Two years into this pandemic, we're all being told it's time to live with Covid-19. Many people are now vaccinated, and the death rate is dropping because of it. However new research shows that even if you just get mild symptoms, the covid virus could have a significant impact on your brain. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Fo...
Mar 24, 2022•14 min•Ep. 38
For a long time our strategy of dealing with the risk of fires has been to conduct hazard reduction burns. Less fuel, should mean less fires. However researchers have found that letting a forest grow might be the best strategy. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , or&...
Mar 23, 2022•15 min•Ep. 37
Finfluencers, or financial influencers, often provide financial information on social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube. For the most successful influencers, they could see videos racking up hundreds of thousands of views, and lucrative brand deals. But some of these influencers have regulators concerned. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://disco...
Mar 22, 2022•13 min•Ep. 36
Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, one voice has stood out from the crowd. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , or YouTube . Advertisers: Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag...
Mar 21, 2022•14 min•Ep. 35
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced legal action against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook over scam ads on its platforms. The ACCC is alleging that Meta engaged in "false, misleading, or deceptive conduct" in relation to cryptocurrency scams on Facebook that involve fake celebrity endorsements. So how do these scams work, and what else can Meta do to stop them? Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become ...
Mar 18, 2022•13 min•Ep. 34
This week the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) issued a warning against the use of products made by the Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky. So who are Kaspersky, and is there a real threat from using its software? Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Inst...
Mar 17, 2022•15 min•Ep. 33
Cobalt is used to help stabilise lithium-ion batteries. It can help manufacturers make batteries safer, while increasing energy density and ultimately improving battery life. However 70% of the world's cobalt mining happens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country that is rich in minerals, but also economically poor. Michael Davie's report for Foreign Correspondent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V3bIzNX4co Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ &n...
Mar 16, 2022•25 min•Ep. 32
The Kyiv Independent was launched in late 2021 after journalists producing The Kyiv Post were fired after questioning hiring decisions made by its owner. Journalists went out on their own to start a new publication, and within a few months of launch found themselves covering a Russian invasion. Read The Kyiv Independent: https://kyivindependent.com/ Listen to Media In Progress: https://kyivindependent.com/category/podcasts/ Support The Kyiv Independent's GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kyiv...
Mar 15, 2022•16 min•Ep. 31
Competitive gaming tournaments have been around about as long as video games themselves. With the rise of professional esports in the 2000s, it was only a matter of time before esports made its way into universities. Now, colleges across the United States are embracing games and competition, offering their own programs. An esports scholarship might even help you get into a college that you may not have been accepted into otherwise. But esports still faces many challenges, particularly at the col...
Mar 11, 2022•35 min•Ep. 30
The war between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in significant economic sanctions for the Russian economy. However these sanctions have involved a delicate balance, driven by a need to put pressure on Russia without creating issues for global fuel supplies. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook , T...
Mar 10, 2022•18 min•Ep. 29
Apple has long captivated audiences with its product announcements, and this week's 'Peek Performance' event was no different. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , or YouTube . Advertisers: Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa...
Mar 09, 2022•15 min•Ep. 28
Social media apps like Facebook and YouTube have been investing in the podcast ecosystem. Facebook has integrated podcasts into its app for US customers, and YouTube is reportedly paying podcasters to film videos for its platform. Twitter and TikTok might also be interested in the podcast space. So why are these social media apps suddenly trying to integrate podcasts? Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free fee...
Mar 08, 2022•17 min•Ep. 27
Billionaire Co-Founder of Atlassian, Mike Cannon-Brookes has failed in his bid to buy AGL - Australia's largest and oldest energy company. The AGL board just rejected a revised proposal saying it wasn't in the best interest of shareholders. To understand this decision it’s important to find out more about AGL's history. Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: ...
Mar 07, 2022•17 min•Ep. 26
The increasing conflict in Ukraine comes with a battle to keep vital services online. Internet access is an important communication tool, and there are concerns that Russia could try and target critical Internet infrastructure. So how is Ukraine's Internet fairing amongst all the conflict? Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Foll...
Mar 04, 2022•17 min•Ep. 25
A large piece of space junk is due to slam into the surface of the Moon on Friday. It appears the debris is a booster from a Chinese rocket and will likely leave quite an impact on the lunar surface. So what do we know about this space junk? And what are we hoping to learn from this accidental collision? Moonshot - Cleaning Up Space: https://moonshot.audio/s02e03-cleaning-up-space/ Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Si...
Mar 03, 2022•16 min•Ep. 24
Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, but using it comes at a significant cost to our environment. A new research paper has found that the carbon impact of Bitcoin increased significantly since China banned cryptocurrencies last year. So why are we seeing Bitcoin's carbon footprint grow? Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid...
Mar 02, 2022•23 min•Ep. 23
The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its sixth assessment report which looks at the impact of climate change across ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities. In this latest report, authored by more than 270 scientists from 67 countries, the IPCC raises significant concerns about our ability to control and adapt to climate change. Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Sign up to our ...
