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2026-01-21T10:30:00+00:00
Meta Seeks to Bar Mentions of Mental Health—and Zuckerberg’s Harvard Past—From Child Safety Trial
The trial starts soon in New Mexico’s case against Meta—and the company is pulling out all the stops to protect its reputation.
https://www.wired.com/story/meta-child-safety-trial-ask-judge-bar-mental-health-harvard/
Technology
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2026-01-21T10:00:00+00:00
The AI Boom Will Increase US Carbon Emissions—but It Doesn’t Have To
A new analysis finds that data centers’ energy demands will drastically increase power plant emissions over the next decade. Renewables, though, could cut them while helping keep prices from rising.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-ai-boom-will-increase-us-carbon-emissions-but-it-doesnt-have-to/
Technology
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2026-01-20T22:33:45+00:00
Super Savings on This Unique Air Fryer That Cooks Food in Heatproof Glass
Ninja turns the air fryer on its head with the semi-portable Crispi.
https://www.wired.com/story/ninja-crispi-deal-126/
Technology
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2026-01-20T20:34:41+00:00
7 Best All-Clad Deals From the Factory Seconds Sale (2026)
All-Clad cookware is fantastic and expensive. This sale makes it more accessible.
https://www.wired.com/story/all-clad-factory-seconds-sale-january-2026/
Technology
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2026-01-20T19:51:45+00:00
‘Veronika’ Is the First Cow Known to Use a Tool
This is the first recorded instance of a bovine using tools from her environment to relieve an itch—leaving scientists astonished.
https://www.wired.com/story/veronika-is-the-first-cow-known-to-use-a-tool/
Technology
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2026-01-20T19:12:15+00:00
ICE Details a New Minnesota-Based Detention Network That Spans 5 States
Internal ICE planning documents propose spending up to $50 million on a privately run network capable of shipping immigrants in custody hundreds of miles across the Upper Midwest.
https://www.wired.com/story/ice-detention-network-minnesota-5-states/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:30:00+00:00
Jimmy Wales Will Never Edit Donald Trump’s Wikipedia Page: He ‘Makes Me Insane’
On this week’s episode of The Big Interview podcast, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales talks about maintaining neutrality in an online ecosystem increasingly hostile to facts.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-big-interview-podcast-jimmy-wales/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
Your First Humanoid Robot Coworker Will Probably Be Chinese
Explosive acceleration, limited dexterity, eyes in the back of its head. What could possibly go wrong?
https://www.wired.com/story/china-humanoid-robot-coworkers/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
You’ve Never Heard of China’s Greatest Sci-Fi Novel
Millions of words. Thousands of authors. The Morning Star of Lingao is barely known outside China—but it contains the secret to the country’s modernization and malaise.
https://www.wired.com/story/china-sci-fi-morning-star-lingao/
Technology
https://media.wired.com/…r_WuMeiChi_1.jpg
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
Thousands of Companies Are Driving China’s AI Boom. A Government Registry Tracks Them All
How the Cyberspace Administration of China inadvertently made a guide to the country’s homegrown AI revolution.
https://www.wired.com/story/china-ai-boom-algorithm-registry/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
China’s Renewable Energy Revolution Is a Huge Mess That Might Save the World
A global onslaught of cheap Chinese green power is upending everything in its path. No one is ready for its repercussions.
https://www.wired.com/story/china-renewable-energy-revolution/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
China’s AI Boyfriend Business Is Taking On a Life of Its Own
Gen Z women in China are all in on digital companionship—even setting up dates with real-world versions of their AI boyfriends.
https://www.wired.com/story/china-ai-boyfriends/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
23 Ways You’re Already Living in the Chinese Century
The robotics explosion. The energy revolution. The cultural takeover. It’s everything you wanted for the United States—but done better in China.
https://www.wired.com/china-issue/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
How China’s ‘Crystal Capital’ Cornered the Market on a Western Obsession
Decades ago, Donghai was a backwater county. Today, thanks to an army of 24/7 livestreamers, it orchestrates a multibillion-dollar global industry.
https://www.wired.com/story/china-crystal-capital/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
Chinese EV Batteries Are Eating the World
China’s lithium batteries aren’t always “made in China.” Companies like BYD and CATL are building factories on nearly every continent.
https://www.wired.com/story/chinese-ev-batteries/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
She Was Given Up by Her Chinese Parents—and Spent 14 Years Trying to Find a Way Back
More and more Chinese adoptees in the US are trying to reunite with their birth parents. For Youxue, it took more than a decade, and a remarkable coincidence.
https://www.wired.com/story/china-adoption-birth-parents/
Technology
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2026-01-20T11:00:00+00:00
He Went to Prison for Gene-Editing Babies. Now He’s Planning to Do It Again
Chinese scientist He Jiankui wants to end Alzheimer’s and thinks Silicon Valley is conducting a “Nazi eugenic experiment.”
https://www.wired.com/story/china-he-jiankui-gene-editing-alzheimers/
Technology
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2026-01-19T13:00:00+00:00
Are DJI Drones Still Banned? (2026)
Can you still buy a DJI drone in the US? (Yes.) Will you be able to buy future drones? (Maybe.) Here are the current DJI dos and don’ts.
https://www.wired.com/story/whats-going-on-with-the-dji-drone-ban/
Technology
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2026-01-19T11:33:00+00:00
How to Clean Your Keurig (and When)
Your pod coffee maker can get gross over time. Here’s how to clean it up.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-clean-keurig/
Technology
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2026-01-19T11:30:15+00:00
Dumbphone Owners Have Lost Their Minds
All my Gen Z friends want to ditch their smartphones. It’s cool. They’re cool. But there’s more at stake than they think.
https://www.wired.com/story/dumbphone-owners-have-literally-lost-their-minds/
Technology
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2026-01-19T11:00:00+00:00
The Search for Alien Artifacts Is Coming Into Focus
From surveys of the pre-Sputnik skies to analysis of interstellar visitors, scientists are rethinking how and where to look for physical traces of alien technology.
https://www.wired.com/story/the-search-for-alien-artifacts-is-coming-into-focus/
Technology
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2026-01-19T10:00:00+00:00
Capturing the Moment a White Dwarf Exploded
A research team has successfully imaged a nova in high resolution—and the images suggest that the nova was not a single, impulsive explosion.
https://www.wired.com/story/capturing-the-moment-a-white-dwarf-exploded/
Technology
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2026-01-19T07:00:00+00:00
The Race to Build the DeepSeek of Europe Is On
As Europe’s long-standing alliance with the US falters, its push to become a self-sufficient AI superpower has become more urgent.
