New framework looks at how technology is changing our cities

The Urban Land Institute, a non-profit grop creating sustainable communities, has launched an Urban Technology Framework to help cities advance into the next generation. The Urban Technology Framework has identified 12 current trends that will shape metropolitan hubs, the group said. This in turn, will help developers and architects who are responsible for delivering future cities. Key tech trends include 3D printing transforming the way we build, and the Internet of Things (IoT) progressing smart buildings from stationary structures to machines. Digitalisation will transform business models, causing the existing sharing economy to…

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Lance Armstrong says his investment in Uber ‘saved our family’

Lance Armstrong on escaping a $100 million lawsuit and Uber   19 Hours Ago | 04:11 After Lance Armstrong’s fall from grace cost him millions of dollars in lost endorsements and lawsuit settlements, one thing kept him on his feet: his investment in Uber. “It’s saved our family,” Armstrong told CNBC’s Andrew Sorkin in an interview aired on Thursday. In 2009, the former pro cyclist invested $100,000 in Chris Sacca’s nascent venture capital firm, Lowercase Capital. Armstrong said the bulk of the money went to Uber, which at the time was…

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If Social Media Algorithms Control Our Lives Why Can’t They Eliminate Hate Speech?

Getty ImagesGetty It has become accepted fact in our modern digital world that the algorithms powering the online revolution, especially those of the major social media platforms, have so much control over us that they can actually nudge us against our conscious will towards actions we would not otherwise take. The addictive nature of social media is driven in part by an army of behavioral engineers tasked with building algorithms, interfaces and experiences that tap deeply into the flaws and nuances of human psychology, turning us into mindless remote-control zombies…

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Packaging affects how food is absorbed by our bodies, and not in a good way

Turns out, food packaging could be negatively affecting nutrient absorption in your body. According to a new study conducted by the Binghamton University, food packaging could be negatively affecting the way in which your digestive tract operates. “We found that zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles at doses that are relevant to what you might normally eat in a meal or a day can change the way that your intestine absorbs nutrients or your intestinal cell gene and protein expression,” said researcher Gretchen Mahler. According to Mahler, these ZnO nanoparticles are present…

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‘Our political issues must not affect health care’

Sylvana Sinha, a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, hopes to build a series of primary health-care centres with diagnostic facilities and pathological laboratories, called Praava Healthcare. Praava recently entered into an agreement with Narayana Hrudayalaya, based in Bengaluru. The mission, she tells The Hindu, is to have India’s neighbours cooperate and provide health care to millions in the process. Excerpts. Bangladesh’s health indicators have been better than most of South Asia for years. Where do you think the country lags? It is true that Bangladesh is doing better than any other country…

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Prebiotic Foods Versus Probiotics: What’s Best For Our Diet?

For quite a long while, probiotic bacteria and yeast were considered the hero of the stomach, fighting to swell the amount of ‘friendly’ bacteria in the gut i.e. bacteria that may have been depleted by stress, illness, certain medicines, or an improperly-balanced diet that is low on fiber. Probiotics were said to battle with IBS, diarrhoea and stomach-related ailments and subsequently even improve skin conditions, clear up allergies, and generally reduce nagging health conditions. However, later studies showed that most of the probiotics being ingested were actually not completely effective.…

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