A team led by Google Cloud’s Emma Haruka Iwao found 100 TRILLION digits of the mathematical constant — smashing the previous benchmark of 31.4 trillion. Brainiacs have sought to extend pi for millennia, but in recent years the digits have increased exponentially. Advances in computing are now causing records to regularly tumble. A 2019 milestone that was also set by Iwao was surpassed within months. That landmark was then overturned the next year, before Iwao reclaimed her crown this March....

These aren’t easy puzzles to solve. We can’t directly sample the inner core, so the key to unravelling its mysteries lies in collaboration between seismologists, who indirectly sample it with seismic waves, geodynamicists, who create models of its dynamics, and mineral physicists, who study the behavior of iron alloys at high pressures and temperatures. Combining these disciplines, scientists have delivered an important clue about what’s happening miles beneath our feet....

According to NPR, which first reported the development, the attackers want a collective ransom of $2.5 million. So far, there are no indications the amount has been paid. On August 20, the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) said as many as 23 state-run services — including police departments and libraries — had been had been affected by file-encrypting malware. Though very little is known about the attack’s origin or the strain of ransomware used, the agency revised the count to 22 two days later....

“I was not aware of the attack against OKEx yesterday. I’m interested to understand similarities,” tweeted Bitfinex CTO Paulo Ardoino. “We’ve seen a level of sophistication that means a deep preparation from the attacker.” While I’m saying this I’m touching balls (as we say in Italy) or touching wood.JK: I’m 100% confident in our solution — Paolo Ardoino (@paoloardoino) February 28, 2020 While OKEx remains largely unaffected beyond, trade on Bitfinex was suspended for around an hour, cryptocurrency news outlet CoinDesk reported....

The 1:1 model results from a three-way partnership between LEGO Japan, LEGOLAND Japan, and Toyota Gazoo Racing to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Toyota Supra. According to auto evolution, the LEGO model took 3,000 development hours and an additional 2,400 building hours. It weighs in at 1,885 kilograms which is just under 200 kilos more than the original. The eye-catching car is made almost entirely of bricks, but the wheels, driver’s seat, steering wheel, gauge cluster, and badging come from an actual Supra....

But there are plenty of hidden features that were not announced at the keynote. In this post, we’ll try and sum up all these features for you. Wifi and Bluetooth selection from the control center The new update solves one of my biggest gripes with iOS – not being able to select the WiFi network or Bluetooth connection directly from the control center. Now, all you have to do is long press on the WiFi/Bluetooth widget to bring up the menu, then use 3D touch on WiFi or Bluetooth toggles to see the available networks, then select the connection you want....

“Everyone has a story to tell, everyone is a writer. Some are written in the books and some are confined to hearts.” – Savi Sharma Everybody has the tale that’s been lurking inside them for years. Maybe it’s a remembrance of childhood. Maybe it’s a life-defining incident or turning point. And maybe it’s just one helluva story that nobody’s ever told quite the way you want to tell it. First off, bravo!...

Tired of Facebook too? We’ve got a guide for that. Oh, and Instagram? Yep, here’s how to delete that too. Updated 4/25/22: So Elon Musk just bought Twitter for 44 billion dollars. Coincidentally, you’re also thinking now’s about the right time to get rid of your Twitter account. Maybe it’s best to just get away from it all and watch the imminent chaos from the sidelines. Or maybe you don’t care about Musk, but just think you can use a break for a few days....

We spoke to Emma V Jackson, a consultant and coach for the tech and creative industries, to find out what causes demotivation at work, what managers can look out for, and how best to address this. So, read on to find out how you can motivate yourself and your team, depending on whether you’re a manager or an employee. [Read: Here’s how to make your virtual meetings more efficient]...

Case in point: I’m currently writing this while on a plane flying to visit my in-laws (vaccinated and masked, of course). We can get into whether a working vacation meets the definition of vacation at all another time. But it’s hard to fully unplug and unwind as a freelance business owner. There always seem to be emails to answer, clients to manage, and marketing to do—not to mention deadlines to meet—all driven by that nagging fear that if I slow down, I’ll lose work or clients (or both)....

