Artificial Intelligence
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…
The ascent of the AI therapist
Summary
We’re in the midst of a global mental-health crisis. More than a billion people worldwide suffer from a mental-health condition, according to the World Health Organization. The prevalence of anxiety and depression is growing in many demographics, particularly young people, and suicide is claiming hundreds of thousands of lives globally each year. Given the clear demand for accessible and affordable mental-health services, it’s no wonder that people have looked to artificial intelligence for possible relief. Millions are already actively seeking therapy from popular chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, or from specialized psychology apps like Wysa and Woebot. On a broader scale, researchers are exploring AI’s potential to monitor and collect behavioral and biometric observations using wearables and smart devices, analyze vast volumes of clinical data for new insights,…
Chatbots are surprisingly effective at debunking conspiracy theories
Summary
It’s become a truism that facts alone don’t change people’s minds. Perhaps nowhere is this more clear than when it comes to conspiracy theories: Many people believe that you can’t talk conspiracists out of their beliefs. But that’s not necessarily true. It turns out that many conspiracy believers do respond to evidence and arguments—information that is now easy to deliver in the form of a tailored conversation with an AI chatbot. In research we published in the journal Science this year, we had over 2,000 conspiracy believers engage in a roughly eight-minute conversation with DebunkBot, a model we built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo (the most up-to-date GPT model at that time). Participants began by writing out, in their own words, a conspiracy theory that they believed and the…
Transforming commercial pharma with agentic AI
Summary
Amid the turbulence of the wider global economy in recent years, the pharmaceuticals industry is weathering its own storms. The rising cost of raw materials and supply chain disruptions are squeezing margins as pharma companies face intense pressure—including from countries like the US—to control drug costs. At the same time, a wave of expiring patents threatens around $300 billion in potential lost sales by 2030. As companies lose the exclusive right to sell the drugs they have developed, competitors can enter the market with generic and biosimilar lower-cost alternatives, leading to a sharp decline in branded drug sales—a “patent cliff.” Simultaneously, the cost of bringing new drugs to market is climbing. McKinsey estimates cost per launch is growing 8% each year, reaching $4 billion in 2022. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT In clinics…
Business & Finance
JD Vance appeals to allies for new ‘trading bloc’ that keeps Trump’s tariffs in place, secures access to rare earths
Summary
The Trump administration wants to create a critical minerals trading bloc with its allies that will use tariffs to maintain price floors and defend against China’s tactic of flooding the market to undermine any potential competitors. Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the trade war over the past year exposed how dependent most countries are on the critical minerals that China has a stranglehold on. “We want members to form a trading bloc among allies and partners, one that guarantees American access to American industrial might while also expanding production across the entire zone,” Vance said at a meeting of foreign ministers at the State Department. “What is before all of us is an opportunity at self-reliance that we never have to rely on anybody else except for each…
Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations after a wave of canceled shows due to Trump adding his name to the building
Summary
President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts venue for two years starting in July for construction. Trump’s announcement on social media follows a wave of cancellations since Trump ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Trump made no mention in his post of the recent cancellations. Trump announced his plan days after the premiere of “Melania” a documentary of the first lady was shown at the storied venue. The proposal, he said, is subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies. Trump himself chairs the center’s board of trustees. “This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad…
Trump’s plan to make housing affordable is faltering
Summary
President Donald Trump’s bid to put home ownership in reach for more Americans is sputtering, just weeks after it launched. With voters signaling that pocketbook issues are top-of-mind ahead of the November midterm elections, the White House has floated a series of trial balloons aimed at lowering the cost of buying a home, only to see several shot down by Congress, the financial industry or even Trump himself. The result: About six weeks after he promised “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history,” the administration has struggled to get new policies in place while mortgage rates recently inched higher. Trump acknowledged the corner he’s painted himself into, waffling about the very idea of bringing down housing costs if it means existing homeowners get hurt. “We’re not going to destroy the…
