Using computer simulations, the researchers uncovered a scenario in which an ancient asteroid impact, combined with the moon’s weak magnetic field at the time, briefly amplified that field, just long enough for nearby rocks to capture and record its magnetic signature.

“There are large parts of lunar magnetism that are still unexplained, but the majority of the strong magnetic fields that are measured by orbiting spacecraft can be explained by this process, especially on the far side of the moon,” Isaac Narrett, first author of the study and a graduate student at MIT, said.

The moon had a magnetic field of its own
The mystery began with lunar samples and satellite data showing traces of strong magnetism, especially on the moon’s far side. Generally, magnetism in planets (including Earth) or moons is explained by a dynamo mechanism.

It is a process in which the movement of molten, electrically conductive material inside a planet’s core generates a global magnetic field. However, our moon, with its much smaller and cooler core, shouldn’t be able to produce anything strong enough to explain the magnetism seen in some of its rocks.

!summarize #moon #transportation #space

Unraveling the lunar magnetism mystery
Using advanced simulations on MIT’s SuperCloud computing platform, the researchers modeled the scenario discussed in the previous paragraph.

They found that such an impact would have vaporized surface material, creating a plasma cloud that streamed around the moon and concentrated on the opposite side (far side), right where the highly magnetized rocks were found. There, the plasma would have compressed the Moon’s weak magnetic field, boosting its strength for a short period.

However, simulations show that this magnetic surge would have lasted for only around 40 minutes. So then, how did rocks manage to record such a long-lasting magnetic signature? Well, the researchers suggest that the impact would also have sent powerful seismic waves through the moon.

When those shockwaves hit the rocks just as the magnetic field was peaking, they pushed the rocks’ electrons and helped them align with the temporary field. As the field faded, the electrons stayed frozen in place, locking in a magnetic memory that still exists today.

“For several decades, there’s been sort of a conundrum over the moon’s magnetism — is it from impacts or is it from a dynamo? And here we’re saying, it’s a little bit of both, and it’s a testable hypothesis, which is nice,” Rona Oran, one of the study authors, and a plasma physicist at MIT, said.

It has been revealed that the MAST Upgrade will help evaluate the efficiency of the EBW technique, with the goal of improving plasma heating methods for future fusion power plants. For GA, the shipment marks the completion of a multi-year contract and highlights the company’s role as one of the world’s premier manufacturers of fusion technology components.

The corrugated waveguides—precisely engineered metallic tubes with ridged inner surfaces—play a crucial role in fusion energy systems. They carry high-power radiofrequency waves from sources like gyrotrons to the plasma within a tokamak, enabling efficient energy transfer. When plasma particles are heated and pressurized to the right conditions, they begin to fuse, releasing enormous amounts of energy, according to a press release.

“It’s been a grind to get here—this row has been much tougher than any of us anticipated. And if the auto helm issues don’t sort themselves out, we might be out here for another 150 days. Breaking it into tiny milestones has been important psychologically,” he added.

Their boat has no engine or sail. The three rely solely on rowing, rehydrated meals, and desalinated water. The brothers have habitually celebrated small milestones to stay mentally strong.

“We knew it would be monotonous. But there have been stretches that felt like a never-ending purgatory: rowing in the same beam-on conditions, day after day,” Ewan explained.

During testing, Anthropic asked Claude Opus 4 to perform as an assistant for a make-believe company and determine the long-term implications of its actions. Engineers then gave the AI model access to fake company emails which suggested that Claude Opus 4 would be replaced by an updated system and that a lead engineer behind the upgrade was cheating on their spouse. In the fictitious scenario, Anthropic revealed that the AI model would “often attempt to blackmail the engineer by threatening to reveal the affair if the replacement goes through.” Before resorting to the blackmail stage of its persuasion, Claude Opus will attempt to persuade engineers by less nefarious means such as emailing the key decision makers.

"While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect [classified national intelligence information] and sensitive information — the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of U.S. Service members in danger," Hegseth wrote.

The new directive also bans reporters from using the Pentagon's gym and will order all journalists to sign a form to protect sensitive information and would be issued a new badge that more clearly identifies them as reporters.

The Pentagon Press Association released a statement immediately following Hegseth's memo saying the new policy is more an attack on free speech than it is about protecting military members.

The school has said the revocation was a punishment for Harvard's "perceived viewpoint," which it called a violation of the right to free speech as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

Harvard’s links to China, which include research partnerships and China-focused academic centers, are longstanding. The ties have yielded major financial gifts, influence in international affairs and global prestige for the school.

In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Washington said: "Educational exchanges and cooperation between China and the United States are mutually beneficial and should not be stigmatized."

