Science

Ex-Anthropic researchers raise $200M for self-improving AI

Mirendil, founded by two researchers who left Anthropic after barely a year, has raised $200m at a $1bn valuation. The pitch: sell the self-improving AI that the big labs build for themselves and guard from everyone else. The biggest AI…

Stormy weather could be behind mass death of eagle rays at Porirua beach

The discovery of at least 20 dead eagle rays and two Rig sharks was made during a beach clean-up on Sunday.

Monkeys, a rhino horn and dead pangolins: Illegal wildlife trafficking rampant across social media platforms

The ghostly white creature curled up on a weighing scale is almost unrecognisable in the Facebook post offering it for sale. Only closer inspection reveals it to be a dead pangolin. The animal, one of the world’s most endangered and…

'We're running out of specialist blood cancer scientists in NZ'

New Zealand has no clear plan for recruiting and keeping scientists, says a leading blood cancer specialist who is leaving for Australia.

Salman Khan to leave Galaxy after 52 years, gets approval for new 6-storey home: report

Nasa's ageing telescope in space is falling towards Earth. Now a robot is being sent to rescue it

NASA is partnering with startup Katalyst Space Technologies to launch a groundbreaking mission to save its aging Swift Gamma-ray burst explorer. This innovative rescue operation, set to begin soon, aims to boost Swift's orbit and extend…

European Stocks Muted as Telecoms Drop on SpaceX Disruption Fear

European stocks were muted as the telecom sector fell on concerns that SpaceX could take more of the mobile market and investors weighed a halt in hostilities between the US and Iran.

Australia, Vanuatu sign deal barring foreign military base on Pacific island

Australia and Vanuatu signed a sweeping economic and security agreement on Monday that bars the establishment of any foreign military base in the Pacific nation. Vanuatu is at the centre of strategic rivalry between China and US allies in…

Afternoon Update: ABC and SBS called to antisemitism royal commission; Biden calls Trump a ‘loser’; and Erin…

Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Afternoon Update here , and start your day with our Morning Mail newsletter . Good afternoon. Representatives from the ABC and SBS will be called as witnesses to the royal…

State tells High Court it’s not obliged to have targets for emissions cuts

Responding to country’s first petition against its climate change policy, government claims international pacts require 'continuous effort' rather than meeting stated goals The post State tells High Court it’s not obliged to have targets…

One person a week in England dies with undiagnosed TB, study finds

British-born, older men among those most likely to have disease found only postmortem, say researchers One person a week dies with undiagnosed and therefore untreated tuberculosis in England, a study has found. British-born, older men were…

‘Get your dirty hands off our kids’: fossil fuel industry’s presence in schools and sports clubs sparks concern

Greens and David Pocock accuse industry of using programs and sponsorships to ‘build social licence’, push for parliamentary inquiry Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily…