2 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Richard Lawler

Richard Lawler

Senior News Editor

Senior News Editor

    More From Richard Lawler

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    EU says its “age verification app” is ready to go.

    EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the open-source, cross-platform European Age Verification Solution it has been testing will be available publicly soon, reports Bloomberg. She said it is “completely anonymous,” using a passport or ID card to verify age for access to online services, with accuracy that complies with EU child-protection regulations.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Put a Micro Four Thirds lens on that GoPro.

    The Mission 1 Pro ILS camera is coming out later this year, and this time it’s not stuck with the lens GoPro installed at the factory.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Amazon’s online auto listings are expanding.

    Since launching in 2024 with 48 Hyundai dealerships, we’ve seen Amazon Autos add used cars from Hertz and Ford, but now the Wall Street Journal says it’s active in over 130 cities with Kia, Mazda, Subaru, Chevrolet, and Jeep vehicles listed. According to the article, one benefit to Amazon, beyond the listing fee, is attracting carmakers and dealers as advertisers.

    If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Artemis II’s heat shield is about to be put to the test.

    When the four astronauts aboard Orion return to Earth tonight, they’ll rely on a heat shield that NASA has admitted is flawed. Former astronaut Dr. Charlie Camarda told the New York Times that NASA never should’ve launched Artemis II, guessing there’s a 95 percent chance it will return safely.

    CNN explains Artemis II’s “lofted” entry has been adjusted to try to limit the unexpected charring on the Artemis I heat shield, and National Geographic also went in-depth. YouTube, Netflix, and others will broadcast the landing starting at 6:30PM ET.

    Infographic featuring the Artemis II Orion lofted entry sequence.
    Image: NASA
    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Meta removes ads from lawyers seeking plaintiffs for social media addiction cases.

    Now that a jury has ruled against Meta and YouTube in a landmark trial, the sharks are circling, and what better place to find potential clients than on those social media platforms? The only problem is that Axios reports Meta pulled “more than a dozen” such ads from firms like Morgan & Morgan and Sokolove Law on Thursday.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    How can you help NASA astronauts land on the Moon?

    You might not be able to fly on an Artemis mission, but you could help them navigate transitions across the gravity on Earth, in transit, and on the Moon. Navy researchers are seeking volunteers to help find out “how the brain and inner ear respond to motion and to space motion sickness mitigation techniques” using an Air Force centrifuge:

    Participants will complete up to eight hours of testing across two days, including exposure to three times the force of Earth’s gravity acceleration profile inside the centrifuge, and a series of balance and vision assessments.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    The European Service Module is guiding Artemis II back to Earth.

    On its way to and from visiting the Moon, the 33 engines of the ESA’s European Service Module are keeping Orion on track, as explained in this video. The crew has also tested manual piloting and plans another demonstration tonight at about 10:55PM.

    The module’s last correction burn will happen before it separates from the crew capsule ahead of a scheduled splashdown Friday night at 8:07PM ET off the coast of San Diego.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Artemis II crew sets the distance record.

    Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen have surpassed Apollo 13’s record for the greatest distance a human mission has traveled away from Earth at over 240,000 miles and counting, and they’ll continue stretching that out until about 7:07PM ET. Right now, they’re beginning to observe the Moon’s surface.

    NASA Flight Director Brandon Lloyd, Capsule Communicator Amy Dill, and Command and Handling Data Officer Brandon Borter also marked a lighthearted milestone today by emailing the crew what is now assumed to be the longest person-to-person message ever sent in human history.

    Richard Lawler
    Richard Lawler
    Artemis II tech support checking in.

    Even on NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in forever, the live stream captured astronauts having issues with Outlook (New) and Outlook (classic).

    While I’m pretty sure the ship’s computers aren’t running on Windows, the crew is equipped with iPhones, tablets, and laptops “to review procedures and load entertainment onto before launch.”