Artificial Intelligence
Chatbots are surprisingly effective at debunking conspiracy theories
Summary
It’s become a truism that facts alone don’t change people’s minds. Perhaps nowhere is this more clear than when it comes to conspiracy theories: Many people believe that you can’t talk conspiracists out of their beliefs. But that’s not necessarily true. It turns out that many conspiracy believers do respond to evidence and arguments—information that is now easy to deliver in the form of a tailored conversation with an AI chatbot. In research we published in the journal Science this year, we had over 2,000 conspiracy believers engage in a roughly eight-minute conversation with DebunkBot, a model we built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo (the most up-to-date GPT model at that time). Participants began by writing out, in their own words, a conspiracy theory that they believed and the…
Transforming commercial pharma with agentic AI
Summary
Amid the turbulence of the wider global economy in recent years, the pharmaceuticals industry is weathering its own storms. The rising cost of raw materials and supply chain disruptions are squeezing margins as pharma companies face intense pressure—including from countries like the US—to control drug costs. At the same time, a wave of expiring patents threatens around $300 billion in potential lost sales by 2030. As companies lose the exclusive right to sell the drugs they have developed, competitors can enter the market with generic and biosimilar lower-cost alternatives, leading to a sharp decline in branded drug sales—a “patent cliff.” Simultaneously, the cost of bringing new drugs to market is climbing. McKinsey estimates cost per launch is growing 8% each year, reaching $4 billion in 2022. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT In clinics…
The looming crackdown on AI companionship
Summary
As long as there has been AI, there have been people sounding alarms about what it might do to us: rogue superintelligence, mass unemployment, or environmental ruin from data center sprawl. But this week showed that another threat entirely—that of kids forming unhealthy bonds with AI—is the one pulling AI safety out of the academic fringe and into regulators’ crosshairs. This has been bubbling for a while. Two high-profile lawsuits filed in the last year, against Character.AI and OpenAI, allege that companion-like behavior in their models contributed to the suicides of two teenagers. A study by US nonprofit Common Sense Media, published in July, found that 72% of teenagers have used AI for companionship. Stories in reputable outlets about “AI psychosis” have highlighted how endless conversations with chatbots can lead…
Can an AI doppelgänger help me do my job?
Summary
Everywhere I look, I see AI clones. On X and LinkedIn, “thought leaders” and influencers offer their followers a chance to ask questions of their digital replicas. OnlyFans creators are having AI models of themselves chat, for a price, with followers. “Virtual human” salespeople in China are reportedly outselling real humans. Digital clones—AI models that replicate a specific person—package together a few technologies that have been around for a while now: hyperrealistic video models to match your appearance, lifelike voices based on just a couple of minutes of speech recordings, and conversational chatbots increasingly capable of holding our attention. But they’re also offering something the ChatGPTs of the world cannot: an AI that’s not smart in the general sense, but that ‘thinks’ like you do. Who are they for? Delphi,…
Business & Finance
Why the world’s top coffee producer is switching up its beans
Summary
In the coming years, coffee from Brazil might start to taste a bit different. The South American country is the world’s biggest producer of arabica, a mild variety of coffee bean. But as climate change makes it harder to grow those beans, some farmers are investing in robusta, which produces a more bitter bean but can tolerate higher temperatures and is more resistant to diseases. Brazil’s traditional coffee growing regions, which largely produce arabica, have been beset by more intense and frequent droughts, and hotter temperatures. Arabica is still the country’s main coffee export, but robusta production is now growing at a faster rate: by over 81% over the past 10 years, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, which tracks global coffee production. For Brazil, robusta provides an opportunity to remain the…
‘You’re going to be screaming into the void. You’re going to be useless’: 21-year-old aspiring journalist reveals Gen Z hatred, apathy about media
Summary
Cat Murphy, a college student, has wanted to be a journalist since she was 11. Many of her friends don’t understand why. When they engage with the news — if they do — they hear a cacophony of voices. They don’t know who to believe. Reporters are biased. They make mistakes. Besides, why would you hitch your future to a dying industry? “There is a lot of commentary — ‘Oh, good for you. Look what you’re walking into. You’re going to be screaming into the void. You’re going to be useless,’” said Murphy, a 21-year-old graduate student at the University of Maryland’s journalism school. She is undeterred. And it’s also why she’s not surprised by the findings of a study this fall that documented negative attitudes toward the news media among 13- to…
‘Black Friday has really turned into like a full week event’: America spends Thanksgiving week cruising for deals amid $18 billion spending explosion
Summary
Despite wider economic uncertainty hovering above this year’s holiday season, shoppers turned out in big numbers for Black Friday — spending billions of dollars both in stores and online. Adobe Analytics, which tracks e-commerce, said U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online Friday, marking a 9.1% jump from last year. Traffic particularly piled up between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time nationwide, when $12.5 million passed through online shopping carts every minute. Consumers also spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, per Adobe. Top categories that saw an uptick in sales across both days included video game consoles, electronics and home appliances. Shopping services powered by artificial intelligence and social media advertising have also particularly influenced what consumers choose to buy, the firm said. Meanwhile, software company…
