Communications of the ACM
The news archive provides access to past news stories from Communications of the ACM and other sources by date.
August 2021
From ACM News
U.S. Will Investigate Tesla's Autopilot System Over Crashes With Emergency Vehicles
It will be the broadest look yet at Tesla's assisted-driving technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the authority to force a recall or require new safety features.
From ACM News
Are Robotic Surgeries Really Better?
Robot-assisted surgeries have only modest advantages over other approaches, a large analysis found.
From ACM News
Google Infringed on Patents Owned by Sonos, a Trade Judge Says
The preliminary finding will now be reviewed by the full U.S. International Trade Commission.
From ACM TechNews
Is Your Mobile Provider Tracking Your Location? This Technology Could Stop It.
A new system can thwart the tracking of cellphone users by network operators while maintaining seamless connectivity.
From ACM TechNews
Computer Models of Civilization Offer Routes to Ending Global Warming
Some climate scientists believe massive computer simulations of the world economy could be harnessed to establish a path forward to prevent the worst effects of global warming.
From ACM TechNews
Farmers Help Create 'Virtual Safe Space' to Save Bumblebees
Land-management strategies to save bumblebees can be tested in a "virtual safe space" developed by scientists at the U.K.'s University of Exeter.
From ACM TechNews
Quantum Computing Breakthrough May Be Key to Large-Scale Quantum Chips
Researchers at Australia's University of New South Wales say a new method could enable engineers to reliably control millions of quantum bits.
From ACM TechNews
Robot Shows How Simple Swimming Can Be
A robotic eel designed by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne can swim through water and receive sensory data while in motion.
From ACM TechNews
ORNL's Simulation Tool Creates Digital Twins of Buildings From Coast to Coast
Modeling software designed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory can simulate the energy profiles of all 129 million buildings in the U.S.
From ACM TechNews
Wildfire Simulation Heats Up
Computer simulations can predict the spread of wildfires through sections of a real forest
From ACM TechNews
Meet ISAAC, Integrating Robots with Space Stations of the Future
Software designed to enable autonomous operations of a spacecraft's operating and robotic systems
From ACM TechNews
Stanford Researchers Use AI to Unlock Extreme Weather Mysteries
New machine-learning approach helps scientists understand increased frequency of extreme precipitation days in the Midwest
From ACM TechNews
Study Shows Potential of DNA-Based Data-Structures Systems
A team led by researchers from Newcastle University created new dynamic DNA data structures that can store and retrieve information in an ordered manner from DNA molecules.
From ACM TechNews
Researchers Develop Smart-Car Identity and Access Management System
Researchers at City, University of London have developed an identity and access management system to make smart cars less vulnerable to cyber attacks.
From ACM TechNews
Mathematicians Are Deploying Algorithms to Stop Gerrymandering
Mathematicians are implementing algorithms designed to halt gerrymandering—the partisan manipulation of U.S. Census data to redraw electoral maps for one political party's gain.
From ACM TechNews
Medicare AI Will Infer Race to Close Health Equity Gap
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services plans to use artificial intelligence algorithms to determine a patient's race as a means of improving health care equity.
From ACM TechNews
Security Company Warns of Mitsubishi Industrial Control Vulnerabilities
Researchers at cybersecurity firm Nozomi Networks Labs have identified five vulnerabilities in Mitsubishi's safety programmable logic controllers, centered on the authentication implementation of the MELSOFT communication protocol…
From ACM TechNews
Researchers Create Computational Model to Evaluate Drug Delivery Through Inhalers
Scientists from India and Australia seek to improve effectiveness of pressurized metered-dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers.
From ACM TechNews
AI Learns by Doing More with Less
Sparsity and energy constraints guide learning and communications in silicon neuronal networks
From ACM News
Humans and Algorithms Struggle to Read Emotions When Faces Are Obscured
Study compares accuracy of humans versus artificial systems in deciphering emotions of people in face masks and sunglasses
From ACM News
Brain Connectivity Can Build Better AI
Artificial neural networks modeled on real brains can perform cognitive tasks
From ACM News
Java Surges Back Up in RedMonk Rankings
The adaptability of one of the most common programming languages is behind its continued strength, say analysts.
From ACM News
System Trains Drones to Fly Around Obstacles at High Speeds
New algorithm could enable fast, nimble drones for time-critical operations such as search and rescue
From ACM News
Real-Time Lyric-Generation Technology Can Inspire Songwriting
LyricJam uses artificial intelligence to generate lyrics for live instrumental music
From ACM News
Gaming Companies Should Avoid Predatory Designs, Lawmakers Say
Democrats press executives to extend new U.K. 'Age Appropriate Design Code' regulations to children in the U.S.
From ACM TechNews
U.S. Prisons Mull AI to Analyze Inmate Phone Calls
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has asked for a report on using artificial intelligence to analyze prison inmates' phone calls to help prevent violent crime and suicides.
From ACM TechNews
Neural Network Model Unravels People with Autism's Difficulty with Facial Expressions
Researchers at Japan's Tohoku University developed an neural network model that can help explain the difficulty people with autism spectrum disorder have in interpreting facial expressions.
From ACM TechNews
'Glowworm Attack' Recovers Audio From Devices' Power LEDs
Israeli scientists have demonstrated a novel passive variant of the TEMPEST exploit called Glowworm, which can extract electronic conversations by analyzing devices' power indicator LED.
From ACM News
Twitter's Photo-Cropping Algorithm Confirms Inherent Biases
Results from the company's AI bias competition reveals a preference for young, beautiful, and light-skinned faces
From ACM TechNews
Messaging Apps Have an Eavesdropping Problem
Google's Project Zero researcher Natalie Silvanovich found vulnerabilities in messaging apps that add eavesdropping bugs without requiring users to click a malicious link, download an attachment, or interact in any way.