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GOP Launches Probe into Wikipedia: A Conservative Assault on the Information Ecosystem?

2025-08-29

GOP Launches Probe into Wikipedia: A Conservative Assault on the Information Ecosystem?

Republican Representatives James Comer and Nancy Mace are investigating Wikipedia, alleging a search for evidence of bias, particularly anti-Israel sentiment. This is seen as part of a broader conservative effort to control the information ecosystem, following attempts to control social media and defund public broadcasting. The investigation's outcome and potential actions remain unclear, but are sure to be controversial.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech information control

Light Pollution Extends Birdsong by 50 Minutes a Day

2025-08-27

Light Pollution Extends Birdsong by 50 Minutes a Day

A new study reveals that light pollution is disrupting birds' biological clocks. Analyzing over 60 million recordings of birdsong, researchers found that in brightly lit areas like cities, birdsong is extended by an average of 50 minutes daily. Birds start singing 18 minutes earlier and stop 32 minutes later compared to those in darker areas. This extended activity could impact rest, foraging, and reproduction, potentially exacerbating global bird population declines. The study highlights the significant and often overlooked impact of light pollution on wildlife.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech biological clock

UK's Porn Age Verification Easily Bypassed with VPNs

2025-07-26

UK's Porn Age Verification Easily Bypassed with VPNs

The UK's new age verification requirement for pornographic websites is easily circumvented using VPNs. While platforms are employing methods like credit card verification, ID uploads, and facial age estimation, a simple VPN change of IP address bypasses these measures. Ofcom, the regulator, prohibits platforms from encouraging VPN use and advises parents to block VPN access for children, but soaring search interest in 'VPN' highlights the measure's ineffectiveness. While the need to restrict minors' access to adult content is valid, the current implementation compromises user privacy by demanding sensitive information, sparking widespread criticism.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech

Alaska Airlines Grounded by Massive IT Outage

2025-07-22

Alaska Airlines Grounded by Massive IT Outage

Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary Horizon Air experienced a complete system-wide grounding on Sunday night due to a major IT outage. The fifth-largest airline in the U.S. was forced to request a ground stop from the FAA, impacting all flights. While operations resumed early Monday morning, significant delays continued throughout the day. Passengers reported extensive delays and hours stuck on planes on social media. The incident occurred nearly a year after the massive CrowdStrike software failure, leading to speculation about a possible connection.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech airline IT outage system-wide grounding

Global Earthquake Early Warning System Leveraging Android Smartphones

2025-07-20

Global Earthquake Early Warning System Leveraging Android Smartphones

A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of a global earthquake early warning system built using the accelerometers in millions of Android smartphones worldwide. The system, called Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA), rivals traditional seismic networks in accuracy, detecting earthquakes globally and delivering timely alerts to users. Even in regions lacking traditional infrastructure, AEA provides crucial early warning to millions, potentially mitigating earthquake damage. By exploiting the speed difference between seismic waves, AEA issues alerts before the destructive waves arrive, buying precious seconds for people to react.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech Earthquake Early Warning

GENIUS Act Passed: Crypto Enters the Mainstream

2025-07-18

GENIUS Act Passed: Crypto Enters the Mainstream

The US House of Representatives passed the landmark GENIUS Act, establishing federal regulations for stablecoins. This marks a major shift, bringing cryptocurrencies out of the regulatory gray area and into the mainstream financial system. The act requires stablecoin issuers to hold one-to-one reserves in cash or US Treasury bills, mandates monthly disclosures, prioritizes consumer protection in case of issuer bankruptcy, and provides a framework for both federal and state oversight. This not only regulates the crypto market but also positions the US for leadership in the global digital currency race, paving the way for stablecoin-based instant global payments and everyday applications.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech GENIUS Act

UK Mission to Search for Life in Venus's Clouds

2025-07-14

UK Mission to Search for Life in Venus's Clouds

A UK-led mission aims to definitively answer whether life exists on Venus. The mission will send a probe to search for microbial life, not on the surface, but within Venus's clouds. Recent discoveries of phosphine and ammonia—potential biosignatures—in the Venusian clouds have fueled this investigation. While these gases are produced by biological activity and industrial processes on Earth, their origin on Venus remains a mystery. Given Venus's harsh surface conditions, microbial life in the cooler, higher altitudes of the clouds is a more plausible explanation. The mission, VERVE, will hitch a ride on the ESA's EnVision mission, launching in 2031, and conduct an independent atmospheric survey upon arrival. Previous detections of phosphine were controversial, but further research suggests its presence varies and is destroyed by sunlight, explaining discrepancies in earlier findings. The detection of ammonia further strengthens the case for investigating this possibility.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech Probe

LIGO Detects Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever, Defying Existing Models

2025-07-14

LIGO Detects Most Massive Black Hole Merger Ever, Defying Existing Models

The LIGO Collaboration announced the detection of GW231123, the most massive black hole merger ever observed. The merger resulted in a black hole over 225 times the mass of our Sun, a finding that challenges existing stellar evolution models. The two progenitor black holes, weighing 137 and 103 solar masses respectively, defied expectations of a stable merger. Scientists hypothesize that these black holes may have formed through prior mergers of smaller black holes. This discovery presents a significant challenge to our understanding of black hole formation and offers invaluable data for future research.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech black hole merger

YouTube's Sisyphean Task: Fighting the AI-Generated Content Flood

2025-07-11

YouTube's Sisyphean Task: Fighting the AI-Generated Content Flood

YouTube is drowning in AI-generated low-quality content. To combat this, YouTube is updating its Partner Program policies, effective July 15th, to better identify and crack down on mass-produced, repetitive content. This includes AI-generated videos lacking originality, simple slideshows, and highly repetitive Shorts. However, the ease and profitability of creating AI videos continues to attract creators, and the inherent limitations of content moderation mean the platform will struggle to fully eliminate this low-quality content, ultimately harming user experience.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech AI content moderation low-quality content

RFK Jr.'s Plan to Make America Healthy: An Apple Watch for Everyone?

2025-06-25

RFK Jr.'s Plan to Make America Healthy: An Apple Watch for Everyone?

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched an ambitious initiative to improve Americans' health by promoting widespread wearable device adoption, aiming for every American to wear one within four years. While proponents highlight the potential for early disease detection, concerns remain about privacy and data security risks associated with mass adoption. This, coupled with RFK Jr.'s history of spreading vaccine misinformation and recent controversial changes to the vaccine advisory panel, raises significant doubts about the plan's reliability and efficacy.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech

Silicon Valley Execs Join Army Reserve: A Double-Edged Sword

2025-06-19

Silicon Valley Execs Join Army Reserve: A Double-Edged Sword

Four executives from top Silicon Valley tech companies—Palantir, Meta, and OpenAI—have joined the U.S. Army Reserve as lieutenant colonels, aiming to accelerate technology adoption in the military. This unusual move highlights the growing military-civilian fusion but also raises concerns about conflicts of interest and political risks. These executives will work on projects helping the Army rapidly adopt commercial technologies, serving around 120 hours annually with significant remote work flexibility. However, their ties to their companies and potential political associations with the current administration could impact their companies' reputations and public perception, particularly amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech military-civilian fusion

Universe's Missing Matter Found!

2025-06-17

Universe's Missing Matter Found!

For decades, scientists have searched for the universe's 'missing' ordinary matter, accounting for 5% of the universe. Researchers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Caltech have used fast radio bursts (FRBs) to solve the mystery: over three-quarters of ordinary matter resides in hot, low-density gas between galaxies. FRBs slow down when traversing intergalactic gas; measuring this slowdown reveals the gas density. This study provides the first detailed measurements of ordinary matter's distribution, confirming cosmological simulations and illustrating matter's movement across the universe. It also highlights the efficiency of intergalactic feedback mechanisms.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech Fast Radio Bursts

Pentagon's UFO Smoke Screen: A Carefully Crafted Illusion?

2025-06-12

Pentagon's UFO Smoke Screen: A Carefully Crafted Illusion?

