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Consistent with the general trend of incorporating artificial intelligence into almost every field, researchers and politicians are increasingly using AI models trained on scientific data to infer answers to scientific questions. But can AI ultimately replace scientists?The Trump administration signed an executive order on November 24, 2025, announcing the Genesis Mission, an effort to build and train a set of AI agents on federal scientific datasets to “test new hypotheses, automate research workflows, and accelerate scientific progress.”So far, the achievements of these so-called AI scientists have been mixed. On the other hand, AI systems can process huge data sets and…
Europe’s efforts to strengthen its artificial intelligence infrastructure have taken a decisive step with the signing of a major procurement contract to upgrade the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer. The European High Performance Computing Joint Venture (EuroHPC JU) has confirmed an agreement with a consortium led by FSAS Technologies and Telefonica, setting the stage for a major transformation of one of Europe’s flagship supercomputers. Hosted and operated by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), MareNostrum 5 is a core pillar of the BSC AI Factory initiative. With the contract signed, the project enters a new phase, rebuilding the system into a purpose-built platform…
Ravi LakshmananJanuary 27, 2026Vulnerability / Cloud Security A critical security flaw has been disclosed in Grist‑Core, an open source self-hosted version of the Grist relational spreadsheet database, that could allow remote code execution. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-24002 (CVSS score: 9.1) and codenamed “Cellbreak” by Cyera Research Labs. “A malicious formula could turn a spreadsheet into a remote code execution (RCE) beachhead,” said security researcher Vladimir Tokarev, who discovered the flaw. “This sandbox escape allows formula authors to execute OS commands or execute host runtime JavaScript, collapsing the boundaries between ‘cell logic’ and host execution.” Cellbreak is classified as…
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband signed a historic clean energy security agreement known as the Hamburg Declaration. The Hamburg Declaration was signed with European allies to strengthen energy security for homes and businesses in the UK and across Europe amid global instability. The agreement will harness the energy wealth of Europe’s shared North Sea to facilitate unprecedented joint offshore wind projects between European countries including Germany, Norway, France and Denmark. Mr Miliband said: “We are protecting our national interests by promoting clean energy, which will take Britain off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and deliver energy sovereignty and prosperity.” Commitment to…
Patients suspected of having lung cancer may soon be able to receive a rapid diagnosis thanks to a pioneering NHS pilot who is combining AI and robotics to reach a cancer that is notoriously difficult to detect. For thousands of patients each year, a suspected lung cancer diagnosis can involve weeks of scans, follow-up visits, and invasive tests, all of which are lived with anxiety. A new NHS pilot aims to dramatically change that timeline. The program, led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, uses advanced AI software and robotic bronchoscopy to identify and biopsy small lung nodules…
Ravi LakshmananJanuary 27, 2026Web security/malware Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a JScript-based command and control (C2) framework called PeckBirdy. This framework has been used by Chinese-aligned APT actors to target multiple environments since 2023. According to Trend Micro, this flexible framework is being used against malicious activity targeting China’s gambling industry as well as government and private organizations in Asia. “PeckBirdy is a script-based framework that has advanced functionality but is implemented using JScript, an older scripting language,” said researchers Ted Lee and Joseph C Chen. “This is to allow the framework to be launched across different execution environments via LOLBins…
Sonic booms are no longer only associated with supersonic jet and rocket launches, as scientists now use them to help solve the rapidly escalating problem of tracking space debris as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere. Over the past decade, the number of malfunctioning satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragmented spacecraft orbiting Earth has skyrocketed. This boom in orbital activity has led to a surge in uncontrolled re-entries, where objects plummet to Earth without precise guidance or prediction. These events pose increasing risks to people, infrastructure, and the environment, especially as more complex spacecraft carrying hazardous materials are sent into orbit. Predicting…
Ravi LakshmananJanuary 27, 2026Zero-day/vulnerabilities Microsoft on Monday issued an out-of-band security patch for a high-severity zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Office that was exploited in the attack. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-21509 and has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10.0. This is described as a bypass of Microsoft Office security features. “Microsoft Office’s reliance on untrusted input in security decisions may allow an unauthorized attacker to locally bypass security features,” the tech giant said in an advisory. “This update addresses a vulnerability that bypasses OLE mitigations in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Office that protect users from vulnerable COM/OLE…
Meta plans to test a new subscription that gives people access to exclusive features in IT apps, the company told TechCrunch on Monday. The tech giant said the new subscription will further boost productivity and creativity, along with expanded AI capabilities. In the coming months, Meta said it will offer a premium experience on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, while the core experience will remain free, giving users access to special features and more control over how they share and connect. Meta doesn’t appear to be locked into one strategy, and says it plans to test different subscription features and bundles,…
If comments on social media platforms like LinkedIn are any indication, the 2026 Game Developers Conference could be a little less international this year. Many members of the international gaming industry have announced they will be absent from the event, primarily due to concerns about safety, stricter U.S. immigration rules, and the increased presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Developers, past GDC attendees, and other industry experts are using platforms like LinkedIn to publicly voice their concerns. Concerns are further heightened by ICE operations in many U.S. cities and the recent fatal shooting by ICE officers in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole…