Artificial Intelligence
Defense official reveals how AI chatbots could be used for targeting decisions
Summary
The US military might use generative AI systems to rank lists of targets and make recommendations about which to strike first, which would then be vetted by humans, according to a Defense official with knowledge of the matter. The disclosure about how the military may use AI chatbots comes as the Pentagon faces scrutiny over a strike on an Iranian school, which it is still investigating. A list of possible targets might be fed into a generative AI system that the Pentagon is fielding for classified settings. Then, said the official, who requested to speak on background with MIT Technology Review to discuss sensitive topics, humans might ask the system to analyze the information and rank which targets are a priority, while accounting for factors like where aircraft are currently…
Is the Pentagon allowed to surveil Americans with AI?
Summary
The ongoing public feud between the Department of Defense and AI company Anthropic over its technology has raised a deep open question: does the law actually allow the US government to conduct mass surveillance on Americans? Surprisingly, the answer is not straightforward. More than a decade after Edward Snowden exposed the NSA’s collection of bulk metadata from the phones of Americans, the US is still navigating a gap between what ordinary people think is surveillance and what the law allows. The flashpoint in the standoff between Anthropic and the government was the Pentagon’s desire to use Anthropic’s AI Claude to analyze bulk commercial data collected from Americans. Anthropic demanded its AI not be used for mass domestic surveillance (or for autonomous weapons, which are machines that can kill targets without…
Microsoft has a new plan to prove what’s real and what’s AI online
Summary
AI-enabled deception now permeates our online lives. There are the high-profile cases you may easily spot, like when White House officials recently shared a manipulated image of a protester in Minnesota and then mocked those asking about it. Other times, it slips quietly into social media feeds and racks up views, like the videos that Russian influence campaigns are currently spreading to discourage Ukrainians from enlisting. It is into this mess that Microsoft has put forward a blueprint, shared with MIT Technology Review on Thursday, for how to prove what’s real online. An AI safety research team at the company recently evaluated how methods for documenting digital manipulation are faring against today’s most worrying AI developments, like interactive deepfakes and widely accessible hyperrealistic models. It then recommended technical standards that…
Hyperscale AI data centers: 10 Breakthrough Technologies 2026
Summary
In sprawling stretches of farmland and industrial parks, supersized buildings packed with racks of computers are springing up to fuel the AI race. These engineering marvels are a new species of infrastructure: supercomputers designed to train and run large language models at mind-bending scale, complete with their own specialized chips, cooling systems, and even energy supplies. Hyperscale AI data centers bundle hundreds of thousands of specialized computer chips called graphics processing units (GPUs), such as Nvidia’s H100s, into synchronized clusters that work like one giant supercomputer. These chips excel at processing massive amounts of data in parallel. Hundreds of thousands of miles of fiber-optic cables connect the chips like a nervous system, letting them communicate at lightning speed. Enormous storage systems continuously feed data to the chips as the facilities…
Business & Finance
U.S. energy chief signals Iran war may last several more weeks
Summary
Energy Secretary Chris Wright signaled the war with Iran may last several more weeks with oil and gasoline prices elevated as the US and Israel seek to destroy Iranian military capabilities. In network television interviews Sunday, Wright defended the Trump administration’s argument that Americans are facing short-term pain at the pump in a midterm election year for the larger goal of eliminating Iran as a threat to the Middle East. “I think that this conflict will certainly come to the end in the next few weeks — could be sooner that that — and we’ll see a rebound in supplies and a pushing down of prices after that,” Wright said Sunday on ABC’s This Week. Oil closed at more than $103 per barrel on Friday as Iran retains a chokehold on…
Bessent leads U.S. talks with China ahead of Trump-Xi summit as Iran and trade war loom over ‘big year’ for bilateral ties
Summary
Representatives from Beijing and Washington began their economic and trade talks in Paris on Sunday, paving the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in about two weeks. The delegations, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, convened in the French capital in the morning, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported. The White House has said that Trump will travel to China from March 31 to April 2, though Beijing has not officially confirmed it. Bessent said on Thursday that his team will continue to deliver results that put America’s farmers, workers and businesses first. The U.S. Treasury Department said Bessent will meet He on Sunday and Monday. China’s commerce ministry said Friday the two sides are set to…
‘Raise a lobster’: How OpenClaw is the latest craze transforming China’s AI sector
Summary
On a Friday afternoon in March, nearly 1,000 people lined up outside Tencent’s headquarters in Shenzhen to get a piece of software installed on their laptops. Engineers from the company’s cloud unit helped students, retirees, and office workers deploy OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent built by Austrian programmer Peter Steinberger. Over the past month, major Chinese cloud providers debuted their own version of OpenClaw, local governments dangled grants to startups that build OpenClaw apps, and a cottage industry sprung up helping users install the open-source framework. China’s users are now trying a “raise a lobster”, a phrase referring OpenClaw’s red lobster logo. It’s proved to be a shot in the arm for China’s AI startups, which could now see a surge of usage. In early February, Chinese AI models for…
