Here are today’s 12 verified tech & science stories, covering Tech & Apps, AI Tools and Science & Space.
Table of Contents
Every item below links to its original source.
The TLDR
- Tech & Apps: Seattle Times and Newsday Sue OpenAI and Microsoft
- AI Tools: Authors Clash With Publishers Over Anthropic’s Copyright Settlement Payouts
- Science & Space: SpaceX Launches 27 More Starlink Satellites From California
Tech & Apps
Seattle Times and Newsday Sue OpenAI and Microsoft
The Seattle Times and Newsday filed a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft this week, joining a growing list of news publishers taking the companies to court. The papers allege their journalism, including paywalled articles, was scraped and used to train AI models like ChatGPT and Copilot without permission, and that the tools sometimes reproduce their reporting directly in response to user queries. They’re seeking damages and asking courts to order the destruction of the training data and models built from their work, according to The Verge.
Europe Gets Its First Privately Built Rocket to Reach Orbit
German company Isar Aerospace successfully launched its Spectrum rocket into orbit from a spaceport in Norway, marking the first time a privately built rocket launched from continental Europe has reached orbit. The two-stage rocket carried several small satellites, including CubeSats built by European universities, on what was the company’s second orbital attempt after an earlier launch failed shortly after liftoff, according to The Verge.
Can an iPad Really Replace Your Laptop?
With a keyboard attached and the latest iPadOS 26 update, an iPad can work like a lightweight laptop for browsing, email, and creative tasks, and its touchscreen and portability give it an edge for casual use. It still falls short for power users, though: file management is limited, outside apps can’t be installed, and professional tools like coding environments aren’t supported. A fully kitted-out iPad with keyboard, trackpad, and Pencil can also end up costing as much as an actual MacBook, according to Engadget. If you’re weighing other AI-assisted productivity tools for your setup, our roundup of the best free AI tool for summarizing PDFs and articles is worth a look.
AI-Generated Ad Imagines the iPhone 18 Pro in ‘Dark Cherry’
A fan-made, AI-generated mock advertisement is going viral for imagining what a dark cherry red iPhone 18 Pro might look like — a color that is rumored, but not officially confirmed, for Apple’s next Pro lineup. The clip’s creator labeled it clearly as AI-generated rather than a leak. Apple’s ‘Rise and Surprise’ event is set for Wednesday, September 9, where 9to5Mac reports the company will unveil the new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a foldable iPhone Ultra, per 9to5Mac.
Is a Refurbished iPhone From Walmart a Safe Bet?
Walmart sells refurbished iPhones through third-party sellers at a range of quality tiers, from ‘Restored Premium’ down to ‘Fair’ condition, and most come with 90-day return windows. Quality varies by seller, standard refurbished batteries hold only about 80% of original capacity versus 90% for the Premium tier, and some sellers charge restocking fees as high as 20%. Buyers should check the condition tier and the specific seller’s reviews before purchasing, according to Engadget.
Farmed Salmon Isn’t as Nutritious as It Used to Be, Study Finds
New research shows the omega-3 fatty acid content of farmed Atlantic salmon has declined, driven by a shift in what the fish are fed — farms have moved away from diets based on smaller wild fish toward mixes that include land-based oils and crops like soy and canola. The change has ripple effects beyond nutrition, also affecting the environment, according to Ars Technica.
AI Tools
Authors Clash With Publishers Over Anthropic’s Copyright Settlement Payouts
Anthropic’s copyright settlement — finalized in July 2026 and covering roughly 500,000 titles at $3,000 per pirated work — is now facing disputes over who gets paid. Authors say some publishers are claiming 100% of payments they’re only entitled to split 50-50 with writers, and that literary agents are trying to claim a cut despite not holding any rights to the books. Author Courtney Milan publicly pushed back on the practice, arguing agents have no claim to the money since they aren’t rightsholders, as reported by TechCrunch.
Travis Kalanick’s Atoms Could Be Entering the Robotaxi Business
Atoms, the robotics startup founded by former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, is reportedly gearing up for hiring and acquisitions that would push it into autonomous vehicles, according to a Financial Times report cited by TechCrunch. The company, which raised $1.7 billion this summer, has already discussed with Uber — which has invested $100 million in Atoms — how the ride-hailing company might use its robotaxi technology. Kalanick called the funding round ‘unfinished business,’ though people familiar with the matter say robotaxis won’t be Atoms’ sole focus, per TechCrunch.
Science & Space
SpaceX Launches 27 More Starlink Satellites From California
SpaceX launched 27 Starlink internet satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 6, using a Falcon 9 booster flying for the 19th time. The first stage landed on the droneship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific afterward, marking the company’s 103rd Falcon 9 mission of the year, according to Space.com.
Yellow Patches Near Your Eyes Could Signal Heart Attack Risk, Study Finds
A new Stanford study of nearly 18,000 people found that xanthelasma — pale yellow patches that form around the eyes when immune cells fill with cholesterol and fat — is linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. In the first year after diagnosis, 1% of people with the condition had a heart attack, compared with 0.35% of matched people without it, with elevated risk persisting for up to a decade. Researchers say the patches could serve as an early warning sign worth mentioning to a doctor, according to ScienceAlert.
A Fungus Already Living in Your Gut May Guard Against Radiation Damage
Researchers found that Mucor racemosus, a mold naturally present in the human gut, protected mice from radiation damage — animals given the fungus showed less weight loss, inflammation, and oxidative stress than untreated mice. The protective effect came from amino acids that support DNA repair and a compound that helps beneficial gut bacteria; mice fed cheese fermented with the fungus also had less intestinal inflammation after radiation exposure. The study, published in PNAS, notes the fungus may pose risks for immunocompromised people and that more research is needed, per ScienceAlert.
Wildfires Are Overwhelming Firefighters in Indonesian Borneo
Fires have burned more than 285,000 hectares across Indonesia this year, including at least 38,000 hectares in West Kalimantan province on Borneo, and crews say they can’t keep pace. Haze has pushed pollution in the nearby city of Pontianak past 500 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter — over 100 times the WHO safety threshold — forcing about 200,000 students into remote learning. Officials point to El Niño-driven drought, peatland drainage, and slash-and-burn land clearing as root causes, according to Phys.org.
Explore more: best free AI tool for summarizing PDFs and articles, MUBI is worth it over free alternatives.
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