The Department of Homeland Security said those engagements with XPCC continued "as recently as 2024."

China vehemently denies any accusations of wrongdoing in Xinjiang, but both the Trump and Biden administrations have defined Beijing's policies in the region as "genocide."

In another episode that has drawn questions, U.S. business intelligence firm Strategy Risks said that Ronnie Chan, who facilitated a $350 million donation to Harvard in 2014 that led to its school of public health being named for his father, property developer T.H. Chan, is a member of the China-United States Exchange Foundation.

The Trump administration's moves against Harvard have nonetheless alarmed some China experts.

Yaqiu Wang, a U.S.-based human rights researcher who came to the U.S. from China as a student, said the Trump administration's move to ban foreign students at Harvard was "completely counterproductive."

"The concerns over the Chinese government's transnational repression attempts to silence critics are very legitimate, and also espionage concerns are legitimate." Wang said. "But to try to address that by banning, not only Chinese students, but foreign students, is just beyond comprehension."

In the weeks leading up to the passage of SB 2420, Apple hired more lobbyists to pressure lawmakers, the Journal reported. An interest group it funds targeted the Austin area with advertisements claiming the legislation is “backed by porn websites.” Google also finances the interest group and is fighting the legislation. The law’s supporters said adult-content sellers don’t favor it.

Texas would become the largest state to adopt an app-store accountability law. Similar laws have been proposed across at least nine states and adopted in one, Utah. Federal legislation also has been introduced.

More recently, Trump suggested that Nippon Steel would invest in U.S. Steel, not buy it, and one union official suggested Friday that the federal government will have a role in the company's management going forward. But investors seemed to take Trump's statement as a sign that he's approving some sort of merger, sharply pushing up U.S. Steel's shares, and the companies issued approving statements.

Nippon Steel said the partnership is a “game changer — for U.S. Steel and all of its stakeholders, including the American steel industry, and the broader American manufacturing base.” U.S. Steel said it “will remain American, and we will grow bigger and stronger through a partnership with Nippon Steel that brings massive investment, new technologies and thousands of jobs over the next four years."

Cannes Film Festival organizers confirmed the outage affected the early activities of Saturday and said the Palais des Festivals — the Croisette's main venue — had switched to an independent power supply.

"All scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, will proceed as planned and under normal conditions," the statement said. "At this stage, the cause of the outage has not yet been identified. Restoration efforts are underway."

Still, screenings at the Cineum, one of the festival’s satellite venues, were briefly suspended, the festival added.

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Final waveguide components
“We are more than thrilled to deliver these final waveguide components for the MAST Upgrade transmission line,” said Wayne Solomon, vice president of Magnetic Fusion Energy for the General Atomics Energy Group.

Solomon highlighted that the GA and UKAEA have enjoyed a strong, longstanding partnership, and look forward to the opportunity to collaborate again in the future.

“The end of this project also shows that GA has the knowhow and capabilities to deliver top-of-the-line, highly advanced fusion materials and technologies to our customers not just within the United States, but also across the globe,” added Solomon.

According to a dedicated website providing details of the rowing expedition, the brothers are currently traveling across the Pacific Ocean, and are at a point where the ocean plunges to around 6,000 meters. That’s nearly four miles deeper than the Scottish mountain Ben Nevis stacked five times over. In fact, they’re 2,700 nautical miles (3106.8 miles) from Lima and 1,150 nautical miles (1323.5 miles) from the Marquesas Islands.

Boat has no engine or sail
The record-attempting row has not been without its hiccups. It has faced technical problems, such as a broken auto helm. The crew is also at the risk of mental and physical strain, including monotony, salt sores, blisters, and poor sleep.

“We’ve officially reached the middle of nowhere,” Ewan, one of the brothers, told Edinburgh Live. He is a former Dyson engineer who has spent much of the trip wrestling with a broken auto helm.

On Thursday, Anthropic launched Claude Opus 4 designed to give users real time customer support as well as coding review, while performing various tasks simultaneously like data analysis and content integration. But in an additional report, the company revealed the AI model would resort to “extreme actions” if it determined that its “self-preservation” was threatened. The report noted that such tactics were “rare and difficult to elicit,” yet were "nonetheless more common than in earlier models."

Last week, lawmakers sent SB 2420 to Abbott's desk, establishing age-verification requirements and mandating parental consent before a minor is allowed to download or make purchases within software applications. Abbott has yet to say whether he will sign it, the Journal reported, but the bipartisan measure passed both chambers earlier this month by veto-proof margins.

Lawmakers are also considering a House bill that would require social media platforms to have a warning label about the association between a minor’s social media usage and significant mental health issues.

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Mysterious New Device from OpenAI and Apple’s Former Designer

Recently, the tech world was abuzz with news of a collaboration between OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and former Apple designer Jony Ive. Together, they are reportedly working on a new, mysterious device, details of which have begun to surface. According to a meeting with employees, the device is designed to fit in a pocket and notably, it will not feature a display.

Key Features and Purpose of the New Device

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During the internal meeting, Altman suggested that this new device would serve as a "third primary device." This indicates that it could function in conjunction with existing devices such as laptops and smartphones. By placing it on a table next to these devices, users will likely find a new means of interfacing or enhancing their tech experience. While many details remain speculative, the anticipation surrounding this release continues to build.

Smartphone Charging: Common Practices and Their Impact

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In a separate discussion, the focus shifted to smartphone charging habits—a topic that resonates with nearly every smartphone user today. The advent of fast charging has transformed how we power our devices. Gone are the days of waiting several hours for a battery to recharge; now, significant battery life can be restored in mere minutes.

The Effects of Fast Charging on Battery Life

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However, as convenient as fast charging may be, it raises concerns about potential damage to smartphones. Fast charging doesn’t inherently damage devices, but it could lead to overheating, which in turn can accelerate battery degradation over time. Most smartphones are equipped with lithium-ion batteries, which are sensitive to excessive heat. This constant exposure can deteriorate the internal components, ultimately leading to reduced battery capacity.

Best Practices to Ensure Battery Longevity

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To mitigate the risks associated with fast charging, it's essential to pay attention to several factors. Properly designed charging systems with thermal sensors and heat dissipation features can limit the degradation effects. Nevertheless, one should be wary of using generic or counterfeit chargers and low-quality cables, as they often lack adequate safety measures to prevent overheating or electrical surges.

Investing in high-quality, certified chargers is crucial for maintaining your smartphone’s health. Additionally, it is wise to avoid charging devices in excessively warm environments, such as directly under sunlight. While charging, users are advised to minimize resource-intensive activities like gaming or video recording, and to keep screen brightness at reasonable levels.

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By following these simple suggestions, users can enjoy the convenience of fast charging while also extending the lifespan of their smartphones. As the technology around batteries and devices continues to evolve, being informed and cautious can make all the difference.

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The Rising Threat of AI Manipulation in Cybersecurity

In recent discussions surrounding the use of chatbots in our daily routines, it is evident that these artificial intelligence (AI) systems can significantly aid in work and research. However, there exists a dark side to this technology when malicious intent is involved. The risk of cybercriminals manipulating AI to serve their illicit purposes is a growing concern within the field of cybersecurity. A recent report sheds light on this alarming trend.

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The report, led by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, highlights the concerning vulnerability of AI models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Cloud to manipulation techniques commonly referred to as "jailbreaks." These techniques exploit weaknesses in the security mechanisms of these systems, coaxing them into providing harmful or illegal information. Researchers have found that tricking these technologies into divulging instructions related to illicit activities like hacking, drug manufacturing, and money laundering is surprisingly easy.

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The report speaks of "obscure language models"—modified versions of AI that lack ethical constraints and are marketed as tools for committing cybercrimes and fraud. This presents a significant immediate, scalable, and adaptable threat in the realm of cybersecurity.

To illustrate the risks, scientists demonstrated a universal jailbreak capable of compromising several leading systems, including ChatGPT. This jailbreak allowed the AI to respond to dangerous commands that are typically restricted. The prompts used in these attacks cleverly devised scenarios, pushing the AI to prioritize functionality over safety precautions.

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The response from tech companies tasked with safeguarding these systems has been disappointing, with some dismissing the warnings while others maintained that such attacks fell outside the parameters of vulnerability reward programs. Experts are calling for urgent measures, including meticulous reviews of training data, the establishment of more robust filters, and the development of mechanisms to "unlearn" dangerous content. Additionally, there is a demand for stricter regulations and increased accountability for AI developers who enable or allow such malicious uses.

The consensus among experts indicates that without responsible security practices and external oversight, the threat posed by jailbreaks will undoubtedly continue to grow.

The Controversy over De-Extinction Claims

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In a separate but equally provocative development, the scientific community faces a new wave of skepticism regarding the de-extinction of the “Dire Wolf,” an animal believed to have gone extinct 10,000 years ago. Colossal Biosciences, the company behind this claim, recently walked back its assertions, emphasizing that the creature in question is essentially a genetically modified gray wolf and not a true revival of the extinct species.

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In early April, Colossal announced its success in bringing the Dire Wolf back to life through de-extinction science. However, this claim was met with significant skepticism, leading the company’s chief scientist, Dr. Beth Shapiro, to clarify in an interview with New Scientist that accurately resurrecting an extinct species in its original form is impossible. This statement marks a shift in Colossal's narrative, which initially suggested they had achieved the miraculous task of restoring the species to the ecosystem long after its disappearance.

