Goto

Collaborating Authors

 Toronto


AI used to create viruses not found in nature for first time

Al Jazeera

US researchers have announced the creation of new viruses using artificial intelligence, a scientific first that raises hopes for advances in medical treatments while also stoking anxiety about the dangers of the frontier technology. In findings published in the journal Science, researchers at Stanford University and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard said they used a naturally occurring phage - a type of virus that infects bacteria - as a template to generate thousands of genomes with AI. In tests, a mixture of the synthetic viruses proved more effective at killing E coli bacteria than the naturally occurring viruses, according to the findings. "Our approach expands what synthetic genomics can achieve alongside methods such as directed evolution and rational engineering, lays out a path for generating adaptive and resilient phage therapies against rapidly evolving pathogens, and establishes a foundation for the generative design of larger, more complex genomes," the researchers wrote in Science. Brian Hie and Samuel King, two of the paper's authors, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.


Something Weird Is Happening in Math

The Atlantic - Technology

Why one of the world's best mathematicians is joining OpenAI One of the winners of this year's Fields Medal is headed to OpenAI. Last Thursday, Jacob Tsimerman was one of four mathematicians awarded the prestigious honor, which is sometimes called the Nobel Prize of mathematics. The same day that he won the Fields, Tsimerman announced that he would be going on leave from the University of Toronto to work on AI safety. As my colleague Rose Horowitch and I wrote last week, top AI companies now employ a range of academics, including physicists, philosophers, economists, and, of course, mathematicians . But given Tsimerman's renown, his decision in particular seemed to catch many people by surprise. "It's like hiring Lionel Messi as project manager," one machine-learning professor posted on X. Tsimerman's expertise is in number theory, and he won the Fields for his work on the Andrรฉ-Oort conjecture, among other contributions.


Sam Altman says AI has entered 'singularity': Should we be worried?

Al Jazeera

Sam Altman says AI has entered'singularity': Should we be worried? How is the US tech industry regulated? The 2014 US film Transcendence follows a dying scientist who uploads his mind to a supercomputer and becomes a near omnipotent intelligence. A year later, Ex Machina told the story of a humanoid robot who outsmarts her human handlers and escapes into the wider world. Both of these films, like many others from the realm of science fiction, referred to what is known as "the singularity", a moment in time when technology, particularly AI, surpasses human intelligence and becomes increasingly difficult to control.


Should you use AI for a task? Here's a simple way to decide Bruce Schneier

The Guardian

'The writing assignments I give my students are gym tasks, not work tasks.' 'The writing assignments I give my students are gym tasks, not work tasks.' Should you use AI for a task? Here's a simple way to decide Sometimes, what matters isn't your output but what you put into the process. I teach public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Munk School at the University of Toronto. And it will come as no surprise to you that my students regularly use AI to complete their writing assignments.


Atlanta Falcons 2026 betting preview: Limited upgrades has new head coach Kevin Stefanski facing a steep climb

FOX News

LIV Golf Team Championships in Michigan'highly likely' to be canceled: we're'disappointed' Lynx star Kayla McBride becomes latest to speak out on WNBA 3-point contest drama: 'Half a-- invite' Arch Manning isn't backing down from expectations, and neither is Steve Sarkisian, as CFP semis aren't enough USA Today writer invokes Emmett Till, says Caitlin Clark puts Black and queer players'in danger' by flopping Smokin' Hot Charley Hull suffers a brutal quadruple bogey, USA Today gasbags & Angel Reese is back at it! First overall pick Fernando Mendoza signs guaranteed deal with Raiders, who seem to be an'arrow up' NFL club White House defends WNBA star Sophie Cunningham after she speaks out in support of protecting women's sports NHL's top American-born scorer Patrick Kane signs deal to return to Chicago Blackhawks Florida coach Jon Sumrall's cell phone comments cause fans and media members to lose their minds, he responds Shane Bieber's strong Rays splits make Toronto Blue Jays the smart first 5 innings MLB bet Maria Sharapova attacks the dog days of summer by hopping into the pool, it pays to be OSU's QB & Shatner Ukrainian drone strikes knock 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity offline A'bigger than ever' attack on Iran could be coming: Report Gordon Chang warns of China's'people's war' against the US Linda McMahon says we shouldn't be afraid of AI Stephen A Smith is only looking out for Stephen A Smith, not Ryan Clark | Don't @ Me w/Dan Dakich Dan Dakich reacts to Stephen A Smith's message about Ryan Clark being laid off by ESPN Welcome to our 32-team 2026 NFL Season Preview Series! As we count down to kickoff, we're breaking down every franchise division-by-division. Today, we're spotlighting the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. Each preview analyzes the team's offseason moves, coaching staff, projected strengths and weaknesses, schedule, win total and best futures bet. Atlanta missed the playoffs in 2025-26 for an eighth consecutive season and fired now-former head coach Raheem Morris afterward.


