Facebook officials on Tuesday said the company is using a range of techniques including artificial intelligence to counter Russian operatives or others who use deceptive tactics and false information to manipulate public opinion. The officials told reporters in a telephone briefing they expected to find such efforts on the social network ahead of the US mid-term elections in November, but declined to disclose whether they have already uncovered any such operations.

The Ministry of Finance is considering a tax on social media and search engine advertisements, according to Minister Mohamed Ma’ayat. Although the tax is already approved by parliament, Egyptian MPs are pressuring the Ministry to officially impose it, according to Ahram Online. It would mirror existing taxes on advertising in Egyptian media, first applied in 2013 by Egypt’s ousted president, Mohamed Morsi. Such taxes added 20 percent to the cost of all advertisements in newspapers, television, radio, the internet and other media.

A massive underground lake has been detected for the first time on Mars, raising hopes that more water — and maybe even life — exists there, international astronomers said Wednesday. Located under a layer of Martian ice, the lake is about 12 miles (20 kilometers) wide, said the report in the US journal Science. It is the largest body of liquid water ever found on the Red Planet. “Water is there. We have no more doubt,” co-author Enrico Flamini, the Italian space agency’s Mars Express mission manager, told a press conference.

The longest “blood moon” eclipse this century will coincide with Mars closest approach in 15 years to offer skygazers a thrilling astronomical double bill on Friday, astronomers say. For about half the world, the moon will be partly or fully in Earth s shadow from 1714 to 2328 GMT — six hours and 14 minutes in all. The period of complete eclipse — known as “totality”, when the moon appears darkest — will last from 1930 to 2113 GMT.

In its 350th anniversary year, Merck announced a highly remunerative science award and invited renowned researchers to its conference. A realignment is essential because the corporation is weakening. The cubist glass façade rises into the bright blue sky. Inside the postmodern conference centre: bright popular colors, rich sound and a hip ambience. The futuristic appearance is part of the desired image change, which the traditional Hessian Merck Group is working on intensely. Merck will no longer be merely a pharmaceutical manufacturer, but wants to be perceived as a scientific group that invests in ideas for the future. The DAX-listed group, which emerged from a pharmacy in Darmstadt, is celebrating its 350th birthday this year.

In an exclusive interview with DW, Nobel Prize winner Harald zur Hausen talks about cancer-causing viruses and his incomprehension towards vaccination scpeticism. Merck-Wissenschafts-Konferenz Curious Future Insight in Darmstadt (DW/A. Freund) It is well known that smoking, a poor diet and a lack of exercise greatly increase the risk of getting cancer. However, few people know that several cancers are caused by viruses or bacteria and that one can protect oneself against them with vaccinations.

Egyptian MPs have renewed demands to impose taxes on foreign social media companies. Last month, parliament s media, culture and antiquities committee approved a proposal to impose taxes on advertising revenues made by platforms including Facebook and Google in the Egyptian market.

A British study shows that gene editing does not work as well as previously assumed. Experiments with the cells of mice and humans resulted in numerous unwanted mutations. The molecular biological gene editing CRISPR/Cas9 method regularly causes unwanted mutations. This also happens in areas of the genome far from the target areas that medical researchers and molecular biologists may seek to change using this promising innovative tool.

Can electronic media harm small children? The use of computers, smartphones and tablets can cause behavioral issues such as hyperactivity and inattentiveness in young children between two and six years old. This is the result of a study by researchers at the University of Leipzig in Germany, who studied more than 500 children for several years. Children who were exposed to computers or smartphones on a daily basis were more hyperactive and inattentive one year on than children who did not use these types of media. Children who used electronic media were also more likely to have difficulties with other children.

They re touted as miracle cures. But the stem cell treatments on offer at private clinics are often anything but. Before you send a loved one in for a last-ditch (and very expensive) treatment, read the warnings. "Walking again - one month after stem cell treatment." Such is the way that a Swiss clinical center advertises itself online. The institution, with locations in Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Slovenia, Russia and the US, offers stem cell therapy among other treatments to treat multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism has announced launching a digital TV channel on Instagram s view-platform IGTV, in another attempt to attract tourists to Egypt through online marketing. The channel will be broadcast through the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion s official page, and has been dubbed as the first of its kind in the Middle East. Egypt s White Desert In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry explained its move as an attempt to broaden its marketing methods; “The Ministry of Tourism is currently looking into launching more promotional campaigns across the most influential and focused platforms to spread its scope across wider populace.”

