Current Events in June 2019

Following the discovery of a “critical” vulnerability affecting Firefox browsers, Mozilla is urging users to update their browser to version 67.0.3 right away. The flaw is currently being actively exploited by hackers, the company said.  

"A type confusion vulnerability can occur when manipulating JavaScript objects due to issues in Array.pop," the company wrote in a security advisory. "This can allow for an exploitable crash. We are aware of targeted attacks in the wild abusing this flaw."

In an alert of its own, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) urged users to update Firefox to prevent attackers from exploiting the vulnerability to take control of a system with the bug.

To update to Firefox 67.0.3, users can either:

• Restart the browser; or

• Download it on the company’s website.

To verify that a browser is up to date, go to "Firefox" on the menu bar and then tap "About Firefox."

When he served as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Scott Gottlieb pressed for lower prescription drug prices by speeding development of generic alternatives. His successor is following his example.

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless has announced that the agency is moving forward on plans to streamline the development and approval process of high-quality generic drugs. Generics made up about 90 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. in 2017. The FDA  approved or tentatively approved more than 2,000 generic drug applications in 2017 and 2018.

Generic drugs are usually significantly cheaper than their name brand counterparts since more than one manufacturer can make them. Sharpless said the FDA’s efforts have been directed at getting more competitors into the marketplace so prices will come down.

Gaming the system

Last year, the FDA accused several drugmakers of blocking development of generics by throwing up delay after delay. The agency said major pharmaceutical companies have deployed “gaming tactics” to keep competitors from creating cheaper versions on their off-patent drugs.

“One example of such gaming is when potential generic applicants are prevented from obtaining samples of certain brand products necessary to support approval of a generic drug,” the FDA said. “The inability of generic drug companies to purchase the samples they need slows down, or entirely impedes, the generic drug development process -- leading to delays in bringing affordable generic alternatives to patients in need.”

When he assumed office, Gottlieb was confronted with a backlog of nearly 4,000 generic drug applications. Before leaving office in April, Gottlieb presided over FDA approval of naloxone, the first generic version of an opioid addiction drug; a generic version of valsartan, a high blood pressure drug that was recalled for impurities; and the first generic naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray -- Narcan -- which can often counter the effects of an opioid drug overdose.

Enhancing efficiency

With Gottlieb’s departure, Sharpless says the FDA is still reducing approval times and enhancing  the efficiency of certain aspects of the submission process for generic drug applicants.

“We also are striving to provide the industry with greater transparency in order to provide greater certainty around timing of market entry and empower more informed decisions on how to prioritize their resources,” Sharpless said.

Sharpless also said the agency is making it easier for generic applicants to challenge existing drug patents before they expire on the grounds that the patent is invalid or unenforceable. In recent years, some critics have charged drug manufacturers of extending patents by slightly changing a drug’s formulation and applying for a new patent.

In the latest study encouraging consumers to stay physically fit, researchers have now found that doing so can have more than just the obvious health benefits.

A new study found that engaging in regular physical activity throughout middle age can reduce consumers’ risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while smoking and remaining inactive can have the opposite effect.

Focusing on health

The researchers had over 4,700 middle-aged men participate in the study to determine if regular exercise was effective in reducing the risk of COPD in this age group.

Each participant had their major vitals taken at the start of the study -- height, weight, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and resting blood pressure -- and they also reported on their medical history, smoking habits, physical activity routine, alcohol intake, and occupation.

The participants were monitored from 1970 until the study’s end in 2016, and the researchers were able to track the number of COPD cases and related deaths over the course of the study.

Cardiorespiratory fitness was the most important stat in this study, as it measures how the body processes oxygen during exercise, and it was a prominent indicator of a participant’s likelihood of developing COPD. Having a high cardiorespiratory fitness not only reduced the risk of participants developing COPD, but it also correlated with a delay in both diagnosis and death due to the disease by up to two years.

The researchers found that having a high cardiorespiratory fitness reduced the risk of a COPD diagnosis by over 30 percent, while it reduced the risk of a COPD-related death by over 60 percent when compared to those who had a low cardiorespiratory fitness.

