Inexpensive seafloor-hopping submersibles are about to dive into the Pacific Ocean, mapping critical mineral deposits at a fraction of existing costs. While this could boost scientific research and mining efforts, environmental concerns loom large over these deep-sea operations.

Meanwhile, chatbots have entered the war room, advising military commanders on potential targets. These AI systems might streamline decision-making but raise fears about errors, transparency issues and Big Tech’s influence on the battlefield.

The AstroTurf wars continue as synthetic grass installation grows exponentially, sparking debates over microplastics and environmental pollution. In other tech news, Google, Meta and Anthropic are stepping up their AI game with new projects, while Apple faces a hefty AI lawsuit settlement.

As climate change advances, scientists aim to build an “Internet of Animals” using advanced sensors and AI to track 100,000 animals, potentially predicting environmental disasters. This could be the key to understanding species' responses to global warming and ecosystem loss.