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2025-12-24T17:00:00+00:00
We now know much more about how our ancestor 'Lucy' lived — and died
Fifty years after a fossil skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis was unearthed in Ethiopia, we know so much more about how this iconic species lived and died.
https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/we-now-know-much-more-about-how-our-ancestor-lucy-lived-and-died
Science
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2025-12-24T16:19:00+00:00
'It won’t be so much a ghost town as a zombie apocalypse': How AI might forever change how we use the internet
AI slop, chatbots and agentic AI are changing the internet, and could transform it beyond recognition, experts say.
https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/it-wont-be-so-much-a-ghost-town-as-a-zombie-apocalypse-how-ai-might-forever-change-how-we-use-the-internet
Science
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2025-12-24T14:34:09+00:00
Guess the number quiz: Can you work out these scientific numbers and constants and top the leaderboard?
Do you know your mathematical equations from your scientific constants? If you know your numbers then try our daily quiz.
https://www.livescience.com/physics-mathematics/guess-the-number-quiz-can-you-work-out-these-scientific-numbers-and-constants-and-top-the-leaderboard
Science
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2025-12-31T06:10:00+00:00
Walmart Promo Codes and Coupons: Up to 65% Off
Score $10 off with our Walmart coupon and shop flash deals up to 65% off today.
https://www.wired.com/story/top-walmart-promo-codes/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…ED-Coupons-6.jpg
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2025-12-31T06:00:00+00:00
Google Workspace Promo Code: Up to 14% Off in 2026
Boost your productivity and save with exclusive Google Workspace coupons from WIRED. Get up to 14% off plans for three months, including Starter, Standard, and Plus tiers.
https://www.wired.com/story/google-workspace-promo-code/
Technology
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2025-12-30T12:30:00+00:00
Commodore 64 Ultimate Review: An Astonishing Remake
The reborn Commodore 64 is an astonishing remake—but daunting if you weren’t there the first time around.
https://www.wired.com/review/commodore-64-ultimate/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…%20Commodore.jpg
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2025-12-30T12:00:00+00:00
What Is a Preamp, and Do I Really Need One?
If you’ve wondered what a preamplifier is, what it exactly does, and whether your audio setup is missing one, we’ve got the answers—as well as some of our top recommendations.
https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-a-preamp-and-do-i-really-need-one/
Technology
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2025-12-30T11:38:00+00:00
7 Best Digital Notebooks (2026): reMarkable, Kobo, Kindle
These nifty tools combine the ease of jotting notes by hand with the power of saving them digitally.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-smart-notebooks-and-smart-pens/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…x_reMarkable.jpg
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2025-12-30T11:00:00+00:00
The Great Big Power Play
US support for nuclear energy is soaring. Meanwhile, coal plants are on their way out and electricity-sucking data centers are meeting huge pushback. Welcome to the next front in the energy battle.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-nuclear-plants/
Technology
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2025-12-30T11:00:00+00:00
Tips for Keeping a Digital Diary and Why You Should
After 10 years of journaling, my only regret is not starting sooner.
https://www.wired.com/story/tips-for-keeping-a-digital-diary/
Technology
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2025-12-30T10:30:00+00:00
China Will Tax Contraceptives in a Bid to Improve Birth Rates
Amid historically low birth rates and economic pressures from its aging population, China will eliminate a decades-old tax exemption on contraceptives.
https://www.wired.com/story/china-to-tax-contraceptives/
Technology
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2025-12-29T13:00:00+00:00
iMP Tech Mini Arcade Pro Review: A Nintendo Switch Arcade Cabinet
A fun diversion for retro gaming on the Nintendo Switch 2—if you can stand to look at it.
https://www.wired.com/review/imp-mini-arcade-pro/
Technology
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2025-12-29T12:02:00+00:00
The Best Vacuum for Pet Hair—We Tested Many to Find Which Ones Work Best (2026)
Cordless, handheld, robot, and traditional—we tested them all to find the vacuum that’s fantastic for fur.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-pet-hair-vacuums/
Technology
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2025-12-29T12:00:00+00:00
The Worst Hacks of 2025
From university breaches to cyberattacks that shut down whole supply chains, these were the worst cybersecurity incidents of the year.
https://www.wired.com/story/worst-hacks-of-2025/
Technology
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2025-12-29T12:00:00+00:00
The Best Body Pillow, Tested and Reviewed (2025)
From the classic body pillow to unique shapes for optimal limb support, we tested a wide range of body pillows designed for side sleepers.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-body-pillows/
Technology
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2025-12-29T11:00:00+00:00
3 New Tricks to Try With Google Gemini Live After Its Latest Major Upgrade
Google's AI is now even smarter, and more versatile.
https://www.wired.com/story/3-tricks-google-gemini-live-latest-major-upgrade/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…d-2230409281.jpg
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2025-12-29T11:00:00+00:00
The New Surveillance State Is You
Privacy may be dead, but civilians are turning conventional wisdom on its head by surveilling the cops as much as the cops surveil them.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-surveillance-state/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…State-Is-You.jpg
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2025-12-29T10:30:00+00:00
The Most Dangerous People on the Internet in 2025
From Donald Trump to DOGE to Chinese hackers, this year the internet's chaos caused outsized real-world harm.
https://www.wired.com/story/most-dangerous-people-on-the-internet-2025/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…ple-internet.jpg
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2025-12-29T10:00:00+00:00
The Earth Is Nearing an Environmental Tipping Point
Today’s global coral bleaching events are the worst kind of climate warning.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-earth-is-nearing-an-environmental-tipping-point/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…IPPING-POINT.jpg
d5e4c0cfb6bdbce31f23a26ec0aa8609e4a2e17a1d2046f51c058839f8fed996
2025-12-29T07:00:00+00:00
Home Chef Promo Code: 50% Off
Enjoy up to 50% off deliveries, free meals, and more with the latest Home Chef coupons.
https://www.wired.com/story/home-chef-promo-code/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…ED-Coupons-5.jpg
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2025-12-28T13:09:00+00:00
How Much Melatonin Should You Be Taking? (2026)
Many people rely on the sleep aid melatonin to help them get a more restful night’s sleep. But is it safe? And how much is too much?
