Both established and emerging AI players around the world are racing to produce more efficient and higher-performance models since the unexpected launch of DeepSeek's revolutionary R1 earlier this year.
Chinese firms have been doubling down on the technology with Alibaba investing in AI after debuting its first model in 2023. The strength of the company's cloud Intelligence unit was a key contributor to Alibaba's sharp profit hike in the December quarter.
"Looking ahead, revenue growth at Cloud Intelligence Group driven by AI will continue to accelerate," Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu said at the time.
Judging from the scale and volume of the transactions on Huione Guarantee, it is likely leveraged by numerous organized criminal groups, according to Andrew Fierman, head of national security intelligence at Chainlaysis.
However, he adds that the many services don't cost much money, providing a low barrier to entry and access point into cybercrime for "anyone with internet connection."
According to Chainalysis, individuals looking to facilitate "romance" or investment scams may be able to purchase the necessary tools and services on Huione for just a couple of hundred dollars. Costs can reach thousands of dollars, depending on the level of complexity they are looking to execute.
Investing or romance scams involve a fraudster building a relationship with a victim via social media or dating apps, intending to con them out of money through a sham investment opportunity.
A scammer attempting to pull off this type of scam might shop Huione Guarantee for a portfolio of potential victims' data, such as phone numbers; old social media accounts that appear to be from real people; and AI-powered facial and voice manipulation software, which can be used by a scammer to digitally disguise themselves.
Other vendors on the site offer services related to the creation of fake investment and gambling platforms. Fiermen says scammers often deceive victims into depositing money on such platforms.
'Child's play'
As CaaS and cybercrime markets continue to grow, the technology that is offered and leveraged by criminal vendors has also advanced, allowing more sophisticated scams on scale — with less effort, experts say.
AI-generated deepfake videos and voice cloning are increasingly looking more real, with previously infeasible attacks now realistic thanks to generative AI advancements, according to Kim-Hock Leow, Asia CEO of cybersecurity company Wizlynx Group.
Last year, Hong Kong police reported that a finance worker at a multinational firm had been tricked into paying out $25 million to fraudsters using deepfake technology to pose as the company's chief financial officer in a video conference call.
"This would have been completely impossible to pull off just a few years ago, even for criminals with technical skills, and now it is a viable attack even for those without," added NetSkope's Burnside.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts told CNBC that AI tools can be used to enhance phishing and social engineering scams, helping to write more personalized and human-like messages.
"It has become child's play to create really convincing fake emails, audio notes, images or videos designed to scam and trick victims," said Burnside, noting that dark variants of legitimate generative AI tools continue to find their way into dark markets.
At its peak in 2008, Digg was reportedly valued at about $160 million. But the rise of Facebook and other social sites caused traffic to Digg to plummet. Meanwhile, Reddit, which was founded a year after Digg by Ohanian and current CEO Steve Huffman, emerged as a direct rival to Digg by forming communities around types of content and letting users similarly rate news stories.
In 2012, Digg's brand and website were acquired by tech incubator Betaworks for about $500,000.
Reddit has continued its ascent, reporting nearly 102 million daily active users at the end of the fourth quarter. The site gained widespread attention when it became the center of the 2020 meme stock craze as retail traders inflicted huge pain on hedge funds shorting stocks using a subreddit known as Wallstreetbets.
For the fiscal first quarter, MongoDB called for 63 cents to 67 cents in adjusted earnings per share on $524 million to $529 million in revenue. Analysts surveyed by LSEG had expected 62 cents of per-share earnings and revenue of $526.8 million.
MongoDB said it expects adjusted earnings per share of $2.44 to $2.62 and revenue of $2.24 billion to $2.28 billion for fiscal 2026. That implies 12.7% revenue growth, which would be the slowest rate at least since the company went public in 2017. Analysts were anticipating $3.34 per share of earnings and $2.32 billion in revenue.
Prior to Wednesday's after-hours move, MongoDB shares were up 13%, while the S&P 500 was down about 1%.
In addition to the new laptops, Apple on Wednesday announced a high-end Mac Studio desktop with a chip that can run advanced AI. The company also upgraded its iPad Air with an M4 chip on Tuesday, and last month, it announced the low-cost iPhone 16e.
The Mac Studio has more processing power and is designed for people who work on computer graphics, audio or video production or artificial intelligence. It's not cheap — the computer starts at $1,999, and more powerful configurations can cost over $14,000.
Apple has expanded its supply chain in recent years. Some Macs are now assembled in Malaysia or Vietnam, production locations which would avoid Chinese import duties. Apple didn't say where the new MacBook Airs are assembled.
