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Android Phones Can Detect Earthquakes Before the Ground Starts Shaking

Since their first implementation in Mexico and Japan, earthquake early-warning (EEW) systems have provided critical advance notice of imminent earthquakes to countless people. Many seismic countries, however, still don’t have the infrastructure necessary to sustain such crucial networks, leaving their populations vulnerable to devastating earthquakes. Researchers in the U.S. and Germany have tested a global earthquake detection and alert system that makes use of a device many people already own

The Best-Sounding Midrange Bluetooth Speaker I've Tested Is 25% Off Right Now

Deal alert: The Sony ULT Field 5 Bluetooth speaker is available for $248 at Amazon. That's equivalent to 25% off or a savings of $82. We named this newcomer the best midrange Bluetooth speaker available, and this discount puts it in a much more appealing price range. If you were to ask me what my favorite new portable Bluetooth speaker of 2025 is so far, I'd have to say Sony's ULT Field 5 speaker. When it launched back in April, I called it one of the best-sounding Bluetooth speakers I've teste

These Are the 6 Best Vitamins and Minerals for Older Adults, According to Experts

Getting a good selection of vitamins and minerals in your diet is vital to staying fit and healthy, and that shouldn't be a shock to anyone at this point. If you have a balanced diet, you're likely already getting the nutrients that you need. But that can change, especially as we age and our bodies demand more. Older people are at an increased risk of low vitamin consumption -- partly because our bodies can no longer absorb certain nutrients as effectively as they once did. So, if you're dealing

Yes, the iPhone 17 Could Cost $2,400 With Tariffs. But Here's Why This Expert Says It's Unlikely

With President Donald Trump threatening a higher 25% tariff rate for items produced in South Korea and Japan -- two major US tech suppliers -- you might be wondering if the rumored iPhone 17 or other Apple devices like MacBooks or AirPods will cost more soon. The answer is... maybe. But tariffs aren't the only culprit. After Apple's initial attempts to avoid the tariffs on iPhones, which have been primarily produced in China, Trump threatened Apple and other manufacturers with a 25% tariff for

Synths hunt down deadly monsters in latest Alien: Earth trailer

The premiere of Alien: Earth is just weeks away, and FX/Hulu dropped one last trailer to pique our interest, along with a much more detailed synopsis. It's meditative and existential in tone, with a haunting tune playing over footage of mysterious alien craft, dead bodies, blood-spattered humans fleeing through futuristic corridors, and, of course, a spooky silhouette of a xenomorph in the distance. As previously reported, the eight-episode series is set in 2120, two years before the events of

Hadrian raises $260M to build out automated factories for space and defense parts

Investors are continuing to rally behind the call to reindustrialize American industry, this time by building out a $260 million war chest for automated manufacturing startup Hadrian to scale its factory footprint and make even more machine parts. Hadrian’s aim is to modernize American manufacturing by leveraging advanced automation to deliver mass-produced parts for aerospace and defense companies at a fraction of the time. It’s a huge change to the status quo: a manufacturing industry that’s

Meta investors settle $8bn lawsuit with Zuckerberg over Facebook privacy

Meta investors settle $8bn lawsuit with Zuckerberg over Facebook privacy Mark Zuckerberg has agreed to settle a multibillion dollar lawsuit with a group of shareholders over how top executives at Meta handled repeated privacy violations by Facebook. The shareholders were seeking $8bn (£6bn) in damages. It is unclear how much they agreed to settle for. The settlement was announced on Thursday by a lawyer for the shareholders, just before the trial was about to enter its second day in a Delawar

Defense manufacturing startup Hadrian closes $260 million funding round led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund

Defense manufacturing startup Hadrian on Thursday announced the closing of $260 million Series C funding round led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and Lux Capital. The machine parts company said it will use the funding to build a new 270,000 square foot factory in Mesa, Arizona, and expand its Torrance, California, location as it looks to beef up its shipbuilding and naval defense capabilities. "What we really need in this country is this quantum leap above China's manufacturing model," said CE

Calm Down About the Area 51 Fire, People

A large wildfire torched up this week near Nevada's mysterious Area 51 Air Force base — and naturally, the rumor mill is churning. As the Daily Mail reports, the blaze near the highly-classified base was sparked by the so-called Gothic Fire, a massive wildfire that broke out some 20 miles away from the base and has since burned through tens of thousands of acres of desert. EWU Crew, a livestream based in the nearby town of Rachel, Nevada that watches the Air Force base around the clock, captur

ChatGPT isn't just for chatting anymore - now it will do your work for you

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Not too long ago, I wrote that AI agents were the future of AI: tools that could carry out tasks for you, like ordering groceries or booking meetings. OpenAI's latest launch makes that reality appear a bit closer. Also: AI agents will change work and society in internet-sized ways, says AWS VP On Thursday, during a live stream, OpenAI launched a ChatGPT agent, which the company claims can handle complex tasks for you from start to finish. Some examples OpenAI prov