Iran openly threatens neighbor’s non-U.S. assets for first time, telling UAE ports to evacuate
Summary
Iran issued an evacuation warning for three major ports in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, including the busiest in the Middle East, openly threatening a neighboring country’s non-U.S. assets for the first time as its war with the U.S. and Israel entered its third week. Iran said the U.S. had used “ports, docks and hideouts” in the UAE to launch strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, without providing evidence. It urged people to evacuate areas where it said U.S. forces were sheltering. Hours after the threat, there was no sign of an attack on Dubai’s Jebel Ali port — the Mideast’s busiest — or the Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi. But Associated Press images showed a fire at the third port, in Fujairah, caused by debris from an intercepted Iranian drone hitting an oil…
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…
How the New Dietary Guidelines Could Impact School Meals
Summary
Putting together a school meal isn’t easy. “It is a puzzle essentially,” said Lori Nelson of the Chef Ann Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes scratch cooking in schools. “When you think about the guidelines, there’s so many different pieces that you have to meet. You have to meet calorie minimums and maximums for the day and for the week. You have to meet vegetable subgroup categories.” Districts that receive federal funding for school meals — through, for example, the National School Lunch Program — must follow rules set by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). And those rules may be changing soon. In early January, the Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA unveiled new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, along with a new food pyramid. The USDA sets school…
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…
Entertainment
Trump Ally Richard Grenell to Step Down as Kennedy Center President
Summary
Richard Grenell, an ally of President Donald Trump who oversaw far reaching changes at the Kennedy Center that prompted many artists to abandon the iconic performing arts venue, will step down as the institution’s president. Trump announced the change in a social media post on Friday after it was first reported by Axios. The president said Matt Floca, who manages the Kennedy Center’s facilities operations, will succeed Grenell. The moves are expected to be finalized at a board meeting scheduled for Monday at the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss plans that are not yet public. Grenell’s departure comes as the Kennedy Center prepares to close this summer for a two-year renovation. “Ric Grenell has done an excellent job in helping to coordinate various elements of…
Russian Court Sentences 19 in Moscow Concert Hall Terror Attack That Left 149 Dead
Summary
Nineteen people were convicted in a Moscow court on Thursday for their roles in the deadly 2024 attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue, where four gunmen opened fire on concertgoers before setting the building ablaze, killing 149 people and injuring more than 600 in one of Russia’s deadliest terror incidents in decades. The Islamic State claimed responsibility, and U.S. officials later attributed the assault to ISIS‑K, a regional affiliate. Russian authorities identified the four gunmen as Tajik citizens and said they attempted to flee toward Ukraine before being captured the day after the massacre. The trial, held behind closed doors in a military court due to terrorism charges, ended with 15 defendants receiving life terms, while four others — accused of roles such as selling the attackers a…
T Bone Burnett Looks Back at ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ Soundtrack’s Legacy of Shining a Spotlight on ‘Incredibly Talented’ & ‘Underappreciated’ Artists
Summary
In 2000, The Coen Brothers film O Brother, Where Art Thou? utilized a collection of songs that represented a broad canvas of blues, bluegrass, Gospel and country to help drive a tale set in 1930s Mississippi during the Great Depression, chronicling the story of trio of chain gang escapees, portrayed by George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro. Those songs were foundational to the movie, as prior to its filming, producer, songwriter and musician T Bone Burnett assembled a group of artists to create the movie’s 19-song soundtrack. The result was an unexpected runaway hit, which cast a national spotlight on a rich catalog of timeless songs and artists including Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, The Fairfield Four, Dan Tyminski and Ralph Stanley, while also featuring select original recordings from…
‘Tehran’ producer Dana Eden found dead in Athens hotel room while filming new season: “A moment of great sorrow”
Summary
Dana Eden, a producer on the Apple TV hit spy thriller series Tehran, was found dead at the age of 52 on Sunday (February 15) in a hotel room in Athens, Greece. No cause of death has yet been confirmed, but Reuters quoted local police officials as saying that they’re currently treating it as a potential suicide, based on early evidence and testimonies. Eden was in the capital filming the fourth season of the Apple TV+ series, and the publication added that Greek investigators found pills at the scene, and a coroner found bruises on Eden’s neck. “This is a moment of great sorrow for the family, friends, and colleagues,” production company Donna and Shula Productions said in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. The address also appeared to address…
Environment & Sustainability
Species slowdown: Is nature’s ability to self-repair stalling?
