Kyle Wiggers / TechCrunch: ImagenAI, which uses AI to help photographers edit photos and automate postproduction, raised $30M from Summit Partners, bringing its total funding to $34M — ImagenAI, a startup using AI to help professional photographers edit photos and automate post-production work …
Analysis of Elon Musk’s reported attempts to raise more money for Twitter via an equity sale at an absurd price, why his successor will be unpopular, and more (Matt Levine/Bloomberg)
Matt Levine / Bloomberg: Analysis of Elon Musk’s reported attempts to raise more money for Twitter via an equity sale at an absurd price, why his successor will be unpopular, and more — Oh Elon — Imagine taking the job! Yesterday Elon Musk tweeted a poll asking if he should step down as “head” of […]
Bringing movement into the classroom and academics into the gym
It’s highly unusual for MIT students to be encouraged to throw one another to the floor, but that’s exactly what was happening during a lab that met in the Wrestling Room at the duPont Athletic Center at MIT in November. After learning some basic judo moves and pairing off, students were instructed to shift their […]
MIT scientists contribute to National Ignition Facility fusion milestone
On Monday, Dec. 5, at around 1 a.m., a tiny sphere of deuterium-tritium fuel surrounded by a cylindrical can of gold called a hohlraum was targeted by 192 lasers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California. Over the course of billionths of a second, the lasers fired, generating […]
Video Quick Take: Emerson’s Lal Karsanbhai on Agile Leadership – SPONSOR CONTENT FROM EMERSON
Sponsor content from EMERSON.
How to Create a Worker Safety Hotline That Really Works
Four research-backed recommendations.
What Companies Need to Know Before Investing in AI
Seven factors to consider.
The Chilling White Lotus Scene That Epitomized 2022
The moment in season 2 captured exactly what it was like to be alive in another wearying year.
The UK Is Enduring an Onslaught of Scarlet Fever. Is the US Next?
The US is more alert to the risks of strep infections, but the UK has better data. It’s not clear which makes more difference in controlling disease.
The Internet Is at Risk of Driving Women Away
If harassment isn’t tackled soon, many women will go permanently offline to avoid online abuse.
Crypto.com’s 2022 World Cup sponsorship, a symbol of how aggressively crypto companies spent on ads to gain users, was largely overshadowed by FTX’s collapse (Carly Wanna/Bloomberg)
Carly Wanna / Bloomberg: Crypto.com’s 2022 World Cup sponsorship, a symbol of how aggressively crypto companies spent on ads to gain users, was largely overshadowed by FTX’s collapse — At Sunday’s World Cup championship final between France and Argentina, Crypto.com will have a highly coveted seat right on the sideline …
Investor letter: Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein details options if the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust’s EFT plans fail, including a tender for outstanding shares (Vicky Ge Huang/Wall Street Journal)
Vicky Ge Huang / Wall Street Journal: Investor letter: Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein details options if the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust’s EFT plans fail, including a tender for outstanding shares — Michael Sonnenshein attempts to assuage fears of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust investors after collapse of FTX
The European Commission sends Meta a statement of objection for possible antitrust breaches over tying Marketplace to Facebook and imposing unfair trading terms (Stephanie Bodoni/Bloomberg)
Stephanie Bodoni / Bloomberg: The European Commission sends Meta a statement of objection for possible antitrust breaches over tying Marketplace to Facebook and imposing unfair trading terms — Meta Platforms Inc. was hit with a complaint from European Union antitrust watchdogs over concerns it’s unfairly squeezing …
The lasting legacy of MITIMCo’s Steve Marsh
As senior vice president for the Institute’s real estate group, the MIT Investment Management Company (MITIMCo), Steve Marsh has worked closely with the senior administrations of the past three MIT presidents to lead game-changing real estate efforts that helped attract countless industry collaborators to Kendall Square, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With a keen ability to strategize […]
These At-Home Skincare Tools Make Beauty Feel Accessible
The Shark FlexStyle, TheraFace Pro, and Dermaflash Luxe want you to cancel your next salon appointment.
8 Best Electric Scooters (2022): Affordable, Lightweight, Long-Range, Fast
These WIRED-tested two-wheelers will help you scoot scoot scoot around town.
Physicists Rewrite a Quantum Rule That Clashes With Our Universe
The past and future are tightly linked in conventional quantum mechanics. A tweak could let quantum possibilities increase as space expands.
Elon Musk says polls will decide major policies at Twitter and then launches a poll that asks “Should I step down as head of Twitter?”; “Yes” is leading by 10%+ (Washington Post)
Washington Post: Elon Musk says polls will decide major policies at Twitter and then launches a poll that asks “Should I step down as head of Twitter?”; “Yes” is leading by 10%+ — After a new policy prompted a backlash, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said future policies would be determined by polls.