https://www.wired.com/story/how-much-melatonin-should-i-take-2026/
Technology
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2025-12-28T12:30:00+00:00
10 Best Drones (2025): Flight-Tested and Reviewed
Whether you want to battle Star Wars spaceships or shoot a cinematic masterpiece, one of these drones is going to be perfect for you.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-drones/
Technology
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2025-12-28T11:32:00+00:00
8 Best Plant-Based Meal Delivery Services and Kits (2025), Tested, Tasted, and Reviewed
Convenience isn’t just for meat eaters anymore. These plant-based meal kits and delivery services bring healthy preprepared meals and meal kits to your door.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-plant-based-meal-kit-services/
Technology
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2025-12-28T11:30:00+00:00
People Who Drink Bottled Water on a Daily Basis Ingest 90,000 More Microplastic Particles Each Year
Drinking water in plastic bottles contains countless particles too small to see. New research finds that people who drink water from them on a daily basis ingest far more microplastics than those who don’t.
https://www.wired.com/story/people-who-drink-bottled-water-on-a-daily-basis-ingest-90000-more-microplastics-per-year/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/photos/68ff77ac9c4c2a873e8d8e50/master/pass/866929570
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2025-12-28T11:00:00+00:00
Billion-Dollar Data Centers Are Taking Over the World
The battle for AI dominance has left a large footprint—and it’s only getting bigger and more expensive.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-data-centers/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…r_Takeover_3.jpg
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2025-12-28T10:00:00+00:00
The Dollar Is Facing an End to Its Dominance
Questions around the reliability of the US greenback are dulling the luster of what was the world’s currency of trade. New, global alternatives are emerging.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-dollar-is-facing-an-end-to-its-dominance/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…DOLLAR-VALUE.jpg
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2025-12-28T07:00:00+00:00
Behold the Manifold, the Concept that Changed How Mathematicians View Space
In the mid-19th century, Bernhard Riemann conceived of a new way to think about mathematical spaces, providing the foundation for modern geometry and physics.
https://www.wired.com/story/behold-the-manifold-the-concept-that-changed-how-mathematicians-view-space/
Technology
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2025-12-28T06:30:00+00:00
Therabody Promo Codes and Deals: Get 30% Off This Month
Save on the science-backed devices you’ve been eyeing with 15% off Theragun discount code and 30% off other great deals.
https://www.wired.com/story/therabody-promo-code/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…D-Coupons-15.jpg
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2025-12-28T06:00:00+00:00
Hungryroot Coupon Codes: 30% Off This Month
Get up to 30% off your first order and free gifts using a Hungryroot promo code today. Discover our best coupons and discounts to let you save on your healthy groceries as a new or returning customer.
https://www.wired.com/story/hungryroot-promo-code/
Technology
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2025-12-27T16:42:31+00:00
The Best After-Christmas Deals on Gear We've Tested (2025)
Money gifts burning a hole in your pocket? These deals on WIRED-tested gadgets and gizmos will stretch your dollars.
https://www.wired.com/story/after-christmas-deals-2025/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…Deals%202025.jpg
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2025-12-27T12:30:00+00:00
Hyperkin The Competitor Controller Review: A DualSense Copycat
This copycat controller can’t clone the PS5’s best features, but it’s a solid option for Xbox and PC gamers.
https://www.wired.com/review/hyperkin-the-competitor-controller/
Technology
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2025-12-27T12:00:00+00:00
The Environmental and Human Rights Costs of China’s Clean Energy Investments Abroad
Chinese companies have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy manufacturing investments overseas, but the projects are having significant social, environmental, and human rights impacts.
https://www.wired.com/story/chinas-clean-energy-investments-abroad-are-a-boon-for-climate-but-human-rights-and-the-environment-are-a-different-story/
Technology
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2025-12-27T12:00:00+00:00
The 48 Best Shows on Netflix, WIRED's Picks (December 2025)
Stranger Things, City of Shadows, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft are just a few of the shows you need to watch on Netflix this month.
https://www.wired.com/story/netflix-best-shows-this-week/
Technology
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2025-12-27T11:32:00+00:00
Tuft & Needle Original Hybrid Mattress Review: A Soft Landing
Choosing a mattress for your guest room, Airbnb, or VRBO rental is challenging. This hybrid is up for it.
https://www.wired.com/review/tuft-and-needle-original-hybrid/
Technology
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2025-12-27T11:00:00+00:00
So Long, GPT-5. Hello, Qwen
In the AI boom, chatbots and GPTs come and go quickly. (Remember Llama?) GPT-5 had a big year, but 2026 will be all about Qwen.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-gpt-5/
Technology
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2025-12-27T11:00:00+00:00
In Cryptoland, Memecoin Fever Gives Way to a Stablecoin Boom
In a year that began with a memecoin trading frenzy, stablecoins have emerged as the respectable face of the crypto industry.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-memecoins/
Technology
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2025-12-27T10:00:00+00:00
The US Must Stop Underestimating Drone Warfare
The future of conflict is cheap, rapidly manufactured, and tough to defend against.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-must-stop-underestimating-drone-warfare/
Technology
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2025-12-27T06:00:00+00:00
HelloFresh Coupon Codes: 55% Off + Free Meals
Get up to 55% off and free meal boxes using a HelloFresh coupon code today. Discover our best codes and discounts to let you save time and money.
https://www.wired.com/story/hellofresh-coupon/
Technology
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2025-12-26T12:00:00+00:00
Could You Use a Rowboat to Walk on the Seafloor Like Jack Sparrow?
In Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack and Will use an overturned dinghy to hold air underwater. Madness or brilliance?
https://www.wired.com/story/using-a-rowboat-to-walk-on-the-seafloor-like-jack-sparrow/
Technology
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2025-12-26T12:00:00+00:00
Ricoh GR IV Review: Everyone's Favorite Pocket Camera Gets Better
Ricoh’s cult-inspiring pocketable camera gets a small update, with important improvements in autofocus and image quality.
https://www.wired.com/review/ricoh-gr-iv-camera/
Technology
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2025-12-26T11:32:00+00:00
Sleep Number P6 Smart Bed Review: Advanced and Adaptive
This legacy brand brings its beds into the modern era with 100 firmness levels and in-depth sleep tracking.
https://www.wired.com/review/sleep-number-p6-smart-bed/
Technology
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2025-12-26T11:30:00+00:00
US Trade Dominance Will Soon Begin to Crack
Savvy countries will discover there’s a way to mitigate the harm incurred by Trump’s tariffs—and it’ll boost their own economies while making goods cheaper too.
https://www.wired.com/story/us-trade-dominance-will-begin-to-crack/
Technology
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2025-12-26T11:00:00+00:00
‘We Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’—Trump’s Mass Deportations Will Only Grow From Here
Militias and far-right extremists believed they would be central to Trump’s mass deportation plans. Instead he militarized law enforcement agencies.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-constitutional-sheriffs/
Technology
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2025-12-26T10:30:00+00:00
HP ZBook 8 Gli 14-Inch Review: An Unimpressive Workstation
Billed as a workstation (and priced accordingly), HP’s Zbook 8 falls short of dazzling.
