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CFPB workers are receiving mass layoff notices
CFPB workers are receiving mass layoff notices The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is sending out mass layoff notices to around 1,500 employees, despite a court order blocking further layoffs. The layoffs appear to be in defiance of the court order, which was partially stayed by an appeals court last month but still prohibits mass […]
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Can your DNA predict your income, education, and love life?
Can your DNA predict your income, education, and love life? Dalton Conley’s new book “The Social Genome” explores how genes shape society in profound ways. The author debunks the nature vs. nurture debate, revealing a deeply intertwined relationship between genetics and environment. Genetic science can forecast aspects of our lives, including income, education level, and […]
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Appliance efficiency standards save consumers billions, reduce pollution and fight climate change
Appliance efficiency standards save consumers billions, reduce pollution and fight climate change Appliance efficiency standards have been in place since 1974, starting with California’s regulations for refrigerators, and have saved consumers billions of dollars by making home appliances and business equipment more efficient. The federal government has created standards for over 70 products that consume […]
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Zuckerberg tells court he made WhatsApp and Instagram better
Zuckerberg tells court he made WhatsApp and Instagram better Zuckerberg testified for 13 hours over three days in a Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit to defend Meta’s acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram. The FTC argues that Zuckerberg bought these apps to eliminate competition, not to improve them, citing concerns about private messaging apps becoming social […]
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Federal judge finds ‘probable cause’ to hold Trump administration in contempt – a legal scholar explains what this means
Federal judge finds ‘probable cause’ to hold Trump administration in contempt – a legal scholar explains what this means A federal judge has found “probable cause” to hold the Trump administration in contempt for disobeying a court order to halt flights taking immigrants to El Salvador, marking a significant escalation in the battle between the […]
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This ICE-snitching app is actually promoting a meme coin
This ICE-snitching app is actually promoting a meme coin Right-wing influencers are promoting an app called ICERAID that claims to reward users for reporting undocumented immigrants. The app, which uses a “GovFi” protocol on the Solana blockchain, promises to pay users in cryptocurrency for uploading images of suspected illegal activity. ICERAID’s website describes itself as […]
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How single-stream recycling works − your choices can make it better
How single-stream recycling works − your choices can make it better Single-stream recycling makes it easy for consumers to recycle, but behind the scenes, complex sorting systems and contamination lead to a significant percentage of materials ending up in landfills. The biggest challenge in plastic recycling is contamination, which can be caused by food residue, […]
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Google, Apple, and Snap aren’t happy about Meta’s poorly-redacted slides
Google, Apple, and Snap aren’t happy about Meta’s poorly-redacted slides Google, Apple, and Snap are unhappy with Meta’s poorly-redacted slides presented during their antitrust trial, calling them “egregious” and questioning Meta’s ability to handle internal information. The redactions were found by The Verge, which reported that the unredacted documents contained confidential information from other companies, […]
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NASA Invites Virtual Guests to Launch of SpaceX 32nd Resupply Mission
NASA Invites Virtual Guests to Launch of SpaceX 32nd Resupply Mission NASA invites the public to participate in virtual activities ahead of the launch of SpaceX’s 32nd commercial resupply services mission for the agency, targeting April 21 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will deliver several new experiments, […]
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Lyft gets a toehold in Europe with FreeNow acquisition
Lyft gets a toehold in Europe with FreeNow acquisition Lyft has acquired mobility platform FreeNow, giving it its first major presence in Europe after years of operating exclusively in the US and Canada. The acquisition nearly doubles Lyft’s potential market and will aid the company as it competes with dominant player Uber in the European […]
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FTC v. Meta live: Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand
FTC v. Meta live: Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand Meta’s antitrust trial against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began on April 14th, with DC District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg hearing arguments about whether Meta illegally monopolized the market for “personal social networking services” through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC is pushing […]
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NASA Sees Progress on Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef Design Development
NASA Sees Progress on Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef Design Development Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef, a NASA-supported commercial space station, has completed a human-in-the-loop testing milestone as part of a Space Act Agreement with NASA. The test involved individual participants or small groups simulating microgravity operations in life-sized mockups of major station components to provide feedback […]
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The sudden dismissal of public records staff at health agencies threatens government accountability
The sudden dismissal of public records staff at health agencies threatens government accountability The sudden dismissal of public records staff at health agencies threatens government accountability and transparency. The closure of FOIA teams at CDC, FDA, NIH, and other federal public health agencies will limit their ability to respond to new and ongoing requests, worsening […]
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Railways were essential to carrying out the Holocaust – decades later, corporate reckoning continues
Railways were essential to carrying out the Holocaust – decades later, corporate reckoning continues The author reflects on her research into the French railway company SNCF’s role in deporting Jews to Auschwitz during WWII, highlighting the complexities of holding companies accountable for past atrocities. While financial payouts and judicial rulings are important, survivors’ stories emphasize […]
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Giving cash to families in poor, rural communities can help bring down child marriage rates – new research
Giving cash to families in poor, rural communities can help bring down child marriage rates – new research Providing cash transfers to low-income families in rural communities can help reduce child marriage rates among girls. A recent study in Indonesia found that a cash transfer program, Program Keluarga Harapan, reduced child marriages by about 3.5 […]
