Tech
On May 28, 2025, researchers at ETH Zürich unveiled a groundbreaking achievement: a four-legged robot named ANYmal-D that autonomously plays badminton against human opponents. Using reinforcement learning, the robot tracks the shuttlecock’s flight with a stereo camera, predicts its trajectory, and coordinates its movements to return shots. Outfitted with a dynamic arm and racket, ANYmal-D achieved rallies of up to 10 consecutive hits in tests, navigating the court with agility. While not yet a match for pros, this innovation marks a leap in robotic capabilities, blending vision, locomotion, and precision for real-time sports interaction.
In early May 2025, cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered an unsecured Elastic database containing 184 million user logins, totaling 47 GB of data, exposed online without any password protection. The leak included credentials for major platforms like Google, Facebook, Snapchat, and even government accounts, all in plain text. Experts believe cybercriminals used info-stealing malware to collect the data, which was removed after discovery, though the owner remains unknown. Some users confirmed their real info was exposed. Recommendations include changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, updating software, and avoiding suspicious links to mitigate risks from this massive breach.
Global
In a bold move, Denmark raised its retirement age to 70, the highest in Europe, with the law passing on May 22, 2025. Effective by 2040, it applies to those born after December 31, 1970, following an 81-21 parliamentary vote. The decision, backed by research showing better health among 60- to 70-year-olds, aims to address longer life expectancy and budget deficits. However, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen hinted at future renegotiations, opposing automatic increases. Critics argue it denies a dignified retirement, sparking debate as other European nations like France and the UK also adjust pension ages.
Economy & Finance
The 2025 Forbes Midas List highlights venture capital newcomers who leveraged extensive networks for significant gains. Ilya Fushman of Kleiner Perkins, with a background in physics and early roles at Dropbox, led investments in unicorns like Loom and Robinhood. David Ross, connected to the PayPal Mafia, capitalized on relationships to invest in SpaceX and Anthemet. Michael Sonsini at Laude backs AI-driven startups like Perplexity, while Larry Li’s angel fund profited from an early Zoom investment. These investors’ strategic networks and early bets on high-growth tech firms underscore the power of connections in venture capital success.
A May 2025 Wall Street Journal article profiles Paul Marshall and Ian Wace, an unlikely duo behind Marshall Wace, a $70 billion hedge fund. Despite their contrasting personalities—Marshall, a reserved financier, and Wace, an outgoing risk-taker—they’ve achieved success through a top-secret algorithm driving their investment strategy. The fund has delivered consistent returns, navigating volatile markets with data-driven precision. Wace credits their partnership’s strength to complementary skills, while Marshall emphasizes disciplined innovation. Their success has made them a standout in the hedge fund industry, with investors praising their ability to adapt and thrive in challenging economic conditions.
Science
A May 2025 Science News article highlights a genetic study offering hope for the rare saola, an elusive antelope-like species discovered in 1992 in Southeast Asia’s Annamite mountains. The study reveals two saola populations diverged 20,000 to 5,000 years ago due to climate-driven habitat changes. Researchers estimate that a captive breeding program with 12 saolas, mixing these genetic groups, could prevent extinction. The Saola Foundation, led by experts like Rob Timmins, is committed to this effort despite the species’ critically low numbers. Only one living saola has been seen by Western scientists, underscoring the urgency of conservation efforts.
Nature & Environment
A 2025 study in Cell by Chinese researchers showed that rice exposed to cold could pass on the ability to handle frost to its offspring. Instead of changes in its DNA, the rice used a special trick called DNA methylation—think of it like adding sticky notes to a recipe book to change how it’s read, without rewriting the book. This ability lasted for five generations, similar to an old idea by Lamarck that traits learned during life can be passed on. This challenges Darwin’s idea that evolution only happens through random DNA changes, showing nature can adapt faster.
Entertainment & Culture
In May 2025, Helldivers II players witnessed a rare collaboration between Chinese and U.S. gamers during the “Illuminate invasion” event on Super Earth. Chinese players fiercely defended Equality-on-Sea, a fictional Shanghai, against alien squids, achieving a 96.28% defense rating. U.S. players from York (New York) abandoned their city to join the effort, inspired by the Chinese players’ resolve. Memes of American and Chinese Helldivers locking arms went viral, symbolizing unity. Despite global efforts, the defense capped at 99.99%, leading to over 3,000 negative Steam reviews accusing devs of scripting the event, sparking widespread community frustration.
The 2025 Memorial Day weekend set a record-breaking box office with $326.7 million in domestic ticket sales. Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch led with $183 million, surpassing Top Gun: Maverick’s $160.5 million to become the highest-grossing Memorial Day opener ever. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning earned $79 million domestically, a franchise record, and $191 million globally. Strong holdovers like Final Destination: Bloodlines ($24 million) and Sinners ($11.2 million) contributed to the historic haul, signaling a robust recovery for theaters post-pandemic and a promising summer season.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that Liam and Olivia topped the list of most popular baby names in the U.S. for 2024, marking their sixth consecutive year at number one. Emma and Noah remained second. The SSA recorded 3,612,777 new babies, with male births slightly outnumbering female births. Sofia replaced Luna in the top 10 girls’ names, while boys’ names stayed consistent. Names like Ailany and Truce saw significant popularity increases. The SSA compiles this data from Social Security card applications, a process streamlined at birth.
