of America (USA) in order to help spy on European leaders, specifically Germany’s Angela Merkel. 

The National Security Agency (NSA) of the USA is well known for its meddling in spying, politics and international affairs. Edward Snowden famously revealed leaks that proved the NSA was spying on American citizens via their mobile phones and computer microphones and webcams. The story broke and left Snowden being persecuted continually by the NSA to this day. In its goal to ‘defend vital networks’ and ‘save lives’, the NSA takes action through proactive moves to monitor political leaders around the world and follow international geopolitical affairs. 

France and Germany are just some of the bigger European countries to come out and demand answers from Denmark as to the claims made on Danish Public Television in late May 2021. The broadcast focused on the report, commissioned in 2013, that was to investigate Denmark’s role in NSA monitoring of phone calls and other media from Merkle and other European leaders. The report says Denmark acted as an outpost for the US, from which they could wiretap their chosen subjects. It accuses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (DDIS) of collaborating with the US based NSA. 
The NSA used cables running under the Danish sea to wiretap the phones of those included in their investigations. The risk of ill-favoured public opinion for the moves seems to have been worth the risk by the Danish authorities, who are believed to prize the political cooperation of the US global power more than the affections of European citizens.

Cuba develops its own coronavirus vaccine

Business, China, Countries, Health, North America, Regions, Science, Social Issues

Ever since the start of the coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic way back in December 2021, the world has been waiting on tenterhooks for a vaccine solution to its viral problems. During the pandemic the World Health Organisation (WHO) has repeatedly called for more developed countries to share vaccine doses with their lower income counterparts, but the call has for the most part landed on deaf ears. 

As inequality seems on the rise around the world, it’s no surprise then that countries are keen to develop their own solution to the COVID-19 pandemic problem. While countries usually seen at the forefront of science and medicine such as the UK, Germany and the USA were quick to develop and distribute their own vaccine concoctions internationally, other countries with high population numbers such as India and China quickly followed behind in their vaccine development programmes. 

The hunt for a vaccine has gone better and worse for some, with various vaccines being clinically tested at any one time. The Pfizer vaccine from the UK is one variation that caused global concern after it was linked to an increased chance of blood clots leading to death. With much conflicting information in circulation, many governments decided to stop use of the vaccine despite the increased risk of blood clots coming from getting the coronavirus itself. 

A slow uptake in vaccines and overall vaccine hesitancy as a result of such incidences, as well as a growing concern from anti-vaxxers over the years that linked vaccines to autism in children, has caused a range of problems. From vaccine doses going to waste to a disastrous second wave in India, coronavirus continues to rage on around the world. 

Cuba subsequently has been the latest country to develop its own vaccine. The Soberana 2 vaccine is currently in Phase 3 trials in Cuba and looks to be the country’s best hope at getting vaccinated so far. 

What is shadow banning?

Main

Shadow banning is a slowly evolving trend on the internet of social media platforms using algorithmic data to block certain users without fully banning them. The practice is also known as stealth banning or comment ghosting and has been around in different forms since the 80s, but most noticeably entered the public sphere recently during the 2018 elections. During the campaign season, conspiracy theorists voiced their belief that Twitter had been shadow banning Republicans. Accusations were never proven but the event was just the latest in a long line of incidents where users are subjected to unfair regulation from their platform provider. 

Robert Walsh is one tech developer who describes the process in his book ‘Micro-ISV: From Vision to Reality’: “Say a spammer posts to your board and then they come back to check if it’s still there, and they see it—to them it’s still there—but no one else sees it, so they’re not bothered by it.”

For most people the practice is most noticeable on sites like Instagram, where certain users’ posts may not show up despite using a certain hashtag. The motive behind the actions seems mainly to be a ploy from the platform to discourage problematic users from continuing their posting. It can also be a way to limit the reach of troll or spam accounts by discouraging them from using the site or creating any new accounts. 

Whilst it may be surprising to hear of US based sites and apps such as Twitter and Instagram taking part in shadow banning activities, it’s less of a shock to hear Chinese social media platform WeChat has also been accused of such behaviour. The popular social media site services a large amount of the Chinese population with their communication and online shopping needs. The company came under scrutiny in 2016 however when it was realised that key words relating to sensitive issues and topics were failing to appear in any related searches by users.

Key trends in cybersecurity 2021

Business, Communications, Data Management & Networks, General, Software, Technology

Since the birth of the digital age in the late 20th century, cybersecurity has been a growing trend. The term ‘hacker’ first emerged in the late 1960s and first referred to an individual disrupting telephone communication systems at the time. The cyberpunk image of a hacker we are more familiar now came a little later in the 20th century as computers became more widespread. Hackers became known as ‘technological hackers’ before the ubiquity of computer technology meant the prefix ‘technological’ was dropped entirely. 

These days the majority of us internet users are familiar with icons in our browser such as the padlock to demonstrate a site is secure. Banks and other businesses with transaction needs that have moved online are at the forefront of protecting our digital data with multiple security checks for users to log in or make a purchase. 

With the ongoing global crises of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no surprise to hear that an estimated 83% of enterprises worked on improving their cybersecurity last year. With more people stuck inside due to coronavirus social distancing lockdown restrictions, more of us than ever looked for retail therapy and safety from outdoors by shopping online. For businesses receiving this increase in users and customers, cybersecurity remains a key focus point for ensuring a successful online future for their endeavours to grow. 

  1. Work online platforms 

Moving to secure platforms to communicate with a workforce that has been staying at home has been a crucial step for many businesses to take. Platforms such as Asana and other online team management software allows for efficient and reliable communications between employer and employees. 

  1. Employee cybersecurity training

Following a workforce that has been working remotely more than ever this past year has come with its own challenges alongside a global pandemic. As a result, employers have been more keen than ever to make sure their staff have sufficient training in all online and digital protocols.

Tom Cruise deep fake goes viral

Artificial Intelligence, Communications, Social Media

Tom Cruise has surprised everyone by going viral online recently – most of all Tom Cruise himself! In a bizarre twist of events, videos of the famous celebrity acting star emerged of him perfecting his golf swing, telling strange stories and even doing magic tricks. And yet it turned out to be a hoax! The videos all came from a single TikTok account playfully called @deeptomcruise, which turned out to be a project set up to raise awareness for the potential of deep fakes. 

Deep fakes have been around in technology since the early 1990s and the beginning of computers. Deepfakes as we know them now however have only begun to expand their reach in the last few years. It wasn’t until 2018 even that deep fake technology moved away from its previous focus on the face and into translating full body movements. 

It was a manipulation of Jimmy Falon’s 2016 Donald Trump sketch on NBC’s The Tonight Show in 2019 when deep fakes really came to the public’s attention. In the original short video clip, the host is seen dressed and acting as Trump in the sketch, while in the 2019 version, digital manipulation has made the whole scene far more convincing. 

Speculation around deep fakes has for a long time suggested we should fear its possibilities for manipulation. Many worry about the implications for fake news and alternative truths that could infiltrate the depths of the internet as a result, all in a time before we are quite sure how to regulate such things. So far however, most deep fakes have been used to subjugate women further with slut shaming and revenge porn. 

The creator of this latest deep fake however says he thinks there is not so much to worry about yet. For right now at least there is a significant skill set and technological understanding necessary to make such convincing fakes.

Chinese tomb sweeping festival goes online due to COVID-19

Asia, China, Communications, General, Government, History, Technology, Technology News

The chinese festival of Quingming is a day each spring set out for tomb sweeping. The practice is an ancient tradition to honor one’s ancestors, and rejuvenate the grave space after the new year for the upcoming months ahead. 

The practice first started roughly 2,500 years ago amongst the cultural elite and the wealthy classes as a display of luxury and money. It started under the Zhou Dynasty and would be a chance for people to honor their ancestors with impressive sacrifices at their grave site. In return the ancestors were believed to be able to bring on a good harvest, as well as peace and prosperity for their descendents. 

Despite its ancient origins and ongoing popularity, the festival was only fully recognised by the Chinese government as a public holiday in 2008. It is common in these times for people from all over China, as well as neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand amongst others to also celebrate the widely recognised Quingming Festival. 

The festival is usually held between the 4-6th April, on the first day of the fifth solar term in the year. Though usually it involves visiting older loved ones or gathering at the graves of the deceased, social distancing restrictions that persist due to the continuing coronavirus COVID-19 global pandemic mean that this year, more and more people are considering taking their celebrations online. 

As the pandemic was starting last year, a small number of people conducted their ceremonies online, and now as the crisis continues into a second year, it seems more people are once again considering their online options. 
As an alternative to visiting in person, families are now being offered ‘cloud tomb sweeping’ services by local governments. The service includes a live streaming of the tomb sweeping event on the government platform WeChat, that people can watch from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

Czech chimps learn the art of zoom

Communications, Europe, General, Main, Technology News

In the past year of ‘strange and unprecedented times’, it’s hard to believe there is anything surprising left that could be newsworthy. Never fear though, because Czech chimps are here to save the day with their noteworthy introduction – and mastery – of the now commonplace zoom call. 