https://www.wired.com/review/hp-zbook-8-gli-14-inch/
Technology
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2025-12-26T07:30:00+00:00
Purple Promo Codes and Deals: Up to 30% Off
On the hunt for the perfect mattress (and pillow)? Save on your soon-to-be favorite brand, Purple, with these coupons and deals.
https://www.wired.com/story/purple-promo-code/
Technology
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2025-12-25T20:00:00+00:00
The 40 Best Movies on HBO Max Right Now (January 2026)
One Battle After Another, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley are just a few of the movies you should be watching on HBO Max this month.
https://www.wired.com/story/best-movies-hbo-max-right-now/
Technology
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2025-12-25T12:30:00+00:00
How to Set Up a Smartphone for Elderly Loved Ones
Here's how to make iPhone and Android devices a little easier to use.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-set-up-smartphone-for-parents-grandparents/
Technology
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2025-12-25T11:00:00+00:00
The Gloves Are Off in the Fight for Your Right to Repair
This year, the right-to-repair movement got a boost from—surprisingly—big tech, tariffs, and economic downturn. But the companies controlling who fixes their stuff aren’t giving up that power willingly.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-right-to-repair/
Technology
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2025-12-25T11:00:00+00:00
2025’s Best Phones Were Also Its Wackiest
If anything, iPhones and Pixels are practically vanilla. The next generation is thinner, more transparent, and folds in half. That’s a good thing.
https://www.wired.com/story/expired-tired-wired-wacky-phones/
Technology
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2025-12-25T10:33:00+00:00
How a $200 Fake Fireplace From Home Depot Soothed My Soul
Research shows that watching a simulated fire may have real psychological benefits.
https://www.wired.com/story/turbro-suburbs-fireplace-rave-2025/
Technology
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2025-12-25T10:00:00+00:00
‘Wolf DNA’ Lurks in Many Modern Dog Breeds
Although wolf-canine interbreeding has been considered extremely rare, the latest research shows that many present-day canines carry a small amount of wolf genes.
https://www.wired.com/story/wolf-dna-lurks-in-many-modern-dog-breeds/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/photos/694569cf73ab74971a81d484/master/pass/1326569262
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2025-12-25T07:10:00+00:00
Tuft & Needle Promo Codes: 20% Off | December 2025
Save 20% on best-selling mattresses with our top Tuft & Needle coupon codes.
https://www.wired.com/story/tuft-and-needle-promo-code/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…Coupons-R2_4.png
4721d8078e04dd16dec630617b13abe31015a5eede4b242288f6f415eb1139d8
2025-12-25T06:10:00+00:00
Sealy Promo Code: Save $200 on Mattresses This Month
Whether you’re switching from springs to memory foam or just want to sleep cooler this summer, these Sealy mattress deals will have you waking up refreshed—and with cash left in your wallet.
https://www.wired.com/story/sealy-promo-code/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…oupons-R2_15.png
262826f70418fe62bb6fba5e997688d89f5940255c68f88d5838438160ee721c
2025-12-31T05:37:03+00:00
The phone is dead. Long live . . . what exactly?
"We're not going to be using iPhones in 10 years," Callaghan says flatly. "I kind of don't think we'll be using them in five years."
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/30/the-phone-is-dead-long-live-what-exactly/
Technology
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2025-12-30T18:00:00+00:00
Almost 80 European deep tech university spinouts reached $1B valuations or $100M in revenue in 2025
According to Dealroom’s European Spinout Report 2025, 76 European deep tech and life sciences spinouts have either reached $1 billion valuations, $100 million in revenue, or both.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/30/76-european-deep-tech-university-spinouts-reached-unicorn-or-centaur-status/
Technology
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2025-12-30T17:00:00+00:00
12 investors dish on what 2026 will bring for climate tech
After a tumultuous year, venture investors are still optimistic about climate tech's long-term prospects, especially as data centers continue to drive demand for electricity, manufacturing, and materials.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/30/12-investors-dish-on-what-2026-will-bring-for-climate-tech/
Technology
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9a80c897f7c84011576e11c64774e7c9a997bb8eef4e15112154fb0e26a3a78e
2025-12-30T16:00:00+00:00
The best AI-powered dictation apps of 2025
AI-powered dictation apps are useful for replying to emails, taking notes, and even coding through your voice
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/30/the-best-ai-powered-dictation-apps-of-2025/
Technology
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41ffe1bdaa6e9f45232f93b7170327c05cbae78171cf1d3f55bfebd7f59328e7
2025-12-30T15:30:24+00:00
VCs predict enterprises will spend more on AI in 2026 — through fewer vendors
Enterprises have been experimenting with AI tools for a few years. Investors predict they will start to pick winners in 2026.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/30/vcs-predict-enterprises-will-spend-more-on-ai-in-2026-through-fewer-vendors/
Technology
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661154c757408074864a06b1e779ae89004547d777a79b290b1e7f85a7abf103
2025-12-30T15:00:00+00:00
The top 26 consumer/edtech companies from Disrupt Startup Battlefield
Here is the full list of the consumer/edtech Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on what made us select them for the competition.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/30/the-top-26-consumer-edtech-companies-from-disrupt-startup-battlefield/
Technology
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35f3c3182c3725745a3ebebda1dc0667cd3e03caa3af6dd28f42e7beaa13a29b
2025-12-30T14:00:00+00:00
Here’s what you should know about the US TikTok deal
A number of investors are competing for the opportunity to purchase the app, and if a deal were to go through, the platform's U.S. business could have its valuation soar to upward of $60 billion.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/30/heres-whats-you-should-know-about-the-us-tiktok-deal/
Technology
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050217e97d991f633d3fdbbeff5ad926c565ab17be6d6c5ca62a5961bf85ce64
2025-12-30T05:39:08+00:00
Meta just bought Manus, an AI startup everyone has been talking about
Meta says it'll keep Manus running independently while weaving its agents into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, where Meta's own chatbot, Meta AI, is already available to users.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/meta-just-bought-manus-an-ai-startup-everyone-has-been-talking-about/
Technology
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5ca9983a56d5217ecd73b71d7ccc88f2ccbcd088afd8e75c791daf9170cdc2f5
2025-12-29T21:00:00+00:00
How to make your startup stand out in a crowded market, according to investors
At TechCrunch Disrupt, three investors took the stage to dissect what makes — and breaks — a pitch deck. Jyoti Bansal, a founder-turned-investor; Medha Agarwal of Defy; and Jennifer Neundorfer of January Ventures shared with the crowd their candid views on what works in a pitch deck — and what doesn't.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/vcs-spill-what-they-really-want-to-hear-in-a-founder-pitch/
