Researchers have made a virtual 3D model of Rano Raraku, a quarry on Easter Island where the famous moai statues were carved, allowing people to explore it from home. This digital reconstruction helps preserve the site and provide insights into how the statues were made. The project used drones to capture thousands of images, which were then combined into the model.
Key Facts
Easter Island, known for its moai statues, is in a remote location.
Most of the moai were carved from a volcanic rock called "tuff."
A new 3D model of the quarry was made using 22,000 drone photos.
The model was created by researchers from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
The project aimed to document the quarry after a wildfire in October 2023.
The digital model allows virtual exploration and study, offering views not visible on foot.
Researchers found evidence that different independent groups worked on the statues.
About 400 moai remain in the quarry, with around 900 existing in total.
A conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation, has proposed new rules for the H-1B visa program, which allows skilled workers from other countries to work in the U.S. The group suggests changes such as replacing the lottery system with a wage-based ranking and introducing a high fee for new H-1B applications. These changes aim to prioritize American workers in technology and related sectors.
Key Facts
The Heritage Foundation, linked to the Trump administration’s Project 2025, suggested significant changes to the H-1B visa program.
They propose removing exemptions for research and nonprofit groups and switching from a lottery to a wage-based ranking system.
The report recommends a strict annual cap on each company's H-1B applications.
Suggestions include barring companies from applying if they violate immigration laws.
President Trump announced a new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions starting September 21, 2025.
The Department of Labor's Project Firewall is working to prevent discrimination against American workers in H-1B processes.
Critics say the high fee could disadvantage smaller firms and startups compared to larger companies.
Nvidia has addressed concerns about a potential threat from Google's AI chips, stating that it remains ahead in the AI industry. The news of Google possibly selling its AI chips influenced Nvidia's stock price, which fell, while Google's parent company Alphabet saw an increase. Nvidia maintains its leadership in AI technology with plans to expand further.
Key Facts
Nvidia claims it is "a generation ahead" in the AI industry.
Shares of Nvidia fell around 6% after a report about Meta planning to buy AI chips from Google.
Nvidia is the world's most valuable company, with a valuation of $5 trillion as of October.
Nvidia announced deals to supply AI chips to South Korea, Samsung, LG, and Hyundai.
Google currently rents its AI chips, called tensor processing units (TPUs), through Google Cloud.
There is speculation that Google may begin selling its AI chips to other data centers.
Nvidia and Google's competition in the AI chip market is seen as beneficial and healthy by some experts.
Influencer Pokimane, popular on the gaming platform Twitch, bought herself an engagement ring, calling it a "self-engagement" ring. This action started a debate among her followers about self-care and self-love.
Key Facts
Pokimane, real name Imane Anys, is a Moroccan-Canadian influencer known for her content on Twitch.
She bought herself an engagement ring, which she calls a "self-engagement" ring.
Pokimane shared this decision in a TikTok video watched over 340,000 times.
The move sparked a debate, with some viewers finding it empowering and others questioning the idea.
Many comments praised the act as self-care and self-love.
Self-care includes a variety of actions like exercise, expressing feelings, and spending time with loved ones.
Some people believe buying jewelry for oneself can signify self-love and personal milestones.
The fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" will be released in three parts on Netflix before the end of 2025. The show is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, and has been a major success for Netflix. The show’s storyline follows the adventures and challenges faced by the main characters, including Eleven, against supernatural threats.
Key Facts
Season five will release in three parts, concluding by the end of 2025.
The first four episodes will be available on November 27, 2024, with releases timed to suit global audiences.
Episodes five, six, and seven will be available on Christmas Day.
The final episode, titled "The Rightside Up," will be released on New Year's Eve.
Season four ended with the main characters battling against the villain Vecna, who has connections to Eleven.
Vecna, once Henry Creel or "One," was initially a subject of research at Hawkins National Lab.
"Stranger Things" has had over 1.8 billion viewing hours for its fourth season.
The series has significantly boosted the careers of its young cast, especially Millie Bobby Brown.
X, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk, has introduced a new feature called "About This Account" that shows the location information of its users. This update aims to increase transparency and reduce misinformation, but it raises concerns about users' safety and privacy.
Key Facts
X is a social media platform previously known as Twitter, owned by Elon Musk.
The new feature, "About This Account," lets users see the country or region where an account is based.
This feature is available globally and can be accessed by clicking the signup date on user profiles.
The update aims to increase transparency and fight misinformation, especially from automated accounts ("bots").
Users generally cannot hide their location information, except in some regions with free speech restrictions.
Concerns have been raised that the feature could compromise users' safety and privacy by revealing their location.
Some experts worry that the feature might endanger users, especially in sensitive regions like Gaza.
Kal Penn, an actor and former government worker, has started a podcast called "Here We Go Again." The podcast explores why history seems to repeat itself, using examples from areas like pop culture and politics. It features various guests and discussions but is not a traditional political podcast.
Key Facts
Kal Penn launched a podcast named "Here We Go Again."
