Facebook vs Twitter: The battle over free speech and political advertising

Social media giants Facebook and Twitter appear to be at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to dealing with free speech and political advertising. We dig into that sticky 21st century quagmire, as well as look back at the week's most popular stories, from wooden cars to self-landing planes to measuring the mass of the Higgs boson. Enjoy the New Atlas Weekend Edition! [Computers]( [Facebook vs Twitter: The battle over free speech and political ads]( [Does protecting free speech trump all other considerations, or are modern targeted ad algorithms so influential that political advertising needs more oversight?]( Facebook and Twitter have recently laid out differing policies regarding political advertising. One platform has decided free speech is of utmost importance while the other has simply banned political ads altogether. [Read more]( [Physics]( [CERN precisely measures the mass of the Higgs boson]( [A visual representation of a 2016 event in which the Higgs boson decayed into two photons (their energy deposits shown as the green lines), which helped scientists narrow down the mass of the particle]( The detection of the Higgs boson at CERN in 2012 is one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the decade. Now the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations have made the most precise measurement of its mass to date. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Japan proposes wooden cars made of plant-based cellulose nanofibers]( [This Japanese supercar design is made from incredibly strong wood-based cellulose nanofibers]( One-fifth the weight of steel but five times the strength, plant-based cellulose nanofiber (CNF) offers carmakers the opportunity to build strong, lightweight cars while sustainably removing as much as 2,000 kg of carbon from the car's life cycle. [Read more]( [Space]( [Into the great unknown: Juno, the probe to peel back Jupiter's curtain]( [Artist's rendering of Juno orbiting Jupiter]( In this series New Atlas profiles space probes, both past and present, tasked with pushing the boundaries of science by leading us into the great unknown. This week: a spacecraft built to unravel the mysteries hiding behind Jupiter's colorful clouds. [Read more]( [Health & Wellbeing]( [How sunlight on the skin directly affects the gut microbiome]( [For the first time scientists have shown exposure to ultraviolet light can directly influence gut bacterial diversity]( New research has for the first time demonstrated how exposure to Narrow Band Ultraviolet B light (UVB) can directly influence gut microbiome diversity in humans. The research hypothesizes this result is modulated by vitamin D. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Bloodhound LSR supersonic car hits record speeds in South Africa]( [This first outing for the renewed Bloodhound LSR consisted of three separate runs]( Looking to maintain its forward momentum, the Bloodhound LSR team has taken to a lakebed in a South African desert for a test run, in which its jet-engine-powered vehicle reached its fastest speeds yet. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [The business jet that can land itself in an emergency]( [The Vision G2 business jet can now land itself in an emergency]( An important step towards autonomous aviation was taken today, as Cirrus Aviation announced "Safe Return" functionality for its G2 Vision jet, which will find the nearest airstrip, alert authorities and land itself in an emergency. [Read more]( [Tiny Houses]( [Little Sojourner tiny house sneaks in some space to unwind]( [Australian tiny house builder Häuslein has added a couple of new models to its lineup, led by the compact Little Sojourner that uses a little creativity to offer owners some extra leg room]( Australian tiny house builder Häuslein has added a couple of new models to its lineup, led by the compact Little Sojourner that uses a little creativity to offer owners some extra leg room, along with the amenities needed for a full-time home. [Read more]( [Digital Cameras]( [Superb snaps from the 2019 Siena International Photo Awards]( [Awarded 'Honorable Mention'. A big male Polar Bear in Svalbard]( The captivating winners in this year's Siena International Photo Contest span a broad array of different subjects and aesthetics with a truly remarkable winning shot of a young boy in Liberia trying to retrieve a ball in the shadow of armed soldiers. [Read more]( [Aircraft]( [Vertical Aerospace debuts a chubby eVTOL capable of carrying 3 people]( [The Seraph prototype is Britain's leading air taxi contender]( With the ability to carry up to 250 kg of payload at speeds up to 80 km/h, the 12-rotor Seraph is Britain's leading electric VTOL air taxi candidate. Vertical Aerospace has released video of this chunky bird in flight. [Read more]( [Environment]( [Coal-ash spheres keep concrete from cracking]( [Drexel researchers have recycled coal ash into spheres that prevent cracks forming in concrete as it cures]( Concrete is made of a combination of cement, an aggregate such as gravel, and water. If that mixture dries too fast, then cracks can form within it as it cures. Now, however, scientists have determined that the use of coal-ash spheres can help keep that from happening. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Crazy-versatile camper van transforms into 8-seat MPV and cargo van]( [The Pössl Vanster debuts at the 2019 Caravan Salon]( We didn't think anyone was going to launch a more versatile mini-campervan than the Pössl Campster. But someone finally did ... Pössl. Its new Vanster debuts as a simpler triple-threat camper van with more flexibility, less price. [Read more]( [Games]( [5 other disastrous video game launches from history]( [2K's WWE 2K20 has become the butt of the gaming community's jokes since launch]( In the wake of the drama surrounding the release of 2K's WWE 2K20 this month, we remember five other video games releases (including one now-infamous urban legend) that went rather less than swimmingly. [Read more]( [Drones]( [DJI launches its smallest and lightest foldable drone, the Mavic Mini]( [The DJI Mavic Mini can fly for 30 minutes per charge]( DJI has announced the latest member of its Mavic family of folding drones. The Mavic Mini folds up to palm-sized proportions, can capture 2.7K video when in flight and is reported to have one of the longest flight times for a drone this size. [Read more]( [Automotive]( [Review: 2019 Chevrolet Blazer has beauty, confidence, and buyer confusion]( [The Blazer can get to the finals at a beauty pageant, but once the runway walks are done, it's rough going when the talent portion begins]( Chevy very much wanted to tie its new Blazer in with the Camaro, style-wise, and has largely succeeded. The Blazer is a good-looking crossover, but a bit confusing as well. [Read more]( [Space]( [US Air Force successfully tests advanced rocket preburner]( [The Air Force Research Laboratory has successfully tested a state-of-the-art rocket engine preburner]( The US Air Force has successfully tested a component that promises a new generation of high-performance American rocket engines. Called a preburner, the unit allows rockets to operate at a higher pressure and achieve greater levels of thrust. [Read more]( You are receiving this email because you signed up for our daily newsletter at [newatlas.com]( (or [gizmag.com]( before August 2016). [Update profile]( | [Unsubscribe]( Copyright New Atlas © 2019