What impact will the DOJ’s move against Google have on AI search? Answer by Dominik Mazur.

It only took 20 years: Browsers have long exposed visited link history to malicious websites, enabling attackers to profile users or run phishing campaigns. By isolating link history with a new partitioning model, Chrome could close off an entire class of privacy attacks – potentially setting a new standard for safer web browsing. Browsers have mishandled visited site tracking since the early days of the internet. Google is now working to fix the issue with Chrome. The browser's next update will improve how it manages visited history, potentially rendering an entire class of exploits obsolete. Google says Chrome 136 will be the first major browser to partition visited link history. Traditionally, the CSS ":visited" selector has let websites style visited links – typically changing them from blue to purple. Modern design enables far more customization, which attackers have exploited to extract users' browsing history through side-channel attacks. Cyber-criminals have exploited this issue by developing creative techniques to unmask users' visited URL history, leading to serious security threats such as tracking, profiling, and phishing campaigns. Chrome 136 aims to shut down these exploits by restricting how websites apply styles through the visited selector. The visited history has traditionally been unpartitioned, with no specific restrictions on where the selector could display previously clicked links. The new partitioning approach will ensure that a link appears as "visited" (default purple) only on the original site and within the frame where the user first clicked it. Partitioning prevents cross-site leakage of visited link history, though Google plans to allow an exception for self-referencing links to preserve usability. The company also decided against fully deprecating the visited selector, arguing that it provides essential visual feedback for users. // Related Stories Chrome 132 initially introduced partitioning as an experimental feature, and Google expects to enable it by default in Chrome 136. Other browsers have taken steps to prevent URL history leaks, but none have implemented partitioning or history isolation. If Chrome's approach proves effective without degrading the user experience, rival browsers may adopt similar measures.

Google appears to be preparing a freemium version of its Gemini Veo 2 video generation tool, based on details uncovered in a recent APK teardown. Veo 2, a generative AI tool designed to create videos from text prompts, has so far been locked behind Gemini Advanced. But that may be changing soon. According to Android Police, strings found in the app’s code indicate that some form of access may be coming to the free tier, giving a wider group the chance to try out AI video generation without paying for a subscription. Recommended Videos The teardown also hints at certain restrictions for free access. Mentions of “credit limits” and the need for an upgrade suggest there will be caps in place, likely on how often the tool can be used or at what resolution it can export. That would line up with how other freemium AI services are structured: enough to test and use casually, but with the option to unlock more advanced features by upgrading. If this is the case, that would mean the app could be available to all users, with certain limits imposed in terms of usage, but there aren’t any further details on what that would mean for users just yet. This isn’t the first time Gemini’s capabilities have shown signs of expanding beyond paywalls. Recently, Google also opened up its Deep Research feature to the general public with some similar limitations, signaling a broader push to make its AI tools more accessible. No official word yet on when Veo 2 will launch for the free tier, but the inclusion of these strings in a current build of the app suggests the rollout may not be far off. Once live, it could mark one of the first widely available text-to-video tools from a major tech company, putting Google’s generative AI in direct competition with services like Runway and Pika. Editors’ Recommendations Google has stopped selling the Pixel Buds in the U.S. and Canada

The FTC wanted $30 billion to drop its case. Zuckerberg offered much less and hoped Trump would back him up.

The TV on the Radio singer releases an album with a deliberately unpolished aesthetic, featuring taut songs and distinctive melodies.

