Stories by Sharon Gaudin

SpaceX launch pad explosion also destroys Facebook’s satellite

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its commercial satellite payload, which Facebook planned to use to beam Internet connectivity, exploded today on the launch pad.

Facebook to launch Internet connectivity satellite

Facebook will launch a satellite later this week in an effort to bring Internet connectivity to parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

Google lets Android users search in their apps

Google announced the launch of In Apps, a new search mode designed to enable users to search for information in the apps on their Android phones.

After bias furor, Facebook replaces people with algorithms

After taking heat earlier this year over allegations of political bias, Facebook announced that it's replacing fallible humans with new algorithms to select items for its "Trending" topics feature.

New York Public Library reads up on the cloud

Four years ago, the New York Public Library began to move its web properties to the cloud. Today, the library system has all of its nearly 80 websites in the cloud, has shrunk the number of on-premise servers by 40% and is running those web propertie...

Tiny robots move like caterpillars, powered by light

The micro-robot is designed to move along flat surfaces, climb inclines, carry loads and squeeze through narrow openings.

Facebook renews search for elusive younger users with Lifestage

Facebook has released a new stand-alone app, called Lifestage, that lets young users share videos with other people in their schools.

Twitter suspends 360,000 accounts for terrorist ties

The social network today said it has suspended 235,000 accounts just since February for violating policies related to the promotion of terrorism.

How your contact lenses could talk to your phone

A new technology called interscatter communication would allow small devices, such as contact lenses, implantable sensors and credit cards, to communicate with everyday devices, like smartphones and smart watches.

NASA to send spacecraft on 1.2B-mile journey to asteroid

NASA next month will launching a spacecraft designed to return a sample of an asteroid to Earth for the first time.

NASA $1M contest intent on sending robots to Mars

NASA engineers want humanoid robots to help astronauts living and working on Mars to help build habitats, grow food and make potable water.

Mars rover Curiosity celebrates fourth anniversary

The rover has found evidence of water on the surface of the planet and in its soil, and that its rocks contain sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon -- all key chemical ingredients for life.

How to keep Facebook, Twitter from being terrorists’ hunting grounds

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said that, if elected, she would try to curb terrorists from using the Internet as a recruiting tool. But her statement raises questions over what can be done to prevent terrorists from using Facebook a...

Mars rover uses A.I. to decide what to zap with a laser

NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity now has the ability to decide what targets it wants to capture with a camera or hit with its laser all on its own. No humans needed.

NASA ready to build Mars rover 2020

NASA is ready to wrap up the final design and begin building the next Mars rover, which is set to search, for the first time, for signs of past life on the planet.