Science & Technology – Winnipeg Free Press

FILE - Visitors walk past a Super Micro Computer Inc. booth at the Computex Taipei exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan, June 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)

3 men are charged with conspiring to smuggle US artificial intelligence to China

Larry Neumeister And Michael Liedtke, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 8:42 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — A senior vice president of Super Micro Computer Inc. and two others affiliated with the company were charged Thursday with conspiring to smuggle billions of dollars of computer servers containing advanced Nvidia chips to China.

The men violated U.S. export controls laws by scheming to divert massive quantities of the high-performance servers assembled in the United States to China between 2024 and 2025, according to the indictment in Manhattan federal court.

In a release, FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. said the defendants used fabricated documents, staged bogus equipment to pass audit inventories and utilized a pass-through company to conceal their misconduct and true clientele list.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said schemes such as this “pose a direct threat to U.S. national security.”

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Brazil rolls out law boosting online protection of minors

Eléonore Hughes, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Brazil rolls out law boosting online protection of minors

Eléonore Hughes, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 6:27 PM CDT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A Brazilian law that seeks to shield minors from addictive, violent and pornographic online content took effect this week, with experts calling it a milestone in the protection of children and adolescents.

The issue gained traction in August, after influencer Felipe Bressanim, known as Felca, published a video denouncing the sexualization of children and adolescents online. The 50-minute video, which has 52 million views on YouTube, accelerated the approval of a bill that had been in the works since 2022.

The Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents passed both houses of Congress and was sanctioned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in September. It came into force on Tuesday.

Under the new law, minors under 16 are required to link their social media accounts to a legal guardian to ensure supervision. The legislation also prohibits platforms from using addictive features such as infinite scroll and the automatic play of videos. Digital services are also obliged to implement an effective age verification mechanism that goes beyond self-declaration that the user is over 18 to protect them from accessing inappropriate or prohibited material.

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Updated: 6:27 PM CDT

A boy uses a social media platform in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, March 19, 2026. A new law regulating children’s use of social media took effect this week, requiring users under 16 to link their accounts to a legal guardian. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Meteorite hunters scour Ohio for fragments of 7-ton space rock that crashed into Earth

Patrick Aftoora-orsagos And Mark Scolforo, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Meteorite hunters scour Ohio for fragments of 7-ton space rock that crashed into Earth

Patrick Aftoora-orsagos And Mark Scolforo, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 7:31 PM CDT

MEDINA, Ohio (AP) — Meteorite hunters fanned out across a wide swath of Ohio on Thursday, hoping to collect fragments of an estimated 7-ton (6,350 kilograms) space rock that crashed into Earth this week after a dazzling fireball that was seen from hundreds of miles away.

The meteoroid broke apart around 9 a.m. Tuesday over Valley City, a half-hour south of Cleveland, after it sped through the atmosphere at about 45,000 miles (72,420 kilometers) per hour. It caused a sonic boom that rattled buildings and caused fears of an explosion. The fireball was seen from Wisconsin to Maryland, and NASA confirmed it was a meteoroid nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter.

Medina resident December Harris didn’t have to go looking — her cousin and roommate, Ambra Sinclair, found a small black rock they suspect is a meteorite when she was leaving for work. They had heard the sonic boom Tuesday morning but figured it might have been noise from a nearby airport.

Harris said her roommate found the rock in a 4-foot (1.2-meter) area between the garage and the house late Wednesday morning. She described it as somewhat triangular shaped, less than 2 inches (5 centimeters) in diameter — and “very, very black,” with pits on the surface, grooves and a melted texture on its exterior.

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Updated: 7:31 PM CDT

This image taken from video shows a suspected meteor falling through the sky in the greater Pittsburgh, Pa., area on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Jared Rackley via AP)

New study challenges a site that’s key to how humans got to the Americas

Adithi Ramakrishnan, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

New study challenges a site that’s key to how humans got to the Americas

Adithi Ramakrishnan, The Associated Press 4 minute read 1:01 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — For decades, the strongest evidence for the earliest human settlement in the Americas came from a site in Chile called Monte Verde.

Scientists found echoes of human presence dating back to around 14,500 years ago, including footprints, wooden tools, foundations for a building and the remains of an ancient fire pit. They dated sediments and artifacts from the site to this time frame.