Technology
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892f5bf8f0ae86a53e59498b3fa980a8e7cb9400a2b1d0f740f4c79147c4874f
2025-12-29T20:00:00+00:00
Social media follower counts have never mattered less, creator economy execs say
“I think that 2025 was the year where the algorithm completely took over, so followings stopped mattering entirely,” LTK CEO Amber Venz Box said.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/social-media-follower-counts-have-never-mattered-less-creator-economy-execs-say/
Technology
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76a773e5ddee9f12ac912aeb75c4bcf15d7469bb9b1783084cbda78a26390360
2025-12-29T19:00:00+00:00
2025 was the year AI got a vibe check
AI’s early-2025 spending spree featured massive raises and trillion-dollar infrastructure promises. By year’s end, hype gave way to a vibe check, with growing scrutiny over sustainability, safety, and business models.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/2025-was-the-year-ai-got-a-vibe-check/
Technology
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fa927c7a3735a14cc13195314b72f43d9db2605e584fe19f5d3e731269c2fe5d
2025-12-29T18:00:00+00:00
Plaud Note Pro is an excellent AI-powered recorder that I carry everywhere
Plaud Note Pro is a $179 notetaker, which is an excellent recording device first
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/plaud-note-pro-is-an-excellent-ai-powered-recorder-that-i-carry-everywhere/
Technology
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e06147cbeb73f97a9b428aae6d3bd10168ecb75b2c1e30769ffb711331695d50
2025-12-29T17:00:00+00:00
Why the electrical grid needs more software
The electrical grid is facing unprecedented stress from the addition of new data centers. Software could offer a cost-effective way to boost reliability and capacity.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/why-the-electrical-grid-needs-more-software/
Technology
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209fbda403f7d3686b65e07cb84de8770f45cd1f32cff6050ae6d8f4ac5f4b0f
2025-12-29T15:51:40+00:00
How to use the new ChatGPT app integrations, including DoorDash, Spotify, Uber, and others
Learn how to use Spotify, Canva, Figma, Expedia, and other apps directly in ChatGPT.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/how-to-use-the-new-chatgpt-app-integrations-including-doordash-spotify-uber-and-others/
Technology
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d5dd924ee58c06f0c006c139c6c8b86e554643b68e7458c433a7969b5c339fe6
2025-12-29T15:00:00+00:00
The 32 top enterprise tech startups from Disrupt Startup Battlefield
Here is the full list of the enterprise tech Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, along with a note on what made us select them for the competition.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/the-32-top-enterprise-tech-startups-from-disrupt-startup-battlefield/
Technology
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06dc2eecf3a7bde9fff9b3377c56eb6f5a18dfcf649b4ebf14df556ee5a0d948
2025-12-29T14:06:23+00:00
Samsung plans to bring Google Photos to its TVs in 2026
Samsung said that Memories features for Google Photos will be exclusive to its TVs for six months.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/samsung-plans-to-bring-google-photos-to-its-tvs-in-2026/
Technology
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f2967087dc1e9142b9250f34c7165c002ee2f1488698148dd13ecce315eda58b
2025-12-29T14:00:00+00:00
VCs predict strong enterprise AI adoption next year — again
More than 20 venture capitalists share their thoughts on AI agents, enterprise AI budgets, and more for 2026.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/vcs-predict-strong-enterprise-ai-adoption-next-year-again/
Technology
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ce32c3e29b154ed2fbb2697f78f5654ed12765ae1adb5cb58117f494990bce92
2025-12-29T10:00:00+00:00
You’ve been targeted by government spyware. Now what?
Tech companies are increasingly warning their customers that they have been targeted by governments with advanced government spyware, such as NSO's Pegasus or Paragon's Graphite. What happens after receiving a threat notification?
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/29/youve-been-targeted-by-government-spyware-now-what/
Technology
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e0e0c28468d01a8e8a339a5719ef6a6667a37f1bf67ef0847a97977d80e41e3c
2025-12-29T02:20:00+00:00
Sauron, the high-end home security startup for ‘super premium’ customers, plucks a new CEO out of Sonos
Sauron is appearing on the scene as concerns rise about crime among the most wealthy.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/28/from-sonos-to-sauron-new-ceo-takes-on-high-end-home-security-startup-still-in-development/
Technology
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f98b39efa35ddf47fd332721782eeb8456615f2cb12e6aabd032d4122cfa0af8
2025-12-28T21:52:52+00:00
Police charge driver who allegedly killed a pedestrian while livestreaming on TikTok
Local police said they have charged an Illinois driver who struck and killed a pedestrian while she was livestreaming on TikTok.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/28/police-charge-driver-who-allegedly-killed-a-pedestrian-while-livestreaming-on-tiktok/
Technology
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7b2629ab9ef441e5af6b967d48ee67ae446a16654fd723526bb092ae5b17359b
2025-12-30T21:30:04+00:00
The science of how (and when) we decide to speak out—or self-censor
Freedom of speech is a foundational principle of healthy democracies and hence a primary target for aspiring authoritarians, who typically try to squash dissent. There is a point where the threat from authorities is sufficiently severe that a population will self-censor rather than risk punishment. Social media has complicated matters, blurring traditional boundaries between public and private speech, while new technologies such as facial recognition and moderation algorithms give authoritarians powerful new tools. Researchers explored the nuanced dynamics of how people balance their desire to speak out vs their fear of punishment in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The authors had previously worked together on a model of political polarization, a project that wrapped up right around the time the social media space was experiencing significant changes in the ways different platforms were handling moderation. Some adopted a decidedly hands-off approach with little to no moderation. Weibo, on the other hand, began releasing the IP addresses of people who posted objectionable commentary, essentially making them targets. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/the-science-of-how-and-when-we-decide-to-speak-out-or-self-censor/
Technology
https://cdn.arstechnica.…ip_2-500x500.jpg
172ffa8d5f8660b728523b2d99edd312c234332fbb92c32be7ae0c04909d6b39
2025-12-30T20:45:34+00:00
Lawsuit over Trump rejecting medical research grants is settled