UFO Filmmaker: Rubio Warns UAPs May Bring Another 9/11
UFO documentary filmmaker Dan Farah's new movie "The Age of Disclosure" has current and former senior members of the U.S. government, military, and intelligence community on the record to look at what's going on with potential alien intelligence.
Something's happening here, but what it is ain't exactly clear, according to UFO documentary filmmaker Dan Farah, who interviewed current and former senior members of the U.S. government, military, and intelligence community on the record to look at what's going down.
Farah's "The Age of Disclosure" world premiere is Sunday at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and The Hollywood Reporter's Q&A gives a glimpse into knowing about the unknown as known in Congress as unidentified anomalous phenomenon — the fancy new name for UFOs.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., co-sponsored the UAP Disclosure Act, which was also endorsed by Rubio and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
"The act had very specific language to try to use the law to bring about disclosure," Farah told THR. "Schumer literally included a quote saying, 'The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena.'
"This is very specific language. When you read that, any average person would say to themselves, 'Oh my God, is this real?' Yes, it is real.
"Something else that I found really eye-opening is how truly bipartisan this topic is at a time where Democrats and Republicans don't agree on anything. The leadership of both parties are completely aligned on how serious this is. None of the government leadership I spoke to — who have access to very sensitive classified information — were debating whether this is real. None of them."
FAA Needs Multiple Technologies for US Air Traffic System
The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that upgrading the aging U.S. air traffic control system will require multiple technologies and companies.
"That is why we are testing multiple communication technologies, including satellites, fiber and wireless to ensure the safety of the national airspace system. Beyond that, no decisions for other deployments have been made," the FAA said.
Some Democrats have suggested the FAA could cancel a $2.4 billion FAA contract with Verizon and give it to Trump adviser Elon Musk's Starlink unit.
Trump Drafting Order to Abolish Education Department
President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order aimed at his long-held goal of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order aimed at his long-held goal of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The order might come as soon as Thursday, the newspaper said late Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter whom it did not name. The White House and the department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump repeatedly has called for eliminating the department, calling it a "big con job." He proposed shuttering it in his first term as president, but Congress did not act.
Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk have attempted to dismantle government programs and institutions such as the U.S. Agency for International Development without congressional approval, but abolishing the Department of Education would be his first shutdown of a cabinet-level agency.
The department oversees some 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the United States, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments.
Instead, it provides federal grants for needy schools and programs, including money to pay teachers of children with special needs, fund arts programs and replace outdated infrastructure.
It also oversees the $1.6 trillion in student loans held by tens of millions of Americans who cannot afford to pay for university outright.
Trump Eyes 65 Percent Staff Cut at EPA
President Donald Trump's administration aims to cut around 65% of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency, a key regulatory body that works on a range of areas, including climate change.
"I spoke with Lee Zeldin and he thinks he's going to be cutting 65 or so percent of the people from environmental," he said, referring to the EPA administrator.
The agency currently employs more than 17,000 of the roughly two million total U.S. federal workforce.
Trump has made slashing the size of the federal government a key priority in his first days in office, tasking Elon Musk, the world's richest person, with aiding that effort as well as cutting government spending.
The Republican ran on a platform that promised to curb environmental protection regulations, specifically those related to climate change, in order to increase economic growth.
Pete Rose's Son to Newsmax: Pardon 'Would Mean the World'
A posthumous presidential pardon for his father would mean the world to the family, Tyler Rose, the son of late baseball legend Pete Rose, told Newsmax on Wednesday.
Tyler Rose, the son of late baseball legend Pete Rose, told Newsmax on Wednesday that a posthumous presidential pardon for his father "would mean the world" to the family.
At the end of last month, President Donald Trump wrote a social media postcriticizing the MLB for banning Rose and the Baseball Hall of Fame for not inducting him during his lifetime. He also vowed to pardon Rose, who was permanently banned from the MLB after an investigation found that he had placed bets on games involving the Cincinnati Reds during his time as a player and a manager. Rose was not charged with a crime for placing bets; he pleaded guilty in 1990 to filing false tax returns and served five months in prison.
Sen. Kennedy to Newsmax: No Confidence in Justin Trudeau
I wouldn't put him in charge of a ham sandwich, Kennedy asserted.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Newsmax on Wednesday that he has does not "have a lot of confidence in [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau" for fulfilling President Donald Trump’s demands on border security.
On Monday, the Trump administration began its much anticipated tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in order to "combat the extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, including our public health posed by unchecked drug trafficking."
Industry experts have warned that the tariffs could result in inflation and retaliation against U.S. exporters. Kennedy said "the truth is we don’t know" what impact the tariffs will have.
