Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified supermassive black hole-powered quasars from 13 billion years ago lurking alone in the early universe. These 'lonely quasars' pose a conundrum, as their rapid growth to billions of solar masses should require abundant material, contradicting existing theories. JWST's MIRI instrument, 4,000× more sensitive, revealed hidden cosmic dust hints. This discovery could rewrite our understanding of black hole formation, leaving scientists both puzzled and excited.

On October 23, Ford unleashed the 2025 Mustang Mach-E, now featuring a heat pump that adds up to 20 miles in cold weather and BlueCruise 1.5, automating nearly half of lane changes. Starting at a wallet-friendly $36,495, it dazzles in new colors like Molten Magenta and Desert Sand. Premium models boast a Sport Appearance Package, ventilated seats, and a sleek column-mounted shifter. As Tesla tightens the race, Ford shows it’s all ears with these savvy, customer-driven updates.

In August, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, fired an intern for allegedly sabotaging its AI model training. Despite wild rumors of $10M losses and 8,000 GPUs compromised, ByteDance clarified the damage was minimal and didn’t affect their major projects. Amid recent layoffs and a push to enhance their Doubao chatbot, the firm also dismissed claims of a Huawei AI partnership. They've notified the intern’s university and industry bodies as TikTok faces a US divestment deadline by January 19.

Today, Anthropic supercharged Claude 3.5 Sonnet, boosting its SWE-bench score from 33.4% to 49.0%, leaving OpenAI in the dust. Enter Claude 3.5 Haiku, matching the former largest model Claude 3 Opus at similar costs. The quirky new 'computer use' feature is now in public beta, letting Claude click and type like a human—experimental but already outperforming rivals on OSWorld. Available via Anthropic API, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Cloud, these upgrades promise smarter, safer AI antics.

The US Geological Survey reveals southwestern Arkansas' Smackover Formation harbors 5–19 million tons of lithium, potentially outpacing global EV battery demand ninefold by 2030. ExxonMobil aims to kickstart production by 2027, targeting supply for over a million electric vehicles yearly. This bounty could slash U.S. lithium imports (currently 25%) and boost energy independence. However, eco-concerns and land disputes add a charged twist to Arkansas’ lithium rush!

Astrophysicists are shaking up stellar lore with the potential discovery of 'Betelbuddy,' a companion star to the bright red giant Betelgeuse in Orion. This cosmic BFF, possibly twice the Sun’s mass, might be the reason behind Betelgeuse’s quirky brightness swings by clearing away dust as it orbits.

Scheduled observations around December 6 aim to confirm Betelbuddy’s existence, offering fresh insights as Betelgeuse marches toward its dramatic supernova finale. Kudos to the Flatiron Institute, University of Wyoming, and Hungary’s Konkoly Observatory for this stellar collaboration!

The NHS is rolling out AI-powered X-ray analysis in emergency departments across England, aiming to slash missed bone fractures from 10% to nearly zero. NICE has greenlit four £1 AI tools to assist overstretched radiologists, who’re currently facing vacancy rates over 12%. These smart algorithms, used globally in 40+ countries, promise quicker diagnoses and happier patients. While AI won’t replace doctors, it’s the perfect sidekick to tackle workforce shortages with a dash of tech-savvy charm.

OpenAI has appointed Duke’s Aaron "Ronnie" Chatterji as its first chief economist. A former Biden administration official who managed the $52B CHIPS Act, Chatterji will delve into AI's impact on economic growth and job markets. His move underscores OpenAI's commitment to balancing tech innovation with workforce considerations. Alongside, Scott Schools joins as chief compliance officer, ensuring OpenAI stays both sharp and ethical. It’s a strategic hire that’s bound to compute success!

In a move to streamline healthcare AI, Aidoc and NVIDIA are unveiling BRIDGE (Blueprint for Resilient Integration and Deployment of Guided Excellence) set for early 2025. This framework targets the integration woes of over 900 FDA-cleared AI tools by focusing on standardized validation, interoperability, scalable deployment, and continuous monitoring. Collaborating with healthcare providers and academia, BRIDGE aims to bridge fragmentation gaps, boosting patient care and operational efficiency. Get ready for AI in healthcare without the usual hiccups!