General · Top stories
Reid Hoffman Donates $8 Million to Wisconsin Democrats in Late Spending Spree
Billionaire venture capitalist Reid Hoffman contributed $8 million to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin over five weeks to support gubernatorial nominee David Crowley. This spending is part of a broader trend of last-minute donations from wealthy individuals to political campaigns before Election Day.
Study Analyzes 25,000 Psychedelic Support Hotline Calls, Revealing Real-World Experiences
Researchers published a study in Science Advances analyzing over 25,000 calls to a psychedelic support hotline, creating the largest dataset of real-world psychedelic experiences. This data provides insights into the effects of substances like psilocybin, ketamine, and LSD outside of clinical settings, addressing a significant knowledge gap in psychedelic research.
Amazon's Prime Video on track for 'tens of billions of dollars' in revenue
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that Prime Video is on track to generate "tens of billions of dollars" in revenue and is profitable. This update follows the success of Amazon MGM Studios' film releases and Prime Video's sports broadcasts, which have contributed to its financial performance.
Sony to adapt indie horror game Mouthwashing into a film, Karyn Kusama to direct
Sony Pictures Entertainment acquired film rights for the indie horror game Mouthwashing from developer Wrong Organ. Karyn Kusama is attached to direct the adaptation, with Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay writing the screenplay. This move follows Sony's success with other video game adaptations.
Airbnb's Nonprofit Hosts Inaugural Gala, Launches New Revenue Donation Initiative
Airbnb's nonprofit, established in 2020 to provide free temporary housing, held its first gala in Los Angeles. The event marked the launch of an initiative where Airbnb will donate 10 cents from each commercial booking to the nonprofit, aiming to generate $500 million over five years for 1 million nights of free housing annually. This expansion will also allow the nonprofit to support families affected by domestic violence, veterans, and those with medical travel needs.
16colo.rs Launches as Online Archive for ANSI and ASCII Artpacks
16colo.rs has launched as an online archive dedicated to preserving ANSI and ASCII artpacks, a digital artform popular on Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) in the early nineties. The platform collects historical and contemporary artpacks, aiming to preserve this digital art heritage.
House Democrat Accuses Trump of Tariff 'Grift,' Demands Donor Records
Representative Jamie Raskin accused former President Donald Trump of using tariffs for personal enrichment by granting exemptions to donors and allies. Raskin sent a letter demanding records related to tariff relief decisions during Trump's second term. This action suggests potential oversight efforts if Democrats gain control of Congress.
New half-gram radio tags track Monarch butterfly migration via Bluetooth
Researchers are using new radio-pulse tags weighing less than half a gram to track Monarch butterfly migrations. These tags utilize Bluetooth technology to send location data to researchers, enabling more comprehensive data collection on migration paths and speeds.
Apple's European Government Affairs Director to Speak at Web Summit 2026
Sébastien Gros, Apple's Director of European Government Affairs, will speak at Web Summit in Lisbon from November 9–12. Apple regularly sends executives to the event to discuss various topics, though Gros's specific session details are not yet announced.
MLB adopts internet culture and influencer strategies to attract new fans
Major League Baseball (MLB) is using social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, incorporating trending music and internet culture, to engage new and younger audiences. This strategy aims to broaden the sport's appeal beyond traditional fans and address declining viewership and cultural relevance.
Palmer Luckey States He Will Not Leave California Over Proposed Wealth Tax
Billionaire Palmer Luckey announced he will not leave California despite his opposition to the state's proposed wealth tax. Luckey, founder of Anduril, believes the tax will cause problems but wants to remain and fight for California.
NBA expands gambling partnerships despite ongoing scandals and regulatory scrutiny
The NBA announced new prediction market partnerships with Kalshi, Polymarket, and DraftKings, alongside an integrity framework and a memorandum of understanding with the CFTC. This expansion occurs amidst multiple gambling-related scandals involving current and former players and coaches, and regulatory concerns regarding prediction markets and targeted gambling practices.
CSS-Tricks Returns to Independent Ownership After DigitalOcean Acquisition
CSS-Tricks, a web development publication, has returned to independent ownership in 2026, four years after being acquired by DigitalOcean. The new owner, who previously worked on the site for 12 years, plans to reintroduce advertising and develop educational content to support the site's operations and expand its community focus.
iTunes Store sees unexpected comeback as artists use it for exclusive releases
The iTunes Store is experiencing a resurgence as pop artists like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande release exclusive content there. This strategy allows artists to sell collectibles to superfans, reach new audiences, and improve chart positions, despite the broader shift to music streaming.