https://www.wired.com/story/europe-race-us-deepseek-sovereign-ai/
Technology
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2026-01-18T12:00:00+00:00
15 Best Electric Bikes (2026), Tested and Reviewed: Commuting, Mountain Biking
We tested the best electric bikes in every category, from commuters and mountain bikes to foldables and cruisers.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-electric-bikes/
Technology
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2026-01-18T11:30:00+00:00
5 Best Water Leak Detectors (2026), Tested and Reviewed
Don’t let busted pipes or an overflowing washing machine dampen your day. These WIRED-tested smart water sensors can help you catch problems quicker.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-water-leak-detectors/
Technology
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2026-01-18T11:00:00+00:00
People Still Aren’t Into Buying Cars Online
A new report shows that only 7 percent of new-car buyers in the US completed their purchase online, despite a major push by automakers, Amazon, and others to move past the dealership.
https://www.wired.com/story/people-still-arent-into-buying-cars-online/
Technology
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2026-01-18T11:00:00+00:00
Jones Hovercraft 2.0 Snowboard Review: For Big Powder Days
Jeremy Jones’ sustainable snowboard is unbelievably fun in deep powder, steeps, and trees.
https://www.wired.com/review/jones-hovercraft-20-snowboard/
Technology
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2026-01-18T10:31:00+00:00
6 Best Juicers (2026): Fast Juicers and Slow Juicers
Stay hydrated with tried-and-tested juicers for refreshing daytime beverages and eye-brightening evening drinks.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/the-best-juicer/
Technology
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2026-01-18T10:04:00+00:00
Personal Comfort’s the Rejuvenate Review: Have It Your Way
Memory foam layers, 45 firmness levels, and a library of specialty size options set this adjustable mattress apart.
https://www.wired.com/review/personal-comfort-rejuvenate/
Technology
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a2f7e7db91029690a525df97de5ed4d794ea28c672ca1efaa7e6685f120ab501
2026-01-21T07:21:32+00:00
Snap reaches settlement in social media addiction lawsuit
Snap is still a defendant in similar cases related to social media addiction.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/snap-reaches-settlement-in-social-media-addiction-lawsuit/
Technology
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2026-01-21T06:23:46+00:00
Amagi slides in India debut, as cloud TV software firm tests investor appetite
Amagi shares debuted at a 12% discount, offering an early read on investor demand for a rare type of tech listing in India.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/amagi-slides-in-india-debut-as-cloud-tv-software-firm-tests-investor-appetite/
Technology
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2026-01-21T02:00:00+00:00
Bolna nabs $6.3M from General Catalyst for its India-focused voice orchestration platform
Bolna said that 75% of its revenue is coming from self-serve customers.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/bolna-nabs-6-3-million-from-general-catalyst-for-its-india-focused-voice-orchestration-platform/
Technology
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2026-01-21T01:39:58+00:00
Anthropic’s CEO stuns Davos with Nvidia criticism
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei unloaded on both the administration and U.S. chip companies over plans to sell to China. The criticism was particularly notable because one of those chipmakers, Nvidia, is a major partner and investor in Anthropic.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/anthropics-ceo-stuns-davos-with-nvidia-criticism/
Technology
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2026-01-21T00:47:09+00:00
Netflix to redesign its app as it competes with social platforms for daily engagement
At the center of the redesign is deeper integration of vertical video feeds, which the streaming giant has been experimenting with since May.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/netflix-to-redesign-its-app-as-it-competes-with-social-platforms-for-daily-engagement/
Technology
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2026-01-20T23:36:32+00:00
One-time hot insurance tech Ethos poised to be first tech IPO of the year
Ethos was backed by a who's who of VCs and celebs through 2021. It is currently profitable, it says.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/one-time-hot-insurance-tech-ethos-poised-to-be-first-tech-ipo-of-the-year/
Technology
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2026-01-20T23:29:56+00:00
In an effort to protect young users, ChatGPT will now predict how old you are
The feature is designed to stop problematic content from being delivered to users under the age of 18.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/in-an-effort-to-protect-young-users-chatgpt-will-now-predict-how-old-you-are/
Technology
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2026-01-20T22:10:41+00:00
Elon Musk says Tesla’s restarted Dojo3 will be for ‘space-based AI compute’
Tesla aims to restart work on Dojo3, its previously abandoned third-generation AI chip. Only this time, Dojo3 won’t be aimed at training self-driving models on Earth. Instead, Musk says it will be dedicated to “space-based AI compute.”
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/elon-musk-says-teslas-restarted-dojo3-will-be-for-space-based-ai-compute/
Technology
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2026-01-20T21:37:09+00:00
X open sources its algorithm while facing a transparency fine and Grok controversies
In a post to GitHub on Tuesday, the social media giant purported to share its secret sauce.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/x-open-sources-its-algorithm-while-facing-a-transparency-fine-and-grok-controversies/
Technology
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2026-01-20T21:32:47+00:00
Luminar founder Austin Russell agrees to accept subpoena in bankruptcy case
The agreement comes two weeks after Luminar accused its billionaire founder of dodging information requests, as it evaluates potential legal claims.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/luminar-founder-austin-russell-agrees-to-accept-subpoena-in-bankruptcy-case/
Technology
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2026-01-20T21:30:00+00:00
Why Serve Robotics is acquiring a hospital assistant robot company
Diligent Robotics is a startup that builds robots designed to assist in hospitals by delivering lab samples, supplies, and other tasks. The deal values Diligent's common stock at $29 million.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/why-serve-robotics-is-acquiring-a-hospital-assistant-robot-company/
Technology
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2026-01-20T20:56:25+00:00
Trump administration admits DOGE may have misused Americans’ Social Security data
The revelation comes as part of a series of corrections in a legal case over DOGE’s access to Social Security Administration data.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/trump-administration-admits-doge-may-have-misused-americans-social-security-data/
Technology
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2026-01-20T20:47:47+00:00
UStrive security lapse exposed personal data of its users, including children
The online mentoring site UStrive exposed email addresses, phone numbers, and other non-public information to other logged-in users. The nonprofit told TechCrunch that the issue is now fixed, but wouldn't commit to alerting affected individuals.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/ustrive-security-lapse-exposed-personal-data-of-its-users-including-children/
Technology
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2026-01-20T20:27:30+00:00
Ethernovia raises $90M as investors rush to fund ‘physical AI’
The automotive-focused company is looking to expand its Ethernet-based processors to fields like robotics.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/ethernovia-raises-90m-as-investors-rush-to-fund-physical-ai/
Technology
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2026-01-20T19:50:14+00:00
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says tariffs are starting to drive up product prices
Jassy said on Tuesday that while Amazon is trying to keep prices low, price hikes may be unavoidable in some cases.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-says-tariffs-are-starting-to-drive-up-product-prices/
Technology
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2026-01-20T18:01:48+00:00
ICE becomes one of the most-blocked accounts on Bluesky after its verification
ICE has been verified on Bluesky, and quickly becomes one of the top most-blocked accounts.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/ice-becomes-one-of-the-most-blocked-accounts-on-bluesky-after-its-verification/
Technology
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2026-01-20T18:00:52+00:00
Retail startup Another raises a $2.5M seed to help sell excess inventory
Another hopes to help companies address excess inventory before brands opt to sell items to bulk resellers. Corina Marshall, Another's founder, says items sold through such resellers may be deeply discounted, an outcome brands might not want.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/retail-startup-another-raises-a-2-5m-seed-to-help-sell-excess-inventory/
Technology
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2026-01-20T16:22:53+00:00
One of the first alternative app stores in the EU is shutting down
Setapp Mobile, one of the first alternative app stores in the EU, is shutting down next month, citing Apple's ever-changing terms.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/one-of-the-first-alternative-app-stores-in-the-eu-is-shutting-down/
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2026-01-20T16:22:31+00:00
Grubhub parent acquires restaurant rewards startup Claim
The acquisition will give restaurants on Grubhub access to Claim’s customer acquisition and retention tools, while Grubhub diners can receive rewards.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/grubhub-parent-acquires-restaurant-rewards-startup-claim/
Technology
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2026-01-20T16:00:57+00:00
Humans&, a ‘human-centric’ AI startup founded by Anthropic, xAI, Google alums, raised $480M seed round
Humans&, a startup that believes AI should empower people, not replace them, has reportedly raised a $480 million seed round at a $4.48 billion valuation.
