A helium leak pushed back a planned launch to May 25. Boeing's program that would shuttle astronauts to and from the International Space Station has been plagued with problems.

Last month, the world narrowly avoided a cyberattack of stunning ambition. The targets were some of the most important computers on the planet. Computers that power the internet. Computers used by banks and airlines and even the military.

What these computers had in common was that they all relied on open source software.

A strange fact about modern life is that most of the computers responsible for it are running open source software. That is, software mostly written by unpaid, sometimes even anonymous volunteers. Some crucial open source programs are managed by just a single overworked programmer. And as the world learned last month, these programs can become attractive targets for hackers.

In this case, the hackers had infiltrated a popular open source program called XZ. Slowly, over the course of two years, they transformed XZ into a secret backdoor. And if they hadn't been caught, they could have taken control of large swaths of the internet.

On today's show, we get the story behind the XZ hack and what made it possible. How the hackers took advantage of the strange way we make modern software. And what that tells us about the economics of one of the most important industries in the world.

Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney.

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Maggie Harrison Dupre, staff writer at Futurism, about her reporting into AI-generated articles appearing on major news publications.

The latest version of ChatGPT has the internet wondering: Was it meant to make it sound like Scarlett Johansson in the movie Her? Its creators insist the model was not based on the movie.

"Russia remains the most active foreign threat to our elections," said Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, noting that new AI technologies make influence operations easier to pull off.

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This comes after a yearlong listening tour by a bipartisan working group in the Senate.

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The Justice Department is expected to argue that its clamp down on TikTok is about national security, but Constitutional lawyers say there is no way around grappling with the free speech implications.

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AI can conjure the voice or likeness of a dead celebrity with just a few clicks. This opens a host of legal questions about the rights of the deceased and their heirs to control their digital replicas

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Stanford students on a hackathon team have created an AI tool designed to help veterans apply for disability benefits. Can their tool beat the Department of Veteran Affairs' notorious red tape?

A Jesus made of vegetables, bizarre log cabins, products that don't exist. AI-generated images are creating new forms of clickbait and causing some users to doubt what's real.

A new type of traveler is part of the post-pandemic reset at U.S. hotels, along with fewer daily cleanings and pancake-slinging machines.

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Stanford students on a hackathon team have created an AI tool designed to help veterans apply for disability benefits. Can their tool beat the Department of Veteran Affairs' notorious red tape?

As artificial intelligence seeps into some realms of society, it rushes into others. One area it's making a big difference is protein science — as in the "building blocks of life," proteins! Producer Berly McCoy talks to host Emily Kwong about the newest advance in protein science: AlphaFold3, an AI program from Google DeepMind. Plus, they talk about the wider field of AI protein science and why researchers hope it will solve a range of problems, from disease to the climate.

Have other aspects of AI you want us to cover? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

Companies in China are using deepfake technology to create avatars of dead relatives and loved ones. Does the technology help or hurt the grieving process?

Here's a summary of NPR's reporting about a purported flyer that was found in a portable toilet at a migrant encampment in Matamoros, Mexico that urged migrants to vote illegally for President Biden.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the biggest geomagnetic storm in decades.

The newest iPad ad depicts instruments, books and art supplies flattened into Apple's thinnest product ever. But anyone who owns and loves art in any form knows: The practicality isn't the point.

Viral images of the flyer were filmed in portable toilets of a migrant camp in Mexico, and they energized members of Congress. But NPR's reporting suggests the flyer is not what it purports to be.

The San Francisco-based AI juggernaut says it is re-evaluating its policies around "NSFW" content.

The White House wants a twenty-fold increase in geothermal energy production to fight climate change and it's counting on the oil and gas industry for help.

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Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia was diagnosed last year with rare disease that makes it hard to speak. She still advocated for a bill renaming a post office in her district – and the House passed it.

Apple unveils new versions of its iPad at a time when revenue from its devices are falling and it faces growing competition from places like China. Will this refresh help the company?

The high-stakes legal battle could determine the future of the popular app in the U.S. TikTok's legal filing calls the ban law an unprecedented violation of First Amendment rights.

