Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-03-17 Briefing

Created Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:11:54 +0000 Modified Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:12:15 +0000
6295 Words

Tech dominated headlines today as Candex secured $40 million in funding to streamline corporate payments, while Native emerged from stealth with $42 million to bolster multi-cloud security. OpenAI released smaller, cheaper GPT models, and Google expanded its personalized AI responses to all US users. Legal challenges continue for Kalshi, facing lawsuits in Arizona and Nevada over election betting markets. Elsewhere, Microsoft reorganized its Copilot teams, assigning Andreou leadership and focusing Suleyman on AI model development, and Intel unveiled new CPUs aimed at gaming laptops.

🤖 AI & Automation

OpenAI Releases Smaller, Cheaper GPT Models

OpenAI has launched GPT-5.4 mini and nano, smaller and more affordable language models designed for applications like coding assistants and multi-modal workflows. These models offer near GPT-5.4 level performance while running significantly faster and at a lower cost than previous versions. They are intended to balance strong performance with quick response times for practical AI applications.

Gemini’s personalized responses now free for all US users.

Google is now offering its Personal Intelligence feature, which personalizes AI responses by connecting to services like Gmail and Google Photos, to all US users free of charge. Previously exclusive to paid subscribers, this feature enhances Search, the Gemini app, and Chrome by tailoring results based on user data. Users must opt-in to Personal Intelligence, which analyzes data without directly training on personal content.

Nadella: Andreou leads Copilot, Suleyman on new AI models

Microsoft is consolidating its Copilot teams for commercial and consumer clients under former Snap executive Jacob Andreou. CEO Satya Nadella’s reorganization will allow Mustafa Suleyman to concentrate on developing new AI models and leading Microsoft’s superintelligence efforts. The move comes as Microsoft seeks to improve Copilot’s adoption and demonstrate the return on its AI investments.

OpenAI, AWS Partner for US Government AI Services

OpenAI has partnered with AWS to offer its AI services to U.S. government agencies, addressing concerns about data security and compliance. The agreement will allow OpenAI to pursue both classified and unclassified government contracts. This move comes amidst recent tensions between Anthropic and the Department of Defense.

Baidu Adds AI Agent to Xiaodu, Joins Tech Rivals

Baidu is integrating the OpenClaw AI framework into its Xiaodu smart speakers, allowing users to control them with voice commands. This move allows Baidu to compete with Tencent and Alibaba in the burgeoning agentic AI space. The company hopes this integration will help revitalize its business and offer an alternative to traditional chat interfaces.

Huang on Nvidia’s Future: CUDA, AI, China & More

The author has revised their view on AI, now believing the current advancements are not a bubble. Key developments driving this shift include the widespread adoption of ChatGPT, the reasoning capabilities introduced by OpenAI’s o1 model, and the surprising agent-like capabilities unlocked by Anthropic’s Opus 4.5 and OpenAI’s GPT-5.2-Codex. These advancements indicate significant and sustained progress in AI technology.

Open AI Needs New Strategy: Complement, Don’t Copy

The article argues that open-source AI models are unlikely to surpass closed-source models in performance, as the latter benefit from significantly larger resources and are consistently advancing. Instead of directly competing, open models should focus on serving as complementary tools to closed-source AI agents. The current gap between open and closed models, which is surprisingly small given the resource disparity, is expected to widen over time.

The article explores self-hosted search engines as an alternative to mainstream providers, emphasizing increased privacy and a different perspective on online content. It highlights Yacy, a peer-to-peer search engine, and provides guidance on setup, including recommended security measures like using a VPN. Users can expect unique search results and a glimpse into the early days of the internet with Yacy.

HPE adds Blackwell, Rubin systems to Nvidia-backed sovereign AI push

HPE is expanding its AI capabilities with new systems powered by Nvidia’s Blackwell and Rubin GPUs, targeting sovereign AI initiatives in Europe and the US. The company also received Nvidia-Certified Storage validation for its Alletra object storage platform, optimizing data delivery for AI workloads. These advancements are part of HPE’s broader efforts to build AI grids and offer turnkey AI solutions for enterprises.

Antfly: Distributed, Multimodal Search and Memory and Graphs in Go

Antfly is a new, distributed document database and search engine built in Go, offering full-text, vector, and graph search capabilities. It provides a single-binary deployment with native machine learning inference and supports multimodal indexing for images, audio, and video. The project is released under the Elastic License v2, which allows for modification and self-hosting but restricts offering Antfly as a managed service.