Second Judge Extends Block on Trump Admin's Funding Freeze
A second federal judge on Thursday extended a block barring the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars.
A second federal judge on Thursday extended a block barring the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars.
U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island granted the preliminary injunction in the lawsuit filed by nearly two dozen Democratic states after a Trump administration plan for a sweeping pause on federal spending stirred up a wave of confusion and anxiety across the United States.
The states say a litany of programs are still waiting for federal funds or some clarity on whether the money is going to be delivered.
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington has also extended an order blocking the funding freeze. AliKhan granted a preliminary injunction requested by groups representing thousands of nonprofits and small businesses.
China announces major oil, natural gas deposit reserve discovery in Beibu Gulf Basin
The well can produce approximately 13.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
China’s state-owned oil and gas company has announced a major hydrocarbon discovery breakthrough in the exploration of Paleozoic buried hills in the Beibu Gulf Basin.
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) made the announcement on Thursday.
The breakthrough came after drilling was done to a total depth of about 15,879 feet (4,840 meters) in an area with an average water depth of about 121 feet (37 meters).
The company’s exploration initiative struck upon a crude oil and natural gas pay zone of 928 feet (283 meters), as per the press release.
The state-owned company claims to be the largest offshore producer of petroleum and natural gas.
“The breakthrough in the exploration of Paleozoic granite buried hills reveals the vast exploration prospects of the buried hills in the Beibu Gulf Basin. It will also provide guidance for exploration in similar fields offshore China,” Xu added.
Zhou Xinhuai, the CEO of CNOOC, said, “In recent years, the Company has made large and medium-sized oil and gas discoveries in various types of buried hills offshore China, which have been further expanding the Company’s oil and gas resource base.”
“The discovery in the Beibu Gulf Basin will help to stabilize energy supply and continuously contribute to the economic and social development.”
Past breakthroughs from CNOOC
In February 2025, CNOOC had announced the start of production from Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield Development Project (Phase I) in central Bohai Bay.
The project is expected to achieve a peak production of approximately 22,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. The oil property is light crude.
Skyraider II: US Air Force’s retro Vietnam-era warbird makes a modern comeback
Drawing from the legacy of the A-1 Skyraider, which served from 1946 to the early 1980s, the Skyraider II embodies a rugged versatility.
The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has launched a new Vietnam war-styled light combat aircraft.
The aircraft, previously known as the OA-1K, is now officially named the Skyraider II, a name derived from the original Skyraider that served in the 19th century.
The announcement was made recently at the Special Air Warfare Symposium, marking a significant moment for the future of air support technology.
One of the standout features of the Skyraider II is its tailwheel, which enhances its ability to conduct short takeoffs and landings.
This design enables operations from unimproved or austere airfields, a crucial capability for many special operations missions.
Prather noted, “Providing scalable and precise effects is where the Skyraider II will excel. We envision it taking on missions from the U.S. southern border to African regions, presenting challenges to those we are competing with.”
Equipped to loiter in the field for up to six hours with a combat radius of 200 nautical miles, the Skyraider II can carry a flexible payload of up to 6,000 pounds.
This persistence and a robust suite of radios and datalinks ensure reliable communication for line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight operations.
The Skyraider II also boasts significant situational awareness capabilities, with the ability to host an array of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and ISR sensors.
Additionally, its production and operational costs remain low, supported by a global sustainment network.
With the first Skyraider II projected to arrive at Hurlburt Field in Spring 2025, it represents a modern evolution of a venerable airframe, poised to support the unique needs of specialized military operations for years to come.
In order to solve this problem, the research team developed an AI-enabled model that adjusted for day-to-day changes. For two weeks, the subject tried to visualize simple movements while the AI learned from his brain signals. When he first attempted to control a robotic arm, his movements were imprecise. To improve accuracy, he practiced using a virtual robotic arm that provided real-time feedback.
As soon as he learned how to use the virtual arm, he could very quickly transfer these skills to the real robotic arm. He was able to grab blocks with the arm, rotate them, and place them in different positions. In a more advanced task, he opened a cabinet, took out a cup, and placed it under the water dispenser.
The researchers showed that the time it takes for atoms to synchronize reveals information about how entangled the system is, potentially offering new ways to harness quantum properties for enhanced precision measurements.
To distinguish true gravitational effects from other influences like magnetic fields, the scientists developed a technique called dressing. By applying specific lasers, they could tune how strongly atoms experience gravitational time dilation, providing a clear signature that the effect truly comes from Einstein’s relativity rather than experimental artifacts.