Where Did All the Computer-Science Professors Go?

The Atlantic - Technology

Where Did All the Computer-Science Professors Go? AI companies are stripping universities of their best researchers. Anthropic has poached such an array of high-profile professors that it has become a punch line in academia. "'I'm joining Anthropic' is the new meme right now," Subbarao Kambhampati, a computer-science professor at Arizona State University (who has not joined Anthropic), told us. This month, the AI company hired the chair of UC Berkeley's department of electrical engineering and computer science, presumably to help build more capable bots. Perhaps more surprisingly, Anthropic has in recent weeks also picked up a Stanford economist, a theoretical physicist from the University of Maryland, and an analytic philosopher from UT Austin.


Angel Reese's latest WNBA controversy shows how victimhood became central to her brand

FOX News

Atlanta Hawks dump former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher after disappointing two-year stint Angel Reese thanks WNBA for suspending Sandy Brondello, frames'protected species' comment as discrimination Rory McIlroy should be the last golfer to criticize others for'performative' behavior Brexton Busch wins first race since father Kyle Busch's death in emotional return to Victory Lane Caitlin Clark'cheering hard' for Argentina over Spain in World Cup final: 'I want Messi' Ella Langley turns 63-year-old former NFL head coach into'Ella Fella' I am once again begging the folks in USC's athletic department to study some Greek literature Jaxson Dart's swimsuit model girlfriend gets patriotic, golfer Hailey Ostrom takes on Lake Powell & Bigfoot Caitlin Clark's former teammate calls out WNBA for suspending Tempo head coach over'protected species' remark Faith leaders divided on AI's role in worship Rod Blagojevich: Democratic Party infected with'virus of socialism' We've already been living in a'data center world': mikeroweWORKS Foundation CEO GOP lawmaker explains how litigation is the'problem' in energy projects Iranian regime has ruled the country'brutally' for 47 years: Defense of Democracies CEO Mark Levin: Trump is the ONLY president to recognize this... Iranian regime has proven they will not abide by'any agreement': Former Israeli ambassador OutKick Sports Angel Reese's latest WNBA controversy shows how victimhood became central to her brand From the Sandy Brondello'protected species' controversy to accusations against Caitlin Clark fans, Reese's formula is consistent. Dan Dakich responds to Annie Costable's claim that WNBA players receive more vitriol than male athletes in other sports. For some unknown reason, claiming victimhood is very popular in modern society. Many people seem to think being a victim earns them social capital, so they look for every opportunity to capitalize. A perfect example is WNBA star Angel Reese . WNBA star Angel Reese loves to play the victim card. Perhaps no prominent professional athlete embodies the desire to be seen as a victim as much as Reese, who has spent years painting herself as someone unfairly treated by fans, coaches, referees, reporters and society at large. Of course, that runs counter to the fact that Reese gained immense popularity, fame and money from the same society she regularly claims hates her. The latest example came this weekend, when Toronto Tempo coach Sandy Brondello was caught on a microphone referring to Reese as a protected species. It was immediately obvious what Brondello meant. She thought the referees were giving Reese preferential treatment.


3 ways science can help you feel happier

Popular Science

More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. If you can spend money, spend it on experiences. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy . Happiness, we are told, is the most important thing in the world.


What to know about the Canadian and US wildfires and their impact

BBC News

Cities across north-eastern Canada and the US are suffering from intense smoke brought on by wildfires burning across Ontario and Minnesota. Residents in New York, Boston and Toronto have been encouraged to avoid strenuous activity over potential health impacts caused by the pollution. Canada wildfires leave train'encased in flames' as smoke drifts towards US Where are the wildfires and how did they start? There are currently 858 wildfires actively burning across Canada - nearly 200 of those in Ontario - according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Along the northern edge of Minnesota there are 17 fires that are still burning and an emergency declaration is in place to help mobilise suppression efforts.


3 myths about cursive handwriting

Popular Science

It's not faster, and it's not legally required for signatures. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. Writing in cursive won't make you write faster. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .