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‘Who controls the present controls the past’: What Orwell’s ‘1984’ explains about the twisting of history to control the public
‘Who controls the present controls the past’: What Orwell’s ‘1984’ explains about the twisting of history to control the public President Donald Trump’s efforts to rewrite America’s official history are deeply Orwellian, as they aim to suppress the voices of historically excluded groups and create a glorified narrative that reflects his own power. The Trump […]
🏛️ Politics
Why it’s so hard to tell if a piece of text was written by AI – even for AI
Why it’s so hard to tell if a piece of text was written by AI – even for AI AI-generated text has become increasingly difficult to distinguish from human-written text, making it challenging for institutions to enforce rules governing its use. The detection of AI-generated text relies on complex algorithms and background assumptions that can […]
💻 Technology
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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Even before they can read, young children are visualizing letters and other objects with the same strategies adults use
Even before they can read, young children are visualizing letters and other objects with the same strategies adults use Young children as young as 3 years old are using the same problem-solving strategies as adults when solving mental rotation tasks, such as visualizing objects spinning or flipping in space. Research using eye-tracking technology found that […]
🔬 Science
Banks retreat from climate change commitments – but it’s business more than politics
Banks retreat from climate change commitments – but it’s business more than politics Banks that joined net-zero alliances to combat climate change have largely retreated from their commitments due to business interests over politics, with fossil fuels continuing to be profitable and loans to oil and gas companies surging. The collapse of these alliances was […]
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What is DNS? A computer engineer explains this foundational piece of the web – and why it’s the internet’s Achilles’ heel
What is DNS? A computer engineer explains this foundational piece of the web – and why it’s the internet’s Achilles’ heel DNS (Domain Name System) is the internet’s “phone book” that translates names into IP addresses, but recent outages have highlighted its vulnerability. A recent AWS outage on Oct. 20, 2025, showed how DNS failures […]
💻 Technology
From help to harm: How the government is quietly repurposing everyone’s data for surveillance
From help to harm: How the government is quietly repurposing everyone’s data for surveillance The US government is quietly repurposing personal data for surveillance through various means, including executive orders and public-private partnerships. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to sensitive databases, including those of the Internal Revenue Service, and is […]
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Fed lowers interest rates as it struggles to assess state of US economy without key government data
Fed lowers interest rates as it struggles to assess state of US economy without key government data The Federal Reserve (Fed) lowered interest rates by a quarter point at its latest monetary policy meeting due to the ongoing federal shutdown, which has limited access to key economic data. The Fed is struggling to assess the […]
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‘Flagging’ shows promise against tough cancers
‘Flagging’ shows promise against tough cancers Researchers have developed a new treatment approach called “flagging” that uses synthetic antigens to teach the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, offering promise against tough-to-treat cancers like brain, breast, and colon tumors. The experimental therapy works by marking tumor cells with a synthetic antigen delivered via […]
🏥 Health
Disney deleted a Thread because people kept putting anti-fascist quotes from its movies in the replies
Disney deleted a Thread because people kept putting anti-fascist quotes from its movies in the replies Disney posted on Threads asking users to share a Disney quote that sums up their current mood. People responded by sharing anti-fascist quotes from various Disney movies, including Star Wars and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The quotes were […]
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Instability in childhood can lead to health problems later
Instability in childhood can lead to health problems later Instability in childhood can lead to mental and physical health issues later in life, according to new research. Unpredictable environments, such as frequent partner changes or chaotic households, are linked to poor behavior and mental instability in children as they grow up. Homes with consistent coparenting […]
🏥 Health
Polytechnic universities focus on practical, career-oriented skills, offering an alternative to traditional universities
Polytechnic universities focus on practical, career-oriented skills, offering an alternative to traditional universities Polytechnic universities are shifting the focus from traditional liberal arts colleges to career-oriented skills, offering an alternative to four-year degrees. The gap between available skilled jobs and workers is expected to push employers to rethink what they require from job candidates, making […]
📚 Education
TikTok is getting its own version of community notes
TikTok is getting its own version of community notes TikTok has announced “Footnotes,” its own version of community notes, which allows users to contribute to moderation and add relevant information to content on the platform. US users can apply to become Footnotes contributors starting today, as long as they meet TikTok’s requirements, including being 18 […]
💻 Technology
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4695-4701: Searching for Answers at Monte Grande
Curiosity Blog, Sols 4695-4701: Searching for Answers at Monte Grande Curiosity has successfully drilled its 44th hole on Mars, marking a major milestone in investigating the “boxwork unit” region surrounding pits or “hollows” of less-resistant rock. The drilling took place within the “Monte Grande” hollow at the “Valle de la Luna” target and involved transferring […]
🔬 Science
Susan Monarez, Trump’s nominee for CDC director, faces an unprecedented and tumultuous era at the agency
Susan Monarez, Trump’s nominee for CDC director, faces an unprecedented and tumultuous era at the agency The Trump administration laid off thousands more employees at the CDC on April 1, 2025, as part of its workforce reduction. Anadolu/Getty Images The job of director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carries immense responsibility for […]