For those that fell in the middle range, they were over 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with COPD and 35 percent less likely to die from the disease. Though an observational study, the researchers hope that consumers are inspired to stay active throughout middle age, as the positive health benefits are extensive.

“In a population of healthy, employed, Danish men, we showed that good midlife CRF was associated with a very long-term reduced risk of both incident COPD and death from COPD, and a delay to diagnosis and death,” the researchers wrote. “In individuals at risk of developing COPD, fitness enhancing physical activity should be encouraged not only to reduce dyspnea but also to delay development, progression, and death from COPD.”

Making the time to exercise

Another recent study found that regular exercise is the key to longer life, emphasizing the importance of finding time in the day to workout.

Consumers with packed schedules shouldn’t worry, as researchers have found several ways to incorporate exercise into activities that we all do on a regular basis, such as climbing stairs or walking through the mall.

In the initial debate over the high cost of prescription drug prices, insulin seemed to get  overlooked. But no more. The price of the life-and-death prescription for diabetics has soared, and diabetes patients and policymakers want to know why.

Unlike life-saving “miracle drugs” that are produced in laboratories after years of research and at high cost, insulin is a hormone generated by the pancreas, though it can be complicated to produce as a drug. But for diabetes patients whose bodies don’t produce enough insulin, it’s critical to staying alive.

In recent years, many diabetic patients without health insurance have found the life-sustaining substance is nearly unaffordable. According to one study, the price tripled over an 11-year period starting in the early 2000s. The Health Care Cost Institute reports Type 1 diabetes patients paid an average of $5,705 for insulin in 2016, nearly double what they paid four years earlier.

Health experts say there are a number of reasons for insulin’s dramatic price increases. For starters, there is no generic insulin -- all are name brands which tend to carry a higher price.

Two ways to produce insulin

Insulin is produced for diabetes patients in two ways: An animal pancreas can be used to produce insulin, or scientists can produce it in a lab using recombinant DNA techniques. The latter is the most common way drug companies produce the substance.

Because of the high cost, some type 1 diabetics who must take insulin at least once a day have resorted to rationing their prescriptions, a practice that can be dangerous to their health. In a few high-profile cases, patients who rationed their insulin have died, creating pressure on states to act.

Last month, Colorado became the first state to pass a law capping the copay for insulin at $100 a month for people with prescription drug coverage. The cost could be higher for patients with health coverage mandating larger cost-sharing.

Last week, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear filed suit against the U.S.’ three largest insulin manufacturers, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and Eli Lilly. The complaint alleges that the defendants have “deceptively and greedily” increased their products’ prices over the last two decades.

Beshear says the cost of insulin has historically been low because its Canadian creators believed it was important to make it available to diabetics.

Cheaper version of Humalog

In response to the growing pressure, some drug makers have made concessions. In March, Ely Lilly announced a cheaper version of its insulin drug, Humalog.

Lilly said the new version will cost 50 percent less than Humalog, which is used in the treatment of diabetes. The company made it clear that it is responding to growing complaints from consumers and policymakers about expensive drugs.

In April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) entered the debate, promising to take steps to drive down insulin costs. One step is changing the way insulin products are regulated.

Insulin is currently classified as a drug. The FDA said regulating insulin as a biologic will allow more insulin products to come onto the market, with the increased competition helping to drive down prices.

The Trump administration’s prolonged trade dispute with China has yet to reach a resolution, but there are signs it is having an impact on its adversary.

China’s main technology company, Huawei, is warning investors it could see a decline in smartphone shipments of between 40 million and 60 million as a result of the Trump administration’s blacklisting of the company.

In May, the White House declared a national emergency forbidding U.S. companies from using overseas telecommunications companies “that are believed to be a national security risk” to the United States. At the time, the move was believed to be aimed at Huawei.

With its close ties to the Chinese military, Huawei has long been suspected of being used for surveillance, a charge the company has consistently denied.

‘Protect America’

The White House issued a statement saying the president’s order is designed to "protect America from foreign adversaries who are actively and increasingly creating and exploiting vulnerabilities in information and communications technology infrastructure and services."

Bloomberg quotes anonymous sources in a position to know the facts as saying Huawei is concerned enough about the drop in sales that it is considering removing its latest smartphone model from the market because of poor results.