A new study challenges the age of this important site, suggesting Monte Verde might be much younger than scientists thought. But not everyone agrees with the findings.

Scientists sampled and dated sediments from nine areas along the Chinchihuapi Creek by the site and analyzed how the landscape changed over thousands of years. They uncovered a layer of volcanic ash from an eruption dating back to about 11,000 years ago.

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1:01 PM CDT

This 2023 image provided by Todd Surovell shows the Monte Verde archaeological site and Chinchihuapi Creek in Chile. (Todd Surovell via AP)

Tesla faces wider probe of self-driving feature as it prepares to sell cars without steering wheels

Bernard Condon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Tesla faces wider probe of self-driving feature as it prepares to sell cars without steering wheels

Bernard Condon, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 3:16 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal auto regulators have escalated a probe of Tesla after several of its cars crashed while using its self-driving feature, just as CEO Elon Musk prepares to roll out a new model with no steering wheel or pedals.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a memo dated March 18 that it was examining nine crashes where the self-driving software failed to quickly alert drivers to take control in fog and other poor conditions because the vehicle's cameras weren't picking out road hazards. The NHTSA memo signals a regulatory investigation begun in 2024 over poor visibility crashes could now lead to enforcement action, possibly including a recall of 3.2 million Tesla vehicles.

Tesla stock fell 3.2% to $380.30.

The increased regulatory scrutiny comes as Tesla is trying to convince investors that the future of the company lies less in selling cars as sales drop and more in making its self-driving software ubiquitous. Musk has said he will soon turn millions of Tesla cars already on the road into taxis that their owners can rent out when they are not using them.

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Updated: 3:16 PM CDT

A motorist sits in a Tesla Model 3 at a Tesla charging station Friday, March 13, 2026, in Lakewood, Colo., in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

In ‘Project Hail Mary,’ Phil Lord and Chris Miller finally get their space odyssey

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 7 minute read Preview

In ‘Project Hail Mary,’ Phil Lord and Chris Miller finally get their space odyssey

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 7 minute read Updated: 12:20 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Ryan Gosling wanted a friend.

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were in the midst of their largest production ever, the $200 million science-fiction adventure “Project Hail Mary.” They were shooting some of the movie’s early scenes, when middle school biology teacher Ryland Grace (Gosling) wakes up in deep space. After realizing he’s the sole survivor on board the spaceship, he turns depressed and, eventually, drunk.

“Ryan was like, ‘I just feel like I need a friend. I need a scene partner for this. I don’t know what to do in here,’” Miller recalls. “We were like: OK, let’s make a friend. So we scoured the set and found a mop and got a dress from the costume department. And we made a little mop friend for him to dance around with.

“We called it ‘Moppy Ringwald.’”

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Updated: 12:20 PM CDT

Phil Lord, left, and Chris Miller pose for a portrait to promote

American Airlines and Google say AI helped airplanes reduce contrails that trap heat

Jennifer Mcdermott, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

American Airlines and Google say AI helped airplanes reduce contrails that trap heat

Jennifer Mcdermott, The Associated Press 5 minute read 11:01 AM CDT

American Airlines and Google said Thursday that they significantly reduced the climate impact of some of the airline's flights using an AI-based forecasting tool to help prevent contrails.

When airplanes fly through cold and humid areas, ice crystals can form around the soot particles emitted from the engine, creating clouds that trap heat and warm the planet. Google is using artificial intelligence to predict where these condensation trails, or contrails, are likely to form if planes pass through. American Airlines added the forecasts to its flight planning system on a trial basis to show where pilots could safely shift altitude or use optional routes to avoid those areas.

American Airlines and Google said the tool could be one of the most cost-effective, scalable climate solutions available in aviation now.

The aviation industry is under growing pressure to take action on climate change. And while those thin, white lines that form behind airplanes may look wispy, they're responsible for a surprising amount of Earth’s warming — 1% to 2%, according to Contrails.org, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to reducing aviation’s climate impact through contrail management, as part of the Breakthrough Energy group founded by Bill Gates. The group was among the collaborators in the trial.

