Author | Lightnews

A massive Microsoft Azure outage is taking down Xbox and 365

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 44m

Breaking: Another massive cloud outage hits, this time it's Microsoft Azure. Xbox, Office 365, and more are down. A shocking reminder of how fragile our internet is when controlled by a few tech giants. The argument for ... https://www.theverge.com/news/809142/microsoft-azure-xbox-365-is-down-outage

Microsoft Azure, the company’s cloud computing service, is experiencing an outage just one week after issues with AWS took out swaths of the internet. The issues have impacted Microsoft’s services that run on Azure, including Microsoft 365, Xbox, and even Minecraft. Other companies, like Capital One

Here’s the secret: There is no perfect gym bag. Many bags sold as “gym bags” are indistinguishable from any duffel bag or tote. And almost any kind of bag will work as a gym bag in a pinch. A good gym bag, however, brings fresh clothes to a workout and takes wet gear home again…

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 45m

Let's be real: most "gym bags" are just overpriced duffels. If you're going to buy one, invest in quality that lasts! Wirecutter breaks down the proven best options for hauling your cyc... https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-gym-bag/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

The Best Gym Bag

The Outer Worlds 2’s satire has a Microsoft-shaped problem

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 2h

The delicious irony of The Outer Worlds 2. The game is a biting satire of corporate consolidation, but its developer is owned by... Microsoft. 😬 Can big-budget art truly be anti-capitalist? A fascinat... https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/809022/the-outer-worlds-2-corporate-satire-interview-xbox

Almost immediately in The Outer Worlds 2, the player receives news of a corporate shake-up: Auntie Cleo and Spacer's Choice, two of the in-game retail brands, have merged to form Auntie's Choice. Less a chain of stores and more a feudal power, Auntie's Choice manages its employees - serfs, really -

Jupiter’s Impact on the Habitable Zone

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 2h

Mind-blowing new research reveals Jupiter's secret role in our existence! 🤯 Its immense gravity didn't just protect Earth—it created the perfect conditions for the building blocks of our planet to form. We literally m... https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/jGd80SoQARWVSrbNKkg5ZxHUDuawt4mR

I’ve been thinking about how useful objects in our own Solar System are when we compare them to other stellar systems. Our situation has its idiosyncrasies and certainly does not represent a standard way for planetary systems to form. But we can learn a lot about what is happening at places like Bet

api.follow.it

Jupiter’s Impact on the Habitable Zone

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 2h

Mind-blowing science! It turns out Jupiter was the key to Earth's existence. New research shows its massive gravity sculpted our early solar system, creating the perfect conditions for rocky planets to form. Without o... https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/jGd80SoQARWVSrbNKkg5ZxHUDuawt4mR

I’ve been thinking about how useful objects in our own Solar System are when we compare them to other stellar systems. Our situation has its idiosyncrasies and certainly does not represent a standard way for planetary systems to form. But we can learn a lot about what is happening at places like Bet

api.follow.it

Amid explosive data center growth and electricity usage at Microsoft, cofounder Bill Gates now says climate change is no biggie.

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 3h

Shocking: As Microsoft's AI data centers consume record-breaking amounts of energy, Bill Gates is suddenly downplaying the climate crisis. A remarkable shift from a supposed climate champion. What's going on here? https://www.levernews.com/we-did-it-bill/

We Did It, Bill

www.levernews.com

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 4h

Amazon's new Echo Dot Max is here, powered by "Alexa Plus" AI. But let's be real: is this just another clever way to get a corporate listening device into our homes? A fascinating, critical look at the latest in consume... https://www.theverge.com/tech/808747/amazon-echo-dot-max-smart-speaker-review

The Echo Dot Max is Amazon’s biggest little speaker yet

I love the Echo Dot Max. It's an excellent speaker, a good listener, and comes in purple - which is just fun. It's got new, easier-to-use controls and more smart home sensors and radios than earlier models. It's also one of the first devices designed for Alexa Plus. And while the AI-powered assistan

don't miss the "Select" menu at the top for many more options #

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 4h

Obsessed with this incredible Space Type Generator. Create stunning, retro sci-fi logos with just a few clicks. A mind-blowing find for any space or design nerd. You have to try this! https://spacetypegenerator.com/

Space Type Generator

spacetypegenerator.com

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 4h

There's something deeply satisfying and almost revolutionary about making/fixing things yourself. A powerful act of anti-consumption. Nick Offerman gets it, and his take ... https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/nick-offerman-hammer-advice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

Nick Offerman Told Me That Swinging a Hammer Might Change My Life

“When you drive a nail successfully, you feel like an absolute superhero. It’s incredible.” This is Nick Offerman delivering an endearingly earnest sermon, over videoconference, about a hammer — an Estwing, to be exact, but we’ll get to that. We’re chatting on the occasion of his latest book, Little

Carlo Rovelli’s Radical Perspective on Reality

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 6h

A fascinating look at how physicist Carlo Rovelli draws inspiration from politics and philosophy to form a radical new perspective on reality itself. This is a mind-blowing read that challenges our fundamental ... https://www.quantamagazine.org/carlo-rovellis-radical-perspective-on-reality-20251029/

The theoretical physicist and best-selling author finds inspiration in politics and philosophy for rethinking space and time. The post Carlo Rovelli’s Radical Perspective on Reality first appeared on Quanta Magazine

www.quantamagazine.org

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 6h

Brace yourselves: Apple's bringing incredible OLED screens to more iPads & MacBooks, but it'll cost you. A perfect example of the anti-consumer upgrade treadmill and manufactured demand. Is this the innovation we rea... https://www.theverge.com/news/808841/apple-oled-transition-macbook-air-ipad-mini

Apple’s OLED transition could come with a more expensive iPad Mini

Apple is planning to incorporate OLED displays across more of its devices, including the MacBook Air, iPad Mini, and iPad Air, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The company added an OLED display to the iPad Pro last year and the upgraded M5 model released this month, offering impro

TikTok can use AI to turn your long video into short ones

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 6h

TikTok's rolling out a fascinating new AI tool, "Smart Split," that auto-edits long videos into shorter, viral-ready clips. An incredible boost for creators, or a worrying step in AI replacing human c... https://www.theverge.com/news/808749/tiktok-smart-split-ai-outline-revenue-sharing-subscriptions

TikTok announced three new features at its US Creator Summit yesterday. They include an update to revenue sharing for creators that offer subscriptions plus tools that can help with both the early planning stages of a video, and the process of editing longer clips into multiple shorter ones. Smart S

Nick Offerman’s Guide to Building Things That Last

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 7h

In a world of disposable junk, Nick Offerman’s guide to building things that last is truly inspiring. A fascinating look at craftsmanshi... https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/wirecutter-show-podcast-20251029-nick-offerman-favorite-tools/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=RSS%20Feed

Listen to and follow The Wirecutter Show: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio | Other platforms Long before Nick Offerman played the mustached, straight-faced Ron Swanson of Parks and Recreation, he was a woodworker. In a recent conversation with The Wirecutter Show, he c

OpenAI has an AGI problem — and Microsoft just made it worse

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 7h

Fascinating and slightly terrifying. OpenAI's new for-profit structure & deeper ties with Microsoft are putting incredible pressure on them to win the AGI race. This is a massive shi... https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/808434/openai-for-profit-restructuring-microsoft-deal-agi-wars

OpenAI is ending October with a new for-profit structure, a new deal with Microsoft, and an entirely new level of pressure to achieve artificial general intelligence. The generally accepted definition of AGI is an artificial intelligence system that equals or surpasses human cognitive ability. But e

Throwing Shade: How Clumps of Dark Matter Can Dim Starlight

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 7h

Absolutely fascinating! Scientists have a breakthrough new way to hunt for clumps of dark matter. The trick is to watch for how these invisible objects dim starlight as they drift through space—a new window into our amazing universe. https://astrobites.org/2025/10/29/dark-matter-dims-starlight/

Today's paper shows us how to repurpose microlensing surveys to study clumps of dark matter drifting through space.

astrobites.org

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 8h

Whoa, big news in the AI writing world! Grammarly is rebranding to "Superhuman" as part of a major suite expansion, including a new AI assistant. A surprising move for such a massive brand. Thoughts on the new name? https://www.theverge.com/news/808472/grammarly-superhuman-ai-rebrand-relaunch

