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šŸŖ–Gene-edited super-soldiers, Oxford academics drank from enslaved woman’s skull, generative AI gets Oscar nod

Plus: China builds brainy tech to guide 6th-gen stealth jets onto warships

The United States faces a critical inflection point as China accelerates its push to dominate the next frontier of warfare, the fusion of biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the US National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology report, China’s systematic state-driven approach is reshaping the global biotechnology landscape, and the implications for national security are surprising.

The Commission warned that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is likely developing genetically enhanced soldiers, combining biological augmentation with AI-driven decision-making and battlefield integration. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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These are not science fiction tropes but concrete outcomes of China’s Military-Civil Fusion doctrine, which seeks to blur the lines between civilian innovation and military capability.

In this doctrine, AI-powered super-soldiers are not just plausible but probable.

The report, submitted to the US Congress after two years of in-depth analysis and over 1,800 consultations, calls for urgent national-level action. ā€œThere will be a ChatGPT moment for biotechnology,ā€ the Commission cautioned.

Oxford academics drank from an enslaved woman’s human skull for decades, a new book reveals, revealing the pervasive legacy of colonialism.

The Guardian reported on a gruesome and unbelievable ā€œsenior common room ritualā€ once performed by Oxford academics in England.

Kept in a case, the special chalice accompanied formal dinners and even became a ā€œvariety of tableware.ā€

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially set the 98th Academy Awards for Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Hollywood.

Alongside the announcement, the Academy introduced major rule changes that reflect the film industry’s evolving landscape, especially with the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking.

From revised voting procedures to updated eligibility criteria for AI-assisted films, the Academy is reshaping how the Oscars operate, both to uphold artistic integrity and acknowledge technological advancement.

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