In late 2022 came the boom in generative AI, with the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Since then, tech companies have laid off tens of thousands of programmers while touting the use of AI to write code. At Google, for example, more than 25% of new code is written by AI, CEO Sundar Pichai told investors in October.
The combination of rapid advancements in AI, mass layoffs of software developers, and a continuing world of remote and hybrid work has created a novel conundrum for recruiters.
The problem has become so prevalent that Pichai suggested during a Google town hall in February that his hiring managers consider returning to in-person job interviews.
Google isn't the only tech company weighing that idea.
'Invisible' help
The cheating tools rely on generative AI models to provide software engineers with real-time answers to coding problems as they're presented during interviews. The AI analyzes both written and oral questions and instantaneously generates code. The widgets can also provide the cheaters with explanations for the solutions that they can use in the interview.
The tools' most valuable feature, however, might be their secrecy. Interview Coder is invisible to the interviewer.
While candidates are using technology to cheat, employers are observing their behavior during interviews to try to catch them. Interviewers have learned to look for eyes wandering to the side, the reflection of other apps visible on candidates' glasses, and answers that sound rehearsed or don't match questions, among other clues.
Perhaps the biggest tell is a simple "Hmm."
Hiring managers said they've noticed that many candidates use the ubiquitous sound to buy themselves time while waiting for their AI tools to finish their work.
"I'll hear a pause, then 'Hmm,' and all of a sudden, it's the perfect answer," said Anna Spearman, founder of Techie Staffing, an agency that helps companies fill technical roles. "There have also been instances where the code looked OK, but they couldn't describe how they came to the conclusion."
AI cheating tools have improved so much over the last year that they've become nearly undetectable, experts said. Other than Lee's Interview Coder, software engineers can also use programs such as Leetcode Wizard or ChatGPT.
Kirk said his startup is considering moving to in-person interviews, though he knows that potentially limits the talent pool.
"The problem is now I don't trust the results as much," Kirk said. "I don't know what else to do other than on-site."
Google CEO Sundar Pichai during an event at the Google for Startups Campus in Warsaw, Poland, Feb. 13, 2025.
Ong said candidates and Google employees have said they prefer virtual job interviews because scheduling a video call is easier than finding a time to meet in available conference rooms. The virtual interview process is about two weeks faster, he added.
He said interviewers are instructed to probe candidates on their answers as a way to decipher whether they actually know what they're talking about.
"We definitely have more work to do to integrate how AI is now more prevalent in the interview process," said Ong. He said his recruiting organization is working with Google's software engineer steering committee to figure out how the company can refine its interviewing process.
"Given we all work hybrid, I think it's worth thinking about some fraction of the interviews being in person," Pichai responded. "I think it'll help both the candidates understand Google's culture and I think it's good for both sides."
Amazon is also taking steps to combat AI cheating.
The company asks that candidates acknowledge that they won't use unauthorized tools during the interview or assessment process, spokesperson Margaret Callahan told CNBC.
Chungin "Roy" Lee, a 21-year-old student at Columbia University, is the founder of Interview Coder, a startup that makes software to help computer programmers cheat in job interviews with the help of AI.
Marketplace also taps into the booming resale market, projected to hit $350 billion by 2027, according to ThredUp.
"Younger buyers are drawn to affordability and sustainability," said Yoo-Kyoung Seock, a professor at the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia. "Marketplace offers both."
A key advantage is trust; users' Facebook profiles make transactions feel safer than on anonymous platforms like Craigslist, according to Seock.
In January 2025, eBay partnered with Facebook Marketplace, allowing select eBay listings to appear on Marketplace in the U.S., Germany, and France. Analysts project this will drive an additional $1.6 billion in sales for eBay by the end of 2025, according to Wells Fargo.
Chinese Investors Privately Take Stakes in Elon Musk's Companies, FT Reports
Wealthy Chinese investors are funneling tens of millions of dollars into private companies controlled by billionaire Elon Musk, using an arrangement that shields their identities from public view, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
The investments are being placed through special-purpose vehicles to avoid the ire of U.S authorities and companies wary of Chinese capital during a low-point in relations between the two countries, the report said, citing asset managers and investors involved in the transactions.
Three Chinese-backed asset managers told the Financial Times that they had sold more than $30 million of shares in SpaceX, xAI and Neuralink, three Musk-controlled private technology companies, to investors over the past two years.
Germany's Merz Wants European Nuclear Weapons to Boost US Shield
German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Sunday said he would like talks with France and Britain about sharing their nuclear weapons, but not as a substitute for U.S. nuclear protection of Europe.
"Sharing nuclear weapons is an issue that we need to talk about...we have to become stronger together in nuclear deterrence," he said in an interview on Deutschlandfunk radio, a day after agreeing cornerstones of a coalition deal between his conservative party and the Social Democratic SPD party.
"We should talk with both countries (France and Britain), always also from the perspective of supplementing the American nuclear shield, which we of course want to see maintained."
Germany, due to its Second World War past, has bound itself to non-nuclear defense in a number of international treaties but participates in NATO weapons-sharing arrangements.
Merz said he would press for the outgoing parliament to pass two major financial packages on infrastructure and defense and changes to state borrowing rules known as the 'debt brake'.
Merz and the SPD crucially need support from the Green Party to pass the measures, and Merz on Saturday said there would be intensive talks with the Greens next week.
"We will integrate climate protection measures (in those packages)," Merz said in the radio interview.
A critical inflation report in the coming week could further rattle an increasingly tumultuous U.S. stock market, with investors worried about an economic growth slowdown and President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Despite a gain on Friday, the benchmark S&P 500 marked its worst week in six months. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite on Thursday ended down more than 10% from its December all-time closing high, confirming it has been in a correction for several months. Investors were grappling with dramatic policy change around the world.
Trump's back-and-forth implementation of fresh tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China exacerbated broad concerns about the economy. Markets were also shaken by Germany's surprise spending plans, which drove a selloff in the benchmark German Bund.
As recent U.S. economic data has disappointed, one silver lining for stocks has been markets factoring in more interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year to account for potential growth weakening.
But Wednesday's U.S. consumer price index report could scuttle those expectations if it confirms that inflation is still simmering at levels that force the Fed to keep monetary policy tighter.
"A hot CPI print will likely scare the market," said Bryant VanCronkhite, senior portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments. "The market still wants the Fed to come to the rescue... Until inflation and inflation expectations come down, the Fed is handcuffed."
