Apple announced the next big update for its iPhone operating system, called iOS 27. However, some older iPhone models will not be able to upgrade to this new version.
Key Facts
Apple revealed iOS 27 as the latest version of its iPhone software.
Not all iPhones will support the iOS 27 update.
Older iPhone devices will not qualify for the new update.
iOS updates usually add new features and improve device performance.
Users will need to check if their iPhone model is compatible before updating.
Apple typically makes updates available to many recent iPhone models.
The release date for iOS 27 has been announced by Apple (specific date not in the excerpt).
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Google is updating its AI research tool, NotebookLM, with a new Gemini 3.5 model and added features like support for more file types and better web source integration. The update helps users analyze documents and webpages more effectively and adds the ability to generate and edit various document formats directly within the app.
Key Facts
NotebookLM is powered by Google’s generative AI technology and was launched in 2023.
The update moves NotebookLM to the Gemini 3.5 AI model, which is faster and more efficient than the previous Gemini 3.1.
Google reports that the new model improved NotebookLM’s performance by 65% in tests measuring accuracy, multilingual support, document handling, and research abilities.
NotebookLM now includes "Antigravity," a cloud computer feature that can write and run code to support research tasks.
More than 100 new software skills are included, allowing users to create workflows without switching between apps.
The tool can generate and edit outputs in multiple formats, including PDFs, slides, charts (png, svg), documents (PDFs, docx), images (png, jpg, gif), structured data (csv, json), Excel (xlsx), and PowerPoint (pptx).
Users can now ask NotebookLM to find and import relevant webpages as sources during research.
The update is first available to AI Ultra subscribers and business customers with certain Google Workspace access, with broader availability soon expected.
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Scientists at Aarhus University found a way to recycle discarded polystyrene plastics into materials that can capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. They chemically modify the plastic by adding amines, substances that grab CO2, turning trash like Styrofoam and food packaging into reusable carbon-capture tools.
Key Facts
Polystyrene, used in items like Styrofoam, food containers, and CD cases, is mostly not recycled (less than 1% in the US).
The research team adds bromine atoms and amine groups to polystyrene to create a material that can capture CO2.
Amines work like sponges that grab CO2 when cool and release it when heated, allowing repeated use.
This solid amine-based material is more energy-efficient than earlier liquid amine systems.
The new material captured CO2 effectively both from high concentration sources like smokestacks and from ambient air with lower CO2 levels.
Researchers can adjust the amount of amine and the structure of the material to improve performance.
The team also tested plastic waste from urethane foam and building trim but found these materials less effective for carbon capture.
This approach helps reduce plastic waste and provides a new way to help fight climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
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Microsoft experienced a second recent attack where hackers added credential-stealing code to official software packages. These infected packages targeted developers using AI coding tools and stole important login information for cloud services and developer tools.
Key Facts
Microsoft’s official open source packages on GitHub were compromised with malware that steals login credentials.
About 73 infected packages were detected and disabled by GitHub for violating terms of service.
The malware activates when developers use AI coding assistants with the infected packages.
This is the second attack in weeks targeting Microsoft’s software supply chain.
The malware, called Miasma, steals credentials from cloud services like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
Attackers used stolen Microsoft credentials to publish malicious updates that appear legitimate.
The malware adapts its code for each infection, making detection harder.
The attack exploits trust in modern software workflows rather than software bugs.
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Taylor Swift’s new song “I Knew It, I Knew You,” from the movie Toy Story 5, has become the biggest country single on Apple Music in 2026. The song also broke records for streaming on Spotify and Amazon Music.
Key Facts
The song is called “I Knew It, I Knew You” and is part of Toy Story 5.
It became the most popular country song on Apple Music in 2026.
The song also set streaming records on Spotify and Amazon Music.
Taylor Swift is a well-known singer and songwriter.
Streaming records mean it was played more times than any other country song in recent history on these platforms.
Toy Story 5 is the latest movie in the popular Toy Story film series.
Digital music platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music track how many times songs are played.
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Apple announced new updates for its operating systems: iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate, focusing on improving software performance and design. The updates include better search, enhanced parental controls, and faster app and photo loading, with beta versions available now and full release expected this fall.
