AP Technology

March 24, 2025

A mix of science and tradition helps restore relics in China’s Forbidden City

BEIJING (AP) — A team of about 150 restorers fuses scientific analysis and traditional techniques to clean, patch up and otherwise revive the more than 1.8 million relics in the collection of Beijing’s Forbidden City. They include scroll paintings, calligraphy, bronzes, ceramics — even ornate antique clocks gifted to emperors by early European visitors. The restorers’ objective is to better preserve its artifacts for posterity. Qu Feng, head of the museum’s Conservation Department, says restoration techniques have also evolved over the years, though the old ways remain the foundation of the work at the Forbidden City, now a major tourist site in the heart of Beijing that’s formally known as the Palace Museum.

A European startup scrubs its attempt to launch an orbital rocket on its first test flight

OSLO, Norway (AP) — A private European aerospace company has scrubbed the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle. Isar Aerospace says it canceled Monday’s attempt to launch its Spectrum rocket from an island in northern Norway because of unfavorable winds. The launch time is subject to various factors, including weather and safety. The flight could take place later in the week. The Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed for small and medium-sized satellites. The startup says it has raised more than $435 million in capital and hopes to build up to 40 launch vehicles per year in the future to put satellites into orbit.

Italy to follow England and Germany by trialing in-stadium announcements for VAR calls

MILAN (AP) — The Italian league is to introduce limited in-stadium announcements of the referee’s conversations with the VAR. The league’s governing body says it will trial the system in the Italian Cup. It will be limited to the explanation of the decisions taken by the referee after reviewing incidents on a sideline monitor. It will be the first time such a system is used in Italian soccer although it has already been trialed in England and Germany. Inter Milan faces city rival AC Milan and Bologna plays Empoli next month in the two-legged semifinals. The Italian league will also display VAR graphics on giant screens in stadiums. That will be introduced for Serie A fixtures this weekend.

Finding health advice on social media is easier than knowing which claims to trust

In the corners of social media dominated by wellness content, influencers recommend an assortment of treatments and products to support weight loss, fight exhaustion or promote other desired health outcomes. Some of the endorsed approaches may be helpful. Many play into fads with scant evidence to back up enthusiasts’ claims, medical experts say. Most influencers have or want business relationships with companies and earn income by promoting products. The arrangements don’t necessarily mean content creators don’t believe in what they’re marketing, but they do have a vested interest. Experts say it’s therefore better to proceed with caution when someone inspires you to buy at-home medical tests or unproven supplements.

Democrats’ new digital strategy tops trending charts but also draws mockery from allies and foes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers are courting online content creators, podcasters and celebrities in a bid to find new ways to boost their message to voters. The effort is spearheaded by Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill determined to show their party is responding to the early swift moves of the Trump administration. The result has been a burst of Democratic online content, including direct-to-camera explainers in parked cars, scripted vertical videos, podcast appearances and livestreams. Some of that Democratic content has been topping trending charts online. Other attempts to reach voters online have drawn mockery from liberal allies and Republicans in Congress.

Ocean dumping – or a climate solution? A growing industry bets on the ocean to capture carbon

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Dozens of companies and academic groups are pitching the same theory: that sinking rocks, nutrients, crop waste or seaweed in the ocean could lock away climate-warming carbon dioxide for centuries or more. Nearly 50 field trials have taken place in the past four years, with startups raising hundreds of millions in early funds. But the field remains rife with debate over the consequences for the oceans if the strategies are deployed at large scale, and over the exact benefits for the climate. Critics say the efforts are moving too quickly and with too few guardrails.

Encrypted messaging apps promise privacy. Government transparency is often the price

States and cities across the country are grappling with how to stay on the right side of government transparency laws as the use of encrypted messaging apps becomes more widespread. The apps fly against the basic requirements of public record laws by making messages inaccessible under records requests or deleting them without leaving a record. Scandals over potentially inappropriate use of encrypted messaging have popped up in a dozen states over the past decade, but transparency advocates say most states haven’t made much progress in adapting to the new technologies. A 50-state review by Associated Press reporters found over 1,100 accounts on end-to-end encryption apps registered to cellphone numbers of government officials and workers.

In latest blow to Tesla, regulators recall nearly all Cybertrucks

US regulators are recalling nearly all Cybertrucks, the eighth recall of the Tesla vehicles since deliveries to customers began just over a year ago. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall, which covers more than 46,000 Cybertrucks, warned Thursday that an exterior panel that runs along the left and right sight of the windshield can detach while driving, creating a dangerous road hazard for other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. The stainless steel strip is bound to the truck’s assembly with a structural adhesive. The remedy uses an adhesive that’s not been found to be vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement,” the NHTSA said, and includes additional reinforcements.

Controversial insider account by former Meta official has strong first-week sales

NEW YORK (AP) — A former Meta official’s explosive insider account sold 60,000 copies in its first week and reached the top 10 on Amazon.com’s best-seller list amid efforts by the social media giant to discredit the book. Released last week by Flatiron Books, Sarah Wynn-Williams’ “Careless People” alleges cruel and otherwise disturbing behavior by Mark Zuckerberg, Joel Kaplan and other executives and describes Zuckerberg’s alleged efforts to win favor with Chinese officials. Meta has countered that Wynn-Williams, a former director of global public policy who left what was then Facebook in 2017, violated a severance agreement and wrote a book filled with inaccuracies.

Can AI help you win your March Madness bracket? One disruptor bets $1 million on ‘yes’ (and Houston)

DENVER (AP) — Perhaps the surest sign that artificial intelligence really is taking over the world will come the day it wins your favorite March Madness bracket pool. The day could be coming soon. A successful CEO-turned-disruptor is running a $1 million March Madness bracket challenge that pits his AI programmers’ picks against those belonging to one of the world’s best-known sports gamblers. 4C Predictions CEO Alan Levy says he’s willing to wager the million because he’s convinced the data crunching his AI programmers can do is better than what gambler Sean Perry can produce. Levy’s AI program picks Houston to win it all. Perry is going with Duke.