March Madness Bracket Challenge for AI Agents Only

A developer has created a March Madness bracket challenge specifically for AI agents, allowing them to autonomously register, predict games, and submit brackets via API. The platform caters to an “agent-first” user experience, providing plain-text API instructions for AI and a standard visual site for humans. The challenge, hosted at bracketmadness.ai, is currently open with brackets due Thursday morning.

My Self-Driving Car Crash – The Tesla was driving perfectly–until it wasn’t

A former Uber self-driving car executive was involved in a Tesla accident while using the Full Self-Driving mode, raising questions about liability and the reliance on automated systems. The driver, despite having experience in autonomous vehicle development, faces legal responsibility due to current regulations classifying Tesla’s system as Level 2 automation. The incident highlights concerns about data transparency and Tesla’s practice of shifting blame to drivers after accidents.

đź’° Business & Funding

Candex Nabs $40M, Total Funding Over $120M

Candex, a New York-based startup, has raised a $40 million Series C round, bringing its total funding to over $120 million. The company provides a platform that simplifies payments to small, one-time vendors for large corporations, acting as a tech-based master vendor to handle compliance and payments. Candex will use the funding to expand globally and further automate its services, currently serving hundreds of Fortune 2000 companies.

Security startup Native raises $42M, exits stealth

Native, a Tel Aviv- and Seattle-based startup, has publicly launched after operating in stealth mode. The company, which helps businesses monitor security across multiple cloud providers, has raised a total of $42 million in seed and Series A funding. This addresses the growing challenges of maintaining consistent security in increasingly multi-cloud environments.

GSR Acquires Firms for $57M, Expands Crypto Services

GSR, a crypto market maker, is acquiring Autonomous and Architech for $57 million to expand its services into token advisory and capital markets. The acquisition will allow GSR to offer a combined platform for token launches, fundraising, and treasury management, replacing the current fragmented service model. Autonomous will maintain its brand, while Architech will form the basis of GSR Digital Asset Advisory.

IBM Acquires Confluent for $11B, Expects Headcount Growth

IBM has finalized its $11 billion acquisition of Confluent, a data-streaming company. The deal aims to enable businesses to better utilize their data for artificial intelligence applications. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna anticipates the company will maintain or increase its workforce over the next five years.

PayPal’s PYUSD Stablecoin Now Available in 70 Countries

PayPal is expanding access to its PYUSD stablecoin to 70 countries, significantly broadening its availability from the initial US and UK launch. This move allows users in new markets like Uganda, Colombia, and Peru to hold and utilize the stablecoin for cross-border transfers and potential rewards. The expansion aims to reduce transfer fees and unlock new financial features for users in select countries.

Kagi Translate Adds LinkedIn Language Support

Kagi Translate has introduced “LinkedIn Speak” as a new output language, enabling users to rephrase text in a style mimicking the language commonly used on the professional networking platform. This interactive feature, built as a complex web application, is now available with options for both standard and enhanced translations. Users can utilize it to tailor their writing for a more professional LinkedIn presence.

Backblaze Pricing and Product Updates

Backblaze is removing transaction fees for its B2 Cloud Storage API calls, effective May 1st, to support larger workloads like AI training. Simultaneously, the storage price will increase to $6.95/TB to fund ongoing infrastructure investments and maintain competitive pricing. Existing committed contracts will remain unaffected until their renewal date.

Peter Thiel’s Antichrist lectures in Rome spark questions in Italian parliament

Tech mogul Peter Thiel recently hosted lectures on the Antichrist in Rome, raising concerns among Italian lawmakers. The event, alongside Thiel’s company Palantir’s expanding presence and potential government contracts, has prompted questions about meetings with Italian officials. Lawmakers are particularly concerned given Palantir’s work with governments and defence forces, including US immigration enforcement.

The future of Amazon coders is the present of Amazon warehouse workers

A new theory suggests companies like Amazon initially test intrusive monitoring technologies on vulnerable, low-wage workers before implementing them across the entire workforce. Amazon utilizes its warehouse and delivery staff as a testing ground for disciplinary technologies, creating a disparity in treatment between blue-collar (“green badge”) and white-collar (“blue badge”) employees. The author argues that unionization among lower-status workers is crucial to combat exploitative practices and prevent the wider adoption of these technologies.