Additionally, part sequencing provides a high return on investment. Frequent lifting, squatting, and twisting with heavy components make this a repetitive and ergonomically taxing activity. By using Atlas to automate this process, efficiency and throughput are increased, accident risks are decreased, employee retention is enhanced, and workers can move into different tasks.
Genetic testing paves way for juicier, larger tomatoes and eggplants
The genetic duplicates, or paralogs, played a crucial role in shaping traits such as flowering time, fruit size, and shape.
Your next bite of tomatoes and eggplants might be bigger and more flavorful than before – thanks to a groundbreaking study by scientists at the Johns Hopkins University. Researchers at the Pioneer Institute have found that the secret to fruit size lies in their DNA, and a tiny genetic tweak can affect not only its dimensions but also its taste.
The research could pave the way for the development of new varieties of eggplants and tomatoes, changing the way we grow and consume these crops.
“Once you’ve done the gene editing, all it takes is one seed to start a revolution,” said co-lead author Michael Schatz, a geneticist at Johns Hopkins University, adding: “There’s huge potential to translate these advances into real-world impact.”
“Having full genome sequences for these species is like having a new treasure map. We can see where and when one genetic path diverges from another and then explore that place in the genetic information where we wouldn’t have thought to look. They allowed us to find the size-genes in a really unexpected place.” Katharine Jenike, a PhD student in Schatz’s lab at the time of the research, said.
The discovery could lead to a new era of agricultural innovation, the researchers said.
“This work shows the importance of studying many species together,” Schatz said. “We leveraged decades of work in tomato genetics to rapidly advance African eggplants, and along the way we found entirely new genes in African eggplants that reciprocally advance tomatoes. We call this ‘pan-genetics,’ and it opens endless opportunities to bring many new fruits, foods, and flavors to dinner plates around the world.”
Freeze-dried bacteria strengthens soil, fixes cracks, boosts construction
The freeze-dried bacteria demonstrated the ability to strengthen soil within 24 hours in field tests.
MMaking and fixing cement could become much easier with the help of bacteria that produce biocement. However, keeping these bacteria alive at construction sites has been difficult.
Now, scientists have found a way to freeze-dry the bacteria so they can be stored as a powder.
This could allow construction workers to mix them with other materials when needed—just like using instant coffee. The research could help with making tiles, repairing oil wells, and strengthening the ground for makeshift roads and camps.
The future of osteoarthritis treatment
This innovative approach is particularly beneficial for patients with large or complex cartilage injuries, especially those who have had unsuccessful treatments in the past.
While the study didn’t directly compare this method to traditional treatments, standard questionnaires showed that patients who received nasal cartilage implants experienced much higher long-term scores in joint functionality and overall quality of life. Encouraged by these findings, researchers are now expanding their work to test the method for treating osteoarthritis, a chronic condition where joint cartilage breaks down over time.
Two large-scale clinical studies, backed by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the EU’s Horizon Europe research program, will investigate the effectiveness of this technique for treating a specific type of osteoarthritis affecting the kneecap.
Role of Ni-rich cathodes
ASSBs differ from conventional lithium-ion batteries by using solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, reducing the risk of fire and improving energy storage capacity.
However, the performance of these batteries heavily depends on the effectiveness of their cathodes. Researchers have been focusing on Ni-rich cathodes because of their potential to significantly boost energy density. Yet, despite their advantages, these cathodes have shown certain limitations that affect battery longevity.
“ASSBs comprising Ni-rich layered cathode active materials (CAMs) and sulfide solid electrolytes are promising candidates for next-generation batteries with high energy densities and safety,” wrote Nam-Yung Park, Han-Uk Lee, and their colleagues in their paper.
To better understand these issues, researchers at Hanyang University in South Korea conducted a study examining how different levels of nickel in the cathode impact degradation.
They synthesized four different types of Ni-rich cathodes, with nickel content ranging from 80% to 95%, and analyzed their effects on battery performance.
“We quantified the capacity fading factors of Ni-rich Li[NixCoyAl1−x−y]O2 composite ASSB cathodes as functions of Ni content,” wrote Park, Lee, and their colleagues. “Surface degradation at the CAM–electrolyte interface was found to be the main cause of capacity fading in a CAM with 80% Ni content, whereas inner-particle isolation and detachment of the CAM from the electrolyte play a substantial role as the Ni content increases to 85% or more.”
By refining Ni-rich cathodes, researchers are paving the way for high-performance, long-lasting, and safer all-solid-state batteries. This breakthrough could revolutionize energy storage, driving advancements in electronic devices, electric vehicles, and other battery-powered applications.
Both established and emerging AI players around the world are racing to produce more efficient and higher-performance models since the unexpected launch of DeepSeek's revolutionary R1 earlier this year.
