Windows 10 included password manager with huge security hole

There’s a good reason why security analysts get nervous about bundled third-party software: it can introduce vulnerabilities that the companies can’t control. And Microsoft, unfortunately, has learned that the hard way. Google researcher Tavis Ormandy discovered that a Windows 10 image came bundled with a third-party password manager, Keeper, which came with a glaring browser plugin flaw — a malicious website could steal passwords. Ormandy’s copy was an MSDN image meant for developers, but Reddit users noted that they received the vulnerable copy of Keeper after clean reinstalls of regular copies and even a brand new laptop.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Ars Technica that the Keeper team had patched the exploit (in response to Ormandy’s private disclosure), so it shouldn’t be an issue if your software is up to date. Also, you were only exposed if you enabled the plugin.

However, the very existence of the hole has still raised a concern: are Microsoft’s security tests as thorough for third-party apps as its own software? The company has declined to comment, but that kind of screening may prove crucial if Microsoft is going to maintain the trust of Windows users. It doesn’t matter how secure Microsoft’s code is if a bundled app undermines everything.

Source: Monorail, Tavis Ormandy (Twitter)

YouTube took down FCC’s ‘Harlem Shake’ video for 7 hours

Remember when “Harlem Shake” musician Baauer said he’d take down FCC chairman Ajit Pai’s video marking (and really, trivializing) the death of net neutrality? He meant it… although his effort didn’t last long. The Verge notes that Baauer’s label Mad Decent successfully removed the video from Daily Caller’s YouTube channel with a copyright notice for a whopping 7 hours — not much more than a momentary blip. The brief success is highlighting the concerns about the “shoot first, ask questions later” approach to copyright takedowns at sites like YouTube.

Daily Caller cried conspiracy and claimed that Google was abusing its power to “censor the internet.” Well, no, it’s not — Google isn’t obligated to host anything and everything. However, as we discussed in a previous story, the use of “Harlem Shake” was likely protected under fair use both due to its 20-second longevity and nature as a parody. And that makes Mad Decent’s takedown request problematic.

As YouTube takes down videos virtually the moment it receives a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice, Baauer could effectively misuse the law to inflict damage (however temporary) on DC with few consequences. The burden was on DC to fight the notice after the video went down. Yes, Pai’s clip is one of the most loathed videos on the internet (over 169,000 dislikes and counting), but that just underscores the point — the DMCA isn’t supposed to be used to enable personal vendettas, no matter how many people support a given cause.

Source: The Verge

Firefox users cry foul after stealth ‘Mr. Robot’ promo app secretly installs

If you opened up your browser and noticed a strange new extension this week, you’re not alone. Firefox users who are enrolled in Mozilla’s Shield Studies unexpectedly encountered a developer add-on called “Looking Glass.” The description read “MY REALITY IS JUST DIFFERENT FROM YOURS” — which understandably freaked a few people out.

It turns out it’s not ransomware or Bitcoin miners invading your system — it’s a promotional campaign for the Mr. Robot television series. The show features a super-hacker and often addresses cybersecurity issues, so “hacking” into a user’s browser with an enigmatic message may have seemed like a clever idea at the time. But, as Mozilla often stresses its commitment to privacy, many users have voiced their concerns about the creepy and intrusive nature of the promotion.

“Folks this is really unacceptable. Reddit is losing their mind about it. It’s fine if this is associated with Shields studies — but you need use a meaningful description — not some random quote that you think might be cute,” wrote one user on the Mozilla support forum

As TechCrunch noted, the show may be quite popular with developers, but it’s hardly mainstream enough to assume that more than a small percentage of Firefox users even know what it is. Mozilla responded to clarify that it was an alternate reality game timed to coincide with the season finale of the show.

“Firefox worked with the Mr. Robot team to create a custom experience that would surprise and delight fans of the show and our users,” Mozilla told TechCrunch. The company went on to add that the app does not collect or share any data. “We gave Mr. Robot fans a unique mystery to solve to deepen their connection and engagement with the show and is only available in Firefox.”

