Waymo secured $16 billion in funding, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, to expand its robotaxi service to 20 new cities and overseas markets, valuing the company at $126 billion. This investment, a significant increase from the $5.6 billion raised in 2024 at a $45 billion valuation, will be used to grow Waymo's fleet of over 2,500 vehicles and potentially disrupt the global transportation market. The funding round included new investors like Sequoia Capital and DST Global, signaling strong market confidence in Waymo's autonomous vehicle technology.

Waymo secured $16 billion in funding, led by Dragoneer Investment Group, to expand its robotaxi service to 20 new cities and overseas markets, valuing the company at $126 billion. This investment, a significant increase from the $5.6 billion raised in 2024 at a $45 billion valuation, will be used to grow Waymo's fleet of over 2,500 vehicles and potentially disrupt the global transportation market. The funding round included new investors like Sequoia Capital and DST Global, signaling strong market confidence in Waymo's autonomous vehicle technology.

SpaceX has acquired xAI to create space-based data centers, addressing the unsustainable energy demands of terrestrial AI development. This merger, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, aims to leverage space for AI infrastructure, though it raises questions about SpaceX's potential IPO and the financial sustainability of both companies.

SpaceX has acquired xAI to create space-based data centers, addressing the unsustainable energy demands of terrestrial AI development. This merger, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion, aims to leverage space for AI infrastructure, though it raises questions about SpaceX's potential IPO and the financial sustainability of both companies.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent global developments include a Democrat winning a Texas State Senate seat in a district previously held by Trump, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's visa freeze, and Laura Fernández's presidential win in Costa Rica, while discussions around universal basic income are emerging amid concerns about AI-driven economic disruption. Simultaneously, global tensions are escalating with Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and China's execution of scam perpetrators, while FIFA President Infantino apologized for comments made about British football fans.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent global developments include a Democrat winning a Texas State Senate seat in a district previously held by Trump, a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's visa freeze, and Laura Fernández's presidential win in Costa Rica, while discussions around universal basic income are emerging amid concerns about AI-driven economic disruption. Simultaneously, global tensions are escalating with Israeli strikes on Hezbollah and China's execution of scam perpetrators, while FIFA President Infantino apologized for comments made about British football fans.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

SpaceX's acquisition of xAI aims to create a vertically integrated AI powerhouse, leveraging SpaceX's capabilities to deploy a massive satellite constellation for AI computing. This ambitious merger signifies a major push by Elon Musk to dominate the AI landscape, raising both excitement and concerns about the future of AI development and its societal impact.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Elon Musk is merging SpaceX and xAI (which owns X) to create a vertically-integrated AI innovation engine leveraging space-based resources. This merger aims to overcome terrestrial limitations in energy and data for AI, envisioning a future where AI scales dramatically by harnessing solar power in space.

Multiple news sources report that Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, predicted six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2026, continuing a tradition rooted in European farming customs that draws large crowds to Gobblers Knob in Pennsylvania. While the prediction aligns with weather experts' forecasts for continued cold conditions in the eastern United States, the event's popularity is also fueled by the festive atmosphere and the cultural impact of the film "Groundhog Day."

Multiple news sources report that Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, predicted six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2026, continuing a tradition rooted in European farming customs that draws large crowds to Gobblers Knob in Pennsylvania. While the prediction aligns with weather experts' forecasts for continued cold conditions in the eastern United States, the event's popularity is also fueled by the festive atmosphere and the cultural impact of the film "Groundhog Day."

Multiple news sources report on a range of developments, including a promising fungal solution for bark beetle infestations, concerns about political influence at the NIH, and financial challenges for Asda, alongside regulatory hurdles for the hemp industry and an intensifying divide regarding transgender rights in the U.S. Other key stories include the unearthing of a large archaeological collection, EPA action to advance farmers right to repair their own equipment, condemnation of Trump-era immigration policies, and a tragic fire in Switzerland.

Multiple news sources report on a range of developments, including a promising fungal solution for bark beetle infestations, concerns about political influence at the NIH, and financial challenges for Asda, alongside regulatory hurdles for the hemp industry and an intensifying divide regarding transgender rights in the U.S. Other key stories include the unearthing of a large archaeological collection, EPA action to advance farmers right to repair their own equipment, condemnation of Trump-era immigration policies, and a tragic fire in Switzerland.

Drawing from multiple industry sources, a memorial service was held for Robert Pietranton, a long-serving and well-respected Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who passed away in November at 56, with colleagues praising his work ethic, dedication, and kindness despite his preference for staying out of the spotlight. Pietranton was remembered as a consummate professional who consistently delivered exceptional work without seeking attention or affirmation.

Drawing from multiple industry sources, a memorial service was held for Robert Pietranton, a long-serving and well-respected Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who passed away in November at 56, with colleagues praising his work ethic, dedication, and kindness despite his preference for staying out of the spotlight. Pietranton was remembered as a consummate professional who consistently delivered exceptional work without seeking attention or affirmation.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Victor Davis Hanson, a 72-year-old Hoover Institution senior fellow and conservative commentator, has provided updates on his health following successful lung cancer surgery, which was complicated by an arterial bleed and subsequent issues like low red blood counts and fatigue. While his specific cancer has a high recurrence rate and limited treatment options, Hanson is optimistic about recovery and plans to evaluate the benefits of further treatment after regaining strength.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Victor Davis Hanson, a 72-year-old Hoover Institution senior fellow and conservative commentator, has provided updates on his health following successful lung cancer surgery, which was complicated by an arterial bleed and subsequent issues like low red blood counts and fatigue. While his specific cancer has a high recurrence rate and limited treatment options, Hanson is optimistic about recovery and plans to evaluate the benefits of further treatment after regaining strength.

Multiple news sources highlight a complex landscape of advancements and concerns, ranging from the growing popularity of the open-source AI agent OpenClaw (despite security vulnerabilities) and a fungal solution to bark beetle infestations, to the concerning rise of AI deepfakes and a booming electric vehicle market driving battery technology advancements. Global events on February 2nd, 2026, included the Rafah crossing reopening, explosions in Iran, and a Ukrainian blackout, alongside other headlines covering topics from Punxsutawney Phil to political developments in Venezuela.

Multiple news sources highlight a complex landscape of advancements and concerns, ranging from the growing popularity of the open-source AI agent OpenClaw (despite security vulnerabilities) and a fungal solution to bark beetle infestations, to the concerning rise of AI deepfakes and a booming electric vehicle market driving battery technology advancements. Global events on February 2nd, 2026, included the Rafah crossing reopening, explosions in Iran, and a Ukrainian blackout, alongside other headlines covering topics from Punxsutawney Phil to political developments in Venezuela.

Multiple news sources report that Notepad's servers were compromised between June and December 2025, potentially by a Chinese state-sponsored group, allowing hackers to selectively redirect users to malicious updates. These updates could have granted remote access to victims' keyboards, particularly targeting organizations with interests in East Asia, but the developer has since secured the updater with enhanced security measures.

Multiple news sources report that Notepad's servers were compromised between June and December 2025, potentially by a Chinese state-sponsored group, allowing hackers to selectively redirect users to malicious updates. These updates could have granted remote access to victims' keyboards, particularly targeting organizations with interests in East Asia, but the developer has since secured the updater with enhanced security measures.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.

Dyson is currently holding a winter sale on several of its vacuums and heaters, including discounts on the V8, V11 Extra, Gen5 Detect (WIRED's favorite pet hair vacuum), and purifier-heaters. According to multiple sources, these deals offer significant savings on Dyson's high-end and feature-rich devices, making it a good time to purchase if you're in the market for a new vacuum or heater.