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Technology
Facebook CEO Answering Tough Questions From US Government
Mark Zuckerberg, the high-profile creator and CEO of social media website Facebook, is being asked a lot of tough questions by the US government.
US Senators were asking him how Facebook uses the personal information it collects on people who use the popular social media website.
When people join Facebook and use it, they provide lots of information on themselves. Companies pay to use that information when they post advertisements.
If they have information about a person — for instance, whether they have kids, or where they like to go on holiday — they can do a better job targetting ads at them. That makes the person more likely to buy the product that’s being advertised.
That’s only one way companies use people’s personal information. Other people, who may be less honest, can sometimes use personal information to try to take advantage of people.
The Truth About Tech
Some of the people who created many popular apps are telling kids to put their phones away–at least, a bit more often.
The Center for Humane Technology is made up of people who used to work for big tech companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter. Now they want kids to stop using those apps and websites so much.
In early February the Center, along with Common Sense Media, launched an awareness campaign called the Truth About Tech. Its goal is to teach students, parents and teachers about the dangers of spending too much time on smart phones and tablets.
Astronauts Will Turn Trash Into Tools
Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) may soon be able to turn their used forks and knives into tools and satellite parts.
Tethers Unlimited Inc., an aerospace technology company, has developed a system that combines a waste recycling machine with a 3D printer.
Astronauts will put waste items made of plastic into the recycling machine, called the Positrusion Recycler. When they press a button, the Recycler will sterilize and melt down the plastic and turn it into 3D filament.
Hitomi Satellite Out Of Touch
Recently, Japan’s space agency sent a very sophisticated telescope into space. It carries some very expensive technology on it, including some designed by Canadians.
Making Glue Less Sticky
Getting that last drop of glue out of the bottle will soon be easier, thanks to a new lubricant called LiquiGlide.
A lubricant is a substance that reduces friction between two surfaces. LiquiGlide reduces the friction between the walls of a container and the liquid it holds so the contents will slide out more easily.
Time For A Change As NASA Upgrades Its Launch Clock
There are some pretty famous clocks in the world: London’s Big Ben, and the clock on the Peace Tower in Ottawa, to name just two.
But the most watched clock in the world may be NASA’s launch clock.
Scientists Hope Philae Will Wake Up Next Spring
The Philae spacecraft that landed on a comet last week has gone to sleep. But the good news is that scientists are hopeful that we haven’t heard the last messages from the spacecraft.
Scientists Land Spacecraft On Fast-Moving, Icy Comet
Scientists recently landed a spacecraft on the icy surface of a comet that was travelling 130,000 kilometres an hour.
Now, we’re getting information, photos and sounds from the comet that just might tell us something about our own origins.
Schools Divided Over Cellphones In Classrooms
A fight between two high school students in Nova Scotia last month has underlined some of the concerns parents and teachers have about cellphones in schools.
