Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, have created a method for accurately detecting the shape and movement of human bodies through walls using WiFi routers. Is this a privacy nightmare waiting to happen? — Remember Lucius Fox’s super invasive sonar technology in the finale of The Dark Knight? Well this is eerily similar, except that it’s real. Scientists have reportedly developed technology able to detect the precise shape and movement of human bodies through walls using simple WiFi routers. Eerie, right?

Many prominent brands have started buying carbon credits in order to offset their emission levels and neutralise their environmental impact. Scientific analysis shows these are largely worthless. — As big companies attempt to appear more eco-conscious in the eyes of their customers, many have started to boast partnerships with rainforest conservation organisations around the world. For example, major brands like Gucci, Shell, and Disney buy carbon offsets/credits that ‘cancel out’ the number of emissions spewed into the atmosphere…

Death to the drunk Instagram story? Well, maybe. Young people are starting to swap their smartphones for simpler mobile devices on nights out. The benefits extend well beyond dealing with embarrassing social media posts from the night before. — A new trend is emerging amongst Gen Z members old enough to hit the club at the weekend. Rather than pocketing an £800 smartphone with their debit card and ID before going out, young people are bringing along cheap ‘burner’ phones typically associated with cheating spouses or those selling contraband.

New legislation in New York has finally clamped down on the selling of domestic pets such as dogs and cats. It’s hoped that this well help eradicate animal mills, where pets are bred with little regard for their wellbeing. — Last December, the state of New York passed a law in which the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits is to be prohibited. The law, set to take effect in 2024, has been celebrated by animal welfare advocates. The states of California, Illinois, and, Maryland have also implemented similar laws…

The South American nation’s left-wing government has announced it will not approve any new oil and gas exploration projects as it seeks to shift towards a more sustainable economy. — In June last year, ex-rebel Gustavo Petro won Colombia’s presidential election after one of the most contested campaigns in the country’s recent history. Upon his victory, the long-time legislator and former fighter in the M-19 militia promised voters profound social and economic change, most notably a decline in Colombia’s excessive…

OpenAI is gearing up to announce a premium version of its popular language generator tool ChatGPT3. Google is reportedly scrambling to break the market first, meaning this type of AI may be on the cusp of an early commercial explosion. — Artificial intelligence is already hot property, but companies are vying to have their signature stamps all over the biggest projects of 2023. The same company that developed the gorgeous headline image above, OpenAI, has largely led the way for commercial AI in recent times, certainly in a recreational sense.

Artists and comedians are using new technology to prevent fans from video-recording at concerts. Aside from keeping the performance exclusive to ticket-buyers, the goal is to encourage attendees to enjoy the moment without distraction — but is it a good idea? — Going to a live show is a privilege, not just because it can cost upwards of £100, but because actually securing a ticket is difficult when the demand and resale market for them is incredibly large.

Once a colloquial phrase used to describe surprising, rapid shifts in weather conditions, ‘weather whiplash’ is being continuously validated by climate change studies and is reportedly getting worse. We all misjudge the weather from time to time, but what we’re talking about here is far more dramatic than mistakenly opting to leave an umbrella at home. Prior to New Year’s Eve in California, the state had endured a prolonged and severe drought stretching some three years. Forecasts had…

According to a new study, insect declines are resulting in reduced yields of healthy foods like fruit, vegetables, and nuts which is causing an estimated 500,000 early deaths a year. — In 2019, the first Global Scientific Review of insect populations was released. It disclosed, to the dismay of the entomological community, that the world’s insects were hurtling towards extinction and warned that without immediate action, we would find ourselves amid a ‘catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems.’