https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/humans-a-human-centric-ai-startup-founded-by-anthropic-xai-google-alums-raised-480m-seed-round/
Technology
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2026-01-20T23:33:57+00:00
Webb reveals a planetary nebula with phenomenal clarity, and it is spectacular
The Helix Nebula is one of the most well-known and commonly photographed planetary nebulae because it resembles the "Eye of Sauron." It is also one of the closest bright nebulae to Earth, located approximately 655 light-years from our Solar System. You may not know what this particular nebula looks like when reading its name, but the Hubble Space Telescope has taken some iconic images of it over the years. And almost certainly, you'll recognize a photograph of the Helix Nebula, shown below. Like many objects in astronomy, planetary nebulae have a confusing name, since they are formed not by planets but by stars like our own Sun, though a little larger. Near the end of their lives, these stars shed large amounts of gas in an expanding shell that, however briefly in cosmological time, put on a grand show. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/webb-has-given-us-with-a-stunning-new-view-of-a-well-known-planetary-nebula/
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72e4945624c5fda386c0d9302821d61753ecd9c3854d575cac2bd6a3d26c9e33
2026-01-20T23:22:26+00:00
Zuck stuck on Trump’s bad side: FTC appeals loss in Meta monopoly case
Still feeling uneasy about Meta's acquisition of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, the Federal Trade Commission will be appealing a November ruling that cleared Meta of allegations that it holds an illegal monopoly in a market dubbed "personal social networking." The FTC hopes the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will agree that "robust evidence at trial" showed that Meta's acquisitions were improper. In the initial trial, the FTC sought a breakup of Meta's apps, with Meta risking forced divestments of Instagram or WhatsApp. In a press release Tuesday, the FTC confirmed that it "continues to allege" that "for over a decade Meta has illegally maintained a monopoly in personal social networking services through anticompetitive conduct—by buying the significant competitive threats it identified in Instagram and WhatsApp." Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/zuck-stuck-on-trumps-bad-side-ftc-appeals-loss-in-meta-monopoly-case/
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da0cce6f2d985b6cdf3240118f1a8b5bb288069a16db1aaa9f5dfca41c84bff0
2026-01-20T22:35:32+00:00
Verizon starts requiring 365 days of paid service before it will unlock phones
Verizon has started enforcing a 365-day lock period on phones purchased through its TracFone division, one week after the Federal Communications Commission waived a requirement that Verizon unlock handsets 60 days after they are activated on its network. Verizon was previously required to unlock phones automatically after 60 days due to restrictions imposed on its spectrum licenses and merger conditions that helped Verizon obtain approval of its purchase of TracFone. But an update applied today to the TracFone unlocking policy said new phones will be locked for at least a year and that each customer will have to request an unlock instead of getting it automatically. The "new" TracFone policy is basically a return to the yearlong locking it imposed before Verizon bought the company in 2021. TracFone first agreed to provide unlocking in a 2015 settlement with the Obama-era FCC, which alleged that TracFone failed to comply with a commitment to unlock phones for customers enrolled in the Lifeline subsidy program. TracFone later shortened the locking period from a year to 60 days as a condition of the Verizon merger. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/verizon-starts-requiring-365-days-of-paid-service-before-it-will-unlock-phones/
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aa55deaf98a8554aad225733a210fa4f611592b8b604992a31f2a9d920b2fa83
2026-01-20T22:17:02+00:00
Google temporarily disabled YouTube's advanced captions without warning
YouTubers have been increasingly frustrated with Google's management of the platform, with disinformation welcomed back and an aggressive push for more AI (except where Google doesn't like it). So it's no surprise that creators have been up in arms over the suspicious removal of YouTube's advanced SRV3 caption format. You don't have to worry too much just yet—Google says this is only temporary, and it's working on a fix for the underlying bug. Google added support for this custom subtitle format around 2018, giving creators more customization options than with traditional captions. SRV3 (also known as YTT or YouTube Timed Text) allows for custom colors, transparency, animations, fonts, and precise positioning in videos. Uploaders using this format can color-code and position captions to help separate multiple speakers, create sing-along animations, or style them to match the video. Over the last several days, creators who've become accustomed to this level of control have been dismayed to see that YouTube is no longer accepting videos with this Google-created format. Many worried Google had ditched the format entirely, which could be problematic for all those previously uploaded videos. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/01/google-temporarily-disabled-youtubes-advanced-captions-without-warning/
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03a3eb5304ce08e5e5b8289fe3c08d2c1113a42f6c4932984373e3934654b63f
2026-01-20T21:59:38+00:00
Flesh-eating flies are eating their way through Mexico, CDC warns
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert to clinicians Tuesday, warning that the savage, flesh-eating parasitic fly—the New World Screwworm—is not only approaching the Texas border, but also felling an increasing number of animals in the bordering Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The advisory, released through the agency's Health Alert Network, directs doctors, veterinarians, and other health workers to be on the lookout for patients with wounds teeming with ferocious maggots burrowing into their living flesh. The alert also provides guidance on what to do if any such festering wounds are encountered—namely, remove each and every maggot to prevent the patient from dying, and, under no circumstance allow any of the parasites to survive and escape. The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a fly that lays its eggs—up to 400 at a time—in the wounds, orifices, and mucus membranes of any warm-blooded animal. The eggs hatch into flesh-eating maggots, which look and act much like screws, twisting and boring into their victims while eating them alive. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/01/be-on-the-lookout-for-flesh-eating-flies-cdc-tells-clinicians-in-alert/
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28355e4db61c240f8f9f16ac2463264f54a2ce319ae7c6d0360e6fb44fafe35c
2026-01-20T21:25:30+00:00
Macaque facial gestures are more than just a reflex, study finds