Key Facts
Apple introduced iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 Golden Gate at its Worldwide Developers Conference.
The update refines the Liquid Glass design, allowing users to adjust the transparency of interface elements.
macOS 27 changes app toolbars and sidebars for a clearer look, and fixes window resizing issues from the previous version.
Search functions like Spotlight, Mail, and Photos have been improved for better accuracy.
Parental controls have been enhanced with new design and developer tools to limit app use, communications, and screen time.
The update optimizes memory, CPU use, display, and network performance, making apps launch up to 30% faster and photos appear 70% faster.
iOS 27 will support devices as old as the iPhone 11 from 2019.
Beta versions of these updates are available now, with the official release planned for this fall.
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Anthropic's AI tool, Mythos, can quickly turn known software weaknesses into working attacks in hours, much faster than before. This means hackers could exploit problems soon after they're publicly fixed, raising concerns about computer security.
Key Facts
Mythos was tested on recent bugs in Mozilla Firefox and the Microsoft Windows kernel.
It created a working exploit for a Windows kernel vulnerability in just 31 minutes.
Out of 21 tested Windows kernel bugs, Mythos caused a system crash (blue screen of death) in 18 cases.
The longest exploit Mythos created took about 5.7 hours.
For Firefox, Mythos built 8 working exploits from 18 security patches.
Most cyberattacks target known vulnerabilities not yet fixed by users.
Patching software often requires testing and system downtime, slowing updates.
Mythos’s Windows exploits cost about $2,000 each in API usage fees.
Similar AI models are being developed by other companies, increasing the potential risk.
The U.S. government is beginning to address AI-related security risks with new policies.
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Summer Game Fest announced 34 new video games coming soon on various platforms like PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. The list includes sequels, remakes, and original games spanning genres like horror, action, mystery, and multiplayer online games.
Key Facts
Alien Isolation 2 is a sequel to a 2014 horror game, set on a stormy colony world, playable on Nintendo, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Resident Evil Veronica is a remake of the 2000 zombie game Code: Veronica, now in first-person view, available for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Mighty Cuphead Adventure is a retro-style platform shooter from the creators of the original Cuphead series.
God of War: Laufey features the story of Kratos’ wife in the afterlife, playable on PlayStation.
Gen Atlas is a new game from Fumito Ueda, known for games like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, involving piloting giant robots.
Control Resonant is a paranormal action game about a US government agency containing supernatural threats, available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Guild Wars 3 is a new massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) planned for release in 2027.
Virtua Fighter Crossroads is a mix of fighting game and story adventure involving the Chinese mafia, from the makers of Yakuza.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster named B1067 recently completed its 35th flight, setting a reuse record for the company. This booster mainly launches Starlink satellites and helps SpaceX reach its goal of reusing rockets up to 40 times.
Key Facts
Falcon 9 booster B1067 made its first flight over five years ago.
It has completed 35 missions, mostly launching Starlink internet satellites.
The booster lands safely on drone ships after each launch for refurbishment and reuse.
SpaceX aims to use each Falcon 9 booster up to 40 times.
B1067’s 35 flights approach the space shuttle Discovery’s record of 39 missions.
This reusable rocket technology has helped SpaceX become a leader in space launches.
Since B1067’s debut, a competitor company, United Launch Alliance, has conducted fewer total launches with multiple different rockets.
The success of Falcon 9 rockets supports SpaceX’s ambitions for future projects like Starship and large orbital satellite networks.
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Netflix’s film chairman Dan Lin said the company may stop working with directors who want to release movies in theaters before streaming. However, Netflix has not made a full decision yet and will still have some films shown in theaters first.
Key Facts
Netflix’s chairman of film, Dan Lin, said some directors want theatrical (movie theater) releases before streaming.
Netflix may choose not to work with filmmakers who insist on theatrical releases.
Lin admitted he is learning how to communicate better with directors about this.
Netflix has not officially stopped theatrical releases yet.
Upcoming films like “The Adventures of Cliff Booth” and “Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” will have limited theater runs before streaming.
“Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew” will open in IMAX theaters on February 12, then stream on Netflix on April 2.
Netflix has previously released some films in theaters before streaming them.