Brazilian Election Results Impact Markets; Elon Musk Comments on Neocloud Stocks
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential election, leading to a significant overnight sell-off in Brazilian assets and U.S.-listed Brazilian stocks. Separately, Elon Musk's comments on X.Com caused a premarket decline in neocloud stocks like CoreWeave, Nebius, and IREN.
TSA and ICAO rules permit AirTags in checked and carry-on luggage
The TSA allows AirTags in both checked and carry-on luggage because their CR2032 coin cell batteries contain less than 0.1 grams of lithium, well below the 2-gram limit for non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) also amended its rules in 2023, permitting devices with less than 0.3 grams of lithium content or lithium-ion batteries under 2.7 Wh to remain on in checked baggage, making AirTag use nearly universally legal for air travel.
Paulina Borsook's 'Cyberselfish' Reissued 25 Years After Initial Publication
Paulina Borsook's 2000 book "Cyberselfish," which critiques techno-libertarianism in Silicon Valley, has been reissued by Tin House. The book's return follows renewed interest and rising prices for used copies, driven by readers seeking to understand the tech industry's historical trajectory.
Interactive Map Visualizes 1,469 Roman Battles from Founding to 1453 AD
An interactive map visualizes 1,469 Roman battles, allowing users to explore conflicts by period, location, and opposing forces. It provides detailed information on each battle, including results, commanders, and sources, offering a comprehensive historical resource.
Barnes Ice Cap shows ice sheets began re-expanding 2,000 years ago before human warming
Research on the Barnes Ice Cap indicates that the Laurentide Ice Sheet began re-expanding approximately 2,000 years ago, suggesting the start of a new glaciation. This natural re-expansion was reversed around 1960 due to human-caused climate warming. The findings provide direct physical evidence of past ice sheet dynamics.
Archival footage shows CompUSA NYC store in November 2000, highlighting era's tech
A recently shared YouTube video provides a tour of a CompUSA retail store in November 2000, showcasing the computing technology and retail environment of that period. The footage offers a look at products like Sony VAIO laptops, Compaq Presario desktops, and Apple Macs, reflecting the state of consumer electronics before the rise of widespread internet shopping.
Blue Planet III to Feature Less Polished Footage to Emphasize Authenticity Amid AI Concerns
Producers of the upcoming Blue Planet III series will deliberately include cloudier, less polished footage to assure viewers of its authenticity and counter concerns about AI-generated content. This approach marks a shift from previous productions, which typically aimed for higher definition and clearer visuals.
Talarico Campaign Releases Ad Criticizing Elon Musk's Spending in Texas Senate Race
James Talarico's campaign released a new ad accusing Elon Musk of using "dark money" to support Republican Ken Paxton in the Texas Senate race. The ad claims Musk is attempting to influence the election by bankrolling Paxton's campaign, making him the top individual donor in the current election cycle.
NIH board warns RFK Jr.'s vaccine injury clinic could harm hospital's reputation
The board overseeing the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center Research Hospital expressed concern that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new vaccine injury clinic could damage the hospital's reputation. The board chair stated that Kennedy's clinic, which held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with individuals claiming vaccine injuries, lacks additional funding or space and duplicates existing NIH research on vaccine safety.
Appeals Court Upholds Verdict Clearing Apple of Copyright Infringement for 'Servant'
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a previous ruling that found Apple's thriller series 'Servant' did not infringe on Francesca Gregorini's film 'The Truth About Emanuel'. The court rejected arguments regarding jury instructions on 'widespread dissemination' and the judge's acceptance of the verdict.
Local Wikipedia Filters Content to a Half-Hour Walking Radius
Local Wikipedia is a new tool that displays Wikipedia content relevant to a user's immediate vicinity, specifically within a half-hour walking distance. This tool provides geocoded Wikipedia pages, offering a localized view of information.
German Photographer Wins Nikon Small World Contest with Inkjet Droplet Image
Ole Bielfeldt won the 2026 Nikon Small World photomicrography competition for an image of ink droplets from an inkjet printer. He modified a printer and used a flash to capture the fast-moving droplets, demonstrating innovative photographic techniques.
Trump Claims Google CEO Refused Request to Rename Atlantic Ocean in Maps
Former President Trump stated that Google CEO Sundar Pichai declined his request to rename the Atlantic Ocean in Google Maps, citing that oceans cover many countries. This follows previous instances where Google, and subsequently Apple, relabeled the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario for US users in response to Trump's requests.
New TV Series 'The Audacity' Satirizes AI Tech Titans and Silicon Valley Culture
Jonathan Glatzer, a former 'Succession' writer, created 'The Audacity,' a darkly comic drama about AI tech titans, which has been commissioned for a second season before its first season aired. The series aims to satirize Silicon Valley's male-dominated culture, wealth obsession, and environmental impact of AI.
UN Environmental Programme Acknowledges 1.5C Warming Target No Longer Viable
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has conceded that limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels is no longer a viable goal. The new focus is on minimizing the duration and extent of exceeding this limit, requiring significant emissions cuts and carbon dioxide removal.
New York City Hosts First Microdrama Film Festival, Alza, for Vertical Content
New York City held its first microdrama film festival, Alza, from October 16th to 18th, showcasing vertical-format films and series. The festival aimed to legitimize vertical content as an art form, despite audience questions about viewing mobile-first content on large screens.
Manfred J. Schindler Elected 2027 IEEE President-Elect
Manfred J. Schindler has been elected as the 2027 IEEE president-elect, set to begin his term as president on January 1, 2028. He received 16,421 votes, with goals including strengthening industry connections, improving digital infrastructure, and advancing technology for future generations.
Researchers discover 'plasticorals' in Okinawa, a new form of plastic pollution
Researchers in Okinawa, Japan, identified "plasticorals," a new type of plastic pollution where melted household plastics are fused into dead coral rubble. This discovery highlights the long-term impact of plastic pollution on vulnerable reef ecosystems already facing threats from climate change.
Permanent Pokémon Store to Open in London by 2029, More Locations Planned Outside Asia
The Pokémon Company announced it will open a permanent retail store in London by 2029, marking its first permanent location outside Asia in recent years. This initiative aims to provide fans with consistent access to exclusive merchandise, moving beyond temporary pop-up shops.
Planned Data Center Campus Threatens Historic American Chestnut Grove in West Virginia
A UK-based startup, Nscale, plans to build its Monarch Compute Campus, a 2,250-acre data center, on the site of a historic American chestnut grove in Mason County, West Virginia. This project faces opposition from conservationists concerned about the impact on the endangered American chestnut trees and local communities protesting against hyperscale data center developments.
Apple Stores looted in France during protests, products rendered unusable by kill switches
Apple Stores in Bordeaux and Lille were looted during widespread protests in France, with videos showing products being stolen. Stolen display units are equipped with kill switches that brick them once they leave store Wi-Fi range, making them unusable.
Greenpeace Protesters Disrupt Nvidia GTC Keynote Over Chips in Russian Drones
Greenpeace activists interrupted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's GTC keynote in Berlin, questioning the presence of Nvidia chips in Russian drones and raising environmental concerns. Huang acknowledged the issues but continued his presentation after security removed the protesters. The protest highlights reports of Nvidia Jetson chips found in Russian military hardware, which Nvidia states are consumer-grade and not sold to Russia.
Wikithon focuses on improving Wikipedia's arms trade pages with factual information
A wikithon in London gathered volunteers to improve the quality and organization of information on Wikipedia related to the arms industry. The initiative aims to provide more detailed and well-sourced content on topics like Palantir and Project Maven, adhering strictly to Wikipedia's neutrality and factual standards.
TikTok Censors Searches for Specific Peptides, Unapproved Substances Remain Visible
TikTok has begun blocking search results for certain peptide names, including semaglutide and BPC-157, returning a "no results found" page. This action targets substances often promoted by influencers for unproven health benefits, though general peptide searches and content remain accessible.
Apple's 'Designers of Tomorrow' Exhibition Features Four Emerging Designers in Paris
Apple, in collaboration with Design Miami, launched its second annual 'Designers of Tomorrow' exhibition in Paris, showcasing four creative projects from emerging designers. The exhibition highlights how these designers integrated Apple products into their creative processes, focusing on the theme of 'presence'.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Deep Sea Life Shows Few Recovery Signs 16 Years Later
A new study indicates that deep-sea populations of various marine animals in the Gulf of Mexico have not recovered 16 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Populations of octopus, squid, krill, shrimp, and lanternfish declined by at least 60 percent in the initial years following the 2010 disaster, with little evidence of rebound. This lack of recovery is attributed to lingering oil-related contamination affecting reproduction and genetic diversity.