Investors are mindful of last month's hotter-than-expected CPI data that saw inflation rise 0.5% in January, its biggest monthly gain since August 2023.
Data on Friday showed U.S. job growth picked up in February, but cracks are emerging in the once-resilient labor market amid chaotic trade policy and federal government spending cuts.
The market's focus will also be on Washington, as lawmakers wrangle over a spending bill that would avert a partial shutdown of agencies late next week. Trade policy remains in the spotlight. Tariffs on foreign imports are expected to hurt corporate profits and increase consumer prices, but investors are weighing how lasting the levies will be against their potential as negotiating tools. Trump on Thursday said Mexico and Canada won't be required to pay tariffs on goods that fall under a prior trade deal until April 2.
Under the new Trump administration, the barrage of initiatives on trade and other issues, such as federal workforce cuts, has fed uncertainty for businesses and consumers.
DHS Using Lie Detectors to Find Moles, Leakers
Secretary Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland security has reportedly begun using lie-detector tests to root out deep state moles and secrets leakers.
Secretary Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland security has reportedly begun using lie detector tests to root out deep state moles and secrets leakers.
As media and the public have been tipped off about border czar's Tom Homan's deportation force raids in Democrat-run sanctuary cities, Noem's DHS has hunted down and found some culprits for having leaked the sensitive government information.
DHS staffers are being polygraphed to find out who is lying about leaking government secrets, sources told NBC News.
Rubio Set to Meet Ukrainian Counterparts in Saudi Arabia This Week
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Saudi Arabia over March 10-12 for talks with Ukrainian counterparts, a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.
Rubio will also have a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the statement from spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
Rubio will then travel to Canada over March 12-14 for the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, the statement added.
Speaker Johnson: Zelenskyy Has 'Rude Awakening'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in an interview Sunday he is really grateful and glad that [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, in the last several days, has done an about face.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "about-face" on the minerals deal came after a "rude awakening" to the new president in the Oval Office and with his people back home, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
"I'm really grateful and glad that Zelenskyy, in the last several days, has done an about-face," Johnson told Sunday's "The Cats Roundtable" on WABC 770 AM, The Hill reported. "He's effectively apologized for all that. And he said, Oh no, no, we would like that deal after all.
Authorities: Armed Man Shot by Secret Service near White House While Trump out of Town
An armed man believed to be traveling from Indiana was shot by U.S. Secret Service agents near the White House after a confrontation early Sunday, according to authorities.
No one else was injured in the shooting that happened around midnight about a block from the White House, according to a Secret Service statement. President Donald Trump was in Florida at the time of the shooting.
The Secret Service received information from local police about an alleged “suicidal individual” who was traveling from Indiana and found the man's car and a person matching his description nearby.
“As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
The man was hospitalized. The Secret Service said his condition was “unknown.”
The Metropolitan Police Department will investigate because the shooting involved law enforcement officers. A message left Sunday for the police department wasn't immediately returned.
Pope, Responding Well, Rests as Vatican Marks Another Holy Year Event without Him
Pope Francis issued a message Sunday thanking volunteers for the “miracle of tenderness” they offer the sick, as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia and doctors reported some positive news: After more than three weeks in the hospital, the 88-year-old pope is responding well to treatment and has shown a “gradual, slight improvement” in recent days.
For the fourth Sunday in a row, the 88-year-old Francis didn't appear for his weekly noon blessing, but the Vatican distributed the text he would have delivered if he were well enough. In it, the Argentine pope thanked all those who were caring for him and others who are sick and experiencing a “night of pain.”
The doctors said that such stability “as a consequence testifies to a good response to therapy.” It was the first time the doctors had reported that Francis was responding positively to the treatment for the complex lung infection that was diagnosed after he was hospitalized on Feb. 14.
But they kept his prognosis as “guarded”, meaning he's not out of danger. On Sunday morning, the Vatican reported he was resting after a quiet night.
In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued alongside celebrations of its Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century Jubilee that brings millions of pilgrims to Rome. On Sunday, Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, who is close to Francis, celebrated the Holy Year Mass for volunteers that Francis was supposed to have celebrated.
Macron's Diplomatic Comeback: from France's Domestic Crisis to Reshaping Europe's Defense
French President Emmanuel Macron is back at the center of global diplomacy, seeking to ease relations with President Donald Trump, championing a Ukraine peace plan alongside his British counterpart, and seeing his longstanding desire to boost European defense turning into reality.
Six months ago, Macron seemed weaker than ever after his call for early legislative elections produced a hung parliament, sparking an unprecedented crisis. Known for his nonstop political activism, Macron shifted his focus to foreign policy, leaving domestic struggles largely to the prime minister.
Now, he appears as the one leader who speaks to Trump several times per week and takes the lead in European support for Ukraine, while positioning himself as the commander-in-chief of the European Union’s only nuclear power.
On Thursday, EU leaders committed to strengthening defenses and freeing up hundreds of billions of euros for security in the wake of Trump’s warnings that they might face the Russian threat alone.
In a resounding declaration last week, Macron announced he would discuss extending France’s nuclear deterrent to European partners to help protect the continent.
France's nuclear power is inherited from the strategy set by wartime hero Gen. Charles de Gaulle, president from 1958 to 1969, who sought to maintain France’s independence from the U.S. and assert the country's role as a global power. That went through the development of an independent French nuclear arsenal.
Meanwhile, Germany's conservative election winner Friedrich Merz said his top priority would be to “strengthen Europe as soon as possible” and gradually move toward “real independence” from the U.S.
Only three days after his victory last month, Merz, who has called for a discussion on “nuclear sharing” with France, traveled to Paris for a working dinner with Macron.
No statement was released after the meeting, but French officials with knowledge of the matter said both men's visions for Europe align. They spoke anonymously because the talks were not to be made public.
Russia’s foreign ministry accused Macron of "demonstrative militarism dictated by the domestic agenda.”
The ministry said that Macron seeks to distract the French public from “worsening socio-economic problems in France and the European Union."
However, the French Constitution grants the president some substantial powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense. Macron has a presidential mandate until 2027 and he has said he won't step down before the end of his term.
Macron's activism on the global stage drew criticism from opposition leaders.
Far-right National Rally party vice president Sébastien Chenu described Macron’s “moody” character as “one of the biggest issues” for French diplomacy. "He offended many people, he often changed his mind,” Chenu said.
