Physicists 3D-printed a Christmas tree of ice
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/physicists-3d-printed-a-christmas-tree-of-ice/New method uses no freezing technology or refrigeration equipment—just water and a vacuum.
Latest Headlines
OpenAI's new ChatGPT image generator makes faking photos easy
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/12/openais-new-chatgpt-image-generator-makes-faking-photos-easy/New GPT Image 1.5 allows more detailed conversational image editing, for better or worse.
Man sues cops who jailed him for 37 days for trolling a Charlie Kirk vigil
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/man-sues-cops-who-jailed-him-for-37-days-for-trolling-a-charlie-kirk-vigil/Cops may be fined for jailing a man over his Facebook posts.
FCC chair scrubs website after learning it called FCC an "independent agency"
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/fcc-deletes-independent-agency-from-website-as-carr-defends-allegiance-to-trump/Meanwhile, Ted Cruz wants to restrict FCC's power to intimidate broadcasters.
Donut Lab's hub motor meets WATT's battery to create new EV skateboard
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/12/donut-labs-hub-motor-meets-watts-battery-to-create-new-ev-skateboard/A prototype of the EV platform will be shown off at CES next month.
Bursting AI bubble may be EU's "secret weapon" in clash with Trump, expert says
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/us-threatens-crackdown-on-eu-firms-as-clash-over-tech-regulations-intensifies/Spotify and Accenture caught in crossfire as Trump attacks EU tech regulations.
Trump admin threatens to break up major climate research center
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/trump-admin-threatens-to-break-up-major-climate-research-center/Major research institution dismissed as a source of "climate alarmism."
Google releases Gemini 3 Flash, promising improved intelligence and efficiency
https://arstechnica.com/google/2025/12/google-releases-gemini-3-flash-promising-improved-intelligence-and-efficiency/Google's Gemini 3 family is now complete with release of Gemini 3 Flash.
Browser extensions with 8 million users collect extended AI conversations
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/12/browser-extensions-with-8-million-users-collect-extended-ai-conversations/The extensions, available for Chromium browsers, harvest full AI conversations over months.
Electric vehicles cause tension in the automotive aftermarket
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/12/how-is-ev-technology-being-accepted-by-the-aftermarket/At SEMA, we heard Trump-like talking points but saw skateboard chassis, too.
Twitter comeback bid draws lawsuit from Elon Musk's X Corp
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/twitter-comeback-bid-draws-lawsuit-from-elon-musks-x-corp/"Huge uphill battle" to obtain and use Twitter name.
US oil industry doesn't see profit in Trump's "pro-petroleum" moves
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/us-oil-industry-doesnt-see-profit-in-trumps-pro-petroleum-moves/The financial picture around drilling is moving against the Trump administration's hopes
"A Band-Aid on a giant gash": Trump's attacks on science may ruin his AI moonshot
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/trump-spent-2025-attacking-science-that-could-set-back-his-genesis-mission/Trump's AI "Manhattan Project" will fail if DOGE cuts are kept, critics say.
Texas sues biggest TV makers, alleging smart TVs spy on users without consent
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/texas-sues-biggest-tv-makers-alleging-smart-tvs-spy-on-users-without-consent/Automated Content Recognition brings "mass surveillance" to homes, lawsuits say.
The $4.3 billion space telescope Trump tried to cancel is now complete
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/12/the-4-3-billion-space-telescope-trump-tried-to-cancel-is-now-complete/"We're going to be making 3D movies of what is going on in the Milky Way galaxy."
Senators count the shady ways data centers pass energy costs on to Americans
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/shady-data-center-deals-doom-americans-to-higher-energy-bills-senators-say/Senators demand Big Tech pay upfront for data center spikes in electricity bills.
Software leaks point to the first Apple Silicon "iMac Pro," among other devices
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/12/leaked-debug-kit-suggests-apple-is-testing-a-new-imac-pro-among-many-other-macs/Resurrected high-end all-in-one could be a worthy successor to 2017's iMac Pro.
Reporter suggests Half-Life 3 will be a Steam Machine launch title
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/12/journalist-insists-half-life-3-will-launch-with-steam-machine-in-spring-2026/"Everybody I've talked to are still adamant," even after previous rumors didn't pan out.
Utah leaders hinder efforts to develop solar energy supply
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/12/utah-leaders-hinder-efforts-to-develop-solar-energy-supply/Solar power accounts for two-thirds of the new projects waiting to connect to the state's power grid.
