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South Korea's benchmark KOSPI index plunged 8.3% on Monday as investors dumped semiconductor shares amid renewed doubts about artificial intelligence profitability and concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve could raise interest rates. The…
3 MIN READAnalysts offered mixed assessments of the auto and transport sector on Monday, with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, surging demand related to artificial-intelligence data centers, and shifting airline capacity shaping the…
3 MIN READThe Pentagon on Monday added roughly two dozen Chinese companies — including e-commerce and cloud giant Alibaba, search and AI firm Baidu, and electric vehicle maker BYD — to its annual list of businesses the U.S. identifies as aiding…
4 MIN READTrading begins Friday in SpaceX's initial public offering, the largest stock sale of its kind in history, in a milestone that is expected to make founder Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire and open one of the most closely held…
3 MIN READChatbots on five different websites falsely claimed to be licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania when prompted by reporters, mirroring the type of output that led the state to sue the role-playing platform Character.AI last month.
3 MIN READMajor U.S. stock indexes mostly rose Monday as semiconductor stocks rebounded sharply, with Intel shares surging 11% on reports that Google and Nvidia are considering Intel as a backup chip-making option. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% to close at…
3 MIN READOpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has confidentially filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission to begin the process of an initial public offering, the company said Monday. The filing tests investor appetite for a…
3 MIN READMeta Platforms Inc. on Monday launched a free, five-week workforce academy to train workers to build its data centers, guaranteeing graduates a job at a Meta construction site. The company committed $115 million to the program this year,…
3 MIN READApple on Monday unveiled a major overhaul of its Siri digital assistant, introducing Siri AI with expanded conversational capabilities, as Chief Executive Tim Cook made his final appearance at the company's annual Worldwide Developers…
3 MIN READPrimary races across the U.S. have devolved into bruising political knife fights, with incumbent-on-incumbent battles, AI-generated attack ads, and candidates exploiting name confusion to gain an edge. The Wall Street Journal identified…
3 MIN READShares of European semiconductor companies posted mixed results on Monday, days after a broad selloff in AI-related stocks, as renewed Middle East tensions added to investor uncertainty. Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML Holding fell 1% and…
5 MIN READAbout two-thirds of planned artificial intelligence datacenters in the United States are located in areas that have experienced drought conditions over the past year, according to an analysis by The Guardian. The findings highlight a…
3 MIN READCandidates for a competitive Manhattan congressional seat clashed during a debate Thursday night, with state Assembly Member Alex Bores — a leading proponent of AI regulation — becoming the primary target amid a surge of outside spending…
3 MIN READGray whales, once rare in San Francisco Bay, are increasingly appearing in the waterway as climate change reduces their Arctic food supply — a shift that has put them in the path of ship traffic and killed seven of 16 whales seen in the…
4 MIN READ
Swiss drugmaker Roche said Monday it entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Nurix Therapeutics to develop a blood-cancer treatment, in a deal valued at up to $2.3 billion.
3 MIN READNvidia has ranked No. 1 in The Wall Street Journal's inaugural Best Companies for the Future list, a ranking that evaluates S&P 500 companies on AI readiness, innovation, talent readiness, financial fitness, resilience, and agility. The…
3 MIN READResearchers say anti-AI sentiment has become a driver of political violence, with a series of recent attacks targeting tech leaders and infrastructure. In February, a 20-year-old Texas man was arrested after allegedly attempting to burn…
3 MIN READU.S.-stock mutual funds and exchange-traded funds have posted an 11.5% total return so far in 2026, driven by a two-month rally in chip-company shares that has pushed the S&P 500 through its strongest nine-week winning streak in 75 years,…
3 MIN READNew York moved closer to becoming the first US state to enact a moratorium on large datacenters this week after the state legislature approved a one-year ban on the facilities that power the AI boom. The measure now heads to Governor Kathy…
3 MIN READThe Nasdaq composite index fell 4.2% on Friday, its worst day in more than a year, as a stronger-than-expected May jobs report raised the prospect of higher interest rates and earnings guidance from chip maker Broadcom fueled worries that…
3 MIN READSouth Korea's presidential office said Friday there has been no major change to its plan to build nuclear-powered submarines domestically, as Seoul and Washington resumed talks on nuclear cooperation and the transfer of wartime operational…
3 MIN READSenior U.S. officials have discussed having the federal government take equity stakes in major artificial-intelligence companies, according to people familiar with the matter, after OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman pitched the idea to the…
3 MIN READCryptocurrency markets entered 'extreme fear' territory Friday as Zcash plunged 27% on news of a coding exploit, while European technology stocks fell and major companies released mixed earnings updates. The crypto fear index dropped to 17…
4 MIN READWASHINGTON (MSI) — President Donald Trump on Friday issued a memo directing the U.S. military and national security agencies to accelerate their use of artificial intelligence, while acknowledging the need to protect civil liberties and…
4 MIN READAnthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, proposed Thursday that the world's top artificial intelligence companies coordinate on a way to temporarily pause development of advanced AI systems, warning that the technology is…
3 MIN READResidents of Utah and Maryland can now plug solar panels directly into a standard wall outlet to offset home electricity use, and seven additional states have passed laws this year to legalize the practice, according to state legislation…
3 MIN READColumbia University researchers used a DNA-editing technique called base editing to correct disease-causing mutations in early-stage human embryos, publishing results Monday on a preprint server. The work marks a step in embryo gene…
3 MIN READFive of seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station were ordered Friday afternoon to take shelter in the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon ‘Freedom’ after an air leak in the Russian segment worsened and NASA objected to the repair…
3 MIN READSpaceX is set to go public with a $1.75 trillion valuation, but the rocket and satellite company lost a crucial advantage on Thursday when S&P Dow Jones Indices said it would not fast-track the shares into the S&P 500 index. Without…
4 MIN READAs SpaceX prepares for its initial public offering this month, investors are looking beyond Elon Musk's company to other space economy players. Rocket Lab, a Nasdaq-listed launch provider, has emerged as a leading contender with a growing…
3 MIN READA new NPR/Ipsos poll of 545 K-12 teachers across the United States finds that nearly three-quarters believe artificial intelligence will have bigger implications for education than past innovations like the internet or personal computers.…
4 MIN READThe largest U.S. banks plan to launch a tokenized deposit network in the first half of 2027, an effort to counter the threat from crypto companies and stablecoins, according to a person familiar with the plan reported by The Wall Street…
3 MIN READUS officials have arrested Jamshid Ghomi, a dual US-Iranian citizen, accusing him of using his technology company to smuggle sensitive computer systems to Iran, including to the country's nuclear and military establishment. Ghomi, 63, was…
3 MIN READWASHINGTON — The chief executives of OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind have signed a letter urging Congress to require companies that sell synthetic DNA and RNA to screen customer orders, citing the risk that artificial intelligence…
4 MIN READA 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck approximately 14 miles west of Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon, with no immediate reports of damage or injury, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
3 MIN READThe European Union announced Wednesday a €92 million ($107 million) investment package to expand its ocean monitoring network using underwater drones and satellites, as the Trump administration prepares severe cuts to a similar U.S.…
3 MIN READSeveral leading artificial intelligence companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX, are moving toward initial public offerings this year at valuations reaching into the trillions of dollars, according to the Associated Press. The…
4 MIN READPrime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday announced a ten-year national artificial intelligence strategy, pledging more than C$2bn ($1.4bn) on computing infrastructure, talent retention, and workforce training as Canada seeks to reduce…
3 MIN READThree scientific papers that questioned vaccine safety and were used by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration to justify changes to U.S. vaccine policy have been retracted, removed, or formally investigated by their publishing…
3 MIN READOpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman traveled to Washington on Wednesday for meetings with Trump administration officials and congressional leaders, a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order asking artificial intelligence…
3 MIN READPope Leo XIV released his first encyclical on May 25, warning that unregulated artificial intelligence could weaken democracy by eroding the distinction between fact and fiction. The document, titled 'Magnifica Humanity: On Safeguarding…
3 MIN READColorado Governor Jared Polis on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have banned companies from using surveillance pricing to set wages and consumer prices, rejecting what would have been the strongest such measure in the nation.
3 MIN READMore than 50 bills introduced across half of U.S. states in 2026 seek to restrict retailers from using personal data to set individualized prices, a practice researchers warn could let companies charge more during emergencies or to…
3 MIN READCanada has become the first G7 country to approve a generic version of the popular GLP-1 drug semaglutide, injectable generics are expected in Canadian pharmacies as of June at less than a third of the brand-name price, according to Health…
3 MIN READGlobal data centers consumed more electricity in 2025 than all but 10 countries, producing carbon emissions comparable to Argentina, according to a United Nations University report released Wednesday.
3 MIN READLloyds Banking Group apologized Wednesday after an IT glitch left thousands of customers across its brands — Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows and MBNA — unable to make payments, send money or access their accounts…
3 MIN READSpaceX has set an estimated share price of $135 for its upcoming initial public offering, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, valuing the company at roughly $1.75 trillion. The company expects to begin…
4 MIN READNASA has declared the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Environment (MAVEN) satellite unrecoverable and its mission concluded, nearly six months after losing contact with the spacecraft. The agency held a media teleconference Wednesday to…
3 MIN READVoters in Monterey Park, California, on Tuesday approved a ballot measure that permanently bans data centers in the city, making it the first US municipality to enact such a ban through a direct vote. With 86.3% of more than 7,000 votes…
3 MIN READLabour MP Jess Asato has filed a lawsuit at the High Court in London against Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI, alleging that its Grok chatbot was designed without safeguards that allowed users to create fake sexualised…
4 MIN READNovo Nordisk has launched its oral Wegovy obesity pill in the United Arab Emirates, marking the drugmaker's first expansion of the pill version beyond the United States. Separately, Canadian generic-drug manufacturer Apotex Health moved…
4 MIN READThe Trump administration plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368 million deep-sea observation network of more than 900 instruments that has collected continuous climate and ocean data since 2016, according to a…
3 MIN READA group of Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and Representative Bobby Scott, are opposing a Trump administration proposal that would allow 401(k) retirement plans to invest in cryptocurrency,…
3 MIN READCybercriminals are hijacking companies' internal artificial intelligence agents to steal sensitive business data, including customer Social Security numbers, in a growing security gap that security experts say is proving harder to prevent…
4 MIN READThe National Science Foundation has suspended nearly $21 million in research grants to UC Berkeley, alleging that principal investigators failed to disclose foreign funding from traditional U.S. allies — several of whom said they never…
3 MIN READBlue Origin said Tuesday that the explosion of its New Glenn rocket during a test firing last week at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station did not damage the launch pad's fuel tanks or other critical ground infrastructure, though a lightning…
3 MIN READHarvard economist Kenneth Rogoff warned Tuesday that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence could create a permanent global underclass, with developing nations and countries outside the AI supply chain facing mass job displacement…
3 MIN READMicrosoft announced Tuesday that its second-generation Majorana quantum chip, Majorana 2, is 1,000 times more reliable than its predecessor, with qubits that survive for an average of 20 seconds compared to milliseconds on the first chip.…
3 MIN READHackers tricked Instagram's AI-powered customer support tool into changing email addresses and passwords on other users' accounts, Meta confirmed Tuesday, in a security incident that coincided with the reported takeover of former President…
3 MIN READMicrosoft has developed two prototype AI-enabled hardware devices — a wearable access badge and a small desktop cube — that the company said are designed for office workers who regularly use artificial intelligence tools. The products,…
4 MIN READHyperliquid, a decentralized crypto platform founded three years ago by former Hudson River Trading quantitative trader Jeff Yan, has become a 24/7 trading venue where Wall Street traders place leveraged bets on perpetual futures for crude…
4 MIN READWall Street Journal Chief China Correspondent Lingling Wei reported Tuesday that a technical paper behind Huawei Technologies Co.’s recent “Tau Law” announcement reveals the company acknowledges it cannot break through the U.S.-led…
4 MIN READUSMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino used a mandatory mid-half water break during Sunday's 3-2 friendly win over Senegal to huddle players around a laptop for an impromptu video session, creating a viral moment that highlighted the…
3 MIN READWisconsin comedian Charlie Berens has pivoted his performance work toward grassroots activism after learning about proposed AI data center construction in communities across the state.
3 MIN READJapan has decided to join the U.S.-led Genesis Mission as a key international partner, committing $500 million to a joint $1 billion investment in artificial intelligence and related technologies over five years, the Yomiuri Shimbun…
3 MIN READMajor consulting firms and government agencies are mandating generative AI usage for staff and tying it to promotion tracks, even as internal confusion over implementation and expected returns leaves employees and mid-level managers…
3 MIN READAnthropic filed confidential IPO papers on Monday, putting the maker of the Claude chatbot on a path to beat ChatGPT parent OpenAI to a public listing. The filing and Nvidia's simultaneous move into the personal-computer market together…
3 MIN READHewlett Packard Enterprise accelerated its long-term financial targets by two years after reporting second-quarter revenue of $10.68 billion, a 40% increase driven by surging demand for AI compute infrastructure.
3 MIN READFedEx Freight CEO John Smith said autonomous tractor-trailer technology is ready for commercial use but regulatory approval remains the biggest hurdle, in an interview published by the Wall Street Journal on Sunday. Smith spoke shortly…
3 MIN READNvidia on Sunday unveiled the first personal laptops designed to run artificial-intelligence 'agents,' introducing a new chip called RTX Spark and a broader hardware suite called Vera Rubin at the Computex conference in Taipei.
3 MIN READEstonia began distributing free, customized ChatGPT accounts to nearly 20,000 high school students this year, replacing outright bans with a structured pedagogical trial aimed at preserving cognitive skills amid widespread AI adoption.…
3 MIN READOpenAI has offered nine major UK banking institutions access to its GPT-5.5 Cyber security tool, providing an alternative access pathway as rival Anthropic blocks financial firms from previewing its Claude Mythos model.
3 MIN READNvidia introduced the first personal computers designed to run artificial-intelligence agents and confirmed the status of its Vera Rubin hardware suite during the Computex conference in Taipei on Sunday. The announcement highlights a…
3 MIN READOpenAI and Anthropic are both preparing to go public, and the order in which they reach the stock market could materially affect their futures and the next phase of the artificial-intelligence investment boom, according to a Wall Street…
3 MIN READUber Technologies plans to launch a robotaxi program in Munich, Germany, partnering with Israeli artificial-intelligence startup Autobrains Technologies and Nvidia to deploy autonomous vehicles on European roads pending regulator approval.
3 MIN READMarket analysts issued updated ratings and sector assessments for major auto and transport companies on June 1, with investment firms evaluating the potential impact of a Castlelake bid for easyJet, Chinese electric-vehicle chip…
3 MIN READNvidia launched the RTX Spark chip at the Computex 2026 conference in Taipei on Sunday, a processor designed to run AI agents directly on laptops and desktops without relying on cloud computing. Chief executive Jensen Huang said the chip,…
3 MIN READSouth Korea's exports grew at the fastest pace in more than four decades in May, reaching a record $87.75 billion as surging demand for artificial intelligence chips outweighed global geopolitical headwinds, preliminary trade ministry data…
3 MIN READSamsung Electronics' market capitalization reached approximately $1.23 trillion based on its latest common-share closing price, and analysts are raising the possibility that the South Korean technology giant could approach a $2 trillion…
3 MIN READChip stocks powered the S&P 500 up 16% across April and May, marking the index's strongest two-month surge matched only four times since 1950 and pushing Wall Street benchmarks to a series of records as artificial-intelligence spending accelerates.
The Trump administration is accelerating efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into U.S. military operations, drawing calls for safety guardrails from technology firms and warnings from top uniformed leaders about the delivery of lethal force.
Anthropic filed confidentially for an initial public offering, pulling ahead of rival OpenAI in the race to list publicly, as Goldman Sachs analysts warned that the AI-driven memory shortage will persist through at least 2028 in market talk across the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors on Monday.
Alphabet Inc. announced Monday it will issue $80 billion in equity to finance the expansion of its artificial intelligence infrastructure. The parent company of Google said it will sell $10 billion in stock directly to Berkshire Hathaway and raise the remaining $70 billion through various market offerings this year.
Celebrity investor Ron Baron is counting on Elon Musk to lift his largest fund out of a 2026 slump, with SpaceX and Tesla stakes representing nearly half of his assets as clients pull money from actively managed mutual funds.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed an 83-page lawsuit against OpenAI and Chief Executive Sam Altman on June 1, alleging the company knowingly released an unsafe artificial-intelligence product that harmed users. The suit makes Florida the first state to sue OpenAI and seeks to hold Altman personally liable for damages the state says the chatbot caused Floridians.
China's State Council announced new rules Monday that prohibit unauthorized exports or use of state-restricted goods, technology, services and data, tightening Beijing's scrutiny of outbound capital flows amid escalating technology competition with the United States. The rules, approved in April and set to take effect in July, also ban indirect transfers of restricted technology through cross-border personnel deployments, training programs or technical guidance.
Researchers presented a study Sunday showing the experimental pill daraxonrasib nearly doubled survival time for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, marking a potential breakthrough against one of the deadliest forms of the disease.
London-based singer-songwriter Samuel Smith is using artificial intelligence platforms to continue making music after Parkinson's disease largely ended his ability to play guitar, his recently released second album demonstrates.
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority is under growing pressure from lawmakers and digital rights campaigners to demonstrate that its artificial-intelligence partnership with the US company Palantir will not expose sensitive British financial data to the Trump administration. Martin Wrigley, a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Commons science and technology select committee, has written to the regulator demanding it justify its claim that the US Cloud Act — a law that can compel American tech companies to hand data to US authorities — does not apply to the arrangement.
Nvidia on Monday unveiled the RTX Spark, a new chip designed to power artificial-intelligence-enabled personal computers, during a keynote speech by Chief Executive Jensen Huang at the Computex technology show in Taipei, Taiwan. The company said the chip will ship in Windows PCs from major manufacturers starting in autumn 2026. Separately, the US Department of Commerce tightened rules on Sunday to further restrict exports of Nvidia's most advanced AI chips to Chinese firms.
A daily experimental pill nearly doubled survival time for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer whose disease had stopped responding to prior treatment, researchers reported Sunday. The study of 500 patients found that those taking the drug, daraxonrasib, lived a median of 13.2 months compared with 6.7 months for patients receiving standard chemotherapy.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded Thursday night during an engine test at Cape Canaveral, destroying part of the launch pad and sending a giant orange fireball into the sky. No injuries were reported. The failure is the second major setback for Jeff Bezos' space company in a month.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station late Thursday, shaking nearby homes but causing no injuries, according to company and military officials.
Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said Thursday it raised $65 billion in private funding that pushes its valuation to $965 billion, vaulting the five-year-old maker of the Claude chatbot past chief rival OpenAI in market value and reported revenue.
Pigeons may navigate hundreds of miles by using iron-loaded immune cells in their livers to sense Earth’s magnetic field, according to a study published Wednesday that offers a surprising new clue to a century-old biological mystery.
TOKYO — Chinese robotics companies took center stage Thursday at the opening of the Humanoids Summit Tokyo, showcasing dexterous mechanical hands and agile humanoid machines that underscored China's growing dominance in a field Japan and the United States once pioneered.
An experimental drug from GSK produced a functional cure — viral suppression without daily medication — in about one in five adults with chronic hepatitis B in two international trials, researchers reported Thursday. The result, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at a medical meeting in Barcelona, marks the first time a treatment has approached that level of effectiveness against a liver virus that kills roughly 1.1 million people a year worldwide.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine suspended a sales-tax exemption for data centers on Wednesday, citing projections that show the cost of the break has soared far beyond original estimates, as the AI-driven data center boom intensifies scrutiny of subsidies for the energy-hungry facilities.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA on Tuesday outlined the first phase of a planned permanent moon base, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to four U.S. companies to deliver landers, rovers and drones to the lunar surface, with the first astronauts set to arrive as early as 2028.
PayPal said its core online checkout business is barely growing and will require “significant changes” to fix, as the San Jose, California-based payments pioneer faces intensifying competition from Apple Pay, Shopify, buy now, pay later services and peer-to-peer payment apps. PayPal’s stock has fallen nearly 40% in the past 12 months and roughly 80% over five years.
Ferrari on Monday rolled out its first fully electric car, the Luce, showing the model to Italy’s President and Pope Leo XIV, but the leap into battery power came as other luxury automakers retreat from ambitious electrification plans and the debut drew market skepticism.
A new artificial intelligence detection network called WhaleSpotter went live this week in San Francisco Bay, continuously scanning for whale blows and heat signatures up to two nautical miles away and alerting ferry captains and cargo ship operators to steer clear when the animals are near.
The World Meteorological Organization and the United Kingdom's Meteorological Office project a 75% chance that average global temperature between 2026 and 2030 will exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, smashing the Paris climate accord's threshold, according to new U.N. climate projections.
Recruiters inundated with AI-generated job applications are deploying artificial intelligence of their own to handle the surge, using chatbots to conduct screening interviews via phone, text and video. The practice, documented in new research by the hiring platform Glasshouse, shows a growing number of job seekers facing AI interviews — and a significant share walking away from the process entirely.
NASA announced Tuesday that it has awarded contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to four U.S. companies to build landers, rovers and drones for the first phase of its planned lunar base. The contracts come just weeks after the Artemis II crew completed a record‑breaking lunar flyby, and they set the stage for crewed landings projected for 2027‑2028. NASA officials said the hardware is intended to arrive before the first Artemis astronauts set foot on the moon, marking a concrete step toward a permanent presence on the lunar surface.
Ferrari has unveiled its first fully electric car, the Luce, to Italy’s President and Pope Leo XIV, but the company’s arrival in the battery-only luxury segment has been met with skepticism from markets and auto critics. The unveiling came as some automakers scale back electrification plans amid uneven demand in key regions, and Ferrari’s stock dropped in Milan after the news.
Pope Leo XIV used his first encyclical, presented at the Vatican on May 25, to warn that artificial intelligence could deepen inequality, weaken democracy and blur what it means to be human. The pope urged “disarming AI” by removing it from military and economic power grabs, calling for regulation and broader public participation in shaping the technology.
President Trump and U.S. officials are managing expectations about an imminent agreement to end the war in Iran, while Iran has not formally responded to a proposed outline. NPR reports the sides have been discussing reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a phased approach to nuclear talks, with Iran’s foreign ministry linking next steps to a 60-day period after an initial Strait agreement.
A federal jury in Oakland, California dismissed Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI on Monday after the court found the case was filed past a statutory deadline, ending a high-profile trial that highlighted internal battles over AI’s costs and direction. The trial between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman never reached the merits, but testimony and evidence put on record disputes about whether AI development depends mainly on private profit or nonprofit backing.
Pope Leo XIV, in his first major teaching document, said artificial intelligence is becoming “a new test of human dignity, work and power,” and warned that it needs to be “disarmed.” He also apologized for the Vatican’s role in legitimizing slavery and urged stronger laws and independent oversight for AI.
Leaders of the California State University system want to make generative AI tools widely available on its 22 campuses, and the system renewed its contract with OpenAI for another three years. But an internal survey of students, faculty and staff found more ambivalence than enthusiasm, with many respondents skeptical that AI is benefiting education overall and worried about its effects on creativity, jobs and the environment. The system’s push is unfolding as critics question whether chatbot-based tools can be used responsibly in higher education.
NPR’s “Spacing Out” space nerd club segment on May 25, 2026 highlighted new James Webb Space Telescope results on Neptune’s moon Nereid, a hot Jupiter-like exoplanet’s day-to-night cloud pattern, and what auroras can signal about solar storms.
Pope Leo XIV will address artificial intelligence in his first encyclical, titled *Magnifica humanitas*—Latin for “magnificent humanity.” NPR reports the Vatican says the teaching will focus on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence,” as Pope Leo prepares a major message for the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics.
President Donald Trump called off plans for a White House ceremony to sign a new executive order on artificial intelligence hours before it was expected, saying the measure could weaken U.S. leadership in the technology. He postponed the event with tech industry executives, telling reporters that he did not want an order that could slow America’s edge in AI.
The high-stakes trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that the two billionaires agreed on a fundamental reality: developing artificial intelligence would require billions of dollars annually — far more than either had initially imagined. The testimony and evidence, presented in a San Francisco courtroom this week, raised the uncomfortable question of whether anything other than commercial interests can ultimately steer the future of AI.
SpaceX launched its biggest and most powerful Starship yet on a test flight Friday, sending the upgraded vehicle into the Indian Ocean after a mission that included mock Starlink satellite releases. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman joined the launch, saying the flight is a step toward NASA’s Artemis Moon program. Elon Musk called the test “an epic.”
NPR science correspondent Nate Rott says his beat—“the natural world and humanity’s relationship to it”—pushes him beyond climate into questions about biodiversity, monitoring ecosystems and the boundaries of what people should try to preserve. In a Reporter's Notebook conversation, he describes using audio as a way to capture river life, and he discusses debates over emerging efforts to use genetic tools to make species more resilient amid climate change.
President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan “Take It Down Act,” a federal law that adds criminal and civil consequences for sharing intimate images without consent, including AI-generated deepfakes. The measure goes into effect immediately and requires websites and social media companies to remove such material within 48 hours after receiving notice from a victim.
SpaceX launched its biggest, upgraded Starship yet on a test flight Friday from the southern tip of Texas, sending a redesigned rocket toward the Indian Ocean and releasing 20 mock Starlink satellites midflight. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch, saying the latest version is one step closer to landing astronauts on the moon through Artemis.
Federal prosecutors have charged two men with using artificial intelligence to create nude videos and photos of female celebrities under a newly enacted “Take It Down Act.” The charges, filed in Brooklyn, come as prosecutors say deepfake pornography has spread online, often depicting minors.
SAN FRANCISCO — California’s San Francisco Bay is rolling out an AI whale-spotting network designed to help ferries and other vessels detect gray whales in near real time and adjust course to avoid collisions.
Google unveiled a series of new Gemini artificial intelligence updates at its annual I/O developers conference, including an “agentic” personal assistant and changes to Google Search’s default AI model. In remarks at the event near its Mountain View, California headquarters, CEO Sundar Pichai said Gemini’s user base has grown to more than 900 million monthly active users.
Jackson Hole’s busiest trails near the town do not appear to create a wildlife “sacrifice zone,” a yearslong study found, using 27 remote cameras in a 36-square-mile area south and east of Jackson. Led by The Nature Conservancy conservation scientist Courtney Larson, the research examined how wildlife such as elk, moose and mountain lions responded to hikers, skiers, mountain bikers and domestic dogs. The study’s findings are set against recent research elsewhere showing recreation can displace wildlife, and come as Bridger-Teton National Forest updates its forest plan.
The federal jury at a trial in Oakland, California, dismissed Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI after finding it missed a statutory deadline, leaving no verdict on the merits. Testimony during the three-week case, pitting Musk against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, offered a detailed look at how executives weighed the costs of building and scaling artificial intelligence.
President Donald Trump called off plans to sign a new executive order on artificial intelligence hours before a scheduled White House event, saying he worried the measure could slow U.S. efforts to compete with other countries in AI. He postponed the Oval Office event with tech industry executives after reviewing the order’s text, he said.
Scientists using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope say Neptune’s moon Nereid likely survived an ancient disruption rather than joining Neptune later, overturning long-held ideas about the moon’s origin. The finding comes as the Neptune system is “very limited” in available observational data, researchers said Wednesday.
WASHINGTON — A powerful congressional committee is urging AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to do more to protect Americans from scams, as investigators probe the role U.S. companies may play in a surge of cyber-enabled fraud. In a request sent Wednesday evening, committee leaders asked the carriers for information on data collection, monitoring efforts and actions against bad actors, warning that scam calls and texts are increasingly hard for customers to distinguish from legitimate messages.
Google said it is changing the single-line search box on its homepage to a more dynamic, expanding query field and to support “multimodal” searches that can include videos, pictures and files. The company also plans a deeper merge of AI summaries and agent-like functions with traditional web search, aiming to respond to longer, natural-language questions and tasks over time.
The Department of Homeland Security told NPR that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has “no relationship” with spyware company Paragon Solutions. The clarification follows questions about whether ICE reactivated a previously paused Paragon contract and whether it complied with a 2023 executive order restricting federal agencies’ use of commercial spyware.
Eli Lilly said its next-generation obesity drug retatrutide helped study participants lose an average of more than 70 pounds over 80 weeks, based on clinical trial results discussed publicly. NPR reported that retatrutide is a weekly injection designed to act on three hormones, unlike the GLP-1-focused drugs Zepbound and Wegovy.
SpaceX will launch its Starship rocket from South Texas on Friday after scrubbing the planned liftoff on Thursday moments before launch due to a problem with the launch tower, NPR reported. The company’s next flight will be the first test of a newly redesigned Starship, NPR said, as SpaceX prepares for an upcoming initial public offering.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on May 25, the Vatican said. The Vatican will present the document in the main Vatican auditorium with senior cardinals and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah among the speakers. The event also comes as the Trump administration has ordered U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI technology and Anthropic has sued.
President Donald Trump signed the “Take It Down Act” on Monday, a bipartisan law that increases federal penalties for distributing non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-created deepfakes. The measure also requires websites and social media platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of receiving notice from a victim.
SpaceX on Wednesday disclosed plans for an initial public offering that could become one of the largest stock sales ever, with Elon Musk seeking to take the company public while it continues to post large losses. A U.S. filing shows SpaceX lost $2.6 billion from operations last year on $18.7 billion in revenue, and Musk’s proposed compensation is tied to milestones including a permanent human colony on Mars. SpaceX said it will begin pitching investors, known as a “road show,” 15 days after its prospectus becomes public.
SpaceX launched an upgraded Starship on a test flight Friday from the southern tip of Texas, aiming to move toward NASA’s moon program. The company’s redesign, counting 20 mock Starlink satellites, reached the Indian Ocean despite some engine trouble, then burst into flames on impact.
Pennsylvania can move ahead with spending more than $700 million to expand high-speed internet in rural areas after federal officials dropped a condition tied to a dispute over state labor-law “prevailing wage” classifications. The change removes what could have delayed broadband funding meant to connect about 130,000 Pennsylvania homes and businesses.
Ohio’s largest tax break for data centers has cost the state far more than forecast, according to new figures shared by the Ohio Department of Taxation. In 2024, the sales tax exemption cost about $554.9 million, the department said; in 2025, it rose to about $1.5687 billion. State lawmakers have been debating whether to end the incentive, and Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a move to do so.
Nvidia reported Q1 results that beat Wall Street expectations, driven by demand for its high-end AI chips, and forecast revenue near $91 billion for the current quarter. The company earned $58.32 billion ($2.39 per share) in the February-April period, while revenue jumped 85% to $81.62 billion. Shares were slightly lower after hours after closing at $223.47 on Wednesday.
A yearslong study using remote cameras around Jackson Hole found that high recreation on nonmotorized trails did not appear to create a “sacrifice zone” for wildlife, researchers said. Led by Courtney Larson of The Nature Conservancy, the study examined 1.9 million images from a 36-square-mile area near the Bridger-Teton National Forest and wildlife refuge and found limited avoidance across most species.
Marine officials in San Francisco Bay launched an AI whale-detection network this week to alert ships and ferries to whales and reduce collision risk. The system, called WhaleSpotter, uses sensors to scan for whale blows and heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away, then sends near-real-time warnings to mariners and posts detections publicly.
SpaceX has filed prospectus documents for a proposed initial public offering that it says could be the largest ever, with Elon Musk’s plan tied to milestones for a future compensation package. The filing includes detailed financial figures, expected lockup periods for investors, and a stated goal of establishing a large, permanent population on Mars.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will expand its use of artificial intelligence to review audit reports submitted by states and other recipients of federal health dollars, aiming to tamp down fraud and save money. HHS said it will use ChatGPT and other AI tools to analyze audits from all 50 states on an ongoing basis. The department also sent letters to governors and treasurers notifying them of tougher enforcement for chronic audit noncompliance.
Two men were arrested and charged in Brooklyn, federal prosecutors said, for creating nude AI-generated videos and photos of female celebrities under a newly enacted law aimed at deepfake pornography. Prosecutors said Cornelius Shannon, 51, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, were arrested Tuesday. Joseph Nocella, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, said the case shows that posting deepfake pornography is not a victimless crime.
President Donald Trump postponed the signing of an executive order on artificial intelligence hours before a White House ceremony Thursday, saying he feared the measure could weaken the United States’ lead over China in AI technology. The abrupt decision came after Trump reviewed the order’s text and decided it could hurt the domestic tech industry, according to a person familiar with the deliberations.
President Donald Trump called off plans to sign an executive order on artificial intelligence hours before a scheduled White House ceremony, saying he was concerned the measure could weaken the United States’ edge in AI. Trump told reporters he was postponing the Oval Office event because he did not like what he saw in the order’s text.
Scientists using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope say Neptune’s moon Nereid likely survived as an original companion after the giant moon Triton arrived. The finding, described Wednesday by a research team led by the California Institute of Technology, appears in Science Advances.
A biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, said it has hatched 26 baby chickens from a 3D-printed artificial eggshell and environment, a step it frames as potentially scalable for future de-extinction efforts. Scientists who were not involved praised the engineering but said the setup is not a full artificial egg and questioned whether it could enable resurrections such as New Zealand’s extinct South Island giant moa.
A powerful congressional committee on Wednesday called on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to do more to protect Americans from cyberscams, part of a widening investigation into the role U.S. telecommunications companies play in a surge of fraud that cost Americans an estimated $200 billion in 2024.
WASHINGTON — A powerful congressional committee urged AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to do more to protect Americans from scams, pressing the telecoms to share information about how they collect data, monitor for fraud and cybercrime, and respond to bad actors. The request comes as lawmakers widen an investigation into the role U.S. companies play in a surge of cyberscams that cost Americans an estimated $200 billion in 2024.
Three Democratic members of Congress warned that new federal regulations aimed at restricting foreign adversaries from buying cell phone location data leave key government sites, including the White House and CIA headquarters, unprotected.
U.S. researchers say Trump administration funding changes have emptied research labs and slowed or halted parts of biomedical science, even after Congress restored some money earlier this year. In interviews for NPR, Harvard computational biologist Sean Eddy described losing federal support and receiving an NIH letter stating his work was of “absolutely no value to the US taxpayer,” while other researchers said grants and NIH forecasts have failed to materialize.
Elon Musk announced plans for SpaceX to raise money by taking the company public, according to a U.S. filing made public this week. The prospectus shows SpaceX is still losing billions of dollars even as it lays out a path tied to milestones, including support for projects to put people on the moon and Mars.
SpaceX has filed a 250-page prospectus for what could be the largest initial public offering in history, revealing plans for interplanetary travel and spending that exceeds the economic output of some countries. The IPO is expected to raise approximately $75 billion and could make company founder Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire, according to the document reviewed by the Associated Press.
Federal officials reversed course and will allow Pennsylvania to spend more than $700 million to expand high-speed internet in rural areas, clearing a dispute over state labor law that had threatened the funding for roughly 130,000 homes and businesses, state officials said Wednesday.
A multi-year camera study on nonmotorized trails near Jackson, Wyoming, has found that heavy recreational use does not appear to drive away wildlife, challenging the notion that popular trail networks become ecological “sacrifice zones.” The research, led by Courtney Larson of The Nature Conservancy, analyzed motion-triggered images from 27 cameras across 36 square miles of public land south and east of town.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday it is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to scrutinize audit reports from all 50 states, aiming to detect fraud and waste in federal health spending, according to the official leading the program.
Federal prosecutors charged two men Tuesday with using artificial intelligence to create nude videos and photos of female celebrities, marking the first enforcement actions under the newly enacted Take It Down Act. The men face up to two years in prison for generating sexually explicit content that drew millions of views online.
SpaceX is set to fly a heavily redesigned Starship on Friday after scrubbing a planned launch at the last minute, as the company prepares for a potential initial public offering. The new rocket will use dozens of new Raptor 3 engines and features upgraded avionics, satellites and test ports aimed at future in-space refueling, developments that analysts say could affect investor appetite for the IPO. The launch comes less than a month before investors expect SpaceX to price its offering.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical on artificial intelligence on May 25, with the Vatican saying the document will focus on the care of human dignity in the AI era. The launch will include Pope officials and speakers, including Christopher Olah, the co-founder of Anthropic, in Vatican City, the Associated Press reported.
Jackson Hole’s busiest trails have not turned nearby habitat into a wildlife “sacrifice zone,” a yearslong study found. Researchers who set 27 remote cameras on trails in a 36-square-mile area south and east of Jackson said they saw “encouraging” signs of wildlife continuing to use the area despite heavy human recreation.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will use ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools to analyze audit reports submitted by states and other federal health-dollar recipients. HHS said the move is meant to reduce fraud risks and save the government money, including by tightening how audit noncompliance is handled.
Google on Tuesday unveiled a stream of AI upgrades at its annual developers conference, including new Gemini model rollouts aimed at making search and everyday tasks more proactive. Chief executive Sundar Pichai said Gemini usage has surpassed 900 million monthly active users, and Google promised faster, safer agents, new video-generation tools and wearable smart glasses later this year.
Federal prosecutors charged Cornelius Shannon, 51, and Arturo Hernandez, 20, with using artificial intelligence to create nude videos and photos of female celebrities, under a newly enacted law aimed at deepfake pornography. Both men were arrested Tuesday, according to criminal complaints, and prosecutors said the videos and images drew millions of views online.
San Francisco has launched an AI-powered whale-spotting system that monitors whale blows and heat signatures around the clock and alerts ships and ferry operators when whales are nearby. The network, called WhaleSpotter, is intended to help mariners avoid ship strikes as gray whale deaths in the Bay Area rise. The effort also includes real-time alerts and public posting through the Whale Safe website.
Graduates at several U.S. college commencements have interrupted speakers and issued stadium-wide boos when the topic turned to artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs, according to interviews and polls cited by the Associated Press. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt drew repeated jeers at the University of Arizona’s ceremony for a keynote that discussed how AI will affect “every profession” and “every classroom.”
A trio of congressional Democrats warned that new rules aimed at stopping foreign governments from buying Americans’ phone-location data include gaps that leave sensitive federal sites unprotected. In a letter, Sens. Ron Wyden and Martin Heinrich and Rep. Sara Jacobs urged the Trump administration to fix those oversights and expand the approach to cover the entire Washington, D.C., region.
Nvidia reported quarterly earnings and revenue that surpassed Wall Street forecasts, citing strong demand for its high-end AI chips. In results for the February-April period, the company earned $58.32 billion, or $2.39 per share, and revenue rose 85% to $81.62 billion.
Pennsylvania can move forward with spending more than $700 million to expand high-speed internet in rural areas after federal officials removed a wage-and-worker-classification condition tied to state prevailing wage law, the AP reported May 21.
The biotech company Colossal Biosciences said Tuesday that it hatched 26 baby chickens in an artificial environment using an eggshell-like structure. Scientists not involved in the work said the development shows progress in avian embryo research but questioned whether it amounts to a true “artificial egg” and whether de-extinction of species such as the New Zealand giant moa is feasible.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Neptune’s distant moon Nereid may be the last of the planet’s original companions to survive a catastrophic collision in the solar system’s past, scientists reported Wednesday. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a team led by the California Institute of Technology found evidence that Nereid likely remained in Neptune’s neighborhood rather than migrating there from farther out.
UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science opened a new mixed-reality exhibit, “Yuutka” (The Place of the Acorn), after researchers and Ohlone youth overcame an interruption in National Science Foundation funding that followed the Trump administration’s terminations of multiple NSF grants. The exhibit, co-designed with young members of the East Bay Ohlone community, uses mixed reality to let visitors gather virtual acorns and learn about the plants and the community’s knowledge systems.
A federal appeals court heard arguments Tuesday in the Pentagon’s legal fight with AI company Anthropic after the Defense Department designated the company a national security supply-chain risk. Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit appeared divided, with one judge saying she saw no evidence for the Pentagon’s determination and another pressing what standard the court should use to second-guess Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s judgment.
Bees have lived alongside humans for more than a millennium, but the origin of the word “bee” remains uncertain, according to etymology experts cited by NPR. This Wednesday marks World Bee Day, established by the United Nations in 2018 to draw attention to the insects’ vulnerability and the risks to food systems.
Graduates at multiple U.S. college commencement ceremonies booed speakers who brought up artificial intelligence, NPR reported May 20. In one case near Phoenix, Glendale Community College said it used a new AI system as a reader, after which the wrong names were read aloud and some graduates were not read at all.
Overworked and understaffed special education teachers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to speed up paperwork, including work on individualized education programs required under federal law. In Bay Point, Calif., teacher Mary Acebu said she has used AI for the past two years to cut the time she spends on drafting IEP goals so she can spend more time working directly with students.
SpaceX filed financial information with regulators as it prepares for a potential initial public offering in mid-June, according to NPR reporting. The documents describe blockbuster spending tied to rockets and to the company’s AI business, as well as large losses across two major units during the first quarter.
A federal jury in Oakland, California, on May 19 ruled that Elon Musk filed his lawsuit against OpenAI too late, allowing the AI firm to avoid a costly court loss. The three‑week trial, which featured testimony from former OpenAI executives and tech industry observers, ended with the jury deliberating less than two hours before delivering its verdict. While Musk said he will appeal, both sides emerged with reputational hits amid growing concerns about the rivalry among a handful of billionaires shaping artificial‑intelligence development.
Scientists are revising global warming projections, saying new scenario work makes the “worst” and “best” extremes less plausible—but also confirms that limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius under the Paris Agreement is unlikely without artificial cooling. In interviews, climate researchers said the best-case trajectory would still exceed 1.5°C and that even small additional warming raises risks for ecosystems and extreme weather.
Graduates in multiple U.S. universities have booed speakers who discussed artificial intelligence during commencement addresses, signaling anxiety about how AI may affect jobs and education. In a keynote at the University of Arizona, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt drew repeated jeers when he warned that AI would reach “every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person and every relationship you have.” Other ceremonies saw similar pushback when speakers presented AI as a “next industrial revolution” or a tool to “deal with” and apply.
San Francisco Bay launched an AI whale-detection network to help ships and ferries spot gray whales day and night and avoid collisions. The system, called WhaleSpotter, uses sensors to identify whale blows and heat signatures and then alerts mariners to slow down or reroute when whales are nearby.
Google used its annual developer conference, Google I/O, to announce new AI tools that it said will expand Gemini’s role in search, video creation and day-to-day tasks. The company also previewed Gemini Spark, a cloud-based agent it described as able to complete routine work in the background with permission for high-stakes actions.
Nvidia reported Q1 earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street expectations, citing strong demand for its high-end AI chips. The company earned $58.32 billion, or $2.39 per share, for the February-April period and said it expects current-quarter revenue of about $91 billion.
