Thousands of documents pertaining to the 1963 assassination of then-President John F. Kennedy were made public on Thursday by the US National Archives, which acted quickly after President Joe Biden signed an executive order authorising the release while also keeping hundreds of other sensitive documents secret for up to another year.
It was not anticipated that the disclosure of 13,173 documents would lead to the discovery of any new shocking information or change the conclusion reached by the commission led by Chief Justice Earl Warren, which was that Soviet-born former Marine and communist activist Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.
The most recent cache, however, will be helpful for historians studying the circumstances surrounding the assassination.
On November 22, 1963, at the age of 46, Kennedy was shot and killed while travelling through Dallas in his motorcade.
The idea that Kennedy’s death was the result of a sophisticated conspiracy has been covered in thousands of books, articles, TV shows, and movies. Although they continue to hold a significant cultural weight, none have provided concrete evidence that Oswald—who was fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby two days after assassinating Kennedy—worked with anyone else.
Many of the documents that were made public on Thursday belonged to the Central Intelligence Agency, including a number that were concerned with Oswald’s contacts and movements. In other documents, requests from the Warren Commission’s assassination investigation are the main subject.
According to the records, Oswald’s “201 file” was started by the US government in December 1960—nearly three years before Kennedy was killed and following Oswald’s abortive attempt to defect to the Soviet Union in 1959.
According to a document from December 1963, Oswald called the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City in October “using his own name” and in “broken Russian,” and the call was “intercepted” by CIA agents there. Documents reveal that Oswald was looking for a visa and planned to pass through Cuba on his way to Russia.
There were early concerns that Ruby, Oswald’s assassin, had a connection to Oswald. However, a newly released September 1964 memo to the presidential commission investigating the assassination stated that “there is no indication that Ruby and Lee Harvey Oswald ever knew each other, were associated, or might have been connected in any way.”
Congress mandated in 1992 that all remaining sealed files pertaining to the investigation into Kennedy’s death be made available to the public through the National Archives within 25 years, by Oct. 26, 2017, with the exception of those authorised for further withholding by the president.
Then-President Donald Trump released a cache of documents in 2017, but decided to release the remaining documents in stages.
The remaining JFK records were initially scheduled to be made public in October 2021. After a rigorous one-year review, Biden announced that they would instead be released in two batches, one on December 15 of 2021 and the other on December 15 of 2022. He cited delays brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic as the reason for the postponement.
After a “intensive one-year review” of all previously unreleased information, a CIA spokesperson said in a statement that with Thursday’s release, 95% of the documents in the agency’s collection of JFK assassination records will have been made completely public. No documents will be redacted or completely withheld after that.
Biden ordered that the National Archives and relevant organizations “shall jointly review the remaining redactions in the records that have not been publicly disclosed” until May 1, 2023, according to a memo that was published on Thursday.” By June 30, 2023, “any information withheld from public disclosure that agencies do not recommend for further delay” will have undergone the necessary review.
Elon Musk is at it again! The billionaire entrepreneur has changed his X (formerly Twitter) account name to “Harry Bōlz.” This isn’t the first time Musk has done something like this – he previously changed his name on X in April 2023. But why did he do it this time?
The name change comes shortly after reports surfaced that Musk and a group of investors made a $97 billion bid to take control of OpenAI. At the same time, he has been focusing on cutting government spending and reforming federal agencies. This makes the name change even more interesting, as Musk often uses social media to make statements in unexpected ways.
What Does ‘Harry Bōlz’ Mean?
While “Harry Bolz” is the name of a real German artist, it’s more likely that Musk is making a joke. The name sounds like “hairy balls,” a classic example of Musk’s playful and sometimes provocative sense of humor. In fact, back in 2023, Musk joked that he wanted the media to take his name change seriously and write about it.
Musk’s Playful Social Media Strategy
Musk is known for his unusual and sometimes controversial behavior online. He frequently makes jokes, posts memes, and engages in discussions that keep people talking. This name change is just another example of how he blends humor with his public image.
Why Does Musk Do This?
Musk’s unpredictable behavior online isn’t just for fun – it helps him stay in the public eye. Whether he’s making a major business move, like bidding for OpenAI, or simply having fun, his social media antics keep people engaged. Some believe this is part of his larger strategy to maintain an air of unpredictability, making him one of the most talked-about figures in tech and business.
Whether the name change is just a joke or has a deeper meaning, one thing is clear: Elon Musk knows how to get attention. His actions on X continue to spark curiosity, laughter, and debate. Love him or hate him, Musk’s ability to mix business, humor, and disruption keeps the world watching.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, is currently on a tour, following Japan, Korea, and India, and he recently visited Berlin to talk about AI and the future. Throughout his journey, Altman has been sharing his vision for how artificial intelligence will transform our world.
