Ars Technica in the mix as tech, science, and policy stay hot—founded 1998 by Ken Fisher and Jon Stokes, watchdogs of tech news.
Archaeologists have analysed findings from Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, identifying charred animal remains dating to 1.8 million years ago. The discovery suggests early humans used fire far earlier than previously thought, with bone luminescence confirming fractures and controlled burning in Stratum 11. Dating situates this activity between 1.07 and 1.79 million years ago, challenging long-held timelines.
New data shows the Strait of Hormuz disruption has intensified energy shortages and raised costs across Asia and other regions. Governments are maintaining subsidies in some areas while facing higher oil prices, with ripple effects on fertilizer, electricity and food prices.
NASA has announced the Artemis III crew and aims to dock with Blue Origin and SpaceX landers in 2027. Officials say readiness questions persist for the landers as testing continues and the SLS program progresses toward a wet dress rehearsal and stacking in July.
Dashlane reports a coordinated brute-force attack targeted its device-enrollment API, leading to the unauthorized download of fewer than 20 encrypted password vaults. The company has notified affected users and says others are unaffected. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in 2FA enrollment and rapid credential access.
The ISS has faced persistent leaks from the Zvezda module since 2019. On June 5, 2026, NASA ordered Crew-12 astronauts to seek safe haven in the SpaceX Crew Dragon while Roscosmos performed repairs. After measurements, crews returned to normal operations as repairs began anew. The episode underlines ongoing vulnerability and cooperation between NASA and Roscosmos amid a plan to de-orbit the station by 2031.
GM is expanding vehicle‑to‑grid capabilities and developing sodium‑ion batteries for grid storage, aiming to cut costs and support rising electricity demand driven by AI data centers. Pilots with PG&E and DTE Energy are underway, with Scale and timelines focused on energy storage rather than cars.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has released its own maternal immunization schedule, diverging from the CDC’s guidance amid policy changes and vaccine misinformation. The plan endorses influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and Tdap vaccines during pregnancy, with additional vaccines for certain risk groups and postpartum/breastfeeding vaccination details. Health professionals say hesitancy remains a challenge as providers seek to align patient care with evidence-based guidance.
A Florida man has filed suit against multiple law-enforcement agencies for wrongful arrest and prosecution after a faulty facial-recognition match flagged him as a child-luring suspect at a Jacksonville Beach McDonald’s in August 2024. The case, now in federal court, alleges officers concealed exculpatory evidence and relied on a low-quality image from a screen grab. The plaintiff lives hundreds of miles away and says he never visited the site.
A set of lawsuits allege OpenAI’s ChatGPT harmed users by failing to flag self-harm content and by echoing distress, with plaintiffs seeking court orders to automatically terminate conversations about self-harm and to publish warnings.
Since last week, New World screwworm has been detected in Texas and New Mexico, prompting cross-border restrictions and a major USDA response. Officials confirm additional cases in cattle, a dog, and a goat, while outlining plans to deploy sterile flies and expand containment to prevent a broader outbreak.