A profile of ex-FTX Digital Markets co-CEO Ryan Salame, a big GOP donor who emerged as a central player in the FTX scandal after flagging fraud to regulators (New York Times)
New York Times: A profile of ex-FTX Digital Markets co-CEO Ryan Salame, a big GOP donor who emerged as a central player in the FTX scandal after flagging fraud to regulators — The co-chief executive of an FTX unit who told regulators about wrongdoing at the exchange was a big Republican donor. He also bought […]
Twitter says it will remove tweets and accounts promoting their presence on Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Post (Emma Roth/The Verge)
Emma Roth / The Verge: Twitter says it will remove tweets and accounts promoting their presence on Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Post — Twitter will no longer allow users to promote their presence on certain social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Post.
Evolv Terra Review: A Powerful Dual-Motor Escooter
This powerful dual-motor electric scooter is reliable, if a bit bumpy
A New Discipline Pushes Back Against Sowing Doubt
The rise of agnotology will equip us with the tools to tackle mis- and disinformation, whatever its source.
A profile of iNaturalist, a not-for-profit social network that uses an ML algorithm to help users identify plants and animals, driving cooperation and consensus (Amy Harmon/New York Times)
Amy Harmon / New York Times: A profile of iNaturalist, a not-for-profit social network that uses an ML algorithm to help users identify plants and animals, driving cooperation and consensus — A not-for-profit initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, iNaturalist says it aims …
A Q&A with CA Rep. Ro Khanna about Elon Musk, being mentioned in the “Twitter Files”, passing antitrust and privacy laws, cryptocurrencies, FTX, and more (Nancy Scola/Politico)
Nancy Scola / Politico: A Q&A with CA Rep. Ro Khanna about Elon Musk, being mentioned in the “Twitter Files”, passing antitrust and privacy laws, cryptocurrencies, FTX, and more — A longtime creature of the tech world, it’s perhaps not surprising that Rep. Ro Khanna makes an appearance in the latest Silicon Valley scandal.
Report: Huawei accounts for 59% of Germany’s 5G radio access network equipment compared to 57% in 4G networks, despite intense diplomatic pressure from the US (Sarah Marsh/Reuters)
Sarah Marsh / Reuters: Report: Huawei accounts for 59% of Germany’s 5G radio access network equipment compared to 57% in 4G networks, despite intense diplomatic pressure from the US — Germany has become even more dependent on Huawei for its 5G radio access network equipment (RAN) than in its 4G network despite growing worries …
Class opens the door to a new world of mechanical engineering
When Peter Williams was taking 2.002 (Mechanics and Materials II) this past semester, he won a trophy whose height is approximately equal to the width of three human hairs. Rather than feeling short-changed over his minuscule prize, the senior in mechanical engineering considered it a fitting award for a contest in which he and his […]
14 Best Sleep Gadgets and Apps (2022): Noise Machines, Blankets, Lights, and More
Do you struggle to nod off or stay asleep through the night? These WIRED-tested tools can help.
An Alleged Russian Smuggling Ring Was Uncovered in New Hampshire
Plus: An FBI platform got hacked, an ex-Twitter employee is sentenced for espionage, malicious Windows 10 installers circulate in Ukraine, and more.
Charge ’67 EV Review: Exclusive Style, Premium Price
This super exclusive electro-retro ride is cooler than Bullitt’s classic on the outside—with the tech from Arrival’s electric vans under the hood.
Amazon has invested $75M so far to help Ukraine, including getting 10PB of government data out of the country in suitcase-sized Snowball Edges for AWS uploading (Russ Mitchell/Los Angeles Times)
Russ Mitchell / Los Angeles Times: Amazon has invested $75M so far to help Ukraine, including getting 10PB of government data out of the country in suitcase-sized Snowball Edges for AWS uploading — Since Februrary, Amazon has been playing Santa Claus to Ukraine, delivering planeloads of goods, including blankets, hygiene kits …
Source: Sam Bankman-Fried plans to reverse his decision to contest extradition to the US; legal experts say any trial is likely more than a year away (Jasper Ward/Reuters)
Jasper Ward / Reuters: Source: Sam Bankman-Fried plans to reverse his decision to contest extradition to the US; legal experts say any trial is likely more than a year away — Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is expected to appear in court in the Bahamas on Monday to reverse his decision to contest extradition …
Anker’s security cameras brand Eufy quietly removed 10 commitments from its privacy page, including encryption, after questions about keeping those promises (Sean Hollister/The Verge)
Sean Hollister / The Verge: Anker’s security cameras brand Eufy quietly removed 10 commitments from its privacy page, including encryption, after questions about keeping those promises — It’s been two weeks since we reported that Anker’s Eufy lied to us about the security of its security cameras, and we’ve been pushing the company for answers […]
The Time for ‘Catalytic Government’ Is Now
By overtly supporting green and tech sectors, governments can stimulate economic growth and innovation.
