Artificial Intelligence
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,…
Claude Code comes to web and mobile, letting devs launch parallel jobs on Anthropic’s managed infra
Summary
Vibe coding is evolving and with it are the leading AI-powered coding services and tools, including Anthropic’s Claude Code. As of today, the service will be available via the web and, in preview, on the Claude iOS app, giving developers access to additional asynchronous capabilities. Previously, it was available through the terminal on developers' PCs with support for Git, Docker, Kubernetes, npm, pip, AWS CLI, etc., and as an extension for Microsoft's open source VS Code editor and other JetBrains-powered integrated development environments (IDEs) via Claude Agent. “Claude Code on the web lets you kick off coding sessions without opening your terminal,” Anthropic said in a blog post. “Connect your GitHub repositories, describe what you need, and Claude handles the implementation. Each session runs in its own isolated environment with…
Business & Finance
U.S. Senate hopeful Graham Platner says he’s covered up his tattoo after learning it was a Nazi symbol: ‘I wanted this thing off my body’
Summary
His U.S. Senate campaign under fire, Maine Democrat Graham Platner said Wednesday that a tattoo on his chest has been covered to no longer reflect an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol. The first-time political candidate said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, when he was in his 20s and in the Marine Corps. It happened during a night of drinking while he was on leave in Croatia, he said, adding he was unaware until recently that the image has been associated with Nazi police. The revelation that the tattoo had been hastily covered up is just the latest bizarre twist that the high-stakes Senate race had taken in just the past 10 days. The unfolding drama has so far included a sweep of old internet posts, a drunken video…
NYC mayoral candidates turn on each other in final debate: ‘Zohran, your resume could fit on a cocktail napkin. And, Andrew, your failures could fill a public school library in New York City’
Summary
Zohran Mamdani was attacked over his thin resume, Republican Curtis Sliwa strove to prove his seriousness as a candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was pressed on the sexual harassment allegations that drove him from office in a contentious final debate in New York City’s mayoral race. While Mamdani, the frontrunner, began by accusing his rivals of being consumed by fighting — suggesting he would try to focus instead on his vision for New Yorkers — the state assemblymember joined them in mud as he tried to create viral social media moments, included inviting one of Cuomo’s accusers to appear in the audience. Cuomo, running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, fared better Wednesday than during their first debate. He used its focus on the day-to-day…
White House pardons billionaire crypto exec Changpeng Zhao two years after Binance founder pleaded guilty in landmark DOJ investigation
Summary
President Donald Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the world’s largest crypto exchange Binance, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to Fortune on Thursday. “President Trump exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden Administration in their war on cryptocurrency,” she said in a statement. The Wall Street Journal first broke the news, reporting that Trump signed the pardon on Wednesday. The pardon comes after months of reports that Trump was weighing whether to pardon Zhao. The Binance founder pleaded guilty in 2023 to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering regime while he was the CEO of the crypto exchange. He stepped down as CEO and served four months in prison in 2024. Spokespeople for Binance…
Ivory Coast Gen Zers run low on patience as 83-year-old president runs for fourth term
Summary
Placide Konan has been using his slam poetry shows to speak out against Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara’s bid for a fourth term in Saturday’s election. The 33-year-old in the capital, Abidjan, told The Associated Press he is frustrated by hardship in the country. Despite being one of West Africa’s economic powerhouses and the world’s largest cocoa producer, it has growing inequality and a poverty rate of 37.5%. More than three-quarters of the population is under 35. “People can no longer make ends meet, Konan said. “You have to be very lucky, or a bit of a magician, to be able to live comfortably,” he said of the vibrant port capital, which still basks in its role as host of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. Analysts say the 83-year-old Ouattara is likely to win…
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…
Should Joining Social Media Be Treated Like Getting A Driver’s License?