When Is Tech Not Hype? Tulips, Toilets, Trains – and Tabs

What do I do when I first wake up? I grab my phone. I'm reading the news, browsing Reddit, reading articles on HN, looking up the weather and anything else I might need to know about during the day. It's not until I open my tabs view, to switch back to something, that I realise I've managed to open half a dozen tabs within the space of minutes. In 2004, Mozilla Foundation placed a two-page ad in the New York Times announcing version 1.0 of Firefox. "Are you fed up with your web browser?" the ad

Waymo Expands in Austin. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi

Table of Contents Waymo Expands in Austin. Everything to Know About the Robotaxi Self-driving cars are slowly becoming less sci-fi and more real-world as companies like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google's parent Alphabet, expand into more cities. On Thursday, the company extended into more parts of Austin, Texas, so it now drives across 90 square miles of the city. There are more than 100 Waymo vehicles in the city, with plans for further expansion. Along with Austin, Waymo currently operate

Roblox Adds Age Verification for Teens Who Want to Chat: What You Need to Know

Roblox, the popular gaming platform, has revamped the way it will handle player communications, particularly for those under 18. As detailed in a blog post, the company says it's changing "Friends" to "Connections" across the platform and is launching new tools to estimate a player's age via a video selfie. That age verification, for those 13 to 17, will unlock a feature called "Trusted Connections" that allows for less filtered text or voice chat. Those who aren't able to verify their age with

Google hides secret message in name list of 3,295 AI researchers

How many Google AI researchers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A recent research paper detailing the technical core behind Google's Gemini AI assistant may suggest an answer, listing an eye-popping 3,295 authors. It's a number that recently caught the attention of machine learning researcher David Ha (known as "hardmaru" online), who revealed on X that the first 43 names also contain a hidden message. "There’s a secret code if you observe the authors’ first initials in the order of author

FX/Hulu drops one last trailer for Alien: Earth

The premiere of Alien: Earth is just weeks away, and FX/Hulu dropped one last trailer to pique our interest, along with a much more detailed synopsis. It's meditative and existential in tone, with a haunting tune playing over footage of mysterious alien craft, dead bodies, blood-spattered humans fleeing through futuristic corridors, and, of course, a spooky silhouette of a xenomorph in the distance. As previously reported, the eight-episode series is set in 2120, two years before the events of

OpenAI’s New ChatGPT Agent Tries to Do It All

Isa Fulford, the research lead for OpenAI’s new ChatGPT agent, needed to order a bunch of cupcakes, so she asked the AI tool to do it for her. “I was very specific about what I wanted, and it was a lot of cupcakes,” she says. “That one took almost an hour—but it was easier than me doing it myself, because I didn't want to do it.” OpenAI has launched a new agent for ChatGPT that uses a virtual browser to complete tasks and can generate downloadable files, specifically PowerPoint presentations an

OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Agent can control an entire computer and do tasks for you

is The Verge’s senior AI reporter. An AI beat reporter for more than five years, her work has also appeared in CNBC, MIT Technology Review, Wired UK, and other outlets. OpenAI is going all-in on the most-hyped trend in AI right now: AI agents, or tools that go a step beyond chatbots to complete complex, multi-step tasks on a user’s behalf. The company on Thursday debuted ChatGPT Agent, which it bills as a tool that can complete work on your behalf using its own “virtual computer.” In a briefin

OpenAI launches a general purpose agent in ChatGPT

OpenAI is launching a new general purpose AI agent in ChatGPT, which the company says can complete a wide variety of computer-based tasks on behalf of users. OpenAI says the agent can automatically navigate a user’s calendar, generate editable presentations and slideshows, and run code. The tool, called ChatGPT agent, combines several capabilities from OpenAI’s previous agentic tools, including Operator’s ability to click around on websites, as well as Deep Research’s ability to synthesize info

Samsung DeX turns the Galaxy Z Flip 7 into a pocket-sized PC, but it’s missing one key feature

TL;DR The new Galaxy Z Flip 7 is the first in Samsung’s clamshell foldable lineup to support Samsung DeX, turning it into a compact, portable PC. DeX provides a full desktop experience on an external monitor and works with a wired connection, even when the phone is closed. While a powerful addition, it lacks the ability to use the cover screen as a touchpad, a feature found on competing Razr phones. Samsung’s clamshell folding phones have always been true flagships in terms of specs and perfo

