Meta’s New Open-Weight Model Can Run AI Agents on Your Laptop
Meta Glimmer is a bit smaller than the company’s closed-weight Muse Spark models.
Technology & Science
Tech, AI, science news. MIT Tech Review, Wired, Verge, Ars, and more.
Published dates (RSS): 21 Jan – 11 Aug
Feeds synced 0 min ago
More headlines
We should smile at our dogs - a new scientific study reveals why
Scientists have worked out what is going on inside a dog's brain when it sees a human smiling or scowling.
SpaceX plan for vast rocket launch site on Louisiana coast sparks backlash
Opponents fear Elon Musk firm’s plan to develop 18-mile strip of Pecan Island will badly damage fragile ecosystem Plans by Elon Musk’s SpaceX to build a vast rocket launch site on a stretch of Louisiana’s rapidly eroding coastline have stirred a backlash among some local opponents who fear it will badly damage the area’s fragile ecosystem. A deal for SpaceX to take control of 130,000 acres of…
Sharpest image of the sun ever captured! | Space photo of the day for Aug. 10, 2026
An international team of researchers using the U.S. National Science Foundation's Inouye Solar Telescope has captured the highest-resolution view of the sun's surface.
On this day in space! Aug. 10, 1972: A 'Great Daylight Fireball' lights up the sky over North America
On Aug. 10, 1972, an Earth-grazing fireball burst through the sky over North America. Here's what happened.
Japanese H3 rocket launches 10,800-pound navigation satellite to high Earth orbit (video)
Japan's H3 rocket sent the Michibiki 7 navigation satellite aloft this afternoon (Aug. 10), on the ninth-ever mission for the launch vehicle.
Louisiana warns beachgoers amid surge in flesh-eating bacteria infections
State confirms nine cases, including five deaths, from Vibrio vulnificus organism, which thrives in seawater Health officials in Louisiana are urging beachgoers to take precautions during a summertime surge in infections from a flesh-eating bacterium found in coastal waters. Louisiana has confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, the state’s health department said last week…
The Download: AI agents for science, and the “censorship-industrial complex”
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. AI for science needs reasoning, not just data —Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google and the cofounder of Schmidt Sciences, and Suhas Mahesh, who leads the AI for science work…
Pluto's atmosphere is collapsing as it drifts away from the sun into a deep freeze
As Pluto edges further away from the sun, the chilly temperatures are causing its atmosphere to condense onto its barren surface as frost.
The Outlaw Chemist Teaching People How to Make Drugs From Scratch
Willy Myco has made over 120 videos showing people his exact process for making everything from LSD to DMT vapes. Not everyone’s a fan of his methods.
The Best Portable Solar Panels: My Take After Years of Testing
Clean, free power from the sun is easier and more affordable to capture than ever with the best portable solar panels.
Glyn Morton obituary
My grandfather Glyn Morton, who has died aged 86, was an environmental microbiologist based for most of his career at the University of Lancashire, rising from senior lecturer to professor and then head of department. In 2007 he was appointed emeritus professor. He published more than 140 papers and supervised dozens of researchers. He was a chartered biologist, a fellow of the Royal Society of…
-
Scientists create largest 2D map of the universe with 5.6 trillion pixels and nearly 4 billion cosmic objects
"It's part of the fabric of astronomy research now."
Space.com -
Watch: Severe storms overturn vehicle and trigger flooding in Ohio
Residents are being urged to prepare for additional severe storms in the coming days, as officials also report at least one fatality.
BBC Science -
Meta can't stop states' $1.4 trillion lawsuit from going to trial
Judges tell Meta that Section 230 provides a defense, not immunity from lawsuits.
Ars Technica -
Is It Safe to Eat Lettuce Yet?
“That product is off the market, so I think there’s absolutely lower risk for cyclospora in terms of eating lettuce,” one professor of food safety tells WIRED.
Wired -
Apple’s 20th Anniversary All-Glass iPhone Is Still on the Menu, Report Says
Bloomberg reported the glassy iPhone overhaul will still be released in 2027.