On Monday, the ACLU announced that it and other organizations representing medical researchers had reached a settlement in their suit against the federal government over grant applications that had been rejected under a policy that has since been voided by the court. The agreement, which still has to be approved by the judge overseeing the case, would see the National Institutes of Health restart reviews of grants that had been blocked on ideological grounds. It doesn't guarantee those grants will ultimately be funded, but it does mean they will go through the standard peer review process. The grants had previously been rejected without review because their content was ideologically opposed by the Trump administration. That policy has since been declared arbitrary and capricious, and thus in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act, a decision that was upheld by the Supreme Court. Immediately after taking office, the Trump Administration identified a number of categories of research, some of them extremely vague, that it would not be supporting: climate change, DEI, pandemic preparedness, gender ideology, and more. Shortly thereafter, federal agencies started cancelling grants that they deemed to contain elements of these disfavored topics, and blocking consideration of grant applications for the same reasons. As a result, grants were cancelled that funded everything from research into antiviral drugs to the incidence of prostate cancer in African Americans. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/feds-researchers-settle-suit-over-grants-blocked-by-now-illegal-order/
Technology
https://cdn.arstechnica.…0-1767120293.jpg
a7b9128fc6334ffd90a1e291fd09d8f29b88ce904adf3b21bdbb14f870ed1938
2025-12-30T20:30:01+00:00
DOGE did not find $2T in fraud, but that doesn’t matter, Musk allies say
Determining how "successful" Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) truly was depends on who you ask, but it's increasingly hard to claim that DOGE made any sizable dent in federal spending, which was its primary goal. Just two weeks ago, Musk himself notably downplayed DOGE as only being "a little bit successful" on a podcast, marking one of the first times that Musk admitted DOGE didn't live up to its promise. Then, more recently, on Monday, Musk revived evidence-free claims he made while campaigning for Donald Trump, insisting that government fraud remained vast and unchecked, seemingly despite DOGE's efforts. On X, he estimated that "my lower bound guess for how much fraud there is nationally is [about 20 percent] of the Federal budget, which would mean $1.5 trillion per year. Probably much higher." Musk loudly left DOGE in May after clashing with Trump, complaining that a Trump budget bill threatened to undermine DOGE's work. These days, Musk does not appear confident that DOGE was worth the trouble of wading into government. Although he said on the December podcast that he considered DOGE to be his "best side quest" ever, the billionaire confirmed that if given the chance to go back in time, he probably would not have helmed the agency as a special government employee. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/doge-did-not-find-2t-in-fraud-but-that-doesnt-matter-musk-allies-say/
Technology
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2b4481ad4a7ee9e9a65fbf63825dc16bc2932c35404507907058d85c763f6f19
2025-12-30T20:00:43+00:00
NJ’s answer to flooding: it has bought out and demolished 1,200 properties
MANVILLE, N.J.—Richard Onderko said he will never forget the terrifying Saturday morning back in 1971 when the water rose so swiftly at his childhood home here that he and his brother had to be rescued by boat as the torrential rain from the remnants of Hurricane Doria swept through the neighborhood. It wasn’t the first time—or the last—that the town endured horrific downpours. In fact, the working-class town of 11,000, about 25 miles southwest of Newark, has long been known for getting swamped by tropical storms, nor’easters or even just a wicked rain. It was so bad, Onderko recalled, that the constant threat of flooding had strained his parents’ marriage, with his mom wanting to sell and his dad intent on staying. Eventually, his parents moved to Florida, selling the two-story house on North Second Avenue in 1995. But the new homeowner didn’t do so well either when storms hit, and in 2015, the property was sold one final time: to a state-run program that buys and demolishes houses in flood zones and permanently restores the property to open space. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/as-floods-become-more-severe-a-new-jersey-program-provides-a-model/
Technology
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d7140bdd46629442e2d5c2d91776e3f3f7c74cd3f3a5a9308979793883ac65fc
2025-12-30T19:00:00+00:00
Stranger Things series finale trailer is here
Stranger Things fans are hyped for the premiere of the hotly anticipated series finale on New Year's Eve: they'll either be glued to their TVs or heading out to watch it in a bona fide theater. Netflix has dropped one last trailer for the finale—not that it really needs to do anything more to boost anticipation. (Some spoilers for Vols. 1 and 2 below but no major Vol. 2 reveals.) As previously reported, in Vol. 1, we found Hawkins under military occupation and Vecna targeting a new group of young children in his human form under the pseudonym “Mr. Whatsit” (a nod to A Wrinkle in Time). He kidnapped Holly Wheeler and took her to the Upside Down, where she found an ally in Max, still in a coma, but with her consciousness hiding in one of Vecna’s old memories. Dustin was struggling to process his grief over losing Eddie Munson in S4, causing a rift with Steve. The rest of the gang was devoted to stockpiling supplies and helping Eleven and Hopper track down Vecna in the Upside Down. They found Kali/Eight, Eleven’s psychic “sister” instead, being held captive in a military laboratory. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/culture/2025/12/stranger-things-series-finale-trailer-is-here/
Technology
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12e200975d98e94ce097e58902c6c3f01f3095d5eb8ec2c9beba87e2463779b2
2025-12-30T18:45:54+00:00
Condé Nast user database reportedly breached, Ars unaffected
Earlier this month, a hacker named Lovely claimed to have breached a Condé Nast user database and released a list of more than 2.3 million user records from our sister publication WIRED. The released materials contain demographic information (name, email, address, phone, etc.) but no passwords. The hacker also says that they will release an additional 40 million records for other Condé Nast properties, including our other sister publications Vogue, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and more. Of critical note to our readers, Ars Technica was not affected as we run on our own bespoke tech stack. The hacker said that they had urged Condé Nast to patch vulnerabilities to no avail. “Condé Nast does not care about the security of their users data,” the hacker wrote. “It took us an entire month to convince them to fix the vulnerabilities on their websites. We will leak more of their users’ data (40+ million) over the next few weeks. Enjoy!” Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/12/conde-nast-user-database-reportedly-breached-ars-unaffected/
Technology
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7f6e1af281f27fff0a00acbfd074f4ba12b8b9542bb3099837ab21aec60294e5
2025-12-30T15:00:56+00:00
Looking for friends, lobsters may stumble into an ecological trap
