Month: May 2020

Enough quality, comfort, style, and usefulness to merit a $180 price—just barely. The 2017 Pixel Buds were one of Google’s worst hardware launches in the company’s history. Really, these things were an utter nightmare. Their sound quality, feature set, awkward fit, and finicky case might have been tolerable as a free pair of buds included with … Continue reading Pixel Buds 2 review: These earbuds are “much better than OK,” Google Continue Reading →

You can’t get further from a global pandemic than a wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant. As millions binge-watch Netflix and coop up indoors, virus-inspired films such as Outbreak and Contagion, as well as television shows like The CW’s Containment, have found new audiences for those looking to tackle pandemic-related anxiety. After all, research seems to show that seeking out forms of entertainment … Continue reading Deep Space Nine: The Trek spinoff that saved the day by staying put Continue Reading →

Faster, easier diagnosis means less misuse of antibiotics. Urinary tract infections have been called the “canary in the coal mine” of global antibiotic resistance. With more than half of all women having a UTI in their lifetime and men increasing in susceptibility as they age, UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections in the world. Because it’s … Continue reading A fidget spinner to detect urinary tract infections Continue Reading →

The world saw the 2nd warmest April on record, but frost hit some US crops. On Friday, NOAA released its latest seasonal weather outlook for the US, which followed an updated hurricane season outlook. As always, the seasonal outlook starts with a look back at the previous month. April 2020 was the 2nd warmest April on … Continue reading Here’s NOAA’s outlook for US summer weather—and hurricane season Continue Reading →

Fewer connections per tower lead to a better experience, whether 5G or not. Telecomm analytics firm OpenSignal released a report last week analyzing the connection experience of 5G users across the world, on ten different providers. Unfortunately—and typically for 5G—the source data is so muddled that it’s difficult to draw meaningful conclusions from the results. In the USA, … Continue reading OpenSignal compares 5G experiences across ten major carriers Continue Reading →

“An anomaly then occurred early in first stage flight.” After more than seven years of development, testing, and preparation, Virgin Orbit reached an important moment on Monday—dropping and igniting its LauncherOne rocket over the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, shortly after ignition an “anomaly” occurred, the company said. “LauncherOne maintained stability after release, and we ignited our … Continue reading Virgin Orbit loses its first rocket shortly after engine ignition Continue Reading →

Matt Wolf’s documentary chronicles the ups and downs of 1990s ecological experiment In September 1991, amid much media fanfare, eight people entered a closed experimental facility called Biosphere 2 for a two-year stint in total isolation. They endured hunger, a dangerous rise in CO2 levels, interpersonal squabbles, a media backlash, and sharp criticism from the scientific establishment. … Continue reading Review: Revisit the controversial Biosphere 2 project with Spaceship Earth Continue Reading →