January 2025: FDA green-lights novel pain drug, OpenAI counters DeepSeek, and tech industry faces regulatory scrutiny
A roundup of major technology and science stories from January 2025, ranging from pharmaceutical breakthroughs to artificial intelligence competition and government investigations into media companies.
FDA approves first non-opioid pain medicine in more than 20 years
Journavx (suzetrigine), a new pharmaceutical treatment, operates by blocking an ion channel located in peripheral nerves.
FCC demands CBS provide unedited transcript of Kamala Harris interview
The Federal Communications Commission is investigating how CBS edited a 60 Minutes segment featuring the Vice President, while the network weighs whether to settle litigation brought by former President Trump.
Google Pixel 4a's ruinous "Battery Performance" update is a bewildering mess
The reasoning behind Google's decision to deploy this update rather than initiate a recall remains unclear.
OpenAI hits back at DeepSeek with o3-mini reasoning model
The company unveiled a faster, more precise model tailored for STEM applications that will be available at no cost to users.
Treasury official retires after clash with DOGE over access to payment system
A veteran Treasury Department employee departed following a dispute "over access to sensitive payment systems."
Buoy meets satellite soulmate in Love Me
Ars spoke with filmmakers Andy and Sam Zuchero and props department head Roberts Cifersons about the project.
Dell risks employee retention by forcing all teams back into offices full-time
"Dell may be missing out on some great talent…" according to observers of the company's return-to-office mandate.
Driving the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R makes every other pony feel tame
We tested Ford's newest track-focused Mustang variant.
Notable stories from the month
- I spent $4,000 on a robot dog from China
- Physicist does the math on Star Trek's "Picard maneuver"
- Bouncy castle launches horrifying MRSA outbreak, striking 48 kids in Ireland
- Trump's forced coal plant extensions thrown out by judge
- ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses
"Just give me the f***ing links!"—Cursing disables Google's AI overviews
The newest method for circumventing those intrusive AI-generated summaries happens to be the most satisfying.
Here's why the tech industry gets excited about sports car racing
Motorsport has traditionally served as a testing ground for technological advancement, though the focus has shifted primarily toward software innovations.
Bogus research is undermining good science, slowing lifesaving research
Hundreds of thousands of fraudulent academic papers may currently exist in scientific circulation.
Top 10 moments of RFK Jr.'s reality-bending confirmation hearings
The nominee encountered numerous contentious moments while attempting to persuade lawmakers of his support for vaccination.
Research Roundup: 7 cool science stories we almost missed
Topics included ancient Peruvian mummy tattoos, the physics governing spear and dart trajectories, quantum "cat states," and additional discoveries.
Rocket Report: SpaceX tosses away a Falcon 9; a Somalian spaceport?
"It was the perfect partnership and the biggest softball of all the opportunities," according to industry observers.
The Severance writer and cast on corporate cults, sci-fi, and more
The show's creators cited cult documentaries and classic science fiction works as primary influences.
Ford made a NASCAR Mach-E, but it's not sure what to do with it yet
The automaker developed a racing variant featuring battery-electric technology.
In Apple's first-quarter earnings, the Mac leads the way in sales growth
CEO Tim Cook noted that iPhones demonstrate stronger sales performance in markets where Apple Intelligence is available.
How one YouTuber is trying to poison the AI bots stealing her content
The creator developed specialized captions filled with misleading information that remain imperceptible to human viewers but confuse artificial intelligence systems.
Trump's FCC chair investigates NPR and PBS, urges Congress to defund them
Brendan Carr, characterized as "Trump's Censorship Czar," initiated inquiries into public broadcasting organizations.
Copyright Office suggests AI copyright debate was settled in 1965
According to a report, widespread opinion holds that works generated entirely by artificial intelligence should not receive copyright protection.
VGHF opens free online access to 1,500 classic game mags, 30K historic files
The archive provides access to vintage GamePro publications alongside rare Myst film materials.
Report: DeepSeek's chat histories and internal data were publicly exposed
Researchers at Wiz identified numerous parallels between DeepSeek's system and OpenAI's infrastructure, including comparable levels of elevated access.
OpenAI teases "new era" of AI in US, deepens ties with government
The organization stated that artificial intelligence applications could strengthen national security, enable disease detection, and improve electrical grid stability.
I agree with OpenAI: You shouldn't use other peoples' work without permission
OpenAI contends that DeepSeek improperly utilized its training data, a position that understandably frustrates the company.
Microsoft now hosts AI model accused of copying OpenAI data
OpenAI's principal financial backer now offers commercial access to the "R1" model, which faces allegations of violating OpenAI's licensing terms.
Microsoft updates Intel-based Surface PCs, if you can pay for them
Enterprise customers frequently depend on hardware and software platforms that continue to require x86 processor architecture.
Bennu asteroid samples yield watery history, key molecules for life
The findings provide insights into how the fundamental components necessary for life on Earth may have originated from extraterrestrial sources.
Tesla's 2024 financial results are out—and they're terrible
Regulatory credit sales accounted for 40 percent of the company's profitability.
Weight saving and aero optimization feature in the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3
Modifications include aerodynamic enhancements, revised gear ratios, and the reintroduction of the Touring variant.
Democrat teams up with movie industry to propose website-blocking law
The proposed legislation has drawn criticism as "censorious" and an "Internet kill switch."
Stem cells used to partially repair damaged hearts
Cardiac tissue patches derived from stem cells demonstrated therapeutic benefit in repairing compromised heart function.
The long-planned return of two astronauts from space is now a political issue
The situation has become remarkably contentious for numerous reasons.
Trump cribs Musk's "fork in the road" Twitter memo to slash gov't workforce
Federal employees posting on Reddit criticized the Office of Personnel Management communication as lacking foresight.
Trump admin rescinds controversial funding freeze after two days of protest
Following the reversal, the $42 billion broadband initiative may nonetheless face suspension.
This mantis shrimp-inspired robotic arm can crack an egg
The apparatus functions as a grasping hand, can traverse surfaces by crawling, or execute jumping motions, all controlled through manipulation of a single mechanical muscle.
Sony removes PlayStation account requirement from 4 single-player Steam games
Although the account mandate has been eliminated, in-game rewards continue to incentivize player engagement.