New technology, old patterns: Why artificial intelligence struggles to outgrow gender bias
Machine learning and artificial intelligence can feel very modern, but language models are decades behind in one key element, according to UN Women: gender bias. Ahead of three key UN summits focusing on AI, the organization has warned that these platforms can subtly, and consistently, reinforce old gender stereotypes. The AI models that we are […]
Scientists are now eyeing a possible ‘Mega El Niño’
Meteorologists are warning that a powerful El Niño climate pattern intensifying in the Pacific Ocean could evolve into a rare “Super El Niño,” increasing the likelihood of extreme and unpredictable weather across the globe. El Niño, defined by unusually warm ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific, disrupts atmospheric patterns and shifts weather worldwide. Scientists say […]
Eight people, including four children, shot at barbecue in Coney Island
Eight people, including four children, were shot at a family barbecue Saturday night in New York’s Coney Island. NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference police responded to a call for a person shot around 10:35 p.m. When police arrived at the scene, they saw multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds in the front […]
Navy suspends search for sailor missing after helicopter went down in Arabian Sea
The U.S. Navy suspended the active search Sunday for a sailor missing since July 1. The MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter went down in the Arabian Sea with four crew members. Three of the helicopter’s four crew members were recovered and in stable condition aboard the carrier, the Navy said. Officials said there was no indication […]
Sunscreen doesn’t cause skin cancer — despite what social media shows you
A false claim about sunscreen is making the rounds on social media, and it’s all based on a study some people have misinterpreted. You may have seen the posts on X or Facebook, saying that a study shows that sunscreen is linked to a higher risk of skin cancer. They commonly cite a study published […]
Dayslong funeral begins for Iran’s late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran on Saturday began funeral proceedings for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in February. A spokesperson for the funeral preparations said in a statement that ceremonies commenced four months after Khamenei’s death because of “war conditions,” as well as “the brutal U.S. invasion,” NPR reported. The […]
America buries a message for its future self: A look inside the capsule
A time capsule meant to carry the United States’ 250th-birthday story to 2276 was lowered into the ground Saturday outside Independence Hall. The “America’s Time Capsule” ceremony at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia marked the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Organizers said the capsule includes contributions from all three branches […]
A changing climate makes disasters worse. Can Americans count on their government to help?
As the United States marks its 250th birthday, Straight Arrow is taking a fresh look at the institutions, systems and social contracts that shaped modern America — and the pressures now testing them. As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, the very ground upon which the nation sits is fundamentally shifting under the weight […]
What happens when the water dries up? Much of the American West is close to finding out
As the United States marks its 250th birthday, Straight Arrow is taking a fresh look at the institutions, systems and social contracts that shaped modern America — and the pressures now testing them. John Wesley Powell led the first expedition through the Colorado River Basin in 1869, filling in the last blank spot on the […]