Summary
Nature is slowing down, and its ability to regenerate is failing in the face of climate change, according to the authors of a new analysis of the speed of species turnover in ecosystems across the world. The finding comes as a big surprise to many ecologists. They have long predicted that nature will respond to climate change and humanity’s other assaults by ramping up the rate of turnover, with existing species moving out and new ones moving in. Some studies have appeared to confirm this is happening. But the latest and largest analysis, published last month by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, has found the opposite. And the slowdown is big. Measured as comings and goings over a time frame of up to five years, species turnover is down…
Astrobiology & Laboratory Experiments
Summary
Goddard Front Door Connection Goddard Space Flight Center Front Door Capabilities Engineering Capabilities & Facilities Licensing & Technology Mission & Software Safety Program & Project Management Scientific Data & Exploration Wallops Range Operations Connect Contact Form Doing Business with Goddard STEM Programs Visitor Information Astrobiology & Lab Sciences State-of-the-art laboratory facilities for studying organic materials, extreme environment chemistry, biosignatures, and analog samples for planetary and interstellar research. Continue Exploring Goddard Science about Astrobiology & Lab Sciences Astrobiology Dust Chemistry Extreme Environment Contact Form Analog Materials & Samples Nucleation & Dust Chemistry NASA Goddard supplies highly amorphous Mg-silicate, Fe-silicate and Fe-Mg silicate smokes: highly amorphous Fe-Aluminate, Mg-Aluminate and SiO-Aluminate smokes, as well as graphitic and carbonaceous coated Fe-silicate smokes for laboratory experiments requiring freshly condensed analogs of circumstellar or presolar dust.…
Habitat Loss Is Eroding Tribal Sovereignty
Summary
Indian tribes in western Washington warn salmon ecosystems are being destroyed faster than they can be restored. By Johnny Sturgeon Spanning seven U.S. states and one Canadian province, the Columbia River Basin was once the largest salmon-producing river system in the world. Yet, with four of the 16 salmon and steelhead trout species now extinct and another seven endangered or threatened, its future remains imperilled. Indian tribes in western Washington warn salmon ecosystems are being destroyed faster than they can be restored. By Johnny Sturgeon Spanning seven U.S. states and one Canadian province, the Columbia River Basin was once the largest salmon-producing river system in the world. Yet, with four of the 16 salmon and steelhead trout species now extinct and another seven endangered or threatened, its future remains imperilled.