According to Engadget, the extension doesn’t do anything unless you opt into the game itself. If you don’t want anything to do with it, type about:addons into the address bar and remove “Looking Glass.”

The Shield Studies program is a way for users to test programs before they’re released. Most ask for permission before installing, but some are installed automatically and require you to actively remove it. As some people weren’t even aware they were part of the Shield program to begin with, this particular stunt seems to have backfired.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Firefox 58 may allow users to block canvas fingerprinting
• Battle of the best browsers: Edge vs. Chrome vs. Firefox vs. Opera vs. Vivaldi
• Microsoft defends Edge’s poor selection of extensions
• Picture-in-picture mode comes to Hulu with Live TV’s beta web interface
• Redditors don’t read what they vote on, according to a new study

Smart Home Gift Guide

Dip your toes into the smart home life with Team Thrifter’s selection of smart home gifts for beginners. Easing into a smart home is fun, especially with products like smart plugs and the Amazon Echo Dot.

iHome Wi-Fi outdoor smart plugSetting up outdoor Christmas lights or just something for your backyard deck? This outdoor plug gives you access to smart features like scheduling and even voice control.Amazon$39.61WishlistSwitchmate Motion Activated Snap-On Instant Smart Light SwitchDon’t want to go through the complicated process of setting up a full-on smart home system with hubs and connections throughout your home? The Switchmate attaches right to the switch and gives you direct voice control through the mobile app.Amazon$29.99WishlistTP-Link Smart LED Light BulbThis is the easiest way to gain voice control over your home’s lamps. All you do is screw in the bulb, connect it to your Wi-Fi, connect the free app to your hub’s app, and boom you’ve got “Alexa, dim the living room lights” right on the tip of your tongue.Amazon$19.99WishlistEtekcity Wi-Fi 2-pack smart plugsThese mini plugs add smart functionality to your favorite appliances by connecting easily to your Wi-Fi and giving you control through a device like the Echo Dot.Amazon$25.89WishlistAmazon Echo DotFor $30 you get all the features of Amazon Alexa, a built-in speaker, and a smart home hub capable of controlling hundreds of objects around the home. Honestly, if you don’t have one already I have no idea what you’re waiting for.Amazon$29.99WishlistSmartThings Home Monitoring KitThe SmartThings ecosystem is one of the most robust you can have, and this kit comes with a whole bunch of options like multipurpose sensors, a motion sensor, a smart plug, and the SmartThings Hub.Samsung$149.99WishlistPhilips Hue starter kit with 4 bulbs and a bridgeThere are plenty of smart bulb options out there if you just want to replace a singular lamp or lighting fixture, but if you want to go whole hog you want the Philips Hue so your lights can communicate with you and each other at the same time.Amazon$91.99WishlistCanary all-in-one home security deviceThe Canary is a motion-activated 1080p security camera with night vision and the ability to monitor air quality, temperature, and humidity. It’s the easiest system in the world to setup, even if it’s not the most advanced.Amazon$122.00WishlistRing Video Doorbell 2Ring has several versions of the video doorbell, each one with more features than the last. The real key here is being able to see who’s knocking without getting off the couch.Amazon$194.00WishlistNest Learning ThermostatWho knew a smart thermostat would be such a big deal? But it turns out, it is pretty convenient to change the temperature without losing the nice spot on the couch. The Nest Thermostat is one of the most widely compatible smart devices you can add to your budding smart home collection.Amazon$241.99WishlistRachio smart Wi-Fi sprinkler controller systemAfter the thermostat, the sprinkler was probably top on your list of “things that don’t need to be smart.” But you’d be wrong, my friend. The Rachio will transform how you water your lawn and it can save you money with your utility company, too.Amazon$199.48WishlistAugust Smart Lock 3rd GenerationStandard deadbolts are a thing of the past. August is already on a third generation of smart locks, and you haven’t added one to your home yet? Not only can you lock your door with your phone or your voice, the smart functions will actually keep your home more secure with real-time tracking.Amazon$149.00WishlistChamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Door hubEven if you’ve added smart home gadgets around your home, your garage is probably still living in the dark ages of the early aughts. Let Chamberlain’s MyQ change that by connecting your garage door to your smartphone.Amazon$99.00WishlistWemo dimmer light switchReplace your standard light switch with this smart dimmer switch so you can control your lights manually, with your phone, or with your voice. Wemo is smart enough that you don’t need an additional hub either, just Wi-Fi.Amazon$74.99WishlistTopgreener USB wall charger and outletTopgreener’s custom outlets let you add built-in USB ports to your boring, standard wall outlets. It’s an easy added convenience as long as you’re careful with the wires while installating.Amazon$18.95Wishlist

