Tech: Age verification laws put personal data at risk

April 16–This week, the privacy flaws in increasingly common age verification laws, how computer-like DNA strands recognize patterns, and vibrating gloves that guide piano players to the correct keys. All that and more below! -Ben Guarino, Associate Editor, Technology

Top Stories

Online Age Verification Laws Could Do More Harm Than Good More U.S. states are requiring online ID checks. A proposed French strategy aims to balance child safety with users' privacy rights Lauren Leffer

A 'Computer' Built from DNA Can Find Patterns in Photographs Artificial DNA sorts images like a neural network does Allison Parshall

'Smart Gloves' Teach Piano Playing through Touch A high-tech pair of gloves can help make learning instruments and other hands-on activities easier Riis Williams, intern writer

Our Galaxy's Biggest Black Hole Just Got a New Close-up. What's Next Could Be Even Wilder As the Event Horizon Telescope pursues ambitious upgrades, the project's latest results reveal the magnetic fields around our galaxy's supermassive black hole Michael Greshko

AI Recruiters Have Joined the Job Search. Who Are They Helping? Small start-ups and big professional platforms are using AI to find and recruit new hires—but these tools can reinforce bias Shubham Agarwal, contract writer

Why Batteries Come in So Many Sizes and Shapes A rectangular nine-volt battery is basically just a bunch of smaller batteries in a trench coat Wesley Chang; The Conversation US

Suspected Space-Junk Strike in Florida Signals New Era of Orbital Debris Three years ago astronauts threw out the largest piece of trash ever tossed from the International Space Station. Now some of it seems to have punched a hole through a house in Naples, Fla. Leonard David

We Are Living in the Pyrocene—At Our Peril Ancient prophecies of worlds destroyed by fire are becoming realities. How will we respond? Stephen Pyne

To Help Fish Migrate through a Dutch Canal, Ring the Dam Doorbell! An online underwater livestream lets worldwide volunteers ring a "fish doorbell" to help fish fulfill their reproductive missions Riis Williams, intern writer

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