Britain s data regulator said Wednesday it will fine Facebook half a million pounds for failing to protect user data, as part of its investigation into whether personal information was misused ahead of the Brexit referendum. The Information Commissioner s Office (ICO) began investigating the social media giant earlier this year, when evidence emerged that an app had been used to harvest the data of tens of millions of Facebook users worldwide.

Did you know that fish pedicures can cause deformations in your toenails? Or that if you feel young, your brain has probably stayed young, too? DW brings you this week s health news, all in one handy guide! Fish pedicures – A bad idea! If you ve ever wondered what it s like to get a fish pedicure — don t. The treatment uses "doctor fish," known as Garra rufa, that nibble dead skin off your feet. It trended about 10 years ago and is still popular, despite some concerns over hygiene. The hot water tub that you place your feet in is often re-used, as are the fish — patient after patient — and various fungi and disease-causing bacteria have been detected at fish pedicure spas.

The Thai boys trapped in a cave may not only face psychological problems, but also gain psychological benefit, says psychologist Prof. Dr. Brigitte Lueger-Schuster from the University of Vienna. Military personnel in front of the Tham Luang cave, Chiang Rai, Thailand (Reuters/A. Perawongmetha) DW: In your opinion, what is the negative impact or the general impact on youngsters trapped in a cave for such a long time?

The Thai boys trapped in a cave may not only face psychological problems, but also gain psychological benefit, says psychologist Prof. Dr. Brigitte Lueger-Schuster from the University of Vienna. DW: In your opinion, what is the negative impact or the general impact on youngsters trapped in a cave for such a long time? I think the core problem is a lack of daylight. People who exclusively live in the dark for a long time are more stressed, because their usual sleep-wake rhythm is disrupted. This impacts the quality of sleep and the body s entire biorhythm.

After three and a half years of flight, the Hayabusa2 probe will reach the asteroid Ryugu. Its task: Collect asteroid dust. The German landing device MASCOT is also on board. It s due to land on Ryugu in October. Mission Hayabusa2 - Erforschung eines erdnahen Asteroiden (DLR CC-BY3.0) Hayabusa 2, or the "Falcon2," has been on the road for more than three years.

A trembling needle moves slowly over a roll of paper. If a truck rumbles by, the amplitude gets stronger. If an earthquake occurs — or if someone sets off an atomic bomb underground — the needle will vibrate even more, registering the strength and duration of the event. This is how seismographs have worked for centuries. Nowadays, seismometer data isn t recorded on paper. The information is transferred directly to computers worldwide in a matter of seconds, at which point earthquake researchers can analyze it.

Astronauts are expected to conduct a wealth of experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). They also have a lot of other tasks, like maintenance work. So how is a working day organized in space? Do astronauts get free time, as we do on Earth? Volker Schmid: An astronaut s working day is not so different from that on Earth. Of course, it is a unique environment, but they work eight hours, sometimes nine or ten hours if a job requires overtime, just like in normal life.

A Chinese firm has developed a laser gun designed for police use that can set fire to protesters’ hair or banners from a range of almost one kilometer. The general manager of the ZKZM fiber laser company, who asked to remain anonymous, said the weapon would “immediately” produce a “strong pain response” in the target but stressed it was designed to be “non-lethal”.

It s late, the booze is flowing, the woman is beautiful. Flirting and kissing are followed by a hook-up. All of that wouldn t be a problem if Max wasn t married. His wife doesn t know about her husband occasionally having sex with other women. The sexual partners don t mean anything to Max, he says — he s merely letting his sex drive take over every once in a while. "I know it s a natural thing," Max said to DW. "But it s definitely wrong as well."

Worried you ve contracted HIV? In Germany, the HIV self test, which just passed inspection in a large-scale study, will be available in pharmacies this year. Anyone concerned they ve contracted the disease will then be able to check, in the privacy of their own home, whether or not they re infected.