September 2026
All columns and Brief analyses.
10 results
Step 5 Preview reaches the API, with open weights due October 15
StepFun made Step 5 Preview, a model with 600 billion total parameters and 27 billion active per token, available through its API. The company says open weights for the software engineering and extended tool-use model are due October 15, so today's delivery remains a hosted service rather than a local deployment package.
T. rex tooth enamel points to a body temperature near 36°C
Carbon-oxygen isotope bonds in the enamel of three T. rex teeth from Montana placed the animal's body temperature near 36°C. Teeth from crocodilian relatives in the same formation yielded lower and more variable values. The result fits internal heat production, but three teeth cannot by themselves settle the metabolism of the entire species.
Three South Korean officers injured in western DMZ explosion
South Korea's Defense Ministry said an explosion near the western Demilitarized Zone injured three military officers. Two were airlifted from the site; the third went by land to a nearby hospital before a helicopter transfer. The origin of the blast remains under investigation, and no source established North Korean involvement.
Trump and Zelenskyy plan a New York meeting after refinery call
The leaders agreed to meet during UN General Assembly week after Trump reportedly asked Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian refineries; no joint text or agreement has been announced.
Trump proposes an AI Force and AI czar
Donald Trump said he wants an AI Force led by an AI czar, according to two reports on his social-media post. The accounts describe a proposal, not a created agency or enacted authority.
United Russia's projected 355 seats expand its Duma supermajority
Preliminary figures from Russia's Central Election Commission project 355 of the State Duma's 450 seats for United Russia. With more than 95 percent of polling stations counted, its party-list vote stood just below 58 percent. Most antiwar candidates were excluded, and voting also took place in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
Unknown projectile strikes a tanker entering the Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said an unknown projectile struck a tanker entering the Strait of Hormuz. Two crew members were lightly injured, while the vessel retained propulsion, continued its voyage and reported no environmental impact. The official notice identified neither the type of projectile nor an attacker, leaving responsibility for the new maritime security incident unattributed.
US Coast Guard tracks four Chinese research vessels off Alaska
The US Coast Guard’s Arctic District commander says four Chinese research vessels operated off Alaska in 2026, remaining in international waters without advance diplomatic notice. Their routes extended from the Aleutian area through the Bering Strait toward the North Pole. Washington describes close monitoring, while offering no independent evidence that the ships conducted non-research activity.
Vocci’s inward-facing recording light leaves bystanders without a clear signal
TechCrunch found that Vocci’s meeting ring starts recording with a double tap and usually transcribed long, noisy conversations accurately. Its recording light faces the wearer, making capture harder for other people to notice. The manufacturer encourages disclosure, while the reviewer notes that consent is legally required in some places and that the design can make covert recording easier.
Volkswagen cuts 2026 margin outlook to 1%
Volkswagen lowered its 2026 operating-margin outlook to at most 1%, and management said restructuring would accelerate after the revised guidance.