Apple have kicked off a marketing campaign for a product aimed at kids too young for an iPhone as they look to continue to expand their consumer base. The product, owned by 34% of American teens, may help to curb the issue of smartphone usage in US high schools. Cell Phones in Classrooms An Issue National Cancer Institute Unsplash Cell phones in classrooms have been highlighted as an issue in recent years, especially among teachers. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 33% of middle school teachers and 72% of high school teachers say that the distractions caused by cell…
Author: Benjamin Carter
Citizens of 3 states in Southern USA will now be able to get their ammunition from vending machines. American Rounds, the company behind the machines, has advertised it as one of the safest ways to restock customers. Varied Assortment of Ammo Types Cody Wingfield Unsplash The machines offer various different ammunition types for different guns, including shotgun shells and 9mm ammo. Federal law means that you must be at least 21 to buy handgun ammunition and 18 to buy shotgun and rifle ammunition. High-Tech Machines Mathew Schwartz Unsplash The machines employ some high-tech solutions to attempt to allay concerns about…
A new discovery about the mechanism of action of semaglutides, the drug marketed as Ozempic or Wegovy, may lead to the development of newer, more targeted drugs without side effects. The discovery was announced in a press release by a team at the Monell Chemical Senses Center on Thursday, and the discovery may have implications for any drugs with side effects. What is Semaglutide? Bruno Nascimento Unsplash Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic and anti-obesity medication, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy. Ozempic is meant to be used alongside dietary changes and exercise to help sufferers of diabetes control their blood sugar levels,…
Fast food franchisees in California have chosen to respond to rising labor costs by cutting hours and reducing the number of workers on shift at any one time. The minimum wage in California recently rose to $20 per hour, a move that may be affecting fast food chains in particular, who had previously relied on cheaper labor. Worker Spending More Time With Son Olivia Bauso Unsplash One Pizza Hut worker, Julieta Garcia, tells AP News that she went from working 6 days a week to 5 and subsequently found herself with more time to spend with her family. She is…
Microsoft have stepped back from their position on OpenAI’s governance board following tensions with EU regulators over the partnership last month. In a letter released on Tuesday, they confirmed their immediate resignation of the observer status they have held for the past 8 months. Microsoft Took Seat During Altman Ousting Benjamin Child Unsplash Microsoft took their seat on the OpenAI governance board late last year during the incident where Sam Altman, the OpenAI CEO, was ousted and then quickly re-instated. They took up an observer status on the board as Altman was brought back in his position. Billions of Investment…
Californians are facing water restrictions intended to reduce the burden of droughts. The restrictions are unlike any that Californians have faced before. The restrictions are intended to last indefinitely rather than for limited periods. Measures Still Await Final Approval Mark Neal Unsplash The regulations will not take effect immediately, as they still require approval from the Office of Administrative Law. Once approved, the new rules will come into effect on January 1 of next year. More Consistency in Restrictions Celso a Torres Pirron Unsplash The permanent reductions are intended to reduce the on-off nature of water restrictions, such as emergency…
Apple has conceded to pressure from the Russian government to restrict access to users from within the country to several apps on its app store in response to the state communications watchdog. Some of those hit have responded in strong terms, stating that Apple’s actions “actively support an authoritarian regime.” VPN Apps Removed from App Store Li Zhang Unsplash Apple removed several VPN apps from its app stores on July 4 following the request of Roskomnadzor, Russia’s state watchdog. A major VPN provider, NordVPN, had previously shut down all its Russian servers way back in 2019. Function of VPNs John…
Around 28000 people were evacuated from their homes on Thursday as wildfires raged near Oroville, California, and a planned 4th of July celebration had to be cancelled at the last minute. Wildfires have affected increasingly larger areas in the past three decades, which some scientists are attributing to human-induced climate change. Heatwaves Exacerbating Wildfires Marcus Kauffman Unsplash The wildfires have started during what could be an unprecedented heatwave in the state of California. Weather-watchers are keping an eye on Death valley in particular, where temperatures have a chance of breaking the world heat record of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Mass Evacuation…
Fisker Inc., the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer that recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, has asked for court approval to sell the remaining inventory of one of its electric car brands, the Ocean. At one point, Fisker Oceans sold at $70000, but, under the terms of the proposed sale, they would come to ~$14000 each. Fisker Incorporated Founded in 2016 Samuel Girven Unsplash Fisker Inc. emerged from Fisker Automotive in 2016 and went on to create the Fisker Ocean, an electric SUV that had a rocky start to its production. The co-founder of Fisker Automotive, Henrik Fisker, was a designer…
Microsoft employees were hit with another round of layoffs at the company as it looks to “prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas.” The number of employees laid off was not publicly disclosed by Microsoft, but several relatively high-ranked employees took to social media to announce their exits. Tech Industry Struggling to Employ Staff Annie Spratt Unsplash The tech industry as a whole has been employing a series of layoffs this year. According to layoffs.fyi, over 100,000 tech workers have been laid off already in 2024. Microsoft Making Cuts Across the Business Matthew Manuel Unsplash Microsoft teams all over appear…