Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
December 2015
From ACM TechNews
How Long ntil We Can Build R2-D2 and C-3po?
Creating socially intelligent, interactive robots such as those depicted in the "Star Wars" films is a challenging proposal.
From ACM TechNews
Is Evolution More Intelligent Than We Thought?
University of Southampton researchers have shown that evolution can learn from previous experience.
From ACM TechNews
The Billion-Dollar Robot Question--How Can We Make Sure They're Safe?
The advent of unsupervised robots raises the question of how to ensure their safety.
From ACM Careers
The First Person to Hack the Iphone Built a Self-Driving Car. In His Garage
A few days before Thanksgiving, George Hotz, a 26-year-old hacker, invites me to his house in San Francisco to check out a project he’s been working on.
From ACM News
Rocks Rich in Silica Present Puzzles For Mars Rover Team
In detective stories, as the plot thickens, an unexpected clue often delivers more questions than answers.
From ACM News
Facewatch 'thief Recognition' Cctv on Trial in k Stores
Until now, Facewatch has provided local groups of businesses with a way to share their CCTV images of shoplifters and other potential offenders.
From ACM TechNews
Deep-Learning Algorithm Predicts Photos' Memorability at "near-Human" Levels
Researchers say they have developed an algorithm that can predict how memorable or forgettable a given image is almost as accurately as humans.
From ACM TechNews
of W Research Could Revolutionize the Way We Drive
University of Windsor researchers are programming technology designed to reduce roadway collisions.
From ACM TechNews
Social Media News Consumers at Higher Risk of 'information Bubbles,' Iu Study Says
People who get their news from social media are more likely to becoming trapped in a "collective social bubble" compared to those who get their news from search engines.
From ACM TechNews
How Someday Robots May Run to the Rescue--Literally
A research team in Ann Arbor, MI, is working to revolutionize walking robot control algorithms.
From ACM TechNews
'fog' Computing Harnesses Personal Devices to Speed Wireless Networks
The new nonprofit Open Fog Consortium is dedicated to creating the basic infrastructure for fog computing.
From ACM News
European Satellites: How Islamic State Takes Its Terror To the Web
No terror organization uses the Internet as successfully when it comes to marketing itself and recruiting supporters as Islamic State (IS) does. But how is it able to do so given that the group operates in a region where telecommunications…
From ACM News
Cassini Closes in on Enceladus, One Last Time
A thrilling chapter in the exploration of the solar system will soon conclude, as NASA's Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft makes its final close flyby of the ocean-bearing moon Enceladus.
From ACM News
Physicists in Europe Find Tantalizing Hints of a Mysterious New Particle
Does the Higgs boson have a cousin?
From ACM TechNews
Say What? Scientists Devise an Algorithm That Detects Sarcasm Better Than Humans Can
Researchers say they have developed a computer system that can identify the emotion behind a tweet with 85% accuracy.
From ACM TechNews
Nist Adds to Quantum Computing Toolkit With Mixed-Atom Logic Operations
U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology researchers performed logic operations with two atoms of different elements.
From ACM TechNews
Facedirector Software Generates Desired Performances in Post-Production, Avoiding Reshoots
New software could mean film directors will no longer need to reshoot crucial scenes dozens of times until they are satisfied.
From ACM TechNews
Wearable Energy Generator ses rine to Power Wireless Transmitter
Researchers say they have developed the first self-sufficient system powered by a wearable energy generator based on microbial fuel cell technology.
From ACM News
China's Internet Forum May Provide a Peek at Its Cyber-Ambitions
Heads of state, including the prime ministers of Pakistan and Russia, and major technology firms will gather Wednesday in Wuzhen, a picturesque little town of canals and boats in eastern China, to talk about the Internet.
From ACM News
Two Atoms Make Quantum Memory, Processing Gate, and Test of Entanglement
Quantum systems are inherently fragile as any interactions with the outside world can change their state.
From ACM News
The Bioficial Heart
Researchers aim to build replacements for human organs using 3D printing.
From ACM News
Do Computers Need Pressure-Sensing Screens?
The computer mouse, when it first went mainstream, was awkward to describe but easy to use.
From ACM News
The Secret History of World War Ii-Era Drones
Drones are the hallmark of tech-y modern warfare, but weapons piloted from afar have been around for more than a century.
From ACM Opinion
5 Amazing and Alarming Things That May Be Done with Your Dna
"You're a male, you're 34-years-old and your 5-foot-10 1/2 inches tall." That's a prediction that Craig Venter, long a pioneer on the frontier of genomics, offered to me while we spoke on the phone.
From ACM TechNews
Landmark Algorithm Breaks 30-Year Impasse
Computer scientists are calling a new algorithm a breakthrough in mapping how hard computational problems are to solve.
From ACM TechNews
What the World Will Be Like in 30 Years, According to the .s. Government's Top Scientists
Three U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency researchers predict major technological advancements during the next 30 years in a new video series.
From ACM TechNews
Xprize Offers $7m Purse to nlock Mysteries of the Sea
XPRIZE has launched a three-year global competition focused on ocean mapping, featuring a $7-million prize purse.
From ACM TechNews
Algorithm Set to Save Millions in Energy Costs
Nanyang Technological University researchers have developed an algorithm that could help companies cut their energy bills by as much as 10%.
From ACM TechNews
How Artificial Intelligence Could Change the Way We Watch Sports
Machine learning and computer vision are being combined to provide commentary on professional sporting events as they occur.
From ACM TechNews
Quantum Computing May Be Moving Out of Science Fiction
True quantum computing could be realized relatively soon, according to some industry analysts.