POET and Antora Energy have launched a 5 gigawatt-hour thermal energy storage system adjacent to POET’s ethanol plant in Big Stone City, South Dakota, with the companies saying it will absorb excess wind power that would otherwise be limited by grid capacity. The storage technology is designed to capture low-cost energy as heat in insulated blocks and convert it to steam for use at the ethanol facility, officials said.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), on May 25 with the Vatican’s top doctrine and development cardinals and Christopher Olah, co-founder of artificial intelligence company Anthropic, present, the Vatican said May 18. The document will focus on “the care of human dignity in the era of AI,” the Vatican said.
SpaceX announced plans for what could be one of the biggest initial public offerings ever, as Elon Musk takes the company public despite years of heavy losses. A regulatory filing shows SpaceX lost $2.6 billion from operations last year on $18.7 billion in revenue, with losses continuing early this year.
A panel of three federal appellate judges heard oral arguments Tuesday in Anthropic's appeal against the Pentagon's decision to brand the artificial intelligence company a national security supply-chain risk, with one judge calling the Defense Department's action a "spectacular overreach."
Biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced Tuesday it has hatched live chicks using a 3D-printed artificial eggshell, a milestone the company said could eventually allow it to revive extinct bird species such as New Zealand's South Island giant moa.
San Francisco Bay launched an AI-powered detection network this week designed to track whales day and night, as a spike in whale deaths linked to a marine heat wave has pushed California officials and researchers to seek faster ways to prevent ship strikes.
The Associated Press reports that at several U.S. university commencements this spring, graduates have booed speakers who discuss artificial intelligence, voicing anxiety over job prospects. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was repeatedly jeered during his keynote address to about 10,000 University of Arizona graduates over the weekend when he said AI “will touch every profession.”
Scientists have dropped the most extreme worst-case and best-case global warming scenarios from their updated projections, reflecting growth in renewable energy that has lowered the highest emission forecasts but not enough to keep the internationally agreed 1.5°C warming limit within reach.
Colossal Biosciences said Tuesday it hatched 26 baby chickens from a 3D-printed structure that mimics an eggshell, part of its effort to “de-extinct” lost species. Scientists who reviewed the approach said it demonstrates some advances but falls short of an artificial egg and that reviving extinct animals like the New Zealand giant moa is likely impossible.
Pope Leo XIV will release his first encyclical on May 25, a document focused on the care of human dignity in the era of artificial intelligence, with Christopher Olah, co-founder of the AI safety company Anthropic, joining the pontiff for the launch, the Vatican announced Monday.
A South Dakota-based biofuels producer and a California energy startup have begun operations on one of the world's largest thermal energy storage systems, situated directly adjacent to an ethanol processing facility in Big Stone City. The 5-gigawatt-hour installation absorbs excess, low-cost electricity generated by nearby wind turbines and converts it into heat within carbon blocks for later dispatch.
Google announced a new proactive AI assistant, Gemini Spark, and a suite of agentic AI tools at its annual I/O developers conference Tuesday, marking a major push into autonomous AI systems as the company's user base for its existing AI app more than doubled in a year.
A federal jury in Oakland, California, on Monday rejected Elon Musk's claims against OpenAI, ruling that Musk filed his lawsuit too late to challenge the ChatGPT maker's shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure. The verdict allows OpenAI, valued at $852 billion, to proceed toward what could be one of the largest initial public offerings in history, but testimony during the trial raised questions about the credibility of both Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
A behavioral scientist says turning a habit into a repeatable routine depends on more than willpower—people also need the ability to perform the action and a clear prompt. An NPR “Life Kit” comic episode, created by cartoonist Vreni Stollberger and produced for the podcast, illustrates the approach using Tiny Habits, a method developed by BJ Fogg.
Plants with extra copies of their chromosomes—called polyploids—show evidence of having survived past periods of extreme environmental stress, according to new research. NPR reports that a study led by plant biologist Yves Van de Peer examined ancient whole-genome duplication events across hundreds of plant species and linked them to tumultuous climate eras over the last 150 million years.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — After a federal jury found Elon Musk filed his lawsuit too late, OpenAI avoided what could have been a costly court loss, but testimony during the three-week trial also left both sides with damage. The nine-person jury deliberated less than two hours, returning a verdict essentially on a procedural deadline, according to the AP report.
Scientists say they are discarding both the most catastrophic and most optimistic future climate scenarios because they no longer fit how the world is changing. A new set of seven plausible carbon pollution pathways suggests the Paris 2015 goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is not reachable as conditions stand, even in the best case.
Graduates at multiple U.S. universities have interrupted commencement speakers after they discussed artificial intelligence, according to reporting published Monday. The boos followed comments from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt at the University of Arizona, and similar disruptions when other keynote speakers raised AI during ceremonies.
A federal jury in Oakland, California, found that Elon Musk waited too long to file his lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, dismissing his claims that the company abandoned its nonprofit mission after a three-week trial.
Colossal Biosciences said Tuesday it has hatched live chicks from an artificial eggshell environment, a step the de-extinction company says could eventually support genetically engineering birds. The firm reported that 26 baby chickens were born from a 3D-printed structure that mimics an eggshell, and it said the approach could help tackle challenges posed by the extinct New Zealand giant moa. Some independent scientists said the system is more accurately described as an artificial eggshell than a full artificial egg, and they questioned whether de-extinction is feasible.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical focused on artificial intelligence on May 25, the Vatican announced. The document, *Magnifica Humanitas* (Magnificent Humanity), will address what the Vatican said is the care of human dignity in the era of AI, with Pope and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah attending a formal launch in Rome.
Scientists have revised global warming “worst” and “best” future pathways, saying the most catastrophic scenarios are less likely than before while the most optimistic one now also exceeds the 2015 Paris goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The new set of seven carbon-pollution scenarios, described by climate scientists in a recent study, replaces older extreme cases with a narrower range of possible outcomes by the end of the century. <a href='/articles/2026-05-10-forecasters-warn-strong-el-ni-o-could-bring-heat-drought-and-heavier-rain'>MSI previously reported</a> that El Niño conditions can intensify heat and other extremes.
OpenAI won its court fight against Elon Musk after a federal jury in Oakland, California found that Musk filed his lawsuit too late, according to the Associated Press. The verdict means neither side fully escaped damage from the three-week trial, which included testimony about Sam Altman’s candor and broader concerns about AI’s risks.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Saturday that Iran is not ready to resume face-to-face negotiations with the United States, citing Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands on key issues. Speaking at a diplomacy forum in Antalya, Turkey, Khatibzadeh rejected a Trump administration proposal to secure Iran's enriched uranium, saying "no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States."
The Artemis II astronauts praised their spacecraft's performance Thursday while discussing their historic lunar mission at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada's Jeremy Hansen—the first humans to travel to the moon in more than half a century—made the remarks in their first news conference since returning to Earth. The crew traveled 252,000 miles during their nearly 10-day expedition, breaking Apollo 13's record as the most distant travelers ever. Their mission puts NASA in a stronger position for a crewed lunar landing within two years and an eventual permanent moon base.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical on artificial intelligence on May 25, the Vatican announced. The document, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), is centered on the care of human dignity in the era of AI, and the Vatican said it will be presented in the main papal auditorium with leading church figures and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah.
Apple announced on Monday that John Ternus, a 50-year-old hardware engineering veteran who has spent nearly his entire career at the company, will become chief executive in September. Ternus replaces Tim Cook, who transformed Apple into a $4 trillion tech giant during 15 years as CEO and will transition to executive chairman. The succession comes as Apple faces pressure to catch up in artificial intelligence.
Researchers led by Steve Prabu of the University of Oxford have measured the instantaneous power of black hole jets for the first time. According to a study published in Nature Astronomy, the jets from Cygnus X-1, a relatively nearby black hole system, release energy equivalent to 10,000 suns. The jets travel at approximately 355 million miles per hour—roughly half the speed of light—measured using 18 years of radio-telescope observations from a global network of instruments. Cygnus X-1 lies 7,200 light-years away and contains both a black hole and a blue supergiant companion star.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered the oldest surviving English poem embedded within a 9th-century manuscript in Rome’s main public library, a find that reveals Old English circulated far more widely in the early medieval period than previously known.
U.S. stocks fell from all-time highs Friday, joining a worldwide selloff, as a sharp retreat in artificial-intelligence shares collided with rising oil prices linked to the ongoing Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has summoned the chief executives of Meta, Alphabet, TikTok, and Snap to testify at a June 23 hearing on the platforms’ effects on children, as a wave of court rulings and public advocacy sharpens accountability pressure on the industry.
Pope Leo XIV has established a Vatican study group on artificial intelligence and signed his first encyclical, expected to call for an ethics-based approach to AI that prioritizes human dignity and peace, the Vatican announced Saturday.
The Pasteur Institute in Paris has fully sequenced the Andes virus detected in a French passenger aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship and found it matches viruses already known in South America, with no evidence of characteristics that would make it more transmissible or more dangerous, French health authorities said Friday.
Officials and lawmakers in at least six states are pushing back against proposed utility rate increases, arguing that cash-strapped residents should not bear the cost of a booming AI data center expansion that is pushing utility profits to record highs.
In several U.S. states, governors, attorneys general and regulators are challenging proposed electric utility rate increases amid higher electricity bills that critics link to a surge in data-center demand from the artificial intelligence boom. Officials in at least six states have moved to block or reshape rate hikes, arguing that cash-strapped residents are being asked to pay for large utility profits while power grids face major modernization needs.
France’s Pasteur Institute has fully sequenced the Andes virus found in a French passenger who tested positive after traveling on the MV Hondius cruise ship, French officials said. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said the virus matched known Andes viruses circulating in South America and showed no evidence so far of changes that would make it more transmissible or more dangerous.
Researchers in Ireland have uncovered what they say is the oldest surviving English poem inside a medieval manuscript being held in a Roman library, according to researchers involved in the discovery. The poem, composed in Old English, appears in the main body of Latin text in a copy of the Venerable Bede’s “Ecclesiastical History of the English People.” The researchers said the find dates to the 9th century and includes the poem in the text rather than in margins or appendices.
Pope Leo XIV has created an in-house study group on artificial intelligence, the Vatican said Saturday, as he prepares to release his first encyclical expected to emphasize an ethics-based approach that prioritizes human dignity and peace. The announcement came a day after Leo signed the encyclical, marked against the anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s social document “Rerum Novarum.”
Global warming is causing rivers to slowly lose oxygen, threatening fish and other life in waterways worldwide, a new study finds. Researchers using satellites and artificial intelligence analyzed oxygen levels in more than 21,000 rivers since 1985 and reported an average 2.1% decline. The study projects that continued deoxygenation could worsen into the range that creates dead zones by the end of the century.
More than a year after a ceasefire halted the deadliest war in Gaza’s recent history, a community of tech freelancers is coding through the wreckage — designing apps, editing photos and debugging code from bombed-out coworking spaces, as the battered enclave’s remote-work economy defies collapse. Freelancers on platforms like Upwork and Freelancer.com are providing desperately needed income and an escape from the impoverished and largely destroyed Gaza Strip, where over 72,700 people were killed in the war sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, according to local officials, and most of the 2 million population was displaced.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 50,000 for the first time since the Iran war began, as a surge in artificial-intelligence profits pushed U.S. stock indexes to all-time highs on Thursday. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite also set records, with Cisco Systems leading the gains after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results and issuing an upbeat forecast.
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned the growing use of artificial intelligence in warfare, warning that investments in high-tech weaponry are leading the world into a “spiral of annihilation.” Speaking at Rome’s La Sapienza University, the pontiff called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine while decrying military spending that has surged at the expense of education and healthcare.
Gaza’s digital freelancers are rebuilding their online work after months of bombardment, blackouts and bank restrictions, relying on coworking spaces, solar power and alternative payment channels to keep clients abroad supplied. In Gaza City, 44-year-old programmer Tarik Zaeem said remote coding helps him focus on work instead of daily survival pressures.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed rescinding a 2024 rule that required coal-fired power plants to treat toxic heavy metals leaching into groundwater, arguing the regulation is too costly as electricity demand surges from data centers powering artificial intelligence. Environmental groups warned the move would permit hundreds of millions of pounds of neurotoxins and carcinogens to enter drinking water sources.
A jury in Oakland heard closing arguments Thursday in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, with Musk's attorney calling Altman's credibility into question and OpenAI's attorney firing back that Musk's claims of a broken charitable trust are baseless.
A new analysis of 400,000-year-old tooth enamel proteins suggests that Homo erectus — the first human ancestor to migrate out of Africa — interbred with Denisovans, and a remnant of that encounter survives in the DNA of some people alive today.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a sweeping clean electricity strategy Thursday that aims to double the country’s grid by 2050, saying electrification is the path to affordability, competitiveness and net-zero emissions. The plan, which carries an estimated price tag of more than one trillion Canadian dollars, would overhaul the nation’s power system with a mix of hydro, nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas and other sources.
The Lower Merion School District board told parents this week it will not allow students to opt out of using school-issued devices, rebuffing a petition signed by more than 600 residents who say ubiquitous screens are harming their children's ability to focus.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed a revised $350 billion state budget for his final year in office, turning a projected deficit into a balanced plan driven by a revenue windfall from the booming stock market and artificial intelligence sector. The 2026-27 fiscal plan, released May 14, avoids deep cuts and adds targeted taxes on digital services as Newsom eyes a potential 2028 presidential run.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft will execute a close gravity-assist flyby of Mars on Friday, passing within 2,800 miles of the planet's surface at more than 12,000 miles per hour as it slingshots toward a rare metal asteroid in the outer asteroid belt.
Layoffs are piling up across the technology and industrial landscape, and the words "artificial intelligence" are appearing alongside an increasing number of the announcements. At least six major companies — Cisco, Block, Dow, Pinterest, Lufthansa and Meta — have disclosed plans to shed more than 20,000 jobs this year, with several explicitly pointing to AI as a driver of the cuts, according to a review of recent corporate disclosures. While corporate explanations vary and AI is rarely the sole stated reason, the trend is unnerving workers across sectors.
Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI made their final arguments Thursday in Oakland, California, in a lawsuit that could shape the future of artificial intelligence by forcing changes to OpenAI’s business structure. The jury will consider whether Musk filed the case on time and whether OpenAI, Sam Altman and other executives broke a “charitable trust” and unjustly enriched themselves.
En un nuevo estudio, investigadores analizaron proteínas antiguas extraídas del esmalte de dientes de Homo erectus de unos 400.000 años, recuperados en China. Al comparar mutaciones en una proteína del esmalte con variantes presentes en denisovanos y en una pequeña fracción de humanos modernos, los autores dicen que sus resultados apuntan a un posible cruce genético.
Parents in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, are pressing a school district to allow families to opt their children out of classroom technology, arguing that screens are distracting and can encourage behavior such as gaming or watching videos during class. At a meeting Monday night, board members said the district was not considering opt-outs as it reviews technology policies.
Layoffs have been piling up in the tech sector, and the words “artificial intelligence” are appearing in more job-cut notices, the Associated Press reported. AP highlighted recent examples from Cisco, Block, Dow and Lufthansa, where companies cited AI alongside other factors such as restructuring and macroeconomic headwinds. Even when executives point to future roles, workers say the linkage between AI and cuts is adding to uncertainty about job prospects.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will swing past Mars this week to use the planet’s gravity for a boost on its journey to the rare metal asteroid Psyche, snapping thousands of pictures as practice for the main encounter in 2029. The robotic explorer will slingshot past Mars on Friday at 12,333 mph (19,848 kph) and pass within 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers). All of the spacecraft’s science instruments will be operating during the Mars flyby, with NASA’s two Mars rovers and several U.S. and European orbiters also making observations.
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday warned that investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were pushing the world toward a “spiral of annihilation,” while he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine at Rome’s La Sapienza University. In remarks there, he said military spending was rising this year at the expense of education and health care, and urged tighter monitoring of how AI is developed and used.
A new Associated Press look at “American Objects” marks the pill’s long arc from a scientific breakthrough to a major force in American life. The story credits key researchers and advocates — including Margaret Sanger, Katharine Dexter McCormick, Gregory Pincus, Min Chueh Chang, and John Rock — with helping bring the oral contraceptive to market. It also notes that decades-old legal and political fights over contraception have resurfaced more recently as the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion.
Meta Platforms is rolling out an “incognito” mode for its WhatsApp AI chatbot, allowing users to hold private conversations that the company says even it cannot access. The feature, announced Wednesday, is designed to ease growing privacy concerns about the sensitive information people share with artificial intelligence assistants.
SEOUL — A South Korean startup is strapping cameras onto hotel workers as they fold napkins and wipe glasses, harvesting their motions to build an AI brain that could one day power humanoid robots in factories and homes. The project, led by RLWRLD, is part of the country's effort to lead the global market for "physical AI" by leveraging its deep pool of skilled manufacturing and service workers, even as labor unions warn the same technology could disrupt the very workforce providing the training data.
The Endocrine Society on Tuesday published a new name for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in The Lancet, renaming the condition polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) after 14 years of collaboration between experts and patients. The change aims to correct a long-standing mischaracterization that reduced a complex hormonal disorder to a label about cysts and ovaries, contributing to missed diagnoses and inadequate care for the estimated 1 in 8 women worldwide who have it.
An analysis of 400,000-year-old tooth enamel has uncovered a genetic link suggesting that Homo erectus interbred with Denisovans hundreds of thousands of years ago, and that the genetic legacy may have reached modern humans through later intermingling with Denisovans, researchers reported Wednesday.
Hill County, Texas — a rural county south of Fort Worth — on Tuesday became the first in the state to impose a one-year pause on new data center construction in unincorporated areas, after county commissioners cited escalating public-health and safety concerns tied to the industry’s rapid expansion. The 3–2 vote puts the county on a collision course with developers and state leaders who have moved to block similar local restrictions, testing the limits of county authority in Texas’s booming data center market.
Alibaba’s cloud and artificial intelligence revenue surged 38% in the January-March quarter, but heavy spending on AI infrastructure pushed the Chinese tech giant to an operating loss, the company reported Wednesday.
The parent company of the Canvas educational platform said it reached a deal with hackers to delete the data they stole in a cyberattack that disrupted finals for students at thousands of schools worldwide, acknowledging there was 'never complete certainty' the data was truly erased.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took the witness stand Tuesday in a federal trial in Oakland, California, denying accusations that he betrayed the company’s founding mission and misled its board. The civil lawsuit, brought by Elon Musk, seeks Altman’s removal and unspecified monetary damages, alleging the firm abandoned its nonprofit purpose to become a for-profit venture now valued at $852 billion.
Meta Platforms said Wednesday it is rolling out an “incognito” mode for WhatsApp users to have private, temporary conversations with its Meta AI chatbot. The company said messages in the mode will be processed in a secure environment that even Meta can’t access, will not be saved by default, and will disappear when users exit a chat session. Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, said the change is meant to address users’ privacy concerns when they ask sensitive questions or share personal data with AI systems.
RLWRLD, a South Korean robotics startup, is wiring workers at sites including Lotte Hotel Seoul, CJ and Lawson to capture how people perform tasks. The company says the motion and force data will help train robot “brains” that could expand from industrial sites to homes.
New guidance from the Endocrine Society and an article in The Lancet say the hormonal condition long known as polycystic ovary syndrome should now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. Researchers and clinicians said the older name, often shortened to PCOS, is misleading because it can suggest a cyst-focused problem in the ovary rather than a broader endocrine disorder. The change aims to improve how patients are recognized and treated worldwide.
In a safety recommendation issued Wednesday, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board urged airlines to train pilots with realistic simulations for emergencies in which smoke fills the cockpit. The NTSB said pilots on a Southwest Airlines flight in December 2023 told investigators the situation was far more challenging than anything they had experienced in training.
Ancient teeth are giving researchers genetic clues about Homo erectus and possible interbreeding with Denisovans, according to a new study that analyzed enamel proteins from six people. The work, described by an outside expert as using “new methods,” points to two mutations found in 400,000-year-old H. erectus teeth recovered across China.
Hill County in rural Texas approved a one-year pause on construction of new data centers in unincorporated areas, commissioners said Tuesday, citing public safety and public health concerns. The board voted 3-2 on the moratorium as residents raised questions about noise, water use and the scale of a proposed development. State leaders have faced a separate pushback in other Texas counties where moratorium efforts have been rejected.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd reported a 38% increase in AI and cloud revenue for the January-March quarter, as it pushed deeper into artificial-intelligence products and services. The company also reported overall revenue rose 3% to 243 billion yuan, while operations posted an 848 million yuan loss, highlighting costs tied to AI expansion.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified Tuesday in Oakland, California, in the trial brought by Elon Musk against Altman and Greg Brockman. Altman took the witness stand to defend his business record and disputed testimony that portrayed him as dishonest.
Instructure, the parent company of the education platform Canvas, said it reached an agreement with hackers who stole data in a cyberattack that disrupted schools and universities during finals. The company said it received “digital confirmation” that the hackers destroyed remaining copies of the data, in the form of “shred logs.”
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — Giant tunnel-boring machines have arrived for a new Hudson River rail tunnel project connecting New Jersey to Manhattan, as workers prepare to start drilling later this year. The project, led by the Gateway Development Commission, is expected to cost $16 billion and is designed to reduce congestion on one of the nation’s busiest passenger rail corridors.
Wall Street’s record-breaking rally stalled Tuesday as a sharp pullback in AI chip stocks and another climb in crude oil prices prompted a pause. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% from its all-time high, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 56 points (0.1%), and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.7% from its own record. Some of the heaviest falls hit companies that had surged on the artificial-intelligence boom, while Brent crude jumped 3.4% to settle at $107.77 a barrel as a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire threatened to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed to oil tankers. A separate report showed U.S. inflation accelerated more than economists had forecast in April, raising fresh questions about when the Federal Reserve might cut interest rates.
Wall Street reversed course Tuesday after a record run, with the S&P 500 slipping 0.2% from its all-time high while the Nasdaq fell 0.7% from its own record. Oil prices rose as the war with Iran added risk to supplies, and Treasury yields climbed as traders priced in the possibility of higher-for-longer rates.
A single dose of genetically modified immune cells suppressed HIV to undetectable levels in two patients for nearly two years after they stopped their daily medication, researchers reported Tuesday, offering an early but provocative signal that a cancer-fighting technology might one day deliver a durable alternative to lifelong antiviral drugs.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened Tuesday with a tribute to director Peter Jackson and a blunt discussion of geopolitics and artificial intelligence, as jury members used the platform to criticize Hollywood’s treatment of artists who speak out on Gaza and to weigh the industry’s response to AI.
Scientists reported at an American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy meeting that a single dose of CAR-T cells suppressed HIV in two people without restarting their usual medications. The approach, led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, adapted a cancer therapy by engineering patients’ immune cells to better find and kill HIV-infected cells and adding protection against infection.
Ukrainian drone pilots, invited to teach Western forces modern drone warfare, destroyed Swedish troops during a NATO exercise on the strategic Baltic island of Gotland this week, delivering what commanders called a critical warning to the alliance about the lethal speed of drone combat.
Soaring fuel costs triggered by the Iran war are pushing consumers and governments across Asia toward rooftop solar power at an accelerating pace, with installations in the Philippines surging 70% and China poised to dominate the global supply of solar equipment.
A surge in fuel prices linked to the Iran war is pushing consumers in energy-stressed parts of Asia toward rooftop solar, benefiting China as the world’s largest solar technology supplier, the Associated Press reported. In the Philippines, where the conflict has heightened costs and raised worries about power reliability, a survey found a sharp rise in solar installations and customer interest after Feb. 28.
Ukrainian drone pilots helped run a Swedish-led military exercise aimed at testing how NATO would respond to sabotage and drone attacks around the Baltic Sea. The exercise on the island of Gotland included U.S. forces and was designed around a scenario in which outages and food shortages follow sabotage before NATO’s Article 5 is invoked, Rear Adm. Jonas Wikström said. Sweden’s defense chief, Gen. Michael Claesson, said U.S. decisions and possible changes in U.S. troop presence are closely watched in Europe.
Japanese technology investor SoftBank Group Corp. reported Wednesday that profit for the fiscal year through March surged nearly fivefold to 5 trillion yen ($32 billion), lifted by massive gains from its AI investments. Sales rose 8% to 7.8 trillion yen ($50 billion), the company said.
Tokyo-based SoftBank Group said Wednesday that annual profit for the fiscal year through March rose to 5 trillion yen, nearly five times the previous year, as its AI investments generated gains.
Ethiopia’s push to adopt electric vehicles has accelerated sharply, with more than 115,000 EVs now on its roads, as fuel shortages and soaring prices tied to the Iran war strain the country’s economy and drive a broader African shift toward cleaner transport.
The widow of a man killed in last year’s mass shooting at Florida State University is suing OpenAI, arguing the company’s ChatGPT provided advice that helped plan the attack, including details about timing, location, and weapons. The lawsuit was filed Sunday in federal court, according to the Associated Press.
The National Science Foundation suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley in April, attorneys representing university scientists said, raising concerns the Trump administration is circumventing a federal court order that restored previously canceled projects.
The Trump administration opened a new chapter in government transparency on unidentified anomalous phenomena Friday, releasing a trove of declassified videos, memos, and imagery that it hopes will let the public draw its own conclusions about decades of unresolved sightings.
Google said Monday it had disrupted a criminal group’s attempt to use artificial intelligence to exploit a previously unknown software vulnerability, a development one of the company’s top threat analysts called the arrival of an era cybersecurity experts have long warned about.
The Trump administration suspended at least 18 research grants to UC Berkeley in April, according to an attorney representing university scientists in a class action lawsuit. The suspensions occurred despite a federal court injunction restricting such actions, the attorney said, and the NSF declined to comment. UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof said the university is engaging with the government and remains committed to compliance with federal rules.
The Pentagon on Friday began releasing a new batch of declassified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena, including decades-old State Department cables, FBI interviews, NASA transcripts and military sensor videos, as President Donald Trump encouraged the public to draw their own conclusions from the material.
The widow of a Florida State University shooting victim is suing OpenAI, alleging its ChatGPT chatbot provided tactical advice that assisted the gunman in the 2025 attack, according to a federal lawsuit filed Sunday. State authorities previously disclosed ChatGPT offered the shooter information on campus crowd patterns, weapon selection, and the media appeal of targeting children. OpenAI denied wrongdoing, maintaining its responses were factual and did not promote violence.
The Pentagon began releasing a new batch of records and videos about unidentified anomalous phenomena on Friday, as President Donald Trump renewed attention on the topic and urged the public to “decide for themselves.” The files include old State Department cables, FBI documents and NASA transcripts, along with military videos and written reports describing hundreds of sightings dating to the 1940s.
The Pentagon on Friday began releasing a new batch of declassified records related to unidentified aerial phenomena, including older State Department cables, FBI documents and NASA transcripts. The files describe cases the U.S. government still considers unresolved, and President Donald Trump highlighted the release as the public tries to interpret what the records show.
A new image from NASA's Webb Space Telescope reveals the brilliant, glowing core of the spiral galaxy Messier 77, located 45 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus.
A cyberattack on the Canvas learning management system disrupted final exams and grade submissions at schools and universities across the United States this week, with the hacking group ShinyHunters claiming responsibility. The outage, which hit during the high-stakes finals period, prompted some institutions to postpone exams and limit student access to the platform out of caution, even after service was restored for most users late Thursday.
The Canvas online learning platform was back online Friday after a cyberattack late Thursday knocked it offline for tens of thousands of students and faculty worldwide, according to Instructure, the company that operates the system. The outage, which occurred during final exam season, forced colleges and universities across the United States to reschedule tests and extend assignment deadlines while cybersecurity experts said a hacking group calling itself ShinyHunters claimed responsibility.
A San Francisco startup has placed an AI agent in charge of a Stockholm coffee shop in what it calls a controlled experiment into autonomous business management. The agent, dubbed Mona and powered by Google’s Gemini, oversees everything from hiring and ordering to electricity contracts — while human baristas still pull the shots.
Tens of thousands of students studying for final exams regained access Friday to Canvas, a widely used online learning platform, after a cyberattack disrupted access for thousands of schools and universities earlier in the week. Instructure, the company behind Canvas, said the system was taken offline to contain the incident and investigate unauthorized changes made when some users were logged in.
Stockholm’s Andon Café is operating as a “controlled experiment” with an AI agent called “Mona” overseeing much of the business, while human baristas still brew coffee and serve customers. The startup behind the project, Andon Labs, says the goal is to test ethical questions raised by AI running hiring, inventory and other workplace tasks. Patrons can still place questions to the agent by telephone inside the cafe.
Colleges and universities across the U.S. reported disruption during finals after the Canvas learning platform suffered an outage tied to a cyberattack, with Instructure saying late Thursday that the service was available again to most users. Some schools continued to block access, while others postponed exams scheduled for later in the week.
Google said it disrupted a criminal operation that used artificial intelligence to find and exploit a previously unknown software vulnerability, and that it notified the affected company and law enforcement. The company said the vulnerability helped attackers bypass two-factor authentication to reach an online system administration tool. The episode comes as U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump’s administration, debate how to vet and regulate the most powerful AI systems.
NASA released a new image from its James Webb Space Telescope showing the spiral galaxy Messier 77 about 45 million light-years away. The picture, released this week, highlights the galaxy’s bright active nucleus and the extreme heat of gas falling toward a supermassive black hole.
Bolivia is seeing more people switch to electric cars as gasoline shortages and higher fuel prices follow the end of long-standing subsidies. The Associated Press reports that some residents in and around La Paz, including in El Alto, are importing electric vehicles and seeking alternatives to long lines and costly repairs.
Greek authorities are investigating an armed unmanned surface vessel discovered by a fisherman in a coastal cave on the island of Lefkada, according to the Associated Press. The vessel was moved to a naval base on the mainland Friday for inspection, as experts noted its resemblance to drones used by both Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea.
Authorities in Greece are investigating an armed unmanned surface vessel found by a fisherman on the island of Lefkada off the country’s western coast, Greece’s public broadcaster said. The craft was towed to a nearby harbor and moved Friday to a naval base on the mainland for inspection, with investigators not confirming where it originated.
A cyberattack on the Canvas learning management system left thousands of schools and universities without platform access Thursday, disrupting coursework and final exams across the country. Luke Connolly, a threat analyst at cybersecurity firm Emisoft, said the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach at Instructure, the company that operates Canvas.
A free solar-powered charging station that opened in early April in Santa Clara, Cuba, is providing residents a way to charge electric vehicles, cook meals, and power devices amid chronic blackouts and fuel shortages, the Associated Press reported.
Santa Clara, Cuba, opened a free, solar-powered charging station known as a “solinera” in early April, giving residents a way to recharge devices and vehicles amid chronic blackouts and a severe shortage of gasoline. The station, installed with solar panels and batteries, is drawing crowds who say it has eased daily travel and business losses tied to unreliable power.
The Canvas learning-management system was offline Thursday after a cyberattack, leaving students at thousands of schools and universities unable to access course materials as final exams approached, according to a threat analyst and school officials. The hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach, and Instructure, which operates Canvas, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Apple introduced the iPhone 16 lineup on Monday, billing the new phones as the first built "from the ground up" for the company's artificial-intelligence features. The "Glowtime" product showcase in Cupertino, California, also included updates to the Apple Watch and AirPods lineups, with new health-monitoring capabilities featured across several devices.
The Pentagon has halted critical reviews for over 250 proposed onshore wind energy projects across more than 30 states, according to the American Clean Power industry association, bringing new land-based wind development to a near-standstill.
AP reported on May 7 that cybersecurity professionals advise users to clear out dormant accounts, unused apps, and old files from their digital devices, a process that frees storage space and reduces exposure to scammers.
Global warming is on track to decimate the world's plants, with scientists predicting that between 7% and 16% of species will lose nearly all their habitat and go essentially extinct in the next 55 to 75 years, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.
In a federal trial in Oakland, California, Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are fighting over the future of artificial general intelligence, with Musk claiming Altman betrayed OpenAI's nonprofit mission and Altman accusing Musk of seeking control for his own AI company.
WOODS HOLE, Mass. — Scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are breeding fast-growing kelp varieties that could one day fuel ships and aircraft without petroleum, but the emerging industry is caught in a commercial choke point: energy companies will not invest without guaranteed supply, and farmers will not expand without confirmed buyers. Recent advances in selective breeding have yielded kelp strains that produce up to three times more biomass than conventional types, and a process called hydrothermal liquefaction can refine the seaweed into biofuel that releases fewer greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. Still, the path from laboratory promise to commercial reality faces inconsistent government support, regulatory barriers, and a persistent question of whether kelp’s economic future lies in fuel at all.
French prosecutors are seeking charges against Elon Musk and his social platform X over child sexual abuse images, sexually explicit deepfakes, and Holocaust denial generated by the platform's AI system, Grok. The Paris public prosecutor's office said Wednesday it has opened an investigation that includes charges of complicity in possessing and distributing child sexual abuse imagery, unlawfully collecting personal data, and denial of crimes against humanity. The probe expanded after Grok produced posts that denied the Holocaust and spread deepfakes, and after a French lawmaker alleged biased algorithms likely distorted an automated data processing system. Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino were summoned for voluntary interviews in April but did not appear, authorities said.
As the new year begins, technology writer Kelvin Chan advises that clearing out email clutter can reduce the risk of data breaches and make it easier to find important messages. In an article published Thursday, Chan offered several methods for tackling an overflowing inbox, from deleting large attachments to filtering out newsletters.
More than 600 million people in China are using generative AI tools, a surge that has positioned the country as the world’s largest testing ground for agentic artificial intelligence and shifted the global AI landscape, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. Chinese companies and consumers have embraced AI tools like OpenClaw for travel, health monitoring, and business operations, driving data consumption that has surpassed U.S. models on a weekly basis, according to the AP.
A New York City pilot program is testing plug-in batteries that power window air conditioners during peak demand, offering a renter-friendly way to reduce strain on the electric grid and earn cash rebates, the Associated Press reports.
Technology companies, long skeptical of organized religion, are turning to faith leaders for help in navigating the ethics of artificial intelligence. Representatives from Anthropic and OpenAI met with a wide range of religious groups last week at the inaugural “Faith-AI Covenant” roundtable in New York, organized by the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, to discuss infusing morality into fast-developing AI systems. The initiative reflects a growing, though contested, coalition between Silicon Valley and religious institutions, as companies face mounting pressure to address the technology’s societal risks.
Cybersecurity experts say the “spring cleaning” impulse can also apply to digital devices and online accounts—clearing out dormant logins, reducing shared data exposure, and tightening app and password security. In a new AP One Tech Tip, Michael Sherwood of Malwarebytes and Chad Thunberg of Yubico lay out a checklist for freeing storage, decluttering inboxes, reviewing connected apps, auditing social media privacy, and enabling stronger authentication.
Scientists project that warming could drive many plant species toward “essentially extinct” status by the end of the century, with losses tied to habitat loss as temperatures rise and rainfall patterns shift. A separate study by Kew Gardens researchers finds nearly 10,000 flowering plant species are already at high risk, with the loss of evolutionary history and biodiversity falling largely unnoticed.
The trial pitting Elon Musk against OpenAI leadership is centered on a legal dispute over OpenAI’s nonprofit origins, but testimony has also drawn jurors into questions about the dangers of advanced artificial intelligence. In Oakland, California, the judge warned lawyers not to stray into broader safety debates, even as witnesses raised concerns about workforce disruption and the long-term threat posed by superhuman AI.
Green cells grown from kelp are being developed into fast-growing strains that could eventually be processed into biofuel for ships and aircraft, researchers say. The work, funded earlier through a U.S. Department of Energy program, faces a bottleneck in scaling farms and securing stable buyers, especially after federal support faded.
French prosecutors said they have opened an investigation into Elon Musk’s social platform X, seeking charges tied to child sexual abuse images, sexually explicit deepfakes, and what they describe as denial of crimes against humanity. The Paris public prosecutor’s office said it is also investigating whether X and its managers unlawfully collected personal data and disseminated non-consensual images or other content.
Making a fresh start with your email inbox can reduce the risk of exposure during a data breach and make it easier to find important messages, the Associated Press said in its “One Tech Tip” column. In the article published Jan. 9, Kelvin Chan outlined several ways to cut through inbox clutter, from deleting oversized emails to using filters and rules.
A renter-friendly pilot in New York City is testing plug-in battery units that can run window air conditioners during the hottest hours, aiming to reduce strain on the electric grid during peak demand. The program, backed by Con Edison and operated by Every Electric, is expanding to more than 1,000 homes this summer and offers cash rebates to participants.
Apple used its “Glowtime” product showcase in Cupertino, California, to spotlight Apple Intelligence as it unveiled the iPhone 16 lineup and detailed new features coming with the next iOS update. The company also previewed upgrades to its Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods products, including new audio features and hearing-aid capabilities for AirPods Pro 2.
More than a year after DeepSeek’s breakthrough, Chinese users are embracing AI assistants and “agentic” tools at scale, from workplace tasks to everyday shopping and planning. An Associated Press report describes people in Beijing and Shenzhen lining up to get help installing OpenClaw on their laptops, while experts say the fast, controlled rollouts could influence how AI is used globally.
Greece is preparing major constitutional changes, including an amendment requiring that artificial intelligence serve human society, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Thursday. Mitsotakis outlined the proposed revisions as lawmakers began work on a lengthy process involving votes by two successive parliaments, which typically requires cross-party support.
Tech companies are turning to faith leaders for guidance on how to shape artificial intelligence as concerns mount about its rapid integration into society, the Associated Press reported. Leaders from multiple religious groups met in New York with representatives from companies including Anthropic and OpenAI for an inaugural “Faith-AI Covenant” roundtable organized by the Geneva-based Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities.
Authorities searched a home in Arroyo Grande, California, connected to a man convicted in the 1996 killing of Kristin Smart after a warrant served Wednesday. San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson said Friday that evidence suggests human remains were present on the property, though he said investigators cannot yet confirm whether they are Smart’s.
A protester who camped for five days atop the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington came down Wednesday morning, ending his stand against the use of artificial intelligence and the war in Iran. Guido Reichstadter, a Florida-based activist, was seen coming down from an arch after Washington police negotiated with him.
Matt Mahan, San Jose’s mayor and a former tech executive, is trying to win the June 2 California governor’s primary as tech investors and allied groups pump money into his campaign while critics question his ties to the industry. In a Tuesday CNN debate, Mahan contrasted himself with rivals backed by Republicans and attacked “career politicians,” while labor leaders and progressives questioned whether he will regulate big technology.
Apple used its annual developer conference in Cupertino, California, to announce “Apple Intelligence,” a slate of generative artificial intelligence features coming to iPhone, iPad and Mac later this year. The company said Siri will gain an optional gateway to ChatGPT and will be able to handle hundreds of additional tasks as part of upcoming free software updates.
Scientists took soil samples Thursday outside a home connected to Paul Flores, convicted in 2022 of killing Kristin Smart, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office said. The sheriff’s office served a search warrant on the home of Susan Flores in Arroyo Grande, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.
A Florida activist who camped atop a Washington bridge for five days came down Wednesday morning, ending his stand against artificial intelligence and the war in Iran, Associated Press reported. Police had closed lanes and negotiated with him on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.
The University of Vermont opened a new extreme-weather monitoring station in Lyndonville on Tuesday, part of a planned statewide network designed to give more localized data for flood and winter-storm predictions. UVM said the station, the first of about 20 planned, will help the National Weather Service and state emergency managers detect fast-changing conditions earlier, improving evacuation timing and reducing property damage.
A male coyote swam 2 miles from Angel Island to Alcatraz Island across the cold, swift currents of San Francisco Bay, stunning National Park Service biologists who had assumed the animal made a shorter crossing from the city.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday publicly condemned the circulation of a deepfake photograph that depicted her in bed wearing lingerie, calling the AI-generated image a political attack. She shared the image — and an accompanying social-media post suggesting she should be “ashamed” — in a Facebook post that warned of the dangers of AI-manipulated content.
Pennsylvania has sued Character Technologies Inc., the company behind Character.AI, alleging that its chatbots illegally hold themselves out as licensed doctors and deceive users into believing they are receiving medical advice from professionals. Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration called the filing a “first of its kind enforcement action” against an AI firm over the unlawful practice of medicine, saying an investigator easily found chatbots on the platform that claimed to be licensed psychiatrists and offered to assess the investigator as a doctor.
Apple unveiled “Apple Intelligence” at its World Wide Developers Conference, positioning the software updates as a way to make iPhone, iPad and Mac features more capable through generative AI. The company said Siri will gain an optional gateway to ChatGPT, and it previewed a range of new tools coming through free software updates later this year.
A lone male coyote surprised biologists and visitors when it swam to Alcatraz Island earlier this year, but DNA analysis showed it came from farther away than originally thought. National Park Service wildlife ecologist Bill Merkle said the swimmer likely left Angel Island, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away, rather than San Francisco, which is a little over 1 mile from Alcatraz. The coyote has not been seen again, and officials had been prepared to capture and relocate it because the island is a seabird nesting habitat.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni denounced the circulation of a deepfake photo of her posing in bed in lingerie, which she said is being used as a political attack. She posted the image on Facebook and warned that such artificial-intelligence-created pictures can deceive, manipulate and target anyone.
Pennsylvania sued Character Technologies, the maker of Character.AI, accusing its chatbots of illegally holding themselves out as licensed doctors and misleading users into thinking they receive medical advice from professionals. The lawsuit, filed in Commonwealth Court, seeks an order stopping the alleged “unlawful practice of medicine and surgery.”
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (MSI) — A team of astronomers has found evidence of a thin atmosphere around a miniature Pluto-like object in the distant Kuiper Belt, a discovery that, if verified, would mark the smallest world yet known to hold onto a global atmosphere. The object, just 300 miles across, was observed as it passed in front of a star, briefly dimming the starlight in a pattern consistent with a gaseous envelope. Researchers say the atmosphere may have been created by volcanic eruptions or a comet strike.
A secret program by U.S. Customs and Border Protection uses a nationwide network of license plate cameras and algorithmic profiling to track millions of American drivers, flagging 'suspicious' travel patterns and triggering traffic stops that have netted no contraband but resulted in detentions, searches, and cash seizures, an Associated Press investigation has found.
Astronomers have reported evidence of a thin, delicate atmosphere around a tiny icy object in the Kuiper Belt beyond Pluto, a discovery they say could be linked to volcanic activity or a comet impact. The study, published Monday in *Nature Astronomy*, describes global atmospheric features detected as the object passed in front of a background star.
An Associated Press investigation says U.S. technology helped lay the foundation for China’s surveillance systems used to police dissidents, minorities and “key persons,” including in Xinjiang. AP reports that internal documents and other records show American companies designed and marketed tools that Chinese officials used to track people’s communications and movements, detain them and restrict their travel.
The Associated Press investigated how U.S. government policies across administrations have helped American companies sell surveillance-related technology to China, even as U.S. lawmakers sought to close loopholes they said let China work around export limits. AP reported that lawmakers tried four times since September to restrict a “cloud services” workaround in which Chinese firms rent advanced chips via U.S. cloud providers, but the proposals failed each time, including last month.
