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26 Oct 2026

ScienceControversialSensational

Key takeaways

Worms mate in man’s eyes, get plucked out right before larvae burst out
Case study gives a whole new meaning to "bedroom eyes."
1. 1. Doctors pulled 11 living, wriggling worms from a 71-year-old crop farmer's eyes in South Korea.
1. 2. The worms were identified as Thelazia callipaeda nematodes, which primarily infest animal eyes but can infect humans.
1. 3. The man narrowly avoided having the pregnant female worms spew their loads of living larvae directly into his eyes.

ATArs Technica

26 Oct 2026

Current EventsControversialEthical Concerns

Key takeaways

ICE plan to buy robot dogs spurs protest from hundreds of Boston Dynamics employees
US robotics company stands by ICE deal as more than 300 employees warn of risk.
1. 1. Hundreds of employees at Boston Dynamics signed a petition to halt the sale of robot dogs to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
1. 2. Boston Dynamics executives stated the robots would not be weaponized and are intended to help keep people out of harm's way, regardless of political implications.
1. 3. Employees expressed concerns that the ICE contract will threaten workforce hiring and retention, making Boston Dynamics a less attractive employer.

ATArs Technica

26 Oct 2026

Current EventsControversialGeopolitics

Key takeaways

Musk accuses Ukraine of violating Starlink terms with deadly drone strikes
Ukraine says Starshield back to normal, denies misuse of Starlink commercial service.
1. 1. Elon Musk accused Ukraine of violating Starlink terms of service by using it for lethal drone strikes.
1. 2. Ukraine officials denied Musk's accusation and said previous limits imposed by SpaceX already prevented Ukraine’s military from using Starlink in the way Musk described.
1. 3. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over the weekend that the new satellite restrictions have been lifted, possibly ending a controversy that began almost two weeks ago.

ATArs Technica

26 Oct 2026

Current EventsInvestigativeCrime

Key takeaways

Highway thieves are spoofing GPS to steal millions in data center-bound cargo
Investigators explain how highway thieves stole $100M in data center equipment.
1. 1. Highway thieves are using sophisticated digital tactics, including GPS spoofing and account hacking, to steal millions in data center equipment.
1. 2. Since June, thieves have made away with more than $100 million in data center freight.
1. 3. The thefts involve targeting servers, fiber-optic cables, computer memory chips, copper wires, and bitcoin mining machines, with potential broad harm to consumers.

ATArs Technica

26 Oct 2026

SportsControversialExpert

Key takeaways

F1 in Texas: The American race that fans love to attend
Ars spends the weekend with the Audi Revolut F1 team at the Circuit of the Americas.
1. 1. The Circuit of the Americas in Austin is a popular F1 venue, appreciated for its permanent track design and challenging layout.
1. 2. Audi's F1 team, in its first year, is focused on development and consistent Q3 performance, with a long-term roadmap towards 2030.
1. 3. The article touches on the complexities of F1 hybrid power units and energy management, noting that while automated, adaptation to race conditions is crucial.

ATArs Technica

26 Oct 2026

BusinessFuture TechMarket Disruption

Key takeaways

Tesla gave up the EV crown. Now it wants to win the autonomy race.
Tesla hopes autonomy subscriptions can deliver the margins car sales cannot.
1. 1. Tesla is pivoting from a car sales model to one focused on recurring revenue from software and AI-powered services, particularly autonomous driving.
1. 2. Automakers are seeking to move beyond a business model centered on vehicle sales towards one that also generates recurring revenues from software and AI-powered services.
1. 3. Despite ceding its position as the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer to BYD, Musk claims Tesla remains ahead of Chinese competitors in autonomous technology.

ATArs Technica

26 Oct 2026

TechExpertOriginal

Key takeaways

From impulse purchase to pocket studio: The M-Vave FM-1
M-Vave's cheap FM-1 pocket synth has exploded as a community firmware playground.
1. 1. The M-Vave FM-1, initially a budget synthesizer, has been transformed into a versatile platform through community-driven open-source firmware development.
1. 2. Custom firmware allows the FM-1 to run games like Doom, emulate classic synthesizers such as the Casio CZ-1 and Yamaha DX7, and function as a multi-track groovebox.
1. 3. While the FM-1 offers significant potential for customization, users must proceed with caution due to the risk of 'bricking' the device during firmware flashing.

ATArs Technica

24 Oct 2026

ScienceExpertOriginal

Key takeaways

A 1,000-mile cloud on Mars may reveal physics never seen in nature
A new model suggests Mars may host ice-forming physics never directly observed before.
1. 1. A 1,000-mile cloud on Mars may reveal physics never seen in nature.
1. 2. Scientists have been unable to find a plausible explanation for the existence of this cloud, often referred to as the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC).
1. 3. The new study, published in Nature Geoscience, instead suggests AMEC could be forming through so-called homogeneous nucleation, where vapor changes directly into ice crystals on its own without any help from debris.

