Artificial Intelligence
Claude Science is Anthropic’s newest flagship product
Summary
At an event for pharmaceutical executives, biotech founders, and researchers on Tuesday, Anthropic announced Claude Science, a major new product intended to support scientific research in the same way that Claude Code supports software engineering. Like Claude Code, Claude Science can autonomously carry out meaningful work when given concise, high-level instructions, and it has access to tools that make it particularly useful for research in computational biology and drug development. Along with launching and previewing Claude Science, which is now available to all paid Claude subscribers, Anthropic also announced that it will be using the product to pursue some of its own research into drugs for rare, neglected diseases. This is not Anthropic’s first foray into AI for science. In October, the company released plug-ins that help Claude make use…
Rehumanizing global health care with agentic AI
Summary
The global health care sector is under increasing strain. Decades of chronic underinvestment and constraints in recruitment have coincided with a surge in demand for services for aging populations. Gaps in provision are already taking a toll, with fragmented access to care and high rates of stress and burnout among staff. And it’s getting worse. The World Health Organization has warned that current shortfalls will increase to 11 million workers by 2030. In their urgent hunt for a solution, many health-care providers are now pinning their hopes on agentic AI, with more than two-thirds (68%) having already adopted AI agents into their workforce, according to KPMG. The technology is being deployed to automate complex back-office processes, collaborate with medical teams, and even triage patients, all in a bid to reduce…
Musk v. Altman week 2: OpenAI fires back, and Shivon Zilis reveals that Musk tried to poach Sam Altman
Summary
In the second week of the landmark trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI, Musk’s motivations for bringing the suit were under scrutiny. Last week, Musk took the stand, alleging that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman had deceived him into donating $38 million to the company. He claimed that they’d promised to maintain it as a nonprofit dedicated to developing AI for the benefit of humanity, only to later accept billions of dollars of investment from Microsoft and restructure the company to operate a for-profit subsidiary. This week, Brockman fired back with his side of the story, arguing that Musk had actually pushed for OpenAI to create a for-profit arm and fought a bitter battle to have “absolute control” over it. OpenAI has argued that Musk is suing…
Why having “humans in the loop” in an AI war is an illusion
Summary
The availability of artificial intelligence for use in warfare is at the center of a legal battle between Anthropic and the Pentagon. This debate has become urgent, with AI playing a bigger role than ever before in the current conflict with Iran. AI is no longer just helping humans analyze intelligence. It is now an active player—generating targets in real time, controlling and coordinating missile interceptions, and guiding lethal swarms of autonomous drones. Most of the public conversation regarding the use of AI-driven autonomous lethal weapons centers on how much humans should remain “in the loop.” Under the Pentagon’s current guidelines, human oversight supposedly provides accountability, context, and nuance while reducing the risk of hacking. AI systems are opaque “black boxes” But the debate over “humans in the loop” is…
Business & Finance
Canada celebrates new Detroit River bridge connecting Ontario to Michigan as 50% tariff feud keeps American officials away
Summary
Canada on Friday celebrated the completion of a new bridge to the U.S. over the Detroit River, a multibillion-dollar, multiyear project that will serve as a critical path for trade and casual travel between the countries. With the six-lane Gordie Howe International Bridge dominating the skyline behind them, officials lined up in Windsor, Ontario, to hail what one described as “one of the most significant infrastructure achievements in Canada’s history.” Traffic opens Monday. “Some days are remembered because they mark the end of a journey. Others are remembered because they mark the beginning of something entirely new. Today is both,” said Chuck Andary, interim CEO of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which will operate the bridge. Missing from the event: U.S. and Michigan representatives. Canada scratched a joint gathering after President Donald Trump this week…
Oil at $100 is pushing up costs from gas pumps to grocery aisles
Summary
Already feeling pinched since the start of the Iran war, consumers are likely to feel more pain ahead as oil prices pushed past $100 a barrel Thursday amid renewed fighting and military strikes that have left global oil supplies stranded in the Middle East. The elevated price marked a turn from lower oil prices enjoyed briefly when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran waned in June. Brent crude, the international standard, last reached $100 a barrel in May. Companies that produce and sell fresh food, school supplies and anything that gets shipped using fuel reported cost impacts from an earlier spike in energy prices after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. They’re likely to continue passing some of their increased expenses to consumers. “Since everything relies on petroleum in our economy, for good or ill, if…
