News highlights for August 4
Cyber Grand Challenge referees. Photo courtesy: Cyber Grand Challenge
Geeks win millions for teaching computers to battle each other
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – A software program dubbed “Mayhem” was poised to win the final round of a three-year contest to teach computers to launch and defend against cyber attacks, earning a $2 million prize for the team that wrote the winning code. Read more…
Bitfinex says expects ‘socialized loss’ for $72 million bitcoin hack
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong-based crypto-currency exchange Bitfinex, from which hackers stole about US$72 million worth of bitcoin this week, said that it expected to “socialize” the losses among bitcoin balances. Read more…
Can a portable device make biotech drugs on demand?
(Reuters Health) – A portable system that produces tiny batches of biotech drugs might one day help get crucial medicines and vaccines to remote villages and war-torn regions where they’re desperately needed, scientists hope.
While the manufacturing process is still experimental and may not be cheap, it could provide a way to produce single doses of medicines and vaccines on demand – even in places where biotech drugs are often unavailable because they are difficult to transport and store. Read more…
Facebook’s News Feed to show fewer ‘clickbait’ headlines
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Facebook Inc’s News Feed will show fewer “clickbait” headlines over the next few weeks, the company announced, as it seeks to establish itself as the prime web destination for news and social updates. The company receives thousands of complaints a day about clickbait, headlines that intentionally withhold information or mislead users to get people to click on them. Read more…
Germany’s new electric car discount scheme draws nearly 2,000 applicants
BERLIN (Reuters) – Nearly 2,000 people in Germany have applied for the government’s electric car discount scheme, introduced on July 1, and a third of them are buyers of BMW models, a government agency said. The scheme, similar to those established in other European countries to spur electric car sales, grants buyers of electric cars a 4,000 euro ($4,452.00) discount and gives buyers of plug-in hybrid vehicles a discount of 3,000 euros. Read more…
Twitter loses another corporate communications executive
(Reuters) – Jim Prosser, Twitter Inc’s head of corporate, revenue and policy communications, said on Thursday he was leaving the microblogging website to join online lender SoFi. Read more…
Big tech may halt earnings recession, if it delivers third-quarter numbers
NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Technology heavyweights might be all that keeps the U.S. earnings recession from extending into a fifth quarter in September if they hit the higher estimates Wall Street is calling for. Read more…
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