⚙️ Tech Infrastructure

New MacBooks, Intel CPUs Emerge

Apple’s new MacBook Neo laptop features a distinctive design and powerful A18 Pro chip, but is hampered by limited RAM and storage, and complex pricing. Meanwhile, Intel is introducing the Core Ultra 200HX Plus series of CPUs aimed at boosting performance in gaming laptops, with new devices expected to be released shortly. These developments highlight advancements in both Apple’s laptop design and Intel’s processor technology for the gaming market.

Amazon Launches Speedy Deliveries in US Cities

Amazon is launching one-hour and three-hour delivery services in parts of the U.S., expanding on previous pilot programs. Approximately 2,000 cities and towns will have access to three-hour delivery, while hundreds will offer one-hour options for over 90,000 products. The move aims to meet consumer demand for increasingly faster delivery speeds.

Investors wary of data center debt due to disaster risk.

Investors are hesitant to finance data center projects due to a lack of adequate insurance coverage against natural disasters. Securing insurance for these large and complex developments has become increasingly difficult, hindering financing efforts. The Financial Times reports on this challenge impacting firms like KKR and Blackstone.

Chip demand won’t match supply until 2030, says SK Group chair.

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won predicts a memory chip shortage will continue for at least four to five years, with full demand not being met until around 2030. Major manufacturers are increasing production capacity, but a significant wafer supply shortfall of over 20% currently exists. This ongoing constraint stems from broader issues in semiconductor production.

UK to Invest ÂŁ1B+ in Quantum Computing Research

The UK is launching a ÂŁ1 billion initiative to advance quantum computing research and development over four years. The funding will support the creation of prototype quantum computers for use in sectors like pharmaceuticals, finance, and energy. This investment highlights the UK’s recognition of quantum computing’s strategic importance.

Shell Construction Progress

A developer is building a simplified shell from scratch using C to gain a deeper understanding of its functionality. The project aims to create a basic read-eval-print loop with features like command execution, variable expansion, and pipeline support. While intentionally not a full-fledged shell, it demonstrates core concepts like process creation and input tokenization.

The Data Center as a Computer

A new book, “The Data Center as a Computer,” explores the concept of designing datacenters as unified computing systems, drawing on the extensive experience of Google engineers Luiz AndrĂ© Barroso, Urs Hölzle, and Parthasarathy Ranganathan. The work builds upon their contributions to developing Google’s infrastructure and offers insights into modern data center architecture. The authors are all prominent figures in Google’s engineering leadership.

Ofcom sees no need for overhaul in next phase of fiber rollout despite BT domination

Ofcom’s latest review of fiber broadband rollout will maintain the current regulatory framework, acknowledging BT’s continued dominance while encouraging investment from alternative providers. Price caps are being raised for certain speeds to incentivize investment, with the expectation of increased competition by 2031. Further investment is still needed to expand fiber availability and adoption across the UK.

Big moves in Linux filesystems as new bcachefs lands and KDE adds support for Apple’s APFS

Linux is experiencing advancements in filesystem technology with a new version of bcachefs, now supporting Linux kernel 7.0 and featuring improved performance. Additionally, upcoming KDE Linux releases will include preliminary support for Apple’s APFS filesystem, although native Linux APFS support remains limited. These developments highlight ongoing efforts to expand Linux’s filesystem capabilities and compatibility.

Switzerland built a secure alternative to BGP. The rest of the world hasn’t noticed yet

Switzerland has developed SCION, a new internet routing architecture designed to address security flaws in the widely used BGP protocol. Unlike BGP, SCION incorporates security into its core design, preventing route hijacks and other vulnerabilities, and is already used in secure sectors like banking and healthcare. Despite its advantages, SCION’s adoption has been limited due to its departure from existing internet infrastructure.

Boot ROM Security on Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3)

Apple Silicon Macs utilize a secure boot process, starting with SecureROM, a hardware-embedded component that cannot be altered. SecureROM initializes hardware and cryptographically verifies subsequent boot stages to maintain a “chain of trust” for security. If verification fails, the system enters recovery or DFU mode to prevent unauthorized code execution.

đź’» Software Development

A tale about fixing eBPF spinlock issues in the Linux kernel

Superluminal, a CPU profiler, triggered system freezes on Fedora 42 due to a Linux kernel issue with spinlocks. The problem involved excessive delays within the perf_event_nmi_handler, requiring a custom kernel with debugging and a serial port to diagnose. The discovery highlights a need to improve kernel debugging processes for performance-related issues.

A Decade of Slug

The Slug Algorithm, a GPU-based rendering method for fonts and vector graphics developed in 2016, has become a widely licensed and successful software product across various industries. The core rendering principles have remained consistent over the past decade, prioritizing robustness, speed, and high-quality results. Recent optimizations, such as the removal of the “band split,” have further improved performance and reduced memory usage.

The Paxos algorithm, when presented in plain English, is very simple (2021)

The article explains the consensus problem, where distributed systems need to agree on a single value. It introduces the Paxos algorithm as a solution, highlighting that a simplified version is surprisingly intuitive despite its reputation for complexity. Paxos operates under a less restrictive model than the theoretical impossibility result known as the FLP impossibility.

Python 3.15’s JIT is now back on track

The CPython JIT project has achieved performance goals for macOS and Linux, resulting in speedups of 11-12% and 5-6% respectively. This turnaround followed a period of funding loss and uncertainty, attributed to a dedicated team and strategic task breakdown. Future releases are planned to incorporate free-threading support, putting the project back on track.

Google’s Chrome Antitrust Paradox (2025)

A new analysis argues that Google’s Chrome browser, despite its open-source appearance, functions as a key tool for maintaining Google’s dominance in online advertising and related markets. The article details how Google utilizes Chrome through anticompetitive practices and privacy controls to stifle innovation and reinforce its market power. It proposes regulatory interventions, including potential divestiture of Chrome, to address these concerns.

Putting thought into things (2014)

The article argues that most web design projects fail not due to technical or client issues, but a lack of thoughtful planning and deep consideration. Designers often avoid this essential process, relying on clichés and blaming external factors instead of engaging in critical thinking. Ultimately, the piece contends that technological advancements alone cannot compensate for a deficiency in thoughtful design.

I haven’t made anything with AT Proto yet

The AT Protocol, the technology behind Bluesky, is a versatile decentralized system designed for various applications beyond social media. Building on lessons from previous decentralized projects like Dat and IPFS, it functions as a flexible database and incorporates practical considerations like content moderation. Developers, including those with experience from prior decentralized efforts, are actively using the protocol to build applications such as blogging platforms and GitHub alternatives.

A small proposal for mixing PQ KEMs into Noise

This draft proposal suggests integrating post-quantum key encapsulation mechanisms (KEMs) like Kyber or McEliece into a secure communication protocol to enhance shared secret generation. The design prioritizes ephemeral key pairs and strict key management but currently lacks authentication, making it vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. The author emphasizes this is a preliminary, experimental design and acknowledges potential vulnerabilities.

syntaqlite: high-fidelity devtools that SQLite deserves

Syntaqlite is a new open-source tool suite designed to provide accurate parsing, formatting, and language server protocol support for SQLite SQL. Unlike existing tools that approximate SQLite’s language, Syntaqlite is built directly on SQLite’s grammar to handle version differences, custom functions, and other SQLite-specific features. It’s available as a CLI, VS Code extension, Claude Code plugin, and libraries, offering improved reliability and enabling advanced SQLite development.

The web in 1000 lines of C

A programmer created a basic web browser using approximately 1000 lines of C code. The browser focuses on core web functionality like HTTP requests and HTML rendering, eschewing complex features found in modern browsers. The prototype successfully retrieved and displayed a simple “Hello, World!” webpage, demonstrating its ability to render basic web content.

yes, all longest regex matches in linear time is possible

Despite claims of linear time performance, finding all regex matches typically results in quadratic time complexity (O(n²)) in popular engines like RE2, Go, and Rust. This inefficiency stems from regex engines prioritizing a simple “match or no match” decision, discarding location and count data. Switching to an “earliest match” approach can avoid this quadratic behavior, but alters the results to prioritize shorter prefixes.

Memory Allocation Strategies

A series of articles published between 2019 and 2021 explored various memory allocation strategies. Topics covered included linear/arena, stack, pool, free list, and buddy allocators. The content aimed to provide insights into thinking about memory and allocation processes.