Recent advances in brain-computer interfaces have made it possible to more accurately extract speech from neural signals in humans, but language is just one of the tools we use to communicate. “When my young nephew asks for ice cream before dinner and I say ‘no,’ the meaning is entirely dictated by whether the word is punctuated with a smirk or a stern frown,” says Geena Ianni, a neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania. That’s why in the future, she thinks, neural prostheses meant for patients with a stroke or paralysis will decode facial gestures from brain signals in the same way they decode speech. To lay a foundation for these future facial gesture decoders, Ianni and her colleagues designed an experiment to find out how neural circuitry responsible for making faces really works. “Although in recent years neuroscience got a good handle on how the brain perceives facial expressions, we know relatively little about how they are generated,” Ianni says. And it turned out that a surprisingly large part of what neuroscientists assumed about facial gestures was wrong. For a long time, neuroscientists thought facial gestures in primates stemmed from a neat division of labor in the brain. “Case reports of patients with brain lesions suggested some brain regions were responsible for certain types of emotional expressions while other regions were responsible for volitional movements like speech,” Ianni explains. We’ve developed a clearer picture of speech by tracing the origin of these movements down to the level of individual neurons. But we’ve not done the same for facial expressions. To fill this gap, Ianni and her team designed a study using macaques—social primates that share most of their complex facial musculature with humans. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/macaque-facial-gestures-are-more-than-just-a-reflex-study-finds/
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e70f6a3678a8d6becfd780f05bc2946a8a36775b78311404812777524d3edd13
2026-01-20T19:24:12+00:00
Netflix to pay all cash for Warner Bros. to fend off Paramount hostile takeover
Netflix agreed to pay all cash for Warner Bros. Discovery, amending its $72 billion deal in an attempt to fight off Paramount's hostile takeover bid. Netflix originally agreed to buy the company with a mix of cash and stock. To sweeten the offer for shareholders, Netflix and Warner Bros. today announced that Netflix will pay all cash instead. If successful, Netflix's purchase will include HBO Max, WB Studios, and other assets. The price is unchanged at $27.75 per share, and Warner Bros. is targeting an April 2026 shareholder vote. The original plan was for Netflix to buy each Warner Bros. share with $23.25 in cash and $4.50 in Netflix stock. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/netflix-to-pay-all-cash-for-warner-bros-to-fend-off-paramount-hostile-takeover/
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de667de32820382ac8b538171b95628c8abc66f1d0797dc2a09f27db20957367
2026-01-20T18:58:22+00:00
Sony is giving TCL control over its high-end Bravia TVs
TCL is taking majority ownership of Sony’s Bravia series of TVs, the two companies announced today. The two firms said they have signed a memorandum of understanding and aim to sign binding agreements by the end of March. Pending “relevant regulatory approvals and other conditions,” the joint venture is expected to launch in April 2027. Under a new joint venture, Huizhou, China-headquartered TCL will own 51 percent of Tokyo, Japan-headquartered Sony’s “home entertainment business,” and Sony will own 49 percent, per an announcement today, adding: Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/01/tcl-to-gain-majority-ownership-over-sonys-bravia-tvs/
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c0a0748f2d1e27dcc76b3ed6256a6d5d04e92ff85433adbddbc300baef3c742d
2026-01-20T15:00:04+00:00
The first commercial space station, Haven-1, is now undergoing assembly for launch
As Ars reported last week, NASA's plan to replace the International Space Station with commercial space stations is running into a time crunch. The sprawling International Space Station is due to be decommissioned less than five years from now, and the US space agency has yet to formally publish rules and requirements for the follow-on stations being designed and developed by several different private companies. Although there are expected to be multiple bidders in "phase two" of NASA's commercial space station program, there are at present four main contenders: Voyager Technologies, Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Vast Space. At some point later this year, the space agency is expected to select one, or more likely two, of these companies for larger contracts that will support their efforts to build their stations. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/the-first-commercial-space-station-haven-1-is-now-undergoing-assembly-for-launch/
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8e652e375820731158727b612d9a1cf46b759a89e550bf794d8cb6ba19df1caf
2026-01-19T22:01:52+00:00
The fastest human spaceflight mission in history crawls closer to liftoff
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida—Preparations for the first human spaceflight to the Moon in more than 50 years took a big step forward this weekend with the rollout of the Artemis II rocket to its launch pad. The rocket reached a top speed of just 1 mph on the four-mile, 12-hour journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At the end of its nearly 10-day tour through cislunar space, the Orion capsule on top of the rocket will exceed 25,000 mph as it plunges into the atmosphere to bring its four-person crew back to Earth. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/nasas-artemis-ii-rocket-rolls-to-launch-pad-but-key-test-looms-ahead/
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a13e64b772045c1fff0a108c70debb6776cc2cd139d91b45b142cf243b4dba1d
2026-01-19T21:07:55+00:00
The first new Marathon game in decades will launch on March 5
It has been nearly three years now since Destiny maker (and Sony subsidiary) Bungie formally announced a revival of the storied Marathon FPS franchise. And it has been about seven months since the game's originally announced release date of September 23, 2025, was pushed back indefinitely after a reportedly poor response to the game's first Alpha test. But today, in a post on the PlayStation Blog, Bungie revealed that the new Marathon would finally be hitting PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X|S on March 5, narrowing down the monthlong March release window announced back in December. Unlike Destiny 2, which transitioned to a free-to-play model in 2019, the new Marathon sells a Standard Edition for $40 or a $60 Deluxe Edition that includes some digital rewards and cosmetics. That mirrors the pricing of the somewhat similar Arc Raiders, which recently hit 12 million sales in less than 12 weeks. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/01/bungies-delayed-marathon-revival-will-finally-launch-march-5/
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6991ee73bafd662c401b5d5ed20492018c572f55889ca7b99b5293ce900c5927
2026-01-19T19:52:22+00:00
Signs point to a sooner-rather-than-later M5 MacBook Pro refresh
Mac power users waiting on new high-end MacBook Pro models may have been disappointed last fall when Apple released an M5 upgrade for the low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro without touching the M4 Pro or Max versions of the laptop. But the wait for M5 Pro and M5 Max models may be nearing its end. The tea-leaf readers at MacRumors noticed that shipping times for a handful of high-end MacBook Pro configurations have slipped into mid-to-late February, rather than being available immediately as most Mac models are. This is often, though not always, a sign that Apple has slowed down or stopped production of an existing product in anticipation of an update. Currently, the shipping delays affect the M4 Max versions of both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. If you order them today, these models will arrive sometime between February 3 and February 24, depending on the configuration you choose; many M4 Pro versions are still available for same-day shipping, though adding a nano-texture display or upgrading RAM can still add a week or so to the shipping time. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/01/signs-point-to-a-sooner-rather-than-later-m5-macbook-pro-refresh/
