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Last refreshed: 05/06/2026 21:42 · 44 articles added
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Science & Tech

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Science & Tech

NASA Orders Astronauts on International Space Station to Prepare for Possible Evacuation

NASA has ordered astronauts aboard the International Space Station to prepare for a potential evacuation due to a worsening air leak in the Russian section of the orbital laboratory. The deteriorating situation in the Russian module has prompted space agency officials to take precautionary measures to ensure crew safety. The International Space Station, a joint project between NASA, Russia's Roscosmos, and other international partners, has been continuously occupied since 2000 and serves as humanity's primary orbital research facility.

SMETASR/Teraz
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Science & Tech

Slovakia Launches PERUN Supercomputer for Medical Research and Energy Innovation

Slovakia's new national supercomputer PERUN became fully operational this year, capable of performing tens of quadrillions of operations per second. Scientists are using the advanced computing system to analyze massive datasets and identify patterns across multiple fields, including medical diagnostics, meteorological imaging, and energy sector innovations. The supercomputer's machine learning capabilities allow researchers to discover effects and patterns that would be impossible to detect through conventional analysis methods, provided sufficient training and testing data is available.

Dennik N
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Science & Tech

NASA Orders Astronauts to Return to Planned Operations as Russia Suspends Air Leak Repair

NASA has directed astronauts aboard the International Space Station to resume their scheduled operations after Russia's space agency Roscosmos suspended repair work on a worsening air leak in the Russian segment of the station. The air leak, located in the Russian portion of the ISS, has been deteriorating and prompted the temporary halt of maintenance efforts. The International Space Station, a joint project between multiple space agencies including NASA and Roscosmos, has been continuously occupied since 2000 and serves as a platform for scientific research and international cooperation in space.

SME
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Science & Tech

Legal Expert Releases Guide to Understanding Artificial Intelligence Impact on Society

Richard Susskind has published a book titled "How to Think About Artificial Intelligence" that aims to help non-technical readers understand AI's impact on work and daily life. The legal technology expert argues that technical expertise is not necessary to comprehend how artificial intelligence will reshape society. Susskind identifies balancing AI's benefits against its potential threats as a defining challenge of the current era. The book seeks to dispel common myths about artificial intelligence while providing guidance for maintaining clear judgment in a world that Susskind predicts will be unrecognizable by 2050 due to technological transformation.

Dennik N
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Science & Tech

Slovak Firefighters Train to Use New Cargo Drones for Material Transport

Slovakia's fire and rescue service has begun training pilots to operate new cargo drones that will be used to transport materials during emergency operations. The remote pilot training for the new cargo drone fleet took place in late May at the Fire and Rescue Service Training Center in Lešť. The introduction of cargo drones represents a modernization effort by the Hasičský a záchranný zbor (HaZZ), Slovakia's national fire and rescue service, to enhance their operational capabilities and improve response times during emergencies by utilizing unmanned aircraft for logistical support.

TASR/Teraz
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Science & Tech

Beavers Return to High Tatra Region, Transforming Landscape and Aiding Climate Crisis

Beavers have established a thriving population beneath Slovakia's High Tatra mountains, dramatically altering the local landscape through their natural engineering abilities. Once considered destructive pests, these large rodents are now recognized as valuable allies in addressing environmental challenges. Beavers are the only mammals besides humans capable of actively reshaping their environment, creating wetlands, dams, and water retention systems that help combat drought and flooding. Their return to Slovak territory represents a successful conservation story, as the species had been largely eliminated from the region in previous centuries due to hunting and habitat loss.

SME
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Science & Tech

World Environment Day Observed on June 5

World Environment Day is observed annually on June 5, marking an international awareness day dedicated to environmental protection. The observance was established by the United Nations in 1972 during the Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm, Sweden. The conference represented a landmark moment in global environmental policy, bringing together world leaders to address pressing environmental challenges and establish frameworks for international cooperation on environmental issues.

TASR/Teraz
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Science & Tech

Swedish Researcher Exposes AI Chatbots' Vulnerability by Creating Fake Eye Disease

A Swedish AI researcher successfully fooled artificial intelligence chatbots into promoting a non-existent eye condition called "bixonomania," highlighting serious concerns about AI-generated medical misinformation. Almira Osmanovic Thunström from the University of Gothenburg created the fictional disease, supposedly causing red eyelids from excessive screen time, to test how AI systems handle false medical information. The chatbots not only accepted the fake condition as real but began recommending it to users seeking medical advice. "People have stopped being critical about the sources from which they get information," Thunström said in a Science Quickly podcast by Scientific American magazine. The experiment demonstrates the potential dangers of relying on AI chatbots for medical guidance, as these systems can perpetuate and spread false health information without proper verification mechanisms.

Dennik N
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Science & Tech

Slovak Researchers Explore Major Unanswered Questions in Cosmology

Slovak researchers Jozef and Samuel are investigating some of cosmology's most persistent mysteries, including the Big Bang, dark energy, and black holes. The universe remains filled with fundamental questions that scientists have yet to answer definitively. Their work addresses ongoing cosmological puzzles that continue to challenge the scientific community's understanding of how the universe functions and evolved.

