Technology & Science news summaries
Essential facts and source links for recent technology & science stories.
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Expert says WhatsApp helps UK job scammers keep targets engaged
Some UK residents report several daily calls or messages from ordinary-looking mobile numbers, offering part-time work or urging them to add the caller on WhatsApp. A cybersecurity expert says the aim is to keep chats going; a data breach is possible, not established. -
Robots reshape Carrara marble carving and raise questions about artistic authorship
Robotic arms in Italy’s Carrara quarries carve complex marble sculptures from digital designs, taking on as much as 99% of the carving, says developer Giacomo Massari. The process leaves skilled workers to refine the work and raises questions about artistic authorship. -
Report links Dahua cameras to some Leapmotor C10s sold in Australia
Australia removed hundreds of Dahua cameras from federal sites in 2023; some Leapmotor C10s sold there reportedly use the company’s cameras. Former cybersecurity adviser Alastair MacGibbon warns the cars’ six connected cameras could pose surveillance risks. -
Instinct founder says apparent data leak was an AI hallucination
After a user posted screenshots showing Instinct discussing a photo they said they had never sent and claiming it had “crossed into” their chat, founder Noah Shinn called the exchange a hallucination, saying no data breach occurred and no user data was shared. -
XGIMI MIRA review: $1,699 UST projector pairs rich color with strong contrast
A review of XGIMI’s $1,699 MIRA ultra-short-throw projector found vivid RGB-laser color, strong dark-scene contrast and responsive gaming. Its 4K UHD image is produced by pixel shifting from a 1080p DLP chip, not a native 4K panel. -
Dan Ives praises Alexandr Wang’s playful posts about Meta’s Muse
Meta AI chief Alexandr Wang’s meme-heavy Muse posts have drawn viral attention; analyst Dan Ives called him “a special one.” Ives said Wang’s X banter reflects Meta’s culture and acquisition strategy, and argued big tech needs an entrepreneurial spirit to compete in AI. -
Britain urged to lead on AI with safeguards, not more red tape
A Telegraph column argues Britain should resist more AI red tape and instead fund protections and isolated systems for critical national infrastructure, while using its AI talent and record of brokering agreements to shape global cooperation. -
Turnitin sets September 2027 as earliest date for licence changes
Turnitin says it will not update licence terms before 1 September 2027. York's students' union says planned changes could allow student work to train AI models; the university will review any changes, while Southampton is phasing out the service. -
Study reports Mount Elgon elephants mix medicinal plants with milk for young
Researchers report that Mount Elgon's cave elephants in Kenya use medicinal plants for their young: mothers were seen chewing roots and leaves and mixing them with breast milk. The team believes the herds use at least 35 plant species. -
Vivo's wireless Camera Screen adds remote controls to the X500
Vivo’s Camera Screen is a wireless AMOLED viewfinder for the X500 series that doubles as a touchscreen remote, letting users frame selfies and control camera modes, zoom and focus from a tripod. A T3 writer says early tests worked smoothly over Bluetooth. -
iOS 27.2 beta hints Apple is still developing an iPhone anti-snatch lock
Apple left anti-snatching protection out of iOS 27, but code found in the iOS 27.2 beta suggests the feature is still in development. Possible lock triggers include sudden acceleration and extended loss of Apple Watch or network connections. -
A month with Pixel 11 Pro XL: sturdy build, long battery, camera limits
After a month with Google’s Pixel 11 Pro XL, an Android Central reviewer found it improved on predecessors, with a tougher build, day-plus battery and polished software, but unreliable connections and cameras that struggled with product photos in poor light. -
Alibaba Cloud sets a 2032 goal to exceed 20 GW in global data-center capacity
At the Sept. 22 Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu said Alibaba Cloud aims to exceed 20 gigawatts of global data-center capacity by 2032. Mass production of the Zhenwu V900 AI chip is now scheduled for Q1 2027, moved up from Q3 2027. -
A Yellowstone super-eruption scenario traces ashfall and global climate impacts
In a hypothetical worst case, a Yellowstone super-eruption could spread ash across North America, disrupting power, transport, water and food supplies; sulfur dioxide aerosols could temporarily cool the climate. The scenario is not a forecast of an imminent eruption. -
Nikon’s $1,400 Z5IIC puts Z5II features in a smaller body, minus the EVF