Swiss voters reject tax of up to 50% on large donations or inheritances, fearing exodus of wealthy instead of fighting climate change
Summary
Swiss voters on Sunday decisively rejected a call to require women to do national service in the military, civil protection teams or other forms, as men must do already. In a referendum, over 84% of voters rejected the “citizen service initiative” and none of the country’s 26 cantons, or states, came anywhere near voting in favor. Proposals need a majority of both voters and cantons to pass. A separate proposal to impose a new national tax on individual donations or inheritances of more than 50 million francs ($62 million) was shot down by more than 78% of voters. The revenues were to be used to fight the impact of climate change and help Switzerland meet its ambitions to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Supporters of the national service…
Education
Education Department Takes a Preliminary Step Toward Revamping Its Research and Statistics Arm
Summary
In his first two months in office, President Donald Trump ordered the closing of the Education Department and fired half of its staff. The department’s research and statistics division, called the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), was particularly hard hit. About 90 percent of its staff lost their jobs and more than 100 federal contracts to conduct its primary activities were canceled. But now there are signs that the Trump administration is partially reversing course and wants the federal government to retain a role in generating education statistics and evidence for what works in classrooms — at least to some extent. On Sept. 25, the department posted a notice in the Federal Register asking the public to submit feedback by Oct. 15 on reforming IES to make research more relevant…
PEN America Warns of Rise in Books ‘Systematically Removed From School Libraries’
Summary
PEN America released its list of the most-banned books of the 2024-2025 school year on Wednesday – and warned that the number of books challenged or banned in public school districts across the country has risen exponentially in the past two years. The group dedicated to free expression counted 6,870 bans during the past academic year. While that’s down from a total of 10,046 bans imposed during the 2023-24 school year, it’s still a sharp rise from the period of 2021-2023, which averaged just under 3,000 incidents of book banning each year, in what it calls a “disturbing normalization of censorship” in public schools. PEN America defines a school book ban as “any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community…
A New Nation’s Report Card Shows Drops in Science, Math and Reading Scores
Summary
New test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, show eighth-graders’ science scores have fallen 4 points since 2019 and 12th-graders’ math and reading scores have fallen 3 points in the same time period. The tests were administered between January and March 2024. This is the first NAEP score release since the Trump administration began making cuts to the U.S. Education Department. Those cuts, included laying off more than half the workers at the Institute of Education Sciences, IES, the arm of the department charged with measuring student achievement and overseeing and processing the data that comes from the tests students take. After those cuts, the department also canceled about a dozen national and state assessments of student progress through 2032…
Does Having a Male Teacher Make a Difference? Not as Much as Some Think
Summary
The teaching profession is one of the most female-dominated in the United States. Among elementary school teachers, 89 percent are women, and in kindergarten, that number is almost 97 percent. Many sociologists, writers and parents have questioned whether this imbalance hinders young boys at the start of their education. Are female teachers less understanding of boys’ need to horse around? Or would male role models inspire boys to learn their letters and times tables? Some advocates point to research that lays out why boys ought to do better with male teachers. But a new national analysis finds no evidence that boys perform or behave better with male teachers in elementary school. This challenges a widespread belief that boys thrive more when taught by men, and it raises questions about efforts,…
Entertainment
Stray Kids, Aespa & More K-Pop Stars Donate to Support Victims of Hong Kong Tower Fire
Summary
K-pop band aespa and other South Korean pop stars have announced a flurry of donations to support victims of an apartment fire in Hong Kong that killed at least 128 people in one of the city’s deadliest blazes. Girl group aespa said they will donate 500,000 Hong Kong dollars ($64,000) to the Hong Kong Red Cross, according to a post on their official Weibo account. “We express our deepest sorrow regarding this heartbreaking news,” the band said. Stray Kids pledged 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($129,000) through World Vision Hong Kong for temporary housing and other support for affected children and residents. “We were all very heavy-hearted upon hearing the unfortunate news from Hong Kong,” the group said. SM and JYP Entertainment, two of South Korea’s biggest entertainment companies, donated…
‘Kpop Demon Hunters’ Now Officially Eligible in Animated Feature Category for 2026 Oscars
Summary
The KPop Demon Hunters train could keep rolling right through awards season. According to the Associated Press, the animated Netflix mega-hit movie is among 35 features that are officially eligible for the animated feature category at the 2026 Academy Awards. Related Charli XCX Muses on 'Realities of Being a Pop Star' in Highs, Lows & Whoas Substack Essay: 'All My Favorite Artists Are Absolutely Not Role Models' ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ ‘Wicked: For Good,’ ‘Sinners’ & More: Early Oscar Predictions for Best Song and Score Rihanna Hilariously Responds After Unflattering Photo of Her Resurfaces in Post About Male Preferences Demon Hunters made the first cut on the list released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last week because in addition to its record-setting streaming run on Netflix, the movie…
Jimmy Kimmel Hits Back at Donald Trump Over Latest Call For His Firing: ‘I’ll Go When You Go… Until Then… Quiet Piggy!’
