Artificial Intelligence
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,…
How Sakana AI’s new evolutionary algorithm builds powerful AI models without expensive retraining
Summary
M2N2 is a model merging technique that creates powerful multi-skilled agents without the high cost and data needs of retraining.Read More M2N2 is a model merging technique that creates powerful multi-skilled agents without the high cost and data needs of retraining.Read More M2N2 is a model merging technique that creates powerful multi-skilled agents without the high cost and data needs of retraining.Read More M2N2 is a model merging technique that creates powerful multi-skilled agents without the high cost and data needs of retraining.Read More M2N2 is a model merging technique that creates powerful multi-skilled agents without the high cost and data needs of retraining.Read More M2N2 is a model merging technique that creates powerful multi-skilled agents without the high cost and data needs of retraining.Read More
What health care providers actually want from AI
Summary
In a market flooded with AI promises, health care decision-makers are no longer dazzled by flashy demos or abstract potential. Today, they want pragmatic and pressure-tested products. They want solutions that work for their clinicians, staff, patients, and their bottom line. To gain traction in 2025 and beyond, health care providers are looking for real-world solutions in AI right now. Solutions that fix real problems Hospitals and health systems are looking at AI-enabled solutions that target their most urgent pain points: staffing shortages, clinician burnout, rising costs, and patient bottlenecks. These operational realities keep leadership up at night, and AI solutions must directly address them. For instance, hospitals and health systems are eager for AI tools that can reduce documentation burden for physicians and nurses. Natural language processing (NLP) solutions that…
Therapists are secretly using ChatGPT. Clients are triggered.
Summary
Declan would never have found out his therapist was using ChatGPT had it not been for a technical mishap. The connection was patchy during one of their online sessions, so Declan suggested they turn off their video feeds. Instead, his therapist began inadvertently sharing his screen. “Suddenly, I was watching him use ChatGPT,” says Declan, 31, who lives in Los Angeles. “He was taking what I was saying and putting it into ChatGPT, and then summarizing or cherry-picking answers.” Declan was so shocked he didn’t say anything, and for the rest of the session he was privy to a real-time stream of ChatGPT analysis rippling across his therapist’s screen. The session became even more surreal when Declan began echoing ChatGPT in his own responses, preempting his therapist. “I became the…
Business & Finance
Families of 737 Max crash victims push to appoint a special prosecutor, saying Boeing is ‘trying to buy everyone off’
Summary
Families who lost loved ones in two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jetliners may get their last chance to demand the company face criminal prosecution Wednesday. That’s when a federal judge in Texas is set to hear arguments on a U.S. government motion to dismiss a felony charge against Boeing. U.S. prosecutors charged Boeing with conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with the crashes that killed 346 people off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia. Federal prosecutors alleged Boeing deceived government regulators about a flight-control system that was later implicated in the fatal flights, which took place less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019. Boeing decided to plead guilty instead of going to trial, but U.S. District Chief Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the aircraft maker’s plea agreement in December. O’Connor, who also will consider whether to let…
Trump’s plan for hefty tax on imported drugs risks higher prices and shortages
Summary
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has plastered tariffs on products from almost every country on earth. He’s targeted specific imports including autos, steel and aluminum. But he isn’t done yet. Trump has promised to impose hefty import taxes on pharmaceuticals, a category of products he’s largely spared in his trade war. For decades, in fact, imported medicine has mostly been allowed to enter the United States duty free. That’s starting to change. U.S. and European leaders recently detailed a trade deal that includes a 15% tariff rate on some European goods brought into the United States, including pharmaceuticals. Trump is threatening duties of 200% more on drugs made elsewhere. “Shock and awe’’ is how Maytee Pereira of the tax and consulting firm PwC describes Trump’s plans for drugmakers. “This is an industry that’s…
Rudy Giuliani suffers fractured vertebra in car crash after being ‘flagged down’ by domestic violence victim
Summary
Rudy Giuliani is recovering from a fractured vertebra and other injuries following a car crash in New Hampshire in which he was a passenger, a spokesperson for the former New York City mayor said Sunday. Giuliani was being driven in a rented Ford Bronco by his spokesperson Ted Goodman when their vehicle was struck from behind by a Honda HR-V driven by a 19-year-old woman late Saturday evening, New Hampshire State Police said in a statement. Troopers witnessed the crash, which caused both vehicles to hit the highway median and left them “heavily damaged,” state police said. Goodman and the 19-year-old suffered “non-life-threatening injuries” and were taken to hospitals for treatment, the agency added. State police said they are investigating the crash and no charges have been filed. Giuliani, 81, was…
The Fed’s independence is hanging by a thread, and this ‘nuclear’ scenario would signal ‘things are truly going off the rails,’ economists say
Summary
President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire a member of the Federal Reserve’s governing board has raised alarms among economists and legal experts who see it as the biggest threat to the central bank’s independence in decades. The consequences could impact most Americans’ everyday lives: Economists worry that if Trump gets what he wants — a loyal Fed that sharply cuts short-term interest rates — the result would likely be higher inflation and, over time, higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages, car loans and business loans. Trump on Monday sought to fire Lisa Cook, the first Black woman appointed to the Fed’s seven-member governing board. It was the first time in the Fed’s 112-year history that a president has tried to fire a governor. Trump said he was doing so because of allegations raised by one of…
Education
Friendship Break Ups Can Be Devastating for Tweens. Here’s How Adults Can Help
Summary
View the full episode transcript. Leanne Davis, a researcher at Education Northwest, found out her 10-year-old son had made a sad playlist to cope with his best friend moving away. He’d listen to it at night and cry himself to sleep. “It just kind of crushed me,” she said. Davis had known the transition would be tough, but she hadn’t realized just how deep the loss would feel. Like many adults, she underestimated how intense childhood friendships – and their endings – can be. Friendship “breakups” are a common part of growing up. One study of sixth graders in the Los Angeles Unified School District found that two-thirds of students changed friend groups between September and June. These shifts often happen during big transitions, like starting middle or high school…
Leading Education Reform on the Local Level
Summary
By: Mari Barke, President of the Orange County Board of Education and Director of California Local Elected Officials (CLEO) I never planned to run for public office — until I saw firsthand how school choice can change lives. When my daughter was bullied in middle school, I realized how important it is for every family Continue Reading The post Leading Education Reform on the Local Level appeared first on ED.gov Blog. By: Mari Barke, President of the Orange County Board of Education and Director of California Local Elected Officials (CLEO) I never planned to run for public office — until I saw firsthand how school choice can change lives. When my daughter was bullied in middle school, I realized how important it is for every family Continue Reading The post…
Tutoring Was Supposed to Save American Kids After the Pandemic. The Results? ‘Sobering’
Summary
Rigorous research rarely shows that any teaching approach produces large and consistent benefits for students. But tutoring seemed to be a rare exception. Before the pandemic, almost 100 studies pointed to impressive math or reading gains for students who were paired with a tutor at least three times a week and used a proven curriculum or set of lesson plans. Some students gained an extra year’s worth of learning — far greater than the benefit of smaller classes, summer school or a fantastic teacher. These were rigorous randomized controlled trials, akin to the way that drugs or vaccines are tested, comparing test scores of tutored students against those who weren’t. The expense, sometimes surpassing $4,000 a year per student, seemed worth it for what researchers called high-dosage tutoring. On the…
These Programs Help Poor Students with College. Trump Wants to Pull the Funding
Summary
MOREHEAD, Ky. — The summer after ninth grade, Zoey Griffith found herself in an unfamiliar setting: a dorm on the Morehead State University campus. There, she’d spend the months before her sophomore year taking classes in core subjects like math and biology, as well as electives like oil painting. For Griffith, it was an opportunity, but a scary one. “It was a big deal for me to live on campus at the age of 14,” she said. Morehead State is about an hour from her hometown of Maysville. “I was nervous, and I remember that I cried the first time that my dad left me on move-in day.” Her mother became a parent as a teenager and urged her daughter to avoid the same experience. Griffith’s father works as a…
Entertainment
‘Father Ted’ creator Graham Linehan arrested at Heathrow “on suspicion of inciting violence”
Summary
Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to his posts on social media, the Met have confirmed. While they didn’t confirm the identity of the person arrested, they added that after being taken into police custody, officers had become concerned for his well-being and he was taken to the hospital. His condition was said to be neither life-threatening nor life-changing, and he has now been bailed pending further investigation, per BBC News. On his Substack page, Linehan shared details of the arrest, which he said took place as he was returning from Arizona on an inbound American Airlines flight to Heathrow. He claimed to have “been flagged” and “arrested at an airport like a terrorist” (via The Independent).…
Wegz: Constantly Evolving, Always Unpredictable
Summary
This interview with Wegz took place just before his album dropped, and what was expected to be a straight talk about music – collaborations, rivalries in Egypt’s rap scene, the making of the record and his shifts between genres – quickly turned into something else. Wegz approaches every question from a different angle, as if his focus was already on what comes next and the self-development it’s taken to get to this point. The conversation drifted far beyond music: his plunges into diving experiences into the sea, the cherry blossoms of Japan, pursing personal growth, the necessity for calm and simple adventures. From rap, pop and Mahraganat to reflections on curiosity and boredom, he reveals how these pieces fold into his sound. Speaking over tea, Wegz shared the cities he…
Kagurabachi Proves Shonen Jump Is Facing an Existential Threat
Summary
Weekly Shonen Jump is one of the most popular, longest-running manga magazines in Japan. Having work published in Shonen Jump is a dream most manga authors strive towards throughout their career, because many of the greatest shonen series of all time, including My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen, became household names after their inclusion in the magazine. Weekly Shonen Jump is one of the most popular, longest-running manga magazines in Japan. Having work published in Shonen Jump is a dream most manga authors strive towards throughout their career, because many of the greatest shonen series of all time, including My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen, became household names after their inclusion in the magazine. Weekly Shonen Jump is one of the most popular, longest-running manga magazines in Japan. Having work…
2025 MCU Movies Top Disney+ Charts: Box Office Failures Now Streaming Hits
Summary
The Marvel Cinematic Universe's 2025 movies are finally getting a major win after disappointing box office runs, and it could lead to sequels for all three projects. 2024 was a major year for Marvel in theaters, with Deadpool & Wolverine, the MCU's sole film released, grossing $1.3 billion. Sadly, 2025's MCU movies could not match its performance, having disappointing totals. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's 2025 movies are finally getting a major win after disappointing box office runs, and it could lead to sequels for all three projects. 2024 was a major year for Marvel in theaters, with Deadpool & Wolverine, the MCU's sole film released, grossing $1.3 billion. Sadly, 2025's MCU movies could not match its performance, having disappointing totals. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's 2025 movies are finally getting a…
Environment & Sustainability
Underestimating support for climate action limits political decision making, study says
Summary
Research reveals huge disparity between perceived and actual willingness of public to contribute to fixing climate Politicians and policymakers significantly underestimate the public’s willingness to contribute to climate action, limiting the ambition and scope of green policies, according to research. Delegates at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) were asked to estimate what percentage of the global population would say they were willing to give 1% of their income to help fix climate change. The average estimate was 37%, but recent research found the true figure is 69%. Continue reading... Research reveals huge disparity between perceived and actual willingness of public to contribute to fixing climate Politicians and policymakers significantly underestimate the public’s willingness to contribute to climate action, limiting the ambition and scope of green policies, according to research.…
US beaches hit with fecal contamination warnings ahead of Labor Day weekend
Summary
Beaches from Florida to Maine under advisories, leading to closures at some of the most popular beach destinations Beaches across the US are facing swimming caution advisories during the Labor Day holiday weekend due to water quality concerns caused by elevated levels of bacteria associated with fecal waste. Beaches from Crystal River, Florida, to Ogunquit, Maine, have been under advisories this week, discouraging beachgoers from entering the water because the bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, rashes and nausea. Continue reading... Beaches from Florida to Maine under advisories, leading to closures at some of the most popular beach destinations Beaches across the US are facing swimming caution advisories during the Labor Day holiday weekend due to water quality concerns caused by elevated levels of bacteria associated with fecal waste. Beaches from…