Oracle unveils Project Detroit for faster Java interop with JavaScript and Python

Oracle has released Java 26 and announced Project Detroit, an OpenJDK initiative aimed at improving interoperability between Java, JavaScript, and Python. Project Detroit will embed the V8 and CPython runtimes directly into the JVM for enhanced performance, security, and easier integration. This approach avoids reimplementations and addresses complexities encountered with existing solutions like GraalWasm.

Node.js needs a virtual file system

Node.js is introducing a virtual file system module, node:vfs, to address limitations in handling in-memory files and assets. This new module allows developers to work with virtual files directly in memory, solving problems related to bundling applications, running isolated tests, and sandboxing file access. The development of node:vfs was significantly aided by AI code generation tools.

Real-time observability for coding agents

A new TypeScript library, @agentprobe/core, provides passive observability for AI coding agents by transforming transcripts from tools like Cursor and Claude Code into real-time event streams. This eliminates the need for active instrumentation and offers a tool-agnostic observer API. The library utilizes a layered architecture and sequential event bus for efficient processing of agent status changes.

M68k assembly emulator that runs in the browser

A new browser-based emulator allows users to write, step through, and debug Motorola 68000 assembly code without any installation. This tool provides features like debugging tools, register viewers, and pre-built examples, aiming to be a modern alternative to existing desktop software like Easy68K. It’s designed for both educational purposes and welcomes contributions from the community.

Crust – A CLI framework for TypeScript and Bun

Crust is a new, open-source CLI framework for TypeScript and Bun, designed to be lightweight and efficient. It offers features like automatic type inference, compile-time validation, and a plugin system, all while maintaining zero runtime dependencies. Developers can now create CLIs quickly using the bun create crust command and explore the framework at crustjs.com.

Monkey Island for Commodore 64 Ground Up

A team is recreating the classic adventure game The Secret of Monkey Island for the Commodore 64, painstakingly redrawing graphics to fit the system’s limitations. Programmer Andreas Larsson is handling the coding while the project is still in development. The completed game is expected to be released at an unspecified future date.

The Functional Programming Hiring Problem

The belief that functional programming specialists are exceptionally high-quality hires is often inaccurate. Hiring pools for these specialists are frequently limited to inexperienced graduates or those solely focused on the language itself, rather than well-rounded engineers. Companies are advised to seek out and train promising junior candidates with an interest in functional programming instead.

🛡️ Security & Ethics

Arizona sues Kalshi over election betting, faces Nevada suit too.

Arizona has sued Kalshi, a prediction markets platform, alleging it’s running an illegal gambling operation and facilitating bets on elections. Kalshi maintains it operates under federal regulation and is defending against similar legal action in Nevada. The lawsuit follows recent scrutiny of the company related to an insider trading accusation.

Kalshi Founders Sue US Government: Q&A on Trading, Ethics

Kalshi is the first federally regulated prediction market in the US, co-founded by Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara. The company has experienced rapid growth, recently reaching $10 billion in monthly trading volume and even suing the CFTC to expand its offerings. Mansour and Lopes Lara envision Kalshi as a platform for trading on a wide range of events, aiming to provide insights and potentially mitigate social media polarization.

We don’t need to hack your AI Agent to hack your AI Agent

Researchers discovered a critical vulnerability in an enterprise AI assistant stemming from a misconfigured backend infrastructure. The system was running with Django’s debug mode enabled, exposing sensitive data like API routes, administrative credentials, and system prompt contents. This incident underscores that AI assistant security risks often arise from infrastructure flaws rather than vulnerabilities within the AI models themselves.

Out-of-band getting out of hand as Microsoft pushes hotpatch for Bluetooth

Microsoft has released a second emergency Bluetooth fix for Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2 in a matter of days, addressing an issue preventing devices from appearing in settings. The update, delivered via hotpatching to Enterprise users, eliminates the need for a system reboot. This frequency of out-of-band fixes is raising concerns about the stability of recent Windows releases.

Copilot Errors: Gartner Suggests Friday Ban

Gartner analyst Dennis Xu jokingly suggested limiting Microsoft Copilot use on Friday afternoons due to concerns that tired users may not thoroughly review its output for potential errors or offensive content. The recommendation stemmed from a broader discussion about mitigating security risks associated with Copilot, including oversharing of sensitive data. Xu emphasized the importance of constant user validation of Copilot’s output regardless of the time of day.

