Home Weekly News Update: Top 5 News Headlines from the Week News Weekly News Update: Top 5 News Headlines from the Week7 min read Published: January 1, 2025 Key TakeawaysThe US is contemplating a ban on China-made TP-Link routers over security concerns.Joe Biden proposed new rules that might reduce the impact of data leaks on the healthcare industry.Big tech giants such as Amazon, Meta, and Google are focusing on nuclear power.25+ Chrome extensions were hacked, leaving the data of over 2.5 million users exposed.MAGA rivals of Musk accuse him of taking away their X verification badges over the H-1B visa conflict.Want to catch up on the latest news from the week? Weve got you covered! Here are the top 5 biggest news updates from the week.US Might Ban China-Made TP-Link Routers over Security ConcernsUS authorities are planning to ban TP-Link routers over security concerns. TP-Link is a Chinese company, best known for its WiFi networking devices. Its routers dominate the market in the US, in both commercial and domestic spaces.However, the authorities now feel that these routers may pose a threat to the countrys national security. The decision follows the incident where TP-link routers were reportedly used in a network of hacked small office/home office (SOHO) routers that were used in a malware attack. The matter is currently under investigation by the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and Defense.Another reason why TP-Link is under investigation is its rapid growth. In 2019, its market share was 20% but apparently, in 2024, its share grew to 65%. The company has disputed these numbers but suspicion from authorities continues to linger.If TP-Link is truly a threat, banning its products is the best way out of this mess, especially given how bitter the relationship between the US and China is right now. But it wont be so easy.Banning a major router company would mean the US market will have fewer options which in turn will increase prices and hamper competition. In simple terms, people might be forced to pay more for less sophisticated routers.Biden Administration Announces New Rules to Protect the Healthcare Industry from Data Leaks2024 was a dark year for the healthcare industry, marred by numerous cyber incidents that brought day-to-day operations to a standstill. Many hospitals were forced to operate manually, adding to the suffering of the patients.For instance, a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare exposed the private data of more than 100 million individuals in February 2024. In 2023 too, more than 167 million people had their medical information exposed.Hence on Friday, a government official announced that Joe Bidens administration has proposed changes to some existing cybersecurity rules to protect healthcare data from leaks.Most of the changes were suggested for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) a law that guarantees data privacy and safeguarding to patients.The new update will keep all the existing provisions adding a few more requirements such as strengthening cybersecurity provisions to prevent attacks and encrypting patient data so that even if theres an attack, the confidential details of a patient are still safe.The proposal will now go through a 60-day comment period before the next step is finalized. If in the end it is approved, itll take at least 5 years to implement the new requirements completely. The first year of execution is expected to cost $9 billion while the subsequent years will cost around $6 billion.Amazon, Google, Meta, and Many Other Tech Giants Have Turned Their Attention to Nuclear PowerMany major tech companies such as Meta, Amazon, and Google are investing in nuclear power projects as the energy demand surges amidst technological advancement, as per a CNBC report.For example, this October Google said that it will buy energy from Kairos Power, a company that creates small modular reactors.Similarly, Microsoft also made a deal with Constellation Energy to relaunch a reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, the same place that was infamous for the most number of nuclear meltdowns in the late 70s.In the last couple of years, both AI and cloud computing have gone through tremendous advancement. Such powerful technology requires equally powerful data centers to run which in turn require a lot of energy.A single data center might have the same energy requirements as an entire city like Chicago. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, global energy usage will increase by 75% by 2050.But where will all this energy come from? Nuclear power is the answer.This is an interesting turn because, for years, nuclear power has been labeled as dangerous and hard to control. The focus has mainly been on renewable energy. But now, nuclear energy is making a comeback.The report also said that there had been a lot of energy surrounding nuclear power which led to the dramatization of its impact. But in reality, its a reliable, carbon-free source of energy that always runs on time. Not to mention, its also economical.25+ Chrome Extensions Hacked: Over 2.5 Million Users ExposedMore than 25 Chrome extensions have been hacked, leaving data from over 2.5 million users exposed.Hackers often use browser extensions to target users. But usually, they create fake extensions to get the job done. But this time the perpetrators have infected legit Chrome extensions with malicious codes. The end goal remains the same stealing user data. In some cases, the hackers also use session cookies to bypass 2FA sessions.The incident was first discovered by Cyberhaven, a California-based data protection company. At first, only 16 extensions were found to be affected. By December 30, the number rose to 25 and in the coming weeks the number is expected to rise further.The attacks started with the perpetrators sending phishing emails to developers of browser extension companies.The hackers impersonated Google Chrome Web Store Developer Support and tricked the developers into believing that their extension was at risk of removal for violating the Developer Program Policies.The attackers behind this campaign are yet to be identified. Researchers are also trying to understand exactly how the malicious code works which is proving to be a little challenging at the moment because of how well it has been obfuscated.Elon Musks MAGA Rivals Accused Him of Taking Away Their X Verification BadgesA few prominent critics of Elon Musk have accused him of taking away their X verification badges after they publicly challenged his views on the latest H-1B visas.The H-1B visas allow US-based companies to hire top talent from foreign countries and bring them to America. However, many supporters of MAGA (Make America Great Again) feel that this is unfair to US citizens who are missing out on opportunities in their own country. We all know Trumps stance on immigration, so naturally, when he comes back to the White House, he might take aim at the H-1B visas.However, Musk feels that you cannot compete in an industry if you cannot hire the best talent from around the world, regardless of their native country. This difference in opinion led to a huge online clash between opponents of the visa and Musk himself which ended in the latter taking away X verification badges from prominent activists including Laura Loomer.Loomer has more than 1.4 million subscribers on X but since her badge has been taken away, she will no longer get paying subscribers. Is a free speech fraud. she posted on X in retaliation.Loomer isnt the only one. Preston Parra, the chairman of Conservative PAC said that at least 53 accounts associated with them have also lost their badges. Musk is yet to address these allegations.Add Techreport to Your Google News Feed Get the latest updates, trends, and insights delivered straight to your fingertips. Subscribe now! Subscribe now Krishi is an eager Tech Journalist and content writer for both B2B and B2C, with a focus on making the process of purchasing software easier for businesses and enhancing their online presence and SEO.Krishi has a special skill set in writing about technology news, creating educational content on customer relationship management (CRM) software, and recommending project management tools that can help small businesses increase their revenue.Alongside his writing and blogging work, Krishi's other hobbies include studying the financial markets and cricket. View all articles by Krishi Chowdhary Our editorial processThe Tech Reporteditorial policyis centered on providing helpful, accurate content that offers real value to our readers. We only work with experienced writers who have specific knowledge in the topics they cover, including latest developments in technology, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, software, and more. Our editorial policy ensures that each topic is researched and curated by our in-house editors. We maintain rigorous journalistic standards, and every article is 100% written byreal authors.More from News View all News EU Orders Apple to Stop Geo-Blocking Its Apps Vlad MelnicDecember 26, 2024 View all

Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun learn about connection and transformation in the trailer for Love Me.In the not-too-distant future, humanity has gone extinct. A buoy (Stewart) and a satellite (Yeun) begin communicating and slowly discover the meaning of life. The two objects begin crafting their own world, using the internets resources as a guide. The movie uses live-action, animatronics, and classic animation to depict this sci-fi love story that explores what it feels like to be alive.Recommended VideosWere becoming who we are, Yeuns character says in the trailer.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7llQHCPp1c8Please enable Javascript to view this contentLove Meis the first feature from Sam Zuchero and Andy Zuchero, who wrote and directed the film. Producers include Shivani Rawat, Julie Goldstein, Kevin Rowe, Luca Borghese, and Ben Howe.RelatedLove Mepremiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. The Zucheros won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize and the prize of $25,000. The award goes to an outstanding title focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer, or mathematician as a major character.Previous recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize include Kogonadas After Yang, Chiwetel EjioforsThe Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Kyle Patrick Alvarez and Tim Talbotts The Stanford Prison Experiment, and Jake Schreier and Christopher D. FordsRobot & Frank.Bleecker Street and ShivHans Pictures will co-release Love Me.We are excited to have Bleecker Street on board as the newest member of our passionate Love Me team to bring the film to audiences and theaters nationwide, Sam and Andy Zuchero said about the Bleecker Street addition. Love Me was a collaborative effort from an incredible team of artists and storytellers from Kristen, Steven, ShivHans, 2AM, and AGX.Love Me opens in theaters on January 31, 2025.Editors Recommendations

There was a confetti of flesh everywhere, recalls one survivor of the attacks at the Bataclan, where dead bodies piled high.