The head of the hard-left France Unbowed group at the National Assembly, Mathilde Panot, also voiced concerns.
“The situation is too serious and the President of the Republic is too weakened for him to decide on his own," she said. "We don’t just want to be consulted. ... It’s up to the parliament to decide on such serious issues.”
Syria President Calls for Unity After Reports of Mass Killings
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for national unity and peace on Sunday, after more than 1,000 people were reportedly killed in coastal Syria in the worst clashes since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
The violence erupted on Thursday between the new security forces and loyalists of the former government along the Mediterranean coast in the heartland of the Alawite minority to which Assad belonged.
It has since escalated into the largest challenge to the new government's forces since Sharaa's Islamist-led coalition toppled Assad in December.
"We must preserve national unity (and) civil peace as much as possible and, God willing, we will be able to live together in this country," Sharaa said from a mosque in Damascus
Though himself an Alawite, Haidar was part of the leftist opposition to the Assads and was imprisoned for more than a decade under their rule.
Defence ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani said the security forces had "reimposed control" over areas that had seen attacks by Assad loyalists.
"It is strictly forbidden to approach any home or attack anyone inside their homes," he added in a video posted by SANA.
Roads blocked -
Education Minister Nazir al-Qadri announced that schools would remain shut on Sunday and Monday in both Latakia and Tartus provinces due to the "unstable security conditions".
SANA reported a power outage throughout Latakia province due to attacks on the grid by Assad loyalists.
The Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, has reported multiple "massacres" in recent days, with women and children among the dead.
The Observatory and activists released footage showing dozens of bodies in civilian clothing piled outside a house, with blood stains nearby and women wailing.
Other videos appeared to show men in military garb shooting people at close range.
AFP could not independently verify the images or accounts.
The leaders of Syria's three main Christian churches as well as the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze minority issued statements calling for an end to the violence.
Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said the violence was "a bad omen".
The new government lacks the tools, incentives and local support base to engage with disgruntled Alawites, he said.
Strategy founder Michael Saylor has proposed that the United States government acquire up to 25% of Bitcoin’s total supply over the next decade for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
“Acquire 5-25% of the Bitcoin network in trust for the nation through consistent, programmatic daily purchases between 2025 and 2035, when 99% of all BTC will have been issued,” Saylor wrote in a document titled “A Digital Assets Strategy to Dominate the 21st Century Global Economy.”
25% supply allocation far exceeds previous proposal
If the US government acquired 25% of Bitcoin’s total supply, it would hold 5.25 million BTC — far more than the 1 million BTC (5% of the supply) that Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis proposed in the Bitcoin Act introduced in July 2024.
The researchers employed heteroepitaxial growth technology to develop the platform. This process involves growing a crystalline layer on a substrate of a different material, allowing for the integration of different materials with varying properties.
Think of it like laying bricks on a surface that isn’t the same material as the bricks—but making sure they line up neatly. This method enabled the integration of NV centers within the diamond lattice. These centers are crucial for detecting subtle changes in magnetic fields, which is a highly useful function for monitoring EV batteries.
For creating the diamond quantum sensor platform, scientists first chose a non-diamond substrate compatible with heteroepitaxial growth. Then, by utilizing chemical vapor deposition (CVD), they deposited diamond films onto the substrates. This allowed them to have precise control over the diamond’s crystalline structure.
Next, they added a 150-micrometer-thick nitrogen-vacancy (NV) diamond layer, which allowed the sensor to detect tiny magnetic changes. This layer had a spin coherence time (T2) of 20 microseconds, meaning it could maintain quantum information long enough for accurate measurements.
Finally, they aligned the NV centers along specific directions within the diamond lattice. This resulted in a nitrogen defect concentration of eight parts per million (ppm), which is a key factor in quantum sensor performance.
Additionally, to improve accuracy, the research team added a tilt correction mechanism to adjust for small misalignments in the diamond crystal. This ensured the sensor performed well, like traditional diamond-based sensors. The diamond quantum sensor with NV centers was now ready for testing.
“The ability to measure currents accurately while minimizing interference makes this sensor a promising candidate for monitoring battery systems in electric vehicles, where precision and reliability are paramount,” said Mutsuko Hatano, one of the researchers and a professor at the school of engineering at ISCT.
Next, the team behind the study plans to find ways to increase the density of NV centers in the diamond sensors so that they could deliver much better performance. Hopefully, current and future research will soon enable the integration of this promising quantum technology into EVs on a large scale.
Robotic hand grips toys, bottles like humans with 99.69% accuracy, avoids mishandling
The innovation offers a promising solution for people with hand loss.
Engineers have developed a prosthetic hand that can grip plush toys, water bottles, and other everyday objects like a human. The hand adjusts its grasp to avoid damaging or mishandling whatever it holds.
Developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers, the bionic hand identified and manipulated 15 everyday objects, including delicate stuffed toys, dish sponges, and cardboard boxes, as well as pineapples, metal water bottles, and other sturdier items.
The device achieved the best performance compared with the alternatives, successfully handling objects with 99.69% accuracy and adjusting its grip as needed to prevent mishaps during the experiments.
Prosthetic hand based on human hand’s physical and sensing capabilities
“The goal from the beginning has been to create a prosthetic hand that we model based on the human hand’s physical and sensing capabilities—a more natural prosthetic that functions and feels like a lost limb,” said Sriramana Sankar, a Johns Hopkins PhD student in biomedical engineering who led the work.
“We want to give people with upper-limb loss the ability to safely and freely intmultifinger system with rubberlike polymerseract with their environment, to feel and hold their loved ones without concern of hurting them.”
Crucially, the technology only needs electricity briefly, in the form of electric pulses, rather than continuously. Once an object is grabbed, no additional energy is required to maintain the grip.
Not only are these grippers energy efficient, but no additional sensors are needed when in operation. The SMA wires provide position feedback through electrical resistance and AI-driven control.
The design makes the grippers compact and lightweight, making them conducive to integrate into small spaces and safer around human workers. They are also easily programmable and can quickly adapt to different object shapes and tasks, even ‘on the fly’. There is no noisy compressed air or mechanical parts that can wear down, making them suitable for cleanroom environments.
The EnforceAir2 Maritime system is designed to provide reliable performance in addressing the need for counter-UAS technology to detect and neutralize threats coming from rogue drones. According to the company, its advanced RF-cyber technology is non-disruptive, ensuring safety and effectiveness, making it a practical solution for protecting maritime assets, ports, harbors, and transportation routes.
EnforceAir2 Maritime includes several key components designed for optimal performance in maritime environments. The EnforceAir2 SDR – Maritime Version is built with advanced, maritime-tested materials to withstand harsh sea conditions. It works in conjunction with the Radome Antenna (Maritime Version), an ultra-wide-band antenna that offers broad frequency support and 360° coverage, suitable for both ground-level and shipboard use.
As the company states further, the EnforceAir2 Maritime is also designed for easy integration with existing naval defense systems, featuring a compact and durable design for flexible installations and scalable deployment options.
It operates without interfering with communication and navigation systems, helping to maintain operational continuity while providing reliable protection against drone threats to maritime assets and personnel.
The latest solution builds on D-Fend’s experience with thousands of successful deployments worldwide, addressing real-life challenges for a wide range of users. EnforceAir, the company’s core offering, focuses on mitigating drone threats in the military, public safety, airports, prisons, major events, critical infrastructure, and other high-risk environments.
Shade tolerance and fire safety
The PV maker highlighted three advantages of the Hi-MO X10 over standard TOPCon panels. Its anti-dust design allows rainwater to wash away dust, reducing maintenance and preventing hotspots, with a 2.04% average energy gain.
The panel’s shade tolerance minimizes power loss by redirecting current around shaded areas, reducing shading losses by 70%. Additionally, its fire prevention mechanism lowers thermal hotspots, with temperatures staying around 80°C under shading, compared to over 130°C for conventional TOPCon panels, reducing fire risks.
Former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried has reportedly been sent to solitary confinement after taking part in an interview with right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson, which was not approved by prison authorities.
“This particular interview was not approved,” a representative for the US Bureau of Prisons told The New York Times on March 7.
Bankman-Fried did not receive permission to take interview
According to a person briefed on the situation, after Bankman-Fried’s interview with Carlson was published, he was sent to solitary confinement at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been held since August 2023.
Bankman-Fried continues appeal battle
While Carlson didn’t directly ask Bankman-Fried if he expected a pardon from US President Donald Trump, he appeared receptive to some Republican ideas during the interview.
However, since the interview aired, speculation has grown within the community about a possible Trump pardon.
According to a March 7 X post from crypto predictions platform Polymarket, “the odds of an SBF pardon have nearly doubled,” since the interview was published.
It is already known that these constants “govern everything from the stability of atoms to the formation of stars and synthesis of carbon and other elements essential to life.”
For instance, in any solid, atoms oscillate around fixed positions due to thermal energy. The speed of these vibrations depends on two key factors: bond strength and atomic mass. Both these factors are determined by quantum mechanics and electromagnetism, which are governed by fundamental constants.
By analyzing how these constants influence atomic interactions, the study authors discovered that the constants place a strict upper limit on how fast atoms can vibrate in solid materials. This means there is a maximum possible frequency for phonons, which are the collective vibrations of atoms in a material.
Francisco Alvarez to miss significant time with hand fracture in latest Mets injury crusher
He sustained the fracture on a swing during live batting practice on Saturday.
PORT ST. LUCIE – For a second straight season the Mets will be without Francisco Alvarez for a significant stretch.
The catcher fractured the hamate bone on his left hand and will undergo surgery Monday that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
Alvarez sustained the fracture on a swing during live batting practice on Saturday.
“It’s a big blow when your starting catcher goes down,” Mendoza said Sunday at Clover Park. “But guys will step up. Guys will get opportunities, what we have in house and I am sure [president of baseball operations] David [Stearns] will be looking outside.”
Mendoza added the expectation is Alvarez will need the full eight weeks because he is a catcher and the injury occurred on his glove hand. By that timeline, Alvarez would return to the Mets’ lineup in early May.
Last season Alvarez slipped rounding first base and tore a ligament in his left thumb that necessitated surgery that cost him seven weeks.
His initial return gave the Mets’ lineup a jolt, but he struggled for most of the second half, finishing with a .237/.307/.403 slash line with 11 homers and 47 RBIs.
Backup Luis Torrens will move into the starter’s role in Alvarez’s absence.
The catching depth in camp includes Chris Williams, Hayden Senger and Jakson Reetz.
“These guys can handle a pitching staff, they can receive so we feel good,” Mendoza said. “[Torrens] will get a good opportunity now.”
Alvarez will join pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas on the injured list to begin the season.
APL advances laser-based manufacturing to meet defense needs
The U.S. must rapidly scale manufacturing to meet the demands of current and future conflicts, according to Morgan Trexler, program manager for Science of Extreme and Multifunctional Materials at APL. To address this, APL is advancing laser-based additive manufacturing research, enabling the rapid development of mission-ready materials that keep pace with evolving operational challenges.
Using AI-driven models, the team identified new manufacturing conditions for laser powder bed fusion, a metal 3D-printing method. Their findings challenge existing assumptions, revealing a wider processing window for producing dense, high-quality titanium with customizable mechanical properties.
Patrick Michael LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965) is an American former ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and spent his entire playing career with the league's New York State-based teams. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.
LaFontaine played for the New York Islanders from 1983 until 1991, the Buffalo Sabres from 1991 until 1997, and the New York Rangers from 1997 until his retirement in 1998, scoring 468 goals and 1,013 points along the way before his career was ended by concussions. His 1.17 points per game (1,013 points over 865 games) is the best among American-born ice hockey players, active or retired. In 2017, LaFontaine was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.[1] LaFontaine served as an executive of the Buffalo Sabres as the president of hockey operations until March 2014.
Co-author Brendan Croom explained that the discovery redefines how materials processing is approached. For years, certain processing parameters were considered off-limits due to the risk of poor-quality results. By using AI to explore a broader range of possibilities, the team identified new processing regions that enable faster printing while maintaining or even enhancing material strength and ductility. This development now allows engineers to optimize processing settings based on specific performance needs.
Furthermore, these findings could benefit industries relying on high-performance titanium parts by enabling the production of stronger, lighter components at higher speeds, enhancing efficiency in shipbuilding, aviation, and medical devices, while advancing additive manufacturing for aerospace and defense.
In late 2022 came the boom in generative AI, with the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Since then, tech companies have laid off tens of thousands of programmers while touting the use of AI to write code. At Google, for example, more than 25% of new code is written by AI, CEO Sundar Pichai told investors in October.
The combination of rapid advancements in AI, mass layoffs of software developers, and a continuing world of remote and hybrid work has created a novel conundrum for recruiters.
The problem has become so prevalent that Pichai suggested during a Google town hall in February that his hiring managers consider returning to in-person job interviews.
Google isn't the only tech company weighing that idea.
!summarize #nymets #mlb #juansoto
!summarize #openai #deepseek #ai #models
'Invisible' help
The cheating tools rely on generative AI models to provide software engineers with real-time answers to coding problems as they're presented during interviews. The AI analyzes both written and oral questions and instantaneously generates code. The widgets can also provide the cheaters with explanations for the solutions that they can use in the interview.
The tools' most valuable feature, however, might be their secrecy. Interview Coder is invisible to the interviewer.
While candidates are using technology to cheat, employers are observing their behavior during interviews to try to catch them. Interviewers have learned to look for eyes wandering to the side, the reflection of other apps visible on candidates' glasses, and answers that sound rehearsed or don't match questions, among other clues.
Perhaps the biggest tell is a simple "Hmm."
Hiring managers said they've noticed that many candidates use the ubiquitous sound to buy themselves time while waiting for their AI tools to finish their work.
"I'll hear a pause, then 'Hmm,' and all of a sudden, it's the perfect answer," said Anna Spearman, founder of Techie Staffing, an agency that helps companies fill technical roles. "There have also been instances where the code looked OK, but they couldn't describe how they came to the conclusion."
"More than 50% of them cheated," he said.
AI cheating tools have improved so much over the last year that they've become nearly undetectable, experts said. Other than Lee's Interview Coder, software engineers can also use programs such as Leetcode Wizard or ChatGPT.
Kirk said his startup is considering moving to in-person interviews, though he knows that potentially limits the talent pool.
"The problem is now I don't trust the results as much," Kirk said. "I don't know what else to do other than on-site."
Google CEO Sundar Pichai during an event at the Google for Startups Campus in Warsaw, Poland, Feb. 13, 2025.
"Brian, do we do hybrid?" Pichai asked.
Ong said candidates and Google employees have said they prefer virtual job interviews because scheduling a video call is easier than finding a time to meet in available conference rooms. The virtual interview process is about two weeks faster, he added.
He said interviewers are instructed to probe candidates on their answers as a way to decipher whether they actually know what they're talking about.
"We definitely have more work to do to integrate how AI is now more prevalent in the interview process," said Ong. He said his recruiting organization is working with Google's software engineer steering committee to figure out how the company can refine its interviewing process.
"Given we all work hybrid, I think it's worth thinking about some fraction of the interviews being in person," Pichai responded. "I think it'll help both the candidates understand Google's culture and I think it's good for both sides."
Amazon is also taking steps to combat AI cheating.
The company asks that candidates acknowledge that they won't use unauthorized tools during the interview or assessment process, spokesperson Margaret Callahan told CNBC.
Chungin "Roy" Lee, a 21-year-old student at Columbia University, is the founder of Interview Coder, a startup that makes software to help computer programmers cheat in job interviews with the help of AI.
Marketplace also taps into the booming resale market, projected to hit $350 billion by 2027, according to ThredUp.
"Younger buyers are drawn to affordability and sustainability," said Yoo-Kyoung Seock, a professor at the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia. "Marketplace offers both."
A key advantage is trust; users' Facebook profiles make transactions feel safer than on anonymous platforms like Craigslist, according to Seock.
In January 2025, eBay partnered with Facebook Marketplace, allowing select eBay listings to appear on Marketplace in the U.S., Germany, and France. Analysts project this will drive an additional $1.6 billion in sales for eBay by the end of 2025, according to Wells Fargo.
Chinese Investors Privately Take Stakes in Elon Musk's Companies, FT Reports
Wealthy Chinese investors are funneling tens of millions of dollars into private companies controlled by billionaire Elon Musk, using an arrangement that shields their identities from public view, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
The investments are being placed through special-purpose vehicles to avoid the ire of U.S authorities and companies wary of Chinese capital during a low-point in relations between the two countries, the report said, citing asset managers and investors involved in the transactions.
Three Chinese-backed asset managers told the Financial Times that they had sold more than $30 million of shares in SpaceX, xAI and Neuralink, three Musk-controlled private technology companies, to investors over the past two years.
Germany's Merz Wants European Nuclear Weapons to Boost US Shield
German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz on Sunday said he would like talks with France and Britain about sharing their nuclear weapons, but not as a substitute for U.S. nuclear protection of Europe.
"Sharing nuclear weapons is an issue that we need to talk about...we have to become stronger together in nuclear deterrence," he said in an interview on Deutschlandfunk radio, a day after agreeing cornerstones of a coalition deal between his conservative party and the Social Democratic SPD party.
"We should talk with both countries (France and Britain), always also from the perspective of supplementing the American nuclear shield, which we of course want to see maintained."
Germany, due to its Second World War past, has bound itself to non-nuclear defense in a number of international treaties but participates in NATO weapons-sharing arrangements.
Merz said he would press for the outgoing parliament to pass two major financial packages on infrastructure and defense and changes to state borrowing rules known as the 'debt brake'.
Merz and the SPD crucially need support from the Green Party to pass the measures, and Merz on Saturday said there would be intensive talks with the Greens next week.
"We will integrate climate protection measures (in those packages)," Merz said in the radio interview.
Rocky Stock Market Faces Inflation Data Test
A critical inflation report in the coming week could further rattle an increasingly tumultuous U.S. stock market, with investors worried about an economic growth slowdown and President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Despite a gain on Friday, the benchmark S&P 500 marked its worst week in six months. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite on Thursday ended down more than 10% from its December all-time closing high, confirming it has been in a correction for several months. Investors were grappling with dramatic policy change around the world.
Trump's back-and-forth implementation of fresh tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China exacerbated broad concerns about the economy. Markets were also shaken by Germany's surprise spending plans, which drove a selloff in the benchmark German Bund.
As recent U.S. economic data has disappointed, one silver lining for stocks has been markets factoring in more interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year to account for potential growth weakening.
But Wednesday's U.S. consumer price index report could scuttle those expectations if it confirms that inflation is still simmering at levels that force the Fed to keep monetary policy tighter.
"A hot CPI print will likely scare the market," said Bryant VanCronkhite, senior portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments. "The market still wants the Fed to come to the rescue... Until inflation and inflation expectations come down, the Fed is handcuffed."