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6826dac29e85117df0fe1a9edcda3012aa268bf117dde4425c3685dbb9939e2f
2026-01-19T19:04:18+00:00
Elon Musk accused of making up math to squeeze $134B from OpenAI, Microsoft
Elon Musk is going for some substantial damages in his lawsuit accusing OpenAI of abandoning its nonprofit mission and "making a fool out of him" as an early investor. On Friday, Musk filed a notice on remedies sought in the lawsuit, confirming that he's seeking damages between $79 billion and $134 billion from OpenAI and its largest backer, co-defendant Microsoft. Musk hired an expert he has never used before, C. Paul Wazzan, who reached this estimate by concluding that Musk's early contributions to OpenAI generated 50 to 75 percent of the nonprofit's current value. He got there by analyzing four factors: Musk's total financial contributions before he left OpenAI in 2018, Musk's proposed equity stake in OpenAI in 2017, Musk's current equity stake in xAI, and Musk's nonmonetary contributions to OpenAI (like investing time or lending his reputation). Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/elon-musk-accused-of-making-up-math-to-squeeze-134b-from-openai-microsoft/
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28af1ca9aab1ca0ef567921e25a79884c203104b308d1e35e6d5aa10437cacc8
2026-01-19T18:24:49+00:00
Asus confirms its smartphone business is on indefinite hiatus
An unconfirmed report early this month suggested Asus was pulling back on its smartphone plans, but the company declined to comment at the time. Asus chairman Jonney Shih has now confirmed during an event in Taiwan the wind-down of its smartphone business. Instead, Asus will focus on AI products like robots and smart glasses. Shih addressed the company's future plans during a 2026 kick-off event in Taiwan, as reported by Inside. "Asus will no longer add new mobile phone models in the future," said Shih (machine translated). So don't expect a new Zenfone or ROG Phone from Asus in 2026. That said, very few phone buyers were keeping tabs on the latest Asus phones anyway, which is probably why Asus is throwing in the towel. Shih isn't saying Asus won't ever release a new phone, but the company will take an "indefinite wait-and-see" approach. Again, this is a translation and could be interpreted in multiple ways. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/01/asus-confirms-its-smartphone-business-is-on-indefinite-hiatus/
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d0b2e44abb4b9f325f05f59e15d8731e6196aa670dfe269a8db5253aba6226e9
2026-01-19T17:16:38+00:00
Reports of ad-supported Xbox game streams show Microsoft's lack of imagination
Currently, Microsoft's long-running Cloud Gaming service is limited to players who have a Microsoft's Game Pass subscription. Now, new reporting suggests Microsoft is planning to offer non-subscribers access to game streams paid for by advertising in the near future, but only in extremely limited circumstances. The latest wave of rumors was set off late last week when The Verge's Tom Warren shared an Xbox Cloud Gaming loading screen with a message mentioning "1 hour of ad supported playtime per session." That leaked message comes after Windows Central reported last summer that Microsoft has been "exploring video ads for free games for quite some time," à la the two-minute sponsorships that appear before free-tier game streams on Nvidia's GeForce Now service. Don't get your hopes up for easy, free, ad-supported access to the entire Xbox Cloud Gaming library, though. Windows Central now reports that Microsoft will be using ads merely to slightly expand access to its "Stream your own game" program. That program currently offers subscribers to the Xbox Game Pass Essentials tier (or higher) the privilege of streaming versions of some of the Xbox games they've already purchased digitally. Windows Central's unnamed sources suggest that a "session-based ad-supported access tier" to stream those purchased games will be offered to non-subscribers as soon as "this year." Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/01/reports-of-ad-supported-xbox-game-streams-show-microsofts-lack-of-imagination/
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7f3f8f6857e7aaa3f328e753fa2c9f92d412b16f48fe31b2ad03f1dfae33b047
2026-01-19T17:06:28+00:00
The race to build a super-large ground telescope is likely down to two competitors
I have been writing about the Giant Magellan Telescope for a long time. Nearly two decades ago, for example, I wrote that time was "running out" in the race to build the next great optical telescope on the ground. At the time the proposed telescope was one of three contenders to make a giant leap in mirror size from the roughly 10-meter-diameter instruments that existed then, to approximately 30 meters. This represented a huge increase in light-gathering potential, allowing astronomers to see much further into the universe—and therefore back into time—with far greater clarity. Since then the projects have advanced at various rates. An international consortium to build the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii ran into local protests that have bogged down development. Its future came further into question when the US National Science Foundation dropped support for the project in favor of the Giant Magellan Telescope. Meanwhile the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) has advanced on a faster schedule, and this 39.5-meter telescope could observe its first light in 2029. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/01/as-europes-large-ground-telescope-project-advances-how-is-its-us-competitor-faring/
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ec8c5325161fe700375fc5eac7fb3f778e574e33ca7acff621ebb959a490ba88
2026-01-19T16:00:27+00:00
Meet Veronika, the tool-using cow
Far Side fans might recall a classic 1982 cartoon called "Cow Tools," featuring a cow standing next to a jumble of strange objects—the joke being that cows don't use tools. That's why a pet Swiss brown cow in Austria named Veronika has caused a bit of a sensation: she likes to pick up random sticks and use them to scratch herself. According to a new paper published in the journal Current Biology, this is a form of multipurpose tool use and suggests that the cognitive capabilities of cows have been underestimated by scientists. As previously reported, tool use was once thought to be one of the defining features of humans, but examples of it were eventually observed in primates and other mammals. Dolphins can toss objects as a form of play, which some scientists consider to be a type of tool use, particularly when it involves another member of the same species. Potential purposes include a means of communication, social bonding, or aggressiveness. (Octopuses have also been observed engaging in similar throwing behavior.) But the biggest surprise came when birds were observed using tools in the wild. After all, birds are the only surviving dinosaurs, and mammals and dinosaurs hadn’t shared a common ancestor for hundreds of millions of years. In the wild, observed tool use has been limited to the corvids (crows and jays), which show a variety of other complex behaviors—they’ll remember your face and recognize the passing of their dead. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/meet-veronika-the-tool-using-cow/
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2026-01-19T12:00:45+00:00
10 things I learned from burning myself out with AI coding agents
