What to read this weekend: When the world spins out of control

Cybersecurity researchers are highlighting campaigns exploiting Redis servers through known vulnerabilities, notably CVE-2024-36401 (CVSS score: 9.8), leading to malicious activities such as IoT botnets, residential proxies, and cryptocurrency mining. These attacks underscore the critical need for improved security measures to protect against such exploits. Want More Context? 🔎

A new analysis in the journal Science reveals that the U.S. is discarding critical minerals like cobalt and germanium, which are already being mined as byproducts of other metals, resulting in missed opportunities for domestic supply. The study suggests that recovering a small percentage of these minerals from existing tailings could satisfy most U.S. demand, except for platinum and palladium. Want More Context? 🔎

Four men in Georgia, linked by a shared bacterial strain of the lethal soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, were infected over decades, with the first case in 1983 and the last two in September 2024. Researchers suggest this bacterium has been present in the area all along, with its recent resurgence potentially triggered by Hurricane Helene. Want More Context? 🔎

A computer science student, Hayk Grigorian, created an AI language model called TimeCapsuleLLM, designed to emulate Victorian-era English, which unexpectedly referenced real protests from 1834 London. This discovery led Grigorian to research the historical events, highlighting the model's authentic capture of the period's language and rhetoric. Want More Context? 🔎

Intel has agreed to sell a 10 percent stake in the company to the U.S. for $10 billion, as announced by Donald Trump after discussions with CEO Lip-Bu Tan. This deal follows Trump's prior call for Tan's resignation due to alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party, with Trump claiming Tan's desire to retain his position led to the deal. Want More Context? 🔎

Apple is reportedly exploring a partnership with Google to use its Gemini AI model for an updated version of Siri, alongside developing its own models. Delays in rolling out new AI features, including a personal data-driven Siri, have prompted Apple to consider third-party solutions, with a decision expected by 2026. Want More Context? 🔎