Science

Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this year, a massive refresh is coming. Rumors suggest that there won't be just one ‌MacBook Pro‌ refresh in 2026, but two. After launching M5 Pro and M5 Max ‌MacBook Pro‌ models in the spring, Apple will do another update in late 2026, introducing the first OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. The OLED ‌MacBook Pro‌ is expected to feature a design refresh, faster M6 chips, all new display technology, and, in a first fo...

The McCourt School of Public Policy’s Tech & Public Policy program Scholar Joya Wheatfall-Melvin (MS-DSPP’26) is using data to advance equity in criminal justice and education. For Joya Wheatfall-Melvin (MS-DSPP’26), the power of data lies in its potential to be a driver of change. Joya Wheatfall-Melvin (MS-DSPP’26) “Data, when handled with care and context, can become a tool for liberation,” she says. This “mantra,” as Wheatfall-Melvin calls it, has guided her work as a data scientist and Tech & Public Policy (TPP) program Scholar. Her journey to McCourt began in a data analysis class at her alma mater, Spelman College. It was one of her professors, passionate about bringing more Black women into coding, who introduced her to the discipline. She then landed a pivota...

Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, which means this year marks the company’s 50th anniversary. In a recent all-hands meeting with employees, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased that Apple is planning a celebration for this historic milestone. Tim Cook has said in multiple interviews that Apple isn’t the type of company that likes to look back and live in the past. This 50th anniversary milestone, however, is a big enough occasion that it’s prompted some reflection. As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, here’s what Cook said about Apple’s upcoming 50th anniversary during the all-hands meeting last week: “I’ve been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment — 50 years. It’s an extraordinary accomplishment. We’ve been going...

Several science and educational institutions in eastern North Carolina have received funding through the North Carolina Science Museums Grant Program, state officials announced Tuesday.The program, administered by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, awarded a total of $2.4 million to 58 institutions statewide to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education access. Officials said the grants are intended to expand informal science learning opportunities, particularly in underserved communities.Local recipients include:Time for Science (Pitt County) — $75,000Aurora Fossil Museum (Beaufort County) — $75,000North Carolina Estuarium (Beaufort County) — $75,000Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center (Carteret County) — $47,592.69Cowan Museum of H...

Samsung’s 2025 was filled with new foldables, an ultra-thin new form factor and the launch of Google's XR platform. After making some announcements at CES 2026, the company has just announced its first Galaxy Unpacked of the year will take place on February 25, where it is expected to introduce the Galaxy S26 lineup. Official invites have just been shared, but actual information on what devices are arriving then is still unknown. But as usual, we know a lot about what’s expected at Unpacked.Engadget will be covering Galaxy Unpacked live, and we'll most likely have hands-on coverage of Samsung's new smartphones soon after they're announced. While we wait for the full details, here's everything we expect Samsung will introduce at the first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2026.When is Unpacked 2026 ...

On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Gabriel Colodro’s reporting shines a light on a stubborn reality inside Israeli academia: women enter scientific fields in strong numbers but steadily fade from senior ranks. At many institutions, women make up about 50% of doctoral students, yet representation at the faculty level can fall to roughly 15%, revealing a gap that widens as careers move forward. At the Weizmann Institute of Science, Prof. Idit Shahar says the pipeline isn’t broken at the beginning. The real challenge emerges later, when academic advancement often demands years abroad as a postdoctoral researcher. “In order to become an academic staff member, you need to go abroad,” she explains, describing a decision that can carry heavier personal costs for women balanci...

After many years of waiting, 2XKO finally hit its full release last month, and while the launch seems to have been softer than Riot Games was hoping for, there is at least one bright spot to look at for the game's initial performance. Sony recently dropped their top game download charts for January 2026 where 2XKO actually managed to rank quite highly. You won't find the ...

ASTANA – Today marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by the UN General Assembly to highlight the importance of equal opportunities in science and to inspire a new generation of girls to pursue careers in research. To mark the occasion, the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education released updated statistics highlighting the significant role of women in the country’s scientific community. Photo credit: gov.kz “Women play a key role in shaping Kazakhstan’s scientific potential. The country has 120,896 individuals with postgraduate education – including master’s degrees, PhDs, doctorates in relevant fields, candidates of science, and doctors of science. More than half of them – 62,433, or 51.6% – are women, reflecting their strong presence in scientific...

With Android 16 QPR3 taking another beta step closer to its release, Google has started preparing for its next beta cycle. Following the release of Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1, the company announced that the first beta of Android 17 is right around the corner. In the last few years, Google has typically released Developer Preview builds of a major new Android release first before starting a public beta channel. But with cutting-edge Android Canary builds now available, it seems the company has changed its approach, directly jumping to public beta testing of Android 17. While the company did not provide a concrete release date, based on the announcement, the first Android 17 beta could go live on or around February 18, the same day the Pixel 10a goes up for pre-order. The stable bui...

A computer illustration of dopaminergic neuron, specialized brain cells that synthesize and release the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a key factor of love at first sight, as it activates the brain's reward system, creating intense feelings of pleasure and euphoria.KATERYNA KON, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARYWhy are we able to fall so fast?The ability to experience love at first sight rests on a cognitive skill you might not even realize you have: Humans are incredibly good at quickly assessing other people. “In less than seven seconds, we can form impressions that are actually fairly accurate,” says Wendi Gardner, a social psychologist at Northwestern University.By that, she means “they're accurate in terms of they're likely to be widely shared by other members of our culture.” The human b...