At a panel discussion at TU Berlin titled “The Age of AI,” Altman posed a thought-provoking question:
“How many of you think you’re still going to be smarter than GPT-5?”
He added that he doesn’t expect himself to be smarter than GPT-5 and he isn’t upset by this at all. Instead, he sees it as a sign that this next-generation technology will open up amazing opportunities, especially in science and research.
Sam Altman on GPT-5 in Berlin today
“How many of you think you will still be smarter than GPT-5 ? I don’t think I’m gonna be smarter than GPT-5” #Gpt5@sama 👀 pic.twitter.com/I9jKr2k6Sa
Although there isn’t an official release date yet, recent discussions suggest that GPT-5 could bring several exciting advancements:
Enhanced Reasoning and Understanding: GPT-5 might be capable of understanding and solving complex problems more effectively than its predecessors.
Boosting Research: With its advanced capabilities, GPT-5 could help scientists tackle challenging questions in fields like medicine, climate change, and technology.
Multi-Modal Abilities: The new model may not only excel at processing text but could also handle images, code, and possibly even sound, making it a versatile tool across different applications.
Creative Problem Solving: As GPT-5 evolves, we might see it offer innovative solutions that were once unimaginable, pushing the limits of what technology can achieve.
Merging Strengths for a Smarter AI
In addition to GPT-5, OpenAI is working on its o-series reasoning models. For example, the o3 model has already impressed many by achieving breakthrough results on challenging benchmarks like the ARC-AGI test and performing well on assessments such as Humanity’s Last Exam. Altman has hinted that there are plans to eventually integrate the GPT-series with the o-series models. This fusion could lead to the development of a more general AI (AGI) that combines the best of both worlds advanced language skills with robust reasoning capabilities.
How Does GPT-5 Compare to Other AI Innovations?
The advancements expected in GPT-5 could raise the bar for other AI projects as well. For instance:
Elon Musk’s Grok: Elon Musk’s own AI initiative, Grok, is another ambitious project in the field. With GPT-5 setting new standards, Grok and similar systems might face increased competition to keep pace.
Other Contenders: AI models like Google’s Bard, Anthropic’s Claude, and DeepMind’s projects are all striving to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence. The leap that GPT-5 represents could inspire these competitors to accelerate their innovations even further.
Looking to the Future
Sam Altman’s ongoing tour isn’t just a series of speaking engagements it offers us a glimpse into a future where AI plays a critical role in solving some of humanity’s toughest challenges. With GPT-5 and the integration of various AI models on the horizon, we are stepping into an era where artificial intelligence might surpass human capabilities in many areas. This progress isn’t something to fear; rather, it represents a powerful tool that can help us achieve more, explore new possibilities, and solve long-standing problems.
Stay tuned as we follow Sam Altman’s journey and witness how GPT-5 and other groundbreaking AI technologies continue to shape our world. The future of AI is unfolding right before our eyes, and it promises to be both exciting and transformative.
Kanye West, the iconic rapper, producer, and fashion mogul, has recently stirred up the gaming world with his latest Instagram post. Known for his bold opinions, Kanye declared that The Last of Us Part II is “by faaaaaaarrrr the best game ever made so far.” and shared a clip of his gaming display. What makes this even more impressive is that Kanye revealed he has logged an astounding 120 hours playing the game on Survivor+ mode.
Deep Dive into Survivor+ Mode
Kanye mentioned playing the game on Survivor+ mode. This challenging mode, known as No Return in the remastered edition of The Last of Us Part II (released January 19, 2024), pushes players to their limits. In this rogue-like survival mode, every encounter is randomized and death means losing all progress—everything from weapons to upgrades. The mode also lets players control multiple characters, including fan favorites like Ellie, Abby, and Dina. Kanye’s deep dive into this intense gameplay highlights his genuine interest and his willingness to embrace tough challenges.
Why Kanye’s Praise Matters
Kanye West has a long history of influencing culture, from music and fashion to technology. His public endorsement of The Last of Us Part II can spark new trends and introduce gaming to audiences who might not have considered it before. His support for Survivor+ mode may encourage more players to try this demanding challenge, as his fans trust his judgment when he speaks passionately about an experience he truly enjoys.
The Growing Influence of The Last of Us Franchise
Kanye’s enthusiasm comes at an exciting time for the franchise. The emotional storytelling of The Last of Us has recently enjoyed a resurgence, thanks in part to HBO’s award-winning adaptation of the first game. Meanwhile, Naughty Dog—the developer behind the series—is not slowing down. With new projects like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet on the horizon and the return of Troy Baker, the celebrated voice of Joel, the franchise continues to evolve and capture the public’s attention.