Mamdani fails to arrest Netanyahu while insisting ‘war criminal’ isn’t welcome in New York City
Summary
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said late Tuesday that the city would not be able to execute an arrest warrant issued by the world’s top war-crimes court for Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, but urged the federal government to do so. In the video Mamdani described the Israeli prime minister as a “war criminal” and said he is not welcome in New York City. “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” he said in a video posted on X. “The federal government however does and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant,” he added, referring to the International Criminal Court. Mamdani had told the New York Times earlier this month that he and the city’s legal department were discussing arresting Netanyahu…
Moldova’s parliament elects 44-year-old businessman investor Vasile Tofan as prime minister
Summary
Moldova’s pro-Western parliament elected businessman and investor Vasile Tofan as prime minister on Tuesday, entrusting a political newcomer with advancing the former Soviet republic’s bid to join the European Union. Tofan, 44, who is backed by President Maia Sandu and her Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), was elected by 53 to 21, with 21 abstentions in Moldova’s 101-seat Parliament. A senior partner at the Ukraine-based investment firm Horizon Capital until recently, Tofan gained a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from Erasmus University, in the Netherlands. His election comes three weeks after former Alexandru Munteanu stepped down as prime minister after only eight months in a surprise move that automatically triggered the government’s resignation. Munteanu did not give a clear reason for…
Education
Do You Like AI Because AI Likes You? How AI Flattery Crosses Signals
Summary
Myra Cheng, a computer science Ph.D. student at Stanford University, has spent a lot of time listening to undergraduates on campus. “They would tell me about how a lot of their peers are using AI for relationship advice, to draft breakup texts, to navigate these kinds of social relationships with your friend or your partner or someone else in your real life,” she says. Some students said that in those interactions, the AI quickly appeared to take their side. “And I think more broadly,” says Cheng, “if you use AI for writing some sort of code or even editing any sort of writing, it’ll be like, ‘Wow, your code or your writing is amazing.’ ” To Cheng, this excessive flattery and unconditional validation from many AI models seemed different from…
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…
After Years of Declines, Young Students Show Gains in Reading and Math
Summary
New federal test scores show younger students are making gains in reading and math — after years of declines. “I think this is an optimistic release,” Matthew Soldner, acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, told NPR. Results from the long-term trend (LTT) report, released Wednesday, provide a national look at progress in reading and math for 9- and 13-year-old students. The tests, which students take on pencil and paper every few years, have asked many of the same questions since they were first given in the 1970s. The tests are part of the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) and are nationally representative of student learning. More than 30,000 students took the exams between October 2024 and March 2025. Here are five takeaways from the results: 1.…
Overworked and Understaffed: Special Ed Teachers Turn to AI for Help
Summary
Editor’s note: NPR uses only the first names of minors in this story because it discusses their learning disabilities and placement in special education. BAY POINT, Calif. — The sun would just be rising when teacher Mary Acebu began her days. She’d blast music on the way to work to get energized and get to her classroom by 6:30 to prepare for her students’ arrival at 8. Often, it’d be dark by the time she headed home, sometimes with paperwork in tow. Like so many special education teachers around the country, this was Acebu’s life for much of the 10 years she’s been teaching at Riverview Middle School, in this small, unincorporated northern California town. “I don’t do that anymore,” she says with a laugh. That’s because Acebu has been…
Entertainment
MSG Sues Wired for Defamation Over Article About Gay Celeb Surveillance List: ‘Shockingly Unethical’
Summary
Madison Square Garden is suing Wired for defamation over an article last week claiming the Manhattan venue kept a database of hundreds of music stars and other celebrities, including their gender identity and sexual orientation. The July 9 article, which claimed Morgan Wallen, Ice Spice, Selena Gomez, Benson Boone and Fat Joe were all tracked, was headlined “Madison Square Garden Kept a List of Gay Celebrities.” It claimed that James Dolan’s company had tagged dozens of stars, including Ricky Martin, Phoebe Bridgers and Geese’s Emily Green, as “LGBTQIA” in the database. Related BTS ‘Swim’ Lawsuit, Bad Bunny Ruling, StubHub Class Action & More Top Music Law News DJ Quik Says His Son 'Made a Mistake' Following Murder Conviction, Pleads With Fans to Stop Asking About It Naoshi Fujikura of Universal Music…
