1 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to tech Stuff, a production from I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: Hey there, and welcome to tech Stuff. I'm your host, 3 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 1: Jonathan Strickland. I'm an executive producer with I Heart Radio, 4 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: and I love all things tech. But you can call 5 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: me Techno King. I hear that that that title is 6 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: actually already taken. This is the tech news for Tuesday, 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: March twenty one. An internet security company called e set 8 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: that's e s e T reports that several well funded 9 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: hacking groups, perhaps as many as six, we're actively exploiting 10 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: the zero day vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Exchange Server product. 11 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: I reported on this problem last week, and now it 12 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: appears as though it's gotten much more serious than it 13 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: was first reported. Previously, micros often said it had detected 14 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: the Chinese backed hacking group Halfnium, that that was the 15 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: group that had taken advantage of the vulnerabilities in the software. 16 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: Set says it wasn't just Halfnium, but also hacker groups 17 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: called calypso w, Nitty Group, web Sick, Lucky Mouse, and Tick. 18 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: The Register reports that a cybersecurity researcher in Taiwan with 19 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: the handle orange Sigh discover the vulnerability way back on 20 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 1: December and had even built an exploit that would give 21 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: a hacker the ability to perform a remote code execution 22 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,639 Speaker 1: attack on a targeted system with the vulnerable software in place. 23 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,960 Speaker 1: Now that security speak, that means it would give hackers 24 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: the opportunity to run processes on a targeted computer. So 25 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: you could compromise a machine and then have it execute 26 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: other code and thus get even further control over the device. 27 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: Orange Side had actually built out such a potential attack 28 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: vector by January one, But this hacker wasn't actually looking 29 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: to cause damage. Instead, it was to see if those 30 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: vulnerabilities could be exploited in this way. They could, so 31 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: he reported his discovery to Microsoft on January five, and 32 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: then he worked with Microsoft employees to draft a report 33 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: that was then sent to the company's primary security partners 34 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: around the world. That was sent out on February twenty three. 35 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: In the meantime, half of the hum exploited those same 36 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: vulnerabilities way back on January three, and a second wave 37 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: of attacks happened five days after Microsoft sentence report, So 38 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: the timing raises some questions. As pointed out in the register, 39 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 1: it's possible that all of these groups independently found the 40 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: same vulnerabilities and exploited them. It's also possible that there 41 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: was a lot of cooperation between those groups of hackers, 42 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: or it might even be possible that the later five 43 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: hacking groups learned about the vulnerability from the February twenty 44 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: three report, or maybe even we're spying on the the 45 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: Microsoft team and Orange Size as they were drafting their report. 46 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: We just don't know the timing. But whatever the case, 47 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: it was bad. Something odd happened on Twitter over the weekend. Well, okay, 48 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: many odd things frequently happened on Twitter, but in this case, 49 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:34,359 Speaker 1: it was that the word Memphis became the city that 50 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: must not be named or something like that. Because if 51 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: you did sendella tweet that contained the word Memphis in 52 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: over the weekend, you got hit with a twelve hour suspension. 53 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: Naughty you. Now, according to those who got hit with this, 54 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: I think we can call it an over the top reaction. 55 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: The word was somehow triggering Twitter's moderation policies, specifically in 56 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 1: regards to rules against posting private information to Twitter. So, 57 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: for example, you're not supposed to post someone else's address 58 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: on Twitter. That's against the rules. Twitter cleared things up 59 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: in a tweet of their own stating that quote, A 60 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: number of accounts that tweeted the word Memphis were temporary 61 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: limited due to a bug. It's been fixed and the 62 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: accounts have now been restored. We're sorry this happened. End quote. 