ATArs Technica

24 Oct 2026

ScienceResearchEnvironmental

Key takeaways

Ice sheet expansion may have started 2,000 years ago, but we canceled that
The tiny remains of the Laurentide Ice Sheet began getting somewhat less tiny.
1. 1. The Laurentide Ice Sheet began re-expanding roughly 2,000 years ago, indicating the start of the next glaciation.
1. 2. Human-caused climate warming, particularly since 1960, reversed this natural ice sheet expansion.
1. 3. The Barnes Ice Cap is now melting rapidly, with no accumulation zone, and is projected to disappear within centuries.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

TechTechnologyGovernment

Key takeaways

NASA updates lander plans for Moon landings, finally solves long-festering Orion issue
"We have the mandate, we have the resources, and the support from our stakeholders."
1. 1. NASA has updated its Artemis program plans, aiming for lunar landings by 2028, with revised architectures for SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's landers.
1. 2. The revised plan calls for the Orion spacecraft to dock with the Starship lunar lander in high-Earth orbit before transiting to the Moon.
1. 3. NASA is working with United Launch Alliance to develop an 'extended' version of the Centaur V upper stage to allow Orion to reach low-lunar orbit.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

PoliticsNational SecurityRegulation

Key takeaways

Hegseth warns prediction market bets warp military judgment, endanger troops
Pentagon memo: Insider trading gives US enemies key intel on military operations.
1. 1. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo warning military personnel against using nonpublic information to make bets on prediction markets, saying the wagers could give important clues to enemy countries.
1. 2. Our enemies watch movements in these markets. When an American Service member, intelligence professional, or other Department civilian engages in a financial transaction on a military outcome, they create a signal.
1. 3. The lives of our Service members often depend on the enemy not knowing what is coming. The men and women who carry our flag into harm’s way deserve a Force that protects them—not one that exposes them to the enemy for personal gain.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

TechPrivacyTech Policy

Key takeaways

Updated Google privacy policy says your Gmail might be used for advertising
Turning on Personal Intelligence gives the company more data for ad targeting.
1. 1. Google's updated privacy policy allows data from services like Gmail and Photos to be used for ad personalization when connected through opt-in features like Personal Intelligence.
1. 2. While Google states ads won't be based directly on personal data, data shared with AI tools via Personal Intelligence could inform ad targeting.
1. 3. Users concerned about their data informing ads need to ensure Personal Intelligence is turned off, which involves disabling connected apps in Gemini or Google account settings.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

ScienceExpertOriginal

Key takeaways

Crows can evaluate visual info twice as fast as mammals
Birds' compact nervous system seems to help them handle tasks very quickly.
1. 1. Crows can evaluate visual information twice as fast as mammals, using the same mathematical logic despite having a very different brain structure.
1. 2. The crows solved the task the same way primates do, using the same mathematical logic despite having a very different brain structure.
1. 3. The crows averaged 235 milliseconds, while in closely matched versions of the task, monkeys took roughly 410, 490, and 600 milliseconds.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

BusinessIndustry AnalysisPolicy Impact

Key takeaways

Intel gets waiver after worries fuzzy US ban on foreign-made robots may hit fabs
Company says foreign-made robotic vehicles are crucial to US chip production.
1. 1. Intel received a one-year waiver from the FCC ban on foreign-made robots to continue using automated guided vehicles in its US chip fabs.
1. 2. The company cited the critical nature of these robots for domestic manufacturing and the lack of US-made alternatives.
1. 3. The ban's ambiguity and potential negative impacts on the US robotics industry are also discussed.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

Current EventsControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

RFK Jr.’s vaccine injury clinic could damage NIH hospital, board warns
"Trust is slow to build and quick to lose," board chair Jack Leslie said.
1. 1. RFK Jr.'s vaccine injury clinic could damage the NIH hospital's reputation, according to the board overseeing it.
1. 2. Board chair Jack Leslie condemned the optics of Kennedy's ribbon-cutting ceremony, particularly the signs labeling patients 'vaccine injured.'
1. 3. Leslie feared that the stunt sends a political message that will undermine trust that the hospital has worked to earn and maintain for over 70 years.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

BusinessControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

The reactor meant to showcase nuclear’s comeback keeps hitting problems
A contractor fell into a reactor cavity and a bundle of fuel rods almost fell over.
1. 1. US regulators have issued a warning to Holtec International, a company racing to reopen a shuttered reactor at the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, after a contractor fell into a reactor cavity and a bundle of fuel rods nearly tipped over during refuelling.
1. 2. The warning has prompted concerns among critics that financial and political pressures to revitalise nuclear power as an answer to booming AI-driven energy demand are increasing risks of accidents.
1. 3. The NRC told Holtec its concerns about workplace culture must be addressed promptly to prevent further “cultural decline” within the affected departments.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

