Tech & Science

(Huffpost) The U.S. now has its very own COVID-19 variant and scientists believe the burgeoning strain is likely linked to the surge in cases in Los Angeles County. Two independent research groups discovered the strain in California while seeking the more contagious, possible more deadly, British variant in the state. Although the researchers found the UK strain ― B.1.1.7 ― … [Read more...] about California Has Its Own Coronavirus Variant, Researchers Reveal

(New York Post) A California resident who was vaccinated against COVID-19 died just hours later — and authorities are trying to find out why. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced the death and the investigation Saturday in a Facebook post, but gave few details. The county, which is in the greater Sacramento area, was “recently notified” of the person’s death, … [Read more...] about Californian Dies Hours After Getting COVID-19 Vaccine, Prompting Probe

(CNET) An AI chatbot that lets you interact with dead loved ones sounds like something straight out of science fiction. But if technology in a patent granted to Microsoft comes to fruition, interacting with a chatty 3D digital version of the deceased could one day become de rigueur.  The patent, titled "Creating a conversational chatbot of a specific person," details a … [Read more...] about Microsoft Patent Details Tech That Could Turn Dead People Into AI Chatbots

(Axios) A tech startup is helping providers monitor their patients' moods and mental health status through a remote app. Why it matters: Mental health is an unaddressed crisis in the U.S., and it's only gotten worse during COVID-19. NeuroFlow can help users track their own mental health while making it easier for health care professionals to identify when their patients … [Read more...] about Tackling Mental Health via App

(CNN) Twitter refused to take down widely shared pornographic images and videos of a teenage sex trafficking victim because an investigation “didn’t find a violation” of the company’s “policies,” a scathing lawsuit alleges. The federal suit, filed Wednesday by the victim and his mother in the Northern District of California, alleges Twitter made money off the clips, which … [Read more...] about Twitter Refused to Remove Child Porn Because It Didn’t ‘Violate Policies’: Lawsuit