Articles by Christian de Looper
North Korea's Red Star OS Is Just As Oppressive As The Government That Built It
A recent report highlights the features - and oppressiveness - of the North Korean-built operating system, Red Star OS. Notably, the operating system is designed to track users at all times.
The Mapo Smart Beauty Mask Connects To Your Phone And Tells You How To Improve Your Skin
A company called Wired Beauty has developed a beauty mask called Mapo, which connects to the user's smartphone through Bluetooth and offers recommendations for the user's skin regimen.
Magnesium Infused With Ceramic Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles May Pave Way For Lighter, Better Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
A group of researchers from the University of California Los Angeles have developed a new material that infuses ceramic silicon carbide nanoparticles with magnesium, creating an extremely strong yet extremely lightweight material.
New Caledonian Crows Are Cleverer Than You Think, Spy Cameras Reveal
Researchers have known that New Caledonian crows make tools for themselves; however, they haven't been able to capture footage of it happening until now.
US Tech Companies Prepare To Enter Iran
U.S. companies are setting their sights on Iran, with sanctions against the country set to end in the near future. Apple, HP and Lenovo are all reportedly in talks with distributors in Iran.
Researchers Have Created A Working Light-Based Processor
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, along with other universities, have created what they claim to be the world's first working light-based processor.
The FDA Has Approved A Wearable Defibrillator That Could Save A Child's Life
LifeVest is a wearable defibrillator that has now been approved by the FDA for children. The device offers constant heart monitoring, and will deliver a shock when it detects an irregular heartbeat.
A Plummeting Drone Almost Hit A World Cup Skier
During a skiing event earlier this week, skier Marcel Hirscher was making his way down the slope when, suddenly, a drone crashed right behind him. The incident raises questions about drone use at sporting events.
The Cerevo Snow-1 Bindings Turn Your Snowboard Into A Smart Snowboard
Cerevo has announced a new set of snowboard bindings that are aimed at helping users track their boarding, offering information like load, flex and so on.
Microsoft Bans 'Man-In-The-Middle' Adware Technique Used By Superfish
Microsoft has announced that it will be banning 'man-in-the-middle' adware techniques used by the likes of Superfish earlier this year. The changes will go into effect on March 31.
Magnets Could One Day Track Your Fingers In Virtual Reality
A new finger-tracking system called Finexus has been created by Keyu Chen. The system is far more precise when it comes to finger tracking than other systems, being accurate within 1.3 millimeters.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Makes History As First-Ever Orbital Rocket To Land Back On Earth
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has become the first-ever orbital rocket to land back on Earth, marking a changing point in space travel for those who don't have millions of dollars.
Apple Speaks Out Against UK Government Powers Bill
Apple has spoken out against a new bill being considered in the UK, which would grant the government the ability to order tech companies to hand over personal information about users.
Check Out This Full-Sized 3D-Printed BB-8 Droid
Today's coolest thing ever award goes to this full-sized, 3D-printed BB-8, which was printed in over 100 parts by a member of the Facebook group, BB8BuildersClub.
The Beatles May Be Available On Music Streaming Starting On December 24
According to recent reports, we may soon be able to stream the Beatles' music from streaming services. The news marks a pretty significant shift from digital downloads and represents the end of the era of downloading music.
You Are Now Required To Register Your Drone
The FAA drone registration website has gone live, meaning that owners of drones that weigh between 0.55 and 55 pounds will have to register their machines.
Pirate Bay Co-Founder Peter Sunde Made A Super Pirating Machine
Peter Sunde, best known as a co-founder of The Pirate Bay, has created an art piece aimed at showing the ridiculousness of the value the music industry places on digital copies.
Microsoft's Kinect Allows Researchers To Improve 3D Scanning By 1,000 Times
Researchers from MIT have developed a system that relies on the Microsoft Kinect, and that is able to produce 3D scans that are 1,000 times more accurate than scanning techniques previously used.
Juniper Warns Of 'Unauthorized Code' In ScreenOS, Suspects Backdoor Entry
Juniper has announced that it has discovered an unauthorized code that was inserted into its networking software, called screenOS. Not only that, but the U.S. government is investigating whether or not another government could have inserted the code to spy on U.S. officials.
SpaceX To Launch ORBCOMM Satellites Aboard Falcon 9 Rocket On Sunday And Eyes Successful Land Landing
SpaceX is set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket carrying ORBCOMM satellites on Sunday. The company will not only launch, but also attempt to land the rocket, the first time it will do so on solid ground.
Websites Could Soon Use Your Mousing Habits To Change Their UI Based On Your Anger Level
When a computer user gets angry, they often start moving their mouse in more jagged, slow movements, according to new research. That information, however, could be used to change how a UI works and make it a more pleasant experience.
NASA Orders Second Boeing Crewed Flight
NASA has announced that it has ordered its second crewed flight from Boeing, the third in a series of four crewed flight ordered from either Boeing or SpaceX.
Projected Decorations Bring This Christmas Tree To Life
While most of us use tinsel and light strings on our trees, a Brazilian company has created a new way of decorating a Christmas tree. The method uses a projector to display some pretty impressive decorations.
Blackberry On Track For Rebound With Revenue Increase
Blackberry has announced a 12 percent increase in its revenue for the last quarter, potentially signifying that the company is back on track to be a dominant player in the tech world.
Harrison Ford Won't Have Anything To Do With The Young Han Solo Movie
Harrison Ford is in press mode, and he recently spoke about the idea of a film featuring a young Han Solo. Ford himself, however, says that he won't have anything to do with it.
The FBI Says That It Did Not Seize Martin Shkreli's Wu Tang Clan Album
The FBI New York today tweeted that it did not seize the Wu-Tang Clan album. Here's why it made that tweet.
'Anti-Pee' Splashes Public Urination Offenders With Their Own Urine
Two popular drinking locations in east London will be getting a new coat of paint on their outer walls. This paint, however, is designed to prevent public urination.
The Microsoft Surface Pen Can Now Be Programmed
Microsoft has announced a software update for the Surface that will allow users to program different commands into the button on the Surface Pen, making it more convenient for those who don't use the default functions.
Coleco Announces Cartridge Comeback With New Coleco Chameleon Gaming Console
Coleco has announced that it will be producing a new gaming console that uses cartridges for the games. The console is set to be released sometime next year.
Turns Out The Voice Of BB-8 In 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Was None Other Than Bill Hader And Ben Schwartz
The big stars of the new 'Star Wars' film are well known, but what might not be known was the fact that Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz were the voices of the orange droid BB-8.