Uptick Autism rate rises slightly; RFK Jr. claims he’ll “have answers by September“ The slight rise is due to better access to tests in underserved communities. Beth Mole – Apr 15, 2025 6:09 pm | 15 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters stands in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Credit: Getty | Bloomberg The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters stands in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Credit: Getty | Bloomberg Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more The rate of autism in a group of 8-year-olds in the US rose from 2.76 percent (1 in 36) in 2020 to 3.22 percent (1 in 31) in 2022, according to a study out Tuesday in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a journal published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report's authors—researchers at the CDC and academic institutions across the country— suggest that the slight uptick is likely due to improved access to evaluations in underserved groups, including Black, Hispanic, and low-income communities. The data comes from the CDC-funded Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The national network has been tracking the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 8-year-olds at a handful of sites since 2000, publishing estimates every two years. In 2000, ASD prevalence was 1 in 150, with white children from high-income communities having the highest rates of the developmental disability. In 2020, when the rate hit 1 in 36, it was the first year in which higher ASD rates were seen in underserved communities. That year, researchers also noted that the link between ASD and socioeconomic status evaporated in most of the network. In the new data, prevalence continued to be higher in underserved communities compared with white children. Prevalence among white children was 27.7 per 1,000, which is lower than prevalence among multiracial (31.9), Hispanic (33.0), Black (36.6), American Indian or Alaska Native (37.5), or Asian or Pacific Islander children (38.2). And, overall, prevalence was higher among children from low-income neighborhoods. "The reversal of these patterns in prevalence by race and ethnicity and SES [socioeconomic status] is consistent with increased access to and provision of identification services among previously underserved groups," the researchers conclude. A look forward also shows trends toward more and earlier access to services. While monitoring has focused on 8-year-olds because children are more likely to have a diagnosis by that age, the researchers also examined autism evaluations and rates among children who were 4 years old in 2022. Researchers found that the younger children, born in 2018, had more evaluations in the same age window as the children who were born in 2014. Disparities This year, the ADDM included 16 sites across the country—in many past years, there were 11 sites. It's important to highlight that although the prevalence rates from these sites are often seen as national estimates of ASD prevalence, they are not. These 16 sites are not nationally representative. The populations within ADDM "do not generate nationally representative ASD prevalence estimates," the authors caution. Among the sites, there were large differences. Prevalence ranged from 9.7 per 1,000 children who were 8 years old in Texas (Laredo) to 53.1 in California. These differences are likely due to "differences in availability of services for early detection and evaluation and diagnostic practices," the CDC and network researchers wrote. For instance, California—the site with the highest prevalence among 8-year-olds and also 4-year-olds—has a local initiative called the Get SET Early model. "As part of the initiative, hundreds of local pediatricians have been trained to screen and refer children for assessment as early as possible, which could result in higher identification of ASD, especially at early ages," the authors write. "In addition, California has regional centers throughout the state that provide evaluations and service coordination for persons with disabilities and their families." On the other hand, the low ASD rates at the network's two Texas sites could "suggest lack of access or barriers to accessing identification services," the authors say. The two Texas sites included primarily Hispanic and lower-income communities. The newly revealed higher rates in some of the network's underserved communities could link ASD prevalence to social determinants of health, such as low income and housing and food insecurity, the authors say. Other factors, such as higher rates of preterm birth, which is linked to neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as lead poisoning and traumatic brain injuries, may also contribute to disparities. Anti-vaccine voices The detailed, data-heavy report stands in contrast to the position of health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine advocate who promotes the false and thoroughly debunked claim that autism is caused by vaccines. Last month, Kennedy hired the discredited anti-vaccine advocate David Geier to lead a federal study examining whether vaccines cause autism, despite numerous high-quality studies already finding no link between the two. Geier, who has no medical or scientific background, has long worked with his father, Mark Geier, to promote the idea that vaccines cause autism. In 2011, Mark Geier was stripped of his medical license for allegedly mistreating children with autism, and David Geier was fined for practicing medicine without a license. In a media statement Tuesday in response to the new report, Kennedy called autism an "epidemic" that is "running rampant." He appeared to reference his planned study with Geier, saying: "We are assembling teams of world-class scientists to focus research on the origins of the epidemic, and we expect to begin to have answers by September." Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. 15 Comments

A light micrograph cross-section showing cholesterol-containing plaque in a heart arteryNIGEL DOWNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY The prospects for a one-time treatment that reduces the risk of heart disease for the rest of a person’s life just got brighter. In an initial trial, a single dose of a CRISPR gene-editing therapy lowered cholesterol levels without any serious side effects. The “Heart-2” trial – organised by the biotech company Verve Therapeutics in Boston – involved 14 people who either had an inherited condition leading to very high cholesterol or had developed heart disease at a young age. While this was an early-stage trial…

