Things to Do in L.A. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. A woman in the audience wears a red hat that reads Make America Healthy Again during a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on Capitol Hill on September 9, 2025 in Washington, DC. The hearing was titled "how the corruption of science has impacted public perception and policies regarding vaccines." Voice comes from the use of AI. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here .

Charlie Hurt and Griff Jenkins examine a protest of border czar Tom Homan's meeting in Albany with New York lawmakers over their refusal to enforce immigration laws. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the building of seven new miles of border wall in Arizona as part of the administration's efforts to "make America safe again." Noem's announcement, coming in a short video posted to her X account, marks the beginning of additional border wall construction along the southern border during the second Trump administration. The DHS said in a press release Friday that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) awarded the first contract of President Donald Trump's second term to Granite Construction Co. for more than 70 million, which will result in seven new miles of border wall in the Rio Grande Valley Sector, according to Noem's announcement. "Everybody, I'm here in Arizona, and right at this spot, you can see where the border wall ends," Noem said while standing along the border, donning a CBP hat and jacket.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, nominated by President-elect Trump to be the next CMS administrator, will have his hands full when he takes the reins of our agency that provides health insurance for over 140 million Americans and accounts for one quarter of the nation's budget. Through bold and principled leadership and effective communication, he holds the potential to make a positive, lasting difference. It's no secret our health care system is broken. We continue to spend more and more money without any clear return on investment when it comes to our nation's health and well-being. In fact, nearly 50% of Americans live with one chronic health condition, such as diabetes, hypertension, or obesity.

I am a scientist. I am an American. And I am the product of special expert visas and chain migration—among the many types of legal immigration into the United States. On 22 June, President Trump issued a proclamation that temporarily restricts many types of legal immigration into the country, including that of scientists and students. This will make America neither greater nor safer—rather, it could make America less so. The administration claims that these restrictions are necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak to prevent threats to American workers. This reasoning is flawed for science and engineering, where immigrants are critical to achieving advances and harnessing the resulting economic opportunity for all Americans. For decades, the United States has inspired both immigrants and nonimmigrants to make substantial contributions to science and technology that benefit everyone. Preventing highly skilled scientists and postdocs from entering the United States directly threatens this enterprise. My uncle, a geologist, came to the United States in the 1960s to work at NASA. He then taught at Appalachian State University in North Carolina and later served as lead geochemist for the state of California. He sponsored my father to come to America in 1968. Leaving Mumbai, a city of millions, and arriving in Hickory, a town of thousands in North Carolina, my father came home to a place he had never been before. My parents worked in furniture factories and textile mills to put us though college and ensure we had opportunities. Today, my sister works at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and I have the privilege of leading the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, the publisher of Science ). We exist because of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and our parents' belief in the vision of the United States as a shining city on a hill. My family's story is repeated by thousands of American scientists. These stories include uncertainty when an immigrant's status in America is in question. This uncertainty causes stress and the possibility that immigrants will leave and take their skills, talents, and humanity elsewhere. For the successful, these stories culminate with relief, celebration, and the pride of becoming a naturalized citizen. As President Reagan said, the United States is the one place in the world where “anybody from any corner of the world can come…to live and become an American.” Naturalized citizens love the United States deeply because they chose to be American. They and other immigrants make huge contributions to science and engineering. According to the National Science Foundation, more than 50% of postdocs and 28% of science and engineering faculty in the United States are immigrants. Of the Nobel Prizes in chemistry, medicine, and physics awarded to Americans since 2000, 38% were awarded to immigrants to the United States. I don't know the number of prizes given to second-generation Americans but Steven Chu—current chair of the AAAS Board of Directors—is among them. The incredible achievements of the American scientific enterprise speak volumes about the vision and forethought of the American people who have worked to create a more perfect union. Suspending legal immigration is self-defeating and breaks a model that is so successful that other nations are copying it. As Thomas Donohue, chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said regarding the administration's proclamation, “Putting up a ‘not welcome’ sign for engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses, and other workers won't help our country, it will hold us back. Restrictive changes to our nation's immigration system will push investment and economic activity abroad, slow growth, and reduce job creation.” To develop treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, cure cancers, go to Mars, understand the fundamental laws of the universe and human behavior, develop artificial intelligence, and build a better future, we need the brain power of the descendants of Native Americans, Pilgrims, Founding Mothers and Fathers, Enslaved People, Ellis Island arrivals, and immigrants from everywhere. The United States has thrived as a crossroads where people are joined together by ideas and contribute by choice to the freedom and opportunity provided by this wonderful, inspiring, and flawed country that is always striving to live up to its aspirations. Scientists, look around your labs and offices. Think about your collaborations and friendships. We must ensure that this “temporary” restriction on legal immigration does not become permanent. Now is the time to speak up for your immigrant colleagues and for America.

