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Fast Company named the North Face's Universal Collection as the top design in its 2026 Innovation by Design Awards for North America. The collection was developed in partnership with the disability community to adapt camping and outdoor gear so it's usable by people with a range of physical needs.
Universal Studios Japan is marking its anniversary year with expanded Halloween programming, including a haunted attraction restricted to older guests for the first time. The move is part of a broader lineup of Halloween Horror Nights additions planned for 2026.
WIRED evaluated more than 20 travel adapter models and narrowed them down to eight recommended picks for international travelers in 2026. The guide breaks down the world's 15 different plug types, explains which adapter style suits single-destination versus multi-country trips, and clarifies why most travelers don't actually need a voltage converter alongside their adapter.
Universal Music Group and ElevenLabs unveiled a multi-year licensing agreement and broader partnership to build a new AI-powered music platform, separate from ElevenLabs' existing ElevenMusic tool. The unreleased platform will let fans create remixes, mashups, new track interpretations and personalized vocal experiences using catalog from participating UMG artists, who will be compensated under the deal.
Universal Music Group announced a multi-year licensing deal with ElevenLabs to build an AI-powered platform letting users create remixes and reinterpretations of songs from UMG's catalog. The companies say the partnership will expand over time to include additional AI products and fan experiences beyond the initial platform. This new offering will operate separately from ElevenLabs' existing Music API and ElevenMusic tools.
A new NBER working paper by researchers including Baker examines the long-run impact of a universal child care program, focusing on outcomes for mothers rather than just children. The study draws on data analyzed through the Canadian Research Data Centre Network, using British Columbia's research infrastructure to assess how access to subsidized child care shaped mothers' economic trajectories over time.
Universal Studios has confirmed that its Fast & Furious-themed roller coaster will fully open to the public in September. The attraction has been in development for some time, and local residents have been given advance notice due to the ride's expected noise levels.
Standards body CGPM will vote in mid-October on ending the leap second, the periodic one-second adjustment used since 1972 to keep atomic clock time aligned with Earth's rotation. The move is being accelerated because the next adjustment could, for the first time, require subtracting rather than adding a second—a scenario computer systems have never had to handle. In its place, officials are proposing a leap hour that would only realign timescales once they drift a full 3,600 seconds apart.
The Internet Archive page for Isaac Asimov's classic 1958 short story 'The Feeling of Power' is accompanied by a fundraising message from the nonprofit, asking readers to support its free-access mission. The organization notes it relies on small donations, averaging about $14, rather than advertising or selling user data to fund its operations.
ZDNET's guide clarifies that despite USB unifying device charging, wall outlets worldwide still differ wildly in plug shape and voltage output, from 100V in Japan to 230V in Paraguay. It distinguishes universal travel adapters, which only change plug shape, from voltage converters, which actually change electrical output—two very different tools travelers often confuse.
Stability AI, maker of the Stable Diffusion image generator, closed a $76 million Series B round, pushing its total funding to $232 million. Backers include Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, Electronic Arts, AMD Ventures, and Pacific Alliance Ventures. CEO Prem Akkaraju said the funds will support the company's creative production tools and professional services expansion.
Anthropic instructed employees at its San Francisco offices to work remotely on Monday and Tuesday after its security staffing firm, Allied Universal, warned of a potential strike. The SEIU union representing those security workers told Business Insider it has issued no strike threat or authorization vote, and is still in contract talks with Allied over wages, healthcare and training.