Designator

White House taps the guy who keeps crying ‘aliens’ to run UFO group

The White House appointed Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for controversial claims about alien technology, to lead the new UAP Science Advisory Council.

11 Jul3 min read

OpenAI bets on families as ChatGPT goes deeper into households

OpenAI is expanding its focus to families by hiring a product manager to build experiences for caregivers and older adults, reflecting a shift toward household-integrated AI.

Speculations Concerning the First Ultraintelligent Machine (1965) [pdf]

A 1965 paper speculates on the creation of the first ultraintelligent machine, exploring its potential capabilities and the implications for human society.

11 Jul338 min read

ICE are heavily armed killers. They’re also huge losers

The Department of Homeland Security under the Trump administration is criticized for its cruel and deadly immigration crackdown, including federal agents killing individuals and intimidating online critics.

Networking and the Internet, from First Principles

The internet's decentralized, cooperative infrastructure enables global communication by converting messages into electrical pulses and light signals that traverse diverse networks without central coordination.

11 Jul85 min read

Ars Technica

A Jupiter-size planet that escaped its star's death

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope observed WD 1856 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf, revealing it is shrouded in aerosol hazes and orbits unusually close to its dead star.

11 Jul6 min read

The perfect kit for all your tiny repairs

iFixit's Megalodon Driver Kit offers a versatile set of bits and drivers for small home repairs.

11 Jul10 min read

A tasty RPG that will make you very hungry

Dosa Divas streamlines the classic turn-based RPG into a more approachable and delicious experience.

11 Jul5 min read

Ars Technica

Overhaul of public lands grazing regulations seeks to cut public involvement

The Bureau of Land Management is rewriting its grazing regulations to increase livestock on public lands while reducing public involvement.

11 Jul8 min read

Beatbot AquaSense X Review: A Pool Robot That Cleans Itself

Beatbot's AquaSense X robotic pool cleaner features self-cleaning technology through its AstroRinse station.

11 Jul8 min read

Skylight’s Touchscreen Calendar Got my Whole Family on the Same Page

The Skylight touchscreen calendar helps families manage schedules and activities with a centralized hub and connected app.

Your code is fast – if you're lucky

Modern compilers optimize loops using fast branch-free instructions with the right programming style.

11 Jul3 min read

Samsung Micro RGB R95H Review (2026): Not the Brightest

Samsung's Micro RGB R95H television has unimpressive colors and limited customization options.

AI Found a Root Bug in Linux That Everyone Missed for 15 Years

AI discovered a 15-year-old root bug in the Linux kernel that allows any logged-in user to gain root access on unpatched machines.

11 Jul5 min read

OpenAI’s Head of Safety Is Leaving the Company

OpenAI's head of safety systems, Johannes Heidecke, is departing the company, following a reorganization aimed at integrating safety and research teams amid increasing demands on safety.

11 Jul4 min read

US cybersecurity agency CISA had to build its incident playbook during the incident, agency reveals

The U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA revealed it lacked an incident response playbook and had to create one during a May cybersecurity incident involving exposed government system credentials.

11 Jul5 min read

Phia accused of ‘cookie stuffing,’ taking affiliate credit on purchases it didn’t earn

Phia, a shopping startup co-founded by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, faces accusations of "cookie stuffing," allegedly taking unearned affiliate commissions by overriding other referral codes.

11 Jul3 min read

No, Flock isn’t threatening people for debating surveillance

Surveillance company Flock Safety denies sending viral cease and desist letters threatening groups for debating its technology, calling them part of a disinformation campaign.

11 Jul4 min read

Meta removes controversial AI feature on Instagram after backlash

Meta removed a controversial AI feature from Instagram that allowed users to modify public photos, acknowledging the tool "missed the mark" after immediate user backlash and scrutiny.

10 Jul4 min read