In 2014, scientists hauled their recording equipment into Marineland, an aquatic theme park located in the French resort town of Antibes. They wanted to see if a 14-year old orca whale living there, named Wikie, could listen to a huge diversity of sounds — from humans, elephants, and whales — and then mimic these noises back.

The experiment was designed to test the hypothesis,  supported by other studies, that killer whales and other cetaceans learn sounds in social settings. 

According to their research, published today in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Wikie successfully copied these sounds back to the researchers — although there’s certainly no evidence she was ever truly “talking.” Read more…

More about Science, Seaworld, Evolution, Killer Whale, and Science

Source: Mashable | Listen to a captive killer whale named 'Wikie' mimic 'hello' back to scientists

Porn is often credited with driving innovation in technology. It may be the one of reasons we have broadband internet, HD video, and increasingly speedy mobile Wi-Fi. But while sex on the internet may drive technology forward, sometimes ethics get left waiting for a signal.

AI-assisted faceswapping technology has been rippling the corners of the internet recently, and as you may have already guessed it, it’s started with porn. Known as deepfakes, people are using the tech to swap the faces of their favorite celebrities into porn scenes, and it can be scarily convincing.

More about Donald Trump, The Office, Deepfake, Michael Scott, and Culture
Source: Mashable | Video faceswaps Michael Scott with Donald Trump and the future is terrifying

It’s like Uber, but for bicycles. 

On Wednesday, Uber announced a San Francisco pilot project that lets people rent electric pedal-assist bikes. 

Instead of calling a black car or shared carpool, select Uber users will have the option starting next week to reserve a bike from Jump Bikes. The electric bike has a small electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery. It senses when you’re struggling on a hill and gives you a boost, but you still have to power the bicycle with your legs — it’s not a motorcycle. Read more…

More about Transportation, Uber, Electric Bike, Bike Sharing, and Jump Bikes

Source: Mashable | Uber now lets you rent bikes in this hilly city

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles said Wednesday she didn’t attend Larry Nassar’s sentencing because she didn’t think she was “emotionally ready for that.”

During interviews with the Today show and CNN, her first televised appearances related to Nassar’s sentencing, the decorated gymnast spoke out against the former USA Gymnastics physician. 

Biles told CNN that she didn’t want to see Nassar at his sentencing because she needed “to be in a good place” in her gymnastics practice, especially since she plans to complete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.  Read more…

More about Olympics, Sexual Assault, Sexual Abuse, Simone Biles, and Metoo
Source: Mashable | Simone Biles explains why she didn't attend Larry Nassar's sentencing