Survivors of three recent disasters — the northern California fires, the Las Vegas mass shooting, and Hurricane Maria — used social media and texting as lifelines to connect with loved ones, seek aid, and search for the latest developments. 

A new study, however, suggests that people who get updates during a major crisis from unofficial channels like random social media accounts are most exposed to conflicting information and experience the most psychological distress. 

The study, published in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, surveyed 3,890 students whose campus was locked down after a shooter fired on people. Since it’s difficult, if not impossible, to begin a scientific study during a life-threatening disaster or crisis, the researchers asked students about their experience a week after the incident and analyzed five hours of Twitter data about the shooting. (Details about what happened were anonymized at the university’s request.)  Read more…

More about Twitter, Science, Social Good, Mental Health, and Social Media

Source: Mashable | Obsessively checking social media during a crisis might harm your mental health

The wait is almost over — on Oct. 22, Outlander‘s Claire and Jamie Fraser will reunite after 20 years (a.k.a. five episodes) apart, and the anticipation is killing us.

Starz has already debuted a photo and teaser trailer for the reunion (emphasis on the tease), but we’d all like to see a little more, right? 

Five new images from the extended episode 6 (or, as we’re calling it, the “sextended sexisode”), titled “A. Malcolm,” have been released ahead of the main event. 

We’re not sure that our screens can handle the pure, unadulterated longing that’s radiating from our starcrossed couple now that they’ve finally found their way back together. Read more…

More about Outlander, Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe, Outlander Season 3, and Claire Fraser
Source: Mashable | These photos from Claire and Jamie's 'Outlander' reunion are everything we've been waiting for

Ford has issued a recall of approximately 1.3 million of its vehicles. 

The recall concerns pickup trucks, specifically the full-sized F-150 and the heavy-duty Super Duty vehicles. 

Ford announced today that the recalled models lack a shield to protect their side doors’ latches from water. This is a problem because water can severely damage a door’s latch or actuation cable, the cable that facilitates the opening and closing of the door. 

If a cable or latch is damaged by water or freezes, it can stop the door from being able to open or close. This could literally trap you in your car.  Read more…

More about Ford, Tech, Transportation, and Consumer Tech

Source: Mashable | If you own a Ford pickup truck, it probably just got recalled

Perhaps no politician is as compelled to cram his foot into his own mouth as President Donald Trump. 

Two judges recently issued temporary blocks of the White House’s third attempt to ban travel from several majority-Muslim nations, and one cited Trump’s tweets as part of the reason the ban should not go forward.

Had it proceeded apace, the ban would have gone into effect Wednesday, when it would have prevented many citizens of majority-Muslim Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen from coming to the United States. It will still effect citizens of North Korea and Venezuela, both of which were mentioned in the ban but unaffected by the rulings of Judge Derrick Watson in Hawaii and Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland.  Read more…

More about Donald Trump, Tech, and Politics
Source: Mashable | Trump's tweets just might forever prevent his 'Muslim travel ban'

Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs will develop a futuristic, billion-dollar community along a sizable swathe of Toronto’s waterfront.

On Wednesday, the City of Toronto and Sidewalk Labs  — which is the urban innovation arm of Google’s parent company Alphabet — announced a partnership to radically re-imagine 800 acres of the city’s largely vacant, post-industrial Eastern Waterfront, and turn it into a tech-integrated neighborhood called Quayside. 

Sidewalk Labs released a 196-page document brimming with the company’s extensive ideas, including high-speed ferries, parks that can be adapted to the seasons, and robotic waste removal vehicles. Read more…

More about Tech, Transportation, Urban Life, Alphabet, and Urban Planning

Source: Mashable | Alphabet will build a futuristic city within the city of Toronto

Does anyone out there still use an email other than Gmail? 

Google announced today that it’s testing a new feature that will allow select users to check their emails on the Gmail iOS app. It’s compatible with email addresses from services such as Yahoo, Live, and Outlook (yes, that’s still a thing). 

Anyone who has a non-Google email can apply to join the beta program: You just need to have an iPhone, and to make sure you’re using iOS 10 or later. 

It’s an exciting opportunity, but remember that as with any beta feature, there’s a chance it won’t work as well as you’d like.  Read more…

More about Google, Apple, Iphone, Ipad, and Ios
Source: Mashable | If you use a non-Gmail email account, you can finally use the Gmail app

For anyone who’s ever dreamed about using The Force to clean their house, here’s some exciting news. Samsung has just released a pair of Star WarsPOWERbot™ vacuums that are available for pre-order starting Oct. 10. Read more…

More about Mashable Video, Star Wars, Darth Vader, Roomba, and Stormtroopers

Source: Mashable | Samsung's Star Wars vacuum is the robot you need in your life

Forget 2049. Los Angeles’ Blade Runner-esque future of a world watched by robots is here. 

On Tuesday, a civilian oversight panel gave the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) the OK to begin a year-long drone trial, primarily for reconnaissance in “tactical missions” conducted by SWAT.

The decision came after a contentious meeting and protest by privacy advocates who oppose the use of drones by law enforcement.

As the third largest police force in the nation behind New York and Chicago, the trial makes the LAPD the largest police force in the nation to use drones. The Chicago PD and New York PD confirmed in official statements to Mashable that neither police force deploys drones.  Read more…

More about Privacy, Drones, Police, Surveillance, and Los Angeles
Source: Mashable | People aren't cool with the LAPD getting drones