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alicia Walter, 28, and Nathan Stark, 41, a couple who have traveled to 47 countries. Together, they run The Passport Couple, a travel blog that chronicles their adventures and offers travel tips and recommendations.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.Alicia: So far, we've been to 47 countries.We've traveled through much of Central and South America, parts of Africa, a good portion of Europe, and most of Southeast and East Asia.People often think this lifestyle is glamorous. Although we're based in Tirana, Albania, we've been on the road for five years now and have experienced both the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Anything can happen when you're traveling Walter and Stark in the USA. Courtesy of Alicia Walter Nathan: There's a lot of uncertainty when traveling.Your environment is constantly changing, and when you're in that situation, you're just more prone to little mistakes — ones that can turn into huge problems, depending on when and where they happen.Traveling on a budget can be difficult, too. Budget flights are not always on time or give you a proper heads-up when there's a delay. We've missed flights, had them canceled, or even boarded trains only to find a strike.Alicia: We've also had our fair share of Airbnbs that looked glamorous in the photos, but when we arrived, they were nothing like what we expected.Nathan: When we travel, we take the good with the bad, and honestly, we would return to almost every place we've visited. Still, there are some destinations where, we pause to think — Is it worth the challenges for just one vacation? Egypt Walter in Egypt. Courtesy of Alicia Walter Alicia: We visited Egypt at the end of 2021, flying in from Europe with plans to return there afterward.When we arrived, we ran into a confusing visa situation — we're still not entirely sure what happened. Thankfully, a family friend was able to help us navigate it.We spent about two weeks in Egypt, mostly in Cairo and Luxor. We visited some main tourist spots like the pyramids, did some sightseeing, went on a food tour, and even rode horses through the desert.We were also staying with a family friend, so we got to experience some local activities, like attending polo matches.We usually do a lot of DIY travel without guides or tours unless it's for something specific. But in Egypt, we had guides the whole time because it was hard to know where we were allowed to go and whether taking photos or walking in certain areas was OK.Nathan: It's hard to say we wouldn't return to Egypt — it's such a beautiful country, and we had an incredible time with our host family. However, for us, it was one of the most difficult countries to get around. Mexico Walter has seen many World Wonders in Mexico, including the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan. Courtesy of Alicia Walter MexicoNathan: Mexico's weather is great, the food is incredible, and it's such a beautiful place. The culture is wonderful, and we've experienced some incredible things like visiting World Wonders.Alicia: While we love Mexico, we've had things stolen from us both times we've visited.In 2020, our Airbnb was broken into, and they stole our computers, cameras — basically everything. We had to file insurance claims and cancel the rest of our trip. It turned into a huge ordeal.When we visited in 2023, our phone was pickpocketed while we were out in Playa del Carmen. We had Find My iPhone on, so we could see exactly where it was, but there wasn't much we could do about it.The theft happened roughly halfway through our monthlong trip, which we eventually had to cancel.Nathan: Every time we've had a bad experience — whether in Mexico or anywhere else — we've always been met with equal or even greater kindness.When we were pickpocketed in Mexico, we didn't even tell our hotel what had happened — we just asked how to file a police report. Still, about 30 minutes later, they came up to us with a care package. They even sent a bottle of wine to our room and gave us both complimentary massages the next day. China Walter in Shanghai at the Yu Garden Bazaar. Courtesy of Alicia Walter Alicia: We've been to China twice now. Even though about a billion people live there, it's one of the quietest countries we've visited. The locals are incredibly welcoming and helpful —everyone wanted to make sure we weren't lost.Still, it can be tough to get around or find information. We couldn't access Gmail or any Google services, even with a VPN or a SIM card from outside the country.Nathan: Apple Maps works, but only when you're in the country. We ended up buying a Lonely Planet guide, which was pretty outdated. We'd take the coordinates from the book and plug them into Apple Maps, but sometimes, it didn't work.It's also difficult to find recent or accurate information about restaurants, transportation, or even visa requirements in the country — things are constantly changing.Multiple times, we tried to go to a restaurant that either wasn't where it was listed, wasn't open during the posted hours, or had permanently closed.Alicia: On one of our trips, we got "stuck" in the country for about 24 hours because of a visa issue. We had to cancel our original flights and take a new route home. We estimate it cost us around $3,000, not including the money we lost on our original flights.Nathan: It took us about 54 hours on six separate flights to leave the country. We were just trying to find the most affordable — though definitely the most inconvenient — way home. Colombia Walter in Cartagena, Colombia. Courtesy of Alicia Walter Alicia: We've traveled extensively throughout Colombia and have been there several times. It's such a beautiful country, and I always feel really welcome there.Nathan: We've been on a road trip through the country, which was great. We always love it when a country is drivable.Alicia: When we visited Colombia, we stayed in a mix of Airbnb and apartments. Some of them were great, but we had to move a couple of times because the Airbnb wasn't what we expected.Like many countries, Colombia has its share of political unrest. Sometimes, we'd be walking to a restaurant, and suddenly, a protest would come down the street — 100 or 200 people waving flags and chanting.There were also strikes. We couldn't get a taxi a few times because the drivers weren't working because they demanded fair pay or better benefits, or the grocery stores didn't have eggs because farmers were striking. While we sympathize with the locals and want them to have better wages and a better quality of life, it can — at times — make traveling there difficult. USA Walter (right) at the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. Courtesy of Alicia Walter Alicia: Now that we've traveled all over the world, traveling in the US just isn't that enjoyable — mainly because of how expensive it is.You could easily spend $500 in a single day between a hotel room, transportation, food, and sightseeing. Meanwhile, that same $500 could last you a week in Thailand.Nathan: Something else we've heard from our friends from other countries is that healthcare is one of the biggest concerns about traveling in the US. Medical care here is insanely expensive, so if anything happens to you, it can be financially crippling.Alicia: Transportation in the US also isn't easy. You almost always need to rent a car, and then on top of that, you have to pay for parking and gas — it adds up quickly.Nathan: In some countries, public transportation is so good that it makes getting around incredibly easy. However, in the US, reliable or convenient public transit can vary wildly depending on your location.For example, when we were in Japan, it was so easy—you could go anywhere without needing a car.