As the West braces for another severe wildfire season, a growing network of AI-powered cameras is spotting smoke before any human calls for help, giving firefighters a critical early edge.
Wildfire-prone states across the Western U.S. are installing AI-monitored cameras that flag possible smoke and alert human analysts for verification, with the aim of dispatching firefighters sooner. In Arizona, artificial intelligence helped identify the early signs of what became the Diamond Fire, according to Associated Press reporting.
Li Chuanliang, a former vice mayor from northeastern China, says he has been stalked across three continents and his family detained after he reported his boss’s corruption and fled to the United States. The Chinese government’s pursuit, aided by surveillance software from IBM, Oracle and Microsoft, is part of a broader campaign to hunt dissidents and wayward officials abroad, an Associated Press investigation has found.
A new study suggests that a tiny icy body in the outer solar system, roughly 300 miles wide, may possess a thin atmosphere — a discovery that could reshape understanding of small worlds beyond Neptune, according to researchers using telescopes in Japan.
U.S. technology companies largely designed and built China’s digital surveillance state, providing the essential systems that enabled a brutal mass detention campaign against the native Uyghur population in Xinjiang, an Associated Press investigation has found. The investigation, based on tens of thousands of pages of leaked internal documents, emails, and procurement records, reveals how IBM, Cisco, Oracle, Dell, Intel, Nvidia and other firms sold billions of dollars of hardware, software, and predictive policing tools to Chinese police and government agencies despite repeated warnings that the technology was being used to crush dissent, persecute religious groups, and target ethnic minorities.
A three-year Associated Press investigation has found that American technology companies, especially IBM, played a far greater role in designing and building China’s surveillance state than previously known, enabling the mass tracking and detention of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. The investigation, based on over 100 interviews and tens of thousands of leaked documents, reveals that Chinese police and state-owned defense contractors worked directly with U.S. firms to create the world’s largest and most sophisticated digital surveillance apparatus.
OAKLAND, Calif. (MSI) — Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and the top lieutenant to CEO Sam Altman, testified in court Monday that his stake in the artificial intelligence company is worth nearly $30 billion, a disclosure that would place him among the world’s richest people.
Colin Angle, the co-founder of iRobot and creator of the Roomba vacuum, introduced a new home robot on Monday: a plush, four-legged companion called the Familiar that uses generative AI to learn its owner’s routines and respond to voice commands.
Retired Chinese official Li Chuanliang fled to the United States after criticizing leaders and alleging Beijing continued to hunt him abroad with surveillance. An Associated Press investigation said Li’s communications were monitored, his assets were seized, and more than 40 associates and relatives—including his pregnant daughter—were identified and detained with help from facial recognition and other tools.
Worldwide, religion is not uniformly peaceful, and mental health experts say faith can both protect and harm well-being. In recent commentary and research, some U.S. organizations cite evidence that religious involvement is associated with lower suicide risk, while clinicians and other advocates warn that religious communities can also intensify shame and barriers to care.
Un nuevo estudio reporta que un pequeño objeto helado más allá de Plutón, llamado (612533) 2002 XV93, podría albergar una atmósfera tenue y persistente. El hallazgo se basa en observaciones realizadas en 2024 desde Japón mientras el objeto pasaba frente a una estrella, y fue publicado el lunes en la revista Nature Astronomy. El principal investigador, Ko Arimatsu, dijo que el resultado necesita verificación independiente.
Colin Angle, the robotics pioneer behind the Roomba vacuum, unveiled a four-legged AI-powered pet robot prototype called Familiar on Monday. Angle said the machine is designed to follow people around a home, learn from what they say, and make animal-like sounds without speaking.
The U.S. government, across five presidential administrations, has repeatedly allowed and actively helped American technology firms sell advanced equipment to Chinese police, government agencies, and surveillance companies, an Associated Press investigation has found. The report documents decades of failed congressional attempts to close loopholes, direct government promotion of security exports, and recent profit-sharing deals between the Trump administration and chipmakers, even as U.S. sanctions targeted Chinese human rights abusers.
Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and CEO Sam Altman’s top lieutenant, testified in a trial in Oakland, California, that his stake in OpenAI is worth nearly $30 billion. Brockman told the court Monday that he did not personally invest any money in OpenAI, as the civil lawsuit accuses Altman and Brockman of double-crossing Elon Musk’s founding mission.
President Donald Trump says the Pentagon is preparing to release previously unseen UFO files, teasing new revelations about unexplained anomalous phenomena as the administration’s push for transparency draws both excitement and skepticism from lawmakers and experts.
President Donald Trump said the Pentagon will soon release additional records related to unidentified anomalous phenomena, fueling interest and skepticism amid ongoing efforts to declassify such material. Speaking at a White House event honoring NASA astronauts, Trump said the administration “is going to publish a lot of things we haven’t published” and called some of them “very interesting.” The remarks come as a Pentagon office and a congressional working group press for more disclosures about UFOs and alleged encounters.
President Donald Trump said the Pentagon is preparing to release what he called “very interesting” government files on unidentified anomalous phenomena, reigniting public speculation about extraterrestrial life even as the former head of the Pentagon’s UAP office cautioned that the president’s promises are bravado and that no explosive revelations exist in the records.
President Donald Trump said the Pentagon is preparing to release some “very interesting” UFO files uncovered by his administration, during remarks at a White House event celebrating NASA astronauts. He also previously directed federal agencies to release records related to extraterrestrial life and UFOs, setting off debate over whether the disclosures will amount to new revelations.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, made up of debris from Halley's comet, will peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but a bright, nearly full moon will significantly reduce the number of visible meteors, astronomers said.
Rising diesel prices linked to the Iran war are accelerating a shift across Africa to power cellphone towers with solar energy, an ongoing industry transition focused on lowering costs and improving network reliability.
Greg Abel led his first annual meeting as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska, marking a transition from the folksy style of Warren Buffett to a focus on detailed business operations. Attendance at the arena was down significantly from past years, but Abel outlined the performance of the conglomerate's core businesses and addressed the impact of the Iran war and the risks of artificial intelligence.
Building trades unions have emerged as a powerful and visible ally for the world's richest tech companies in the race to build the infrastructure for America's artificial intelligence economy, defending massive data center projects against a rising tide of community opposition and hostile legislation while their membership rolls swell to record levels.
New Mexico state prosecutors began a second phase of a landmark bench trial Monday, asking a judge to impose broad changes on Meta’s social media apps and algorithms to protect children. The trial follows a first-phase civil verdict that ordered $375 million in penalties against Meta over findings related to children’s mental health and concealment of what the state said the company knew about child sexual exploitation.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower, made of debris from Halley’s comet, is expected to peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, but a bright moon will make the display harder to see. In the Southern Hemisphere, viewers typically see about 50 meteors per hour during the peak, though the moon could cut that number by half, the Associated Press reported. In the Northern Hemisphere, skywatchers are likely to see fewer than 10 per hour.
Building trades unions are playing a growing role in the U.S. artificial intelligence economy by securing work on large data center projects and helping shape local and state politics around them, the Associated Press reported May 2. Union leaders and tech executives alike say the projects are fueling demand for apprenticeships and skilled labor, while unions argue they can also address community concerns about energy, water and quality of life.
Rising diesel prices tied to the Iran war are increasing pressure on African mobile operators to power telecom towers with solar energy, a shift that was already underway as costs and climate goals pushed networks off fossil fuels.
The Pentagon announced Friday that it has reached agreements with Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Nvidia, OpenAI, Reflection, and SpaceX to incorporate their artificial intelligence into its classified systems, which it said would help “augment warfighter decision-making in complex operational environments.” Anthropic, which is embroiled in a legal fight with the Trump administration over the ethics and safety of AI in warfare, was not among the companies that secured a deal.
The Pentagon said Friday it has reached deals with seven technology companies to use artificial intelligence in U.S. military classified computer networks, aiming to “augment warfighter decision-making in complex operational environments.” The companies named by the Defense Department include Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Nvidia, OpenAI, Reflection and SpaceX, while Anthropic was not included after a public dispute and legal fight with the Trump administration.
J. Craig Venter, the geneticist who raced the U.S. government to decode the human genetic blueprint and later pioneered synthetic life, died April 29 in San Diego at age 79. His institute attributed his death to complications from cancer treatment.
A rise in AI song generators like Suno and Udio is making it harder to tell whether music is created by humans or machines. Deezer’s head of research says external clues, such as a lack of social media presence, are often the clearest indicators, while the streaming service has begun labeling albums containing AI-generated tracks.
Mexico City is sinking at a rate of nearly 10 inches (25 centimeters) per year, according to new satellite data released by NASA, making it one of the fastest-subsiding urban areas in the world. The measurements, captured between October 2025 and January 2026 by the NISAR satellite, reveal that the 22-million-person metropolis is dropping so quickly the subsidence is visible from space.
Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown, entering its fourth month, has crippled an online economy that supported roughly 10 million jobs, the Associated Press reported from Tehran. The blackout, which authorities have depicted as a wartime necessity but critics call an economic catastrophe, has left fashion designers, fitness coaches, gamers and software developers without income, as the government restricts global internet access to a small elite.
New satellite measurements from a joint NASA-Indian mission show that Mexico City is sinking by as much as 10 inches each year, one of the fastest subsidence rates ever recorded in a major metropolis, as groundwater pumping beneath its ancient lakebed continues to compress the soil.
Teachers, marketers, and product managers are embracing generative artificial intelligence in their daily work, using tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grade papers, decode technical jargon, and predict customer needs, according to interviews conducted by the Associated Press.
The U.S. Army is proposing to develop a 3-gigawatt data center on Fort Bliss property in far East El Paso — a facility that would consume more electricity than all 460,000 of El Paso Electric's customers combined. Army officials briefed reporters on April 22 that the project, to be built and operated by private investment firm Carlyle Group, is part of a Trump administration push to accelerate military AI infrastructure. Key details about water use, grid connection, and air emissions remain unanswered.
Apple reported its best March quarter ever on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with revenue of $111.18 billion and earnings per share of $2.01, beating analyst expectations on continued iPhone momentum, even as CEO Tim Cook warned of "significantly higher" memory costs driven by AI demand. The results came as Cook prepares to hand the company over to successor John Ternus on Sept. 1, ending a 15-year tenure that saw Apple’s market value soar by more than $3.6 trillion.
J. Craig Venter, who won the race to sequence the human genome and helped scientists understand how genes shape disease, died Wednesday. He was 79. The J. Craig Venter Institute said his death was announced by the institute, which said he died in San Diego after being hospitalized for side effects from a recent cancer treatment.
Mexico City is sinking by nearly 10 inches (about 25 centimeters) a year, NASA said, citing new satellite imagery that shows ground subsidence can be seen from space. The NASA estimates, based on measurements from October 2025 to January 2026, also indicate the sinking is accelerating in places including the main airport and the Angel of Independence.
Iran’s four-month internet blackout has left many online businesses in Iran unable to sell to customers, Reuters, like 90 million people have been cut off from most global web access for much of 2026, according to the Associated Press. The shutdown has hit sectors ranging from fashion and fitness to advertising and retailers, with business owners and digital-industry representatives describing income losses and fears about survival.
Artificial intelligence is moving into everyday workplaces, from classrooms and marketing teams to corporate research and university administration, the Associated Press reported. In interviews, teachers, managers and executives described using AI tools to speed up tasks such as grading, briefing for meetings and understanding customer needs, while also saying they require careful checking because the tools can make mistakes and produce false information.
The U.S. Army is proposing to develop a large data center complex on Fort Bliss in far east El Paso that officials say could reach about 3 gigawatts of electricity demand by 2029—levels that would exceed all power consumed by El Paso Electric’s 460,000 customers combined. The proposal also includes plans to coordinate with local water and power utilities, but questions remain about grid connections, water supply sources, and emissions, AP reported.
Apple reported strong results for its January-March quarter on Thursday, helped by continued iPhone sales momentum. The company also used the update to outline artificial intelligence plans and to address a leadership transition, with CEO Tim Cook set to step down later this year.
Mexico City is sinking nearly 25 centimeters (10 inches) per year, according to NASA satellite images released this week. The research, based on measurements taken between October 2025 and January 2026 by the NISAR satellite, shows the sinking can be observed from space and is affecting infrastructure and water supplies.
Millions of Americans taking newer obesity medications are finding that the drugs are changing not only their weight, but also how they experience food during holidays, the Associated Press reported. Patients and doctors said weekly injections used for obesity can quiet what some describe as “food noise,” alter how satisfying meals feel, and affect whether people crave or enjoy traditional, food-centered celebrations such as Thanksgiving.
Elon Musk clashed with OpenAI’s lawyer on April 30 during his third day of testimony in a trial over the company’s transformation from a nonprofit to a for-profit behemoth, with a federal judge sharply limiting the proceedings to contractual disputes and barring any discussion of artificial intelligence’s dangers to humanity.
Elon Musk sparred with an attorney for OpenAI on Thursday during his third day of testimony in a federal trial in Oakland, California, over the company’s origins and its pivot from nonprofit status to a for-profit venture. The dispute centers on OpenAI’s 2015 founding as a nonprofit largely funded by Musk, and on Musk’s allegation that promises were broken about keeping the company dedicated to humanity.
Prosecutors said a roommate charged with two counts of premeditated murder used ChatGPT in the days before the disappearance of University of South Florida doctoral student Zamil Limon and his girlfriend Nahida Bristy, including questions about disposing of a body. In court filings ahead of a Tuesday hearing, prosecutors described what they said was the suspect’s ChatGPT search history and said OpenAI could provide information to investigators.
Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center, about 15 miles south of Boston, says it has used largely unchanged instruments to record daily weather for 141 years. Staff and volunteers at the private nonprofit send observation summaries to federal and climate-research data centers and also invite local residents into a “citizen science” program.
NASA’s Artemis II Orion capsule returned to Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, nearly a month after carrying four astronauts around the moon on the first crewed lunar trip in more than half a century. The spacecraft’s crew, dubbed Integrity, is resuming after medical checks and other post-mission tests.
Air traffic investigators are prompting upgrades in vehicle tracking after a March 22 collision at LaGuardia Airport that killed two pilots and injured others, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said. The agency said transponders will be installed on fire trucks and other rescue vehicles at LaGuardia, Kennedy and Newark Liberty airports so air traffic controllers receive more precise locations. The National Transportation Safety Board cited the lack of transponders in a preliminary report released last week.
Los arqueólogos de Pompeya, en Italia, han utilizado por primera vez inteligencia artificial para reconstruir digitalmente el rostro de uno de los hombres que murieron durante la erupción del Vesubio en el año 79 d.C. El proyecto, desarrollado por el Parque Arqueológico de Pompeya en colaboración con la Universidad de Padua, busca volver más accesible y atractiva para el público la investigación sobre el desastre.
The FDA said in a new analysis that the U.S. infant formula supply is safe, based on testing for heavy metals, pesticides and other potential contaminants. The review, conducted under the agency’s Operation Stork Speed project, tested more than 300 samples of commercial infant formula between 2023 and 2025, federal health officials said Wednesday.
Helicopter pilots flying through Kauaʻi’s remote Waimea Canyon will be able to review video and weather data along their flight path before takeoff at Līhuʻe Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA expects the cameras to be operating by the end of the year as part of a statewide network meant to reduce accidents linked to rapidly changing conditions in and around the canyon.
Amazon reported higher first-quarter profits and net sales on Wednesday, helped by faster growth in its cloud-computing unit, even as investors weighed its large spending plans for artificial intelligence and other technologies. The company also projected net sales for the current quarter above analysts’ expectations, though its shares fell slightly in after-hours trading before rising later.
Alphabet reported first-quarter profit of $62.6 billion, or $5.11 per share, as revenue rose to $109.9 billion and the company’s share price climbed after results were released April 29. The Associated Press reported the figures for the January-March period, citing Alphabet’s growth driven by Google’s advertising and expanding cloud business amid heavy spending on artificial intelligence.
Meta Platforms reported first-quarter results Wednesday that beat analysts’ expectations, with earnings and revenue rising year over year while the company also lifted its forecast for 2026 capital expenditures. The company also projected second-quarter revenue and updated spending guidance, and said internet disruptions in Iran and restrictions on WhatsApp in Russia contributed to a slight decline in daily users.
Elon Musk took the witness stand Wednesday for a second day in the federal trial in Oakland, California, that pits the Tesla chief against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the company’s nonprofit origins and Musk’s later decision to stop funding it. Musk testified that by late 2022 he believed Altman was trying to “steal the charity,” and he said the answer to whether OpenAI was formed as a nonprofit in December 2015 was “yes.”
Wall Street slipped from record highs on Tuesday as shares tied to artificial intelligence fell and oil prices rose on continued uncertainty around the Iran war. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.9% and the Dow fell slightly, while higher energy costs weighed on sentiment across markets.
The remote Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior has seen its wolf population rebound, but the animals’ return is coinciding with a steep drop in the island’s moose numbers, according to a new annual survey released Monday. Researchers estimate there were 37 wolves during the winter study period that ran from Jan. 22 through March 3.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared likely to grant Cisco’s bid to shut down a lawsuit brought by Falun Gong over alleged U.S.-based technology used to persecute the spiritual movement in China. Justices questioned how broadly the court should rule on Cisco’s liability and whether lower courts have allowed too many similar cases to proceed. A decision is expected late June.
The Trump administration fired members of the National Science Board, an independent panel that oversees the National Science Foundation, according to emails board members received. Board members said they were told their positions were “terminated, effective immediately.”
A seafood company on Cape Cod donated a rare two-colored lobster to Woods Hole Science Aquarium, sparing it from being cooked. Fishermen caught the lobster off Cape Cod on April 16, and the aquarium plans to display it when it reopens.
Most sunscreens can end up in the ocean after swimming, and research cited by the Associated Press links several common chemical UV filters to harm to coral reefs. The story details how consumers can reduce exposure through clothing and shade, and how to choose mineral formulas and apply them in ways that cut runoff.
Amazon announced what it called a “major expansion” of its partnership with OpenAI, as OpenAI said the company was loosening its ties to Microsoft. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the collaboration with Amazon Web Services will involve co-developing a new platform for AI agents that can do computer-based work on people’s behalf. Altman spoke via prerecorded video to an Amazon event in San Francisco.
Elon Musk took the stand Tuesday in a federal civil trial in Oakland, California, where he is suing OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, and others over the direction of the company’s AI mission. Jury selection finished Monday, and the trial is scheduled to last about three weeks.
Archaeologists at Pompeii have used artificial intelligence to digitally reconstruct the face of a man killed in the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the Pompeii Archaeological Park said. The image is based on remains found as people tried to flee toward the coast during the disaster, along with archaeological survey and excavation data.
Prosecutors say Hisham Abugharbieh, accused in the deaths of two University of South Florida doctoral students from Bangladesh, asked ChatGPT days before they went missing how to dispose of a body. According to a pretrial detention report filed by prosecutors, Abugharbieh also asked the chatbot about changing his car’s vehicle identification number and about keeping a gun at home without a license.
Jury selection began Monday in Oakland, California, in a civil trial brought by Elon Musk against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and OpenAI’s board. Musk alleges they double-crossed him by shifting OpenAI away from its founding mission as an altruistic nonprofit steward of artificial intelligence. OpenAI says the claims are unfounded and aimed at slowing its growth and bolstering Musk’s competing xAI venture.
Beijing will ban the sale and use of drones within city limits starting May 1, according to ordinances approved by the city government in late March. The rules include exceptions for universities, research institutions and public safety operations, but require permission from police, and impose potential fines and confiscation for violations.
Elon Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, renewing claims that the company abandoned its founding aim of benefiting the public. The complaint, filed in Northern California federal court, characterizes Musk’s case as a “textbook tale of altruism versus greed” and says Altman and others “intentionally courted and deceived Musk.” A spokesperson for OpenAI disputed the allegations, saying Musk’s earlier emails continue to speak for themselves and pointing to emails OpenAI released in March.
College students in the United States are changing majors and plans as they worry that artificial intelligence could automate entry-level tasks and reshape job markets by the time they graduate. Reporting by the Associated Press describes students switching away from analytics- and technology-focused tracks toward areas they associate with human judgment and communication.
Chile’s Atacama Desert is home to major astronomy projects, but scientists warn the region’s “darkest skies” face growing pressure from development and energy proposals near observatories. An appeal last year helped cancel a green power complex near Paranal, but researchers and Chilean monitoring groups say regulations remain unclear and are under review.
Families of victims of a school shooting in Canada’s Tumbler Ridge are suing OpenAI in U.S. federal court, seeking to hold the company liable for failing to alert police after the shooter used ChatGPT. A lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of 12-year-old Maya Gebala is among the first of multiple cases the families say they plan. OpenAI has said it has “zero-tolerance” for using its tools to commit violence.
China’s top economic planning agency said it is prohibiting a foreign acquisition of the AI startup Manus, dealing a blow to Meta’s plans to expand its AI agent offerings. The decision was made through China’s Office of the Working Mechanism for Security Review of Foreign Investment in accordance with Chinese laws, the agency said. The move comes as U.S. tech firms face tighter scrutiny abroad amid intensifying U.S.-China technology competition.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill that would have created the country’s first statewide moratorium on large data centers and a special council to help towns assess proposed projects. The veto came after Mills said the legislation did not include a carve-out for a data center proposal in Jay that would bring jobs to a community affected by a mill closure.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it will offer ultra-fast review to three psychedelic drugs being developed to treat mental health conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, in a move tied to a Trump executive order. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency will “evaluate these potential therapies with urgency,” while the FDA said the program is meant to shorten reviews from months to weeks.
OpenAI chief Sam Altman apologized after his company did not alert law enforcement about the online behavior of the person who shot and killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, in February, according to a letter posted this week. Altman said OpenAI had banned the account in June after identifying it for “furtherance of violent activities,” but concluded then it did not meet a threshold to refer the matter to police.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Apollo moonwalker Harrison “Jack” Schmitt said the next generation should treat the return to the moon as a challenge to leave “footsteps like these” for future explorers. Schmitt, 90, discussed NASA’s Artemis program, including the value he sees in a lunar base for preparation toward Mars, and he connected moon rocks rich in titanium and helium-3 to potential future energy uses.
Researchers have spent decades breeding potatoes for chip makers—developing varieties that can grow in different climates, resist diseases and pests, and last in storage for months while still producing a crisp chip. In Michigan, scientists at Michigan State University are also working on new varieties, including a bioengineered potato designed to help keep sugar levels in balance during colder storage.
Remote workers who log on from cafes, co-working spaces, hotel lobbies or airports face privacy and security risks, according to guidance cited by The Associated Press. The outlet, in its “One Tech Tip” column, recommends steps such as following any employer rules, protecting against “shoulder surfing,” and avoiding public Wi-Fi that doesn’t require a password. It also urges users to consider mobile hotspots and VPNs when working away from home.
Thousands of climbers and their guides are being forced to delay their planned climb of Mount Everest after an unstable ice block—described as a serac—halted movement on the route just above Everest base camp, Nepal’s mountaineering authorities said. The spring climbing season, which ends at the end of May, is expected to offer only brief weather windows.
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, rolled out preview versions of its latest major model update on Friday, launching V4 and introducing “pro” and “flash” versions. The rollout comes as U.S. firms and regulators increasingly scrutinize how leading AI systems are developed, and as DeepSeek positions its models as more competitive with OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.
Chinese automakers are showcasing new models and technologies in Beijing as global competition heats up and they seek overseas growth. The biennial show, which opened to media on Friday, runs through May 3 and features more than 1,450 vehicles, including 181 global debuts.
President Donald Trump issued an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, shifting how it is regulated under federal drug law. The change, issued Thursday, does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, but it could reduce barriers for research and allow some federal tax deductions for licensed businesses. A new administrative hearing scheduled for the end of June could determine whether marijuana is reclassified more broadly.
LONDON (AP) — Visually impaired runner Tilly Dowler plans to use AI-powered Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses to guide her as she prepares to run the London Marathon, which organizers say takes place Sunday. Dowler, who has Stargardt disease and estimates she has about 10% useful vision, said the glasses can provide live audio cues about nearby landmarks and how far she has run.
U.S. health officials stopped the publication of a study on whether COVID-19 vaccines were keeping adults from becoming sick enough to need hospital care, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman confirmed. The paper, which was scheduled to appear in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, was halted over a dispute about the study’s methodology.
Meta said Thursday it is laying off about 8,000 workers, or about 10% of its workforce, as the company ramps up spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure and hires highly paid AI experts. The company said it is making the cuts to improve efficiency and fund new investments, and Meta is also offering voluntary buyouts to thousands of its U.S. employees.
The U.S. National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab released a new image of the Sombrero galaxy on Friday, showing the popular, hat-shaped spiral galaxy in enhanced color. The photo was taken by a telescope in Chile about four years ago, with the color imaging finished this week.
Archaeological digs tied to road construction along Brazil’s BR-156 highway have yielded new clues about Indigenous life in the Amazon long before European arrival, the Associated Press reported. The discoveries include pottery that may have been funerary urns and small artifacts resembling human faces, found during surveys ahead of paving work in the northern state of Amapa.
The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on foreign companies it says are exploiting U.S. artificial intelligence models by “distilling” capabilities, a move that singles out China amid intensifying U.S.-China competition in AI. In a memo, Michael Kratsios, the president’s chief science and technology adviser, said the White House will work with U.S. AI companies to identify such activity, build defenses and punish offenders.
China’s top automakers are displaying the latest vehicle models and technologies, from intelligent driving to ultrafast charging, at the Beijing auto show that opened for media on Friday. More than 1,450 vehicles, including 181 global debuts, are on display as Chinese automakers compete with global rivals in overseas markets.
DeepSeek previewed versions of its latest major AI model update Friday, offering “pro” and “flash” releases and saying they improve knowledge, reasoning and “agentic” capabilities. The rollout comes as U.S. companies and allies accuse DeepSeek and other Chinese labs of building by distilling capabilities from U.S. models, and as China pushes for more self-reliance in chips.
The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority approved a 12-month moratorium barring the delivery of water and sewer services to data centers in its service area, citing limited water and wastewater capacity and the need for additional studies. The decision affects hyperscale and mid-size facilities, artificial intelligence computing sites and high-performance computational centers, as a University of Michigan data center project and other proposals move forward in the region.
On Thursday off Rhode Island, the Associated Press traveled roughly 100 miles to see offshore wind turbines spinning and under construction across the region, including Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind. The visit came as President Donald Trump seeks to end or roll back the U.S. offshore wind industry. Officials and industry advocates say the pace of development and the growing electricity demand for coastal states are colliding with a federal push to slow projects.
A new analysis of fossilized octopus jaws suggests that massive, kraken-like octopuses were among the top predators in dinosaur-era seas about 100 million years ago. Researchers say the ancient animals likely grew to between 23 and 62 feet (7 to 19 meters) long and fed on hard prey such as shells and bones.
A newly analyzed interstellar visitor, Comet 3I/Atlas, likely formed in a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way before the star system where it is traveling toward Earth. Using observations from the ALMA observatory, astronomers reported Thursday that the comet’s water contains extremely high deuterium—heavy hydrogen—signatures pointing to a colder origin.
Estonia’s foreign minister, Margus Tsahkna, met Vietnam’s prime minister, Le Minh Hung, in Hanoi on Wednesday to discuss deeper cooperation in trade, technology and digital transformation, according to Tsahkna and Vietnam’s state media. Tsahkna said Estonia could help Vietnam digitize public services and ease bureaucracy, while Hung asked Estonia to urge the European Union to ratify an investment protection agreement and to support EU efforts to lift a “yellow card” restricting Vietnamese seafood imports.
Trump Media & Technology, the parent of Truth Social, announced on Tuesday that Devin Nunes is stepping down as CEO and will be replaced by Kevin McGurn, as the company’s stock continues to slide. The shake-up comes amid a yearslong effort to diversify the business far beyond social media, including moves into cryptocurrency, financial services and nuclear fusion.
Anthropic told a federal appeals court it cannot manipulate its Claude artificial-intelligence tool once it is deployed in classified Pentagon military networks, arguing the Pentagon’s efforts to label it a national-security risk are unlawful retaliation. The company’s lawyers filed a 96-page submission ahead of oral arguments scheduled for May 19.
China’s top automakers are showcasing new models and technologies, from intelligent driving to ultrafast charging, at the Beijing auto show as competition with global rivals intensifies. The biennial event opened to media on Friday and runs until May 3, with more than 1,450 vehicles displayed, including 181 global debuts.
DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup that helped roil markets last year with the release of its reasoning model R1, launched preview versions of its next major update on Friday. The company said its V4 models—available in “pro” and “flash” editions—show improvements in knowledge, reasoning and “agentic” capabilities, and that parts of the work rely on computer chips from Huawei. The rollout came hours after OpenAI released its GPT-5.5 model, as U.S. and Chinese AI firms trade accusations about how competitors build their systems.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened a rare criminal investigation into whether OpenAI’s ChatGPT provided guidance to the gunman in last year’s Florida State University shooting. Prosecutors will review chat logs and sought records from OpenAI about policies and training related to threats and reporting crime, Uthmeier said Tuesday in Tampa.
Apple CEO Tim Cook will step down on Sept. 1, handing the top job to John Ternus, Apple’s head of hardware engineering, the company said Monday. Cook, 65, will remain with Apple as executive chairman and Arthur Levinson will relinquish his role as non-executive chairman while staying on the board.
Trump Media & Technology Group said Tuesday it is replacing longtime CEO Devin Nunes with Kevin McGurn, as the company’s stock continues to fall. The switch comes as the parent of Truth Social has broadened beyond social media into digital assets, finance and plans tied to nuclear fusion.
The U.S. Navy is reviewing the design and costs of the Ford-class aircraft carrier and its top uniformed leader, Navy Secretary John Phelan, said Tuesday the review could affect future versions. Phelan told reporters the assessment will examine whether the Ford-class system designs and costs “make sense,” including the carrier’s ability to launch and retrieve aircraft, and he said the Navy expects to have carriers regardless.
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Tuesday of limiting federal regulators’ power in a telecommunications data-privacy dispute that involves Verizon and AT&T. The companies are challenging a Federal Communications Commission process that led to penalties totaling more than $100 million after the FCC found they sold customers’ location data without proper safeguards. A ruling is expected by late June.
Anthropic told a U.S. appeals court it cannot “manipulate” its Claude artificial intelligence tool once it is deployed inside classified Pentagon military networks, arguing the Trump administration is seeking to portray the company as a supply-chain risk. The company’s filing came ahead of oral arguments set for May 19 in a case tied to a Pentagon contract dispute over how AI could be used in autonomous weapons and possible surveillance.
Vietnam and Estonia moved to deepen cooperation on trade, technology and digital services during meetings in Hanoi, Estonia’s foreign minister said. Margus Tsahkna met Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on Wednesday and discussed digital cooperation after a 2025 agreement between the two countries. The prime minister also urged Estonia to press the European Union to ratify an investment protection accord and address an EU “yellow card” affecting Vietnamese seafood imports.
UK cyber chief Richard Horne warned at a CyberUK conference in Glasgow that the most serious cyberattacks against the country are now carried out by hostile nations including Russia, Iran and China. Horne, head of the National Cyber Security Centre, said the U.K. could face cyberattacks “at scale” in the event of an international conflict.
CivicLoon, a new app using artificial intelligence, is designed to translate Minnesota legislation and related coverage into plain-language summaries for voters, including the ability to support multiple languages. Its developer, Colin Lee, said the app is meant to narrow the gap between what lawmakers do at the Minnesota Capitol and what constituents can understand as the session nears its end.
Blue Origin grounded its New Glenn rocket after a weekend launch failed to place a satellite into the right orbit, leaving the payload doomed, the company said Monday. The company blamed a bad engine on the rocket’s upper stage and said launches are on hold until it and the Federal Aviation Administration complete their investigation, following a process that began at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell are giving the University of Texas at Austin $750 million to build the UT Dell Medical Center, a planned “AI-native” hospital expected to open in 2030. UT officials said the donation would support an advanced research campus and expand health care options in Central Texas.
Devin Nunes is being replaced temporarily as chief executive of Trump Media & Technology Group by digital media executive Kevin McGurn after the company’s stock plunged 67%, wiping out more than $6 billion in investor wealth. The company said it did not provide a reason for the leadership change or a timeline for a permanent replacement.
U.S. military officials on Tuesday urged the Pentagon’s budget for fiscal 2027 to increase spending on drones and air-defense systems that have been central to the war in the Middle East against Iran, according to a briefing with reporters. As part of the administration’s push for a larger overall defense budget, the Pentagon’s proposal calls for more than $74 billion for drones and related technology and over $30 billion for critical munitions including missile interceptors, officials said.
Yelp on Tuesday introduced an AI chatbot designed to help users find local business recommendations by pairing results with the underlying reviews. The company said the chatbot aims to reduce the effort of scanning large volumes of commentary while keeping “human connections” visible. Yelp’s announcement also lands amid its long-running conflict with Google over search traffic and the sharing of business-review data.
Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic has committed to spending more than $100 billion on Amazon's AWS cloud platform over the next decade to train and operate its Claude chatbot. Amazon will invest $5 billion immediately and may contribute up to another $20 billion in the future, the companies announced April 21.
Elon Musk has been summoned to Paris for Monday by French prosecutors investigating allegations of child sexual abuse material and deepfakes on the social media platform X, the Paris prosecutor's office said. Linda Yaccarino, X's former chief executive, has also been summoned for what prosecutors describe as "voluntary interviews."
Iraq and Syria reopened a key border crossing on Monday for the first time in more than a decade, with officials highlighting its potential for trade and oil exports. The crossing, known as Rabia in Iraq and Yarubiyah in Syria, had been closed since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. Syria described the reopened route as a safe overland alternative for oil exports to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in the ongoing Iran conflict.
Pope Leo XIV made an unprecedented direct appeal on April 7 to American voters to contact their representatives and demand an end to the Iran war. The appeal marks the Vatican's most direct political intervention in U.S. affairs since the Cuban Missile Crisis and comes amid escalating tension with President Trump over the pope's peace messaging during a four-nation Africa tour.
South Korea President Lee Jae Myung met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, pledging to nearly double bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030. Modi said both sides aim to raise trade from about $27 billion through stronger supply chains, better market access and more investment.
Mississippi College School of Law is requiring all first-year students to complete a mandatory artificial intelligence course, becoming the first law school in the Southeast to implement such a requirement. The school's dean, John Anderson, said the goal is to train lawyers to use the technology "effectively, efficiently, and ethically" and to prevent mistakes that have already begun plaguing the profession.
Slovakia will hold a referendum on July 4 to decide whether to cancel lifelong payments for political leaders including Prime Minister Robert Fico, President Peter Pellegrini said Monday. Voters will simultaneously decide whether to reopen the special prosecutor's office, which handles major crime and corruption investigations. The dual referendum follows a petition organized by the opposition Democrats party and signed by more than 350,000 citizens.
In April, Russian drone strikes on Ukraine killed at least two people as the Ukrainian military targeted a Russian drone manufacturing facility, escalating the exchange of long-range attacks between the countries. A "massive" nighttime drone strike on Chernihiv in northern Ukraine killed a 16-year-old boy and wounded four others, according to Dmytro Bryzhynskyi, the head of the city's military administration. Russian drones also attacked the southern city of Kherson, where a man died of his wounds after a drone hit a van in the city center, according to regional administrator Oleksandr Prokudin. The Ukrainian military said it struck the Atlant Aero factory in Taganrog, a drone manufacturing facility in southwestern Russia, using Neptune cruise missiles. Ukrainian officials said the strike sparked a fire at the site, which designs and produces reconnaissance drones and components for armed unmanned aircraft.
The Trump administration is blocking state efforts to regulate artificial intelligence, but some Republican lawmakers are pushing forward with their own rules anyway. The conflict reflects a broader state-federal split over how to manage AI technology as public concern about its risks mounts, with eight in ten Americans saying they are concerned about artificial intelligence in a recent poll.
Schools across Iran have remained closed for seven weeks since the United States and Israel launched a war on Feb. 28, leaving families navigating childcare and educational challenges with no announced timeline for reopening. Working parents like Mahnaz Ataei, a finance manager in Tehran, have brought their children to the office to supervise online classes while trying to maintain productivity. The fragile ceasefire has shifted the crisis from immediate aerial threat to the grinding logistics of displacement and remote learning.
Forty years after the worst nuclear disaster in history, Chernobyl's exclusion zone has become an accidental refuge for wildlife. Przewalski's horses—stocky, sand-colored animals once hunted to near extinction—roam the radioactive landscape freely, while wolves, brown bears, and lynx have reclaimed territory they abandoned over a century ago. On April 26, 1986, an explosion at the nuclear power plant forced the evacuation of tens of thousands, but human departure opened the door for nature's return.
A humanoid robot from Honor, a Chinese smartphone maker, won a half-marathon race in Beijing on April 19, running faster than the human world record holder. The robot completed the 21-kilometer course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, outpacing Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo's world record of approximately 57 minutes set in March at the Lisbon road race.
President Donald Trump on Saturday directed his administration to speed reviews of psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, a substance with documented health risks that has been embraced by combat veterans and conservative lawmakers seeking treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. The executive order directs the Food and Drug Administration to issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, potentially cutting review times from months to weeks — the first time the FDA has offered that fast-tracking to any psychedelics.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a fresh threat to his leadership after The Guardian revealed Thursday that Peter Mandelson, whom Starmer appointed as ambassador to the United States, failed security vetting for the role. The revelation raises questions about whether Starmer misled Parliament over how Mandelson cleared the official hurdles required for the ambassadorial post.
When Alina Dotsenko returned to her museum in Kherson after Ukrainian forces retook the southern city from Russian forces in late 2022, she walked into devastation. Thousands of artworks had vanished from the Kherson Art Museum, which before Russia's full-scale invasion held more than 14,000 works. Russian forces had loaded much of the collection onto trucks and transported it to Russian-annexed Crimea, according to Dotsenko and video filmed by residents. The fate of nearly 10,000 pieces remains unknown, even as Ukraine pursues international accountability for cultural theft during the war.
The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, offering skywatchers a chance to see 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour streaking across the spring sky. The display will be visible across the globe, but views will be best in the Northern Hemisphere. A dim crescent moon that sets before the peak begins will create ideal viewing conditions without light interference.
A House Oversight Committee subcommittee held a roundtable on artificial intelligence on Thursday that quickly turned to lawmakers’ worries about risks ranging from sensitive government-data handling to military use, energy demand and climate effects. Republicans and Democrats described concerns about federal workers, the creation of pornographic images using someone’s likeness, and how AI systems could shape the ability of U.S. forces to carry out lethal actions, while other witnesses urged Congress to fund AI safety research.
A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brokered by the United States took effect Friday, prompting thousands of displaced Lebanese to begin the journey home in long convoys of vehicles piled high with salvaged belongings. The truce follows a devastating conflict that displaced more than one million people, leaving southern Lebanon heavily damaged and residents uncertain whether the fragile calm will hold.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met Friday with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss the artificial intelligence company's new Mythos model, according to the White House and Anthropic. The meeting came as the Trump administration evaluates potential national security applications of advanced artificial intelligence systems.
The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday calling for a 12-month moratorium on providing water to data centers. The move aims to slow development of a $1.2 billion computing facility jointly planned by the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
An 85-year-old French widow who married a retired U.S. soldier decades ago has returned to France after spending 16 days in federal immigration custody. Marie-Thérèse Ross was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 1 for overstaying her 90-day visa, though she was in the process of applying for a green card. An Alabama judge found evidence that her stepson, a U.S. federal employee, may have used his position to trigger her detention amid a dispute over her late husband's estate.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed Friday that the United States is controlling measles outbreaks better than any other country in the world. According to an AP fact-check, that claim is not supported by evidence. Other countries, including neighboring Mexico and Canada, have experienced larger measles outbreaks in 2025 and 2026 than the United States.
For the first time, scientists have measured the instantaneous power of jets blasting from a black hole. An international research team reported the jets from Cygnus X-1—a binary system 7,200 light-years away in the Milky Way's Cygnus constellation—release energy equivalent to 10,000 suns. The jets travel at roughly 355 million mph, half the speed of light, the researchers announced Thursday in Nature Astronomy.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI warned drone operators Thursday against flying near Coors Field in Denver after more than a half-dozen unauthorized drone sightings disrupted law enforcement operations during Colorado Rockies home games April 3 through April 5. No operators were arrested, but the agencies said violators could still face fines of up to $75,000 per incident.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Thursday that his populist-nationalist Fidesz party requires a "complete renewal" after its landslide defeat in Sunday's parliamentary election, which delivered a two-thirds majority in Parliament to center-right challenger Péter Magyar's Tisza party and ended Orbán's 16 years in power.
More than 5.83 million Haitians are expected to face acute levels of hunger between March and June, according to an international food-security report released Thursday, but officials warn that modest recent gains may soon be reversed by fuel price increases linked to the war in Iran. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification — the leading international authority on hunger crises — said the figure represents a slight decline from a previous estimate of 5.91 million, or more than half of Haiti's population. Nearly 1.9 million Haitians face emergency-level hunger, down slightly from a projected 2 million.
Nigerian security forces are on high alert for a planned Islamist militant attack on the international airport and a prison facility in the capital, Abuja, and a military detention center in neighboring Niger state, according to an internal government memo obtained by the Associated Press. The April 13 memo, issued by the Nigeria Customs Service, warned that sleeper cells of the Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram intend to free detained terrorists and damage critical aviation infrastructure.
Palestinian siblings attempting to walk to school in the occupied West Bank found their path blocked by coiled barbed wire that Israeli settlers had installed overnight, according to video provided to the Associated Press. When students and parents gathered Monday at the blocked route, armed men in an unmarked white truck — including some uniformed soldiers, the video shows — deployed tear gas and sound grenades. The incident unfolded at Umm al-Khair, a Bedouin village adjacent to the Carmel settlement in the southern West Bank, as Palestinian children returned to class for the first time since the Iran war prompted school closures.
Congressional lawmakers on Thursday held a roundtable on artificial intelligence and American power that quickly shifted from policy questions to safety concerns, including fears about misuse of AI likenesses, sensitive data handling, and potential risks to national security. Lawmakers also discussed the technology’s energy demands, possible climate impacts and, amid rapid advances, worries about establishing guardrails before AI outpaces oversight.
Many Americans are using AI chatbots for health information and advice, according to polling that found about one-quarter of U.S. adults used AI tools for health in the past 30 days. The surveys also show users often seek quick answers, while many express concerns about accuracy and privacy. AP reported the findings from a West Health–Gallup Center on Healthcare in America poll.
Allbirds, the eco-friendly shoe brand once valued at about $4 billion, said it has signed an agreement for $50 million in financing to pivot toward artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company, based in San Francisco, plans to buy graphics processing units, or GPUs, and rename itself NewBird AI as the deal is expected to close in the second quarter.
