“The Trump administration is trying to keep these crucial decisions behind closed doors”

US quietly allows import of some elephant trophies

Hard Science

Citing technical faults in the Obama-era ban, the Fish and Wildlife Service now allows to import some elephant trophies from Africa.

US Quietly Allows Import of Some Elephant Trophies

A ban enacted by the Obama administration has been lifted.

The glacier has lost 131 feet of ice in the last decade along.

To slow melting, residents resort to wrapping a glacier in blankets

Earth & Energy

The Rhone Glacier, in the Swiss Alps, is in a dire state. Locals are attempting to slow summer melting by wrapping the ice in reflective blankets.

To Slow Melting, Residents Resort to Wrapping a Glacier in Blankets

White canvas blankets are being used to reflect sunlight.

Turns out that repair technician might have been snooping instead of just trying to reset your hard drive.

Geek squad has been passing user data to the FBI

Future Society

An investigation discovered that the computer repair company's employees were passing confidential information about their clients to the FBI

Geek Squad Has Been Passing User Data to the FBI

The cozy relationship has been going on for at least a decade, documents show.

It could reduce our reliance on harmful chemicals used to block UV rays.

A bacteria is making sunscreen safe for you and the environment

Health & Medicine

Scientists have found a way to speed up the production of a natural chemical that can be used to produce environmentally friendly sunscreen.

A Bacteria Is Making Sunscreen Safe for You and the Environment

There is a dark side to one of your travel essentials - it's bad for the environment.

Solutions range from drinking ocean water to trucking in an iceberg.

Cape Town has more time to solve its water crisis. How will it use it?

The Cape Town water crisis "Day Zero," when the city's taps would be turned off, shouldn't arrive until 2019. The search for a solution continues.

Cape Town Has More Time to Solve Its Water Crisis. How Will It Use It?

Day Zero has been delayed until 2019, but the threat hasn't subsided completely.

Google employees aren't entirely pleased.

Google is helping the Air Force analyze drone footage with AI

Artificial Intelligence

Google has been providing its TensorFlow API to help machine learning algorithms recognize particular objects in drone footage.

Google Is Helping the Air Force Analyze Drone Footage With AI

The company is contributing its TensorFlow APIs to Project Maven.

The Chinese government is spending $2 million on a prototype filtration system to help address the nation's smog problem.

China now has a giant, smog-sucking chimney

The Chinese government has invested $2 million in a prototype filtration system intended to reduce the effects of smog in urban areas.

China Now Has a Giant, Smog-Sucking Chimney

The 18-meter tower uses solar radiation to draw polluted air into a filtration system.

The company still wants humans to handle complex maneuvers, like driving on country roads or backing up to a loading dock.

Uber's autonomous trucks still need a human touch

Advanced Transport

Though their freight service will be self-driving on highways, Uber's autonomous trucks will still require a human driver for short or complicated trips.

Uber's Autonomous Trucks Still Need a Human Touch

On more difficult trips, Uber Freight will get some human help.

Uber’s Autonomous Trucks Still Need a Human Touch

Australia may soon eliminate cervical cancer

The country has implemented a vaccination program that protects young people from the risk of developing the disease later in life.

Australia May Soon Eliminate Cervical Cancer

The U.S. probably won't be next.

When a quantum computer outperforms a traditional computer, it will be a "watershed moment for our field."

3 things you need to know about Google's new quantum processor

Google has lifted the lid on its new quantum processor, Bristlecone. The project could play a key role in making quantum computers "functionally useful."

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Brad Jones