The Norman Conquest didn’t change ordinary people’s lives very much by Kiona N. Smith on 2020-07-06 16:30 (#55E3V) A recent study suggests that after 1066, English food was as terrible but filling as before.
Uber plans to gobble up delivery rival Postmates in $2.6 billion deal by Kate Cox on 2020-07-06 16:15 (#55E3W) Analysts have been expecting the delivery apps to consolidate; now they are.
New Mac ransomware is even more sinister than it appears by WIRED on 2020-07-05 15:30 (#55CYN) ThiefQuest or EvilQuest can grab passwords and credit card numbers.
As COVID-19 spreads, researchers track an influenza virus nervously by John Timmer on 2020-07-05 15:00 (#55CYP) The virus has sometimes moved from pigs to humans, but not between humans.
Homebound with EarthBound by Nathan Mattise on 2020-07-05 14:00 (#55CX2) On the 25th anniversary of the SNES game's US release, it feels more relevant than ever.
NASA’s most iconic building is 55 years old and just getting started by Eric Berger on 2020-07-05 13:00 (#55CVF) “This building is not a monument.”
After a second-stage failure, Rocket Lab loses seven satellites by Eric Berger on 2020-07-04 23:01 (#55CG5) “The In-Space team is absolutely gutted by this news.”
The explosive physics of pooping penguins: they can shoot poo over four feet by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-07-04 18:45 (#55CC7) It builds on findings of a 2003 study that won an Ig Nobel Prize in Fluid Dynamics.
5G was going to unite the world—instead it’s tearing us apart by WIRED on 2020-07-04 15:00 (#55C4Z) Divisions over technical standards and Huawei are jeopardizing 5G rollouts.
How one IndyCar driver turned his type 1 diabetes into an advantage by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-07-04 14:30 (#55C3T) Blood glucose becomes just one more telemetry feed to track during a race.
A few good tech deals happening this July 4th weekend by Ars Staff on 2020-07-04 14:20 (#55C3V) Including discounts on video games, Apple Watch, Bluetooth speakers, and more.
The remote British village that built one of the UK’s fastest Internet networks by Ars Staff on 2020-07-04 14:00 (#55C3W) The serene, postcard-perfect village of Clapham is becoming known for more than its views.
We traced Namco’s “new” Pac-Man demake to its source: A 2008 fan ROMhack by Kyle Orland on 2020-07-04 13:00 (#55C2K) Ars connects the dots to unearth the previously unheralded work of "Coke774."
The 416 quadrillion reasons why Japan’s supercomputer is number 1 by Financial Times on 2020-07-04 12:00 (#55C1D) Fugaku's compute power focus on parsing earthquakes, weather patterns, and coughs.
Review: Fierce and fun Warrior Nun is a perfect Fourth of July binge-watch by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-07-03 18:50 (#55BFZ) Meet the (reluctant) new Chosen One of the Order of the Cruciform Sword.
Schools already struggled with cybersecurity. Then came COVID-19 by WIRED on 2020-07-03 14:30 (#55B3J) A lack of resources has made it hard to keep data secure.
How mobile games crushed consoles by Financial Times on 2020-07-03 14:00 (#55B3K) Revenues set to hit $100B this year as locked-down masses flock to casual gaming.
Stellar deepfake thriller The Capture lands in USA thanks to NBC Peacock by Ars Staff on 2020-07-03 13:00 (#55B1B) Spoiler-free take on why the show's worth watching—and some streaming questions for BBC.
The bat-virus détente by Ars Staff on 2020-07-03 12:00 (#55AYZ) Bats cope with myriad viruses—including what caused COVID-19—so how do they do it?
Rocket Report: SpaceX faces South Texas review, the Angara A5 costs too much by Eric Berger on 2020-07-03 11:00 (#55AV8) "Ariane 6 is a necessary step, but not the ultimate aim."
EVO 2020 game tourney canceled, co-founder fired [Updated] by Sam Machkovech on 2020-07-03 00:55 (#55AFT) Co-founder has apparently acknowledged vile accusations: "I was young and reckless."
NY partygoers get subpoenas after stonewalling COVID-19 contact tracers by Beth Mole on 2020-07-02 22:07 (#55AC2) County executive vows to keep "ignorance, stupidity, or obstinance" from risking lives.
Commerce Inspector General says “Sharpiegate” report being blocked by Scott K. Johnson on 2020-07-02 19:36 (#55A8N) A redacted summary memo has appeared, but the full report has been held back.
Can’t afford to fly to space? Settle for smelling like it by Jim Salter on 2020-07-02 19:10 (#55A6J) There are no smells in vacuum—but recycled air in an orbiter is another story.
Heated seats as a service? BMW wants to sell car features on demand by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-07-02 18:55 (#55A6K) BMW says it's a way to try before you buy, but do people want an extra monthly fee?
Police infiltrate encrypted phones, arrest hundreds in organized crime bust by Kate Cox on 2020-07-02 18:42 (#55A6M) Police in UK and EU got “millions” of explicit criminal messages from Encrochat.