Democrat stuns Texas GOP in special election for a state senate district that Trump won by 17 points in 2024, adding to signs of a blue wave
Summary
Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas state Senate on Saturday, flipping a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024. Rehmet, a labor union leader and veteran, easily defeated Republican Leigh Wambsganss, a conservative activist, in the Fort Worth-area district. With almost all votes counted, Rehmet had a comfortable lead of more than 14 percentage points. “This win goes to everyday working people,” Rehmet told supporters. His victory added to Democrats’ record of overperforming in special elections so far this cycle. Democrats said it was further evidence that voters under the second Trump administration are motivated to reject GOP candidates and their policies. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin called it “a warning sign to Republicans across the country.” The seat…
Education
Education Department Takes a Preliminary Step Toward Revamping Its Research and Statistics Arm
Summary
In his first two months in office, President Donald Trump ordered the closing of the Education Department and fired half of its staff. The department’s research and statistics division, called the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), was particularly hard hit. About 90 percent of its staff lost their jobs and more than 100 federal contracts to conduct its primary activities were canceled. But now there are signs that the Trump administration is partially reversing course and wants the federal government to retain a role in generating education statistics and evidence for what works in classrooms — at least to some extent. On Sept. 25, the department posted a notice in the Federal Register asking the public to submit feedback by Oct. 15 on reforming IES to make research more relevant…
PEN America Warns of Rise in Books ‘Systematically Removed From School Libraries’
Summary
PEN America released its list of the most-banned books of the 2024-2025 school year on Wednesday – and warned that the number of books challenged or banned in public school districts across the country has risen exponentially in the past two years. The group dedicated to free expression counted 6,870 bans during the past academic year. While that’s down from a total of 10,046 bans imposed during the 2023-24 school year, it’s still a sharp rise from the period of 2021-2023, which averaged just under 3,000 incidents of book banning each year, in what it calls a “disturbing normalization of censorship” in public schools. PEN America defines a school book ban as “any action taken against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or community…
A New Nation’s Report Card Shows Drops in Science, Math and Reading Scores
Summary
New test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, show eighth-graders’ science scores have fallen 4 points since 2019 and 12th-graders’ math and reading scores have fallen 3 points in the same time period. The tests were administered between January and March 2024. This is the first NAEP score release since the Trump administration began making cuts to the U.S. Education Department. Those cuts, included laying off more than half the workers at the Institute of Education Sciences, IES, the arm of the department charged with measuring student achievement and overseeing and processing the data that comes from the tests students take. After those cuts, the department also canceled about a dozen national and state assessments of student progress through 2032…
Looking Back: When the Spanish Flu Upended Universities, Students Paid the Price
Summary
In the fall of 1918, Edward Kidder Graham, the president of the University of North Carolina, tried to reassure anxious parents. The Spanish flu was spreading rapidly, but Graham insisted the university was doing all it could to keep students safe. Weeks later, Graham himself contracted the virus and died. His successor, Marvin Hendrix Stacy, promptly succumbed to the epidemic two months later. Many universities endured similar chaos during the Spanish flu, as I learned from reading a chapter in a forthcoming book on higher education, “From Upheaval to Action: What Works in Changing Higher Ed,” by sociologist and Brandeis University President Arthur Levine and University of Pennsylvania administrator Scott Van Pelt. (Disclosure: Levine was the president of Teachers College, Columbia University from 1994 to 2006, during which he launched…
Entertainment
Bertlesmann Reportedly in Talks to Buy Concord
Summary
