Did you solve it? Are you on board with these quirky chess puzzles?
The answers to today’s problems. Earlier today I set these four chess puzzles. Here they are again with solutions. 1. Oddities Continue reading...
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Can you solve it? Are you on board with these quirky chess puzzles?
Check it out UPDATE: Read the answers here Today’s four puzzles are inspired by chess. (If you haven’t yet watched the recent documentaries on Judit Polgár and Hans Niemann , I recommend them.) 1. Oddities Continue reading...
Sony 1000XX the Collexion headphones review: supreme comfort and quiet luxury for your ears
Special anniversary edition of award-winning headphones are some of the best sounding you can buy, but cost far more than top Sony noise cancellers Sony’s latest noise-cancelling headphones are a special anniversary set made to celebrate a decade of its prized 1000X series, designed to be plusher, slimmer, more comfortable and the best sounding yet. The original 1000X launched in 2016, igniting a…
Nothing Phone 4a Pro review: premium aluminium meets quirky design
Mid-range Android stands out with huge screen, slick software and dot-matrix display, but falls just short of greatness Nothing’s latest quirky smartphone is a huge aluminium Android with three cameras and a big LED matrix screen on the back that challenges the notion mid-range phones can’t be just a bit more fun. The Phone 4a Pro is a bit of a departure from UK-based Nothing’s previous…
Galaxy S26 review: Samsung’s still-compact flagship Android
Small top-tier Android is great to use, being fast, AI-loaded and with reasonable battery life, but falls short of rivals on camera Samsung’s compact flagship phone hasn’t changed much in a year, but the S26 is still one of the best smaller handsets available as rivals grow larger and larger. The S26 is the cheapest and smallest of this year’s top Samsungs, dwarfed by the top-of-the-line S26…
MacBook Pro M5 review: serious power, still long battery life
Apple laptop sets new performance bar with more storage, new chips and plenty of options, but now has two-tier specs depending on processor Apple’s Macs have been on a roll this year with the brand new budget MacBook Neo and a faster MacBook Air M5 , but now it’s time for its workhorse MacBook Pro to be upgraded with the fastest, most powerful M-series chips. The latest MacBook Pro comes in two…
Sonos Play review: a great jack-of-all-trades portable speaker for home or away
Quality wifi bookshelf speaker can go mobile with Bluetooth, long battery life and water resistance, in return to form The Play is a new portable wifi and Bluetooth home speaker that packs the best of Sonos into a jack of all trades that is intended to be a reset point in the company’s recovery from its app debacle that lost it faith, favour and a chief executive. It is the first truly new music…
Why cheap power could matter more than clean power in the push for net zero
The question of how important making our electricity clean is to going green is coming under increasing scrutiny
From blast off to splashdown: My days following Nasa's historic mission to the Moon
BBC Science Editor Rebecca Morelle reflects on how it felt to watch history being made.
The 40 minutes when the Artemis crew loses contact with the Earth
As the astronauts pass behind the Moon they will experience a moment of silence and solitude as communication with the Earth is blocked.
The Interview
Rebecca Morelle speaks to astronaut Jeremy Hansen ahead of the Artemis II Moon mission.
First stop, the Moon. Next stop, Mars? Why Nasa's mission matters
Lunar discoveries and a space race with China is seeing the US invest time and money to get to the Moon - and beyond.
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Watch live: Rocket Lab launching 'Ten Owl of Ten' mission for Synspective today
Rocket Lab is poised to launch the "Ten Owl of Ten" mission from New Zealand today (June 26), adding to Japanese company Synspective's imaging constellation. Watch it live here.
Space.com -
Trump forced to drain the reflecting pool swamp – podcast
The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington DC will have to be drained again. Donald Trump has blamed vandalism for the failure to keep the water “American flag blue”. But what if this small…
The Guardian Science -
Turn your room into a galaxy: The best Prime Day deals on star projectors for aspiring astronomers
Whether light pollution is foiling your stargazing or you just want to transform a room, there are great star projector deals this Prime Day and I've picked out the best.
Space.com -
Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, June 26
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for June 26.