Lobsters are generally notable for their large claws, which can serve as a deterrent to any predators. But there's a whole family of spiny lobsters that lack these claws. They tend to ward off predators by forming large groups that collectively can present a lot of pointy bits towards anything attempting to eat them. In fact, studies found that the lobsters can sense the presence of other species-members using molecules emitted into the water, and use that to find peers to congregate with. A new study, however, finds that this same signal may lure young lobsters to their doom, causing them to try to congregate with older lobsters that are too big to be eaten by nearby predators. The smaller lobsters thus fall victim to a phenomenon called an "ecological trap," which has rarely been seen to occur without human intervention. The study was performed in the waters off Florida, where the seafloor is dotted by what are called "solution holes." These features are the product of lower sea levels such as those that occur during periods of expanded glaciers and ice caps. During these times, much of the area off Florida was above sea level, and water dissolved the limestone rocks unevenly. This created an irregular array of small shallow pits and crevices, many of which have been reshaped by sea life since the area was submerged again. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/looking-for-friends-lobsters-may-stumble-into-an-ecological-trap/
Technology
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00543f19ed38ddc7ebf4e54f6f70adeeef49e03cb1e1de92fa3c16dfa54f8fd4
2025-12-30T14:00:27+00:00
The top 5 most horrifying and fascinating medical cases of 2025
There were a lot of horrifying things in the news this year—a lot. But some of it was horrifying in a good way. Extraordinary medical cases—even the grisly and disturbing ones—offer a reprieve from the onslaught of current events and the stresses of our daily lives. With those remarkable reports, we can marvel at the workings, foibles, and resilience of the human body. They can remind us of the shared indignities from our existence in these mortal meatsacks. We can clear our minds of worry by learning about something we never even knew we should worry about—or by counting our blessings for avoiding so far. And sometimes, the reports are just grotesquely fascinating. Every year, there's a new lineup of such curious clinical conditions. There are always some unfortunate souls to mark medical firsts or present ultra-rare cases. There is also an endless stream of humans making poor life choices—and arriving at an emergency department with the results. This year was no different. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/12/the-top-5-most-horrifying-and-fascinating-medical-cases-of-2025/
Technology
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fbec881ed50d392692a37ec877d1e667e074e36d0af37d173c9dc280caba5fd4
2025-12-30T13:30:40+00:00
The 10 best vehicles Ars Technica drove in 2025
2025 has been a tumultuous year for the car world. After years of EV optimism, revanchists are pushing back against things like clean energy and fuel economy. Automakers have responded, postponing or canceling new electric vehicles in favor of gasoline-burning ones. It hasn't been all bad, though. Despite the changing winds, EV infrastructure continues to be built out and, anecdotally at least, feels far more reliable. We got to witness a pretty epic Formula 1 season right to the wire, in addition to some great sports car and Formula E racing. And we drove a whole bunch of cars, some of which stood out from the pack. Here are the 10 best things we sat behind the wheel of in 2025. Let's be frank: The supposed resurgence of Lotus hasn't exactly gone to plan. When Geely bought the British Automaker in 2017, many of us hoped that the Chinese company would do for Lotus what it did for Volvo, only in Hethel instead of Gothenburg. Even before tariffs and other protectionist measures undermined the wisdom of building new Lotuses in China, the fact that most of these new cars were big, heavy EVs had already made them a hard sell. But a more traditional Lotus exists and is still built in Norfolk, England: the Lotus Emira. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/12/the-10-best-vehicles-ars-technica-drove-in-2025/
Technology
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33d334717fcbaf8a9843da07c6739a6913285b98d90aa806768239c418a68e11
2025-12-29T21:30:29+00:00
US can’t deport hate speech researcher for protected speech, lawsuit says
Imran Ahmed's biggest thorn in his side used to be Elon Musk, who made the hate speech researcher one of his earliest legal foes during his Twitter takeover. Now, it's the Trump administration, which planned to deport Ahmed, a legal permanent resident, just before Christmas. It would then ban him from returning to the United States, where he lives with his wife and young child, both US citizens. After suing US officials to block any attempted arrest or deportation, Ahmed was quickly granted a temporary restraining order on Christmas Day. Ahmed had successfully argued that he risked irreparable harm without the order, alleging that Trump officials continue "to abuse the immigration system to punish and punitively detain noncitizens for protected speech and silence viewpoints with which it disagrees" and confirming that his speech had been chilled. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/us-cant-deport-hate-speech-researcher-for-protected-speech-lawsuit-says/
Technology
https://cdn.arstechnica.…0398-500x500.jpg
dcade2780dbf5ee36ecfb04c20a8a1a03c766eed88986f3e44297b524f9b169d
2025-12-29T19:30:47+00:00
Leonardo’s wood charring method predates Japanese practice
Yakisugi is a Japanese architectural technique for charring the surface of wood. It has become quite popular in bioarchitecture because the carbonized layer protects the wood from water, fire, insects, and fungi, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the wood. Yakisugi techniques were first codified in written form in the 17th and 18th centuries. But it seems Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci wrote about the protective benefits of charring wood surfaces more than 100 years earlier, according to a paper published in Zenodo, an open repository for EU funded research. As previously reported, Leonardo produced more than 13,000 pages in his notebooks (later gathered into codices), less than a third of which have survived. The notebooks contain all manner of inventions that foreshadow future technologies: flying machines, bicycles, cranes, missiles, machine guns, an “unsinkable” double-hulled ship, dredges for clearing harbors and canals, and floating footwear akin to snowshoes to enable a person to walk on water. Leonardo foresaw the possibility of constructing a telescope in his Codex Atlanticus (1490)—he wrote of “making glasses to see the moon enlarged” a century before the instrument’s invention. In 2003, Alessandro Vezzosi, director of Italy’s Museo Ideale, came across some recipes for mysterious mixtures while flipping through Leonardo’s notes. Vezzosi experimented with the recipes, resulting in a mixture that would harden into a material eerily akin to Bakelite, a synthetic plastic widely used in the early 1900s. So Leonardo may well have invented the first manmade plastic. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/did-one-line-in-a-leonardo-codex-anticipate-yakisugi/
Technology
https://cdn.arstechnica.…CROP-500x500.jpg
38e05aa5748989faa04c26332f935f7aeece2ec92a4a220f9abd47db00d80223
2025-12-29T19:00:42+00:00
Researchers make “neuromorphic” artificial skin for robots
The nervous system does an astonishing job of tracking sensory information, and does so using signals that would drive many computer scientists insane: a noisy stream of activity spikes that may be transmitted to hundreds of additional neurons, where they are integrated with similar spike trains coming from still other neurons. Now, researchers have used spiking circuitry to build an artificial robotic skin, adopting some of the principles of how signals from our sensory neurons are transmitted and integrated. While the system relies on a few decidedly not-neural features, it has the advantage that we have chips that can run neural networks using spiking signals, which would allow this system to integrate smoothly with some energy-efficient hardware to run AI-based control software. The nervous system in our skin is remarkably complex. It has specialized sensors for different sensations: heat, cold, pressure, pain, and more. In most areas of the body, these feed into the spinal column, where some preliminary processing takes place, allowing reflex reactions to be triggered without even involving the brain. But signals do make their way along specialized neurons into the brain, allowing further processing and (potentially) conscious awareness. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/researchers-make-neuromorphic-artificial-skin-for-robots/
