Alignments of five or more planets are rare—there will be two more featuring five or more planets this year, but after that the next won’t happen until 2040.

The China-controled EV brand has been losing tens of thousands of dollars on every car sold. With a US ban on Chinese car sales looming, the company needs to quickly turn things around.

I spent months testing 25-plus dry shampoos on day-two hair and beyond—these are the most effective formulas you can buy.

Yoolim Lee / Bloomberg: In a first, Samsung will pay 50%-100% of executive bonuses in stock starting January 2026, linking compensation to share performance amid chipmaking struggles  —  – Company is linking pay for senior executives to performance  — The overhaul comes as Samsung cedes market share to rivals

New York Times: Sources: Instagram and YouTube gear up to welcome TikTok users; two Meta employees say execs discussed resource allocation on January 15 to handle TikTok users  —  Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube are getting ready behind the scenes to welcome TikTok users, should the Chinese-owned app be banned from the United States.

Joel Khalili / Wired: A look at Pump.Fun, a service for launching memecoins that has generated $350M+ in revenue via a 1% trading fee in the 12 months since its launch in Jan. 2024  —  Pump.Fun raked in hundreds of millions of dollars in its first year in operation.  Despite some growing pains, its creators […]

Trained pianists who hit a plateau improved their finger speed after a half-hour training session with a device that moves their fingers for them

In a two-part series, MIT News explores the environmental implications of generative AI. In this article, we look at why this technology is so resource-intensive. A second piece will investigate what experts are doing to reduce genAI’s carbon footprint and other impacts. The excitement surrounding potential benefits of generative AI, from improving worker productivity to advancing scientific […]

It’s a major get for Murati’s mysterious startup, which has also poached engineers and researchers from a number of other prominent AI firms.

What may be the first commercially available book saved in DNA is the latest example of how consumers might use molecular data storage.

Why mess with what works?

Kashmir Hill / New York Times: The FTC bans GM from selling driver behavior and geolocation data to consumer reporting agencies for five years, after finding GM didn’t properly inform drivers  —  An investigation by the Federal Trade Commission determined that consumers had not been aware that the automaker was providing their driving information to […]

Matthew Keys / The Desk: Trump plans to nominate Olivia Trusty, policy director for a US Senate committee, as the third Republican member of the FCC’s five-person commission  —  President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday said he intends to nominate Olivia Trusty to fill an upcoming vacancy at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Kalley Huang / The Information: Source: Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth told staff that some of Meta’s changes were “pretty ham-fisted, borderline unintentional” and Meta is planning some corrections  —  Meta Platforms Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth on Tuesday told staff that the company had handled parts …

As apparent acts of sabotage cut undersea data cables around the world, NATO held its first demonstration of a project to quickly reroute crucial communications to satellite internet

Our Future Chronicles column explores an imagined history of inventions and developments yet to come. In its latest instalment, Rowan Hooper reveals how by 2029, we had learned how to make synthetic spider silk, leading to a revolution in clothing

The MIT Global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Network has once again been ranked as the world’s top master’s program for supply chain and logistics management by Eduniversal’s 2024/2025 Best Masters Rankings. This recognition marks the eighth consecutive No. 1 ranking since 2016, reaffirming MIT’s unparalleled leadership in supply chain education, research, and practice. […]

To attract the best talent, you need to broadcast more than a list of tasks and expectations.

How to evolve without losing what sets you apart from the competition.

Four recommendations from people who have experienced catastrophic home damage and loss.

Nathaniel Fick, the ambassador for cyberspace and digital policy, has led US tech diplomacy amid a rising tide of pressure from authoritarian regimes. Will the Trump administration undo that work?

Over a dozen programs used by creators of nonconsensual explicit images have evaded detection on the developer platform, WIRED has found.

How SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son convinced Steve Jobs to make the deal of the century.

Paresh Dave / Wired: Four current Meta employees, citing internal discussions, say the actual number of full-time staff who will have to relocate from California to Texas is limited  —  Mark Zuckerberg said content moderation teams in California will relocate to Texas to help reduce bias.

Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch: Google agreed to buy 100K tons of CO2 removal credits from Indian startup Varaha for an undisclosed sum, marking its first deal with a carbon project in India  —  Google has agreed to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from Indian startup Varaha, its first such deal …

Kate Clark / Bloomberg: Insight Partners raised $12.5B for its 13th flagship fund, down from its initial target of $20B, making it one of the biggest tech-focused funds  —  The firm reduced its initial fundraising target from $20 billion.  —  Insight Partners, a New York-based venture capital and private equity firm …

An AI trained on motion capture recordings can help robots smoothly imitate human actions, such as dancing, walking and throwing punches

In the world of high-priced art, galleries usually act as gatekeepers. Their selective curation process is a key reason galleries in major cities often feature work from the same batch of artists. The system limits opportunities for emerging artists and leaves great art undiscovered. NALA was founded by Benjamin Gulak ’22 to disrupt the gallery […]

After years of complaints about “unlawful” repairability policies, the FTC is suing tractor manufacturer Deere & Company. Repairability advocates are calling it a milestone for consumer rights.

Mark Zuckerberg said content moderation teams in California will relocate to Texas to help reduce bias. In practice, employees aren’t expecting many forced relocations.

As the push toward Windows 11 continues, Microsoft confirms that Windows 10 users will lose support for apps including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Pete Schroeder / Reuters: Block agrees to pay $80M to a group of 48 US state financial regulators that say it had insufficient policies for policing money laundering through Cash App  —  Block Inc (SQ.N) has agreed to pay a fine of $80 million to a group of 48 state financial regulators after the agencies […]

Washington Post: Donald Trump is considering issuing an executive order once in office that would suspend enforcement of the TikTok sale-or-ban law for 60 to 90 days  —  Trump, the infamous dealmaker, is exploring unconventional ways to rescue the Chinese-owned video app from a nationwide ban …

Rishi Kant / Reuters: Aligned Data Centers, which specializes in AI-related infrastructure, raised over $12B, including $5B+ of new primary equity and $7B+ of new debt commitments  —  Aligned Data Centers, which specializes in AI-related infrastructure, said on Wednesday it had completed another round of capital raise of more than $12 billion.

The Chinese social media apps Red Note and Lemon8 have become popular alternatives for TikTok users ahead of a US government ban on TikTok. But government restrictions loom over those apps too

Karl K. Berggren, the Joseph F. and Nancy P. Keithley Professor of Electrical Engineering at MIT, has been named the new faculty head of electrical engineering in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), effective Jan. 15. “Karl’s exceptional interdisciplinary research combining electrical engineering, physics, and materials science, coupled with his experience working […]

Shreya Mogulothu is naturally curious. As a high school student in New Jersey, she was interested in mathematics and theoretical computer science (TCS). So, when her curiosity compelled her to learn more, she turned to MIT Open Learning’s online resources and completed the Paradox and Infinity course on MITx Online.  “Coming from a math and […]

Advisors are meant to guide students academically, supporting their research and career objectives. For MIT graduate students, the Committed to Caring program recognizes those who go above and beyond. Professors Iain Stewart and Roberto Fernandez are two of the 2023-25 Committed to Caring cohort, supporting their students through self-doubt, developing a welcoming environment, and serving as […]

Knowing what kind of problem they’re trying to solve can help you decide how much autonomy is safe.

Tips for assigning the right projects and helping them get the recognition they deserve.

If your organization is facing a challenge from an innovative new competitor, this episode is for you.

Pump.Fun raked in hundreds of millions of dollars in its first year in operation. Despite some growing pains, its creators say this is just the beginning.

Looking to start a personal budget or save come cash? Here are a few smartphone apps that can help you penny-pinch your way to financial peace of mind.

Score $10 off with our Walmart coupon and shop flash deals up to 65% off today.

Mike Wheatley / SiliconANGLE: Quantum Brilliance, which makes quantum computing hardware using synthetic diamond qubits that work at room temperature in any setting, raised a $20M Series A  —  Quantum Brilliance GmbH said today it’s ready to begin mass production of its diamond-based quantum computers after closing on a $20 million early-stage round of funding.

Bloomberg: The VisionTrack Composite Index, which tracks the performance of 130 crypto-focused hedge funds, rose 40% in 2024, compared to Bitcoin’s 120% surge that year  —  – Many crypto hedge funds notched double-digit returns in 2024  — But fewer were able to beat Bitcoin’s 120% advance last year

Cagan Koc / Bloomberg: The Netherlands tightens export control rules, requiring ASML and ASM International to seek licenses from the Dutch government for some chipmaking tools  —  The Netherlands tightened export control rules to make ASML Holding NV apply for licenses with the Dutch government instead of Washington for some of its tools.

Severance, Silo, and Slow Horses are among the best shows on Apple TV+ this month.

White supremacists and MAGA livestreamers are using the wildfires to solicit donations, juice social media engagement, and recruit new followers.

The OnePlus 13 sets the stage for a feisty battle for the smartphone crown in 2025.