15 minute Ebola rapid test kit approved

The World Health Organization has approved the  first rapid blood test.

It will allow patients to be identified, isolated and cared for as quickly as possible in an attempt to bring an end to the outbreak that has killed more than 9,300 people.

It is less accurate than conventional tests, but takes minutes rather than hours to get a result.

The test also works without electricity so it can be used in remote regions.

Current Ebola testing requires a laboratory to analyse the blood for fragments of the virus's genetic material.

It can take between 12 and 24 hours to get a definitive answer.
The ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test, developed by US company Corgenix, searches the blood for a different part of the virus.

Trials in West Africa suggest it correctly identifies about 92% of people who have Ebola.

X-ray machine opens new frontier

Researchers in Palo Alto in the US state of California have developed the most powerful X-ray laser in the world.

 

The Linac Coherent Light Source is being used to see how atoms and molecules move in living systems.
The machine is a billion times brighter than the previous generation of lasers.

Each X-ray pulse has as much power as the national grid of a large country, and a hundred are produced every second.

Culled: BBC News

Nigeria to gain 182 million subscribers 2019

African largest economy Nigeria has come with a radar of positive outlook in the telecommunication sector with a subscriber based expected to hit 182 million subscribers in 2019.

According to report by Pyramid Research telecommunication is expected to generate $10.9 billion up from 9.2billion in 2013.

The sector will experience a company annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2% in the next five years with mobile data increasing to 16% in 2019.

Although currency devaluation are likely to lead to slower US dollar rate, in local currency terms, the Nigerian telecommunication market offers strong growth rates of up to 6.8% annually for a period of 2014 to 2019.

Other countries in Africa are likely to follow Nigeria when it comes to technology development.

Lenovo in row over hidden spyware

Computer hardware giant Lenovo has been forced to remove hidden adware that it was shipping on its laptops and PCs after users expressed anger.

The adware - dubbed Superfish - was potentially compromising their security, said experts.

The hidden software was also injecting adverts on to browsers using techniques more akin to malware, they added.

Lenovo faces questions about why and for how long it was pre-installed on machines - and what data was collected.

In a statement : "Lenovo removed Superfish from the preloads of new consumer systems in January 2015.

At the same time Superfish disabled existing Lenovo machines in the market from activating Superfish.

Users began complaining about Superfish in Lenovo's forums in the autumn, and user feedback it acknowledged, "was not positive".

Last month, forum administrator Mark Hopkins told users that "due to some issues (browser pop up behaviour, for example)", the company had "temporarily removed Superfish from our consumer systems until such time as Superfish is able to provide a software build that addresses these issues".

He added it had requested that Superfish issue an auto-update for "units already in market".

Android malware spies on you even after phone is shut down

A particularly devious new Android malware can make calls or take photos even if you shut the device down, according to security research firm AVG.



To achieve this, the malware hijacks the shutting down process — making it appear as though your Android device is shutting down. You see the animation, the screen goes black, but the phone is actually still on.

In this state, the malware can use the phone to send your messages to a third party, record a call or take a photo, essentially turning your phone into a device that spies on you.

AVG, which posted code excerpts showing some of the malware's functionality, names this threat Android/PowerOffHijack.A. According to the company, it infects devices running Android versions below 5.0 and requires root permissions in order to act.

The company spokesperson told us some 10,000 devices were infected so far, mostly in China where the malware was first introduced and offered through the local, official app stores.

The Most Exciting Tech start-ups in the World

In a recent competition organized by Virgin founder Richard Brownson and MaiTai Global the following companies were recognised as the most exciting tech start-ups in the world.

Breathometer, Doctor on demand and Wanguru.

The competition organized at the Las Vergas consumer electronic show saw several competitors drop down the pack, leaving the  3 companies at the top. Although Breathometer and Doctor on demand came top with a tie, bus hiring service Wanguru had a very good investment plan.  

Breathometer Now Calls Ubers To Drive The Drunks Home

 Breathometer has come up with some interesting applications today, the blood alcohol level breath analysis startup has announced a partnership and API integration with Uber.



Anyone who registers at the halfway point of the legal limit in California (.04 blood alcohol concentration level) or higher on a Breathometer Breeze device will now be directed to order a cab, Uber or a designated driver to ensure they don’t get behind the wheel when tipsy.

Breathometer has been testing the Uber API integration with its app since October 2014. Over 1 million tests have been conducted since then, according to the breathalyzer startup. Breathometer says that it has had about a 10 percent conversion rate with drunk users calling for an Uber so far.

It will make a lot of sense if this sensor is built into the microphone piece of our smart phones...