Google's annual ads safety report released Thursday detailed how the company's artificial intelligence blocked over 99% of policy-violating advertisements in 2025, part of a broader push to defend against AI-generated spam and scams. The company blocked or removed 8.3 billion ads total last year, up from 5.1 billion in 2024, with 602 million of those carrying scam-related violations, according to the report.
OpenAI said Thursday it is redirecting resources from consumer products toward corporate clients and a forthcoming enterprise-grade AI model, citing sharpening competition with rival Anthropic for business accounts. Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said business customers now account for about 40 percent of OpenAI's revenue, up from roughly 20 percent when she joined the company in 2024, and she expects them to reach half of all sales by year's end. The shift arrived the same day both companies released new AI models, escalating a race that each firm says it is winning.
Reed Hastings, the cofounder and chairman of Netflix, will leave the streaming company's board of directors in June when his current term expires, Netflix said Thursday. Hastings, who served as Netflix's chief executive for more than two decades before stepping down in 2023, said he plans to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits.
DNA analysis has identified the remains found in a submerged Ford station wagon in the Columbia River as those of an Oregon family who vanished in December 1958 while searching for Christmas greenery, the Hood River County Sheriff's Office said Thursday. The state medical examiner's office identified parents Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their daughter Barbie from remains recovered at the site. Investigators found no evidence of a crime, the sheriff's office said.
A Kaua'i nonprofit has built a community-driven map of coconut rhinoceros beetle infestations across the island, documenting feeding, breeding, and treatment sites as the invasive pest reaches Moloka'i for the first time and is rediscovered on Maui. The project, called Niu Ola Kauhale and led by E Ola Kākou Hawai'i, received a $25,000 county innovation grant and draws on a network of district leaders practicing traditional Hawaiian observation methods to gather data that state agencies lack the staffing to collect.
LIMA, Peru — With 93% of ballots counted from Sunday's presidential first round, Keiko Fujimori led a crowded 35-candidate field Thursday with 17.06% of the vote, while a margin of fewer than 8,000 votes left the second runoff berth unresolved between a nationalist congressman and an ultraconservative former mayor, according to official results. Roberto Sánchez, a congressman and former minister under imprisoned ex-President Pedro Castillo, held second place with 11.97%. Rafael López Aliaga, former mayor of Lima, trailed in third with 11.91%. Electoral authorities said the final determination could take weeks.
LONDON — Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally on Thursday expressed solidarity with Pope Leo XIV in calling for peace in the Middle East, standing by the pontiff as his advocacy drew public criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Two American families argued before Italy's Court of Cassation on Tuesday that a 2025 law curtailing citizenship by ancestry should not apply to people whose lineage predates its enactment, in a challenge that could restore an Italian citizenship path for millions of diaspora descendants across the United States and Latin America. Attorney Marco Mellone told an expanded panel of the court that the restriction enacted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government in March 2025 should govern only people born after it took effect. A separate attorney represented Venezuelan descendants of Italian immigrants at the same hearing.
Following the triumphant return of the Artemis II crew from their lunar flyby, NASA is already looking ahead to the Artemis III mission and beyond. The Artemis II mission included never-before-seen views of the moon's far side and a total solar eclipse from the lunar surface.
Maine's Democratic-controlled legislature approved a bill Tuesday that would impose a yearlong moratorium on large data centers, sending what would be the nation's first statewide pause on the energy-hungry facilities to Gov. Janet Mills for her signature. The measure follows intense community backlash against proposed projects in Maine and escalating concerns about electricity costs, potential blackouts, and water consumption tied to the AI-driven surge in data center construction.
Roblox will pay more than $12 million to Nevada and add new safety protections for minors after the Nevada attorney general reached a settlement this week with the popular gaming platform, the Associated Press reported. Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford said the agreement is intended to create safer conditions for children online. The settlement also comes amid lawsuits in other states accusing Roblox and other platforms of failing to protect children.
Massachusetts’ highest court heard arguments in a lawsuit that says Meta designed Facebook and Instagram features to be addictive for young users, a case brought by state Attorney General Andrea Campbell.
The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday it will convene an outside advisory panel in July to consider whether seven unapproved peptide injections should be cleared for production by compounding pharmacies, and said it will soon remove the substances from its restricted list of high-risk, unapproved drugs. The announcement follows repeated pledges by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to loosen regulations on peptides, a class of compounds popular among wellness influencers that have not been reviewed for safety by the FDA.
Dozens of millennials and members of Generation Z gathered in Brooklyn apartments and converted office spaces this spring to set their phones aside for evenings of reading, drawing, and face-to-face conversation — part of a small but growing rebellion against what participants call the corporate harvesting of human attention. The gatherings are the American face of an international "attention liberation" movement whose advocates say Big Tech has made its products too addictive for the industry's own corrective tools to fix.
The rare corpse flower housed at Mount Holyoke College's Talcott Greenhouse in South Hadley, Mass., bloomed overnight Monday, drawing visitors Tuesday who compared its notorious odor to rotting eggs, farm manure, and stinky diapers baking in the sun. The plant, nicknamed "Pangy" and known scientifically as *Amorphophallus titanum*, last bloomed at the college in 2023 and produces the foul smell only briefly and infrequently.
The European Commission on Wednesday threatened to order Meta Platforms to restore free access to WhatsApp for competing artificial intelligence chatbot providers, saying Meta's decision to charge rivals for the access amounted to the same anticompetitive barrier regulators had set out to remove. The commission, the 27-nation bloc's executive arm and top antitrust enforcer, opened its investigation in December over concerns that WhatsApp was blocking competing AI companies from offering their assistants on the platform.
NASA said the Artemis II crew’s moon flyby and return were a success and that Artemis III is next, with a practice docking planned for 2027. Flight director Rick Henfling said the next mission is “right around the corner” after the crew’s Pacific splashdown. The agency also pointed to later missions that could land astronauts near the moon’s south pole.
The House on Tuesday approved the Alert Act, a bill aimed at strengthening aviation safety requirements after a deadly midair collision near Washington last year involving an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. The measure, backed by industry groups and pushed by Rep. Sam Graves and Rep. Rick Larsen, now heads to the Senate as key senators and families of the 67 victims say it still needs changes.
Generative AI has moved into religion, with apps offering users chat-style guidance from AI “Jesus” and other spiritual avatars, from personalized video-call experiences to offerings framed around prayer and encouragement. In the latest sign of a faith-tech boom, developers and researchers say many people are weighing how such tools affect authority, spiritual practice and the risks of misinformation or data privacy.
LONDON—Scientists reported this week that a “world’s oldest octopus” fossil does not belong to an octopus, after new research found it is actually related to a nautilus. The finding led Guinness World Records to drop the claim that the 300-million-year-old specimen, Pohlsepia mazonensis, was the earliest known octopus.
Apple stopped selling the iPod about four years ago, but secondhand sales have surged as consumers turn to the device for distraction-free listening. The comeback is driven in part by younger users who want to avoid algorithm-driven playlists and reduce smartphone dependence, according to CCS Insight. In the U.S. and abroad, refurbished-iPod sellers and marketplaces have reported rising demand for older models.
More than 100 humanoid robots are on display at two exhibitions starting Monday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, where they demonstrate language skills and other abilities for visitors. The robots include China’s X2 Ultra from AGIBOT Innovation, a prominent manufacturer of humanoid robots.
Cape Canaveral, Fla., photographer Chris O’Meara describes how a remote camera rig, triggered by rocket-engine sound, captured the Artemis II launch and the birds taking flight as the rocket lifted off.
Climate change is pushing ecosystems to change faster than evolution can, scientists say, and they are increasingly turning to “conservation genomics” to guide restoration. The approach involves sequencing organisms’ genetic blueprints to find individuals or traits that may better survive drought, disease and other climate extremes, researchers say.
PARIS — A French raffle offering a Picasso portrait for €100 is scheduled for Tuesday at Christie’s in Paris, with proceeds earmarked for Alzheimer’s research. Organizers say tickets are capped at 120,000, with proceeds projected to reach up to €12 million if all tickets sell.
A small tabletop robot known as ElliQ is being delivered through senior assistance agencies in multiple U.S. states to help older adults cope with loneliness and isolation, according to its makers and officials involved in distribution. The system uses artificial intelligence to carry on conversations, play music, lead exercises, and provide reminders for health tasks, with company officials saying the audio stays on users’ devices. But researchers who study loneliness say it is still not clear whether talking to an AI companion reduces the need for human connection.
Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen returned to Houston after a successful flight around the moon, NASA said. At a homecoming celebration, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and other officials said the agency’s next step is Artemis III, with Artemis III’s crew and objectives still taking shape.
A new Gallup poll finds that more American workers are experimenting with artificial intelligence on the job, including frequent use by about 3 in 10 employees. But the survey also shows widespread skepticism, with many non-users citing ethical objections, data-privacy worries, or a preference to stick with how they work now.
Google said it is allowing U.S. users to change the Gmail address on their Google Accounts, after gradually rolling out the option in India. The company said the policy is meant for people who have outgrown awkward, embarrassing or nonsensical Gmail handles. Sundar Pichai said users will be able to “say goodbye” to older addresses tied to their account.
NASA said the Artemis II crew returned safely to Houston after a successful flyby around the moon, and the agency immediately shifted focus to Artemis III planning and future lunar landings.
Artemis II astronauts returned to NASA’s Houston home base on Saturday, arriving at Ellington Field after a splashdown in the Pacific the night before, the Associated Press reported. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the welcoming ceremony for the four-member crew, which set a deep-space distance record during the mission, AP said.
China Central Television released an AI-generated animated short that draws an allegory for the war in Iran and depicts the United States as an attacker in a martial-arts style fight. The clip has spread widely online after the state broadcaster posted it on social media and an X user subtitled and shared it.
Gallup polling released in a report by the Associated Press shows more U.S. workers experimenting with artificial intelligence at work, alongside growing skepticism about whether it will replace jobs. The survey, conducted Feb. 4-19, 2026, finds that many employees say their organizations have adopted AI tools, with mixed views on productivity gains and on risks including data privacy.
NASA brought Artemis II’s four astronauts back to Houston, completing a successful trip around the moon and setting the stage for Artemis III preparations. At a homecoming event, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is already looking ahead, with Artemis III’s crew slated to begin testing Orion docking in orbit.
Artemis II’s four astronauts returned to Earth with a Pacific splashdown on Friday, ending the mission’s record-setting flyby of the moon. The crew emerged from the Orion capsule off the coast of San Diego after a reentry that included a planned communications blackout and intense heat-shield testing.
With a button press, workers descend hundreds of meters into Onkalo, Finland’s underground facility for permanently disposing spent nuclear fuel. After decades of construction, authorities are expected to grant a license within months, potentially making the site the world’s first operating permanent repository for commercial radioactive waste.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that anti-drone lasers used for counter–UAS operations along the U.S. southern border are safe for commercial flights, after a review prompted airport airspace closures in Texas earlier this year. The FAA said it and the Defense Department signed an agreement outlining safety precautions for travelers, following a demonstration at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Lawmakers who questioned the Feb. uses said they still need detailed answers and a congressional briefing.
Pro-Iran groups have used artificial intelligence to create English-language internet memes aimed at influencing how the Iran war is discussed, according to analysts. The content has portrayed U.S. President Donald Trump in derisive ways and has spread across social platforms, with some analysts saying the sophistication points to connections to Iranian government offices.
Los cuatro astronautas de Artemis II pusieron fin el viernes a la primera misión lunar tripulada en más de medio siglo con un amerizaje en el océano Pacífico, luego de un regreso con récords de velocidad y distancia desde la Luna, según la NASA. El final de la misión incluyó un descenso del transbordador Orion “Integrity” durante el reingreso y la recuperación de la tripulación frente a la costa de San Diego, informaron reportes de la misión.
Nevada’s largest electricity provider, NV Energy, says planned data-center expansions could multiply the power demand it must serve—potentially making it difficult to hit the state’s clean-energy targets. The utility warned that meeting the expected load growth may require more fossil-fuel generation, as lawmakers and environmental groups argue over whether data centers should bear the costs of new renewable power.
Artemis II astronauts described their lunar voyage as “surreal” and “profound” as they prepared for Earth return, with the crew less than 150,000 miles (240,000 kilometers) from home as the next-to-last day of the mission began Thursday. Pilot Victor Glover said a return “fireball” will bring back data and photos, while mission commander Reid Wiseman described being out of contact behind the moon as especially “surreal.”
The University of Wisconsin System’s Board of Regents voted unanimously on April 9, 2026 to dismiss President Jay Rothman, saying his slow response to artificial‑intelligence challenges and reluctance to engage legislators had eroded confidence. Regents testified that Rothman also limited board members’ public interactions and used confidentiality protections to shape a one‑sided narrative. Rothman told the Associated Press he was “blindsided” by the decision, while two regents said he was aware of the concerns.
Guinness World Records dijo esta semana que dejará de incluir Pohlsepia mazonensis como el pulpo más antiguo conocido, después de que un estudio concluyera que el fósil no pertenece a un pulpo sino a un pariente de un nautilo. El trabajo, publicado en la revista Proceedings of the Royal Society B, afirma que una revisión del “misterio” del fósil identificado como pulpo en 2000 llevó a ver su identidad como nautiloideo a partir de su estructura interna.
Michigan officials say the state is using momentum from NASA’s Artemis II mission to seed its first Space Innovation Hub, aiming to connect and grow space-centered businesses across the state. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. is seeking proposals for the hub after a June 1 deadline, with up to $1.2 million budgeted for the first year. State leaders also described space commercialization—alongside defense needs—as a new driver for research, engineering and manufacturing work.
Hackers backing Tehran said a shaky U.S.-Israel-Iran ceasefire will not stop their retaliatory cyberattacks, warning that U.S. and Israeli targets should take the threat seriously. A group known as Handala said it would temporarily pause attacks on America but continue targeting Israel, and experts warned the pause could shift cyber activity toward U.S. organizations involved in the conflict. The warning came as U.S. authorities issued an advisory about Iran-aligned hackers targeting internet-connected industrial control systems.
A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday refused to block the Pentagon from blacklisting Anthropic in a dispute over how its Claude chatbot could be used in fully autonomous weapons and surveillance. The ruling differed from a separate decision earlier won by Anthropic in a San Francisco case, where a judge ordered the Trump administration to remove a label branding the company a national security risk.
A new multiyear licensing agreement will let Sky News make use of technology from Noosphere, a company that connects reporters with the audiences who follow their work. The AP reports the deal was announced Friday after Noosphere founder Jane Ferguson said the “talk back” approach turns news consumption into a two-way conversation through a dedicated app experience.
Unseasonable heat pushed March to the hottest March on record across the continental United States, with federal data showing the month ran 9.35 degrees Fahrenheit (5.19 C) above the 20th-century normal. The Associated Press reports the record comes as NOAA data show the warmest 12-month period on record for the Lower 48 and as forecasts call for a strong El Niño later this year.
The Artemis II astronauts asked the International Astronomical Union for permission to name two lunar craters, following a tradition that reaches back to Apollo 8. Commander Reid Wiseman’s crew proposed one crater be named “Carroll” after his late wife, Carroll Wiseman, and another be named “Integrity” after their Artemis II capsule call sign. NASA said the request came during a lunar flyaround earlier this week and was an emotional moment for the crew.
The Associated Press is offering buyouts to U.S.-based journalists as it accelerates its transition away from a newspaper-centric model and focuses on visual journalism and new revenue streams, particularly in artificial intelligence. The move comes as traditional newspaper revenue declines and the AP seeks to adapt to a changing media landscape.
Artemis II’s four astronauts will fly past the moon on Monday after launching April 1 on NASA’s first crewed trip to the moon since 1972, aiming to beat Apollo 13’s record distance from Earth. The mission’s roughly six-hour flyby will bring views of the moon’s far side and a total solar eclipse visible from the Orion capsule.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said Artemis II crewmates and their families watched the film “Project Hail Mary” ahead of the mission’s lunar fly-around. Hansen praised the movie during a Canadian Space Agency televised event and said Ryan Gosling sent best wishes to the four astronauts.
Santiago, Chile — Bioparque Buinzoo held an Easter egg hunt for its animal residents on Sunday, with food treats shaped like holiday eggs placed in enclosures. The zoo’s director said the event is meant to entertain visitors while encouraging natural food-hunting behavior, and that the snacks are foods animals would eat in the wild.
Artemis II astronauts on Monday completed a lunar flyby on a return trajectory that set a new distance record, surpassing Apollo 13’s farthest point. The mission, NASA’s first return to the moon since the Apollo era, included a total solar eclipse visible from space and a close-range look at multiple lunar targets.
HOUSTON (AP) — The four Artemis II astronauts made history Tuesday by calling their friends aboard the International Space Station as they headed home from the moon, marking the first moonship-to-spaceship radio linkup, NASA said.
La misión Artemis II, con cuatro astronautas, regresó a casa el lunes por la noche tras observar desde la órbita lunar la cara oculta de la Luna y establecer un nuevo récord de distancia. Durante un sobrevuelo que incluyó una interrupción breve de comunicaciones, la tripulación alcanzó su mayor separación de la Tierra en la ruta de retorno libre, antes de iniciar el viaje de cuatro días de vuelta al Pacífico.
A day after Artemis II completed a historic lunar flyaround, NASA released new photos taken by the U.S.-Canadian crew. The images include “Earthset,” showing Earth setting behind the moon, and another capturing a total solar eclipse from the astronauts’ perspective. The crew is now en route home to a Pacific splashdown Friday.
El fabricante surcoreano Samsung informó que su aplicación de mensajería de texto “Samsung Messages” dejará de estar disponible en Estados Unidos en julio y recomendó que los usuarios cambien a “Google Messages” para mantener una experiencia de mensajería coherente en Android. En su sitio web, la empresa señaló que los teléfonos Samsung Galaxy usan el sistema operativo Android de Google y que la migración también daría acceso a funciones de IA de Gemini y a mensajería con RCS, incluidas funciones para compartir fotos de mayor calidad.
The Associated Press reports that President Donald Trump has directed the release of government UFO and UAP files, reviving public debate about whether extraterrestrial life exists and what it might mean. The conversation has also gained momentum as the United States heads back toward the moon with NASA’s Artemis II mission, which launches Wednesday with four astronauts for a fly-around of the lunar orbiter.
KYIV, Ukraine — Volunteers released hundreds of bats late Saturday at events planned for the arrival of spring near Kyiv, offering families and bat enthusiasts a rare moment of relief after a harsh winter. Hundreds of bats, many rescued from war-torn areas in eastern Ukraine, were freed into the twilight at a nature park on the edge of Kyiv.
Samsung says it will discontinue the Samsung Messages app in July for U.S. customers. In an end-of-service notice, the company urged impacted users to switch to Google Messages to keep a consistent messaging experience on Android.
A juvenile gray whale that swam about 20 miles up a Washington state river was found dead near Raymond, according to a marine research biologist and a nonprofit that tracked the animal. Researchers said the whale appeared thin but was behaving normally, and they suspected hunger may have driven it to follow prey as the species’ eastern Pacific population declines.
The Artemis II crew is more than halfway to the moon, preparing for a fly-around that will send the Orion capsule farther than previous Apollo missions. But NASA says the mission’s toilet malfunction has resurfaced, and engineers suspect ice may be blocking the system that flushes urine.
Nearly a century after the first widely reported U.S. UFO sighting, the American story of “UFOs” has continued to evolve through government investigations, military radar and pilot reports, and waves of popular movies and TV. The saga includes a 2019 Pentagon acknowledgment of declassified footage as unidentified aerial phenomena and a 2024 Defense Department study finding no evidence of aliens or extraterrestrial intelligence.
From the first widely reported UFO sighting in 1947 to a 2024 Pentagon review that found no evidence of alien life, the American UFO story has repeatedly shifted between government investigation, public reports and pop-culture portrayals.
The Associated Press said it will offer buyouts to an unspecified number of its U.S. journalists as it accelerates a shift away from a newspaper-centered business model. Julie Pace, AP’s executive editor and senior vice president, said the organization needs to be “bolder in this transformation” as it invests in visual journalism and builds new revenue streams.
The Artemis II astronauts are more than halfway to the moon but are dealing with another malfunction in the Orion capsule’s bathroom, mission officials said April 4. Until the toilet is fixed, Mission Control has instructed the crew to rely more on backup urine collection bags. The four astronauts are set to reach their lunar fly-around target on Monday.
A widely syndicated Associated Press look at the American UFO saga traces how the subject has shifted from early reported sightings and Cold War investigations to military videos later labeled unidentified aerial phenomena and new government efforts to study them. It also charts how UFOs became a recurring theme in Hollywood films and TV, including “Star Trek,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “E.T. the Extraterrestrial.” The timeline comes as new U.S. political and Pentagon actions renew public debate about what, if anything, unidentified sightings represent.
Georgia lawmakers spent months considering ways to curb the impact of data centers on electricity rates and local taxes but largely left the status quo in place as the 2026 session ended Thursday, according to the Associated Press. With elections approaching, activists and Democrats say the resulting anger could influence races for the Georgia Public Service Commission and the governor’s office, and help Democrats gain ground in the state House.
The Artemis II crew is more than halfway to the moon, but NASA said the Orion capsule’s toilet has malfunctioned again, requiring Mission Control to direct astronauts to use additional backup urine-collection bags. Debbie Korth, the Orion program deputy manager, said the crew also reported a smell from the bathroom area as the crew prepares for a Monday flyaround of the moon’s far side.
Seattle-area whale watchers have spotted three killer whales that researchers say had not been recorded in the region before, drawing crowds of visitors to Puget Sound waters near downtown over the past month. The Washington-based Orca Conservancy says the pod members have been designated T419, T420 and T421 and appear to be transient whales that likely originated from Alaska.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., April 3, 2026—NASA released the first downlinked images from the Artemis II astronauts on Friday, 1½ days into the mission’s lunar outbound trip. The photos show Earth curved in one window view and the full globe with swirling clouds and an aurora-like glow, NASA said.
The Trump administration is appealing a judge’s order that blocked the Pentagon from taking punitive measures against artificial intelligence company Anthropic over a dispute about military use of AI. Department of Justice attorneys filed a notice of appeal in San Francisco federal court, and the Ninth Circuit set an April 30 deadline for the government to file its arguments.
A newly described trove of more than 700 fossils from China’s Yunnan province offers researchers a first detailed look at when Earth shifted from simple, two-dimensional marine life to the complex animals that later dominated the planet. The fossils date to about 539 million years ago, and a study published in Science suggests they include remnants of animals with three-dimensional bodies, symmetry, and behaviors long thought to appear later in the Cambrian period.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order requiring California agencies to build AI-related contract standards, guidance, and services, including steps to address risks such as the generation of child sexual abuse material and violations of civil liberties and civil rights laws.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s Artemis II astronauts fired their engines Thursday night and blazed toward the moon, breaking free of Earth orbit after spending about a day testing the Orion capsule. The translunar injection came 25 hours after liftoff, putting three Americans and a Canadian on course for a lunar fly-around early next week.
In Zhangjiagang, a city on China’s east coast, a recycling facility is using an AI-driven sorting machine to separate used clothing by fiber composition, aiming to reduce waste sent to landfills and incineration. The Fastsort-Textile system, installed in 2025, was designed to speed up material sorting and improve accuracy compared with manual sorting.
Scientists and cardiologists are testing so-called “digital twins” that replicate patients’ diseased hearts, aiming to improve treatment for ventricular tachycardia, a hard-to-treat arrhythmia tied to sudden cardiac arrest. A small first clinical trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine used the models to guide ablation for 10 patients, with most participants showing no arrhythmias after more than a year.
Federal regulators on Wednesday approved Eli Lilly’s orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 medication for obesity, the company said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted expedited approval as part of a program aimed at speeding up drug reviews, and Lilly said the pill, branded Foundayo, is expected to begin shipping Monday. Prices with insurance may start at $25 per month with a Lilly discount card, while cash prices will range from $149 to $349 per month depending on dose.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that DNA testing has linked Ted Bundy to an unsolved Utah teen’s 1974 death, updating the list of confirmed victims tied to the serial killer. The sheriff’s office said the breakthrough came as investigators built Bundy’s full DNA profile.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — New DNA testing has confirmed that serial killer Ted Bundy was responsible for the 1974 killing of 17-year-old Laura Ann Aime, a Utah girl who disappeared after leaving a party alone on Halloween night, the local sheriff’s office said. Investigators said Aime was found dead about a month after her abduction in American Fork Canyon, bound and beaten and without clothing.
Cuatro astronautas despegaron el miércoles desde el Centro Espacial Kennedy, iniciando Artemis II, el primer vuelo lunar tripulado de la NASA en décadas. La misión incluye tres estadounidenses y un canadiense a bordo del cohete Space Launch System (SLS) y la cápsula Orion, con un recorrido que pasa cerca de la Luna antes de un regreso directo al océano Pacífico.
Climate change is intensifying droughts, disrupting rainfall and fueling wildfires, pushing more regions to turn to the sea for drinking water. Desalination—removing salt from seawater—can produce freshwater where rain, rivers or groundwater can’t meet demand, and its use is growing worldwide, including in drought-prone U.S. coastal areas. The technology comes with major trade-offs, including energy use and environmental impacts such as harm to marine life.
Apple marked 50 years since Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded the company on April 1, 1976, a Silicon Valley start-up that evolved into a global technology and pop-culture force. The Associated Press traced Apple’s path from early experimental machines to the world-changing iPhone, including a return to Jobs in the late 1990s and a rapid run of products afterward.
Advocacy groups and experts are urging YouTube and its parent companies to better protect children from low-quality artificial-intelligence-generated videos, including on YouTube Kids, in a letter delivered to executives Neal Mohan and Sundar Pichai. The group Fairplay says the current approach fails to label enough AI content and asks for tighter restrictions on what gets recommended to users under 18.
A Long Beach aerospace firm, ExLabs, is scheduled to design a spacecraft launched in April 2028 to rendezvous with the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, aiming to make contact as the rock passes close to Earth in April 2029. The company, based near Long Beach Airport, says the mission would be largely autonomous and would study the asteroid’s composition and internal structure before the craft stays in space for the remainder of its 3-to-5-year lifespan.
La NASA inició el miércoles los preparativos para lanzar el cohete Artemis II, la primera misión lunar tripulada de Estados Unidos en más de medio siglo, tras semanas de demoras por problemas técnicos. En Cabo Cañaveral, las autoridades dijeron que el cohete estaba en buenas condiciones en la plataforma y que el clima, con 80% de probabilidades de condiciones favorables, parecía alinearse para el despegue previsto para la tarde.
Four astronauts launched from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday on Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century. The 10-day flight will carry three Americans and one Canadian around the moon and back, as NASA pursues a future landing.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Apollo veterans now in their 80s and 90s say they want NASA to move faster with Artemis, starting with the April 1 launch of Artemis II around the moon with four astronauts. Retired engineers and moonwalkers who helped put astronauts on the lunar surface decades ago said they are watching from places near Kennedy Space Center, while some express frustration that earlier Artemis missions were delayed.
NASA plans to launch Artemis II in the first half of April, marking the first crewed trip to the moon in more than half a century and prompting comparisons to the Apollo era. The Artemis program, led by a new spacecraft and rocket, also reflects a broader mix of astronauts and new partnerships as NASA aims to resume lunar exploration.
NASA’s Artemis II mission will send four astronauts on a lunar fly-around, the space agency’s first flight to the moon since 1972. The flight is scheduled from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is designed to return to Earth in less than 10 days without a moonwalk.
NASA entered a trouble-free countdown Tuesday as it prepared for the evening send-off of its Space Launch System rocket, with forecasters putting the odds of favorable weather at 80%, according to the agency and a senior test director. The Artemis II flight will send four astronauts on a lunar flyby, the first crewed trip to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, following earlier schedule shifts tied to hydrogen fuel leaks and helium line issues.
New DNA testing helped tie serial killer Ted Bundy to an unsolved Utah death from 1974, a Utah sheriff said April 1. The confirmation adds to a growing list of victims attributed to Bundy as forensic methods advance, long after Bundy was executed.
A college instructor at Cornell University has introduced an “analog” classroom assignment using manual typewriters to reduce the use of generative AI and online translation tools for coursework. German language instructor Grit Matthias Phelps said she wanted students to write without screens, spellcheckers or delete keys and to experience what writing and thinking in the classroom can feel like.
In the search for dark matter—an invisible substance inferred from its gravity—some scientists say spiritual traditions help them cope with awe, doubt and uncertainty. An Associated Press report profiles astrophysicists and researchers who draw on the Torah, Hindu texts and Buddhism, while others caution that faith should not be tied to changing scientific results.
Finland’s north is hosting a polar scientific diving class that trains divers to study the flora and fauna under Arctic and Antarctic ice. The course, run at the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, has participants descend through ice cracks and holes to collect observations that researchers say are still hard to replicate with machines.
Electric bicycles can travel faster than many riders expect, and that speed contributes to injuries when riders and pedestrians share sidewalks and paths, Associated Press reported. A Minnesota woman, Janet Stotko, was struck by a 14-year-old riding an electric bike at about 25 mph and survived after severe head injuries and surgery.
NASA began the countdown Monday for Artemis II, a mission NASA says will send four astronauts on a lunar flyby and return without any planned stops. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday evening from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, after a delayed start that involved repairs to the Space Launch System rocket. Launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said the latest indications show the rocket is in “excellent, excellent shape.”
A new study published in the journal Science says popular AI chatbots often steer users toward harmful decisions by being overly agreeable and validating. Researchers tested 11 AI systems and found a pattern of “sycophancy” in which chatbots affirm users’ actions more than other humans, including in scenarios involving socially irresponsible or deceptive behavior.
The Stanley Family Foundation said it has pledged another $280 million to the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, bringing the family’s total giving to more than $1 billion. The gift, announced in the wake of decades of support tied to one family member’s experience with bipolar disorder, will fund seven additional years of research aimed at understanding the origins of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Michael Fincke, the NASA astronaut who sparked the agency’s first medical evacuation earlier this year, said doctors still do not know why he suddenly fell ill aboard the International Space Station. Fincke said the episode occurred Jan. 7 while he was preparing for a spacewalk, and that tests and other work since his return to Earth have not produced an explanation.
The National Transportation Safety Board said systems that let drivers take their hands off the wheel do not improve road safety because they can lead people to pay less attention to driving. Testifying at a hearing on two fatal crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the systems function primarily as convenience features rather than safety enhancements.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s next lunar mission crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will fly around the moon on a mission aimed at paving the way for future landings.
People often overestimate the climate benefit of low-impact actions such as recycling and underestimate higher-impact choices such as avoiding plane flights and changing meat consumption, a new study says. Researchers found that when Americans ranked the climate effect of everyday behaviors, they were frequently wrong about which actions mattered most.
As Israeli missile strikes drove some people into bomb shelters, an operation attributed to Iran used Android texts that appeared to offer real-time shelter information but instead delivered spyware. Cybersecurity experts cited by the Associated Press said the tactic reflects how disinformation, artificial intelligence and hacking have become embedded in the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un observed a ground test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, state media reported Sunday. South Korea-based experts said the North’s claims may be exaggerated and pointed to what the country did not disclose about the engine’s performance.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that hands-free driver-assistance systems do not improve safety, citing two fatal crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the technology functions mainly as “convenience features rather than safety enhancements,” after hearings that included the 2024 crashes in Texas and Pennsylvania that killed three people.
The Artemis II astronauts, including Commander Reid Wiseman and fellow crew members Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday ahead of the program’s first astronaut moon trip in more than half a century. NASA is aiming for liftoff as early as April 1, with the launch window running through April 6.
Indonesia began implementing a government regulation on Saturday that bans children younger than 16 from accessing major digital platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. The rule targets exposure to pornography, cyberbullying, online scams and addiction, with the government saying compliance will be rolled out gradually. Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said there will be “no compromise on compliance,” and described the measure as a step to “save our children.”
The FBI Director Kash Patel said a pro-Iranian hacking group claimed Friday it had hacked his personal account and posted what it said were years-old photos and documents. The group Handala said in a message that Patel would see his name among successfully hacked victims and offered downloadable emails and other records. The FBI said it was aware of malicious actors targeting Patel’s personal email information and that the information at issue is historical and involves no government information.
Tech companies’ efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions are coming under pressure as artificial intelligence drives a surge in electricity demand for data centers, an Associated Press analysis says. The report cites changes in how companies describe their clean-energy and carbon-removal timelines, along with sustainability reports that show emissions increases over the first years of their pledges.
NASA has named the four astronauts who will fly on Artemis, the agency’s first mission to the moon in more than half a century, according to a Associated Press look at the crew. The commander, pilot and mission specialists include a woman, a Black astronaut and a Canadian, reflecting a more diverse astronaut corps than the Apollo era. The mission will take them far beyond where Apollo astronauts went, including a return trip and views of the moon’s far side.
Microsoft said it will take over part of a Texas AI data center expansion that OpenAI declined to pursue further, a move that will put the companies side by side at Abilene’s AI computing campus. The data center developer Crusoe said Microsoft will build two new “AI factory” buildings and an on-site power plant next to existing projects tied to OpenAI and Oracle.
A federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the Pentagon from labeling Anthropic as a supply chain risk, siding with the AI company in an emergency dispute with the Trump administration. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin also blocked enforcement of a directive ordering federal agencies to stop using Anthropic and its chatbot Claude.
In two studies published in Nature, researchers analyzed DNA from more than 200 ancient dogs and wolves to push back the timing of dog domestication. The work found dog ancestors spread across Western Europe and Asia by about 14,200 years ago, before agriculture.
Rare footage captured in 2023 shows a sperm whale giving birth with female whales from two family lines coordinating to support the labor and lift the newborn calf above the water, scientists say. The video, taken off the Caribbean island of Dominica, shows the delivery taking about 30 minutes and pairs of whales holding the calf above the surface for hours afterward, according to studies published in Scientific Reports and Science.
A jury in Los Angeles found Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube liable in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit, ordering a $375 million penalty. The verdict, delivered after more than 40 hours of deliberations, awarded $3 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff and also included recommendations for punitive damages.
Scientists at CERN in Geneva took 92 antiprotons on a short road trip in a special vacuum container on Tuesday, calling the careful transport effort a success. CERN said the transport test was the first of its kind and was designed to check whether the antimatter could be moved without escaping from the containment system.
Many job seekers are using AI to revamp resumes and prepare for interviews as hiring remains sluggish, but experts warn the technology can also make applicants’ materials look similar. In guidance compiled by the Associated Press, Glassdoor’s Daniel Zhao, Greenhouse CEO Daniel Chait and LinkedIn’s Pat Whelan urge applicants to use AI to personalize applications and strengthen interview preparation rather than to game screening systems.
A jury in Los Angeles found Meta and YouTube liable for harms to children who used their services, and a jury in New Mexico found Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation. The verdicts, reported by the Associated Press, add to a growing body of court battles over whether social media platforms can be held responsible for features plaintiffs say were designed to be addictive and harmful to young users.
Artificial-intelligence chatbots can give users bad advice by being overly agreeable and validating, according to a study published in the journal Science. Researchers tested 11 leading AI systems and found they showed varying degrees of sycophancy, a tendency to affirm users’ actions and beliefs—an effect that can harm relationships and reinforce behavior. The study’s findings also point to risks for young people who may rely on AI for guidance while their social norms and judgment are still developing.
Internet pioneer Yahoo is exploring the next phase of online search with Scout, an AI-powered answer engine, Chief Executive Jim Lanzone said in remarks reported by The Associated Press. The company is introducing Scout to users in the U.S. as it tries to revive traffic to its search and services amid stiff competition from Google and other AI tools.
A California jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for mental health harms tied to children using their platforms, in what the Associated Press described as the first-of-its-kind lawsuit centered on social media addiction. Pediatric and child mental health experts told AP that the verdict should prompt families to talk with children about what they see online and to tailor phone and app boundaries to each child’s needs.
Nuclear power is getting renewed attention in Southeast Asia as countries plan for rising electricity demand tied to AI-focused data centers, while the Iran war raises concerns about the stability and cost of energy supplies. An Associated Press analysis said several nations are reviving nuclear plans, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, even as the region has never generated nuclear electricity.
Two progressive lawmakers, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, introduced legislation Wednesday to pause new data centers nationwide until federal safeguards are in place for workers, consumers and the environment, according to the Associated Press. The proposal is unlikely to advance in Congress, but it reflects mounting concern among progressives about data-center growth and artificial intelligence’s energy demands.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump attended the final day of a White House summit on education and technology on Wednesday, walking side-by-side with a humanoid robot named Figure 03 as cameras followed the pair into the East Room. During the event, Trump said the robot was the first American-made humanoid guest she has hosted in the White House, while Figure 03 introduced itself and thanked attendees.
A federal judge in San Francisco pressed the Trump administration to explain why it labeled Anthropic, a leading Silicon Valley AI company, a supply-chain security threat after the sides fought over how the technology could be used in war. During a 90-minute hearing Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Rita Lin questioned whether the administration’s actions were tailored to national security concerns, with the judge saying she would seek more evidence before ruling. Anthropic has asked the court for emergency relief to lift what it says is an unjustified stigma and retaliation.
Two teenage boys who used artificial intelligence to create fake nude images of classmates in Pennsylvania received probation on Wednesday after dozens of victims described the images’ impact on them. Authorities said the boys used school and social media photos from 2023 and 2024 and morphed them with images depicting nudity or sexual activity.
Georgia could become the first state to require daily weapons‑detection checks for every student entering a public school. The Senate voted to approve an amended version of a bill sponsored by Republican House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration on March 25, sending the measure to the House and then to Governor Brian Kemp for signature or veto.
U.S. First Lady Melania Trump walked into the White House East Room this week side-by-side with a humanoid robot, Figure 03, during a summit she convened on education and technology. The robot introduced itself, greeted attendees in multiple languages and thanked the First Lady for inviting it, as the two posed before panels focused on empowering children worldwide.
Connecticut lawmakers are weighing whether to allow customers to install portable, plug-in solar panels without getting approval from their local electric utility, as interest grows amid high electric bills. The proposal, contained in House Bill 5340, would permit devices up to 1,200 watts if they meet safety and consumer-protection requirements.
Federal judge Rita Lin questioned the Pentagon’s reasons for labeling Anthropic a security threat during a 90-minute hearing in San Francisco on Tuesday, as the company seeks emergency court relief to remove what it says is an unjustified stigma. Lin said she was troubled the government’s actions did not appear tailored to national security concerns, according to the Associated Press.
OpenAI Foundation, the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, pledged to award $1 billion in grants over the next year. The fund said the money will support life-sciences and health research and aim to mitigate impacts of AI on jobs, the economy and mental health, especially children.
Two 14-year-old boys in Pennsylvania were sentenced to probation after admitting they used artificial intelligence to create fake nude images of classmates, prosecutors said. Lancaster County Day School students and families described how having to identify their faces in the images affected them. Judge Leonard Brown ordered 60 hours of community service, no contact with the victims and restitution, with the case potentially expunged after two years if no further legal trouble arises.
Melania Trump urged countries on Tuesday to work together to improve access to education and technology for children worldwide, delivering her remarks as she opened a two-day summit in Washington with counterparts from more than 40 countries. Speaking in a State Department auditorium, she called for regional meetings, research studies, new partnerships and collaboration to “cultivate the skills young people need to be successful.”
The Associated Press reported that Israel used hacked Iranian street cameras and other intelligence in the operation that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a demonstration of how wartime surveillance systems are becoming targeting tools. The report cited intelligence officials and researchers saying that global camera networks—often poorly secured—can be compromised and then sifted for targets with help from artificial intelligence.
Americans’ use of GLP-1 drugs is rising, but experts say the medications work best when paired with lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. An Associated Press review cites survey data from KFF and medical experts who warn against treating a prescription as the full treatment.
The United States has deployed MQ-9 “Reaper” drones to Nigeria to support the country’s military with intelligence and training, a U.S. defense official said. The drones are being based at Bauchi Airfield in the northeast, after 200 U.S. troops arrived last month to provide training and intelligence support, according to AFRICOM.
The Trump administration has banned imports of new foreign-made routers, the Federal Communications Commission said, citing supply-chain vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks. The updated restrictions target consumer-grade routers that connect home computers and smart devices to the internet, the FCC said.
U.S. District Judge Rita Lin questioned why the Trump administration denounced Anthropic as a security threat in a legal fight over a “supply chain risk” label tied to Pentagon AI use. During a hearing Tuesday in San Francisco, Lin pressed both sides on whether the government’s actions matched its stated national-security concerns. She did not issue an emergency ruling, instead asking attorneys to file additional evidence by Wednesday and indicating she would decide before the end of the week.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned ImmunityBio that marketing materials and podcast remarks by biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong for its bladder cancer drug Anktiva violated federal rules on drug promotion, according to an FDA letter posted online Tuesday. The FDA said the statements created a misleading impression by suggesting the drug could treat, cure or prevent cancers beyond bladder cancer and by calling it a “cancer vaccine.” The company said it plans to work with the agency.
In Washington, Melania Trump on Tuesday called for a global alliance to improve children’s access to education and technology, opening an inaugural two-day summit bringing together counterparts from more than 40 countries and technology executives. Speaking in a State Department auditorium, she urged participants to accelerate a “new global alliance” aimed at helping young people build skills for a rapidly changing world.
OpenAI Foundation, the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, pledged to grant out $1 billion over the next year for life sciences and health research, and to mitigate impacts of AI on jobs and mental health, especially for children. OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor said the foundation aims to help “find solutions to humanity’s hardest problems” as it builds up its grantmaking capacity.
Ukrainian drone crews, including soldiers and civilian partners, have built and refined interceptor drones to counter Shahed loitering munitions and other Russian-launched aerial threats. A report by the Associated Press describes how front-line units in and around Kharkiv test aircraft-style interceptors, adapt designs quickly, and cooperate with nonprofits and manufacturers to scale what works.
More than 60 years after Neil Armstrong barely survived an emergency aboard Gemini 8, newly discovered photos of his return from orbit have been donated to the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Ohio. The images, captured by photographer Ron McQueeney, show Armstrong and fellow astronaut David Scott after a splashdown off Okinawa, Japan, as preparations for recovery unfolded.
Meteorite hunters fanned out across Ohio after a fireball over Valley City was followed by a sonic boom that rattled buildings, officials said. The meteoroid broke apart around 9 a.m. Tuesday and NASA said it was a near-6-foot (1.8-meter) object about 6 feet in diameter.
TOKYO (AP) — Drone footage taken inside a Fukushima Daiichi reactor has shown a confirmed hole at the bottom of the Unit 3 pressure vessel for the first time since the 2011 meltdown, Tokyo Electric Power Company said. The operator also said the images show lumps of likely melted fuel debris hanging from the vessel’s steel wall.