North Korea hackers steal bitcoin by targeting currency insiders

Bitcoin values are skyrocketing, and North Korea appears to be trying to profit from that virtual gold rush. Secureworks reports that the Lazarus Group (a team linked to the North Korean government) has been conducting a spearphishing campaign against cryptocurrency industry workers in a bid to steal bitcoin. The attacks have tried to trick workers into compromising their computers by including a seemingly innocuous Word file that claims they need to enable editing to see the document. If they fell prey, it installed a rogue macro that quietly loaded a PC-hijacking trojan while staffers were busy looking at the bogus document.

Attempts have been taking place as recently as November, but Secureworks’ analysts saw activity as early as 2016. The organization adds that the campaign is likely still going, and that this is a preliminary report. You may get a better sense of the scope in the future.

It’s easy to see why Lazarus would try a campaign like this. It has already conducted money-grabbing efforts like the 2016 bank attack that swiped $81 million, and taking even a handful of bitcoins could reap a windfall when just one is worth roughly $19,400 as of this writing. North Korea could spend relatively little effort to swipe a lot of money and circumvent the many sanctions that prevent money from flowing in.

Source: ZDNet, Reuters

CDC barred from using ‘science-based’ in budget documents

We can just imagine CDC personnel still shaking their heads after finding out that they can’t use certain terms in official documents for next year’s budget. According to The Washington Post, the Trump administration has prohibited the CDC from using “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based” and “science-based” — terms you’d expect to be part of CDC’s everyday vocabulary. The censorship comes almost a year after barring the EPA from sharing info with the public and having it remove all references to climate change on its website.

CDC’s senior officials in charge of its budget have apparently revealed the new edict to the agency’s policy analysts in a 90-minute meeting. WaPo’s source said attendees couldn’t believe what they were hearing, especially since the administration didn’t even offer an explanation. While the CDC could come up with workarounds, this will make it a lot tougher for its divisions to report about their work in a factual manner and could ultimately impact the funding of health initiatives.

Can you imagine working on reproductive health or diseases affecting pregnant women like Zika and not being able to use the word “fetus?” How will a health worker focusing on LGBT issues refer to transgender health concerns without being able to use the word “transgender?” “Vulnerable” is commonly used when referring to diseases and populations.

And then there’s “science/evidence-based.” It’s typically used to indicate treatments, programs and approaches backed by available evidence from scientific research. It’s also a term used to discredit pseudoscience and quack medical theories. In fact, there’s a medical approach called “evidence-based medicine,” which the National Institutes of Health describes as “conscientious, explicit, judicious and reasonable use of modern, best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients.”

The government wants the agency to replace instances of “science-based” or “evidence-based” in their documents with “CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes.” Dr. Gleb Tsipursky wrote on Scientific American that by using that poor alternative for “evidence-based,” the administration is saying that it “wants doctors to shift away from treating people based on the best scientific research, and instead use the fuzzy standard of ‘community wishes.’” Tsipursky, who calls the censorship part of the administration’s war on science, leads Pro Truth Pledge, which aims to fight fake news and alternative facts.

WaPo’s source believes the agency’s scientists and subject matter experts “will not lay down quietly.” But unless they can convince the administration to lift the ban on those words ASAP, then CDC’s officials already have a rewrite to attend to: the White House sent back budget drafts with the words “vulnerable,” “entitlement” and “diversity” for correction.

