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Google releases VaultGemma, its first privacy-preserving LLM

The companies seeking to build larger AI models have been increasingly stymied by a lack of high-quality training data. As tech firms scour the web for more data to feed their models, they could increasingly rely on potentially sensitive user data. A team at Google Research is exploring new techniques to make the resulting large language models (LLMs) less likely to "memorize" any of that content. LLMs have non-deterministic outputs, meaning you can't exactly predict what they'll say. While the

Scientists: It’s do or die time for America’s primacy exploring the Solar System

Federal funding is about to run out for 19 active space missions studying Earth's climate, exploring the Solar System, and probing mysteries of the Universe. This year's budget expires at the end of this month, and Congress must act before October 1 to avert a government shutdown. If Congress passes a budget before then, it will most likely be in the form of a continuing resolution, an extension of this year's funding levels into the first few weeks or months of fiscal year 2026. The White Hou

After early struggles, NASA’s ambitious mission to Titan is “on track” for launch

A new independent report finds that although NASA's ambitious mission to fly across the surface of Titan is delayed and over budget, the fault is due to the space agency's management rather than the program itself. Released Tuesday by NASA's Office of Inspector General, the report found that the mission's budget has soared from an initial figure of $850 million upon its selection in 2019 to $3.35 billion today. Additionally, the launch target has slipped from the year 2026 to 2028. However, th

Congress and Trump may compromise on the SLS rocket by axing its costly upper stage

There are myriad questions about how NASA's budget process will play out in the coming weeks, with the start of the new fiscal year on October 1 looming. For example, the Trump administration may seek to shut off dozens of science missions that are either already in space or in development. Although Congress has signaled a desire to keep these missions active, absent a confirmed budget, the White House has made plans to turn off the lights. Some answers may be forthcoming this week, as the Hou

This Laptop Handles AI Like a Pro -- Without the Premium Price Tag

CNET's key takeaways Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. The Acer Aspire 14 AI is available for $500 at Costco $628 at Amazon The Intel Lunar Lake CPU offers good performance for the price and long battery life. The display and design won't wow you. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast-forward two months, and a Labor Day deal has brought that price down to

The 28 best Labor Day deals you still can grab for $100 or less

Labor Day has finally arrived, and after a week of early discounts trickling in, the sales are now in full swing. We’ve put together an expansive guide detailing nearly 100 deals we think are worth the money — including everything from big-screen OLED TVs to back-to-school essentials like the latest MacBook Air — but we also recognize that spending a couple a hundred dollars on a new gadget isn’t always feasible in these inflationary, tariff-riddled times. Fortunately for those on a budget, the

Acer’s Awesome Budget Laptop Is Even Better Now That It's at $500 for Labor Day

CNET's key takeaways Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. The Acer Aspire 14 AI is available for $500 at Costco $625 at Amazon The Intel Lunar Lake CPU offers good performance for the price and long battery life. The display and design won't wow you. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast-forward two months, and a Labor Day deal has brought that price down to

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Review: Barely Squeaking By

Budget laptops are finally improving. Extra RAM and more efficient processors are making cheap laptops significantly more pleasant to use and recommend. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 is somewhat of an old-school budget laptop. It uses a cheaper Intel chip, which compromises performance and battery life, and at first glance, it appears to be overpriced. While this machine doesn't move the needle for budget PCs, if you need a 16-inch laptop, there's just barely enough here to make it wort

Show HN: Tool shows UK properties matching group commute/time preferences

Introducing Our New App! We’re excited to introduce an app that helps you find the perfect places to live based on your personal needs. Here’s what you can do right now: Find the Perfect Property for You and Your Housemates Our app lets you instantly find properties that match your and your housemates' budgets, desired travel times, and work locations. No more endless searching—just the homes that fit your lifestyle. Key Features

This new sub-$100 Android gaming handheld might be the new budget champion

TL;DR The MANGMI AIR X is a new entry-level Android gaming handheld. It has hall effect sticks, a 5.5-inch HD display, and a Snapdragon 662 SoC. Pricing starts at $79.99 during the early-bird period, with availability beginning mid-September. The market for Android gaming handhelds has exploded in the past few years, but Linux-based devices still dominate the ultra-budget category. There haven’t been any compelling entry-level Android handhelds under $100 in years, but the upcoming MANGMI AIR

