JUNK plastic in the ocean is serving as a raft to carry potentially harmful creatures around the world. Experts warn the alien invaders may have diseases harmful to humans or threaten existing animals. Almost 400 species have been identified in North America after travelling 5,000 miles from Japan. They include fish, starfish, mussels, crabs, clams, oysters, sponges and sea anemones. Some had survived seven years at sea after scrambling on to plastic washed away in the 2011 Japanese tsunami. In other cases they had mated multiple times during the journey, with the fifth generation making landfall. Prof Jim Carlton, from Williams College, Connecticut, said animals previously travelled on wood, which sank after two or three years. But they are now “rafting across the ocean” on plastic, which can last much longer and travel further. He added: “The stuff washed into the ocean from land, floated near shore for a while, then colonised. GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 … [Read more...] about Rafts of ocean plastic rubbish carry harmful species around the world, experts find
Tech
How we can serve up a resilient food chain
Our complex food chain – already stressed by climate change and a finite water supply – will be further tested. To meet the demands of this crowded future, we will need new technologies and devices, scientific breakthroughs – and entirely new ways of thinking about food safety and security. IBM researchers around the world are already working on solutions at every stage of the food chain. They are helping farmers maximise crop yields and developing ways to curb the epidemic of waste that destroys 45 per cent of our food supply. Our scientists are working to create a safety net to catch pathogens and contaminants before they make people sick. And they’re inventing ways to keep plastic out of our landfills and oceans. Our researchers inspire us to imagine what else could be possible five years from now. When the eight-billionth person is born on Earth, she will enter a world more connected, more interdependent and more responsive to change than the one her … [Read more...] about How we can serve up a resilient food chain
The evolution of design
Adobe has made a commitment to small businesses in Thailand that it will help them improve their competitiveness through better design, including through bringing together designers and marketers. Michael Stoddart, director of market development for Asia Pacific, says the longtime software developer will improve the local experience with digital software, leading to a positive business impact. Digital experience is important to commercial business, he says, and Adobe views collaboration between designers and other business departments as creating the potential for a leg up on the competition. And Adobe has the digital tools to make that happen, he says. “Adobe is a ‘digital experience’ company that delivers digital experiences digitally,” said Stoddart. It is great time for design, because customers and the world in general understand that good experiences increase revenue and impact the bottom line, he says. Large companies in Southeast Asia and in … [Read more...] about The evolution of design
Wikipedia co-founder blocked from his Wikipedia account [Update: False alarm!]
Update: Turns out it was a simple misunderstanding. Larry Sanger told TNW he accidentally logged in with the wrong username of and older account. Wikipedia spokesperson said the older account had been inactive for some time (about 10 years) and was blocked by volunteer administrators after showing signs of being compromised. This is a normal, consistent process taken by volunteer administrators to protect the security and integrity of Wikipedia. That explains why Sanger got a message he was blocked when he typed in a slightly different username. Do you like good gadgets? Those sweet cool gadgets? Oh, yeah Larry Sanger, one of Wikipedia’s co-founders along with Jimmy Wales, has ironically been globally blocked from editing Wikipedia — so he took to Twitter to remedy it. We reached out to Sanger, who has no idea why his account has been locked. “Possibly someone logged in as me and did some damage, but I think I would have learned about that,” Sanger told … [Read more...] about Wikipedia co-founder blocked from his Wikipedia account [Update: False alarm!]
Wikipedia co-founder has been blocked from his Wikipedia account [Updated]
Update: Turns out it was a simple misunderstanding. Larry Sanger told TNW he accidentally logged in with the wrong username of and older account. Wikipedia spokesperson said the older account had been inactive for some time (about 10 years) and was blocked by volunteer administrators after showing signs of being compromised. This is a normal, consistent process taken by volunteer administrators to protect the security and integrity of Wikipedia. That explains why Sanger got a message he was blocked when he typed in a slightly different username. Have you visited TNW's hype-free blockchain and cryptocurrency news site yet? It’s called Hard Fork. TAKE ME THERE Larry Sanger, one of Wikipedia’s co-founders along with Jimmy Wales, has ironically been globally blocked from editing Wikipedia — so he took to Twitter to remedy it. We reached out to Sanger, who has no idea why his account has been locked. “Possibly someone logged in as me and did some damage, but I … [Read more...] about Wikipedia co-founder has been blocked from his Wikipedia account [Updated]