CNET News -
Scientists find 2 million active black holes, exploding stars and more, nearly doubling our view of the high-energy universe
Astronomers have nearly doubled the number of known cosmic X-ray sources.
Space.com -
PlayStation 5 Is Getting a Wolverine Yellow Makeover, and It’ll Cost You $650
Fans can choose between Wolverine’s signature yellow and adamantium finishes, with preorders starting Aug. 19.
CNET News -
Parents’ Stress Leads to More Screen Time for Kids, Study Finds
Experts say families should create plans for determining how kids use devices.
CNET News -
Gemini becomes Google's fastest-growing product ever as it hits 1B users
But will Gemini's surge survive slowing model releases?
Ars Technica -
ChatGPT and Gemini both just passed 1 billion users
For the 14th time, a Google product has hit 1 billion users. Google CEO Sundar Pichai posted on X that a billion people are using Gemini every month, and that Gemini is Google's fastest-growing pro…
The Verge -
How and When to View the Perseid Meteor Shower (August 2026)
The Perseids will peak between August 12 and 13. Here’s what time—and where—you can get the best view, and why 2026 will be an exceptional year.
Wired -
A flight tracking service is suing Kalshi for using its data without authorization
A flight tracking service is suing Kalshi for using its data without authorization.
Engadget -
Threads has a VR app now
Meta has launched a Threads app for Meta Quest VR headsets, the company announced on Tuesday. The launch follows Meta bringing the app to its Ray-Ban Display AR glasses last month and the recent ne…
The Verge -
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' cast on taking 'bigger leaps' for season 4's 'outside the box' episodes (interview)
"I think the producers had more time to prepare for season 4 and every episode felt incredible on the page"
Space.com -
Zoom screen-sharing bug let people fully take over other devices on a call
Zoom screen-sharing bug let people fully take over other devices on a call.
Engadget -
Abbott partners with Google Health for AI-powered glucose monitoring
Abbott partners with Google Health for AI-powered glucose monitoring.
Engadget -
Google’s free streaming service now lets you pick shows and movies to watch
Google TV Freeplay, the company's free, ad-supported streaming service, now supports video on demand. Instead of tuning into Google TV Freeplay's selection of always-on channels, you can now choose…
The Verge -
Used EV buying guide: The $30,000 edition
Depending on the model, you might have hundreds to choose from—or just one.
Ars Technica -
Can a MacBook run multiple external monitors? It depends
Most current models support at least two.
Engadget -
Authors face backlash for participation in 2022 Google AI study
Thirteen authors joined a little-known Google AI study in 2022. Now they're facing backlash.
Engadget -
Less than 2.5% of Taylor Farms' recalled lettuce went to Taco Bells
FDA report reveals where Taylor Farms sent its lettuce—and it raises questions.
Ars Technica -
1-billion-year-old Mars meteorite found in Algeria is like nothing we've seen from the Red Planet
Scientists found a Martian meteorite on Earth that is finally filling in a nearly 2-billion-year-old geology-history gap on the Red Planet.
Space.com -
Solar eclipse glasses 'sold out everywhere' as people look for alternatives
Eclipse glasses can offer protection from harmful rays of sunlight but most high street stores have sold out.
BBC Science -
Another OpenAI executive takes off
Brad Lightcap, OpenAI's special projects lead and the company's former COO, announced his departure after an eight-year stint at the AI lab. In an internal memo he later posted to X, Lightcap told …
The Verge -
Bumble Changes the Feature That Made It Different From Other Dating Apps
Dating app Bumble is changing its policy to allow either person to message first, and is extending its response window from 24 to 72 hours.
CNET News -
The budget-friendly Pixel Buds 2a are even cheaper right now
Looking for great pair of earbuds that work particularly well with Android phones? The Google Pixel Buds 2a are currently discounted to $99 (usually $129) at various retailers, including Amazon, Be…
The Verge -
How the iPhone has changed in the last five years
Modern iPhones reflect years of gradual evolution, blending new capabilities with familiar elements that keep users adapting along the way.