The best smartphones to buy in 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 . You might already have a good idea of which smartphone you want to be your next one. But there are more solid options available now than ever before, making the decision not as cut-and-dry as it used to be. While the decision is a bit easier if you know you want an iPhone, there's even

Amazon’s AI push is undermining its sustainability goals

Amazon’s decarbonization goals are being undermined by its push to be a leader in generative AI. Its most recent sustainability report concedes its overall carbon emissions grew for the first time since 2022. It reported a six percent increase in its carbon footprint across 2024, laying much of the blame at the feet of its data center rollout. The reported increase is significant given Amazon’s method of reporting its own environmental impact. Critics have suggested the mega-retailer “ dramatic

Spotify's Audiobooks+ add-on is now available to some Premium subscribers

It’s likely that you predominantly associate Spotify with music and podcasts, but if you’re a Premium member, you also get 15 hours of audiobook access per month. For some members, though, that clearly isn’t enough, as Spotify has introduced a new add-on subscription that doubles that listening time. Audiobooks+ was first trialled in Ireland and Canada, and is launching initially for Premium Individual and Plan members in a number of countries in Europe, as well as Australia and New Zealand. On

Best AirTag wallets 2025: I tested the best options to track your cards and cash

Apple's AirTag is perhaps the most popular Bluetooth tracker on the market. While AirTags can be easily attached to keys, cutting-edge accessories let you use them on luggage, pet collars, remotes, and wallets. We've compared the best AirTag wallets from brands like Ridge and Titan X for card capacity, design, and overall value. We've also provided alternative Bluetooth tracker options like Bluetooth wallet cards. What's the best AirTag wallet right now? The accessory market is flooded with d

7 useful things the Flipper Zero can do that still blows my mind - two years later

Flipper Zero reading an NFC security key. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET After over a year of use, I love my Flipper Zero, and I'm still finding cool things to do with it. Am I using it to steal cars, clone credit cards, or change the prices shown on gas station displays? Of course not! That's just fake trash people upload to TikTok to try to look cool, and you can't do anything like that. Also: Prime Day is over, but some of our favorite deals are still live now But that doesn't mean the Flip

Molecule produced by gut bacteria causes atherosclerosis

A team of Spanish scientists made a striking announcement 15 years ago: they were seeking thousands of volunteers among the employees of Banco Santander in Madrid: researchers wanted to study them in depth for decades, in order to understand the onset of cardiovascular disease in healthy people. The results are even more surprising. Researchers have discovered that gut bacteria produce a molecule that not only induces but also causes atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in th

Mistral Releases Deep Research, Voice, Projects in Le Chat

AI assistants are at their best when they let you go deeper in your thinking, keep your conversation flowing, and maintain contextual continuity. Today, we’re making Le Chat even more capable, more intuitive — and more fun — with a collection of powerful new features to help you research more thoroughly, express yourself more naturally, and keep your interactions — text, voice, and images — organized in context. What’s new in Le Chat. Deep Research mode: Lightning fast, structured research rep

How I Use Kagi

June 27, 2025 web tech What’s going on, Internet? I’ve been a happy Kagi user since early 2023 and have spent a bit of time curating my ideal Internet search experience using the tools Kagi offers. Kagi is a premium search engine that puts you first. Unlike traditional search engines that monetise your attention through ads and data tracking, Kagi delivers clean, accurate results while maintaining complete privacy. Kagi is built on a simple principle, you're our customer, not our product. The

8 Healthy ‘Three-Parent’ Babies Born in UK Using Pioneering IVF Technique

So-called “three-parent” babies are thriving in the U.K. New clinical trial research shows that several healthy children in the country have been born with the DNA of three people. Doctors at Newcastle University led the study, which involved around two dozen women with a high risk of passing down harmful mutations of their mitochondria to their children. So far, eight kids have been born using an in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique that replaces a mother’s damaged mitochondrial DNA with tha

The Latest ‘Alien: Earth’ Trailer Adds Even More Alien Monsters

In the Alien movies, one killer species is more than enough for humanity to deal with. Actually, it’s almost always too much. Most everyone usually dies. But, in Alien: Earth, which comes to FX on August 12, it’s not just that iconic xenomorph the characters will have to deal with. Four other killer monsters have crash-landed on our planet too. Let the fun begin. From the mind of Noah Hawley, Alien: Earth takes a whole new look at the franchise made famous by the likes of Ridley Scott and James

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Specs vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: How Each Fold Phone Compares

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 debuted the biggest redesign the book-style folding phone line has seen thus far. The new phone has a body that's slim enough to feel like a standard phone when closed and unfolds to reveal an 8-inch display. This reimagining also comes at a higher $2,000 price, making it easily the priciest phone of its category compared with similar offerings like Google's $1,799 Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Watch this: Ultra Thin: First Look at the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 02:45 Google's