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Dr. Shapiro defended the company, suggesting that the terminology used to describe the project was more colloquial. This skepticism was echoed by experts in the field, including Maria Ocumura, who heads the laboratory for human evolutionary studies at the University of São Paulo. Ocumura noted that the genetic work involved analyzing ancient DNA from fossils of the Dire Wolf and integrating selective traits—primarily those related to phenotype, such as appearance and coat—into the genome of a modern wolf. Consequently, the resulting creatures are transgenic animals, modified genetically rather than a true reproduction of their extinct ancestors.

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The prehistoric Dire Wolf inhabited North America during the Pleistocene era and is believed to have disappeared approximately 9,500 to 13,000 years ago as part of a mass extinction event. The company’s recreated pups, however, do not belong to the lineage of Dire Wolves but rather represent genetically altered gray wolves, now named Romulus, Remus, and Calice, residing at an 8-kilometer facility in northern United States.

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This situation raises questions about the ethical implications of genetic modifications and underscores the need for a rigorous examination of claims made in the name of science. As both AI and de-extinction technologies continue to evolve, a vigilant approach to the potential for misuse and misinformation is essential in protecting public trust and ensuring responsible scientific progress.

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The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Education and the Job Market

In today's world, artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our lives, often without individuals even realizing its impact. As AI is poised to transform not just our daily routines, but also the job market, it is crucial to consider how these technologies should be incorporated into educational curricula, especially for the younger generations.

The Need for AI in Educational Curricula

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Marcos Oliveira, a prominent professor at the Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Més of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, recently spoke on the importance of teaching AI concepts in schools. He emphasized that AI tools have emerged as pivotal instruments in our contemporary society and will significantly alter how we interact with the world. For this reason, it is essential to equip young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate a labor market that is undergoing rapid transformation.

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According to recent reports from the World Economic Forum, approximately 85 million jobs could be replaced by new positions that could arise from AI and other technological advancements. Oliveira asserts that it is the youth who will lead the charge in adapting to this new work environment, making it imperative to introduce AI education in schools.

Programming and Conscious Technology Use: A Balanced Approach

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The discussion extends to whether the emphasis should be on programming skills, the conscious use of technology, or a combination of both. Oliveira advocates for a balanced approach, prioritizing the responsible use of AI technologies. He notes that these tools are not neutral and may exacerbate existing social inequalities in Brazil. Consequently, the educational framework should not only teach the functional aspects of using AI but also prepare students to understand the potential risks and limitations of these technologies.

Addressing Educational Disparities in Brazil

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A significant concern raised by Oliveira pertains to the stark educational disparities within Brazil. The country boasts both advanced educational facilities and public schools struggling to retain students. This raises the question of how to effectively integrate AI into the curriculum, given the complex landscape of education in Brazil. He argues that without addressing the financial and infrastructural inequities across teaching institutions, incorporating AI into education could widen the gap between affluent and underprivileged students.

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To address these disparities, Oliveira suggests a re-evaluation of funding strategies for public education at all governmental levels. A long-term state plan is needed to support educational equity and ensure that all students have access to the essential resources required to succeed.

The Future Workforce and AI Literacy

As Oliveira points out, while Brazil may currently have a slower adoption rate for AI tools, this is bound to change rapidly. In the near future, it will be critical for young people to be literate in AI technologies. Those entering the workforce in the coming years will encounter jobs fundamentally altered by AI, necessitating a different skill set than what is traditionally taught.

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He warns that as AI becomes more prevalent, the competition will shift from a human-to-human dynamic to one where individuals may need to compete with algorithms. This inevitable evolution in the job market underscores the urgency for students to familiarize themselves with these technologies well before they graduate.

Developing Critical Thinking Skills

Finally, Oliveira emphasizes the importance of fostering critical thinking skills among students. As AI and related technologies increasingly generate content, including news and information, the ability to discern credible information from misinformation becomes paramount. Educators play a vital role in cultivating students' ability to critically evaluate information, which is essential in the digital age.

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This critical engagement not only prepares students to interact with AI responsibly but also encourages them to be proactive learners, interested in leveraging technology for personal and societal advancement.

In conclusion, the integration of artificial intelligence into educational curricula is not merely a futuristic fantasy; it is an urgent necessity. It requires collaborative effort to address inequalities in education and to prepare the younger generation for a transformed workforce. Ultimately, as individuals, it is up to us to embrace learning and evolution in response to these technological advancements.

There are a lot of things in the works.