Plus: The NSA tests Anthropic’s Mythos Preview to find vulnerabilities, a Finnish teen is charged over the Scattered Spider hacking spree, and more
For decades, psychologists have debated whether the human mind can be explained by one unified theory or must be broken into separate parts like memory and attention。 A recent AI model called Centaur seemed to offer a breakthrough, claiming it could mimic human thinking across 160 different cognitive tasks。 But new research is challenging that bold
Scientists have created tiny “optical tornadoes” — swirling beams of light that twist like miniature whirlwinds — using a surprisingly simple setup based on liquid crystals。 Instead of relying on complex nanotechnology, the team used self-organizing structures called torons to trap and manipulate light, causing it to spiral and rotate in intricate
Physicists have taken a major step toward using AI not just to analyze data, but to uncover entirely new laws of nature。 By combining a specially designed neural network with precise 3D tracking of particles in a dusty plasma—a strange “fourth state of matter” found from space to wildfires—the team revealed hidden patterns in how particles interact
Scientists have pulled off a first: teleporting a photon’s state between two separate quantum dots。 This was done over a 270-meter open-air link, proving quantum information can travel between independent devices。 The achievement marks a key step toward building quantum networks for ultra-secure communication
A massive cosmic milestone has just been reached: scientists have completed the largest high-resolution 3D map of the universe ever created。 Built using data from over 47 million galaxies and quasars, this map could unlock new clues about dark energy—the mysterious force driving the universe’s expansion。 Despite setbacks like wildfire disruptions,
A new AI-driven method called GOFLOW is turning weather satellite images into highly detailed maps of ocean currents。 By tracking how temperature patterns shift over time, it can reveal fast-moving, small-scale currents that were previously impossible to observe directly。 These currents are key to understanding climate, marine ecosystems, and carbo
Astronomers have unleashed a powerful new AI tool called RAVEN to comb through data from NASA’s TESS mission—and it’s paying off in a big way。 By analyzing millions of stars, the system has confirmed over 100 exoplanets, including 31 brand-new worlds, and identified thousands more promising candidates。 What makes this especially exciting is the dis
Curiosity has detected a surprising variety of organic molecules on Mars, including compounds tied to the chemistry of life。 Some of these molecules may be billions of years old, preserved in ancient clay-rich rocks that once held water。 One standout find resembles building blocks of DNA, raising exciting questions about Mars’ past
Researchers have, for the first time, directly visualized how electronic patterns known as charge density waves evolve across a phase transition。 Using cutting-edge microscopy, they found these patterns form unevenly, breaking into patches influenced by tiny structural distortions。 Unexpectedly, small pockets of order persist even above the transit
A mysterious cosmic explosion has astronomers buzzing, as a strange event may hint at an entirely new kind of stellar cataclysm。 After detecting ripples in space-time, scientists spotted a fast-fading red glow that initially looked like a rare kilonova—the kind of collision that forges gold and uranium。 But just days later, the signal shifted, beha
Scientists have discovered unexpected water-ice clouds on a distant, Jupiter-like exoplanet, challenging current atmospheric models。 By directly imaging Epsilon Indi Ab with the James Webb Space Telescope, they found less ammonia than expected—likely hidden by thick, patchy clouds。 The finding reveals new layers of complexity in giant planets and s