undefined 24, 2026
Does Big Tech actually care about fighting AI slop?
Big Tech publicly backs AI labeling standards like C2PA to fight deepfakes, but real progress is slow and inconsistent. Labels are hard to find, easy to remove, poorly adopted, and rely on users to verify authenticity themselves. Meanwhile, the same companies keep releasing powerful generative AI tools that fuel misinformation and “AI slop” because it drives engagement and revenue. C2PA functions more like an honor system than a solution, exposing a conflict of interest: platforms claim to protect reality while actively profiting from its erosion.
Houston, we have problem... again
NASA says its Artemis II moon flyby could be delayed after a fault interrupted the helium flow needed for launch preparations. The mission, planned for early March from Kennedy Space Center, would carry four astronauts around the Moon and back, the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. While recent tests fixed earlier hydrogen leaks, officials say the new issue will likely impact the launch window. Artemis II will test deep-space systems and pave the way for a future Moon landing.
I hacked ChatGPT and Google's AI - and it only took 20 minutes
A journalist shows how easily AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s AI search can be manipulated to spread false or biased information. By publishing a single fake blog post, he tricked major chatbots into repeating obvious lies, exposing how AI systems scrape and amplify weak or self-serving sources. Experts warn this flaw is being exploited at scale for spam, scams, and misinformation, posing real risks to health, finance, and public trust, while safeguards lag behind rapid AI deployment.
Homo erectus skulls found in China are almost 1.8 million years old, the oldest evidence of the ancient human relatives in East Asia
New dating shows Homo erectus skulls found at Yunxian in central China are nearly 1.8 million years old, making them the oldest known evidence of these ancient human relatives in East Asia. Discovered in the late 1980s and 1990s, the fossils significantly push back the timeline for early human dispersal across the continent. The findings suggest Homo erectus reached eastern Asia much earlier than previously believed, reshaping theories about early human migration and adaptation.
Source: interestingengineering
Anthropic says DeepSeek, other Chinese AI firms scraped Claude to train rival models
Anthropic claims Chinese AI firms DeepSeek, MiniMax, and Moonshot used fake accounts and proxy networks to extract over 16 million interactions from its Claude chatbot to train rival models. Anthropic says the large-scale “distillation” violated its terms and aimed to replicate advanced capabilities. The allegations follow similar warnings from OpenAI, heightening US concern over Chinese firms leveraging American AI. Anthropic says it has tightened safeguards and is sharing threat intelligence across the industry.
Physicists recreated the first millisecond after the Big Bang, and found it was surprisingly soupy
Physicists using the Large Hadron Collider recreated conditions from the first milliseconds after the Big Bang and found the early universe behaved like a dense, liquid-like “soup.” Experiments by the CMS collaboration detected a subtle wake left by a high-energy quark moving through quark-gluon plasma, confirming it flows more like a fluid than a gas. The result offers rare experimental insight into how matter behaved just after the universe was born.
The righteous EV owners who won’t let their broken cars die
After Fisker went bankrupt, owners of the software-dependent Fisker Ocean were left with failing cars and no support. Through the volunteer-run Fisker Owners Association, they sourced parts, reverse-engineered software, trained techs, and built their own app to keep cars running. Their clash with asset buyer American Lease has become a real-world test of the right-to-repair in the age of connected vehicles.
Orbital space race heats up in Arctic north
Europe’s space race is heating up in the Arctic. At Esrange Space Centre, sub-orbital rockets carry experiments to microgravity, while new infrastructure preps for orbital satellite launches. Competitors include Firefly Aerospace, Isar Aerospace, and Norway’s Andøya Spaceport. Europe aims for independence in orbital launches amid rising satellite demand and geopolitical shifts.
Scientists discover DNA is already organized before life switches on
New research shows DNA is organized in 3D before life “switches on.” Using Pico-C, scientists found fruit fly embryos build a precise DNA scaffold prior to Zygotic Genome Activation. This architecture ensures genes activate correctly, preventing developmental issues. Applied to humans, disrupting this 3D structure triggers immune responses, linking early genome organization to health and disease, highlighting DNA’s pre-programmed order from the start of life.
Reddit fined more than £14m over children's privacy failures
Reddit has been fined over £14m by the UK Information Commissioner's Office for failing to protect children’s data. The ICO found Reddit didn’t verify users’ ages or assess risks, exposing children under 13 to unlawful data use. UK authorities stress online platforms must implement effective age checks. Reddit says it will appeal, arguing additional data collection conflicts with its privacy commitment.
Trump says government will declassify information on aliens after Obama's statements
US President Donald Trump announced plans to declassify government files on aliens and UFOs after former President Barack Obama said he hadn’t seen UFOs but didn’t rule out extraterrestrial life. Trump said he’d direct the Defence Secretary to release documents, citing public interest, and criticized Obama for allegedly revealing classified info. The move fuels global curiosity about extraterrestrials.
The looming Taiwan chip disaster that Silicon Valley has long ignored
The U.S. relies heavily on Taiwan for high-end chips, mainly from TSMC, supplying Apple, Nvidia, and Intel Corporation. Presidents Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Donald Trump pushed U.S. chip production, but costs and supply chains slowed adoption. TSMC and U.S. firms now invest in Arizona plants, yet Taiwan remains crucial, posing geopolitical and economic risks.
Source: interestingengineering
Hitachi unveils 13-ton battery-electric excavator capable of 24/7 operation
Japanese company Hitachi Construction Machinery NV unveiled the 13-ton battery-electric ZX135-7EB excavator, designed for 24/7 operation in urban and residential areas. It uses 198 kWh lithium-ion batteries or wired grid-assist mode, lowering emissions and maintenance costs. Displayed at CONEXPO 2026, it joins Hitachi’s portfolio of electric and hydrogen-powered excavators, supporting sustainable construction and extended work hours.