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Katy Perry and Rihanna weren't at the Met Gala on Monday night, despite the viral AI-generated photos showing them on the red carpet. Here are some tips for recognizing and investigating deep fakes.

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Bumble, known for allowing women to message men first, unveiled new features that allow men to make the first move. Will the change breathe new life into online dating, and the company's stock?

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Modern human life relies on a stable internet connection. But threats to internet connectivity are varied — from underseas rock slides and technical errors to war and geopolitical conflict.

Tens of thousands of people earn a living on TikTok. But as creators face down the real possibility of TikTok going away, many are trying to switch to new platforms to save their livlihoods.

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Closing arguments in the United States v. Google monopoly trial have wrapped up. How the judge decides this case could set a precedent for several other antitrust suits against Big Tech companies.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Gregory Rosston of Stanford University about the FCC's decision to reinstate net neutrality policies and what the last 6 years on the internet has been like without them.

A major antitrust trial over Google's search engine is coming to a close. It boils down to this point: Is Google an illegal monopoly that's pushed out rivals — or is it simply the best search engine?

President Biden addresses pro-Palestinian protests. Monopoly trial between DOJ and Google is wrapping up. Protesters in the Caucasus nation of Georgia say Russia-style draft law will hurt free speech.

Closing arguments have begun in the Justice Department's antitrust case against Google. At issue is whether Google has illegally monopolized the search engine market.

Wildlife ecologists have seen white-tailed deer expanding their range in North America over many decades. And since the early-2000s these deer have moved north into the boreal forests of western Canada. These forests are full of spruce and pine trees, sandy soil and freezing winters with lots of snow. They can be a harsh winter wonderland. And ecologists haven't known whether a warmer climate in these forests or human land development might be driving the deer north. A recent study tries to disentangle these factors – and finds that a warming climate seems to play the most significant role in the movement of deer.

Read more in the journal Global Change Biology.

Curious about more wildlife news? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.

Tesla laid off hundreds of people. The company's supercharger network has been a striking success. So why did Elon Musk hit that team with devastating layoffs?

Congress and President Biden say TikTok must shed its financial ties to China or face a ban in the U.S. But Washington Post tech reporter Drew Harwell says selling the company is complicated.

It's déjà vu for the luxury fitness company: Peloton is cutting about 400 more jobs, and its CEO is stepping down just two years after a major shakeup.

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Is Google an illegal monopoly that's thwarted rivals to remain on top or is it simply a beloved search engine? Now it's up to the judge to decide.

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The people behind the online scams you see might be the victim of a scam themselves. Tens of thousands of people have been trafficked into remote, Southeast Asian compounds and forced to scam others.

NPR wants to know if you've seen Facebook posts you suspect may be AI-generated, and what you think of them.

Sure, new parents are an anxious lot. But instruction manuals for devices meant to keep the baby safe and healthy are daunting and add to the anxiety. Why are they so confusing?

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The New York Daily News, the Chicago Tribune and others contend that the tech companies illegally copied their work without seeking permission or ever paying the publishers.

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An economic perspective on misinformation

Many authors are concerned about the use of their copyrighted material in generative AI models. At the same time, some are actively experimenting with the technology.

The U.S. will reinstate Obama-era regulations for internet service providers that promise fast, reliable and fair internet speeds for all consumers. What happened when those rules were taken away?

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This wild case emphasizes the serious potential for criminal misuse of artificial intelligence that experts have been warning about for some time, one professor said.

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Is Google an illegal monopoly that's thwarted rivals to remain on top or is it simply a beloved search engine? Now it's up to the judge to decide.

(Image credit: Spencer Platt)

The people behind the online scams you see might be the victim of a scam themselves. Tens of thousands of people have been trafficked into remote, Southeast Asian compounds and forced to scam others.

NPR wants to know if you've seen Facebook posts you suspect may be AI-generated, and what you think of them.

Sure, new parents are an anxious lot. But instruction manuals for devices meant to keep the baby safe and healthy are daunting and add to the anxiety. Why are they so confusing?

(Image credit: Thanasis Zovoilis)