
China's BYD beefs up autonomous driving credentials with new unit, hiring spree
SHANGHAI/BEIJING BYD Co Ltd may be China's biggest electric vehicle maker by a country mile but it knows
2023-05-17 14:48

Tunisia police to investigate two top journalists, radio station says
By Tarek Amara TUNIS Tunisia's most popular independent radio station on Thursday said two of its top broadcasters,
2023-05-19 07:50

Trump appealing narrow gag order imposed on him in federal election interference case
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers say they are appealing a narrow gag order imposed on him in his federal 2020 election interference case
2023-10-18 03:50

This is the reason why self-service checkouts are fitted with mirrors
With the increasing number of self-service checkout machines popping up in stores for convenience, there is one simple feature that is used to put off potential shoplifters - mirrors. There's a good chance that you've looked at your reflection in the screens fitted to these machines, and the purpose of it is for potential shoplifters to catch themselves in the mirror in the hopes of making them feel guilty. This pang of a guilty conscience is hoped to prevent them from committing any crime (it's not just there for vanity purposes like most of us use it for). Research also backs up the theory that people who see themselves in a mirror are less likely to do something bad. A 1976 study from Letters of Evolutionary Behavioural Science found that when people are around mirrors, they "behave in accordance with social desirability". "Mirrors influence impulsivity, a feature that is closely related to decision-making in both social and non-social situations." When participants in the experiment were looking at mirrors, their "private self-awareness was activated" by them and as a result influenced "decision-making as a non-social cues". Similarly, Psychology Today notes how a mirror allows "people to literally watch over themselves" and this "dramatically boosts our self-awareness". Meanwhile, the issue of self-service checkouts and shoplifting was highlighted in a report by Mashed last year which it appeared to confirm that Walmart's attempt at combatting this problem was a psychological method with the addition of mirrors (though Walmart, alongside other supermarkets, has never confirmed the purpose of their mirrors at their self-service checkout services). Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-10-09 18:15

Former Trump State Department official convicted for attacking police during Capitol riot
A man who worked as a politically appointed State Department official in former President Donald Trump’s administration has been convicted of charges that he attacked police officers during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021
2023-07-21 05:58

Disney Delays ‘Avatar,’ ‘Star Wars’ Films in Major Shakeup
Walt Disney Co. updated its film release schedule on Tuesday, delaying some major films by as long as
2023-06-14 03:25

Cole Smith scores 2, Juuse Saros has 23 saves as Predators beat Rangers 4-1
Cole Smith scored twice in the first period and the Nashville Predators beat the New York Rangers 4-1
2023-10-20 10:46

Defiant Ukraine vow to 'fight' on despite Euro 2024 setback
Ukraine coach Serhiy Rebrov said his side would fight on despite missing out on automatic qualification for Euro 2024 after...
2023-11-21 07:59

Iran's president begins Latin America tour with stop in Venezuela
In his first visit to Latin America, Iran’s hardline president has met with his Venezuelan counterpart and declared both countries have “a common enemy,” alluding to the United States
2023-06-13 10:16

Discovery of '2000-year-old computer' leaves scientists baffled
Scientists have been left baffled by the discovery of the wreck of a 2,000-year-old “computer” that is amazingly complex. The Antikythera mechanism – an astronomical calendar – has been dubbed “‘the first computer” and has baffled scientists for generations after it was first discovered inside a Greek shipwreck in 1901. The device is a hand-powered time-keeping instrument that used a wing-up system to track the sun, moon and planets’ celestial time. It also worked as a calendar, tracking the phases of the Moon and the timing of eclipses. Despite sounding relatively simple, the mechanism was actually ahead of its time, being more technically sophisticated than any other tool that was invented over the next 1,000 years. In its current condition, the mechanism is in 82 separate fragments with only a third of its original structure remaining, including 30 corroded bronze gearwheels. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Research into the device from experts at University College London involved 3D computer modelling and helped them solve the mystery of how the device worked, revealing a “creation of genius”. Adam Wojcik, a materials scientist at UCL said at the time: “We believe that our reconstruction fits all the evidence that scientists have gleaned from the extant remains to date.” They theorised that the device tracked the movement of the sun, moon and planets on concentric rings, as the ancient Greeks believed that the sun and planets revolved around Earth, rather than the sun. The researchers explained in Scientific Reports: “Solving this complex 3D puzzle reveals a creation of genius—combining cycles from Babylonian astronomy, mathematics from Plato’s Academy and ancient Greek astronomical theories.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-05-26 20:45

Rodgers backs Henderson against 'morality officers' over Saudi move
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has called critics of Jordan Henderson's move to Saudi Arabia "morality officers" after the former Liverpool captain apologised...
2023-09-06 22:30

Black man attacked by Ohio police dog during traffic stop
Police in Ohio unleashed a canine on a Black man who had exited his vehicle with his hands
2023-07-24 07:54
You Might Like...

Biggar bows out, but insists Wales' future is bright

Tristan Tate advocates for weapons training and funding to protect women, fans mock him saying 'charity that arms criminals sounds lit'

Recapping the revolt in Russia, through the words of 4 presidents and a mutinous warlord

Take That's regrets over Robbie Williams' exit: 'We wish we could've talked more'

Who is Shannon Amos? John Amos, 83, accuses daughter of elderly abuse and 'taking advantage of him'

Taylor Swift Goes Crazy After Travis Kelce Touchdown

London's Met police on alert after IT 'hack'

3 Yankees who should be fired after falling under .500