If you've ever used a 3D printer, you may recall the wondrous feeling when you first printed something you could have never sculpted or built yourself. Download a model file, load some plastic filament, push a button, and almost like magic, a three-dimensional object appears. But the result isn't polished and ready for mass production, and creating a novel shape requires more skills than just pushing a button. Interestingly, today's AI coding agents feel much the same way. Since November, I have used Claude Code and Claude Opus 4.5 through a personal Claude Max account to extensively experiment with AI-assisted software development (I have also used OpenAI's Codex in a similar way, though not as frequently). Fifty projects later, I'll be frank: I have not had this much fun with a computer since I learned BASIC on my Apple II Plus when I was 9 years old. This opinion comes not as an endorsement but as personal experience: I voluntarily undertook this project, and I paid out of pocket for both OpenAI and Anthropic's premium AI plans. Throughout my life, I have dabbled in programming as a utilitarian coder, writing small tools or scripts when needed. In my web development career, I wrote some small tools from scratch, but I primarily modified other people's code for my needs. Since 1990, I've programmed in BASIC, C, Visual Basic, PHP, ASP, Perl, Python, Ruby, MUSHcode, and some others. I am not an expert in any of these languages—I learned just enough to get the job done. I have developed my own hobby games over the years using BASIC, Torque Game Engine, and Godot, so I have some idea of what makes a good architecture for a modular program that can be expanded over time. Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2026/01/10-things-i-learned-from-burning-myself-out-with-ai-coding-agents/
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b79ac485c67580e4247bae1e2259011c3c5dab46f792f4c0b4576f35ca273c23
2026-01-18T12:00:56+00:00
Ocean damage nearly doubles the cost of climate change
The global cost of greenhouse gas emissions is nearly double what scientists previously thought, according to a study published Thursday by researchers at the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It is the first time a social cost of carbon (SCC) assessment—a key measure of economic harm caused by climate change—has included damages to the ocean. Global coral loss, fisheries disruption, and coastal infrastructure destruction are estimated to cost nearly $2 trillion annually, fundamentally changing how we measure climate finance. “For decades, we’ve been estimating the economic cost of climate change while effectively assigning a value of zero to the ocean,” said Bernardo Bastien-Olvera, who led the study during his postdoctoral fellowship at Scripps. “Ocean loss is not just an environmental issue, but a central part of the economic story of climate change.” Read full article Comments
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/ocean-damage-nearly-doubles-the-cost-of-climate-change/
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100f9c08d4a17b24398f32d8f3c9e33171d0f7458c45b80478fe30624aab6a58
2026-01-21T10:30:23+00:00
Document Disclosures Reveal Microsoft’s Influence as OpenAI Became a Revenue-Crazed Behemoth
A peek inside OpenAI as it changed from do-gooder computer lab to...whatever it is now.
https://gizmodo.com/document-disclosures-reveal-microsofts-influence-as-openai-became-a-revenue-crazed-behemoth-2000712308
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29cfbf235ea01476c6f23d3d69458ae27a1dc48a3ce2aaa91e69a9cfdeb79b76
2026-01-21T10:00:44+00:00
Trump Family Makes $1.4 Billion Off Crypto in 2025, Offsetting Losses Elsewhere
Crypto is now said to account for roughly 20% of the family’s $6.8 billion fortune.
https://gizmodo.com/trump-family-makes-1-4-billion-off-crypto-in-2025-offsetting-losses-elsewhere-2000711770
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7559de9083b70bf369097193d645596c282e14fb7fbf4d6a6f9dfb6cf6639705
2026-01-21T02:00:10+00:00
Elon Musk Makes Part of X Algorithm Open Source, Says It ‘Sucks’
He also says it's dumb.
https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-makes-part-of-x-algorithm-open-source-says-it-sucks-2000712201
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13d59972416127120392e54c2857c6271484cda4a59801ea806be717019116fd
2026-01-21T00:00:21+00:00
Sphere’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Re-Release Was One of 2025’s Highest Grossing Films—for One Big Reason
The film grossed about $260 million from the one Las Vegas location, which generally charges over $100 a ticket.
https://gizmodo.com/spheres-wizard-of-oz-re-release-was-one-of-2025s-highest-grossing-films-for-one-big-reason-2000712070
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e47a7b923dcd89b4c2f7ed96ff8b616ff0dafa07044aa8cfcfdf15be3d44d76b
2026-01-20T23:00:19+00:00
I Can’t Believe This Is What Is Getting Right Wing Weirdos Mad About ‘Starfleet Academy’
Of all the controversies the new 'Star Trek' show could reach, just one week in we've already hit one of the stupidest, thanks to Stephen Miller.
https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-starfleet-academy-glasses-stephen-miller-william-shatner-2000712197
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076835e58367c5cc98f79adf31ea094941b91c442d52a4301defeddb27eb9528
2026-01-20T22:52:15+00:00
DOGE Goons May Have Shared Stolen Social Security Data With Political Group: Report
Two DOGE members have been referred to authorities for Hatch Act violations.
https://gizmodo.com/doge-goons-may-have-shared-stolen-social-security-data-with-political-group-report-2000712166
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a5602fd6c28ef82d70d9eeb6374af8328d004f22f44ec25accaf2195806e1bb0
2026-01-20T22:15:01+00:00
Palantir CEO Says AI Will Somehow Be So Great That People Will Stop Immigrating
Don't bother trying to figure out how that makes any sense.
https://gizmodo.com/palantir-ceo-says-ai-will-somehow-be-so-great-that-people-will-stop-immigrating-2000712148
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https://gizmodo.com/app/…ook-1280x853.jpg
6223ab175783867395b23a35652fd60ff0b733dd850856cc9f405fa47b177924
2026-01-20T22:05:53+00:00
Extreme Closeup of the ‘Eye of God’ Reveals Fiery Pillars in Stunning Detail
The new image offers a rare look at the fate of our own star and planetary system.
https://gizmodo.com/extreme-closeup-of-the-eye-of-god-reveals-fiery-pillars-in-stunning-detail-2000712155
Technology
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9c46ce7b4494dcadaff91a3976c79e04de95b7a263a0803526ed87af1b6fe95e
2026-01-20T22:00:44+00:00
A Brief Reminder of When ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Takes Place
The latest 'Game of Thrones' spinoff eschews the busier eras of Westeros for some peace and quiet—with some interesting ramifications for the world as we know it.
https://gizmodo.com/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-timeline-game-of-thrones-house-of-the-dragon-2000712068
Technology
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2026-01-20T21:35:43+00:00
Map Reveals Bizarre January Drought Hitting 130 Million Americans
You won’t believe which state is completely unaffected.
https://gizmodo.com/map-reveals-bizarre-january-drought-hitting-130-million-americans-2000712162
Technology
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238419ed6eb620c212bf0e21308fea6d5b745106ad625cf708d16610df2b45f3
2026-01-20T21:15:02+00:00
The Sphere Could be Headed to Your City (With a Smaller Footprint)
The company behind Vegas’s Sphere venue announced plans to bring a smaller version of its venue to the National Harbor in D.C, and more could be coming to additional cities.
https://gizmodo.com/the-sphere-could-be-headed-to-your-city-with-a-smaller-footprint-2000712131
Technology
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c7ee39b76203ce4cbbb281a8b29c4fe0e7efc28f39fdbe50b7f9ba6f5a012e57
2026-01-20T21:00:48+00:00
‘Lore Olympus’ Will Be Prime Video’s Next Animated Show
Webtoon's hit Greek myth romance is getting animated courtesy of Prime Video and the Jim Henson Company.
