Pennsylvania May Soon Designate a New ‘Migratory Bird’
What do you think? Is it okay to have two state birds? Our game bird is the Ruff Grouse
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| The Scarlet Tanager. |
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| The Ruffed Grouse. |
Friday, April 17, 2026
Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline restored to full capacity
Saudi Arabia says East-West pipeline restored to full capacity (Thanks to Finn for this one)
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| A dehydrator vessel pipe at the Khurais Processing Department in the Khurais oil field in Khurais, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, June 28, 2021. Maya Siddiqui/Bloomberg via Getty Images |
Thousands of Lebanese Try to Head Home After Israel-Lebanon Truce
Thousands of Lebanese Try to Head Home After Israel-Lebanon Truce (Thanks to Matte for this one)
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia Israeli forces are battling in Lebanon, avoided mention of the 10-day cease-fire but appeared to be adhering to it. A truce could remove an obstacle in U.S.-Iran peace talks.
She Made Sure Her Baby Was Born an American. Then Federal Agents Separated Them.
She Made Sure Her Baby Was Born an American. Then Federal Agents Separated Them. (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
Diana Acosta Verde, who came into the United States illegally when she was six months pregnant, had to leave her baby at a hospital while she returned to a detention center.
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| Diana Acosta Verde and her baby, Gael, at a farm in Honduras owned by her partner’s family earlier this month.Credit...Daniele Volpe for The New York Times |
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines
Hampshire College Will Close Amid Student Enrollment Declines
Other small private colleges like Hampshire have closed in recent years as financial pressures and competition for students increase. Over 300 colleges have closed since 2008 in the U.S.
More than a quarter of private colleges are at risk of closing, a new projection shows
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| Hampshire College’s campus in Amherst, Mass.Credit...David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe, via Getty Images |
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| LillyAnne Keely holds a newborn lamb in the barn at Sterling College, which focuses on agriculture and related disciplines. Oliver Parini for The Hechinger Report |
Shakespeare’s long-lost London home is finally found! Congratulations Professor Lucy Munro!
Shakespeare’s long-lost London home is finally found
In the past 100 years, the spot has been an architecture firm, carpet wholesaler, and more.
Shakespeare’s ‘missing’ London house mapped with new discovery
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| Shakespeare likely spent the majority of his later life in Stratford-upon-Avon. Credit: Deposit Photos |
| Professor Lucy Munro, Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Literature at King's College London. |
Ceasefire in Lebanon goes into effect as Trump voices confidence in Iran deal
Ceasefire in Lebanon goes into effect as Trump voices confidence in Iran deal (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
A pause in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed paramilitary group in Lebanon, could help pave the way for a peace deal with Tehran. It was unclear if the agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese government was being honored. Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, acknowledged the temporary truce but did not say if it would abide by it.
Despite Cease-Fire, Iran’s Hackers Haven’t Logged Off
Tehran’s digital warriors have continued to seek ways to gain an advantage in the conflict in a new phase of cyberspace operations.
Iran Is Teaching Us Something About the American War Machine
Military superiority doesn't translate to victory in an age of cheap weaponry and asymmetric warfare.
White House Declines to Offer Congress an Estimate of Iran War Cost
Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said the fluctuating nature of the U.S.-Israeli war made it difficult to pinpoint expenses.
Pentagon Seeks Help From Ford and G.M.
Concerned about the slow pace and high cost of weapons production, Pentagon officials have begun talks with General Motors and Ford Motor about producing certain parts.
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| Celebratory gunfire illuminated the night sky over Lebanon early Friday after a cease-fire was to have taken effect between Israel and Lebanon.Hassan Ammar/Associated Press |
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| Russell T. Vought, the White House budget director, said he would not give an estimate of the cost of the conflict because he did not want to be inaccurate.Kenny Holston/The New York Times |
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| The Pentagon has met with Ford Motor and General Motors to gauge whether the auto industry may be able to help the military acquire vehicles, munitions and other hardware.Kenny Holston/The New York Times |
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Meet Baggs, the Puppy That Could Save Your Life
Meet Baggs, the Puppy That Could Save Your Life
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| Baggs “likes people, but she also really likes cruising around and sniffing,” said her owner, Rob Brennan, a Jackson Hole ski patroller. |
From Maven to Mythos: A week in AI breakthroughs...or breakdowns
A.I. Has a Message Problem of Its Own Making
OpenAI’s Sam Altman wants to “de-escalate” the rhetoric around A.I. But if you tell people that your product will upend their way of life, take their jobs, and possibly threaten humanity, they might believe you.
