Science

OpenAI's newest AI model is getting a gatekeeper before most people can try it: the U.S. government.The company says GPT-5.6 Sol, its newest flagship model, will start with a limited preview for a small group of trusted partners. OpenAI said it previewed the model's capabilities with the U.S. government ahead of launch and, at the government's request, is starting with a limited group of trusted partners whose participation has been […]

A team of astronomers has discovered that the spiral arms of the Milky Way galaxy may stretch further out into space than was previously known.The scientists made precise distance measurements of dust clouds in the arms using data from two telescopes orbiting high above Earth's atmosphere — NASA's Chandra, the most powerful X-ray telescope ever built, and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton.Researchers took advantage of rare, powerful gamma-ray bursts in […]

The Federal Trade Commission is warning about a scam targeting people who have already been robbed. Scammers were calling and texting recent fraud victims, posing as FTC agents who could recover stolen money and sending photos of fake agency badges to look the part. The targets had one thing in common: each had lost money to a scam before.Being scammed once can make you more likely to be targeted again. […]

You may have dropped cable to save money, only to watch your streaming bill creep higher anyway. Now, some YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream customers could be in line for a Disney payday.The Walt Disney Company has agreed to a $50 million partial settlement in a class action lawsuit tied to live TV streaming prices. The lawsuit claims Disney used its control of ESPN and other Disney-owned channels to push […]

Scientists at the University of Minnesota say they have built the most life-like synthetic cell yet, creating a laboratory-made system assembled entirely from nonliving components that can grow, replicate its genetic material, divide and even pass beneficial traits to future generations.The researchers describe the work as a major step toward building artificial life but said the synthetic cells cannot survive outside carefully controlled laboratory conditions and require externally supplied nutrients […]

A fake Verizon fraud call can feel real fast, especially when official-looking texts start landing on your phone. That is what makes this scam so dangerous. The caller creates panic, pushes you to "verify" your identity and then uses your own reaction against you.Chuck from New Braunfels, Texas, reached out after a frightening close call."I usually am pretty savvy when it comes to scams, but I almost got fooled by […]

Someone you love could be standing at a bank counter right now, ready to wire money to a stranger. The voice in their ear may sound calm, official and urgent. Yet it could belong to a professional scammer who has already coached them on what to say.According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, reported losses from internet crime exceeded $20 billion. The FTC also says impostor scams remained the […]

Waymo has filed a voluntary recall affecting 3,871 vehicles equipped with its 5th Generation Automated Driving System. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the software may allow a Waymo vehicle to enter a closed freeway construction zone and continue driving.Now, the Alphabet-owned robotaxi company is pulling back freeway operations while it works on a fix. The recall raises new questions about how robotaxis handle the messy, changing conditions […]

You don't have to publish an obituary for this to happen to you. That's the first thing most people get wrong. They think the risk comes from the tribute they write, the details they share online or the words they choose for the service announcement.The risk starts before any of that. It starts the moment a death certificate gets filed. A death certificate does more than document a death. It […]