Kanye’s Gaming Journey
This isn’t Kanye’s first brush with gaming. He once teased his own game, Only One, as a tribute inspired by his late mother. Now, his focused gameplay in Survivor+ mode of The Last of Us Part II shows that he’s far more than a casual gamer. His commitment to spending “all day on one board” in this mode underscores a growing trend of celebrities diving deep into immersive, challenging gaming experiences.
Celebrity Influence on Gaming Trends: Kanye’s endorsement is not just about one game—it highlights how major cultural figures can bring niche interests into the mainstream.
Challenge and Skill: Survivor+ mode is designed for seasoned players who enjoy a high level of strategy and risk, emphasizing the game’s potential to challenge even the best gamers.
Cultural Crossover: Kanye’s deep involvement in music, fashion, and now gaming shows how diverse creative fields can intersect, offering new, exciting narratives for both industries.
Future of Gaming: With the rise of streaming platforms and increased celebrity engagement, expect more influential figures to shape gaming culture and introduce new audiences to innovative gameplay experiences.
Kanye West’s recent shout-out to The Last of Us Part II not only reinforces the game’s status as a modern masterpiece but also marks an exciting shift where cultural icons actively participate in and shape the gaming landscape. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer, this trend is set to redefine the future of gaming.
For decades, astronomers believed that fast radio bursts (FRBs) extremely short but powerful flashes of cosmic radio waves only came from galaxies that were actively forming stars. After all, newly born stars can collapse and become neutron stars with intense magnetic fields, creating the kind of cosmic fury we call FRBs. But new findings have shaken this long-held view, showing that even a galaxy long past its star-forming days can still send out these astonishing signals.
A Strange Discovery
In tworecent studies in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, scientists detected an FRB coming from a very old galaxy located billions of light years away. This galaxy is thought to be about 11.3 billion years old a true grandparent by cosmic standards. Astronomers also pinpointed the origin of the FRB (named FRB 20240209A) to be roughly 130,000 light years from the center of the host galaxy.
Here’s the twist: this galaxy is considered “dead,” meaning it no longer forms new stars. Instead, it’s filled with what astronomers call moribund or dying stars that are at the very end of their life cycles. So how did a brilliant, high-energy pulse emerge from such a lifeless region?
Why This Is So Surprising
Most FRBs are believed to be powered by magnetars, which are neutron stars with incredibly powerful magnetic fields. The process usually goes something like this:
A massive star is born in a star-forming region of a galaxy.
The star lives fast and dies young, collapsing into a neutron star when it runs out of fuel.
If conditions are right, the neutron star becomes a magnetar, capable of releasing enormous bursts of energy.
But in an old galaxy that’s not making new stars, where do these neutron stars and magnetars come from? Massive stars don’t form there anymore. They’re basically extinct because all the gas needed for star-making has been used up long ago. That’s precisely why the latest finding has astronomers scratching their heads.
A Not-So-Lonely Outlier
This isn’t the first time astronomers have spotted an FRB in an unexpected corner of a galaxy. In 2022, an FRB was found at the edge of the Messier 81 (M81) galaxy, in a place where no active star formation was happening. That discovery alone challenged the usual story of FRBs, leading scientists to think that other possibilities besides newborn magnetars — might explain these bursts of energy.
The M81 FRB also turned out to be located in a globular cluster a dense, spherical group of very old stars. Could the same thing be happening with FRB 20240209A in its host galaxy? Researchers hope that the James Webb Space Telescope will shed light on this by taking high-resolution images of the FRB’s region, potentially confirming if there’s a globular cluster or some other hidden structure acting as the cosmic culprit.
Galactic Puzzles and Possibilities
So what is really going on in these ancient corners of space? A few theories are on the table:
Unusual Magnetar Formation Perhaps a magnetar is created under exotic conditions we don’t yet understand. There could be older stars that somehow form neutron stars in unexpected ways.
Collisions or Mergers Sometimes stars in globular clusters or dense environments can collide, merge, or interact, sparking extreme events without needing fresh star formation.
Exotic Compact Objects Astronomers speculate about objects like white dwarfs or black holes interacting in ways that mimic the energy outputs of magnetars. While less likely, it’s not impossible.
Regardless of the mechanism, it’s clear we have much to learn. Each new FRB defies easy explanations, turning into a treasure hunt for clues about the universe’s most enigmatic events.
