The Tesla Model S, ending its 14-year production run, revolutionized the auto industry by establishing Tesla as a major player in the EV market. Launched in 2012, the Model S demonstrated the viability of luxury electric vehicles and pushed technological boundaries, influencing subsequent EV development across the industry. Its impact extended beyond transportation, shaping perceptions of sustainable technology and inspiring innovation.

The Tesla Model S, ending its 14-year production run, revolutionized the auto industry by establishing Tesla as a major player in the EV market. Launched in 2012, the Model S demonstrated the viability of luxury electric vehicles and pushed technological boundaries, influencing subsequent EV development across the industry. Its impact extended beyond transportation, shaping perceptions of sustainable technology and inspiring innovation.

India's Supreme Court has challenged WhatsApp's data privacy practices, expressing concerns over user consent and the monetization of metadata within Meta's advertising ecosystem. The court is scrutinizing the commercial value of user behavior data and its use in targeted advertising, potentially impacting Meta's growth strategy in its largest market. This legal challenge highlights the growing global debate surrounding data privacy and the responsibilities of tech giants.

India's Supreme Court has challenged WhatsApp's data privacy practices, expressing concerns over user consent and the monetization of metadata within Meta's advertising ecosystem. The court is scrutinizing the commercial value of user behavior data and its use in targeted advertising, potentially impacting Meta's growth strategy in its largest market. This legal challenge highlights the growing global debate surrounding data privacy and the responsibilities of tech giants.

Newly released Justice Department files, totaling over 3 million, detail a network of powerful individuals connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing allegations of sex trafficking. Separately, authorities are investigating the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, adding another layer to the day's headlines.

Newly released Justice Department files, totaling over 3 million, detail a network of powerful individuals connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing allegations of sex trafficking. Separately, authorities are investigating the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, adding another layer to the day's headlines.

Vema Hydrogen is pioneering a cost-effective method of extracting hydrogen from underground rock formations, potentially revolutionizing energy supply for data centers and industrial applications. Their pilot project in Quebec demonstrates the viability of producing hydrogen for under $1 per kilogram, offering a cleaner and cheaper alternative to traditional steam methane reformation and paving the way for wider adoption of hydrogen power.

Vema Hydrogen is pioneering a cost-effective method of extracting hydrogen from underground rock formations, potentially revolutionizing energy supply for data centers and industrial applications. Their pilot project in Quebec demonstrates the viability of producing hydrogen for under $1 per kilogram, offering a cleaner and cheaper alternative to traditional steam methane reformation and paving the way for wider adoption of hydrogen power.

Five new economic papers presented at the American Economic Association's annual meeting offer insights into pressing issues like economic opportunity, the reliability of government statistics, and the pandemic's impact on inflation. These pre-peer review drafts provide a glimpse into emerging economic ideas and potential future news in the field.

Five new economic papers presented at the American Economic Association's annual meeting offer insights into pressing issues like economic opportunity, the reliability of government statistics, and the pandemic's impact on inflation. These pre-peer review drafts provide a glimpse into emerging economic ideas and potential future news in the field.

Multiple news sources from early February 2026 reveal a world navigating geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and economic uncertainties, as highlighted by discussions at the American Economic Association meeting and events ranging from international conflicts to scientific breakthroughs. These diverse reports also cover complex social issues, cultural milestones, and political-economic developments, including investigations and concerns surrounding the economy and immigration.

Multiple news sources from early February 2026 reveal a world navigating geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and economic uncertainties, as highlighted by discussions at the American Economic Association meeting and events ranging from international conflicts to scientific breakthroughs. These diverse reports also cover complex social issues, cultural milestones, and political-economic developments, including investigations and concerns surrounding the economy and immigration.

Planet Money attended the American Economic Association's annual conference, a major event for economists, to get a sneak peek at cutting-edge research. They highlighted several pre-peer review papers, including one exploring the productivity impacts of AI in American industries, suggesting AI initially slows productivity before ultimately accelerating it. This is based on observations and discussions with economists at the conference.

