Microsoft is launching a $25 million initiative to use artificial intelligence to build better technology for people with disabilities. CEO Satya Nadella announced the new “AI for Accessibility” effort as he kicked off Microsoft’s annual conference for software developers. The …
Those fashion exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art always have a high bling quotient. This time, though, the bling comes from an unlikely source: the Vatican. The latest Met show focuses on the influence of the Roman Catholic Church …
A new phone app could be a “game-changer” in the fight against child marriage in Bangladesh, where more than half of all girls are married before they are 18, children’s charity Plan International said on Monday. The impoverished South Asian …
The first vaccine campaign against cholera in Yemen has started, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, a year and a half after an epidemic was triggered by war and a health and sanitation crisis. There have since been …
When it comes to blockbusters, bigger and bolder is Hollywood’s focus for this summer as the studios count on new and improved sequels to make up for last year’s lackluster box office season. VOA’s Penelope Poulou has more. … From: …
Originating from Mexico, Chihuahua’s are one of the smallest dog breeds. And on Saturday, 128 competed in the “Running of the Chihuahuas” to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo holiday. From Washington, VOA’s Jill Craig has more. … From: MeNeedIt
A new invention is a result of a joint effort by artists and scientists. Computerized art robots can memorize artist’s strokes and effects and reproduce them as needed. They can perform at the artist’s direction, cover large surfaces and make …
The first railroad appeared in the United States back in 1828. Located entirely in the state of Maryland, it was only 25 kilometers long. Today, American trains look very different — modern, fast and comfortable. VOA’s Maxim Moskalkov follows the …
Digital civil rights groups are writing to Congress next week to ask for help persuading internet giants Google and Amazon to reverse decisions they made that will make it harder for people to get around censorship controls worldwide. At issue …
A parliamentary inquiry in Australia is investigating fake Aboriginal art and craft. The committee has heard from campaigners in Western Australia that up to 90 per cent of Indigenous art sold in souvenir shops was fake and imported from overseas. …
A powerful Atlas 5 rocket was poised for liftoff early Saturday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, carrying to Mars the first robotic NASA lander designed entirely for exploring the deep interior of the red planet. The Mars InSight …
Peanuts are the most common cause of fatal food-induced anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction. But British scientists have found a better way to monitor a significant food hazard by developing a more accurate blood test, and it’s five times cheaper …
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and heavy rains can cause large amounts of rock and soil to collapse under their own weight and tumble down a slope. These landslides can crush everything in their path. Aided by sophisticated satellites, scientists are creating …
A small amount of radioactive, weapons-grade plutonium about the size of a U.S. quarter is missing from an Idaho university that was using it for research, leading federal officials on Friday to propose an $8,500 fine. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory …
Is the #metoo movement coming to Uganda’s largest university? The school recently suspended a staff member accused of demanding sexual favors from a female student. Meanwhile, trial preparations are underway for a landmark civil suit filed by a former student …
The data firm at the center of Facebook’s privacy scandal is declaring bankruptcy and shutting down. In a statement, Cambridge Analytica says it has been “vilified” for actions it says are both legal and widely accepted as part of online …
Weeks after his death, physicist Stephen Hawking has delivered his last thoughts about the nature of the cosmos, and he says it may be simpler than often believed. Well, simpler if you understand theoretical physics, anyway. It remains incomprehensible for …
Facebook Inc plans to add a dating service, Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday, marking the first time the world’s largest social media network has actively tried to help people form romantic relationships. Zuckerberg told software developers at Facebook’s …
The biggest obstacle on our way towards a sustainable-energy-based future is the problem of energy storage. Of all the energy generated by solar panels, wind turbines, ocean waves and other sources, only a small fraction is stored because today’s batteries …
Kenya has banned a new film by the celebrated Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu saying it violates Kenyan law and morals. Her new film, “Rafiki,” is a coming-of-age tale of two girls falling in love, inspired by an award-winning short story by a Ugandan …