The fight over science funding: Congress vs. the OMB

The Project 2025 document outlined additional ideas, such as the elimination of scientific research at the EPA, something that has since occurred. It also suggests that finding solutions to climate change is part of a "partisan political agenda." So, its hostility to scientific findings extended well beyond the biomedical fields. But what about Congress? It's safe to conclude that this faction, which is now running the government, views science and scientists as ideological opponents and has b

The Best Tech for Back to School

This is our favorite budget scooter—it typically sells for right around $400—making it one of our top picks for students. Just know that the Segway E2 Pro isn't going to get you very far. I (Julian) traveled less than 10 miles on a single charge; most people weigh less than I do and can get better range, but 10 miles is probably enough to get you across campus and back. It's heavier than it looks, at 41 pounds, but it's quick to fold down and easy to carry by the stem. I've had no problem cruis

Topics: 10 brake budget e2 fairly

It Might Already Be Too Late to Save NASA

One of president Donald Trump's long-held desires has been to replace NASA with private spaceflight enterprises. With cronies in charge at the agency to execute draconian budget cuts to that end, it looks like the president is about to get his wish. As Aviation Week reports, the agency is gearing up to be gutted as its leadership prepares to enact the Trump administration's outrageous budget reductions, which include thousands of layoffs and nearly 50 percent lobbed off its science budget, whic

CMF Phone 2 Pro Review: A Budget Phone With More Camera Than You Bargained For

We all want more for less—or at least I do. It’s that Holy Grail of deals that makes the idea of budget gadgets so appealing, and especially so in the world of phones. The whole idea of a budget phone is pitching you what may as well be the bargain of the century. For less money, budget phones ostensibly offer you a device that does it all: browses the web, retrieves your email, makes calls and texts, gives you near-unlimited access to apps, and even captures important memories like your niece’s

Trump’s Golden Dome Sparks Unprecedented Surge in Space Force Funding

The U.S. Space Force’s budget for 2026 could see a 40% increase compared to this year, which is mostly driven by President Donald Trump’s fantasy of creating a futuristic missile defense system that uses space-based sensors and weapons. A recent report by the Center for Space Policy and Strategy highlights the Golden Dome’s role in driving the increase in funding allocated toward the Space Force. Trump announced the ambitious Golden Dome project within one week of taking office, describing a mu

Acting NASA Chief Tells Agency to Build a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon, Before China Does It First

NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy is fast-tracking the agency’s plans to build a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface, a move that highlights the Trump administration’s focus on human spaceflight and establishing a long-term presence on the Moon. Duffy issued a directive to expedite the timeline for the reactor, aiming for a launch date to the Moon by 2030, Politico first reported. In the directive, Duffy mentions China and Russia’s joint plan to put a nuclear reactor of their own on the M

The U.S. Could Lose a Crucial Futuristic Telescope to Spain if Trump’s Budget Passes

Spain has offered to spend up to €400 million ($471 million) to host the Thirty Meter Telescope, an enormous observatory project facing imminent cancellation due to U.S. budget constraints. If Spain strikes a deal, the TMT would be built on La Palma in the Canary Islands rather than on Mauna Kea, a mountain in Hawaii. In 2016, La Palma became the backup location for the observatory in case the primary site in Hawaii didn’t work out as an option, according to the TMT International Observatory. N

The best budgeting apps for 2025

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Managing your finances doesn’t have to be complicated, and there are so many tools available now that can make things easier (and even partially automated) for you. I was a Mint user for many years, but I was forced to find a new budgeting app after the service shut down in March 2024.

NASA faces brain drain as thousands exit under voluntary resignation scheme

Almost 3,900 of NASA's workforce is set to leave the agency thanks to voluntary incentives, with senior staffers among those heading out the door. The figures were reportedly issued by NASA HQ on Friday. About 3,000 employees opted to take part in a second round of the agency's Deferred Resignation Program. Some 870 participated in the first round, earlier this year. The exodus has led observers to bemoan the loss of talent. Former Hubble astronaut Dr John Grunsfeld described the departures to

NASA Employees Submit "Formal Dissent" Saying Trump's Cuts Are So Brutal That Astronauts Could Die