Trump administration gives coal plants and chemical facilities a pass
Summary
For Donna Thomas, smokestacks are a typical sight from her home in Fort Bend County, Texas. Since she was a child, she has seen the coal and natural gas-powered W.A. Parish Generating Station puff clouds of haze during the day and light up brightly at night. The facility — which has been around since 1958 — is both part of the background and all she thinks about. Thomas is not alone. For decades, residents have expressed concerns over the pollution emitted from the Parish coal plant — a separate facility from the natural gas plant — and called for its closure. The plant, located about 30 miles southwest of downtown Houston, is ranked by Texas environmental regulators as one of the worst polluters in the state for certain hazardous emissions.…
US EV sales are booming — for now
Summary
In March, President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk appeared on the lawn of the White House to show off a line of electric vehicles, transforming, for a moment, the commander in chief into the car salesman in chief. Five months later, Musk and Trump are no longer on friendly terms, the red Tesla that Trump purchased during that appearance has left the White House grounds, and the president signed into law earlier this summer what was known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, or OBBB, which yanks federal support for electric vehicles. And yet Trump still appears to be selling electric cars. Just look at the numbers: JD Power projects that electric vehicles will account for a record 12.8 percent of all U.S. sales in August, up 3.2 percent from this time last year.…
Food & Travel
Go Here, Not There: Sri Lanka Is a Culturally Rich Alternative to Bali’s Tourist Crowds
Summary
It was a typically balmy day in Weligama, where the rhythm of everyday life is slowly changing. Stray dogs were still frolicking along endless stretches of golden sand and tourists lingered in the shade of towering palm trees, sipping water from the ubiquitous king coconut. Young surfers, or “beach boys” as they’re locally known, came and went from view as they became one with the waves of the vast Indian Ocean. In the distance, a choon paan mobile bakery touted the likes of jaggery cake and spiced potato buns. The southern coast of Sri Lanka is still rural, but there’s a shift happening, perceptible only to those who remember the days when the region’s incredible, empty waves and sleepy fishing villages felt like a secret few were privy to. Weligama,…
7 Decadent, Cocktail-Inspired Spa Treatments From Around the World
Summary
Imagine a fall afternoon spent sipping a mojito in Havana or a Negroni on a sun-soaked terrace in Florence. But now, change the surroundings to a luxury spa, and imagine not just drinking the cocktail, but having its fresh ingredients used throughout the spa treatment. Around the world, luxury resorts and boutique wellness centers are taking inspiration from cocktail culture, translating classic drinks into sensory spa experiences designed not just for wellness, but for indulgence. Ingredients like cocktail salt can be used to exfoliate, the citrus slice that garnishes your glass can make your skin glow, and raw honey can help keep your skin moisturized and soft. From Japan to Texas, a growing number of cocktail-inspired spa treatments are borrowing not just the aromas of your favorite cocktails, but the…
A Delta Flight Attendant Is Sharing the Wildest Passenger Stories on TikTok
Summary
Flight attendant Savannah didn’t set out to become a viral storyteller. But after one particularly absurd in-flight exchange, she pulled out her phone during a layover and began recounting the incident on TikTok. That post — a dry, deadpan retelling of a passenger asking to smoke in first class — quickly gained traction. What followed was an ongoing series, Life of a Flight Attendant, where Messer shares real moments from her time working the cabin for Delta Air Lines. Savannah is far from the first flight attendant to take to TikTok to talk about her job. Other flight attendants have explained things like what they’re really thinking about you as you board the plane, which parts of the plane are actually the dirtiest, and the one seat that a particular…
The Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea’s Layered Capital
Summary
South Korea's capital offers a beguiling mix of historic and modern, from K-beauty and steaming street food stalls to palatial hotels. South Korea's capital offers a beguiling mix of historic and modern, from K-beauty and steaming street food stalls to palatial hotels. South Korea's capital offers a beguiling mix of historic and modern, from K-beauty and steaming street food stalls to palatial hotels. South Korea's capital offers a beguiling mix of historic and modern, from K-beauty and steaming street food stalls to palatial hotels. South Korea's capital offers a beguiling mix of historic and modern, from K-beauty and steaming street food stalls to palatial hotels. South Korea's capital offers a beguiling mix of historic and modern, from K-beauty and steaming street food stalls to palatial hotels.