BMG Rights Management, a division of German media giant Bertelsmann, is in talks to acquire Concord, according to a new report from Bloomberg. While Bloomberg’s report notes that a sale could be valued as high as $7 billion, sources close to the matter tell Billboard that the current offer price is $4.8 billion — a figure close to the sale price that Concord investors had previously sought when they explored a sale back in 2022. Currently, sources tell Billboard that the two companies are in active talks but still negotiating the equity and stock components of the deal. Any deal of this magnitude would likely require approval by antitrust regulators in the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, where Concord holds some of its rights. When reached…
Philip Glass Pulls ‘Lincoln’ World Premiere From Kennedy Center, Says Venue’s Values ‘Are In Direct Conflict’ With Symphony’s Message
Summary
Acclaimed composer Philip Glass is the latest in a string of artists to walk back previously scheduled engagements at the Kennedy Center. On Tuesday (Jan. 27), Glass confirmed to The Washington Post that he would be withdrawing his Symphony No. 15: “Lincoln” from the National Symphony Orchestra, which was set to play the piece’s world premiere in June. Related Hoodoo Gurus Condemn Far-Right Australian Party One Nation Over Use of Their Music Australia's Hellbound Heavy Metal Cruise to Set Sail Again in 2027 ENHYPEN's Sunghoon Selected as Torchbearer for 2026 Winter Olympics “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass wrote in his statement, which he also posted to his official social media pages…
TikTok Finalizes Deal to Create New American Entity, Avoiding U.S. Ban
Summary
TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years. The social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture. The new version will operate under “defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurances for U.S. users,” the company said in a statement Thursday. American TikTok users can continue using the same app. Adam Presser, who previously worked as TikTok’s head of operations and trust and safety, will lead the new venture as its CEO. He will work alongside a seven-member, majority-American board of directors that includes TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew. The…
‘Tangled’ Live-Action Remake Finds Its Rapunzel & Flynn Rider
Summary
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Disney will let down Rapunzel’s lengthy hair once again. Walt Disney Pictures said Wednesday (Jan. 7) its live-action adaptation of Tangled will star Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim in the lead roles of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Related Disney’s ‘Tangled’ Reimagined as Live-Action Film Led by ‘Greatest Showman’ Director Michael Gracey She Is ‘Moana’: Disney Shares First Look at Catherine Lagaʻaia in Epic Teaser for Live-Action Remake The 100 Greatest Disneyverse Songs of All Time The 2010 animated hit followed Rapunzel, the magically long-haired princess locked away in a tower, whose carefully ordered life is upended when she teams up with Flynn Rider, a charming outlaw on the run. The original film featured the voices of Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, grossed more than $590 million worldwide, and spawned both the short film Tangled Ever…
Environment & Sustainability
TB 26-01 Evaluation of Adhesive and Solvent Alternatives for Polymeric Bonding Applications
Summary
The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) conducted a technical assessment to evaluate alternatives to dichloromethane, traditionally used for bonding transparent polymeric materials. This effort was initiated in response to potential regulatory restrictions under the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which could impact critical bonding processes used in spaceflight hardware and experimental systems. Download PDF: Evaluation of Adhesive and Solvent Alternatives for PolymericBonding Applications The post TB 26-01 Evaluation of Adhesive and Solvent Alternatives for Polymeric Bonding Applications appeared first on NASA Science. The NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) conducted a technical assessment to evaluate alternatives to dichloromethane, traditionally used for bonding transparent polymeric materials. This effort was initiated in response to potential regulatory restrictions under the EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which could impact critical bonding…
Small Steps, Giant Leaps: Episode 167: The Many Hats of NASA Engineer Jennifer Lu
Summary
Host Andres Almeida: Today, we’re talking with aerospace engineer Jennifer Lu about what her job is like at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. From her experience working with the Commercial Crew Program, which sends astronauts to the International Space Station aboard commercial spacecraft, and the Artemis missions to the Moon, she’ll share how working with a variety of teams has helped her see the bigger picture. But Jennifer’s journey to NASA wasn’t always part of her plan. In fact, she was once a professional circus performer. A series of small steps led her to NASA. Let’s get into it on this episode of Small Steps, Giant Leaps. [Intro music] Welcome to Small Steps, Giant Leaps, your podcast from NASA’s Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership. I’m your host Andres Almeida. Host: Jennifer Lu is with us today. Hey, Jennifer,…
NASA Heat Shield Tech Contributes to America’s Space Industry
Summary
Varda Space Industries/William Godward This Jan. 29, 2026, photo captures the streak the Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule made while returning to Earth. The capsule uses a protective heat shield Varda produced made of cutting-edge material it licensed from NASA. The material, known as C-PICA (Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), provides a stronger, less expensive, and more efficient thermal protection coating to capsules, allowing them – and their valuable contents – to return to Earth safely. Developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, C-PICA sets the standard for heat shields, reflecting the decades of expertise that NASA brings to designing, developing, and testing innovative thermal protection materials. This flight test of Varda-produced C-PICA was supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. Image credit: Varda Space Industries/William Godward The post NASA Heat Shield Tech…
Masterplan
Summary
Welcome to Kennedy Space Center’s Master Plan Kennedy Space Center is completing an update of its Master Plan, which is a guiding document that helps guide long-term vision, future growth, and investment. A public-facing version of the plan will be available on this site once the update is complete and will highlight the plan’s key goals, ideas, and opportunities so that you are informed about the direction of Kennedy Space Center. Click the “Read More” link below for a first look at some of the themes included in the update! Read More The post Masterplan appeared first on NASA Science. Welcome to Kennedy Space Center’s Master Plan Kennedy Space Center is completing an update of its Master Plan, which is a guiding document that helps guide long-term vision, future growth,…
Food & Travel
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…
FAA Slashes Flights at 40 Major US Airports in Light of Government Shutdown
Summary
Everyone knows flying in the US can be a little bumpy, both literally and figuratively. But it’s about to get significantly more delayed in light of the current US federal government shutdown, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made a significant announcement on Wednesday, November 5. Citing the immense strain on staff from the record-long government shutdown, it announced it would cut flight traffic by 10 percent at 40 of the country’s busiest airports. The announcement was made at a press conference by US Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy, who oversees the FAA, following vague comments earlier in the week to completely close some portions of US air space if the shutdown continued. Unconfirmed sources tell media outlets the scale-back will happen gradually, beginning with a four percent…
Gaming
Nintendo Stock Nosedives Following Earnings Report, Despite Record-Breaking Switch 2 Sales
Summary
Nintendo shares have seen their biggest drop in 18 months, after the company's quarterly earnings call revealed a decline in profit margins and saw executives fending off rumors of a Switch 2 price hike. The Japanese gaming company's stock fell as much as 11% in a single day following the earnings call, Bloomberg reports. While the Switch 2 continued to sell well, selling just over 7 million units this quarter to beat the average analyst estimate of 6.5 million, the new console's lower profit margins saw the company's profit ratio take a dip. Despite sales and income mostly trending upwards, Nintendo's profit nevertheless failed to meet projections. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa acknowledged that the company was feeling pressure from a difficult market, with component costs increasing due to the AI…
Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 failed to meet expectations for Obsidian, but Grounded 2 was a hit, and the future is looking positive for the Pillars of Eternity universe
Summary
Obsidian released three major games in 2025, at a time when most major studios—especially those owned by Microsoft—struggle to ship one. Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 were big tentpole first-person RPGs of a kind the industry used to dine out on, while Grounded 2—an early access survival crafting game set in a miniature world, co-developed in two years with Eidos Montreal—was ostensibly the more niche affair. Nevertheless, it was Grounded 2 that proved a big hit, whereas Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 both failed to meet the sales forecasts set by Microsoft, according to a new Bloomberg report. "They’re [Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2] not disasters," Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart told Bloomberg. "I’m not going to say this was a kick in the teeth. It was more…
It’s reportedly game over for 8K before it even got going as display industry support ‘dwindles’
Summary
Ars Technica is reporting that's it essentially game over for 8K display technology. LG is apparently no longer making 8K TV panels and membership of the 8K Association industry body is "dwindling". So, is 8K basically dead as a display format and does that include the PC? Ars Technica's reporting focusses, inevitably, on TVs. But where TVs go, the PC monitor market often follows. See 1080p and 4K resolutions for proof. Of course, TV and monitor formats and resolutions are not all exactly the same. See 1440p and ultrawide monitors for proof, equally, of that. Ars points out that the first 8K TV was announced by Sharp way back in 2012, with the first 8K OLED being released by LG in 2019. But wider adoption has been slow. While there…
‘TSMC needs to work very hard this year because I need a lot of wafers’ says Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang outside a ‘trillion-dollar dinner’ for top tech manufacturers in Taiwan
Summary
Things might be tough for PC gamers this year, as prices continue to rise on everything from memory modules to graphics cards. One person who doesn't appear to be feeling the pinch just yet, though, is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who hosted a so-called "trillion-dollar dinner" in Taiwan this weekend, supposedly named after the market capitalization of the firms attending. Huang took the opportunity to speak to the press in the rain outside of a Taipei restaurant on Saturday, where he jokingly appeared to give Taiwanese chip juggernaut TSMC something of a hurry up, according to Reuters. "TSMC needs to work very hard this year because I need a lot of wafers," said Huang, laughing with the assembled press. "TSMC is doing an incredible job and they're working very, very…
Health & Wellness
Arachidonic + docosahexaenoic acid cuts risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity by nearly half
Summary
Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease the risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants by nearly half, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Ophthalmology. Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease the risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants by nearly half, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Ophthalmology. Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease the risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants by nearly half, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Ophthalmology. Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease the risk for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely preterm infants by nearly half, according to a research letter published online in…
One-third of dementia cases are linked to non brain-related diseases, study finds
Summary
Dementia is a term used to describe memory loss, impaired reasoning, difficulties communicating and other mental impairments that can be caused by Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disease, strokes, severe infections, head injuries or various other conditions. While most past studies investigating the causes and underpinnings of dementia focused on the brain, a growing body of research suggests that these mental impairments could sometimes be linked to diseases that affect other parts of the body, referred to as peripheral diseases. Dementia is a term used to describe memory loss, impaired reasoning, difficulties communicating and other mental impairments that can be caused by Alzheimer's disease, other neurodegenerative disease, strokes, severe infections, head injuries or various other conditions. While most past studies investigating the causes and underpinnings of dementia focused on the brain,…
Why heart disease risk in type 2 diabetes looks different for men and women
Summary
Scientists are digging into why heart disease risk in type 2 diabetes differs between men and women—and sex hormones may be part of the story. In a large Johns Hopkins study, men with higher testosterone had lower heart disease risk, while rising estradiol levels were linked to higher risk. These hormone effects were not seen in women. The results point toward more personalized approaches to heart disease prevention in diabetes. Scientists are digging into why heart disease risk in type 2 diabetes differs between men and women—and sex hormones may be part of the story. In a large Johns Hopkins study, men with higher testosterone had lower heart disease risk, while rising estradiol levels were linked to higher risk. These hormone effects were not seen in women. The results point…
Sound machines might be making your sleep worse
Summary
Sound machines may not be the sleep saviors many believe. Researchers found that pink noise significantly reduced REM sleep, while simple earplugs did a better job protecting deep, restorative sleep from traffic noise. When pink noise was combined with outside noise, sleep quality dropped even further. The results suggest that popular “sleep sounds” could be doing more harm than good—particularly for kids. Sound machines may not be the sleep saviors many believe. Researchers found that pink noise significantly reduced REM sleep, while simple earplugs did a better job protecting deep, restorative sleep from traffic noise. When pink noise was combined with outside noise, sleep quality dropped even further. The results suggest that popular “sleep sounds” could be doing more harm than good—particularly for kids.