Summary
On the same day in which he accused six Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior” that he said was “punishable by death” and shared someone else’s post that called for the Congress members’ hanging, Donald Trump once again lashed out at his late night nemesis Jimmy Kimmel. It started with Trump’s Truth Social post on Thursday (Nov. 20) in which he asked why “ABC Fake News” keeps Kimmel, “a man with NO TALENT and VERY POOR TELEVISION RATINGS, on the air?,” claiming the network’s (or Kimmel’s?) coverage of him is “totally biased.” He ended by demanding, “Get the bum of the air!!!” The president, ensnared in particularly bruising media cycle whipped up by the back-and-forth over the release of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein — in which Trump…
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ songs banned from UK school
Summary
A school in the UK has banned pupils from singing songs from KPop Demon Hunters, citing concerns that they go against its “Christian ethos”. According to BBC News, teachers at the Lilliput Church of England Infant School in Poole, Dorset, sent a message to parents to say that some people were “deeply uncomfortable” with references to demons. It is reported that this was because they “associate them with spiritual forces opposed to God and goodness”. Later, head teacher Lloyd Allington shared an update on the feedback he had received from parents. Some highlighted the positive messages in the tracks from Netflix‘s hit animated fantasy film – which follows fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x. However, Allington said that the school would be looking to support those who found the themes “challenging”. KPop Demon…
Environment & Sustainability
Hatches Open, Station Crew Expands to 10
Summary
The newly-expanded Expedition 73 crew. In the front row (from left) are the newest crew members Chris Williams from NASA and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. In the back are, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov, NASA astronauts Jonny Kim and Zena Cardman, Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Zubritsky, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. NASA Expedition 73 wrapped up the work week At 10:16 a.m. EST, the hatch opened between the International Space Station and the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. The spacecraft arrived at the orbiting laboratory’s Rassvet module at 7:34 a.m., after launching at 4:27 a.m. (2:27 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev aboard. The trio…
Louis Nguyen
Summary
Louis Nguyen Research Computer Engineer, Climate Science Branch, Science Directorate, NASA Langley Research Center Louis Nguyen began his professional career in 1992 and has 25 years of experience working in the field of atmospheric science research. Louis is a Research Computer Engineer at NASA Langley Research Center’s Science Directorate. He conducts and enables atmospheric science research for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and the broader Earth science community with the goal of improving scientific understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere system. Louis is the Operations Lead and Systems Engineer for the Satellite Cloud Observations and Radiative Property Retrieval System (SatCORPS) group which supports NASA’s Clouds in the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) mission and Radiation Budget Science Program. Louis is a computer scientist with extensive experience in developing real-time low latency satellite…
Christopher Harris
Summary
Christopher Harris IT Specialist, Atmospheric Science Data Center, Science Directorate, NASA Langley Research Center My professional career spans over 40 years working in the IT field with increasing responsibilities leading to technical leadership in the areas of data system management and operations, systems design and development, Earth science data processing and analysis, IT security, and IT purchasing at NASA’s Langley Research Center. I am married to my college sweetheart for 40+ years; we have four children, and one grandchild. + Contact Christopher Harris + Visit the Atmospheric Science Data Center Home Page + Return to the NASA Langley Science Directorate People Page The post Christopher Harris appeared first on NASA Science. Christopher Harris IT Specialist, Atmospheric Science Data Center, Science Directorate, NASA Langley Research Center My professional career spans over…
Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Stacked
Summary
NASA/Kim Shiflett In this Oct. 20, 2025, photo, NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft with its launch abort system is stacked atop the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orion will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back in early 2026. Follow along with the mission on the NASA Artemis blog. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett The post Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Stacked appeared first on NASA Science. NASA/Kim Shiflett In this Oct. 20, 2025, photo, NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft with its launch abort system is stacked atop the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building…
Food & Travel
Is Your Favorite National Park at Risk During the Shutdown? It Depends on the State.
