Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season
Should AI be used to resurrect extinct species like the Neanderthal? | Mohammad Hosseini
In 2024, I watched, tested and reviewed more TVs than I can count. I've gawked at some of the best OLEDs I've ever seen, I've had my eyes blasted by bright, colorful Mini-LEDs and I've glimpsed the future of ultra-affordable 4K TVs. In the spirit of ringing in the new year (and in the spirit of end-of-year lists), I'm picking my favorite TVs across multiple price points. All of them are on sale, too, ahead of CES 2025 . 1. TCL Q6: my favorite QLED under $500 I've recommended this TV to three separate friends and family members this year with the exact same pitch each time: If you're just looking for an affordable TV with easy-to-use smart features, this is the one. The TCL Q6 is a dependable QLED with an accurate out-of-the-box picture and Google TV baked right in. Right now, the 65-inch TCL Q6 is just $399 at Best Buy . In 4K, its gaming support is limited to 60Hz, but you'll get ultra-low latency with an input lag of below 10ms, and the Q6 is bright enough to look good in most living rooms. You can read more about it in our full TCL Q6 review , but we thought it checked most of the boxes for a budget-friendly, set-it-and-forget-it set. Other sizes on sale: 55-inch TCL Q6: was $449 now $269 @ Best Buy 75-inch TCL Q6: was $749 now $529 @ Best Buy 2. Hisense U7N: my favorite Mini-LED TV under $1,000 If you're a casual or competitive gamer on a budget, or just someone who's looking for a good amount of HDR horsepower for movies and shows, the Hisense U7N is just the ticket. It's the brand's mid-range Mini-LED for 2024, and I really appreciate what it has to offer for the price. Right now, a 65-inch Hisense U7N is just $697 at Amazon. In our Hisense U7N review , we marveled at its tremendous HDR performance, as it sports over 1,300 nits of highlight brightness during HDR movies and games while its Mini-LED backlighting keeps contrast in check. It delivers nearly all of the gaming features one would expect from a higher-end TV, too, including support for 4K gaming at up to 144Hz and VRR. Other sizes on sale: 55-inch Hisense U7N: was $798 now $497 @ Amazon 75-inch Hisense U7N: was $1,499 now $899 @ Best Buy 3. LG B4: my favorite OLED under $1,500 The LG B4 is one of my favorite TVs of the year. It's not as bright as higher-end OLEDs, nor is it as thoroughly loaded with features. But it is an OLED TV, which means it's a real showstopper thanks to the built-in benefits of this impressive display technology (namely, perfect black levels and ultra-wide viewing angles). The 65-inch LG B4 is just $1,196 at Amazon , but most of the other sizes are on sale, too. You can read all about it in our LG B4 review , but this set offers excellent color volume (with fantastic accuracy in Filmmaker mode) along with some crucial gaming enhancements. It supports 4K gaming at 120Hz across all four of its HDMI 2.1 inputs. Other sizes on sale: 48-inch LG B4: was $799 now $699 @ Best Buy 55-inch LG B4: was $1,099 now $996 @ Amazon 4. LG C4: my favorite OLED under $2,000 The LG C4 lives up to its pedigree with incredible performance and a more agreeable price tag than you'd expect. It's one of the best TVs of the year in this price range, and right now, you can land a 65-inch LG C4 for $1,496 at Amazon . The C4 is the TV to get if you're looking for an OLED that's brighter than the B4 but not as pricey as a flagship model. In our LG C4 review, we noted the TV's impressive HDR brightness: over 1,000 nits for impressive specular highlights. The C4 also comes with pretty much every gaming feature you could ask for. It supports 4K gaming up to 144Hz, delivers VRR, FreeSync, and G-Sync compatibility, and LG's Game Optimizer mode is among the best in the biz. Other sizes on sale: 48-inch LG C4: was $1,599 now $1,196 @ Amazon 55-inch LG C4: was $1,296 now $1,196 @ Amazon 77-inch LG C4: was $3,699 now $2,196 @ Amazon 5. Sony Bravia 9: my favorite flagship Mini-LED TV It's been a highly competitive year for Mini-LED TVs, but if you were to drop a small sack of money on my lap and tell me to pick out my favorite of 2024, it would undoubtedly go to the Sony Bravia 9. It's a pricey proposition, as the 65-inch Sony Bravia 9 is on sale for $2,498 at Amazon . That's more than you'd spend on most of its competitors, so why do I love it so much? The Bravia 9 may not be the best Mini-LED for most people, but to my eyes, it's got some of the most impressive backlight control and picture processing I've ever seen. It also gets brighter than everything else on this list. For our Bravia 9 review , we measured HDR highlights in the 2,500- to 3,000-nit range. The Bravia 9 is limited to just a pair of HDMI 2.1 inputs with the remaining ports being HDMI 2.0. If you're a serious gamer or home theater enthusiast, this could be less than ideal. If you're committed to owning one of the best Mini-LED TVs on the market, splash out on Sony's top-of-the-line Bravia.Rockwell Automation's SVP Robert Buttermore sells $53,934 in stock
