Science & Technology

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> Apple launches iOS 26 across software platforms, including "Liquid Glass" visual theme, AI-powered live translation, and messaging customizations (More)

> Scientists pinpoint neural circuit and cell type behind optical illusions; finding may inform treatments for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders (More)

> Researchers use machine learning to develop 3D system that enables more precise analyses of fetal development (More)

Fireflies, jellyfish, fungi, oh my: Today's Science & Technology newsletter explores the phenomenon of bioluminescence. Email comes out at 8:30 am ET—join here for free!

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> Ousted CDC Director Susan Monarez testifies before Senate Health Committee; says Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to change the childhood vaccine schedule this month without an independent data analysis (More)  > Researchers develop AI tool that uses medical records to calculate risk for 1,231 diseases, including Type 2 diabetes and heart conditions (More) | Diabetes 101 (1440 Topics) > Wild African chimps easily consume more than the equivalent of two standard alcoholic drinks, according to first-ever measure of ethanol in native fruits (More)

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> China's DeepSeek AI publishes peer-reviewed study finding its AI model R1 did not rely on rival models like ChatGPT for training, cost $294K to create—tens of millions less than rivals' estimated cost (More) | Large language models 101 (1440 Topics)

> Paleoentomologists unearth prehistoric insects preserved in amber for the first time in South America, providing a window into the ancient Amazon rainforest (More)

> Some dogs—dubbed "gifted word learners"—can extend word meanings to new objects based on function, not just appearance; the skill is considered a cornerstone of early language development in toddlers (More)

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> Chipmaker Nvidia to invest up to $100B in OpenAI as part of AI data center buildout estimated to consume roughly as much energy as 8 million homes (More)

> Geoscientists find proof that an asteroid hit the North Sea over 43 million years ago, settling decadeslong debate about the origins of a nearly 2-mile-wide crater over 2,200 feet below the seabed (More) | Dinosaurs 101: Subscribe to 1440 Science & Technology by 8:30 am ET today to learn about the terrible lizards (Join here)

> Commonwealth Fusion Systems' first fusion reactor strikes deal to supply $1B in nuclear power to energy company Eni (More) | What's nuclear power? (1440 Topics)

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> NASA targets early February for first launch of humans beyond low-Earth orbit in over five decades; 10-day mission aims to send four astronauts around the moon and back (More)

> Meta launches pro-artificial intelligence political action committee to fight state-level policies hindering AI development (More) | Researchers develop AI tool to make quantum computing materials (More) | Quantum computing 101 (1440 Topics)

> Paleontologists in Argentina unearth new dinosaur species, estimated at 23-feet-long nose to tail and 2,200 pounds, with jaw gripping ancient crocodile bone (More)

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> Seven-year study shows people at risk for rheumatoid arthritis experience immune system changes years before feeling symptoms; finding could enable more targeted monitoring and earlier intervention (More) | What's arthritis? (1440 Topics)

> Mathematical modeling reveals spirals in human umbilical cords facilitate an oxygen and heat exchange that keeps babies cool before birth; research suggests abnormal cord structures contribute to pregnancy complications (More)

> Researchers develop gene therapy treatment that slowed the progression of Huntington's disease—a fatal, progressive brain disorder—by 75% in a clinical trial; biotech company uniQure aims to offer the therapy in the US next year (More)

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> Amazon expected to unveil new models of its Kindle reader and Echo speakers, among other products, at its annual fall hardware event tomorrow (More)

> Dual-drug inhaler cuts asthma attacks in children aged 5 to 15 by 45% in clinical trials; approach would replace the commonly used salbutamol inhaler (More)

> Engineers demonstrate micro-robots made from lung cells; devices may enable targeted drug delivery in hard-to-reach areas of the body (More)

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> Department of Energy takes 5% stake in Lithium Americas and its Nevada mining project, considered key to reducing US reliance on Chinese lithium for battery development (More) | How much is lithium demand projected to grow? (1440 Topics)

> Scientists confirm complex organic molecules in geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus, offering further evidence the moon is habitable; Enceladus' underground oceans have long made it a prime candidate to host life beyond Earth (More)

> Paleontologists analyzing 430-million-year-old fossil determine leeches emerged 200 million years earlier than previously thought, with the earliest species feeding on marine creatures instead of blood (More)

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> Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to trio of American and Japanese immunologists for discoveries underpinning new autoimmune and cancer therapies (More) | Nobel Prize in Physics to be announced this morning at 5:45 am ET (More)

> Deadly tornado that hit North Dakota in June upgraded to strongest classification, marking the first such rating in the US since 2013; winds reached 210 mph, and width peaked at more than 1 mile (More)

> Researchers link fathers' exercise regimens to endurance and metabolic health of children, suggesting sperm microRNAs transmit benefits of physical activity (More)

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> Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to trio of US-based scientists for 1980s quantum mechanics discoveries that laid the groundwork for digital communications and advanced computing (More) | Nobel Prize in Chemistry to be announced this morning at 5:45 am ET (More)

> Engineers develop 3D-printed aluminum alloy five times stronger than traditionally manufactured aluminum, potentially enabling lighter aircraft parts; machine learning accelerated search for optimal compositions (More)

> Chinese chipmakers bought nearly $40B in chipmaking gear from the US and its allies last year—66% jump from 2022—despite US efforts to restrict access (More)

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> Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded to US-, Australia-, and Japan-based scientists for developing porous molecular architecture used to extract pollutants from water, capture carbon dioxide from air, and store hydrogen for energy (More)