Summary
In 2017, psychologist and researcher Jean Twenge published iGen, a book about the first generation to grow up with smartphones. An excerpt in The Atlantic ran under the headline, “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” which drew some backlash for sounding alarmist. “I always point out that it was a question,” Twenge said about how her goal was to explore the issue rather than declare a conclusion. Still, the timing of her concerns struck a chord: rates of teen depression were climbing just as smartphones and social media were becoming widespread. Early studies suggested the more time teens spent on their devices, the more likely they were to report depressive symptoms. Twenge’s new book, 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World: How Parents Can Stop Smartphones, Social Media, and…
Entertainment
Former Lostprophets Singer Ian Watkins Killed in Prison Attack
Summary
Ian Watkins, the former lead singer of rock band Lostprophets and a convicted pedophile, was killed in a prison attack in the United Kingdom. He was 48. Watkins died on Saturday (Oct. 11) after reportedly being stabbed by another inmate at HMP Wakefield, a high-security prison in West Yorkshire, according to multiple U.K. news outlets. “At 9.39am this morning (Saturday), police were called by staff at HMP Wakefield reporting an assault on a prisoner,” West Yorkshire Police said in a statement, per Reuters. “Emergency services attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.” Although the statement did not name Watkins, Sky News reported that he was attacked with a knife. The Sun claimed his throat was slashed after inmates were released from their cells…
HYBE, JYP Entertainment Shares Eke Out Small Gains as Most Music Stocks Get Pummeled
Summary
Music stocks fell sharply this week amidst concerns about the ongoing U.S federal government shutdown, as President Trump’s latest threat to levy “massive” tariffs on goods produced in China dragged down markets on Friday (Oct. 10). Only three stocks — Spotify, JYP Entertainment and HYBE — in the 19-company Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) finished the week ended Oct. 10 with gains. Dragged down by numerous losses near or greater than 10%, the BGMI fell 1.9% to 2,899.73, its third consecutive weekly decline. Related How the Taylor Swift Fan Content Ecosystem Helped Push ‘Showgirl’ to Even Greater Heights Sylvan Esso Is Pulling Its Catalog From Spotify How Blond:ish Plans to Eliminate 42 Tons of Waste From NYC Nightlife Every Year: 'This Is My Passion' Music stocks fared better than major U.S.…
Let’s Stop Pretending Politics Is the Reason People Are Angry About Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Set
Summary
Since the NFL announced Bad Bunny as headliner of the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, seemingly every pundit on earth has had some profound opinion. In The New York Times, Molly Jong-Fast labeled Bad Bunny an “anti-ICE pop star” in a column titled “The N.F.L. Gets it: Why Don’t Democrats?” insinuating that Bad Bunny is the face that can somehow save Democrats from freefall. On the flip side, MAGA mavens piled on the criticism fast and furious, with podcaster Benny Johnson labeling Bad Bunny an “anti-ICE activist” and “massive Trump hater.” And, when a major network interviewed me live immediately after the Bad Bunny announcement, I was asked: “Isn’t he controversial?” I was genuinely baffled at the question. “No, he’s not,” I said in complete truthfulness. Bad Bunny hasn’t had major…
AEG Strikes Non-Alcoholic Beverage Deal for Venues as Alcohol Sales Continue to Decline
Summary
With alcohol sales continuing to decline, especially among health-conscious Gen-Zers, event organizers are looking for new sources of revenue to offset the drop in drinking. That includes introducing new categories of non-alcoholic beverages to sell to customers at a premium. Related Gen Z Is Drinking Less and Clubs Aren’t Thrilled The newest entrant is a category of drinks called tonics, and global concert promoter AEG just announced a significant branding deal on this front with Tractor Beverage Company. The partnership will bring Haymaker, Tractor’s new certified-organic sparkling tonic, exclusively into more than 50 AEG Presents venues across the country. The Haymaker brand contains a recipe made with apple cider vinegar, ginger, and citrus and can be served alcohol-free or mixed into a cocktail. Brokered by AEG’s global partnership division, the deal…
Environment & Sustainability
Earth’s Oceans Lose Some of Their Luster
Summary
New research reveals that a key biological carbon pump is weakening, threatening ecosystems and the climate. By Bob Berwyn Pictures of Earth from outer space often show the planet as a gaudy quilt. Shimmering aquamarine water covers more than 70 percent of its surface and those hues often seem to signify life against the vast darkness of the universe. But new research analyzing satellite images of the planet over a span of more than 20 years found that one shade of ocean green, representing chlorophyll produced by phytoplankton, is fading. New research reveals that a key biological carbon pump is weakening, threatening ecosystems and the climate. By Bob Berwyn Pictures of Earth from outer space often show the planet as a gaudy quilt. Shimmering aquamarine water covers more than 70…
National Trust and TV wildlife expert team up on autumn nature campaign
Summary
People urged to savour sights, sounds and smells of the season as poll shows a disconnect during darker months There may be a bite in the wind and the nights are certainly drawing in but a conservation charity and a television wildlife champion have launched a campaign aimed at getting more people connecting with nature in the autumn and winter months. The National Trust is launching a “Wild Senses” campaign on the back of the new BBC series Hamza’s Hidden Wild Isles in which the wildlife expert and camera operator Hamza Yassin celebrates the UK’s seasons and encourages viewers to notice, appreciate and reconnect to wildlife everywhere. Continue reading... People urged to savour sights, sounds and smells of the season as poll shows a disconnect during darker months There may…