Mar 01, 2022•17 min•Ep. 22
Lithium-Ion batteries are loved by device makers because of their energy density. However the materials used to make these cells aren't without significant ethical problems. So what new battery technologies might enable us to move away from Lithium-Ion? Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Sign up to our free newsletter at https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a paid member and get an ad-free feed and bonus episodes....
Feb 28, 2022•13 min•Ep. 21
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked significant anger from the rest of the world. In response, Russia is facing significant economic sanctions in an effort to restrict trade and the finances of Russia's elite. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also calling for Russia to be removed from SWIFT. But what is SWIFT and what impact would it have on Russia if they were banned from using it? Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag...
Feb 25, 2022•12 min•Ep. 20
The US Copyright Review Board has determined that work created by an AI doesn't have enough human authorship to create copyright. So do our existing laws effectively cover copyright created in our increasingly automated society? Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podc...
Feb 24, 2022•14 min•Ep. 19
Before the pandemic, QR codes were largely viewed as a bit of a novelty. Many people didn't know how they worked, and you'd rarely see them in the wild. Perhaps you might spot one on an advertising campaign at a bus stop, or as a way to enter a promotion. However thanks to the pandemic, the humble QR code has seen a revival. Vince Guerrieri's story for Popular Mechanics: https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/apps/a39048000/history-of-qr-codes/ FBI PSA over QR Codes: https://www.ic3.gov/Med...
Feb 23, 2022•13 min•Ep. 18
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is escalating quickly. While war looms on the ground… a digital war is also underway, and concerns are growing that Russia is planning a major cyber attack to coincide with an invasion of Ukraine. Listen to Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+...
Feb 22, 2022•11 min•Ep. 17
For many journalists, keeping information confidential and sources protected is a vital part of the job. It's not uncommon for reporters to use encrypted messaging apps to prevent sources being discovered by those who don't want information made public. But one service that's become an important tool for journalists, Otter, may have vulnerabilities that are being overlooked. Read Phelim Kine's story on Otter for Politico: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/16/my-journey-down-the-rabbit-hole-o...
Feb 21, 2022•17 min•Ep. 16
The International Committee for the Red Cross has released details on an investigation into a major hack across its servers. Details of 515,000 people were compromised, and the Red Cross says the attack was highly sophisticated and targeted, and used techniques consistent with state-sponsored groups. So why would hackers target a humanitarian organisation like the Red Cross? Listen to Darknet Diaries: https://darknetdiaries.com/ Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes...
Feb 18, 2022•18 min•Ep. 15
Mark Zuckerberg has bet the future of Facebook, now Meta, on the idea of the metaverse. But what is the metaverse, and how could it affect our social interactions? Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on Apple Podcasts. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/rHb7JVHz42 Follow us on&nb...
Feb 17, 2022•14 min•Ep. 14
The pandemic has changed the way many of us live and work. A lot of companies have allowed their staff to work from home, and some have decided to offer staff more flexibility on a more permanent basis. Several large companies are currently experimenting with the concept of a four-day work week. It isn't a new idea, but could now be the right time to make a switch? Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Become a member of The Defrag to g...
Feb 16, 2022•13 min•Ep. 13
Solar is the cheapest form of energy production in history. Millions of people have made the decision to put panels on their homes and embrace the renewable energy revolution. So why would an energy network need to turn some of this generation off? Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website https://thedefrag.com/ - or become a member of The Defrag+ on ...
Feb 15, 2022•13 min•Ep. 12
The Commonwealth Games Federation are planning to run a pilot esports championship alongside the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. While not part of the main event, competitors will win medals, and the event will receive a lot of promotion and attention. So do esports belong at a major sporting event? And what will the championships mean for the profile of esports globally? Command Line Heroes: https://link.chtbl.com/commandlineheroes_cyoa?sid=s9.podcast.thedefrag Become a member of The Def...
Feb 14, 2022•15 min•Ep. 11
As the world moves to decarbonise we are in a constant search for new energy sources that can replace our reliance on fossil fuels. One promising, but still highly experimental, form of energy production is nuclear fusion. This week a major fusion record was broken by JET the Joint European Torus. So just what is JET? And what do these developments mean for fusion research? Apple AirTags statement: https://www.apple.com/au/newsroom/2022/02/an-update-on-airtag-and-unwanted-tracking/ Become a memb...
Feb 11, 2022•15 min•Ep. 10
Many countries have a bill of rights that protects basic freedoms such as the freedom of speech, the press, and the right to religious beliefs. But not every country has these rights enshrined in law. One such country is Australia. Right now in Australia, a debate is raging over the planned introduction of a religious discrimination bill, and it has raised significant concerns for the treatment of LGBTIQA+ students. Become a member of The Defrag to get ad-free and bonus episodes at our website&n...
Feb 10, 2022•17 min•Ep. 9