This rainbow patternshows the structure of 60,000 galaxies as captured by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic InstrumentDESI Collaboration/KPNO/NOIRLabWe think dark energy makes up most of the universe, but we have no idea what it actually is. In 2025, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) in Arizona may offer clues, particularly in relation to how this strange force has changed as the universe matured.Either there is some new form of dark energy that we dont know about yet or this could be a paradigm shift, maybe [the data will show] that there is something we dont understand about space and time, says

FBI identified Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the suspect in New Orleans truck attack.Jabbar, now deceased, was a US citizen from Texas and had a criminal record.At least 10 people are confirmed dead, and dozens more were injured.The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified the suspect in Wednesday's deadly attack in New Orleans as Shamsud-DinThe agency said Jabbar, who was confirmed dead after a shootout with police, was a 42-year-old US citizen from Texas, and his actions are being investigated as a terrorist attack.At least 10 people are confirmed dead, and dozens more were injured, after the suspect drove the truck into crowds on Bourbon Street at about 3:15 a.m. on New Year's Day. Two police officers were shot but are in stable condition.The FBI said an ISIS flag, as well as weapons and a "potential" improvised explosive device, were found in the Ford F-150 pick-up truck Jabbar used.It added other IEDs were found in the French Quarter, and the agency is investigating Jabbar's potential connection to any terrorist organizations.Jabbar's criminal record, obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety and viewed by Business Insider, shows two prior arrests in 2002 and 2005.The first was for theft, while the other was for driving with an invalid license. Both were classified as misdemeanors.FBI"We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates," Duncan said. "We're asking anyone who has information, video, or pictures to provide it to the FBI."She later added that Jabbar was an Army veteran, and the FBI believes he was honorably discharged.Turo, a carsharing company, confirmed to BI that Jabbar used a truck rented through its app to carry out the attack and that it is "actively partnering with the FBI.""We are not currently aware of anything in this guest's background that would have identified him as a trust and safety threat to us at the time of the reservation," a Turo spokesperson said.The attack comes ahead of three major events in New Orleans, including the college football Sugar Bowl game, which was scheduled for January 1 but officials said has been postponed 24 hours.The city also has its annual Mardi Gras festivities starting on January 6 and the 59th Super Bowl scheduled for February 9.

By Germain Lussier Published January 1, 2025 | Comments (2) | Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun star in Love Me, which hits theaters January 31. Image: Bleecker Street You often hear people say Youve never seen anything like this, but in the case of the new movie Love Me, its actually true. Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun star as the human avatar versions of a buoy and a satellite who fall in love long after humanity has ended. Can you even picture what that is? It almost sounds fake, does it not? The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year and is finally getting a release later this month on January 31. That means, all year, Ive had to try and explain this profound, original movie to people with just the picture you see above. Now, finally, the film has a trailer that does a great job of showing its full, ambitious, scope. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7llQHCPp1c8 The new movie Love Me takes place over 10 billion years and stars only two actors who dont play humans, I wrote in my 2024 review. Its part nature film, part animation, part stage drama, and incredibly ambitious and dense both in scope and theme. Written and directed by Sam and Andy Zuchero, its a film that attempts to capture the entire scope of celestial existence in a tight, 90-minute package, while also letting a modern audience experience it in a very specific way. Does it all work all the time? No. But it works more often than not, and you cant take your eyes off it because you are constantly in awe of what youre seeing, for any number of reasons.So, basically, its real-life Wall-E, told in various mediums, with two incredible actors. As I said in the review, Love Me doesnt wholly work, but its so unique, weird, sweet, and thought-provoking, its hard not to be enamored with it. Make checking it out part of your 2025 plans. It comes exclusively to theaters January 31. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.Love Me Daily Newsletter