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200 years ago, France extorted Haiti in one of history’s greatest heists – and Haitians want reparations
200 years ago, France extorted Haiti in one of history’s greatest heists – and Haitians want reparations The French government has been accused of stealing $28 billion from Haiti over the past seven decades as part of a debt imposed on the country after its independence. The debt, known as the indemnity, was imposed in […]
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Going Home: NASA Retires S-3B Viking to POW/MIA Museum
Going Home: NASA Retires S-3B Viking to POW/MIA Museum NASA’s S-3B Viking aircraft has been retired from service and will be displayed at the National POW/MIA Memorial and Museum in Jacksonville, Florida. The aircraft, originally designed as an anti-submarine warfare plane, supported vital NASA flight research by donating parts to its sister plane, extending its […]
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The ‘Oscars of Science’ can’t take a Trump joke
The ‘Oscars of Science’ can’t take a Trump joke Seth Rogen’s joke about Trump’s impact on American science was edited out of the Breakthrough Prize ceremony video. Rogen made the comment during a livestream presentation, criticizing the tech titans supporting Trump for gutting government departments and scientific programs. The Breakthrough Prize, often referred to as […]
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Zuckerberg’s antitrust testimony aired his wildest ideas in Meta’s history
Zuckerberg’s antitrust testimony aired his wildest ideas in Meta’s history Zuckerberg’s antitrust testimony revealed some of his wildest ideas for Meta’s future, including making Instagram a separate company and buying Snapchat. The FTC is trying to show that Meta has monopoly power in the personal social networking services market by acquiring newer competitors like Instagram […]
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The student arrested at his naturalization interview knew it was coming
The student arrested at his naturalization interview knew it was coming Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student, was arrested at his naturalization interview with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on April 14th. Mahdawi had been fearful of being detained by ICE and had reportedly been in hiding for weeks due to concerns about the interview. […]
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OpenAI names new nonprofit ‘advisors’
OpenAI names new nonprofit ‘advisors’ Dolores Huerta, Monica Lozano, Dr. Robert K. Ross, and Jack Oliver have been appointed as advisors to OpenAI’s new nonprofit commission. The advisors will help inform OpenAI’s philanthropic efforts and expand its reach and impact on global challenges such as health, education, public service, and scientific discovery. OpenAI has shifted […]
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Mark Zuckerberg once suggested wiping all Facebook friends lists to boost usage
Mark Zuckerberg once suggested wiping all Facebook friends lists to boost usage Mark Zuckerberg once suggested wiping all Facebook friends lists to boost usage, citing concerns that Facebook’s “cultural relevance” was decreasing quickly. Zuckerberg proposed a staggered approach, starting with an experiment in a smaller country, and asked how much work it would be to […]
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Blackmagic Design says tariffs have made camera price hikes ‘unavoidable’
Blackmagic Design says tariffs have made camera price hikes ‘unavoidable’ Blackmagic Design, an Australian digital cinematography camera company, has been forced to increase prices in the US due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The company was planning to build a new factory in Dallas, Texas, but tariffs on imported goods have made it […]
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On TikTok, Chinese factories are trolling anxious American shoppers
On TikTok, Chinese factories are trolling anxious American shoppers Chinese factories are creating viral TikTok videos showcasing their products at significantly lower prices than American consumers pay. The videos, which claim to show Chinese manufacturers producing popular brands like Hermès handbags and Lululemon activewear, have garnered millions of views on TikTok. The prices shown in […]
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Des Moines food pantries face spiking demand as the Iowa region’s SNAP enrollment declines
Des Moines food pantries face spiking demand as the Iowa region’s SNAP enrollment declines Food pantries in Iowa are facing record-breaking demand due to declining SNAP enrollment, which has dropped from 44% in 2020 to around 1 in 3 today. The decline in SNAP enrollment is placing more pressure on food pantries, as they struggle […]
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Negative reactions to hypocrisy serve a bigger purpose
Negative reactions to hypocrisy serve a bigger purpose A new theory explains our moral reaction to hypocrisy, suggesting that negative reactions serve a bigger purpose than just criticizing hypocritical behavior. The study, which combines elements of philosophy, psychology, and game theory, aims to distinguish genuine criticism from grandstanding opposition by understanding the function of hypocritical […]
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Experience the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Mission
Experience the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Mission NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission is launching on July 2025, carrying astronauts to the International Space Station for a science expedition. The launch will be attended by 50 social media users selected through NASA Social registration, who will have exclusive access to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida […]
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4chan’s ‘cesspool of the internet’ is down after apparently being hacked
4chan’s ‘cesspool of the internet’ is down after apparently being hacked 4chan’s website appears to be down after a reported hack that exposed its source code. The site, known for its notorious reputation and unverified rumors, has been the target of speculation about the nature of the attack. A user on a competing messaging board […]
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Volcanic ash is a silent killer, more so than lava: What Alaska needs to know with Mount Spurr likely to erupt
Volcanic ash is a silent killer, more so than lava: What Alaska needs to know with Mount Spurr likely to erupt Mount Spurr in Alaska is likely to erupt again in 2025, posing a significant threat to the region due to its potential to release large volumes of volcanic ash. Volcanic ash can be more […]
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25 years of Everglades restoration has improved drinking water for millions in Florida, but a new risk is rising
25 years of Everglades restoration has improved drinking water for millions in Florida, but a new risk is rising The Everglades, a vast wetland ecosystem in South Florida, has improved drinking water for millions but faces new challenges, including saltwater intrusion and phosphorus pollution. The region’s water supply and quality have been threatened by agricultural […]
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