These moves reflect Netflix’s evolving strategy on how movies are released to audiences.
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A new drug called apitegromab may help people using obesity medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro keep more muscle while losing fat. In a study, adults who took apitegromab with their weight-loss medicine preserved more muscle compared to those who didn’t get the drug.
Key Facts
Some obesity drugs cause weight loss partly by reducing muscle, leading to changes like "Ozempic butt" (a flatter, saggy appearance in the buttocks).
Around one-third of the weight lost from GLP-1 obesity drugs can come from muscle instead of fat.
Apitegromab blocks a protein that breaks down muscle, helping to preserve muscle during weight loss.
In a six-month trial with 102 adults, those using apitegromab kept about 55% more muscle compared to people on a placebo.
Apitegromab is currently available only in clinical trials and is given by vein, but may be developed for self-injection in the future.
GLP-1 obesity drugs reduce appetite and make people feel full, causing rapid weight loss mostly through eating less.
Experts advise people on these drugs to eat well and do strength exercises to keep muscles strong.
More research is needed to confirm if keeping more muscle improves overall health and strength.
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Convalescent plasma is blood plasma taken from people who have recovered from a viral infection. This plasma contains antibodies that can help others fight the virus when no vaccines are available.
Key Facts
People who recover from viral infections develop antibodies in their blood.
These antibodies help the immune system recognize and fight the virus if it returns.
Convalescent plasma is plasma taken from recovered patients and given to sick patients.
This treatment can provide immediate protection or help fight new viral outbreaks.
It is especially useful when vaccines are not yet developed or available.
Medical experts study convalescent plasma to better control viral diseases.
The approach has been used in past outbreaks like SARS, Ebola, and COVID-19.
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Ofcom, the UK’s online safety regulator, has reminded social media companies about their duties to prevent hate and abuse online during the World Cup. It will watch how these companies handle illegal hate content and check if they are ready for a rise in harmful posts during the event.
Key Facts
Ofcom sent letters to social media firms about preventing online abuse during the World Cup.
This follows past cases where England players faced abuse in major football tournaments.
Abuse often targets players based on race, sexual orientation, or disability.
Online abuse can cause fear, harm health, and push people away from public life.
Social media platforms must have enough staff to remove illegal content and provide easy complaint systems.
Ofcom can fine companies up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue for not acting against illegal content.
Ofcom will monitor companies through a live program and share findings with football authorities and police.
The Online Safety Act (2023) gives Ofcom powers to regulate social media content and protect users.
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Taylor Swift’s new song “I Knew It, I Knew You” for the movie "Toy Story 5" has broken streaming records. It became the most streamed country single on Apple Music in 2026.
Key Facts
The song is part of the "Toy Story 5" movie soundtrack.
The single is called “I Knew It, I Knew You.”
It set a new record on Apple Music for the biggest country single in 2026.
Taylor Swift is the artist who performed the song.
Streaming records refer to the highest number of plays or listens online.
The achievement highlights the song’s wide popularity shortly after its release.
Apple Music is a major platform where people listen to music online.
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Meta is taking legal action against the Israeli spyware company NSO Group for breaking a court order that bans it from targeting WhatsApp users. Meta found new hacking attempts linked to NSO that tried to trick people into clicking harmful links on WhatsApp.
Key Facts
Meta is filing a contempt order in a US federal court against NSO Group.
A court previously banned NSO from targeting WhatsApp and its users.
Meta detected new spear phishing attacks connected to NSO on WhatsApp.
Spear phishing attempts involved “1-click” attacks where one click could compromise a user’s device or account.
Meta removed fake accounts and groups created by NSO on its platform.
NSO is blacklisted by the US government for national security concerns.
Last year, NSO was ordered by a US court to stop targeting WhatsApp, reducing its damages owed to Meta from $167 million to $4 million.
Meta is supported by civil rights groups and privacy experts in fighting NSO’s appeal against the court order.
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The article discusses phone addiction and ways to reduce screen time. The writer shares personal experience using an app and a device called Brick, which physically makes it harder to open distracting apps, helping them regain focus and reduce unnecessary phone use.
Key Facts
The writer was spending about eight hours per week on their phone browsing social media apps like Reddit and Instagram.
Experts say warning signs of phone addiction include checking the phone first thing in the morning and last before bed.
Behavioral scientists design apps to capture users’ attention, making phone overuse common.
Techniques to reduce phone use include keeping the phone out of reach and limiting access to certain apps.
The writer found a device called Brick, which locks certain apps by requiring extra physical effort to unlock them, helpful in cutting down screen time.
Brick costs £54 and attaches magnetically to metal surfaces, working by blocking access until intentionally unlocked.
Apps like WhatsApp and Gmail remain unlocked because they are needed for work, while social media apps are locked most of the day.
Using Brick helped the writer feel more focused and calm, reducing the urge to “doomscroll” (scroll endlessly through bad news or social media).
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OpenAI is planning a major update to ChatGPT, aiming to turn it into a "superapp" that includes coding tools and AI assistants that perform tasks for users. The company wants to attract more business customers and increase revenue ahead of its planned stock market debut this year.
Key Facts
OpenAI will change ChatGPT to include more features like coding assistants and AI agents that help do tasks.
This update is the biggest change since ChatGPT first launched in 2022.
The company wants to earn more money as it prepares to sell shares to the public (IPO) this year.
Most people use ChatGPT for free, but business users generate about 40% of OpenAI’s income.
The coding tool Codex has grown quickly, reaching over 5 million active weekly users.
OpenAI is competing more with Anthropic, another AI company focusing on business products.
The new design will guide users toward coding, image creation, and partner-made apps within ChatGPT.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, sees the future of AI as personal agents that assist users both at work and in daily life.
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Some artists and creators are pushing back against the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative work. They are embracing a style called “anti-slop,” which values handmade, imperfect, and rough designs, as a response to the slick but sometimes disliked AI-generated content. This movement also raises concerns about AI using others’ work without permission.
Key Facts
At the Runway AI Summit, an AI-generated Coca-Cola holiday ad was created quickly but received negative feedback for looking fake and sloppy.
Many artists have publicly opposed AI’s use of their creative work and some have filed lawsuits against AI companies.
“Anti-slop” is a new design trend that celebrates handmade and imperfect art as a reaction to AI-created slick visuals.
Designer Michael Schmelling creates deliberately rough and hand-drawn style artwork, rejecting AI aesthetics.
Schmelling refused to allow his commissioned illustrations to be used to train AI.
The Green Bay Packers video by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios uses old-fashioned stop-motion animation as part of the anti-slop trend.
Critics and some audiences react strongly against AI-generated art, fueling the anti-slop aesthetic.
The debate highlights issues about creativity, labor, and profit in the age of AI technology.
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AI, especially machine learning, is being used in weather and climate modeling but it is not a sudden breakthrough. These AI models help find patterns in large data sets to improve forecasts, but they have limitations and require careful use.
Key Facts
AI in weather and climate refers mainly to machine learning, not language-based AI like chatbots.
Machine learning uses computers to detect patterns in data and improve predictions.
Models need lots of good quality examples to learn accurately.
Weather models using machine learning run faster than traditional models that solve complex physics equations.
Big tech companies like Google, Nvidia, Huawei, and Microsoft have created initial AI weather models.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) started using a machine learning weather model in February 2025.
Machine learning models have strengths and weaknesses that researchers are still understanding.
Weather and climate forecasting AI is an evolving tool, not a complete replacement for human experts.
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Most new artificial intelligence (AI) datacenters in the United States are planned to be built in areas currently facing severe drought. These datacenters use a large amount of water to keep their computers cool, which adds stress to regions already struggling with water shortages.
Key Facts
About two-thirds of 809 planned AI datacenters are in locations affected by drought.
Existing datacenters are also mostly located in drought-affected areas.
Datacenters can use up to 5 million gallons of water daily for cooling, similar to the water use of 50,000 people.
Water demand from datacenters in the US could rise from 17 billion gallons in 2023 to 73 billion gallons by 2028.
Major companies like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon are investing heavily in new datacenters in dry regions.
These dry locations are chosen partly because land is cheaper and tax breaks are available.
Drought conditions across much of the US are worsened by climate change.
Experts warn that growing water demand for datacenters may cause future conflicts over water access between datacenters and residents.
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