https://gizmodo.com/lore-olympus-will-be-prime-videos-next-animated-show-2000712033
Technology
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e275ab57cf1469cd94244d148d7ae2fb4e73275fc3ce8a84c644c89cb2c260e4
2026-01-20T20:50:55+00:00
The Posting Presidency Has Never Felt More Impotent
From Minnesota to Greenland, Trump knows that he's losing the propaganda war.
https://gizmodo.com/the-posting-presidency-has-never-felt-more-impotent-2000712023
Technology
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3d002c6c5cfd628e56cc12d2a1d6fe8c2f4ae415efcff349b226ce97d74cac6a
2026-01-20T20:10:47+00:00
Controversial Swiss Suicide Pod Gets an AI-Powered Mental Fitness Upgrade
It's better than ChatGPT encouraging you to kill yourself, I guess.
https://gizmodo.com/controversial-swiss-suicide-pod-gets-an-ai-powered-mental-fitness-upgrade-2000712092
Technology
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f2a9644eb625b0d4fb8447dabae7c410e5baf6b64a82eb811e6c9fd12e842ed6
2026-01-20T20:00:39+00:00
It’s Taken So Long to Find a New James Bond, Riz Ahmed Made a TV Show About It
Prime Video's 'Bait' follows an actor who may just be the next man to play Bond, James Bond, for Amazon.
https://gizmodo.com/bait-riz-ahmed-james-bond-prime-video-2000712006
Technology
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bee3df6fc2c9fb9c57f9195c2a9a2582730cd20ebbdfdae565da32d635fb0319
2026-01-20T19:55:23+00:00
Are You Tying Your Shoelaces Wrong?
And will it matter when everything comes crashing down?
https://gizmodo.com/are-you-tying-your-shoelaces-wrong-2000712041
Technology
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ac8b9b3eb41d3f62fac28448a6baeed5e5c783a757b41a7bed73357e9f0bacc9
2026-01-20T19:40:43+00:00
Amazon CEO Says Tariff Price Increases Likely to Hit Your Wallet This Year
Tariffs are starting to "creep in" to product prices as companies' efforts to absorb price increases run out.
https://gizmodo.com/amazon-ceo-says-tariff-price-increases-likely-to-hit-your-wallet-this-year-2000712020
Technology
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fbbd122b21047b16d0723c18f12c8a0133e392f303c434f5299ec870c54974fc
2026-01-20T19:00:16+00:00
Even George R.R. Martin Was Surprised by That Poop Scene in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’
Toilet humor arrives early in the series premiere of HBO's new 'Game of Thrones' spinoff.
https://gizmodo.com/knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-poop-scene-george-rr-martin-2000712028
Technology
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35124b0097e64067fa359ac2b68b8bf15d3dff4a597af3870462fda7976137ac
2026-01-20T18:15:22+00:00
Earth’s Getting Blasted by the Largest Solar Radiation Storm in Over 20 Years
Storms of this severity can impact satellites, astronauts, and some commercial flights.
https://gizmodo.com/earths-getting-blasted-by-the-largest-solar-radiation-storm-in-over-20-years-2000711972
Technology
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ac813982b12fc0dd2cf2ab589e95f748a953043bf473e71f61a7ca140564689e
2026-01-20T18:00:50+00:00
Laika’s Next Film Hits Theaters in October, but Not in the Way You’d Expect
'Wildwood,' directed by Travis Knight, will be distributed by Fathom Entertainment.
https://gizmodo.com/laikas-next-film-hits-theaters-in-october-but-not-in-the-way-youd-expect-2000712001
Technology
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5406aa918c40855079f3d180e9f67c1ba87a578ad3f33827793b72362a6951f5
2026-01-21T05:58:15-05:00
OpenAI says its data centers will pay for own energy and limit water usage
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/864798/openai-data-center-opposition-energy-bills
Technology
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d6575e73c474f6269a1b467df7aab83faaae285447081f770c5446da20017a3e
2026-01-21T05:23:14-05:00
ChatGPT is using age prediction to restrict what minors see
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/864784/openai-chatgpt-age-prediction-restrictions-rollout
Technology
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f5f31ca81c4d4dfa3e8ed8c048824154a5fa96c2dfd8496a0eddd04aa45f9da7
2026-01-20T22:33:00-05:00
One year in, Big Tech has out-maneuvered MAGA populists
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/column/864759/big-tech-trump-one-year-in
Technology
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8fba061a8028f307e7c34213839a2a1ea95e828d4fd67fc9f6b142b8c7ed7d54
2026-01-20T19:00:00-05:00
The best AirPods to buy
Whether you’re buying your first pair of AirPods or replacing a well-used older pair, it’s easy to understand why so many iPhone owners prefer Apple’s earbuds and headphones over other options. Apple has spent years gradually adding new features that work best — and sometimes only work at all — with the company’s own devices. These convenient tricks include audio sharing, automatic switching between Apple’s various devices, live translation, Apple TV integration, and more. There are currently four AirPods models to choose from, each with its own distinct appeal and upside. You likely already know whether you’re more interested in earbuds or over-ear headphones, so that’s the first divide. In the case of over-ear headphones, your only choice is the AirPods Max. But in the earbuds category, Apple offers three options: the AirPods Pro 3, the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and the plain old AirPods 4. How we test AirPods We spend dozens of hours using AirPods products for our initial reviews, and that testing extends for weeks and months afterward. That’s where we assess sound quality, mic performance, and overall reliability. Where applicable, we test the active noise cancellation across a wide range of environments and have put the hearing protection of the AirPods Pro through the paces at concerts. We also closely examine ecosystem benefits and how the AirPods and Apple’s other products work together. The best AirPods overall AirPods Pro 3 Score: 9ProsConsImproved ANC and soundLonger batteryStandalone workout trackingLive translationSame priceIP57Better fitCamera remote control is handy!If you’re hoping for traditional foam ear tips, this isn’t that Where to Buy: $249 $239.95 at Amazon $249.99 at Best Buy $249 $239.95 at Walmart Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 8 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: IP57 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: iOS, Windows, macOS / Ear tips: Foam and silicone (XXS, XS, S, M, L) The third-gen AirPods Pro are better than their predecessor in numerous ways, starting with the fit. Apple’s latest flagship earbuds feature a more angular design and a wider range of ear tip sizes — including an XXS option. Their “foam-infused” tips combine foam and silicone, so they expand slightly for better comfort and a tighter seal. If you’ve ever cursed at AirPods for falling out of your ears, the Pro 3’s improved fit alone might sell you. They also deliver upgrades to noise cancellation, which allow them to rival even the AirPods Max. They’re noticeably better at dampening high-frequency sounds, like voices, than prior generations of AirPods Pro, and they can eliminate the low hum of an airplane engine. Sound quality has also been improved in ways that were surprisingly easy to pick out: bass is punchier, vocals are clearer, and you’ll notice new layers in your favorite tracks. Meanwhile, battery life will last you a full work day with ANC enabled before the buds need to go back into the charging case for a refill. In addition to giving users the flexibility