September 16, 2025

Tech

Tucker Carlson questioned OpenAI CEO Sam Altman about a conspiracy theory surrounding former researcher Suchir Balaji's death, suggesting it was orchestrated by the company due to his accusations over copyrighted data use. Altman denied involvement and emphasized lack of evidence, but misinformation persists despite concrete evidence pointing to suicide rather than murder.

NASA has announced a significant discovery on Mars, with high confidence, after analyzing a sample from the Perseverance rover's Sapphire Canyon mudstone core. The analysis reveals minerals and textures linked to microbial activity, including vivianite and greigite, which can form through biological processes, but unknown nonbiological chemistry cannot be ruled out entirely.

Alphabet, parent of Google, has reached a market capitalization of $3 trillion, joining Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple as only the fourth company to achieve this milestone. The surge in shares followed a favorable antitrust ruling that reduced penalties, sending shares to a record high and earning praise from President Trump recently.

Researchers at Monash University have developed a new membrane design for flow batteries, overcoming traditional limitations and enabling real-time capture of rooftop solar energy. The redesigned membrane improves ion selectivity, allowing fast and stable operation even at high current densities. This breakthrough could lead to safer, simpler, and more affordable systems in the renewable energy market.

A UK-based start-up, Quantum Motion, has successfully built a functional quantum computer using standard chips at the National Quantum Computing Centre in Oxfordshire. The achievement marks a significant step towards large-scale production of faster quantum computing technology, which could potentially revolutionize various industries with its immense computational power and efficiency.

The Trump administration is pushing for a "nuclear energy renaissance" by signing executive orders to reduce regulatory barriers and increase deregulation. Proponents argue that nuclear energy can mitigate climate change without emissions, but experts are skeptical due to high construction costs, safety concerns, and technical challenges hindering its financial viability.

Adaptive programming systems aim to meet evolving human and artificial intelligence demands by drawing parallels with building design. Mediators facilitate user interaction, while substrates enable modification and adaptation. The goal is to create a self-sustainable ecosystem allowing systems to change without external intervention, fostering collaboration between humans and AI agents.

The notion that the US and China are engaged in a high-stakes "race" to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) is being challenged. Instead, the development of AGI is seen as a gradual advancement driven by individual companies and researchers, with Sam Altman's attendance at the Federal Reserve Conference highlighting the complexities of AI development.

Tech journalist Andy Saunders spent months reviewing over 5,000 photographs from Gemini and Mercury missions to select 300 for his book "Gemini And Mercury Remastered". He used digital processing to enhance images, mapped mission timelines, and focused on the emotional depth of astronauts' experiences to curate a poignant visual history.

A new "Dot-Com Bubble" is forming, with tech stocks booming due to speculation on AI and cryptocurrencies. The NASDAQ has reached an all-time high, Bitcoin has hit record values, and regulatory barriers are being lowered, fueling growth. Experts warn that this boom will be far more destructive when it bursts, exacerbating capitalist contradictions.

The US government has expanded its data collection and surveillance under the Trump administration, merging license plate readers, police files, and social media without adequate oversight or transparency. This approach has been adopted by state and local police forces, with significant contracts awarded to Palantir and federal agencies collaborating on undocumented immigrant tracking.

A new Google datacentre in Essex is planned to emit over half a million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to 500 short-haul flights per week. The hyperscale facility would boost productivity and competitiveness, but campaigners warn it will increase Britain's greenhouse gas emissions and put pressure on finite resources.

The author argues that current social media platforms prioritize engagement over user well-being, spreading misinformation and eroding civil discourse. A more humane and accountable ecosystem is proposed, prioritizing understanding, connection, and community over exploitation. Practical strategies include reframing digital literacy, designing with public interest in mind, and building decentralized alternatives.

A new study has found special eye drops containing pilocarpine and diclofenac may replace glasses or surgery for presbyopia. Using the drops twice daily improved near vision significantly, allowing patients to read extra lines on eye test charts. The treatment was well-tolerated with minimal side effects, offering a potential safe alternative to traditional options.