Lifestyle
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a MacBook Pro Right Now
Summary
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Speaking as someone who almost pulled the trigger on one this weekend, if you're planning on buying a new MacBook Pro right now, don't do it. According to inside information seen by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, new models are right around the corner. The news came in the latest edition of Gurman's Power On newsletter, a frequent and usually correct source on all things Apple. According to the reporter's sources at the company, new models of MacBook Pro are currently set to come out sometime during the macOS 26.3 release cycle, which will last from February through March. The new laptops will supposedly keep the same form factor, but will feature newer chips, likely the M5 Pro and M5 Max. That…
Who Can Get a Piece of Google’s $135 Million Android Settlement
Summary
To avoid a court proceeding, Google has agreed to a $135 million class-action settlement over its data collection practices with Android. News of the settlement was first reported by Reuters. Upon approval by a judge, the settlement could see Android users in the U.S. getting up to $100 each, provided they qualify. The settlement was filed in San Jose, California on Tuesday evening, and focused on claims that Google collected unnecessary cellular data from customers even when Google apps were closed, location-sharing was disabled, and screens were locked. The lawsuit alleges that Google collected the data with the intent of "conversion," a legal term that in this case would likely mean using the captured data for product development and targeted advertising. Google denied any wrongdoing, but as part of the…
How to Get Your Share of These Billion Dollar Amazon Settlements
Summary
January isn't over yet, and Amazon's already set to pay more than $3 billion to U.S. customers across various settlements. If you've bought anything from Amazon recently, keep an eye out: Bezos' baby could owe you some money. How to get Amazon's returns settlement If you've had difficulty returning an Amazon package recently, you could have a paycheck coming your way soon. As reported by Reuters, the company has agreed to a $309 million cash settlement (in addition to "other benefits") with affected customers, alongside more than $600 million in individual refunds. According to lawyers for the plaintiffs, the settlement as a whole provides more than $1 billion in relief. The lawsuit accused the e-commerce giant of causing "substantial unjustified monetary losses" with its return policies, which the plaintiffs say…
Meta Is Testing Paid Subscriptions for Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook
Summary
It's possible the one thing that could universally break smartphone addiction is making social media pay-to-play. Right now, there is zero friction involved in opening Instagram or TikTok, and getting sucked into their algorithms. But add a paywall to those apps, and all of a sudden, I don't have any interest in logging on. If that sounds like it'd work on you too, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Meta will soon test a subscription model for Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook. The bad news is that these subscriptions won't be required to actually access the app, or the core features you already know. That will remain free, so we will remain hopelessly addicted. What is Meta including in its "premium experience" subscription? The details…
Marketing & SEO
Meta tests paid subscriptions
Summary
Meta tests paid subscriptions across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp to unlock premium features and AI across its apps. What is happening. Meta is testing new subscriptions that unlock exclusive features across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, while keeping the core experiences free. Rather than a single bundle, Meta plans to experiment with different subscription models and feature sets tailored to each app, spanning productivity, creativity and expanded AI capabilities. Subscriptions will introduce premium controls and tools for everyday users, creators and businesses — separate from Meta Verified. On Instagram, early tests could include unlimited audience lists, insights into non-followers, and stealth story viewing. Meta also plans to roll out paid access to AI features, including expanded usage of its Vibes AI video generation tool under a freemium model. Why we care.…
The AI gold rush is over: Why AI’s next era belongs to orchestrators
Summary