Summary
The federal government’s shutdown had an immediate impact, that will be increasingly felt for however long the shutdown continues, on the National Park Service. According to the AP, parks remain “generally” open, but services are pared back, facilities may be closed, and most staff are furloughed. This follows what has already been a tumultuous year that has seen deep staffing cuts and high visitation. The agency is leaning on limited fee revenue and skeleton crews to keep access open while protecting life and property — a trade-off that will vary widely by site. Certain states working to keep parks open Utah officials said the state will support keeping its “Mighty 5” (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion) accessible during the lapse, though visitors should expect minimal services. Colorado…
Hotel Prices Keep Climbing in New York City 2 Years After Airbnb Crackdown
Summary
Two years after New York City’s sweeping crackdown on Airbnb, visitors looking for affordable accommodations in the Big Apple face an even more expensive new reality in a city already known for being pricey. New data shows that short-term rentals are all but erased from the five boroughs, and hotel prices are continuing to go up. In July 2025, the average nightly rate for a hotel room in NYC hit $283, a 7 percent increase over two years prior, according to data from CoStar first published in the Wall Street Journal. Fall and into the holiday season sees much higher nightly rates — last year September had a record-setting month where average rates reached $417 per night. These spikes are not temporary: occupancy has outpaced 2023 levels in every month…
FAA Slashes Flights at 40 Major US Airports in Light of Government Shutdown
Summary
Everyone knows flying in the US can be a little bumpy, both literally and figuratively. But it’s about to get significantly more delayed in light of the current US federal government shutdown, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made a significant announcement on Wednesday, November 5. Citing the immense strain on staff from the record-long government shutdown, it announced it would cut flight traffic by 10 percent at 40 of the country’s busiest airports. The announcement was made at a press conference by US Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, who oversees the FAA, following vague comments earlier in the week to completely close some portions of US air space if the shutdown continued. Unconfirmed sources tell media outlets the scale-back will happen gradually, beginning with a four percent…
How to Find the Next Big Restaurant Before the Hype, From ‘Knife Edge’ Host Jesse Burgess
Summary
For more than a century, the Michelin Guide, a tire company’s marketing plan that turned into the world’s most famous restaurant guide, has cultivated an aura of exclusivity — white-tablecloth temples, anonymous inspectors sworn to secrecy, and career-changing recognition that can boost business. Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars, the new Apple TV+ series produced by Gordon Ramsay and hosted by Jesse Burgess, takes viewers behind the scenes of what it’s like for chefs chasing stars. And with that, rare direct access to Michelin inspectors. “I think it’s incredulous that they have kept everything so secret for 125 years,” Burgess told me. “And the fact that they granted this access … was monumental and groundbreaking.” Words like that could read as hyperbole. He wasn’t exaggerating. Still, the inspector interviews that appear…
Gaming
‘It’s rumor and speculation. There’s nothing to it’: Intel’s Lip-Bu Tan dismisses worries that the company’s new hire gave it TSMC’s 2 nm IP secrets
Summary
Last week, TSMC reportedly opened an investigation into ex-employee Lo Wen-jen, who moved from retirement to a position at Intel. Lo held a position as the vice president of corporate strategy before retiring from TSMC in July. Lo was once involved in the research into mass production of chips at the Taiwanese chipmaking giant and spent over two decades at the company. As reported by Bloomberg, Intel denies claims that this hiring was made to take trade secrets from TSMC. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan told Bloomberg, "It's rumor and speculation. There's nothing to it. We respect IP." TSMC isn't the only party looking to protect its IP. Kung Ming-hsin, the economy minister for Taiwan, reportedly said, “The Ministry of Economic Affairs will cooperate (with prosecutors) by explaining the current control…
Is Wolverine in Avengers: Doomsday? Hugh Jackman Issues Coy Response When Asked if He’ll Have to Play the X-Men Superhero Again, Joking Marvel Has Enough to Build an AI Version
Summary
Hugh Jackman has issued a coy response when asked flat out if he’ll have to reprise his role as Wolverine in the MCU, after last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine was such a big hit. As fans await what seems at this stage to be the inevitable confirmation that Jackman will play Wolverine once again in either next year’s Avengers: Doomsday or 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, the actor insisted on The Graham Norton Show that he’s done saying “never.” Jackman famously vowed that he was done playing Wolverine after Logan came out in 2017, but changed his mind for what was then Deadpool 3. It proved to be a smart decision, with Deadpool & Wolverine going on to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time after making over $1 billion…