New Study Shows Disruption of Ocean Currents That Stabilize the Global Climate
Summary
Clam shell growth rings contain clues about the looming potential for a tipping point into climate collapse. By Bob Berwyn A new study analyzing chemical traces in the growth rings of clam shells reinforces growing concerns about the stability of a key North Atlantic Ocean current that helps keep the global climate livable. Clam shell growth rings contain clues about the looming potential for a tipping point into climate collapse. By Bob Berwyn A new study analyzing chemical traces in the growth rings of clam shells reinforces growing concerns about the stability of a key North Atlantic Ocean current that helps keep the global climate livable. Clam shell growth rings contain clues about the looming potential for a tipping point into climate collapse. By Bob Berwyn A new study analyzing…
NASA Draws Closer to Artemis II Rocket Completion with Newest Addition
Summary
The Orion stage adapter connects the upper stage to the Orion spacecraft, isolates the spacecraft from hazardous gases, deploys small science satellites, and will be used in a maneuvering test during the Artemis II mission. NASA NASA integrated the Artemis II Orion stage adapter with the rest of the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket on Wednesday in the Vehicle Assembly Building at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Built by NASA engineers at the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the adapter connects the rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage to the Orion spacecraft. A composite diaphragm within the ring protects the Orion spacecraft from hazardous gases generated during launch. Four CubeSats containing science and technology experiments will be deployed from the adapter into high Earth orbit after…
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…
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…
The Best Food Advent Calendars of 2025 (That You’d Better Snag Now)
Summary
Sure, it’s only October, but if you want a really great 2025 advent calendar, we highly advise smashing that order (or pre-order) button right now. Not only do many of the most popular advent calendars sell out quickly (i.e. well before December), but early bird shoppers can sometimes find great discounts from chocolatiers, coffee companies, and beyond, offering daily treats that are far more exciting than waxy drugstore chocolate. During the holiday season, most of us are so focused on buying gifts for other people that we don’t spend enough time treating ourselves. An advent calendar is an especially festive way to surprise yourself with something nice each of the anticipatory days leading up to Christmas, and it’s even better when you get to enjoy lots of fun little edible…
Gaming
Cards Against Humanity settles $15 million lawsuit against SpaceX, but Elon Musk ‘did the legal equivalent of throwing dust in our eyes and kicking us in the balls’ so backers are getting a card set about Musk instead of money
Summary
An AP report says Cards Against Humanity has settled the $15 million lawsuit it filed against Elon Musk's SpaceX in 2024 over allegations that the company trespassed on land it owns in Texas and, as CAH put it, "completely fucked" it. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Cards Against Humanity purchased the plot of land, located near the border between the US and Mexico, in 2017 to protest (and, one would assume, hinder) the erection of a wall between the two countries. In 2023, a local homeowner noticed that SpaceX was using the site for building materials and heavy equipment and brought it to CAH's attention, after which SpaceX gave CAH a "12-hour ultimatum to accept a lowball offer" for the land. Instead, CAH sued. The settlement came…
Xbox has found yet another way to raise prices
Summary
Xbox has found yet another way to raise prices, this time by increasing the cost of its Xbox Development Kit from $1,500 to $2,000. This 33% price hike, first reported by The Verge, is the latest in a long line of expensive choices from the company. Just a few weeks ago, a Game Pass subscription price increase had users in an uproar. This time around, the consequences of this change will affect developers as well as players. Xbox has found yet another way to raise prices, this time by increasing the cost of its Xbox Development Kit from $1,500 to $2,000. This 33% price hike, first reported by The Verge, is the latest in a long line of expensive choices from the company. Just a few weeks ago, a Game…
Estimates on the financial impact of yesterday’s AWS outage range from ‘hundreds of billions’ to over $75 million per hour, but one thing we can all agree on is it was pretty bad, chief
Summary
Large parts of the internet are still in a state of recovery today, after yesterday's AWS outage took out large portions of our beloved world wide web thanks to what appears to be a relatively simple DNS error. Even Fortnite, Roblox and Reddit dealt with significant disruption, a fate worse than death for many of their users, I'm sure. As the dust begins to settle and services have, in large part, recovered, it's just left to the analysts to determine exactly how much financial damage was accrued. One such candidate is the CEO of internet monitoring firm Catchpoint, Mehdi Daoudi, who spoke to CNN about the fallout from AWS' rather public faceplant. "The incident highlights the complexity and fragility of the internet, as well as how much every aspect of…
OpenAI stops itself from generating ‘disrespectful’ Martin Luther King Jr. deepfakes, but this is the tip of the iceberg: ‘Who gets protection from synthetic resurrection and who doesn’t?’