Planet Money attended the American Economic Association's annual conference, a major event for economists, to get a sneak peek at cutting-edge research. They highlighted several pre-peer review papers, including one exploring the productivity impacts of AI in American industries, suggesting AI initially slows productivity before ultimately accelerating it. This is based on observations and discussions with economists at the conference.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent events include thousands gathering in Rio de Janeiro to honor Yemanjá, reflecting Afro-Brazilian spirituality, while Gaza's Rafah border crossing has reopened with limited access. Additionally, Iranian researchers face significant challenges due to economic hardship, political instability, and international sanctions, impacting their ability to collaborate and access resources.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent events include thousands gathering in Rio de Janeiro to honor Yemanjá, reflecting Afro-Brazilian spirituality, while Gaza's Rafah border crossing has reopened with limited access. Additionally, Iranian researchers face significant challenges due to economic hardship, political instability, and international sanctions, impacting their ability to collaborate and access resources.

Multiple news sources indicate the Rafah crossing has reopened, but with severely limited access, as only a handful of people, specifically five individuals in need of urgent medical care, were able to cross from Gaza into Egypt despite thousands requiring assistance. While this provides a sliver of hope for those receiving treatment, the situation highlights Israel's continued tight control over the crossing and the significant obstacles to humanitarian aid and medical evacuations.

Multiple news sources indicate the Rafah crossing has reopened, but with severely limited access, as only a handful of people, specifically five individuals in need of urgent medical care, were able to cross from Gaza into Egypt despite thousands requiring assistance. While this provides a sliver of hope for those receiving treatment, the situation highlights Israel's continued tight control over the crossing and the significant obstacles to humanitarian aid and medical evacuations.

Multiple news sources highlight a dire global situation: a study covering 23 conflicts reveals international humanitarian law is failing, with over 100,000 civilian deaths and widespread war crimes, while simultaneously, Sudanese families displaced from El Fasher are desperately seeking food aid. The Geneva Academy's "War Watch" report emphasizes the urgent need for action to prevent the complete erosion of laws protecting civilians during armed conflict.

Multiple news sources highlight a dire global situation: a study covering 23 conflicts reveals international humanitarian law is failing, with over 100,000 civilian deaths and widespread war crimes, while simultaneously, Sudanese families displaced from El Fasher are desperately seeking food aid. The Geneva Academy's "War Watch" report emphasizes the urgent need for action to prevent the complete erosion of laws protecting civilians during armed conflict.

Multiple news sources report that Júnior Pena, a Brazilian influencer and Trump supporter who has lived in the US since 2009, was arrested by ICE in New Jersey after falsely claiming that migrants being detained were all criminals, with his lawyer now working to prevent his transfer. Pena, known for his social media content echoing migrant stories and criticizing Brazil's president, had previously urged Brazilians to remain calm amidst reports of ICE raids.

Multiple news sources report that Júnior Pena, a Brazilian influencer and Trump supporter who has lived in the US since 2009, was arrested by ICE in New Jersey after falsely claiming that migrants being detained were all criminals, with his lawyer now working to prevent his transfer. Pena, known for his social media content echoing migrant stories and criticizing Brazil's president, had previously urged Brazilians to remain calm amidst reports of ICE raids.

Multiple news sources confirm that SpaceX has acquired xAI, another Elon Musk company, in a move to integrate AI, rocketry, and space-based internet, aiming to create a powerful innovation engine. This merger combines SpaceX's spaceflight expertise with xAI's AI capabilities, including the Grok chatbot and social media platform X, to potentially deploy orbital data centers and advance Musk's vision for AI's role in humanity's future, though the controversial nature of xAI's products and Musk's management of X present risks.

Multiple news sources confirm that SpaceX has acquired xAI, another Elon Musk company, in a move to integrate AI, rocketry, and space-based internet, aiming to create a powerful innovation engine. This merger combines SpaceX's spaceflight expertise with xAI's AI capabilities, including the Grok chatbot and social media platform X, to potentially deploy orbital data centers and advance Musk's vision for AI's role in humanity's future, though the controversial nature of xAI's products and Musk's management of X present risks.