Huawei is the world’s second largest smartphone producer behind Samsung and slightly ahead of Apple.

Didn’t expect damage to be that serious

Company founder Ren Zhengfei has confirmed Huawei’s 40 percent drop in overseas smartphone sales and has further said he expects the Trump administration’s policies to eliminate about $30 billion in revenue over the next two years. He said company executives did not expect that kind of economic damage from U.S. sanctions.

Last month, the Trump administration banned U.S. companies from doing business with Huawei, depriving it of much of the software and electronic components vital to maintaining its business. The ban also deprives it of critical updates for the Android operating system that powers the smartphones it sells in international markets.

President Trump and China’s President Xi are expected to confer about trade at next week’s G20 summit conference, but a breakthrough on the trade impasse is far from certain. Nomura Securities has predicted that the stalemate will continue and that tariffs on Chinese goods will go up again before the end of this year.

As part of its effort to grow the number of affordable housing options available in San Francisco's Bay Area, Google plans to repurpose at least $750 million of the land it owns there over the next ten years.

In a blog post on Tuesday, the company said its investment will help support the development of “at least 15,000 new homes at all income levels in the Bay Area, including housing options for middle and low-income families."

Google is also establishing a $250 million investment fund for developers to build more than 5,000 affordable housing units in the area. Finally, the tech giant plans to give $50 million to charities focused on the issues of displacement and homelessness.

Creating new homes

"Across the region, one issue stands out as particularly urgent and complex: housing," Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote. “As Google grows throughout the Bay Area — whether it’s in our home town of Mountain View, in San Francisco, or in our future developments in San Jose and Sunnyvale — we’ve invested in developing housing that meets the needs of these communities. But there’s more to do.”

Google says it will work alongside local authorities to foster the rapid development of affordable housing. The tech giant said its already made progress in freeing up available land in its home city of Mountain View.

“Our goal is to get housing construction started immediately, and for homes to be available in the next few years. In Mountain View, we’ve already worked with the city to change zoning in the North Bayshore area to free up land for housing, and we’re currently in productive conversations with Sunnyvale and San Jose,” Pichai said.

The announcement was met with excitement from local authorities, including Jim Wunderman, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council.

“This is a really big day,” Wunderman told the San Jose Spotlight. “It signals that there’s a new day where private companies are stepping up and recognizing that they’re part of the fabric of our communities and they need to be part of the solution to the region’s most pressing problem: housing affordability.”

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the cybersecurity division of the Department of Homeland Security, is urging Windows users who haven’t already done so to patch their operating system to prevent attackers from taking advantage of a vulnerability known as BlueKeep.

The agency said tests it conducted alongside outside partners demonstrated that the bug makes it possible for attackers to perform remote code execution on a Windows 2000 computer. The vulnerability affects computers that are running Windows 7 or earlier, as well as Windows Server 2003 and 2008.

Could be as serious as WannaCry attacks

The bug is considered wormable “because malware exploiting this vulnerability on a system could propagate to other vulnerable systems,” CISA explained. “A BlueKeep exploit would be capable of rapidly spreading in a fashion similar to the WannaCry malware attacks of 2017.”

"CISA encourages users and administrators to review the Microsoft Security Advisory and the Microsoft Customer Guidance for CVE-2019-0708 and apply the appropriate mitigation measures as soon as possible," CISA said in its advisory.

The National Security Agency (NSA) published a similar advisory earlier this month warning about the potentially serious risks of BlueKeep.

"We have seen devastating computer worms inflict damage on unpatched systems with wide-ranging impact, and are seeking to motivate increased protections against this flaw," the organization said.

Both warnings were published after Microsoft itself implored users to update their Windows systems in light of the “critical” bug. The tech giant said nearly one million computers directly connected to the internet were believed to still be vulnerable to BlueKeep as of late May.

The fact that there hasn’t been any sign of a worm yet doesn’t mean the threat is over, the company stressed.

“This does not mean that we’re out of the woods. If we look at the events leading up to the start of the WannaCry attacks, they serve to inform the risks of not applying fixes for this vulnerability in a timely manner,” Microsoft said.