2026 Mercedes CLA first drive: Entry level doesn't mean basic
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/12/2026-mercedes-cla-first-drive-entry-level-doesnt-mean-basic/Starting at $47,250, Mercedes' new electric sedan is quite compelling.
Jared Isaacman confirmed as next head of NASA
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/jared-isaacman-confirmed-as-next-head-of-nasa/Isaacman will run the space agency at a time when Trump is trying to both downsize it and task it with returning astronauts to the moon.
YouTube to pull music data from Billboard's charts because it doesn't like its ranking formula
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/youtube-to-pull-music-data-from-billboards-charts-because-it-doesnt-like-its-ranking-formula/YouTube takes its ball and goes home by pulling Billboard's access to its music data.
YouTube will stream the Oscars — exclusively — beginning in 2029
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/youtube-will-stream-the-oscars-exclusively-beginning-in-2029/The news highlights YouTube's growing dominance in the television space and a major shift as streaming takes on more live events.
Meta is pausing its dream of sharing Quest's Horizon OS with third-party headset makers
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/meta-is-pausing-its-dream-of-sharing-quests-horizon-os-with-third-party-headset-makers/The company said that it would revisit opportunities for third-party partnerships in the future.
Cisco says Chinese hackers are exploiting its customers with a new zero-day
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/cisco-says-chinese-hackers-are-exploiting-its-customers-with-a-new-zero-day/Cisco said it discovered a Chinese hacking campaign targeting its customers by exploiting a zero-day in some of the company's most popular products.
Facebook is testing a link-posting limit for professional accounts and pages
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/facebook-is-testing-a-link-posting-limit-for-professional-accounts-and-pages/Meta said that the test impacts professional accounts and pages on Facebook.
Amazon appoints longtime AWS exec Peter DeSantis to lead new AI org
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/amazon-appoints-longtime-aws-exec-peter-desantis-to-lead-new-ai-org/DeSantis has spent 27 years at Amazon, including eight years as an SVP for AWS, the cloud provider that powers about one-third of the internet.
Rad Power Bikes files for bankruptcy and is looking to sell the business
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/rad-power-bikes-files-for-bankruptcy-and-is-looking-to-sell-the-business/It's the latest e-bike company to seek bankruptcy protection after pandemic-era excitement for the category wore off.
Radiant Nuclear raises $300M for its semi-sized 1 MW reactor
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/radiant-nuclear-raises-300m-for-its-semi-sized-1-mw-reactor/Radiant Nuclear is developing a small modular reactor to replace diesel generators. The startup previously raised $165 million in May.
Google launches Gemini 3 Flash, makes it the default model in the Gemini app
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/google-launches-gemini-3-flash-makes-it-the-default-model-in-the-gemini-app/Google is making Gemini 3 Flash the default model in the Gemini app and oAI model for Search
Coursera and Udemy enter a merger agreement valued at around $2.5B
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/coursera-and-udemy-enter-a-merger-agreement-valued-at-around-2-5b/Coursera and Udemy, two of the biggest names in online learning, are combining platforms next year.
Bluesky launches a privacy-focused ‘Find Friends' feature without invite spam
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/bluesky-launches-a-privacy-focused-find-friends-feature-without-invite-spam/The Bluesky contact-matching feature is opt-in and your data won't be used to spam your friends, the social network says.
Warner Bros. Discovery rejects Paramount's hostile bid, calls offer ‘illusory'
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/warner-bros-discovery-rejects-paramounts-hostile-bid-calls-offer-illusory/Warner Bros. Discovery called Paramount's offer "illusory" and said that the company had misled shareholders about its financing.
Mozilla's new CEO says AI is coming to Firefox, but will remain a choice
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/mozillas-new-ceo-says-ai-is-coming-to-firefox-but-will-remain-a-choice/Mozilla has appointed Anthony Enzor-DeMeo as its CEO as the Firefox developer scrambles to adapt in a rapidly changing browser market.
Google's vibe-coding tool Opal comes to Gemini
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/googles-vibe-coding-tool-opal-comes-to-gemini/The company on Wednesday said it is integrating the tool, which lets you build AI-powered mini apps, inside the Gemini web app, allowing users to create their own custom apps.
Skana Robotics helps fleets of underwater robots communicate with each other
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/skana-robotics-helps-fleets-of-underwater-robots-communicate-with-each-other/Skana Robotics built a decision-making algorithm that helps unmanned vessels react and adapt to data from other vessels.