Nikon’s $1,400 Z5IIC puts the Z5II’s 24.5MP full-frame sensor and many features in a smaller body, $450 below the Z5II’s current MSRP, but drops the electronic viewfinder and second card slot. DPReview says it retains capable autofocus, stabilization and video. -
Nikon unveils viewfinder-free Z5 II C, priced from £1,349
Nikon has announced the Z5 II C, a smaller, lighter full-frame camera without a viewfinder, starting at £1,349 / AU$2,399 and due on sale in mid-October. It shares the Z5 II’s 24.5MP sensor but has one card slot instead of two; US pricing is unannounced. -
Brockovich urges residents to monitor AI data-center zoning plans
Erin Brockovich is urging residents to watch local zoning decisions as AI data-center proposals spread, warning that private meetings, nondisclosure agreements and rezoning can move projects forward before communities have a meaningful chance to weigh in. -
Researcher’s database nears 2,000 AI hallucinations caught in court
Researcher Damien Charlotin’s database is nearing 2,000 AI hallucinations caught in court, including fake cases, quotes and legal arguments. Vectara tests put top commercial models at 3–5% hallucinations and some lower-ranked models at about one in five attempts. -
AI risk work was underway at three eMerge firms before Dario Amodei’s warning
At eMerge Americas, AE Studio, Zylon AI and GovSignals described AI risk efforts underway before Dario Amodei warned AI could outpace human control: alignment research, private deployments for regulated clients and software that can switch among language models. -
Researchers drill Turkey's Durupınar formation, still unproven as an Ark site
Researchers have begun core drilling at Turkey’s boat-shaped Durupınar Formation, which an expedition is investigating as a possible Noah’s Ark site. The team reports underground anomalies, but evidence has not established that the formation is man-made or the biblical vessel. -
Belgian safety group reports Tesla FSD speeding and prohibited cyclist-pass attempts
Belgian safety group Johanna.be says Tesla’s Full Self-Driving exceeded speed limits in most 30 km/h zones tested around Brussels, averaging 44 km/h; videos reportedly showed attempts to pass cyclists on streets where overtaking is prohibited. -
Meta announces camera-free smartglasses and a new VR headset at Connect
At its Sept. 23 Connect keynote, Meta announced new smartglasses, including a camera-free pair, and a VR headset that the author says could rival Apple Vision Pro. Meta stressed privacy features, while the article argues that companies should prepare for workplace use. -
Anthropic CEO Amodei says AI may help cure most diseases in 5–10 years
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts AI could help cure most diseases within five to 10 years. The company says Claude helped find a molecular machine that may be a new gene-editing mechanism, though its function and significance remain unclear. -
Tesla shows 16-stall Accordion Supercharger designed to cut installation costs by 20%
Tesla has shown its first Accordion Supercharger, a preassembled 16-stall unit shipped on one truck and designed for 20% lower installation costs and commissioning without a technician. It could help address slower network growth as BYD expands fast charging in China. -
After seven years, researchers confirm a new egg-eating snake species in Ethiopia
Researchers identified Dasypeltis albigularis, a new snake species from Ethiopia’s Harenna Forest that feeds exclusively on bird eggs. It swallows eggs whole, then cracks their shells with modified throat vertebrae; the species is harmless to humans. -
St. Lucie County orders permits revoked for 52 readers, finds three unpermitted cameras
St. Lucie County ordered permits for 52 roadside license-plate readers revoked and told officials to give known parties 30 days to remove them. Staff found three cameras at locations without permits; the county attorney was still drafting removal letters. -
Meta unveils camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio glasses amid privacy backlash
Meta has introduced Ray-Ban Meta Audio, camera-free smart glasses for calls and music. The launch comes amid privacy backlash over camera-equipped models; the company says the new version has been in development for two years, not rushed out in response. -
Lashing rods and twist locks help secure cargo ship containers
Cargo ships secure containers with lashing rods and twist locks; heavier boxes generally sit lower, while turnbuckles and braces stabilize stacks. Containers can still fall overboard despite these precautions, and hatch covers protect cargo in the hold. -
Palantir subsidiary wins $48.1M deal to consolidate Army ammo platforms
The U.S. Army awarded a Palantir Technologies subsidiary $48.1 million to develop ammunition-management software that will consolidate nine legacy platforms. Development is set to take 12 months, followed by five years of support.
