beijing olympics Robotic Chefs and Overhead Rails Feed Beijing Olympics Attendees To enforce strict COVID-19 protocols within the Olympic "closed loop," Beijing relies on robot chefs to cook and deliver meals directly to partitioned tables.
gig economy Gig Workers Face Public Health Crisis Due to Lack of Employee Benefits Rideshare drivers say their classification as independent contractors during the coronavirus pandemic creates a public health disaster. Without paid sick leave or health benefits, these essential workers face impossible choices between their health and their livelihoods.
nike Nike and Apple Shut All US Stores to Slow Coronavirus Spread Major retailers Nike and Apple close their U.S. storefronts until late March to promote social distancing, while other chains like Walmart reduce operating hours.
5g US Officials Alarmed as 5G Conspiracy Theories Spark UK Cell Tower Arson U.S. intelligence officials conclude that recent arson attacks on British cell towers stem from debunked online conspiracy theories linking 5G technology to the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic fear these dangerous falsehoods could inspire similar violence elsewhere.
internet archive Publishers Win Final Ruling Against Internet Archive's Unlicensed E-Book Lending A federal court delivers a definitive defeat to the Internet Archive by upolding a previous ruling that its pandemic-era e-book lending program constitutes copyright infringement. The decision ends a lengthy legal battle but leaves the future of digital library lending uncertain.
ces CES 2023 Returns to Las Vegas Amid High Attendance Expectations The Consumer Technology Association prepares to host its first major in-person CES since early 2020, anticipating around 100,000 attendees after a rocky three-year pandemic pivot.
foxconn Foxconn Offers Massive Bonuses to Lure Workers Back After Unrest Foxconn is offering thousands of dollars in bonuses to entice workers back to its Zhengzhou factory following protests and a Covid-19 outbreak that threaten global iPhone supplies.
china Chinese Citizens Stage Widespread Protests Against Strict COVID Lockdowns Unrest erupts across China as frustrated citizens openly defy the government's strict zero-COVID policies and ongoing lockdown measures. These public demonstrations represent a rare and significant show of defiance against state mandates.
foxconn Foxconn Workers Clash With Police Over Pay and COVID Lockdowns at iPhone Plant Hundreds of workers protest at Foxconn's massive Zhengzhou facility, smashing cameras and demanding unpaid wages while facing strict COVID quarantine measures. Police respond with tear gas as the contractor denies the unrest impacts iPhone production.
beijing olympics China Showcases Advanced Robotics and Digital Currency at Beijing Winter Olympics Beijing uses the Winter Games as a global showcase for its technological advancements, deploying robots and a new digital currency inside a strict pandemic bubble.
olympics Robot Bartenders and Automated Cafeterias Take Over Beijing Olympics China uses the 2022 Winter Olympics to showcase charming, automated robots that mix drinks, flip burgers, and enforce COVID-19 mask protocols in Beijing.
ces 2022 CES 2022 Wraps Up Early Amid Pandemic Shifts The Consumer Electronics Show concludes a day early as COVID-19 prompts major tech brands to opt for virtual presentations instead of in-person showcases. Remote coverage still highlights major unveilings across smartphones, laptops, and futuristic vehicles.
covid-19 DNA Sequencing Explains How Scientists Identify COVID-19 Variants Researchers use DNA sequencing to track mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus and identify new variants like Omicron. This process reveals changes in the virus's genetic code that affect how it spreads and evades immunity.
covid-19 DNA Sequencing Explains How Scientists Identify COVID-19 Variants Scientists use DNA sequencing to track mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus and identify new variants like Omicron. This process reveals changes in the virus's genetic code that affect how it spreads and evades immunity.
artificial intelligence AI Model Accurately Predicts Dominant Coronavirus Variants Before They Spread A machine learning tool named PyR0 analyzes millions of genetic sequences to forecast which COVID-19 variants will become dominant. The system successfully predicted the rise of both the Alpha and Omicron BA.2 subvariants weeks before global health officials flagged them.