63 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: And here I was thinking that it was Belgium that 64 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: was the rudest word in the universe. Thanks Douglas Adams, 65 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: he steered me wrong again. Heading over to Facebook, Reuter's 66 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: reports that the company has begun adding labels to posts 67 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: dedicated to discussing the safety of the various COVID vaccines, 68 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: and soon they are going to extend this labeling system 69 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: to all posts about the COVID vaccines in general. It 70 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: will also launch a vaccine tracking tool to help people 71 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: in the United States find where they can go to 72 00:04:55,960 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: get vaccinated once they are eligible. Previously, Facebook came under 73 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: fire due to the proliferation of misinformation about vaccines that 74 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: spread across the platform, much in the same way as 75 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: misinformation campaigns affected political discourse in the United States in 76 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: twenty And this is really a big move in a 77 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 1: lot of ways because Facebook has long maintained a very 78 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 1: stand office approach when it comes to handling misinformation campaigns 79 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: In general, but in particular ones against vaccines, not just 80 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: COVID vaccines, but all vaccines. So the new labels include 81 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,239 Speaker 1: messaging that explains that these vaccines go through rigorous testing 82 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: before they're ever deployed to the public, and they represent 83 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 1: a safe course of action, particularly compared to not getting 84 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: the vaccination. Now, the company is also building out its 85 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: list of banned false claims about the COVID vaccine and 86 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: the disease in general, and as such has removed around 87 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: two million additional posts from Facebook and Instagram as result 88 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: over the last couple of months. And uh, this is 89 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: a crazy one. The company says it's now pulling back 90 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: on the reach of users who have been flagged for 91 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: posting false information repeatedly. Now, who could have thought that 92 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: by turning off the amplify signal on a message you 93 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: could reduce its overall impact on people. I get the 94 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: whole freedom of speech thing, but it's not just freedom 95 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: of speech. It's that Facebook, like I said, amplifies messaging, 96 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: and by taking that move to reduce that, that's a huge, 97 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: huge thing. As for vaccines, I sincerely hope everyone out there, 98 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: everyone out there who can get it goes and gets 99 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: it so all of you folks out there, when you're eligible, 100 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: I hope you're able to go and get the vaccine 101 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: as soon as possible. I registered to be notified when 102 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: I'm eligible. I'm in Georgia. Our state is dead last 103 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: in the United States when it comes to vaccination, so 104 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: not huge hopes that's going to happen super fast for me, 105 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: but I did register for it. Now, I have a 106 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,679 Speaker 1: history with severe allergic reactions, so I have some concerns 107 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 1: about getting it, but I plan on getting my vaccine 108 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: in a medical center of some sorts so I can 109 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: at least be under observation in case I go into 110 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: ani fyl axis, because trust me, that's not fun at all. 111 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: But I'm still gonna get it because we do need 112 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: to get to herd immunity and protect each other. It's important. 113 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: So y'all stay safe out there, Okay, be careful, get 114 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: vaccinated when you can, and hey, I love you, so 115 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: take care of yourself. The U. S. Department of Justice 116 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: announced an indictment against the CEO of sky Global, Jean 117 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 1: Francois EEP, as well as Thomas Herdman, a former Sky 118 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: Global distributor. Now the d o J is accusing these 119 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: two of having facilitated the development, sale, and distribution of 120 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: special encrypted phones to international drug traffickers in violation of 121 00:07:54,360 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act or RICO. Now, essentially, 122 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: the d o J is saying, you guys create a 123 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: way for criminals to communicate with one another in a 124 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: secret and secure way, and that means your complicit in 125 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: helping them commit crimes. But those accusations actually go beyond that. 126 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: They allege that sky Global wasn't just providing the communication infrastructure, 127 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: but also allowing for money laundering activities, primarily in the 128 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: form of cryptocurrency transactions. On top of that, the d 129 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: o J states that sky Global set up numerous shell 130 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: companies to try and hide what was going on. So 131 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: if these allegations are true, I believe we really should 132 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: see justice served against those who are responsible. Part of 133 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: me worries that this is also an attack on encryption 134 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 1: in general. That's something that various law enforcement agencies around 135 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: the world have targeted in various ways, and you can 136 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: sort of understand from their perspective, right, encryption makes it 137 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:57,559 Speaker 1: very hard to suss out what people, including criminals, are doing. 