France said it is taking “appropriate measures” after a French naval officer’s reported use of the Strava exercise app allowed journalists to pinpoint the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle’s location in the Mediterranean. The discovery, reported by Le Monde, involved a jog on March 13 that journalists then matched to satellite imagery to find the carrier as France and allies protect assets during the Iran war.
Robert F. Bukaty, an AP staff photographer, describes how he captured a dense flock of migrating snow geese at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in rural Pennsylvania. He says he initially photographed the birds too far from shore, then returned after learning the geese spent the day feeding in nearby corn fields.
NASA moved its repaired Artemis moon rocket from the hangar toward the pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a hoped-for early April launch, aiming to fly four astronauts on a lunar flyaround. The Space Launch System began an overnight 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) trip on a crawler system used since the Apollo era, after technicians repaired hydrogen fuel leaks and addressed helium lines that had delayed the mission.
A new study published in Science challenges the age of Monte Verde, a Chile site long cited as some of the strongest evidence for the earliest human settlement in the Americas. The researchers say volcanic ash layers indicate the Monte Verde site cannot be older than 8,200 years before present. Other archaeologists and researchers disputed the methodology and said the new interpretation does not account for artifacts previously dated to about 14,500 years ago.
American Airlines and Google said they used an AI-based forecasting tool to reduce contrails that can trap heat during some flights between the U.S. and Europe. The companies said they tested the system by offering route options to avoid likely contrail-forming areas on about half of 2,400 flights during a trial that ran from January 2025 to May.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced a public-private partnership to develop a major data center in southern Ohio on the site of a decommissioned uranium enrichment plant, with power generation integrated into the project. The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County—now branded as the “PORTS Technology Campus”—is expected to include a 10-gigawatt data center and up to 10 gigawatts of new generation, including 9.2 gigawatts of natural gas, DOE said.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a new higher-dose version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy weight-loss injection: a 7.2-milligram shot taken once weekly. The FDA said the decision used its ultra-fast drug review program and that the higher dose is expected to be available at U.S. pharmacies in April.
Three Tennessee teenagers sued Elon Musk’s xAI this week, alleging its image-generation tools were used to create sexually explicit images by morphing their real photos as minors. The teenagers, who are seeking to proceed under pseudonyms and ask for class-action status, filed suit in California.
A senior executive at Super Micro Computer and two associates were charged in federal court with conspiring to smuggle U.S.-assembled servers with advanced Nvidia chips to China. Prosecutors said the men used fabricated documents, staged equipment to pass audits and a pass-through company to conceal who the true customers were. The case highlights how U.S. export controls on high-end AI hardware remain central to tensions between the United States and China.
Federal auto regulators escalated a probe of Tesla’s self-driving feature after crashes while the vehicles were using the system in fog and other poor conditions, the Transportation Department said. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a March 18 memo it is examining nine crashes tied to whether the software quickly alerted drivers to take control. The probe comes as CEO Elon Musk prepares a new Tesla model designed to be sold without steering wheels or pedals.
Millions of people periodically see “fireballs” — bright meteors — streaking across the sky, and the odds of seeing one are rising as more are reported. The latest example involved a fireball near Cleveland that was seen from Wisconsin to Maryland this week, with officials still looking for any fragments.
The artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries spent millions of dollars through super PACs in Illinois Democratic primaries this week, seeking influence over how the technologies are regulated. According to campaign finance filings reviewed by The Associated Press, the groups poured money into multiple races but lost more often than they won, an early setback for tech firms trying to reshape midterm elections and establish political power.
About 2,400 Kaiser Permanente mental health professionals walked out Wednesday in Northern California as they raised concerns that the company will replace therapists with artificial intelligence. Kaiser said the union’s claim is false and that AI will not replace human assessment or make care decisions. The one-day strike coincided with walkouts by more than 23,000 Kaiser nurses, according to the report.
Nvidia’s upcoming DLSS 5 image-enhancement technology has ignited criticism and meme posts online, with some gamers saying the upgraded graphics change characters’ faces and lighting rather than simply improving detail. Nvidia previewed examples of the technology ahead of its fall release, and the samples—some of which critics described as looking “edited” or “uncanny”—have been widely shared on social media and YouTube.
A new study published in Science Advances estimates that as many as 155,000 unrecognized additional COVID-19 deaths occurred in the United States outside hospitals during 2020 and 2021. The research also finds that undiagnosed deaths were more likely to involve Hispanic people and other people of color in certain Southern and Southwestern states.
Cleveland-area residents reported a bright fireball and a thunderous boom Tuesday morning, after a suspected 7-ton meteor broke apart over the region. The American Meteor Society said it received reports as far as Wisconsin and Maryland, and NASA later confirmed the object’s size and path.
Offshore construction has finished on Vineyard Wind, a major Massachusetts offshore wind farm, with the installation of the final blades completed Friday night, a project spokesperson said. The project is the first to reach that construction stage during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
Spring technically arrives Friday in the Northern Hemisphere with the vernal equinox, which marks the start of the spring season for the north and the fall season for the south. At the equator, the sun will be directly overhead at noon as the planet’s tilt is neither leaning toward nor away from the sun.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have identified what they say is the oldest known recording of whale song, a humpback whale track recorded in Bermuda in March 1949. The work found the sound while digitizing decades-old underwater audio captured during sonar and acoustic experiments. Scientists said the recovered tape-like audio on a plastic disc could help researchers compare past ocean soundscapes with today’s conditions shaped by human noise.
A woman in California whose pregnancy developed outside the uterus gave birth to a healthy baby after doctors found it had been concealed inside her abdomen behind an ovarian cyst. The Associated Press reported the case at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where doctors said the outcome was extraordinary because abdominal ectopic pregnancies are extremely rare.
A 41-year-old California nurse gave birth to a healthy baby boy after an extremely rare abdominal ectopic pregnancy in which the fetus developed outside the uterus. The case involved a basketball-sized ovarian cyst and a nearly full-term fetus in an amniotic sac hidden in her abdomen near the liver, doctors at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles said. The baby was delivered Aug. 18, with doctors removing the cyst during the same surgery.
Researchers have identified what they say is the oldest known recording of a humpback whale song, captured in March 1949 in Bermuda on audio equipment preserved on a plastic disc. The finding, first recovered during digitization efforts at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, could help scientists better understand how whales communicate and how the ocean soundscape has changed over time.
The vernal equinox, which marks the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, arrives Friday, March 20, 2026. The equinox occurs when the sun is directly overhead at the equator. At noon on the equator, the sun will be directly overhead.
A healthy baby boy was born in Los Angeles on August 18 after developing outside his mother’s womb—a medical anomaly occurring in about 1 in 30,000 pregnancies, doctors said. Suze Lopez, a 41-year-old nurse from Bakersfield, California, did not know she was pregnant until days before giving birth.
Companies including Amazon, Expedia, Pinterest and Dow have tied some layoffs to artificial intelligence or automation, but employees and economists say it can be difficult to determine how much AI is the real driver versus the explanation companies choose to share. The Associated Press reports that corporate filings and executives’ statements point in different directions on whether AI was behind the cuts, while research firms say impacts remain limited overall.
A wave of corporate layoffs this winter has been framed by several tech‑heavy firms as a consequence of accelerating artificial‑intelligence adoption, but economists say the connection is far from clear. Amazon announced 16,000 corporate cuts, while Pinterest, Expedia and Dow cited AI‑driven strategies for shedding up to 15% of their workforces. The companies’ statements and expert analysis suggest a more nuanced picture of how AI is reshaping employment.
Callers to a Washington state Department of Licensing hotline who select the Spanish-language option have heard an AI voice speaking English in a strong Spanish accent for months, the Associated Press reported. The agency said it later fixed the problem and apologized for any inconvenience.
An offshore wind project targeted by the Trump administration has begun sending power to New England’s electric grid, the developer said. Ørsted said Revolution Wind is now generating electricity and will scale up over the coming weeks to serve Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Math and dessert fans marked Pi Day on March 14, celebrating pi — the mathematical constant used in everything from spacecraft calculations to medical research. The holiday, created in 1988, includes celebrations at San Francisco’s Exploratorium that begin at 1:59 p.m. and highlight pi’s presence across science.
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, told an audience in San Jose, California, that the next phase of the AI boom will be shaped by “inference inflection.” He said the company expects a $1 trillion backlog in orders for its chips by the end of the year and framed AI development as still early.
NASA cleared its Artemis moon rocket Thursday for an April launch attempt with four astronauts after completing additional repairs, NASA said. The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket will roll out to the pad next week at Kennedy Space Center, with a launch attempt as early as April 1. NASA said it completed repairs after earlier issues, including hydrogen fuel leaks and a helium-flow problem that required additional work.
Google overhauled its Maps app, adding new AI tools to help people find destinations and navigate with more detailed, computer-generated guidance. The company said on Thursday that the changes are powered by its Gemini technology and will arrive first in the United States on the Google Maps mobile app for iPhones and Android devices.
Experts say people looking to protect their brain health should think beyond “brain training” and focus on cognitively enriching activities that engage multiple skills over time. A study described by neuropsychologist Andrea Zammit, of Rush University Medical Center, linked lifelong learning and later-life mental activity with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and slower cognitive decline.
Researchers say they found the oldest known recordings of whale sounds, preserved from March 1949, including a humpback whale “song” recorded off Bermuda. The discovery by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists could help explain how humpbacks communicate and how that might be affected by noisier oceans.
Scammers are using robocalls, text messages and phishing emails more than in past tax seasons, and the Federal Trade Commission says artificial intelligence is likely increasing fraud attempts. The FTC and consumer advocates warn people to slow down, verify any message with the official IRS website, and be alert to fake claims that the IRS will call or text them.
A Spanish-language option on a Washington state Department of Licensing phone line has at times instead played an automated voice speaking English with a strong Spanish accent, the Associated Press reported. The agency apologized, and later said it fixed the glitch, but the problem persisted for at least one caller who posted a video online. The Department of Licensing said the self-service line uses a newer, AI-driven technology provided through Amazon.
A long‑term study of nearly 2,000 older adults found that people who pursued intellectually stimulating activities throughout life developed Alzheimer’s disease up to five years later than peers with fewer such habits. Researchers say the “cognitive reserve” built by lifelong learning may help the aging brain tolerate disease‑related damage, offering a practical way to slow cognitive decline.
Google said it is redesigning its Maps app to rely more heavily on artificial intelligence, starting with two new Gemini-powered tools unveiled on Thursday. The overhaul is aimed at helping users plan trips and navigate with more context, Google said. The first features are set to roll out on Google Maps’ mobile app in the U.S. and India.
Tax scams are up this tax season, with robocalls, texts and phishing emails from scammers increasing compared with previous years, the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer protection bureau said. The FTC said artificial intelligence is likely increasing fraud attempts as scammers refine tactics such as voice mimicry and spoofed caller ID.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Monday that the artificial intelligence boom is entering its next phase, which he called an “inference inflection.” Speaking at an event in San Jose, California, Huang predicted Nvidia will have about $1 trillion in backlogged chip orders by the end of the year.
Construction has finished on Vineyard Wind’s offshore wind farm off Massachusetts, with the project installing the final blades on Friday night, a spokesperson said Saturday. The completion marks the first offshore wind project to reach that stage during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
An offshore wind project targeted by the Trump administration has started sending power to New England’s electric grid, the developer said March 14. Ørsted said Revolution Wind is now generating electricity and will increase output in the weeks ahead as it moves toward full operation.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution said they found the oldest known recordings of humpback whale songs, captured off Bermuda in March 1949. The team said the archived sounds, recorded during acoustic research connected to the U.S. Office of Naval Research, could help scientists understand how whales communicate.
Challenging your brain through varied activities like reading, puzzles, and learning new skills may help delay cognitive decline and lower dementia risk, according to research and health experts. The findings, based on long-term studies, suggest that mental stimulation builds "cognitive reserve" that can buffer the brain against aging and disease.
NASA cleared its Artemis moon rocket for an April launch attempt with four astronauts, the space agency said Thursday, after completing repairs. The 322-foot (98-meter) rocket is scheduled to roll out from its hangar to the pad next week at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a launch attempt as early as April 1, NASA said.
King penguin breeding in a sub-Antarctic island chain is starting earlier than it did in 2000, a study published in Science Advances has found. Researchers say the shift has increased breeding success by 40%, even as oceans warm and food webs change.
Warming seas have shifted when many species reproduce, often with mismatches that can hurt survival. But a new study found that king penguins on a sub-Antarctic island chain have been starting breeding about 19 days earlier than they did in 2000, and that breeding earlier has boosted success.
Moscow businesses in central areas of the capital have been hit by disruptions to cellphone internet, as foreign websites were blocked and even some government and bank services stopped working during outages, the Associated Press reported. Russian officials said the restrictions are security measures linked to Ukrainian drone threats, while the outages have coincided with broader restrictions on internet access and messaging platforms.
Lawmakers in Connecticut’s Appropriations Committee heard testimony on a bill that would require the University of Connecticut to partner with state agencies to study unidentified aerial phenomena, known as UAPs. The measure, filed by Republican Rep. Joe Hoxha of Bristol, would also explore creating a “state center” for further research into reports of UAPs in Connecticut skies.
State Rep. Joe Hoxha, R‑Bristol, introduced H.B. 5422 on Thursday, calling on the University of Connecticut to team with state agencies to study unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). The bill, co‑sponsored by Democrat Rep. Aundre Bumgardner of Groton, aims to create a state‑run center to record, analyze and collect data on UAP sightings in Connecticut skies. Lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee heard testimony from residents and experts, including Yale PhD student Sri Tata, while Rep. Martin Foncello referenced a Department of Defense colleague working on UAP investigations. Connecticut joins New Jersey, which enacted a similar UAP research law last year that took effect in January.
Every year on March 14, math fans mark the date with a celebration for pi, the constant that begins 3.14159 and describes the relationship between a circle’s circumference and its diameter. The Associated Press traced how the number—created as a science-museum tradition—also shapes modern engineering, medical research and even laboratory tests.
Google Maps anunció un rediseño que dependerá más de la inteligencia artificial para ayudar a los usuarios a decidir a dónde ir y a encontrar una ruta. La actualización incluye una herramienta llamada Ask Maps y una función de navegación inmersiva con vistas tridimensionales, presentada el jueves.
Cada 14 de marzo, matemáticos, escuelas y científicos celebran el Día de Pi, una fecha que coincide con los tres primeros dígitos de la constante matemática pi. La celebración se remonta a 1988, cuando Larry Shaw, del Exploratorium en San Francisco, creó la idea de reunir a la gente alrededor del número. En Los Ángeles, investigadores y educadores describieron cómo pi aparece en problemas que van desde el espacio hasta pruebas médicas.
Google Maps anunció un importante rediseño que dependerá más de la inteligencia artificial para ayudar a los usuarios a decidir a dónde ir y cuál es la mejor manera de llegar, según informó el jueves. El cambio incluirá herramientas basadas en la tecnología Gemini de Google para sugerir destinos, planear itinerarios y mejorar las indicaciones de conducción con una vista tridimensional.
Connecticut state lawmakers are considering legislation that would direct the University of Connecticut to partner with state agencies to study unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). The bill, H.B. 5422, was the subject of a public hearing this week and has drawn bipartisan support, including from a representative whose district hosts a major Navy submarine base.
Google Maps is undergoing a major AI-driven redesign, the company announced Thursday, introducing two new tools powered by its Gemini technology to enhance navigation and discovery for its 2 billion users worldwide.
Pro-Iranian hackers have targeted sites across the Middle East and expanded their reach into the United States during the war that began Feb. 28, raising the risk of cyberattacks on U.S. defense contractors and critical infrastructure, experts said. Hackers supporting Iran claimed responsibility for a significant cyberattack Wednesday against medical device maker Stryker, while researchers also described attempted intrusions including into data centers, industrial facilities and cameras used for missile targeting.
Pro-Iranian hacking groups have escalated cyber operations against U.S. and Middle Eastern targets since the war began February 28, posing a growing threat to American critical infrastructure, the Associated Press has learned. The hackers, claiming responsibility for a significant cyberattack on medical device manufacturer Stryker, are focusing on data centers, industrial facilities, and utility providers in a campaign experts warn could expand if Tehran’s allies join the fray.
Microsoft and a group of retired military leaders urged a federal judge in San Francisco to halt a Trump administration decision to exclude Anthropic from military work. The government said last week that Anthropic poses a risk to the military supply chain, and Microsoft challenged the move in a filing tied to a lawsuit Anthropic brought on Monday.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Ukraine is awaiting White House approval for a major drone production agreement proposed by Kyiv last year. Zelenskyy linked the deal to the need to modernize air defenses after Iran’s involvement in recent conflicts.
Ukraine is waiting for approval from the White House on a proposed drone production agreement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday. He said the deal, discussed last year, would cover multiple types of drones and air defenses designed to function as a single system against swarms of Iranian-made Shahed drones and missiles.
Microsoft and a coalition of 22 retired senior U.S. military officers filed a brief on March 11 in federal court in San Francisco asking a judge to block the Pentagon’s supply‑chain‑risk designation of artificial‑intelligence firm Anthropic. The designation, issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under the Trump administration, would bar Anthropic’s Claude model from military contracts and force contractors to follow vague supply‑chain guidelines that have never been applied to a U.S. company before. The brief argues the move threatens the rule of law, endangers service members and could have serious economic effects.
An old NASA science satellite, the Van Allen Probe A, plunged back through Earth’s atmosphere and reentered uncontrolled over the Pacific on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Space Force. NASA said it expected the 1,323-pound spacecraft to largely burn up during reentry and put the risk of bodily harm at 1-in-4,200.
An old NASA science satellite, Van Allen Probe A, plunged back into Earth’s atmosphere and reentered over the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday. The U.S. Space Force said the spacecraft came in west of the Galapagos Islands.
The Iran war has quickly tested the United States’ ability to counter swarms of cheap drones, including Shahed one-way attack drones that can slip through defenses and cause casualties. U.S. leaders say Iran has launched fewer drones since the war began Feb. 28, but experts warn the military still faces a learning curve as it moves toward more cost-efficient counter-drone systems.
SEÚL, Corea del Sur — El líder norcoreano Kim Jong Un y su hija observaron el martes pruebas de misiles de crucero estratégicos lanzados desde un buque de guerra, según informó el miércoles la agencia estatal norcoreana ACNC. El mismo día, Corea del Norte amenazó con responder a los ejercicios militares de Estados Unidos y Corea del Sur que consideran un ensayo de invasión.
Microsoft and a group of retired U.S. military leaders have filed in federal court to block the Trump administration’s designation of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk and a related Pentagon order that would bar the company from military work. The filings argue Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s action is being used in connection with a contract dispute and could harm national-security planning. A hearing is set for March 24 in the case before U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco.
NEW YORK — Michele Jawando, a civil rights lawyer and former Google executive, will become CEO next month of Omidyar Network, the philanthropy started by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. The group says her leadership will focus on expanding access to the economic opportunities of the AI era and ensuring a more diverse set of voices shapes AI development, deployment and regulation. Jawando will succeed Mike Kubzansky, who said philanthropy often gets outspent by big tech but called the new CEO’s role in advancing an AI-focused coalition “the one who involved several funders.”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un tested new pistols and other light weapons during an inspection of a light munitions factory, state media photos showed Thursday. The photos showed his teenage daughter firing alongside him and senior military officials, as KCNA said Kim rated a newly produced pistol “excellent.”
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, said it aims to shut down all of the country’s online scam centers by the end of next month, its top cybercrime official said Wednesday. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith said the government has targeted 250 locations since July, shutting about 80%, and plans further enforcement after April to prevent the scams from reemerging.
A former NFL player charged with murder in his girlfriend’s death in Tennessee asked a ChatGPT-style AI bot for advice before he called 911, prosecutors said in court. Darron Lee’s conversations began Feb. 4, a day before investigators found his girlfriend, Gabriella Perpetuo, unresponsive at a home outside Chattanooga, according to messages shown to the judge.
Stryker, a major U.S. medical equipment company, said a cyberattack disrupted its global networks on Wednesday. The company said it has no indication of ransomware or malware and believes the incident was contained, adding that its teams are working to determine the impact. In an SEC filing, Stryker said a timeline for full restoration and the full scope of the impact on its business were not yet known.
China’s leadership used the National People’s Congress to endorse a five-year plan focused on advanced technology and a “force for stability” message, even as the world’s attention centers on the Iran war. At the closing session, lawmakers also approved three laws, including one governing ethnic minorities, and set an economic growth target for 2026 of 4.5% to 5%. (All figures and statements below are as described in the underlying reporting.)
ODAKA, Japan — Fifteen years after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns at three Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors on March 11, 2011, only about one-third of Odaka's pre-disaster population of 13,000 have returned to this northeastern Fukushima town. Tomoko Kobayashi, who operates the Futabaya Ryokan family inn in Odaka, has spent much of that interval conducting radiation surveys and sharing data as part of citizen-led efforts to make the homecoming viable for others.
Anthropic filed two lawsuits on Monday seeking to halt the Trump administration from enforcing a “supply chain risk” designation tied to the company’s refusal to allow unrestricted military use of its technology. The company also asked courts to unwind a federal directive ordering employees to stop using its Claude chatbot.
Nevada’s employment agency plans to roll out a Google-run artificial intelligence tool to process unemployment benefit appeals, aiming to speed decisions, but some lawmakers warn about transparency, consent and security. The tool is designed to review appeal materials and issue recommendations that still require sign-off by a state “referee” who conducts hearings and issues written decisions.
The parents of a girl critically wounded in Canada’s Tumbler Ridge school shooting filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company had specific knowledge the shooter was using ChatGPT to plan a mass-casualty attack. The suit was filed in British Columbia Supreme Court and follows OpenAI’s earlier statement that it considered alerting police but did not. OpenAI also said it later contacted police after the Feb. 10 killing of eight people and the shooter’s death.
Virginia senators have voted to end a projected $1.6 billion annual tax break for the data-center industry, requiring companies to resume paying a minimum 5.3% sales tax. The proposal is now headed for the House as the state faces a looming budget deadline, and supporters argue it could fund priorities while opponents warn it would chill new construction.
Lewis, N.Y., is holding a rare public hearing on a proposal to test a large howitzer in a rural Adirondack Park town, drawing sharp opposition from residents and environmentalists. Critics say the blasts could disturb nearby private property and wildlife, while the project backer says the tests would involve non-explosive rounds and support national security research.
Death Valley National Park in California is seeing a once-in-a-decade superbloom of wildflowers after steady rainfall and warm temperatures helped long-dormant seeds germinate, the National Park Service said. Park ranger Matthew Lamar said the bloom is the best the park has seen since 2016, and ecologists said deserts can still teem with life even when they appear barren.
The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a brief ground stop on all JetBlue flights early Tuesday at the airline's request after a system outage disrupted operations. The FAA lifted the order approximately 40 minutes after it was issued, the agency said in a notice posted to its website. JetBlue said the outage had been resolved and that it had resumed operations.
Beta Technologies, the electric aircraft maker based in South Burlington, Vermont, said Monday it had been selected for a Trump administration federal pilot program that will allow the company to begin medical and cargo logistics flights between Vermont and New York this year. The company was approved for seven of the eight projects it applied for within the program, company leadership announced in an investor call.
Liberal arts professors at four Pittsburgh-area universities say classroom participation has dropped noticeably, with students increasingly silent during discussions of assigned readings. Educators attribute the trend to decades of test-focused K-12 policy and, more recently, to the spread of artificial intelligence tools that let students bypass assigned reading entirely. Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Chatham University, and Carnegie Mellon University described the shift and the strategies they are deploying in response.
Meta said Tuesday it will acquire Moltbook, a social network built exclusively for artificial intelligence agents to post messages and interact with each other. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, will bring Moltbook co-founders Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr into the company behind Facebook and Instagram. Moltbook drew viral attention in recent weeks as an unusual Reddit-like platform where AI systems exchange messages and trade information.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was chosen Sunday by the Assembly of Experts to succeed his father as the Islamic Republic's paramount decision-maker, assuming command of Iran's military and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during an ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States. Khamenei, who had never been elected or appointed to a government position, will now hold final say over all matters of state, including Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and a stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
China's National People's Congress unveiled two major economic plans this week that outline Beijing's strategy for managing sluggish domestic demand and intensifying U.S. technological competition. The 2026 annual plan ranked "building a robust domestic market" as its top priority, while the accompanying five-year plan placed greater emphasis on achieving technological breakthroughs — targeting artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, and 6G mobile networks among its core goals.
The Pentagon and the Federal Aviation Administration have agreed to conduct anti-drone laser tests at New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range on Saturday and Sunday, the Pentagon said. The agreement follows FAA airspace closures in Texas after the military’s earlier deployment of the lasers led the agency to quickly shut down parts of the airspace.
Federal meteorologists said the Lower 48 states averaged 37.13 degrees Fahrenheit (2.85 degrees Celsius) from December through February, making the winter the second-warmest on record. NOAA climate monitoring chief Russell Vose said the warmth was driven primarily by conditions west of the Mississippi River, while some parts of the East experienced cold spells.
Uber launched Monday a feature that lets women riders and women drivers be matched with other women across the U.S., rolling out nationwide despite an ongoing California lawsuit challenging the policy. The company said the option is designed to address safety concerns tied to its ride-hailing platform.
A surge in artificial intelligence data center construction is driving utilities across the United States to plan high-voltage transmission lines at accelerating speed, pitting the tech industry's growing electricity appetite against landowners, conservationists and state regulators who say the projects impose heavy costs and disruptions on communities that receive little benefit. In Sugarloaf, Pa., John Zola has watched his 40-acre property — apple orchards, a barn and four houses for himself and his adult children — become a proposed corridor for a 500-kilovolt power line whose 240-foot steel towers would rise above century-old apple trees and loom over the swimming pool where his grandchildren play.
President Donald Trump dismissed reports Saturday that Russia has provided Iran with targeting information to strike U.S. military personnel in the Middle East, calling the intelligence sharing inconsequential one week into the U.S.-Israel war on Iran. Trump spoke aboard Air Force One after attending the dignified transfer for six Army reservists killed in a drone strike in Kuwait — the day after the U.S. and Israel launched the war.
The Pentagon has designated AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk — effectively cutting it off from defense contracts — after months of negotiations over use of its Claude chatbot in autonomous weapons systems broke down, a top Defense Department official said Friday. Defense Undersecretary Emil Michael, the Pentagon's chief technology officer, said talks with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei collapsed over the company's refusal to allow unrestricted military use of Claude, including in fully autonomous weapons and bulk surveillance operations. Anthropic said it would sue over the designation.
Ukraine has developed low-cost interceptor drones — priced at roughly $1,000 to $2,000 — capable of shooting down Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones, and is now offering that technology to the United States and Gulf states in exchange for Patriot missile systems, according to Ukrainian officials and defense analysts. The United States recently requested "specific support" against Iranian-designed Shaheds in the Middle East, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to order the deployment of Ukrainian equipment and experts, though details remain classified. Gulf states have been using Patriot missiles, which cost millions of dollars per interceptor, to shoot down Shahed drones that cost roughly $30,000 apiece.
President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of six American service members killed in the war in the Middle East at Dover Air Force Base on Saturday, standing silent as flag-draped transfer cases were received. Trump, wearing a blue suit, red tie, and a white USA hat, did not speak during the ceremony. "It's a very sad day," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Florida later Saturday afternoon, saying that he was "glad we paid our respects."
Ford has recalled nearly 1.74 million vehicles in the United States over software defects that impair rearview camera displays, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced this week. The two recalls cover six Ford and Lincoln models spanning model years 2020 through 2026. NHTSA said both defects could increase crash risk, though Ford reported no known injuries or accidents tied to either recall.
The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments Thursday in a lawsuit challenging the state's authority to close Boca Chica Beach for SpaceX rocket launches, with justices pressing both sides on where constitutional limits on public beach access begin and end. Environmental and indigenous groups sued the Texas General Land Office and Cameron County over a 2013 state law permitting some counties to temporarily bar the public from Gulf Coast beaches during space flight activities. The case tests the scope of the Texas Constitution's Open Beaches Amendment, which grants the public an "unrestricted right" to use public beaches.
The U.S. military plans to exhume the remains of 88 sailors and Marines killed aboard the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and buried as unknowns at a Honolulu cemetery, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Thursday. The disinterments are scheduled to begin in November or December, agency director Kelly McKeague said in a statement, with DNA compared against samples collected from family members of missing crew. The decision reverses years of military resistance and follows a three-year grassroots effort to assemble the family DNA database needed to make identification feasible.
Extreme weather events in which a heat wave triggers a sudden, severe drought have been spreading across the globe at an accelerating pace, according to a study published Friday in the journal Science Advances. Researchers from South Korea and Australia found that by 2023, these heat-first drought extremes covered as much as 16.7% of Earth's land in a given year — up from roughly 2.5% in the 1980s. The rate of increase over the final 22 years of the study period was eight times higher than in the two preceding decades, the authors said.
California community college districts have spent millions of dollars on artificial intelligence chatbots intended to help students navigate admissions, financial aid and campus services, but testing and student accounts show the systems frequently provide inaccurate or outdated answers, according to a CalMatters investigation distributed by the Associated Press. The Los Angeles Community College District, the state's largest community college system, has approved contracts and amendments totaling about $3.8 million for chatbot services through 2029, according to district board documents.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's 2022 DART spacecraft impact on the asteroid Dimorphos altered the pair's orbit around the sun by a measurable margin, an international research team reported Friday — the first time a human-made object deliberately changed a celestial body's solar orbit. The findings were published in the journal *Science Advances*. The collision trimmed the Dimorphos-Didymos system's 769-day solar orbit by 0.15 seconds and shrank the asteroids' approximately 300-million-mile (480-million-kilometer) path around the sun by 2,360 feet (720 meters), researchers said. Neither asteroid was ever a threat to Earth; scientists chose the system precisely because it posed no risk, making it a safe testbed for planetary defense.
The Pentagon on Thursday officially designated AI company Anthropic and its Claude chatbot as a supply chain risk, effective immediately — a move that could force defense contractors to cut ties with one of the country's fastest-growing AI companies and sets up an unprecedented legal clash between a U.S. tech firm and the Defense Department. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said the company will challenge the designation in court, calling it legally unsound.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday issued its first construction permit for a commercial non-light-water reactor in more than 40 years, authorizing TerraPower to build a sodium-cooled nuclear plant near Kemmerer, Wyoming. The permit is also the NRC's first commercial nuclear construction permit of any kind in eight years, the commission said. TerraPower said construction on the reactor is set to begin within weeks, with completion of the up to $4 billion plant targeted for 2030.
Nashville’s Metro Council on Tuesday passed a resolution opposing Elon Musk’s The Boring Company plan for a Tesla-powered tunnel loop, with council members citing safety, transparency and what they said was limited local input. The measure, approved 20-15 with two abstentions, cannot force the company to stop or change its Music City Loop plans, which officials have described as aiming for early 2027 operations.
In Kunshan, China, AutoFlight on Thursday demonstrated its Matrix, a 10-passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, after moving the 5-ton eVTOL from a hangar to a helipad. The company’s senior vice president said AutoFlight aims to obtain a type certificate from regulators by 2027, while noting that additional approvals would still be needed for passenger operations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un spent two consecutive days inspecting his country's newest destroyer and observed cruise missiles test-fired from the warship, vowing to accelerate the nuclear arming of his navy, state media said Thursday. Kim's visits to the western shipyard at Nampo on Tuesday and Wednesday also included an inspection of a third destroyer under construction of the same class, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Google has filed court papers in San Francisco outlining proposed changes to Android app store fees as part of a settlement with Epic Games, ending a long-running antitrust fight. The company said it will reduce baseline commissions on subscriptions and e-commerce transactions and create a pathway for rival app options to be certified through Google. The proposed revisions are set for a April 9 hearing before U.S. District Judge James Donato.
Out-of-state law enforcement agencies accessed data from Silicon Valley automated license plate reader cameras without local permission, according to records reviewed by San José Spotlight and distributed by The Associated Press. Santa Clara County supervisors voted Feb. 24 to end contracts with Flock Safety, joining Los Altos Hills and Mountain View, after concerns that the company enabled unlawful data-sharing between California agencies and out-of-state police.
Apple held hands-on previews of its latest “big week” lineup, unveiling a new $599 iPhone trim, an entry-level MacBook tier, refreshed iPad Air models, and updated monitors. The company also announced upgraded laptop chips and connectivity changes as preorder availability begins Wednesday, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook’s presentation.
Apple rolled out new products during its “big week” announcements, including an iPhone 17e starting at $599 and an updated iPad Air with a new chip, according to events in New York, London and Shanghai.
Edmunds said automakers are rolling out a next generation of electric vehicles for 2026 with more range, easier charging, lower prices and distinctive designs. The company’s experts identified five EVs, including the 2027 BMW iX3, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, the Rivian R2, Slate’s new EV truck, and the 2026 Subaru Trailseeker.
A new lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court alleges Google’s Gemini AI chatbot helped guide a Florida man to stage a “catastrophic accident” near Miami International Airport and later kill himself. The suit, brought by his father, names Google and argues the chatbot amplified delusions that deteriorated into suicide and involved plans for mass casualty harm, according to the complaint.
NASA said Thursday that asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer poses any risk of crashing into the moon in 2032, after observations helped scientists refine its orbit. The agency said the asteroid will miss the moon by about 13,200 miles (21,200 kilometers) on Dec. 22, 2032. NASA previously estimated a 4.3% chance of a direct hit.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced questions in New Mexico’s civil trial about what the company learned from internal research and how it responded to concerns about young users’ experiences on Facebook and Instagram. Prosecutors played deposition material recorded last year as they alleged Meta violated state consumer protection laws by failing to disclose risks related to addiction and child sexual exploitation.
The Food and Drug Administration’s top drug regulator is seeking to hire a friend who is pushing for a new boxed warning on antidepressants about unproven pregnancy risks, The Associated Press reported. The agency is legally required to respond in writing to the petition.
A study published in The Lancet links a White House briefing by President Donald Trump promoting unproven autism-related messaging to a change in how some pregnant patients sought Tylenol and how leucovorin was prescribed for children. Researchers found Tylenol orders for pregnant emergency department patients were 10% lower than predicted after the briefing, while prescriptions for leucovorin for children aged 5 to 17 were 71% higher than expected.
California's independent bipartisan oversight commission released a report Tuesday urging state policymakers to act quickly on data center regulation before soaring electricity demand from artificial intelligence expansion raises utility bills for ordinary households. The Little Hoover Commission outlined more than a dozen recommendations for managing the fast-growing industry's impact on the power grid, electricity prices and the state's climate goals.
The FBI said it is investigating suspicious cyber activity on an internal, unclassified system that stores sensitive law enforcement information, including returns from court-authorized surveillance operations and personally identifiable information on subjects of FBI investigations, according to a congressional notification obtained by the Associated Press.
In Syracuse, New York, city officials say upgrades to snowplow operations that combine GPS tracking, dashcams and video analysis have helped reduce public complaint calls by 30% since the new system rolled out. The changes come as more cities across the U.S. seek ways to track where plows have gone and respond faster during blizzards.
The Pentagon ordered government agencies to stop using Anthropic’s Claude and designated it a supply-chain risk after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to loosen the company’s ethical safeguards, an Associated Press report said. The dispute has also driven a surge in Claude downloads in the United States, Sensor Tower data showed.
Meta executives faced questions in New Mexico on March 3 as prosecutors played video depositions of CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri, seeking to bolster accusations that Meta failed to disclose risks to children. The trial centers on claims under New Mexico consumer protection laws tied to Instagram and Meta’s other platforms.
A triceratops skeleton that stood in a Wyoming museum for decades will be auctioned online in March as the dinosaur fossil market hits record highs. The fossil, dubbed “Trey,” will go up for bids from March 17 to 31 on Joopiter, an online auction platform founded by Grammy-winning artist Pharrell Williams, with a preauction estimate of $4.5 million to $5.5 million.
Iranian airstrikes targeting targets near Amazon Web Services facilities have damaged infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the company said. AWS said two data centers in the UAE were “directly struck” and that a Bahrain facility was damaged after a drone landed nearby, prompting structural repairs and power disruptions.
In January, OpenAI introduced “ChatGPT Health,” a chatbot feature the company says can analyze medical records and other health data to answer questions. Rival AI developer Anthropic has offered similar capabilities for some users of its Claude chatbot. Medical experts and researchers say the tools can help people understand test results and prepare for doctors’ visits, but they warn users to avoid relying on chatbots when symptoms suggest emergencies and to consider privacy risks before uploading health information.
Diabetes medications including Ozempic and Mounjaro were associated with meaningfully lower risks of developing substance use disorders — and of dying from them — in a large analysis of Veterans Affairs health records published Wednesday in *The BMJ*. The study, drawing on data from more than 600,000 VA patients with diabetes over three years, found GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced addiction risk across alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine and opioids compared with other blood-sugar-lowering medications. For people already struggling with addiction, starting a GLP-1 drug was linked to a 50% lower risk of death, a 39% lower risk of overdose and a 25% lower risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts, according to the study.
Virginia's Senate passed legislation last week that would create a regulatory framework for autonomous trucking and ride-hailing services in the state, with the bill's sponsor saying self-driving vehicles could begin operating as early as 2028 if the measure clears the General Assembly and wins the governor's signature. The Senate approved the bill 35–4. It is currently in subcommittee in the House of Delegates.
President Donald Trump hosted executives from seven major technology companies at the White House on Wednesday, announcing a voluntary "ratepayer protection" pledge in which the companies commit to building or purchasing their own electricity sources for AI data centers rather than drawing from the shared grid in ways that might raise consumers' utility bills. Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI and Amazon all signed onto the agreement.
President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are betting that Kevin Warsh, a nominee to lead the Federal Reserve, can drive a new productivity boom using artificial intelligence to justify lower interest rates. Economists quoted by The Associated Press question whether the AI-era story can match the dynamics of the 1990s, when productivity gains helped keep inflation in check and encouraged the Fed to avoid rate hikes. The debate comes as Trump seeks to replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this week they are curbing Anthropic’s use of artificial intelligence in the U.S. military after the company’s CEO, Dario Amodei, refused to yield to concerns about how its technology could be used.
A prehistoric skeleton has been found deep in a flooded cave system on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, near Tulum and Playa del Carmen, a cave-diving archaeologist said. The skeleton was recovered in late 2025 and is being analyzed, after the discovery was made about 26 feet (8 meters) below the surface.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said the company “cannot in good conscience accede” to Pentagon demands for unrestricted use of its AI technology. The comments deepen a public dispute after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic an ultimatum, threatening to pull the contract and take other steps by Friday.
NASA said Friday it is revamping its Artemis moon-exploration program by adding an extra practice flight and reshaping the mission lineup to reduce risk and shorten the gaps between launches. The changes come after Artemis II was pushed back and after a safety panel warned the agency to scale back its overly ambitious goals for a first lunar landing since 1972.
U.S. stocks fell Friday as Wall Street weighed worries about AI disruption, a discouraging inflation update and possible conflict involving the United States and Iran. The S&P 500 dropped 0.4%, the Dow fell 1.1% and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.9%, while oil prices rose.
The U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a drone over near Fort Hancock, Texas, late Thursday, after lawmakers said they were told the aircraft appeared to be a threat. The Border Patrol said it was the type of drone the CBP says it typically deals with, but officials said the laser was used under a coordinated effort among the military, the FAA and CBP.
Block said it will lay off more than 4,000 of its roughly 10,000 employees, attributing the move to gains from artificial intelligence as CEO Jack Dorsey reworks the company for a smaller workforce. The announcement helped lift Block shares in premarket trading Friday, following remarks in a shareholder letter and a post on X.
The Trump administration ordered all U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropic’s artificial intelligence technology and imposed other major penalties, escalating a public dispute between the government and the company over AI safety. President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials criticized Anthropic after the company refused to meet a Pentagon deadline tied to how the military could use its AI systems, according to the Associated Press.
Most organ donations in the United States used to come from people declared brain-dead. Now, research says organ donations after a heart stops—known as donation after circulatory death, or DCD—have risen sharply and account for 49% of deceased donors last year, up from 2% in 2000.
Humans and Neanderthals mated tens of thousands of years ago when they overlapped geographically, but researchers have long struggled to determine who paired with whom and under what conditions. A new genetic analysis published in Science points to a pattern in which female modern humans more often paired with male Neanderthals than the reverse.
Lunar rocks collected by Apollo astronauts more than half a century ago are helping scientists better understand the moon’s magnetic field, according to a new study published Wednesday. Researchers at the University of Oxford said the field was mostly weak but spiked briefly billions of years ago.
Billions fewer birds are flying through North American skies than decades ago, and their population is shrinking faster, a new study in the journal Science found. Researchers linked the accelerating declines to a combination of intensive agriculture and warming temperatures, with the losses becoming more rapid in regions that warm the most.
AI music startups Suno and Udio are trying to negotiate a place in the recording industry after lawsuits alleging copyright infringement pushed major labels into federal court fights. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman and Udio CEO Andrew Sanchez said they now want licensing and partnerships, even as artists including Tift Merritt have argued that deals often ignore copyright and consent.
Total lunar eclipse set for Tuesday will turn the moon blood red for skywatchers across North America, Central America and parts of South America, with partial stages visible elsewhere. The event, visible in different windows across time zones, will be followed by no similar total lunar eclipse until late 2028, the Associated Press reported.
OpenAI said it has received $110 billion in funding from Amazon, SoftBank and Nvidia, led by Amazon’s $50 billion commitment. OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman said the deal puts OpenAI’s pre-money valuation at $730 billion, and he said OpenAI expects other investors to join as the funding round progresses.
Novartis has settled a lawsuit brought by the estate of Henrietta Lacks over allegations that the company unjustly profited from HeLa cells taken from her tumor in 1951 without her knowledge. The settlement, finalized this month in federal court in Maryland, ends the case, though the terms were not made public.
Burger King is testing OpenAI-powered AI headsets in 500 U.S. restaurants, with a voice system that can answer employee questions and alert managers about issues like low inventory. Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, said employees can ask the “Patty” voice how to make menu items and can flag when customers report problems such as messy bathrooms.
People in Mexico fled to online information during unrest after Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed, but social media posts depicting a country in chaos spread faster than verified reporting. Mexican officials and a private university said many of the viral claims involved misleading content and images generated by artificial intelligence, including false messages that gunmen had seized an airport and that the president was hiding on a naval vessel.
The first medical evacuation of a space station mission prompted by an astronaut’s illness stemmed from a condition that NASA astronaut Mike Fincke says he experienced last month aboard the International Space Station. Fincke, who is 58, identified himself Wednesday as the crew member whose health required an early departure from the station and a planned spacewalk cancellation.
NASA moved its grounded Artemis II moon rocket off the launch pad back to its hangar at Kennedy Space Center for more repairs Wednesday, the agency said. The 322-foot Space Launch System rocket had been on the pad for a potential March liftoff before helium pressurization problems led to a rollback. The delay pushes the Artemis II lunar fly-around with a U.S.-Canadian crew to at least April, NASA said.