Madison Square Garden reportedly kept database noting celebrities’ sexuality and “risk” levels
Summary
Madison Square Garden reportedly kept an internal database of celebrities and VIPs that included labels for sexuality, racial identity and “risk” levels. According to a new report by Wired, the New York City venue’s “talent” database included 39,539 entries, spanning musicians, actors, politicians, athletes, business figures and other high-profile guests. The documents were reportedly published last month by the criminal hacker collective ShinyHunters, and Wired reports that 93 people in the database were marked as “LGBTQIA”, including Phoebe Bridgers, Ricky Martin and Geese guitarist Emily Green. The report also claims that some celebrities’ race and gender identity were noted in the database, although not consistently across entries. Roughly 400 celebrities were also reportedly assigned a “risk” score. Freddie Gibbs, Lil Jon, DaBaby and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie were said to be among those labelled “high risk”, while Morgan Wallen, Lily Allen and Jadakiss were reportedly marked “medium risk”. Ice Spice, Selena…
How Hitmaker Lewis Capaldi is Propelled by the Power of Therapy
Summary
In his years as a chart-topper, the Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi has enjoyed success on the Billboard charts with a flock of tender songs which has the star wearing his heart on his sleeve. His 2019 breakout “Someone You Loved” became his first No. 1, while singles “Before You Go” and “Forget Me” also turned into Hot 100 hits. Each heartrending track focuses on themes exploring the ups and downs of love, life and heartbreak; sung in a style only Capaldi could express. On the outside, Capaldi is living his dreams. He has hits plastering the radio, is headlining global tours and, most recently, starred in the video for Taylor Swift’s peppy “Opalite.” But despite his success and star status, the 29 year-old is open about his struggles with mental…
How to Help Those Impacted by the Earthquakes in Venezuela
Summary
Venezuela is once again in a state of national emergency, and this time not for political reasons. The South American country was struck on Wednesday night (June 24) by twin earthquakes that caused the collapse of multiple buildings, primarily in the coastal region of La Guaira, north of Caracas, as well as in the capital city. The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century, and were felt across the region, according to the Associated Press. By midday Thursday (June 25), the news agency reported at least 164 fatal victims while “many more were feared dead.” Related Danny Ocean, Lasso & More Use Social Media to Spread Word for Help After Venezuela Quakes: ‘My Heart Is Shattered’ On social media, videos shared…
Environment & Sustainability
MGCM Visualizer
Summary
Model Visualization Tool The Mars Climate Modeling Center (MCMC) presents the model visualization tool, a website for interactive plotting and downloading Mars Global Climate Model (MGCM) output. The model visualization tool offers the most accessible introduction to Mars Global Climate Model (MGCM) data. It is an online dashboard that allows users to interactively plot, explore, and download model output stored on the NAS Data Portal (see the MGCM Output tab for more information). GCM analysis tools MGCM Visualizer You can explore, plot, and download the MGCM output through our user-friendly web interface. Link to the Web Interface The Data Portal Web Interface plotting surface temperature from MGCM output stored on the NAS Data Portal NASA/Courtney Batterson Citing the Web Interface If you use the web interface in your research, please…
Meet NASA’s New X-59 Test Pilot
Summary
NASA’s X-59 test pilot Mike Lippert stands in front of the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Lippert joins NASA as the third X-59 pilot supporting the Quesst mission, which will eventually fly over U.S. communities to demonstrate quiet supersonic flight and collect feedback from the public about the aircraft’s quiet sonic “thump.” NASA/Carla Escamilla NASA’s X-59 experimental aircraft reached a major milestone Friday, June 5, when it flew faster than the speed of sound for the first time. NASA added a new X-59 test pilot to support the agency’s Quesst mission: Mike Lippert, a research test pilot based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. “This fulfills a lifelong dream of conducting airborne research and experimental flight test for NASA in the high desert — contributing to humankind’s understanding of the science of flight and the nature of the…
Michael T. Lippert
Summary
Michael T. Lippert NASA Pilot Michael T. Lippert is a research test pilot at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. He is assigned to fly the agency’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, along with the F-15 and F/A-18 support aircraft, and to support NASA’s advanced air mobility research projects. Experience Prior to joining NASA in 2026, Lippert served 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2025. He was a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Kingsville in Texas, where he trained U.S. Navy and Marine Corps officers in tactical jet aircraft. He has more than 2,600 hours of flight experience in 60 types of aircraft. The bulk of his career was spent flying the AV-8B Harrier operationally and serving as a test…
New Crew Members Welcomed to International Space Station
Summary
