OpenAI buys secret startup from former Apple chief designer

OpenAI has bought the secret startup of former Apple chief designer Jony Ive for $6.5 billion. The acquired io product, founded together with a team of veterans from Apple, is engaged in some 'artificial intelligence devices', but what exactly it was developing is not disclosed. However, it is already known that Ive will now be responsible for the design of all existing and new OpenAI products.

A Billion-Pound Harry Potter City Built for New Filming

A whole city is being built for the new 'Harry Potter' film at the cost of a billion pounds. HBO plans to fully utilize the space and bring iconic locations from the books to life. The space will function as a real city, featuring a multi-level parking lot, a residential school for young actors, and a facility for the care and treatment of pets, snakes, and birds of prey—all to continuously shoot the series over the next 10 years. The series release is slated for 2026.

Chinese Scientists Create Robot with 'Test-Tube Brain'

Chinese scientists have created a robot with a 'test-tube brain'. For the first time, a robot is controlled by a miniature analog of the human brain - a brain-like structure derived from stem cells. This bio-brain is connected to a chip that allows it to control the machine's movements. The robot can now navigate spaces, avoid obstacles, and learn faster than conventional neural networks. The experiment paves the way for new forms of AI, where living cells work in conjunction with technology.

The World's Largest Iceberg A23a is Breaking into Thousands of Pieces

The iceberg, with an area of 3100 km², separated from the glacier back in 1986, but soon became grounded and did not start moving again until 2023. Now it is stuck near South Georgia Island, where it is breaking into pieces that pose a threat to ships and wildlife. Each fragment that breaks off is approximately 1 km², with the largest being as much as 130 km². If the current rate continues, the iceberg could completely disappear in the coming years.

The History of Samsung

The history of the Korean corporation Samsung did not begin with gadgets, but with a grocery store. The company was founded by entrepreneur Lee Byung-chul in 1938 and initially traded in flour, dried fish, and noodles. However, it later began to expand rapidly - initiating exports to China, building the country's largest sugar factory, a woolen mill, and more. Electronics only became a focus 30 years later when the company decided to explore promising new directions and began assembling televisions.

BurgerBots Opens in the USA

In the USA, a new venue called BurgerBots has opened, where robots assemble a burger in just 27 seconds. Since the beginning of May, automated systems have taken over the entire process: slicing vegetables, grinding and frying meat, and then forming the finished burger.

The Job of Catching Giant Hornets in Japan

In Japan, there is a job of catching Asian giant hornets. Their body length exceeds 5 cm, and the sting can grow up to 6 mm - these are the largest hornets on the planet, feeding on bees, wasps, and other large insects. Locals use their venom in folk medicine, and the bodies are infused in strong alcohol to make 'tonic liqueurs'.

China Launches Orbital AI Supercomputer in Space

China has begun creating an orbital AI supercomputer in space - the first 12 satellites of the planned 2800 have already been launched. Unlike ordinary satellites, these will process the collected data immediately, allowing time savings on transmission to Earth, as well as reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint. Each contains an AI model with 8 billion parameters, capable of performing 744 trillion operations per second, with the ultimate goal of reaching performance in quintillions of operations.

How to Avoid Tears While Cutting Onions

Physicists from Cornell University have discovered how to avoid tears while cutting onions. Onions contain a compound called syn-propanethial-S-oxide. This is why we cry: the substance is released in a sulfur-rich vapor that forms when the vegetable is cut and spreads through the air. The study showed that sharper blades create significantly fewer droplets. Consequently, the duller the knife, the stronger the onion's "tear-inducing" effect. Additionally, overly fast cutting resulted in a "true mist of onion juice." According to the physicists, a sharp knife and unhurried actions help to minimize the onion's undesirable properties.

Unknown Bacteria Strains Found on Chinese Space Station

A previously unknown strain of bacteria has been found on the Chinese space station, which is resistant to the extreme conditions of space and radiation. Samples have already been brought back to Earth and studied: it was discovered that the microorganisms are also capable of decomposing certain organic compounds and can theoretically be used for waste processing and medical purposes.

Peacock Mantis Shrimp: The Planet's Strongest Punch with Mega Vision

The peacock mantis shrimp has the strongest punch on the planet and possesses mega vision. These beauties are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and their 'hook' is equivalent to a gunshot and can break through aquariums. Moreover, they have the most advanced eyes, with 12 photoreceptors compared to humans' three: they can even see ultraviolet and infrared rays, as well as cancer cells in organisms (due to the peculiarities of light polarization).

First AI-Doctor Hospital Opens in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has introduced its first hospital with an AI doctor. Dr. Hua from startup Synyi AI analyzes information from the patient and provides a treatment plan, which is reviewed and signed by a human doctor.

The Wall Street Journal: Smiling Emoji Seen as Passive-Aggressive

The Wall Street Journal discovered that a smiling emoji in business correspondence is considered an expression of passive aggression. The publication surveyed young employees - they view this smiley as a sign of insincerity or hidden contempt. Employees over 30, however, continue to use it to create a relaxed atmosphere in their correspondence.

The Funniest Escape of the Century in New Orleans

In New Orleans, the funniest escape of the century occurred - 10 inmates escaped from the prison through a hole in the toilet by breaking the wall. Their absence was only noticed in the morning at the next roll call. The escapees left messages for the prison guards, saying, "It was so easy" and "We are innocent." Almost all of the escaped inmates were serving time for serious crimes, including murder. According to ABC News, three of them have already been detained, and the others are being sought by the police.

Voyager 1 Continues to Operate

NASA specialists managed to restart the engines of Voyager 1, which had failed over 20 years ago. All this time, the probe used backup engines for spatial orientation, but now due to a blockage, they also risk shutting down, so the main engines were reconsidered: to bring them back into operation, heaters were turned on, which could have led to an explosion, but in the end, everything went well. Since its launch in 1977, the device has flown 25 billion km away from Earth - today it is the farthest man-made object.

"Popcorn Brain" - The Digital Epidemic

"Popcorn brain" - a digital epidemic caused by content consumption has taken over the world. People's ability to concentrate has dropped by 80% over the last 10 years, and it's not the limit. Researchers at the University of California have discovered: people's concentration has decreased from 2.5 minutes in 2004 to just 47 seconds today.

Cartwheel Robotics plans childlike home robots

The company Cartwheel Robotics plans to make home robots that resemble children. They are designed for interacting with people at home - bringing joy and warmth, as the company itself states. Yogi is one of the prototypes of such robots with a cute childlike appearance. He is also expected to be practical and assist with household chores.

Jack Daniel’s Launches Whiskey Sausages

Jack Daniel’s has launched sausages with whiskey. The lineup includes a whole series of products: Jack Daniel's Texas Style Smokehouse Pork and Beef Sausage, Chicken Sausage with Apples and Jack Daniel's, Spicy Chicken Sausage with Honey and Jack Daniel's, Jack Daniel's Cheddar and Jalapeño Pork Sausage, Jack Daniel's Hot Links Pork and Beef Sausage.

Sex may disappear from games

A bill has been introduced in the US Congress that threatens games like Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, The Witcher 3, and even GTA 6. The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act proposes a unified federal definition of "obscenity" and tightens control over explicit content - this could affect all games containing elements of nudity or sexual scenes. If the law is passed, developers will have to either remove or tone down the content to maintain their presence in the American market.

'Formula 1' with Brad Pitt - big trailer

The film tells the story of a driver from a fictional team who decided to return to racing and become the mentor of a rising star, and it was filmed during the real Grands Prix of 2023 and 2024. The world premiere is on June 27.