May 2025: The month tech collided with politics, AI got eerily realistic, and NASA faced an uncertain future

Research roundup: 7 stories we almost missed

Among the month's overlooked developments: robotic table tennis competitors, chimpanzees demonstrating drumming abilities, analysis of musical styles from two jazz legends, and acoustic properties of an ancient subterranean metropolis.

Trump withdraws Isaacman nomination for space role

The decision to pull the nomination triggered sharp criticism of NASA's fiscal outlook. According to sources, "NASA's budget request is just a going-out-of-business mode" without Isaacman's involvement.

German authorities identify ransomware leader 'Stern'

Law enforcement in Germany has apparently identified Vitaly Nikolaevich Kovalev as the individual behind the alias "Stern," who leads the Trickbot operation.

Genuine content creators masquerade as Veo 3 AI videos

Real creators are increasingly presenting their work as artificial intelligence-generated material, spanning everything from music productions to interactive challenges asking "Are you a prompt?"

Google and DOJ exchange final arguments in AI antitrust case

Both parties presented closing statements regarding how artificial intelligence will reshape the internet landscape during the antitrust proceedings.

Fire Stick devices facilitate massive streaming piracy operation

A research organization identified multiple factors enabling billions of dollars in unauthorized streaming, citing aging digital rights management systems, promotional tactics on social platforms, and Amazon's hardware as contributing elements.

CDC revises COVID vaccination guidance despite RFK Jr.'s objections

The agency's updated recommendations diverged from what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advocated for, creating conflicting signals that intensify concerns regarding vaccine availability for children and pregnant women.

Intelligence professional's security lapses mirror those he exposed

An individual known for identifying technological vulnerabilities in others' operations allegedly committed comparable errors while attempting to evade the current administration.

Notable technology stories from May

1. Investor purchases robotic canine from Chinese manufacturer for $4,000
2. Scientist performs calculations on Star Trek's iconic "Picard maneuver"
3. Inflatable structure outbreak infects 48 Irish children with MRSA
4. Federal judge invalidates Trump's mandated coal facility extensions
5. Attorney utilizing ChatGPT sanctioned for fabricating witness statements

Texas attorney general's appeal to seize evidence denied

A judge rejected the state's effort to obtain materials related to Elon Musk's advertising boycott dispute, noting the irony of the Texas AG attempting to suppress a watchdog organization monitoring Musk's X platform.

Hugging Face develops affordable open-source humanoid robot

The HopeJR, priced at $3,000, will directly challenge existing options including Unitree's G1 and comparable early-stage robotic systems.

Understanding the incel movement and the 'Blackpill' ideology

An expanding segment of incels identify as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), a trend warranting serious societal attention and concern.

NASA tests drilling technology for icy moon exploration

The space agency is preparing equipment capable of penetrating the surfaces of Europa and Enceladus, despite lacking an immediate mission assignment for deployment.

Internet providers challenge state affordability mandates

Following a Supreme Court defeat, telecommunications companies petitioned the Trump administration to invalidate state-level laws requiring low-cost service options. New York's mandate establishes $15 monthly plans for low-income customers, with other states considering comparable regulations.

Gmail automatically generates AI summaries for all users

Google is rolling out machine learning-powered summaries across Workspace accounts regardless of user preference.

Google Maps incorrectly marks German highways as closed

Although the technical error persisted for only a few hours, it redirected traffic to alternative routes and created congestion across the region.

Fluoride elimination proposal threatens dental health for millions

RFK Jr.'s proposed fluoride ban could damage teeth in approximately 25 million children and generate $9.8 billion in expenses, according to modeling studies that exclude additional costs such as parental work absences.

Chevrolet equips Corvette ZR1 with turbocharged performance

The 2025 model represents a significant engineering achievement, with turbocharger integration enabling extreme acceleration capabilities.

Musk's government tenure exacts substantial toll on his enterprises

His four-month involvement with DOGE inflicted considerable damage to his business interests while delivering only a fraction of the anticipated cost reductions.

Blue Origin executive prioritizes lunar exploration over routine launches

The company's leadership contends that "There's not yet a commercial reason only to go to the Moon with humans."

Rocket Report: Northrop backs Firefly; Xodiac program ends

Northrop announced support for Firefly and designated its rocket designation. Regarding a significant design modification, a team member stated, "This is a design change that I really had to push the team very hard to do."

Streaming services offer incentives as subscription costs climb

Disney+ and Hulu are introducing subscriber benefits to differentiate themselves amid rising price competition.

Gemini gains video analysis capabilities in Google Drive

The AI assistant can now respond to inquiries and extract information from video files stored in the cloud service.

DVD thief accepts plea agreement in movie piracy case

Federal prosecutors reduced the alleged infringement damages from tens of millions to $40,000 for the individual who stole 1,000 DVDs from his employer.

Geometric design influences dice rolling behavior

Gaming dice shaped like dragons and armadillos are emerging as alternatives, with research demonstrating that "the real behavior of a rolling object is largely a function of its geometry."

Space journalists examine NASA's Mars strategy

An upcoming livestream at 3 pm EDT will feature three space reporters analyzing NASA's plans for Mars exploration, with opportunities for audience participation.

Ancient proteins reveal secrets of early human species

Scientists studying 2 million-year-old proteins are clarifying whether Paranthropus fossils originate from a single species, addressing longstanding taxonomic uncertainty.

Google's Veo 3 achieves unprecedented realism in AI video

The technology generates artificial videos featuring photorealistic people accompanied by synchronized sound and music, representing a substantial advancement in the field.

Nintendo Switch 2 will not support popular streaming applications

According to a support document, video services including Hulu cannot operate on the upcoming console. Nintendo continues testing compatibility with the 15,000+ game library from the original Switch.

Trump rejects court ruling limiting tariff authority

Administration officials anticipate the president will intensify tariff measures despite a comprehensive judicial block on unilateral tariff implementation.

Musk announces departure from Trump administration

The entrepreneur cited frustration with a legislative provision imposing a 130-day tenure limit on special government employees as his reason for exiting the administration.

RFK Jr. terminates pandemic vaccine research funding

The Department of Health and Human Services discontinued support for vaccine testing initiatives as Moderna announced encouraging trial outcomes, with officials characterizing the shots as "under-tested."

Apple shifts to calendar-based operating system versioning

The company will abandon sequential numbering in favor of year-based designations, meaning iOS 19, macOS 16, and watchOS 12 will become iOS/macOS/watchOS 26.

Trump restricts chip design software exports to China

The administration implemented additional restrictions on technology transfers intended to impede China's development of advanced artificial intelligence processors.

China launches asteroid and comet exploration mission

The Tianwen-2 spacecraft will initially collect samples from an asteroid before investigating an enigmatic comet-like object, extending China's presence throughout the Solar System.

Asus routers targeted by sophisticated persistent backdoor attacks

Thousands of devices are being compromised by malware granting complete administrative access, with the capability to survive system reboots and firmware revisions.

Source: Ars Technica