Grammarly is changing its name to Superhuman

AI writing aid Grammarly is now part of Superhuman, alongside Coda, Superhuman Mail, and a new AI assistant called Superhuman Go. The new Superhuman suite, including all those tools, will be available starting today for everyone with a paid Grammarly Pro subscription. Superhuman Go will be available

Uber will challenge Waymo’s robotaxi dominance in San Francisco

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 8h

The great SF robotaxi showdown is on! Uber is entering the ring to challenge Waymo. While the AI is fascinating, is the ultimate prize just more cars clogging our streets? We need massive investment in public transit... https://www.theverge.com/news/808743/uber-lucid-nuro-robotaxi-san-francisco-2026

Uber has picked the first city for the launch of its new robotaxi service with Lucid and Nuro. No surprise, it’s San Francisco. The companies have already begun on-road testing after the delivery of their first vehicle, a Lucid Gravity SUV modified with Nuro’s self-driving software. But they will st

YouTube will let you opt out of AI upscaling on low-res videos

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 8h

Interesting move from YouTube: They're using AI to upscale low-res videos to HD. But here's the best part – you can actually opt-out. Love to see big tech giving users some control for once. https://www.theverge.com/news/808717/youtube-automatic-ai-upscaling-shopping-updates

YouTube has announced several new features that aim to improve the viewing experience on TV screens, including an instant shopping tool and visual upgrades for low-resolution videos. Specifically, YouTube says it will start automatically upscaling videos uploaded below 1080p, using AI to bump them t

Withings’ urine scanning health tracker is now available for $350

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 17h

The sci-fi future is officially here. Withings just launched a device that sticks inside your toilet to analyze your urine using AI. Is this a breakthrough for personal health, or a privacy nightmare waitin... https://www.theverge.com/news/808381/withings-u-scan-toilet-urine-test-health-nutrio-calci

Withings first announced its U-Scan, a non-invasive device you install in your toilet to track various health metrics, at CES 2023 two years ago. Unlike Kohler’s Dekoda, which uses a camera to analyze your poop, the U-Scan detects and samples your urine, tests it using replaceable cartridges, and se

YouTube will age-restrict more content showing ‘graphic violence’ in video games

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 19h

Big policy shift at YouTube: More age-restrictions are coming for video games with 'graphic violence.' A responsible move to protect kids, or just corporate self-policing that hurts creators? The debate over ... https://www.theverge.com/news/808545/youtube-graphic-video-game-violence-age-restriction

YouTube is updating its policy to age-restrict more content containing video game scenes with “graphic violence,” the company announced on Tuesday. The update will go into effect on November 17th and will prevent accounts under 18 and signed-out users from watching videos with games focused on showi

Senators propose banning teens from using AI chatbots

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 21h

Just in: A bipartisan bill aims to BAN teens from using AI chatbots and force age verification on everyone. This is a shocking overreach that hurts education and creates a massive new privacy risk. We can't le... https://www.theverge.com/news/808589/senators-ai-chatbot-bill-age-verification-teen-ban

A new piece of legislation could require AI companies to verify the ages of everyone who uses their chatbots. Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the GUARD Act on Tuesday, which would also ban everyone under 18 from accessing AI chatbots, as reported earlier by NBC News

A Crisper Look at a Cosmic Creepy Crawler

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 21h

Just in: A breathtaking new look at the Red Spider Nebula! The details revealed in this crisp image are absolutely stunning. A remarkable reminder of the intricate beauty in our universe. #space #astronomy https://nautil.us/a-crisper-look-at-a-cosmic-creepy-crawler-1244848/

Illuminating new details of the Red Spider Nebula have emerged The post A Crisper Look at a Cosmic Creepy Crawler appeared first on Nautilus.

nautil.us

Kevin Curry, PharmD @kcurry.bsky.social · 22h

Huge cycling news! The 2026 Tour de France routes look absolutely brutal. Plus, a deep dive into the science of strength, a massive gravel payout, and Zwift's biggest expansion ever. Everything you need to know t... https://gearandgrit.com/gear-grit-weekly-2026-tour-de-france-strength-science-zwift/

Gear & Grit Weekly: Tour de France's Epic 2026 Routes, The Science of Strength, and Zwift's Biggest Expansion

This week: A deep dive into the brutal 2026 Tour de France routes, new research on how lifting makes you faster, Shimano's profit slump, Life Time's huge gravel payout, and more.

gearandgrit.com