‘I’ll Never Step Out of Ron Weasley’s Shadow,’ Harry Potter Actor Rupert Grint Says
Summary
Harry Potter movie star Rupert Grint has said he'll likely never leave the "shadow" of Ron Weasley behind. Speaking to BBC News, Grint said he was "fine" to always be associated with his on-screen character and felt a "lot of pride" for his work on the eight Harry Potter movies. "It has a quite deep meaning to a lot of people of my generation, and even more to generations who are finding it now," Grint said. "It's great. It gives me a lot of pride. It was such a huge thing. I don't think I'll ever quite step out of his shadow, but I'm fine with that." Like Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe, Grint said he had also written to the young actor now taking on his former role in…
Interview with Roblox CEO kicks off with an unbelievable answer about its predator problem being ‘not just a problem, but an opportunity,’ and somehow just gets crazier from there
Summary
Roblox CEO David Baszucki is taking heat for a recent podcast interview with the New York Times, in which he discussed the platform's new AI-powered age gating technology, dismissed accusations that Roblox has a predator problem, and got into a bit of a high-strung back-and-forth with the interviewer over the company's approach to moderation. The interview starts off with a real bang: When asked what he thinks of "the problem of predators on Roblox," Baszucki replies, "We think of it not necessarily just as a problem, but an opportunity as well. How do we allow young people to build, communicate and hang out together? How do we build the future of communication at the same time?" Yeah, that's sure one way to look at it, and squinting very hard I…
Health & Wellness
RSV prevention in newborns could cut asthma risk
Summary
Scientists found that RSV infection early in life can set the stage for childhood asthma, particularly in kids already genetically prone to allergies. The virus appears to skew the developing immune system toward exaggerated responses to everyday allergens. But when newborns were protected from RSV, asthma development was prevented. The results point to a powerful added benefit of RSV prevention tools now being rolled out globally. Scientists found that RSV infection early in life can set the stage for childhood asthma, particularly in kids already genetically prone to allergies. The virus appears to skew the developing immune system toward exaggerated responses to everyday allergens. But when newborns were protected from RSV, asthma development was prevented. The results point to a powerful added benefit of RSV prevention tools now being rolled…
Simple thyroid check in pregnancy may lower autism risk
Summary
Researchers have found that ongoing thyroid hormone imbalance in pregnancy may be linked to higher autism risk in children. Treated thyroid disorders did not show the same effect. The longer the imbalance lasted across trimesters, the more the risk appeared to rise. The study underscores the need for consistent thyroid monitoring. Researchers have found that ongoing thyroid hormone imbalance in pregnancy may be linked to higher autism risk in children. Treated thyroid disorders did not show the same effect. The longer the imbalance lasted across trimesters, the more the risk appeared to rise. The study underscores the need for consistent thyroid monitoring. Researchers have found that ongoing thyroid hormone imbalance in pregnancy may be linked to higher autism risk in children. Treated thyroid disorders did not show the same effect.…
Scientists discover hidden wolf DNA in most dogs
Summary
Researchers studying thousands of canine genomes discovered that wolf DNA is still present in most dog breeds. This ancient genetic influence shows up in traits like body size, behavior, and environmental resilience. Even dogs bred far from wolves, including tiny chihuahuas, carry detectable wolf ancestry. The findings highlight how deeply intertwined the histories of dogs and wolves really are. Researchers studying thousands of canine genomes discovered that wolf DNA is still present in most dog breeds. This ancient genetic influence shows up in traits like body size, behavior, and environmental resilience. Even dogs bred far from wolves, including tiny chihuahuas, carry detectable wolf ancestry. The findings highlight how deeply intertwined the histories of dogs and wolves really are. Researchers studying thousands of canine genomes discovered that wolf DNA is still…
Millions are about to choose the wrong Medicare plan
Summary
Millions face Medicare decisions each year, but many don’t take advantage of tools that can save them money and stress. Insurance marketing often overshadows unbiased options like SHIP, leaving people unaware of better choices. Comparing real costs—not just premiums—can prevent unpleasant surprises, especially when provider networks or drug rules change. New assistance programs for low-income adults offer valuable help for 2026. Millions face Medicare decisions each year, but many don’t take advantage of tools that can save them money and stress. Insurance marketing often overshadows unbiased options like SHIP, leaving people unaware of better choices. Comparing real costs—not just premiums—can prevent unpleasant surprises, especially when provider networks or drug rules change. New assistance programs for low-income adults offer valuable help for 2026.