Chinese firms have been doubling down on the technology with Alibaba investing in AI after debuting its first model in 2023. The strength of the company's cloud Intelligence unit was a key contributor to Alibaba's sharp profit hike in the December quarter.
"Looking ahead, revenue growth at Cloud Intelligence Group driven by AI will continue to accelerate," Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu said at the time.
!summarize #tesla #market
Judging from the scale and volume of the transactions on Huione Guarantee, it is likely leveraged by numerous organized criminal groups, according to Andrew Fierman, head of national security intelligence at Chainlaysis.
However, he adds that the many services don't cost much money, providing a low barrier to entry and access point into cybercrime for "anyone with internet connection."
According to Chainalysis, individuals looking to facilitate "romance" or investment scams may be able to purchase the necessary tools and services on Huione for just a couple of hundred dollars. Costs can reach thousands of dollars, depending on the level of complexity they are looking to execute.
Investing or romance scams involve a fraudster building a relationship with a victim via social media or dating apps, intending to con them out of money through a sham investment opportunity.
A scammer attempting to pull off this type of scam might shop Huione Guarantee for a portfolio of potential victims' data, such as phone numbers; old social media accounts that appear to be from real people; and AI-powered facial and voice manipulation software, which can be used by a scammer to digitally disguise themselves.
Other vendors on the site offer services related to the creation of fake investment and gambling platforms. Fiermen says scammers often deceive victims into depositing money on such platforms.
!summarize #camward #nygiatns #nfl #quarterback
'Child's play'
As CaaS and cybercrime markets continue to grow, the technology that is offered and leveraged by criminal vendors has also advanced, allowing more sophisticated scams on scale — with less effort, experts say.
AI-generated deepfake videos and voice cloning are increasingly looking more real, with previously infeasible attacks now realistic thanks to generative AI advancements, according to Kim-Hock Leow, Asia CEO of cybersecurity company Wizlynx Group.
Last year, Hong Kong police reported that a finance worker at a multinational firm had been tricked into paying out $25 million to fraudsters using deepfake technology to pose as the company's chief financial officer in a video conference call.
"This would have been completely impossible to pull off just a few years ago, even for criminals with technical skills, and now it is a viable attack even for those without," added NetSkope's Burnside.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts told CNBC that AI tools can be used to enhance phishing and social engineering scams, helping to write more personalized and human-like messages.
"It has become child's play to create really convincing fake emails, audio notes, images or videos designed to scam and trick victims," said Burnside, noting that dark variants of legitimate generative AI tools continue to find their way into dark markets.
At its peak in 2008, Digg was reportedly valued at about $160 million. But the rise of Facebook and other social sites caused traffic to Digg to plummet. Meanwhile, Reddit, which was founded a year after Digg by Ohanian and current CEO Steve Huffman, emerged as a direct rival to Digg by forming communities around types of content and letting users similarly rate news stories.
In 2012, Digg's brand and website were acquired by tech incubator Betaworks for about $500,000.
Reddit has continued its ascent, reporting nearly 102 million daily active users at the end of the fourth quarter. The site gained widespread attention when it became the center of the 2020 meme stock craze as retail traders inflicted huge pain on hedge funds shorting stocks using a subreddit known as Wallstreetbets.
For the fiscal first quarter, MongoDB called for 63 cents to 67 cents in adjusted earnings per share on $524 million to $529 million in revenue. Analysts surveyed by LSEG had expected 62 cents of per-share earnings and revenue of $526.8 million.
MongoDB said it expects adjusted earnings per share of $2.44 to $2.62 and revenue of $2.24 billion to $2.28 billion for fiscal 2026. That implies 12.7% revenue growth, which would be the slowest rate at least since the company went public in 2017. Analysts were anticipating $3.34 per share of earnings and $2.32 billion in revenue.
Prior to Wednesday's after-hours move, MongoDB shares were up 13%, while the S&P 500 was down about 1%.
In addition to the new laptops, Apple on Wednesday announced a high-end Mac Studio desktop with a chip that can run advanced AI. The company also upgraded its iPad Air with an M4 chip on Tuesday, and last month, it announced the low-cost iPhone 16e.
The Mac Studio has more processing power and is designed for people who work on computer graphics, audio or video production or artificial intelligence. It's not cheap — the computer starts at $1,999, and more powerful configurations can cost over $14,000.
Apple's new Mac Studio costs $1999 or more.
Apple has expanded its supply chain in recent years. Some Macs are now assembled in Malaysia or Vietnam, production locations which would avoid Chinese import duties. Apple didn't say where the new MacBook Airs are assembled.