Source: The Washington Post

HP Z38c review

Research Center:
HP Z38c

Most people don’t want to $1,000 to spend on a monitor. It’s not an easy thing to justify when you’ve already spent at least that much on your gaming rig or laptop. Yet the size and quality of your monitor can have a larger effect on your workday or gaming sessions than you might assume. If you’ve got the budget for it, why not go all in? If you’re thinking about picking up the $1,200 HP Z38c, you’re going all in.

Ultrawide, curved displays just keep getting sharper – and wider.

LG impressed everyone when it introduced its 38-inch wonder to the world in late 2016, but Dell did it better for $400 cheaper with its UltraSharp 38 Curved Monitor this year. HP is getting in the game with its own version, a massive, 38-inch curved display that competes spec-for-spec with the competition. While there are wider monitors out there, the Z38c is an impressive sight to behold with its 3,840 x 1,600 resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio. Ultrawide, curved displays have been around for a couple of years now, but they just keep getting sharper – and wider.

HP is the latecomer to the 38-inch monitor game this year, so let’s dig into the details to find out if the HP Z38c is worth going all-in.

Elegant, yet understated

‘Immersive’ is the buzzword often associated with ultrawide displays — and there definitely is an element of being absorbed within the width of the display. If you’ve never seen an ultrawide curved monitor in person, it’s an experience worth seeking out, especially for gamers and professionals.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

The Z38c is one of the widest monitors out there, at 38 inches, and that kind of size gives you an odd 21:9 aspect ratio. To put it in perspective, it’s around the same height as a more standard, 27-inch 16:9 monitor. Its 3,840 x 1,600 resolution is the same as Dell’s UltraSharp 38 Curved Monitor, and LG’s 38UC99-W.

In the past couple of years, HP’s design team has been hitting it out of the park, whether you’re talking about its 2-in-1 PCs, or its straight-up laptops. This one is marked with the redesigned HP logo on the front, and aluminum wrapping that gives it a more premium feel than the LG or Dell competitors. It’s the same look you’ll find on smaller displays from HP, like the Z27 or Z24.

HP did a great job of keeping things simple and trim all around the display, from the bezels that house it to the stand that holds it in the air. The bezel on the bottom is slightly bigger than the Dell’s, but it’s nothing noticeable.

HP did a great job of keeping things simple and trim all around the display.

The Z38c has a large, square stand that provides heftiness to the build of the monitor. Both the stand and base are made of aluminum, which adds some weight, and gives the Z38c substantial tilt, height, and swivel action. The 38-inch display can swivel up to 45 degrees to both the left and right, which is 15 degrees more than the Dell, and the LG can’t turn at all. You really must tug on it to adjust, but you never feel like you’re going to break it — and that’s important when you’re handling $1,200 of pixels.

However, the stand does take up a rather large footprint on the desk, especially compared to something like the LG 38UC99’s tiny base. If you want to switch it out, or install the monitor on an arm, you can use the standard VESA mounting adapter to do so.

Plenty of ports — facing the wrong way

For I/O, you’ve got a wide swath of ports, including DisplayPort (1.2), an HDMI (2.0), three USB-A ports, and a single USB-C port. For good measure, you’ve also got a Kensington lock. It doesn’t have quite as many ports as what’s available on the Dell, but it’s got the same selection of ports — and it’s nice to see a USB-C included here. The LG doesn’t include that.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

Most of these ports are on the back of the monitor, facing downward. Because the screen can’t rotate, access is particularly difficult — and with how wide this thing is, you’ll need to clear your desk completely to get a look at them. Once you’ve got everything plugged in, it makes for a clean setup. Just hope that you don’t have to switch them out regularly.

However, the Z38c does give you a USB-A and USB-C port on the left side of the monitor, for easy access. That means you can add peripherals without much hassle.

A modern monitor with old-school menus

You’ll find the controls on the Z38c just where’d you expect — on the right, on the bottom side of the display. You get a power button and four control buttons. While the power button is a bit too sensitive for our liking, the four control buttons are clicky, and easy to use.

The menus will remind you a bit of old televisions.

