Chris Wood
Recent discovery may change our understanding of how black holes form and evolve
Astronomers from the University of Texas at Austin have measured the second-largest black hole ever discovered. It takes up some 14 percent of the galaxy's mass and may lead to an overhaul of theories regarding the formation and evolution of black holes. Read More
A team of scientists, philosophers and engineers will form the new Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER) at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. The team will study key developments in technology, assessing “extinction-level” threats to humanity. Key among those threats is the possibility of the creation of an artificial general intelligence, an event that has the theoretical potential to leave humanity behind forever. Read More
Microsoft may change its hardware strategy, releasing an Xbox set-top box, or "Xbox TV," alongside a fully-fledged next-gen console. The less-powerful system would aim to compete with products such as Apple TV, providing users with both content streaming services and a casual gaming experience. Read More
Astronomers get their first close look at dwarf planet Makemake
In April 2011, Makemake – one of five dwarf planets in our Solar System – passed between Earth and a distant star. Using seven telescopes, an international team of astronomers observed the event, known as stellar occultation, and through careful analysis, have determined the planet's size, density, and even the nature of its atmosphere. Read More
The iOS version of Nokia's cloud-based mapping service has been released on Apple's App Store. The service boasts a number of compelling features and undoubtedly aims to capitalize on the problems iPhone and iPad owners have encountered while using Cupertino's own Maps app. Read More
McLaren has announced that it will supply and build the motors, transmissions and electronics for the 2014 Formula E season. FIA World Championship Formula E features solely electric powered cars, with races taking place in metropolitan centers around the globe. The support of the major motorsport name is likely to significantly boost the new championship's image. Read More
Apple is exploring the possibility of a long-term move away from Intel-manufactured processors in its Mac personal computers, a Bloomberg report suggests. The story comes from unnamed sources inside the company and suggests that the iPad manufacturer believes that its own ARM-based chips, currently used in iOS devices, may one day be up to the task. Read More
Spectacular 9-gigapixel image of the Milky Way released
The European Space Observatory (ESO) has released an impressive 9-gigapixel image of the central part of the Milky Way Galaxy. The historic image contains some 84 million stars and represents the largest ever catalog of the center of our home galaxy. Read More
This afternoon, Microsoft held a a presentation to celebrate the launch of its in-house Windows RT tablet, the Surface. The event, held separately from the main Windows 8 launch presentation, focused on the premium nature of the device and featured a potentially risky drop test. Read More
Earlier today, Microsoft held an event in New York to officially launch its new Windows 8 operating system. Just ahead of the 12.01 AM launch time for the new OS, the presentation focused on the improvements made in Windows 8 for a wide range of systems, as well as the paradigm-shifting nature of the release and the importance of the Windows Store for apps. Read More