UFO Filmmaker: Rubio Warns UAPs May Bring Another 9/11
UFO documentary filmmaker Dan Farah's new movie "The Age of Disclosure" has current and former senior members of the U.S. government, military, and intelligence community on the record to look at what's going on with potential alien intelligence.
Something's happening here, but what it is ain't exactly clear, according to UFO documentary filmmaker Dan Farah, who interviewed current and former senior members of the U.S. government, military, and intelligence community on the record to look at what's going down.
Farah's "The Age of Disclosure" world premiere is Sunday at the South by Southwest Film Festival, and The Hollywood Reporter's Q&A gives a glimpse into knowing about the unknown as known in Congress as unidentified anomalous phenomenon — the fancy new name for UFOs.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., co-sponsored the UAP Disclosure Act, which was also endorsed by Rubio and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
"The act had very specific language to try to use the law to bring about disclosure," Farah told THR. "Schumer literally included a quote saying, 'The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena.'
"This is very specific language. When you read that, any average person would say to themselves, 'Oh my God, is this real?' Yes, it is real.
"Something else that I found really eye-opening is how truly bipartisan this topic is at a time where Democrats and Republicans don't agree on anything. The leadership of both parties are completely aligned on how serious this is. None of the government leadership I spoke to — who have access to very sensitive classified information — were debating whether this is real. None of them."
FAA Needs Multiple Technologies for US Air Traffic System
The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that upgrading the aging U.S. air traffic control system will require multiple technologies and companies.
"That is why we are testing multiple communication technologies, including satellites, fiber and wireless to ensure the safety of the national airspace system. Beyond that, no decisions for other deployments have been made," the FAA said.
Some Democrats have suggested the FAA could cancel a $2.4 billion FAA contract with Verizon and give it to Trump adviser Elon Musk's Starlink unit.
Trump Drafting Order to Abolish Education Department
President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order aimed at his long-held goal of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order aimed at his long-held goal of abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The order might come as soon as Thursday, the newspaper said late Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter whom it did not name. The White House and the department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump repeatedly has called for eliminating the department, calling it a "big con job." He proposed shuttering it in his first term as president, but Congress did not act.
Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk have attempted to dismantle government programs and institutions such as the U.S. Agency for International Development without congressional approval, but abolishing the Department of Education would be his first shutdown of a cabinet-level agency.
The department oversees some 100,000 public and 34,000 private schools in the United States, although more than 85% of public school funding comes from state and local governments.
Instead, it provides federal grants for needy schools and programs, including money to pay teachers of children with special needs, fund arts programs and replace outdated infrastructure.
It also oversees the $1.6 trillion in student loans held by tens of millions of Americans who cannot afford to pay for university outright.
Trump Eyes 65 Percent Staff Cut at EPA
President Donald Trump's administration aims to cut around 65% of staff at the Environmental Protection Agency, a key regulatory body that works on a range of areas, including climate change.
"I spoke with Lee Zeldin and he thinks he's going to be cutting 65 or so percent of the people from environmental," he said, referring to the EPA administrator.
The agency currently employs more than 17,000 of the roughly two million total U.S. federal workforce.
Trump has made slashing the size of the federal government a key priority in his first days in office, tasking Elon Musk, the world's richest person, with aiding that effort as well as cutting government spending.
The Republican ran on a platform that promised to curb environmental protection regulations, specifically those related to climate change, in order to increase economic growth.
Pete Rose's Son to Newsmax: Pardon 'Would Mean the World'
A posthumous presidential pardon for his father would mean the world to the family, Tyler Rose, the son of late baseball legend Pete Rose, told Newsmax on Wednesday.
Tyler Rose, the son of late baseball legend Pete Rose, told Newsmax on Wednesday that a posthumous presidential pardon for his father "would mean the world" to the family.
At the end of last month, President Donald Trump wrote a social media postcriticizing the MLB for banning Rose and the Baseball Hall of Fame for not inducting him during his lifetime. He also vowed to pardon Rose, who was permanently banned from the MLB after an investigation found that he had placed bets on games involving the Cincinnati Reds during his time as a player and a manager. Rose was not charged with a crime for placing bets; he pleaded guilty in 1990 to filing false tax returns and served five months in prison.
Sen. Kennedy to Newsmax: No Confidence in Justin Trudeau
I wouldn't put him in charge of a ham sandwich, Kennedy asserted.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Newsmax on Wednesday that he has does not "have a lot of confidence in [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau" for fulfilling President Donald Trump’s demands on border security.
On Monday, the Trump administration began its much anticipated tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in order to "combat the extraordinary threat to U.S. national security, including our public health posed by unchecked drug trafficking."