How Project Maven Put A.I. Into the Kill Chain
A new book charts the creation of a secretive system that automates warfare for the military. The progression from target identification to target destruction is four clicks.
Misanthropic: on Mythos, bad human behaviors and systems vulnerabilities (JPMorgan Chase)
Our evaluation of Claude Mythos Preview’s cyber capabilities
We conducted cyber evaluations of Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview and found continued improvement in capture-the-flag (CTF) challenges and significant improvement on multi-step cyber-attack simulations.
It’s the End of the Internet as We Know It
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks review – the writing secrets of Stephen King
Monsters in the Archives by Caroline Bicks review – the writing secrets of Stephen King
A deep dive into the horror novelist’s archives reveals pedantry, penny-pinching, and a total redraft of Carrie
Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States
Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States
In a verdict that could have far-reaching consequences in the music industry, the live colossus that includes Ticketmaster was found to have violated antitrust laws.
Paris man wins $1M Picasso painting with $117 raffle ticket after ‘checking for hoax’
Paris man wins $1M Picasso painting with $117 raffle ticket after ‘checking for hoax’ (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)
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| Organizer Peri Cochin talks via video call with Ari Hodara, the winner of the Picasso painting, after the raffle at Christie’s auction house, April 14, 2026. |
Iran Threatens Retaliation Over U.S. Blockade
Iran Threatens Retaliation Over U.S. Blockade
Iran’s armed forces said they would attempt to expand their influence over sea lanes beyond the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. military continued to block Iranian shipping.
Trump’s Blockade Risks Upending an Emerging Détente With China
In a thinly veiled critique of the war in Iran, China’s leader said the world could not risk reverting “to the law of the jungle.”
How China’s Weapons Transfers to Iran Have Evolved Over Decades
China has denied claims this month by U.S. intelligence that it might have shipped arms to Iran. In recent years, China has supported Iran with dual-use parts.
Ship ‘Spoofing’ in Strait of Hormuz May Compound Confusion
A new pattern of deceptive activity by some vessels around the critical waterway suggests the new American blockade is changing how some ships linked to Iran are behaving.
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| A billboard depicting the Strait of Hormuz with a banner that says “Forever in Iran’s hands” in Tehran on Monday.Credit...Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times |
Monday, April 13, 2026
Mutually Automated Destruction: The Escalating Global A.I. Arms Race
Mutually Automated Destruction: The Escalating Global A.I. Arms Race
China, the U.S., Russia and others have ramped up their contest over artificial-intelligence-backed weapons and military systems. The buildup has been compared to the dawn of the nuclear weapons age.
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| Anduril’s autonomous air vehicle, Fury, which recently began production at the company’s new factory outside Columbus, Ohio.Kristian Thacker for The New York Times |
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| An unmanned combat aerial vehicle at a parade for the Chinese military in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in September.Kevin Frayer/Getty Images |
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| A drone mother ship that can launch swarms of smaller drones, shown at the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow.Tingshu Wang/Reuters |
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| Palmer Luckey, the founder of Anduril, which developed A.I.-backed sensor towers to be placed at borders.Philip Cheung for The New York Times |
Defeat of Orban Removes Ukraine’s Biggest Nemesis in Europe
Defeat of Orban Removes Ukraine’s Biggest Nemesis in Europe - The New York Times
The Hungarian leader’s pro-Moscow tilt cemented his reputation in Kyiv as a spoiler. Now, Ukraine hopes a 90 billion euro loan he blocked will be disbursed.
Orban Loss May Ease Hungary’s Tensions with European Union - The New York Times
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stymied the European Union for years, and particularly in recent months. Peter Magyar’s election could change that.
Who Is Peter Magyar, the Man Who Toppled Hungary’s Orban - The New York Times
Mr. Magyar’s success in the Hungarian election is fueled in large part by widespread public anger at corruption and concern about sluggish economic growth.
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Suspect in Hacking of Climate Activists Is Extradited to New York; Emperor Penguins are endangered 🥺
Suspect in Hacking of Climate Activists Is Extradited to New York
Prosecutors say Amit Forlit ran a global hacking operation on behalf of a Washington lobbying group that aimed to thwart environmental lawsuits against oil companies.
Emperor Penguins Are Now Endangered, a New Assessment Finds
Populations are declining as climate change causes the sea ice the birds need for survival to retreat, according to researchers.
Related:
Why Investing in Wind and Solar to Avoid Gas Shocks Hasn’t Added Up for Some
Renewable energy is cheaper to run than fossil fuels, especially with war choking oil supply. But it hasn’t turned out that way for some European countries, and the reason is complex.