Here’s how to tune in as the event kicks off on September 10, at 10AM PDT / 1PM EDT / 7PM CEST / 10:30PM IST. Tune in to the stream on YouTube on any supported device by following this link or simply hitting the ‘play’ button in the embedded player below. Fire up Safari on your Mac (macOS Sierra 10.12 or later), or Edge on your Windows 10 PC, and point it to apple....

Particle accelerators allow physicists to study subatomic particles by speeding them up in powerful magnetic fields and then tracing the interactions that result from collisions. By delving into the mysteries of the Universe, colliders have entered the Zeitgeist and tapped the wonders and fears of our age. As far back as 2008, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), operated by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), was charged with creating microscopic black holes that would allow physicists to detect extra dimensions....

Now, a new study by the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) Physics Frontiers Center (PFC) has detected a low-frequency signal that might be gravitational waves. “We can’t yet say with confidence that what we’re seeing is gravitational waves, but if it is, the “signal” makes a lot of sense given what we think we know about supermassive black holes. This was always how this was going to play out… enticing hints of a signal before we would be able to definitively claim a detection....

Normally when you think of “bad design,” you think of the designer as being sloppy or lazy — but without a bad intention. Dark patterns, on the other hand, are not mistakes. They’re carefully crafted with a solid understanding of human psychology, that benefit the business, not users. The term was coined back in 2010 by UK-based UX designer Harry Brignull, who runs DarkPattners.org — a website dedicated to naming and shaming websites that use deceptive and unethical user interfaces....

The UN estimates there’s a cyber attack every 39 seconds. As cybercriminals lurk undercover, the cybersecurity industry has evolved to block the most undetectable attacks with groundbreaking technologies. Now, experts are finding inspiration in some of the most sophisticated technology that exists – the human body. Scientists and banks: teaming up for cybersecurity solutions Three-quarters of financial services companies reported a spike in cybercrimes in 2020. McAfee estimates $1 trillion has been lost globally, due to cyberattacks....

Liberals on Facebook are given one picture of ExxonMobil. To them, the multibillion-dollar oil giant sells itself as turning over a new leaf, exploring “carbon capture” techniques that put carbon back into the ground. If you’re a conservative, Exxon has a very different message: “The oil and gas industry is THE engine that powers America’s economy,” reads one ad targeted at conservatives. “Help us make sure unnecessary regulations don’t slow energy growth....

Well, there might be a way to test many patients with a few test tubes. Instead of using one test tube to produce a result for one sample, we can use several test tubes to test many more samples – with the help of some logic. The general idea is simple. A sample taken from each of our theoretical patients is distributed to half of the test tubes that we have, in different combinations....

The Business of Mobility is an Urban Mobility Company series highlighting some of the most successful new businesses in the mobility sector. Featuring a closer look at the way in which companies stand out, CEOs, Directors and other c-level executives elaborate on what it takes to turn a great idea into a great company. Pierre Regnier, CEO of Velco, explains how Velco is working with both operators and manufacturers to improve the functionality of micromobility and help clients build long-term relationships with end-users...

Looking to attend TNW2020 but still need it approved by your manager? Our tech festival will welcome 400 amazing speakers and guarantees two days of fun – but that might not be enough to convince your boss. Don’t fret! We’ve got you covered. Here are three “bottom line and boss ready” reasons why TNW2020 is the number one event for your calendar in 2020: It’s the best way to connect with the tech community Amsterdam’s digital connectivity is amongst the best in the world....

Ah, dark mode — the charcoal gray color palette associated with night time and eyeball-saving. It’s not without its detractors, not even among my own colleagues. But there are plenty of people, including me, who can’t get enough of the dusty-colored theme. Luckily dark mode is available on just about every device and app — so we’ll walk you through how to make your digital life just a little bit darker....