Outside of brightness, you probably won’t have to dig into the settings much, but HP does offer access to extensive color options and display modes. For viewing modes, you get toggles for Night, Low Blue Light, Reading, HP Enhance+, and Photo. As for color options, you do have the ability to minutely adjust color for RGB.

They’re not the prettiest menus in the world, though. They’ll remind you a bit of old television settings. Dell’s selection and design takes the cake here, but the Z38’s menus are functional enough.

Do you value silence?

The Z38c doesn’t have any built-in speakers. That’s probably not a big deal for most people who’ll want to use external speakers, but it’s something both competitors include that HP has ditched. If you want a monitor with speakers, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Pre-calibration display quality

If you’ve checked out the other two 38-inch ultrawide monitors on the market, the HP Z38c should look familiar. It’s got the same 3,840 x 1,600 screen resolution, which is still the highest you’ll on any ultrawide monitor. It’s also scores a tiny bit behind the others in terms of max brightness, contrast ratio, and display gamut (percentage of RGB) — though not by enough to notice.

These monitors don’t have the insane contrast ratio of something like the BenQ EX3200R or Samsung CF791 — but then again, those aren’t 38 inches large. The HP Z38c came in at 310 nits of brightness, which isn’t all that bright, but it stays on pace with the 38-inch Dell and LG.

HP claims the Z38c comes with “factory color calibration” that promises consistent and accurate colors. In our testing, the HP Z38 fares extremely well on that promise, getting an average color error of 2.03 before we calibrated the display. Colors appear bright and bold, making things like watching movies and playing games completely immersive.

Colors appear bright and bold, making movies and games immersive.

Without FreeSync support and just a 60 Hz refresh rate, this is far from the ultimate gaming monitor, but it’ll satisfy most gamers. For a serious ultrawide gaming monitor you’ll want to look toward something like the Acer Predator Z35, which boasts a refresh rate of 200Hz, or the Samsung CF791, which offers 144Hz.

In our testing, the display handled 95 percent of the sRGB color gamut, and 74 percent of AdobeRGB — which isn’t the absolute best, but is certainly good. Again, that lags a bit behind the LG and the Dell, but you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. Right out of the box, the Z38c is great for editing photos and video without having to worry that the display is lying to you.

Post-calibration image quality

We calibrated the screen on the Z38c and didn’t see any serious changes. Color error went down by a bit, which is great, but there’s not much else here that’s different to report. Overall, HP has done a good job of making sure the display is very close to calibrated right out of the box.

Warranty information

HP comes with a standard 3-year warranty and options for extended protection to ensure you get your money’s worth.

HP Z38c Compared To

Dell Ultrasharp U3818DW

LG 38UC99

Dell S2716DG

BenQ PD3200U 4K Designer Monitor

LG 34UC89G

Acer Predator XB272 Gaming Monitor

BenQ EX3200R Gaming Monitor

Dell S2418H

LG 27MD5KA‑B Ultrafine 5K

Samsung CF791

Dell U3417W

Samsung CFG70

Acer Predator Z35

Dell UltraSharp U3415W

LG 34UM95

Our Take

Curved ultrawide monitors still have a bit of novelty to them, but it’s hardly a gimmick. The HP Z38c is a beautiful, massive monitor — there’s no doubt about that. The image quality is on par with its competitors, and the build of the stand and base make it stand out.

You can get a higher resolution monitor with higher contrast elsewhere, but for its size, the HP Z38 is the best you can buy.

Is there a better alternative?

There are two competitors to the HP Z38 — the Dell Ultrasharp 38, and LG’s 38UC99. The image quality is equal across the board, both in terms of resolution and refresh rate. Both the HP and the Dell offer their monitors at a highly discounted price compared to the LG (around $1,200, compared to $1,500), which mostly takes the LG out of the race. The feature that the LG has over the others is FreeSync support, which would make it the possible pick for gamers.

