Our verdict on Luminous by Silvia Park: a fascinating take on robots
The New Scientist Book Club read Silvia Park’s near-future sci-fi novel Luminous in May, and had lots of good things to say (along with a few complaints)
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‘Sources’ close to Brad Pitt are still raging out over ‘heartless’ Angelina Jolie
Two weekends ago, Zahara Jolie graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta. Angelina Jolie was there, as were several of Zahara’s siblings. Zahara’s miserable father did not go, did not ask for an invitation, and did not mark Zahara’s milestone publicly or privately. It was actually a rare moment when Angelina’s team called out Brad publicly…
Rescuers free four more men from flooded Laos cave, two still missing | Floods News
Five of seven men who entered cave seeking gold are now out after being trapped for 10 days. Published On 30 May 202630 May 2026 Rescuers have pulled four more men from a flooded cave in central Laos, bringing to five the number freed from a group of villagers who became trapped while searching for…
Microsoft is threatening legal action for disclosing exploits
Microsoft is facing criticism for its handling of zero-day exploits. Someone going by the name Nightmare Eclipse has been publicly feuding with the company, posting proof-of-concept exploit code. Some of their posts suggest that they’re a disgruntled former employee. But what caught cyber security researcher Kevin Beaumont’s eye was how Microsoft has responded. Microsoft suggests…
Ian McKellen joins march for LGBTQ+ equality in Commonwealth countries | Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen has joined a march against the criminalisation of LGBTQ+ people in Commonwealth countries, calling it an “appalling situation”. The Lord of the Rings star and activist joined protesters in central London to highlight laws in 29 Commonwealth countries where same-sex relationships remain illegal. In six of those countries, LGBTQ+ people face life imprisonment,…
Sugababes Perform Live at 35,000 Feet in Virgin Atlantic’s Starlink-Powered Sky-High Concert
The Sugababes have played arenas, festivals, and television studios – but their latest gig took place somewhere few artists have ever performed: 35,000 feet above the Atlantic. The iconic British trio – Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan, and Siobhán Donaghy – took to the skies earlier this week for a special live performance aboard a Virgin…
Millions of Bees Have Thrived Under a New York Cemetery for More Than a Century
A morning walk through East Lawn Cemetery in Ithaca, New York uncovered an immense colony of some 5.5 million subterranean bees. The discovery, which a Cornell University research team published in April in the journal Apidologie, documents one of the largest aggregations of these insects ever recorded in the world. The population, belonging to the…
U.S. is right to ask allies to spend more on defense, Dutch DPM says
Netherlands’ Deputy Prime Minister VVD party leader Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius speaks during a weekly press conference following the Council of Ministers in The Hague on April 10, 2026. (Photo by Robin Utrecht / ANP / AFP via Getty Images) / Netherlands OUT Robin Utrecht | Afp | Getty Images The U.S.’ call for allies to step…
Can AI Grow Without Hurting Local Communities?
The rush to build AI data centers is drawing trillions of dollars in investment and long-term bets from infrastructure firms such as DigitalBridge. But in communities where those facilities are being built, residents and officials are raising concerns about electricity costs, water use, noise, transparency and who bears the risk if demand falls short. Michigan…
Pebblebee’s Halo watches my back and my belongings
I live in a part of Los Angeles where I feel safer bringing pepper spray on walks. The problem is, I don’t always remember to bring it with me, and it’s not legal to carry it everywhere I go. Pebblebee’s $59.99 Halo Bluetooth tracker surprised me by being a suitable replacement because it doubles as…