Why It Matters
FRBs are ridiculously energetic. Even though they last mere milliseconds, they can release more energy in that blink of an eye than our Sun emits in an entire year. Unraveling how these bursts form could teach us about extreme physics under conditions we can’t replicate on Earth. It also challenges our assumptions about where high-energy phenomena can appear. If a “dead” galaxy is capable of hosting something as intense as FRB 20240209A, maybe our understanding of galaxy evolution and stellar death needs a closer look.
Looking Ahead
Astronomers plan to continue their search for more FRBs in unexpected places, and powerful observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope will help paint a clearer picture of what’s really happening in these distant galactic neighborhoods. Who knows what other surprises are lurking in corners of space thought to be devoid of fresh star power?
Whether these bursts come from the ghosts of massive stars or some entirely unknown process, each new detection opens a window to phenomena we once believed were impossible. In that sense, these signals from billions of light years away aren’t just blasts of radio waves; they’re cosmic reminders that the universe is infinitely more creative and puzzling than we ever imagined.
Have you ever watched the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights, also known as auroras, light up the night sky? These stunning natural light shows have fascinated humans for centuries. Now, NASA is taking a big step to understand them better by launching rockets into the auroras above Fairbanks, Alaska. Let’s explore this exciting mission and some interesting happenings in Japan that you might find intriguing!
What Are Auroras?
Auroras are beautiful light displays that occur near the North and South Poles. They happen when charged particles from the Sun, especially from solar flares, collide with Earth’s magnetic field. These collisions create colorful ribbons of light that shimmer and move across the sky. Each aurora is unique, with its own patterns and colors, making them a spectacular sight to behold.
NASA’s Rocket Missions to Study Auroras
NASA wants to uncover the mysteries behind the different behaviors of auroras, such as why some flicker, pulsate, or even have dark spots called “holes.” To do this, scientists are launching rockets from Fairbanks, Alaska, this week. These rockets are equipped with advanced instruments that will help researchers get a closer look at how tiny particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field to create these stunning light shows.
There are two main missions:
GIRAFF (Ground Imaging to Rocket Investigation of Auroral Fast Features): This mission focuses on fast-pulsating auroras that flash on and off several times each second. The rockets will measure how electrons from the Sun interact with those in Earth’s magnetosphere, helping scientists understand the rapid changes in auroral lights.
The Black and Diffuse Aurora Science Surveyor: This mission aims to study the darker areas within auroras, known as “holes.” These regions are less understood, and scientists hope to observe the conditions that lead to their formation.
The Importance of Weather in Alaska
Launching rockets from Alaska is not easy. The weather, especially wind conditions, plays a crucial role in the success of these missions. Clear skies and calm winds are ideal for launching and tracking the rockets. Ground-based cameras in Venetie, Alaska, will help monitor the rockets’ paths and ensure that the data collected is accurate and useful for scientists.
A Glimpse into the Past
Auroras have been observed for thousands of years. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of the first to describe them in the 4th century. Later, the famous astronomer Galileo gave the Northern Lights their name, “Aurora Borealis.” Today, NASA’s missions are building on centuries of knowledge, aiming to deepen our understanding of these natural wonders and their connection to space weather.
Interesting Things Happening in Japan
While NASA is busy studying the Northern Lights in Alaska, Japan is also making strides in science and technology. Here are a few exciting developments:
Advanced Robotics: Japan is a world leader in robotics. Companies like Toyota and Honda are developing robots that can assist in daily tasks, healthcare, and even explore harsh environments like deep oceans and outer space.
Space Exploration: Japan’s space agency, JAXA, is working on missions to explore the Moon and Mars. They are developing new spacecraft and technologies to support long-term space travel.
Sustainable Energy: Japan is investing heavily in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce its carbon footprint and combat climate change.
Cultural Festivals: Japan’s rich cultural heritage continues to thrive with numerous festivals celebrating everything from cherry blossoms to traditional music and dance. These events attract visitors from around the world, showcasing Japan’s unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Connecting the Dots
Both NASA’s aurora missions and Japan’s advancements in technology highlight humanity’s quest to explore and understand our world and beyond. Whether it’s studying the skies above Alaska or developing cutting-edge robots in Japan, these efforts contribute to our collective knowledge and pave the way for future innovations.
Looking Ahead
NASA’s rocket launches this week are a significant step toward unraveling the mysteries of the auroras. By understanding how these light displays work, scientists can gain insights into space weather, which affects everything from satellite communications to power grids on Earth. Meanwhile, Japan’s ongoing projects in robotics, space exploration, and sustainable energy demonstrate the country’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
As we watch the Northern Lights illuminate the Alaskan skies, we can also look forward to the bright future ahead, filled with discovery, innovation, and the beauty of our natural world.