to use these earbuds as clinical-grade hearing aids — a feature Apple introduced in late 2024 — Apple has added a heart rate sensor to this model, allowing you to track workouts right from your ears. Add in IP57 water and dust resistance, stronger Find My capabilities, and a live translation feature, and it’s clear the AirPods Pro are Apple’s best wireless earbuds by a wide margin. Read our full AirPods Pro 3 review. The best AirPods for those who find ear tips uncomfortable Apple AirPods 4 Score: 7ProsConsUpgraded sound qualityVoice isolation can noticeably improve call clarityDeep Apple ecosystem integrationNo wireless chargingNo built-in speaker on the caseNo proper multipoint Where to Buy: $129 $115 at Amazon $179 $148.99 at Amazon (with ANC) $129.99 $115 at Walmart Noise cancellation: No / Battery life: 5 hours / Water resistance: IP54 / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: iOS, Windows, macOS Not everyone likes the way ear tips feel. Even with venting and the other measures Apple has taken to improve comfort and reduce that clogged-up sensation in the AirPods Pro 3, some people just prefer the regular, one-size-fits-most AirPods. Their open design means you’re never totally cut off from the outside world. The AirPods Pro have an impressive transparency mode, but the AirPods 4 don’t need it. Apple currently sells two versions of the AirPods 4. No matter which you choose, you’ll get the same good sound quality, microphone performance on voice calls, and IP54 water resistance. The more expensive pair has features that you might want, including active noise cancellation and a more advanced charging case (it supports Find My and wireless charging). You might be surprised by how well the noise cancellation works even with an unsealed design; it reduces office ambience and annoying hums, but louder sounds and voices still cut through the ANC, since these don’t use a sealed ear tip. If you’re truly interested in noise-canceling earbuds, consider upgrading to the AirPods Pro 3. They offer much better audio quality, stronger ANC, and a better experience overall. I’d only steer you to the noise-canceling AirPods 4 if you’re really opposed to ear tips. Read our full AirPods 4 review. The best for those who prefer headphones AirPods Max (USB-C) Score: 8.5ProsConsHigh-luxury designTerrific, balanced sound qualityVery effective noise cancellationDependable and foolproof controlsSpatial audio for immersive entertainmentHeavier than many competitorsNo 3.5mm jackWired listening requires $35 cableCase is an abominationLacks latest AirPods Pro features Where to Buy: $549 $529 at Amazon $549 $494.97 at Walmart $549 $529 at B&H Photo Noise cancellation: Yes / Battery life: 20 hours (ANC on) / Water resistance: No / Bluetooth codecs: AAC, SBC / Multipoint: No / Works best with: iOS, Windows, macOS We’ve gone back and forth recommending Apple’s $549 AirPods Max over the last few years. They have a standout design, but the good looks and premium feel come at a high cost. Not just that, these headphones are considerably heavier than most competitors and can get fatiguing over extended use. But the fabric ear cups on the AirPods Max are much more pleasant in warm weather than the pleather you’ll find on Bose and Sony products, and probably won’t leave you with sweaty ears.  The AirPods Max provide impressive noise cancellation, and the transparency mode is clearer and more natural-sounding than any other set of headphones on the market. As for sound, Apple’s headphones have a pleasant sound signature that works well across a wide range of genres. They’re easy to listen to with an impressive soundstage for closed-back headphones. You lose some features found in the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 with ANC — including conversation awareness and adaptive audio — because the AirPods Max use Apple’s older H1 chip. However, the company added lossless audio over USB-C in April, meaning these headphones offer the richest audio fidelity in Apple’s entire lineup.  Read our full AirPods Max (Lightning) review. What’s coming next With Apple’s fall hardware event in the rearview mirror, we’re at a point where the company’s lineup seems settled (for now). Apple doesn’t upgrade its entry-level AirPods line on an annual basis like some of its other products, and the Pro 3 just recently hit the market. Meanwhile, the AirPods Max have gone relatively unchanged since their release in 2020, with Apple adding a USB-C model and a new color in 2024. It’s possible that we’ll see a camera-equipped pair of AirPods with support for Apple Intelligence in the future — previous reporting has indicated as much — but it’s not likely to be anytime soon. Update, January 20th: Adjusted to reflect current pricing and availability. Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/645217/best-apple-airpods-pro
Technology
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cef02279cfa5e8c3eb56d2183a034eb63bcc5bd31ccbdbb4310fadf4a79d7138
2026-01-20T18:06:25-05:00
Netflix earned $1.5 billion from ads in 2025
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/864451/netflix-advertising-revenue-doubled-q4-2025-earnings
Technology
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2026-01-20T17:52:59-05:00
Trump admin admits DOGE employees had access to off-limits Social Security data
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/864643/doge-social-security-data-misuse
Technology
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0c30860fba2f206293bbce385c3aeeb28e190ffd200d2e092b7d2ec8be65b08e
2026-01-20T17:46:59-05:00
Netflix will revamp its mobile UI this year
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/864646/netflix-mobile-ui-revamp-design-vertical-video
Technology
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e3a8ad593bc81a24d6a33b94d40784415fca0fabb95a5ba5114e8c64e2870b7d
2026-01-20T17:21:31-05:00
FTC says it will appeal Meta antitrust loss
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/864622/ftc-meta-antitrust-ruling-appeal
Technology
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c5556d54dddd93db642a07d360c0994e6cac686f72a334721b4196e92227028b
2026-01-20T15:55:04-05:00
Nova Launcher’s new owner might offer a version with ads
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/news/864585/nova-launcher-instabridge-acquisition-owner-ads
Technology
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f546d8079953cd58ec7109fcfb6750a7837f626d0d3ea17461582404e2552da9
2026-01-20T14:50:46-05:00
Google has finally killed the Stadia Bluetooth tool — but this person rescued it
Read the full story at The Verge.
https://www.theverge.com/tech/864543/google-has-finally-killed-the-stadia-bluetooth-tool-but-this-person-rescued-it
Technology
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070cd564b309a20ffdfbc9cf716300472dbe74fe6c535236225c853a5c2459a1
2026-01-23T00:00:00
Marvellous microbes, memory and the multiverse: Books in brief
Nature, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00241-4
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00241-4
Academic Papers
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033fcd1ba0b60dfb37c16a8df670d45c05631053c38c631a6bc9b7e745714cf2
2026-01-23T00:00:00
Guinea-Bissau suspends a US-funded vaccine trial as African scientists question its motives
Nature, Published online: 23 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00220-9
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00220-9
Academic Papers
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