Pentagon orders 30 U.S. universities to audit foreign ties to China, Russia, and Iran or risk losing federal funding over national security concerns.

Los Angeles Unified School District teachers conduct ICE patrols near schools, watching for federal immigration agents and alerting immigrant communities before classes begin.

California business relocation to Texas accelerates as CEO cites high cost of living, regulations and taxes. Los Angeles County led the nation in taxpayer losses.

Actor Tori Thomas on set at the AI studio Promise in Los Angeles filming the studio's newly announced AI-enabled horror film, Touch Grass. Actor Tori Thomas on set at the AI studio Promise in Los Angeles filming the studio's newly announced AI-enabled horror film, Touch Grass. 'I see the incredible promise': on set of an AI film shoot as new studios embrace controversial tech N ear the collonaded entrance to Sony Pictures' historic Culver City film studio, a tech-powered rival has sprung up this summer. The artists at Promise, a new studio feeding off the potential of AI, can glimpse the lots where Singin' in the Rain and Men in Black were shot, but no longer do they need to get beyond the studio's high walls to make their visions come true. From far more modest premises, they are making movies with rapidly accelerating AI models that create backgrounds, special effects and even "synthetic performers" - using US models but also driven by market-leading Chinese AI.

Look Up Say More Safety Net Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Creator Hub Versus Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series We tested open earbuds from Shokz, Sony, Bose, and more -- these were our seven favorites. Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Noise-cancelling earbuds are a popular choice for many people, but if you want to hear the world around you or find an in-ear design uncomfortable, there's a better option: open earbuds . The best open earbuds let you enjoy your workout playlist without losing touch with your surroundings.

Safety Net Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Look Up Creator Hub Versus Say More Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series Did AI play a role in a grisly double murder? Massachusetts prosecutors allege that a 17-year-old used ChatGPT to create scenarios about family violence that he acted on. Neal joined Mashable's Social Good team in 2024, editing and writing stories about digital culture and its effects on the environment and marginalized communities. He is the former editorial director of The Advocate and Out magazines, has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, Curbed, and Los Angeles magazine, and is a recipient of the Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for LGBTQ Journalist of the Year Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association (NLGJA). He lives in Los Angeles with his family.

One group of people is more isolated than anyone else. Become a member to share 10 free articles a month. Men are lonely, you've probably heard. "Few men will admit it, but it's true of most of them," declared Los Angeles Times columnist Jean Guerrero in one in a tsunami of recent takes on the "male loneliness epidemic." Guerrero partially blamed the "virtual world" and its "pornography and ideological provocation." A Guardian columnist theorized, "Many men are socialized to prioritize strength, independence and stoicism, making it difficult for them to open up and form emotional connections." An Atlantic writer agreed, writing, "Friendships are hard to maintain but the social stigma that some men face when opening up and being vulnerable can make things even harder." A "punk-rock psychologist" told Vice that men have low emotional intelligence. BuzzFeed has cranked out 12 posts about male loneliness in 2026 alone (so far, at least). Some of them are pretty brutal--for example, " 27 Loser Men Whose Actions Single-Handedly Prove the'Male Loneliness Epidemic' Is Self-Inflicted ." The inability of men to form friendships, or even make conversation, with each other is a ready setup for a bit.

Creator Hub Versus Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Say More Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now Safety Net In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series Over-ear headphones are no longer required for experiencing truly great ANC. Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable. Samantha Mangino, is an e-reader expert. She's tested all the Kindle and Kobo e-readers, diving into the buzziest models. Her love of reading extends beyond the e-reader beat, covering books and authors, too.

Creator Hub Versus Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Say More Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Mashable Selects Switch Off Trending Now Safety Net In My Bag VidCon with Mashable All Series If you're looking for peace and quiet, we've got you. Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Whether you work from home, spend a lot of time on airplanes, or simply want to turn down the volume of the outside world, noise-cancelling headphones are a worthwhile investment. The best noise-cancelling earbuds cost almost as much. With that in mind, our headphones and audio experts put the top models at every price point to the test. These are the tech, tools, and products -- from laptops to e-readers, from earbuds to robovacs, and more -- that Mashable ranks best in class.

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