Gaming
Final Fantasy Tactics Remake Could Lead To New Content Or A Sequel
Summary
There could be new content added to the Final Fantasy Tactics remake--and even a full-fledged sequel somewhere down the line--but that will require fans putting money where their mouths are with Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. However, that's not a guarantee. Speaking with Wired, game director Kazutoyo Maehiro discussed possibly adding features from 2007's Final Fantasy Chronicles: War of the Lions release on PlayStation Portable to the remake. “Our first and foremost goal here really was to recreate the original game,” said Maehiro. He acknowledged fan feedback for that content, such as the Onion Knight and Black Knight classes, but "cannot make any promises" about them coming eventually to The Ivalice Chronicles. The remake will introduce a new difficulty option called Squire, which is aimed at helping newcomers to…
Samsung and SK Hynix, the world’s biggest makers of DRAM and flash memory chips, have potentially lost the right to buy US equipment for use in their China-based factories
Summary
Whether it's your graphics card, RAM sticks, or SSD, they all contain memory chips that have probably been manufactured by one of two companies: Samsung and SK Hynix. While the majority of their production takes place in their native South Korea, both firms have lots of plants in China. And due to a recent decision by the US government, they will no longer be able to automatically purchase US equipment for use in those factories. It was Reuters that first reported on the matter, noting that the move has already resulted in a small but significant drop in share prices. Samsung and SK Hynix are the world's largest manufacturers of DRAM and NAND flash memory chips, with US firm Micron some way behind in third place. Just as with CPUs…
‘It Had Become About Box Office’ — Dwayne Johnson Says He Was ‘Pigeon-Holed’ as a Blockbuster-Only Actor
Summary
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson says he was “pigeon-holed” as an actor who could only appear in blockbusters, which is one of the reasons he wanted to star as UFC fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine. The Smashing Machine sees Johnson portray the life and career of Mark Kerr, a former wrestler and UFC star who struggled with substance abuse. Emily Blunt plays Kerr’s then-wife, Dawn Staples. Uncut Gems co-director Benny Safdie is the writer and director of the A24 film, which hits theaters October 3, 2025. Johnson is almost unrecognizable as Kerr. He does not have his tattoos, but he does have hair. You can see how Johnson compares to Kerr below. While promoting the movie at the Venice Film Festival, the former wrestling star said he wants to…
Nvidia says AI models lack ‘common sense’ so it’s drafting in good old fashioned human beings to give them a pop quiz
Summary
Well, you heard it here first: Nvidia admits AI models generally lack "common sense." I mean, obviously this is far from some earth-shattering revelation—anyone with eyes on this news story knows not to put glue in their pizza sauce, but that hasn't stopped Google's AI overview from suggesting you add a dollop to make it extra sticky. So, how is Nvidia attempting to remedy this? With human tutors, naturally. In a recent blog post, Nvidia detailed how its data factory team is approaching teaching generative AI knowledge about the world that humans take for granted. Made up of analysts hailing from "various backgrounds including bioengineering, business, and linguistics," the team is "working to develop, analyze and compile hundreds of thousands of data units" in the hopes of teaching Nvidia's AI…
Health & Wellness
NIH to crack down on excessive publisher fees for publicly funded research
Summary
Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Effort is part of NIH’s ongoing commitment to scientific transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
NIH researchers develop AI agent that improves accuracy of gene set analysis by leveraging expert-curated databases
Summary
The AI agent could help lead to a better understanding of how different diseases and conditions affect groups of genes individually and together. The AI agent could help lead to a better understanding of how different diseases and conditions affect groups of genes individually and together. The AI agent could help lead to a better understanding of how different diseases and conditions affect groups of genes individually and together. The AI agent could help lead to a better understanding of how different diseases and conditions affect groups of genes individually and together. The AI agent could help lead to a better understanding of how different diseases and conditions affect groups of genes individually and together. The AI agent could help lead to a better understanding of how different diseases and…
Scientists Develop High-Performance MRI Scanner in Effort to Define Microscopic Brain Structures
Summary
Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders. Next-generation system noninvasively images tiny nerve structures disrupted in brain disorders.
NIH study links particulate air pollution to increased mutations in lung cancers among nonsmokers
Summary
Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke. Whole-genome sequencing study found air pollution to cause more cancer-related changes than secondhand smoke.
Lifestyle
iOS 26’s Photos App Will Label Concerts and Sporting Events You Attended
Summary
Your Photos library is likely full of years' worth of memories from vacations, gatherings, and events. You might have thousands, if not ten of thousands, of pictures and videos in your feed, and there's a new iOS feature that will help you remember exactly when and where a particular photo or video was taken—assuming you captured the moment during a live show or game. It's called "event recognition," and will ship with iOS 26 when Apple releases it later this month. Here's how it works: Photos takes a look at the metadata for your photos and videos, or the information associated with that image, looking for details that may confirm whether it was taken at a major event. The app might use the date, time, location, and other data points…
Amazon Prime Members Can Get Two Free E-Books in September
Summary
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. You can get thousands of free e-books over the course of 2025 if you know where—and when—to look. All year long, Amazon is offering free Kindle e-books to readers, with new opportunities popping up every month. In September, Prime members can get two free Kindle e-books from Amazon's First Reads program. What is Amazon's First Reads? Amazon First Reads is a program aimed at Prime members that offers early access to new e-books across many genres, as curated by First Reads editors (one of many Prime Member benefits). Prime members can choose to download one free e-book every month from a rotating list—though some months that number is bumped up to…
This Ember Mug 2 Is on Sale for Just $70 and Comes With Free Shipping and a Full One-Year Warranty
Summary
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you’re someone who reheats the same cup of coffee two or three times before finally finishing it, the Ember Mug 2 might be your kind of upgrade. It’s a 10oz smart mug that keeps your drink at your preferred temperature (anywhere from 120 to 145 degrees) for up to 90 minutes on battery or all day if you leave it on its charging coaster. This Open Box unit is on sale for $69.99 right now on StackSocial (down from $129.95), and while it isn’t sealed and pristine, it’s been verified to be in new condition and includes a full 1-year warranty. It ships free to the contiguous U.S.,…
Six Ways to Hide All the Ugly Stuff in Your Yard
Summary
We may earn a commission from links on this page. HVAC units, trash cans, outdoor pipes: These may all be necessary, but they’re not always the most attractive things to look at, and curb appeal is incredibly important for both resale value and first impressions. If you don’t want that ugly propane tank, sprinkler valve, or row of trash cans to be the first thing people notice about your house, don’t worry—there are some easy ways to hide all that stuff. Artificial stumps & rocks For smaller items that interrupt your landscaping or garden—like pool pumps, sprinkler pipes, or electrical boxes—you can use an inexpensive fake rock like this to cover them up. If you match the color and texture of your fake rock with what’s already visible, it will…
Marketing & SEO
Google Avoids Breakup As Judge Bars Exclusive Default Search Deals via @sejournal, @MattGSouthern
Summary
Google avoids Chrome and Android breakup but must end exclusive search default deals, and may have to share data with rivals. The post Google Avoids Breakup As Judge Bars Exclusive Default Search Deals appeared first on Search Engine Journal. Google avoids Chrome and Android breakup but must end exclusive search default deals, and may have to share data with rivals. The post Google Avoids Breakup As Judge Bars Exclusive Default Search Deals appeared first on Search Engine Journal. Google avoids Chrome and Android breakup but must end exclusive search default deals, and may have to share data with rivals. The post Google Avoids Breakup As Judge Bars Exclusive Default Search Deals appeared first on Search Engine Journal. Google avoids Chrome and Android breakup but must end exclusive search default deals,…
Google can keep Chrome, but exclusive search deals must end
Summary
Google can keep its Chrome browser, but it can no longer have exclusive search deals and must share its search data with competitors. That’s the ruling from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in the Google antitrust trial. Why we care. This is a hit to Google’s core business – though it could have been worse had Google been forced to sell Chrome, which provides invaluable user data that’s used for advertising and ranking. Exclusive contracts that made Google the default search engine (e.g., paying Apple $20 billion a year) on browsers and smartphones helped cement its search monopoly. The ruling. Google can no longer enter into exclusive contracts for Search, Chrome, Assistant, or Gemini products. Regarding Chrome: “Google will not be required to divest Chrome; nor will the court include a…
Google’s Danny Sullivan: ‘Good SEO is good GEO’
Summary
“Good SEO is good GEO.” That’s according to Google’s Danny Sullivan, a director within Google Search, and former search liaison Generative engine optimization (or whatever the new acronym is for optimizing for AI search) is the same core work SEOs have always done: creating unique, valuable content for people and providing a great page experience. This echoes Google’s Gary Illyes advice from July – that all you need to do is normal SEO. Why we care. You can believe Google if you want. But we’ve tried to be consistent in saying that we believe GEO is an emerging practice. That doesn’t mean it replaces SEO today or tomorrow – because SEO fundamentals matter and SEO is still not dead. But I also agree with Michael King’s assessment that SEO is deprecated.…
![The Top Search Engines Other Than Google [+ Some You Might Not Expect]](https://curioatlas.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1d7211ac-7b1b-4405-b940-54b8acedb26e-xnipie.png)
