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The TLDR

• Tech & Apps: Apple Watch Series 12 May Add Always-On Heart Rate Tracking
• AI Tools: US Tightens Rules on Foreign Drones and Robots as China Keeps Its Manufacturing Edge
• Science & Space: Trump Calls Into NASA’s Post-Launch Press Conference

Tech & Apps

Apple Watch Series 12 May Add Always-On Heart Rate Tracking

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, as reported by 9to5Mac, Apple is said to be testing an Apple Watch Series 12 feature that would record heart rate continuously instead of only during workouts. The report also claims Apple is testing a revamped Fitness app with more wellness metrics and new ceramic finish options — none of this is officially confirmed yet.

Meta AI Joins Apple CarPlay Ahead of Siri’s AI Overhaul

Meta AI has become the fourth third-party chatbot app available on Apple CarPlay, joining ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Grok, according to 9to5Mac. The rollout still appears limited on some accounts. It arrives ahead of Apple’s own Siri AI, which is expected with iOS 27, currently in beta ahead of a September release. If your car’s connection has been glitchy lately, our CarPlay troubleshooting guide covers common fixes.

AI Tools

US Tightens Rules on Foreign Drones and Robots as China Keeps Its Manufacturing Edge

The FCC has expanded its Covered List restrictions to include foreign-made drones and robotic systems, and new tariffs on imported drones are set to take effect in September, according to TechCrunch. Even so, Chinese manufacturers reportedly accounted for 86% of global humanoid robot shipments in the first half of 2026, and analysts quoted in the piece say the price gap may just push competition into markets outside the US.

Science & Space

Trump Calls Into NASA’s Post-Launch Press Conference

President Trump phoned into NASA’s press conference on August 30 to congratulate the team behind the newly launched Roman Space Telescope, according to Space.com. The moment stood out because Trump-administration budget proposals had repeatedly targeted the mission for cancellation or steep cuts in past years, only for Congress to keep it funded each time.

Flash Flood at the Grand Canyon Leaves One Dead, Around 15 Missing

A flash flood hit the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area of Grand Canyon National Park over the weekend, killing one person and leaving around 15 people missing, according to Phys.org. The National Park Service said heavy rain on the Kaibab Plateau triggered the flooding, which also damaged the park’s Transcanyon Waterline and destroyed footbridges, with more storms expected to raise the flood risk further.

Explore more: Next Spaceflight vs Space Launch Now, CarPlay troubleshooting guide.

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Photo: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

The post 5 Tech & Science News Stories for Monday, August 31, 2026: Apple Watch Series 12 May Add Always-On Heart Rate Tracking appeared first on GTWebs.