undefined 25, 2025
Happiest country in the world revealed, and one where a stranger's most likely to return a lost wallet
A UN-backed report found that strangers are twice as kind as people expect, with lost wallets returned at double the assumed rate. Believing in kindness boosts happiness more than expected or actual harm. Nordic countries rank highest in happiness and trust. The UK placed 23rd, while the US hit its lowest rank at 24th, partly due to increased solo dining. Researchers highlight trust, kindness, and social connection as key to happiness and call for fostering these values worldwide.
X’s head of engineering is out
X’s director of engineering, Haofei Wang, has abruptly left the company. Wang, who joined in July 2023, was seen as X’s de facto head of engineering and product. His departure's reason is unclear. X recently hired ex-Robinhood leads Mike Dalton and Uday Ruddaraju. Meanwhile, Musk’s focus has shifted to xAI and politics. X, now valued at $44B, aligns with Musk’s vision of an “everything app” managing users’ financial lives by 2024.
23andMe faces an uncertain future, so does your genetic data
23andMe faces turmoil as bankruptcy looms after a 2023 data breach and financial decline. Once valued at $6B, the company’s worth has plummeted by over 99%. Following a major hack that exposed 7M users’ ancestry data, 23andMe settled a lawsuit for $30M. CEO Anne Wojcicki resigned after failed takeover talks, and the company’s assets—including vast DNA databases—will be sold. Privacy concerns grow, as 23andMe is not covered by HIPAA and can alter its data policies. Experts urge users to delete their accounts to protect their genetic data before the sale.
Glowing spiral appears in night sky
A mysterious glowing spiral appeared in the night sky over the UK and Ireland on Monday, puzzling stargazers from Denmark to Italy. The Met Office attributed the phenomenon to frozen exhaust plumes from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launched earlier that evening. The spirals form when the rocket’s upper-stage fuel freezes in space, reflecting sunlight back to Earth. Observers reported seeing the swirl brighten, spin, and fade over several minutes before disappearing. The Falcon 9 launched from Florida on a classified US government mission.
Apple is bringing lossless audio and low-latency audio to AirPods Max
Apple announced that AirPods Max will soon support lossless audio and ultra-low latency when using a USB-C cable. The update will enable 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, enhancing Personalized Spatial Audio for a more immersive listening experience. Musicians will benefit from reduced latency for music production, while gamers can expect lower lag. The features will roll out in April via a free firmware update with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4. However, the update applies only to the USB-C version of AirPods Max, not the Lightning model.
There's an AI physio seeing patients in the UK. Can it fix my back?
An AI-powered app is helping UK patients manage back pain. Flok Health, the first AI clinic trialed by the NHS, offers video-based physiotherapy tailored to user responses. With long NHS waitlists, Flok aims to provide immediate care, reducing strain on the system. Unlike chatbots, it follows structured clinical reasoning. Studies suggest AI can aid pain management, but experts stress rigorous evaluation. AI tools should supplement, not replace, traditional care for better outcomes.
Source: interestingengineering
New wearable microneedle sensor identifies plant stress in under a minute
The American Chemical Society has developed a wearable plant detector that helps farmers and gardeners detect plant stress early. The sensor, which attaches to leaves, monitors hydrogen peroxide, a chemical plant response to stress. This device simplifies current methods and provides quick, inexpensive results. It can be used multiple times before needing replacement. Researchers tested it on soybeans and tobacco plants, showing that it could significantly improve crop monitoring and yield by allowing earlier detection of stress and disease.
A wearable AI
Despite struggles with AI wearables, Apple is planning to integrate AI features into its Apple Watch by adding cameras to the Series and Ultra models. This would enable the watch to use the company's "visual intelligence" tools, such as object identification and real-time text translation. Although Apple has faced difficulties with AI, the watch's practicality could make it more successful than previous AI devices. However, the company still faces challenges in expanding the watch’s capabilities and implementing AI features effectively.
Hot new thermodynamic chips could trump classical computers
Guillaume Verdon, holding a new thermodynamic chip, is at the forefront of a computing revolution. Unlike traditional or quantum computing, thermodynamic computing harnesses entropy for efficient computations. Verdon's startup, Extropic, plans to launch its first chips in 2025. He’s also known as Based Beff Jezos, a vocal critic of AI safety and effective altruism, advocating for an "accelerationist" approach to technological progress. His work challenges conventional computing paradigms.
Try this to spend less time glued to your phone
Geoffrey A. Fowler's column discusses practical tips for reducing phone addiction, based on insights from addiction psychiatrist Anna Lembke. He recommends setting boundaries in three areas: technical (taming notifications, editing home screens, and resetting algorithms), physical (keeping phones out of the bedroom, making the dinner table phone-free), and social (setting expectations with colleagues and friends). Fowler emphasizes that breaking the phone habit requires experimentation, support, and consistent effort.