Investors are mindful of last month's hotter-than-expected CPI data that saw inflation rise 0.5% in January, its biggest monthly gain since August 2023.
Data on Friday showed U.S. job growth picked up in February, but cracks are emerging in the once-resilient labor market amid chaotic trade policy and federal government spending cuts.
The market's focus will also be on Washington, as lawmakers wrangle over a spending bill that would avert a partial shutdown of agencies late next week. Trade policy remains in the spotlight. Tariffs on foreign imports are expected to hurt corporate profits and increase consumer prices, but investors are weighing how lasting the levies will be against their potential as negotiating tools. Trump on Thursday said Mexico and Canada won't be required to pay tariffs on goods that fall under a prior trade deal until April 2.
Under the new Trump administration, the barrage of initiatives on trade and other issues, such as federal workforce cuts, has fed uncertainty for businesses and consumers.
DHS Using Lie Detectors to Find Moles, Leakers
Secretary Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland security has reportedly begun using lie-detector tests to root out deep state moles and secrets leakers.
Secretary Kristi Noem's Department of Homeland security has reportedly begun using lie detector tests to root out deep state moles and secrets leakers.
As media and the public have been tipped off about border czar's Tom Homan's deportation force raids in Democrat-run sanctuary cities, Noem's DHS has hunted down and found some culprits for having leaked the sensitive government information.
DHS staffers are being polygraphed to find out who is lying about leaking government secrets, sources told NBC News.
Rubio Set to Meet Ukrainian Counterparts in Saudi Arabia This Week
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Saudi Arabia over March 10-12 for talks with Ukrainian counterparts, a statement from the U.S. Department of State said.
Rubio will also have a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the statement from spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
Rubio will then travel to Canada over March 12-14 for the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, the statement added.
Speaker Johnson: Zelenskyy Has 'Rude Awakening'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in an interview Sunday he is really grateful and glad that [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, in the last several days, has done an about face.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "about-face" on the minerals deal came after a "rude awakening" to the new president in the Oval Office and with his people back home, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
"I'm really grateful and glad that Zelenskyy, in the last several days, has done an about-face," Johnson told Sunday's "The Cats Roundtable" on WABC 770 AM, The Hill reported. "He's effectively apologized for all that. And he said, Oh no, no, we would like that deal after all.
"I think he had a rude awakening."
Authorities: Armed Man Shot by Secret Service near White House While Trump out of Town
An armed man believed to be traveling from Indiana was shot by U.S. Secret Service agents near the White House after a confrontation early Sunday, according to authorities.
No one else was injured in the shooting that happened around midnight about a block from the White House, according to a Secret Service statement. President Donald Trump was in Florida at the time of the shooting.
The Secret Service received information from local police about an alleged “suicidal individual” who was traveling from Indiana and found the man's car and a person matching his description nearby.
“As officers approached, the individual brandished a firearm and an armed confrontation ensued, during which shots were fired by our personnel,” the Secret Service said in a statement.
The man was hospitalized. The Secret Service said his condition was “unknown.”
The Metropolitan Police Department will investigate because the shooting involved law enforcement officers. A message left Sunday for the police department wasn't immediately returned.
Pope, Responding Well, Rests as Vatican Marks Another Holy Year Event without Him
Pope Francis issued a message Sunday thanking volunteers for the “miracle of tenderness” they offer the sick, as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia and doctors reported some positive news: After more than three weeks in the hospital, the 88-year-old pope is responding well to treatment and has shown a “gradual, slight improvement” in recent days.
For the fourth Sunday in a row, the 88-year-old Francis didn't appear for his weekly noon blessing, but the Vatican distributed the text he would have delivered if he were well enough. In it, the Argentine pope thanked all those who were caring for him and others who are sick and experiencing a “night of pain.”
The doctors said that such stability “as a consequence testifies to a good response to therapy.” It was the first time the doctors had reported that Francis was responding positively to the treatment for the complex lung infection that was diagnosed after he was hospitalized on Feb. 14.
But they kept his prognosis as “guarded”, meaning he's not out of danger. On Sunday morning, the Vatican reported he was resting after a quiet night.
In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued alongside celebrations of its Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century Jubilee that brings millions of pilgrims to Rome. On Sunday, Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, who is close to Francis, celebrated the Holy Year Mass for volunteers that Francis was supposed to have celebrated.
Macron's Diplomatic Comeback: from France's Domestic Crisis to Reshaping Europe's Defense
French President Emmanuel Macron is back at the center of global diplomacy, seeking to ease relations with President Donald Trump, championing a Ukraine peace plan alongside his British counterpart, and seeing his longstanding desire to boost European defense turning into reality.
Six months ago, Macron seemed weaker than ever after his call for early legislative elections produced a hung parliament, sparking an unprecedented crisis. Known for his nonstop political activism, Macron shifted his focus to foreign policy, leaving domestic struggles largely to the prime minister.
Now, he appears as the one leader who speaks to Trump several times per week and takes the lead in European support for Ukraine, while positioning himself as the commander-in-chief of the European Union’s only nuclear power.
On Thursday, EU leaders committed to strengthening defenses and freeing up hundreds of billions of euros for security in the wake of Trump’s warnings that they might face the Russian threat alone.
In a resounding declaration last week, Macron announced he would discuss extending France’s nuclear deterrent to European partners to help protect the continent.
France's nuclear power is inherited from the strategy set by wartime hero Gen. Charles de Gaulle, president from 1958 to 1969, who sought to maintain France’s independence from the U.S. and assert the country's role as a global power. That went through the development of an independent French nuclear arsenal.
Poland and Baltic nations welcomed the proposal.
Meanwhile, Germany's conservative election winner Friedrich Merz said his top priority would be to “strengthen Europe as soon as possible” and gradually move toward “real independence” from the U.S.
Only three days after his victory last month, Merz, who has called for a discussion on “nuclear sharing” with France, traveled to Paris for a working dinner with Macron.
No statement was released after the meeting, but French officials with knowledge of the matter said both men's visions for Europe align. They spoke anonymously because the talks were not to be made public.
Russia’s foreign ministry accused Macron of "demonstrative militarism dictated by the domestic agenda.”
The ministry said that Macron seeks to distract the French public from “worsening socio-economic problems in France and the European Union."
However, the French Constitution grants the president some substantial powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense. Macron has a presidential mandate until 2027 and he has said he won't step down before the end of his term.
Macron's activism on the global stage drew criticism from opposition leaders.
Far-right National Rally party vice president Sébastien Chenu described Macron’s “moody” character as “one of the biggest issues” for French diplomacy. "He offended many people, he often changed his mind,” Chenu said.
The head of the hard-left France Unbowed group at the National Assembly, Mathilde Panot, also voiced concerns.
“The situation is too serious and the President of the Republic is too weakened for him to decide on his own," she said. "We don’t just want to be consulted. ... It’s up to the parliament to decide on such serious issues.”
Syria President Calls for Unity After Reports of Mass Killings
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for national unity and peace on Sunday, after more than 1,000 people were reportedly killed in coastal Syria in the worst clashes since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.
The violence erupted on Thursday between the new security forces and loyalists of the former government along the Mediterranean coast in the heartland of the Alawite minority to which Assad belonged.
It has since escalated into the largest challenge to the new government's forces since Sharaa's Islamist-led coalition toppled Assad in December.
"We must preserve national unity (and) civil peace as much as possible and, God willing, we will be able to live together in this country," Sharaa said from a mosque in Damascus
Though himself an Alawite, Haidar was part of the leftist opposition to the Assads and was imprisoned for more than a decade under their rule.
Defence ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani said the security forces had "reimposed control" over areas that had seen attacks by Assad loyalists.
"It is strictly forbidden to approach any home or attack anyone inside their homes," he added in a video posted by SANA.
Education Minister Nazir al-Qadri announced that schools would remain shut on Sunday and Monday in both Latakia and Tartus provinces due to the "unstable security conditions".
SANA reported a power outage throughout Latakia province due to attacks on the grid by Assad loyalists.
The Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, has reported multiple "massacres" in recent days, with women and children among the dead.
The Observatory and activists released footage showing dozens of bodies in civilian clothing piled outside a house, with blood stains nearby and women wailing.
Other videos appeared to show men in military garb shooting people at close range.
AFP could not independently verify the images or accounts.
The leaders of Syria's three main Christian churches as well as the spiritual leader of Syria's Druze minority issued statements calling for an end to the violence.
Aron Lund of the Century International think tank said the violence was "a bad omen".
The new government lacks the tools, incentives and local support base to engage with disgruntled Alawites, he said.
Strategy founder Michael Saylor has proposed that the United States government acquire up to 25% of Bitcoin’s total supply over the next decade for its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
“Acquire 5-25% of the Bitcoin network in trust for the nation through consistent, programmatic daily purchases between 2025 and 2035, when 99% of all BTC will have been issued,” Saylor wrote in a document titled “A Digital Assets Strategy to Dominate the 21st Century Global Economy.”
25% supply allocation far exceeds previous proposal
If the US government acquired 25% of Bitcoin’s total supply, it would hold 5.25 million BTC — far more than the 1 million BTC (5% of the supply) that Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis proposed in the Bitcoin Act introduced in July 2024.
The researchers employed heteroepitaxial growth technology to develop the platform. This process involves growing a crystalline layer on a substrate of a different material, allowing for the integration of different materials with varying properties.
Think of it like laying bricks on a surface that isn’t the same material as the bricks—but making sure they line up neatly. This method enabled the integration of NV centers within the diamond lattice. These centers are crucial for detecting subtle changes in magnetic fields, which is a highly useful function for monitoring EV batteries.
For creating the diamond quantum sensor platform, scientists first chose a non-diamond substrate compatible with heteroepitaxial growth. Then, by utilizing chemical vapor deposition (CVD), they deposited diamond films onto the substrates. This allowed them to have precise control over the diamond’s crystalline structure.
Next, they added a 150-micrometer-thick nitrogen-vacancy (NV) diamond layer, which allowed the sensor to detect tiny magnetic changes. This layer had a spin coherence time (T2) of 20 microseconds, meaning it could maintain quantum information long enough for accurate measurements.
Finally, they aligned the NV centers along specific directions within the diamond lattice. This resulted in a nitrogen defect concentration of eight parts per million (ppm), which is a key factor in quantum sensor performance.
Additionally, to improve accuracy, the research team added a tilt correction mechanism to adjust for small misalignments in the diamond crystal. This ensured the sensor performed well, like traditional diamond-based sensors. The diamond quantum sensor with NV centers was now ready for testing.
“The ability to measure currents accurately while minimizing interference makes this sensor a promising candidate for monitoring battery systems in electric vehicles, where precision and reliability are paramount,” said Mutsuko Hatano, one of the researchers and a professor at the school of engineering at ISCT.
Next, the team behind the study plans to find ways to increase the density of NV centers in the diamond sensors so that they could deliver much better performance. Hopefully, current and future research will soon enable the integration of this promising quantum technology into EVs on a large scale.
Robotic hand grips toys, bottles like humans with 99.69% accuracy, avoids mishandling
The innovation offers a promising solution for people with hand loss.
Engineers have developed a prosthetic hand that can grip plush toys, water bottles, and other everyday objects like a human. The hand adjusts its grasp to avoid damaging or mishandling whatever it holds.
Developed by Johns Hopkins University researchers, the bionic hand identified and manipulated 15 everyday objects, including delicate stuffed toys, dish sponges, and cardboard boxes, as well as pineapples, metal water bottles, and other sturdier items.
The device achieved the best performance compared with the alternatives, successfully handling objects with 99.69% accuracy and adjusting its grip as needed to prevent mishaps during the experiments.
Prosthetic hand based on human hand’s physical and sensing capabilities
“The goal from the beginning has been to create a prosthetic hand that we model based on the human hand’s physical and sensing capabilities—a more natural prosthetic that functions and feels like a lost limb,” said Sriramana Sankar, a Johns Hopkins PhD student in biomedical engineering who led the work.
“We want to give people with upper-limb loss the ability to safely and freely intmultifinger system with rubberlike polymerseract with their environment, to feel and hold their loved ones without concern of hurting them.”
Crucially, the technology only needs electricity briefly, in the form of electric pulses, rather than continuously. Once an object is grabbed, no additional energy is required to maintain the grip.
Not only are these grippers energy efficient, but no additional sensors are needed when in operation. The SMA wires provide position feedback through electrical resistance and AI-driven control.
The design makes the grippers compact and lightweight, making them conducive to integrate into small spaces and safer around human workers. They are also easily programmable and can quickly adapt to different object shapes and tasks, even ‘on the fly’. There is no noisy compressed air or mechanical parts that can wear down, making them suitable for cleanroom environments.
The EnforceAir2 Maritime system is designed to provide reliable performance in addressing the need for counter-UAS technology to detect and neutralize threats coming from rogue drones. According to the company, its advanced RF-cyber technology is non-disruptive, ensuring safety and effectiveness, making it a practical solution for protecting maritime assets, ports, harbors, and transportation routes.
EnforceAir2 Maritime includes several key components designed for optimal performance in maritime environments. The EnforceAir2 SDR – Maritime Version is built with advanced, maritime-tested materials to withstand harsh sea conditions. It works in conjunction with the Radome Antenna (Maritime Version), an ultra-wide-band antenna that offers broad frequency support and 360° coverage, suitable for both ground-level and shipboard use.
As the company states further, the EnforceAir2 Maritime is also designed for easy integration with existing naval defense systems, featuring a compact and durable design for flexible installations and scalable deployment options.
It operates without interfering with communication and navigation systems, helping to maintain operational continuity while providing reliable protection against drone threats to maritime assets and personnel.
The latest solution builds on D-Fend’s experience with thousands of successful deployments worldwide, addressing real-life challenges for a wide range of users. EnforceAir, the company’s core offering, focuses on mitigating drone threats in the military, public safety, airports, prisons, major events, critical infrastructure, and other high-risk environments.
Shade tolerance and fire safety
The PV maker highlighted three advantages of the Hi-MO X10 over standard TOPCon panels. Its anti-dust design allows rainwater to wash away dust, reducing maintenance and preventing hotspots, with a 2.04% average energy gain.
The panel’s shade tolerance minimizes power loss by redirecting current around shaded areas, reducing shading losses by 70%. Additionally, its fire prevention mechanism lowers thermal hotspots, with temperatures staying around 80°C under shading, compared to over 130°C for conventional TOPCon panels, reducing fire risks.
Former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried has reportedly been sent to solitary confinement after taking part in an interview with right-wing political commentator Tucker Carlson, which was not approved by prison authorities.
“This particular interview was not approved,” a representative for the US Bureau of Prisons told The New York Times on March 7.
Bankman-Fried did not receive permission to take interview
According to a person briefed on the situation, after Bankman-Fried’s interview with Carlson was published, he was sent to solitary confinement at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been held since August 2023.
Bankman-Fried continues appeal battle
While Carlson didn’t directly ask Bankman-Fried if he expected a pardon from US President Donald Trump, he appeared receptive to some Republican ideas during the interview.
However, since the interview aired, speculation has grown within the community about a possible Trump pardon.
According to a March 7 X post from crypto predictions platform Polymarket, “the odds of an SBF pardon have nearly doubled,” since the interview was published.
It is already known that these constants “govern everything from the stability of atoms to the formation of stars and synthesis of carbon and other elements essential to life.”
For instance, in any solid, atoms oscillate around fixed positions due to thermal energy. The speed of these vibrations depends on two key factors: bond strength and atomic mass. Both these factors are determined by quantum mechanics and electromagnetism, which are governed by fundamental constants.
By analyzing how these constants influence atomic interactions, the study authors discovered that the constants place a strict upper limit on how fast atoms can vibrate in solid materials. This means there is a maximum possible frequency for phonons, which are the collective vibrations of atoms in a material.
Francisco Alvarez to miss significant time with hand fracture in latest Mets injury crusher
He sustained the fracture on a swing during live batting practice on Saturday.
PORT ST. LUCIE – For a second straight season the Mets will be without Francisco Alvarez for a significant stretch.
The catcher fractured the hamate bone on his left hand and will undergo surgery Monday that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
Alvarez sustained the fracture on a swing during live batting practice on Saturday.
“It’s a big blow when your starting catcher goes down,” Mendoza said Sunday at Clover Park. “But guys will step up. Guys will get opportunities, what we have in house and I am sure [president of baseball operations] David [Stearns] will be looking outside.”
Mendoza added the expectation is Alvarez will need the full eight weeks because he is a catcher and the injury occurred on his glove hand. By that timeline, Alvarez would return to the Mets’ lineup in early May.
Last season Alvarez slipped rounding first base and tore a ligament in his left thumb that necessitated surgery that cost him seven weeks.
His initial return gave the Mets’ lineup a jolt, but he struggled for most of the second half, finishing with a .237/.307/.403 slash line with 11 homers and 47 RBIs.
Backup Luis Torrens will move into the starter’s role in Alvarez’s absence.
The catching depth in camp includes Chris Williams, Hayden Senger and Jakson Reetz.
“These guys can handle a pitching staff, they can receive so we feel good,” Mendoza said. “[Torrens] will get a good opportunity now.”
Alvarez will join pitchers Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas on the injured list to begin the season.
APL advances laser-based manufacturing to meet defense needs
The U.S. must rapidly scale manufacturing to meet the demands of current and future conflicts, according to Morgan Trexler, program manager for Science of Extreme and Multifunctional Materials at APL. To address this, APL is advancing laser-based additive manufacturing research, enabling the rapid development of mission-ready materials that keep pace with evolving operational challenges.
Using AI-driven models, the team identified new manufacturing conditions for laser powder bed fusion, a metal 3D-printing method. Their findings challenge existing assumptions, revealing a wider processing window for producing dense, high-quality titanium with customizable mechanical properties.
Patrick Michael LaFontaine (born February 22, 1965) is an American former ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and spent his entire playing career with the league's New York State-based teams. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.
LaFontaine played for the New York Islanders from 1983 until 1991, the Buffalo Sabres from 1991 until 1997, and the New York Rangers from 1997 until his retirement in 1998, scoring 468 goals and 1,013 points along the way before his career was ended by concussions. His 1.17 points per game (1,013 points over 865 games) is the best among American-born ice hockey players, active or retired. In 2017, LaFontaine was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.[1] LaFontaine served as an executive of the Buffalo Sabres as the president of hockey operations until March 2014.
Co-author Brendan Croom explained that the discovery redefines how materials processing is approached. For years, certain processing parameters were considered off-limits due to the risk of poor-quality results. By using AI to explore a broader range of possibilities, the team identified new processing regions that enable faster printing while maintaining or even enhancing material strength and ductility. This development now allows engineers to optimize processing settings based on specific performance needs.
Furthermore, these findings could benefit industries relying on high-performance titanium parts by enabling the production of stronger, lighter components at higher speeds, enhancing efficiency in shipbuilding, aviation, and medical devices, while advancing additive manufacturing for aerospace and defense.