AI-Powered Text From This Program Could Fool the Government

A Harvard medical student submitted auto-generated comments to Medicaid; volunteers couldn’t distinguish them from those penned by humans.

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Wikipedia Is Basically a Massive RPG

Sure, the metaphor is imperfect. But as the encyclopedia enters its 20th year, it's worth reflecting on the "rules of the game"—and how they might change.

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How to Preorder the Samsung Galaxy S21—and Which One to Get

Should you go Ultra or snag the S21+? We break down the differences between the company’s new phones and round up the best deals.

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Everything We Know Now About Schools, Kids, and Covid-19

Researchers are finally getting good data on how severely SARS-CoV-2 affects children and how they transmit it. What does it mean for reopening classrooms?

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I Am Not a Soldier, but I Have Been Trained to Kill

A sprawling tactical industry is teaching American civilians how to fight like Special Ops forces. By preparing for violence at home, are they calling it into being?

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Why TikTok (and Everyone Else) Is Singing Sea Chanteys

It has a lot to do with unity—and a little something to do with earworms.

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Can an AI Predict the Language of Viral Mutation?

Computational biologists used an algorithm meant to model human language to instead predict how viruses could evolve to evade the immune system.

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Samsung Has New Galaxy Phones (and New Earbuds Too)

A trio of new Android phones—the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra—are joined by new Bluetooth earbuds and a Tile-like tracker.

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The DC Riot Is the Sandy Hook of the Disinformation Crisis

After the 2012 mass shooting, many asked: If this doesn’t lead to change, can we ever expect change? We should be asking the same of the insurrection.

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How Old-School Text Adventures Inspired Our Virtual Spaces

MMORPGs and even social media can trace their roots to games that used simple text commands to construct vivid, fantastical worlds.

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An Algorithm Is Helping a Community Detect Lead Pipes

The model had shown promise in Flint before officials rebelled. Now Toledo is using it, while incorporating more public input.

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Crime Rates Dropped in 2020—Just as They Did in 1918

An economist looks at public safety during the Covid lockdowns and also at the time of Spanish Flu.

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The Next Gen Console Games You Should Actually Care About

The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have some great games coming this year—assuming schedules hold. Here's a quick rundown of some great ones.

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The 15 Best Devices From CES That You Can Buy Now

Much of the trade show’s flashy tech will never hit store shelves, but here are a few gadgets that are already available.

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The Local Politics of Airbnb’s Ban on DC Rentals

Residents and city officials traumatized by last week’s unrest fear a repeat for Biden’s inauguration.

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These Adorable Fish Robots Form Schools Like the Real Thing

Meet Bluebot, a friendly swimming robot with big camera eyes. Put a few in a tank together and they’ll collaborate to complete surprisingly complex tasks.

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The Future of Phone Design: Flexible Screens That Roll Up

At CES 2021, two companies showed off concepts for a rollable phone. This year, expect this new category of devices to greatly expand.

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How Law Enforcement Gets Around Your Smartphone's Encryption

New research has dug into the openings iOS and Android security provide for anyone with the right tools.

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Scientists Have Sequenced Dire Wolf DNA. Thanks, Science!

The creatures made famous by Game of Thrones went extinct some 13,000 years ago. Now geneticists know a little more about where they come from.

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How a Decade-Old Game Helped Me Cope with Seasonal Depression

During a bleary fall and winter, the open world of Skyrim gave me the motivation and joy I couldn't find in the real world.

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