The top search engines other than Google [+ some you might not expect]
Summary
Google remains the top search engine, with a significant market share of more than 89%. This means that 89% of all searches take place on Google. And if this is true, why do marketers need to think about alternative search engines? I think there are two main reasons. Firstly, search is changing. Below, I share data on the decline in Google searches and the increase in alternative search engines, including large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, as well as social media channels like Reddit. Secondly, different search engines bring different things to different users. It’s helpful to know who your audience is before choosing your top search engine because if you know who you’re targeting, you might be able to figure out where they’re completing their search…
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
Circular Star Trails
Summary
NASA/Nichole Ayers On July 26, 2025, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers took this long-exposure photograph – taken over 31 minutes from a window inside the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory module – capturing the circular arcs of star trails. In its third decade of continuous human presence, the space station has a far-reaching impact as a microgravity lab hosting technology, demonstrations, and scientific investigations from a range of fields. The research done on the orbiting laboratory will inform long-duration missions like Artemis and future human expeditions to Mars. Image credit: NASA/Nichole Ayers NASA/Nichole Ayers On July 26, 2025, NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers took this long-exposure photograph – taken over 31 minutes from a window inside the International Space Station’s Kibo laboratory module – capturing the circular arcs of star trails. In its…
NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur Retires
Summary
NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Megan McArthur removes Kidney Cells-02 hardware inside the Space Automated Bioproduct Laboratory and swaps media inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox. The human research study seeks to improve treatments for kidney stones and osteoporosis NASA astronaut Megan McArthur has retired, concluding a career spanning more than two decades. A veteran of two spaceflights, McArthur logged 213 days in space, including being the first woman to pilot a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and the last person to “touch” the Hubble Space Telescope with the space shuttle’s robotic arm. McArthur launched as pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-2 mission in April 2021, marking her second spaceflight and her first long-duration stay aboard the International Space Station. During the 200-day mission, she served as a flight engineer for Expeditions…
NASA 2026 Human Lander Challenge
Summary
NASA’s Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) is an initiative supporting its Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate’s (ESDMD’s) efforts to explore innovative solutions for a variety of known technology development areas for human landing systems (HLS). Landers are used to safely ferry astronauts to and from the lunar surface as part of the mission architecture for NASA’s Artemis campaign. Through this challenge, college students contribute to the advancement of HLS technologies, concepts, and approaches. Improvements in these technology areas have the potential to revolutionize NASA’s approach to space exploration, and contributions from the academic community are a valuable part of the journey to discovery. HuLC is open to teams comprised of full-time or part-time undergraduate and/or graduate students at an accredited U.S.-based community college, college, or university. HuLC projects allow students to incorporate their coursework…
Landsat 9 Sees Buccaneer Archipelago
Summary
In the sparsely populated Kimberley region of Western Australia, jagged landforms reach like fingers into the turquoise-blue ocean waters. Along the coastline north of Derby, they used to reach even farther. But rising sea levels submerged part of the coastal landscape, giving rise to hundreds of islands and low-lying reefs that compose the Buccaneer Archipelago. NASA/Michala Garrison; U.S. Geological Survey The Operational Land Imager on Landsat 9 captured this image of Buccaneer Archipelago on June 11, 2025. The scene encapsulates the striking interactions between land and water in the area where King Sound opens to the Indian Ocean. The powerful tidal currents stir up sediment in shallow areas, producing the beautiful turquoise swirls visible in this image. This power, however, can be hazardous to seafarers and divers as water rips through the archipelago’s…
Sports
Pegula back in US Open semis without losing set
Summary
No. 4 Jessica Pegula, the highest-seeded American remaining in the US Open women's singles draw, reached the semifinals for a second consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday. No. 4 Jessica Pegula, the highest-seeded American remaining in the US Open women's singles draw, reached the semifinals for a second consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday. No. 4 Jessica Pegula, the highest-seeded American remaining in the US Open women's singles draw, reached the semifinals for a second consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday. No. 4 Jessica Pegula, the highest-seeded American remaining in the US Open women's singles draw, reached the semifinals for a second consecutive year with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Barbora Krejcikova…
EPL teams clear $4B, smash record transfer spend
Summary