📰 News
Mitochondria can sense bacteria and trigger your immune system to trap them – revealing new ways to treat infections and autoimmunity
Mitochondria can sense bacteria and trigger your immune system to trap them – revealing new ways to treat infections and autoimmunity Mitochondria have been found to play a key role in sensing bacterial activity and helping neutrophils trap and kill bacteria, revealing new ways to treat infections and autoimmunity. The mitochondria can detect specific bacterial […]
🏥 Health
German Startup n8n Raises $180M and Reaches a Valuation of $2.5B
German Startup n8n Raises $180M and Reaches a Valuation of $2.5B N8n, a German startup that helps businesses deploy AI agents, has raised $180 million, valuing it at $2.5 billion. The funding was led by venture firm Accel and Nvidia Corp.’s NVentures, with plans to use the funds to hire additional staff and enhance its […]
💻 Technology
We surveyed 1,500 Florida kids about cellphones and their mental health – what we learned suggests school phone bans may have important but limited effects
We surveyed 1,500 Florida kids about cellphones and their mental health – what we learned suggests school phone bans may have important but limited effects Surveying 1,500 Florida kids aged 11-13 found that banning cellphones in schools may have limited effects on mental health and academic performance. Only 31% of kids reported feeling relief when […]
📰 News
Former Disney employee sentenced to three years for menu hacking
Former Disney employee sentenced to three years for menu hacking A former Disney employee, Michael Scheuer, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for menu hacking and other cybercrimes. Scheuer altered Disney’s restaurant menus by adding or replacing allergen information, swapping fonts, and renaming dishes, which could have misled customers about food safety. […]
📰 News
People fear AI taking jobs more than AI threatening humanity
People fear AI taking jobs more than AI threatening humanity A new study by the University of Zurich found that people are more concerned about immediate risks posed by AI than theoretical future threats to humanity. Respondents showed a clear distinction between abstract scenarios and specific tangible problems, prioritizing the latter over hypothetical dangers. The […]
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Amazon has reportedly canceled its LOTR MMO
Amazon has reportedly canceled its LOTR MMO Amazon has reportedly canceled its Lord of the Rings (LOTR) MMO, which was being developed in partnership with Embracer. The cancellation comes as part of Amazon’s significant layoffs and restructuring efforts, affecting various game development teams, including those working on New World and the LOTR MMO. Amazon will […]
💻 Technology
Widespread layoffs highlight impact of artificial intelligence
Widespread layoffs highlight impact of artificial intelligence Major companies like Amazon, UPS, and Salesforce are laying off thousands of employees. The layoffs are partly attributed to the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in these industries. As AI becomes more prevalent, it’s transforming the American workforce, leading to job losses in various sectors. The impact […]
💻 Technology
YouTube TV, ESPN, and Disney: the latest on the blackout
YouTube TV, ESPN, and Disney: the latest on the blackout ESPN, ABC, Nat Geo, and over 20 other Disney-owned channels went dark on YouTube TV due to a contract dispute between Google and Disney. Google accuses Disney of trying to raise prices for its customers to boost its own Hulu + Live TV and Fubo […]
📰 News
Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981 − it pushed program underground and spurred Saddam Hussein’s desire for nukes
Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981 − it pushed program underground and spurred Saddam Hussein’s desire for nukes Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981, which pushed Saddam Hussein’s nuclear ambitions underground and spurred his desire for nukes. The attack on the Osirak reactor was initially seen as a success by many, […]
🏛️ Politics
Adding more green space to a campus is a simple, cheap and healthy way to help millions of stressed and depressed college students
Adding more green space to a campus is a simple, cheap and healthy way to help millions of stressed and depressed college students Adding more green space to a campus can help alleviate stress and depression among college students, who are already struggling with anxiety and mental health issues. A study by researchers at Texas […]
🏥 Health
Figma tells AI startup to stop using the term ‘Dev Mode’
Figma tells AI startup to stop using the term ‘Dev Mode’ Figma has sent a cease-and-desist warning to AI startup Loveable, demanding that they stop using the term “Dev Mode” due to Figma’s successful trademarking of the term in November last year. The term “Dev Mode” is commonly used across various software platforms and companies, […]
💻 Technology
Craig Federighi confirms Apple’s first attempt at an AI Siri wasn’t good enough
Craig Federighi confirms Apple’s first attempt at an AI Siri wasn’t good enough Apple delayed its upgraded Siri, initially planned for release after WWDC 2024, due to concerns over reliability and quality. The company’s SVP of software, Craig Federighi, stated that the initial version didn’t meet Apple’s standards, citing an “error rate that we felt […]
💻 Technology
Insects are everywhere in farming and research − but insect welfare is just catching up
Insects are everywhere in farming and research − but insect welfare is just catching up Employees sort crickets by size at a farm in Thailand. AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit Did you know your lipstick might be made from beetles? Or that some cat food may soon be made from flies? People farm insects for all sorts […]
🔬 Science
Stop the ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ snap judgments and watch your world become more interesting
Stop the ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ snap judgments and watch your world become more interesting Stop making snap judgments of “good” or “bad” to experience more interesting and nuanced aspects of life. When you filter everything through a “good” or “bad” lens, you miss out on opportunities for curiosity, exploration, and cognitive engagement. By resisting the […]
📰 Uncategorized
‘Cook chose poorly’: how Apple blew up its control over the App Store
‘Cook chose poorly’: how Apple blew up its control over the App Store A federal judge has ruled that Apple deliberately failed to comply with a court order to loosen its grip on the App Store, which was established in 2021. The ruling states that Apple chose an anticompetitive option at every step of complying […]
📰 News