The UK has implemented new cybersecurity laws that prohibit many commonly used and easily guessed password combinations. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure rules now forbid phrases such as ‘admin’, ‘12345’, ‘chelsea’, and ‘arsenal’. The goal of this password update is to ensure that manufacturers of internet-connected devices meet minimum security standards to protect against hackers.
In other news, at least five people, including a four-month-old baby, were killed after tornadoes swept through central US states, prompting Oklahoma to declare a state of emergency. Meanwhile, the Pope has encouraged young people to put down their smartphones and spend more time outdoors interacting with others. During a speech in Venice, the pontiff warned about the negative impact of video games and social media on the minds of young people.
A sports tech start-up called Hit has developed a helmet sensor to improve concussion outcomes resulting from mountain biking crashes. The sensor measures head impact force and transmits the data to a connected app. Tech & Science Daily interviewed former world champion mountain biker, Reece Wilson, about this new technology.
Additionally, scientists at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh have made a breakthrough discovery of a new porous material designed to help capture greenhouse gases. Researchers at Oregon State University have reported findings suggesting a giant salmon species that lived millions of years ago may have used its tusk-like teeth for fighting.
In other news, Britain is reportedly working on deploying a hypersonic cruise missile by 2030 that can travel at five times the speed of sound. Finally, members of the public are invited to share their memories and memorabilia of London Zoo for an upcoming exhibition celebrating the institution’s 200th anniversary.