This story appeared in the Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here.Welcome to The Logoff: Today I’m focusing on the Trump administration’s battle with Harvard University, in which a powerful university targeted by the president is pushing back.What’s the latest? The Trump administration last night froze $2.2 billion in federal funding for Harvard, punishment after the university said Monday it would not comply with the administration’s demands.What was Trump’s team demanding Harvard do?Eliminate any consideration of demographic diversity in its hiring and admissions, and shutter all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.Submit to an external audit that ensures hiring and admissions include sufficient “intellectual diversity.” Harshly punish students involved in protests against Israel and its war in Gaza, and ban several pro-Palestinian groups from campus.Reorganize its leadership to elevate staff devoted to complying with the administration’s demands.What’s next? Trump posted about revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status, though there’s no public evidence his administration has taken any steps in that direction.Why is the administration doing this? The Trump team’s stated goal is fighting antisemitism on campus, but it’s clear this is a broader effort to exert control over an elite institution whose membership is overwhelmingly hostile to the MAGA right.What’s the big picture? Columbia University, one of many elite schools the administration has targeted, protected its federal funding by acceding to a far more limited list of demands. But Harvard is exploring the viability of a different path: resistance. How Harvard fares against Trump — and specifically whether it can keep both its federal funding and its self-governance — will be a critical test of powerful civil institutions’ ability to resist Trump’s takeover.And with that, it’s time to log off…I really enjoy xkcd, a few-times-a-week online comic strip that describes itself as “a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.” Sometimes it goes squarely over my head, but those days are an opportunity to learn something new. Above all, I find it to be a good alternative to scrolling — and sometimes it’s downright inspiring. I hope you enjoy it, and if there’s a comic that speaks to you, I’d love to hear about it. Thanks so much for reading, and I’ll see you back here tomorrow.You’ve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you — threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you — join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

