MONDAY, 11 MAY 2026, 21:21
The Wall Street Journal reports that OpenAI “recently gave its popular ChatGPT strict instructions. Stop talking about goblins.”Recent models of the artificial-intelligence chatbot have been bringing up the creatures in conversations with users seemingly out of the blue, as well as gremlins, trolls and ogres. The goblin-speak caught the attention of programmers, who are often heavy users of the...
An official in South Africa withdrew a draft of the country’s national AI policy, reports a local newspaper, “after it was found the draft policy was compiled using AI, which cited academic articles that were ‘fictitious’.”Earlier this month, minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced cabinet had approved the draft policy for public comment. [Ntshavheni] said the policy seeks to...
“Ransomware activity jumped again in Q1 2026,” writes Slashdot reader BrianFagioli, “with 2,638 victim posts on leak sites, up 22% year over year,” according to a report from cybersecurity company ReliaQuest.But the bigger shift is how messy the ecosystem has become. Established groups like Akira and Qilin are still active, while newer players like The Gentlemen surged into the top tier with a...
An 18-person Cape Town shop has helped engineer the largest crowdfunded gaming campaign in Kickstarter history.
The pioneering search engine shut down on May 1, after nearly 30 years in operation.
Artemis II inspired the public but the Trump administration wants to slash the science underpinning human spaceflight
It should have been a victory lap for Jared Isaacman. The Nasa administrator was in Washington DC for what he surely hoped would be a celebration with lawmakers and the US president, little more than two weeks after the successful conclusion of the first human journey around the...
The charging network is spotty, but it’s a small country.
People in Costa Rica and other Latin American, Asian and African countries are increasingly buying electric vehicles to avoid spiking fuel prices.
Exclusive: Brainchild of Dominic Cummings, Aria is aimed at funding ‘crazy’ scientific projects to benefit the UK
Britain’s “invention agency” has pledged £50m of UK taxpayer money to US tech companies and venture capital projects.
Dreamed up by Dominic Cummings to fund “crazy” ideas, the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria) is meant to “restore Britain’s place as a scientific...
The photographer Eric Lusito takes us on a scientific journey through space and time in a book on Soviet scientific institutes
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Exclusive: A grazier has released emails that reveal the state’s environment and water department prioritised harvesting of winter cereal crops over wetlands
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The New South Wales government has routinely delayed environmental flows to critical wetlands in the state’s north-west in favour of farming, despite...
Doing more trips around the sun does not mean inevitable decline, new research suggests – and having a optimistic outlook can even bring improvements
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By most standards, Prof Velandai Srikanth is at the peak of his career. He is the director of the National Centre for Healthy Ageing; his decades of highly regarded research have led to work being...
Spinosaurid fossil bought by Stuttgart institution in 1991 has been the subject of a long restitution campaign
It is a 113-million-year-old bone of contention.
After Stuttgart’s museum of natural history bought a fossilised dinosaur skull in 1991, researchers found it was the most complete spinosaurid skull known to date, belonging to a previously unknown genus of the huge meat-eating...
In North Carolina, where growing cities, expanding highways, and active communities shape daily life, accidents and injuries can happen when least expected. From busy urban centers to quieter suburban roads, individuals facing unexpected harm often find themselves navigating not just recovery but a complex legal landscape. In such moments, the strength and approach of a […]
In Dallas, where bustling commercial centers, busy sidewalks, and high-traffic public spaces are part of everyday life, unexpected accidents can occur when property is not properly maintained. A simple outing can quickly turn into a serious situation, leaving individuals dealing with injuries, uncertainty, and questions about what comes next. In a fast-paced environment like this, […]
In Cobb County, a growing community known for its busy roadways, suburban neighborhoods, and steady commuter traffic, motorcyclists share the streets with an ever-increasing number of vehicles. While riding offers freedom and efficiency, it also comes with heightened risks—especially in areas with congestion and rapidly changing traffic conditions. When a motorcycle crash occurs, the...
California carries a contradiction at its core. It’s a state associated with opportunity and reinvention, yet it also records some of the highest rates of serious injury in the country, from catastrophic freeway accidents on its sprawling highway network to industrial injuries across its agricultural and manufacturing sectors. When a severe injury strikes, the immediate […]
Las Vegas, Nevada, is known for its fast-paced lifestyle, constant traffic, and busy roadways that run through both tourist-heavy areas and local neighborhoods. With so many vehicles on the road at all hours, accidents can happen unexpectedly, often leaving individuals unsure of what to do next. In moments like these, the steps taken immediately after […]
WHO prequalification of Coartem Baby means newborns can be safely treated rather than using medication for older children
The first malaria treatment for babies has been approved by the World Health Organization, opening the door to widespread use around the globe.
In parts of Africa, up to 18% of children under six months will be infected with malaria, but there has historically been no safe...
When DNA test results shattered everything Lavinia and Michelle thought they knew about their family history, they also revealed something never before documented in the UK
I like being a twin. It defines who I am,” Lavinia Osbourne tells me on the 49th birthday she shares with her sister, Michelle. “It’s amazing to have a twin and have a built-in friend for ever,” Michelle says....
The academy that controls the Oscars on Friday issued new award eligibility requirements around the use of artificial intelligence in film.