Zoo keepers in the Czech zoo Safari Park Dvur Kralove, which is 135km east of Prague, joined forces with a fellow zoo in Brno, 150km to connect their two troops of chimpanzees by using digital conference software. Whilst even the least tech savvy amongst us has had to get to grips with video call technology, so have the chimps been introduced to what is being called the ‘zoom lifestyle’. 

The zookeeper’s came up with the idea after coronavirus global pandemic lockdown restrictions saw them needing to close their zoos to the public. As highly sociable and intelligent creatures, the zookeepers worried that the chimps were becoming bored with the lack of visitors to watch and keep them entertained. 

While we all may be experiencing the much dreaded zoom fatigue, the chimps on the other hand seem to be loving every minute of their new found online connection. In an uncannily human behaviour, the chimps have even been seen to enact similar behaviours to ourselves such as grabbing a snack to watch the TVs with. 

This fevor of interest surrounding the TV was initially one of caution, with the chimps showing fear of the large lit up and moving image boxes. After a period of time however, the chimps became more familiar with the screens and have started to interact with the other chimps on the call. 

Gabriela Linhartova, ape keeper at Dvur Kralove, said of the chimps: “At the beginning they approached the screen with defensive or threatening gestures,” before they eventually warmed up to the screens.

Can #MintTheCoin solve the US economic crisis?

Financial News, Government, Health, North America, Politics, Social Issues, USA

In case you’ve been living under a rock this past year has been one of ‘strange and unprecedented’ times thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 crises that has taken over as a global pandemic. What initially started as a public health issue however quickly escalated in many parts of the world into an economic disaster that has seen national debts plummet drastically and rapidly as governments seek to fill the fiscal gaps left by the crises due to unemployment and various lockdown restrictions. 

The United States of America has become the epicentre of the virus outbreak since it was initially discovered in Wuhan, China back in late 2019 before starting to spread worldwide in early 2020. The USA currently has around just over a third of all worldwide cases of coronavirus and has been responsible for nearly a fifth of the total number of deaths attributed to the virus. 

As the economy has had to shut down in the various states of lockdown with knock on effects seeing unemployment soaring, there has been a surprising call for the national treasury to mint two $1Trillion Dollar coins. 

The idea for the two coins however is not new to the current crises, but actually a resurgence of a # that to #MintTheCoin that first emerged in 2013. The hashtag, which has its own website, is thanks to what some are calling a loophole in the existing laws surrounding the printing of money that allow the US Treasury to assign any amount to a platinum coin. 

The Federal Reserve would then buy the coins from the US Treasury and distribute $1,000 USD a month to US citizens via a preloaded credit card. The proposal is currently called the Automatic BOOST to Communities Act and is being presented by U.S. Representative for Michigan Rashida Tlaib.

Australia media bill close to a decision with Google and Facebook

Australia, Business, Communications, Countries, Digital Systems Technology, Government, Info Tech, North America, Politics, Regulation News, Social Media, Technology, Technology News, USA

Google and Facebook have been making headlines in Australia, as well as around the world, thanks to the media deal currently in discussion with the Australian government. The deal, which has been in the works since the end of 2021, would require big tech giants such as Google and Facebook to pay local media publishers and online outlets for their news content. 

If successful, the deal would set a precedent around the world for the future of online news. It has faced controversy and resistance from the Big Tech firms who say such rules would run counter to the free hyperlink principles the web was built upon. 

The deal has been dubbed the ‘news media bargaining code’ and first introduced into Australian parliament in December 2020. It would require the larger search engines such as Facebook and Google to pay smaller news outlets for their content or event to appear in search results. 

If the Big Tech firms are unable to come to a deal with smaller, local publishers, the Australian government is set to step in to decide the terms that could see current digital giants expelled from Australia’s online network. In lieu of a commercial deal, government officials would be instrumental in setting a price for such linking. 

Google currently holds an over 94% market share of all online searches in Australia and it is unclear what would replace it if it were to pull out of the Australian market. Facebook likewise has threatened to reduce services on its network and other platforms such as Instagram for Australian users if they feel the deal to be unfavourable to their business. 

This is not the first time the Australian government has gone up against Silicon Valley’s Big Tech firms. In 2018 there was a brief period Amazon restricted access to some of its products due to conflicts with local tax laws before a compromise was reached.