Hundreds of current and former NASA employees have signed an open letter of dissent against Trump's proposed cuts at the agency — and they're sounding the alarm on the safety of its astronauts in an ominous way. "The last six months have seen rapid and wasteful changes which have undermined our mission and caused catastrophic impacts on NASA's workforce," the letter states, addressed to interim administrator Sean Duffy. In total, 287 current and former employees have signed the document, at le

Best Graphics Cards for PC: Nvidia, AMD, Intel

If you've been holding out on upgrading or building a new gaming rig, it's time to start looking again. The latest RTX 50 Series cards from Nvidia push high-refresh 1440p and even 4K performance, and AMD is leading the more budget-friendly range with the RX 900 Series. You have no shortage of options, and availability is much better than it was even a few months ago. I’ll walk through some general buying strategy, show off my favorite graphics cards, and talk about why you might want to spring

As White House talks about impounding NASA funding, Congress takes the threat seriously

This has been a good week for the US space agency in terms of the federal budget. On Tuesday, a committee in the US House of Representatives passed a $24.8 billion budget bill for the coming fiscal year. Then, two days later a Senate committee passed a $24.9 billion budget for NASA. Both of these measures would keep funding more or less at the level of the current fiscal year and, for the most part, keep the space agency's programs going on their current trajectories. These bills are not final

A huge fight looms over the NASA budget this fall

This has been a good week for the US space agency in terms of the federal budget. On Tuesday, a committee in the US House of Representatives passed a $24.8 billion budget bill for the coming fiscal year. Then, two days later a Senate committee passed a $24.9 billion budget for NASA. Both of these measures would keep funding more or less at the level of the current fiscal year and, for the most part, keep the space agency's programs going on their current trajectories. These bills are not final

Our favorite budgeting app is 50 percent off right now

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Quicken Simplifi plans will cost you under $40 for the year thanks to this deal. Budgeting can be a challenge, especially when you're trying to pay for the daily cost of life and save for things you want like a new gaming console or laptop. But there are plenty of tools out there that

Congress moves to reject bulk of White House's proposed NASA cuts

A budget-writing panel in the House of Representatives passed a $24.8 billion NASA budget bill Tuesday, joining a similar subcommittee in the Senate in maintaining the space agency's funding after the White House proposed a nearly 25 percent cut. The budget bills making their way through the House and Senate don't specify funding levels for individual programs, but the topline numbers—$24.8 billion in the House version and $24.9 billion the Senate bill—represent welcome news for scientists, ind

Congress moves to reject bulk of White House’s proposed NASA cuts

A budget-writing panel in the House of Representatives passed a $24.8 billion NASA budget bill Tuesday, joining a similar subcommittee in the Senate in maintaining the space agency's funding after the White House proposed a nearly 25 percent cut. The budget bills making their way through the House and Senate don't specify funding levels for individual programs, but the topline numbers—$24.8 billion in the House version and $24.9 billion the Senate bill—represent welcome news for scientists, ind

Nearly Half of Americans Budget Based on Vibes. Should You?

Your feelings about the economy can help you set a smarter money strategy. Massonstock/Getty Images Potential romantic partners. Your next vacation spot. Whether you should leave a party early. A vibe check can help you evaluate lots of things, including your money strategy. A June study by Intuit Credit Karma found that 44% of Americans surveyed have done "vibe-based budgeting." Gen Zers and millennials, in particular, are adjusting their spending and savings habits according to how they feel

I Recommend This Budget Acer Laptop at Full Price, and It's an Even Better Value at $200 Off

CNET's key takeaways Laptop prices are on the rise -- and the more they increase, the better Acer's Aspire 14 AI looks. The Acer Aspire 14 AI is available for $500 at Costco The Intel Lunar Lake CPU offers good performance for the price and long battery life. The display and design won't wow you. When I reviewed it in April, it cost $700 at Costco and was the cheapest Copilot Plus PC I had reviewed. Fast-forward two months, and it's now $500 at Costco, making it the cheapest Copilot Plus PC

Trump administration to spend $1 billion on ‘offensive’ hacking operations

The Trump administration, through the Department of Defense, plans to spend $1 billion over the next four years on what it calls “offensive cyber operations.” The provision in Trump’s landmark One Big Beautiful Bill does not say what those “offensive cyber operations” are, nor what specific tools or software would qualify. The budget does note that the money will go towards enhancing and improving the capabilities of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which operates in the Asia-Pacific region, incl