Kato House / Obra ArquitetosSave this picture! Rafe SchimidtHousesUbatuba, BrazilArchitects: Obra ArquitetosAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:367 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2024 PhotographsPhotographs:Rafe SchimidtManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: Cortesia Concreto, Daolio e Valente Madeiras, Solidus Mrmores e Granitos Lead Architect: Joo Paulo Daolio More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The renovation and expansion project of this beach house was based on the perception of existing potentialities that could be preserved in order to propose new spaces and ways of use.Save this picture!The perimeter of the house and some walls were maintained. The roof, with two uneven pitched sections, was rebuilt to create a skylight. Walls were removed from the upper floor, forming the large open space that combines the living room, dining room, and kitchen.Save this picture!These areas integrate with the large veranda that runs along the house, designed to connect the garden with the interior spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!On the lower floor, the house was expanded. A volume consisting of bedrooms, a bathroom, garage, and service/technical area allows for private use of these spaces in relation to the program proposed on the upper level.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeMaterialsWoodConcreteMaterials and TagsPublished on January 01, 2025Cite: "Kato House / Obra Arquitetos" [Casa Kato / Obra Arquitetos] 01 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1025006/kato-house-obra-arquitetos&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Your pupils say a lot about you about your mental state, your attention span, your arousal, and your intelligence. Somewhat surprisingly, they also say a lot about your memories. According to recent research in Nature, the size of your pupils when youre asleep reveals what youre thinking about as you sleep and when, indicating whether youre ruminating about new memories or about old ones.Its like new learning, old knowledge, new learning, old knowledge, and that is fluctuating slowly throughout the sleep, said Azahara Oliva, one of the authors of the new research and a neuroscientist at Cornell University, in a press release. We are proposing that the brain has this intermediate timescale that separates the new learning from the old knowledge.Storing (And Saving) MemoriesResearchers have long sought to make sense of the mechanisms of memory consolidation, including the processes that fend off catastrophic forgetting, in which the storage of a new memory wipes out an old memory. Hoping to learn more about these mechanisms, a team of researchers turned to pupil size during non-REM sleep, the stage of sleep most associated with memory consolidation. Though the eyes tend to stay stationary during non-REM sleep, the pupils oscillate between small and large diameters, reflecting the different substages and depths of slumber throughout the non-REM phase.Non-REM sleep is when the actual memory consolidation happens, and these moments are very, very short periods of time undetectable by humans, like 100 milliseconds, Oliva said in the release. How does the brain distribute these screenings of memory that are very fast and very short throughout the overall night? And how does that separate the new knowledge coming in, in a way that it doesnt interfere with old knowledge that we already have in our minds?Tracking the brain activity and pupil size of sleeping mice, as well as the mices ability to complete certain tasks when awake, the researchers found that new memories are repeated and consolidated when the pupil is smaller during non-REM sleep, and that old memories are repeated when the pupil is larger. Obtained with small brain sensors and cameras, the results reveal how new memories are remembered without replacing old ones, and when, and may have important implications for future memory research.Read More: What Happens in Your Brain When You Make Memories?Mouse MemoryTo arrive at their findings, the team taught mice a myriad of tasks over the span of a month, including how to find water and food in a maze, then tracked their brain activity and pupil size as they slept. In time, the team taught the mice another task, too, then tracked their brain activity and pupil size as they slept again. The team disrupted the mices sleep when their pupils were a smaller or larger diameter, and then tested the mices ability to complete their new and old tasks. This allowed the researchers to determine which pupil sizes were associated with the repetition of new and old memories.They found that the mice were reactivating their new memories during the substage of non-REM sleep in which their pupil diameters were smaller and reactivating their old memories during the substage of non-REM sleep in which their pupil diameters were larger.While additional work is still needed to parse through this process completely, this research offers important insights into the storage of new and old memories and provides new possibilities for memory research. It may inform future memory techniques and treatments for humans. Read More: How Naps Improve Memory PerformanceArticle Sources:Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Nature. Sleep Micro-Structure Organizes Memory ReplaySam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Nature, Published online: 01 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08270-7Observations of the formation of individual stripes in a mixed-dimensional cold-atom FermiHubbard quantum simulator are described, enhancing understanding of the phase diagram of high-temperature superconducting materials and the relationship between charge pairs and stripes.

Nature, Published online: 01 January 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08346-4Somatically determined preferential allelic expression of select genes that when mutated cause inborn errors of immunity corresponds with disease phenotypes, suggesting that the penetrance and expressivity of monogenic disorders is also dependent on the transcriptotype.