For the past two years, we’ve been living in AI’s gold rush era. To borrow from Taylor Swift, think of it as the “Lover” phase where everything is shiny, new, and full of possibility. The behavior: Buy everything. The metric: Can it generate something cool? The vibe: Pure FOMO. But we’re entering a new era now. Call it the “Reputation” phase, which is darker, edgier, and entirely focused on receipts. A sign of this shift was in the headlines recently, blaring on about Microsoft lowering its AI sales targets. The hot takes rushed in to frame it as a disappointment, a slowdown, and even a sign that enterprise demand is cooling. They all misread the moment. This is really a sign of the market graduating. We’re maturing. The AI gold…
Google pulls EU antitrust complaint against Microsoft
Summary
Google withdrew its antitrust complaint against Microsoft after EU regulators opened a new probe into Azure under the bloc’s tough tech rules. Driving the news. Google pulled its 2024 complaint—centered on Microsoft’s allegedly anti-competitive cloud licensing practices—just as the European Commission launched fresh investigations into whether Azure and Amazon Web Services fall under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Google says the withdrawal doesn’t mean it’s backing down. What they’re saying. “We filed our antitrust complaint…to give voice to our customers and partners,” said Giorgia Abeltino, Google Cloud Europe’s head of public policy. She added that Google still stands behind the concerns raised. Why we care. The EU’s new probe into Microsoft’s cloud practices could reshape the infrastructure that underpins many ad-tech tools, measurement systems, and AI workflows. If regulators force…
Google and AI slop are ruining Thanksgiving for food bloggers
Summary
Food bloggers say this Thanksgiving is a breaking point. Google Search and AI Overviews, powered by Gemini 3, are rewriting recipes, stealing clicks, and in some cases serving dangerously wrong cooking instructions, Bloomberg reported. Why we care. For more than a decade, food bloggers could predict and rely on holiday traffic. Not this year. AI answers are replacing vetted recipes, cutting off creators’ main revenue streams, and confusing home cooks with stitched-together instructions that don’t always make sense. What’s happening. Google’s AI Overviews now surface blended cooking steps from multiple bloggers, often above the links/sources they draw from. Many food creators reported between 30% and 80% drops in Google traffic, with some calling this their worst holiday season yet. Meanwhile, AI-generated recipe slop is flooding Pinterest, Facebook, and Etsy, blurring…
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
Station Nation: Erin Edwards, Deputy Branch Chief for Crew Operations and Capsule Communicator
Summary
As a member of the Crew Operations Office, Erin Edwards and her team manage astronaut candidate training schedules, including field medical exercises, land survival, and underwater operations at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston. She also develops and tests new training programs to keep crews mission-ready. Along with her role as a crew operations officer, Edwards works in the International Space Station Mission Control Center as a capsule communicator, or capcom, and instructor. As a capcom, she must be fluent in the language of the spacecraft and its operations to clearly relay important information to the crew, especially during dynamic operations. Read on to learn about Edwards’ career with NASA and more! Erin Edwards serves as a capsule communicator, or capcom, in the International Space Station Mission Control Center in Houston. NASA/James Blair Where are you from? Port…
Full Moon over Artemis II
Summary
NASA/Sam Lott A full moon is seen shining over NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) and Orion spacecraft, atop the mobile launcher at Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the early hours of February 1, 2026. The agency concluded a wet dress rehearsal for the agency’s Artemis II test flight early Tuesday morning, successfully loading cryogenic propellant into the SLS (Space Launch System) tanks, sending a team out to the launch pad to closeout Orion, and safely draining the rocket. The wet dress rehearsal was a prelaunch test to fuel the rocket, designed to identify any issues and resolve them before attempting a launch. To allow teams to review data and conduct a second wet dress rehearsal, NASA now will target March as the earliest possible launch opportunity for the…
NASA’s Orion Spacecraft at Launch Pad
Summary
NASA/Brandon Hancock NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which will carry the Artemis II crew around the Moon, sits at the launch pad on Jan. 17, 2026, after rollout. It rests atop the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. Orion can provide living space on missions for four astronauts for up to 21 days without docking to another spacecraft. Advances in technology for deep space travel such as life support, avionics, power systems, and state-of-the-art thermal protection will support the crew during launch, landing, and recovery. Image credit: NASA/Brandon Hancock NASA/Brandon Hancock NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which will carry the Artemis II crew around the Moon, sits at the launch pad on Jan. 17, 2026, after rollout. It rests atop the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. Orion can provide living space on missions for four astronauts for…