Summary
OpenAI has said it will stop its AI video-generating app Sora from creating videos featuring the likeness of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., after receiving a request from his estate. The minister and civil rights leader, who was assassinated in April 1968, was known in his lifetime for his advocacy of nonviolent resistance, civil disobedience, and sonorous eloquence. Sora has been used to produce videos featuring Dr. King's likeness delivering the "I have a dream" speech while making monkey noises; another video shows him fighting his contemporary and fellow activist Malcolm X. OpenAI has admitted this sort of stuff amounts to "disrespectful depictions", which is putting it mildly, and says it's stopped users being able to generate videos featuring Dr. King's likeness "as it strengthens guardrails for historical figures." Dr.…
Health & Wellness
They found cancer’s hidden power hubs and learned how to melt them away
Summary
Texas A&M researchers found that in an aggressive kidney cancer, RNA builds “droplet hubs” that activate tumor genes. By creating a molecular switch to dissolve these hubs, they stopped cancer growth in lab and mouse tests. The work reveals how RNA can be hijacked to fuel disease, and how breaking its scaffolding could lead to new therapies for multiple pediatric cancers. Texas A&M researchers found that in an aggressive kidney cancer, RNA builds “droplet hubs” that activate tumor genes. By creating a molecular switch to dissolve these hubs, they stopped cancer growth in lab and mouse tests. The work reveals how RNA can be hijacked to fuel disease, and how breaking its scaffolding could lead to new therapies for multiple pediatric cancers.
New treatment cuts cholesterol by nearly 50%, without statins or side effects
Summary
Researchers have developed a DNA-based therapy that targets the PCSK9 gene to lower cholesterol naturally. Using polypurine hairpins, they increased cholesterol uptake by cells and reduced artery-clogging lipid levels. The results show dramatic drops in PCSK9 and cholesterol levels in animal models, pointing to a safer and more effective alternative to statins. Researchers have developed a DNA-based therapy that targets the PCSK9 gene to lower cholesterol naturally. Using polypurine hairpins, they increased cholesterol uptake by cells and reduced artery-clogging lipid levels. The results show dramatic drops in PCSK9 and cholesterol levels in animal models, pointing to a safer and more effective alternative to statins. Researchers have developed a DNA-based therapy that targets the PCSK9 gene to lower cholesterol naturally. Using polypurine hairpins, they increased cholesterol uptake by cells and reduced…
Colder climates impact firefighters’ cognitive and physical abilities, research finds
Summary
Decision making ability, memory, response times and dexterity all saw a significant drop in cold temperatures, according to University of Chichester research on firefighter search and rescue performance. Decision making ability, memory, response times and dexterity all saw a significant drop in cold temperatures, according to University of Chichester research on firefighter search and rescue performance. Decision making ability, memory, response times and dexterity all saw a significant drop in cold temperatures, according to University of Chichester research on firefighter search and rescue performance. Decision making ability, memory, response times and dexterity all saw a significant drop in cold temperatures, according to University of Chichester research on firefighter search and rescue performance. Decision making ability, memory, response times and dexterity all saw a significant drop in cold temperatures, according to…
Depression doubles mortality rates and increases suicide risk 10-fold—timely treatment can reduce risk by up to 30%
Summary
A comprehensive meta-analysis in depression and mortality, led by the Department of Psychiatry at the School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has found that people with depression have twice the risk of death than those without depression, and a nearly 10-fold increased risk of suicide. However, timely and effective treatment can significantly reduce these risks and improve survival rates. A comprehensive meta-analysis in depression and mortality, led by the Department of Psychiatry at the School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has found that people with depression have twice the risk of death than those without depression, and a nearly 10-fold increased risk of suicide. However, timely and effective treatment can significantly reduce…
Lifestyle
The Best Smart Home Gear to Level Up Your Entertainment System
Summary
We may earn a commission from links on this page. While tech companies might increasingly seem to think I want media created by AI for no specific purpose other than to fill time, all I really need is tech that automates the tedious parts of entertainment. Collecting and organizing the movies I actually want to watch, streaming music throughout the house, or creating the ambiance I need to immerse myself in a show. For actually useful home entertainment tech, here's where smart home gear can be helpful for watching TV and movies, listening to music, or playing games. Whatever your media of choice, the time you spend watching shows, listening to music, or playing games is a deeply human affair. And that means not every piece of tech that tries…
Is Threads Really Labeling Its Users As Antifa?