The Atlantic’s 2025 summer reading list, highlights buzzworthy books by renowned authors. Dorothy Baker’s 1962 classic Cassandra at the Wedding is making a comeback, captivating readers with its sharp psychological depth. S.A. Cosby’s latest rural noir thriller, featuring money manager Roman Carruthers in Virginia, has everyone talking for its gritty storytelling. Sarah Igo’s nonfiction history of American privacy also stands out, blending scholarly depth with accessibility.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival, wrapping up on May 24, 2025, delivered electrifying surprises. In a historic upset, Iranian director Jafar Panahi snagged the Palme d’Or for It Was Just an Accident, a bold film born from his prison experience - his first win since 2018. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value nabbed the Grand Prix, but the real shock came when Sirât by Oliver Laxe and Sound of Falling by Mascha Schilinski tied for the Jury Prize, a rare split decision. Diego Céspedes’ The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo stunned as the Un Certain Regard winner, despite a chaotic final day blackout from arson.
Sports
The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, held May 30 to June 1 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, saw McLaren’s Oscar Piastri dominate from pole, leading a front-row lockout with Lando Norris. Max Verstappen finished third, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz struggled after a Q1 exit. Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, finished outside the top 10, frustrated with the car’s performance despite high expectations. A new FIA rule on front wing flexibility impacted teams, notably McLaren. The race, the last at Barcelona before Madrid’s 2026 takeover, was competitive, with 91% of past winners starting from the front row, highlighting Piastri’s strategic victory.
On May 25, 2025, a historic gathering of tennis legends took place at Rafael Nadal’s farewell ceremony during the French Open at Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Roger Federer joined Nadal on Court Philippe-Chatrier to honor his retirement after a storied career. The emotional event, attended by 15,000 fans, featured a tribute video narrated by Federer, highlighting Nadal’s 14 French Open titles. Djokovic, recently split from coach Murray, reflected on their rivalry, while Federer praised Nadal’s legacy. The ceremony, despite potential awkwardness, underscored their shared impact on tennis, with Nadal hinting at a future coaching role.
A May 2025 New York Times Athletic article details French top soccer club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)’s transformation under coach Luis Enrique, appointed in June 2023. After Kylian Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid, following the earlier exits of superstars Lionel Messi and Neymar, PSG shifted from a star-driven model to a cohesive, team-centric approach. Enrique’s high-pressing, stylish tactics, reminiscent of Barcelona, led to a Champions League final run, ending a round-of-16 curse.
On May 24, 2025, Novak Djokovic triumphed at the Geneva Open, clinching his 100th career singles title in a thrilling three-hour match against Hubert Hurkacz, 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2). This historic win made him the third man in the Open Era to reach 100 titles, joining legends Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). The 38-year-old Serb, who celebrated with family in Geneva, became the first to win titles in 20 different seasons. Djokovic’s victory, nearly 19 years after his first in 2006, underscored his enduring dominance as he now aims for a record 25th Grand Slam at the French Open.
On May 28, 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their spot in the NBA Finals with a commanding 124-94 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, named Western Conference Finals MVP, led with 34 points and eight assists, dominating the first half. The Thunder’s defense and depth overwhelmed the Timberwolves, who couldn’t recover after a 32-point halftime deficit. This win marked OKC’s first Finals appearance since 2012, setting them up to face either the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks, with Game 1 scheduled for June 5.
On May 27, 2025, the Giro d’Italia Stage 16, a grueling 203 km route from Piazzola sul Brenta to San Valentino (Brentonico), saw a historic win for the Chinese-backed XDS Astana Team. Christian Scaroni and Lorenzo Fortunato delivered a stunning 1-2 finish, breaking away five kilometers from the end. This victory ended Italy’s longest stage win drought since 2017. Three XDS riders, including Fausto Masnada, dominated the breakaway on the Carbonare climb, showcasing strategic brilliance. The win marked a breakthrough for XDS, elevating their global standing in cycling.
This Day in History
Walt Whitman, born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, Long Island, New York, emerged as a defining voice in American literature. Raised in a working-class family, he developed an early love for reading and nature. Whitman’s career began as a journalist and printer, but his groundbreaking poetry collection, Leaves of Grass (1855), marked him as the “poet of democracy.” His free verse style and celebration of the individual challenged norms, blending transcendentalism and realism. Despite initial criticism, Whitman’s work, including his Civil War reflections, left a lasting legacy, cementing his place as a cornerstone of American poetry.
Oddities
A new travel trend is catching on among young Chinese tourists: group photos taken on surveillance cameras. At scenic spots like the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, Mount Huashan, and Jiuzhaigou, visitors simply post up in front of surveillance cams with publicly accessible feeds, then post screenshots of themselves on their social media accounts — no expensive camera equipment needed!
On May 14, 2025, 55-year-old Chinese paraglider Peng Yujiang experienced a harrowing ordeal while testing new equipment over the Qilian Mountains in northwest China. Flying at 3,000 meters, Peng was suddenly caught in a rare “cloud suck” updraft, propelling him to a staggering 8,598 meters—near Mount Everest’s height. Enduring freezing temperatures and thin oxygen, he spun uncontrollably in whiteout conditions, relying on his compass to navigate. Miraculously, Peng survived, landing after a descent during which he may have briefly lost consciousness. He captured the incident on video, but authorities suspended his flying privileges for six months, deeming the flight unauthorized.
Funny
By Jim Davis
Previous Issues
May 25, 2025, Shining Stars of the Last Generation
May 17, 2025, AI Advances Scientific Discovery
May 11, 2025, Blaze of Glory & Sound of Silence
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When Ai Swung A Racket And Nadal Hung Up His
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Last modified on 2025-05-31
