What makes a “troll game”? Valve tries for a Steam-wide definition

Enlarge (credit: Getty / Aurich / Revived Games) Back in June, Valve issued expansive Steam guidelines that said games would only be removed from the platform for illegal or “outright trolling” content. At the time, we noted that the unclear definition of “trolling” left a lot of wiggle room for Valve to still define what […]

High definition hearing: Deaf sufferers joy as scientists invent bionic ear

The research could transform the lives of thousands of people. Hearing aids and implants are limited because users are often unable to pick out complex sound or hear clearly among background noise. Researchers at The Bionics Institute in Melbourne are developing a way to adapt the cochlear implant in the ear to stimulate the auditory […]

YouTube clarifies “hate speech” definition and which videos won’t be monetized

Enlarge (credit: Valentina Palladino) The ad exodus from YouTube has died down since its peak in March, but YouTube continues to update its guidelines to reassure advertisers and, in some ways, its creators. In a blog post, YouTube outlined more specific definitions of hate speech and what kinds of incendiary content wouldn’t be eligible for monetization. […]

The definition of “maximum employment” needs updating

“IT IS fair to say the economy is near maximum employment,” said Janet Yellen, chairman of the Federal Reserve, in recent comments preparing markets for rate rises to come. But “maximum employment”, like pornography, is in the eye of the beholder. American adults, of whom only about 69% have a job, seem less than maximally […]

Michael Jackson Turned White, But How? Vitiligo Definition Explained

A common question among Michael Jackson music fans is the fading of his complexion from a darker to lighter shade. Although this was not always obvious when he was alive, the media now states that, as Michael Jackson grew older, his skin grew whiter because of a dermatological condition called vitiligo. The meaning of vitiligo […]