Microsoft is taking another hit over its latest Windows 10 updates. This time, it’s a system update that -- in some circumstances -- causes Bluetooth devices to lose connection with Windows-driven PCs.

The affected computers have been identified as ones with Realtek Bluetooth radios. Affected PCs may have issues pairing or connecting to devices. Concerned Windows 10 users should check in at Microsoft’s support site to see if their particular update of Windows is the one impacted.

“We are working on a resolution and estimate a solution will be available in late June,” Microsoft said in its confirmation of the bug.

WindowsReport thinks that Microsoft could actually come out with a “patch” later this week, along with additional non-security updates.  

Best laid plans of mice and geeks

“The company wanted the recent update to be a bug-free release,” according to WindowsReport. “However, despite all the extensive testing sessions, some bugs (like a camera app) are still present.”

While this is a hassle for Windows 10 owners, Microsoft is being completely transparent about these problems. The company created a special site dedicated to the issues that explains what steps it’s taking to remedy the situation.

Affected Windows 10 users would be smart to check that site regularly to stay current on the situation and hold off on making changes until Microsoft gives any future update its blessing.

Getting the perfect tan is at the forefront of many consumers’ minds during these summer months, so it’s not uncommon for some people to spend hours in the sun -- or in a tanning bed.

Despite the well known risks associated with indoor tanning, the industry has taken to slashing prices and offering customers promotions to help keep them coming back to tanning beds. One study suggests that this practice is particularly harmful to younger consumers.

“This study highlights the fact that a lot of businesses out there are providing this service at a low cost which removes a barrier to adolescents and young adults,” said researcher Nancy Asdigian. “Young people who want to tan do so when they can afford it and don’t when they can’t. The industry capitalizes on this with the strategies they use to price and promote this risk behavior.”

What’s the tan worth?

To get an idea of how the tanning industry continues to bring in hoards of customers, the researchers contacted over 90 tanning locations in six cities across the country, all ranging in their regulations of indoor tanning and overall climate.

The study included facilities in Pittsburgh, Denver, Boston, Portland, Austin, and Akron, and the researchers weren’t limited strictly to tanning salons, as many gyms, hair salons, and apartment complexes offer tanning services.

Forty of the 94 locations weren’t traditional tanning salons, and in 35 percent of these spots, customers were offered tanning at no extra cost. At tanning salons, services weren’t offered for free, but customers did receive regular promotions to try to keep them coming back.

According to Asdigian, many of the locations they reached out to offered customers monthly plans, similar to gym memberships. The added caveat was that the more customers went tanning, the cheaper the sessions would be, with some locations offering one session for as little as one dollar.

Indoor tanning doesn’t have nationwide regulations; each state is able to decide which restrictions are placed on the practice. And while many states have mandated that 18 is the legal age to use an indoor tanning bed, and a nationwide tax has been implemented on tanning, lawmakers are unable to monitor how tanning salons market their product to people.

“A next step is to work with policymakers to restrict the use of discounts and deals to lure customers,” said researcher Lori Crane.

Bans might not be the answer

Despite 20 states across the country requiring all tanning salon customers to be at least 18 years of age, researchers found that over one-third of tanning salons kept their doors open to underage teens.

A similar study found that not only are minors gaining access to tanning beds, but tanning salons are also not being completely transparent about the harms of indoor tanning.

Researchers found that just over 20 percent of tanning customers knew that indoor tanning could cause cancer, while others had been told at their tanning facility that UV exposure could actually provide them with health benefits.

"Enacting well-crafted age restriction laws to maximize compliance through enforcement of penalties on the state level and moving towards a national ban with similar accompanying strong enforcement as proposed by many national and international health organizations are essential to reduce skin cancer risk in the vulnerable youth population," said researcher Leah Ferrucci.

During an interview with CNN, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said harmful content will likely never be entirely eliminated from YouTube.

Even though the Google-owned company has added more human monitors and enlisted the help of machine learning, Pichai says the sheer volume of content uploaded every minute makes it nearly impossible to filter out all of the content that shouldn’t be on the site.

“We’ve gotten much better at using a combination of machines and humans,” he told CNN's Poppy Harlow. “So it’s one of those things, let’s say we’re getting it right 99% of the time, you’ll still be able to find examples. Our goal is to take that to a very, very small percentage well below 1%.”