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11:01 AM CDT

FILE - An airplane lifts off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport as the sun rises Feb. 3, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

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Tina Turner’s name, image, likeness and most music catalog rights acquired by Pophouse

Maria Sherman, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Tina Turner’s name, image, likeness and most music catalog rights acquired by Pophouse

Maria Sherman, The Associated Press 4 minute read 12:05 AM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Pophouse Entertainment has acquired Tina Turner’s name, image and likeness rights as well as the majority share of her music catalog rights from music company BMG, it announced Thursday.

The Swedish company, co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, is known for their digital avatars and immersive experiences.

Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos would not disclose the deal's financial details or describe the company's plans for the Turner acquisition but told The Associated Press “that one of the reasons that we were so interested in Tina is because she has such an incredible visual presence and such an incredible stage energy. And so, we’re very much looking at projects that can portray that and try to recreate that to some degree.”

“What we want to do is really help to consolidate her legacy,” she added. “I think that Tina Turner is up there, or is going to be up there, with the Elvises and the Marilyn Monroes of the world.”

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12:05 AM CDT

FILE - Tina Turner is shown during an interview in New York on Sept. 14, 1984. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Nvidia’s DLSS 5 is the (glossy) subject of memes and backlash from gamers

Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Nvidia’s DLSS 5 is the (glossy) subject of memes and backlash from gamers

Kaitlyn Huamani, The Associated Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 6:07 PM CDT

Upgraded graphics in video games sound like they would be popular amongst players and enthusiasts, but Nvidia is finding that the opposite appears to be true with its latest tech.

The company announced at a conference Monday that the new version of its artificial intelligence technology designed to boost performance will enable game developers to deliver “photoreal computer graphics previously only achieved in Hollywood visual effects.”

DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is Nvidia’s image enhancement technology. First released in 2018, the technology was initially used to upscale resolution, but now it can generate entirely new frames. It has been integrated in over 750 games, according to the company.

DLSS 5 will arrive this fall, but Nvidia presented a sample of what games will look like with the new technology earlier this week.

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Yesterday at 6:07 PM CDT

FILE - A sign to a Nvidia office building is shown in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Canadian computer scientist Gilles Brassard co-recipient of A.M. Turing Award

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Canadian computer scientist Gilles Brassard co-recipient of A.M. Turing Award

Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 1:24 PM CDT

A Canadian computer scientist is one of this year's recipients of a prestigious award nicknamed the Nobel Prize of computing.

Université de Montréal professor Gilles Brassard has won the A.M. Turing Prize with IBM Research scientist Charles H. Bennett.

The men nabbed the award because they created impenetrable encryption technology in the mid-1980s that laid the foundations for modern quantum science and secure communication.

The award named after a British mathematician and Second World War codebreaker has been given out every year since 1966 by the New York-based Association for Computing Machinery.

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Yesterday at 1:24 PM CDT

University of Montreal professor Gilles Brassard pictured in this undated photo. Gilles Brassard has won the A.M. Turing Prize with IBM research scientist Charles H. Bennett. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Hatim Kaghat (Mandatory Credit)

2,400 Kaiser mental health professionals strike in Northern California over AI concerns

Terry Chea, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:13 PM CDT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — About 2,400 Kaiser Permanente mental health professionals were striking Wednesday in Northern California over concerns that the health care giant is replacing therapists with artificial intelligence.

Kaiser says the union claim is false and AI will not replace human assessment or make care decisions for patients. Facilities are open, the company said. The two sides have been negotiating a new contract since last summer.

The mental health professionals were joined in their one-day strike by more than 23,000 Kaiser nurses. The therapists, who include social workers and psychologists, provide mental health and addiction medicine treatment for an estimated 4.6 million patients in the San Francisco Bay Area, central valley and Sacramento regions.

Oakland-based Kaiser does not currently use AI for therapy, but the National Union of Healthcare Workers fears the technology will become good enough to make it an attractive option for the company.

An AI-rendered Val Kilmer will posthumously appear in a new film

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

An AI-rendered Val Kilmer will posthumously appear in a new film

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:26 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — A year after the actor's death, a generative AI version of Val Kilmer will co-star in an independent film, in one of the boldest uses yet of artificial intelligence in moviemaking.

First Line Films announced Wednesday that Kilmer has posthumously joined the cast of a film titled “As Deep as the Grave.” The producers said that, before his death, Kilmer had signed on to perform in the movie but was unable to because of his health.