ASAB Activities
Summary
SACD Home ASAB Activities Systems Analysis and Concepts… Directorate Home Page Advanced Concepts Laboratory Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch Space Mission Analysis Branches Vehicle Analysis Branch Leadership and Personnel Directorate Leadership and Support Staff Advanced Concepts Lab Team Aeronautics Systems Analysis Branch Team Space Mission Analysis Branches Team Vehicle Analysis Branch Team SACD Careers Careers with SACD Current Opportunities Full-time Positions Internships More Expertise Contact Us ASAB is focused on creating advanced concepts and technologies, in relation to aeronautics, to improve connectivity and save valuable resources. ASAB does this through developing aircraft concepts, airspace and aviation safety systems analysis, aerospace systems research strategic planning, and design and analysis method development. Meet the ASAB Team ASAB Activities RAVEN X-59 QUESST X-57 Maxwell Regional Air Mobility UAS Risk Assessment Aviary UAM Reference Vehicles On-Demand Mobility…
Food & Travel
Is Mexico Safe Right Now? What US Travelers Should Know
Summary
Mexico is experiencing localized travel disruptions after a federal security operation in Jalisco on February 22, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The country remains open to tourism, but there are developments travelers should be aware of. Mexican authorities confirmed the operation targeted a senior leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). In the hours that followed, roadblocks and vehicle fires were reported in parts of Jalisco, the western Mexican state that includes the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta and the city of Guadalajara. Mexico’s Defense Secretariat confirmed the operation and said intelligence cooperation with the United States took place, noting that information “was provided” by US authorities while Mexican forces conducted the mission. President Claudia Sheinbaum said that “in most of the national territory, activities are developing…
Dodging the “King of Fruits”: Inside the Dangerous Durian Plantations of Raub, Malaysia
Summary
People in the United States usually only mention durian in the form of a punchline. It’s the spiky “King of Fruits” that’s banned on trains and in hotels thanks to a potent sulfur, sewage, rotting smell. The sweet-savory custard flavor that makes it so appealing despite the aroma is often forgotten in the viral videos and meme-ready headlines. So too is the multi-billion dollar (and growing) economy behind this fruit that sends massive shipments from Southeast Asia into China and around the world. The biggest oversight, however, is of the farmers and families who have built a life around durian. Ian Poh Jin Tze has spent years documenting the people and places behind Southeast Asia’s most iconic ingredients. In his book, “Behind The Scenes: Lives of These Unsung Heroes,” the…
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…
Gaming
Sony hit with $2.67 billion lawsuit over ‘excessive and unfair’ digital download charges
Summary
A tribunal in the United Kingdom is hearing a class-action lawsuit against Sony for "monopolising" digital game sales via its PlayStation Store, the BBC has reported. First filed in 2022 by consumer rights advocate Alex Neill, the lawsuit argues that PlayStation owners have faced "excessive and unfair" charges via Sony's "closed eco-system." As it stands now, the only storefront available on PlayStation consoles is Sony's. A tribunal in the United Kingdom is hearing a class-action lawsuit against Sony for "monopolising" digital game sales via its PlayStation Store, the BBC has reported. First filed in 2022 by consumer rights advocate Alex Neill, the lawsuit argues that PlayStation owners have faced "excessive and unfair" charges via Sony's "closed eco-system." As it stands now, the only storefront available on PlayStation consoles is Sony's.
Sony Accused of ‘Monopolizing’ Sale of Games Through the PlayStation Store in New UK Class-Action Lawsuit
Summary
A $2.6 billion class-action lawsuit alleges that millions of UK PlayStation users have been subjected to "excessive and unfair" charges by Sony in a new anti-competition court action. As reported by the BBC, consumer campaigner Alex Neill accuses Sony of implementing a "sustained strategy" of excluding competitors by "monopolizing" the sale of digital games via its "closed eco-system," the PlayStation Store. "The result is that Sony can and does set the retail prices of all such content itself without facing any retail competition for digital content," said Robert Palmer KC, on behalf of claimant, Neill. "It allows it to obtain monopoly profits from digital distribution, setting retail prices at what it refers to as its target margin of an excessive and unfair 30% above the level of the digital wholesale…
Valve Has Publicly Responded To The New York Attorney General’s Mystery Box Lawsuit
Summary
In February of this year, New York Attorney General (NYAG) Letitia James sued Valve over the loot boxes present in games like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2. In a report from Reuters, James said that the mystery boxes were "promoting illegal gambling and threatening to addict children" and referred to them as "quintessential gambling" in violation of New York gambling laws. Today, Valve posted a statement on steampowered.com sharing its thoughts on the lawsuit. The blog post was not attributed to anyone specific, but in it Valve writes about mystery boxes being perceived as gambling. "We don't believe that they do, and were disappointed to see the NYAG make that claim after working to educate them about our virtual items and mystery boxes since they first reached…
3 months after revealing his debut project at The Game Awards, Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi loses NetEase funding for his studio
Summary
Just three months after the world premier trailer for Nagoshi Studio's upcoming Gang of Dragon was revealed at the 2025 Game Awards, a Bloomberg report (via GamesIndustry) says NetEase has decided to end funding for the studio in May.Nagoshi Studio was founded by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi in 2021, after a 32-year run at Sega. He said in 2022 that his new studio's first game would be "bigger" than those of the Yakuza series, although he dialed that back a bit in 2024, saying at the time that the studio was reining in the scope. It took until The Game Awards in 2025 before we actually got a look at the game, though, and even that really wasn't anything to go on: Basically just a brief CGI clip of Ma…
Health & Wellness
Researchers develop AI tool to predict patients at risk of intimate partner violence
Summary
NIH-funded, automated clinical decision support could facilitate timely interventions for at-risk patients years before they might otherwise seek help. NIH-funded, automated clinical decision support could facilitate timely interventions for at-risk patients years before they might otherwise seek help. NIH-funded, automated clinical decision support could facilitate timely interventions for at-risk patients years before they might otherwise seek help. NIH-funded, automated clinical decision support could facilitate timely interventions for at-risk patients years before they might otherwise seek help.
