World in a Pulse
Briflio distills the day's signals into one calm feed — a personalized mix of the top stories across every topic, with context, not noise.
PrismML brings its tiny LLMs to Qualcomm-powered smart glasses
Prism's larger goal is open-weight AI that runs on devices and makes better use of the computing power they already have.

F-Droid gets its biggest update in a decade with new UI and smoother app installs
Virtually every Android device comes with the Play Store preloaded, but there are other ways to get apps. F-Droid bills itself as a community-driven source for free and open source Android apps, but its official app store has gone 10 years without a major update. That's finally changing: After a multiyear effort, the team has just announced F-Droid 2.0 is rolling out. The new F-Droid client was redesigned from scratch in Kotlin Compose, which is the standard for modern Android apps. This makes the store much more responsive, and there's optional support for Android's Material theming.

Astronomers Found a Planet Orbiting Backwards Around a Red Dwarf and the Usual Culprit Is Missing
A small world 4.5 times Earth's mass is circling its star in the wrong direction. Normally there's a bully nearby to blame. This time, there isn't.

First-ever off Israel's coast: Crabs filmed seeking shelter under jellyfish
Shai Mienis, a sea enthusiast, observed several months ago jellyfish hosting crabs among their tentacles and beneath their bells. A researcher said, 'The crabs may be turning to the nomadic jellyfish due to the decrease in Mediterranean jellyfish'

Ja'Marr Chase plans to appeal NFL celebration fine, calls for NFLPA to fight for players' money
Chase and Bengals teammate Tee Higgins were among several players punished for celebrations in Week 2
Croatian court approves extradition in Nord Stream bombing case
Nord Stream sabotage suspect to be extradited from Croatia; court ruling faces appeal with final decision still pending.

Bureau Of Prisons Creates Dedicated First Step Act Office
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is establishing a new First Step Act office that will put a dedicated team in place to assure the law is fulfilled.

Disney’s Former CEO Bob Chapek Blasts Bob Iger Over His Disney Firing
Former Disney CEO Bob Chapek has reportedly blamed Bob Iger for his ouster from the company in his new memoir.
Meta’s Muse Charm looks like a Tamagotchi, but it’s tapping into a much newer trend
Meta’s new AI gadget may look like a Tamagotchi, but its dangling form factor taps into a much broader Gen Z trend around bag charms, retro tech, and turning gadgets into fashion accessories.
Odd Lots: Maybe AI Won’t Kill Us All — Just Some of Us
Big Tech has been sounding alarms about the risk of AI causing human extinction but there are also skeptics who dismiss the notion, like former US Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya, who referenced the Black Death to dismiss warnings of existential risks. On this episode of the Odd Lots podca

Backpack massages muscles when it detects they’re fatigued
People wore the backpack while lifting dumbbells and then enjoyed a nice massageHuang et al., 2026, Cell Reports Physical Science A backpack can detect when muscles become fatigued and automatically massage the affected areas. This seems to help muscles recover better than heat therapy or pre-programmed massages, like those delivered by chairs and cushions. About 1 in 6 adults in the UK have some form of back pain. This can occur when back muscles become fatigued through exertion or prolonged or repetitive activity.

Multi-bacteria outbreak spreads... as another produce recall is issued
Another recall is being issued for produce that is feared to be contaminated with two types of life-threatening bacteria.

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DR Congo and Ivory Coast top Africa Cup of Nations qualifying opening wins
DR Congo beat Equatorial Guinea, while Ivory Coast cruise by Ghana and Cameroon beat Comoros as AFCON qualifiers begin.

NYT Pips Answers And Walkthrough For Friday, September 25
Looking for help with today's New York Times Pips? We'll walk you through today's puzzle and help you match dominoes to tiles.

BBC upholds complaints over Victoria Beckham slur on Have I Got News For You
Two viewers complained to the BBC over the "gratuitously offensive" comment made during the show.

Muse sure looks a lot like OpenClaw
Meta’s new tool is very cute — and heavily inspired by its open-source predecessor.

Oracle cites 'force majeure' to shield itself on data center, Bloomberg News reports
Sept 24 (Reuters) - Oracle is seeking to protect itself from potential cost increases related to a large data center project in New Mexico by sending a "force majeure" notice to the project's developer, a unit of Blue Owl, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Copying others can help young orangutans build a broad diet
A Sumatran orangutan mother uses a stick tool to extract honey from a large tree holeGuilhem Duvot, SUAQ Project Young orangutans who spend little time working out for themselves how to build a broad diet can partly compensate by watching how other orangutans choose what to eat. The findings suggest that orangutans have different strategies for developing broad survival skills, says Revathe Thillaikumar at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany. Young orangutans acquire a substantial body of knowledge before they can survive independently, which they must do by the tim

The rise of the AI-native radiology practice
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Radiology startups say owning a practice makes it easier to develop AI tools, and insurers oppose RPM changes.