> Scientists identify brain area linked to chronic pain, which affects one in five people worldwide; finding could lead to interventions that mute pain signals (More)

> SoftBank strikes $5.4B deal to buy robotics arm of Swiss engineering firm ABB; Japanese tech conglomerate seeks to merge artificial intelligence and robots (More)

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> Intel unveils new computer processor, Panther Lake, in bid to reestablish reputation as leading chipmaker; Panther Lake to be manufactured at new $20B Arizona facility and debut in laptops next year (More)

> Astronomers detect lowest-mass dark matter object yet via tiny distortion caused by its gravity; object's mass is a million times that of our sun (More) | What is dark matter? (1440 Topics)

> Behavioral scientists find some dogs show addictive-like behaviors toward toys, mirroring human addictions to gambling, gaming, and smartphones; research team to publish follow-up study examining how addictive traits differ by breed (More)

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> Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin reveals designs for larger, more powerful rocket, positioning the space exploration company to compete more directly with Elon Musk's SpaceX for NASA contracts (More)

> Scientists identify cells responsible for building facial features, shedding light on how genetic information from both parents combines to shape appearance and the origins of certain facial abnormalities (More)

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⚠️ New smartphone warning

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios

Preteens who own smartphones are likelier to have depression, obesity and insufficient sleep than their peers, Axios' Maya Goldman writes from a new University of Pennsylvania-led study. Why it matters: Roughly half of American kids now own a smartphone by the time they turn 11. ? What they found: Kids who owned a smartphone at age 12 were found to have about 30% higher odds of depression, 40% higher odds of obesity and 62% higher odds of insufficient sleep than their peers who didn't have one. Keep reading ...

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> Samsung debuts its first trifold smartphone with 10-inch display, available in South Korea this month and in the US next year; Chinese company Huawei released trifold phones last year, and Apple is expected to debut a foldable iPhone next year (More)

> Researchers find shingles vaccine may slow progression of dementia, building on an earlier study that linked the vaccine to a lower risk of developing dementia (More)

> Terminally ill baby ants emit a chemical signal that prompts adult ants to kill them, helping protect the rest of the colony from infection (More)

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> Waymo begins testing self-driving vehicles in Philadelphia and launches manned drives in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis to collect road data (More)

> Chemists synthesize a fungal compound with potential to fight diffuse midline glioma, an aggressive pediatric brain cancer that has few treatment options (More)

> NASA scientists find bioessential sugars and a gum-like material rich in oxygen and nitrogen in an asteroid sample, offering clues about how life’s molecular building blocks arrived on Earth (More)

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> Earthquake sensor networks can be used to detect the sonic boom created by space trash as it falls back to Earth, allowing quicker retrieval of the debris (More) | Space trash 101 (1440 Topics)

> Researchers develop ultrasound technique that provides 3D color images; allows researchers to view soft tissue and how blood vessels are functioning at once (More)

> Cancer tumors release a protein in mice that helps clear out amyloid beta plaques in the brain, which play a key role in Alzheimer's; may help explain the link between cancer diagnosis and reduced risk for the neurological disease (More)

? What we learned about the 1986 Challenger disaster: Tomorrow's 1440 Science & Technology newsletter explores the tragic launch, in which seven US astronauts lost their lives. We'll also explore how quantum computing works, the history of Google, and much more. Join 120,000+ science enthusiasts here!

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> Ford Motor is developing all-electric vehicles with high-voltage batteries similar to those used in Tesla Cybertrucks; the technology is expected to lower the cost of Ford's EVs, with a $30K pickup truck slated for release next year (More)

> Researchers create AI-powered algorithm that classifies pediatric brain tumors with 92% accuracy from liquid biopsies; the noninvasive method of diagnosis and monitoring tumors may be applicable across many pediatric cancer types (More)

> Seal pup communication appears more similar to human communication than previously believed; pups speak in turn and adopt each other's vocal features when they spend time together, according to over 1,000 hours of audio (More)

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👟 Squeaky sneakers solved

Illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios Harvard University materials scientist Adel Djellouli appears to have cracked basketball's oldest mystery: What exactly causes that iconic squeak-squeak-squeak sound of sneakers on a court? Djellouli and colleagues slid a sneaker against a smooth glass plate over and over, AP reports. 🎤 Researchers recorded the squeaks with a microphone and filmed the whole thing with a high-speed camera to see what was happening under the shoe. ⛹️‍♂️ As the shoe works hard to keep its grip, tiny sections of the sole change shape as they momentarily lose, then regain, contact with the floor thousands of times per second — at a frequency that matches the pitch of the loud squeak we hear. Go deeper.

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The end of Hollywood or a brighter future? What a Paramount-owned Warner Bros. means for the movies

Two of Hollywood’s oldest studios may be consolidating into one. In a shocking twist after a monthslong bidding war, Paramount has emerged as the apparent victor in the fight to acquire Warner Bros.

https://apnews.com/article/warner-bros-paramount-deal-explained-7c05a7455e3cef11875dd53784dbf9d2?

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> OpenAI's head of robotics, Caitlin Kalinowski, resigns, citing the company's recent deal with the Pentagon (More) | FDA vaccine chief, Vinay Prasad, to leave agency for second time since July (More)

> Engineers create first modular robot with "athletic" intelligence; AI-designed configurations let the machines adapt to a variety of environments (More, w/video)

> 3D-printed "superfoam" absorbs up to 10 times as much energy as conventional padding; may have use in automotive and defense applications (More)