Grab an excellent Razer Viper gaming mouse for a new low of $50 by Ars Staff on 2020-07-02 18:16 (#55A4D) Dealmaster also has deals on the Sega Genesis Mini, Anker chargers, and more.
Undulating their bodies keeps flying snakes from tumbling out of control by Jennifer Ouellette on 2020-07-02 17:48 (#55A4E) The work could eventually lead to a new control template for flying snake-like robots.
House OKs $100B broadband plan with $50 monthly discounts for poor people by Jon Brodkin on 2020-07-02 17:33 (#55A0Y) House broadband plan is not guaranteed to pass in Republican-controlled Senate.
Apple throws in another Mac Pro GPU configuration: The AMD Radeon Pro W5500X by Samuel Axon on 2020-07-02 17:23 (#55A0Z) It’s a step down from the W5700X in almost every way—including price.
RIP to the Google Pixel 3a, which is officially discontinued by Ron Amadeo on 2020-07-02 17:13 (#55A10) The Pixel 4a missed its May launch date. Now Google isn't selling any budget phones.
2K breaks gaming’s de facto $60 ceiling, asks $70 for next-gen NBA 2K21 by Kyle Orland on 2020-07-02 15:56 (#559XY) Inflation has eroded big-budget gaming’s $60 standard for about 15 years now.
LIGO is so sensitive it shudders with the quantum noise of light by John Timmer on 2020-07-02 14:16 (#559Q8) The gravitational wave detector's sensitivity can be boosted with the right light.
Tesla stock leaps again on unexpectedly strong delivery numbers by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-07-02 14:04 (#559Q9) Most other carmakers have suffered double-digit year-over-year losses.
Iron Man VR review: A sad, painful end to the PlayStation VR era by Sam Machkovech on 2020-07-02 12:00 (#559J9) Ambitious attempt to recreate the superhero flying experience falls flat.
The ~$100 tablet shootout—Amazon Fire 8 HD Plus vs. Walmart Onn 8 Tablet Pro by Ron Amadeo on 2020-07-02 11:30 (#559G0) The benchmarks are comparable to 2015 phones, but $100 Android tablets have come a long way.
COVID-19 vaccine must protect 50% of people for approval, FDA says by Beth Mole on 2020-07-01 22:25 (#558Y3) FDA sets rules for vaccine approval amid concern of hastiness and political pressure.
Upper-level winds force a seven-week delay for the Vega rocket by Eric Berger on 2020-07-01 21:58 (#558Y4) “We understand the impatience of our 21 customers, and we share it.”
Vizio’s 2020 TV plans: HDMI 2.1, FreeSync, eARC, and—at long last—OLED by Samuel Axon on 2020-07-01 21:37 (#558W1) They're not as pricy as LG and Sony's OLEDs, but the spec sheets are similar.
Dish buys Boost prepaid biz from T-Mobile, finally enters wireless market by Jon Brodkin on 2020-07-01 21:16 (#558W2) Dish buys former Sprint prepaid business amid plans to build its own 5G network.
Sweeping climate-crisis plan would bring US to zero emissions in 30 years by Kate Cox on 2020-07-01 21:07 (#558W3) Not even the authors expect it to become law right now—but they hope for next year.
Unscheduled fixes released for critical flaw in optional Windows codec by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-01 19:46 (#558SE) Company uses Microsoft Store to fix remote code-execution bugs in codecs library.
Hyundai’s super-efficient 2020 Sonata Hybrid sedan is best in class by Jonathan M. Gitlin on 2020-07-01 19:30 (#558KM) How does 52mpg for under $28,000 sound?
Google Glass 3.0? Google acquires smart glasses maker North by Ron Amadeo on 2020-07-01 19:10 (#558KN) North picked up where Google Glass left off, and now it's a part of Google.
Twin Galaxies says Billy Mitchell “flirts with perjury” in high-score case by Kyle Orland on 2020-07-01 18:39 (#558KP) Mitchell says TG’s case “rests on a conspiracy” akin to “the Kennedy assassination.”
Spotify Duo for couples is cheaper than the standard family plan by Jim Salter on 2020-07-01 17:39 (#558HW) Couples with no kids can save $7/mo and get access to middle-ground playlists.
Small ISPs “stunned” by FCC move to ban Huawei/ZTE gear during pandemic by Jon Brodkin on 2020-07-01 17:03 (#558FZ) Huawei/ZTE ban’s timing “puts rural carriers in a precarious situation.”
Did huge eruptions actually help during the end-Cretaceous extinction? by Scott K. Johnson on 2020-07-01 16:07 (#558DQ) Modeling habitat indicates volcanic warming actually offset the post-impact chill.
Stock surge makes Tesla the world’s most valuable automaker by Timothy B. Lee on 2020-07-01 15:37 (#558B8) Market cap rise above $200 billion could get Musk another huge payday.
Uncovered: 1,000 phrases that incorrectly trigger Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant by Dan Goodin on 2020-07-01 13:47 (#5588R) “Election” can trigger Alexa; “Montana” can trigger Cortana.