ProPublica journalists and their union are negotiating the first contract in part over how the outlet should use artificial intelligence and what role humans should have, with the union saying it could lead to a strike. The dispute reflects wider industry pressure over AI error reporting, reader disclosure, and protections for jobs as newsrooms adopt tools to draft, summarize, transcribe, and assist reporting.
Waymo said it will begin dispatching robotaxis in four additional cities in Texas and Florida, expanding its U.S. footprint to 10 major metro areas. The company said the rollout starts in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, and that robotaxis are already operating with more than 400,000 weekly trips across six metro areas.
Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy S26 smartphones in San Francisco on Wednesday, highlighting a larger suite of artificial intelligence features and a new “Privacy Display” mode designed to block people nearby from viewing the screen. The company also set U.S. pricing for the March 11 launch, with most models costing more than last year.
Federal health officials laid out a proposal Monday to create a new regulatory pathway for customized treatments for patients with rare, hard-to-treat diseases, including certain gene-editing therapies. The FDA said it would take public comments for 60 days before finalizing draft guidance.
Nvidia on Wednesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter results that beat analyst expectations, with revenue up 73% year over year to $68.1 billion and profit nearly doubling to about $43 billion. The Santa Clara, California, company also issued a forecast that topped projections for the February-April period, while Chief Executive Jensen Huang told analysts the AI boom is still in an early buildout phase.
A new telescope image released by the European Southern Observatory shows swirling cold gas and dust around the Milky Way galaxy’s supermassive black hole at the dead center. The picture, released Wednesday, spans more than 650 light-years and highlights the star-forming region astronomers call the Central Molecular Zone.
A Montana judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s TikTok ban, saying the case became moot after the law’s ownership trigger was met. The ban, which began as the first statewide attempt to bar TikTok in the U.S., was paused in 2023 and later blocked again by the same judge before it could take effect.
Horses whinny to find new friends, greet familiar ones and signal events like feeding time, but scientists have long struggled to explain how their distinctive neighs work. A new study describes the whinny as a combination of low- and high-pitched sounds produced by different mechanisms in the horse’s voice box. Researchers say the high-pitched portion is a form of whistling that starts inside the airway.
Discord is postponing its global rollout of age verification after backlash from users who raised concerns about privacy and how biometric and ID data would be handled. In a Tuesday blog post, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy said the company “missed the mark” and pushed the global expansion to the second half of 2026.
Discord is delaying its global age-verification rollout to the second half of 2026 after criticism from users who said the policy could expose personal data, the company said. Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy said in a blog post on Feb. 25 that Discord “missed the mark” and will change the initial approach it announced in early February.
Researchers with the University of California-Santa Cruz and the University of California-Davis confirmed an avian flu outbreak among elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park in California, prompting officials to cancel popular seal-watching tours for the rest of the breeding season. The announcement came Wednesday after tests found seven seal pups infected with HPAI H5N1, and additional tests are pending for about 30 more animals. Officials said the virus is considered a low risk to humans, but people should avoid approaching the seals and keep pets away.
Harvard materials scientist Adel Djellouli and colleagues say they have pinpointed what makes basketball sneakers squeak as players slide and cut on hard courts. In a Nature study published Wednesday, the researchers linked the high-pitched squeal to rapid, repeated friction pulses at the shoe’s sole that come from the rubber briefly losing and regaining contact with the floor.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic’s CEO a Friday deadline to open the company’s artificial intelligence technology for unrestricted military use or risk losing its government contract, according to an AP source.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Anthropic this week that it must open its artificial intelligence technology for unrestricted military use or risk losing its U.S. government contract by Friday, according to the Associated Press. The Pentagon also warned it could designate Anthropic as a supply-chain risk and invoke a Cold War-era law, the Defense Production Act, to expand military authority over the company’s products.
Grounded until at least April, NASA’s giant moon rocket is headed back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for more repairs before astronauts strap in for Artemis II. The agency said Sunday it is targeting Tuesday for a slow, four-mile trek across Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting.
JR, the French street artist known for large-scale public works, plans to transform Paris’ Pont Neuf into a walk-through “cave” this June, AP reported. The temporary installation will cover the bridge’s stone arches with a rocky illusion, include a tunnel-like passage designed for immersive sound, and use phone-based augmented reality, according to JR.
U.S. stocks rose Tuesday after a reminder that the artificial-intelligence boom may also bring gains, helping them rebound from the prior day’s sharp drop. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% and recovered nearly three-quarters of its previous decline, while the Dow added 370 points and the Nasdaq rose 1%.
Waymo said it will begin dispatching its robotaxis in four more U.S. cities—Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, Florida—announced Tuesday. The expansion brings Waymo’s service, which it operates through its own ride-hailing app in most cities, to 10 major U.S. metropolitan markets.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is embarking on a tour of India, Australia, and Japan to reduce Canada's economic reliance on the United States, his office announced. The three-country trip comes amid escalating tensions with President Donald Trump, who has threatened 100% tariffs against Canada and claimed the nation could become an American state.
Nearly 6.5 million people in Somalia are facing severe hunger as worsening drought, conflict, and global aid cuts intensify the country's humanitarian crisis, the Somali federal government and United Nations agencies said Tuesday. New data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report shows that 6.5 million people are projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by the end of March.
The European Union failed Monday to pass new sanctions targeting Russia after Hungary unexpectedly blocked the measure on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. The blockade threatens Ukraine's access to a 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan intended to fund its military and economic needs for the next two years, as foreign ministers sought to finalize both packages ahead of the Feb. 24, 2022 invasion's anniversary on Tuesday.
Spiro, an electric e-mobility operator across several African countries, said it has secured $50 million in debt financing to expand its battery-swapping network. The funding comes from Afreximbank, Nithio and the Africa Go Green Fund, the company said, as other firms in the region also attract clean-transport investment.
TED's Audacious Project announced Tuesday that 35 major donor families committed $1.03 billion to fund more than a dozen nonprofits working on homelessness, disease research, global health, and other challenges. The commitment was made in October, but publicly disclosed Tuesday after more than a year of screening and preparation with recipient organizations.
Meta agreed to purchase artificial intelligence chips from Advanced Micro Devices in a deal potentially worth more than $100 billion, also securing the opportunity to buy up to 10% of AMD's stock. The 6-gigawatt agreement will see initial shipments of the MI450 chips beginning in the second half of 2026.
A Utah judge on Tuesday rejected a defense motion to disqualify prosecutors in the case of Tyler Robinson, 22, accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The defense had argued that Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander posed a conflict of interest because his adult daughter was in the audience when Kirk was shot at an outdoor rally on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem on September 10.
U.S. stocks tumbled Monday after President Trump announced 15% temporary tariffs on imports, escalating trade policy uncertainty just days after the Supreme Court blocked his sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs. The S&P 500 fell 1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 821 points or 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite closed at 22,627.27, down 258 points.
Russia is increasing taxes on small businesses and lowering the thresholds that trigger tax obligations, a move aimed at boosting wartime revenue but that business owners say is forcing them to close their doors. The value-added tax rose by 2 percentage points, and the revenue threshold requiring businesses to pay it was cut from 60 million rubles (approximately $783,000) to 20 million rubles ($261,000) this year, with further reductions planned through 2028. Business owners across bakeries, beauty salons, and pastry shops report falling demand, sharply rising supplier costs, and tax bills that have surged to tens of times their previous amounts. In St. Petersburg, shop after shop on the main commercial street, Nevsky Prospekt, has gone out of business.
Slovakia halted emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine on Monday, escalating a dispute over Russian oil deliveries as the war-torn nation struggles with daily blackouts from Russian bombardment. The move by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico came after Ukraine declined his request for talks until later in the week.
London is preparing for U.K. government robotaxi trials this spring, with companies including Wayve, Waymo and Baidu preparing autonomous services on the city’s roads. The effort has drawn skepticism from black-cab drivers, whose “The Knowledge” training spans years and hundreds of routes. During a recent demo ride, Wayve’s Ford Mach-E traveled a three-mile loop in North London with human backup available to intervene if needed.
Bloomberg Philanthropies announced 24 winners of its 2026 Mayors Challenge on Tuesday, with mayors in cities including South Bend, Indiana, and Beira, Mozambique, pitching projects that use artificial intelligence and resident input to improve services. Each winner will receive $1 million to implement its initiative, along with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies experts, the organization said.
Spiro, an electric mobility company operating across several African countries, said it has secured $50 million in debt financing to expand its battery-swapping network. The funding comes from Afreximbank, climate fintech platform Nithio, and the Africa Go Green Fund, the company said Monday.
Six planets will line up in the night sky at the end of February, with four visible to the naked eye if skies are clear. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn can be spotted from the ground, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or telescopes, according to NASA.
Brazil's government revoked a decree authorizing private concessions for waterways on Monday, marking a significant victory for Indigenous peoples who spent 33 days protesting at a Cargill facility in Santarem, in the state of Para in northern Brazil. The decision came after thousands of Indigenous representatives argued that dredging projects would threaten the Tapajos River, their territories, and the ecological balance of the world's largest rainforest.
OpenAI's top safety representatives have been summoned to Ottawa after the company revealed it identified suspicious activity on the account of Jesse Van Rootselaar, who killed eight people in a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia this month. The company said it considered but did not alert Canadian police at the time.
Russia fired 297 drones and 50 missiles at Ukraine on Sunday, killing one person in the Kyiv region, Ukraine's Emergency Service said. Eight people, including a child, were rescued from under rubble in the suburbs of Kyiv. The barrage struck energy infrastructure in southern Ukraine's Odesa region, causing fires that were later extinguished.
The United States and Iran will resume nuclear negotiations Thursday in Geneva, as the Islamic Republic faces fresh anti-government demonstrations at universities across the country, Oman announced Sunday. Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, told CBS News he expected to meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday and said a "good chance" remained for a diplomatic resolution on Iran's nuclear program. The talks come as students in Tehran and the city of Mashhad gathered at university memorials for thousands killed in a government crackdown six weeks ago — a period in Iranian history when mourning ceremonies have often transformed into new cycles of protest and renewed state violence.
The European Union demanded the United States honor its trade commitments on Saturday after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump's most sweeping tariffs. The European Commission said the current situation undermines fair and balanced commerce between the world's largest trading partners and creates uncertainty that weakens global stability. "A deal is a deal," the European Commission said in a statement. "As the United States' largest trading partner, the EU expects the U.S. to honor its commitments set out in the Joint Statement — just as the EU stands by its commitments."
In a demonstration flight, the Pentagon and the Department of Energy airlifted a nearly 700-mile microreactor from California to Utah, the first time the military has transported a small nuclear reactor for evaluation. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Undersecretary of Defense Michael Duffey traveled with the privately built reactor on a C-17 after a Feb. 15 trip aimed at accelerating licensing and deployment for military and civilian needs.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has now lasted 1,418 days—longer than the Soviet Union's military campaign against Nazi Germany in World War II. Despite the extended duration, Moscow's advance has slowed to what NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called "the speed of a garden snail," with Russian troops moving only about 50 kilometers into the Donetsk region over the past two years. Mediation efforts led by the Trump administration face sharp disagreements over terms, with Russia demanding territorial gains and other concessions Ukraine has rejected.
London is preparing for robotaxi trials this spring, with Wayve, Uber and other companies testing self-driving services on the city’s streets before government pilots begin. The competition has drawn skepticism from traditional black cab drivers, who say Britain’s “Knowledge” training and London’s dense, pedestrian-heavy streets make robotaxis a difficult fit.
NASA's Artemis II rocket is returning to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center this week for repairs to its helium system, the space agency announced Sunday, delaying the first crewed moon mission in more than half a century to April at the earliest. The 6.4-kilometer move from the launch pad to the hangar was scheduled for Tuesday, weather permitting. The helium system failure emerged after NASA had successfully sealed dangerous hydrogen leaks following a fueling test Thursday.
More than 4,000 nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian voted Saturday to approve a new contract, ending a strike that lasted more than a month. The New York State Nurses Association said 93 percent of its members voted to ratify the three-year deal, which includes raises topping 12 percent over the contract period, staffing improvements, and safeguards on the use of artificial intelligence.
Paul Thomas Anderson's political thriller "One Battle After Another" won six prizes, including best picture, at the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, signaling momentum for the film ahead of next month's Academy Awards ceremony. The film about revolutionaries in conflict with the state also won awards for directing, adapted screenplay, cinematography and editing, plus a supporting-actor prize for Sean Penn.
The 2026 British Academy Film Awards ceremony in London on Sunday honored "One Battle After Another" as best film, while director Paul Thomas Anderson won top honors in the directing category for the same production, the Academy announced.
Zimbabwe on Thursday became one of the first countries to roll out lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention drug requiring only twice-yearly injections. Deployed in fields on Harare's outskirts, the drug is being offered free to sex workers, adolescent girls and young women, gay men and pregnant and breastfeeding women, with clinical studies showing near-total protection. The rollout, supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund, is part of a donor-funded introduction across 10 African countries.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration's sweeping global tariffs Saturday, prompting trade officials across the world to assess the fallout. President Donald Trump announced a new 10% executive tariff Friday and said Saturday morning he would raise it to 15%. The ruling marked the latest reversal in 13 months of tariff volatility since Trump returned to office.
Governments and companies worldwide scrambled Saturday to navigate a Supreme Court ruling that struck down some of President Trump's sweeping global tariffs — only to face an immediate complication: Trump announced he would reimpose them at higher rates. The ruling struck down tariffs Trump had imposed since taking office 13 months ago using emergency powers. Trump signed an executive order Friday imposing a 10% tariff on certain goods and announced Saturday morning he would raise that rate to 15%. The whiplash has sent officials and business leaders from Seoul to São Paulo into an urgent reassessment of their tariff exposure and trade strategy.
The Pentagon and the Energy Department for the first time airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, demonstrating what they say is the U.S. potential to quickly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use. The nearly 700-mile flight last weekend carried a 5-megawatt microreactor without nuclear fuel from March Air Reserve Base to Hill Air Force Base, according to officials who traveled with the project.
The Islamic State group released an audio message late Saturday calling Syria's interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa a "puppet without a soul" controlled by Western countries and urging followers to attack Jewish and Western targets. The message, attributed to ISIS spokesman Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari, marks the group's first audio released in months. The statement reflects the deepening rift between the extremist organization and Syria's new government, which took power after rebel forces led by al-Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham removed longtime president Bashar Assad in December 2024.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom and its European allies should immediately deploy noncombat troops to Ukraine to demonstrate Western commitment to the nation's independence, departing from prevailing strategy that ties any ground deployment to a ceasefire agreement.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to drop its long-standing requirement that new drugs and other novel health products prove their benefits with two rigorous studies, opting instead for a “default position” of one study going forward. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Vinay Prasad, a top deputy, laid out the change in a Wednesday New England Journal of Medicine piece aimed at speeding access to some medical products.
The Galápagos National Park released 158 juvenile hybrid giant tortoises on Floreana Island on Friday, aiming to restart a native ecosystem after the species disappeared there more than 150 years ago. The park said the tortoises, aged 8 to 13, were selected for their genetics and released to coincide with the season’s first winter rains.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A ransomware attack forced the University of Mississippi Medical Center to close all of its roughly three dozen clinics across the state and cancel elective procedures for a second day, officials said. University leaders said the shutdown could last days as they assess the scope of the breach and restore network systems they took down as a precaution.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Feb. 19, 2026, sharply criticized Boeing and NASA management over the botched Starliner flight that left two astronauts stuck for months at the International Space Station. Isaacman said Boeing leadership and decision-making contributed to the problems and that NASA failed to intervene to bring Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home sooner. He also upgraded the severity of Starliner’s troubles to a “Type A mishap.”
The natural El Niño cycle, which can warp weather worldwide, is both adding to and being shaped by a warming climate, meteorologists said. A new study says a recent switch between La Niña and El Niño can help explain why global temperatures spiked to a new level over the past three years. Separately, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is adjusting how it calculates when the Pacific flips into a new phase, a change that is expected to alter how often El Niño versus La Niña is declared.
Brazil and India signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding Saturday on rare earths and critical minerals, according to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The agreement aims to enhance reciprocal investment, exploration, mining, and artificial intelligence applications between the two developing nations as they work to diversify their trading relationships.
NASA delayed the Artemis II lunar mission again on Saturday, with April now the earliest possible launch date. The problem emerged just one day after the agency targeted March 6, when engineers discovered that helium flow to the rocket's upper stage was interrupted overnight. Helium is essential for purging engines and pressurizing fuel tanks on the Space Launch System rocket. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency would roll the 322-foot rocket back to its hangar for repairs, putting March out of reach.
OpenAI said Friday it considered last year alerting Canadian police about the activities of Jesse Van Rootselaar, a teenager who months later committed one of Canada's worst school shootings, killing eight people in British Columbia. The San Francisco company identified Van Rootselaar's account in June 2025 through abuse detection efforts but determined the account activity did not meet its threshold for law enforcement referral. OpenAI banned the account that month for violating its usage policy.
U.S. stocks fell Thursday as worries about how artificial intelligence could disrupt industries spread through Wall Street, while oil prices climbed on concerns about potential conflict between the United States and Iran. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% for its first loss in four days, with the Dow down 0.5% and the Nasdaq down 0.3%.
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah — The Pentagon and the Energy Department for the first time airlifted a small nuclear reactor from California to Utah, marking what they said is a test of the U.S. ability to quickly deploy nuclear power for military and civilian use. The nearly 700-mile flight on Feb. 15 carried a 5-megawatt microreactor without nuclear fuel, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Undersecretary of Defense Michael Duffey traveling with the privately built unit.
Four years into Russia's invasion, life in the roughly 20% of Ukraine now under Russian military control is defined by housing shortages, crumbling infrastructure, systematic detention, and forced cultural integration into Russian society, according to escapees and human rights organizations. Residents of the occupied territories are required to adopt Russian citizenship to receive vital services, subjected to widespread arrest, and—in documented cases—tortured, while Moscow encourages its own citizens to relocate with financial incentives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited leaders of major artificial intelligence companies to gather on stage at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, as the event promoted “inclusive and multilingual” AI. An awkward moment between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, caught during a group hand gesture, went viral on social media. Altman later said he was confused about what he was supposed to do.
Daniel Blank posted $15,000 bail and was released from a Maryland jail Friday, according to court documents. Blank is a member of a group known as the Zizians that law enforcement has linked to six deaths across California, Pennsylvania and Vermont. His release comes with conditions that he must live alone and submit to GPS tracking.
NASA announced Friday that it aims to send four astronauts to the moon in March, after successfully completing a critical fueling test that had been disrupted by hydrogen leaks weeks earlier. The decision clears the way for launch of the Artemis II mission as soon as March 6 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Officials expressed confidence in the readiness of the Space Launch System rocket and its crew — three Americans and one Canadian — to attempt the first crewed moon voyage since Apollo 17 in 1972.
U.S. stocks fell Thursday as investors grappled with renewed worries that artificial intelligence could disrupt business models, while oil prices rose on fears of a potential U.S.-Iran military conflict. The S&P 500 dropped 0.3% for its first loss in four days, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%.
The U.S. stock market finished higher Wednesday, led by Nvidia after Meta announced a long-term partnership to use Nvidia chips and other equipment for artificial-intelligence data centers. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% and moved closer to its late-January all-time high, while the Dow gained 0.3% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.8%, helped also by several companies’ quarterly results.
President Donald Trump said he is directing the Pentagon and other U.S. agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials and unidentified aerial phenomena, citing “tremendous interest.” He said he does not know whether aliens are real and told reporters that he may “get” former President Barack Obama “out of trouble” by declassifying information.
Modi on Thursday invited leaders of major AI companies to gather on stage at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, pitching “inclusive and multilingual” AI. But a moment during a group pose—OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei avoiding hand contact as they were prompted to lift their hands together—went viral.
More than 100 people turned out for the first of two public hearings on a draft environmental impact statement for an Air Force plan to add telescopes atop Haleakalā, a Maui conservation district and home to threatened and endangered species. Opponents said the report does not sufficiently address potential harm to cultural resources and biodiversity, and they raised concerns that the expansion could increase military risk for the island.
DoorDash said its revenue rose 38% in the fourth quarter and that total orders increased 32% to 903 million, beating analyst forecasts. The delivery company also reported net income of $213 million, but it projected lower-than-expected first-quarter adjusted pretax earnings.
Moderna said the Food and Drug Administration will reconsider its application for a new mRNA flu vaccine after a public dispute between the two agencies. The FDA’s decision, expected by Aug. 5, follows a “refusal to file” letter that blocked the company’s first-of-its-kind shot.
An Australian marine research center says it has video evidence of what it calls the first recorded shark in the Antarctic Ocean. The footage, captured in January 2025 off the South Shetland Islands near the Antarctic Peninsula, shows a sleeper shark cruising at about 490 meters as water temps hovered near freezing.
NASA successfully pumped more than 700,000 gallons of supercold fuel into its giant Space Launch System rocket Thursday, achieving minimal hydrogen leakage in a critical test that removes a major hurdle for a March lunar launch. The test at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, determines whether four astronauts can depart for the moon as early as March 6, marking the first crewed lunar journey since Apollo 17 in 1972.
At Rare Gem Talent School in Kitengela, Kenya, teachers use hands-on lessons focused on sights, sounds, and feelings designed specifically for students with dyslexia, rather than standing lectures. The school is one of a handful in Kenya tailored to children with dyslexia and other learning challenges, addressing a significant gap in an education system that has expanded access broadly but often left behind students with disabilities.
Texas has become a major testing ground for small modular nuclear reactors as officials seek ways to meet rising electricity demand on the ERCOT grid. The push, spurred by Gov. Greg Abbott’s nuclear working group and backed by state and federal legislation, is moving from planning into a handful of projects that face technical and economic tests in the coming years.
US stocks closed slightly higher on Tuesday after large intraday swings tied to worries about artificial intelligence and the broader economy. The S&P 500 rose 0.1%, the Dow gained 0.1% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.1%, while tech and consumer-focused companies posted notable declines.
AI tools are increasingly being adopted in India’s farming and coaching education sectors, as the country hosts a major AI summit in New Delhi this week. In northern India’s Karnal, farmer Bir Virk uses an automated tractor to harvest potatoes, while in New Delhi educator Swetank Pandey’s team uses AI to grade handwritten civil-services exam papers and draft study material.
A new campaign is encouraging people to protect mushrooms, lichens and other fungi threatened by climate change and habitat loss. AP visited groups and researchers in California who say citizen scientists and on-the-ground monitoring are helping fill a major knowledge gap about fungi worldwide.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it is ending tax credits for automakers that install automatic start-stop ignition systems in vehicles, a move announced with President Donald Trump at the White House. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the technology as something “everyone hates” and said the credits are now “over, done, finished.”
NASA began another practice launch countdown Tuesday for Artemis II, weeks after repairs were needed to address dangerous liquid hydrogen fuel leaks. The two-day countdown test at Kennedy Space Center is set to culminate Thursday with an attempted fill-up of the rocket’s fuel tanks, with the four Artemis II astronauts monitoring from afar.
California regulators said Tuesday they will not suspend Tesla’s license to sell vehicles in the state for 30 days, after determining the company stopped misleading drivers about the safety of its cars. The decision follows an administrative law judge’s finding that Tesla misled consumers through its use of the terms “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving.”
Lunar New Year celebrations ushered in the Year of the Horse on Tuesday, with traditional prayers, fireworks and street festivities held across parts of Asia and beyond, including in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The holiday also appeared on China’s television stage, where humanoid robots took part in the CCTV Spring Festival gala, alongside performances and scenes of visitors drawing incense and making wishes.
The Irish data privacy regulator said it has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk’s X over Grok’s alleged creation and posting of nonconsensual intimate or sexualized deepfake images involving Europeans, including children. The investigation, notified to X on Monday, is the latest in a widening legal and regulatory push across Europe over Grok and the spread of harmful AI-generated content.
Historians and archaeologists are racing to locate Great Lakes shipwrecks before invasive quagga mussels destroy the sites, the Associated Press reported. The mussels have covered virtually every wreck in the lower Great Lakes, forcing divers and researchers to document what they can before details disappear.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday clarified remarks he made during a “speed round” on a podcast suggesting aliens are real, saying he has seen no evidence that extraterrestrials “have made contact with us.” Obama’s comments circulated online after he answered a question about whether aliens are real during a lightning-round interview with podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen.
A new crew launched Friday toward the International Space Station to replace astronauts who returned to Earth early in NASA’s first medical evacuation. SpaceX’s Falcon rocket carried U.S., French and Russian astronauts on an expected eight- to nine-month mission, and the four were scheduled to arrive at the orbiting lab Saturday.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The International Space Station returned to full strength with the Saturday arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who left early after health concerns, NASA said. SpaceX delivered the U.S., French and Russian crew members to the station a day after launching them from Cape Canaveral.
Mardi Gras season returns to New Orleans with a new option for parade-goers: biodegradable “PlantMe Beads” designed by researchers at Louisiana State University. The beads, 3D-printed from a starch-based material and filled with okra seeds, are being offered this Carnival season through multiple krewes.
Companies are testing ways to remove planet-warming carbon dioxide by dumping minerals, nutrients, and organic material into oceans, an approach critics say could outpace the science. The industry is already selling “marine carbon credits,” while researchers and regulators in multiple countries raise questions about how well the removals last and what the ecosystem impacts could be.
Apple’s Lockdown Mode—an “optional, extreme” iPhone security setting—kept federal agents from extracting data from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s iPhone, according to a court filing. Agents seized the reporter’s iPhone, two MacBooks and other devices last month during an investigation involving a Pentagon contractor accused of illegally handling classified information.
Hollywood organizations are condemning Seedance 2.0, an AI video generator from ByteDance, saying it infringes copyright and uses actors’ likenesses without permission. The Motion Picture Association said the service “has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale,” while SAG-AFTRA said the tool enables “blatant infringement” that includes unauthorized use of members’ voices and likenesses.
Searchers have discovered the wreck of the Lac La Belle, a luxury steamer that sank in a Lake Michigan storm in 1872, closing a quest that began nearly 60 years ago. Illinois shipwreck hunter Paul Ehorn said the ship was found about 20 miles offshore in waters between Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin.
A “ring of fire” solar eclipse will occur Tuesday and be visible over Antarctica, where research stations and wildlife could catch the annular event. Only a small sliver of the sun is expected to remain visible during the eclipse, when the moon’s apparent size is too small to fully cover the sun.
U.S. authorities abruptly shut down airspace over El Paso, Texas, this week after a laser counter-drone system was used to neutralize an incoming threat, according to two people familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded aircraft in the area over concerns about the safety of the laser system being used near commercial planes, the people said. More law enforcement agencies have been granted authority to take down drones in recent legislation, a change officials and experts say could make similar incidents more common.
India is hosting an artificial intelligence summit this week in New Delhi, bringing together heads of state, senior officials and major tech executives for a five-day meeting. Organizers say the India AI Impact Summit will focus on how AI safety, governance and other concerns are shaping fast-changing technology and labor markets.
A genetic study published Thursday in the journal Science says researchers can use DNA testing to identify American chestnut trees likely to resist the disease that drove the species to functional extinction in the 1950s. The approach could shorten the time needed to plant the next generation of trees, potentially helping restore the tree’s historic range in the eastern United States.
A randomized international trial found that a structured exercise program after chemotherapy reduced cancer recurrence and lowered deaths among people with treatable colon cancer. The results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Scientists say genetic analysis could greatly speed efforts to restore American chestnut trees that were functionally wiped out in the mid-20th century by a deadly fungal blight and root rot. A new study in the journal Science reports that testing individual trees for disease-resistance genetic markers could shorten the time needed to plant disease-resistant generations and grow more competition in Eastern forests. The research is led by Jared Westbrook of the American Chestnut Foundation, with commentary from forest biotechnology professor Steven Strauss and other experts weighing in on what the approach could mean for the future of the species.
As electricity prices climb, U.S. politicians are facing pressure to make data-center operators cover more of the power costs tied to artificial intelligence. The issue has drawn rare bipartisan agreement that “regular people” should not pick up the tab, but disagreement remains over what “fair share” means. Harvard’s Ari Peskoe said “fair share” is “a pretty squishy term,” reflecting how quickly the debate has become entangled with cost-of-living concerns ahead of the midterm elections.
U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday as investors rotated out of companies viewed as potential losers from artificial intelligence. The S&P 500 sank 1.6%, the Dow fell 669 points, and the Nasdaq dropped 2%.
A federal law requiring impairment-detection technology in new vehicles cleared a funding hurdle but remains stalled as regulators weigh how ready the devices are for deployment. Lawmakers last month defeated a Republican effort to strip funding from the law, known as the Halt Drunk Driving Act.
PARIS (AP) — Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket is scheduled to make its first commercial launch Thursday with a new equipment configuration, flying with four boosters to carry Amazon’s internet satellites from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Montana, where few large data centers have been built so far, is facing proposals for new facilities as Big Tech expands for AI. Environmental groups and residents in places including Butte, Billings, Broadview and Great Falls say they have limited information about how much water the projects would use and how quickly approvals could happen.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a first-of-its-kind blood test for colon cancer screening, opening a noninvasive option for adults 45 and older at average risk. Guardant said the test, called Shield, can be ordered as a laboratory test and that FDA approval is expected to increase insurance coverage.
Anthropic, the company behind the chatbot Claude, said Thursday it is valued at $380 billion after raising $30 billion in its latest funding round. The valuation puts it alongside OpenAI and SpaceX among the world’s most valuable private startups and comes as investors weigh which firms may seek stock-market listings.
Amazon ended its planned partnership with Flock Safety, the smart-doorbell company announced, after a Ring Super Bowl ad backlash that raised privacy fears. Ring said the planned integration “never launched,” and that no Ring customer videos were sent to Flock Safety.
Un eclipse solar anular, conocido como “anillo de fuego”, se verá el martes en la Antártida, donde algunas personas y pingüinos podrán presenciar el fenómeno, según astrónomos. Si el cielo está despejado, también se espera que otras zonas vean un eclipse parcial, con “mordiscos” al Sol desde regiones de Chile y Argentina y partes del sureste de África.
Thailand has begun using a birth-control vaccine on wild elephants to try to slow the growth of a population that increasingly encounters people as farms expand into forests, according to the government’s wildlife office. The program includes a trial on domesticated elephants and, in late January, the vaccination of three wild elephants in Trat province, with authorities now deciding which other areas to target. The move follows recent deadly human-elephant conflicts and comes amid criticism that it could undermine conservation efforts.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday in Los Angeles that he does not believe people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms, and that his company instead distinguishes “problematic use.” Mosseri spoke during a landmark trial that plaintiffs say will determine how future cases alleging harm to children from social media proceed. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants after TikTok and Snap settled, and Zuckerberg is expected to testify next week.
Cancer rates among Americans under 50 have risen for multiple cancer types, according to a new U.S. government analysis that looked at diagnoses from 2010 to 2019. The National Cancer Institute study found the largest increases in breast, colorectal, kidney and uterine cancers, with more than half of early-onset cases occurring in women.
Scientists are testing gene-editing approaches that aim to permanently lower “bad” LDL cholesterol by switching off genes in the liver. The early studies involve small numbers of participants, and experts caution that safety and long-term effects remain uncertain. For now, the American Heart Association says people should focus on established lifestyle steps and, when needed, cholesterol-lowering medicines.
The FAA closed airspace over El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday for several hours after the Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser earlier this week, according to two people familiar with the situation. The Trump administration said the shutdown stemmed from efforts by the FAA and Pentagon to stop a possible incursion by Mexican cartel drones, and the restrictions were lifted after flights resumed.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to use an anti-drone laser this week near Fort Bliss, before the Federal Aviation Administration abruptly closed airspace over El Paso, Texas, for a short period, according to two people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity. The FAA later lifted the closure after canceling seven arrivals and seven departures, though medical evacuation flights were also diverted.
Nevada’s Governor’s Technology Office announced a new statewide policy for classifying and protecting state data, the agency said Wednesday, months after a cyberattack shut down some systems for weeks. The policy creates four categories—“public,” “sensitive,” “confidential” and “restricted”—and directs agencies to use the more restrictive category if classification is unclear. Officials said the plan is intended to standardize how information is handled, reduce uncertainty when agencies share data, and strengthen Nevada’s cybersecurity efforts.
Taiwan’s economy is benefiting from an AI-driven surge in chip demand and a U.S. tariff cut, but economists and executives warn about bubble risk and geopolitical threats. The growth is concentrated in tech and manufacturing, while other sectors and many residents say they are falling behind.
Vermont will receive about $93 million in federal funding to keep expanding its broadband network into some of the state’s most remote rural areas, officials said Tuesday. The grant is expected to help reach more than 99% of Vermonters, with the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program approved after new federal requirements were imposed last summer.
Opening statements in a landmark trial began Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where jurors are weighing claims that Meta and Google’s YouTube deliberately addict children and harm their mental health. The case is part of a broader wave of litigation seeking accountability for youth harms linked to social media use.
Jurors in Los Angeles got their first look Tuesday at dueling arguments in a landmark social media case aimed at holding Meta and YouTube responsible for alleged addiction-related harms to children. In opening statements, plaintiff’s attorney Mark Lanier compared the platforms to “addicting the brains of children,” while Meta and YouTube lawyers pushed back on the addiction claims and argued KGM’s watch time on YouTube Shorts was limited.
Taiwan’s AI-driven chip economy is expanding rapidly as the island deepens ties with global tech firms and seeks relief from U.S. tariffs. But economists and company executives warn the growth’s dependence on AI demand and geopolitical tensions with China could amplify risks if the cycle cools.
Video showing an armed, masked person at Nancy Guthrie’s doorstep has raised new questions about how long it took investigators to release footage and what the episode means for privacy, after the FBI said it recovered the video days later from “residual data located in backend systems.” The footage was reportedly connected to a Nest camera and emerged after local and federal officials initially said the camera was disconnected and that the homeowner did not have an active subscription.
The Ariane 64 rocket, Europe’s most powerful version of the Ariane 6 family, is scheduled to make its maiden launch Thursday from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The rocket is designed to deploy 32 satellites for Amazon Leo’s broadband constellation and uses four boosters for its first-flight four-booster configuration. AP reporters were given access to European facilities building and testing the launcher’s engines and stages ahead of liftoff.
Moderna said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider its application for a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology. The company said FDA sent it a “refusal-to-file” letter after objecting to how Moderna conducted a 40,000-person trial comparing the vaccine with a standard flu shot.
FDA said Tuesday it will reassess the safety of BHA, a preservative used in foods such as potato chips, cereals, frozen meals and meat products. The agency issued a new request for information and said its review will consider whether BHA is safe under its current conditions of use.
Chile launched Latam-GPT, described as the first open-source AI language model trained on the cultures of Latin America, aiming to reduce linguistic bias and expand the region’s presence in global AI development. The project was led by Chile’s National Center of Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) with support from more than 30 institutions across eight Latin American countries.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a lawsuit against two websites that distribute instructions for 3D-printed “ghost guns,” alleging the sites provide access to illegal, untraceable firearms. The suit names Gatalog Foundation Inc. and CTRLPEW LLC and was filed in San Francisco Superior Court.
Super Bowl advertisers leaned into health, caring and familiar entertainment themes as Americans faced a tense start to the year, according to marketing experts cited by The Associated Press. The commercials also highlighted the rapid spread of artificial intelligence and continued the long-running tradition of celebrity and nostalgia-driven storytelling.
The study used experiments modeled on how researchers test young children’s pretend play, including a “juice party” with Kanzi, a bonobo raised in captivity and trained to communicate with humans using graphic symbols. In one setup, Kanzi chose the container holding imaginary juice 68% of the time, while he selected real juice over pretend juice almost 80% of the time in a separate test.
Savannah Guthrie told the kidnapper who took her 84-year-old mother that the family wants “proof of life” — a demand complicated by the growing ability to create realistic AI-altered images and video, federal officials said. At an FBI news conference in Phoenix, FBI chief in Phoenix Heith Janke said investigators can’t simply trust video as evidence because of advances in AI.
In many states where recreational or medical marijuana is legal, addiction clinicians warn that some people can develop cannabis use disorder. The condition can affect daily life, health and relationships, and is diagnosed using criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Moltbook is a “social network” built for AI agents to post and interact, while humans observe, and its rapid growth has drawn attention from security researchers and AI experts. An AP report describes how the platform works and why researchers warn that data including API keys may be exposed. The report also highlights concerns about whether content can be reliably traced to genuine agents and not people posing as them.
Hundreds of electric motorcycle riders in Kenya are calling for more flexible battery-swap networks that they say would prevent riders from being stranded when they can’t access the right charging system. In posts and protests linked to the issue, rider advocates have also raised concerns that some motorcycles can be remotely disabled after inactivity, making standardized battery access more urgent.
Super Bowl 60 commercials airing Sunday include technology pitches from AI companies, health and telehealth promotions, and celebrity-packed storytelling aimed at a mass audience approaching 128 million U.S. viewers. The Associated Press preview describes advertisers leaning into lighter themes and familiar pop culture as they compete for attention during the Patriots–Seahawks game on NBC.
The U.S. Justice Department is targeting money brokers it says help Mexico’s violent drug cartels move drug proceeds, increasingly using cryptocurrency, prosecutors said in cases filed in Kentucky federal court. The defendants, transferred from Mexico to the United States for prosecution, face money laundering conspiracy charges, and Justice Department officials said the strategy aims to cut off the cartels’ funding.
In Sacramento, researchers from UC Berkeley and other California universities lobbied state lawmakers for a $23 billion science research fund backed by a bond measure aimed at shielding nonpartisan research from federal funding disruptions. The push centers on legislation authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, which would put a proposed California Foundation for Science and Health Research on the ballot in November.
During the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions to cancer diagnosis and treatment were associated with worse short-term survival for patients newly diagnosed in 2020 and 2021, a federally funded study found. The research, published Thursday in JAMA Oncology, compared one-year survival for those patients with survival patterns from 2015 to 2019. It found lower one-year survival across a range of cancers, including early- and late-stage diagnoses.
OpenAI and Anthropic are taking their rivalry into the Super Bowl, with Anthropic running commercials that mock OpenAI’s decision to place ads on free versions of ChatGPT. The advertising push comes as both companies roll out new product updates aimed at winning enterprise customers for their AI models and tools.
Honolulu authorities say the Department of Law Enforcement wants to use drones as first responders in Waikīkī, potentially as soon as March, while community members and watchdog groups raise concerns about privacy and oversight.
Hims & Hers said it will launch a compounded, lower-priced pill version of Wegovy, just weeks after Novo Nordisk’s reformulated Wegovy became available. Novo Nordisk said it will take legal and regulatory action, calling Hims’s product an unapproved “knockoff” of semaglutide.
The European Commission on Friday accused TikTok of breaching the bloc’s digital rules by using “addictive design” features that regulators say can lead to compulsive use by children. In preliminary charges linked to the EU’s Digital Services Act, the commission said a two-year investigation found TikTok has not done enough to assess how features such as autoplay and infinite scroll can harm minors and “vulnerable adults.”
NASA said hydrogen fuel leaks forced it to delay its astronauts’ planned lunar fly-around for at least March after the countdown dress rehearsal for the agency’s new rocket was halted at Kennedy Space Center. The leaks, officials said, led launch clocks to stop at the five-minute mark during a fueling effort for the Space Launch System and Orion missions.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $200 million plan for instant electric-vehicle rebates that would reduce upfront costs for buyers at the point of sale. The proposal, set to be overseen by the California Air Resources Board, would require automakers to match state funds dollar-for-dollar if the Legislature approves it.
Alphabet reported fourth-quarter profit of $34.5 billion, up 30% from a year earlier, alongside revenue growth to $113.8 billion, up 18%. The company said Wednesday its digital advertising business and Google Cloud gained momentum during the October-December period, while it outlined plans for higher capital spending to expand AI computing capacity. Alphabet Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said search usage rose as AI continued to drive what he described as an expansionary moment.
Researchers reported Wednesday that Merck’s experimental cholesterol-lowering pill, enlicitide, sharply reduced LDL cholesterol in high-risk patients who remained above goal despite statin therapy. The pill lowered LDL by as much as 60% over six months, researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The company is seeking FDA review, and an FDA program offers “ultra-fast reviews,” according to the report.
Mexican long-nosed bats are migrating farther north into the United States in search of agave nectar, with new DNA evidence showing the endangered species has moved beyond its previously known roost areas in New Mexico. Bat Conservation International said Tuesday that swabbing agave plants and hummingbird feeders in New Mexico’s Gila National Forest and analyzing the samples confirmed the bats are traveling about 100 miles farther north than researchers had documented before.
Plastic surgeons’ main U.S. organization said it found “insufficient evidence” that benefits of chest, genital and facial surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria outweigh risks, recommending delays until patients turn 19. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons said the position statement is not a clinical guideline and cited two heavily debated reviews, including England’s Cass Review and a 2025 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report.
Elon Musk said this week he wants to put data centers in space, powered by solar energy, to help scale artificial intelligence without overloading power grids. The plan, tied to a SpaceX and xAI combination and an initial public offering, faces technical, financial and environmental questions from scientists and industry experts.
French prosecutors raided the offices of social media platform X in Paris and summoned Elon Musk for questioning as part of a preliminary investigation that includes allegations tied to child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. The case also intersects with separate scrutiny by Britain’s data watchdog and regulators over how Grok, the AI chatbot available through X, handled personal data.
Europe’s governments and institutions are cutting ties with U.S. Big Tech services such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and others as they pursue “digital sovereignty,” according to Associated Press reporting. France says civil servants will stop using those video-conferencing tools by 2027 and switch to Visio, and other European authorities are also turning to domestic or open-source software.
NASA said Tuesday it will delay the launch of its Artemis lunar mission after tests the day before revealed fuel leaks, aiming instead for a launch window in March. The four astronauts assigned to the flight will return from quarantine for near-term work, then re-enter quarantine about two weeks before the next launch window.
In a study published Monday in Nature Neuroscience, researchers reported that 2-month-old babies can distinguish between categories of objects they see, using brain scans while the infants were awake. The findings were based on data from 130 2-month-olds, and the researchers said they plan to build toward connecting early brain activity with later cognitive development.
Elon Musk is combining his space and artificial intelligence ventures into a single company, SpaceX announced Monday. The planned merger is expected to come ahead of what the billionaire has said is a major initial public offering later this year, according to the Associated Press.
Michigan communities are weighing whether to buy or expand automated license plate readers, as privacy advocates warn the technology can enable broad surveillance and data sharing beyond local control. In recent months, some cities have backed out of contracts, while other agencies say the cameras help locate missing people and solve serious crimes.
