Today's Technology News
A locally grown solution for period poverty
Women and girls across much of the developing world lack access to menstrual products. This means that for at least a week or so every month, many girls don't go to school, so they fall behind educationally and often never catch up economically.
Many conventional menstrual products have traditionally been made of hydrogels made from toxic petrochemicals, so there has been a push to make them out of biomaterials. But this usually means cellulose from wood, which is in high demand for other purposes and isn't readily available in many parts of the globe. So Alex Odundo found a way to solve both of these problems: making maxi pads out of sisal, a drought-tolerant agave plant that grows readily in semi-arid climates like his native Kenya.
Putting an invasive species to work
Sisal is an invasive plant in rural Kenya, where it is often planted as livestock fencing and feedstock. It doesn't require fertilizer, and its leaves can be harvested all year long over a five- to seven-year span. Odundo and his partners in Manu Prakash's lab at Stanford University developed a process to generate soft, absorbent material from the sisal leaves. It relies on treatment with dilute peroxyformic acid (1 percent) to increase its porosity, followed by washing in sodium hydroxide (4 percent) and then spinning in a tabletop blender to enhance porosity and make it softer.
Read more at Ars Technica
E.U. Agrees on AI Act, Landmark Regulation for Artificial Intelligence
The European Union (EU) has reached an agreement on the A.I. Act, a landmark regulation for artificial intelligence. This act solidifies one of the world's first comprehensive attempts to limit the use of artificial intelligence. The regulations aim to address the societal and ethical implications of AI technology, including bias, privacy, and transparency.
Read more at The New York Times
Finishing every part of Mario Wonder is no peach
Super Mario Bros. Wonder has captivated gamers with its charm and addictive gameplay. The desire to finish every aspect of the game is driving players to achieve a 100 percent completion rate, a feat that requires dedication, skill, and perseverance.
Read more at The Verge
Sources reveal complaints leading to the firing of OpenAI's CEO
Complaints from some senior OpenAI leaders about CEO Sam Altman's abusive behavior were a significant factor in the board's decision to fire him. The leaders described Altman as psychologically abusive, creating chaos within the artificial intelligence start-up.
Read more at The Washington Post
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