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 diverse developments, including the discovery of *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains as a potential biocontrol for bark beetles and the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection during HS2 railway construction. These reports also cover concerns about political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's financial struggles, Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB, and other issues like the Crans-Montana bar fire investigation and low public awareness of alcohol as a carcinogen.

Multiple news sources report on diverse developments, including the discovery of *Beauveria bassiana* fungal strains as a potential biocontrol for bark beetles and the unearthing of a massive archaeological collection during HS2 railway construction. These reports also cover concerns about political interference in NIH appointments, Asda's financial struggles, Fab5's mechanism of action against gammaherpesvirus gB, and other issues like the Crans-Montana bar fire investigation and low public awareness of alcohol as a carcinogen.

Pornhub is restricting access for UK users who haven't previously verified their age due to the upcoming Online Safety Act requiring robust age verification, a law criticized for being easily bypassed with VPNs and potentially driving users to less regulated sites. Some experts speculate Pornhub's move, similar to actions taken in multiple US states, may be a tactic to pressure lawmakers into changing the law or to increase user sign-ups.

Pornhub is restricting access for UK users who haven't previously verified their age due to the upcoming Online Safety Act requiring robust age verification, a law criticized for being easily bypassed with VPNs and potentially driving users to less regulated sites. Some experts speculate Pornhub's move, similar to actions taken in multiple US states, may be a tactic to pressure lawmakers into changing the law or to increase user sign-ups.

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 reveal that since March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been using AI tools from Palantir and Credal AI, founded by Palantir alumni, to screen grants, applications, and job descriptions for noncompliance with Trump-era executive orders targeting gender ideology and DEI initiatives, with these audits primarily occurring within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). While Palantir earned over $35 million from HHS during this period, neither the company nor HHS publicly disclosed the use of AI for these specific purposes, and ACF staff conduct a final review of AI-flagged items.

Multiple news sources reveal that since March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been using AI tools from Palantir and Credal AI, founded by Palantir alumni, to screen grants, applications, and job descriptions for noncompliance with Trump-era executive orders targeting gender ideology and DEI initiatives, with these audits primarily occurring within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). While Palantir earned over $35 million from HHS during this period, neither the company nor HHS publicly disclosed the use of AI for these specific purposes, and ACF staff conduct a final review of AI-flagged items.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

Multiple news sources report that Democrat Taylor Rehmet won a special election for the Texas State Senate, defeating a Trump-backed Republican in a district Trump previously won by a significant margin, signaling a potential shift in Texas politics despite the Republican's continued majority in the state senate. This victory is being hailed by Democrats as a sign of growing discontent with President Trump's policies ahead of the midterm elections, though Trump dismisses it as a local issue.

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.