The evolution of Taylor Swift’s dialect, a rare Einstein cross, neutrino laser beams, and more. It’s a regrettable reality that there is never enough time to cover all the interesting scientific stories we come across each month. In the past, we’ve featured year-end roundups of cool science stories we…
The chipmakers say physical attacks aren’t in the threat model. Many users didn’t get the memo. In the age of cloud computing, protections baked into chips from Intel, AMD, and others are essential for ensuring confidential data and sensitive operations can’t be viewed or manipulated by attackers who manage…
Chinese lab’s v3.2 release explores a technique that could make running AI far less costly. Ever wonder why ChatGPT slows down during long conversations? The culprit is a fundamental mathematical challenge: Processing long sequences of text requires massive computational resources, even with the efficiency tricks that companies have already…
Agent Mode in Word, Excel works like vibe coding tools but for knowledge work. With a new set of Microsoft 365 features, knowledge workers will be able to generate complex Word documents or Excel spreadsheets using only text prompts to Microsoft’s chatbot. Two distinct products were announced, each using…
Signs point to a relatively mild upgrade from the 16-month-old Apple M4. Apple’s biggest product event of the year happens in September, when the company puts out a new batch of iPhones and Apple Watches and other odds and ends. But in most years, Apple either has another smaller…
SpaceX will reuse a Super Heavy booster with 24 previously flown Raptor engines. On its surface, the flight plan for SpaceX’s next Starship flight looks a lot like the last one. The rocket’s Super Heavy booster will again splash down in the Gulf of Mexico just offshore from SpaceX’s…
First patches fix bugs and clear up problems for the iPhone 17 family. Now that iOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, and Apple’s other big software updates for the year are out in public, Apple’s efforts for the next few months will shift to fixing bugs and adding individual new…
After the failure of S.B. 1047, new AI disclosure law drops kill switch for disclosure mandate. On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act into law, requiring AI companies to disclose their safety practices while stopping short of mandating actual safety testing. The…
The SF-25 might be winless this year, but the 499P took four in a row, including Le Mans. Ferrari provided flights from Washington, DC, to Austin, Texas, and accommodation so Ars could attend the Lone Star Le Mans. Ars does not accept paid editorial content. By the time you…
Now that we know what Denisovans looked like, they’re turning up everywhere. A fossil skull from China that made headlines last week may or may not be a million years old, but it’s probably closely related to Denisovans. The fossil skull, dubbed Yunxian 2, is one of three unearthed…