33 Best Deals on Last-Minute Holiday Gifts (2022): Stand Mixers, Vacuums, Phones
These discounted vacuums, smartphones, and gift cards will help you finish up shopping—without overspending.
Cyber Warfare Is Getting Real
The risk of escalation from cyberattacks has never been greater—or the pursuit of peace more complicated.
Analysis: multiple major Russian cities appear to have faced widespread GPS disruption during the past week, as part of efforts to evade Ukraine’s drone attacks (Matt Burgess/Wired)
Matt Burgess / Wired: Analysis: multiple major Russian cities appear to have faced widespread GPS disruption during the past week, as part of efforts to evade Ukraine’s drone attacks — Navigation system monitors have seen a recent uptick in interruptions since Ukraine began launching long-range drone attacks.
A first-person narrative on working as a human fallback for Brenda, a real estate conversational AI chatbot, as part of a team of about sixty operators (Laura Preston/n+1)
Laura Preston / n+1: A first-person narrative on working as a human fallback for Brenda, a real estate conversational AI chatbot, as part of a team of about sixty operators — THE RECRUITER WAS A CHIPPER WOMAN with a master’s degree in English. Previously she had worked as an independent bookseller.
Report: Apple has backed out of the negotiations for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, leaving Amazon and Google as the frontrunners (Mike Florio/NBCSports.com)
Mike Florio / NBCSports.com: Report: Apple has backed out of the negotiations for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, leaving Amazon and Google as the frontrunners — The company once regarded as the frontrunner for NFL Sunday Ticket has opted to take a Sunday drive, instead. — Buried in an item on Puck.news from Dylan […]
With ‘Ragnarök,’ ‘God of War’ Keeps Growing Up
Once a mainstay in arguments about how soulless and bloody video games could be, the franchise is now a star of narrative design.
No One on Twitter Is Safe From Elon Musk
The entrepreneur says he’s cracking down on doxing. Many see his account-blocking spree as self-serving.
Here’s How Robert Jordan Built The Wheel of Time
Historian Michael Livingston explores the real-world myths and legends the author used to construct his epic fantasy series.
Twitter sparked an international outcry by suspending journalists, and some legal experts say it could face regulatory scrutiny for blocking links to Mastodon (Brian Fung/CNN)
Brian Fung / CNN: Twitter sparked an international outcry by suspending journalists, and some legal experts say it could face regulatory scrutiny for blocking links to Mastodon — Elon Musk’s Twitter sparked an international outcry on Thursday by suspending a number of journalists at major news organizations who cover him.
Apple, Google, and Mozilla are collaborating on the development of Speedometer 3, a browser benchmark that measures responsiveness (9to5Mac)
9to5Mac: Apple, Google, and Mozilla are collaborating on the development of Speedometer 3, a browser benchmark that measures responsiveness — Speedometer is a browser benchmark that measures responsiveness by simulating user interactions on demo web applications. Introduced by Apple’s WebKit team …
Sources: the MD of Elon Musk’s family office is seeking new equity investors for Twitter, offering shares of Twitter at $54.20, the same price that Musk paid (Semafor)
Semafor: Sources: the MD of Elon Musk’s family office is seeking new equity investors for Twitter, offering shares of Twitter at $54.20, the same price that Musk paid — The managing director of Elon Musk’s family office is seeking new equity investors for Twitter as users revolt, advertisers flee …
Biggest science news stories of 2022 as chosen by New Scientist
Nuclear fusion, infectious diseases and an incredible new space telescope were ongoing stories in 2022, but what were some of the other big scientific developments, discoveries and events of the year?
Featured video: Fernanda De La Torre’s long journey to MIT
Fernanda De La Torre went through a long journey before becoming a doctoral student in MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS). She grew up in Mexico and crossed the border to the United States by foot at the age of 12, looking to escape an abusive family relationship. For years, De La Torre […]
Professor Emeritus Robert Balluffi, multifaceted materials scientist, dies at 98
Robert W. Balluffi, professor emeritus in the MIT Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE), died Dec. 8 at his home in Ithaca, New York. He was 98 years old. Described by colleagues as the last of an era of materials scientists with a holistic understanding of the field, Balluffi was renowned for both his […]
MIT’s Science Policy Initiative holds 12th annual Executive Visit Days
On Oct. 16 and 17, 14 MIT graduate students and one postdoc joined by five students from the University of the District of Columbia traveled to Washington to speak to representatives from several federal executive agencies. The trip served as an opportunity for participants to discuss issues related to science and technology policy and the […]
7 Principles to Attract and Retain Older Frontline Workers
Takeaways from interviews and a survey of 35,000 older U.S. employees.
Why More International Life Sciences Companies Are Locating in Austria – SPONSOR CONTENT FROM ABA
Sponsor content from ABA.