As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. Mohammad Hosseini But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. People are also reading... Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation? Hosseini is an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He wrote this for The Chicago Tribune . Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!Mike Mitchell Jr. scored 22 points, all in the first half, and Minnesota pulled away for a 90-68 win over Morgan State on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. Dawson Garcia added 18 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (8-5), which won its second game in a row. Parker Fox finished with 11 points. Kameron Hobbs scored 25 points to lead Morgan State (6-10), which fell to 0-8 on the road. Will Thomas scored 13 points, Rob Lawson had 11 and Daniel Akitoby registered a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Minnesota shot 51.7 percent (31 of 60) overall and 44.8 percent (13 of 29) from 3-point range. Morgan State shot 40 percent (24 of 60) from the field and 36.4 percent (4 of 11) from beyond the arc. The Golden Gophers finished with a 31-4 advantage in bench points. Minnesota surged to a 55-37 lead at the half. Mitchell scored 22 points in 15 minutes before the break by going 8-for-8 from the field. He drained his sixth 3-pointer to give the Golden Gophers a 53-32 advantage -- tied for their largest lead of the first half -- with 1:59 to go. Minnesota increased its lead to as many as 27 points in the second half. Caleb Williams came off the bench to bury a 3-pointer and put the Golden Gophers on top 86-59 with four minutes to play. Frank Mitchell helped Minnesota reach the 90-point mark with a layup with 1:27 to go. He finished with 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting. Hobbs finished the scoring with a layup in the final minute for Morgan State. Morgan State kept it close during the first five minutes. Hobbs made a layup to pull the Bears within 12-11 with 15:32 remaining in the opening half. Thomas made a pair of free throws less than four minutes later to cut Morgan State's deficit to 23-17. That proved to be as close as the Bears would come for the rest of the way. Minnesota went on a 9-0 run to pull ahead 32-17 with 9:23 to go in the half. Frank Mitchell capped the run with an offensive rebound and putback. --Field Level Media
Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 seasonA mayor believes the Queensland government's decision to remove him sets a dangerous precedent for councils after he was accused of misleading voters about his army service. or signup to continue reading Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson was stood down for 12 months on full pay of $225,206 by the newly minted Local Government Minister Ann Leahy after ongoing controversy at the north Queensland council. He is unable to perform any of the duties of a councillor or mayor during this time. Mr Thompson said he was disappointed in the decision and rejected the allegations of corruption levelled against him, vowing to continue fighting to clear his name, "This has set a precedent for councillors across Queensland, that the state government may suspend a democratically elected member without a proper judicial process taking place," he said in a statement on Facebook on Friday. "Once the 12-month suspension is completed and I am cleared of all allegations, I look forward to returning to the role of mayor, as democratically elected by the people of Townsville." He promised to study "local laws, the act, meeting procedures and policies" during his suspension. Mr Thompson is being investigated by the state's corruption watchdog over matters including claims during his 2024 mayoral campaign that he served five years in the army. He later conceded on Nine Network's A Current Affair that he had misled voters about his military record, blaming "100-plus" concussions. It sparked a unanimous no-confidence council vote in Townsville, the country's biggest garrison city boasting more than 15,000 Australian Defence Force personnel. Mr Thompson has since resisted calls to stand down amid ongoing issues with colleagues. The state's former Labor government issued a show cause notice in one of its final acts before going into caretaker mode ahead of the state election. Opposition Leader Steven Miles said he was "glad sanity prevailed" and the LNP government agreed to stand down the embattled mayor. "Townsville is just too important to Queensland for its council to go on paralysed," he said in a statement. "That's why we started the show cause process and loaded the gun ready for the LNP to finally pull the trigger on Troy Thompson." Deputy Mayor Paul Jacob will take over the top job while Mr Thompson is stood down. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes.
