Golden Dome, Chromebook Challenge, & an Onion-cutting Hack

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Adam Rogers
May 21, 2025

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President Trump announced plans to build a missile defense system called the "Golden Dome."

POTUS claims it will cost around $175 billion and could be operational within three years. The system aims to intercept missiles "even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space."
The project echoes President Reagan's discontinued "Star Wars" program, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insists technology has improved since then. Trump began advocating for a US version of Israel's Iron Dome after watching it successfully defend against Iranian attacks in 2024.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates costs could actually range from $161 billion to $542 billion over 20 years. Critics worry about funding being diverted from other crucial defense programs, like replacing aging intercontinental ballistic missiles.
With China and Russia pursuing hypersonic weapons and space nuclear capabilities, the administration argues enhanced missile defense is necessary despite the US being naturally buffered by oceans and peaceful neighbors.

Scientists have found a bacterium that doesn't exist on Earth aboard China's Tiangong space station.

Named "Niallia tiangongensis" after its cosmic home, this microbe was discovered during routine cabin swabs taken by the Shenzhou-15 crew in May 2023 as part of China's Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Programme.
The space bacterium is closely related to a soil-dwelling cousin called Niallia circulans, but has evolved unique survival tactics. It can break down gelatin as a food source and build protective biofilm shields when conditions get tough. Scientists aren't sure if it evolved these adaptations in space or arrived as hardy spores already prepared for the harsh environment.
Scientists haven't confirmed if Niallia tiangongensis is dangerous to astronauts, but there are reasons for caution. Its Earth-based cousin can cause sepsis in people with weakened immune systems, and its newfound ability to break down gelatin raises concerns. The potential health risks from this and other space microbes are a serious challenge for long-duration missions.

Google said it is rolling out "AI mode" to all US users during its annual I/O developer event.

The launch will move Search away from traditional link lists toward conversation-based results. The feature can handle complex queries like comparing products or finding tickets, and will soon create custom charts and even complete purchases on users’ behalf.
This expansion builds on their year-long AI transformation that already reaches 1.5 billion people through "AI overviews" - conversational summaries appearing at the top of search results.
However, BrightEdge reports websites are feeling the impact with a 30% drop in clickthrough rates as users stay within Google's AI summaries rather than visiting external sites. Still, Google maintains massive dominance with 136 billion monthly visits compared to ChatGPT's 4 billion.
Google also unveiled two new subscription tiers ("AI Pro" at $20 monthly and "Ultra" at $250 monthly) alongside Android XR smart glasses featuring a hands-free camera and voice-powered AI assistant.

A new TikTok "Chromebook Challenge" encourages students to insert items into laptop USB ports to create smoke or sparks. One New Jersey teen faces arson charges after damaging school property. (More)

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms launched her Georgia governor campaign. Her Tuesday announcement video cites Trump's reelection as motivation in this key swing state race. (More)

The Trump administration will pay nearly $5 million to settle a lawsuit from Ashli Babbitt's family. She was fatally shot during the January 6 Capitol riot. (More)

Motorcycle gunmen killed the Mexico City mayor's secretary and adviser in a "direct attack." Mayor Brugada is the country’s second most powerful politician after President Sheinbaum. (More)

Heavy rains flooded Argentina's agricultural heartland, submerging soy fields with rainfall four times the May average. As the world's top soybean exporter, major crop losses are feared. (More)

The EU and Britain announced new sanctions targeting Russia's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and financial companies on Tuesday, moving forward without waiting for the US to join them. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Tuesday (S&P -0.39%, Nasdaq -0.38%, Dow -0.27%). A major tech stock sell-off drove the overall market down. (More)

Home Depot won't raise prices despite tariffs, CFO McPhail announced. Their scale, supplier partnerships, and domestic sourcing provide stability. By next year, no single foreign country will exceed 10% of purchases. (More)

Levi Strauss is selling Dockers to Authentic Brands Group for $311 million. Authentic gets the intellectual property, while Centric Brands will handle operations. (More)

Oklahoma City beat Minnesota 114-88 in game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. (More) The Florida Panthers took down the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 to start the NHL East Final. (More)

Denzel Washington received a surprise honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes during his quick trip to premiere Spike Lee's “Highest 2 Lowest” between Broadway performances of "Othello." (More)

A bust of Jim Morrison stolen 40 years ago from his Paris grave has been found during an unrelated fraud investigation. No details yet on the thief or its future. (More)

New research shows Jupiter was larger with a stronger magnetic field early in solar system formation. Its gravity acted as the "architect," shaping other planets' orbits. (More)

Amazon's Zoox will begin testing self-driving vehicles in Atlanta this summer after completing initial mapping. This makes Atlanta their seventh test city, just as competitor Waymo launches there. (More)

Mississippi geologists discovered a large vertebra fossil of a mosasaur, an ancient marine apex predator from the Late Cretaceous period, in a creek bed near Starkville. (More)

You could be the first person to take the world’s longest train journey.

Use physics to stop crying while cutting onions.

Runner completes record-breaking journey across Australia in 35 days.

Four of the top 10 busiest airports in the world are in the US.

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