WEIRD FACTS

 

How Your Digital Trails Wind Up in the Police’s Hands

Phone calls. Web searches. Location tracks. Smart speaker requests. They’ve become crucial tools for law enforcement, while users often are unaware. Illustration: Tracy J. Lee; Getty Images – By Sidney Fussell 2020 Dec 28 – Michael Williams’ every move was being tracked without …

The science behind snowflakes

A snowflake is a small weather feature that can pack a big punch. – By Allison Chinchar, CNN meteorologist 2020 Dec 23 – Many are made up of just one single ice crystal while some, more elaborate snowflakes are comprised of as many …

Omnidirectional robot shoots out treats for home-alone pets

Rocki is remotely controlled over the internet, by pet owners viewing real-time video from the robot’s camera.  Rocki – By Ben Coxworth 2020 Dec 21 – Earlier this year, we heard about a pet-entertaining/treat-dispensing robot known as Pumpkii. Although its crowdfunding campaign was cancelled, …