Reuters: Technology

Facebook insiders cash in

Reuters — 16 May 2012 16:52:00 +0000

May 16 - Several of Facebook's early investors are adding their shares to the company's public offering, boosting the size of the IPO by 25 percent. Jeanne Yurman reports.

Paralysis patient tastes freedom through thought control

Reuters — 16 May 2012 16:58:00 +0000

May 16 - Groundbreaking new research is allowing quadriplegics to control objects with a robotic arm and the power of their thoughts. A study involving a brain-computer interface developed at Brown University in Rhode Island, shows that people who have lost the use of their limbs can perform basic functions by manipulating the technology with their minds. The findings of the study, conducted in April last year, will be published in the May issue of the science journal "Nature". Ben Gruber reports.

Facebook likes the world to share

Reuters — 16 May 2012 09:22:00 +0000

May 16 - With growth slowing in the U.S., the world's leading social network Facebook will be increasingly reliant on international markets to drive revenues after it goes public later this week. Matt Cowan reports.

Is Facebook worth it?

Reuters — 15 May 2012 20:43:00 +0000

May 15 - Facebook may be a social network but its also very much a business, and now that its going public, the company will be under the microscope of investors. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Sharing the love of Facebook

Reuters — 15 May 2012 18:08:00 +0000

May 15 - Users can't seem to live without sharing on Facebook, and that's the secret to the social network's unprecedented success. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Facebook IPO price hike

Reuters — 15 May 2012 15:33:00 +0000

May 15 - Facebook has increased the price range of its initial public offering to raise more than $12 billion dollars, giving the company a potential value of more than $100 billion. Bobbi Rebell reports.

Drought blamed for fall of Mayan civilization

Reuters — 15 May 2012 15:12:00 +0000

May 15 - Researchers in Mexico say the mighty Mayan civilization that thrived in central America for 2700 years from 1800 BC, might have been brought down by climate change. Based on research deep underground, the scientists say there's evidence of long-term drought during the period of population decline. Tara Cleary reports.

Ancient city of Jericho boasts new, eco-friendly walls

Reuters — 15 May 2012 13:29:00 +0000

May 15 - Developers in the West Bank's Jericho, the world's lowest lying city, are building an the first ever eco-housing project in the Palestinian territories.The homes are designed to offset searing summer temperatures and put a modern face on the ancient city. Joel Flynn reports.

In the Boardroom: volatile startups need independent boards

Reuters — 15 May 2012 08:30:00 +0000

May 15 - Startups face unique pressures, from execs with skin in the game to investors pushing for quick returns. Board member & Reuters columnist, Lucy Marcus meets the founder of tech startup, PeerIndex.

Investors grab Groupon

Reuters — 14 May 2012 22:51:00 +0000

May 14 - Groupon stock was hot after it earnings beat forecasts on Monday. Investors putting aside concerns about its post-IPO stumbles. Jill Bennett reports.

Doctors credit stem cell therapy for saving girl's life

Reuters — 14 May 2012 15:48:00 +0000

May 14 - An experimental stem cell treatment has, according to doctors, saved the life of a seven-year old Romanian girl with a deadly bone marrow disease. The treatment was used as a last resort after two bone marrow transplant operations failed and has proven so successful that the little girl is getting ready to return home from hospital. Jim Drury reports.

Orangutans go ape over iPads

Reuters — 11 May 2012 21:24:00 +0000

May 11 - Orangutans at the Jungle Island Zoo in Florida are learning to use iPads to identify object like body parts and food. The hi-tech approach to communication is modeled on a system used successfully with autistic children. The zoo is hoping it will help visitors connect with the apes and promote awareness of their endangered status in the wild. Ben Gruber paid them a visit.

Sony expects $2.3 billion profit rebound

Reuters — 10 May 2012 02:30:00 +0000

May 10 - Sony posts record loss, but banks on growth in smartphones, games and cameras to lead $2.3 billion rebound in operating profit this year.

Reuters on the Road: Blottr boosts people-powered news

Reuters — 10 May 2012 09:45:00 +0000

May 10 - Blottr founder Adam Baker takes the taxi challenge to talk about his citizen journalism service where anyone can capture and report the news.

World's rarest gorilla makes camera-trap debut

Reuters — 9 May 2012 13:11:00 +0000

May 9 - Video images of the world's rarest and most endangered gorilla species, the Cross River gorilla, have been captured by a forest camera-trap for the first time. There are thought to be no more than 300 Cross River gorillas in the wild and conservationists hope the footage will prompt efforts to help save the species from extinction. Rob Muir reports.

The sweet smell of sugar makes fish flee in fear

Reuters — 7 May 2012 14:24:00 +0000

May 7 - Scientists in Singapore have discovered that sugar is the key component of a substance produced by injured fish to warn other fish of danger. The researchers say their findings could have implications for how fear is generated - and might possibly be controlled - in humans. Rob Muir reports.

Bio-implants offer natural solution for arthritis pain

Reuters — 7 May 2012 13:11:00 +0000

May 7 - Researchers in Finland have developed biodegradable joint implants they say will bring permanent pain relief to arthritis sufferers. The implants are designed to replace joints degraded by rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, diseases that afflict millions of people around the world. The following video contains images of surgery that some viewers may find disturbing. Joel Flynn reports.

Retinal cell transplant restores vision to blind mice

Reuters — 6 May 2012 13:17:00 +0000

May 6 - Transplanting light-sensitive photoreceptors into the eyes of visually impaired mice has helped them see again in groundbreaking experiments conducted by British scientists. The researchers hope that a similar procedure can be applied to humans to restore sight to those with degenerative eye diseases. Jim Drury reports.

Facebook "likes" small investors

Reuters — 4 May 2012 22:39:00 +0000

May 04 - The world's largest social network wants to “friend” individual investors in its roughly $10.6 billion initial public offering, launching a highly-polished video aimed at touting the company's growth prospects. Conway G. Gittens reports.

Nokia CEO faces exasperated shareholders

Reuters — 3 May 2012 17:04:00 +0000

May 3 - After losing its position as the world's largest handset maker, the Finnish cellphone manufacturer Nokia staged its annual general meeting in Helsinki where Chief Executive Stephen Elop defended his strategy. Matt Cowan reports.

Hands on with Samsung's new iPhone challenger

Reuters — 4 May 2012 07:30:00 +0000

May 4 - Samsung fires its next round in the battle of the smartphones at a global launch event in London. Julian Satterthwaite gets hands-on with the new contender.

Samsung unveils latest flagship smartphone

Reuters — 3 May 2012 23:45:00 +0000

May 4 - Samsung takes another bite at Apple with its latest Galaxy smartphone, the SIII. Arnold Gay reports.

New studies show extent of Earth's ice melt

Reuters — 3 May 2012 22:15:00 +0000

May 3 - Two climate studies, each using satellite technology in different ways, have provided new insight into how fast ice is melting on Earth due to global warming. While climatologists have long known that rate of ice melt into our oceans has increased since records began more than a century ago, the new research shows just how much is being lost. Ben Gruber reports.

Printable house presents new paradigm in eco-architecture

Reuters — 3 May 2012 18:28:00 +0000

May 3 - Danish architects are building a digitally fabricated house printed from a computer file - a new concept they say minimizes waste and simplifies the building process. Matthew Stock has more.

Genetic test could provide breast cancer warning

Reuters — 2 May 2012 17:20:00 +0000

May 2 - A molecular change that switches genes on or off can pre-empt the onset of breast cancer decades before the disease develops, British researchers say. The scientists hope the discovery will lead to a simple blood test that can determine vulnerability to the disease. Matthew Stock reports.