ESMH Media Review – May 12, 2021
Disinformation, AI & Covid-19: check out the ESMH selection of 29 science & tech news published in the last weeks on the web.
on May 12, 2021
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covid-19, digital, disinformation, fake news, infodemic, vaccine -
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In the spotlight
Digital learning gap leaves european students at risk of online 'Infodemic', new OECD Pisa report reveals
europapress, 04.05.2021
European students are struggling to manage the flood of information provided by internet and digital services, according to a new OECD PISA-report ‘21 Century Readers: Developing literacy skills in a digital world’.
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Hillary Clinton: ‘There has to be a global reckoning with disinformation’
guardian, 06.05.2021
Her bid for the White House was engulfed by a tidal wave of fabricated news and false conspiracy theories. Now Hillary Clinton is calling for a “global reckoning” with disinformation that includes reining in the power of big tech.
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EU accuses Russia and China of vaccine disinformation war
thetimes, 02.05.2021
Russia and China are trying to undermine trust in western coronavirus vaccines while promoting their own jabs and using tensions with Britain over vaccines to sow division, an EU report has found.
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Digital transition
Artificial Intelligence and the future of humans
forbes, 06.05.2021
Artificial intelligence is already impacting virtually every industry and every human being. This incredible technology has brought many good and questionable things into our lives, and it will create an even bigger impact in the next two decades.
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Making skin for robots is hard. But success could bring huge benefits for humans, too
zdnet, 06.05.2021
To recreate a human in robot form is no small piece of work. Making a human brain? Researchers have already started modelling synapses and neurons in software and hardware. A robot that can move like a human? Researchers are already building artificial muscles, joints and tendons for the bipedal machines.
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Environmental sustainability
UNH research: more than one way for animals to survive climate change
eurekalert, 06.05.2021
As climate change continues to trigger the rise in temperature, increase drier conditions and shift precipitation patterns, adapting to new conditions will be critical for the long-term survival of most species.
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Mobility & Energy
China tech titans go all in amid global electric car frenzy
japantimes, 01.05.2021
China is shaping up to be the first real test of Big Tech’s ambitions in the world of carmaking, with giants from Huawei Technologies Co. to Baidu Inc. plowing almost $19 billion into electric and self-driving vehicle ventures widely seen as the future of transport.
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https://twitter.com/wef/status/1390331780050399233
Agriculture & Food
EU gives green light to bloc’s first edible insect
euractiv-en, 05.05.2021
Dried yellow mealworms have become the first edible insect to get the go-ahead for marketing authorisation in the EU after receiving the approval of member states in a landmark decision.
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Scientists and industry cheer outcome of Commission study on gene editing
sciencebusiness, 04.05.2021
Genomics researchers and the agriculture industry have welcomed the publication of a long-awaited report recommending EU legislation on genetically modified organisms be updated to allow the use targeted gene editing in crops.
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https://twitter.com/HorizonEU_CL6/status/1390196143490015232
Health
3D detectors measure social distancing to help fight Covid-19
swissinfo, 08.05.2021
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have repurposed an algorithm they initially developed for self-driving cars to help people observe social distancing rules.
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Developed at UCI, new tool helps predict patients’ risk of coronavirus complications
news-uci, 06.05.2021
Now UC Irvine scientists have created a tool that uses artificial intelligence to help predict which patients may need that higher level of care.
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Researchers develop better way to determine safe drug doses for children
eurekalert, 06.05.2021
Determining safe yet effective drug dosages for children is an ongoing challenge for pharmaceutical companies and medical doctors alike. A new drug is usually first tested on adults, and results from these trials are used to select doses for pediatric trials.
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Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Moderna booster increases antibodies against COVID-19 variants, early data shows
reuters-uk, 05.05.2021
Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) said on Wednesday early human trial data shows that a third dose of either its current COVID-19 shot or an experimental new vaccine candidate increases immunity against variants of COVID-19 first found in Brazil and South Africa.
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Science policy & Communication
Twitter launches prompt asking users to rethink abusive tweets
guardian, 06.05.2021
Many of us have dashed off a mean-spirited reply in the heat of the moment. Now, Twitter wants to appeal to the good inside even the most callous trolls in an attempt to improve the tone of its social network.
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Brussels calls for a law to protect Europe's endangered journalists
euronews-en, 03.05.2021
The EU should recognise the media's special role as one of the pillars of democracy, according to a senior figure at the European Commission (EC). Věra Jourová said the bloc should introduce a media freedom act for the purpose.
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EU initiatives
EU to rely on wastewater surveillance to track COVID-19 variants
euractiv-en, 05.05.2021
Wastewater surveillance can be used to track the spread of new variants of the coronavirus among Europe’s population, the EU’s Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.
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https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1388826670212296704
Curious news
Eight Asiatic lions at Indian zoo test positive for Covid
independent-UK, 04.05.2021
Animals showing symptoms including dry coughs, loss of appetite and nasal discharge. An Asiatic lion reacts as a worker of the Kamla Nehru Zoological Garden wearing protective gears sprays disinfectant during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus.
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https://twitter.com/wef/status/1390607618813665288