NASA/Chris Williams From left, Expedition 74 flight engineers Anna Kikina and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos, and Anil Menon of NASA pose for a July 18, 2026, photo while holding a cake celebrating their recent arrival aboard the International Space Station. The trio arrived at the space station on July 14, 2026, after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan earlier the same day. Kikina, Dubrov, and Menon are in the second week of their planned eight-and-a-half-month mission. They are using their new skills to conduct space research while still familiarizing themselves with living and working in space. Keep up with space station activity on the International Space Station blog. Image credit: NASA/Chris Williams The post New Crew Members Welcomed to International Space Station appeared first on NASA Science.
Food & Travel
You’re Invited to Eater World’s Fare: A Global Culinary Celebration
Summary
Grab your soccer jersey and TSA-approved bottle of ranch, because Eater is hosting a sprawling, one-day-only culinary event — our largest ever! — to commemorate the biggest weekend in international soccer. On Saturday, July 18 at Pier 36 in New York City, join us for Eater World’s Fare, an immersive, family-friendly event where food-lovers can congregate and eat their way through delicious representations of food from around the globe, prepared by heavy-hitter chefs and some of the most seasoned folks in the food game. You don’t need to understand the offsides rule to appreciate a great empanada, and there’s no language barrier when it comes to bonding over noodles, tacos, and the collective stress of a penalty kick. Food and sports are universal unifiers, and this summer’s truly global sports…
The Best Sun Protection Shirts Our Editors Tested for Summer Adventures
Summary
Warmer days are upon us, and that means spring and summer outdoor adventures are in full swing. It’s hard to stay inside on a sunny day, with warm and dry weather typically offering the best conditions for activities like hiking, biking, and even water sports. The flip side to perfect weather, however, is that you’re increasing your exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. In order to best protect yourself, it’s important to dress appropriately – and for many outdoor activities, that means wearing a sun shirt. This is particularly true if you’re heading to the beach, as scientists have found that a chemical found in many sunscreens (oxybenzone) is converted by coral into a substance that actually harms them. If you want to protect the ocean, you’ll need to…
Book Your Travel Early: Flight Prices Are Rising as Fuel Costs Surge
Summary
As oil and jet fuel prices climb due to the war in Iran that’s disrupting shipping lanes in the Middle East, airlines are warning that ticket prices will rise, too. Jet fuel costs have jumped sharply since the conflict began on February 28. According to reporting from the Associated Press. Fuel is one of the airline industry’s biggest expenses, typically accounting for about a fifth to a quarter of operating costs. Threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is the sole sea passage from the Gulf to the open ocean, is having the biggest impact on pricing pressures. Nearly 20 percent of global oil supply moves through that chokepoint, and although the waterway is…
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…
Gaming
Against a backdrop of advancing Chinese production, TSMC announces another $100 billion worth of chipmaking will be invested in the US
Summary
TSMC, the world's biggest chipmaker, has reportedly just announced it plans to invest another $100 billion in the US (via AP News) to expand its chip production in the country. 'Another', that is, on top of the $100 billion the company committed to last year. That previous $100 billion was in addition to the $65 billion that TSMC had already said it planned to put into the US. Last year's $100 billion pledge was, according to President Trump, at his rather unsubtle behest: "All I did is say if you don't build your plant here you're gonna pay a big tax... 25, maybe 50, maybe 75, maybe 100%." This, of course, was in the wake of the US doing the hokey cokey with various tariffs. It's unclear whether TSMC's new…
Report suggests the US gov may have ‘urged’ Apple into Intel chipmaking deal to avoid tariffs, at almost the same time it took a $9 billion stake in blue team stock
Summary
A report from The Wall Street Journal tells the tale of Tim Cook's visit to the White House last summer, in which the Apple chief attempted to persuade the administration to abandon plans to impose tariffs on 100% of all semiconductor imports. Apple was eventually granted an exemption to the tariffs, in return for a commitment to invest $100 billion into US manufacturing efforts. However, the WSJ says that US president Donald Trump and US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick also "urged" Cook to use Intel's manufacturing plants to make some of its chips. Later that same month, the US government converted $9 billion in federal grants into a 10% stake in Intel, making it the company's largest shareholder. Trump announced in June of this year that Apple had agreed to…
‘Customer demand will remain higher than our supply capacity even beyond 2030’: SK hynix CEO predicts memory supply crisis may run even longer than we feared
Summary