SME
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Science & Tech

UN Calls on AI Companies to Disclose Environmental Impact

The United Nations has called on artificial intelligence companies to publicly disclose their environmental footprint as AI technology increasingly strains global energy grids, water supplies, and land resources. The appeal comes amid growing concerns about the massive computational power required to train and operate AI systems, which consume significant amounts of electricity and water for cooling data centers. The UN's initiative reflects mounting pressure on the tech industry to address the environmental costs of AI development, as the technology's rapid expansion has created new challenges for sustainable resource management worldwide.

SME
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Science & Tech

WHO Says Global Response is Catching Up to Ebola Outbreak Despite Early Advantage of Epidemic

The World Health Organization stated that the global response to the current Ebola outbreak is making progress in catching up to the epidemic, despite the disease having gained an initial advantage. The WHO warned that blanket travel restrictions are hampering response efforts to contain the outbreak. The organization emphasized that such broad travel bans slow down the implementation of necessary measures to combat the spread of the deadly virus.

SME
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Science & Tech

Silicon Valley Leaders Use Limited Set of Tricks to Avoid Personal Responsibility

Technology executives from Silicon Valley companies employ a relatively narrow range of tactics to deflect personal accountability, according to analysis of corporate communication patterns. These strategies are repeatedly used across different situations and companies. Understanding these common approaches can help observers recognize when corporate leaders are attempting to shift blame or avoid taking responsibility for their decisions and their companies' actions.

Dennik N
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Science & Tech

Slovak and Hungarian foresters discuss climate change impact on forests

Slovak and Hungarian forestry officials held discussions focused on the future of forests in the face of climate change. The meeting addressed adaptation strategies for forest stands and explored practical solutions that could be implemented in forestry management. The cross-border collaboration reflects growing concerns about how changing climate conditions are affecting forest ecosystems in Central Europe, where both countries face similar challenges in maintaining healthy forest populations amid rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns.

TASR/Teraz
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Science & Tech

EU Plans to Prioritize European Companies Over Foreign Firms in AI and Cloud Services

The European Union is developing plans to give preference to European companies over foreign competitors in the artificial intelligence and cloud computing sectors. The initiative aims to ensure the bloc maintains control over critical services and data infrastructure. The move reflects growing concerns among EU policymakers about technological dependence on non-European companies, particularly in strategic sectors that handle sensitive information and essential digital services. The policy would represent a significant shift toward digital sovereignty as the EU seeks to build greater autonomy in key technological areas.

SME
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Science & Tech

Apple to Open First European App Development Center in Berlin

Apple announced it will establish its first European application development center in Berlin. The facility will mark Apple's fifth development center of this type globally, expanding the company's network of specialized facilities that support app developers. The Berlin center represents Apple's continued investment in the European market and its commitment to fostering app development across the region.

SME
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Science & Tech

Sodium-Ion Batteries Could Make Electric Vehicles Significantly Cheaper

Electric vehicles could become significantly more affordable with the development of sodium-ion battery technology, which promises to substantially reduce manufacturing costs. The new battery technology represents a potential breakthrough that could make electric cars accessible to a much broader market by driving down prices compared to current lithium-ion batteries. The technology offers hope for a revolution in the electric vehicle industry by addressing one of the main barriers to widespread adoption - the high cost of battery systems that currently account for a large portion of an electric car's price.

SME
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Science & Tech

Slovak Environmental Journalist Reviews Weather Apps After Year-Long Testing

A Slovak environmental journalist has published recommendations for weather forecasting applications after conducting year-long testing of multiple apps available on App Store and Google Play. The author of the Green Newsfilter, which covers environmental protection, climate, and weather news, identified four applications that proved most effective for different weather conditions including rain, storms, and comparing forecasts from multiple meteorological models. The journalist emphasized that comparing how accurately different apps "hit" weather predictions is not meaningful, suggesting that users should focus on other factors when selecting weather applications. The testing was conducted as part of a special edition of the Green Newsfilter, which regularly comments on environmental and weather-related news.

Dennik N
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Science & Tech

Nvidia Enters Personal Computer Market, Aims to Challenge Apple's Fast Laptops

Graphics chip giant Nvidia is expanding into the personal computer market with new processors designed to compete with Apple's high-performance laptops. The company, which has dominated the market for artificial intelligence development chips, plans to bring Windows-based notebooks to performance levels that can rival Apple's devices. Nvidia has primarily profited from selling AI chips to data centers, but the move represents a strategic shift toward consumer computing. However, laptops featuring Nvidia's new processors are expected to carry premium price tags, potentially limiting their market reach initially.

Dennik N
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Science & Tech

Eastern Slovakia's Wetlands Dry Up, Threatening Rare Bird Species

The Zemplín region in eastern Slovakia has lost virtually all of its significant wetlands, areas that were once so water-rich that people traveled by boat between villages like Senné and Michalovce. The dramatic drying of these marshlands has eliminated crucial nesting habitats for rare bird species and destroyed their food sources. The Zemplín wetlands historically served as important stopover points for migratory birds and breeding grounds for numerous waterfowl species. The loss of these ecosystems represents a significant blow to the region's biodiversity, as the area can now be crossed on foot where boats were once necessary for transportation.

Dennik N
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Science & Tech

Slovakia Simplifies AI License Procurement for Universities

Slovakia has approved legislation to streamline the process for universities to obtain artificial intelligence licenses. The amendment will take effect on August 2, 2024, making it easier for higher education institutions to access AI technology and services. The change reflects Slovakia's efforts to modernize its educational infrastructure and ensure universities can more readily adopt emerging technologies for research and educational purposes.

TASR/Teraz
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