Tech, science, health, environment
A hacker's arrest has revealed that Microsoft can track individual users through a unique Windows device identifier, raising fresh privacy concerns about how much the operating system quietly logs about the people who use it and how that data can be handed to law enforcement.
The FCC is moving to end a Biden-era rule that required internet service providers to disclose all of their fees to consumers. Critics warn the rollback could make broadband pricing less transparent for households.
Anthropic is facing user backlash after being outed for a secret tracker in Claude that monitored certain users, a revelation that sits uneasily with the AI company's public anti-surveillance stance. The disclosure has reignited debate over transparency among leading AI labs.
Shell has revealed a new concept electric vehicle engineered to charge in under 10 minutes and travel roughly 6 miles per kilowatt-hour. The design points toward major gains in charging speed and efficiency for future EVs.
Detailed observations of 3I/Atlas, the interstellar comet that swept through our solar system last year, are giving astronomers a rare window into distant galaxies and the era known as 'cosmic noon.' Once speculated to be an alien craft, the object is now offering fresh insight into how the early universe formed stars.
The Supreme Court will allow Texas's App Store Accountability Act to take effect while legal challenges continue in lower courts. The law requires minors to obtain parental permission before downloading most apps, part of a growing state push to shield children online.
Microsoft is shutting five studios and laying off roughly 3,200 employees, about 20% of its gaming division, as Xbox refocuses on its biggest franchises. Leadership framed the overhaul as a 'reset,' but the cuts land as another blow to a games industry already reeling from consolidation.
A controlled minimal-pair study examines whether the cleanliness of a codebase changes how well AI coding agents perform. The research adds empirical data to a growing debate over how code quality shapes the effectiveness of automated developer tools.
A closer look at doorbell and home-security cameras argues that devices like Ring do little to actually deter crime while heightening owners' anxiety. The piece examines how constant alerts can distort perceptions of neighborhood safety.
Australia's space agency says it has identified the 'likely source' of mysterious charred spheres that washed up and fell across the country. Officials believe the objects are debris from space hardware rather than anything of natural or extraterrestrial origin.
New research suggests that exposure to air pollution may contribute to childhood obesity by impairing impulse control in developing brains. The findings add to evidence linking environmental factors to long-term health outcomes in children.
A new study finds that adults in their 80s who walk at a brisk pace cut their risk of cognitive decline by roughly half compared with slower walkers. Researchers say gait speed may serve as an early, measurable marker of brain health.
A study reports a new AI tutor achieved a 0.71 to 1.30 standard-deviation effect size in a Dartmouth course, a notably large learning gain. The results add to debate over AI's role in education.
Proposed data centers in Pennsylvania are galvanizing strangers to mobilize in protest over energy use, water and local impacts. The backlash reflects growing tension over the AI-driven build-out.
New prediction markets allow people to place bets on whether a wildfire will destroy their town, turning climate risk into tradable contracts. Critics question the ethics of wagering on disasters.
A new study suggests intense cosmic bombardment melted Earth's earliest crust, helping explain a 500-million-year gap in the geologic record. The findings reshape understanding of the young planet.
Chemical accidents are rising even as the Trump administration proposes weakening federal safety rules, according to a new analysis. Critics warn the rollback could endanger communities near industrial sites.
The world's oceans registered their hottest June on record, and a building El Niño is set to push temperatures even higher. Scientists warn of cascading effects on weather and marine life.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said development of AI agents is progressing more slowly than expected, tempering expectations for the technology. His comments come amid heavy industry investment in autonomous AI.
Scientists say they have created synthetic cells that can feed, grow and reproduce, a step closer to building life from scratch. The advance could reshape understanding of the origins of life.
New Trump administration restrictions on private AI models are pushing developers and researchers toward open-source alternatives. The shift could reshape how advanced AI is built and shared in the U.S.
Astronomers are using a nearby black hole as a window into the conditions of the early universe. The observations offer clues about how the first galaxies and black holes formed.
Scientists produced the first complete map of the vast underground network of mycorrhizal fungi that connects plants across the globe. The map could reshape understanding of ecosystems and efforts to protect them.
A Japanese space probe skimmed past an asteroid in a test designed to advance planetary defense capabilities. The mission aims to help scientists understand how to deflect potentially hazardous space rocks in the future.
The EU Council moved to force through its controversial 'Chat Control' proposal via a fast-track process, requiring messaging services to scan users' communications. Digital rights advocates warned the measure threatens encryption and privacy across the bloc.
An independent security researcher documented a flaw that could expose YouTube creators' private and unlisted videos to unauthorized viewers. The disclosure details how the weakness could be abused to enumerate content meant to stay hidden. It renews concerns about privacy safeguards on major video platforms.
Developers are reporting that the newest generation of AI coding assistants can perform worse than their predecessors on real programming tasks. A widely discussed GitHub issue attributes degraded output in GPT-5.5 Codex to reasoning-token clustering, while a prominent engineering essay argues that more capable models are being paired with worse tooling. The debate highlights growing scrutiny of how frontier models are deployed in practice.
