Notices by Ars Technica (arstechnica@mastodon.social), page 10

VW ID.4 owners report unintended acceleration, blame steering wheel design

Unlike buttons, capacitive controls require just the slightest touch to activate.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2024/07/vw-id-4-owners-report-unintended-acceleration-blame-steering-wheel-design/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Microsoft says 8.5M systems hit by CrowdStrike BSOD, releases USB recovery tool

When reboots don't work, bootable USB sticks may help ease fixes for some PCs.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/07/microsoft-says-8-5m-systems-hit-by-crowdstrike-bsod-releases-usb-recovery-tool/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

We’re building thermonuclear spaceships again—this time for real

The military and NASA seem serious about building demonstration hardware.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/were-building-thermonuclear-spaceships-again-this-time-for-real/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Exoplanet could possibly be a frozen, alien Earth

The density makes it look like a water world, but its dim host star keeps it cool.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/exoplanet-could-possibly-be-a-frozen-alien-earth/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

FTC attacks Microsoft’s post-merger Game Pass price increases

Regulator says move is "exactly the sort of consumer harm" it warned about.

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/07/ftc-attacks-microsofts-post-merger-game-pass-price-increases/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Infant deaths surge in Texas after abortion ban

The increase in deaths reverses a nearly ten-year decline.

https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/07/infant-deaths-surge-in-texas-after-abortion-ban/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Long COVID rates have declined, especially among the vaccinated, study finds

In large study, rates of long COVID fell from 10% to 3.5% for the vaccinated.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/long-covid-rates-have-declined-especially-among-the-vaccinated-study-finds/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Elon Musk calls for “criminal prosecution” of X ad boycott perpetrators

Congress accused advertisers group of colluding to tank X's revenue.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/07/elon-musk-calls-for-criminal-prosecution-of-x-ad-boycott-perpetrators/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Republicans angry that ISPs receiving US grants must offer low-cost plans

Law requires grantees to offer low-cost plans. GOP calls it "rate regulation."

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/07/republicans-fight-plan-to-require-low-cost-broadband-service/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

OpenAI board shakeup: Microsoft out, Apple backs away amid AI partnership scrutiny

Microsoft gives up non-voting observer board role; Apple rethinks a planned similar position.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/07/openai-board-shakeup-microsoft-out-apple-backs-away-amid-ai-partnership-scrutiny/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

How disinformation from a Russian AI spam farm ended up on top of Google search results

A fake article about Volodymyr Zelensky’s wife buying a Bugatti with US aid was promoted by bots.

https://arstechnica.com/ai/2024/07/how-disinformation-from-a-russian-ai-spam-farm-ended-up-on-top-of-google-search-results/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

FTC blasts drug middlemen for “inflating” costs, “squeezing” pharmacies

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are key part of US's high drug costs, report finds.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/07/ftc-blasts-drug-middlemen-for-inflating-costs-squeezing-pharmacies/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

23-year-old man accused of running $100 million online narcotics marketplace

Incognito Market operating on the dark web allowed people to buy and sell narcotics.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/05/23-year-old-man-accused-of-running-100-million-online-narcotics-marketplace/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Researchers craft smiling robot face from living human skin cells

Living cells isolated from juvenile foreskin are flexible enough to grin when moved.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/06/researchers-craft-smiling-robot-face-from-living-human-skin-cells/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Egalitarian oddity found in the Neolithic

Men, women, and immigrants all seemed to have similar dietary inputs.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/egalitarian-oddity-found-in-the-neolithic/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

US prepares for bird flu pandemic with $176M Moderna vaccine deal

Phase 3 trial is expected to begin next year.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/us-prepares-for-bird-flu-pandemic-with-176m-moderna-vaccine-deal/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Yes, you should be a little freaked out about Hurricane Beryl

"It's hard to communicate how unbelievable this is."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/07/yes-you-should-be-a-little-freaked-out-about-hurricane-beryl/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Meta’s pay-for-privacy plan falls afoul of the law, EU regulators say

EU finding that Meta’s subscription option violates DMA could impact many sites.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/07/metas-pay-for-privacy-plan-falls-afoul-of-the-law-eu-regulators-say/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

NASA will pay SpaceX nearly $1 billion to deorbit the International Space Station

The space agency did consider alternatives to splashing the station.

https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/06/nasa-will-pay-spacex-nearly-1-billion-to-deorbit-the-international-space-station/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

The world’s toughest race starts Saturday, and it’s delightfully hard to call this year

Setting the stage for what could be a wild ride across France.

https://arstechnica.com/culture/2024/06/the-worlds-toughest-race-starts-saturday-and-its-delightfully-hard-to-call-this-year/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social