Microsoft’s ‘unhackable’ Xbox One has been hacked by ‘Bliss’

A hacker known as “Bliss” has breached Microsoft’s Xbox One console using a voltage glitching technique, compromising its decade-long security record. The exploit bypasses the console’s boot ROM, allowing for the loading of unsigned code and unprecedented access to its firmware and security processor. This hardware-based attack, deemed unpatchable, opens new avenues for digital archiving and potential emulation breakthroughs.

“Please perform a comprehensive security audit” – and why it doesn’t work

A recent study evaluated the effectiveness of large language models (LLMs) like Claude Code and Codex for security auditing of the Gokapi file hosting application. While the LLMs identified numerous issues, many were either false positives or minor weaknesses that didn’t significantly impact security. Specialized auditing platforms, such as AISafe, proved more effective, uncovering critical vulnerabilities that the LLMs missed, highlighting the need for specialized tools and human expertise in application security assessments.

UK security adviser attended US-Iran talks and judged deal was within reach

Former UK national security advisor Jonathan Powell attended recent US-Iran talks and believed a deal to prevent conflict was within reach. His involvement highlights the UK’s disagreement with the subsequent US and Israeli attack, as it signaled a belief that negotiations could still succeed. The UK’s participation has contributed to strained relations with the United States due to their reluctance to support the military action.

Every 8 minutes, a case of sexual assault/misconduct was reported to Uber

Between 2017 and 2022, Uber received reports of sexual assault or misconduct approximately every 8 minutes. Internal documents reveal the company prioritized profits over rider safety, allowing dangerous drivers to operate and discouraging reporting assaults to police. Uber also concealed incidents involving imposter drivers and downplayed the connection between these events and the platform.

🌎 Science & Society

The US job market is ignoring AI: lawyers, engineers, and other pros are in high demand

Due to technical issues, the provided article content is inaccessible. Therefore, I am unable to provide a summary.

Cobalt Shortage to Last Until 2030 After Congo Export Limits

A cobalt shortage is projected to continue until 2030 following export restrictions implemented by the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC, which supplies over 70% of global cobalt, initially banned exports and then introduced quotas to reduce oversupply and increase prices. These measures are expected to significantly impact the global supply chain.

Sarandos on Netflix, Europe, Regulation & AI

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is advocating for consistent European streaming regulations to foster investment and production, emphasizing a unified market over fragmented national rules. He also highlighted YouTube as a significant competitor and downplayed the impact of political interference, including criticism from Donald Trump, on a recent acquisition deal. Sarandos underscored Netflix’s substantial European investments and its role as a key producer and exporter of European storytelling.

Ways of Seeing the Web

Cloudflare launched a Crawl API that allows users to collect website data via bots while adhering to existing bot mitigation measures. The service leverages Cloudflare’s CDN for potentially faster data delivery and focuses on structured data formats suitable for training large language models. This new offering resembles web archiving technology and raises questions about the impact of collected data on future AI models.

Artemis II takes a rain check on return to launch pad as NASA fixes loose wire

NASA has delayed the Artemis II rocket’s return to the launch pad until March 20 to repair a faulty electrical wire. The agency remains optimistic about a launch attempt around April 1, barring weather issues. Future Artemis missions may see adjustments to landing locations and frequency as the program evolves.

BBC World Service digital switch backfires as online audience drops

A shift to a digital-first strategy for the BBC World Service has resulted in an 11% drop in audience reach since 2021. The BBC anticipated online migration following the closure of radio and TV services, but instead saw declines, particularly due to reduced social media visibility. Lawmakers are criticizing the BBC for inadequate audience tracking and a lack of clear goals for the digital transition.

Asteroid Samples: Building Blocks of Life Found

Samples from the Ryugu asteroid contain all five nucleobases, the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA, mirroring previous findings from asteroid Bennu. This discovery bolsters the theory that these organic molecules are common throughout the solar system and could have played a role in the origin of life on Earth. Researchers also found a correlation between nucleobase ratios and ammonia levels, suggesting a potential new pathway for their formation.

Trump’s plan to shut down weather and climate center triggers lawsuit

A consortium is suing the Trump administration to block its planned shutdown of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The administration intends to dismantle the research center, which provides vital atmospheric research facilities and supports collaborations, citing concerns about its research focus. The lawsuit claims the move is politically motivated, stemming from President Trump’s frustration with Colorado.