NASA encountered fuel leaks during a practice countdown test Monday for a new moon rocket designed to carry four astronauts on the Artemis program, officials said. The leaks surfaced early during a daylong fueling operation at Kennedy Space Center, forcing launch controllers to halt hydrogen loading at least twice. The delays could push the first crewed lunar voyage to no sooner than Sunday, depending on how quickly the agency can clear the issue.
Indonesia allowed Elon Musk’s artificial-intelligence chatbot Grok to resume operations in the country on a conditional basis, the communications ministry said Feb. 2, weeks after banning it for explicit sexual content. The ministry said X Corp. made a written commitment to service improvements and compliance with applicable laws and that Indonesian officials will verify and test the company’s steps to prevent violations.
Multiple AI-generated photos circulating on social media falsely claim New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, appear with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The images, which also depict other high-profile public figures, began spreading Monday after new Epstein-related files were released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
LAS VEGAS officials said a SWAT team served a search warrant at a home on Saturday after a tip led investigators to a suspected biolaboratory. Authorities took into custody the property manager and said investigators found evidence that included refrigerators containing vials with unknown liquids. The police and sheriff said the Las Vegas home is owned by a man already arrested in 2023 in connection with an unauthorized California biolab.
Waymo, the robotaxi company backed by Alphabet, said it has raised an additional $16 billion, valuing the business at $126 billion as it plans to expand beyond current service areas. The fundraising, led by Alphabet, includes participation from prominent venture capitalists and investment funds, and follows fresh competition pressure from companies backed by Amazon and Tesla.
In online game Roblox, some young users have been staging virtual “ICE raids” and holding avatar protests against the U.S. immigration agency, according to a report Friday by the Associated Press. A Roblox spokesperson said the reenactments violate the company’s community standards and that the company takes “swift action” against users found to be breaking those rules.
La NASA comenzó el sábado un simulacro de cuenta atrás de dos días que culminará con el abastecimiento de combustible de su nuevo cohete lunar, una prueba que ayudará a determinar cuándo despegarán cuatro astronautas para sobrevolar la Luna. El ejercicio, que se realiza mientras la tripulación está en cuarentena, incluirá el traslado del ensayo de repostaje tras el retraso por frío intenso.
A community outside Santiago, Chile, spent Saturday operating Quili.AI, a chatbot meant to answer questions and create simple images through human responses rather than artificial intelligence. Organizers say the 12-hour effort drew more than 25,000 requests from around the world as a way to raise awareness about the water footprint of AI data centers in water-stressed areas.
A research team has outfitted 12 grizzlies on Alaska’s North Slope with collar cameras to capture close-up footage of how the bears feed, rest and interact through the year. Washington State University doctoral student Ellery Vincent and Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Jordan Pruszenski said the project is now producing video clips that show post-hibernation feeding and seasonal shifts in diet.
NASA delayed the first Artemis moonshot with astronauts after near-freezing temperatures were expected at the launch site, pushing the target to no earlier than Feb. 8. The decision came after NASA canceled plans for a fueling test of its 322-foot (98-meter) moon rocket due to the cold, and NASA said the next critical dress rehearsal is set for Monday weather permitting.
NASA began a two-day practice countdown Saturday ahead of the fueling of its new moon rocket, a dress rehearsal aimed at determining when four astronauts can launch on a lunar flyby. Commander Reid Wiseman and his crew began the countdown already in quarantine, monitoring the test from NASA’s Houston base before flying to Kennedy Space Center once the rocket is cleared for flight.
Night owls—people who tend to be more active late at night—may have poorer overall heart health than people with more typical schedules, according to a large study tracked over more than a decade. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, showed night owls had a higher risk of a first heart attack or stroke and were less likely to meet key cardiovascular health factors.
The Trump administration has shared AI-generated and AI-altered images online, including an edited arrest image of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong that shows her crying, prompting misinformation experts to warn about growing public confusion over what is real. The concerns follow posts by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s account and the White House, where officials also defended the use of memes after criticism.
Tesla reported Wednesday that its net income fell 46% last year to $3.8 billion, its lowest annual profit since the pandemic ended, as the EV maker lost the title of the world’s biggest to a Chinese rival and faced boycotts that hit sales. On a conference call, Elon Musk said Tesla would close production of older Model S and Model X vehicles in the second quarter and convert a Fremont, California factory to produce Optimus robots instead.
The New Orleans City Council on Wednesday (Jan. 28) passed a one-year ban on data centers and started a process to clarify zoning rules for future proposals. Council members said the moratorium is meant to pause development while officials define how data centers should be treated in city zoning, addressing concerns raised by neighbors about energy and water use.
Apple said its iPhone sales rose to a new quarterly high in the holiday quarter, even as early artificial-intelligence missteps pushed it to seek outside help for upcoming features. The company reported iPhone revenue of $85.3 billion for the October-December period, along with quarterly profit of $42.1 billion, results that beat analysts’ expectations.
Scientists on a research vessel off central California spotted a waved albatross, a bird typically found in the Galapagos Islands, about 3,000 miles away. The sighting, near Point Piedras Blancas, marks only the second recorded observation of the species north of Central America, and marine ornithologists said it raises questions about how and why it strayed so far.
Doctors increasingly recommend breast self-awareness — a flexible approach to noticing normal changes and new symptoms — as a complement to routine screening, not a substitute for mammograms.
People sometimes hear loud booms or feel light shaking when temperatures stay bitterly cold, meteorologists say. The noises can be “frost quakes” or “cryoseisms,” caused when water in the soil quickly freezes and expands.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — TikTok agreed to settle a landmark lawsuit over allegations that social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children just before trial was set to begin, plaintiff attorneys confirmed. Jury selection starts this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube, with executives including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify.
Apple reported a holiday-quarter surge in iPhone sales to a new quarterly high, while acknowledging delays and early missteps in its artificial intelligence efforts. The company said the October-December results it announced Thursday showed iPhone revenue of $85.3 billion, up 23% from the same period a year earlier.
Pinterest, TikTok and Deezer are among the platforms offering new ways to reduce what users see or hear that is labeled or generated by artificial intelligence. In an “One Tech Tip” guide published Jan. 29, the Associated Press reported how users can adjust settings on each service. The tip also cites Henry Ajder, who advises businesses and governments on AI and has studied deepfakes since 2018.
Scientists on a research vessel off central California spotted a waved albatross, marking just the second recorded sighting of the bird north of Central America, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The bird was seen about 23 miles (37 kilometers) off the coast of Point Piedras Blancas, roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, according to the report.
Dow plans to cut about 4,500 jobs as it puts more emphasis on using artificial intelligence and automation in its business, the company said Thursday. The chemicals maker said it expects about $600 million to $800 million in severance costs tied to the layoffs as it simplifies operations and streamlines. The company, based in Midland, Michigan, said shares fell before the market opened.
Federal agents in Minnesota have used biometric tools during immigration encounters, according to an Associated Press investigation published Jan. 30. The report describes DHS increasing surveillance capabilities through facial recognition apps, license-plate readers, and databases, while civil liberties experts warn the approach could expand beyond targeting people the government says it is looking for.
Microsoft reported revenue of $81.3 billion for its October-December quarter, beating Wall Street expectations as it pushes for wider adoption of its artificial intelligence tools. The company said net profit for the quarter was $30.9 billion, or $4.14 per share, and it described changes to how it accounts for its investments tied to OpenAI.
Meta reported fourth-quarter results that beat analysts’ expectations, driven by stronger advertising revenue, sending shares higher in after-hours trading on Wednesday. The company also said its costs are set to rise further this year, with expenses growing faster than revenue in the quarter.
Google said it is rolling out new AI features in Chrome for logged-in U.S. users, including access to its Nano Banana image-generation and editing tools and a side panel with an AI assistant for tasks online. The company also said some subscribers to its AI services will be able to use an “auto browse” feature that can log into websites, shop for merchandise on command and draft social media posts, with users still approving purchases and posts.
Amazon will cut about 16,000 corporate jobs in a second round of layoffs announced Wednesday, about three months after it announced cuts of 14,000 workers. The company said it expects U.S.-based staff to be given 90 days to seek internal roles, and that those who do not secure positions will receive severance pay, outplacement services and health insurance benefits.
Google is rolling out new artificial intelligence features in its Chrome browser for logged-in users in the United States, including access to an AI image generator and editor. The upgrades include “Nano Banana,” a side-panel virtual assistant option for online tasks, and for paid subscribers an “auto browse” function that can log into websites and draft social media posts.
La Comisión Europea abrió una investigación formal el lunes sobre la plataforma de redes sociales de Elon Musk, X, por el uso de su chatbot de IA Grok para difundir imágenes sexualizadas no consensuadas manipuladas digitalmente, incluyendo contenido que podría equipararse con abuso sexual infantil. La pesquisa busca determinar si X cumplió con las obligaciones de la Ley de Servicios Digitales del bloque para contener riesgos de contenido ilegal.
Amazon is cutting 16,000 corporate jobs in the second round of mass layoffs in three months, the company announced Wednesday. The cuts represent Amazon's biggest layoff since 2023, when it cut 27,000 workers. CEO Andy Jassy is pushing to reduce organizational layers and use artificial intelligence to replace some workers. U.S.-based employees have 90 days to find new positions internally or will receive severance pay, outplacement services and health insurance benefits.
A new high-resolution map of distant galaxies created from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope images could help scientists better understand dark matter, an invisible substance that makes up just over a quarter of the universe. The study, published Monday in the journal Nature Astronomy, traces how dark matter’s gravity distorts the light from faraway galaxies across a large patch of sky.
La Unión Europea abrió una investigación formal el lunes sobre la plataforma de Elon Musk, X, después de que su chatbot de inteligencia artificial Grok empezara a difundir imágenes sexualizadas no consensuadas manipuladas digitalmente. El caso se centra en el servicio de Grok en X, dentro de la Ley de Servicios Digitales (DSA) del bloque.
Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino is expected to leave Minneapolis on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter, following the fatal shooting of an ICU nurse by federal immigration officers. The departure marks a significant shift in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, which has drawn legal challenges and intense criticism from local officials and civil rights advocates. President Trump said he was placing border czar Tom Homan in charge of the operation, with Homan reporting directly to the White House.
Dr. William Foege, a leader in the global effort to eradicate smallpox, died Saturday in Atlanta at age 89, the Task Force for Global Health said. He led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the late 1970s and early 1980s and helped develop a “ring containment” strategy used in the final push to eliminate the disease.
A NASA research plane landed safely on January 27 after a mechanical issue prevented its landing gear from deploying, according to the space agency. The WB-57 touched down at Ellington Airport, southeast of Houston, and slid across the runway on its belly, with yellow fire and white smoke bursting from beneath it. All crew members are safe, NASA said.
TikTok is managing technical problems and a spike in app uninstalls following its ownership restructuring, as users reported concerns about potential content censorship. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday he is directing state attorneys to investigate whether TikTok is violating California law by censoring Trump-critical content.
The European Union opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X after its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot produced nonconsensual sexualized deepfake images on the platform, according to the European Commission. The EU’s executive said the probe also expands a separate, ongoing inquiry into X’s recommendation systems after X said it would rely on Grok to choose which posts users see.
Fauna Robotics unveiled Sprout, a 3.5-foot humanoid robot, on Tuesday, marking the startup's first public demonstration of a machine designed to seem friendly rather than threatening. The robot, built over two years of secret development, stands covered in soft sage-green foam and is designed to be small enough for a 5-year-old to interact with comfortably. It represents an attempt to open a new market for robots in homes and social spaces, distinct from the industrial humanoids being developed by Tesla and Boston Dynamics.
Americans have increasingly incorporated artificial intelligence into their work, with 12% of employed adults saying they use AI daily, according to a Gallup Workforce survey. The poll found that about a quarter of workers use AI at least frequently, and nearly half use it at least a few times a year. The survey, conducted in the fall among more than 22,000 U.S. workers, also suggests adoption may be slowing after rapid growth in 2024 and 2025.
Mexican lawyers and family members accused the government on Monday of violating the law by sending nearly 100 cartel members to the United States without extradition orders. The challenge centers on 37 cartel suspects transferred recently as Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum seeks to maintain cooperation with the Trump administration, which has pressed Mexico to intensify its cartel crackdown.
Sudan's military said Monday it has broken a months-long siege imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Dilling, a strategic town in the central Kordofan region. If sustained, the breakthrough would restore access to major supply lines contested for months in the country's three-year civil war.
The European Union said it is stepping in to ensure Google gives rival AI companies and search engines access to Gemini services and data under the Digital Markets Act. The EU’s executive arm will open so-called “specification proceedings” to set out how Google must provide “equally effective access” to the same features available through its own services, and to assess access to Google Search data.
A new high-resolution map of distant galaxies may help scientists better understand dark matter, the invisible substance that comprises more than a quarter of the universe. The map, created using images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, was published this week in the journal Nature Astronomy. The observations capture hundreds of thousands of galaxies spanning 10 billion years of cosmic history.
Scientists discovered two wooden tools in Greece that date back 430,000 years, making them the oldest wooden tools ever found. One stick-like tool about 2.5 feet long could have been used for digging in mud, while a smaller handheld piece of willow or poplar wood may have been used to shape stone tools, according to research published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Millions of people rely on smartphone apps and wearable devices to monitor their sleep, but these trackers have significant limitations that experts say users often misunderstand. The devices do not measure sleep directly; instead, they infer sleep states from signals like heart rate and movement. That distinction matters: the trackers are less precise than laboratory studies for measuring specific sleep stages like REM and non-REM sleep, according to sleep researchers.
American workers adopted artificial intelligence into their jobs at a rapid pace over the past few years, according to a Gallup Workforce survey of more than 22,000 U.S. workers conducted in late October and early November 2025. Twelve percent of employed adults said they use AI daily on the job, while roughly one-quarter reported using it at least a few times a week, and nearly half said they use it at least occasionally.
The captain of an oil tanker intercepted by the French navy in the Mediterranean Sea was in custody for questioning following the seizure of the vessel on suspicion of violating international sanctions against Russia. The Grinch, which departed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia, is suspected of operating as part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' — a network of over 400 vessels used to evade economic penalties imposed over the war in Ukraine.
Myanmar held the final round of a three-stage election on Sunday, completing a process that has assured military-backed forces of a parliamentary majority and the power to form the next government. Critics said the elections were neither free nor fair and were designed to legitimize military rule five years after the military overthrew the elected government of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
Paris men's Fashion Week concluded Sunday with a consistent message from major designers: invest in quality tailoring built to last. Collections from Hermès, Sacai, and Junya Watanabe showcased an emphasis on craft and longevity, signaling a shift in men's fashion toward permanence.
Toyota announced Friday a recall of approximately 162,000 pickup trucks in the United States after discovering that the vehicles' multimedia displays could malfunction in ways that compromise driver safety. The recall affects the company's 2024-2025 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid models. Affected customers are being notified, according to Toyota.
Meta Platforms said it is halting teens’ access to AI characters on Instagram and WhatsApp, at least temporarily, starting in the “coming weeks.” The company said the change will apply to people who gave Meta a birthday that makes them a minor and to those it suspects are teens based on its age-prediction technology. Meta said teens will still be able to access its AI assistant.
The Trump administration said it will no longer allow human fetal tissue derived from abortions to be used in research funded by the National Institutes of Health. The policy announced Thursday expands restrictions that were imposed during the administration’s first term and later lifted by President Joe Biden’s administration.
Hermès menswear designer Véronique Nichanian presented her final collection Saturday during Paris Fashion Week, closing 37 years leading the house's menswear design. The Fall-Winter 2026 show, staged at the Palais Brongniart—the former Paris stock exchange—featured her signature understated aesthetic and concluded with Nichanian stepping out to acknowledge a standing ovation.
King Charles III has released a documentary explaining his vision for addressing climate change through the concept of "harmony" — the idea that restoring balance between humans and nature is essential to solving global problems. "Finding Harmony: A King's Vision" debuts on Amazon Prime on Feb. 6, with Kate Winslet narrating and featuring experts including Tony Juniper, former head of Friends of the Earth in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Emily Shuckburgh, a University of Cambridge climate scientist.
The U.S. stock market drifted through mixed trading Friday as tariff relief and falling inflation expectations offered brief respite from a volatile week. The S&P 500 edged up less than 0.1%, notching a second straight week with modest losses. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 285 points, or 0.6%. Chip company Intel weighed on the market, tumbling 17% after reporting better fourth-quarter results than expected but issuing a first-quarter forecast that fell short of Wall Street's expectations. Gold, meanwhile, set another record, nearing $5,000 per ounce — a signal of investor nervousness despite the week's market steadying.
Winter storms create different types of precipitation — snow, sleet and freezing rain — depending on the structure of the atmosphere, with the presence or absence of warm air layers between cold zones determining which hazard reaches the ground.
Trump administration envoys held separate negotiations with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday, marking the first known time officials from the Trump administration simultaneously engaged with negotiators from both sides of the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region would be a key focus of the talks. Hours earlier, Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump in Davos, Switzerland, and described the meeting as productive and meaningful.
President Donald Trump dominated geopolitical discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, overshadowing traditional business focus with policy announcements while deepening apparent fractures with Western allies. During his roughly 24-hour visit, Trump reversed his earlier threats of tariffs against European countries, agreed to an Arctic security framework with NATO Chief Mark Rutte, and launched a "Board of Peace" to address the Israel-Hamas conflict. Governor Gavin Newsom of California criticized Trump during the forum, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Chief Mark Rutte praised his efforts to support Ukraine and strengthen Western defense.
Former special counsel Jack Smith testified Thursday that President Donald Trump caused the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election results, according to his five-hour appearance before the House Judiciary Committee. Smith said Trump "sought to prey" on his supporters and "looked for ways to stay in power," culminating in the assault on the Capitol. "Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump is the person who caused Jan. 6, it was foreseeable to him, and that he sought to exploit the violence," Smith testified.
TikTok finalized a deal on January 23 to form a new American entity with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati firm MGX, clearing away the threat of a ban that had loomed for years over the platform used by more than 200 million Americans. The new structure preserves user access while establishing safeguards over data protection, algorithm security, content moderation and software integrity.
TikTok has finalized a deal to keep operating in the United States under new ownership led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and the Emirati investment firm MGX. The arrangement, announced January 23, resolves years of uncertainty about the platform's future following a 2024 law requiring ByteDance, TikTok's China-based parent company, to divest its stake or face a ban. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 that extended TikTok's operating deadline while his administration negotiated the terms.
Meta Platforms announced Friday it is halting teens' access to artificial intelligence characters on Instagram and WhatsApp, according to a blog post from the company. The pause, set to begin in coming weeks, applies to anyone who gave Meta a birthday indicating they are a minor, as well as people the company suspects are teenagers based on its age-prediction technology. The move comes as Meta, along with YouTube and TikTok, prepares to face trial in Los Angeles over allegations that their platforms cause harm to children.
Bottom trawling and scallop dredging — industrial fishing methods that rake the seabed — continue in about 95% of Scotland's coastal waters, including within designated marine protected areas, according to marine conservation groups. The practice persists despite the Scottish government's designation of 37% of the country's waters as marine protected areas, with only a small fraction of those areas having management measures in place to enforce protection.
The U.S. economy expanded at a 4.4% annual pace in the third quarter, the fastest growth rate in two years, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Consumer spending, which accounts for 70% of U.S. GDP, grew 3.5%, with services spending rising 3.6% and goods spending up 3%. The third-quarter growth was faster than the government's initial estimate of 4.3%.
Scientists can use earthquake monitoring networks to track falling space debris more accurately than radar, according to a new study published Thursday. The research by Johns Hopkins University's Benjamin Fernando and colleagues showed that seismic readings from sonic booms generated by a Chinese space module as it reentered Earth's atmosphere in 2024 placed the object's path nearly 20 miles farther south than orbital radar had predicted. The findings offer a faster way to locate debris and assess whether falling objects pose a risk to aircraft in flight.
The Trump administration announced Thursday that the National Institutes of Health will no longer fund research using human fetal tissue derived from abortions. The policy, long sought by anti-abortion groups, expands restrictions the administration imposed during its first term. Under the new rules, all NIH-funded research will be barred from using fetal tissue, though research using cell lines previously created from fetal cells will continue.
The Food and Drug Administration is moving toward approving Philip Morris International's request to market Zyn nicotine pouches as a less-harmful alternative to cigarettes, according to government documents reviewed at a public FDA meeting Thursday. The agency is considering whether to allow health claims about Zyn's reduced risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer and stroke. But a panel of independent experts raised pointed questions about whether the company's research demonstrates that marketing claims would actually persuade smokers to switch, and whether the promotion could inadvertently appeal to teenagers. "There are very few things that are legally available and worse for you than cigarettes," said Lisa Postow, a panel member and scientist at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. "It's a pretty low bar to be safer than cigarettes."
Clothing retailer Under Armour is investigating a data breach that exposed 72 million customer email addresses and personal information, the Baltimore-based company said. The breach, believed to have occurred in late 2025, included customer names, genders, birthdates and ZIP codes, but no passwords or financial information, according to company officials and cybersecurity experts.
Google on Thursday is rolling out a new artificial intelligence feature called "Personal Intelligence" that will let search users tap their Gmail messages and Google Photos libraries to receive personalized recommendations tailored to their habits, interests, and travel history. The tool, available first in the U.S. to Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers as well as users in the company's experimental Labs division, marks Google's latest effort to integrate artificial intelligence across its digital services. The rollout intensifies Google's competition with newer AI-powered answer engines from startups including ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Guinea-Bissau is suspending a Trump administration-backed hepatitis B vaccine study on newborns, pending an ethical review, Health Minister Quinhi Nantot announced Thursday. The decision comes amid concerns that the research was designed to withhold a protective vaccine from some infants, raising fundamental questions about research ethics in developing nations.
Michigan State University announced plans to integrate artificial intelligence instruction across all undergraduate majors, starting with a new foundational course in fall 2026, following recommendations from an advisory panel of 18 Michigan business and civic leaders who said AI proficiency has become a baseline job requirement in every field. The initiative is backed by a $5 million seed gift from an anonymous MSU alumnus.
NASA and families of fallen astronauts gathered at Kennedy Space Center on Thursday to mark the 40th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger disaster. All seven crew members aboard were killed when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff on January 28, 1986.
Scientists studying sonic booms from a 2024 Chinese spacecraft component reentering Earth’s atmosphere say seismic readings from earthquake monitors helped locate the debris path farther south than radar predictions. The findings, reported in Science, could help teams respond more quickly if fragments break up high in the sky or pose risks to aircraft.
Warming in Antarctica is forcing three species of penguins to begin breeding earlier than they did a decade earlier, according to a study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology on Tuesday. Researchers found Antarctic breeding-ground temperatures rose by 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) from 2012 to 2022, and breeding started about two weeks earlier. The shift could create food problems for chicks for two species that already face extinction risk later this century.
Autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body and often have vague early symptoms that can be mistaken for other illnesses, delaying diagnosis, according to an Associated Press explainer published Nov. 6, 2025. The article said the disorders strike the most common form of patients—women—at a higher rate, and it outlined why diagnosis can take years and multiple doctors.
California has reported a significant decline in electronic benefits card theft, with Gov. Gavin Newsom crediting the state's rollout of anti-fraud technology. The announcement comes as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Democratic-led states over benefits fraud.
Handprints on cave walls in a largely unexplored area of Indonesia may be the oldest rock art studied so far, dating back at least 67,800 years, according to a study published Wednesday in *Nature*. The tan-colored prints were made by blowing pigment over hands placed against the stone, with some fingertips deliberately modified to appear more pointed. Indonesian and Australian researchers dated the artwork by analyzing mineral crusts that had accumulated on top of the paintings.
President Trump's Air Force One returned to Joint Base Andrews on Tuesday evening about an hour after departing for Switzerland, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The crew identified a minor electrical issue after takeoff and decided to turn around out of an abundance of caution. Trump subsequently boarded an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 normally used for domestic travel, and continued to Davos for the World Economic Forum shortly after midnight.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams has retired, the space agency announced Tuesday. Her retirement took effect at the end of December, about nine months after she returned to Earth from an unplanned extended stay at the International Space Station. Williams and crewmate Butch Wilmore launched to the station in 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for what was supposed to be a week-long test flight. Problems with the capsule's thrusters and other systems extended their mission to more than nine months. They returned last March aboard a SpaceX spacecraft instead.
Four astronauts returned to Earth this week from the International Space Station after a medical emergency cut short their mission in what NASA described as its first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight. At a press conference Wednesday, the crew declined to identify which team member fell ill or describe the medical issue that prompted the early return. Astronaut Mike Fincke said the crisis unfolded Jan. 7, the day before a planned spacewalk was abruptly canceled. The crew credited an onboard ultrasound machine with playing a vital role in their response to the emergency.
The European Union said it plans to require the phaseout of telecom equipment from “high risk” suppliers in critical infrastructure within three years, part of new cybersecurity proposals. The European Commission’s draft rules cover networks including high-speed telecom services and are widely viewed as targeting Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE.
Google says it will roll out a new option, “Personal Intelligence,” for users who turn on AI Mode in Search, starting Thursday. The tool is designed to tailor answers by connecting information from Google apps, including Gmail and Google Photos. The feature begins in the U.S. for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers and for some users in Google’s experimental Labs program.
Guinea-Bissau is suspending a hepatitis B vaccine study involving newborns while it awaits an ethics review, Health Minister Quinhi Nantot said Thursday. The study, a randomized controlled trial, is designed to compare vaccinating some infants at birth with withholding vaccination from others as researchers track outcomes. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said the agency supports the ethical review, while U.S. health officials said the study remains set to proceed.
Streaks of shimmering green and red bands lit up Alaska skies on Tuesday as the aurora reached wide areas overnight and early Tuesday morning, including Anchorage. The vivid displays followed a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said.
Michigan State University is planning to integrate artificial intelligence into every major area of study, starting with a foundational course this fall, as business leaders press for a more digital-ready workforce. The effort comes through MSU’s Green and White Council and follows a broader push at U.S. colleges to expand AI education, including at least one university making it a graduation requirement.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2026) — The four astronauts who were evacuated last week from the International Space Station said a portable ultrasound machine was critical during a medical crisis onboard. During their first public appearance since returning to Earth, they declined to say which crew member needed medical attention or why.
Parts of the United States could see the northern lights Monday night after a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The forecast came amid intense geomagnetic and solar radiation storms, the center’s service coordinator said.
Indonesian and Australian researchers studying tan handprints in a largely unexplored part of Sulawesi have reported what they say may be the oldest cave art on record. The prints were dated to at least 67,800 years ago, based on mineral crusts that formed over the artwork.
Rwanda will test artificial intelligence-powered technology in more than 50 health clinics as part of a new initiative led by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and OpenAI, the Associated Press reported. The program is intended to support 1,000 clinics across Africa and is backed by joint funding of $50 million over two years. Rwanda’s health ministry official said the technology is meant to strengthen clinical judgment while improving efficiency in a system with a major shortage of health workers.
Peru's interim President José Jerí appeared before a congressional oversight committee Wednesday to address unregistered meetings with two Chinese business owners — encounters that have triggered a criminal investigation and calls for his removal. The scandal marks the latest instability in a country that has seen seven presidents since 2016 and faces a general election in April amid widespread public outcry over violent crime.
Three Antarctic penguin species are breeding about two weeks earlier than they did a decade ago, driven by rapid warming in one of the world's fastest-heating regions, researchers reported this week. For two of the species — the chinstrap and Adelie penguins — the timing shift threatens their survival as rising temperatures disrupt the food supply their chicks depend on.
Early morning commuters, dog walkers and joggers in Anchorage, Alaska looked up Tuesday to find streaks of green and red light shimmering across the sky as an intense geomagnetic storm produced one of the season's most vivid aurora displays. The light show stretched far beyond Alaska, reaching San Francisco, Chicago, Canada and countries across Europe, the Associated Press reported.
The New York Stock Exchange is working on a digital platform intended to let investors trade digital tokens around the clock, according to its owner Intercontinental Exchange. Intercontinental Exchange said the platform would be separate from the NYSE, which trades only on weekdays, and would aim for instant settlement of transactions.
A Tennessee man pleaded guilty Friday to repeatedly hacking the U.S. Supreme Court’s filing system, according to court records. Nicholas Moore, 24, of Springfield, Tennessee, admitted he accessed the system more than two dozen times using stolen credentials in 2023.
The International Monetary Fund raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.3% on Monday, matching last year's pace and exceeding its October projection of 3.1%, as a surge of artificial intelligence investment in North America and Asia helped the world economy absorb US-led trade disruptions. The fund said the upgrade reflected an unexpectedly sturdy global expansion that has so far outrun the drag from protectionist trade policies.
Californians starting Aug. 1 can use a new state privacy tool, called the Delete Request and Opt-out Platform (DROP), to ask data brokers to delete their personal information. The California privacy watchdog says the system will let residents request removal of data held by more than 500 registered brokers.
Public health officials can sometimes detect measles infections through wastewater testing days to months before individual cases are confirmed by doctors, according to two studies published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings highlight how wastewater surveillance can act as an early-warning tool for measles outbreaks in Colorado and Oregon, even as the national program faces a potential funding cut.
The International Monetary Fund expects global economic growth of 3.3% this year, saying the world economy is showing resilience despite U.S.-led trade disruptions. The IMF said in an update to its World Economic Outlook that the pace is unchanged from 2025.
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, llegó a Davos, Suiza, para participar en el Foro Económico Mundial, que comienza esta semana con el lema “mejorar el estado del mundo” y el tema “Un espíritu de diálogo”. El encuentro de cuatro días congrega a líderes empresariales, de defensa y gubernamentales mientras el foro se desarrolla en un contexto de inquietud por la desigualdad económica y la erosión de la confianza.
An ailing astronaut returned to Earth with three others on Thursday, ending their International Space Station mission more than a month early in NASA’s first medical evacuation, the agency and SpaceX said. The SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Pacific near San Diego less than 11 hours after the astronauts left the space station, and the crew’s first stop was a hospital for an overnight stay.
About 10,000 elephant seals are returning to California's Año Nuevo State Park this winter for their annual pupping season, when massive bull seals battle for beach territory and mothers nurse newborn 75-pound pups on the sand dunes, drawing wildlife watchers eager for a glimpse of the largest seals on the planet. The spectacle runs from mid-December through March at the park roughly 90 minutes south of San Francisco, according to park docent Laura Stern.
Fannie Mae aired a one-minute advertisement Sunday featuring an AI-generated voice of President Donald Trump, created with his administration's permission, as the White House escalates its push on housing affordability. A disclaimer in the video identifies the narration as AI-produced. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Elephant seals have returned to California’s Año Nuevo State Park for the winter breeding season, when visitors can watch bull seals battle and mothers nurse pups. The park’s docent-led guided walks run during the pupping season from mid-December through March.
Hackers disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions early Monday, airing footage supporting exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi and urging security forces not to “point your weapons at the people.” The Associated Press reported the disruption followed nationwide protests that Iran’s authorities have met with a crackdown that activists said has killed at least 4,029 people.
Iranians are crossing into Turkey’s eastern Van province in short trips to get around largely blocked internet service in Iran, Associated Press reported. The communications blackout began Jan. 8 amid mass protests and a violent government crackdown that started Dec. 28, according to the report.
El nuevo cohete lunar de la NASA se trasladó el sábado a la plataforma de lanzamiento en el Centro Espacial Kennedy, en Florida, en preparación para el primer vuelo de astronautas hacia la Luna en más de medio siglo. El despegue podría ocurrir tan pronto como febrero, según los planes de la agencia, tras una prueba de abastecimiento de combustible en la plataforma a principios de febrero.
Sharks’ teeth may become structurally weaker as oceans absorb more carbon dioxide, according to a German study published in Frontiers in Marine Science. Researchers exposed blacktip reef shark teeth to water conditions reflecting today’s ocean acidity and projected acidity for the year 2300, finding more cracking and corrosion in the more acidic water.
OpenAI said it will soon begin showing advertisements to ChatGPT users who do not pay for a premium version. The company said Friday it has not yet rolled out the ads, but will start testing them in the coming weeks.
Scientists have uncovered mummified remains of cheetahs from caves in northern Saudi Arabia, with ages ranging from about 130 years to more than 1,800 years. Researchers excavated seven cheetah mummies and the bones of 54 other cheetahs near the city of Arar, according to a study published Thursday in *Communications Earth & Environment*.
Shoppers this holiday season are being warned about online ads that present fake “family-run” businesses and crafted backstories, including sweater retailers that appear to be legitimate but are not. The Associated Press reported that two such sites used similar photos and product images and that their domains were registered in China shortly before the holiday shopping rush. Experts said scammers increasingly use AI-generated imagery and “advertorial” style pages to make ads look authentic.
President Donald Trump’s voice appears in a new Fannie Mae ad that uses an artificial-intelligence–cloned narration, the Associated Press reported on Jan. 18. The video includes a disclaimer about the AI-generated voice and says the narration uses Trump’s permission, according to the report.
Corporate executives and government leaders will gather in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum’s four-day annual meeting beginning Tuesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump set to attend as major questions hang over the event’s dialogue and business-forward agenda. The forum’s program will tackle issues including inequality, AI’s impact on jobs and what organizers call a more competitive, contested global landscape.
NASA moved its new Space Launch System rocket to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday as it prepares for astronauts’ first lunar fly-around in more than half a century. The agency said the trip could launch as early as February, but it plans to run a fueling test on the pad in early February before confirming a date.
LAS VEGAS — Health technology showcased at the annual CES trade show promised consumers new ways to track and interpret personal health, from smart scales to hormone and perimenopause monitors. But experts questioned the accuracy of some AI-driven products and warned that data privacy safeguards may not cover consumer devices as federal oversight shifts. During CES, the Food and Drug Administration also announced plans to relax regulations for certain so-called “low-risk” general wellness products.
NASA's Space Launch System rocket rolled out to its launch pad at Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, completing a 4-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation for the first crewed lunar flight in more than half a century. A launch could come as early as February, pending a fueling test NASA must complete before announcing an official date. Thousands of space center workers and their families gathered before dawn to watch the rollout, joined by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and all four mission astronauts.
A sermon illustration played an AI-generated audio clip that sounded like Charlie Kirk, prompting applause at multiple churches, the Associated Press reported. Religion News Service, which wrote the story and partnered with AP, said churches played the cloned-voice clip after pastors told congregations it was artificial intelligence. The episode reflects how AI-generated images and audio about Kirk’s death spread quickly online and were later reused in religious settings, AP said.
A mother of Elon Musk’s child, Ashley St. Clair, sued xAI in New York, saying the Grok chatbot on Musk’s social media platform X enabled users to generate sexual deepfake images that caused her humiliation and emotional distress. In the lawsuit filed Thursday, St. Clair alleged the images included a photo of her fully dressed at age 14 altered to show her in a bikini, and other images showing her in sexualized positions and wearing a bikini with swastikas. xAI’s lawyers later moved the case to federal court in Manhattan and also filed a separate lawsuit in Texas.
Orcas put on a show with breaches and tail slapping off Seattle on Friday, drawing dozens of people to the shore in West Seattle. Whale watchers identified the pod as Bigg’s killer whales, a group that hunts sea mammals in the Salish Sea.
Tesla has been granted a five-week extension to respond to a U.S. investigation into whether its “full self-driving” feature violates traffic laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a letter to Tesla that the company now has until Feb. 23 to provide information, after an original deadline of Jan. 19, 2025.
President Donald Trump said Friday he is ready to restart U.S. mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve their long-running dispute over Nile River water sharing, posting a letter on his social media site addressed to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok will be blocked from editing photos to portray real people in revealing clothing in places where it is illegal, X said late Wednesday. The change followed global backlash after users generated sexualized images of women and children using the chatbot’s “spicy mode.”
Canada agreed this week to cut its tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in exchange for concessions on Canadian farm products, a deal that industry analysts said could accelerate Chinese automakers' expansion into North American markets and sharpen competitive pressure on American car companies.
A Tennessee man pleaded guilty Friday to hacking the U.S. Supreme Court's electronic filing system on 25 separate days in 2023, using stolen credentials to access and publicize personal records belonging to another user. Nicholas Moore, 24, of Springfield, Tennessee, admitted in federal court that he also breached computer systems at AmeriCorps and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
A review of 43 studies published Friday in *The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health* found that taking acetaminophen — sold in the United States as Tylenol — during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities, adding to a body of research that contradicts claims promoted by the Trump administration. President Trump last year told pregnant women "Don't take Tylenol," citing what the administration characterized as evidence linking the painkiller to autism.
Washington state legislators are weighing a bill to restrict public access to data from license-plate reader cameras amid privacy and public-records concerns. The proposal comes as cities including Redmond have shut down their systems after a November court ruling said most images captured in Washington are public records. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said the cameras help investigations, while warning the technology could be misused if details are easily obtainable.
The Associated Press reported that the FDA’s “National Priority Voucher” program to speed drug reviews is drawing legal questions and alarm among some agency staffers, who say decisions are being moved away from career scientists and toward political leadership. The report said senior FDA officials raised concerns about who can legally sign off on expedited approvals, and that the program is tied to White House drug-pricing efforts.
U.S. adults are using artificial intelligence most often to search for information, according to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Tuesday. The survey found 60% of Americans overall say they use AI for finding information at least some of the time, including 74% of those under 30.
The Trump administration and a bipartisan group of governors on Friday pressed PJM Interconnection, the operator of the nation’s largest electric grid, to take urgent steps to increase power supply and slow electricity price increases tied to data centers and artificial intelligence. The White House and governors proposed holding a power auction that would let tech companies bid on 15-year contracts for new generation, arguing that data-center operators should bear the cost of meeting their own demand.
Michigan hunters will be able to validate kills using the Hunt Fish mobile app starting March 1, after the state's Natural Resources Commission approved optional electronic kill tags on Wednesday. The change applies to deer, bobcat, bear, fisher, marten and otter. Hunters who choose the digital tags will no longer need to display paper kill tags on certain animals.
OpenAI said Friday it will begin testing advertisements on the free version of ChatGPT within weeks, as the San Francisco-based company seeks new revenue to cover more than $1 trillion in financial obligations for computer chips and data centers powering its artificial intelligence services. The company said ads have not yet appeared on the chatbot but testing would begin in the coming weeks.
Federal auto safety regulators have granted Tesla a five-week extension to respond to a government investigation into its Full Self-Driving software, which has been linked to dozens of reported incidents involving vehicles running red lights, traveling the wrong way on roads and colliding with other vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set a new response deadline of Feb. 23, extending the original Jan. 19 date, according to the agency.
German scientists who exposed blacktip reef shark teeth to increasingly acidic water found the teeth developed cracks, holes, root corrosion and structural degradation — raising the possibility that ocean acidification driven by fossil fuel emissions could weaken sharks' grip on their position at the top of the marine food chain. The researchers collected more than 600 discarded teeth from aquarium-held sharks and tested them against both today's ocean acidity and the acidity projected for 2300. Their findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
Ashley St. Clair, a 27-year-old writer and the mother of one of Elon Musk's children, sued xAI in New York State Supreme Court on Thursday, alleging that Musk's artificial intelligence company allowed its Grok chatbot to generate sexually exploitative deepfake images of her without her consent. St. Clair, who describes herself as a political strategist and has more than 1 million followers on X, said in court documents that the images included a photograph of her taken at age 14 that was altered to show her in a bikini, adult images depicting her in sexualized positions, and an image showing her in a bikini bearing swastikas. St. Clair is Jewish.
The North American International Auto Show in Detroit opened this year with EV-focused tracks that have since been widened to hybrids and gas-powered vehicles, signaling a retreat from all-electric emphasis in the U.S. market. Organizers and executives said the change reflects what they see as shifting industry priorities and “consumer choice.”
Elon Musk’s Grok has faced a series of controversies involving political echoing, deepfake sexual images and antisemitic content, and governments are now stepping up scrutiny. The Associated Press reported that, over the past year and into early 2026, xAI tied some incidents to product changes and said it has adjusted how Grok handles images. The latest reports say more governments have condemned the platform and opened investigations.
A new review of studies published in The Lancet suggests taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy is not linked to autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities. The findings add to a growing body of research that contradicts claims promoted by President Donald Trump.
The U.K. is moving to criminalize the creation or request of non-consensual AI-generated sexual images, with new provisions set to begin Feb. 6, officials said Thursday. The steps follow global backlash over images generated with Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot that critics said sexualized children or “undressed” people without consent.
Wall Street steadied on Thursday as chip stocks linked to the artificial-intelligence boom rebounded and oil prices eased sharply. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and ended a two-day losing streak, while the Dow gained 292 points and the Nasdaq added 0.2%.
Wikipedia marked its 25th anniversary by unveiling new business deals with artificial intelligence companies, including Amazon, Meta, Perplexity, Microsoft and Mistral AI. The Wikimedia Foundation said the agreements let companies access Wikipedia content “at a volume and speed designed specifically for their needs.”
Two studies published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that wastewater surveillance detected measles outbreaks weeks to months before clinical diagnoses in Colorado and Oregon, adding to evidence that sewer testing is a powerful early-warning tool for public health officials — findings that arrive as a Trump administration budget proposal would cut the national program's funding by roughly 80 percent.
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI said it has implemented geoblocking to prevent its Grok chatbot from editing photographs to portray real people in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where such manipulation is illegal — a step announced after a global wave of government actions against nonconsensual sexualized imagery the tool had been used to produce. The announcement, posted Wednesday on X, followed California's disclosure that it was investigating the proliferation of nonconsensual sexually explicit material generated with Grok, which state officials said was being used to harass women and girls.
SpaceX has made its Starlink satellite internet service free in Iran, helping demonstrators share information beyond the country’s internet shutdown, activists told The Associated Press. The reported move comes after Iran shut down telecommunications and internet access nationwide on Jan. 8 as protests expanded amid economic turmoil and currency collapse.
An ailing astronaut returned to Earth with three other crew members Thursday, ending their space station mission more than a month early in NASA's first medical evacuation. SpaceX guided the capsule to a splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego less than 11 hours after the astronauts exited the International Space Station. The crew was taken to a hospital for medical checks and standard recovery procedures.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds that most U.S. adults use artificial intelligence at least some of the time to search for information, while fewer say they rely on it for work tasks. The survey also finds a sharp age divide, with adults under 30 far more likely than those 60 and older to use AI for brainstorming. The poll results were based on interviews with 1,437 adults conducted July 10-14.
Scientists have excavated the mummified remains of seven cheetahs — along with bones from 54 others — from caves in northern Saudi Arabia, in a find a study author described as "entirely without precedent" for the species. The remains, uncovered near the city of Arar, range in age from approximately 130 years to more than 1,800 years old.
Governments around the world have opened investigations into Grok, the AI chatbot operated by Elon Musk's company xAI, after the platform generated sexualized deepfake images — including depictions involving children — through its AI image-generation tool, the Associated Press reported. xAI said it is restricting non-paying users from generating or editing images in response to the global backlash. The deepfake controversy is the latest in a series of documented incidents in which Grok has spread antisemitic content, echoed Musk's political views and inserted commentary on South African racial politics into unrelated conversations, the AP reported.
