27+ min ago (515+ words) Most people see the lemon as one of countless simple products of nature: a bright yellow fruit that has always existed on its own terms. However, the lemon is not a gift from the wild in the same sense that most fruits are. In reality, it's actually a biological invention that we humans shaped, as a result of ancient hybridization events and centuries of careful cultivation. Long before genetics or plant breeding were well-established fields of research " in the 1st millennium BC " early growers in Southeast Asia were already making decisions that would transform wild citrus species into the sharp, aromatic fruit we know today. Here's how, according to research. For decades, the precise botanical origins of the lemon have been debated. Fortuitously, a 2016 study published in Annals of Botany used a massive genetic analysis " combining chloroplast DNA, mitochondrial markers and…...

1+ hour, 1+ min ago (989+ words) Despite the enormous role that cities play in the lives of over 50 percent of the planet's population, the interface between community members and city hall is often weak, insufficiently capturing the voice of the people, offering limited ways to engage with services, and making it hard to access the data and information needed for meaningful civic participation. Now, an emerging global concept called the citiverse promises to change all this by synchronizing the physical and digital worlds through the use of cutting-edge technologies. Its goal is to improve citizen engagement, enhance community services, and deliver a dynamic, immersive environment for urban innovation. The concept of the citiverse arises from several converging technologies and trends. Perhaps most defining has been the smart city movement: the use of technology and data to drive positive urban outcomes in areas such as transportation, energy…...

1+ hour, 42+ min ago (998+ words) Ariel Cohen, Ph.D. is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Founding Principal of International Market Analysis, a Washington, D.C.-based global risk advisory boutique. He is also Managing Director of the Energy, Growth, and Security Program (EGS) and a Senior Fellow with the International Tax and Investment Center (ITIC). For 22 years, he was the Heritage Foundation's leading Russia/Eurasia and international energy expert. In addition to consulting for both the public and private sectors, Ariel testifies regularly before the U.S. Congress and appears on Bloomberg, CNN, FOX, BBC, Al Jazeera, and other TV channels. He writes regularly for The Hill, Newsweek, and The National Interest. Follow Dr. Cohen for coverage of political risk, national security, and energy policy, especially in Russia/Europe/Eurasia and the Middle East. 2025: AI Transforms Emerging Markets Worldwide In 2025, artificial intelligence underwent a transformative shift…...

2+ hour, 29+ min ago (654+ words) Updated on Nov. 30 with new analysis into Google's AI upgrades and the critical decisions 2 billion users now face to maintain their security and privacy. There's nothing to worry about, Google tells Gmail's 2 billion users, everything is fine. Unfortunately, that's not the case. There is a serious issue that you need to worry about. All the misleading headlines and quickfire denials have not made that go away. In recent weeks we have seen two versions of the same pattern. A loosely framed Gmail story triggering wild headlines and a public correction. First was a huge security breach framed as a new Gmail password leak. Then came a new Google policy on AI training. The breach was not new and it was not linked to Gmail. An amalgamation of prior data leaks will always contain plenty of Gmail data " it's the world's…...

3+ hour, 25+ min ago (180+ words) Also fixed some formatting for clarity. This article was originally published on November 28 With Black Friday madness driving smartphone sales through the roof, millions of users are effectively migrating their digital lives this weekend as they unbox their shiny new iPhones, Pixels and Samsung Galaxies. Here are three critical data loss traps you must avoid: This is a big one: What Not To Do: Don't erase or reset your old device before you have everything backed up, as your Locked Folder contents will be irretrievably lost. Don't rely on "cable transfer" tools like Samsung Smart Switch or Apple Move To iOS. These tools can't access your Locked Folder and won't transfer its contents to your new device. The Trap: You see your camera timeline successfully transferred to your new phone and wipe your old device, potentially deleting years of saved…...

3+ hour, 29+ min ago (347+ words) Leading companies and industries "are the ones that combine altogether automation, electrification, and digital intelligence," which is "why connecting power and process in a unified force for transformation is a huge differentiator," Avice-Huet emphasized. Inefficient, "closed" and "hardware-defined" systems are costing companies 7.5% of their annual revenue on average, according to a new report Schneider Electric released during this Summit. For example, it can cost larger companies as much as $45.18 million per year and smaller companies as much as 25% of their annual revenue. "If we want to accelerate all the efforts in order to decarbonize and to fight against climate change, we have to go three times faster, three times stronger. We have all the technologies, but how to speed it up, how to make sure that it's deployed even faster," she said previously on Electric Ladies Podcast. Think global, act…...

3+ hour, 32+ min ago (664+ words) There has been a long-standing controversy about whether or not the first people to arrive in Australia were responsible for, or contributed through hunting to, the extinction of Australia's megafauna. In a new study, a research team led by paleontologist Michael Archer, University of New South Wales, examined the claim that extinct megafaunal species were killed, butchered or scavenged by humans. But a reevaluation of the available evidence suggest another intriguing possibility: Australia's First People were collecting and transporting fossils. Using micro-computed tomography scanning and microscopic wear analysis, the researchers analyzed a cut tibia from Mammoth Cave, South-Western Australia, previously interpreted as hard evidence of people butchering a short-faced kangaroo, a group that went extinct by the late Pleistocene some 40,000 years ago. "Back in 1980, we interpreted the cut as evidence of butchery because that was the best conclusion we could…...

3+ hour, 45+ min ago (790+ words) Brad Moon has covered Apple products, audio gear and consumer tech for Forbes for nine years, helping readers to make informed buying decisions. He goes hands-on with everything from the latest iPhone, to portable and powered speakers, portable battery power stations'and everything in-between. Brad also writes Record Roundup, a regular feature on Forbes that focuses on turntables and related accessories. Brad earned a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario. With a lifelong interest in technology, he spent 13 years as a senior product manager with Canada's largest fintech company and currently works in the cybersecurity industry. He has previously contributed to a wide range of online and print outlets including Wired, GeekDad, About and Kiplinger, in addition to running his own editorial content company for 20 years. Follow Brad for reviews and how-to guides for the latest releases from your favorite tech…...

5+ hour, 11+ min ago (525+ words) Updated Nov. 30 with further details of what's coming in iOS 26.2. Apple's latest iPhone software cycle, iOS 26, is well underway. The next update, iOS 26.2 unless there's a pesky bug that needs squishing before that, will introduce new features, and may be the time that iOS 18 holdouts will have to upgrade. Here's all you need to know. The expected arrival date for the next update hasn't changed. It's mid-December, unless there's a hiccup. I'm still plumping for Monday, Dec. 15 or Tuesday, Dec. 16. If it were delayed until even a little later, it could be bumped to January, but I'm not expecting that. I'll update this if it looks like the date is slipping. When iOS 26.2 arrives, will there be an update that will allow your iPhone to stay secure without you having to switch to iOS 26? After all, when iOS 26.1 arrived, it…...

5+ hour, 15+ min ago (554+ words) Davey Winder is a technology journalist who covers cybersecurity news and research. He's covered everything from the 16 billion leaked passwords report to a story about an AI-powered cyberattack that went viral. With 35 years of real-world consultancy experience, Davey is a three-time winner of the Information Security Journalist of the Year award and a previous winner of Technology Journalist of the Year. Follow Davey on X for cybersecurity chat and news. Critical New FBI Warning: This Simple Hack Can Empty Your Bank Account In what some people have called the most dangerous week on the internet, with Black Friday sales due to end on December 2, you may well be fed up with the cybersecurity warnings. But seasonal threats to online shoppers are just one of the dangers facing all internet users, all year round. When the feds, be that in the…...