A developer has produced a native port of the classic real-time strategy game 'Command and Conquer: Generals' to macOS, iPhone and iPad. The project brings the two-decade-old title to Apple platforms without emulation, drawing interest from the retro-gaming and open-source communities.
A rock examined on Mars has been found to contain unusually high levels of carbon, a key building block of life, and scientists say the origin of the carbon is not yet clear. The finding adds to ongoing questions about the red planet's chemistry and potential for past habitability.
A new study warns that plans by commercial operators to launch as many as 1.7 million satellites into low Earth orbit would be 'devastating' for ground-based astronomy. Researchers say the resulting light pollution, radio interference, and collision risk could severely hamper observations and threaten the long-term sustainability of orbital space.
Researchers found that subtle voice changes measured through a phone can predict asthma flare-ups up to three days in advance. The approach could give patients an early warning to adjust treatment and avoid serious attacks.
America's first major offshore wind project is now generating power but is beset by technical and operational problems. The troubles raise questions about the cost and reliability of large-scale U.S. offshore wind development.
Mistral unveiled Leanstral 1.5, a new model release the company frames around making formal proof and reasoning more broadly accessible. The launch adds to a crowded field of open and efficient AI models. Details emphasize performance and cost efficiency.
A new guide rounds up seven of the best smartphones that are unavailable to American buyers in 2026. The list spotlights hardware and features absent from the U.S. market. It illustrates how global device availability continues to diverge.
The latest Rocket Report covers an Indian startup approaching its first orbital launch and a notable milestone for SpaceX. The roundup surveys the fast-moving global launch industry. It highlights emerging players challenging established providers.
Scientists have demonstrated a plug-and-play single-photon source that works at room temperature, a step toward practical quantum technologies. Eliminating the need for extreme cooling could make quantum communication and computing components far more accessible. The advance addresses a key engineering hurdle in the field.
Researchers at Citizen Lab reported that a member of a European Parliament committee investigating spyware was himself hacked with Pegasus. The finding underscores the reach of commercial surveillance tools against elected officials. It intensifies calls for tighter controls on spyware vendors.
Researchers are combining generative AI with physics-based modeling to accelerate the design of new antibiotics, a critical need amid rising antimicrobial resistance. The approach aims to predict effective molecular structures far faster than traditional lab methods. Scientists say the hybrid technique could help refill a dangerously thin drug-discovery pipeline.
Across Africa, users are increasingly adopting SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet to bypass unreliable and expensive terrestrial networks. The shift is reshaping connectivity on the continent, offering access in remote regions while unsettling incumbent telecom providers and regulators. The trend highlights both the promise and the disruption of low-earth-orbit internet.
Researchers report that adding water to diesel fuel can cut engine pollution by 67% without sacrificing efficiency. The technique could offer a low-cost path to cleaner combustion. Further testing is needed before broad adoption.
The FDA has ruled that ZYN nicotine pouches are safer than cigarettes, while cautioning that they are not without risk. The decision marks a notable regulatory milestone for the products. Health experts urge users not to interpret it as an endorsement.
Scientists have developed small-molecule switches that let therapeutic CRISPR editing be turned on and off on demand in living tissue. The advance could improve the safety and precision of gene therapies. Researchers say it addresses a key hurdle in the field.
Popular gadgets are poised to become significantly more expensive in another round of price increases, according to a new report. Analysts point to tariffs and supply pressures. Consumers may feel the pinch on phones, laptops and accessories.
NASA has launched a mission aimed at rescuing a space telescope whose orbit has been decaying. The operation seeks to extend the observatory's life and preserve its scientific value. Engineers face a narrow window to reach and stabilize the spacecraft.
Efforts to unionize workers at Google DeepMind have gotten off to a difficult start, according to a new report. The friction highlights growing labor tensions inside leading AI research organizations. The outcome could set a precedent for organizing across the AI industry.
Three nuclear energy startups have hit a significant technical milestone, drawing attention to a possible new wave of advanced reactors. Analysts debate how much the achievement will actually accelerate deployment given regulatory and cost hurdles. The news underscores growing investor interest in next-generation nuclear power.
An AI-generated Alexander Hamilton will chat with visitors about economics at the Museum of American Finance, opening this weekend in Boston. The exhibit blends historical figures with conversational AI.
Scientists have found climate-resistant coral reefs around the world totaling an area the size of Wisconsin. The reefs offer hope as a refuge for marine life amid warming oceans.
Southeast Asia is closing in on eliminating malaria, with cases down roughly two-thirds since 2010. The progress reflects sustained investment in prevention and treatment across the region.
Security researchers discovered PamStealer, a macOS malware strain that uses clever tradecraft to remain stealthy. Analysts say it departs from typical Mac threats in how it evades detection.