Toshiba’s Chairman to Resign after $6.3 Billion Loss
Toshiba plans to write off 712.5 billion yen or 6.3 billion dollars and withdraw from the nuclear construction business. The chairman of the multinational conglomerate company, Shigenori Shiga, announced he will step down to take responsibility of the losses.
Toshiba’s billion-dollar losses were related to its acquisition of Westinghouse, an American nuclear energy company. The Japanese company faces a cost overrun from its subsidiary. Toshiba’s managers experience scrutiny for the company’s poor financial decisions and devastating investment.
Under pressure to stabilize its balance sheet, Toshiba started selling shares and considers offering a majority in its successful memory chip business.
Intel Ends Sponsorship to Science Fairs
Last year, Intel terminated its long-term sponsorship for the national Science Talent Search. Now it is also stopping its sponsorship to the International Science and Engineering Fair. The nonprofit group, funded by Intel back in 1997, is searching for a new sponsor. Intel will officially stop supporting the International Science and Engineering Fair in 2019.
All in all, Intel contributed about 45 million dollars a year to university programs. In 2015, it promised to donate 300 million dollars to diversify the workforce. Intel did not explain why it dropped the sponsorship. It currently does not support any other STEM program.
Algorithm Accurately Predicts Autism Diagnosis in Children
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently developed a deep learning algorithm that accurately predicts high risk infants’ chance of being diagnosed with autism.
There is an association between diagnosis of autism and some form of brain enlargement. The neuroimaging study explored the children with high familial risk of autism and discovered that those diagnosed with autism had an increased cortical growth rate at 6-12 months. The study used a deep-learning algorithm that uses surface area information to predict diagnosis of autism. The algorithm has an astounding 81 percent correct prediction with 88 percent sensitivity.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Launches Rocket
On Sunday, Elon Musk’s SpaceX became the first private space firm to launch a rocket at a NASA facility. After a setback on Saturday which was believed to be technical problems, Elon Musk called off the rocket launch. The launch resumed the next day.
The rocket, the SpaceX Dragon supply ship was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, delivering cargo to the International Space Station. Moments after liftoff, SpaceX confirmed the rocket was safely in orbit. The rocket is estimated to arrive the station on Wednesday.
The rocket launch success overshadows the failed launch attempt last September when an explosion occurred on the launch pad, damaging the rocket and its cargo.
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