November Current Events 2022: Science & Technology News
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The world is a very busy place, and it's hard to stay on top of everything. Infoplease has got you covered. Here are the Science & Technology news events you need to know so far for November 2022.
- Twitter To Review Policies For Blue Check Verification
- Meta To Lay Off 11,000 Employees In The Coming Months
- Crypto Currency Giant FTX Owes Over A Million People Following Crash
- Mercedes To Introduce Paid Subscription For Better Acceleration
- Successful Clinical Trials For An Anti-Alzheimer’s Drug
Twitter To Review Policies For Blue Check Verification
Photo Source: AP Photo/Eric Risberg
Tuesday, November 1, 2022 – After the billionaire businessman Elon Musk completed the purchase of Twitter, various incidents and development were proposed, including the verification policy.
Mr. Musk commented during the legal process of acquiring the company about his concerns with the verification process due to buts and fake accounts obtaining the blue checks. This feature should signal the authenticity of the owner.
According to reports, Twitter will begin to charge $20 for its blue check verification and plans to increase its premium subscription services. Users will be given an ultimatum of 90 days to subscribe before they lose their blue ticks.
The move has been controversial since it was announced, with many celebrities and political figures speaking out against it, saying Mr. Musk wants to "tax free speech." This comes amid other controversial news about the acquisition, such as the fear of job cuts.
Source: BBC
Meta To Lay Off 11,000 Employees In The Coming Months
Photo Source: AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez
Thursday, November 10, 2022 – Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced a 13% reduction in its workforce. The first mass layoffs in the company's history will result in the layoff of 11,000 employees from its global workforce.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg described the cuts as "the most difficult changes we've made in Meta's history." He also stated that the business would prioritize high-growth sectors like as artificial intelligence, advertising, and "our long-term ambition for the metaverse." Meta will also cut costs elsewhere, such as by spending less on buildings and offices and encouraging desk-sharing. He stated that affected Meta employees would receive an email soon and have the opportunity to ask questions.
The job layoffs come as the internet industry copes with slowing global economic development, and confidence in the tech employment market and the ability to move freely and easily between established and start-up organizations "had been reduced, if not totally damaged, within a week."
Source: BBC
Crypto Currency Giant FTX Owes Over A Million People Following Crash
Photo Source: AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn
Wednesday, November 17, 2022 – According to bankruptcy filings, over a million consumers and businesses, may be owed money due to the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX. There have also been reports that FTX was hacked, stealing millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.
It's a troubling time for those with money in the business. Crypto assets are mainly unregulated, and experts and financial watchdogs warn that customers have little protection. Despite significant warnings, over 6.7 million people in the UK possess or have purchased crypto assets, accounting for roughly one-tenth of the population.
In September, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) warned that FTX might be offering financial services or products in the UK without authorization. "You are unlikely to get your money back if things go wrong. There is currently a page dedicated to FTX liquidation, and the message is that those who have invested in it have few options.
The crash has intensified calls for more regulation of cryptocurrency, a financial setup created to be decentralized from government interference.
Source: BBC
Mercedes To Introduce Paid Subscription For Better Acceleration
Photo Source: AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Thursday, November 24, 2022 – Mercedes-Benz will launch an online subscription service in the United States to help its electric vehicles accelerate faster, allowing certain of its vehicles to sprint from 0-60mph in less than a second for an annual payment of $1,200. It comes after competitor automaker BMW introduced a subscription service for heated seats earlier this year.
It will be offered in the United States on the Mercedes-EQ EQE 350 and EQS 450, as well as their SUV cousins. According to the Mercedes US web shop, the technology "electronically enhances" the power and torque of the car's motor.
Overall, it forecasts a 20-24% improvement in power, allowing the eligible cars to accelerate from 0-60mph in around 5.2 seconds against 6.2 seconds without the subscription.
Jack McKeown, the motoring editor of the Courier newspaper, expressed that he hopes there’s a customer backlash, as seen when BMW announced subscription services for heated seats.
Source: BBC
Successful Clinical Trials For An Anti-Alzheimer’s Drug
Photo Source: AP Photo//National Institute on Aging/NIH
Wednesday, November 30, 2022 – Following years of several research failures and Billions of Dollars spent in developing a drug for Alzheimer’s, researchers announced the development of a new drug—Lecanemab, which can remove clumps of proteins that, especially in the early stages of the disease.
Alzheimer’s affects up to 30 million people and is responsible for more than 60% of those living with dementia. It is also a leading cause of death, as most people diagnosed with the disease die within 7 years. It is unknown how much the clumps contribute to Alzheimer's disease, but in people with hereditary forms of the disease, they appear to set off a chain reaction of brain alterations that gradually damage brain cells.
In great enthusiasm over the result, experts raised some concerns that might stymie the drug's acceptance, one of which is the cost. Lecanemab is costly, costing between $12,000 and $35,000 per patient every year. In addition, with only a little impact on early-stage patients, it is questionable if patients would feel any advantage.
Source: The Guardian
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