Artificial Intelligence
Flock is tightening its rules in response to a growing surveillance backlash
Summary
The police-tech giant Flock is announcing today that it will change officers’ access to its nationwide network of license plate readers, in an apparent effort to quell a growing backlash and win back contracts lost amid concerns about mass surveillance and police abuse. Several changes aim directly at a problem that has made recent headlines: officers abusing Flock’s technology to stalk and harass current or former romantic partners. Flock’s 120,000 cameras form a nationwide network that police departments can use, giving officers access to an enormous pool of searchable location data. A recent Washington Post investigation found 46 cases in which officers were accused of using Flock’s cameras for unauthorized purposes like stalking. To combat that, the company will start requiring officers to enter a criminal case number before conducting…
Samsung’s chip workers are jumping ship to rival SK Hynix
Summary
Lee, an engineer at Samsung’s semiconductor division, clocks out when his shift ends. He used to work longer hours, going the extra mile to excel at his projects. But lately, he’s been coming straight home to work on his job application for the chipmaker’s South Korean rival SK Hynix, sharing tips with his coworkers on how to draft a stellar personal statement. Even his boss encourages him to make the move. “My team lead tells us all to jump ship to SK Hynix,” says Lee. He and his coworkers are feeling demoralized by the $476,000 bonus that SK Hynix is set to pay its employees, flush with record profits from making the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips that power Nvidia’s AI accelerators. The figure dwarfs what chip workers at Samsung are…
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…
Business & Finance
Hunt for AI-proof trades turns convenience shops into hot stocks
Summary
Convenience store stocks are having their moment, riding a wave of investor demand for more defensive plays as angst over the sustainability of the artificial intelligence boom and the ongoing conflict in Iran drive increased market turbulence. Shares of the group’s biggest names — Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Casey’s General Stores Inc., and Murphy USA Inc. — have surged to near record levels and are all up at least 24% this year. The leader of the pack, Casey’s, is up more than 54% and on track for its best annual performance in 35 years. The stock was also added as a member of the S&P 500 Index four months ago. Deemed defensive value plays as investors seek to hedge against unpredictability in the AI trade, the cohort is getting a boost…
Germany weighs options as low water levels trigger price surges
Summary
Germany’s transport minister said the government is monitoring fuel-price spikes as low water levels spurred by intense heat this summer trigger higher prices in some regions of Europe’s largest economy. Steffen Bilger, who joined Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet on July 29, said he opposed a fuel rebate similar to one agreed to in April in response to the war in Iran as “no longer possible and no longer affordable.” But the coalition partners are in discussion as the effect of critically low river levels reverberates, including in higher prices. “That is of course another effect in certain regions, where prices have risen because of the supply problems,” Bilger said on Tuesday in the northern port city of Kiel. “We do not yet have a supply crisis, the supply chains are functioning, but there are…
FDA’s new additive list isn’t a ban — and won’t be checked
Summary
U.S. health officials on Monday proposed a rule change that would require food manufacturers to notify regulators before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods. The proposal would change a decades-old policy that advocates have called a regulatory loophole, blaming it for allowing thousands of unvetted ingredients into the U.S. food supply. Under the proposed rule from the Food and Drug Administration, companies would have to document and submit their safety rationale for new ingredients, giving regulators the opportunity to investigate if they see a potential risk. Currently companies can decide for themselves if an ingredient or additive is “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, and there is no requirement to notify or submit evidence to the FDA, although some firms do. “Shifting to a mandatory notification system closes a…
CareScout CEO: the hidden economic cost of an aging baby Boomer generation
Summary
America is getting older. That much is obvious. What’s less obvious—and far more consequential—is that we have failed to build the infrastructure families need to navigate aging. As a result, growing old in America is becoming an invisible tax, one paid not just in dollars, but in time, productivity, opportunity and financial security. The burden touches nearly every family differently. But one thing is becoming increasingly clear: those with the fewest resources often bear the greatest cost. Recent reporting from The Washington Post highlighted a troubling reality. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the financial burden of caregiving widens wealth disparities. Families with greater financial resources are often better positioned to purchase care, access expert guidance and preserve assets for future generations. Families with fewer resources are far more likely to shoulder…
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…
The School Year Begins in LA with One Big Change: Limited Screen Time
Summary
This year brings a new challenge for Armaghan Khan and many other teachers in the nation’s second-largest school district: Ban screen time for younger students, and significantly limit it for older kids. “This is going to be a big impact for me,” says Khan, who’s spent his career in the Los Angeles Unified School District. “I would say about 75% of our work was on some kind of screen-based activity.” As a science teacher, Khan has embraced technology — not only because his students at Johnnie L. Cochran Middle School can perform large-scale experiments on their laptops, like a car crash simulator to understand things like Newtonian forces, but also because it’s his best option. “My hands are kind of tied in terms of just what I can offer,” he…
Adults Have Struggled to Set Rules for AI In School. These Teens Figured It Out
Summary
BOSTON — Over the course of one frantic, late-July weekend, 98 teens representing all 50 states put their busy lives on hold to try to do something remarkable. The students, most of them high school juniors and seniors, gathered in a precise replica of the U.S. Senate chamber and attempted what the real, adult Congress has largely failed to do: draft and pass “legislation” to help the nation’s K-12 schools navigate the questions and chaos created by artificial intelligence. Should students be allowed to use AI on assignments? What about on tests? Is it schools’ job to teach the nation’s children what AI is and how to use it? There is no national policy for AI use in schools, meaning states and school districts have had to scramble to craft…
Entertainment
RetcH Talks ‘Point Guard’ Video, ‘FTW 2’ & Four-Year Hiatus: ‘I Have a Totally New Perspective on This Whole Thing’
Summary
Last month, RetcH dropped his first album in four years since 2022’s Administrative Segregation. During the hiatus, the New Jersey rapper was both dealing with lingering legal issues, while also enjoying the fruits of his labor. “When I really think about that time, what I was doing was just running around enjoying life. I was having a good time,” he tells me during our hour-long convo at Billboard’s New York City office. “I had just got off house arrest after I got sentenced to three years for a probation violation, which stemmed from catching a gun charge in California. I also still had an open case at the time, which ended up coming back around later on.” He’s now ready to get back to work and has a new perspective…
AI music generator Suno loses copyright infringement legal case
Summary
AI music generator Suno has lost a copyright infringement lawsuit to German licensing agency GEMA. Filed in January 2025, the filing saw GEMA argue that Suno was using songs in its repertoire – including Boney M’s ‘Daddy Cool’, Lou Bega’s ‘Mambo No. 5’, and Alphaville’s ‘Forever Young’ – to train its AI models, without obtaining any licenses or paying the songwriters. The decision was handed down on Friday (July 31) by the Munich Regional Court, and ruled that the AI platform unlawfully obtained, processed and reproduced music that was represented by GEMA. The court found that Suno’s use of the songs was in breach of both the German and US copyright law. Suno will now need to pay damages to GEMA, although the sum has not yet been confirmed. The…
‘Wicker Man’ sequel director Justin Hardy dies weeks before premiere
Summary
The Wicker Man sequel director Justin Hardy – son of the original Wicker Man director Robin – has died weeks before the film’s premiere. The BBC reports that the filmmaker and writer died aged 61 due to a heart attack on Friday. Hardy’s family said they were “devastated” to share the news in a statement, describing him as “so full of life right to the end, and incredibly energised to be working towards premiering his latest film this month. “We are all so proud of him and heartbroken he won’t be with us at his premiere,” the statement continues. “He was a man of family, of boundless creativity and of devotion for everyone he held dear.” Hardy’s Wrath Of The Gods – the second sequel to The Wicker Man – is scheduled to premiere at horror film festival…
Arlene Smith, Co-Founder of Pioneering 1950s Girl Group The Chantels Dies at 84
Summary
Arlene Smith, one of the co-founders and lead vocalists of the pioneering 1950s girl group The Chantels, has died at 84. The news was confirmed by Smith’s manager and friend, Paul Errante, to the Associated Press, who said the singer, who co-wrote and sang lead on the group’s signature yearning 1957 Billboard Hot 100 No. 15 hit “Maybe,” had died of a heart attack at a New York City hospital on Wednesday (July 29). The Chantels were formed in early 1950s by a group of school friends from St. Anthony of Padua in the Bronx and were one of the first Black girl groups to score national chart success. With a combination of flawless harmonies and emotion-packed lovesick ballads such as “The Plea” and “He’s Gone,” the group’s mix of…
Environment & Sustainability
Callsign White Flight
Summary
From Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars, explore the world of human spaceflight with NASA each week on the official podcast of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Listen to in-depth conversations with the astronauts, scientists and engineers who make it possible. On episode 433, former NASA flight director Gene Kranz reflects on his career, leadership, legacy, and lessons for the future of human space exploration. This episode originally aired as episode 355 and was recorded August 13, 2024. Transcript Host (Leah Cheshier): Houston, we have a podcast! Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center, Episode 433: Call Sign White Flight. I’m Leah Cheshier, and I’m your host today. On this podcast we bring in the experts: scientists, engineers, and astronauts, all to let…
Thursday Packed with More Spacewalk Preps and Advanced Tech Research
Summary
Jack Hathaway assists Anil Menon, both NASA astronauts, inside the Quest airlock as he tried on a spacesuit to verify its comfort, mobility, and functionality to prepare for a spacewalk. NASA/Jessica Meir The Expedition 75 crew continued studying procedures and checking out spacesuits on Thursday for a spacewalk to replace a high-speed antenna on the outside of the International Space Station next week. High-tech science rounded out the schedule as the lab residents wore virtual reality goggles and tested artificial intelligence tools to benefit future space crews. Astronauts Anil Menon of NASA and Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) will venture into the vacuum of space after setting their spacesuits to battery power at 8:35 am. EDT on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The duo will exit the Quest airlock, translate…
Research Opportunity: Help Guide Priorities for Commercial Spaceflight Biospecimens
Summary
HRP Home Human Research Program Research Opportunity: Help… HRP Home HRP Elements Human Factors and Behavioral Performance Human Health Countermeasures Space Radiation Research Operations and Integration HRP Hazards & Risks Hazards Risks HRP Videos HRP News Living in Space Research Opportunity: Help Guide Priorities for Commercial Spaceflight Biospecimens A researcher holds biospecimens before they are processed for analysis. Once analysis is complete, data and samples will be added to the EXPAND (Enhancing eXploration Platforms and ANalog Definition) Database & Bioprespository. TRISH The NASA-funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) is seeking input from the scientific community on how to maximize the research value of its growing collection of commercial spaceflight biospecimens. The formal request for information (RFI), Optimizing the Scientific Impact of the EXPAND Commercial Spaceflight Biosample Collection,…
Catherine Baroang
Summary
Catherine Baroang Director, Business Office, NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate Catherine Baroang serves as the director of the Business Office for NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate. As director, Baroang drives business operations optimization and efficiency across the enterprise, overseeing resource management, performance and audit activities, human resources, IT and cybersecurity, and other associated administrative functions. Baroang previously served as the deputy director and acting director of the Business Office for the agency’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, the former directorate focused on the development of hardware, systems, and architectures for the Artemis program and future human missions to Mars. Before joining NASA in 2023, Baroang served as budget and data division chief for the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. She managed the formulation, justification, and execution of a $5.5 billion annual program budget and led the development and implementation of the bureau’s inaugural data modernization strategy. She joined the State Department in 2010 as a presidential management fellow. Baroang earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Rice University in Houston and holds dual master’s degrees from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and School of Social Work. The post…
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
Shoutout to this particular skeleton, who researchers believe is the first confirmed case of being totally obliterated by a trebuchet
Summary
One of the special pleasures in any medieval game is getting to field a trebuchet. In an era where warfare was largely a contest of who can keep people swinging their unfriendliest sticks around the longest before they get hungry enough to leave, there's a sort of giddiness that comes with being the guy who's weaponized the higher art of applied physics to fling half-ton boulders better than any run-of-the-mill onager could ever hope to. Sadly, there have in fact been real human beings who were unfortunate enough to be in the way of those boulders over the years, and as reported earlier this week by Science, researchers have identified a skeleton they believe could very well be the first confirmed trebuchet casualty in the archaeological record. (Image credit: Xbox…
I Played the Game Recommended by the Weeknd, and It Could Be 2026’s Sleeper Hit
Summary
In an interview with The Washington Post, music superstar Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, recommended a game called About Fishing. It's a fairly innocuous title, and while it's partially accurate — the game is about fishing — it doesn't quite convey the creepy atmosphere found within. In an interview with The Washington Post, music superstar Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, recommended a game called About Fishing. It's a fairly innocuous title, and while it's partially accurate — the game is about fishing — it doesn't quite convey the creepy atmosphere found within. In an interview with The Washington Post, music superstar Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, recommended a game called About Fishing. It's a fairly innocuous title, and while it's partially accurate — the…
You deserve a travel power adapter you actually like for your next trip
Summary
When I was a writer for The Wirecutter more than a decade ago, we were obsessed with finding and recommending the singular best version of any specific product, because it felt like there was so much crap to wade through online. Today I wistfully long for the Amazon of 2013, before it came to be overrun by endless samey garbage from alphabet soup "brands" called things like HORUSDY and EHEYCIGA. If you're really looking for the cheapest thing you can get, you'll find those same products without the dropshipping markup on Aliexpress; and if you want the "best" thing, even seemingly personal recommendations on sites like Reddit are fraught as companies astroturf the site hoping to game AI search. So when I find a bit of kit that I really…
Xbox Could Be Planning To Make Xbox 360 Games Playable On PC
Summary
Xbox 360 games could be coming to PC, as a new report claims that Microsoft is aiming to bring classic titles from a bygone era to new platforms. According to the document (via The Verge), Xbox 360 games will also be playable on "Xbox PCs," handheld gaming PCs, and Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Series X|S successor, Project Helix. This expanded backwards compatibility will tie into a larger roadmap for upcoming features. The report also claims that developers who make their Xbox 360 games compatible with PC will be allowed to set their own price and decide if they want their title to be available through Xbox Game Pass. This follows Microsoft's recent announcement of original Xbox games for PC, with the first four titles--Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Fuzion Frenzy, Conker: Live…
Health & Wellness
A child’s language may predict the arrival of depression and anxiety disorders years before onset
Summary
NIH-funded, AI-powered analysis of interviews suggests that a youth’s framing of stressful events is a strong indicator of risk for future disorders. NIH-funded, AI-powered analysis of interviews suggests that a youth’s framing of stressful events is a strong indicator of risk for future disorders. NIH-funded, AI-powered analysis of interviews suggests that a youth’s framing of stressful events is a strong indicator of risk for future disorders.