Google's northwest Omaha data center just recently started operations, though it is not finished, a company spokesman said Monday. It is among Nebraska's three data center project sites that over five years has seen nearly $4.4 billion in capital investment. This year's investment was reported to be $930 million, the company said at a media event. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Now five years since Google built a physical presence in Nebraska, the tech giant on Monday announced its latest annual spend on infrastructure across the state: $930 million. The 2024 capital investment makes for a total so far of about $4.4 billion in Nebraska data centers to help meet growing demand for Google Cloud, artificial intelligence innovations and services such as the company’s search, maps and workspace programs, said spokesman Dan Harbeke. Just within the past few months, he said, Google’s sprawling data center site in northwest Omaha became operational but is not finished growing. Its newest data center project in Lincoln remains under construction on roughly 580 acres. And the original Google campus in Nebraska, a Papillion project that broke ground on 275 acres in late 2019, has continued to expand in various ways. “We’re effectively continuing to build out those footprints,” said Harbeke, regional head of public policy and external affairs. “We are not announcing any new sites this year but we are announcing continued growth and expansion across all three sites here in Nebraska.” Also during a news event Monday, Google announced a different kind of investment — philanthropic donations to support workforce development. Such contributions are separate and in addition to construction improvements, Harbeke said. Google.org , for instance, granted $250,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support AI research and education across its campuses. Earlier this month, Google’s philanthropic arm also provided Creighton University with a $250,000 grant to support the private university’s efforts to prepare students for expanded uses of artificial intelligence. Company officials on Monday also described a $100,000 donation to the Lincoln Public Schools Foundation’s Spark Summer Camp program, which targets elementary school students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. NU President Jeffrey Gold said the university gift underscores the shared commitment to harnessing the power of AI to ensure Nebraska is on the cutting edge of research, teaching and use. “Our hope is that this investment in Nebraska will lead to opportunities for economic growth and innovation,” Gold said. Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said investment in programs such as Spark underscores the Capital City’s “growing reputation” as a place for innovation and opportunity. “Google is helping to prepare Lincoln’s students and workforce for a rapidly evolving future,” she said. Google officials declined to provide detail on how the $930 million breaks down between data center sites. They also declined to disclose the number of employees per site but in a media statement said more than 120 jobs for Nebraskans have been created since 2019, in a variety of full time and external supplier roles, including computer technicians, engineers, maintenance and food service jobs. Harbeke said Google has started to see worker mobility and advancement within the state and the Omaha metro area, which includes the more established Council Bluffs plant. “We’re five years into our Nebraska footprint ... you’re seeing that movement among Googlers across these sites, which has been really neat to see,” Harbeke said. “One of the folks who is going to be leading our Lincoln campus worked out of our Papillion site.” U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., who joined Google officials Monday, said the Google technology investment gives the state a “competitive global advantage.” “These are the jobs of the future and they’re coming here to Nebraska,” he said. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., called Google a driver for secure U.S. infrastructure. “The importance of innovation in national security and AI between the public and private sectors cannot be understated and we’re working on that right here in Nebraska,” he said. Karen Dahut, CEO of Google public sector, said the Google data centers are essential to delivering cutting-edge products to a wide range of organizations that include government and educational institutions as well as the individual consumer. The computer-filled hubs are the engines that power technology and make local and global connections happen 24-7, Google said in a report about data centers . They are where Gmail and YouTube videos live. They are what keep the internet up and running. “We are grateful for the partnership from leaders across Nebraska as we have grown within the state,” Dahut said. “I look forward to exploring more opportunities to bring the power of Google Cloud’s technology to support the important missions of the public sector.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Originally published on nebraskaexaminer.com , part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange . We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. 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Patriots' Latest Roster Moves Hint at Major Defensive Changes