February 2026: A Month of AI Restrictions, Quantum Advances, and Tech Upheaval

Trump moves to ban Anthropic from the US government

Anthropic faced pressure from the Defense Department to eliminate guardrails governing military applications of its artificial intelligence systems.

In puzzling outbreak, officials look to cold beer, gross ice, and ChatGPT

Health investigators relied on an AI chatbot to validate their conclusions during an unusual disease outbreak investigation.

Google quantum-proofs HTTPS by squeezing 15kB of data into 700-byte space

Merkle Tree Certificate support is already available in Chrome and will expand to broader deployment.

The Air Force's new ICBM is nearly ready to fly, but there's nowhere to put it

There were assumptions that were made in the strategy that obviously didn't come to fruition.

Under a Paramount-WBD merger, two struggling media giants would unite

A potential combination of two declining entertainment corporations raises questions about whether consolidation could restore profitability.

Photons that aren't actually there influence superconductivity

Virtual photons mediate interactions between adjacent materials in superconducting systems.

Whoops: US military laser strike takes down CBP drone near Mexican border

Trump administration "incompetence continues to cause chaos in our skies," according to Duckworth.

The AI apocalypse is nigh in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

Director Gore Verbinski and screenwriter Matthew Robinson discuss their work on this darkly satirical science fiction film.

1. I spent $4,000 on a robot dog from China
2. Physicist does the math on Star Trek's "Picard maneuver"
3. Bouncy castle launches horrifying MRSA outbreak, striking 48 kids in Ireland
4. Trump's forced coal plant extensions thrown out by judge
5. ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses

Hyperion author Dan Simmons dies from stroke at 77

The science fiction author's legacy includes works that profoundly shaped readers' understanding of the genre.

How strong is New York's "illegal gambling" case against Valve's loot boxes?

Legal experts suggest the state faces significant obstacles in its case, though Valve occupies a particularly exposed position.

And the award for the most improved EV goes to… the 2026 Toyota bZ

Toyota's compact electric SUV underwent substantial revisions, delivering enhanced efficiency and overall performance.

Netflix cedes Warner Bros. Discovery to Paramount: "No longer financially attractive"

Netflix stock climbed following the company's announcement regarding its strategic shift.

NASA shakes up its Artemis program to speed up lunar return

Launching SLS every three and a half years or so is not a recipe for success.

How to downgrade from macOS 26 Tahoe on a new Mac

Most recent Mac models retain the capability to revert to earlier operating systems with minimal complications.

Block lays off 40% of workforce as it goes all-in on AI tools

The company's chief executive stated that "most companies are late" in recognizing technology's impact on employment.

Apple says it has "a big week ahead." Here's what we expect to see.

Apple is maintaining a conservative stance toward its existing product lineup.

Rocket Report: Vulcan "many months" from flying; Falcon 9 extends reuse milestone

As the original architect of Vector's vision, it's deeply meaningful to bring these assets home.

Neanderthals seemed to have a thing for modern human women

Genetic evidence reveals "Neanderthal deserts" in contemporary human DNA, indicating a pronounced pattern in cross-species reproduction.

Perplexity announces "Computer," an AI agent that assigns work to other AI agents

The system represents a more controlled and conservative interpretation of the OpenClaw concept.

xAI spent $7M building wall that barely muffles annoying power plant noise

The "Temu sound wall" has failed to resolve community complaints regarding xAI's power plant operations.

The physics of squeaking sneakers

Tread pattern geometry determines acoustic frequency, with blocks engineered to emit Star Wars musical notes.

Google reveals Nano Banana 2 AI image model, coming to Gemini today

The updated image generation model will immediately supersede its predecessors within Gemini.

Ford is recalling 4.3 million trucks and SUVs to fix a towing software bug

An over-the-air update will roll out within several weeks, with dealership visits also available as an alternative.

New AirSnitch attack bypasses Wi-Fi encryption in homes, offices, and enterprises

Guest networks established for visitors may not provide the security protections users assume.

New York sues Valve for enabling "illegal gambling" with loot boxes

The state's legal action centers on the capacity to convert Steam inventory items into actual monetary value.

A non-public document reveals that science may not be prioritized on next Mars mission

NASA declined to make its Mars orbiter objectives available through official public channels.

15 state attorneys general sue RFK Jr. over "anti-science" vaccine policy

The Trump administration's modified immunization schedule "throws science out the window," according to state officials.

Badge engineering could be worse than this: The 2026 Subaru Uncharted

Subaru's latest electric vehicle utilizes a platform shared with Toyota, with pricing beginning at $34,995.

ULA isn't making the Space Force's GPS interference problem any easier

Investigators anticipate their examination of a Vulcan rocket booster anomaly will require several months.

Musk has no proof OpenAI stole xAI trade secrets, judge rules, tossing lawsuit

A court dismissed the case after determining that reinterpreting a former employee's communications could not support xAI's position.

The Galaxy S26 is faster, more expensive, and even more chock-full of AI

Samsung's Galaxy S26 lineup opened for preorders today and will ship beginning March 11.

Judge doesn't trust DOJ with search of devices seized from Wash. Post reporter

The court will conduct its own examination rather than granting the government unrestricted access.

Could a vaccine prevent dementia? Shingles shot data only getting stronger.

Emerging findings suggest that previously documented advantages may represent conservative estimates.

2026 Lexus RZ 550e review: Likable, but it needs improvement

While the vehicle has appealing qualities, its fuel economy lags and the simulated transmission behavior requires refinement.

RAM now represents 35 percent of bill of materials for HP PCs

Memory costs comprised approximately 15 to 18 percent of total PC expenses in the previous quarter, according to HP.

Trump's MAHA influencer pick for surgeon general goes before Senate

Casey Means lacks a current medical license and advocates for complementary health approaches.

Source: Ars Technica