The podcast examines why historical events recur over time.
Topics include pop culture and politics, but it's not a political podcast.
Kal Penn worked in the Obama administration before returning to acting.
The podcast has featured guests like Bill Nye and Pete Buttigieg.
Penn uses the podcast to explore institutional memory and changes over time.
The podcast kicks off discussions, such as changes in the space race from the 1980s to today.
Some private schools in the United States are starting to use AI, or artificial intelligence, in classrooms instead of traditional teaching methods. The episode also discusses how online scams are affecting people around the world, including one woman's story of losing a lot of money.
Key Facts
Some U.S. private schools are using AI to replace traditional classroom teaching.
The AI system involves laptops and personalized apps for students.
The show features interviews with students and a school network co-founder involved in AI-assisted learning.
The episode also deals with the issue of online scams happening globally.
A story of a woman who lost a significant amount of money to an online scam is highlighted.
The show provides advice from an expert on how to protect oneself from online scams.
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfakes to target major retailers, attempting to trick employees into processing fraudulent refunds. Deepfake technologies impersonate people in phone calls, which are becoming common in fraud operations during the holiday season.
Key Facts
Around 30% of fraud attempts on major retailers are AI-generated.
Scammers use AI bots to call customer service centers and request refunds.
Deepfake bots can provide enough correct information to be convincing, even if they sound robotic.
One large retailer gets over 1,000 AI-generated calls daily.
North Korean scammers use AI to alter their appearance and voice in job interviews.
The FBI warned about AI impersonations of senior U.S. officials.
AI creates fake endorsements from celebrities or brands on social media.
Apple, Amazon, and luxury brands are commonly impersonated by scammers.
The current senior college students are the first to experience almost their entire college life with generative AI, a type of artificial intelligence that can create new text and images. This AI is becoming more advanced, making it difficult to tell apart from human work, and it is having a significant impact on colleges.
Key Facts
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new text and images.
This year's senior college students were in college during the widespread use of generative AI.
The advancements in AI technology make it harder to distinguish between AI-generated and human-created work.
The presence of generative AI is significantly affecting colleges and universities.
The AI impact is influencing both students' and professors' approaches to education.
This change is part of a broader series examining the transformation of colleges.
A NASA telescope has possibly found dark matter, an elusive substance that scientists have been trying to identify for nearly a century. Researchers from the University of Tokyo used data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope to find gamma rays that could indicate the presence of dark matter at the center of the Milky Way.
Key Facts
Dark matter is a substance believed to hold galaxies together but it cannot be directly seen or measured.
A NASA telescope called the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected gamma rays possibly linked to dark matter.
The gamma rays observed match predictions of how dark matter particles might behave when they collide and annihilate each other.
Researchers focused on a region called the halo of the Milky Way, which was less studied before.
The detection of gamma rays supports the theory that dark matter may be "WIMPS," or Weakly Interacting Massive Particles.
The discovery may lead to identifying a new elementary particle not in the current physics model.
Scientists need additional data and independent verification to confirm these findings.
A new feature on the social media platform X has shown that several prominent MAGA influencers are actually foreign entities. This has caused significant attention and discussion on social media.
Key Facts
A new transparency feature was introduced on the social media platform X.
This feature revealed that many top MAGA influencers are not based in the United States.
These influencers have been identified as foreign actors.
The revelation has led to widespread discussion on social media.
The situation has raised concerns about foreign influence and division within the U.S.
A cryptology organization, the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR), canceled its leadership election results announcement because one official lost a crucial encrypted key. This key was necessary to access the vote outcomes, leading them to nullify the election and plan a rerun with better safeguards.
Key Facts
The International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR) canceled its election result due to a lost encryption key.
Three trustees each had part of an encrypted key that was needed to access the election results.
One trustee lost their part of the key, making it impossible to reveal the vote outcome.
The election was for three Director and four Officer positions.
The IACR used Helios, an open-source electronic voting system, for the election.
They plan to rerun the election and have added new security measures to prevent similar issues.
The new voting process will run until December 20th, with a new system for managing keys.
A scholar, Hatim Rahman, emphasizes that human decision-making is crucial in determining how artificial intelligence (AI) is used. His research highlights that while AI can improve efficiency, it may also impact worker skills and job inequality. Rahman suggests that professional groups and labor unions are important to address AI's responsible adoption.
Key Facts
Human decisions play a key role in how AI technology is deployed.
Hatim Rahman studies how digital platforms affect the modern work experience.
Over 40 million people in the U.S. used online labor platforms in 2021.
Professional groups can help guide responsible AI adoption in various industries.
Rahman explores the impact of AI on workplace inequality.
His research questions the long-term sustainability of productivity gains from AI.
AI's role as a task replacement raises concerns about employee skill development.
There are risks if systems relying on AI experience shutdowns or failures.
