Tech
A wave of enchanting, Ghibli-styled AI-generated images captivated the internet, crafted using ChatGPT-4o’s advanced multimodal capabilities. Users combined whimsical prompts with the model’s refined artistic algorithms to produce lush, dreamlike landscapes and tender character portraits reminiscent of **Studio Ghibli (**of legendary animation film master Hayao Miyazaki)’s iconic films. These visuals—filled with floating islands, glowing forests, and gentle spirits—went viral on social platforms, praised for their emotional depth and nostalgic charm. The trend sparked debates about AI’s role in art but ultimately celebrated its power to democratize imaginative storytelling.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has acquired the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in an all-stock transaction. The deal values xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion, including $12 billion in debt. Musk highlighted the strategic synergy between xAI’s advanced AI capabilities and X’s extensive user base, aiming to enhance user experiences and drive innovation. This merger allows xAI to integrate its AI technologies, such as the Grok chatbot, more deeply into X’s platform, potentially transforming the social media landscape.
China is advancing plans to build the world’s first fusion-fission hybrid reactor, the Xinghuo high-temperature superconducting reactor, aiming for operation by 2030. Located in Jiangxi province, this 20 billion yuan (US$2.76 billion) facility is designed to generate 100 megawatts of continuous electricity. The fusion-fission hybrid approach seeks to enhance energy output and reduce nuclear waste by combining fusion-generated neutrons with fission reactions. If successful, Xinghuo could position China at the forefront of advanced nuclear energy technology.
Hyperian Aerospace has unveiled the HYPERLINER, a hypersonic aircraft designed to revolutionize global travel by reaching speeds of Mach 10 (approximately 7,600 mph), enabling passengers to arrive at any destination worldwide within 90 minutes. The aircraft features a sleek, tailless triangular design and is powered by four engines utilizing compressed hydrogen, aiming for zero carbon emissions. Projected flight times include New York to London in under 30 minutes and New York to Sydney in approximately 1.5 hours.
BYD has revolutionized electric vehicle (EV) charging with its 1360kW megawatt ultra-fast charging system, part of its groundbreaking “Super e-Platform” unveiled in 2025. This system integrates a 1000V high-voltage architecture, a 10C ultra-fast charging battery, and liquid-cooled charging piles, enabling EVs like the Tang L and Han L to gain 400 km of range in just 5 minutes—matching gasoline refueling speeds and eliminating range anxiety.
Global
On March 28, 2025, a powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing widespread devastation. Over 1,600 people were killed, more than 3,400 were injured, and dozens remain missing. Entire buildings, including Mandalay University and the historic Ava Bridge, collapsed. A major aftershock and ongoing tremors worsened the destruction. Neighboring Thailand also suffered casualties. International aid is arriving, with the UN and several countries offering support. The quake was Myanmar’s strongest in over a century.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met with over 40 global CEOs in Beijing, including leaders from Blackstone, Pfizer, and Mercedes-Benz. During the meeting, Xi urged the executives to defend global trade and oppose protectionism, highlighting China’s commitment to maintaining stable industrial and supply chains amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S. He emphasized that China remains open for business and is willing to support foreign enterprises. This engagement reflects China’s efforts to reassure international businesses and attract foreign investment despite economic challenges and geopolitical strains.
Economy & Finance
The NFL may be the world’s most lucrative sports league, but Major League Baseball will beat it to one milestone this year: a player making at least $100 million in a single season. In fact, MLB will do it twice. New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto is baseball’s highest-paid player, due to collect an estimated $126.9 million in 2025 before taxes and agents’ fees, and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani will join him in the nine-figure club with an estimated $102 million. Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, averaging $51 million annually.
Science
The UK has completed the construction of the Rosalind Franklin rover, its first Mars rover, aiming to search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet. Originally set to launch aboard a Russian rocket, the mission was reassigned to Airbus UK following geopolitical tensions. The rover is now scheduled for a 2028 launch, with a landing on Mars anticipated in 2030. This £1 billion project is expected to sustain approximately 200 jobs in the British space sector.
Nature & Environment
The San Silvestre wetlands in Colombia are facing severe pollution linked to a landfill operated by French multinational Veolia since 2019. Investigations reveal that employees have been discharging untreated leachate into protected wetlands, leading to the contamination of water sources. Tests downstream detected heavy metals, including mercury levels 25 times above safe limits, posing serious health risks such as birth defects and developmental issues in children.
Entertainment & Culture
Disney’s live-action remake of “Snow White,” starring Rachel Zegler, debuted with a modest $43 million in domestic ticket sales against its $250 million budget. The film faced multiple controversies, including debates over Zegler’s casting and her critical remarks about the 1937 original. Additionally, the depiction of the seven dwarfs, altered to avoid stereotypes, drew criticism from actors with dwarfism. These factors, combined with a 47% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a nearly unheard-of 1.5 (out of 10) score on IMDB, contributed to the film’s underwhelming performance.
In a new book, “Careless People,” Sarah Wynn-Williams offers an insider’s perspective on her tenure at Facebook, detailing interactions with key figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg. Meta’s attempt to suppress the book by labeling it as containing “false accusations” has inadvertently amplified public interest. This reaction underscores the challenges corporations face when addressing critical exposés, as efforts to discredit such works can often backfire, drawing more attention to the content they seek to downplay.
A recent study by Cloudwards.net analyzed Google Trends data over 12 months to identify the most searched book genres across U.S. states. Romance emerged as the top genre in 22 states, particularly in the South, including Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. General fiction and poetry tied for second place, each leading in nine states. Fantasy dominated in six states, notably those with strong tech sectors like New Jersey and Washington. Family-themed literature was most popular in three states known for traditional values: Iowa, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Massachusetts uniquely favored history books, aligning with its rich historical significance, while California preferred mystery novels, possibly reflecting its Hollywood noir heritage.
Sports
On March 23, 2025, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured a commanding victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading from pole position to the checkered flag. Teammate Lando Norris completed a McLaren 1-2 finish, despite battling brake issues in the final laps. Mercedes’ George Russell claimed third place. Post-race, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, along with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, were disqualified for technical infringements, including underweight cars and excessive plank wear. These disqualifications reshuffled the final standings, with Max Verstappen moving up to fourth and Esteban Ocon to fifth.
The 2025 Milan-San Remo cycling race delivered a thrilling showdown. Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel clinched victory after a dramatic sprint finish, outpacing Filippo Ganna (second) and Tadej Pogačar (third) in a nail-biting finale. Tadej Pogačar launched a decisive attack on the Cipressa climb, with only van der Poel and Filippo Ganna able to follow. Despite Pogačar’s multiple surges on the Poggio, van der Poel remained resilient. In the final 300 meters, van der Poel initiated a powerful sprint, outpacing Ganna and Pogačar to secure victory, his seventh title of Monument classic races.
At the 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, Team USA showcased exceptional performance, topping the medal table with 16 medals: 6 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze. Notable achievements included Grant Holloway’s third consecutive gold in the men’s 60m hurdles, clocking 7.42 seconds, and a historic podium sweep in the men’s 400m led by Christopher Bailey. Josh Hoey secured gold in the men’s 800m with a time of 1:44.77, while Claire Bryant clinched the women’s long jump title with a personal best of 6.96 meters. Additionally, both men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams dominated their events, reinforcing USA’s track and field prowess.
Denver Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokić showcased his exceptional skills by sinking a 62-foot buzzer-beater during a 129-93 victory over the Utah Jazz. This feat places him alongside Stephen Curry as the only players in NBA history to make two shots from at least 60 feet in the same season. Additionally, Jokić became the fastest player to reach 16,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, and 5,000 assists, surpassing Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird.
In a thrilling 3-2 victory over Leganés on March 29, 2025, Real Madrid’s Mbappé scored twice, including a Panenka-style penalty and a decisive free-kick. These goals bring his season tally to 33, matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goals in a debut season at Real Madrid. Mbappé expressed his pride in this accomplishment, stating it was “very special” to equal Ronaldo’s mark.
This Day in History
On March 29, 1974, farmers in Xi’an, China, accidentally discovered the Terracotta Army, a vast collection of life-sized clay soldiers buried with China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, around 210 BCE. It includes over 8,000 soldiers, 600 horses, and 130 chariots, each uniquely detailed. The army was meant to protect the emperor in the afterlife and reflected the military power of the Qin Dynasty. It’s one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century and a UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site.
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Last modified on 2025-03-29
