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Study finds X algorithm prioritizes ragebait that disproportionately impacts Democrats
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that X’s recommendation algorithm favours “ragebait” content to boost engagement, and that this effect disproportionately affects users who identify as Democrats. The research, led by Stanford’s Ziv Epstein, suggests the platform’s feed algorithm learns from angry replies far more than from…
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Popular grocery staple could take hit as California faces major supply vulnerability
A new Cornell University study warns that America’s fresh broccoli supply is highly exposed to drought risk because more than 90% of the crop grown in the United States comes from California. Researchers examined how prolonged dry conditions in the state could disrupt broccoli shipments, highlighting a significant vulnerability in the national supply chain for…
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Cinemark Joins AMC Theatres and Regal in Supporting Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger
Cinemark has become the third and final major US cinema chain to back Paramount Skydance’s proposed $111 billion (£87 billion) takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, joining AMC Theatres and Regal in endorsing the deal. The move creates an unusual public split within the exhibition industry: while the three biggest chains now support the merger, their…
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Major Album Releases Tied to 15% Increase in US Traffic Deaths, Study Finds
A Harvard Medical School study has found that US traffic fatalities rise by around 15% on days when major albums are released on streaming services, a pattern researchers link to drivers becoming distracted while reaching for their phones to play new music. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research adds album releases to a small…
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The “incredible” 1966 album David Gilmour believes every guitarist should study
The blueprint. The post The “incredible” 1966 album David Gilmour believes every guitarist should study first appeared on Far Out Magazine.
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Generative AI in Games is Being Embraced by More Players, New Study Says
A new annual report from research firm Bain & Company suggests gamers are becoming more comfortable with generative AI’s use in video games, even as the technology continues to spark controversy within the industry. The findings matter because they run counter to the vocal backlash AI has faced from segments of the gaming community, suggesting…
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Rally cheers, siege standoff, Golden Boot heats up
Reporting on 18 August brought together sharply different scenes: in Jakarta, demonstrators marched against government policies and raised concerns about living costs, corruption and the expanded role of the military in civilian affairs. Police blocked roads during the protest and brief scuffles were reported. Separately, attention remained on Qusra in the occupied West Bank, where…
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Marathon’s limited time Ordnance Heist is a multi-run and map event that nets you a cool gun you can’t keep
Bungie has launched a new limited-time event in Marathon called Ordnance Heist, replacing the experimental Vault Breaker PvE mode. Rather than introducing major new mechanics, the event centres on completing multiple runs across different maps to earn a unique explosive weapon, the Firestorm, which players can only use temporarily before it converts into credits. To…
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Meta and Google mobile apps gorge on user data: Study
Zuck’s empire declares triple the appetite of Apple or Microsoft, while Google packs the leaderboard, dev survey shows
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3 Country Groups From the 1950s Whose Melodies Still Echo Through the Decades
An American Songwriter piece revisits three country acts from the 1950s whose harmonies and songwriting continue to influence the genre, framing them as models for understanding country music’s roots. The article uses each act as an example of how enduring craftsmanship and vocal chemistry helped shape the sound of American country music beyond their own…