ChatGPT-maker OpenAI’s valuation soared to $157 billion on Wednesday, Oct. 2, after a fresh round of funding. This makes it the second most valuable private company in the world behind TikTok-parent company Bytedance and just ahead of SpaceX.  OpenAI just secured $6.6 billion in funding from investors. Some of the names involved include venture capital…

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) economist warned that the current artificial intelligence boom may only significantly impact 5% of jobs over the next decade. He predicted that companies investing heavily in AI may face challenges ahead. Daron Acemoglu, a professor of economics at MIT, outlined three potential scenarios for the future of AI, forecasting…

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appeared in court Wednesday, Oct. 2, for a hearing after being indicted on corruption charges. In court, prosecutors indicated it’s likely Adams could face additional charges — and that other defendants could also be charged. Adams spoke after his hearing, expressing his trust in the legal system and asserting…

What if turning up the volume could help your garden grow? Mozart isn’t what’s being talked about this time, although music and plant growth has been debated too. It turns out that fungi might actually be partial to white noise. Researchers at Flinders University in Australia focused on a fungus commonly used in organic farming.…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his “deepest condolences” on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to the families of eight soldiers killed in southern Lebanon. While the circumstances surrounding the deaths has yet to be released at the time of this report, it had been known that Israeli troops were fighting Hezbollah militants inside Lebanon after launching…

Iran’s ballistic missile attack was one of the largest, most complex, and involved more advanced weaponry than almost any the Mullah Regime has ever launched against Israel. More than 180 intercontinental ballistic missiles were deployed. Evidence collected so far points to Iran using its Fattah-1 and Kheybarshekan missiles in the strike. There is damage on…

A spooky season staple took being the subject of a “Saturday Night Live” parody commercial in stride on Monday, Sept. 30. Spirit Halloween put out its own version of a popular meme to respond to the long-running sketch comedy show’s bit.  During its 50th season premiere the night of Saturday, Sept. 28, the NBC show…

A federal appeals court cleared the way on Wednesday, Oct. 2, for Americans to bet on the 2024 congressional elections. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) asked the appeals court to block the prediction exchange platform Kalshi from offering congressional control contracts. The contracts allow buyers to bet on which political party will control the House…

An initiative to map the entire bottom of the Great Lakes is gaining traction due to its potential benefits for fishing, shipping, and environmental management. Led by the Great Lakes Observing System, the project seeks to chart the lakebed, of which only 15% is currently mapped. This effort aims to uncover critical information about underwater…

A species of woodpecker could help push genetic science into new territory. Whether or not the ivory-billed woodpecker is extinct is still up for debate. Either way, a team of biologists are hoping to help the bird make a comeback. A bioscience company announced on Tuesday, Oct. 1, it is launching a process they’re calling…