Delaware Rep.-elect Sarah McBride criticizes a bill by Rep. Nancy Mace to ban transgender women from using women's restrooms in the U.S. Capitol, reflecting ongoing national LGBTQ rights debates. While Speaker Mike Johnson hasn't dismissed the bill, concerns grow as similar measures gain traction, such as a recent Ohio Senate approval, amid rising anti-trans sentiment.

A U.S. congressional commission has proposed a Manhattan Project-style initiative to develop artificial general intelligence amidst rising competition with China. The USCC's report, released on November 19, 2024, urges immediate action to counter China's tech advancements, citing risks to U.S. economic and military stability.

Meta appointed Clara Shih to spearhead its new Business AI group, aiming to make AI tools more accessible to enterprises. This move aligns with Meta's strategy to boost ad revenue through enhanced AI integration into its app ecosystem, leveraging models like Llama 3.1 for better performance.

The Solar Orbiter mission has released unprecedented high-resolution images of the Sun's surface, offering insights into sunspots and plasma dynamics. As the Sun reaches solar maximum, these findings help understand solar phenomena affecting Earth.

NASA's recent study reveals that astronauts on six-month ISS missions experience minor cognitive slowdowns but no significant long-term impairments. The findings are crucial for upcoming Moon and Mars missions, highlighting that while processing speed and attention are susceptible to stress, the brain adapts well to microgravity.

The first draft of the Human Cell Atlas, detailing 37.2 trillion human cells and their roles, has been unveiled to advance disease research. This map, focusing on organs like the mouth and intestines, offers insights into cellular interactions, with potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and broader health studies.

Researchers are testing earpiece microphones, or 'hearables', to detect Alzheimer's by monitoring eye movements, offering a noninvasive diagnostic alternative. Led by experts from École de Technologie Supérieure and Dartmouth, the study involves 70 participants to evaluate the technology's effectiveness.

Beijing now leads the Nature Index Science Cities ranking, doubling Shanghai's output and surpassing New York. China's investment in scientific infrastructure drives this surge, emphasizing fields like AI and space.

Astronomers have identified the youngest transiting exoplanet, IRAS 04125+2902 b, orbiting a star only 3 million years old, 520 light-years away. Detected by NASA's TESS, this discovery provides fresh insights into early planetary formation, with the planet's unique disk alignment aiding observation despite surrounding material.

A Climate Central study confirms climate change intensified all 11 Atlantic hurricanes in 2024, with wind speeds increasing by up to 28 mph due to warmer oceans. This highlights an urgent call for reducing greenhouse emissions as storms like Hurricane Helene cause severe damage, costing billions and claiming lives.