Industry experts have warned that the tariffs could result in inflation and retaliation against U.S. exporters. Kennedy said "the truth is we don’t know" what impact the tariffs will have.
Second Judge Extends Block on Trump Admin's Funding Freeze
A second federal judge on Thursday extended a block barring the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars.
A second federal judge on Thursday extended a block barring the Trump administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars.
U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island granted the preliminary injunction in the lawsuit filed by nearly two dozen Democratic states after a Trump administration plan for a sweeping pause on federal spending stirred up a wave of confusion and anxiety across the United States.
The states say a litany of programs are still waiting for federal funds or some clarity on whether the money is going to be delivered.
U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington has also extended an order blocking the funding freeze. AliKhan granted a preliminary injunction requested by groups representing thousands of nonprofits and small businesses.
China announces major oil, natural gas deposit reserve discovery in Beibu Gulf Basin
The well can produce approximately 13.2 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
China’s state-owned oil and gas company has announced a major hydrocarbon discovery breakthrough in the exploration of Paleozoic buried hills in the Beibu Gulf Basin.
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) made the announcement on Thursday.
The breakthrough came after drilling was done to a total depth of about 15,879 feet (4,840 meters) in an area with an average water depth of about 121 feet (37 meters).
The company’s exploration initiative struck upon a crude oil and natural gas pay zone of 928 feet (283 meters), as per the press release.
The state-owned company claims to be the largest offshore producer of petroleum and natural gas.
“The breakthrough in the exploration of Paleozoic granite buried hills reveals the vast exploration prospects of the buried hills in the Beibu Gulf Basin. It will also provide guidance for exploration in similar fields offshore China,” Xu added.
Zhou Xinhuai, the CEO of CNOOC, said, “In recent years, the Company has made large and medium-sized oil and gas discoveries in various types of buried hills offshore China, which have been further expanding the Company’s oil and gas resource base.”
“The discovery in the Beibu Gulf Basin will help to stabilize energy supply and continuously contribute to the economic and social development.”
Past breakthroughs from CNOOC
In February 2025, CNOOC had announced the start of production from Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield Development Project (Phase I) in central Bohai Bay.
The project is expected to achieve a peak production of approximately 22,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. The oil property is light crude.
Skyraider II: US Air Force’s retro Vietnam-era warbird makes a modern comeback
Drawing from the legacy of the A-1 Skyraider, which served from 1946 to the early 1980s, the Skyraider II embodies a rugged versatility.
The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has launched a new Vietnam war-styled light combat aircraft.
The aircraft, previously known as the OA-1K, is now officially named the Skyraider II, a name derived from the original Skyraider that served in the 19th century.
The announcement was made recently at the Special Air Warfare Symposium, marking a significant moment for the future of air support technology.
One of the standout features of the Skyraider II is its tailwheel, which enhances its ability to conduct short takeoffs and landings.
This design enables operations from unimproved or austere airfields, a crucial capability for many special operations missions.
Prather noted, “Providing scalable and precise effects is where the Skyraider II will excel. We envision it taking on missions from the U.S. southern border to African regions, presenting challenges to those we are competing with.”
Equipped to loiter in the field for up to six hours with a combat radius of 200 nautical miles, the Skyraider II can carry a flexible payload of up to 6,000 pounds.
This persistence and a robust suite of radios and datalinks ensure reliable communication for line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight operations.
The Skyraider II also boasts significant situational awareness capabilities, with the ability to host an array of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and ISR sensors.
Additionally, its production and operational costs remain low, supported by a global sustainment network.
With the first Skyraider II projected to arrive at Hurlburt Field in Spring 2025, it represents a modern evolution of a venerable airframe, poised to support the unique needs of specialized military operations for years to come.
In order to solve this problem, the research team developed an AI-enabled model that adjusted for day-to-day changes. For two weeks, the subject tried to visualize simple movements while the AI learned from his brain signals. When he first attempted to control a robotic arm, his movements were imprecise. To improve accuracy, he practiced using a virtual robotic arm that provided real-time feedback.
As soon as he learned how to use the virtual arm, he could very quickly transfer these skills to the real robotic arm. He was able to grab blocks with the arm, rotate them, and place them in different positions. In a more advanced task, he opened a cabinet, took out a cup, and placed it under the water dispenser.
The researchers showed that the time it takes for atoms to synchronize reveals information about how entangled the system is, potentially offering new ways to harness quantum properties for enhanced precision measurements.
To distinguish true gravitational effects from other influences like magnetic fields, the scientists developed a technique called dressing. By applying specific lasers, they could tune how strongly atoms experience gravitational time dilation, providing a clear signature that the effect truly comes from Einstein’s relativity rather than experimental artifacts.