Key point: Faster, more capable processors will enable the aircraft's avionics, radar, sensors and communications technologies to better identify and attack enemy targets. Faster computer processors, AI-infused algorithms able to merge or "fuse" sensor information and automated maintenance and checklists are informing emerging pilot tactics aimed at anticipating future threat environments. Various applications of AI now perform a wide range of functions not purely restricted to conventional notions of IT or cyberspace; computer algorithms are increasingly able to almost instantaneously access vast pools of data, compare and organize information and perform automated procedural and analytical functions for human decision-makers. When high-volume, redundant tasks are performed through computer automation, humans are freed up to expend energy pursuing a wider range of interpretive or conceptual work. "The bottom line is the next big thing that is going to enable the US to maintain its qualitative edge is the seamless and ubiquitous sharing of information.

Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., just drafted forward-looking legislation that aims to establish a select committee of experts to advise agencies across the government on the economic impact of federal artificial intelligence. The move is an early step toward formalizing the exploration of AI in a government context. But it could ultimately contribute to jump-starting AI-focused programs that help stimulate the United States economy, benefit citizens, uphold data security and privacy, and eventually ensure America is successful during the initial introduction of this important technology to U.S. consumers. The presence of legislation could also lend legitimacy to the prospect of near-term government investment in AI innovation -- something that may even sway Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and others away from their belief that the impact of AI won't be felt for years to come. Indeed, other than a few economic impact and policy reports conducted by the Obama Administration -- led by former U.S. Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil and other tech-minded government leaders -- this is the first policy effort toward moving the U.S. public sector past acknowledging its significance, and toward fully embracing AI technology.

Last October, Uber had one of its self- driving trucks make a beer run, traveling 200 kilometers down the interstate to deliver a cargo of Budweiser from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. A person rode in the truck but spent most of the trip in the sleeper berth, monitoring the automated system. The self-driving truck developed by Uber's recently acquired Otto unit reflects remarkable technological achievements. It also provides yet another indicator of a looming shift in the economy that could have deep political consequences. It is uncertain how long it will take for driverless trucks and cars to take over the roads.

Self-driving car technology will face its toughest test in the United States on Wednesday with the House of Representatives set to vote on the proposal for getting autonomous vehicles on the American roads. The proposed legislation is expected to not just help companies in developing the technology further but it will also ensure speedy deployment of autonomous vehicles on the American roads with minimum state oversight. The vote for the legislation involving several stakeholders -- including ride-hailing companies, auto companies, and tech companies -- comes at a critical time when Russia and China are developing the technology at an accelerated pace. While major developments pertaining to the technology have taken place primarily in the United States, in the absence of proper laws, companies get mired in legal battle such as the Uber-California DMV spat where the state regulators asked the ride-hailing company to apply for a permit to test self-driving cars. The proposed "Self Drive Act" bars the state from setting regulations on the design, construction, and performance of the self-driven vehicles. A host of car makers and tech companies including the Google spin-off Waymo, Apple and Tesla, have previously opposed strict guidelines proposed by the states such as California.

Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., just drafted forward-looking legislation that aims to establish a select committee of experts to advise agencies across the government on the economic impact of federal artificial intelligence. The move is an early step toward formalizing the exploration of AI in a government context. But it could ultimately contribute to jump-starting AI-focused programs that help stimulate the United States economy, benefit citizens, uphold data security and privacy, and eventually ensure America is successful during the initial introduction of this important technology to U.S. consumers. The presence of legislation could also lend legitimacy to the prospect of near-term government investment in AI innovation -- something that may even sway Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and others away from their belief that the impact of AI won't be felt for years to come. Indeed, other than a few economic impact and policy reports conducted by the Obama Administration -- led by former U.S. Chief Data Scientist DJ Patil and other tech-minded government leaders -- this is the first policy effort toward moving the U.S. public sector past acknowledging its significance, and toward fully embracing AI technology.

Last October, Uber had one of its self- driving trucks make a beer run, traveling 200 kilometers down the interstate to deliver a cargo of Budweiser from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. A person rode in the truck but spent most of the trip in the sleeper berth, monitoring the automated system. The self-driving truck developed by Uber's recently acquired Otto unit reflects remarkable technological achievements. It also provides yet another indicator of a looming shift in the economy that could have deep political consequences. It is uncertain how long it will take for driverless trucks and cars to take over the roads.