June 10, 2026
(ProPublica) – The U.S. eliminated measles a quarter century ago, but to keep its “measles-free” designation, officials will have to make a strong case that measles is not continuously spreading within its borders. Our analysis shows how difficult that could … Read More
June 10, 2026
(After Babel Substack) – The book was The Age of Addiction: How Bad Habits Became Big Business, by historian David Courtwright, at the University of North Florida. Courtwright begins with humanity’s eternal quest for pleasure from the plants and animals … Read More
June 10, 2026
(CNN) – Parents used to be advised to keep allergenic foods like eggs away from babies, especially if allergies ran in the family. But based on recent and evolving evidence, the advice is now almost the opposite – and new … Read More
June 10, 2026
(Axios) – The push to make medical records easier to share could be opening the door for rogue companies to sell patient information to law firms and other businesses without their knowledge. Why it matters: Americans assume their medical records … Read More
June 10, 2026
(Axios) – The Trump administration, fearing that international travel could accelerate the spread of Ebola as the World Cup hits America, is pressuring Europe to dramatically shift its strategy for preventing infections, sources tell Axios. Why it matters: Top Trump … Read More
June 10, 2026
June 10, 2026
(BBC) – While many companies are building autonomous humanoid robots for factories, homes or companions, Foundation claims it is the only US firm developing them specifically for a broad range of defence applications. That includes support roles like supply pickup, … Read More
June 9, 2026
(MIT Technology Review) – The next step in the youth quest is a technology called chemical reprogramming. The outspoken longevity scientist David Sinclair has been predicting that one day, you’ll go to the doctor and get a prescription that will … Read More
June 9, 2026
(Vox) – Humanity may be scrolling its way out of existence. Across the globe, fertility rates are plummeting. In 2023, the average number of births per woman worldwide fell beneath 2.1 — the minimum level necessary for averting population decline … Read More
June 9, 2026
(Axios) – Rest, longevity and fitness are the new status symbols, and burnt-out Americans are spending big on all of the above. Why it matters: The wellness economy is in its next phase, beyond fancy gym memberships and meditation apps. … Read More
June 9, 2026
(The Guardian) – Diagnostic interviews seen as ‘gold standard’ vary in reliability from condition to condition, study says Even though evidence on the reliability of these interviews has long been mixed, “they continue to be widely viewed as the best … Read More
June 9, 2026
(NYT) – Researchers relied on a newer gene-editing technique that may make it possible to engineer embryos, a prospect that has long alarmed bioethicists. Scientists at Columbia University have edited the DNA of early human embryos with unprecedented accuracy, an … Read More
June 9, 2026
(BBC) – Canada’s government has released a much-anticipated national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, mapping out how the country plans to adopt the new technology over the next decade. It comes amid broader public concerns over trust of AI and its … Read More
June 9, 2026
(Washington Post) – A new study suggests spending time in nature may boost body appreciation, self-compassion and overall life satisfaction. Decades of research suggests there are many positive mental and physical health effects of spending time outdoors, from boosting mood … Read More
June 9, 2026
(WSJ) – The $1 trillion startup warns artificial-intelligence models are nearing capability to improve without human intervention Anthropic is calling for top artificial intelligence labs to weigh slowing the pace of development, suggesting that AI systems are advancing so rapidly … Read More
June 8, 2026
(The Atlantic) – As the AI boom has exploded, Silicon Valley has looked to philosophers to help the industry build what are, at least in theory, more virtuous machines. AI companies have to make all kinds of difficult decisions about … Read More
June 8, 2026
(Wired) – Leading AI labs, executives, and scientists are sending a letter to lawmakers urging them to improve tracking of synthetic DNA sequences that could be used for bioweapons. The CEOs of several major artificial intelligence companies are urging members … Read More
June 8, 2026
(404 Media) – Planning documents for “Scout” say the plan is to “make people addicted” to the tool before adding new features. An internal Microsoft strategy document says that the plan for its just-announced “Scout” personal assistant AI is to … Read More
June 8, 2026
(Wired) – With $500 million in funding and a reported $2.5 billion valuation, Flourish wants to reinvent AI by putting real neurons under the microscope. Here’s what Bezos, sitting on his yacht somewhere, read while Williams anxiously watched on Zoom: … Read More
June 8, 2026
(New Things with Joanna Stern on Youtube) – People across the country are offering a service on Facebook Marketplace to disable the recording light on Ray-Ban Meta glasses. They call it “Stealth Mode.” Joanna paid $100 for the modification and … Read More
June 8, 2026
(The Atlantic) – Should we seriously consider the possibility that Claude, or any large language model, might be conscious? And if it has feelings, is it capable of receiving moral instruction? No. Absolutely not. Generative AI is harmful enough when … Read More
June 5, 2026
(NYT) – A Chinese company has been trying to develop artificial intelligence-powered technology that would enable authoritarian governments to not just monitor dissidents but also potentially predict who could become one in the future. The work, which appears to be … Read More
June 5, 2026
(AP) – Two scientists at a U.S. government lab were charged with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox virus into the country from Africa and lying about it during interviews with investigators at a Michigan airport, authorities said Tuesday. A criminal … Read More
June 5, 2026
(Wired) – Google, Microsoft, and other hyperscalers have come under scrutiny for their impact on water quality and availability. On Monday, SpaceX amended its initial public offering to state that water conditions—including water scarcity, regulations around water, and drought—could constrain … Read More
June 5, 2026
(RNS) – “It’s a little surprising, but I don’t think it’s unexpected,” he told Religion News Service this week. “The Vatican has been cultivating relationships with the tech community for about 10 years.” Green would know. As a leading tech … Read More