You don’t need to be very altruistic to stop an epidemic
Summary
Reducing social contact is widely understood to slow disease spread, but because there is no personal health benefit gained from self-isolating, this would seem to require some concern for others. But how much do you have to care about others before you would choose to self-isolate when sick? Even people who are only barely altruistic still choose to self-isolate when infected, suggesting it may be a natural survival strategy, finds a new University of Warwick-led study. Reducing social contact is widely understood to slow disease spread, but because there is no personal health benefit gained from self-isolating, this would seem to require some concern for others. But how much do you have to care about others before you would choose to self-isolate when sick? Even people who are only barely…
Rising temperature may shift sex ratios at birth, analysis of five million births finds
Summary
"Temperature and sex ratios at birth," a new study led by researchers at the Department of Sociology at the University of Oxford and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides new evidence that higher temperatures can influence the sex ratio at birth, with important implications for population health and gender balance in a warming world. The study analyzes more than five million births across 33 sub-Saharan African countries and India. By linking large-scale survey data with high-resolution temperature records, the authors examine how exposure to heat during pregnancy affects the sex ratio at birth. "Temperature and sex ratios at birth," a new study led by researchers at the Department of Sociology at the University of Oxford and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides…
New imaging technique could transform precision of vocal fold injection procedures
Summary
Researchers at Stanford University, in collaboration with scientists at the German Cancer Institute, have shown for the first time that shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging can be used to visualize injectable filler materials during injection laryngoplasty, a common procedure used to treat vocal fold paralysis and other forms of glottic insufficiency. The findings, published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, of this novel visualization technique could pave the way for precision-guided techniques in laryngeal surgery. Researchers at Stanford University, in collaboration with scientists at the German Cancer Institute, have shown for the first time that shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging can be used to visualize injectable filler materials during injection laryngoplasty, a common procedure used to treat vocal fold paralysis and other forms of glottic insufficiency. The findings, published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck…
Lifestyle
Your Android Phone Will Soon Be Able to Help Airlines Find Your Lost Luggage
Summary
Android users will soon be able to use tracking devices to coordinate lost luggage recovery directly with airlines. The feature, one of many announced as part of Google's March Pixel Drop, generates a Find Hub link for compatible trackers that can be shared with airlines to help locate bags that have gone missing transit. Apple rolled out a similar feature for AirTags in late 2024, called Share Item Location. iOS users can temporarily share the location of a Find My accessory with their airline to help find lost luggage. It's important to note that AirTags (and other tracking tags, including those compatible with Android's Find Hub) aren't real-time trackers, as they generally rely on pinging other internet-connected devices nearby to share their whereabouts. Share Item Location for AirTags is currently…
Watch Out for This Phone Delivery Scam
Summary
If you order a new smartphone to be delivered to your home, you may be a target for scammers. Fraudsters are impersonating representatives from mobile carriers, calling customers and claiming that they've been sent the wrong device and need to return it. Obviously, if you follow through, scammers get to keep your phone—they may either to sell it or activate it using your information to perpetrate identity fraud. Scams centered on stealing high-value tech aren't anything new. In addition to regular porch pirating, thieves have been known to knock on doors, posing as couriers or company representatives attempting to recover a "wrongly delivered" item. Fraudsters have also used fake Find My alerts to gain access to lost or stolen iPhones. How the phone return scam works As an editor at…
Google Made an iPhone Camera App That Might Be Even Better Than Apple’s
Summary
Google acquired the excellent photo editor Snapseed back in 2012—not long after Apple had crowned it one of its apps of the year—and despite having plenty to offer and being completely free to use, it remains one of Google's lesser-known apps. That might be about to change. Snapseed's latest update for iOS, version 3.15.0, comes with a full camera app inside—and there's a case to be made that it's better than Apple's default Camera app. It certainly offers more in the way of manual shooting controls, with the added benefit of an entire integrated suite of editing features. Using Snapseed's built-in camera on iPhone Once you've installed or updated Snapseed to the latest version, you'll see the new camera icon up in the top right corner. While you can start…
