A look at the EU's common charging regulations, which come into force on Dec. 28 and cover USB-C ports, fast charging, unbundling of charging bricks, and more (Callum Booth/The Verge)

Astral Systems, a startup from Bristol, UK, aims to increase production of nuclear isotopes for detecting cancer by utilizing multistate fusion (MSF) technology in compact reactors, receiving over £4.5M investment from Speedinvest and Playfair. Leveraging NASA research, Astral's platform could lead to applications in nuclear energy, space exploration, and industrial sectors, reducing reliance on centralized production sites and offering improved performance. With three commercial fusion facilities already established and revenue generated, Astral is positioned to...

AI researchers at Stanford and the University of Washington trained an AI reasoning model, called s1, for under $50 in cloud compute credits, showcasing cost-effective AI development. The model was successfully trained to perform reasoning tasks, demonstrating the potential for affordable AI research and development. This achievement highlights the accessibility of AI technology and its potential for widespread adoption. Full Article

Leah Barlow, a liberal studies professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, launched a TikTok account to teach her Intro to African American Studies class, sparking the creation of Hillmantok University, an online platform offering classes in various subjects led by Black educators and content creators. With concerns over potential education policy changes under a second Trump administration, Hillmantok aims to provide accessible and accurate information to counter misinformation. The movement, inspired by...

ZDNET discusses the importance of prioritizing security in the age of digital malice, particularly in the context of data collection by browsers like Chrome. The article suggests alternative Chrome-based browsers that prioritize security, such as Brave Browser, Ungoogled Chromium Browser, Mullvad Browser, Opera, and Vivaldi, each offering unique features like built-in VPNs, Tor network access, privacy mode, and customizable settings for tracking prevention. These browsers aim to provide users with increased privacy and security while...

AMD reported strong Q4 results, with revenue up 24% to $7.66 billion, driven by a thriving data center business fueled by AI workloads. Despite this growth, the stock dropped nearly 5% in after-hours trading. The company's data center segment revenue surged 69% to $3.9 billion, while client CPU revenue increased by 58%, although gaming revenue declined by 58% due to aging console chip sales. Full Article

The upcoming Google Pixel 9a is set to offer free trials of YouTube Premium, Fitbit Premium, and Google One, similar to the Pixel 8a. However, access to Gemini Advanced may require an additional payment. Pre-orders for the Pixel 9a are expected to start on March 19, with buyers receiving a six-month subscription to Fitbit Premium, a three-month subscription to YouTube Premium, and a three-month subscription to the 100GB tier of Google One. Full Article