Kilmer's estate gave permission for his digital replication, and is being compensated for it. Mercedes Kilmer, the actor's daughter, said the role resonated with her father.

“He always looked at emerging technologies with optimism as a tool to expand the possibilities of storytelling,” she said in a statement. “This spirit is something that we are all honoring within this specific film, of which he was an integral part.”

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:26 PM CDT

an image of Val Kilmer is seen during the in memoriam during the 32nd Annual Actor Awards on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

How common are fireballs streaking across the sky?

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

How common are fireballs streaking across the sky?

The Associated Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 11:46 AM CDT

The Earth is under assault. Space rocks are constantly hurtling toward us, slamming into the atmosphere and often exploding into fireballs that both delight and alarm.

Thankfully, the vast majority cause no damage because they are pulverized into dust or small chunks by the journey to Earth.

A fireball streaked across the sky near Cleveland this week, caused by what was thought to be a space rock nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) across and weighing 7 tons. It was seen from Wisconsin to Maryland, according to the American Meteor Society.

It traveled more than 34 miles (55 kilometers) through the upper atmosphere before breaking apart, according to NASA. No fragments have been found yet.

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Yesterday at 11:46 AM CDT

This image made from video shows video taken from a surveillance camera showing a suspected meteor falling through the sky in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, on Tuesday, March, 17, 2026. (Olmsted Falls City Schools via AP)

Cryptocurrency and AI industries tested their influence in Illinois. It didn’t go that well

Matt Brown, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Cryptocurrency and AI industries tested their influence in Illinois. It didn’t go that well

Matt Brown, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:43 PM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries spent big and lost often in this week's Illinois primaries, an early setback for technology firms that are trying to reshape the midterm elections and establish themselves as power players in American politics.

The companies flooded the state's Democratic primaries with millions of dollars to promote candidates they believed would have a light touch when it came to regulating technologies that have begun to upend how people do their jobs and manage their finances.

Using super PACs that are allowed to spend unlimited sums of money, they ran television advertising and distributed campaign fliers that only occasionally alluded to their industries. Instead, the messaging focused on promises to combat President Donald Trump's administration and support liberal policies, a strategy used by other organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

But the coy strategy did not stop the AI and crypto industries' interventions from becoming a lightning rod in the rowdy primaries in Illinois, where there was a rare glut of open seats that led to competitive races.

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:43 PM CDT

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton reacts as she takes the stage during a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

David Suzuki is turning 90. Environmentalists may have ‘lost, big time,’ but he still has hope

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

David Suzuki is turning 90. Environmentalists may have ‘lost, big time,’ but he still has hope

Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:39 PM CDT

David Suzuki admits defeat — at least in some respects.

The geneticist-turned-environmentalist, who is days away from his 90th birthday, reflected on his legacy as he prepared to release his latest book, "Lessons from a Lifetime," which compiles photos and stories from his life, as well as testimonials written by those he inspired.

"To me, the important legacy that I want to tell my grandchildren is, look, I tried. I love you. I did the best I could for you. And I tried," he said on a video call last month.

"The measure of a person is not whether they succeeded — because we've lost, environmentalists have lost, big time — but that we tried."

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:39 PM CDT

David Suzuki is pictured during an interview with The Canadian Press, in Montreal, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. The David Suzuki Foundation collaborated with a new immersive exhibit, called Root for Nature. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Arizona hits Kalshi with criminal charges, escalating fight between states and prediction markets

Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Arizona hits Kalshi with criminal charges, escalating fight between states and prediction markets

Hannah Schoenbaum, The Associated Press 4 minute read Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

Arizona on Tuesday became the first state to file criminal charges against Kalshi, accusing the prediction market company of operating an illegal gambling business within its borders, a significant escalation in the fight to regulate the popular platform.

The 20-count charging document accuses Kalshi of accepting bets on political outcomes, college sporting competitions and individual player performance in violation of Arizona's gambling laws. The state prohibits operating an unlicensed wagering business and bans betting on elections.

“Arizona will not be bullied into letting any company place itself above state law,” said Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes.

The criminal case marks a new front in a high-stakes legal battle over whether prediction markets should be subject to the same rules as gambling companies.

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Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026

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