Top US counterterrorism official resigns over Iran war, urging Trump to ‘reverse

Joe Kent, the top US counterterrorism official, abruptly resigned and publicly criticized President Trump’s Iran policy, claiming Iran posed no imminent threat and the conflict was instigated by external forces. Kent’s letter, shared on social media, represents a rare and significant rebuke from within the administration. The White House dismissed his claims, maintaining they have evidence of an impending Iranian attack.

We Study Mass Shooters. Something Terrifying Is Happening Online

Researchers are observing a concerning trend of younger mass shooters increasingly influenced by online “true crime” communities that glorify and analyze perpetrators. These online spaces provide a sense of belonging and offer a script for violence, transforming personal pain into a public narrative. At least seven school shootings have been linked to this disturbing online phenomenon, signaling a shift in the profile of mass shooters.

‘The Secret Agent’: Exploring a Vibrant, yet Violent Brazil (2025)

Brazil’s Oscar submission, “The Secret Agent,” is a political thriller set in 1970s Recife during Carnival, exploring the country’s culture under a military dictatorship. The film follows a man on the run, confronting his past against a backdrop of vibrant colors and simmering violence. Cinematographer Evgenia Alexandrova utilized vintage lenses and a dynamic camera style to create a layered and immersive portrayal of Brazil.

Top counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigns over Trump’s Iran war – AP News

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned citing concerns that military action against Iran was unjustified and lacked evidence of an imminent threat. He accused the Trump administration of escalating tensions due to external pressure, a claim the president dismissed. Kent’s departure underscores internal disagreements regarding the rationale for conflict with Iran.

Turns out the DOGE bros who killed humanities grants are sensitive about it

Former Trump administration officials Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh used a flawed process, including feeding grant descriptions into ChatGPT, to terminate hundreds of millions of dollars in humanities grants. Recently released depositions revealed the arbitrary nature of these cancellations and highlighted a lack of understanding of DEI principles among those involved. The government subsequently removed the depositions after they exposed the inadequacy of the decision-making process.

National Academies of Sciences says no to demands it remove climate info

Republican attorneys general are pressuring the National Academies of Sciences to remove a chapter on climate change from a reference manual for judges, alleging partisan bias. The Federal Judicial Center previously complied with similar demands, deleting the chapter from its version of the manual. The National Academies of Sciences is now facing the same pressure despite the chapter reflecting established scientific consensus and legal expertise.

A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

A 1992 article proposes classifying extreme happiness as a psychiatric disorder, termed “major affective disorder, pleasant type.” The authors argue that happiness, when excessive, exhibits symptoms similar to other disorders and is statistically abnormal, dismissing the common perception of happiness as inherently positive. They suggest this classification be included in future diagnostic manuals.

High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being

Recent research highlights a distinction between emotional well-being and life evaluation, revealing that while income can improve overall satisfaction with life, it has a less significant impact on daily emotional experiences. The study suggests that using a logarithmic scale to measure income provides a more accurate understanding of its relationship to subjective well-being due to adaptation and perceptual scaling. This nuanced approach clarifies the complex ways financial factors influence how people perceive and report their happiness.

Heavier Proton Discovered at LHC

Scientists at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider have discovered a new, heavier proton named Xi-cc-plus, which is four times the weight of a standard proton and contains charm quarks. The discovery, made possible by a recent detector upgrade, will help researchers better understand the strong nuclear force. This finding occurs amidst controversy regarding planned funding cuts for future LHCb upgrades by UK Research and Innovation.

French Bees Are Making M&M-Contaminated Blue and Green Honey (2012)

French bees have been producing blue and green honey, causing their bodies to appear colored, due to suspected contamination from a nearby M&M’s factory. Beekeepers believe the bees are attracted to sweet waste from the factory, although the honey tastes normal. The affected honey cannot be sold, and the factory is implementing new cleaning procedures.

The psychedelic that distorts hearing

DiPT is a rare psychedelic that uniquely causes auditory hallucinations, distorting pitch and harmony rather than inducing typical visual effects. Users often report sounds feeling “out of tune” or lower in pitch, with the intensity of these distortions varying with dosage. Researchers are currently unsure of the mechanism behind DiPT’s distinctive impact on auditory processing.