Engadget -
Disney+ will be the new global streaming home of Formula E racing
Disney+ will be the new global streaming home of Formula E racing.
Engadget -
Google’s upcoming Pixel phones are for the fans, even if its launch event isn’t
Last year's Made by Google event for the Pixel 10 resembled a late night talk show, complete with Jimmy Fallon as host, and it aired an hour after the phones were revealed. Spec dives and executive…
The Verge -
Made by Google 2026: all the Pixel news and announcements
Google is gearing up to reveal a bunch of new Pixel devices on August 12th. A series of leaks leading up to the event suggest that the Pixel 11 lineup will come in an array of colors, with signs po…
The Verge -
Eclipse chasers scramble for glasses as stocks run low
Specialist glasses are all but sold out online ahead of the UK's most significant eclipse since 1999.
BBC Science -
How to fix stick drift on PS5 and Xbox controllers
Giving your controllers a good clean can help with stick drift.
Engadget -
Three ways to watch the solar eclipse safely without glasses
With some shops running out of stock, it may be too late to buy eclipse glasses - but you can still safely watch the spectacle using some household items.
BBC Science -
Tracking extreme heat by the hour makes climate change seem even worse
Hot hours of summer could triple in the coming decades.
Ars Technica -
SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida (video, photos)
SpaceX launched 29 more of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida's Space Coast today (Aug. 11).
Space.com -
Apple could help you prove your iPhone photos aren’t deepfakes
Apple is seemingly developing an iOS feature that can verify when a photograph was taken using an iPhone camera. 9to5Mac reports that the iOS 27 beta 5 includes code references for an "Apple Refere…
The Verge -
A Google insider spills the tea on how the company forsook its founding ideals
Claire Stapleton's new book, Don't Be Evil , recounts her journey from company cheerleader to outspoken dissident.
Ars Technica -
Supermassive Games will lay off up to 75 workers
The maker of Until Dawn and Directive 8020 says it's cutting jobs to ensure it remains sustainable.
Engadget -
NASA will chase the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse with balloons and a high-altitude jet
"Scientists can study the sun's corona in a way we can't from anywhere else in the solar system."
Space.com -
England and Wales ban Meta Glasses from courtrooms
Cameras are typically banned in courtrooms, and Meta Glasses are no exception in England and Wales.
Engadget -
Can you wear your headphones while driving? It depends on the state
State laws around driving with headphones vary, so make sure you know what's legal.
Engadget -
Trump to give Republicans a 3-1 FCC majority, isn't filling empty Democratic seat
Trump has resisted urge to fire FCC Democrat despite recent Supreme Court win.
Ars Technica -
Thames Water 'flagship' chalk stream rated as poor
The firm says it has invested in the chalk stream and water quality is "influenced by a range of factors".
BBC Science -
Solar eclipse 2026 weather forecast – where and when will the best view be?
Look to the skies on Wednesday because one of the most spectacular solar eclipses for decades is coming the UK's way with likely optimum viewing conditions for many.
BBC Science -
What history can teach us about the future of property rights in space (op-ed)
Without property rights in space, one of the most important economic incentives for the commercial development — and ultimately the settlement — of celestial bodies is missing.
Space.com -
Razer Naga V3 Pro Review: Buttons Galore
The PC gaming world has tried to move on from bulky, heavier mice, but the Naga V3 Pro proves that it still has its place.
Wired -
‘Zoomsday’ hack uncovered using fewer than 20 AI prompts
Zoom has patched a major security vulnerability that could allow an attacker to hijack anyone's device during a meeting. In a blog post on Tuesday, researchers at A Security say they uncovered the …
The Verge -
How to connect Bluetooth headphones to your PS5
The PS5 may not support Bluetooth audio directly, but there are workarounds.
Engadget -
Samsung says a hearing aid feature is coming to Galaxy Buds later this year
The FDA approved Samsung's Galaxy Buds hearing aid feature, which will soon be available alongside a hearing test.
Engadget -
How to watch the solar eclipse safely
People should take precautions while witnessing the "amazing celestial event", an expert says.
BBC Science