Between the Dell and HP, it’s nearly a tossup. We like the sleek design of the stand and base of the HP Z38c, compared to the more standard, corporate feel of the Dell. The HP Z38 also offers slightly better swivel and height adjustment, while the Dell gives you more USB ports, and a marginally lower price tag ($30 if you buy at MSRP). Both are great ultrawide monitors that are the best in their class.

If you also look at smaller monitors, Samsung’s CF791 remains our top pick. Its incredible image quality and slick design outperform these larger screens, and it can be purchased for as little as $750 online.

How long will it last?

When you buy a monitor, you should expect it to last a long time — especially when it costs over $1,000. The HP Z38 should last you many years, especially considering how sturdy the stand is.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The HP Z38 is big, beautiful ultrawide monitor that ties the Dell Ultrasharp 38 for the best of its kind.

SpaceX launches both a reused rocket and capsule in successful ISS cargo mission

SpaceX took a big step by showcasing its claim that reusable rockets are the future of space flight. The two-stage Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral and it featured not only a reused booster, but a reused Dragon capsule that’s already visited the International Space Station (ISS) a few months ago. What’s more, NASA may have gotten a discount on the flight.

Elon Musk has long touted the re-usability concept for his SpaceX program, and it kicked into high gear in 2017. Back in March, SpaceX made history by utilizing a reused Falcon 9 to send a satellite for the communications firm SES into orbit. In May, the company launched a recycled Dragon capsule for a resupply mission to the ISS.

The most recent launch marks the first time both a reused capsule aboard a reused rocket has made the journey. After a successful launch and landing back on Earth, the boosters and capsules are inspected, refurbished, and subject to a battery of tests to ensure they’re ready for another mission.

SpaceX has now completed 20 successful first-stage landings, and it’s reused the boosters on four occasions. In the pre-launch briefing for the most recent mission, Jessica Jensen of SpaceX said, “In the long run, reusability is going to significantly reduce the cost of access to space, and that’s what’s going to be required to send future generations to explore the universe.”

NASA probably got a deal on the mission as well. Last year, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell explained that reused rockets are cheaper to fly and some of that savings would be passed on to the consumer. “We are not decreasing the price by 30 percent right now for recovered and reused vehicles. We’re offering about a 10 percent price reduction,” she said. “At this point that is a reasonable reduction and then, as we recover some of the costs associated with the investment that we put into the Falcon 9 to achieve that, then we might get a little bit more.”

After the first stage’s successful launch and landing, the disposable second stage is powering the Dragon on to its December 17 rendezvous with the ISS. The cargo it’s carrying is not a Tesla Roadster, but the usual array of crew supplies and scientific experiments.

However, there may be something extra this time around. “I cannot confirm nor deny the presence of Christmas presents,” Kirk Shireman of NASA said. “There are crew care packages, and as program manager I don’t have to go inspect all those. So it wouldn’t surprise me, but I can’t say for certain.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Elon Musk’s crazy new plan combines Mars, David Bowie, and a Tesla Roadster
• SpaceX Dragon capsule splashes down in Pacific with a crew of mouse astronauts
• Dummies in space! Watch Jeff Bezos’ rocket company test a new crew capsule
• Dream Chaser passes a big milestone with a successful glide test landing
• Meet the amateur astronauts trying to crowdfund their way into orbit

NASA and Google A.I. team up and discover a new planet

In what might be the biggest Google search of the decade, CNET reports that NASA has used Google’s machine learning technology to discover a new exoplanet.

Orbiting Kepler-90, a sun-like star 2,545 light years away from Earth, Kepler-90i is an extremely hot, rocky, and barren planet that orbits its star in 14.4 days. Aside from its extreme temperatures, the planet is notable for the fact that it is the eighth planet discovered in the Kepler-90 system, making the system itself tied with ours in the number of planets which orbit a star.

Kepler-90i is also notable for the way in which it was discovered. NASA made use of Google’s machine learning to analyze data collected by the Kepler Space Telescope. The Kepler telescope collects more data than humans alone can analyze in a reasonable amount of time. By using Google’s machine learning technology, NASA was able to use A.I. to sift through the mass of data and search for signals that could indicate exoplanets.