Current EventsInvestigativeTechnology

Key takeaways

Ukraine learns to fight without Starlink as Musk plays politics with satellites
Ukraine has changed drones and war-fighting tech to reduce reliance on Starlink.
1. 1. Ukraine is actively developing and implementing communication alternatives to Starlink due to its increasing unreliability and perceived political influence by Elon Musk.
1. 2. Ukrainian defense companies are diversifying their technologies, integrating solutions like fiber-optic cables, LTE/5G networks, and laser-based optical communication to ensure operational continuity.
1. 3. The disruptions to Starlink have highlighted the strategic importance of independent and redundant communication systems for Ukraine's defense capabilities.

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

EntertainmentControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

Review: Crystal Lake suffers a bit from its obsession with Pam Voorhees
The Peacock series 'Crystal Lake' reimagines Pamela Voorhees' backstory, shifting the timeline and adding corporate intrigue. Showrunner Brad Caleb Kane aimed for a character-rich, emotionally resonant prequel, fulfilling Betsy Palmer's wish for a deeper Pam. The series gradually incorporates horror elements, eventually embracing the 'Friday the 13th' spirit with detailed gore and homages.
1. 1. Crystal Lake strives to build a drama that’s half homage, half uncharted territory, while giving a long-awaited backstory to Pamela Voorhees.
1. 2. The original villain in the first film, Pam Voorhees, shocked audiences in 1980 by popping up out of nowhere in the midst of a brutal camp counselor killing spree, then confronting the final girl with a Norman Bates-like delivery of the movie’s chilling tagline, “Kill her, mommy,” using the voice of her drowned son, Jason.
1. 3. Kane told Daily Dead that when he spoke to Linda Cardellini about portraying Pam in Crystal Lake, she agreed that the character must be played in “protective mama bear mode” because “it all goes back to Jason, her love for Jason, and her dedication to Jason.”

ATArs Technica

23 Oct 2026

TechIndustry NewsSpace Exploration

Key takeaways

Rocket Report: SpaceX says no thanks to military launches; Spanish rocket nearly ready
"We believe Canada should be able to reach orbit on its own terms."
1. 1. SpaceX declined to offer its services for three future Space Force satellite missions, and no other rocket companies offered to take them either.
1. 2. PLD Space now targets a first flight of the small-lift vehicle before mid-2027.
1. 3. Japan launched a $578 million mission Monday on a five-year expedition to land on the largest moon of Mars and retrieve samples for return to Earth.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

TechTechnicalBusiness

Key takeaways

Disgraced eMudhra drops out of TLS business after using cert private key of 4
Flubbed key signing "ceremony" allowed minting of web credentials for any site.
1. 1. eMudhra is exiting the TLS certificate business following a security incident where it issued eight intermediate TLS credentials with critically weak private encryption keys.
1. 2. The company cited increasing compliance costs, the low revenue generated by the TLS business (1 percent of total revenue), and the availability of free TLS certificates as reasons for withdrawal.
1. 3. A flaw in a Key Generation Ceremony (KGC) caused a wrap/unwrap step to produce a second set of weak keys alongside the original strong keys, with the weak keys being published to browser root stores.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

EntertainmentGamingIndustry News

Key takeaways

Leaked Mass Effect: Universe trailer gives a taste of what we’re all missing
We can't have nice things, but at least we can get trailers for them.
1. 1. A leaked trailer for the canceled Mass Effect: Universe game provides a glimpse into its potential gameplay and narrative.
1. 2. The cancellation of Mass Effect: Universe and the closure of BioWare have led to significant disappointment among developers and fans.
1. 3. Despite the game's cancellation, the Mass Effect universe will still be represented on streaming TV screens with a series in active development.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

Arts & CultureExpertOriginal

Key takeaways

Ink droplets in motion snag top prize in Nikon Small World contest
Ole Bielfeldt of Germany captured a microscopic view of an inkjet printer depositing ink onto paper.
1. 1. Ole Bielfeldt won the 2026 Nikon Small World photomicrography competition with an image of ink droplets being deposited on paper by an inkjet printer.
1. 2. Bielfeldt captured the image by deconstructing the printer, moving the paper under a stationary printhead, and using a flash as a shutter to freeze the ink drops mid-air.
1. 3. The Nikon Small World competition, founded in 1974, celebrates its 52nd anniversary and aims to showcase the beauty and complexity of things seen through the light microscope.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

PoliticsControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

“Disillusioned” MAHA leader quits as Trump admin’s food agenda spoils: Report
The departure comes amid turmoil in Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again movement.
1. 1. Calley Means resigned from his role in the Trump administration Thursday, reportedly in frustration over delays to food policy changes sought by the Make America Healthy Again movement.
1. 2. Sources close to Means told The Wall Street Journal that he had grown frustrated in the position.
1. 3. Means reportedly blamed other members of the administration for allowing the food industry and special interests to have too much sway in policy decisions.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

PoliticsControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

Meta shocked by $25B fine after N.M. refused to join multistate settlement
Meta will appeal a ruling imposing the largest fine Mark Zuckerberg has ever seen.
1. 1. Meta must pay $25 billion to New Mexico after a jury found the tech giant guilty of nearly 44 million violations of state consumer protection laws.
1. 2. The largest fine to ever hit Meta came after New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez declined to join an $18 billion settlement Meta reached earlier this year with attorneys general in nearly all states.
1. 3. Meta will appeal, Legal experts told Reuters the company has a decent chance at slashing the fine on appeal based on constitutional claims.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

Current EventsControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

US-backed vaccine trial on babies canceled after international outcry
The decried trial was canceled last week before police seized vaccine doses.
1. 1. Government officials in Guinea-Bissau have formally rejected a clinical trial that would be run by Danish researchers and funded by the US to look for alleged nonspecific harms from the newborn dose of the hepatitis B vaccine.
1. 2. The World Health Organization and many outside experts have sharply disagreed with Stabell Benn and her colleagues on the trial’s justifications and design.
1. 3. Outrage erupted over the trial after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in December that it had awarded an unsolicited grant of $1.6 million to Bandim Health, which Stabell Benn runs with her husband Peter Aaby.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

BusinessControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

Forget “Malaise 2.0,” GM says it’s still all-in on EVs and autonomy
General Motors' plans will require quite a lot of customers' trust.
1. 1. GM executives announced that its hands-off, eyes-off Super Cruise technology will expand across the lineup and be available on nearly every vehicle.
1. 2. GM also announced its Gen-4 EV architecture based on LMR battery technology.
1. 3. Trust continues to be the key. Anderson knows that must be earned, and trust is difficult to get back if it’s broken.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

TechTechnicalSecurity

Key takeaways

333 Tor exit nodes hijacked to intercept SSH traffic and retrieve plaintext email
For 3 days this month, 333 exit nodes were hacked in hopes of stealing sensitive data.
1. 1. Unknown hackers hijacked more than 300 Tor exit nodes and reconfigured them to favor unencrypted email traffic and redirect SSH connections through servers they controlled.
1. 2. Ultimately, 333 exit relays were involved in the SSH and email interception campaign, although investigators haven’t established how the attackers gained control of all the underlying servers.
1. 3. The takeaway from the event is the crucial role in-depth defense plays in preventing data theft in mass hacks like this one.

ATArs Technica

22 Oct 2026

Current EventsData-DrivenUrgent

Key takeaways

UN says we’re going to blow past 1.5º warming, offers a “now what?” answer
Best case is now an overshoot to 1.8º C, accompanied by massive carbon removal.
1. 1. Decades of insufficient climate action makes exceedance of 1.5° C unavoidable.
1. 2. The task now, therefore, is not only to ensure that global warming stays well below 2°C, but to minimize the duration and magnitude of overshoot and establish a credible return path to 1.5° C by the end of the century.
1. 3. The scenario it lays out has a 66 percent chance of keeping warming to a maximum of 1.8° C above preindustrial temperatures, and to have even odds that we can have temperatures back down below 1.5° by the century's end.

ATArs Technica

21 Oct 2026

TechCritical AnalysisConsumer Focus

Key takeaways

Xbox wants you to pay 24 to 40 cents per hour to stream games you already bought
Time-based a la carte charges come on top of the purchase price for the games themselves.
1. 1. Xbox is rolling out a la carte Cloud Playtime purchases for non-subscribers, allowing them to stream owned games by the hour.
1. 2. Introductory launch pricing ranges from $0.24/hour for 50 hours to $0.40/hour for 10 hours.
1. 3. These streaming costs come on top of whatever you paid to buy the game in the first place.

ATArs Technica

21 Oct 2026

BusinessControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

Enterprises keep buying software upgrades that IT thinks will make things worse
Survey of 2,018 IT heads at big firms points to a lack of leverage.
1. 1. Enterprise-sized businesses spend, on average, 28 percent of their software budgets on unwanted upgrades, migrations, and licensing changes.
1. 2. Ninety-five percent of respondents said “their organization has paid for a vendor-driven upgrade, migration, or licensing change in the past three years that it believed at the time would reduce performance, reliability, or business value,” the report says.
1. 3. The market has left some of the most experienced technology leaders in the world with little room to refuse, and that cost shows up in budgets, in engineering time, and in innovation that never gets funded.

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