Science

Theban tomb reveals how Egyptian burial trends evolved in time

Archaeological study of an ancient Theban tomb has shed light on how Egyptian funerary customs changed over centuries, revealing a shift away from single-occupant coffin burials toward the repurposing of existing tombs to accommodate multiple mummified remains across different time periods.

Source: Ars Technica 8/18/2026
AI

Anthropic’s annualized revenue surges to $65B

Anthropic, the AI safety company behind the Claude family of models, has seen its annualized revenue skyrocket to $65 billion — a remarkable $18 billion jump achieved in just two months, signaling explosive enterprise and developer demand for its AI products.

Source: TechCrunch 8/17/2026
AI

Reddit’s AI is turning posts into podcasts and short videos

Reddit is experimenting with AI-generated audio and video versions of popular text threads, using synthetic voices to narrate posts and top comments while highlighting the text on screen. A label identifies the content as real conversations voiced by AI, signaling Reddit's push to reach passive, audio-first audiences.

Source: The Verge 8/17/2026
Health

US vaccination rates fall again as exemptions continue to rise, CDC data shows

New CDC data reveals childhood vaccination rates in the United States have dropped yet again, while the number of families claiming exemptions continues to climb. Notably, health officials released the figures without issuing a formal report, simply posting raw data publicly — a departure from standard practice.

Source: Ars Technica 8/17/2026
Tech

AI automation startup Relay shuts down, staff joins Google’s Chrome team

AI workflow automation startup Relay has ceased operations, with its founding team moving to Google's Chrome division. The company's CEO hinted at upcoming AI-driven productivity features coming to Chrome, suggesting Google acquired the talent to bolster browser-based automation capabilities.

Source: TechCrunch 8/17/2026
Tech

Former SpaceX engineers are building a robotic factory for making steel parts

A startup founded by former SpaceX engineers is developing an automated factory system designed to manufacture steel components using robotics. Rather than chasing full autonomy from the outset, the team is taking a pragmatic, incremental approach to automation in industrial metal fabrication.

Source: Ars Technica 8/17/2026
Tech

ABC’s livestreamed news show is powered by trending topics

ABC News has launched Searched, a live streaming program that shapes its editorial lineup around what audiences are actively looking up on search engines and discussing across social media platforms. The show airs on ABC News Live, accessible through both Disney Plus and Hulu, and has quietly been running since April.

Source: The Verge 8/17/2026
Gaming

What are your retro game consoles worth?

The resale value of classic gaming hardware varies wildly depending on rarity, condition, and collector demand. Some vintage consoles command impressive prices, while others hold little monetary worth. Knowing what you have could mean the difference between a windfall and a wasted trip to the recycling bin.

Source: Engadget 8/17/2026
Security

As Wisconsin cities flee Flock, its shared camera network loses value

Several Wisconsin municipalities are cutting ties with Flock Safety's automated license plate reader network, and their departures illustrate a critical vulnerability: the surveillance system's usefulness depends on broad participation, meaning each city that leaves weakens the network's value for those that remain.

Source: Ars Technica 8/17/2026
Social Media

YouTube public view counts will likely get higher starting next week

YouTube is overhauling how it counts video views, applying a consistent measurement methodology across all video formats. The change, rolling out next week, means publicly displayed view totals will likely climb noticeably as previously uncounted or separately tracked interactions get folded into a unified metric.

Source: Engadget 8/17/2026
Social Media

Reddit is experimenting with video and audio versions of posts

Reddit is testing a new feature that would let users experience posts as video or audio content, transforming written discussions into watchable or listenable formats. The move signals Reddit's ambition to compete more directly with multimedia platforms and broaden how its communities consume content.

Source: Engadget 8/17/2026
Gadgets

This compact Glorious mechanical keyboard is just $35

Glorious's GMMK 3, a compact 65-percent mechanical keyboard normally priced at $140, is currently available at Woot for just $35 using the coupon code WOOTGAMING. It ships with hot-swap switch support, double-shot PBT keycaps, and a customizable control knob — making it an accessible entry point into the mechanical keyboard hobby.

Source: The Verge 8/17/2026
Tech

Spotify’s new Playlist Notes let users and editors explain their song picks

Spotify has rolled out Playlist Notes, a feature allowing both regular users and Spotify's in-house editorial team to attach written explanations to their playlists. The tool lets curators share the stories and motivations behind their song selections, adding a personal, human layer to music discovery on the platform.

Source: TechCrunch 8/17/2026
Gaming

Wordle meets Clippy in this new word game

Game designer Sam Rosenthal, creative director at The Game Band, has created a new word game inspired by casual road-trip games of his childhood rather than structured puzzles like Wordle. The project aims to bring loose, conversational word play into digital form for the first time.

Source: The Verge 8/17/2026