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2025-12-29T16:30:45+00:00
China drafts world’s strictest rules to end AI-encouraged suicide, violence
China drafted landmark rules to stop AI chatbots from emotionally manipulating users, including what could become the strictest policy worldwide intended to prevent AI-supported suicides, self-harm, and violence. China's Cyberspace Administration proposed the rules on Saturday. If finalized, they would apply to any AI products or services publicly available in China that use text, images, audio, video, or "other means" to simulate engaging human conversation. Winston Ma, adjunct professor at NYU School of Law, told CNBC that the "planned rules would mark the world’s first attempt to regulate AI with human or anthropomorphic characteristics" at a time when companion bot usage is rising globally. In 2025, researchers flagged major harms of AI companions, including promotion of self-harm, violence, and terrorism. Beyond that, chatbots shared harmful misinformation, made unwanted sexual advances, encouraged substance abuse, and verbally abused users. Some psychiatrists are increasingly ready to link psychosis to chatbot use, the Wall Street Journal reported this weekend, while the most popular chatbot in the world, ChatGPT, has triggered lawsuits over outputs linked to child suicide and murder-suicide. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/china-drafts-worlds-strictest-rules-to-end-ai-encouraged-suicide-violence/
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2025-12-29T15:30:52+00:00
A quirky guide to myths and lore based in actual science
Earthquakes, volcanic eruption, eclipses, meteor showers, and many other natural phenomena have always been part of life on Earth. In ancient cultures that predated science, such events were often memorialized in myths and legends. There is a growing body of research that strives to connect those ancient stories with the real natural events that inspired them. Folklorist and historian Adrienne Mayor has put together a fascinating short compendium of such insights with Mythopedia: A Brief Compendium of Natural History Lore, from dry quicksand and rains of frogs to burning lakes, paleoburrows, and Scandinavian "endless winters." Mayor's work has long straddled multiple disciplines, but one of her specialities is best described as geomythology, a term coined in 1968 by Indiana University geologist Dorothy Vitaliano, who was interested in classical legends about Atlantis and other civilizations that were lost due to natural disasters. Her interest resulted in Vitaliano's 1973 book Legends of the Earth: Their Geologic Origins. Mayor herself became interested in the field when she came across Greek and Roman descriptions of fossils, and that interest expanded over the years to incorporate other examples of "folk science" in cultures around the world. Her books include The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy (2009), as well as Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, & the Scorpion Bombs (2022), exploring the origins of biological and chemical warfare. Her 2018 book, Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology, explored ancient myths and folklore about creating automation, artificial life, and AI, connecting them to the robots and other ingenious mechanical devices actually designed and built during that era. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/a-quirky-guide-to-myths-and-lore-based-in-actual-science/
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2025-12-29T15:10:16+00:00
GPS is vulnerable to jamming—here’s how we might fix it
In September 2025, a Widerøe Airlines flight was trying to land in Vardø, Norway, which sits in the country’s far eastern arm, some 40 miles from the Russian coast. The cloud deck was low, and so was visibility. In such gray situations, pilots use GPS technology to help them land on a runway and not the side of a mountain. But on this day, GPS systems weren’t working correctly, the airwaves jammed with signals that prevented airplanes from accessing navigation information. The Widerøe flight had taken off during one of Russia’s frequent wargames, in which the country’s military simulates conflict as a preparation exercise. This one involved an imaginary war with a country. It was nicknamed Zapad-2025—translating to “West-2025”—and was happening just across the fjord from Vardø. According to European officials, GPS interference was frequent in the runup to the exercise. Russian forces, they suspected, were using GPS-signal-smashing technology, a tactic used in non-pretend conflict, too. (Russia has denied some allegations of GPS interference in the past.) Without that guidance from space, and with the cloudy weather, the Widerøe plane had to abort its landing and continue down the coast away from Russia, to Båtsfjord, a fishing village. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/12/gps-is-vulnerable-to-jamming-heres-how-we-might-fix-it/
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2025-12-29T13:00:01+00:00
Remembering what Windows 10 did right—and how it made modern Windows more annoying
If you've been following our coverage for the last few years, you'll already know that 2025 is the year that Windows 10 died. Technically. "Died," because Microsoft's formal end-of-support date came and went on October 14, as the company had been saying for years. "Technically," because it's trivial for home users to get another free year of security updates with a few minutes of effort, and schools and businesses can get an additional two years of updates on top of that, and because load-bearing system apps like Edge and Windows Defender will keep getting updates through at least 2028 regardless. But 2025 was undoubtedly a tipping point for the so-called "last version of Windows." StatCounter data says Windows 11 has overtaken Windows 10 as the most-used version of Windows both in the US (February 2025) and worldwide (July 2025). Its market share slid from just over 44 percent to just under 31 percent in the Steam Hardware Survey. And now that Microsoft's support for the OS has formally ended, games, apps, and drivers are already beginning the gradual process of ending or scaling back official Windows 10 support. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/remembering-the-best-and-worst-about-windows-10-on-the-year-it-technically-died/
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2025-12-29T12:45:50+00:00
I switched to eSIM in 2025, and I am full of regret