It was still a ways off, but I'd kind of latched on to '2028' being the end in sight of the raging memory supply crisis. However, SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung reckons we should only be so lucky. "We forecast that next year will be the worst year in the industry's history from the supply perspective," Kwak recently told Reuters. Not only is 2027 apparently set to be even worse, but Kwak also predicts the situation won't improve for years beyond the 2028 date I'd been holding on to, when SK hynix, Micron, and Samsung are all set to complete capacity expanding builds. "Our customer demand continues to go up, while our capacity has limitations," Kwak said, "We still forecast that customer demand will remain higher than our supply capacity…
Report: Obsidian Cancels Avowed Sequel To Begin Work On A New Fallout Game
Summary
Obsidian Entertainment is developing a new Fallout game, according to a report by Bloomberg. The report also states that the studio has canceled several in-development projects, including a planned sequel to its 2025 RPG, Avowed. The ongoing layoffs across Xbox’s gaming division have reportedly impacted roughly 25% of Obsidian’s staff, including long-time art director Daniel Alpert. Bloomberg reports that, as part of Xbox’s new initiative to largely focus on its biggest existing franchises, Obsidian’s development pipeline has shifted toward developing a new Fallout game, with studio design director Josh Sawyer at the helm. Obsidian has worked in this universe before, having previously made 2010’s well-received Fallout: New Vegas. Obsidian had been working on Avowed 2, which was said to be going well and on track to be announced within the…
Health & Wellness
New CRISPR approach may open path to hepatitis E treatment by blocking viral RNA
Summary
Researchers at the Ruhr University Bochum have developed a novel antiviral concept: Using the CRISPR/Cas13 system, they were able to specifically suppress the replication of the hepatitis E virus in human cells. Hepatitis E is a common cause of acute liver inflammation worldwide, yet effective specific therapies are still lacking. The team has now demonstrated that the virus can be targeted using an RNA-directed CRISPR system. The results, published on May 4, 2026, in the journal JHEP Reports, open new perspectives for the development of antiviral strategies. Researchers at the Ruhr University Bochum have developed a novel antiviral concept: Using the CRISPR/Cas13 system, they were able to specifically suppress the replication of the hepatitis E virus in human cells. Hepatitis E is a common cause of acute liver inflammation worldwide,…
Why only some patients get liver disease: New protein pathway may help forecast alpha1-antitrypsin outcomes
Summary
Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited disorder affecting 100,000 people in the U.S., causes a progressive and incurable lung disease. A subset of patients with the condition—about 10% to 15%—also develop liver disease because of the accumulation of the aggregated protein variant resulting from the genetic error that causes the disease. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a previously unknown biological process that helps explain why only a subset of the affected population develop liver disease. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited disorder affecting 100,000 people in the U.S., causes a progressive and incurable lung disease. A subset of patients with the condition—about 10% to 15%—also develop liver disease because of the accumulation of the aggregated protein variant resulting from the genetic error that causes the disease.…
Scientists uncover surprising health benefits of watermelon
Summary
Studies suggest watermelon could be a hidden powerhouse for better health. Researchers found that people who eat watermelon tend to have higher-quality diets packed with more vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants — while consuming less added sugar and saturated fat. Another study showed watermelon juice may help protect blood vessel function and support heart health. Studies suggest watermelon could be a hidden powerhouse for better health. Researchers found that people who eat watermelon tend to have higher-quality diets packed with more vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants — while consuming less added sugar and saturated fat. Another study showed watermelon juice may help protect blood vessel function and support heart health. Studies suggest watermelon could be a hidden powerhouse for better health. Researchers found that people who eat watermelon tend to have higher-quality…
Wealth and health divide: Obesity rates plateau in rich nations but surge in developing world
Summary
Obesity has long been the invisible health crisis looming over humanity, with rates climbing globally. There is some positive news now emerging from a multi-decade study spanning several nations. A recent study published in Nature by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a global network of health scientists, analyzed obesity-related data from 232 million people aged 5 years or older, spanning 45 years. Obesity has long been the invisible health crisis looming over humanity, with rates climbing globally. There is some positive news now emerging from a multi-decade study spanning several nations. A recent study published in Nature by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a global network of health scientists, analyzed obesity-related data from 232 million people aged 5 years or older, spanning 45 years.