Ofcom, a media regulator, has issued guidelines to combat online sexism, especially targeting tech platforms that allow abusive content towards women. These guidelines aim to make online reporting easier and to use public pressure to compel platforms to comply, but they are not legally enforceable rules. Critics argue that legal enforcement is necessary for significant change.
Key Facts
Ofcom has published guidelines to address online abuse against women but these are recommendations, not laws.
The guidelines include measures like consolidating privacy settings and allowing collective reporting of abusive comments.
Ofcom intends to publicly call out platforms that fail to follow these guidelines.
Critics say legal enforcement is necessary for tech companies to take sexism seriously.
The guidelines support the Online Safety Act, which became law in 2023.
Influencers and women activists report ongoing abuse online and call for stronger actions.
Some say the measures are a positive start but highlight that voluntary compliance may not lead to significant change.
Ofcom has only issued two fines so far under the Online Safety Act.
Scientists at Texas A&M University have developed a method to rejuvenate aging or damaged cells by enhancing their mitochondria, which are parts of cells that produce energy. They used nanomaterials and stem cells to create healthy mitochondria that can be transferred to other cells, potentially slowing or reversing effects related to cell aging and some diseases. This approach could pave the way for new therapies in regenerative medicine.
Key Facts
Researchers found a way to replace mitochondria in aging cells, which helps increase energy production.
The method uses nanomaterials and stem cells to create "biofactories" for healthy mitochondria.
These mitochondria can be transferred to damaged or aging cells, restoring their function.
The study shows promise for treating conditions linked to mitochondrial decline, such as heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders.
The approach is not a general anti-aging solution but can address specific cellular issues related to mitochondrial failure.
Nanomaterials allow for prolonged presence in cells, reducing the need for frequent treatment doses.
Stem cells combined with flower-shaped particles, known as nanoflowers, enhance mitochondria production significantly.
Researchers aim to develop therapies that improve cell resilience, especially in diseases where mitochondrial failure is critical.
President Trump is taking steps to prevent China from acquiring advanced AI chips by closing loopholes in U.S. export controls. The U.S. and its allies currently dominate the production of chipmaking tools, but some companies are exploiting loopholes to aid China's AI development. President Trump aims to tighten these controls to stop China from advancing its AI capabilities.
Key Facts
President Trump has focused on keeping advanced AI chips out of China's hands.
China tries to build its own AI chips and tools, rather than rely on U.S.-made technology.
The Trump administration is working to remove loopholes in U.S. export controls to prevent China from getting chipmaking tools.
There are existing rules that Dutch and Japanese companies exploit to help China advance its AI technologies.
President Trump initiated an AI Action Plan aimed at working with allies to restrict sales to China.
The U.S. and allies have a lead in producing these critical chipmaking tools but face competition from China.
If China succeeds in its AI chip production, it could significantly enhance its military capabilities.
Google has introduced a new AI model called Gemini 3 Pro, which is challenging its main competitor, ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI. Gemini 3 Pro has received positive feedback, putting pressure on OpenAI to keep up as they face declining engagement.
Key Facts
Google released Gemini 3 Pro on November 18.
Gemini 3 Pro will power Google's search engine and its Gemini app.
OpenAI faces challenges after the release of Gemini 3 Pro, as ChatGPT engagement declines.
Google can train its AI models on a wide range of data due to its vast resources.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff praised Gemini 3 after using it.
Google has more resources than OpenAI, making it easier to reach many users quickly.
Despite competition, OpenAI has a strong user base with around 800 million active users weekly.
Google's AI advancements build on earlier technologies like the 2017 Transformer paper.
Amazon warned its 300 million users to be cautious of cybercriminals as Black Friday approaches. The company alerted users about scams where attackers pretend to be trustworthy to steal personal details.
Key Facts
Amazon issued a warning to over 300 million users about potential cyber threats.
Cybercriminals often try to steal personal or financial information by pretending to be trustworthy sources.
Fraudulent activities are higher during big shopping events like Black Friday.
Scammers may use methods like fake account issues, fake delivery messages, and unofficial contact.
Users are advised to only use Amazon's official app or website for services.
Amazon recommends using two-factor authentication for account security.
Governments worldwide are considering stricter age-verification laws for social media. In the U.S., this includes potential changes to existing rules to regulate the use of social media by those under 16. The ongoing legal actions against Meta are contributing to these discussions.
Key Facts
Many countries, including Australia and Malaysia, have introduced laws banning social media use for those under 16.
Europe is creating new standards to protect young users' privacy through age verification.
A multistate lawsuit in the U.S. claims Meta does not effectively keep children under 13 off their platforms.
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is the only U.S. national rule, preventing data collection from children under 13 without parental consent.
COPPA allows children under 13 to use social media but requires parental consent for data collection.
Most social media platforms set a minimum age of 13 due to COPPA, but it does not cover children aged 13-15.
Other countries are beginning to enforce stricter age-verification measures, including the use of government-issued IDs or video verification.
The pressure to modernize U.S. rules is increasing as more nations adopt tougher regulations for social media age verification.
