aristarchus writes:In a sort of a reversal of the problem that Clair Patterson had, wherein, as you will recall, his research was contaminated by environmental lead, originating in gasoline additives, researchers attempting delicate studies of very far away phenomena need shielding, namely lead, that is not contaminated by radioactivity.
An Anonymous Coward writes:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50246324"The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to formally proceed with the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.The measure details how the inquiry will move into a more public phase. It was not a vote on whether the president should be removed from office.This was the first test of support in the Democratic-controlled House for the impeachment process.The White House condemned the vote, which passed along party lines.Only two Democrats - representing districts that Mr Trump won handily in 2016 - voted against the resolution, along with all Republicans, for a total count of 232 in favour and 196 against."Original SubmissionRead more of this story at SoylentNews.
upstart writes:Submitted via IRC for soylent_blueHackers hijacked the capital's surveillance cameras days before Trump's inauguration and said it was easy but they didn't cover their tracks
RandomFactor writes:As Previously Reported: In the beginning of October, the essentially bankrupt Megabots Inc. put the giant robot Eagle One up for auction. fetching a winning bid of $170k U.S.Unfortunately the winning bid wasn't real. Nor were the bids immediately prior to it. Speculation is that they were from fans trying to help out by jacking up the bidding, so the robot remains unsold.Bad news for Megabots, but good news if you are in the market for a 15 ton two-story robot!Eagle Prime went back up on Ebay yesterday (this auction requires bidders email the seller for approval before bids will be accepted) and there are eight days remaining as of Halloween (Auction ends Nov 08, 17:30 PST), leaving us ample time to ponder that most profound question: retirement-or-giant-robot?Bidding has already started, with an anemic opening bid of $1. Musk has, of course, already been tagged in the discussion.There is no 'Buy It Now'Original SubmissionRead more of this story at SoylentNews.
An Anonymous Coward writes:According to The Des Moines Register, the Coalfire penetration testers, Justin Wynn and Gary Demercurio, have had their charges reduced to Trespass (Iowa Code § 716.8(a)(1)) from the previous charges of third-degree burglary and Possession of Burglary Tools (Iowa Code § 713.7). This whole case may hinge on the penetration testers mistake in their authorization (if not actual authorization) to enter under Iowa Code § 701.6 or, as the model jury instructions put it:
upstart writes:Submitted via IRC for Fnord666Electrospun fibers weave new medical innovations: Novel applications of a technology called coaxial electrospinning could improve contraceptive products and help patients with brain tumors
$15 minimum wage didn't decimate the local economy, after allJoeMerchant writes in quoting MarketWatch.com which claims that the minimum wage has had a positive affect on the local economy:
stormwyrm writes:Former FBI General Counsel Jim Baker, who was known for prosecuting the legal case against Apple to get them to unlock the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone, has published an extraordinary essay on Lawfare where he surprisingly argues rather for strong encryption without government back doors.From Schneier on Security:
RandomFactor writes:Updated information on the Mars Insight Lander's Mole Mission.As previously reported, the burrowing instrument on the Mars Insight Lander dubbed the 'mole' ran into trouble back in February.Various efforts since, including most recently applying pressure to the instrument with the lander's arm scoop, were undertaken to help the little instrument out, and the most recent effort seemed to be succeeding. The lander managed another 3cm of progress! indicating that it had not encountered an impenetrable rock layer after all.Sadly for the little spade that should, over the weekend the NASA InSight team tweeted the following discouraging news: