TransportationJune 18, 2024
Longer and Longer Freight Trains Drive Up the Odds of Derailment
Replacing two 50-car trains with a single 100-car train increases the odds of derailment by 11 percent, according to a new risk analysis
Technology
OpinionJune 17, 2024
Has AI Already Brought Us the Terminator Future?
Is baby Skynet already here? We need robust laws now to withstand eliminating humans from nuclear decision-making
AnimalsJune 17, 2024
There’s No Need to Panic over ‘Flying’ Spiders, and Satellites Are Not So Great for the Ozone Layer
Sweltering heat in Greece, ozone-damaging chemicals on the decline and an investigation of what space does to our body are all in this week’s news roundup.
TransportationJune 14, 2024
Electric Flying Taxis Are Quietly Sneaking Up on Us
New electric-powered, vertical-lift aircraft are rising to the challenge of delivering clean and cheap air taxi services
EnergyJune 11, 2024
What Do Google’s AI Answers Cost the Environment?
Google is bringing AI answers to a billion people this year, but generative AI requires much more energy than traditional keyword searches
OpinionJune 10, 2024
Teens Are Spreading Deepfake Nudes of One Another. It’s No Joke
Teens are sending deepfake nude images of classmates to each other, disrupting lives. Schools, technology developers and parents need to act now
Artificial IntelligenceJune 8, 2024
Climate Misinformation Is Rampant. AI May Be Able to Stop It
Researchers want to create an AI system that can quickly detect and debunk false or misleading claims about climate change
BiotechJune 7, 2024
What It’s like to Live with a Brain Chip, according to Neuralink’s First User
Thirty-year-old Noland Arbaugh says the Neuralink chip has let him “reconnect with the world”
AstronomyJune 7, 2024
Smartphone Cameras Owe Their Power to Astronomy
The next time you snap a selfie, consider thanking an astronomer for your phone’s camera
Artificial IntelligenceJune 5, 2024
For Autistic People, AI Companions Offer Promise and Risks
AI apps can help autistic people practice social skills. But algorithms are no substitute for human relationships, experts say
TechnologyJune 3, 2024
Auroras Are on the Horizon, and Bird Flu Is on the Menu
Vaccine misinformation on social media, smartphone addiction in teens, and more are discussed in this week’s news roundup.
OpinionJune 1, 2024
It Is Too Soon for Clinical Trials on Artificial Wombs
A technology meant to help severely premature infants raises questions of inequity and may someday threaten parents’ rights to make decisions