Lifestyle
The First Four Things to Do When Your Flight is Canceled
Summary
Flight cancellations under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) government shutdown order have begun, with hundreds of flights and thousands of travelers across 40 U.S. airports affected. This could continue for as long as the shutdown lasts (and potentially impact many more travelers as the busy holiday season approaches). While flight cancellations are never fun, the cascading effect of due to the government shutdown could make dealing with one even more frustrating. Here are four actions you should take right away if your itinerary is cut. Enable alerts from your airline Flight cancellations often happen with little to no notice, sometimes when you're already en route to your destination, and airlines are certainly scrambling to comply with the FAA's shutdown order. As they continue to pare down their schedules, there's a…
NYT Games Subscribers Can Now Make Custom Wordles for Their Friends
Summary
The New York Times has announced a new feature that allows you to make your own Wordle puzzle to share with friends. You need to be a Games or All-Access subscriber to create puzzles, but no subscription is needed to solve them. You aren't roped to regular Wordle's five-letter structure, either: Allowable puzzles can be anywhere from four to seven letters long. They must be on an allowable word list; as with regular Wordle, this means no proper nouns, for the most part. Profanity is not allowed, nor are gibberish entries like “ASDFGJ” (I tried). Here’s a link to a Wordle-style puzzle with four letters that I created for you—because I consider all of you my friends. (This is not the puzzle I've used to create the screenshots in this…
Federal Agencies May Move to Ban These Popular Wifi Routers
Summary
The security of a popular wifi router brand is under scrutiny from multiple federal agencies, and devices could be pulled from shelves in the United States in the future. According to reporting from the Washington Post, the US Department of Commerce has proposed a ban on routers from TP-Link Systems, a move that has now received support from Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Defense. What is the issue with TP-Link? The proposal reportedly stems from security concerns with routers sold by TP-Link Systems, which is in California but was spun off from the Chinese-based TP-Link Technologies. Commerce officials have warned that the devices handle sensitive data and may be subject to influence by the Chinese government. For example, there is concern that TP-Link is required to provide information to…
WhatsApp Is Rolling Out Passkey Support for Encrypted Backups
Summary
In the beginning, WhatsApp users could not protect their chat backups with encryption—while all communications were encrypted end-to-end, backups weren't afforded the same protection. Since 2021, however, WhatsApp has offered two ways for users to encrypt these backups: a standard password, or a 64-digit encryption key. There are security issues with both of these methods. Passwords can be secure, but let's be real, many of us use very simple passwords that are easy to remember, and, in some cases, we even repeat passwords from account to account to make things easier on our brains. If your password for WhatsApp backups is the same password you use for your email, and the latter gets leaked, hackers can easily break into your WhatsApp backups. Not good. (Side note: Please use a strong…
Marketing & SEO
Google and AI slop are ruining Thanksgiving for food bloggers
Summary
Food bloggers say this Thanksgiving is a breaking point. Google Search and AI Overviews, powered by Gemini 3, are rewriting recipes, stealing clicks, and in some cases serving dangerously wrong cooking instructions, Bloomberg reported. Why we care. For more than a decade, food bloggers could predict and rely on holiday traffic. Not this year. AI answers are replacing vetted recipes, cutting off creators’ main revenue streams, and confusing home cooks with stitched-together instructions that don’t always make sense. What’s happening. Google’s AI Overviews now surface blended cooking steps from multiple bloggers, often above the links/sources they draw from. Many food creators reported between 30% and 80% drops in Google traffic, with some calling this their worst holiday season yet. Meanwhile, AI-generated recipe slop is flooding Pinterest, Facebook, and Etsy, blurring…
DOJ and Google wrap up ad tech monopoly hearing
Summary
The Justice Department and Google wrapped a two-week hearing over how to address Google’s illegal monopoly in online advertising technology, setting up a pivotal antitrust showdown that could reshape the digital ad industry. Driving the news. The hearing, held in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, concluded after testimony from more than two dozen witnesses – including Google executives, rival ad tech leaders, publishers, and expert economists. The Justice Department wants Google to sell off its ad exchange and possibly parts of its publisher tools to restore competition. Google argues that a breakup would disrupt publishers and advertisers, especially small businesses that depend on its systems. Both sides will deliver closing arguments in November, with Judge Leonie Brinkema expected to rule in the coming months. Why…
Meta: AI interactions will shape content and ad recommendations
Summary
Meta will soon begin factoring in how people interact with its generative AI tools to personalize the content and ads they see across Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. More than 1 billion people use Meta AI monthly, according to their internal data. By turning AI chats and prompts into signals, Meta is making its recommendation engine more data-rich, potentially boosting ad relevance for brands and personalization for users. Why we care. By adding this new signal to it’s recommendations engine, this could reveal real-time interest and intent, making ad targeting sharper and potentially more effective. By tapping into these AI-driven signals, brands can reach audiences with more relevant content at the exact moment their interests emerge. Rollout. Users will start receiving notifications and emails Oct. 7, weeks ahead of the…
FTC probes Google and Amazon over ad pricing disclosures
Summary
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether Google and Amazon misled advertisers by failing to properly disclose terms and pricing for ads on their platforms, according to people familiar with the matter. Driving the news: The FTC’s consumer protection unit is examining Google’s internal ad pricing processes and whether it raised costs without informing advertisers. Amazon’s real-time ad auctions are under scrutiny, including whether it disclosed reserve pricing — minimum price floors for sponsored listings. Both investigations build on prior antitrust actions against Google’s ad business and Amazon’s marketplace practices. Why we care. Digital advertising is a multi-hundred-billion-dollar industry, with Google leading the market and Amazon quickly rising as the third-largest player. Lack of transparency in how ads are priced and placed could mean advertisers are paying more than they…
