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Technology News
Breaking news and analysis from the world of technology
A Chinese humanoid robot named Tianzhuo ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, faster than Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds. The robot won the race at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing.
Key Facts
The robot’s name is Tianzhuo.
It was developed by the Beijing Innovation Centre of Humanoid Robotics.
Tianzhuo ran 100 meters in 9.39 seconds.
This time is faster than Usain Bolt’s 9.58 seconds world record.
The race took place at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.
Tianzhuo beat two other robots made in China during the race.
The event focuses on testing the speed and abilities of humanoid robots.
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A trial is happening in Oakland where Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, is accused of creating social media products that harm children by making them addicted. A witness said Meta used a "don't ask, don't tell" approach, meaning the company avoided addressing the problems even when they knew about them.
Key Facts
The trial is called a landmark case because it could have big effects on how social media companies are held responsible.
The case claims Meta's social media products cause addiction among children.
A witness testified that Meta ignored or avoided dealing with known harms.
The phrase "don't ask, don't tell" describes Meta's approach to handling these issues.
The trial is taking place in Oakland, California.
The case focuses on Meta’s responsibility for users' mental health, especially children.
This legal action is part of wider concerns about technology companies and their impact on society.
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Victoria Gordon is a cleaner who specializes in difficult jobs like hoarder home clearances and crime scene cleaning. She shares videos of her work online, which many people watch because they find the before-and-after transformations interesting and satisfying. Social media platforms like TikTok have made cleaning videos very popular, with millions of views and dedicated communities.
Key Facts
Victoria Gordon cleans very messy homes, such as those of hoarders or crime scenes.
She posts videos of her cleaning projects on TikTok, gaining many viewers.
People enjoy watching cleaning videos because they show a messy problem becoming clean quickly.
TikTok created a "CleanTok" community in 2023 due to the huge popularity of cleaning content.
Cleaning videos often show a clear problem and quick resolution, which many find satisfying.
Other cleaners, like Ann Russell, have also become popular online by sharing their cleaning work.
Victoria only shares cleaning videos with permission and avoids posting content from very sensitive cases.
The trend of watching cleaning videos started with TV shows before becoming huge online.
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Chinese humanoid robots broke human world records in sprinting and high jumping at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. Over 2,000 robots competed in various events, showcasing China's advances in robotics technology.
Key Facts
The World Humanoid Robot Games took place in Beijing at the National Speed Skating Oval.
Chinese humanoid robots ran the 100-meter sprint in 9.39 seconds, beating Usain Bolt’s human record of 9.58 seconds.
A robot achieved a standing high jump of 2.88 meters, surpassing the human high jump record of 2.45 meters.
More than 2,000 humanoid robots competed in 51 events, including running, table tennis, and soccer.
The games are in their second year and highlight China’s rapid progress in robotics.
The event coincided with the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, showcasing around 3,000 products.
The U.S. recently banned imports of foreign-made humanoid robots, mainly targeting China for national security reasons.
Beijing-based X-Humanoid developed the record-breaking sprinting and jumping robots.
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A humanoid robot named Lightning ran 100 meters in 9.32 seconds, beating Usain Bolt’s human world record of 9.58 seconds. This happened at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, where over 2,000 robots from 16 countries competed in various events.
Key Facts
The robot Lightning is thin, black, and red.
Lightning ran 100 meters in 9.32 seconds.
Usain Bolt set the human 100m record at 9.58 seconds in 2009.
The World Humanoid Robot Games took place in Beijing.
More than 2,000 robots from 16 countries participated.
Events included sports like boxing and football, as well as household tasks.
The event highlights China's large investment in robotics.
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UK content creators are opposing a government proposal that would boost traditional broadcasters like the BBC in YouTube and TikTok recommendation systems. Creators worry this could reduce their visibility and limit public choice in what content is promoted on digital platforms.
Key Facts
The UK government is considering a plan to give more exposure to traditional broadcasters in digital platform algorithms.
Broadcasters such as BBC, ITV, and Channel 4 support this idea to preserve British content and trusted sources.
Digital platforms like YouTube and TikTok have become popular, especially among younger audiences.
Content creators argue this proposal could push their videos lower in recommendations, hurting their audiences.
Some creators compared the proposal to government control over media, raising concerns about fairness.
Public service broadcasters want a voluntary deal but may seek laws if platforms do not cooperate.
Creators urge viewers and fellow creators to respond before the government ends its consultation.
The plan aims to help broadcasters survive as people move away from traditional TV to online video.
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A humanoid robot named Lightning, made by Chinese company Honor, ran 100 meters in 9.32 seconds, beating the human world record held by sprinter Usain Bolt. This robot also completed a half marathon faster than top human runners, demonstrating advances in robot speed and design.
Key Facts
The robot Lightning ran 100 meters in 9.32 seconds, faster than Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second world record.
Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second during testing.
The robot competed at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing.
Lightning previously ran a half marathon (21 km) in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, beating elite human times.
The robot is 169 cm tall and had legs that were lengthened from 95 cm to 105 cm before the competition.
China supports humanoid robot development as a key future industry involving artificial intelligence (AI) and hardware.
The World Humanoid Robot Games showcase advances in robot technology related to manufacturing, logistics, and consumer use.
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Scientists induced a hibernation-like state in mice by activating specific brain cells, causing the mice to lose over half of their brain connections called synapses. Despite this major loss, the mice were able to remember tasks they had learned before hibernation.
Key Facts
Memories are believed to be stored by strengthening connections between brain cells (neurons).
Researchers used a method to activate "Q neurons" in the hypothalamus to create a controlled hibernation-like state in mice.
During this state, the mice’s body temperature dropped to about 20° Celsius and their heart and breathing rates slowed.
Brain activity dropped by about 70 percent during this induced hibernation.
Using advanced imaging, scientists found more than half of the synapses were lost during hibernation.
Normally, losing this many synapses should erase memories.
Mice showed no memory problems after waking, successfully completing tasks they had learned before hibernation.
This finding challenges the idea that memories only persist as strong synapse connections.
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A robot horse and dancing humanoid robots were featured at the 2026 World Robot Conference held in Beijing. The event showcases advances in robotics, with more than 2,000 robots from 16 countries participating in competitions and demonstrations.
Key Facts
The conference in Beijing lasts five days and started on Wednesday.
Chinese manufacturers displayed new robots, including a robot horse and dancing humanoids.
The 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games began on Saturday as part of the event.
Over 2,000 robots from 16 countries are competing in the games.
Unitree Robotics, the world’s largest maker of humanoid robots, started trading on the Shanghai stock market on the same day the conference opened.
China is expanding its robotics industry and promoting innovation through events like this conference.
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Leslie Iwerks created a Disney+ documentary called Disney Worldbuilders. The film shows how Disney theme-park rides are made from popular movies by artists and engineers. It also highlights her family's important role in Disney’s creative and technical history.
Key Facts
Leslie Iwerks directed the documentary Disney Worldbuilders, now on Disney+.
The film reveals how Disney turns movies like Avatar, Star Wars, Monsters, Inc., and Frozen into theme-park attractions.
Leslie’s grandfather, Ub Iwerks, helped create Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Her father, Don Iwerks, developed innovative technologies like 360-degree cameras for Disney attractions.
The documentary features filmmakers like James Cameron and Jon Favreau discussing their role in creating rides.
Leslie grew up around Disney studios, which inspired her storytelling career.
Disney Worldbuilders celebrates the teamwork of filmmakers and Disney Imagineers who build immersive experiences.
The film honors generations of Disney innovators and their creative legacies.
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Scientists used gene editing on two beagle dogs to remove a major protein that causes allergies in humans. Early results show these dogs do not produce the allergen and do not trigger allergic skin reactions in tests, opening the possibility of reducing pet allergies through genetic changes.
Key Facts
Researchers gene-edited two beagles, named Alfie and Bailey, in September 2024.
The edited dogs do not produce Can f 1, a protein responsible for many dog allergies.
Tests on the dogs' saliva, hair, and dander found no Can f 1 allergen.
One person with dog allergies showed no skin reaction to extracts from the edited dogs.
This study is a proof of concept with only two dogs, not a finished treatment.
Gene editing may help correct inherited health problems in pets by making small DNA changes.
Researchers hope gene editing will improve animal health and welfare without changing appearance or temperament.
The team is also considering applying gene editing to other animals, like cats, but allergies in cats involve more complex genetics.
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CD players and CDs are becoming popular again, especially among young people and students. Sales of CD players and CDs have increased, driven by factors like lower cost compared to vinyl and better sound quality than streaming on phones.
Key Facts
Searches for CD players have increased by 96% since July.
Popular CD players like the Crosley Voyager and Pure Classic C-D6 are sold out online.
CD sales grew by 16% this year, outperforming vinyl sales growth of 2.4%.
Artists like BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, and Ariana Grande are helping drive CD demand.
CDs typically cost around £12, much cheaper than vinyl records priced about £35.
Young buyers prefer CDs due to good audio quality, compact size, and lower price.
Retro technology, including vinyl, cassettes, and wired earphones, is gaining renewed interest.
The trend is supported by people wanting an all-in-one system for playing music without using phones.
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Hollywood writers, directors, and producers are working to train artificial intelligence (AI) systems to do their creative jobs. They are paid to teach AI how to write scripts, plan shoots, and transcribe videos, even as job opportunities in the entertainment industry decline.
Key Facts
Experienced Hollywood creatives are paid between $12 and $200 an hour to train AI models.
These AI systems learn tasks like screenplay writing, creating shooting schedules, and video transcription.
Workers feel conflicted because they are helping AI replace jobs in their own profession.
AI use in entertainment is growing; for example, Netflix used AI in 300 of its 1,000 titles in 2026.
Film shoot days in Los Angeles dropped 48% between 2021 and 2025 due to various factors including the pandemic and the writers’ strike.
US motion picture and sound recording jobs fell 28% from July 2022 to May 2026.
Industry workers view AI as inevitable and believe it will reshape or eliminate many job roles.
Directors like Ron Howard are adopting AI technology for projects such as animated documentaries.