Lifestyle
This Period-Tracking App Actually Keeps Your Data Private
Summary
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Period tracking is a simple job that plenty of apps can do. But most apps these days—including those that track health data—store information about you on their own servers and sometimes even share that data with advertisers. The Mozilla Foundation has tested several of the most popular period-tracking apps, and it identified one as better than the rest at keeping your data private: Euki. Privacy is especially important for period trackers in light of the political and legal battles that surround abortion and birth control. We know that police have used other data, like messages and search history, to prosecute people for alleged abortions. It’s understandable if you don’t want tech companies to keep or share data about your reproductive…
Why It’s a Bad Time to Buy an iPad Mini Right Now
Summary
We may earn a commission from links on this page. The iPad mini is in a league of its own when it comes to Apple tablets. It's too small to be a laptop replacement for most users, and probably isn't most artists' first choice as a digital drawing device. Instead, it's an iPad for extreme portability, for jumping between ebooks and Netflix before slipping into a coat pocket. It's the closest thing Apple has to a phablet, especially when paired with an Apple Pencil. For lack of a better word, it's perhaps Apple's "funnest" device. And yet, you shouldn't buy one—at least, not right now. That's because on Thursday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is readying an OLED iPad mini for later this year, possibly in October. It would…
What OnePlus Exiting the US Market Means for Current Users
Summary
When I first started covering tech, OnePlus was the brand to beat. It was never an Apple or a Samsung, but that's what it had going for it: The company made high-quality smartphones with enthusiast features at reasonable price points. I wouldn't even have called it an underdog, necessarily. It didn't have much "market share," but it was winning in the eyes of the tech community. Fast-forward a decade, and the situation couldn't be more different. OnePlus is officially dead in much of the world, as the company announced it will no longer produce new phones for the U.S. or Europe. This change didn't happen overnight: In recent years, OnePlus slowly stopped making phones for enthusiasts and started chasing mainstream flagships at flagship prices. And while it may have had…
Third-Party App Stores Are Finally Coming to Google Play
Summary
If you have an Android device, you likely download most of your apps from the Play Store. Maybe you sideload the occasional app from a website, or from your device's proprietary store (e.g., Samsung Store) but, for the most part, the Play Store is the go-to place for apps on Android. That seems to be changing. While the Play Store isn't going anywhere, Google is making third-party app stores available through its own official app store. As reported by The Verge, starting July 22, developers will be able to roll out their own app marketplaces for users to download on the Play Store. Those third-party app marketplaces can then sell their own apps, as well as pull from apps that Google hosts on the Play Store. In fact, all apps created…
Marketing & SEO
Used or cited: The two ways brands appear in AI search
Summary
Ranking within Google’s traditional search results provides diminishing returns. Ads, AI Overviews, and other search engine results page (SERP) features push organic links further down the page. As the search landscape changes, how should brands adapt to ensure they’re represented in AI-powered responses? The more you know about how AI engines use your brand’s information and when they cite it, the better you can use AI search to your advantage. With that knowledge, you can move beyond whether AI models know your brand and start developing your own AI visibility strategy. Collapse of the click economy It’s important for most brands to understand AI search and begin developing an AI SEO strategy as quickly as possible. While a full transformation from organic to AI search appears to be years away,…
How AI may increase the value of SEO expertise
Summary
By now, you’ve heard the doom and gloom. In April, Verizon CEO Dan Schulman warned that AI could push U.S. unemployment to 20%-30% over the next two to five years. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that AI could wipe out half of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years. Ford CEO Jim Farley has said AI could replace “literally half” of white-collar workers in the U.S. SEO is a white-collar job. So does that mean our jobs will be eliminated, too? The answer isn’t as obvious as you might think. Yes, the world is changing. But if you’ve been doing SEO for a while, you should be used to that by now. SEOs have always been forced to wear strange combinations of hats: part technical analyst, part content strategist, part…
