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Will A.I. Kill Us? Can It Hack My Bank Account? Your A.I. Questions Answered

18 September 2026 at 05:04
Nearly 1,000 readers sent us their questions about artificial intelligence, its potential and its potential risks.

Β© Charles Taylor/Alamy

Some people worry that connecting A.I. agents to the internet or vital infrastructure will wreak havoc in unexpected ways, while others worry that researchers will soon develop A.I. systems that have agency.

Toxic Fracking Waste Becoming a Political Issue in Ohio

17 September 2026 at 16:28
The Democratic candidate for governor backed restrictions on disposal of fracking wastewater around a hard-hit town, and called for a β€œthorough investigation” of the dangers.

Β© Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

Ohio has become a destination for the underground disposal of fracking wastewater, much of it from nearby Pennsylvania. In Ohio, it is damaging some natural-gas wells.

Trump Administration Moves to Gut a Core Endangered Species Protection

16 September 2026 at 18:04
An internal memo reinterprets the law so that only the intentional killing of animals, not collateral harm, is illegal.

Β© Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press, photographed under NOAA permit # 21371

A North Atlantic right whale off Cape Cod, Mass., in 2023. Only about 380 remain on the planet.

Trump Administration Moves to Integrate A.I. Into Medical Care Despite Concerns

14 September 2026 at 10:49
Federal projects are rolling out A.I. agents that offer therapy and prescribe medicine, raising concerns about safety and the influence of venture capital investors.

Β© Jeremie Souteyrat for The New York Times

A demonstration of a Limbic A.I. mental health app.

A.I. Queries From Abroad Raise Fears of a Biological Weapons Race

14 September 2026 at 15:36
Today’s chatbots aren’t likely to help lone actors invent a deadly pathogen, experts say. But newer models, trained in biology, may need stronger safeguards.

Β© Gianluca Panella/Getty Images

The threat of biological weapons has hung over the world for decades now.

Court Strikes Down Trump Order to Keep an Aging Coal-Burning Plant Running

11 September 2026 at 16:35
The 64-year-old Michigan power plant was set to retire. Then the Trump administration intervened in a way that overstepped its authority, a court ruled.

Β© JuliΓ‘n Trejo Bax/Associated Press

The J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Olive, Mich.

States File 2 Lawsuits Over Trump’s Cuts to Endangered Species Act

9 September 2026 at 18:38
Two lawsuits seek to reverse the Trump administration’s moves to open the habitats of imperiled wildlife to commercial activities.

Β© Kevin Schafer/Alamy

A San Joaquin kit fox, an endangered species native to central California. The fox, the smallest fox species in North America, is estimated to have 3,000 to 5,000 individuals remaining.

New York Climate β€˜Superfund’ Law Falls in Court

1 September 2026 at 15:50
The court said the measure, which required energy companies to pay $75 billion to the state, conflicted with federal law.

Β© Cindy Schultz for The New York Times

Kathy Hochul, New York’s governor, signed the law in 2024 and several other states have considered similar measures.
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