End of a Google era: Alphabet executive chairman Eric Schmidt steps down
Bringing to a close the stewardship of one of the world's most successful companies, Eric Schmidt is stepping aside as the executive chairman of Google-parent Alphabet's board of directors.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-eric-schmidt-alphabet-chairman.html
Detroit's Amazon bid pitches big tax breaks, cheap labor costs, possible ferry to Windsor
State, local and Canadian officials have offered Amazon a giant package of tax breaks and development incentives that would extend over decades if the e-commerce giant were to pick the Detroit and Windsor region for its second headquarters.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-detroit-amazon-pitches-big-tax.html
T-Mobile to buy Austrian cable operator for $2.3 billion
Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile Austria unit has announced plans to buy cable operator UPC Austria in a deal that values the company at 1.9 billion euros ($2.3 billion.)
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-t-mobile-austrian-cable-billion.html
Bitcoin sell-off picks up steam
A bitcoin sell-off that began at the beginning of the week is gaining momentum, with a quarter of its value evaporating in just the past 24 hours.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-bitcoin-sell-off-steam.html
Scientists call for action to tackle the threat of invasive tree species to a global biodiversity hotspot
An invasive Australian tree is now posing a serious threat to a global diversity 'hotspot' according to new collaborative research between Landcare Research in New Zealand, the Universities of Cambridge (UK) Denver (US) and Bangor University (UK).
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-scientists-action-tackle-threat-invasive.html
Image: Reindeer Island
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over part of Lake Winnipeg in the Canadian province of Manitoba, with Reindeer Island visible in the lower-right part of the image.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-image-reindeer-island.html
Accelerated analysis of the stability of complex alloys
Material scientists at Ruhr-Universität Bochum are able to determine if a new material remains stable under temperature load within the space of a few days. They have developed a novel process for analysing, for example, the temperature and oxidation resistance of complex alloys that are made up of a number of different elements. Previously, such analyses used to take months. The team headed by Prof Dr. Alfred Ludwig and Dr. Yujiao Li from the Institute for Materials and Center for Interface-Dominated High Performance Materials describes the process in the journal Materials Horizons.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-analysis-stability-complex-alloys.html
Researchers chart the 'secret' movement of quantum particles
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have taken a peek into the secretive domain of quantum mechanics. In a theoretical paper published in the journal Physical Review A, they have shown that the way that particles interact with their environment can be used to track quantum particles when they're not being observed, which had been thought to be impossible.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-secret-movement-quantum-particles.html
Are you a 'cyberloafer?' Why internet procrastination is making life easier for hackers
The biggest threat to an organisation's cyber-security comes from within, according to a growing body of evidence. Employees are frequently putting their companies at risk of hacking by sharing their passwords, using public WiFi networks to send sensitive information, or not protecting the privacy of social media accounts.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-cyberloafer-internet-procrastination-life-easier.html
Tiny polyps save corals from predators and disease
In a new study published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society, scientists show how tiny hydrozoans, polyps smaller than one millimeter and commonly found in dense colonies on the surface of hard corals, may play a role in keeping corals safe and healthy.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-tiny-polyps-corals-predators-disease.html
Rainbow peacock spiders may inspire new optical technologies
Even if you are arachnophobic, you probably have seen pictures or videos of Australian peacock spiders (Maratus spp.). These tiny spiders are only 1-5 mm long but are famous for their flamboyant courtship displays featuring diverse and intricate body colorations, patterns, and movements.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-rainbow-peacock-spiders-optical-technologies.html
Source: https://phys.org/
