TikTok, the short-video company with Chinese roots, did the most American thing possible on May 7, 2024: It sued the U.S. government[1], in the person of Attorney General Merrick Garland, in federal court. The suit claims the federal law that took effect on April 24, 2024, banning TikTok unless it sells itself[2] violates the U.S....
AI chatbots are intruding into online communities where people are trying to connect with other humans
A parent asked a question in a private Facebook group in April 2024: Does anyone with a child who is both gifted and disabled have any experience with New York City public schools? The parent received a seemingly helpful answer that laid out some characteristics of a specific school, beginning with the context that “I have a child who...
Is hard water bad for you? 2 water quality engineers explain the potential benefits and pitfalls that come with having hard water
When you turn on your faucet to get a glass of water or wash your face, you’re probably not thinking about what’s in your water – besides water. Depending on where you live and whether you have a water-softening system, your water might contain dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. And these minerals can play a role in...
Viruses are doing mysterious things everywhere – AI can help researchers understand what they’re up to in the oceans and in your gut
Viruses are a mysterious and poorly understood force in microbial ecosystems. Researchers know they can infect, kill and manipulate human and bacterial cells in nearly every environment[1], from the oceans to your gut. But scientists don’t yet have a full picture of how viruses affect their surrounding environments in large part because of...