cdc CDC Museum Timeline Chronicles Origins and Early Spread of COVID-19 The CDC Museum offers a detailed timeline documenting the initial emergence of the novel coronavirus in late 2019 and the global health response in early 2020. The museum remains temporarily closed and requires advanced reservations for future visits.
coronavirus Coronavirus Spreads Rapidly Across Asia, Europe, and Middle East The novel coronavirus expands its global footprint with major spikes in South Korea and Italy, while Iran reports its first fatalities and the WHO warns the window for containment is narrowing.
oil prices Oil Prices Turn Negative as Storage Shortages Crisis Deepens Unprecedented oil storage shortages cause crude futures to drop below zero for the first time in history. This bizarre market event forces traders to actually pay buyers to take oil off their hands.
verizon Verizon's BlueJeans Acquisition Aims Beyond Remote Work Shift Verizon acquires enterprise video-conferencing tool BlueJeans for under $500 million, a deal that started long before the pandemic. The telecom giant plans to leverage its 5G network to advance the platform far beyond current work-from-home needs.
5g False 5G Pandemic Links Spark Arson Attacks on Cell Towers Baseless conspiracy theories connecting 5G networks to the coronavirus pandemic prompt vandals to set fire to cellphone towers across Europe. Telecommunications workers now face physical threats as they attempt to maintain critical infrastructure during the crisis.
covid-19 Italy Imposes Unprecedented National Lockdown to Combat COVID-19 Spread The Italian government places approximately 60 million residents under a strict national quarantine to control the rapidly growing COVID-19 outbreak. The massive restrictions represent the largest suppression of constitutional rights in the nation's history.
coronavirus Coronavirus Spreads Rapidly Across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East The novel coronavirus continues its global expansion with significant new outbreaks in South Korea, Italy, and Iran. World Health Organization officials warn that the window to contain the virus is rapidly narrowing.
clubhouse New Audio App Clubhouse Brings Spontaneous Voice Chats Online Clubhouse is a new, invite-only audio social network that lets users drop into spontaneous voice chat rooms, a concept gaining rapid popularity during the COVID-19 quarantine.
instagram founders Instagram Founders Launch Rt.live to Track COVID-19 Spread by State Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger introduce Rt.live, a dashboard that visualizes the real-time transmission rate of COVID-19 across individual states to guide public health decisions.
apps App Industry Navigates Pandemic With New Store Rules and Layoffs The mobile app industry continues to boom despite the pandemic, but companies like VSCO are making deep cuts to survive. Meanwhile, Instagram and TikTok roll out new features to support businesses and protect younger users.
coronavirus Rapid Virus Tests, 3D Printed Bugs, and the Universe's Matter Mystery This week's top tech stories highlight a push for universal coronavirus self-testing, a breakthrough in printing cheap insect-like robots, and new clues explaining why the universe contains matter instead of nothing.
airbnb Airbnb Cuts Contractors and Cancels Summer Internships Amid Pandemic Airbnb ends contracts for contingent workers and delays undergraduate hiring as the COVID-19 crisis disrupts the tech industry. Affected interns now face a sudden, highly competitive search for replacement opportunities.
facebook Facebook Introduces New Care Emoji Reaction During Pandemic Facebook rolls out a new "care" emoji reaction across its main app and Messenger to help users show support during the coronavirus pandemic. This marks the first addition to the platform's reaction options since expanding beyond the "like" button in 2015.
molotov French Streaming Service Molotov Launches Free Educational Video Platform Molotov partners with SchoolMouv to provide free video lessons for students during school closures. The new section aggregates educational TV content and offers around 1,000 lessons without requiring a credit card.
fintech Fintech Apps See Massive User Growth As Saving Replaces Spending Savings and investing apps like Robinhood and M1 Finance experience a huge surge in new accounts as consumers shift away from spending during the economic downturn.