Additionally, part sequencing provides a high return on investment. Frequent lifting, squatting, and twisting with heavy components make this a repetitive and ergonomically taxing activity. By using Atlas to automate this process, efficiency and throughput are increased, accident risks are decreased, employee retention is enhanced, and workers can move into different tasks.
Genetic testing paves way for juicier, larger tomatoes and eggplants
The genetic duplicates, or paralogs, played a crucial role in shaping traits such as flowering time, fruit size, and shape.
Your next bite of tomatoes and eggplants might be bigger and more flavorful than before – thanks to a groundbreaking study by scientists at the Johns Hopkins University. Researchers at the Pioneer Institute have found that the secret to fruit size lies in their DNA, and a tiny genetic tweak can affect not only its dimensions but also its taste.
The research could pave the way for the development of new varieties of eggplants and tomatoes, changing the way we grow and consume these crops.
“Once you’ve done the gene editing, all it takes is one seed to start a revolution,” said co-lead author Michael Schatz, a geneticist at Johns Hopkins University, adding: “There’s huge potential to translate these advances into real-world impact.”
“Having full genome sequences for these species is like having a new treasure map. We can see where and when one genetic path diverges from another and then explore that place in the genetic information where we wouldn’t have thought to look. They allowed us to find the size-genes in a really unexpected place.” Katharine Jenike, a PhD student in Schatz’s lab at the time of the research, said.
The discovery could lead to a new era of agricultural innovation, the researchers said.
“This work shows the importance of studying many species together,” Schatz said. “We leveraged decades of work in tomato genetics to rapidly advance African eggplants, and along the way we found entirely new genes in African eggplants that reciprocally advance tomatoes. We call this ‘pan-genetics,’ and it opens endless opportunities to bring many new fruits, foods, and flavors to dinner plates around the world.”
Freeze-dried bacteria strengthens soil, fixes cracks, boosts construction
The freeze-dried bacteria demonstrated the ability to strengthen soil within 24 hours in field tests.
MMaking and fixing cement could become much easier with the help of bacteria that produce biocement. However, keeping these bacteria alive at construction sites has been difficult.
Now, scientists have found a way to freeze-dry the bacteria so they can be stored as a powder.
This could allow construction workers to mix them with other materials when needed—just like using instant coffee. The research could help with making tiles, repairing oil wells, and strengthening the ground for makeshift roads and camps.
The future of osteoarthritis treatment
This innovative approach is particularly beneficial for patients with large or complex cartilage injuries, especially those who have had unsuccessful treatments in the past.
While the study didn’t directly compare this method to traditional treatments, standard questionnaires showed that patients who received nasal cartilage implants experienced much higher long-term scores in joint functionality and overall quality of life. Encouraged by these findings, researchers are now expanding their work to test the method for treating osteoarthritis, a chronic condition where joint cartilage breaks down over time.
Two large-scale clinical studies, backed by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the EU’s Horizon Europe research program, will investigate the effectiveness of this technique for treating a specific type of osteoarthritis affecting the kneecap.
Role of Ni-rich cathodes
ASSBs differ from conventional lithium-ion batteries by using solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, reducing the risk of fire and improving energy storage capacity.
However, the performance of these batteries heavily depends on the effectiveness of their cathodes. Researchers have been focusing on Ni-rich cathodes because of their potential to significantly boost energy density. Yet, despite their advantages, these cathodes have shown certain limitations that affect battery longevity.
“ASSBs comprising Ni-rich layered cathode active materials (CAMs) and sulfide solid electrolytes are promising candidates for next-generation batteries with high energy densities and safety,” wrote Nam-Yung Park, Han-Uk Lee, and their colleagues in their paper.
To better understand these issues, researchers at Hanyang University in South Korea conducted a study examining how different levels of nickel in the cathode impact degradation.
They synthesized four different types of Ni-rich cathodes, with nickel content ranging from 80% to 95%, and analyzed their effects on battery performance.
“We quantified the capacity fading factors of Ni-rich Li[NixCoyAl1−x−y]O2 composite ASSB cathodes as functions of Ni content,” wrote Park, Lee, and their colleagues. “Surface degradation at the CAM–electrolyte interface was found to be the main cause of capacity fading in a CAM with 80% Ni content, whereas inner-particle isolation and detachment of the CAM from the electrolyte play a substantial role as the Ni content increases to 85% or more.”
By refining Ni-rich cathodes, researchers are paving the way for high-performance, long-lasting, and safer all-solid-state batteries. This breakthrough could revolutionize energy storage, driving advancements in electronic devices, electric vehicles, and other battery-powered applications.
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