Microsoft Is Now Testing a ‘Built-In’ Network Speed Test Tool in Windows 11
Summary
When your internet isn't as fast as it should be, it can be helpful to check a network speed test tool. If the results are slower than expected, you'll know it's your network that's acting up. If it's performing well, perhaps it's the website in question, your web browser, or the device itself that's in need of a tune up. You have plenty of options across the internet to choose from, of course, but if you have a PC, you're about to get one built right into the OS—at least, in theory. Windows' "built-in" network speed test tool is really a shortcut As part of the latest Release Preview Channel update for Windows 11 Insiders, Microsoft rolled out a network speed test tool, though "shortcut" might be a more appropriate…
Marketing & SEO
Meta is passing Europe’s digital taxes directly to advertisers
Summary
Starting July 1st, Meta will add “location fees” to ad buys targeting users in six countries — effectively offloading the cost of European digital services taxes onto the advertisers themselves. The numbers. Fees will match each country’s digital services tax rate: France, Italy, Spain: 3% Austria, Turkey: 5% UK: 2% How it works in practice. Per Meta’s email to advertisers — “$100 in ads delivered to Italy will cost $103, plus any applicable VAT on top of that.” The fine print. The fees apply to where the ad is delivered, not where the advertiser is based — meaning a US brand running campaigns targeting French users will pay the French rate regardless. Why we care. This is a direct, unavoidable cost increase hitting European campaigns on July 1 — with…
Court restricts Perplexity’s AI shopping bot from accessing Amazon
Summary
Perplexity AI must stop using its Comet browser agent to make purchases on Amazon. A federal judge sided with Amazon in an early ruling over AI shopping bots. Why we care. The case targets a core promise of AI agents: completing tasks like shopping on a user’s behalf. If courts restrict how agents access sites, AI agents could face strict limits when interacting with logged-in accounts on major websites. What happened. U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney granted Amazon a preliminary injunction Monday in San Francisco federal court. The order blocks Perplexity from using its Comet browser agent to access password-protected parts of Amazon, including Prime subscriber accounts. Chesney wrote that Amazon presented “strong evidence” that Comet accessed accounts “with the Amazon user’s permission but without authorization by Amazon.” The ruling…
The AI writing tics that hurt engagement: A study
Summary
The web has strong opinions about what “AI-written” content looks like, and even stronger ones about what’s supposedly wrong with it. Scroll any content marketer’s LinkedIn feed, and you’ll find confident claims that em dashes and other AI “tells” signal bad, automated writing. The problem with these debates is that they often confuse taste with performance. What counts as “bad writing” will always be subjective. But if the goal for content marketers is to communicate clearly and compete in the information marketplace, the practical question should be: which LLM habits actually turn readers off? To find out, we analyzed a large dataset of content marketing pages to identify which AI writing “tics” we see most often called out to understand which are turning off readers — and the ones we…
OpenAI begins testing ads inside ChatGPT
Summary
OpenAI is rolling out its first live test of ads in ChatGPT, placing sponsored messages directly inside the app for some users. The details. According to CNBC, the ads will appear in a clearly labeled section beneath the chat interface rather than inside responses. The format is designed to keep ads visually separate from ChatGPT’s answers. OpenAI will show ads to logged-in users on the free tier and its lower-cost Go subscription. The company says advertisers won’t see users’ conversations and won’t influence ChatGPT’s responses, though ads will be optimized based on what OpenAI considers helpful to the user. What else is coming. In an internal memo cited by CNBC, CEO Sam Altman told employees an updated chat model is expected this week. He also said ChatGPT is again exceeding…
Politics & Society
CDC Director Susan Monarez ousted just weeks after confirmation
Summary
Susan Monarez, the longtime government scientist recently confirmed as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been let go from her position after less than a month in the role. A source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Hill that Monarez is ousted as CDC director. The Senate confirmed her on July 29. The Washington Post was first to report Monarez's firing. The Hill has reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for comment. Prior to being nominated to lead the CDC, Monarez had served as acting CDC Director shortly after the start of the second Trump administration. She previously served as deputy director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). President Trump chose Monarez as his second choice after…
Suspected Minnesota shooter’s rifle magazine had ‘Kill Donald Trump’ inscription
Summary
The suspected shooter who killed two children at a Minnesota church on Wednesday wrote incendiary messages on gun magazines, including one that read “Kill Donald Trump.” The images appeared in a manifesto posted online around the same time as the shooting on Wednesday morning. The manifesto included a lengthy written note from the suspected shooter as well. The video had been taken down from YouTube as of late Wednesday afternoon. The video also showed messages written on rifle magazines that said "For the Children" and "Where is your God." "This level of violence is unthinkable," said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, in a post on X where she discussed the messages. "Our deepest prayers are with the children, parents, families, educators, and Christians everywhere. We mourn with them,…
Trump ramps up DC power grab
Summary
President Trump is ramping up his power grab over Washington, D.C., on everything from the city’s law enforcement to a takeover of its transportation hub and key cultural center. He’s called for the death penalty in D.C. murder cases, cleared out homeless encampments, and is promising to fix everything from fences to light fixtures in what he calls a “beautification” of the city. On Wednesday, his Transportation secretary also announced a takeover of managing Union Station, where National Guard troops have been stationed for weeks. It marked the latest escalation by Trump to encroach on the city’s key institutions and landmarks, and that timing, according to a source close to Trump World, is no coincidence ahead of Congress coming back. “Trump is on very firm political footing on this issue.…
Nvidia revenue jumped 56 percent last year, beats Wall Street expectations
Summary
Nvidia reported a solid jump in second-quarter revenue Wednesday, beating Wall Street expectations for its highly anticipated earnings report. The chipmaker reported $46.7 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 6 percent from the previous quarter and 56 percent over the past year. Wall Street analysts had forecasted revenue of roughly $46 billion, according to consensus estimates. Nvidia has become one of the most powerful and richest U.S. technology companies amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including generative AI chatbots and image generators, which use immense computing power. Nvidia has risen to prominence as the top U.S. manufacturer of the semiconductor chips widely used to run AI programs. The company has also found itself caught in the crossfire of the U.S-China battle over AI. Nvidia and AMD, another major U.S.…
Science
NASA Armstrong to Host Partnership Days April 15-16
Summary
1 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA Graphics NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, invites innovative companies, government agencies, and organizations to attend Partnership Days, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, April 15 and 16, at the center. The event offers a unique opportunity to explore collaboration with NASA on cutting-edge research and development in areas such as aerospace, autonomy, sustainability, and more. Attendees will engage with NASA experts and learn how Armstrong’s capabilities can help accelerate innovation and bring transformative technologies to life. Space is limited, and RSVP is required by Wednesday, March 25. To register, scan the QR code on the event poster or email AFRC-CAL-330-Partnerships@mail.nasa.gov. What: NASA Armstrong Partnership Days When: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.…
Agenda diaria de la misión a la Luna de Artemis II de la NASA
Summary
El emblema de la misión Artemis II se observa en el hombro derecho de los trajes sistema de supervivencia de la tripulación de Orion que llevarán los astronautas de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover y Christina Koch, así como el astronauta de la CSA (Agencia Espacial Canadiense) Jeremy Hansen, durante el vuelo de prueba de Artemis II. La imagen fue tomada el 17 de enero de 2026 en la sala de equipamiento del Edificio de Operaciones y Preparación Neil A. Armstrong, en el Centro Espacial Kennedy de la NASA, en Florida. Crédito: NASA/Joel Kowsky Read this web article in English here. Unos ocho minutos después del despegue de Artemis II, la nave espacial Orion y su tripulación —los astronautas de la NASA Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover y Christina Koch, junto con el…
GVIS Virtual Systems Simulations
Summary
