Technology

Carolyn Kormann shares alarming facts about how microplastics have made their way into our bodies.

from Good Food

Composed of disaffected Silicon Valley separatists, the group of mostly trans women has been linked to murders in California, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The LA central library’s Octavia Lab provides free access to recording studios, 3D printers, video editing software. All you need is a library card.

Need a professional recording studio, 3D printer or laser cutter? Turn to the Octavia Lab

The LA central library’s Octavia Lab provides free access to recording studios, 3D printers, video editing software. All you need is a library card.

from KCRW Features

Gabriela Glueck puts lab grown chocolate under the microscope.

Sampling California's first lab-grown chocolate

Gabriela Glueck puts lab grown chocolate under the microscope.

from Good Food

Flip Phone February is a challenge to swear off your iPhone or Android, and return to the app-free days of the Motorola Razr. One Toronto student did this for two years.

This aspiring journalist switched to a flip phone. How’d it go?

Flip Phone February is a challenge to swear off your iPhone or Android, and return to the app-free days of the Motorola Razr. One Toronto student did this for two years.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Old press releases from ICE raids dating back to 2008 are topping search results, inflating the perceived number of ongoing enforcement operations.

Google results overstate the number of current ICE raids

Old press releases from ICE raids dating back to 2008 are topping search results, inflating the perceived number of ongoing enforcement operations.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Department of Government Efficiency infiltrated the Treasury and other agencies after Trump’s inauguration, according to the Washington Post.

Fed employees say Musk’s AI plans are a big security risk

The Department of Government Efficiency infiltrated the Treasury and other agencies after Trump’s inauguration, according to the Washington Post.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

DeepSeek built an open-source AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT that it claims is more efficient. The company’s rise improves China’s position in the AI development race.

The Chinese AI startup disrupting the tech industry

DeepSeek built an open-source AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT that it claims is more efficient. The company’s rise improves China’s position in the AI development race.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Companies like Suno and Udio are releasing ever more sophisticated generative AI music tools, and more artists are starting to collaborate with the technology.

What’s next for AI music?

Companies like Suno and Udio are releasing ever more sophisticated generative AI music tools, and more artists are starting to collaborate with the technology.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

AI is increasingly being used to collect and process clinical information. Whether this is a good thing depends on who you ask.

Will AI replace clinicians?

AI is increasingly being used to collect and process clinical information. Whether this is a good thing depends on who you ask.

from Second Opinion

The internet was in a frenzy over the short-lived TikTok ban. The app went down, then came back, and could still disappear again?

TikTok's Rise, Fall & Messy Future

The internet was in a frenzy over the short-lived TikTok ban. The app went down, then came back, and could still disappear again?

from The Sam Sanders Show

President Trump’s embrace of tech bosses raises questions of conflicts of interest during his term.

Silicon Valley turns out for Trump. Are they expecting something in return?

President Trump’s embrace of tech bosses raises questions of conflicts of interest during his term.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Meta announced today it would remove fact-checkers and have fewer speech restrictions on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Changes to Facebook and Instagram signal a ‘Meta MAGA Makeover’

Meta announced today it would remove fact-checkers and have fewer speech restrictions on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Once “alternative” media figures like Joe Rogan, Steve Bannon, and Charlie Kirk are winning bigger audiences than legacy media and becoming the new mainstream.

The new mainstream media: Internet personalities

Once “alternative” media figures like Joe Rogan, Steve Bannon, and Charlie Kirk are winning bigger audiences than legacy media and becoming the new mainstream.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Despite ongoing concern about teen internet use, young people are online as much as ever.

Half of teens says they are online ‘almost constantly’

Despite ongoing concern about teen internet use, young people are online as much as ever.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Parents are suing Character.AI after its chatbots allegedly encouraged teens to hurt themselves or others. What’s making the tech push out this kind of language?

Some teens’ relationships with chatbots can spiral toward danger

Parents are suing Character.AI after its chatbots allegedly encouraged teens to hurt themselves or others. What’s making the tech push out this kind of language?

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Writer and psychologist Andrew Solomon shares his research about the impact of social media on the escalating youth suicide crisis.

Is digital addiction fuelling a teen suicide crisis?

Writer and psychologist Andrew Solomon shares his research about the impact of social media on the escalating youth suicide crisis.

from Life Examined

Sony’s PlayStation launched in Japan in 1994, and revolutionized gaming by pursuing an older audience and using film-like graphics.

PlayStation at 30: Sony’s console became a victim of its own success

Sony’s PlayStation launched in Japan in 1994, and revolutionized gaming by pursuing an older audience and using film-like graphics.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

More people are making friends through apps. Some work like dating apps, while others bring people together over dinner parties.

Friend-finding apps: Cure to adult loneliness?

More people are making friends through apps. Some work like dating apps, while others bring people together over dinner parties.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

“Wicked” and “Gladiator II’s” winning streaks look to stretch into the holiday box office weekend, even as “Moana 2” shows up to the party.

Who will win the Thanksgiving weekend box office?

“Wicked” and “Gladiator II’s” winning streaks look to stretch into the holiday box office weekend, even as “Moana 2” shows up to the party.

from The Business