Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
March 2022
From ACM TechNews
Battery-free Devices Float on the Wind like Dandelion Seeds
University of Washington researchers have developed a tiny battery-free device that can be blown by wind currents, like dandelion seeds.
From ACM TechNews
Could the Internet be Driven by Climate-friendly 'Natural Intelligence'?
The Solar Protocol project aims to highlight the environmental impact of the Internet, the devices and systems that use it, and the servers that support it.
From ACM News
See 'Spot' Save: Robot Dogs Join NY Fire Department
Plans to use two new robot dogs only in precarious search and rescue missions may help avoid the controversy that met the Police Department's robots last year.
From ACM TechNews
Smartphone App Calculates Genetic Risk for Heart Attack
Scripps Research uses DNA data from 23andMe to calculate risk for coronary artery disease.
From ACM TechNews
Computer Simulates Schools of Fishlike Underwater Research Drones
An international team of researchers has created a three-dimensional simulation of small fish swimming that could improve aquatic research robots designed to mimic fish behavior.
From ACM TechNews
New Attack Amplifies DDoSes by 4 Billion-Fold
New technique also stretches out distributed denial of service durations to 14 hours.
From ACM TechNews
AI Predicts Algae Potential as Alternative Energy Source
Scientists at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory used artificial intelligence to surpass a targeted level of productivity of algae as an alternative fuel source…
From ACM News
U.S. Casts a Global Net to Stop Shipments to Russia
To try to halt the war in Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies have imposed the most sweeping export controls seen in decades on Russia. Now they have to enforce them.
From ACM TechNews
'No-Code' Brings the Power of AI to the Masses
Products allow anyone to use AI without writing any computer code.
From ACM TechNews
Russia Faces IT Crisis with Just Two Months of Data Storage Left
The withdrawal of Western cloud computing companies from Russia has left the country with roughly two months before it runs out of IT data storage.
From ACM TechNews
To Catch a Falling Satellite
Researchers lean on NASA Astrobee robots to try to contain and stabilize out-of-control satellites.
From ACM TechNews
WARNING: Objects in Driverless Car Sensors May Be Closer Than They Appear
Researchers have identified an attack strategy that can trick industry-standard autonomous vehicle sensors into believing nearby objects are closer or further than they appear.
From ACM News
Here Come the Artificial Intelligence Nutritionists
Companies are experimenting with personalized diet apps, saying the future of healthy eating is A.I.
From ACM News
How California Is Building the Nation's First Privacy Police
A new state agency has a $10-million budget to regulate Google, Facebook and others. But first it needs to be created.
From ACM TechNews
AI Can Help Historians Restore Ancient Texts
DeepMind AI tool helps historians restore ancient Greek texts with 72% accuracy with human help
From ACM TechNews
Twitter Unveils Version of Site That Can Bypass Russia Block
Twitter has launched a version of its service that can circumvent Russia's attempts to block and censor the flow of information about its Ukraine invasion.
From ACM News
In Memoriam: Mary Coombs, 1929-2022
Mary Coombs, first female business computer programmer, dies at 93
From ACM TechNews
Robots with Realistic Pain Expressions Can Reduce Examination Error, Bias
A new technique for generating more realistic facial expressions of pain on robotic patients could also help correct signs of bias among medical students.
From ACM TechNews
Walgreens Replaced Some Fridge Doors with Screens; Some Shoppers Absolutely Hate It
Some customers are furious with Walgreens and other retailers’ replacement of clear fridge and freezer doors with iPad-like screens displaying items within.
From ACM TechNews
Virginia Lawmakers OK Lifting Ban on Facial Technology Use
Virginia lawmakers have passed legislation to lift a ban on facial recognition technology and to permit police to use it in certain scenarios.
From ACM News
How Much Real Money Can You Make From Virtual Art?
NFTs are making some collectors and artists rich, but success in this high-risk marketplace is more art than science.
From ACM News
How Wrongful Arrests Based on AI Derailed 3 Men's Lives
Robert Williams, Michael Oliver, and Nijeer Parks were misidentified by facial recognition software. The impact cast a long shadow.
From ACM TechNews
Can AI Help Casinos Cut Down on Problem Gambling?
Researchers are looking to artificial intelligence as a way to potentially identify and predict problem gambling.
From ACM TechNews
Encryption Meant to Protect Against Quantum Hackers Is Easily Cracked
Ward Beullens at IBM Research Zurich in Switzerland easily cracked a cryptography algorithm touted as one of three contenders for a global standard against quantum hacking.
From ACM TechNews
Medical, IoT Devices Vulnerable to Attack
Researchers discovered seven vulnerabilities, known collectively as "Access:7," in more than 150 Internet of Things devices made by more than 100 companies.
From ACM TechNews
Tiny Switches Give Solid-State LiDAR Record Resolution
A new high-resolution light detection and ranging chip could pave the way for smaller, less-expensive LiDAR navigation systems.
From ACM News
Deep Learning Is Hitting a Wall
What would it take for artificial intelligence to make real progress?
From ACM News
The Hidden Role of Facial Recognition Tech in Many Arrests
The technology is spreading fast among police, and often wrong. But people charged with crimes are rarely told an algorithm came into play.
From ACM News
War Is Calling Crypto's 'Neutrality' Into Question
War in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia have made cryptocurrency a hot potato for international politics.
From ACM TechNews
ML Offers Shortcut to Optimal HVAC Operation
A new method for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning control mechanisms use machine learning to balance energy cost, comfort, and efficiency while enabling fast computing.