“Just as we expected, there are exciting discoveries lurking in our archived Kepler data, waiting for the right tool or technology to unearth them,” NASA’s Paul Hertz said. “This finding shows that our data will be a treasure trove available to innovative researchers for years to come.”

Researchers  Christopher Shallue and Andrew Vanderburg trained Google’s A.I. to identify exoplanets by analyzing light readings recorded by Kepler. Light readings are tiny changes in brightness found when planets pass in front or transit a star. Machine learning has been used in conjunction with the Kepler data before, but this recent discovery marks a major milestone in NASA’s work with A.I.

Shallue, who is a senior software engineer at Google, said he became interested in using machine learning to search for planets when he learned how much data the Kepler telescope was collecting. Currently, Kepler’s four-year data set includes 35,000 potential planetary signals. NASA researchers work to identify the most promising leads, but it is difficult, if not impossible, for people to reliably search through so much data.

“In my spare time, I started googling for ‘finding exoplanets with large data sets’ and found out about the Kepler mission and the huge data set available,” Shallue said. “Machine learning really shines in situations where there is so much data that humans can’t search it for themselves.”

For more information on Kepler-90i, check out NASA’s AMA, which it will be holding on Reddit on December 16 at 3 p.m. EST.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The 10 best exoplanets we’ve discovered so far, ranked
• Here’s how NASA transformed Voyager 1 data into a beautiful (and super geeky) song
• This exoplanet telescope could help astronomers discover alien life
• IBM and MIT are working together to make sure A.I. isn’t our downfall
• Scientists hope their latest alien invitation won’t trigger an invasion of Earth

NASA and Google A.I. team up and discover a new planet

In what might be the biggest Google search of the decade, CNET reports that NASA has used Google’s machine learning technology to discover a new exoplanet.

Orbiting Kepler-90, a sun-like star 2,545 light years away from Earth, Kepler-90i is an extremely hot, rocky, and barren planet that orbits its star in 14.4 days. Aside from its extreme temperatures, the planet is notable for the fact that it is the eighth planet discovered in the Kepler-90 system, making the system itself tied with ours in the number of planets which orbit a star.

Kepler-90i is also notable for the way in which it was discovered. NASA made use of Google’s machine learning to analyze data collected by the Kepler Space Telescope. The Kepler telescope collects more data than humans alone can analyze in a reasonable amount of time. By using Google’s machine learning technology, NASA was able to use A.I. to sift through the mass of data and search for signals that could indicate exoplanets.

“Just as we expected, there are exciting discoveries lurking in our archived Kepler data, waiting for the right tool or technology to unearth them,” NASA’s Paul Hertz said. “This finding shows that our data will be a treasure trove available to innovative researchers for years to come.”

Researchers  Christopher Shallue and Andrew Vanderburg trained Google’s A.I. to identify exoplanets by analyzing light readings recorded by Kepler. Light readings are tiny changes in brightness found when planets pass in front or transit a star. Machine learning has been used in conjunction with the Kepler data before, but this recent discovery marks a major milestone in NASA’s work with A.I.

Shallue, who is a senior software engineer at Google, said he became interested in using machine learning to search for planets when he learned how much data the Kepler telescope was collecting. Currently, Kepler’s four-year data set includes 35,000 potential planetary signals. NASA researchers work to identify the most promising leads, but it is difficult, if not impossible, for people to reliably search through so much data.

“In my spare time, I started googling for ‘finding exoplanets with large data sets’ and found out about the Kepler mission and the huge data set available,” Shallue said. “Machine learning really shines in situations where there is so much data that humans can’t search it for themselves.”

For more information on Kepler-90i, check out NASA’s AMA, which it will be holding on Reddit on December 16 at 3 p.m. EST.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The 10 best exoplanets we’ve discovered so far, ranked
• Here’s how NASA transformed Voyager 1 data into a beautiful (and super geeky) song
• This exoplanet telescope could help astronomers discover alien life
• IBM and MIT are working together to make sure A.I. isn’t our downfall
• Scientists hope their latest alien invitation won’t trigger an invasion of Earth