ShinyShiny snippets: Paralysed man can walk again thanks to ‘digital bridge’

A paralysed man has been able to walk again after communication was re-established between his brain and spinal cord using a wireless "digital bridge". The so-called brain computer interface is made up of two electronic implants, one each in the brain and spinal cord. The former is placed above the region of the brain responsible…

ShinyShiny snippets: Meta fined €1.2bn for mishandling data

Facebook's owner, Meta, has been fined €1.2bn (£1bn) for mishandling people's data when transferring it between Europe and the United States. Issued by Ireland's Data Protection Commission, it is the largest fine imposed under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation privacy law. GDPR rules require companies to seek people's consent before using their personal data.…

ShinyShiny snippets: Tesla issues Optimus robot update

Tesla Optimus Humanoid Robot. Image: Tesla Having first revealed the new Roadster some six years ago and the Cybertruck in 2019 – but having thus far delivered, er, neither – it might not surprise you to hear Tesla's released a progress report about... robots. Last year Musk stated in an earnings call that Tesla's Optimus humanoid…

ShinyShiny snippets: Wind is main source of electricity for first time in UK

Wind turbines have generated more electricity than gas for the first time in the UK. In the first three months of this year a third of the country's electricity came from wind farms, research from Imperial College London have shown. National Grid has also confirmed that April saw a record period of solar energy generation.…

ShinyShiny snippets: Brit pleads guilty to 2020 Twitter hack

A British national extradited to the US last month has pleaded guilty in New York to a role in one of the biggest hacks in social media history. The July 2020 Twitter hack affected over 130 accounts including those of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Joseph James O'Connor, 23, known as PlugwalkJoe, pleaded guilty to…

ShinyShiny snippets: Google confirms Pixel Fold phone

Google has confirmed the Pixel Fold, its first foldable smartphone, with video teasers on both YouTube and Twitter. The company was expected to reveal the Pixel Fold at Google I/O next week, but leaks ruined that surprise. The device has a vertical hinge that unfolds into a tablet-like 7.6-inch display. There’s also an exterior screen, measuring 5.8 inches. Rumors…

ShinyShiny snippets: US won’t delay plane refit to combat 5G interference

The US will not delay a deadline for airlines to refit planes with new sensors to address possible 5G interference, despite concerns the cut-off date could cause travel disruption. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Tuesday that airlines were told the 1 July deadline remained in place. Airlines have warned that they will not be…