Premier League clubs spent a record £3 billion ($4 billion) in a summer transfer window that finished with a bang thanks to Liverpool's £125 million ($169 million) signing of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. Premier League clubs spent a record £3 billion ($4 billion) in a summer transfer window that finished with a bang thanks to Liverpool's £125 million ($169 million) signing of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. Premier League clubs spent a record £3 billion ($4 billion) in a summer transfer window that finished with a bang thanks to Liverpool's £125 million ($169 million) signing of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. Premier League clubs spent a record £3 billion ($4 billion) in a summer transfer window that finished with a bang thanks to Liverpool's £125 million ($169 million) signing…
Venus, Fernandez keep rolling into doubles final 8
Summary
Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez reached the women's doubles quarterfinals at the US Open, defeating the 12th-seeded duo of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 in their third-round match Monday. Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez reached the women's doubles quarterfinals at the US Open, defeating the 12th-seeded duo of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 in their third-round match Monday. Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez reached the women's doubles quarterfinals at the US Open, defeating the 12th-seeded duo of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 in their third-round match Monday. Venus Williams and Leylah Fernandez reached the women's doubles quarterfinals at the US Open, defeating the 12th-seeded duo of Ekaterina Alexandrova and Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4 in their third-round match Monday.
Sources: Parsons may get back injection to play
Summary
Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons has been dealing with an L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back and he may take a facet injection before Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions if needed to help him play, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons has been dealing with an L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back and he may take a facet injection before Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions if needed to help him play, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons has been dealing with an L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back and he may take a facet injection before Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions if needed to help him play, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Technology
US v. Google: all the news from the search antitrust showdown
Summary
On August 5th, 2024, Judge Amit Mehta ruled in the case of United States of America v. Google, saying, “…the court reaches the following conclusion: Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.” Nearly a year later, the judge has followed that up with a ruling on remedies for Google’s search monopoly. While lawyers for the Department of Justice had argued that Google should be broken up and forced to split off products like Chrome, Search, and Android, Judge Mehta has ruled against the DOJ’s proposed remedies, banning exclusive deals but leaving others, like its massive search default deal with Apple, and allowing Google to keep Chrome. Of course, even that isn’t enough to end…
The best deals on MacBooks right now
Summary
Apple’s latest 13-inch MacBook Air with an M4 chip is on sale starting at $799 ($200 off). Apple currently sells MacBooks equipped with its own M-series chips in a wide range of sizes and price points. It discontinued the M1 MacBook Air to make room for newer models, but some retailers are still selling the 2020 laptop starting at $599 ($50 off) at Walmart — a far cry from the $2,499 starting price of the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro. Purchasing a new MacBook can be a pricey endeavor, but finding a deal is surprisingly easy. Apple has recently shaken up the starting RAM for several models, creating more options than ever before and resulting in steeper discounts on older models. The best MacBook Air deals The best…
Google and Apple’s $20 billion search deal survives
Summary
Google will be able to keep making search deals like its $20 billion agreement to be the default option in Apple’s Safari browser, a federal district court judge ruled in the US v. Google antitrust case on Tuesday. Executives from both Apple and Firefox-made Mozilla have defended their search deals with Google, with Mozilla’s CFO testifying that Firefox might be doomed without the deal in place. “Google will not be barred from making payments or offering other consideration to distribution partners for preloading or placement of Google Search, Chrome, or its GenAI products,” Judge Amit Mehta wrote. “Cutting off payments from Google almost certainly will impose substantial—in some cases, crippling—downstream harms to distribution partners, related markets, and consumers, which counsels against a broad payment ban,” Mehta said. Google also won’t…
Google gets to keep Chrome, judge rules in search antitrust case
Summary
Google will not have to sell its Chrome browser in order to address its illegal monopoly in online search, DC District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled on Tuesday. Over a year ago, Judge Mehta found that the search giant had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act; his ruling now determines what Google must do in response. Mehta declined to grant some of the more ambitious proposals from the Justice Department to remedy Google’s behavior and restore competition to the market. Besides letting Google keep Chrome, he’ll also let the company continue to pay distribution partners for preloading or placement of its search or AI products. But he did order Google to share some valuable search information with rivals that could help jumpstart their ability to compete, and bar the search giant…