Too big to fix completely

Pichai compared YouTube’s scale to that of credit card systems. Due to its massive size, he said that a small amount of problematic content will likely always be able to slip through.

"There’s some fraud in that....Anything when you run at that scale, you have to think about percentages,” Pichai said.

However, Pichai said Google is confident that it can make “significant progress” in addressing problems such as supremacist content and conspiracy videos and lewd comments on children’s videos.

“Enforcement will get better,” he said, adding that he wished Google could have fixed the problems sooner. “There’s an acknowledgement we didn’t get it right We’re aware of some of the pitfalls here and have changed the priorities.”

Removing harmful content

Earlier this month, YouTube announced revisions to its hate speech policy that will allow it to take down videos that contain white supremacy concepts.

“Today, we’re taking another step in our hate speech policy by specifically prohibiting videos alleging that a group is superior in order to justify discrimination, segregation or exclusion based on qualities like age, gender, race, caste, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status,” the company said in a blog post.

Videos denying the validity of well-documented violent incidents, such as the Holocaust or the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, will be banned under the policy.

“It’s our responsibility to protect [creativity and access to information], and prevent our platform from being used to incite hatred, harassment, discrimination and violence,” the company said.

Pinchai said YouTube removed over nine million videos last quarter.

“It’s an ongoing process, but there’s more we need to do and we acknowledge that,” he told CNN.

As expected, Facebook is launching a new digital currency that will be offered by a new subsidiary next year.

The social media giant announced details of its new digital wallet, which will be called Calibra; the company’s digital coin will be called Libra. The new global currency will be powered by blockchain technology.

The announcement is almost certain to focus more antitrust attention on Facebook as it gets even bigger and moves into yet another facet of modern life. In a statement, the company said the new product will be offered through Messenger, WhatsApp, and as a stand alone app.

As it announced the launch, Facebook made clear it is aiming its new digital currency at the developing world, where many people already use Facebook’s social media platform. Because many of these users lack bank accounts or access to financial services, Facebook said Calibra will make financial transactions easier.

“Almost half of the adults in the world don’t have an active bank account and those numbers are worse in developing countries and even worse for women,” the company said. “The cost of that exclusion is high -- approximately 70 percent of small businesses in developing countries lack access to credit and $25 billion is lost by migrants every year through remittance fees.”

Odd timing

While it might seem odd that Facebook would announce an initiative that will increase its size, precisely when lawmakers and regulators are trying to decide whether it’s already too big, the potential upside is enormous.

“We believe this may prove to be one of the most important initiatives in the history of the company to unlock new engagement and revenue streams,” RBC Capital Markets analysts said in a note to investors.

Facebook stock closed Monday at $189 a share. RBC has set a price target of $250 for the stock.

Easy as a text

Facebook says Calibra will allow users to send Libra to almost anyone with a smartphone with the same ease as sending a text message, at little or no cost.

“In time, we hope to offer additional services for people and businesses, like paying bills with the push of a button, buying a cup of coffee with the scan of a code or riding your local public transit without needing to carry cash or a metro pass,” the company said.

As we reported earlier this month, Facebook has solicited a number of technology companies and financial institutions to join an independent foundation to set and enforce rules for the new currency in an effort to blunt expected criticism that the digital currency will make the company  even more powerful.

For many consumers, it’s typical to consult your doctor when looking to assess your overall health and wellness. Now, researchers are suggesting you should also look to your friend group, as the people you spend the most time with could be great indicators of your physical health.

“We were interested in the topology of the social network -- what does my position within my social network predict about my health and well-being?” said researcher Nitesh V. Chawala.

“What we found was the social network structure provides a significant improvement in the predictability of wellness states of an individual over just using the data derived from wearables, like the number of steps or heart rate.”

More than just a Fitbit

The researchers were inspired to study the effect of friend groups on personal health due to the popularity of wearable health devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches.

All participants included in the study, consisting of nearly 700 Notre Dame University freshman, were given a Fitbit to track their steps, heart rate, activity level, and sleep; they also had an app installed on their phones to track their communication and interaction with fellow study participants, as well as other friends outside of the study.