Politics & Society
CDC Director Susan Monarez ousted just weeks after confirmation
Summary
Susan Monarez, the longtime government scientist recently confirmed as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been let go from her position after less than a month in the role. A source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Hill that Monarez is ousted as CDC director. The Senate confirmed her on July 29. The Washington Post was first to report Monarez's firing. The Hill has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment. Prior to being nominated to lead the CDC, Monarez had served as acting CDC Director shortly after the start of the second Trump administration. She previously served as deputy director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). President Trump chose Monarez as his second choice after…
Suspected Minnesota shooter’s rifle magazine had ‘Kill Donald Trump’ inscription
Summary
The suspected shooter who killed two children at a Minnesota church on Wednesday wrote incendiary messages on gun magazines, including one that read “Kill Donald Trump.” The images appeared in a manifesto posted online around the same time as the shooting on Wednesday morning. The manifesto included a lengthy written note from the suspected shooter as well. The video had been taken down from YouTube as of late Wednesday afternoon. The video also showed messages written on rifle magazines that said "For the Children" and "Where is your God." "This level of violence is unthinkable," said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, in a post on X where she discussed the messages. "Our deepest prayers are with the children, parents, families, educators, and Christians everywhere. We mourn with them,…
Trump ramps up DC power grab
Summary
President Trump is ramping up his power grab over Washington, D.C., on everything from the city’s law enforcement to a takeover of its transportation hub and key cultural center. He’s called for the death penalty in D.C. murder cases, cleared out homeless encampments, and is promising to fix everything from fences to light fixtures in what he calls a “beautification” of the city. On Wednesday, his Transportation secretary also announced a takeover of managing Union Station, where National Guard troops have been stationed for weeks. It marked the latest escalation by Trump to encroach on the city’s key institutions and landmarks, and that timing, according to a source close to Trump World, is no coincidence ahead of Congress coming back. “Trump is on very firm political footing on this issue.…
Nvidia revenue jumped 56 percent last year, beats Wall Street expectations
Summary
Nvidia reported a solid jump in second-quarter revenue Wednesday, beating Wall Street expectations for its highly anticipated earnings report. The chipmaker reported $46.7 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 6 percent from the previous quarter and 56 percent over the past year. Wall Street analysts had forecasted revenue of roughly $46 billion, according to consensus estimates. Nvidia has become one of the most powerful and richest U.S. technology companies amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including generative AI chatbots and image generators, which use immense computing power. Nvidia has risen to prominence as the top U.S. manufacturer of the semiconductor chips widely used to run AI programs. The company has also found itself caught in the crossfire of the U.S-China battle over AI. Nvidia and AMD, another major U.S.…
Science
NASA Crater Detection Challenge
Summary
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft captured images of the Moon’s surface on Oct 16, 2022, after flying by the Earth for its first of three gravity assists. Crater rims are vital landmarks for planetary science and navigation. Yet detecting them in real imagery is tough, with shadows, lighting shifts, and broken edges obscuring their shape. This project invites you to develop methods that can reliably fit ellipses to crater rims, helping advance future space exploration. In the pursuit of next generation, terrain-based optical navigation, NASA is developing a system that will use a visible-light camera on a spacecraft to capture orbital images of lunar terrain and process the imagery to: detect the crater rims in the images, identify the craters from a catalog, and estimate the camera/vehicle position based on the identified…
The Overview Effect: Astronaut Perspectives from 25 Years in Low Earth Orbit
Summary
To see Earth from space is to be forever changed by the view. Since Alan Shepard became the first American to lay eyes on our home planet from above, countless NASA astronauts have described feeling awed by the astonishing sight and a profound shift in perspective that followed. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick points his camera through a cupola window as the International Space Station orbits 262 miles above the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. NASA This unique experience is known as the overview effect – a term coined in 1987 by space philosopher and author Frank White in a book of the same name. The phenomenon creates powerful changes in the way astronauts think about Earth and life and can be particularly strong for those who lived and…
NASA Celebrates Five Years of Artemis Accords, Welcomes 3 New Nations
Summary
NASA October marked the fifth anniversary of NASA and the original founders signing the Artemis Accords, as well as the recognition of Hungary, Malaysia and the Philippines joining the expanding coalition dedicated to the peaceful exploration of space. The number of countries involved now totals 59. “NASA welcomes the newest signatories, whose participation strengthens the global commitment to responsible exploration,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. “Their decision to sign the Artemis Accords affirms a shared commitment to safe, transparent, and peaceful exploration — at a time when others seek to weaponize the final frontier. Together we are building the foundation for the Golden Age of space exploration.” Both Malaysia and the Philippines signed the Artemis Accords as part of President Trump’s visit to Kuala Lumpur for the annual Association…
NASA Stennis Engineer Follows Family Footsteps into NASA’s Artemis Era
Summary
