Bill Gates sounds off on testing, the digital divide in education widens, and Facebook extends its work-from-home policy. Here's what you should know: Headlines Bill Gates on Covid: Most US tests are "completely garbage" Bill Gates isn't mincing words when it comes to the state of US coronavirus testing. "The majority of all US tests are completely garbage, wasted. If you don't care how late the date is and you reimburse at the same level, of course they're going to take every customer. Because they are making ridiculous money, and it's mostly rich people that are getting access to that." In an interview with WIRED, Gates addressed everything from the state of vaccines to misinformation on social media. A 'Covid slide' could widen the digital divide for students Educators have long known about inequalities in internet and technology among students, disproportionately impacting Black, Hispanic, Native American, and low-income families. But now, as many school districts begin the year with at least some online learning, the students without these resources are at risk of falling farther behind. Facebook extends work-from-home policy to July 2021 Facebook is joining Google in announcing its workforce will be remote until at least the middle of next year due to coronavirus concerns. Facebook did, however, get a new lease on a 730,000 square-foot space in New York recently, signaling a commitment to an eventual office return. Daily Distraction Switching from beef to plant-based protein could be a big step toward transforming our food systems, but that kind of sweeping change may be waiting on an unlikely hero: the fast-food industry. Something to Read To help recover the private keys to $300,000 worth of bitcoin, a total stranger reached out to former Google security engineer Michael Stay on LinkedIn. It sparked an epic quest to break into an encrypted zip file. Sanity Check Do you really need to spend a ton of money for a top-of-the-line cell phone? On this week's GadgetLab podcast, WIRED's gear team talks about the pros and cons of the midrange phone. One Question What are the ways Covid-19 spreads? We know that the virus is passed from person to person when someone coughs or sneezes, or when someone touches a surface it has landed on. But there's still some uncertainty about how likely the virus is to spread through air and whether your risk of catching it is the same when you're outdoors. Outbreaks spread exponentially at first but that rate slows over time, especially if additional measures are taken to flatten the curve. And some researchers are exploring the possibility that the virus could return seasonally like the common cold. Covid-19 Care Package ❓ From social distancing to viral spread to staying sane, here's everything we know and advise about the coronavirus. 📦 The Covid-19 virus can linger on objects for as little as a few hours or as long as a couple days, depending on the surface. Here's the research. 😷 If you're planning on going out in public anytime soon, you're going to need a mask. Here are the best ones you can buy, or how to make one at home. 🧼 It's not just your hands that need washing—your gadgets, clothes, and home need it too. Here's how to properly disinfect your stuff. 💻 Some of you are work-from-home pros, but if you're new to it, here's how to stay productive without losing your mind. 😔 It's hard not to be anxious about a global pandemic, but here's how you can protect yourself and your family without spiraling, and how to not hate the loved ones you're quarantined with. ✂️ It may still be a while before you can see your hairstylist, so here's how to cut your hair at home, plus other ways to keep yourself lookin' fresh. 🦠Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. |
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