X (Twitter)’s dark mode will soon be permanent
X (Twitter)’s owner Elon Musk has revealed that he plans to make dark mode a permanent feature on the platform. These days, it’s not uncommon to find websites and apps offering a “dark mode”. This is done to reduce the brightness.....»»
How to deactivate your X account before it starts training AI on your posts
In October, X (formerly Twitter) made significant changes to its Terms of Service that ruffled the feathers of the site’s user base. Most notably, anything … The post How to deactivate your X account before it starts training AI on your p.....»»
Yes, the 10 worst passwords still include ‘password’ and ‘secret’
Some six years after virtual private network company NordVPN started searching data breaches for the most-used passwords, things are every bit as bad as when the company started. Each year, the company searches the dark web for passwords stolen by.....»»
Astronomers defy the zone of avoidance to find hundreds of new galaxies
There is a region of the sky where astronomers fear to look. Filled with dark clouds of dust, it hides an unseen mass. A mass so large it is pulling the Milky Way and other galaxies toward it......»»
Threads is bringing ads to your feeds very soon
Ever since Twitter became X, many users have been looking for a good alternative. Meta’s Threads has become that for a lot of people. But a very big, yet inevitable change is happening to the social media network soon: ads are coming to your feeds......»»
Fortnite OG is bringing back the shooter’s original map for good
After the immense success of Fortnite OG last year, Epic Games is bringing back the mode for good......»»
Ars Live: Our first encounter with manipulative AI
On Nov. 19, join Benj Edwards and Simon Willison's live YouTube chat about the "Great Bing Chat Fiasco of 2023." In the short-term, the most dangerous thing about AI language mode.....»»
New research challenges dark matter theory in galaxy formation
The standard model for how galaxies formed in the early universe predicted that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) would see dim signals from small, primitive galaxies. But data are not confirming the popular hypothesis that invisible dark matter.....»»
A hidden iOS 18.1 upgrade made it harder to extract data from iPhones
According to security experts, Apple added a new feature in iOS 18.1 that puts an iPhone in a special secure mode after a period of inactivity to protect data......»»
Leeches are making a medical comeback—here"s why we should celebrate it
As we tidy away the Dracula capes and glow-in-the-dark plastic fangs for another winter, one notorious blood sucker has had a particularly good year......»»
The performance downgrade made to the M4 Pro that no one is talking about
Apple has made a change to its Low Power mode that drastically reduces performance......»»
Consumer privacy risks of data aggregation: What should organizations do?
In September 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released an eye-opening report that digs into the data habits of nine major tech giants, including Amazon (Twitch), ByteDance (TikTok), Discord, Facebook, Reddit, Snap, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouT.....»»
Balancing quantity and quality: How X/Twitter"s algorithm influences our consumption of news
Are we only seeing the kind of news we want to see on social media? What effects do personalized algorithms have on our perception of news quality? Do algorithms help us serendipitously encounter information that we didn't expect? These are the quest.....»»
Make the most of your smart lights this holiday season with these expert tips
It's dark and dreary this time of year, but if you're using smart lights properly, it's easy to get through the winter. Here's how to optimize your setup......»»
How to play Stardew Valley multiplayer on mobile
Mobile players have always had to farm alone, but this secret code for Stardew Valley will let you play with some friends. Here's how to access the hidden mode......»»
Stardew Valley now has multiplayer on Android and iOS – how to access the hidden mode
After a few months waiting, Stardew Valley’s latest major update has debuted on Android and iOS with a ton of new additions, and now it turns out that it also has a hidden multiplayer mode. more….....»»
Elon Musk turns X’s block button into a “glorified mute button”
X change lets blocked users see posts made by the people who blocked them. X, formerly Twitter, is now letting blocked users see posts made by the people who blocked them. "We're.....»»
New book explores the relationship between beauty and crisis
Creating and nurturing beauty in dark times helps us endure another day. Beauty can help us appraise how we live and how we can build better lives. Its presence or absence is a critique of the social and political structures that are necessary to all.....»»
30 years ago, New York City went dark and NBC’s Must See TV shined brightly
In 1994, three of NBC's main sitcoms participated in an ambitious crossover featuring a power outage in NYC. Thirty years later, the gimmick still feels fresh......»»
10 best dark comedy movies of all time, ranked
The best dark comedy movies are the perfect blend of grim and hilarious, from the satirical modern classic, Parasite, to the '90s crime favorite, Fargo......»»
Saturday Citations: On chimpanzee playwrights; the nature of dark energy; deep-diving Antarctic seals
This week, researchers reported the world's second-tiniest toad, winning the silver in the Brachycephalus contest. Chemists at UCLA disproved a 100-year-old organic chemistry rule. And researchers in Kenya report that elephants don't like bees, which.....»»