Notices by Ars Technica (arstechnica@mastodon.social)

Mars’ polar ice cap is slowly pushing its north pole inward
That, plus data from the InSight lander, give us a new view into Mars' interior.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/mars-polar-ice-cap-is-slowly-pushing-its-north-pole-inward/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Firefox deletes promise to never sell personal data, asks users not to panic
Mozilla says it deleted promise because "sale of data" is defined broadly.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/firefox-deletes-promise-to-never-sell-personal-data-asks-users-not-to-panic/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

“It’s a lemon”—OpenAI’s largest AI model ever arrives to mixed reviews
GPT-4.5 offers marginal gains in capability and poor coding performance despite 30x the cost.
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/02/its-a-lemon-openais-largest-ai-model-ever-arrives-to-mixed-reviews/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

On May 5, Microsoft’s Skype will shut down for good
Skype users will be able to move into Teams with their existing accounts.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/02/on-may-5-microsofts-skype-will-shut-down-for-good/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Elon Musk fans truly believe he can make Dogecoin the currency of Earth
Dogecoin Foundation strikes deals to mainstream the popular memecoin.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/elon-musk-fans-truly-believe-he-can-make-dogecoin-the-currency-of-earth/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

The flu may be attacking more children’s brains than usual this year
CDC data is limited but hints it could be one of the more severe seasons.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/02/the-flu-may-be-attacking-more-childrens-brains-than-usual-this-year/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Copilot exposes private GitHub pages, some removed by Microsoft
Repositories once set to public and later to private, still accessible through Copilot.
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/02/copilot-exposes-private-github-pages-some-removed-by-microsoft/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Study: Hot Vesuvian ash cloud really did turn a brain to glass
Fresh analysis with calorimetry, X-rays, electron microscopy lend support to hotly debated theory.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/study-hot-vesuvian-ash-cloud-really-did-turn-a-brain-to-glass/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

The surveillance tech waiting for workers as they return to the office
Warehouse-style employee tracking technology is coming for the office worker.
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/02/the-surveillance-tech-waiting-for-workers-as-they-return-to-the-office/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Google Password Manager finally syncs to iOS—here’s how
Chrome for iOS no longer syncs solely to iCloud.
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/02/google-password-manager-finally-syncs-to-ios-heres-how/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Brewing tea removes lead from water
High surface area of the tea leaves means they can adsorb toxic metals released by the boiling water.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/brewing-tea-removes-lead-from-water/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

COVID shots protect kids from long COVID—and don’t cause sudden death
Researchers recommend kids stay up to date on the COVID vaccines.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/covid-shots-protect-kids-from-long-covid-and-dont-cause-sudden-death/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

German startup to attempt the first orbital launch from Western Europe
“We are almost ready for the test flight. All we need is the license."
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/german-startup-to-attempt-the-first-orbital-launch-from-western-europe/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Judges block DOGE access to personal data in loss for Trump administration
Disclosure of personal information to DOGE "is irreparable harm," judge rules.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/judges-block-doge-access-to-personal-data-in-loss-for-trump-administration/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Apple promises $500 billion in US investment in wake of tariff threats
Trump tariffs risk spiking costs of both Apple's business and its products.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/02/apple-promises-500-billion-in-us-investment-in-wake-of-tariff-threats/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Big Tech data center buildouts have led to $5.4 billion in public health costs
Cancers and asthma among illnesses linked to air pollution from powering data centers.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/02/big-tech-data-center-buildouts-have-led-to-5-4-billion-in-public-health-costs/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

In war against DEI in science, researchers see collateral damage
Senate Republicans flagged thousands of grants as “woke DEI” research. What does that really mean?
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/in-war-against-dei-in-science-researchers-see-collateral-damage/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Flashy exotic birds can actually glow in the dark
The birds, known for their showy displays, look even more colorful than we thought.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/02/flashy-exotic-birds-can-actually-glow-in-the-dark/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Leaked chat logs expose inner workings of secretive ransomware group
Researchers are poring over the data and feeding it into ChatGPT.
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/02/leaked-chat-logs-expose-inner-workings-of-secretive-ransomware-group/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

RFK Jr. promptly cancels vaccine advisory meeting, pulls flu shot campaign
Kennedy is reportedly planning to remove agency vaccine advisers, too.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/02/rfk-jr-promptly-cancels-vaccine-advisory-meeting-pulls-flu-shot-campaign/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social