Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 arrives with a “full digital twin” of Earth
Machine learning generates the closer-up ground in this very big sequel. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is out today (Xbox/PC, Steam), and it packs in a whole lot of simulation......»»
The 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali brings big power at a bigger cost
It's a big, luxurious—but expensive—electric pickup truck with a huge battery. GMC provided flights from Albany, New York, to San Francisco and accommodation so Ars could test.....»»
Emergent gravity may be a dead idea, but it’s not a bad one
Gravity may not emerge, but some interesting ideas did. Emergent gravity is a bold idea. It claims that the force of gravity is a mere illusion, more akin to friction or heat—a.....»»
Join us today for Ars Live: Our first encounter with manipulative AI
At 4PM ET, 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 model.....»»
SpaceX will try some new tricks on Starship’s sixth test flight
"An additional objective for this flight will be attempting an in-space burn using a single Raptor engine." The sixth flight of SpaceX's giant Starship rocket, set for takeoff on.....»»
Report: DOJ wants to force Google Chrome sale, Android de-bundling
Cutting off Google's control of the world's most popular browser may be necessary. Preferred by 61 percent of Internet users, Google's Chrome browser plays too big a role in maint.....»»
Can going to a haunted house boost the immune system?
Study found marked decrease in inflammatory markers and white blood cells after visiting a haunted house. Spooky season has come and gone, but those Halloween revelers who took in.....»»
Trust in scientists hasn’t recovered from COVID. Some humility could help.
Intellectual humility could win back much-needed trust in science, study finds Scientists could win back trust lost during the COVID-19 pandemic if they just showed a little intel.....»»
The ISS has been leaking air for 5 years, and engineers still don’t know why
"This is a an engineering problem, and good engineers should be able to agree on it." Officials from NASA and Russia’s space agency don’t see eye to eye on the causes and risk.....»»
AI-generated shows could replace lost DVD revenue, Ben Affleck says
AI won't replace human artistry, says actor, but it will wildly drive down costs. Last week, actor and director Ben Affleck shared his views on AI's role in filmmaking during the.....»»
Valve developers discuss why Half Life 2: Episode 3 was abandoned
Anniversary doc also includes footage of unused ice gun, blob enemies. After Ars spent Half-Life 2's 20th anniversary week looking back at the game's history and impact, Valve mar.....»»
The amorous adventures of earwigs
Elaborate courtship, devoted parenthood, gregarious nature (and occasional cannibalism)—earwigs have a lot going for them. Few people are fond of earwigs, with their menacing ab.....»»
To invent the wheel, did people first have to invent the spindle?
The physics of spinning objects may have seeded concepts key to the wheel. Twelve-thousand years ago, people in a coastal village in the Levant used stone weights on their spindle.....»»
Study confirms Egyptians likely used hallucinogens in rituals
Special concoction also contained honey, sesame seeds, pine nuts, licorice, and grapes to make it look like blood. Last year we reported on preliminary research suggesting that an.....»»
Urban Arrow’s front-loader is a stylish, functional cargo/kid hauler
With either cargo or kids, the Family is impeccably designed and a smooth ride. So far, all of the cargo bikes we've tested have been what are called "long tails," which means the.....»»
SpaceX president predicts rapid increase in Starship launch rate
"It's going to be hard to catch us, but I certainly hope people try." As SpaceX made its final preparations for the sixth launch of its Starship rocket, the company's chief operat.....»»
Racing turns its back on heavy, expensive hybrids for sustainable fuel
Racing's experiment with hybrid powertrains isn't going great. Over the past decade, spurred on by series like Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship, the world of motorsp.....»»
April Fools’ joke results in Japanese firm making a beige ’80s throwback PC case
You can fit lots of modern hardware inside—and prop your monitor on top. Putting out a joke product on April Fools' Day can sometimes be a clever way to quietly gauge the reacti.....»»
Trump’s FCC chair is Brendan Carr, who wants to regulate everyone except ISPs
Carr says he wants to punish broadcast media and dismantle "censorship cartel." President-elect Donald Trump announced last night that he will make Brendan Carr the chairman of th.....»»
Explicit deepfake scandal shuts down Pennsylvania school
Parents test if school leaders can be prosecuted over failure to report AI nudes. An AI-generated nude photo scandal has shut down a Pennsylvania private school. On Monday, classe.....»»