McIlroy wins back-to-back Masters; Garcia breaks driver in frustration at Masters, then carries Rahm’s clubs in eventful early pairing
Garcia breaks driver in frustration at Masters, then carries Rahm’s clubs in eventful early pairing (Thanks to Louden for this one)
Related: In the post-Tiger Woods era, Rory McIlroy is the lion golf needs - The Athletic
Would you go to the moon? Board an alien spacecraft? What nearly 80 years of polls say about US attitudes on space
Would you go to the moon? Board an alien spacecraft? What nearly 80 years of polls say about US attitudes on space (Thanks to Finn for this one)
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Astronaut Edward H. White II floats outside the Gemini IV spacecraft on June 3, 1965, in the first American spacewalk. |
What to Know About the Strait of Hormuz Under the Cease-Fire as talks fail; Oil heads north of $100 per barrel
What to Know About the Strait of Hormuz Under the Cease-Fire (Thanks to Graydon for this one)
Vessels are wary of passing the coast of Iran in the strait, given the fragile agreement, and the number of ships traveling through it has even dropped.
Trump Says U.S. Will ‘Blockade’ Strait of Hormuz After No Peace Deal Reached
Vice President JD Vance said that marathon talks between the United States and Iran had failed to produce a deal to fully reopen the strait and end the war. Iran’s top negotiator suggested further talks were possible.
“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!” Mr. Trump said on social media of his planned naval blockade.
President Trump’s announcement of a complete U.S. blockade was his latest effort to pressure Iran to negotiate after direct talks over the weekend did not yield an agreement.
How Iran, Suffering Under Sanctions, Diversified Its Economy - The New York Times
Iran War Live Updates: Oil Climbs Above $100 as U.S. Plans Hormuz Blockade - The New York Times
Related: Chinese Truck Drivers suffer under oil shock
How Tolls in the Strait of Hormuz Would Undercut International Law
Both the U.S. and Iran are now talking about imposing fees on ships using the vital passageway. That could fray a treaty that ended centuries of lawlessness on the high seas.
Thursday, April 9, 2026
Climate Change Denial Sees a Resurgence in Trump’s Washington
Climate Change Denial Sees a Resurgence in Trump’s Washington - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)
A conference near the White House drew hundreds of people who reject the scientific consensus on climate change. The mood was triumphant.
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| William Happer, a Princeton professor emeritus of physics who has argued that global warming is good for humanity, during a presentation at the Heartland Institute’s International Climate Change Conference in Washington on Wednesday.Caroline Gutman for The New York Times |
Thousands of consumer routers hacked by Russia's military + How to check your router 😊
Thousands of consumer routers hacked by Russia's military - Ars Technica (Thanks to Ms. Rodriguez for this one)
It also includes advice about how to check to see if your router is compromised.
Are You Using These TP-Link Routers? Russian Hackers Are Targeting Them | PCMag
NATO in jeopardy; Ceasefire is fragile; China and Russia notch wins
Trump criticises Nato as alliance chief Mark Rutte describes meeting as 'very frank'
NATO Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Spy Plane - Newsweek
China’s Secret Hand in the US-Iran Ceasefire - Newsweek
Former ambassador on the whether the Iran ceasefire will hold and next steps : NPR
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted?
Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted? | The New Yorker
New interviews and closely guarded documents shed light on the persistent doubts about the head of OpenAI.
Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? My Quest to Unmask Bitcoin’s Creator
Who Is Satoshi Nakamoto? My Quest to Unmask Bitcoin’s Creator - The New York Times
Bitcoin’s creator has hidden behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto for 17 years. But a trail of clues buried deep in crypto lore led to a 55-year-old computer scientist named Adam Back.
Adam Back Denies He Is Satoshi Nakamoto in Response to Times Investigation - The New York Times
“Dr. Adam Back has consistently stated that he is not Satoshi Nakamoto,” his company said in a statement. “What is not speculative is Adam’s foundational contribution to Bitcoin.”
4 Takeaways From Our Search for Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s Creator - The New York Times
Here’s what we found suggesting that Adam Back invented Bitcoin.
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| Mr. Back spoke at the Bitcoin2025 conference in Las Vegas last May.Ronda Churchill/Bloomberg |
Anthropic Claims Its New A.I. Model, Mythos, Is a Cybersecurity ‘Reckoning’; This is a warning sign
Anthropic Claims Its New A.I. Model, Mythos, Is a Cybersecurity ‘Reckoning’ - The New York Times
The company said on Tuesday that it was holding back on releasing the new technology but was working with 40 companies to explore how it could prevent cyberattacks.
The new model — known as Claude Mythos Preview — is available to a consortium of more than 40 technology companies, including Apple, Amazon and Microsoft, which will use the model to find and patch security vulnerabilities in critical software programs.
Anthropic said it had no plans to release its new technology more widely, but was announcing the new model’s capabilities in one area in particular — identifying security vulnerabilities in software — in an effort to sound the alarm over what the company believes will be a new, scarier era of A.I. threats.
“The goal is both to raise awareness and to give good actors a head start on the process of securing open-source and private infrastructure and code,” Jared Kaplan, Anthropic’s chief science officer, said in an interview.
Opinion | Anthropic’s Restraint Is a Terrifying Warning Sign - The New York Times
Jim Whittaker, First American to Reach Everest’s Summit, Dies at 97
Jim Whittaker, First American to Reach Everest’s Summit, Dies at 97 - The New York Times
As an executive with the outdoor-supply retailer REI and an experienced climber, he conquered Mount Everest in 1963, when fewer than 10 people were known to have done so.
‘Ketamine Queen’ Sentenced to 15 Years in Matthew Perry’s Overdose Death
‘Ketamine Queen’ Sentenced to 15 Years in Matthew Perry’s Overdose Death - The New York Times
The sentence for Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors say was known to customers as the Ketamine Queen, is the stiffest yet for those charged in the “Friends” star’s death.
Dealer Known as ‘Ketamine Queen’ to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry Case - The New York Times
Jasveen Sangha will plead guilty to selling the ketamine that killed the “Friends” star, prosecutors said. She could face decades in prison.
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| Jasveen Sangha in a photo taken from her Instagram account. |
In 20 Minutes, Gilgo Beach Killer Admits to Murdering 8 Women; Gilgo Beach Killer’s ‘Unusual’ Deal Could Help Solve Other Murders
Gilgo Beach Killer’s ‘Unusual’ Deal Could Help Solve Other Murders - The New York Times
Rex Heuermann agreed to talk to behavioral analysts at the F.B.I. when he pleaded guilty. The unit has interviewed Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Richard Speck.
Suspect in Gilgo Beach Murders Pleads Guilty - The New York Times
Rex Heuermann had been charged with killing at least seven women on Long Island. He was arrested in 2023, more than a decade after the first bodies were found.
In 20 Minutes, Gilgo Beach Killer Admits to Murdering 8 Women - The New York Times
As he pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Rex Heuermann gave the same one-word answer each time he was asked how he killed one of his victims.
For Trump, Resuming Combat in Iran Would Be Risky, Even if Cease-Fire Expires; Military families bear the burden of war, again...
For Trump, Resuming Combat in Iran Would Be Risky, Even if Cease-Fire Expires - The New York Times
President Trump knows that even if a cease-fire runs out with no final agreement on the issues dividing Washington and Tehran, the political risk of renewing hostilities is high.
To Boost Military Budget, Trump Targets Popular Programs at Home - The New York Times
Amid the war with Iran, the president has proposed to scale back some of the very programs meant to ease families’ financial burdens.
Military Families Bear the Burden of War, Again - The New York Times
Even as a two-week ceasefire takes hold, mothers in multigenerational military families — some veterans themselves — are anxious about what the war in Iran could mean for their children, as they face the uncertainty of another conflict in the Middle East.
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| Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday declared that the Iranians had been “humiliated and demoralized.”Photo by Salwan Georges for The New York Times |
How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran
How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran - The New York Times
In a series of Situation Room meetings, President Trump weighed his instincts against the deep concerns of his vice president and a pessimistic intelligence assessment. Here’s the inside story of how he made the fateful decision.
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| Vice President JD Vance, the figure inside the White House most opposed to a full-scale war, described it as “a huge distraction of resources” and “massively expensive.” Photo by Doug Mills (NYT) |
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| Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was the biggest proponent of a military campaign against Iran within the cabinet. Photo by Eric Lee (NYT) |
U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Tested by Strikes on Lebanon and Confusion Over Strait
Even as the status of the Strait of Hormuz remained unclear and U.S. and Iranian officials issued dueling threats to resume attacks if the cease-fire fell apart, both countries had reason to hope it held together.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews?; It's lonely at the top if a $1.8B AI-powered health company
How Accurate Are Google’s A.I. Overviews? - The New York Times
The company’s A.I.-generated answers look authoritative, but they draw on an array of sources, from trustworthy sites to Facebook posts.
How A.I. Helped One Man (and His Brother) Build a $1.8 Billion Company - The New York Times
Who needs more than two employees when artificial intelligence can do so many corporate tasks? It’s super efficient — and a little bit lonely.
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| To build Medvi, Mr. Gallagher used A.I. tools including ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Midjourney and Runway.Maggie Shannon for The New York Times |
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