In addition to the technological aspect, the participants completed a survey that gauged their overall wellness levels, which asked questions about their stress, attitude, happiness, and how they view their own health. Armed with the data, the researchers wanted to find out if the participants’ sociability played a role in their health outcomes.

They ultimately discovered that the participants’ social circle was imperative to determining their overall health; looking at only one variable independently wasn’t an accurate representation of their wellness.

“This study asserts that without social network information, we only have an incomplete view of an individual’s wellness state, and to be fully predictive or to be able to derive interventions, it is critical to be aware of the social network structural features as well,” said Chawala.

Social support

Previous research has shown consumers can boost their health by having consistent social support. Researchers from Ohio State University recently found that for those benefits are hard to come by for those with low self-esteem.

For those with higher self-esteem, the benefits were continuous and consistent, whereas those with lower self-esteem were found to struggle in this area.

“People with a negative self-view may actually feel more stress when people try to help them,” said researcher Baldwin Way. “They may feel they don’t deserve the help or they worry that they’re asking for too much from their friends and family. The result is that they may not get the benefits of social support.”

American Honda Motor Company of Torrance, Calif., is recalling about 82,000 Recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs).

The throttle pedal can stick in the open position, posing crash and injury hazards.

The firm has received 15 reports of the throttle pedal sticking in the open position, including six crashes, resulting in a report of a concussion and a broken nose.

This recall involves all model year 2016 through 2019 Honda Pioneer 1000 side-by-side vehicles sold in various colors including: red, blue, green, gray and yellow.

The name “HONDA” is on the front, sides and the rear of the vehicle. The model name Pioneer 1000 is printed on a label located on both sides of the vehicle, near the rear.

The serial number (VIN #) is stamped in the frame at the left rear, below the tilt-up bed/seat.

The following model numbers and serial number ranges are being recalled:

The ROVs, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at authorized Honda Powersports dealers nationwide from August 2015, through March 2019, for between $14,000 and $22,000.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ROVs and contact an authorized Honda Powersports dealer to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and repair. Honda is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact American Honda toll-free at (866) 784-1870 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday or online at http://powersports.honda.com/ and click on “Recall Information” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Ford is recalling about 12,000 model year 2010-17 Ford Taurus, model year 2009-17 Ford Flex, model year 2009-15 Lincoln MKS and model year 2010-17 Lincoln MKT vehicles n the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Some vehicles may experience a fractured rear suspension toe link, significantly diminishing steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford has received one report of a crash with minor injuries.

The following vehicles are being recalled:

• Model year 2010-17 Ford Taurus vehicles built at the Chicago Assembly Plant, July 2, 2009, to May 25, 2017;
• Model year 2009-17 Ford Flex vehicles built at the Oakville Assembly Plant, May 7, 2008, to May 16, 2017;
• Model year 2009-15 Lincoln MKS vehicles built at the Chicago Assembly Plant, May 28, 2008, to Sept. 10, 2015; and
• Model year 2010-17 Lincoln MKT vehicles built at the Oakville Assembly Plant, July 28, 2009, to May 29, 2017.

What to do

Dealers will replace the left and right-hand rear suspension toe links with new forged toe links.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's reference number for this recall is 19S18.

Autonomous vehicles are widely seen as revolutionizing ground transportation, but researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University say they could have an even bigger impact on airlines.

Today, people usually head for the airport when they have a long trip. Driving eight to 10 hours to reach a destination is not that appealing. But the researchers say that could change if travelers could settle back in a driverless vehicle with a good book, or take a nap, while the car takes them to their destination.

“Our research has revealed just how much people’s travel preferences could shift, and found a new potential challenge to the airline industry,” the authors write.

Hypothetical trips

The researchers showed people hypothetical trips of different lengths and asked whether they would rather drive themselves, take a flight, or ride in a self-driving car. It was no surprise that when compared to driving themselves, people chose a driverless car.

The longer the trip, the more likely participants were to choose air travel. But taking a ride in an autonomous vehicle got more attractive when they were told they would need to rent a car once they arrived at their destination. With the autonomous vehicle, they were told the car would take them directly to where they were headed.

