Protests are happening across the United States. People are gathering to show their disagreement with the current administration. But there is a worry. The government might be watching. They might use different tools to keep an eye on protesters. The way they watch might be different in each place. Big cities like Washington D. C. might have more surveillance than s...
In Brookline, a plan to install Flock license plate readers has sparked a debate. The cameras, funded by Chestnut Hill Realty, are meant to deter package and retail theft. But, the ACLU of Massachusetts sees a bigger problem. They say these cameras could be used to track people's movements far and wide. The cameras will be placed along Independence Drive. They will ...
The IRS has been stepping up its game in tracking crypto investors. It's not just about big traders anymore. The agency is now looking at a wider group of people who use crypto. They're using special tools to follow crypto transactions as they happen. The IRS has been asking big crypto companies for user data. They've even gone to court to get this information. This...
Spotting diseases early is a big deal. It helps save lives and keeps economies running. Many diseases jump from animals to humans. So, a team effort is needed to catch them fast. One Health is a way to do this. It involves people, animals, and the environment working together. People can help by sharing health info. This is called participatory surveillance. It's li...
The FBI files on Martin Luther King Jr. are now out in the open. This happened even though King's family and the civil rights group he led didn't want it. The files, over 240, 000 pages, were kept secret since 1977. The King family got to see them first. They asked people to look at these files with care and respect. The files show how the FBI watched King closely. ...
Bird flu, or H5N1, is jumping from animals to humans more often. Labs need better tools to catch it early. Right now, most labs use tests that can spot the flu but can't tell if it's the dangerous H5N1 strain. This is a problem because knowing the exact type of flu helps doctors treat patients better and stops outbreaks faster. Three common lab tests were put to the...
In Switzerland, rain often causes sewage systems to overflow. This sends untreated wastewater into rivers and lakes. But no one really knows how bad this is. Cheap sensors could help track these spills. Yet, most wastewater groups don't use them. It's not a tech problem. It's more about politics and organization. A recent study looked at ways to get more groups to u...
Health officials in Macomb County have found West Nile Virus in mosquitoes, marking the first time this summer. No one has gotten sick yet, but they want everyone to be careful. West Nile Virus can make people sick, but not everyone gets symptoms. Some might feel achy, have a fever, or headache. Others could get really sick with brain swelling or other serious probl...
In a shocking turn of events, a Mexican drug cartel managed to hack into the city's camera system in Mexico City. This happened around 2018 or even earlier. The hacker was able to track the movements of a senior FBI official. They could see who was coming and going from the US Embassy. This gave the cartel a dangerous advantage. The hacker didn't stop there. They al...
China has introduced a new type of tiny drone, about the size of a mosquito. These small drones are being developed for special missions, like gathering information on the battlefield without being noticed. The drone, created at a military university in Hunan province, is incredibly small—just 2 centimeters long and weighs less than 0. 2 grams. Technology is advanci...