138 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: But it also provides protection against governments or government agencies 139 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: or gigantic private companies that might otherwise abuse the rights 140 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: of citizens and others. So, in other words, criminals might 141 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,440 Speaker 1: use encryption, but encryption isn't a crime now. I say 142 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: that only so that we keep an eye on this 143 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: story to see how the legal argument shapes up against 144 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 1: sky Global, to make sure that we're not seeing an 145 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:32,680 Speaker 1: attempt to undermine encryption as a valid approach in the 146 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: first place. Router's reports that India is poised to pass 147 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: a law that would make it illegal to mine, trade, transfer, 148 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: or possess private cryptocurrencies, while leaving the door open for 149 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 1: a state backed digital currency. An earlier version of this 150 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: bill had even suggested a jail sentence of around ten 151 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: years for violating the law, though as I record this episode, 152 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,080 Speaker 1: it's unclear whether or not that penalty made it into 153 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,320 Speaker 1: the more recent version of the law. It is not 154 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: available for public review. Now. Should this law pass, and 155 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: it looks like it's going to, Indian citizens will have 156 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 1: a grace period of about six months to liquidate their 157 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: digital wallets or face penalties. At the time I record this, 158 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: cryptocurrency transactions are way up in India, where it's estimated 159 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,719 Speaker 1: that investors hold about one point four billion dollars worth 160 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: of cryptocurrency. But I should stress that is just an 161 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: estimate because there's virtually no hard data available to make 162 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: a more firm claim than that. It sounds as though 163 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: investors are determined to stick with cryptocurrency, at least until 164 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: the bill becomes official. Now, at that point, are we 165 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 1: going to see a massive move to sell off cryptocurrency 166 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,840 Speaker 1: and it's so, how will that affect the value of 167 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: currencies like bitcoin? All of that remains to be seen. 168 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: And while some leaders in India have likened cryptocurrency to 169 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: ponzi schemes, I think that might be going a bit 170 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: too far. Yeah, there are a lot of ponzi schemes 171 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:02,439 Speaker 1: that lean on the public's general lack of understanding about cryptocurrencies. 172 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: But the value of cryptocurrency is at least as real 173 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:10,199 Speaker 1: as other kinds of money is, I guess, though I 174 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: would still argue it's not really terribly useful as a 175 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: currency due to the volatility of bitcoin. Tender, the dating app, 176 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: is about to get a new feature, match Group, the 177 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: company that owns Tender, as well as Hinge Okay, Cupid, 178 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 1: and Match has announced that it has invested in a 179 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:33,239 Speaker 1: background check platform called Garbo. As described on the Garbo website, 180 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: the company is quote a new kind of background check 181 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: designed to help proactively prevent gender based violence in the 182 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: digital age end quote. Garbo itself is a not for 183 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: profit organization founded by women, and the goal is to 184 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: provide access to public reports and records that could indicate 185 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: that it's most definitely time to swipe left on that 186 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,840 Speaker 1: perspective date. Those records include stuff like criminal records like 187 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: arrests and convictions, and what or not the person has had, say, 188 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 1: a restraining order filed against them in the past, and 189 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: other data like that that makes it clear that you're 190 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: not looking at mr right, You're looking at Mr. This 191 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: guy is seriously bad news. However, Garbo reps have also 192 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: acknowledged there are disparities to take into account when scraping 193 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 1: the internet for signs that your possible date has had 194 00:12:20,679 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: a brush with the law. Here in the United States, 195 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: there's no denying that there are systemic iniquities in the 196 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: justice system, and as a result, people of color are 197 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: disproportionately affected by these flaws. To that end, Garbo has 198 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: said that they would take that into account and strikes 199 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 1: stuff like charges of drug possession out of the equation, 200 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: so those are not factored into reports. Those disproportionately affect 201 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: people of color. As of right now, there is no 202 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:50,719 Speaker 1: integration on TENDER yet, so it's impossible for me to 203 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: say what form this is going to take once it 204 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:57,000 Speaker 1: is implemented. But beyond the lookout for that, a group 205 00:12:57,040 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: of scientists, including University of Arizona researcher Jacken Thonga, have 206 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: proposed an interesting project, and it involves sending examples of 207 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:07,839 Speaker 1: sperm and egg cells from more than six and a 208 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: half million species of animals to the Moon, along with 209 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: thousands of different types of seeds. It's similar to something 210 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: we already have here on Earth. This val Barred Seed Bank, 211 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: which is in Norway, keeps hundreds of thousands of seeds 212 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: safe in an effort to ensure biodiversity on the planet. 