Summary
"Antifa" is in Donald Trump's sights. Following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Trump has blamed "radical leftists" for pushing political violence against those on the right—even as the assassin's motives remain under active investigation. As such, the president is going after Antifa, calling it a "domestic terrorist organization," despite the fact that Antifa is not actually an organization, and that the U.S. has no domestic terrorist designation. When the president of the United States enflames tensions in this way, it's no surprise our discourse enflames as well. Here's one such example: You may have seen posts on social media this week claiming that Threads is now attaching warnings to posts from users who are suspected members of Antifa, or posts with the label attached itself. One viral post…
These Weather Apps Actually Care About Your Privacy
Summary
Weather apps are notoriously easy to build and extremely difficult to police. Any developer can whip up an interface from a template, add a weather API (there are loads of them), and put it up on the App Store. That “innocent” weather app can then serve you ads, track your usage, and sell your data, including your location history. Even large companies like AccuWeather and Weather Channel were found sharing private user data with the highest bidder, even when users had expressly opted out. If you’re currently using a weather app, it’s time for a privacy check. Open the app’s page in the App Store or Play Store, go to the data section, and see what data of yours it’s using. In the best case scenario, it’s none—on the App…
This Upcoming Google Photos Feature Turns Your Selfies Into Memes
Summary
Memes can be fun. But when a big corporation decides to get in on the action, the fun usually dies. As spotted by Android Authority, Google is currently working on a new feature for Google Photos called "Me Meme," though Android Authority thinks it could be called "Meme Me" upon release. The feature is simple: Through the power of AI (sigh), you can turn pictures of yourself or a family member into "your favorite memes." Cool. Here's how it's supposed to work: You choose a "meme template," along with a sample photo of yourself, a friend, or a family member. That photo reportedly needs to be backed up to Google Photos before you can use it here. And while not a requirement, the feature recommends you use a selfie with…
Marketing & SEO
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…
Large Language Model SEO (LLM SEO)
Summary
Google is no longer the only place people search. Millions now bypass search engines entirely and turn to large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity for answers. ChatGPT alone fields over 2.5 billion prompts a day and serves more than 120 million users daily. This creates a massive opportunity. LLM SEO is how you get your content in front of those systems. The idea is to make your content so clear and credible that a model has no choice but to pull from it. That means writing in a way machines can process, and people still want to read. Do it right, and you’ll show up where the traffic is already shifting. This isn’t a future concern. It’s happening now. If you don’t adapt, readers will still get…
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
October’s Night Sky Notes: Let’s Go, LIGO!
Summary
4 Min Read October’s Night Sky Notes: Let’s Go, LIGO! An artist’s impression of gravitational waves generated by binary neutron stars. Credits: R. Hurt/Caltech-JPL by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific September 2025 marks ten years since the first direct detection of gravitational waves as predicted by Albert Einstein’s 1916 theory of General Relativity. These invisible ripples in space were first directly detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). Traveling at the speed of light (~186,000 miles per second), these waves stretch and squeeze the fabric of space itself, changing the distance between objects as they pass. Waves In Space Gravitational waves are created when massive objects accelerate in space, especially in violent events. LIGO detected the first gravitational waves when two black holes, orbiting one…
NASA, International Partners Deepen Commitment to Artemis Accords
Summary
Representatives of the Artemis Accords signatories, including acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy and NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya, met Sept. 29, 2025, for a principals meeting during the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney. Credit: NASA/Max van Otterdyk NASA, along with leaders from global space agencies and government representatives worldwide, convened on Monday to further the implementation of the Artemis Accords — practical principles designed to guide the responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The meeting was held during the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) taking place in Sydney. In opening remarks, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy highlighted the five-year anniversary of the Artemis Accords next month. “When President Trump launched the Artemis Accords in his first term, he made sure American values would lead the way –…
NASA signs US-Australia Agreement on Aeronautics, Space Cooperation
Summary