Arizona vs. Washington State prediction, pick, odds, spread: Wildcats face another early road test
The Cougars have won four straight at home, but slowing down Noah Fifita and solving Arizona's stout run defense will be a daunting challenge
Dutch PM’s contrasting stance on ICC-wanted Putin, Netanyahu
Dutch PM Rob Jetten says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be at the UNGA despite an ICC arrest warrant.

Mark Zuckerberg Overtakes Michael Dell As World’s Fourth-Wealthiest Person
Zuckerberg’s boost in net worth came as shares of Meta jumped 4.5% on Thursday.

Letterboxd Suitors Include A24 and New York Times; Sale Could Value Social Movie Platform at $300 Million: Report
A24 and the New York Times are the latest to express an interest in buying Letterboxd, with any sale expected to value it at over $300 million, the NYT reported.
Oracle sends force majeure notice on its New Mexico Stargate data center
The notice would allow Oracle to delay payments should the facility miss its 2028 target to come online.

New Jersey fines data center $1.1M after drone pics expose 62 gas generators
This week, New Jersey ordered the operator of one of the East Coast’s largest planned data centers to pay a $1.1 million fine for secretly installing and operating gas generators in violation of the state’s Air Pollution Control Act. DataOne got hit with the fine after an investigation by The Guardian and Floodlight News in August shared thermal drone footage showing that 45 of the 62 gas generators were operating.
Study links weight stigma and cultural attitudes to well-being
A person's body size or type, and how well it conforms with society's expectations, can be a source of stress in many cultures. University of Mississippi psychologists examined how people's experiences and perceptions of weight stigma relate to their well-being.
Health Focus Healthy home cooking customized for individuals with chronic conditions
Health Focus is a production of the Medical University of South Carolina in partnership with South Carolina Public Radio.

Nevada's Steve Alford to retire after 2026-27 season, concluding prolific 36 year coaching career
Alford, who has won over 700 games at the college level, will retire after this season
New York sues Polymarket over allegations of illegal gambling operations
The lawsuit comes two months after the state filed a similar lawsuit against competitor Kalshi.

Diesel Export Ban Risks Higher Prices, Undercuts Energy Agenda
Trump’s proposed diesel export ban could cut refinery output, raise gasoline and jet fuel prices, and undermine his energy dominance agenda.

Catherine Zeta-Jones bases new role on funny Welsh people she knows
Zeta-Jones plays Jackie Price, a former cocaine dealer who is targeted by assassins, in Kill Jackie.

Your Fall 2026 Anime Guide: What to Watch and Where It's Streaming
From 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2' to 'Steel Ball Run,' here's a not-so-shortlist of anime worth watching in the arena of sci-fi, fantasy, and beyond this season.

Google plans first test of AI chips in space under Project Suncatcher
Sept 24 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google said on Thursday it will launch a prototype satellite next week in its first in-orbit test of Project Suncatcher, a research effort to explore whether space could potentially host large-scale AI computing infrastructure.

Frogs wear bacterial suits of armor to fight off deadly fungus
Chytridiomycosis has driven at least 90 frog species into extinction.

Taking Your Probiotic at This Time of Day Could Make It More Effective
Consistency matters most, but one time of day may help your probiotic work better.

Use FanDuel promo code to get $250 in bonus bets by targeting Packers vs. Falcons on Thursday Night Football
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Portugal beat Wales 1-0 with Felix goal as Nations League defence begins
Joao Felix nets the only goal of the game, while Cristiano Ronaldo has an effort ruled out, as Portugal beat Wales 1-0.

Udemy Cofounder Pivots To In-Person Learning With New Academy For AI Phenoms
The school will bring 50 young builders to San Francisco to learn through projects, co-ops and face-to-face interaction, says cofounder Gagan Biyani.

White House restores access to media outlets banned by Trump after judge's order
CNN, Politico and MS NOW were allowed back into the White House after some of their staff were earlier turned away.

A Digital Cell Predicts Which Drugs Will Be Most Effective in Deadly Breast Cancer
Millions of protein measurements fuel an AI model that predicts drug responses and outcomes in an aggressive form of breast cancer.

New York defies Trump admin, asks court to shut down Polymarket gambling
New York sued Polymarket today, alleging that it runs an "illegal gambling operation" through its prediction market. “By running an unlicensed gambling operation, Polymarket has done more than just knowingly violate state law, they have put New Yorkers at risk, especially those underage who are most vulnerable to problem gaming," Governor Kathy Hochul said in a press release announcing the lawsuit. Polymarket is "sidestepping its obligation to pay taxes like licensed casinos and mobile sports gambling platforms do," New York said.

