Activists have started to use the game to protest more than Tom Nook’s predatory loans — For years, we have been debating whether or not video games lead to increased violence, and after decades of research, we’re still not entirely sure. But as the 2020 U.S. election looms, a much more urgent question has arisen: Can video games encourage people to get involved in politics? The…

It probably won’t kill us, but there are a few issues you should know about — There has always been a level of public opposition to cellular technology, but the voices of dissent have been rising significantly since the introduction into the public lexicon of 5G, one of the biggest buzzwords of 2019. “How would you feel if you knew that an untested technology is being…

New devices tap into the age-old promises of mood alteration — You’ve got a deadline tomorrow, and you’re sitting in a coffee shop staring at a blank screen on your laptop. Your mind is racing, and every slight noise seems to irritate you more. The crying baby in the queue. The woman talking loudly on her phone across the room. You…

A ‘Digital Iron Curtain’ is descending over part of the world — Russia’s State Duma just announced that starting next July, all electronics in Russia (including smartphones, computers, and smart TVs) will be required to come preinstalled with apps made by Russian tech firms. According to Alexander Yushchenko, a Communist Party representative, one contender for preinstallation is Gosuslugi — the Russian government…

Cheap Android phones filled with potentially dangerous ‘bloatware’ are just the beginning — When it comes to privacy, there has always been a clear divide between the richest and poorest people in society. While the rich can afford to pay for the luxury of living in secluded homes with multiple bedrooms to themselves and high-tech security systems to ward off trespassers, the poorest…

Most essential oils are made for their scent, so why would anyone want to ingest them? — This summer, a popular YouTuber who calls herself Fully Raw Kristina released a fruit-infused water recipe that included some odd ingredients: What she described as “pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils.” Into the pitcher went two drops each of eucalyptus, rosemary, lime, and cardamom essential oils, which, Kristina explained, she was doing…

Children mine cobalt — a key element for making batteries — in terrible conditions — There is no trace of toxic dust on the sleek, shiny iPhones lined up in the Apple Store — that would be terrible for marketing campaigns. …