undefined 14, 2025
Police are asking kids to stop pulling AI homeless man prank
Teens are using AI to prank parents by generating fake images of a disheveled man in their home and claiming they let him in, then recording parents’ panicked reactions for TikTok. Some clips get millions of views. But when parents call police, it wastes resources and can trigger dangerous SWAT responses. Authorities warn the prank dehumanizes the homeless, causes panic, and risks real harm—urging kids to stop.
‘Death to Spotify’: the DIY movement to get artists and fans to quit the music app
In Oakland, indie musicians hosted “Death to Spotify,” a sold-out event exploring how to decentralize music from corporate platforms. Inspired by Liz Pelly’s *Mood Machine* and artist boycotts over Spotify’s low payouts and ties to military tech, organizers urged listeners and artists to rethink streaming, share files, and support alternatives like Bandcamp. While some stars returned after past boycotts, newer acts seem more committed. The movement aims to challenge algorithmic listening and corporate control.
Satellites are leaking the world’s secrets: calls, texts, military and corporate data
A team from the University of California team revealed that about half of geostationary satellite communications, including sensitive telecom, corporate, infrastructure, and military data, are sent unencrypted, allowing anyone with ~$800 in equipment to intercept them. Over three years, researchers collected phone calls, texts, airline Wi-Fi data, power grid communications, and even military locations from satellites above North America. Many firms encrypted transmissions after being warned, but large amounts remain exposed, posing major global cybersecurity risks.
How your hormones might be controlling your mind
Hormones profoundly affect mood and mental health by interacting with neurotransmitters, influencing brain cell growth, and regulating stress. Fluctuations during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can trigger mood disorders like PMDD or postpartum depression. Men face mood shifts from gradual testosterone decline. Hormones like cortisol increase stress, while oxytocin promotes bonding. Thyroid imbalances can cause anxiety or depression. Understanding these effects is inspiring new treatments, including hormone therapies and drugs like Brexanolone.
Source: interestingengineering
Solar power from space mirrors could revolutionize energy but alarm scientists
US startup Reflect Orbital plans a satellite constellation to beam “sunlight on demand,” extending solar farm operations after dark. Using Mylar mirrors, the satellites could reflect light brighter than the full moon, alarming astronomers who warn of blinding effects, ruined observations, and ecosystem disruption. Technical challenges and the need for thousands of satellites further complicate feasibility. Critics fear the project would intensify light pollution and add to the crowded low-Earth orbit problem.
Factory towns revive as defense tech makers arrive
Start‑ups making defense tech are reviving US factory towns, lured by local talent, low labor costs and state incentives. Firms like Swarm (drones), Anduril (large Ohio factory) and Regent (sea gliders) are converting shuttered plants, creating jobs and tapping regional skills from auto and boatbuilding. Projects win political support and grants, but scaling faces supply‑chain and long‑term planning challenges.
Source: interestingengineering
20,000 ancient silver pieces found in one of Sweden’s largest treasure hoard discoveries
A fisherman near Stockholm uncovered one of Sweden’s largest medieval silver hoards, containing up to 20,000 12th-century coins, pendants, and beads weighing over 13 pounds. Found in a damaged copper cauldron, the treasure reflects wealth and ties to King Knut Eriksson and the church, including rare bishop coins. Authorities are investigating the site and will report it to the National Heritage Board to determine compensation for the finder.
Welcome to the ‘papers, please’ internet
The UK’s “porn pass” plan, a physical card to verify adults online, was scrapped in 2019 after privacy concerns made it impractical. Yet age verification has resurged: the UK’s Online Safety Act now mandates it for social media and porn sites, while the EU, Australia, and other countries debate similar measures. Even the US Supreme Court recently allowed adult content age checks, signaling a global push for stricter online age verification.
SpaceX launches the 11th test flight of mega Starship rocket
SpaceX successfully launched another Starship test flight, sending the massive rocket on a global trajectory while carrying eight mock satellites. The booster executed a controlled descent into the Gulf of Mexico, and the spacecraft skimmed space before landing in the Indian Ocean, though nothing was recovered. This marks the 11th full-scale Starship test, a key step for Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions and NASA’s plans to land astronauts on the Moon’s south pole. The flight, lasting just over an hour from Starbase, also tested spacecraft maneuvering for future landings, with NASA praising the progress.