CNET News -
Anthropic Thinks Its Own Success Is Key to Making AI Safe
Anthropic's critics argue it's rapidly accumulating power. The company says that's what responsible AI development looks like.
Wired -
This Is Probably Your Last Chance to Buy a Cheap MacBook for a While
Apple has dramatically jacked up the prices of MacBooks, making the current Prime Day pricing that much more enticing.
Wired -
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for June 26, #641
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for June 26, No. 641.
CNET News -
Experts say three recent powerful earthquakes are not related
5.6-magnitude California tremor, 7.2-magnitude temblor in Japan and two quakes in Venezuela all struck within hours A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck a rural part of northern California on Wednesda…
The Guardian Science -
Prime Day Is Ending Soon, but We're Still Tracking 170+ Deals You Want to Pick Up
It's Day 3 of Prime Day and we're still here and hunting down the very best deals to shop.
CNET News -
Why Amazon Dropped Its OpenAI Movie, Data Center Workers Fight Back, and Meta Leaks Employee Data
The decision by Amazon-owned MGM Studios to drop the OpenAI movie is just part of AI and film industries becoming increasingly intertwined. On Uncanny Valley, we look at where this is all headed.
Wired -
This year’s Prime Day deals on Apple products are the best I’ve seen
Amazon’s Prime Day is now in its third day, and whether you’re looking for a new pair of wireless earbuds or a smartwatch, there’s a good chance you’ll find a discount. The Apple Watch Series 11 ha…
The Verge -
OpenAI will initially only release ChatGPT 5.6 to government-approved customers
So much for voluntary review.
Engadget -
Here We Go Again: Microsoft Raises Xbox Prices Amid Memory Shortage
This is the third price hike for Xbox consoles since May of last year.
CNET News -
Android 17’s new foldable gaming mode could make flippy phones more fun
Android 17 is getting a dedicated gaming mode for foldables that will put a virtual gamepad with touch controls on half of your screen to theoretically make it easier to play games. With foldable g…
The Verge -
99 Prime Day Deals That Aren’t For Suckers, Up to 50% Off (2026)
We've gone from A to Z to find Amazon's best Prime Day deals on the gear worth owning.
Wired -
Venezuela’s Powerful Earthquakes Were a Rare ‘Seismic Doublet’
The country was hit hard by a pair of quakes that happened in quick succession and were likely driven by stress being transferred from one part of the fault that runs through the country to another.
Wired -
YouTube updates Shorts to make it even more like TikTok
YouTube is adding even more TikTok-like features to Shorts, including a new "clear screen" mode that removes the icons and text from the video you're watching. In a blog post on Thursday, YouTube s…
The Verge -
The most popular Grok feature is, apparently, exactly what you think
NSFW uses account for "well over half" of traffic, a new report says.
Engadget -
OpenAI will delay GPT-5.6 after Trump administration request
The Trump administration, apprehensive of potential security issues, has reportedly asked OpenAI to stagger the release of its next big-ticket model, GPT-5.6. The Information reported that OpenAI C…
The Verge -
Commodore has dropped the price of its retro phone by $100 ahead of preorders
A refreshing direction for a price change.
Engadget -
Framework has good news and bad news
Thanks to the component crisis, it's a bad time to want a new computer. But if you are waiting on a preorder for the Framework Laptop 13 Pro - which Framework's CEO has called the "MacBook Pro for …
The Verge -
Two 'super-puff' cotton candy exoplanets are the lightest gas giants ever discovered
Astronomers have discovered two "super-puff" exoplanets orbiting the same star that have densities lower than cotton candy, making them the lightest worlds ever seen.
Space.com -
Best Battery Life Laptops of 2026
From Windows models with Qualcomm Snapdragon X and Intel Panther Lake processors to MacBooks running on Apple's latest M5 chip, these are the longest-lasting laptops we've tested.
CNET News -
Microsoft adds another year to Windows 10 extended update program
About a quarter of PCs are still running Microsoft's previous operating system.
Ars Technica -
Peppa Pig Contract Backlash Is the Latest Over the Use of AI in Entertainment
A group representing child actors is criticizing contracts that would allow AI to reuse a child's voice.