Google confirms AI headline rewrites test in Search results
Summary
Google is testing AI-generated headline rewrites in Search results, describing it as a small, narrow experiment for now. What’s happening. Google confirmed to The Verge (subscription required) that it’s testing AI-generated titles in traditional Search results, not just Discover. The test is “small” and “narrow,” and not approved for broader rollout. It impacts news site but isn’t limited to them. The goal is to better match titles to queries and improve engagement, Google said. One example showed Google replacing original headlines with shorter or reworded versions, sometimes changing tone or intent (e.g., reducing “I used the ‘cheat on everything’ AI tool and it didn’t help me cheat on anything” to “‘Cheat on everything’ AI tool.”). Why we care. Google Search is already sending fewer clicks. Now you also have to…
Yahoo CEO: Google AI Mode is the biggest threat to web traffic
Summary
Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone said AI-powered search — especially Google’s AI Mode — is putting the open web’s core traffic model at risk and argues AI search engines must send users back to publishers. “I think that the LLMs are one big reason that they’re under threat, with AI Mode in Google being the biggest challenge.” “Those publishers deserve [traffic], and we’re not going to have the content to consume to give great answers if publishers aren’t healthy.” Why we care. Many websites are seeing less traffic from answer engines like Google and OpenAI — and I think it’ll only get worse. So it’s encouraging to see Yahoo trying to preserve the “search sends traffic” model. As he said: “We have very purposefully highlighted and linked very explicitly and bent…
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 Sets Coverage for Astronaut Chris Williams, Crewmates Return
Summary
The Roscosmos Soyuz MS 28 spacecraft is pictured in November 2025 shortly after docking to the International Space Station’s Rassvet module. Credit: NASA NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev are wrapping up their 241‑day mission aboard the International Space Station. The crew and its Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft will undock from the orbiting laboratory’s Rassvet module at 3:02 a.m. EDT Sunday, July 26, heading for a parachute-assisted landing at 6:26 a.m. (3:26 p.m. local time) on the steppe of Kazakhstan, southeast of Dzhezkazgan. NASA’s live return coverage will stream through a variety of platforms. Learn where to watch online: https://www.nasa.gov/live Williams and his crewmates will complete 3,856 orbits and travel more than 102 million miles before returning to Earth. The flight marks the first mission…
NASA Joins Genesis Mission to Accelerate AI-Driven Discovery
Summary
Credit: NASA NASA is supporting the Genesis Mission, a national effort to drive the use of artificial intelligence in tackling complex scientific and engineering challenges to advance a new era of discovery. President Donald J. Trump issued the Executive Order “Launching the Genesis Mission” on Nov. 24, 2025, creating a national mission to leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. The mission is led by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and has now expanded to more than 15 federal agencies in a whole-of-government initiative. NASA is exploring how its missions, data, and expertise can support National Science and Technology challenges and help develop the powerful AI tools envisioned under the Genesis Mission, opening the door to faster breakthroughs, new knowledge, and discoveries that benefit the American…
Establishing Crew Exposure Limits of Martian Dust
Summary
This image taken by NASA’s Perseverance rover on Sept. 7, 2021, PDT (Sept. 8, EDT). NASA/SP-20260005907 – Martian Dust Exposure Limits: Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), toxicological risks, and health standards for Martian dust as discussed by the Mars dust working group (February 20 and 27, 2026) Background Human exploration of Mars will expose crews to a persistent, fine particulate environment whose physicochemical properties and health implications remain only partly understood. Because no samples of authentic Martian airborne dust have been returned to Earth, NASA must rely on lunar dust toxicology, Martian regolith simulants, and extensive rover/lander geochemical and mineralogical datasets to develop an initial, risk‑informed Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). The Johnson Space Center (JSC) Lunar and Martian Dust Risk Custodian, the JSC Toxicology group, and the OCHMO Standards team worked…