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…
Lifestyle
How to Protect Yourself From This Massive Ongoing Cryptocurrency Hack
Summary
It seems no sooner does someone come up with a method to keep your digital data safe than hackers find a way to subvert it. Today's case in point: Bad actors have stolen more than $130 million in cryptocurrency from users of offline hardware wallets, devices specifically meant to be a safe option for securing bitcoin. Hackers are attacking cold crypto wallets As TechCrunch reports, multiple groups of hackers have gained access to Coldcard crypto wallets and are continuing to drain funds in an ongoing theft. The wallets, made by Coinkite, are considered "cold," meaning they are not connected to the internet or any other device, and users' keys or seed phrases exist entirely offline. By contrast, "hot" wallets are connected to the internet and include apps and browser extensions.…
Instagram Is Starting to Crack Down on Creepy Smart Glasses Videos
Summary
In a recent story posted on Instagram, Instagram head Adam Mosseri revealed the social media platform is banning smart glasses videos where people are being harassed and exploited for views. "If you're posting content that is taking advantage of people and harassing them, like a lot of these pickup line kind of videos that we've heard of and seen, then we're going to take the content down," Mosseri said. "We don't want people to be surreptitiously taking videos of other people and harassing them and then posting them on our platform. So we're trying to fight that every way we can." Hidden camera prank videos and "pickup" type videos are obviously not new, but the easy availability of camera glasses has led to a spike in this kind of content,…
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…
Marketing & SEO
Google indexed Claude Chats because Anthropic didn’t block your private chats from search engines
Summary
Sadly, every so often, you hear of content being indexed and exposed on Google and other search engines. Often the issue is not necessarily with the search engine but with the site that hosts and holds that information. Those sites often do not set the proper blocking mechanisms in place to communicate to Google and other search engines that the content should not be indexed and shown within the search results. That is what happened recently with Anthropic’s Claude Chats showing up in Google, Bing and other search engines. More details. Wired’s story named Private Claude Chats Exposed in Google and Bing Search Results explained how private chats from Claude were found on the web on Google, Bing and other search engines. The chats included politics, health discussions and more,…
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…
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 Astronaut Mike Fincke Leaves NASA, Career Includes 4 Spaceflights
Summary
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is pictured inside the International Space Station’s Quest airlock prior to the start of the third spacewalk for the STS-134 mission. Credit: NASA NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is departing the agency on Wednesday after 30 years of service. Throughout his career, he flew four missions, spent 549 days in space, and completed nine spacewalks in support of the International Space Station. “Few people have had the opportunity to shape as many chapters of NASA’s history as Mike Fincke,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Over a remarkable career, Mike served our nation as a pilot, engineer, astronaut, and mentor. From long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station to helping prepare the Artemis generation, his contributions have helped position NASA for what comes next. The success we’re building…
Advanced Mini-laboratories Automate Space Station Research
Summary
2 Min Read Advanced Mini-laboratories Automate Space Station Research NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson swaps out sample processors in the Advanced Space Experiment Processor (ADSEP). Credits: NASA The International Space Station hosts hundreds of science experiments at a time. Some experiments can take hours to perform, and researchers need to account for astronauts’ limited time. Fully automated devices, like Redwire’s ADvanced Space Experiment Processors (ADSEPs), have been designed to conduct more space science with less crew time. Within each ADSEP facility there are three to four “mini-laboratories”, called cassettes, that allow multiple studies with different needs to be performed at the same time. The latest model, ADSEP-4 can accommodate four cassettes and features imagery capabilities. Since 2017, ADSEPs have conducted and supported two dozen investigations aboard space station with new…
NASA Will Attempt to Observe Rocket Part’s Lunar Impact
Summary
