undefined 9, 2025
Is there a ‘right’ way to use AI in art?
Many artists oppose AI art tools like Midjourney for using uncredited data and producing generic work. But painter Brett Amory uses AI creatively—glitching it, building worlds, and layering hand techniques to slow it down. Critics like Ben Davis say AI devalues style but acknowledge its eerie, creative potential. While lawsuits and tools fight back against data scraping, artists like Amory embrace AI as a flawed but transformative collaborator in an evolving creative struggle.
Source: interestingengineering
World’s largest atom smasher detects possible signal of tiniest particle ever
The CMS experiment at CERN's LHC may have discovered toponium—the smallest hadron ever seen—made of top quark-antiquark pairs. Long thought unobservable due to its short lifespan, it appeared during a search for new Higgs bosons. Researchers found excess top quark pairs in high-energy collisions and used models to link the signal to toponium. Though results meet the five-sigma standard, scientists remain cautious and plan further tests to confirm it isn’t a new Higgs particle.
Meta to block children under 16 from livestreaming on Instagram without parental consent
Meta is rolling out new teen safety measures, starting in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia before expanding to Europe. Teens under 16 will need parental consent to use Instagram Live or disable nudity blurring in messages. Safeguards are also expanding to Facebook and Messenger, including private accounts by default, message blocks from strangers, content limits, time reminders, and bedtime notification pauses. These changes follow growing concerns over social media’s impact on youth.
Titanic scan reveals ground-breaking details of ship's final hours
A full 3D digital scan of the Titanic has revealed new details about its sinking. The scan shows how the ship violently split and confirms accounts that engineers kept the lights on as it went down. A simulation suggests small hull punctures—each the size of an A4 page—caused the disaster. The wreck’s bow lies intact, but the stern is mangled. Experts found an open valve and concave boilers, showing systems were active until the end. It could take years to study the scan fully, offering fresh insights into the 1912 tragedy.
Tariffs will make electronics expensive. If you need a new gadget, ‘buy it now’
Tariffs are front and center this week after President Trump announced a sweeping 10% tariff on all imports, with more tariffs on 60 countries rolling out by April 9. While aimed at foreign trade, the impact hits home—importers pay the tariffs, but those costs often trickle down to consumers through higher prices. Electronics are especially affected, with a 104% tariff on Chinese laptops pushing store prices up nearly 70%. Experts warn smartphone, laptop, and console prices could jump by summer. Their advice? Buy now before prices spike.
China’s DeepSeek finds a way to help AI get better at answering questions. Here’s how it works
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, working with Tsinghua University, has unveiled a breakthrough technique to make AI models smarter and faster—without making them bigger. The method, called self-principled critique tuning (SPCT), allows AI to judge its own answers based on self-created rules. Paired with a system called generative reward modeling (GRM), the AI can give itself feedback and improve on the fly. Unlike traditional methods that require huge models and tons of computing power, DeepSeek’s approach runs evaluations in real-time to refine responses. They claim it outperforms rivals like GPT-4o, Gemini, and Llama—and plan to open-source it soon.
Nintendo Switch 2 coming this summer: Release date, price, a new button and more details
Nintendo's Switch 2 launches June 5 for $449.99. It features a larger screen, magnetic Joy-Cons, 256GB storage, and a new "C button" for GameChat—supporting voice/video calls with up to 12 players. A separate camera enables video chat. Launch titles include *Mario Kart World*, *Donkey Kong Bananza* (July 17), and *Kirby Air Riders*. It’s backwards compatible, with some games getting upgraded Switch 2 editions.
'If it weren't for that asteroid, they might still share this planet': Dinosaurs weren't doomed before the asteroid hit
Dinosaurs weren’t declining before the asteroid hit 66 million years ago, a new study says. Researchers analyzed 8,000 fossils from North America and found that apparent drops in diversity were likely due to poor fossilization conditions, not actual extinction trends. All major groups remained widespread and thriving until the impact. Without the asteroid, scientists believe dinosaurs may have survived alongside mammals and birds.
Source: interestingengineering
China: Quantum computer does world-first fine-tuning of billion parameter AI model
Chinese scientists fine-tuned a billion-parameter AI model using Origin Wukong, a 72-qubit quantum computer. The chip boosted training by 15% and accuracy by 14%, even with a 76% smaller model. This suggests quantum tech could ease AI's computing demands. Origin Wukong has handled over 350,000 tasks globally since January and may redefine how large AI models are trained.
How an unused nuclear power plant became home to a world-class acoustics lab
The Satsop Business Park in Washington, once a nuclear power plant, now hosts NWAA Labs, an acoustics testing facility. Owned by Ron Sauro, the lab tests everything from soundproof materials to noisy appliances. Originally built for WNP-3 and WNP-5, the structures are repurposed for noise control with strict acoustic standards. Sauro’s lab benefits from the site's thick concrete walls and stable climate, making it ideal for precise sound measurements. The facility's unique setting allows for testing in nearly silent, controlled conditions.