SIM cards, the small slips of plastic that have held your mobile subscriber information since time immemorial, are on the verge of extinction. In an effort to save space for other components, device makers are finally dropping the SIM slot, and Google is the latest to move to embedded SIMs with the Pixel 10 series. After long avoiding eSIM, I had no choice but to take the plunge when the time came to review Google's new phones. And boy, do I regret it. SIM cards have existed in some form since the '90s. Back then, they were credit card-sized chunks of plastic that occupied a lot of space inside the clunky phones of the era. They slimmed down over time, going through the miniSIM, microSIM, and finally nanoSIM eras. A modern nanoSIM is about the size of your pinky nail, but space is at a premium inside smartphones. Enter, eSIM. The eSIM standard was introduced in 2016, slowly gaining support as a secondary option in smartphones. Rather than holding your phone number on a removable card, an eSIM is a programmable, non-removable component soldered to the circuit board. This allows you to store multiple SIMs and swap between them in software, and no one can swipe your SIM card from the phone. They also take up half as much space compared to a removable card, which is why OEMs have begun dropping the physical slot. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/i-switched-to-esim-in-2025-and-i-am-full-of-regret/
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a2685e9f5a4a01733278fa404435cb67b7c6df9d5e86657bc5d63da68e85559e
2025-12-29T12:00:29+00:00
Big Tech basically took Trump’s unpredictable trade war lying down
As the first year of Donald Trump's chaotic trade war winds down, the tech industry is stuck scratching its head, with no practical way to anticipate what twists and turns to expect in 2026. Tech companies may have already grown numb to Trump's unpredictable moves. Back in February, Trump warned Americans to expect "a little pain" after he issued executive orders imposing 10–25 percent tariffs on imports from America’s biggest trading partners, including Canada, China, and Mexico. Immediately, industry associations sounded the alarm, warning that the costs of consumer tech could increase significantly. By April, Trump had ordered tariffs on all US trade partners to correct claimed trade deficits, using odd math that critics suspected came from a chatbot. (Those tariffs bizarrely targeted uninhabited islands that exported nothing and were populated by penguins.) Costs of tariffs only got higher as the year wore on. But the tech industry has done very little to push back against them. Instead, some of the biggest companies made their own surprising moves after Trump's trade war put them in deeply uncomfortable positions. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/big-tech-basically-took-trumps-unpredictable-trade-war-lying-down/
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a0e9e7d260cea296083c6f75535f94d72b2192254c19917d03e32a3cdd0f85f7
2025-12-26T16:40:40+00:00
Embark on a visual voyage of art inspired by black holes
Black holes have long captured the imagination of both scientists and the general public. These exotic objects—once thought to be merely hypothetical—have also conceptually inspired countless artists all over the world. A generous sampling of such work is featured in Conjuring the Void: The Art of Black Holes. Author Lynn Gamwell spent ten years as director of the New York Academy of Science's Gallery of Art and Science. She has an extensive background writing about the intersection of math, art, and science. So she was a natural choice to speak at the annual conference of Harvard's interdisciplinary Black Hole Initiative a few years ago. Gamwell focused her talk on the art of black holes, and thus the seeds for what would become Conjuring the Void were sown. "I was just astounded at how much art there is [about black holes], and I was specifically interested in Asian art," Gamwell told Ars. "There's just something about the concept of a black hole that resonates with the Eastern tradition. So many of the themes—the science of black holes, void, nothingness, being inescapable—relate to the philosophy of Buddhism and Taoism and so on." Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/embark-on-a-visual-voyage-of-art-inspired-by-black-holes/
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c36ce679ea58eef612e9397a46972b2b5d6e80aec83f410e288948bbc58970ba
2025-12-26T13:35:38+00:00
In the ’90s, Wing Commander: Privateer made me realize what kind of games I love
Ever since 1993, I think I've unconsciously judged almost every game by how well it can capture how Wing Commander: Privateer made me feel. Steam and PlayStation (the two platforms I use the most) have been doing a year-in-review summary akin to the wildly popular Spotify Wrapped for the past few years. Based on these, I can report that my most-played games in 2025 were, from most hours down: With the exceptions of Civilization VII and Unreal Tournament, every one of those games is some kind of open-world experience that's all about immersing you in a far-flung land (or galaxy). Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/12/in-the-90s-wing-commander-privateer-made-me-realize-what-kind-of-games-i-love/
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7fe75970e3322fdc942f07781da86d179ce8efbf903162fa5d0781ba4272b680
2025-12-30T22:51:53+00:00
Lady Loki Might Be the Most Impressive ‘Marvel Rivals’ Skin Yet
The trickster goddess descends on 'Rivals' in style later this week.
https://gizmodo.com/marvel-rivals-lady-loki-skin-price-release-date-2000704548
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6dd75ee5ae00c49542136604123dee589357a20c0aaf58f65524f3e7a282adf0
2025-12-30T22:15:06+00:00
Disney to Pay $10 Million After Feds Say It Broke Kids’ Privacy Rules on YouTube
The DOJ accused Disney of mislabeling videos aimed at children, resulting in targeted ads and unlawful data collection.
https://gizmodo.com/disney-to-pay-10-million-after-feds-say-it-broke-kids-privacy-rules-on-youtube-2000704462
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cb0e21829b5934f7d3d3f2e745828209256a9f74cf644a5442bcf349ac14a975
2025-12-30T21:50:25+00:00
After ‘Pluribus’, Revisit Rhea Seehorn’s Next Best Genre Role: ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Tutorial Sorceress
Carol Sturka's career as a romantasy author suddenly makes a lot more sense.
https://gizmodo.com/after-pluribus-revisit-rhea-seehorns-next-best-genre-role-magic-the-gathering-tutorial-sorceress-2000704456
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4ea296a3156c8c39c4b16029125752ebf1c5de1dad2212a9457cff998f27f005
2025-12-30T21:20:59+00:00
DOGE Cuts and Borked Code Delay Important Energy Report
The ghost of Elon continues to haunt the federal government.
https://gizmodo.com/doge-cuts-and-borked-code-delay-important-energy-report-2000704413
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1ddb79fed55886354d7a1c4714d7e296411f9f7970f4aceb54464ed8a90e759e
2025-12-30T20:45:51+00:00
A Deadly, Drug-Resistant Fungus Threatens People Around the World, Scientists Warn
The global burden of Candida auris has been increasing since its discovery in 2009, a new review finds.
https://gizmodo.com/a-deadly-super-fungus-is-on-the-rise-scientists-warn-2000704305
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faf79e13a65aefd4529c2d739d8f23bed04ec9f27376afa6fb0912cbef0fcc2b
2025-12-30T20:30:26+00:00
George Clooney Would Like You to Remember ‘Batman Has Nipples, Dude’
The star of 1997's 'Batman & Robin' looks back on his superhero moment—and that infamous costume.
https://gizmodo.com/george-clooney-batman-and-robin-nipples-2000704408
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a8e983f3435f0cfd9bb736e7d934854f8565aca1e79cdc086fbf5a50c5077698
2025-12-30T20:15:38+00:00
Nepal Is Throwing Out Its Decade-Old Scheme to Clean Mount Everest
The world’s tallest peak has a serious trash problem. Officials hope a revised cleanup plan could finally make a difference.
https://gizmodo.com/nepal-is-throwing-out-its-decade-long-scheme-to-clean-mount-everest-2000704407
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