Monthly Archives: September 2022

Russian diplomat suggests attacks on satellites in possible reference to Starlink

Enlarge / A stack of 60 Starlink satellites launched in 2019. (credit: SpaceX / Flickr) A Russian diplomat said civilian satellites could be legitimate military targets in a statement that seems to refer to Starlink providing broadband access in Ukraine. Civilian satellites “may become a legitimate target for retaliation,” the Russian official said in a…

Fire ant rafts form because of the Cheerios effect, study concludes

Enlarge / Georgia Tech scientists found that the so-called “Cheerios effect” is the mechanism by which fire ants cluster together to form rafts. (credit: Hungtang Ko) Fire ants might be the scourge of southern states like Georgia and Texas, but scientifically, they are endlessly fascinating as an example of collective behavior. A few fire ants spaced well…

Being a victim of rape costs an average of $3,500 in medical bills, study finds

Enlarge / Oral swaps and a Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit (rape kit). (credit: Getty | MediaNews Group) Seeking emergency medical care in the US after a sexual assault can incur hefty hospital bills that may deter assault reporting and compound victims’ trauma, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of…

Parler forms a new parent company to offer ‘uncancelable’ cloud services

One of the alternative social networks to emerge out of the social media backlash of the Trump era is apparently going to try something new. Parler announced Friday that it has acquired a cloud company called Dynascale in order to expand its vision beyond offering an (ostensibly) anything-goes social app to providing infrastructure for businesses…

Daily Crunch: All I can see is you — iOS 16 users enjoy new photo background removal feature

To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PDT, subscribe here. Fridaaaaay! Today, we will mostly be listening to this delightful end-of-week gratitude meditation, and contemplating all the weird and wonderful things that have happened this week. Because, by golly, has there been…

Comparing ‘Goodnight Mommy’: remake vs. original

If you’ve lived through the 2014 Austrian psychological horror film Goodnight Mommy, you’re already furious it’s been remade. For those who haven’t, welcome! You’re about to strike a match on the unnecessary nightmare that is a remake of a critically acclaimed and terrifying film about twin brothers who fear a vicious imposter has invaded their…

Martha’s Vineyard — where DeSantis sent 50 migrants in political stunt — is more than just a posh liberal vacationland

A group of people kneeled in silence to honor George Floyd, Friday, June 26, 2020, in Chilmark, Mass. on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew 50 Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. Locals told Insider the community is not just a posh vacation area, and year-rounders were eager to…