Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. Signal is considered one of the most privacy-focused chat apps out there with end-to-end encryption protection. A lot of journalists and activists use it to talk to people without fear of snooping. However, you have to currently give your phone number to someone to talk to them on the app. For extra precautions, you might want a secondary number for Signal. Un
There is a scene in Hulu’s new series, “The Dropout,” where Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, wearing a white blouse, stands in front of a mirror and practices saying, “This is an inspiring step forward.” With each iteration, her voice deepens. As the world has learned about Theranos’ web of deception – whether through John Carreyrou’s bestselling book, “Bad Blood,” Apple’s podcast series “The Dropout” or Hulu’s streaming series of the same name – Holmes’ supposed attempt to alter her voice is
3D printed concrete may lead to a shift in architecture and construction. Because it can be used to produce new shapes and forms that current technologies struggle with, it may change the centuries-old processes and procedures that are still used to construct buildings, resulting in lower costs and saved time. However, concrete has a significant environmental impact. Vast quantities of natural sand are currently used to meet the world’s insatiable appetite for concrete, at great cost to the envi
It’s tough being a college student in the US these days. The stresses of studying, pandemic rules, exorbitant fees, and douchebags with guitars can make for trying times. But don’t worry, fellow kidz: AI has arrived to alleviate your worries. Meet the new digital university president: Image: UNLV The system is a digital twin of Keith Whitfield, the human president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “I had this kind of grandiose desire to talk to every single student, and I think I said that
Whenever I mention ebikes to the kind of people who wear a lot of lycra, the most common response is an eye roll. They might not say it, but they equate a motor-assisted bike with “cheating.” In other words, it’s not proper exercise. But if we look at an ebike in terms of fitness compared to a regular bike, is it cheating? Can it get you — and keep — you fit? What’s your definition of fitness? Firstly, fitness means a lot of things to different people. For example, is it: Resting heart rate? Lu
If you’re impressed by Martian rovers and helicopters, wait till you see what’s on the horizon. NASA has unveiled a range of visionary tech that could be used in future space missions. The projects are the latest members of the Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program, which funds early-stage studies to evaluate their potential. The new cohort joins an array of innovations that were already in the program. Here’s our pick of the most intriguing ideas. Turning asteroids into giant spacecraft C
The U.S.tech sector is growing 10 times faster and has wages twice as high as the rest of the economy. This industry also wins the race for high profits and stock returns. At the same time, the tech sector’s professional, managerial and executive labor forces are overwhelmingly white and male. It is not surprising, then, that the field is under a great deal of pressure to diversify its labor force. As researchers who study inequality, we examined the data to go beyond the picture of diversity in
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is horrifying. Western leaders, fearing a broader war, are responding primarily with economic sanctions. A prominent economic sanction has been Russia’s exclusion from the international payments messaging system SWIFT, presented as a powerful means of undermining its economy. But for a payments expert such as myself, this is something of a myth. Yes, SWIFT messaging systems are a critical part of international economic activity. They provide extremely secure communic
Jeep’s current eco-friendly vehicles are plug-in hybrids, but the American brand is now ready to take the next step towards electrification. Yes, folks, I present to you Jeep’s very first EV, the… Okay, it doesn’t even have a name yet. But here it is: Image: Stellantis Image: Stellantis If you don’t feel wowed, I feel you. It’s a slick-looking car, yet rather ordinary, and I expected something more from the automaker’s electric vehicle flagship. And if you’re thinking “don’t judge a book by i
The past two years have provided some extreme dynamics for technology and innovation. Business and industries were shaken up and some were forced to adapt to digitization faster than planned. 2021 was the year to refine goals and adapt to a new reality. However, 2022 has the potential to become a year of even bigger changes. When experts discuss fast-growing trends in technology, eCommerce is one of the leading examples. No surprise there, we’re talking about an industry with a tremendous growth