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy and Australian Space Agency Head Enrico Palermo signed an agreement Sept. 30, 2025, in Sydney that strengthens collaboration in aeronautics and space exploration between the two nations. Credit: NASA/Max van Otterdyk At the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) taking place in Sydney this week, representatives from the United States and Australia gathered to sign a framework agreement that strengthens collaboration in aeronautics and space exploration between the two nations. Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy and Australian Space Agency Head Enrico Palermo signed the agreement Tuesday on behalf of their countries, respectively. “Australia is an important and longtime space partner, from Apollo to Artemis, and this agreement depends on that partnership,” said Duffy. “International agreements like this one work to leverage our resources and increase our capacities…
Headquarters and Center Chief Counsel Contacts
Summary
Headquarters General Counsel Iris Lan Deputy General Counsel Bryan R. Diederich (Acting) Chief of Legal Operations Christine Pham (Acting) Associate General Counsel for Contracts and Procurement, Headquarters Karen Reilley (Acting) Associate General Counsel for Contracts and Acquisition Integrity Law Practice Group, Headquarters Karen Reilley (Acting) Associate General Counsel for General Law Practice Group, Headquarters Katie Spear Associate General Counsel for International and Space Law Practice Group, Headquarters Rebecca Bresnik Agency Counsel for Ethics, Headquarters Adam Greenstone Agency Counsel for the Acquisition Integrity Program, Headquarters Adam Supple (Acting) Agency Counsel for Intellectual Property, Headquarters Trenton Roche Centers Chief Counsel, Ames Research CenterChristine Pham Chief Counsel, Armstrong Flight Research Center Brett Swanson Chief Counsel, Glenn Research Center James Jackson (Acting) Chief Counsel, Goddard Space Flight Center Dave Barrett Chief Counsel, Johnson Space…
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
JBL’s rugged Charge 6 speaker is down to one of its lowest prices to date
Summary
The portable speaker can also charge your phone in a pinch. | Image: The Verge As much as I love decorations, it’s the music that really gets me into the holiday spirit. Luckily for those looking to capitalize on the upcoming holiday season, JBL’s newer Charge 6 is on sale at Walmart for $154 (about $46 off), which is one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for the portable Bluetooth speaker. Now, you can play a spooky playlist outside when trick-or-treaters stop by on Halloween. JBL Charge 6 Where to Buy: $199.95 $153.99 at Walmart (red) $199.95 $156 at Walmart (blue) $199.95 $156 at Walmart (white) Introduced earlier this year, the Charge 6 is a robust portable speaker with an upgraded woofer and up to 28 hours of battery life…
Microsoft makes Copilot “human-centered” with a ‘90s-style animated assistant
Summary
Microsoft said earlier this month that it wanted to add better voice controls to Copilot, Windows 11’s built-in chatbot-slash-virtual assistant. As described, this new version of Copilot sounds an awful lot like another stab at Cortana, the voice assistant that Microsoft tried (and failed) to get people to use in Windows 10 in the mid-to-late 2010s. Turns out that the company isn’t done trying to reformulate and revive ideas it has already tried before. As part of a push toward what it calls “human-centered AI,” Microsoft is now putting a face on Copilot. Literally, a face: “Mico” is an “expressive, customizable, and warm” blob with a face that dynamically “listens, reacts, and even changes colors to reflect your interactions” as you interact with Copilot. (Another important adjective for Mico: “optional.”)…
Trump pardons disgraced Binance founder Changpeng Zhao
Summary
Changpeng Zhao, former chief executive officer of Binance, arrives at federal court. Changpeng Zhao, the founder of crypto exchange Binance, was pardoned by President Trump today, according to the Wall Street Journal. The move comes after months of lobbying by the company and Zhao’s own efforts to boost the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. In April of 2024, Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to charges that he and Binance had failed to adequately implement anti-money laundering protections. The company was also hit with a massive $4.3 billion fine as part of its settlement with the Department of Justice under the Biden administration. The department said that Binance had become a hub of criminal money laundering, facilitating “billions of dollars of unregulated cryptocurrency…
Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are reportedly interested in buying Warner Bros.
Summary
Three of the rumored potential buyers for entertainment titan Warner Bros. Discovery are tech companies. Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are all interested in buying Warner Bros. Discovery as a whole or acquiring pieces of the company, like its content libraries and production assets, according to Bloomberg. Earlier this week, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it was launching a “review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, in light of unsolicited interest the Company has received from multiple parties for both the entire company and Warner Bros.” According to the report, after receiving the above inquiries, as well as others from Paramount and Comcast, it’s readying nondisclosure agreements for the prospective buyers ahead of sharing financial data with them. People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that WBD has already passed on…