This, the researchers conclude, is bad news for the airline industry, which must fly crowded planes to achieve any kind of profit margin.

“These changes could substantially change the aviation industry, with airlines ordering fewer airplanes from manufacturers, airports seeing fewer daily flights and lower revenue from parking lots, and even airport hotels hosting fewer guests,” the authors write. “The future of driverless cars is appealing to consumers – which means the future of commercial flight is in danger.”

Cost considerations

Then again, maybe not. The authors concede they did not look at how the cost of each mode of transportation might affect consumers’ choices. And costs are a critical factor that could make self-driving cars less of a threat to the airline industry.

The current economics surrounding driverless cars do not assume private ownership. That’s because these vehicles are incredibly expensive and beyond the reach of nearly all middle-class consumers.

Driverless car advocates -- and there are many -- envision these vehicles as part of ride-sharing fleets, operated by the likes of Uber, Lyft, and a host of competitors that are sure to spring up.

“Consumers willing to give up personal car ownership may see the greatest individual savings,” esurance writes on its website. “Experts predict that far fewer people will actually own cars, cutting the cost of their daily commute in half.”

It’s true that summoning a driverless car to take you to work might not be that expensive. But hiring one to drive you from Atlanta to Wasington, DC is likely to be much more expensive than an airline ticket.

In a commencement speech to Stanford graduates on Sunday, Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed some optimism for the world that those young people could form with their hard work and ingenuity. However, he was slightly less rosy when it came to the current state of the tech industry.

In an invective against some of his contemporaries in Silicon Valley, Cook said that companies need to embrace their responsibility to protect consumers’ privacy and valuable information.

“Lately it seems this industry is becoming better known for a less noble innovation -- the belief that you can claim credit without accepting responsibility,” he said. “Too many seem to think that good intentions excuse away harmful outcomes. But whether you like it or not, what you build and what you create define who you are.”

Taking responsibility for the chaos

Cook went on to suggest that his views shouldn’t be looked at as controversial. In fact, the executive hinted that his opinions were common sense.

“It feels a bit crazy that anyone should have to say this, but if you built a chaos factory, you can’t dodge responsibility for the chaos. Taking responsibility means having the courage to think things through, and there are few areas where this is more important than privacy,” he said.

This isn’t the first time that Cook has taken a pro-consumer stance when it comes to data privacy and regulation. Last year, he gave a speech in Brussels that called for stricter digital privacy laws and said that the data stockpiling taking place by companies “should unsettle us.” Earlier this year, he suggested that consumers have the ability to delete their online data on demand.

In the latest on the opioid epidemic, researchers from Brown University have found that fatal opioid overdoses are more likely to occur when the weather is cold.

“It is well known that opioids induce respiratory depression, and that’s what causes a fatal overdose,” said researcher Brandon Marshall. “However, there may be a host of other risk factors that contribute to opioid overdose deaths, which could be avenues for effective interventions.”

The effects of cold weather

The researchers narrowed their study down to opioid-related deaths that occurred between 2014 and 2017 in Rhode Island and Connecticut. With over 3,000 such cases to analyze, the researchers were then able to evaluate the weather surrounding the day of the death, in addition to noting the temperature on three disparate days of the month and two weeks prior to the overdose.

Overall, the researchers found that colder temperatures up to one week before the overdose increased the likelihood of a death by up to 25 percent. As to why this is the case, the researchers offered several possibilities, including a change in behavior when the temperature drops.

According to Marshall, colder weather could make opioid users less inhibited and prompt them to use the drug in excess and by themselves, which reduces the chances of an overdose inhibitor like naloxone to be administered.

Fellow researcher William Goedel suggested that the biological way that opioids interact with the body in lower temperatures could lead to more fatalities. He explained that breathing is compromised both in colder weather and after using opioids, and as such, the combination can make it easier for users to overdose.

Because the majority of the overdoses occurred indoors during these cold weather months, the researchers suggest more work is needed to keep people off the streets and hopefully prevent similar cases in the future.

“Regardless of what is causing the correlation between cold weather and fatal overdoses, our findings suggest that agencies and organizations should consider scaling up harm-reduction efforts after a period of cold weather,” said Marshall.