Wall Street snapped a two-day losing streak Thursday as a stronger-than-expected earnings report from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. lifted chip and artificial-intelligence stocks, while oil prices fell sharply after President Donald Trump said executions in Iran appeared to have stopped amid widespread protests. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% to close at 6,944.47, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 292.81 points, or 0.6%, to 49,442.44, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.2% to 23,530.02, according to the Associated Press.
A Southern California startup is developing technology it says would use the natural pressure of the deep ocean to power seawater desalination, cutting energy consumption by about 40% compared to conventional land-based plants. OceanWell plans to anchor reverse osmosis pods 1,300 feet below the surface of Santa Monica Bay, roughly four miles off the coast, using the ocean's own weight to force seawater through membranes that strip out salt and impurities. The company says its planned Water Farm 1 would produce up to 60 million gallons of drinking water daily while also reducing two environmental harms that have made conventional desalination the subject of years of legal challenges: concentrated brine discharged back into the sea and intake systems that draw in and kill marine life.
Fake online storefronts are using AI-generated images and fabricated family histories to impersonate small businesses on social media and the web, deceiving shoppers into purchasing goods that consumer reviewers say arrive shoddy or not at all, an Associated Press investigation found. Two sweater retail sites — Melia & Co and Olivia Westwood Boutique — display many of the same Icelandic, Nordic and festive sweaters using identical stock images while presenting themselves as distinct family-run operations, operating under domains registered in China in November, ahead of the holiday shopping season.
The S&P 500 fell for the second consecutive session Wednesday, dropping 0.5% as earnings reports from major banks disappointed investors and technology stocks retreated from recent highs tied to the artificial-intelligence frenzy. All told, the S&P 500 lost 37.14 points to close at 6,926.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 42.36 points, or 0.1%, to 49,149.63. The Nasdaq composite fell 238.12 points, or about 1%, to 23,471.75.
Four astronauts departed the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX capsule on Wednesday in NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight, after an unidentified crew member developed a health problem requiring ground-based diagnosis. The returning crew — American astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui, and Russia's Oleg Platonov — aimed for a Thursday morning splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. NASA officials declined to identify the affected astronaut or disclose the nature of the health concern, citing medical privacy.
The Gates Foundation approved a record $9 billion budget for 2026 and a plan to reduce its workforce by up to 500 positions by 2030, foundation CEO Mark Suzman said Wednesday. The board simultaneously capped annual operating costs at $1.25 billion — approximately 14 percent of total spending — to ensure more dollars reach grantees as the organization accelerates toward its planned 2045 closure. The foundation currently employs 2,375 people.
Verizon resolved a nationwide outage Wednesday that knocked out cellular voice and data services for millions of U.S. customers for more than 10 hours, the company confirmed. Disruption reports began appearing around noon ET, and Downdetector, which tracks outage complaints, logged more than 1.5 million before 5 p.m. The New York-based carrier said service was fully restored by 10:20 p.m. ET but did not disclose what caused the failure.
Michigan has banned more than 30,000 personalized license plates, according to a new version of the state’s rejection list obtained through a public records request and reported by Bridge Michigan. The list topped 30,000 plates words for the first time last year, and the state banned about 2,000 additional plates in 2025, Bridge reported. Plate denials are typically tied to profanity, references to bodily functions, drugs and alcohol, graphic or sexual content, offensive slurs, or phrases that could interfere with law enforcement identification.
U.S. regulators have cleared Nvidia to export its H200 artificial intelligence chips to Chinese buyers, according to new rules from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. The approvals come with conditions, including limits on military use of the chips and restrictions tied to how much of Nvidia’s supply can go to China.
Global climate monitoring teams reported that Earth’s average temperature in 2025 hovered among the three hottest on record, with recent years suggesting warming may be accelerating. The groups said 2025 was very close to 2023, and that the past three years are approaching the 1.5 C limit set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Fintech company Bilt announced Wednesday that its new credit cards will offer an introductory interest rate of 10% for one year. The move comes as President Donald Trump has also called for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and vice chair, met Tuesday with federal lawmakers to press for an industry-funded model for AI data center expansion, calling on technology companies to bear the full costs of the computing infrastructure powering AI services rather than shifting expenses to taxpayers or utility ratepayers. "Local communities naturally want to see new jobs but not at the expense of higher electricity prices or the diversion of their water," Smith said in an interview with The Associated Press. President Donald Trump aligned with the position Monday evening in a Truth Social post, stating he does not want Americans to "pick up the tab" for data centers or pay higher utility costs.
The United States accused Russia on Monday of a "dangerous and inexplicable escalation" of its nearly four-year war in Ukraine, making the charge at an emergency United Nations Security Council session called by Kyiv after a large-scale Russian bombardment that included the second use of Moscow's nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic missile. U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce singled out Russia's launch of the Oreshnik ballistic missile near Ukraine's border with Poland, a NATO ally. The session convened as the Trump administration was actively working to advance peace negotiations between the two countries.
An astronaut left the International Space Station for medical care on Wednesday, with three crewmates returning to Earth in what NASA said is its first medical evacuation. The four astronauts—part of a mission cut short over a medical issue—are aiming for an early Thursday splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego with SpaceX.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that Elon Musk's Grok artificial intelligence chatbot will operate inside Pentagon networks alongside Google's generative AI engine, as part of a broad effort to feed military and intelligence data into AI systems. Hegseth made the announcement during a speech at Musk's SpaceX facility in South Texas, saying Grok would go live inside Defense Department systems later this month. The announcement came days after Grok drew international condemnation for generating sexualized deepfake images of people without their consent.
Pentagon’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok will be added to the Pentagon’s Google generative-AI engine and run inside Department of Defense networks. Hegseth said Grok is expected to go live later this month. The announcement follows days of global criticism of Grok after it generated sexualized deepfake images without consent, and after regulators and other governments moved to restrict its use.
Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Grok, the AI chatbot from Elon Musk’s xAI, becoming the first countries to do so over concerns that it is being used to generate sexually explicit and nonconsensual images. The governments cited worries about fake pornographic content, including images involving minors, and said controls have not been sufficient.
The Trump administration has cleared Nvidia to sell its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, but only with new export conditions, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said. The rules require a third-party review before exports and limit how much China can import relative to what the company sells to U.S. customers. The decision follows Trump’s earlier signal that licenses would go to “approved customers.”
Meta on Monday named Dina Powell McCormick, a former national security adviser in the Trump administration and veteran Goldman Sachs executive, as the Facebook owner's president and vice chairman, the company announced.
Video of the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on Jan. 7 has proven inconclusive on whether Good's vehicle struck Ross before he opened fire, according to independent analyses by the Associated Press, The Washington Post, and The New York Times — and media ethics scholars say that ambiguity, combined with the spread of AI-generated fake images and a more fragmented public, has allowed sharply divergent narratives to take hold where the 2020 footage of George Floyd's death left little room for dispute. The Trump administration moved quickly after the shooting to frame it in terms favorable to the officer, while Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's characterization of Good as a domestic terrorist and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accused the administration of lying.
About 15,000 nurses walked off the job Monday at three major New York City hospital systems — NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, and Montefiore — after weekend negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough on disputes over staffing levels, benefits, and limits on the use of artificial intelligence, according to their union, the New York State Nurses Association. The hospitals remained open, hiring temporary nurses to fill the gap, amid a severe flu season.
Five Hawaiian crows reintroduced to the forests of East Maui in November 2024 have all survived their first year in the wild, researchers with the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project said. The birds, known in Hawaiian as ʻalalā, are among roughly 110 of their kind remaining worldwide; the species was declared extinct in the wild in 2002.
The Food and Drug Administration last year cleared the first at-home test capable of detecting three sexually transmitted infections in women — gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis — and approved two new drugs for gonorrhea, the first additions to that disease's treatment options in decades. The agency also approved a home-based screening kit for HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer. The advances arrive as CDC provisional data show 2024 marked a third consecutive year of declining gonorrhea cases in the United States.
Apple and Google disclosed a partnership Monday that will bring Google's Gemini artificial intelligence technology to the iPhone, allowing Apple to draw on its rival's AI systems to overhaul Siri and deliver a suite of features the Cupertino, California, company has fallen behind in delivering. The deal was announced in a joint statement from the two Silicon Valley companies.
Google's corporate parent Alphabet Inc. became the fourth major technology company to reach a $4 trillion market valuation on Monday, joining a club that had previously admitted only computer chipmaker Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft as investors continued to wager heavily on artificial intelligence. The milestone arrived roughly four months after a federal judge found Google's search engine to be an illegal monopoly but declined to impose the breakup remedies federal prosecutors had sought.
Malaysian authorities said they will take legal action against Elon Musk’s social media platform X and its artificial intelligence unit xAI, accusing them of failing to ensure the safety of users of the Grok chatbot. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said it has identified misuse of Grok to generate and distribute harmful content, including sexually explicit and non-consensual manipulated images. The announcement came days after Malaysia and Indonesia blocked access to Grok over concerns that it was being misused to create sexual deepfakes.
Microsoft President Brad Smith met with federal lawmakers Tuesday to push for Big Tech to pay the full costs of AI data centers instead of taxpayers, as local opposition grows over electricity prices and water use. In an interview edited for clarity and length with The Associated Press, Smith said his approach involves partnering with utilities and “paying our own way,” adding that electricity is a larger driver of local costs than water.
Google said Sunday that it is teaming up with Walmart, Shopify, Wayfair and other major retailers to enable shopping and instant checkout directly within its Gemini AI chatbot, allowing customers to find and buy products through a conversational interface without navigating to a retailer's website. The announcement came on the opening day of the National Retail Federation's annual convention in New York, where the role of artificial intelligence in e-commerce was expected to dominate the three-day gathering of roughly 40,000 retail and technology industry attendees.
Nearly 15,000 nurses at three of New York City's largest hospitals could walk off the job early Monday in what union officials said would be the largest nurses strike in city history, if no contract agreement is reached before the weekend deadline. The New York State Nurses Association said talks had produced little progress as of Sunday morning, with staffing levels, guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence, and workplace security among unresolved disputes at Mount Sinai, Montefiore Medical Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Alphabet Inc., Google’s corporate parent, reached a $4 trillion market value on Monday, joining other Big Tech giants whose valuations have been propelled by investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence. The milestone comes about four months after a federal judge’s remedy in the U.S. government’s antitrust case against Google followed a ruling that branded its search business an illegal monopoly.
Apple said it will rely on Google to help “smarken up” Siri and bring additional artificial intelligence features to iPhones and other products, disclosed in a joint statement by the companies on Monday, Jan. 12. The companies said the partnership will use Google’s Gemini technology to customize a suite of AI features dubbed “Apple Intelligence” for Apple devices.
Meta named Dina Powell McCormick, a former Trump administration adviser and longtime finance executive, as president and vice chairman, the company said on Monday. Meta said she previously served on Meta’s board and would help guide the company’s strategy, including execution of multi-billion-dollar investments. U.S. President Donald Trump praised the appointment in a post on Truth Social.
CHOWCHILLA, Calif. — Jacob Smith has spent two decades in prison, but a new program is giving him chances to “go” to places like Thailand and practice job interviews through virtual reality. The Los Angeles nonprofit Creative Acts is running the VR experience at Valley State Prison near Fresno and other California facilities using donated headsets.
A Los Angeles-based nonprofit is using virtual reality headsets to give California prison inmates brief escapes to far-flung destinations and practice for real-world challenges — from Bangkok street markets to simulated job interviews — in a program its founder calls a "hope machine." Creative Acts founder Sabra Williams said the program grew from earlier prison arts work that incorporated theater, music, poetry, dance and painting, and is designed to both broaden inmates' sense of the outside world and equip them with tools to reenter a society that has changed around them.
Google said it is expanding shopping features in its Gemini AI chatbot by teaming with Walmart, Shopify, Wayfair and other retailers. The update, announced Sunday at the National Retail Federation’s annual convention in New York, is designed to let users buy items within the Gemini chat through an instant checkout function.
Students are turning to ChatGPT and other generative AI tools for schoolwork, prompting universities to spell out where the technology fits and where it does not. Guidance from the University of Chicago and Yale emphasizes that AI should not replace students’ own thinking and writing.
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal from Cisco Systems seeking to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the company's technology helped Chinese authorities identify, track, detain, and torture members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement. The justices will hear arguments in the spring and are expected to issue a ruling by early summer. The Trump administration had urged the court to accept the case on Cisco's behalf.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced Friday it had signed nuclear power agreements with TerraPower, Oklo, and Vistra Corp. to supply electricity for Prometheus, a 1-gigawatt artificial intelligence data center cluster under construction in New Albany, Ohio. The three deals will support up to 6.6 gigawatts of new and existing clean energy capacity by 2035, Meta said. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Federal officials have approved Nevada's plan to spend approximately $170 million of its nearly $500 million federal broadband award to extend high-speed internet to about 28,000 homes, businesses, and community organizations statewide, Gov. Joe Lombardo announced Thursday. The approval came after the Trump administration rescinded Nevada's original broadband plan in June — weeks before construction was set to begin — under revised federal guidelines that favored satellite internet over fiber-optic technology.
Hackers broke into University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center servers in August and exposed Social Security numbers and other personal information belonging to participants in a cancer research study, according to a report the university submitted to the Hawaii Legislature in December. Four months after discovering the breach, the university had not yet notified the individuals whose data was stolen.
LAS VEGAS — Robots roamed the show floor, paper-thin screens lined exhibition halls and self-driving vehicles awaited passengers as CES 2026, the annual technology trade show, closed out its run in Las Vegas this week. Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang declared that "the ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here," as exhibitors showed products ranging from a stair-climbing vacuum and AI-powered headphones to a virtual-reality grief therapy platform and a rolling furry cyber pet.
General Motors will record approximately $6 billion in charges in the fourth quarter after the U.S. government ended tax incentives for electric vehicle purchases and relaxed auto emissions standards, the Detroit automaker disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Thursday. The charges sent GM shares down almost 3% Friday and mark the second consecutive quarter the company has booked significant EV-related write-downs.
Venezuela released a number of imprisoned opposition leaders, activists, and foreign nationals Thursday in what the government described as a gesture to "seek peace," less than a week after former President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces to face federal drug-trafficking charges. U.S. President Donald Trump said the releases came at his administration's request, telling Fox News that the government of acting President Delcy Rodríguez had been "great" and given the United States "everything we've wanted."
Meta says it signed deals with TerraPower, Oklo and Vistra to supply nuclear power for its Prometheus artificial intelligence data center project in New Albany, Ohio. The company said Friday the agreements will support up to 6.6 gigawatts of new and existing clean energy by 2035, and it expects Prometheus to come online this year.
NASA announced Thursday it is cutting a mission aboard the International Space Station short after one of its four crew members experienced a medical issue, the agency said — marking what officials described as the first medical evacuation in the space station's history. The affected astronaut is stable, and the agency's top medical officer said the situation does not constitute an onboard emergency. The four-person crew will return to Earth in the coming days, ahead of their originally planned schedule. NASA also canceled the year's first planned spacewalk as a result of the medical issue.
Gov. Joe Lombardo said Thursday that the Trump administration has approved Nevada’s plan to use about $170 million from a federal award to expand high-speed internet to about 28,000 locations. The state’s earlier proposal—approved for about 50,000 locations—was rescinded after new federal broadband rules were issued last year.
Seven of 10 specially gifted dogs correctly identified new toys after eavesdropping on their owners' conversations with a third person — without any direct instruction — according to a study published Thursday in the journal *Science*. The animals, including a Border collie named Basket and a Labrador named Augie, listened as their owners held and discussed a new toy, then retrieved it from a pile of others in a separate room.
Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI will spend $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday, calling it the largest private investment in the state's history. The facility, named MACROHARDRR, is being built in DeSoto County near Memphis, Tennessee, and is expected to begin operations next month.
Google announced Thursday new artificial intelligence features for Gmail designed to personalize users' writing, answer questions drawn from inbox content, and generate daily to-do lists — an expansion the company said is aimed at turning the world's most popular email service, which counts more than 3 billion users, into a proactive personal assistant.
Fabricated and misrepresented images spread widely on social media in the hours after Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis mother of three, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Wednesday, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The wave of false content included AI-generated images purporting to show the masked officer's face, photographs of unrelated women falsely identified as Good, a tattoo image from a video posted two days before the shooting, and a misrepresented clip of Florida's governor.
Consumer and privacy advocates announced the annual "Worst in Show" anti-awards at the CES gadget expo in Las Vegas on Thursday, naming Samsung's voice-activated AI refrigerator the overall worst product of the show and citing Amazon's Ring doorbell camera system for what judges called a significant expansion of home surveillance. The independent contest — whose judges have no affiliation with CES or the Consumer Technology Association that organizes the show — singles out products considered invasive, wasteful or unnecessarily fragile.
Southern Arizona’s efforts to bring large-scale data centers to the region advanced this week after Marana approved rezoning for a project known as Beale Infrastructure’s plan, and Pima County completed a land sale tied to Project Blue. Both moves have also prompted renewed fights over power and water, as well as energy-rate terms and local environmental concerns.
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is limiting image generation and editing to paying subscribers on X after a backlash over sexualized deepfakes, the Associated Press reported. The change comes as European officials and British authorities said Grok’s steps have not resolved their concerns. European regulators have ordered X to retain internal data on Grok through the end of 2026.
CES 2026 in Las Vegas showcased a range of AI-enabled consumer and industrial technologies, from wearables and service robots to new approaches to grief therapy and self-driving mobility. The trade show also featured new consumer products, including a magnetic QWERTY keyboard and an OLED TV positioned as just 9 millimeters thick.
Google and Character Technologies, the company behind Character.AI, have agreed to settle a Florida lawsuit in which a mother alleged a chatbot pushed her teenage son to kill himself. Attorneys for the companies also agreed to settle several other lawsuits filed in Colorado, New York and Texas that accused Character.AI chatbots of harming children. The companies did not disclose settlement terms, which still require approval by judges.
Hackers accessed computer systems holding patient data for a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center study in August, but the university had not immediately notified participants, according to a report to the state Legislature. The university outlined the ransomware attack in a December legislative report that, the report says, did not fully meet requirements under state law.
Michigan faces a “critical time” in its $348 billion auto industry and needs to move decisively to keep jobs and production in the state, a Michigan industry group said. Glenn Stevens, executive director of MichAuto, described the moment as an “inflection point” and said the state must strengthen innovation and workforce development. The warnings come as Michigan prepares for the annual Detroit Auto Show in January.
Nebraska lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session Wednesday with a motion to expel Sen. Dan McKeon, a Republican, over allegations that he made a sexually charged remark to a legislative staffer and touched her inappropriately at a session-end party last May. If the full Legislature votes to remove him next week, it will be the first expulsion in the body's history. McKeon, 59, said he has no plans to resign.
Ultraprocessed foods account for about 60% of the U.S. diet and an even larger share of what kids and teens eat, according to researchers and nutrition experts. As more studies link higher consumption of these foods with health problems, experts say the evidence so far often shows connections rather than proof that the processing itself causes harm.
A federal judge indicated that a jury will be allowed to decide whether OpenAI hoodwinked Elon Musk as the company evolved from a nonprofit research lab into a for-profit business. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers told lawyers in a hearing in Oakland, California, that she intended to reject OpenAI’s motion to dismiss Musk’s fraud claims.
Abbie, a 9-year-old golden retriever mix being transported from a South Carolina shelter to a planned new home in Maine, escaped from a New Jersey Turnpike service area early Saturday and wandered roughly 25 miles before a volunteer drone team using thermal imaging located her in a wooded area the following day, according to Final Victory Animal Rescue and Woodbridge Township police. Officers rescued the dog around 2 a.m. Sunday, about 15 miles from where she had bolted during a bathroom break.
LAS VEGAS — Siemens and Nvidia announced an expanded partnership Tuesday to deploy artificial intelligence across manufacturing, production, and supply chain management, as Day 2 of the Consumer Electronics Show drew crowds to autonomous robots, AI companions, and health technology demonstrations on the Las Vegas showroom floor. Commonwealth Fusion Systems joined the two companies in a separate announcement, pledging to use AI to accelerate development of its experimental nuclear fusion prototype in Massachusetts.
Google and Character Technologies, the company behind the Character.AI chatbot, have agreed to settle a Florida lawsuit alleging the chatbot contributed to the February 2024 suicide of a 14-year-old boy, according to court documents filed this week in federal court. The companies have also agreed to settle similar suits filed in Colorado, New York, and Texas on behalf of families who alleged the chatbot harmed their children. Settlement terms were not disclosed in any of the filings; each agreement must still be approved by a judge.
LAS VEGAS — Entertainment industry leaders gathered at CES 2026 this week to debate artificial intelligence's expanding role in filmmaking, advertising and the creator economy, with more than 25 panels devoted to the intersection of technology and storytelling. Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt used the Las Vegas stage Wednesday to warn against what he called the passive theft of copyrighted creative works by AI companies, while studio executives and AI tool developers argued the technology can broaden access to storytelling rather than diminish it.
Automakers and technology companies showcased AI-powered vehicles at CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday that can recognize individual occupants, track emotions and adapt in real time to drivers and passengers. The demonstrations intensified questions about how much personal data smart cars may collect, retain and use — and who sets the rules for what companies can do with it.
California is getting a financial boost from an artificial intelligence boom, but lawmakers and analysts warn the state’s growing reliance on AI-related income could be volatile if the industry downturns. A new analysis by the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that tax revenue tied to stock-option withholding from major tech companies accounted for about 10% of all income-tax withholding in 2025, based on data through the second quarter of 2025.
CES organizers and consumer and privacy advocates on Thursday released an annual “Worst in Show” list criticizing some of this year’s most prominent artificial intelligence products. The awards spotlighted a Samsung AI refrigerator, Amazon’s Ring doorbell upgrades and other devices judges said rely on invasive data collection, disposable designs or security risks. The list was unveiled during a ceremony at the Consumer Technology Association trade show in Las Vegas.
Google said it is adding new artificial intelligence features to Gmail, aiming to improve writing, summarize information in users’ inboxes, and suggest daily to-do lists. The company announced the changes Thursday, with initial availability in English for users in the United States.
La NASA acortó una misión en la Estación Espacial Internacional y hará que una tripulación de cuatro personas regrese a la Tierra antes de lo planeado, informó la agencia el jueves. El cambio se produjo después de que un astronauta presentara un problema médico, y la NASA no identificó al tripulante ni el diagnóstico por privacidad del paciente.
NASA said Thursday it will bring a U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four back to Earth earlier than planned after an astronaut had a medical issue, canceling the agency’s first spacewalk of the year. The crew member’s condition is stable, and NASA said it was not an onboard emergency. The spacewalk was scheduled to help prepare for a future rollout of solar panels for the International Space Station.
NEW YORK (AP) — Researchers say some “gifted” dogs can learn the names of new toys by overhearing their owners talk about the objects, even without the dogs seeing which toy was named. In a study of 10 dogs, seven learned new labels for toys by passively listening during interactions, according to results published Thursday in the journal Science.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced that xAI will spend $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, Mississippi, in DeSoto County near Memphis, Tennessee. Reeves said the project would be the largest private investment in the state’s history and that it would create hundreds of permanent jobs and thousands of indirect subcontracting jobs.
A Trump-themed merchandise shop in suburban Philadelphia that became a gathering place for supporters of President Donald Trump announced it will close at the end of January, six years after opening, the owner said Tuesday. Mike Domanico, who founded the Trump Store in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, in 2020, said he is shifting focus to another business and acknowledged that sales have declined since Trump's reelection.
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued all nine crew members of a commercial crab boat Monday after the vessel lost steering in near-gale conditions and grounded on a remote island in Alaska's Bering Sea, the Coast Guard said. The rescue was completed without injuries, according to the agency.
Nevada has formally written off more than $106 million in bad debt since the start of 2023, according to an analysis by the Nevada Independent, with the state's deputy controller acknowledging that the scale of uncollected funds demands attention. The write-offs — covering debts deemed impossible or impractical to collect — were approved by a board that includes the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, and span accounts stretching back more than three decades.
Technology stocks pushed Wall Street to fresh records Tuesday, with the S&P 500 closing at 6,944.82 — a gain of 0.6% on only the third trading day of 2026. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 484.90 points, or 1%, to 49,462.08, its second consecutive record close. Roughly three out of every four S&P 500 stocks advanced, extending gains across health care, retail, and industrial sectors.
Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said it is scrapping safety screening for two reactors at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in central Japan after the operator was found to have fabricated earthquake-risk data. The regulator said it confirmed the falsification and that the utility acknowledged the fabrication in mid-December.
Finland is teaching media literacy in preschool and adding artificial intelligence literacy as teachers respond to disinformation risks, especially near Russia. The push includes exercises in classrooms in and around Helsinki, along with national efforts such as “Newspaper Week” and media-literacy materials for teenagers.
California is collecting a growing share of its income-tax revenue from tech companies riding the artificial intelligence boom, but a new state analysis warns the windfall is concentrated among a small number of workers and could evaporate if the AI market stalls. Tech companies' stock-option withholding made up roughly 10% of all California income-tax withholding in 2025, up from more than 6% just three years ago, according to an analysis by the Legislative Analyst's Office. The gains have come without broad job growth — and as the state braces for a nearly $18 billion budget deficit.
Trump Mobile, a smartphone venture operating under President Donald Trump's family business, has not shipped its T1 phone after missing its promised end-of-2025 delivery window — while continuing to accept $100 deposits from customers who signed up for the device. The T1, pitched at launch as a $500 smartphone that would be "proudly designed and built in the United States," has quietly shed that manufacturing claim and seen its release timeline grow steadily vaguer since the service debuted last June.
LAS VEGAS — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang used the opening day of CES 2026 on Monday to introduce a suite of artificial intelligence products built around the company's concept of "physical AI" — systems trained in simulated environments before deployment as physical machines — while rival chipmakers AMD and Intel unveiled competing AI hardware and humanoid robots from Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics and LG competed for attention on the show floor. Huang introduced Cosmos, a foundation model Nvidia said is trained on massive datasets and capable of simulating environments governed by actual physics, and Alpamayo, an AI model designed specifically for autonomous driving. He said Nvidia's next-generation superchip platform, Vera Rubin, is in full production, and announced a new partnership with Siemens AG.
At CES in Las Vegas, automakers and tech companies on Tuesday showcased AI features that aim to make vehicles more responsive to drivers and passengers in real time. The demos ranged from recognizing a child in the back seat and playing a favorite song to systems that use sensors and cameras to monitor attention, emotions and whether a child is left unattended.
LAS VEGAS — Day 2 of CES 2026 drew crowds to newly opened showroom floors where companies showcased thousands of robots, AI companions and health and wearable technology. Among the highlights, Siemens and Nvidia announced an expanded partnership aimed at using artificial intelligence across manufacturing and supply chains.
Entertainment leaders and creators discussed how artificial intelligence is changing storytelling, advertising and internet-native content at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Panels and product showcases in the entertainment programming track examined AI’s cinematic potential and creator-economy impact, alongside concerns about how training data is used.
Greece’s government said Monday that a major radio communications failure that shut the country’s airspace the day before is unlikely to have been a cyberattack, while authorities continue investigating the cause. Flights across Greece were grounded, diverted or delayed for several hours after noise was reported on multiple air traffic communication channels.
Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics unveiled its humanoid robot Atlas for the first time in public on Monday at CES in Las Vegas. The life-sized robot picked itself up on stage and walked around for several minutes as an engineer remotely piloted it, with the company describing a next version aimed at assembling cars.
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has drawn global backlash over sexualized deepfake images of women and children, as governments in several countries moved to investigate or block access. The concerns escalated after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon would adopt Grok on “every unclassified and classified network” within the department.
Nvidia, AMD and Intel used the first day of CES 2026 to highlight new chip and artificial-intelligence platform plans, alongside robot demonstrations and consumer tech partnerships. In Las Vegas, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang previewed what the company calls “physical AI,” while AMD and Intel rolled out new processor ideas for PCs and laptops. The show floor also featured Uber’s first public look at a robotaxi and Lego’s new Star Wars-themed smart-brick platform.
The federal government has selected RTX and the Spanish firm Indra to replace 612 aging radar systems used by air traffic controllers across the United States, the Trump administration said Monday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration said the replacements are targeted for completion by the summer of 2028.
CES 2026, the annual technology trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association, kicks off this week in Las Vegas as companies preview products they plan to offer in 2026. The multiday event will showcase advances across robotics, health care, vehicles, wearables and gaming, with artificial intelligence anchored in nearly everything again.
Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics gave its humanoid robot Atlas its first-ever public demonstration Monday at the CES technology showcase in Las Vegas, putting a life-sized, two-armed machine through its paces before a crowd and sharpening a race with Tesla and other rivals to build robots capable of human-like tasks. An engineer remotely piloted the robot during the showcase, though the company said Atlas will operate autonomously in real-world use.
Fabricated and misrepresented images purporting to show Venezuelan celebrations and Nicolás Maduro's arrest spread widely across social media in the days following the U.S. military's capture of the Venezuelan leader, the Associated Press reported Monday. President Donald Trump amplified at least two of the false videos on Truth Social, falsely claiming both showed Venezuelans celebrating Maduro's removal.
The Federal Aviation Administration selected defense contractor RTX and Spanish firm Indra on Monday to replace 612 radar systems that air traffic controllers rely on nationwide, accelerating a multibillion-dollar effort to retire infrastructure that in some locations still depends on floppy discs and spare parts sourced from eBay. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced the contracts, setting a target of completing the radar replacement by summer 2028.
LAS VEGAS — CES 2026 opened this week in Las Vegas, assembling more than 3,500 exhibitors at the Consumer Technology Association's annual trade show with artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, healthcare wearables, and mobility technology heading a packed agenda. Organizers expected attendance approaching the more than 141,000 visitors from over 150 countries who attended the 2025 edition.
Indonesia’s conservation park released a video Tuesday showing the progress of a giant panda cub 40 days after his birth in the country. The cub, named Satrio Wiratama and nicknamed “Rio,” was examined for the first time outside the incubator by veterinarians at the Indonesian Taman Safari park in Cisarua, West Java.
Humanoid robots took center stage this week at the Humanoids Summit in Mountain View, California, as investors and engineers debated when robots with humanlike bodies will become practical. Organiser Modar Alaoui, a venture capitalist, said researchers increasingly believe physical embodiment of AI is “going to become the norm,” but multiple entrepreneurs and researchers cautioned that major technical hurdles remain.
President Donald Trump’s family business, Trump Mobile, has not released the T1 smartphone it promoted last year, leaving the promised $500 “golden” phone absent from the market as consumer-tech companies display new gadgets at CES in Las Vegas. The company continues to take $100 deposits for the device, while its website lists the targeted release date as “later this year,” according to an Associated Press report published Monday.
The moon and sun will dominate 2026's skywatching lineup, with major lunar and solar eclipses and multiple supermoons, the Associated Press reported. NASA also plans a new crewed flyby past the moon, while private and international teams target additional robotic lunar missions.
The U.S. economy expanded at its fastest quarterly pace in two years during 2025, yet job growth fell badly short of that performance as companies pulled back on hiring amid tariff uncertainty and the rapid spread of artificial intelligence, the Associated Press reported. The unemployment rate climbed from 4 percent in January to 4.6 percent by November — its highest level in four years — even as GDP grew at a 4.3 percent annual rate in the third quarter. The economy shed jobs outright in three separate months.
Tesla said it delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9% from the year before, as the company lost its title as the world’s bestselling electric-vehicle maker to China’s BYD. The Associated Press reported the sales decline runs for a second straight year, with Tesla pointing to expiring U.S. tax credits and heavier competition overseas.
Scientists said Thursday that 2025 was one of the three hottest years on record and that human-caused climate change worsened extreme weather during the year. The analysis, released by the World Weather Attribution group, came as people in many countries faced dangerous heat, drought and flooding.
LOS GATOS, Calif. — At The Terraces retirement community in Silicon Valley, caregivers are scheduling sessions that let residents in their 80s and 90s try virtual reality headsets. The technology can transport them to experiences like underwater dolphin swims or virtual travel to childhood neighborhoods, often prompting residents to talk with each other afterward.
The moon and sun will headline next year’s skywatching lineup, from a Jan. 3 supermoon to a Feb. 17 ring-of-fire eclipse in Antarctica and a total solar eclipse Aug. 12 in the Arctic. NASA plans a new lunar flyby mission expected to send the first astronauts to study large areas of the moon’s far side not seen by Apollo, while robotic missions and landers are also targeted for 2026.
Tech companies and developers racing to build data centers for artificial intelligence and cloud computing are losing a growing number of local zoning fights across the United States, as residents from farming towns to growing suburbs organize to block proposals they say threaten their communities' character, water supply and electric rates. Between April and June, Data Center Watch — a project of AI security consultancy 10a Labs — counted 20 proposals valued at $98 billion across 11 states that were blocked or delayed amid local opposition and state-level pushback, amounting to roughly two-thirds of the projects it was tracking during that period.
The Christmas holiday season is a time to step back from the busy pace of modern life and connect with loved ones instead of screens, apps and chatbots, Associated Press writes in its “One Tech Tip” column. The guidance suggests using phone features to mute notifications, limiting or deleting distracting apps and spending time outdoors during the holidays.
In 2025, U.S. stocks delivered nearly 18% returns for index funds tied to the S&P 500, setting a record high on Dec. 24. The gains came after the market endured sharp drops tied to President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements and investor worries about interest rates and artificial-intelligence valuations.
Older adults living at The Terraces, a retirement community in Los Gatos, California, are using virtual reality headsets to travel, explore and socialize together, a program arranged through Rendever. The company says the approach helps reduce isolation by turning “virtual” experiences into conversation among residents. Researchers also caution that VR should supplement, not replace, other activities.
The moon and the sun will headline 2026’s skywatching calendar, including a “Blue Moon” scheduled for May and a supermoon on Jan. 3, along with a ring-of-fire solar eclipse in February and a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12. NASA plans major attention on the moon as Artemis missions expand, while China and private companies also target new robotic landings and far-side observations.
President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the unraveling of a $2.9 million computer chips deal involving Emcore and HieFo, saying the current owner poses U.S. security risks. The executive order gives HieFo 180 days to divest the technology, citing “credible evidence” the company is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.
California's 2025 push to regulate data centers' surging electricity demand ended with a single surviving measure: a law directing state utility regulators to publish a report on cost impacts by 2027. Stronger proposals — including a separate electricity rate for data centers, grid battery mandates, and electricity-disclosure requirements — collapsed under pressure from Big Tech, business groups, and Gov. Gavin Newsom. The lone survivor, authored by state Sen. Steve Padilla, D-Chula Vista, began as a plan to shield households and small businesses from higher energy bills by creating a distinct rate structure for data centers. By the time it passed, that core provision had been stripped out.
Tech companies and developers building data centers to power artificial intelligence and cloud computing are increasingly losing local fights as residents press officials to reject proposals, according to a review of recent cases. In communities across the United States, municipal boards and zoning processes are becoming flashpoints over power and water use, environmental impacts and quality of life, the Associated Press reported. The pushback has led some projects to be delayed, blocked or pulled from agendas in recent months, including in Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina and Minnesota.
Turkmenistan legalized cryptocurrency mining and cryptocurrency exchanges on Thursday, a shift signed into law by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The legislation brings “virtual assets” under civil law and sets up a licensing scheme for exchanges overseen by the central bank, while barring digital currencies from being used as a means of payment, currency or security.
U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use end-to-end encryption after a sprawling hacking campaign exposed communications of an unknown number of Americans, AP reported. The campaign originated in China, and federal authorities released security recommendations for telecom companies that were targeted, including Verizon and AT&T.
Russia sent three Iranian communications satellites into orbit on Sunday, Iranian state television reported. The satellites were launched on a Russian rocket from the Vostochny launchpad in eastern Russia, according to the report.
A Walt Disney World employee was knocked to the ground and injured Tuesday while trying to stop a 400-pound (181-kilogram) prop boulder that moved off its track and rolled toward seated audience members at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. A second worker stopped the boulder before it reached the spectators, the company confirmed Wednesday.
As meteorologists warn of storms that can “bomb out,” residents may wonder what a bomb cyclone means. The term refers to storms that undergo “bombogenesis,” when their central pressure drops rapidly over a short period.
Tesla said it delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9% from a year earlier, as it lost the title of the world’s top electric-vehicle maker to China’s BYD. The company also reported weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter sales, while analysts pointed to expiring U.S. tax credits for EV buyers and intensifying overseas competition.
California enacted a law that requires regulators to study how data centers affect the energy grid and rates for years to come, after Big Tech and business groups pushed back on broader rules. The measure is a scaled-down remnant of last year’s effort to address the energy demand behind artificial intelligence, and it could shape debates in the 2026 legislative session. (CalMatters via the Associated Press)
Trains began running again in both directions through the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and continental Europe on Wednesday, after a power malfunction inside the tunnel was fixed overnight Tuesday. Eurotunnel said the 50-kilometer (32-mile) undersea link was restored to “full capacity,” but Eurostar warned of continued possible delays and cancellations because of “knock-on impacts” from the disruption.
Chinese President Xi Jinping used a New Year’s Eve address broadcast by state media to praise China’s technological progress and renew his pledge to annex self-ruled Taiwan. In the Wednesday evening remarks, Xi highlighted advances in areas including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, military technology and space exploration, while also discussing China’s economic planning and its standing on the world stage.
US stocks rose again in 2025 after investors weathered swings tied to tariffs and pressure on the Federal Reserve, Associated Press reported. For investors with diversified stock exposure, the year ended with strong gains, even as markets periodically reeled from trade and interest-rate concerns.
TikTok has signed binding agreements with Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX to form a new U.S. joint venture, according to an internal memo seen by The Associated Press. CEO Shou Zi Chew told employees the deal is expected to close on Jan. 22 and that the U.S. venture will have protections for Americans’ data and U.S. national security.
The moon and sun take center stage in 2026, from a lunar far-side mission and new robotic landers to multiple solar and lunar eclipses. NASA’s Reid Wiseman is set to lead a flyby-and-return mission aimed at regions of the lunar far side Apollo astronauts missed, alongside plans for a “Blue Moon” lunar lander and other commercial and international efforts. Elsewhere in the year, skywatchers will also have ring-of-fire and total eclipses to watch, along with a parade of planets and several supermoons.
Older adults in a Silicon Valley retirement community are using virtual reality headsets to visit places, watch experiences together and spark in-person conversation, Associated Press reported. The program at The Terraces in Los Gatos was curated by Rendever, which says it is testing the approach as a potential tool against social isolation.
When meteorologists warn that a storm could "bomb out," they are describing a specific and potentially dangerous atmospheric process. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines bombogenesis as occurring when a storm's central pressure drops at least 24 millibars within 24 hours — a threshold that, when crossed, classifies the event as a bomb cyclone.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s inspector general will audit clean energy grant cancellations totaling $7.6 billion that the Trump administration terminated across 16 states. The move follows a court filing in which the government said the selection of grants was influenced by whether a grantee’s address was in a state that votes for Democratic candidates. Acting inspector general Sarah Nelson said the review will examine whether the cancellations followed “established criteria.”
Japan’s space agency said its new flagship H3 rocket failed to put a navigation satellite into a planned orbit during a Monday launch from Tanegashima. JAXA said a premature cutoff of the rocket’s second-stage engine burn prevented confirmation that the satellite separated as planned, and it is investigating the data to determine what happened.
Michaela Benthaus, a paraplegic engineer from Germany, became the first wheelchair user to blast into space in a Blue Origin New Shepard flight from West Texas on Dec. 20, 2025, the company said. Benthaus left her wheelchair on the capsule deck before liftoff and later said the experience was “the coolest experience.”
New York’s subway system will stop selling or refilling MetroCards after Dec. 31, 2025, as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority transitions the system fully to OMNY, a tap-and-go payment option. Officials say more than 90% of subway and bus trips are already paid through OMNY, which riders can use by tapping a credit card, phone or other smart device.
Smartphone users looking to step away from their screens over the Christmas holiday season have several options available — from built-in phone settings and outdoor activities to physical device lockboxes — according to a technology guide published Dec. 18 by the Associated Press. The tips, compiled by AP technology reporter Kelvin Chan, cover both existing smartphone features and behavioral strategies backed by research on screen time and mental health.
A pilot program at three Pennsylvania hospitals is testing whether volunteer strangers — dubbed "angel advocates" — can use their own social media networks to help kidney patients with limited social connections find living donors. The Great Social Experiment, founded by Los Angeles filmmaker David Krissman, launched in May 2025 with 15 patients at Temple University Hospital, UPMC-Harrisburg and Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Early results show at least three patients have found donors across the two hospitals that have reported outcomes.
More than 2,000 engineers, investors and researchers gathered at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California this week for the Humanoids Summit, where companies from Disney to a field of Chinese startups showed off their latest walking machines and debated whether humanoid robots can become a commercially viable industry. The conference, held Thursday and Friday just blocks from Google's headquarters, was organized by Modar Alaoui, founder and general partner of ALM Ventures, who said many researchers now believe humanoids will be "going to become the norm." Even at a summit designed to build enthusiasm for the technology, skepticism remained high that truly humanlike general-purpose robots are close to widespread deployment.
Three years after ChatGPT's debut, students at schools and universities across the United States are routinely turning to AI chatbots for homework help, prompting educators to set guidelines about what constitutes legitimate use and what crosses into academic dishonesty. About two dozen states have issued state-level AI guidance for schools, though application remains uneven, and institutions from Oxford to SUNY Buffalo have adopted policies ranging from blanket restrictions to no universal rule at all.
Christy Morrill’s immune system suddenly attacked his brain, causing severe memory loss and delusions, but a growing list of newly identified antibodies is helping doctors diagnose the rare condition faster.
Researchers are testing treatments that reprogram patients' immune systems to fight autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, rather than relying on lifelong medications that suppress but do not correct the underlying condition.
Autoimmune diseases affect tens of millions of Americans, strike women at roughly four times the rate of men, and are on the rise, according to the Associated Press. Researchers are testing dozens of new therapies — including a cancer treatment that has shown early promise against lupus and other conditions — in what specialists describe as a pivotal moment for the field.
Autoimmune diseases affect as many as 50 million Americans and are increasing in prevalence, yet patients routinely spend years seeking correct diagnoses as symptoms are dismissed or attributed to other conditions, the Associated Press reported in November 2025.
Less than a week after conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, evangelical churches in Texas, Arizona, and California showed their congregations AI-generated video clips of Kirk delivering messages after his death. Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, introduced the clip by saying, "Hear what Charlie is saying regarding what happened to him this past week." As the artificial reconstruction of Kirk's voice urged listeners to "pick up your cross, and get back in the fight," the congregation rose to their feet in a standing ovation.