The Switch 2 will see a bunch of third-party ports and Nintendo's own games when it launches in June, but here are the gaps we want to see filled in the coming monthsTech22:00, 15 Apr 2025You will need to act fast to get a Switch 2(Image: Nintendo)Nintendo’s April 2 Switch 2 Direct gave us a whole host of information, but not as much as getting to go hands-on with the console last week.We've played the launch games, seen the Switch 2 versions of Zelda and more, and even tested those slick new mouse controls, meaning June can't come soon enough (51 days to go, in case you're wondering).‌Article continues belowThere's perhaps never been a stronger launch window lineup, either, particularly if you've not played the likes of Elden Ring, Hitman, Civilization 7, Street Fighter and more.Still, there are a handful of games we're hoping get announced for Switch 2 – here are our picks for our most-wanted Switch 2 ports.To set some expectations, we're avoiding Switch 1 games here. For example, we'd love to see how The Witcher 3 runs on Switch 2, but we're trying to keep this to games that haven't yet made it to Switch in any way just yet.‌The Bloodline headline this year's Showcase(Image: 2K)OK, it's not one title to kick off this list, but sports titles were the Switch 1's Achilles heel. EA FC appeared on the platform, but missing huge features and entire modes, while NBA 2K slowly got less and less attention.Then there's the complete lack of Madden and WWE titles, both of which have been promised in the initial Switch 2 reveal from EA and 2K respectively.‌If we end up getting EA FC Ultimate Team and WWE 2K's creation suites on a handheld console, we may never put our Switch 2's down.Diablo 4 is still a game we return to oftenDiablo 4 remains an obsession for this writer, but I'm playing it more and more on my Steam Deck OLED rather than my powerful gaming PC or the PS5 Pro.‌It's so playable in handheld mode that it feels almost as if that's the best way to play it, and given Diablo 3 was perfect on the first Switch, it's surely just a matter of time.Given how Path of Exile 2 is similarly fantastic while played portable, we're ready for the ARPGs to do battle again – on Switch 2.‌Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are now open at most UK online stores(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Another game that feels so at home on Steam Deck it feels like a no-brainer for Switch 2, the challenge for Midnight Suns making the jump is likely to be its tepid sales despite a strong critical reception.It was originally planned for Switch 1, but the port was cancelled.‌Wilds' areas are massive(Image: Capcom)Look, we're not saying it'll be 2025's Monster Hunter Wilds. In fact, the fact that the game struggles on PC means it's probably not going to be on Switch 2 ever.Still, Monster Hunter is a franchise that's spent much of its history on portable systems from 3DS to PSP, and given how good Monster Hunter Rise was on Switch 1, we're holding out hope that Capcom has something planned.‌And hey, if not, at least we're getting Wild Hearts S – a game that deserves another look.Death Stranding has been around since 2019, and a sequel is on the way(Image: Kojima Productions)Look, we know it's a long shot, but Death Stranding on Steam Deck is great and now that we're a few years removed from the game's divisive launch, it's well worth another look.‌While it does feature plenty of action, it's also meditative a lot of the time, as you wander through a desolate but beautiful world to bring society back from the brink of collapse.The first Halo title is Combat Evolved, which saw an Xbox 360 remaster(Image: Microsoft)The idea of Halo appearing on any system that doesn't have an 'X' in the name would have felt like heresy a few years ago, but Microsoft is pushing its games to other platforms and seemingly making a lot of money doing it.‌Whether Switch 2 will run 2021's Halo Infinite as well as a high-end PC or your Series X remains to be seen, but we can see it being a cracking place to catch up on the earlier games.Halo 2 on the bus? Count us in.We're always keen to play Mass Effect again‌Three of the best RPGs of the last few decades? Sign us up. Switch 2 would be a great place to play the original Mass Effect trilogy, especially since the Legendary Edition packs in all the DLC, too.And sure, Andromeda isn't on the same level, but we maintain there's plenty of fun to be had there, too.Metaphor: ReFantazio is just as good as Persona(Image: Atlas/Sega)Article continues belowOne of 2024's best games, Metaphor: ReFantazio feels like a perfect Switch 2 title for those cosy afternoons on the couch while the rain falls outside.A turn-based RPG from the minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5, it's perfectly playable in chunks so you can enjoy it at your own pace, and never made it to Switch 1.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