Amazon reportedly in talks to invest $10B in OpenAI as circular deals stay popular
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/amazon-reportedly-in-talks-to-invest-10b-in-openai-as-circular-deals-stay-popular/Amazon is in early discussions to invest as much as $10 billion in OpenAI in a deal that would see the AI lab using the e-commerce giant's AI chips.
Google deepens consumer credit push in India with UPI-linked card
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/google-deepens-consumer-credit-push-in-india-with-upi-linked-card/Google has entered India's growing co-branded credit card market by partnering with Axis Bank.
Weeks after raising $100M, investors pump another $180M into hot Indian startup MoEngage
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/weeks-after-raising-100m-investors-pump-another-180m-into-hot-indian-startup-moengage/The deal valued MoEngage at "well over" $900 million post-money.
Monzo board reportedly pushed out CEO Anil over IPO timing
https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/monzo-board-reportedly-pushed-out-ceo-anil-over-ipo-timing/A key issue, reportedly, was IPO timing.
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Snapchat's new Quick Cut stitches a video together for you
https://www.theverge.com/news/846905/snap-snapchat-quick-cut-video-editorSnap just launched a new Quick Cut video editing tool right inside Snapchat that "helps Snapchatters turn their favorite Memories into beat-synced, ready-to-share videos in seconds." With Quick Cut, you can select multiple photos or clips and then "instantly preview a rendered video," and the featur
Billionaire Jared Isaacman confirmed as new head of NASA
https://www.theverge.com/news/846903/billionaire-jared-isaacman-confirmed-as-new-head-of-nasaThe Senate confirmed Jared Isaacman's appointment as the head of NASA on Wednesday, a decision that comes just months after President Donald Trump pulled his nomination before picking him yet again in November, as reported earlier by CNBC. Isaacman, the founder and CEO of a payments platform called
Brendan Carr doesn't regret his threats to broadcasters
https://www.theverge.com/policy/846845/fcc-senate-commerce-oversight-hearing-brendan-carrA defiant Brendan Carr testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday in his first public appearance before lawmakers since threatening broadcasters who aired comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show. Over the course of nearly three hours, the Federal Communications Commission chairman ping-ponged
The best iPhones
https://www.theverge.com/23618862/best-iphone-camera-battery-screen-guideIf you've been holding off on getting a new iPhone, now's the perfect time to size up your options. Apple's 2025 iPhone lineup is now available, which includes the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and a brand-new model, the ultra-thin iPhone Air. These new phones offer a number of new features over th
Meta pauses third-party Horizon VR headsets program
https://www.theverge.com/news/846762/meta-vr-headsets-third-party-program-horizon-osMeta has "paused" its program to license its VR operating system to other hardware companies so they could build their own headsets using the platform, as reported by Road to VR . With the program, announced in April 2024, Meta announced that it would be licensing the Quest OS headset - which, at th
Democratic lawmakers are investigating data centers' impact on electricity costs
https://www.theverge.com/news/846696/electricity-cost-ai-data-center-democrat-investigationSens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) fired off a letter on Tuesday to Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and several major data center developers to investigate the impact they're having on Americans' utility bills. The move comes as rising electricity
You can snag a pair of the Beats Solo 4 headphones for under $100 right now
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/846609/beats-solo-4-wireless-headphones-deal-sale-2025If you're looking for a gadget to get as a last-minute Christmas gift, we've got your back. The Beats Solo 4 are among the best on-ear headphones we've tested in the last year or two, and they're currently down to a new low of $79 ($120 off) in select colors at Walmart. If you prefer […]
Amazon has a new leader for its ‘AGI' group as it plays catch-up on AI
https://www.theverge.com/news/846721/amazon-new-agi-leader-peter-desantis-rohit-prasadAmazon's head of artificial general intelligence (AGI), Rohit Prasad, is leaving the company next year as it reaches an "inflection point" in its development of the technology, CEO Andy Jassy announced on Wednesday. As part of the change, Peter DeSantis, a senior vice president at Amazon Web Service
Video game hardware sales had a historically bad November in the US
https://www.theverge.com/news/846693/video-game-hardware-sales-november-2025-circanaSpending on video game hardware during November totalled $695 million, a drop of 27 percent compared to last year, according to market analyst company Circana, "This is the lowest video game hardware spending total for a November month since the $455M reached during the November 2005 tracking period
The best Bluetooth trackers for Apple and Android phones
https://www.theverge.com/23769840/best-bluetooth-trackersSome people rarely lose things. Wallets are always exactly where they're supposed to be, keys never go missing, and remotes never slip between the couch cushions. And then there's the rest of us — the folks who can't ever seem to find the thing that was right there a few seconds ago. For us, there [