Establishing a VTE Risk Score for Astronauts Algorithm
Summary
Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) grade 3 with peripheral echogenicity. NASA/Pavela NASA/SP-20260005258/REV1 – NASA Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Spaceflight – Outcomes of Working Group Meeting – April 2026 In April 2026, NASA’s Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) initiated a working group to review updated VTE case information, additional data gathered revealing altered blood flow status within a cohort of astronauts, and discuss progress of research and clinical activities intended to mitigate the risk of VTE during spaceflight with new evidence-based clinical practice recommendations. Recommendations The following is a summary of the working group’s recommendations: The working group’s conclusions emphasized that stasis in the left internal jugular vein (IJV) is consistently viewed as a dominant risk factor for VTE in microgravity, though there is active debate regarding…
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
Meta just created a moderation nightmare for its smart glasses
Summary
Meta's smart glasses have been a PR headache for the company. Public backlash has been swift, and fierce; people are concerned about the erosion of privacy and expansion of surveillance. Some especially bad actors are using the glasses to film themselves "pranking" random strangers. Women have become unsuspecting social media content for men filming themselves hitting on them without their knowledge. When your product is being referred to as "pervert glasses," you have a problem on your hands. On Thursday, Business Insider reported that Meta was taking the fairly extraordinary step of banning some content filmed with Meta glasses from the c … Read the full story at The Verge. Meta's smart glasses have been a PR headache for the company. Public backlash has been swift, and fierce; people are…
Qualcomm is about to raise prices and that’s bad news for everyone
Summary
Qualcomm sent a letter to customers on Friday warning of plans to increase its prices by "a percentage in the double digits," Bloomberg reports. The price hikes will go into effect starting with products shipped after September 1st. Qualcomm claims it has "exhausted its ability to absorb higher costs from suppliers," as ongoing component shortages continue to drive up prices. The company also said it attempted to source components from alternate suppliers prior to announcing the price hikes. As Bloomberg notes, Qualcomm's price increases will likely have a ripple effect, particularly for smartphones. Qualcomm's chips power everything fro … Read the full story at The Verge. Qualcomm sent a letter to customers on Friday warning of plans to increase its prices by "a percentage in the double digits," Bloomberg reports.…
RFK Jr.’s hand-picked committee approves manufacture of peptides he uses
Summary
In a widely expected move, a committee organized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted to endorse removing restrictions on the manufacture of peptides for human use. Thursday's panel meeting saw a sharply divided group recommend lifting limits on four peptides; votes on three additional peptides are scheduled for today. The move comes despite a continuing lack of evidence regarding their safety and effectiveness. The move had been telegraphed months earlier as peptide enthusiast and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took steps to ensure this outcome. Like proteins, peptides are composed of amino acids that are chemically linked into a chain. Peptides differ merely by length; they're often 10–20 amino acids long, in contrast to proteins, which can be hundreds or thousands. Some of…
Midjourney bought the astrology app Co-Star
Summary
Midjourney, which has gone from generating AI cat images to full-body ultrasound scans, is getting into a new field: astrology. The AI startup announced on Thursday that it has acquired the personalized astrology app Co-Star, as reported earlier by Bloomberg. Co-Star is a free app that offers daily horoscopes and allows you to check your compatibility with friends. As noted on the app's FAQ page, it combines human insight, data from NASA, and AI to deliver personalized advice for users each day. The terms of Midjourney's deal, which reportedly closed in spring, haven't been disclosed. Midjourney founder David Holz says Co-Star founder Banu … Read the full story at The Verge. Midjourney, which has gone from generating AI cat images to full-body ultrasound scans, is getting into a new field:…