NASA Heat Shield Technology Enables Space Industry Growth
Summary
3 min read Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater) The Varda Space Industries W-5 capsule returned to Earth in Koonibba in South Australia on Jan. 29, 2026, with the protection of a heat shield made of C-PICA, a cutting-edge material licensed from NASA and manufactured by Varda. The capsule’s successful return marks the first time a capsule protected entirely by Varda-made C-PICA has come back to Earth. Varda Space Industries/William Godward Using cutting-edge material licensed from NASA, a protective heat shield manufactured in-house by Varda Space Industries for the first time enabled one of its capsules to blaze through Earth’s atmosphere on Thursday, marking a significant milestone for the agency and America’s space industry. The material, known as C-PICA (Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), provides a stronger, less…
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
This Town, 2.0
Summary
The US Capitol is seen ahead of a possible government shutdown in Washington, DC, January 29, 2026. | AFP via Getty Images Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter for Verge subscribers about the most ambitious crossover event of all time: the infinity war between technology and politics. Not subscribed yet? Come on, do it! Washington might seem slower than Silicon Valley. But that's because it's more turbulent. In order to achieve anything, one has to navigate the sheer amount of chaos that emerges when thousands of federal elected officials, staffers, political appointees, lobbyists, corporations, lawyers, journalists, and influencers are trying to push their interests, often at the same time. For the past 20-odd issues of Regulator, I've written weekly … Read the full story at The Verge.
Overwatch: all the news about Blizzard’s hit hero shooter
Summary
Overwatch 2, the sequel to Activision Blizzard’s hit hero shooter Overwatch, was announced in 2019 but didn’t arrive for another three years, eventually bringing a shift to five-on-five matches in PVP, and a few new characters, including Overwatch’s first Black female hero. After canceling planned PvE content and unlocking its hero pool, the game’s developers eventually brought back a lot of things, like 6v6 gameplay, loot boxes, and, in 2026, its name. Overwatch 2 is now just Overwatch again. Catch up on The Verge’s coverage of the game right here. Overwatch 2 is gone — now it’s just Overwatch. Overwatch MOBA? Overwatch 2 is adding a CS:GO-style mode and bringing back loot boxes Marvel Rivals takes a page from Rocket League (and Overwatch). For a limited time, Overwatch returns to…
Ikea’s cheap new smart home gear is struggling to get connected
Summary
Some users are having trouble onboarding Ikea’s new Matter-compatible smart home products. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge I've spent the last couple of weeks trying - and mostly failing - to test Ikea's new Matter-over-Thread gear. These highly anticipated smart home devices include programmable buttons, smart bulbs, plugs, and temperature and motion sensors - all of which should work with any smart home platform and start at just $6. But I've hit several walls trying to connect them to any smart home platform, and I'm not alone. The Tradfri subreddit is filled with Ikea customers sharing similar frustrations, reviews on Ikea's website point to issues, and colleagues at The Verge have also been having problems. Of the six devices I've tried to connect, I've … Read…
OpenClaw’s AI ‘skill’ extensions are a security nightmare
Summary
OpenClaw, the AI agent that has exploded in popularity over the past week, is raising new security concerns after researchers uncovered malware in hundreds of user-submitted "skill" add-ons on its marketplace. In a post on Monday, 1Password product VP Jason Meller says OpenClaw's skill hub has become "an attack surface," with the most-downloaded add-on serving as a "malware delivery vehicle." OpenClaw - first called Clawdbot, then Moltbot - is billed as an AI agent that "actually does things," such as managing your calendar, checking in for flights, cleaning out your inbox, and more. It runs locally on devices, and users can interact with t … Read the full story at The Verge. OpenClaw, the AI agent that has exploded in popularity over the past week, is raising new security concerns…