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Experts predict a major breakthrough in artificial intelligence (AI) soon, which could lead to AI systems becoming smarter than humans. While some see great benefits, many worry that AI could cause serious disasters or even threaten human survival, but global cooperation on managing AI risks remains limited.
Key Facts
Artificial intelligence may rapidly improve itself, leading to superintelligent systems.
Some experts, like Elon Musk, expect big benefits but also acknowledge risks of AI causing harm.
Geoffrey Hinton, a leading AI researcher, estimates a 50% chance that AI could cause human extinction.
The U.S. financial market is heavily invested in AI development by major tech companies.
World leaders, including China’s president Xi Jinping and Pope Leo XIV, have spoken about AI risks and regulation.
A British think tank says global cooperation on AI governance may need a major crisis to happen.
Experts warn a significant AI disaster could happen within months, especially affecting critical infrastructure.
Despite potential disasters, there is little evidence that humans will unite globally to manage AI dangers effectively.
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A teenager known as P.M.Y. has dropped her lawsuit against social media companies Meta, YouTube, and Snapchat. The case was about claims that these platforms were designed to be addictive, but she dismissed the suit after settling with TikTok.
Key Facts
The lawsuit involved major social media companies: Meta, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok.
The teen, called P.M.Y., accused these platforms of creating addictive experiences.
She previously settled her case with TikTok.
The remaining claims against Meta, YouTube, and Snapchat were dismissed.
The lawsuit was scheduled for trial later this year.
This case was part of a larger group of similar lawsuits against social media giants.
The focus was on how social media platforms might affect users’ mental health via addictive features.
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Many cities in the United States are disconnecting Flock cameras that monitor traffic and record violations. This is happening because more people are worried about their privacy with these cameras.
Key Facts
Flock cameras are used to watch traffic and capture rule-breaking on roads.
Concerns about privacy have increased among the public.
Because of these concerns, cities are turning off or removing the cameras.
The cameras record video data to help enforce traffic laws.
Some people worry the cameras collect too much personal information.
This trend is happening in multiple cities across the country.
The issue has gained attention through news reports like CBS News.
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Several videos showing early footage of the new video game Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) were leaked online before its official preview. Rockstar Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has started legal action to stop the spread of these clips and find the people sharing them.
Key Facts
GTA 6 is a highly awaited video game, with an official 30-minute preview planned on Netflix.
Videos showing parts of the game appeared online without Rockstar’s approval about a week before the preview.
Take-Two Interactive sued companies hosting the leaked content, asking for user details of those sharing the footage.
Rockstar has not officially commented on the leaks so far.
The leaked videos are being taken down quickly due to copyright claims.
Some hackers claim they leaked the content for player interests but also ask for cryptocurrency donations.
Experts say the leaks hurt the developers who worked on the game for about ten years.
Industry voices suggest most gamers are not seeking out leaked clips and doubt the leaks help players.
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TikTok will pay $400 million to the US government to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of violating children's privacy laws by collecting data from users under 13 without parental consent. The case involves TikTok's Chinese operations and resolves claims made by the Department of Justice under President Biden.
Key Facts
TikTok agreed to a $400 million settlement over alleged child privacy violations.
The lawsuit was filed in 2024 by the US Department of Justice.
The case was based on violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
TikTok’s parent company is ByteDance.
TikTok must pay $300 million immediately and $100 million later under the deal.
The lawsuit concerns TikTok’s Chinese operations, despite the US business being mostly separated last year.
Past COPPA-related fines include Google paying $170 million in 2019 and Epic Games paying $275 million in 2022.
TikTok's US business is now mostly owned by American investors; ByteDance owns 19%.
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TikTok and its parent company ByteDance agreed to pay $400 million to the U.S. Department of Justice to settle claims that the app broke children’s online privacy laws. The payment includes $300 million now and another $100 million after a court dismisses a previous agreement.
Key Facts
TikTok and ByteDance face allegations of violating a law that protects children’s online privacy.
The total settlement amount is $400 million.
$300 million will be paid immediately.
The remaining $100 million will be paid after a court dismisses an earlier consent decree.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the settlement on a Friday.
The case involves protecting children's private information on TikTok.
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Scientists at Penn State have developed a new way to use thunderstorms and the seismic waves they create, called "thunderquakes," to study the Earth's interior. They created a computer model that can make sense of the complex seismic signals caused by thunder, allowing them to create images of underground structures without waiting for earthquakes or using explosives.
Key Facts
Seismic waves help scientists learn about what is below the Earth's surface, such as rock type and water presence.
Thunderstorms create seismic waves when thunder's acoustic shock waves hit the ground, called thunderquakes.
Thunderquake signals are very complex due to the way thunder forms and how waves travel through different materials on Earth.
The Penn State team used a 3D seismic modeling software called SPECFEM3D Cartesian to simulate these waves.
The model simplifies some parts, like treating the atmosphere as a uniform layer, which is not perfectly accurate.
Despite limitations, the model successfully interpreted real thunderquake data from thunderstorms near the university campus.
This new method can provide local seismic imaging without needing natural earthquakes or setting off explosives.
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