213 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: As regents cut back on biodiversity, there's an increased risk 214 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: that a disease or blight could wipe out enormous populations 215 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: of plants. Because they're all essentially the same plant, they 216 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:42,080 Speaker 1: all have the same lack of ability to withstand certain 217 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: types of illness. Then if they get wiped out, all 218 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: the life forms that depend on those plants could suffer, 219 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: and then the ones that depend upon the animals that 220 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: depend on the plants, and so on. It goes up 221 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: the chain. But here's the problem with that. See Norway, 222 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: at least last I checked, is actually on Earth. In fact, 223 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: Earth is as the superhero the tick would say, where 224 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: we keep all our stuff? And if something truly calamitous 225 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 1: were to happen to the Earth, all of that would 226 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: be gone. Therefore, say these scientists, wouldn't it be a 227 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: great idea to establish a sort of vault on the 228 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: Moon to keep safe samples of various life forms, so 229 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: that should a true catastrophe occur, there will still be 230 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: samples that survivors of that catastrophe can retrieve to help 231 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: prepare the damage. The team suggests that we build a 232 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: vault within the lava tubes that are under the surface 233 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: of the Moon. These tubes have been dormant for billions 234 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: of years and completely untouched in the meantime. Donga estimates 235 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: that to establish this vault on the Moon would require 236 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: around two hundred fifty rocket launches, both to send up 237 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 1: all the various components to make up the vault itself 238 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: and the three five million samples that would be housed there. 239 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 1: The concept gets really science ACTIONI though it's all based 240 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: in science fact. So, for example, the storage temperatures needed 241 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: to preserve the samples would be so incredibly low, I 242 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: mean like crazy cold, that metal itself would freeze, which 243 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: makes shelving a bit of a headache for storing all 244 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: these samples. So the researchers have proposed using superconductor material that, 245 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: when cool to these very very cold temperatures, can enter 246 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: into a type of magnetic lock when paired with a 247 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: permanent magnet, and you get quantum levitation. This is something 248 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: we can do here on Earth if you have access 249 00:15:33,160 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: to the right equipment. It's not easy to get hold of, 250 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: but you can do it, and it's really interesting. Now, 251 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: the thought of using superconductors as shelving tickles me quite 252 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 1: a bit. As it stands, this is all a proposal, 253 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: it's not an actual project yet. Whether we ever see 254 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 1: a real series of missions to carry this out remains 255 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: to be seen. And finally, in Pennsylvania, robots are people too, well, 256 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: not really, but they are kind of sort of classified 257 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: as podest Trians. If they happen to be autonomous delivery drones. 258 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 1: The state has deemed it legal for delivery robots to 259 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: make use of sidewalks and pathways as well as roadways, 260 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: and that they will be considered as pedestrians from a 261 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: legal standpoint. That means it's officially legal for these robots 262 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: to share the road and sidewalks with human beings, which 263 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:23,880 Speaker 1: is a big deal because making robots that are safe 264 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: to interact in human spaces that have actual human beings 265 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: in them, and we human beings tend to be squishy, well, 266 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: that's a really challenging field of robotics. It requires a 267 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: lot of work to make the robots safer operation within 268 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 1: those spaces, as well as the designs to keep the 269 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 1: robots protected because you know, people are just the worst. 270 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: Add to that the fact that humans can be distracted, 271 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: which means the robots might have to factor in someone 272 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: who isn't really paying attention as they walk down the sidewalk. 273 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: I know I've been guilty of that, Or the fact 274 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: that human beings can change their minds really quickly and 275 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: stop in place all of a sudden or change direction immediately. 276 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: You've got a lot of logical challenges you have to tackle. 277 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: But these rules that Pennsylvania is putting in place well 278 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: mean companies can at least operate their robots on the 279 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: sidewalks and such within certain parameters, like once a robot 280 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: gets particularly massive, it's no longer legally allowed on sidewalks. 281 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,400 Speaker 1: But not everyone is a big fan of this idea. 282 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: I may have to do a full episode dedicated to this, 283 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 1: because it's an interesting challenge, not just from a tech standpoint, 284 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: but also a legal standpoint and then a cultural standpoint. 285 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: So there's a lot of different factors at play here, 286 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 1: but I'll save that for a later episode. Well that's it. 287 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: Those are the top stories I have for you for Tuesday, 288 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: March one. I hope you guys are staying safe. Join 289 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: me for a new episode of tech Stuff tomorrow, and 290 00:17:53,800 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 1: I'll talk to you again really soon. Text Stuff is 291 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: an I Heart Radio production. For more podcasts from I 292 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 293 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.