CNET News -
Score a discounted Xbox console before the prices jump
Microsoft announced today that the price of all Xbox models will rise in August, the second time in less than a year as memory prices continue to wreak havoc on every industry from cars to computin…
The Verge -
Instagram wants to monopolize your attention
This week, Instagram launched a series of new features for its smart TV app that are all designed to get people to spend more time on the platform through the biggest screens in their homes. In add…
The Verge -
These Products Dodged Apple's Price Hikes. Our Expert Explains Why
It's only a matter of time before iPhone and Apple Watch prices go even higher.
CNET News -
Some Apple Products Just Got More Way More Expensive. Are iPhones Next?
Your next iPhone could cost more than you think.
CNET News -
Watch Every Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix Race This Weekend for Free on Apple TV
If you're F1-curious, this is a great chance to start your engines.
CNET News -
Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for June 26 #845
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for June 26 No. 845.
CNET News -
Today's Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for June 26, #1833
Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for June 26, No. 1,833.
CNET News -
FCC may kill $2B program that connects schools and libraries to Internet
Carr cites screen time concerns, is accused of trying to be "the nation’s parent."
Ars Technica -
Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for June 26, #1111
Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for June 26 No. 1,111.
CNET News -
BBC Inside Science
Is it time to start considering solar geoengineering to help us combat extreme heat?
BBC Science -
RAMageddon just got extremely real
As far as prices go, Apple is kind of a reverse canary in the coal mine. With its famously generous margins and immense purchasing volume, it can afford to ride out price fluctuations in its supply…
The Verge -
Forget Peloton. Race to This 25% Off Deal on Hydrow’s Rowing Machine (2026)
This Peloton-adjacent rowing machine gamifies your workout to a satisfying effect, and it’s up to 25 percent off right now for Prime Day.
Wired -
Notion Mail is shutting down
So long, Notion Mail.
Engadget -
Spain will require carriers to keep mobile networks live during power outages
Spain's mobile networks will need to stay live for at least four hours during power outages, per new rules.
Engadget -
Apple's Price Increases Extend to Refurbished Macs and iPads
Are Apple's price hikes making you consider a refurb? Expect to pay more for those, too.
CNET News -
We're Live-Blogging For The Real Heads Still Shopping Amazon Prime Day
The third day of Amazon Prime Day is for the real heads, and so is our live blog. We'll bring you deals, trends, and commentary until Amazon's annual summer sale finally hangs up its cleats.
Wired -
Polestar won't be able to sell its cars in the US next year
Polestar moved some of its production to the US, but it may be locked out from selling its cars here soon.
Engadget -
Notion killing Skiff-influenced email app since most users use AI agents instead
Notion is "going all in on using agents to run your inbox."
Ars Technica -
Modern sci-fi movie posters usually suck, but Supergirl shows that it doesn't have to be that way
What's with all the boring montages of Jedi and superheroes? It's time to resurrect a lost art.
Space.com -
Retroid's Pocket Nova is a very capable 4:3 handheld that costs $229
Retroid's Pocket Nova seems capable of handling games up to the GameCube and PS2 era.
Engadget -
The 16 best robot vacuum deals available during Prime Day
If you’ve been wanting to buy a robot vacuum but have been put off by how much it can cost to get a good one, now is not a bad time to start looking. We’re now on day three of Prime Day, and Amazon…
The Verge -
Amid Amazon's Robot Surge, Proteus Charts a New Path Forward
Many of your Prime Day orders are being handled by Roomba-esque bots as part of Amazon's quest to deliver packages faster.
CNET News -
Google finally releases a Finance Android app, promises iOS version later in 2026
It took 20 years, but the Finance app arrives just in time to be packed full of AI.
Ars Technica -
As everything gets more expensive, it's time to make do and mend
The skyrocketing cost of computer components needs to foster a new mindset.
Engadget -
You may be plugging your Fire TV Stick into the wrong HDMI port
It's not so much about using a wrong port, and more so about freeing up the more capable ones for needier devices.
Engadget