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The People Take Antitrust Into Their Own Hands

Private antitrust cases against major corporations, including Equifax, Pepsi, and American Express, are gaining traction in courts with judges increasingly ruling in favor of plaintiffs. The legal landscape shows a significant shift from previous decades, with courts now more willing to recognize and act against monopolistic practices. Recent cases demonstrate a growing bipartisan consensus on antitrust enforcement and interpretation of monopoly laws.

BYD has already produced its first solid-state cells - electrive.com

BYD has produced its first solid-state battery cells on a pilot line in 2024, with mass demonstration expected around 2027 and large-scale production after 2030. The company is focusing on sulphide electrolytes for solid-state cells, aiming to achieve cost parity with current NCM cells at scale. BYD plans to use these batteries primarily in high-end models while maintaining LFP cells for other vehicle segments.

Half-Life

Half-Life, released in 1998 by Valve, revolutionized first-person shooters by seamlessly integrating story and gameplay without cutscenes, creating an unprecedented level of immersion. Founded by former Microsoft employees Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, Valve's ambitious approach and deep pockets allowed them to develop a game that would influence game design across genres for decades to come.

Your IQ isn't 160. No one's is.

An analysis debunking claims about extremely high IQ scores (160+) reveals that such measurements become increasingly unreliable and meaningless at higher ranges. Historical genius figures like Einstein likely had more modest IQs around 120-130, with test scores being highly variable and practice-dependent. The correlation between IQ and real-world outcomes diminishes significantly beyond certain thresholds.

Digital Services Playbook

A comprehensive guide detailing 13 essential plays for building effective digital government services, focusing on user-centric design, agile development, and open-source practices. The framework emphasizes understanding user needs, maintaining simple and intuitive interfaces, and implementing modern technology stacks. The plays provide practical checklists and key questions for teams to ensure successful digital service delivery.

What is it?

Exult is an open-source project recreating the classic 1990s RPG Ultima VII for modern operating systems while maintaining original plot and graphics. Recent updates include version 1.10.1 with critical bugfixes for Windows and Android platforms, following a major 1.10 release that introduced significant combat improvements and Android port completion.

How we’re recovering priceless audio and lost languages from old decaying tapes

PARADISEC has developed a groundbreaking cassette restoration technology called LM-3032 Tape Restorator to recover degraded audio recordings of endangered languages and cultural heritage. The device applies cyclomethicone to restore unplayable tapes, enabling the preservation of thousands of hours of irreplaceable linguistic and cultural recordings from the Pacific region.

The University of Pittsburgh pauses its Ph.D. admissions process amid research funding uncertainty

The University of Pittsburgh has suspended Ph.D. admissions due to uncertainty surrounding NIH funding cuts, which would reduce indirect research cost caps from 59% to 15%. Other major research universities are taking similar precautionary measures, while NIH grant funding has already decreased by 56% compared to 2024.

Brazil justice orders ban of video platform Rumble – DW – 02/22/2025

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Moraes ordered video platform Rumble to be banned in Brazil for non-compliance with court orders, including refusing to take down a controversial journalist's channel. Rumble, which powers Trump's Truth Social platform, has filed a lawsuit against Moraes, claiming unprecedented censorship and violation of US constitutional rights.

Gig workers worked more but earned less in 2024, a new study shows

Gig workers across major platforms like Uber, Instacart, and Lyft experienced declining earnings in 2024, despite increased working hours in many cases. The Gridwise report analyzed 171 million trips and $1.9 billion in earnings, revealing that delivery workers rely heavily on tips while ride-hailing drivers earn primarily through base pay.

Utah Bill Aims to Make Officers Disclose AI-Written Police Reports

Utah legislation S.B. 180 mandates police to disclose the use of generative AI in report writing and requires departments to establish AI usage policies. The bill addresses concerns about Axon's Draft One software, which automatically generates police reports from body-cam audio, while highlighting potential risks in accuracy and accountability.