The Wall Street Journal revealed the Pentagon's long-standing manipulation of UFO incidents for disinformation purposes. By fabricating evidence and stories, the Department of Defense diverted public attention from real, secret weapons programs to 'alien technology.' This practice targeted not only the public but also its own personnel. For example, the 1967 incident at a nuclear bunker, where a supposed 'alien spacecraft' disabled missiles, was actually a government electromagnetic pulse test. Additionally, new recruits to secretive programs received photos of UFOs, told they represented anti-gravity technology – a potentially out-of-control 'hazing ritual' or part of an internal disinformation campaign. Ultimately, the truth remains elusive, and the government's intent may be to discourage the search for it.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech Government Conspiracy

OpenAI CEO Downplays ChatGPT's Environmental Impact

2025-06-12

OpenAI CEO Downplays ChatGPT's Environmental Impact

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman claims ChatGPT's energy and water usage is far lower than previous studies suggest. He claims a single query requires only 0.34 Wh and a negligible amount of water. However, calculations based on ChatGPT's active users and message volume suggest significantly higher water consumption than Altman's estimates, contradicting other research. Altman's statements raise questions about OpenAI's data transparency and environmental responsibility, highlighting the significant environmental cost of large language models.

(gizmodo.com)

AI AI environmental impact

NASA's Europa Lander: From Frozen Moon to…Another Frozen Moon?

2025-06-08

NASA's Europa Lander: From Frozen Moon to…Another Frozen Moon?

After a decade of development, NASA's Europa Lander, a rugged, semi-autonomous probe designed to explore Jupiter's moon Europa, has been shelved due to budgetary and technical challenges. Equipped to walk, sample, and drill in extreme cold and high radiation, the lander aced its tests. However, NASA leadership ultimately canceled the Europa mission. Engineers are now lobbying to redirect the lander to Saturn's moon Enceladus, which offers lower radiation and better access windows. This robot built for Europa may yet get its chance at a moonwalk – albeit on a different celestial body.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech

50-Year Latency: Woman Dies From Prion Disease Contracted in Childhood

2025-05-30

50-Year Latency: Woman Dies From Prion Disease Contracted in Childhood

Scientists report a rare case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in a 58-year-old woman, likely contracted through contaminated human growth hormone (HGH) treatments received 50 years prior. This potentially represents the longest documented latency period for this fatal disease. The case highlights the insidious nature of prion diseases: long incubation periods and resistance to standard sterilization methods. While cadaver-derived HGH is banned, the potential for delayed onset cases remains a concern.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech prion disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease human growth hormone

AI's Devolution of Higher Education: Is ChatGPT Turning Students into Cyborgs?

2025-05-20

AI's Devolution of Higher Education: Is ChatGPT Turning Students into Cyborgs?

The AI industry's promise to 'disrupt' society is tragically fulfilled in the US education system. Reports from New York Magazine and 404 Media reveal widespread AI cheating: students use ChatGPT for assignments and even college applications, while schools, influenced by pro-AI consultants, encourage AI in classrooms. This leads to a decline in learning and teaching quality, highlighting systemic flaws and potentially catastrophic intellectual degradation. The easy route facilitated by AI is creating a generation increasingly reliant on technology, ultimately undermining genuine learning and critical thinking.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech AI in education

Apple CarPlay Ultra: Delayed Luxury, Divided Opinions

2025-05-16

Apple CarPlay Ultra: Delayed Luxury, Divided Opinions

Apple's CarPlay Ultra, featuring customizable dashboards and real-time diagnostics, is finally arriving, but exclusively in high-end Aston Martin vehicles. The delayed launch (six months behind schedule) highlights the challenges of developing car software across diverse platforms. This segmentation risks widening the gap between owners of new and older vehicles. The automotive industry is also split, with some manufacturers like GM and Mercedes-Benz moving away from CarPlay entirely. While CarPlay Ultra offers customization, the trend towards screen-filled dashboards raises concerns about driver experience and safety.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech in-car software

Soviet Venus Probe Set for Uncontrolled Reentry After 53 Years

2025-04-29

Soviet Venus Probe Set for Uncontrolled Reentry After 53 Years

A 53-year-old Soviet Venus probe, Kosmos 482, which failed to leave Earth's orbit in 1972, is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry in early May. Designed to withstand extreme heat, parts of the spacecraft might survive the descent. While the risk is considered low, it's not zero. The exact time and location of the reentry remain uncertain, complicated by solar activity affecting atmospheric drag.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech Spacecraft Reentry Soviet Probe

Lawyer Used AI to Generate a Court Brief. It Was a Disaster.