Kalshi Admits That It Took a Random Guy's Video and Used AI to Make Him the Host of an Ad, Changing His Race in the Process
YouTuber Elliott Choy found that one of his videos was turned into a race-swapped YouTube ad by prediction platform Kalshi.

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton keeps opinions to herself in Senate hearing
Senators focused on asking Overton about vaccines, abortion, and vapes.

Michigan basketball gets a massive win: Roddy Gayle awarded a fifth year by judge in critical court case
Gayle winning his singular case is both huge for the Wolverines and, perhaps, a sign of things to come next month in other cases
Susan Sarandon, Hannah Einbinder arrested at Netanyahu UN protest
Susan Sarandon and Hannah Einbinder were among about 100 protesters arrested outside the UN ahead of Netanyahu’s speech.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville Says ‘Deranged’ Furry Culture Is Flight Safety Risk
Tuberville began targeting the furry community this week, criticizing it during a Senate floor speech Tuesday.

Hundreds attend Jacob Elordi lookalike competition
The contest, organised by a group from the University of Bristol, included an Australian accent round.
Meet the next wave of VCs judging Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Meet the next wave of VCs judging the Startup Battlefield 200 contenders on the main stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Register by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. PT, to save up to $200 and to get a front-row seat to one of the most intense startup pitch competitions.

OpenAI agent “didn’t accept no for an answer” in Australian government breach
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government is investigating a June incident in which an OpenAI agent accessed "non-public files" from the country's online Medicare statistics portal. OpenAI said in a statement that "our models took actions we did not intend" in causing the breach, which it only recently disclosed to the Australian government. Speaking in New York on Wednesday, Albanese said three other public health statistics systems also "may have been impacted" across Australian federal and state governments.

Dogs pay more attention to consonants than vowels when we speak
A dog being prepared for an EEG measurement by researcher Boglárka MorvaiSarolta Szilágyi When dogs hear their owners speak, they are listening for consonants in words rather than vowels, a new study suggests, apparently mimicking a similar human bias that is found across many languages. Although dogs don’t have language, they live in a speech-rich environment, says Attila Andics at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary. “We knew from our previous studies that dogs care about what we speak and how we speak, but until now there was no evidence that dogs’ experience with speech can actual

Pharmalittle: We're reading about the FDA commissioner nominee, a Lilly partnership in China, and more
During a Senate hearing today, Heidi Overton, the nominee to lead the FDA, plans to emphasize the need for speed and efficiency to compete with China

College football odds, picks, predictions for Week 4, 2026: Computer likes Colorado, USC
SportsLine's model has revealed its 2026 Week 4 college football picks for Texas vs. Tennessee, LSU vs. Texas A&M and every other game
Netanyahu blames ‘juvenile delinquents’ for violence in occupied West Bank
As spoke at the UN, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

‘Drawn Together’ And ‘El Juicio’ Lead Prime Video Charts
Spanish-language titles dominate Prime Video, filling eight of the film Top 10 and topping both non-English lists.

Before Resident Evil, Austin Abrams Played A Villain On TV's Ultimate Zombie Series - TVLine
A decade before appearing in 2026's Resident Evil movie, Austin Abrams played Ron, a troubled kid with a serious grudge, on The Walking Dead.
Bring your co-founder, partner, or colleague and get 50% off a second TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 pass
Buy one pass to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 and get 50% off a second of the same ticket type. Register before event starts on October 13 at 8 a.m. PT.

Google's first Suncatcher orbital data center test launches October 1
Google is taking its first step toward making Project Suncatcher a reality. Announced last year, Suncatcher is Google's "moonshot" effort to design orbital AI data centers, which AI boosters like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have pitched as an alternative to divisive terrestrial data centers. Google's first experimental satellite will launch on October 1 with the aim of validating Google's vision for a constellation of AI satellites. The satellite, dubbed MVP, is about the size of a refrigerator.

US' anti-submarine ops to get boost as tiltrotor deploys undersea sensors
The new test validated the Osprey as an alternative platform for the Navy's sonobuoy quality assurance program, boosting operational readiness and laying the groundwork for expanded tactical employment across the fleet.

Senate Finance committee backs Chris Klomp, advancing him to full Senate vote
Klomp, a behind-the-scenes HHS power player, is likely to be confirmed as second-in-command to RFK Jr.
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Trump and Xi hold critical talks at White House summit
US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington for talks on trade, AI, Taiwan and Iran.

William Shatner, Taking Back Sunday And Mud As Riot Fest 2026 Wraps Up
Despite a lot of mud, Riot Fest 2026 wrapped up in Chicago with sets by Patti Smith, Elvis Costello, Sincere Engineer, The Format and a surreal set from William Shatner.

Rapper Macklemore announces 'Free Palestine' tour after Ed Sheeran fallout
Proceeds from the tour, which begins in Dublin next month, will go to organisations supporting Palestinians, he says.