Author name: Faulkner Media

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.Scientists have come to realize that in the soil and rocks beneath our feet there lies a vast biosphere with a global volume nearly twice that of all the world’s oceans. Little is known about these underground organisms, who represent most of the planet’s microbial mass

Nothing makes me happier than when someone comes along and clears away all the technological clutter from a device to reveal its simple mechanical underpinnings. When the result also looks better and works better than its competitors, that’s tech(less) nirvana, which is exactly what the Superkop espresso machine manages to achieve.The Superkop is an entirely

Republicans turn the screw on Joe Biden impeachment inquiry and Hunter Biden investigation September 24, 2023 07:00 AM House Republicans plan to hold their first hearing on the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden on Thursday, and they are aiming for a number of other behind-closed-doors interviews and depositions in the days and weeks to

How a Republican megadonor is fueling China’s TikTok amid national security concerns September 24, 2023 07:00 AM While few issues gain bipartisan support in Washington, the idea of banning TikTok has emerged as a middle ground for Republicans and Democrats in Congress. But one billionaire Republican financier, Jeff Yass, is deeply invested in TikTok’s Chinese

Ensemble Studios had spent nearly a decade mastering the real-time strategy genre when it became a victim of its own success. Its 1997 debut, Age of Empires, had been an instant hit and spawned several beloved sequels and expansions that cemented the studio’s glowing reputation. Imitators—some novel, some slavish—quickly appeared in their droves, and by

Another Covid-19 variant is spreading, but there’s an updated vaccine and four more free tests are available for every household in the United States—including US territories and military addresses—starting September 25. While you don’t need to panic, it’s good to have tests on hand so you know if you’ve been exposed or not, and can

The generative AI bot ChatGPT has been busy helping writers, debating issues, generating code, and more—and now that developer OpenAI has opened the door to third-party plug-ins, a ton of new functionality is available.These plug-ins can look up information on the web, draw diagrams, manage travel plans, interrogate Wikipedia, and more. To access the various

Social Security update: Direct payment worth $914 arrives in five days September 24, 2023 06:00 AM Recipients of the federal Supplemental Security Income program will receive a rare second payment for September in just five days when individual filers could see a maximum payment of $914. The uncommon payment goes out Friday, Sept. 29, and will

Republican debate: Everything to know about the second GOP debate September 24, 2023 06:00 AM The second Republican presidential debate is less than one week away, and so far, only six candidates are expected to grace the stage in Simi Valley, California, on Wednesday. The debate is the second of three debates for candidates vying

Great Depression $10,000 bill fetches $480,000 at auction September 24, 2023 06:00 AM A Great Depression-era $100,000 bill fetched $480,000 when it was sold at auction. The bill, a 1934 issue Federal Reserve note, was deemed to be of Exceptional Paper Quality and was certified by the Paper Money Guaranty, according to a report. SOCIAL