2025-04-27

Lawyer Used AI to Generate a Court Brief. It Was a Disaster.

Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, is embroiled in legal battles due to his staunch support of Donald Trump's election lies. His lawyer, Christopher Kachouroff, is now facing disciplinary action for submitting a court brief riddled with errors – nearly thirty, including fabricated legal citations – generated by AI. Judge Nina Wang is demanding an explanation from Kachouroff and co-counsel Jennifer DeMaster, threatening disciplinary action if they fail to provide a satisfactory account of this egregious professional lapse. The incident highlights the perils of using generative AI in legal contexts and underscores the critical need for rigorous fact-checking of all legal documents.

(gizmodo.com)

Misc

Amazon's Book Sale Clash with Independent Bookstore Day: A David vs. Goliath Story

2025-04-27

Amazon's Book Sale Clash with Independent Bookstore Day: A David vs. Goliath Story

Amazon's annual book sale overlaps with Independent Bookstore Day, sparking outrage from independent bookstore owners who accuse Amazon of deliberately scheduling the sale to undercut them. While Amazon claims the overlap was unintentional, many see it as a continuation of Amazon's long history of aggressive tactics against competitors. Indie bookstores, however, have persevered by fostering community bonds and offering a unique shopping experience that Amazon can't replicate.

(gizmodo.com)

Startup Indie Bookstores Business Competition

The Quest to Retrieve Vanguard-1: Oldest Satellite in Orbit

2025-04-19

The Quest to Retrieve Vanguard-1: Oldest Satellite in Orbit

Launched in 1958, the grapefruit-sized Vanguard-1 satellite remains in orbit, making it the oldest human-made object orbiting Earth. A team is proposing a mission to retrieve this historical artifact, studying its decades-long exposure to space. The plan involves potentially using a SpaceX vehicle or partnering with a private sponsor. Once retrieved, Vanguard-1 could be displayed at the Smithsonian, serving as a testament to the early days of space exploration. This mission would also provide valuable experience for future endeavors like space debris removal and on-orbit manufacturing.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech Satellite Retrieval Space History

2,000-Year-Old Roman Battlefield Unearthed in Vienna

2025-04-07

2,000-Year-Old Roman Battlefield Unearthed in Vienna

During renovations of a sports field in Vienna, a mass grave containing the remains of approximately 150 soldiers was discovered. Archaeological analysis confirms the remains date to a battle between Roman legionaries and Germanic tribes sometime between the mid-first and early second centuries CE. The discovery, including weaponry (daggers, spears, helmet fragments) and a dagger sheath with silver wire inlays providing precise dating, offers the first direct archaeological evidence of a battle along the Danube Limes, a key part of the Roman Empire's eastern frontier. This find sheds new light on the origins of Vienna and the conflicts that led to the expansion of the Roman military camp Vindobona.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech

Voyager's Sunset: A Legacy of Interstellar Exploration

2025-04-05

Voyager's Sunset: A Legacy of Interstellar Exploration

Nearly 50 years after launch, the Voyager probes are nearing the end of their operational lives. Powering down due to decaying plutonium, the aging spacecraft lose 4 watts annually, forcing tough decisions to shut down non-essential systems, including science instruments. Project scientist Linda Spilker recounts the challenges of maintaining these aging vessels and the effort to pass on their knowledge to new generations. Voyager's journey, yielding invaluable data on the heliopause and interstellar space, inspires future interstellar missions, charting a course for humanity's continued exploration of the cosmos.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech

Playstacean: A Crab-Themed PSOne Mod Takes Meme to Reality

2025-03-29

Playstacean: A Crab-Themed PSOne Mod Takes Meme to Reality

YouTuber GingerOfOz brought the meme-ified 'Playstacean' to life, a crab-shaped PlayStation One mod based on concept art by Anh Dang. This isn't just a reskin; it features functional crab claw controllers and intricate internal modifications. The build involved 3D printing, controller port adjustments, and wiring challenges. While GingerOfOz isn't releasing the design files yet, this unique creation will be showcased at the Midwest Gaming Classic.

(gizmodo.com)

Game console mod

Pyrex Explosions: The Fall of a Kitchen Icon?

2025-03-28

Pyrex Explosions: The Fall of a Kitchen Icon?

Since 1915, Pyrex glassware has been a kitchen staple. However, in recent years, numerous reports of Pyrex cookware exploding under heat have surfaced. Investigations reveal a shift in the 1950s to cheaper soda-lime glass from the original heat-resistant borosilicate glass. While tempered, soda-lime glass is far less resistant to thermal shock, making it prone to shattering. Although Pyrex's parent company claims explosions are rare and due to misuse, consumers and experts question this, citing insufficient risk communication. A class-action lawsuit is underway, and consumers are seeking out reliable borosilicate glass alternatives. The incident highlights the importance of material science in everyday products.

(gizmodo.com)

Hardware glass cookware product safety

Thriving Ecosystem Discovered Beneath Calved Antarctic Iceberg

2025-03-25

Thriving Ecosystem Discovered Beneath Calved Antarctic Iceberg

Scientists exploring the seafloor exposed by the calving of the massive A-84 iceberg (Chicago-sized) in Antarctica discovered a surprisingly vibrant ecosystem. Using the ROV SuBastian, they found large corals, sponges, icefish, giant sea spiders, and octopuses, suggesting these communities have existed for decades, perhaps centuries. This unexpected discovery challenges existing understanding of how icebergs affect their surroundings and highlights the impact of Antarctic ice sheet melt. Ocean currents are believed to be crucial for life under the ice, while the shrinking ice sheet poses a threat. The research provides crucial data for predicting future climate change impacts.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech Marine Ecology Iceberg Calving

WWI Dazzle Camouflage: It Wasn't the Paint, It Was the Horizon Effect

2025-03-25

WWI Dazzle Camouflage: It Wasn't the Paint, It Was the Horizon Effect

During WWI, navies used "dazzle" camouflage to confuse German U-boats. Researchers at Aston University re-analyzed a 106-year-old study and found that the "dazzle" effect was far less significant than the "horizon effect." The horizon effect causes viewers to underestimate a ship's angle relative to the horizon; even at a 25-degree angle, it appears to be traveling along the horizon. This study reveals that even experienced naval officers were fooled by the horizon effect, highlighting a misinterpretation of the camouflage's effectiveness.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech WWI dazzle camouflage horizon effect

Tesla Insurance Costs Skyrocket Amidst Wave of Vandalism and Backlash

2025-03-18

Tesla Insurance Costs Skyrocket Amidst Wave of Vandalism and Backlash

Tesla insurance premiums are surging due to the company's declining reputation and a rise in vandalism targeting its vehicles. Insurers, relying on actuarial models, are predicting higher claim payouts for Tesla EVs. Elon Musk's personal brand is inextricably linked to the cars, fueling public anger and leading to protests and acts of vandalism, including arson, graffiti, and theft. This has prompted insurers to increase rates significantly, especially for models like the Model X and Model S Plaid. A similar situation unfolded in 2023 with Kia and Hyundai vehicles, whose easy theft led to soaring insurance costs. Adding fuel to the fire, a website called "DOGEQUEST" allegedly publishes personal information of Tesla owners, exacerbating the crisis.

(gizmodo.com)

Tech vandalism

Netflix's Underrated Masterpiece: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

2025-03-18

Netflix's Underrated Masterpiece: The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

Netflix's 2019 series, *The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance*, is a criminally underrated fantasy epic. Serving as a prequel to the 1982 film, this 10-episode masterpiece boasts stunning puppetry and an all-star voice cast (including Taron Egerton and Anya Taylor-Joy), recounting the Gelfling rebellion against the evil Skeksis on the planet Thra. Despite its premature cancellation due to high production costs and viewership, its exceptional production quality, profound storytelling, and mature dark themes make it a must-watch classic, rivaling the likes of *Lord of the Rings* and *Star Wars*.

(gizmodo.com)

Game Puppetry

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