4 Min Read GVIS Virtual Systems Simulations High-Efficiency Megawatt Motor (HEMM) Visualization Credits: NASA GVIS The Graphics and Visualization Lab (GVIS) at NASA Glenn Research Center creates a variety of immersive visualizations and simulations in support of NASA’s missions, projects, and future innovations. These visual tools help scientists, engineers, and researchers develop new solutions that bring their projects to life. Virtual System Simulations The GVIS Lab prides itself on creating engaging and informational virtual system simulations for NASA missions. These simulations transform complex engineering concepts into digestible visualizations and immersive experiences, bridging the gap between concept and reality. These simulations bring greater understanding of systems typically hidden from view, such as the inside of an engine or how elements behave inside of a fuel cell. The GVIS Lab is able…
Ice to Fuel: NASA Tests Technology for Refueling Landers
Summary
3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) NASA engineers Jonathan Davis, left, and Markus Perkins inspect a flight-like cryocooler developed by Creare LLC prior to its integration into the CryoFILL system NASA is testing. Engineers are working inside NASA Glenn Research Center’s Creek Road Cryogenics Complex on Sept. 24, 2025. Credit: NASA/Jef Janis The farther the destination, the more fuel a rocket needs. The more fuel the rocket carries, the heavier the spacecraft. The heavier the spacecraft, the more fuel it requires to launch. Experts at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland are testing technology that could solve this problem. The CryoFILL (Cryogenic Fluid In-Situ Liquefaction for Landers) project could transform the way NASA fuels future space exploration missions, reducing costs and extending the duration of planetary surface operations. “If you think about how much fuel your spacecraft would need to go to Mars and come home, it’s…
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
Sotomayor’s Wabi Sabi is the funnest record of 2026
Summary
Can’t. Stop. Dancing. | Image: Wonderwheel Recordings Shout out to subscriber N_Gorski for today's pick. They popped into the comments on last week's recommendation to ask what I thought of the new Sotomayor record. Well, I hadn't actually heard it yet, but now I'm obsessed. The group consists of siblings Raul and Paulina Sotomayor from Mexico City. Wabi Sabi is their first record since 2020's Origenes, and it is pure joy. You can look back through everything I've recommended over the last several months, and "fun" is not how you'd describe most of it. But that's what Wabi Sabi is - it's fun, chaotic, and dancey as hell. I was only familiar with Sotomayor before this because of a short docume … Read the full story at The Verge.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are the choice — if you have a Galaxy phone
Summary
The Galaxy Buds Pro 4 are a nice improvement over the Buds 3, but still require a Galaxy device to use all their features. Samsung promised "more than a design refresh" for its new top-end Galaxy Buds - it added upgraded woofers for improved, dual-amped hi-fi sound, a new blade design, clearer call performance, and better noise cancellation. Ultimately, while the $249.99 Galaxy Buds 4 aren't a huge leap forward over the previous model, they keep what was good about the Buds 3 and improve on most of what wasn't - as long as you use Samsung Galaxy devices. That's because, much like the AirPods Pro 3 with Apple gear, the Buds 4 Pro still work best when paired with another Galaxy device. This unlocks all of the functionality of…
Live-service games are a mess
Summary
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on the slow-motion disaster of live-service games, follow Andrew Webster. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started Two years ago, I stood at the top of the iconic red stairs in Times Square to experience the weirdest concert of my life. As glowing butterflies flitted about the various screens, a crowd steadily grew, knowing something was happening, but unsure of what. Then a countdown started, and a minute later one of the screens opened up, revealing Ice Spice and, later, … Read the full story at The Verge. This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story…
An engineering thesis disguised as a coupe: A history of the Honda Prelude
Summary
The Honda Prelude was never simply a car. It was an engineering thesis disguised as a coupe: compact, disciplined, and unapologetically technical. At its best, it distilled Honda’s faith in precision manufacturing and clever packaging into something accessible and aspirational. Its return for 2026, after more than a quarter century away, isn’t nostalgia so much as institutional memory. The Prelude name carries expectations: balance over brute force, innovation over ornament, and a willingness to pursue mechanical elegance even when the market leans elsewhere. And it’s worth remembering that the original Prelude emerged during a turbulent period for the industry. Constraint, not excess, shaped it, which may explain why it felt so deliberate from the start. Read full article Comments