Huy Nguyen is an electrical controls engineer at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, where his work has contributed to NASA’s Artemis program that will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars. NASA/Danny Nowlin Huy Nguyen grew up hearing about rocket engines and space flight around the family table. His parents worked for NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and those early conversations eventually started his path to NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. “They both created a household that allowed me to be curious and to be a problem solver,” Nguyen said. The dinner conversations have come full circle as the New Orleans native finds himself applying that same curiosity and problem-solving mindset at NASA Stennis. Nguyen is currently the electrical…
Sports
Report: Argentina-PR moved, Chicago unrest cited
Summary
A friendly between Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for next week in Chicago, has been relocated to Florida amid the immigration crackdown in the city, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. A friendly between Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for next week in Chicago, has been relocated to Florida amid the immigration crackdown in the city, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. A friendly between Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for next week in Chicago, has been relocated to Florida amid the immigration crackdown in the city, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday. A friendly between Argentina and Puerto Rico, originally scheduled for next week in Chicago, has been…
Phillies’ Schwarber 1st in NL to reach 50 homers
Summary
Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber hit his 50th home run of the season, a three-run shot off reliever Justin Hagenman in the seventh inning that gave the Phillies a 7-1 lead en route to a comfortable 9-3 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night. Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber hit his 50th home run of the season, a three-run shot off reliever Justin Hagenman in the seventh inning that gave the Phillies a 7-1 lead en route to a comfortable 9-3 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night. Philadelphia slugger Kyle Schwarber hit his 50th home run of the season, a three-run shot off reliever Justin Hagenman in the seventh inning that gave the Phillies a 7-1 lead en route to a comfortable 9-3 victory over the New…
Kane among those thrilled to see return of Toews
Summary
Like so many around the NHL, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who won three Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks playing alongside Jonathan Toews, is eager to see the return of his former running mate, who signed with the Jets this offseason. Like so many around the NHL, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who won three Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks playing alongside Jonathan Toews, is eager to see the return of his former running mate, who signed with the Jets this offseason. Like so many around the NHL, Red Wings forward Patrick Kane, who won three Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks playing alongside Jonathan Toews, is eager to see the return of his former running mate, who signed with the Jets this offseason.
Source: Steelers sign Peppers with Elliott injured
Summary
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, a source confirmed to ESPN, after starting safety DeShon Elliott left Sunday's season opener against the Jets with a knee injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, a source confirmed to ESPN, after starting safety DeShon Elliott left Sunday's season opener against the Jets with a knee injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, a source confirmed to ESPN, after starting safety DeShon Elliott left Sunday's season opener against the Jets with a knee injury. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, a source confirmed to ESPN, after starting safety DeShon Elliott left Sunday's season opener against the Jets with a knee injury.
Technology
It doesn’t end at Neuralink
Summary
Neuralink patient Brad Smith uses his webcam connected to his mind-controlled computer to see the world to his left and right. | Photo: Jeven Dovey and Jake Viramontez / Insta360 Brad Smith said his decision to hook up a webcam to the computer he controls with his mind did not make sense to people at Neuralink, Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company. "Neuralink was really confused with the idea," Smith told The Verge. The decision came just six months after Smith's brain was implanted with a BCI in November 2024, making him the third person to receive a Neuralink device. Smith was the first Neuralink patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which has weakened his muscles for the past seven years. While the BCI successfully replaced his eye-tracking software as his…
The 2025 Installer gift guide
Summary
Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 107, your guide to the best and Verge-iest stuff in the world. (If you're new here, welcome, hope you're having a lovely and long weekend, and also you can read all the old editions at the Installer homepage.) This week, I've been reading about Faker and Chinese EVs and art thieves, shopping for cool acoustic tiles for my new home office, using a night-light app to surprisingly useful effect, testing the Pebble 2 Duo, devouring the Colossus series from Search Engine, finally starting to watch Pluribus, wrestling with the dumb app for my dumb new thermostat, moving some of my browsing habits to Kagi's O … Read the full story at The Verge. Hi, friends! Welcome to Installer No. 107, your guide to the…
The indie web is here to make the internet weird again
Summary
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on internet culture, follow Stevie Bonifield. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started The indie web began a few years after the end of GeoCities, which Yahoo shut down in 2009 (at least, in the US - GeoCities Japan managed to hang on until 2019). GeoCities was a free web hosting service that launched in 1994 and once hosted millions of personal HTML websites, from pop culture shrines to teachers' pages for their students (and truly everything in between). When GeoCities … Read the full story at The Verge. This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential…
The Fujifilm X Half is on sale for what it should have originally cost
Summary
Fujifilm knows how to commit to a bit. | Photo: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge Fujifilm’s unusual X Half elicited a lot of feelings from photographers when it came out earlier this year — from “That looks like so much fun,” to “Wait, it costs how much?“ Its $849.95 list price felt way too high for what is, by all accounts, a fun, unserious little point-and-shoot. But its $649 sale price? Much easier to stomach. The X Half comes with a 1-inch sensor, a fixed 32mm-equivalent f/2.8 lens, and a whole lot of nostalgia-inducing features, designed to make it feel like you’re shooting with an old-school analogue camera. There are, of course, vintage film simulations, but it goes beyond that with a mode that even requires you to manually “advance”…