The Moon’s rocky, uneven, and otherworldly surface features are highlighted by the terminator – the difference between light and darkness. NASA Using ground-based telescopes and space-based assets, NASA and SpaceX are tracking a used Falcon 9 upper stage from a commercial mission expected to impact the Moon on Wednesday, Aug. 5, near the Einstein and Bell craters. The impact poses no danger to Earth and NASA scientists are planning to collect lunar data from the event and refine techniques for tracking objects in space. On Jan. 15, 2025, SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 rocket and successfully deployed Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander to the Moon under NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative. Solar activity and gravitational forces caused the stage’s unplanned return to the Moon. NASA and SpaceX…
NASA Awards 2026 Innovative Technology Concepts
Summary
A collage of artist concepts highlighting the novel approaches proposed by the 2026 NIAC awardees. Credit: NASA The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program has created 18 new awards to support visionary ideas to improve aerospace technologies in areas ranging from the exploration of the solar system to understanding the universe. The 18 NIAC Phase I awards total $3.2 million. Each award provides up to $175,000 for a nine-month initial investigation. The NIAC projects are about early-stage concept development and are not considered official NASA missions. “NASA has outlined an ambitious vision for the future of space exploration, we’re returning the Moon to stay, advancing to Mars, and pushing to deepen our understanding of space,” said Greg Stover, director of the Advanced Research and Technology division within the Research and…
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
OpenAI and Anthropic in price war as Chinese AI rivals gain ground
Summary
Leading US AI labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic are releasing cheaper models as they fight to retain cost-conscious customers who are switching to cut-price alternatives from Chinese rivals. The price war comes as rising AI bills push companies to curb usage and seek cheaper models, helping Chinese developers including Moonshot and DeepSeek make inroads with users from Silicon Valley to Europe. OpenAI recently said that it was slashing prices for GPT-5.6 Luna, its “fastest and most affordable model”, by 80 percent. Anthropic has launched Claude Opus 5, touting the system’s “frontier intelligence... at half the price” of Fable 5, the company’s most capable model. Read full article Comments Leading US AI labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic are releasing cheaper models as they fight to retain cost-conscious customers who are…
CMF hit the balance between cheap and good clip earbuds
Summary
The Clip Pro are the first clip-style earbuds from CMF, Nothing’s budget sub-brand. Clip earbuds are an exercise in compromise. It's an inherent aspect of their design - and physics. They can be more comfortable for people that don't like something jammed in their ear, but sound response suffers. Ambient awareness is great because you can easily hear the sound around you, which means to hear your own music the buds need to be turned up and potentially leak sound out to your neighbors. For what they offer, they can also get pricey, with popular pairs from Bose, Sony, and Shokz reaching $200. The CMF Clip Pro, though, are under $100, and while they still have those compromises, they handle them well. CMF Clip Pro Score: 7 Pro … Read…
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra review: The ultra foldable with an ultra price
Summary
Samsung has largely defined the foldable phone category, but it's no longer alone in releasing flexible devices. Google, Motorola, and a raft of Chinese OEMs have their own take on this form factor. Is the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra really "ultra" enough to remain on top? This phone doesn't have the wide frame of the new Z Fold 8, instead matching the approximate size and shape of the company’s last few tablet-style foldables. The Z Fold 8 Ultra is not a big leap, but it continues Samsung's pattern of iterative foldable improvements. At this point, there's very little left to improve. The compromises of going with a foldable over a regular flat phone have largely been erased with the Z Fold 8 Ultra. Well, except for the price.…
The MSI Claw EX is the most important handheld since Steam Deck — I still wouldn’t buy one
Summary
The Claw EX. I rather like the purple. 3D-printed stand not included. As The Verge's resident handheld reviewer, I have nearly every portable gaming PC on a shelf in my house. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus is now the first one I reach for. Thanks to a next-gen Intel chip and improved MSI design, the Claw EX is the most powerful handheld that truly feels portable. It's the handheld with the longest battery life, and the first Windows handheld I can trust to sleep and wake reliably. Like the Steam Deck, when I press the power button, my game is always right where I left off. Unlike the Steam Deck, it can hibernate for days without losing a significant amount of charge. Performance and battery? Windows and sleep?…