Technology News for Monday 3rd February 2025

1. AI to revolutionise fundamental physics and 'could show how universe will end'

Prof Mark Thomson, the British physicist who will assume leadership of Cern on 1 January 2026, says machine learning is paving the way for advances in particle physics that promise to be comparable to the AI-powered prediction of protein structures that ...

2. Bill Gates says coding matters, even in an AI world

The big picture: "It's kind of like saying, should you learn to multiply, just because computers are really good at it," Gates said, as part of a wide-ranging interview ahead of the launch Tuesday of his book "Source Code.".

3. How The Sims' endless customisation fostered one of gaming's most diverse player communities

Katy Perry is in a recording booth. She turns to the camera, smiles and begins to sing: “Badipsa frooby noop”. As if to confirm that we didn't mishear her, she repeats “Badipsa frooby noop” and gives the camera a thumbs up.

4. Apple's 2025 Lineup: iPhone SE 4, M4 MacBook Air, and more expected soon

Apple has yet to make a major product launch in 2025, but reports suggest the American technology giant has several new devices in the pipeline for the first half of the year. From the next-generation iPhone SE to the M4-powered MacBook Air, ...

5. Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface

Researcher at Swansea University says tiny plant spores mixed into bitumen can extend surface lifespan by 30%. Ian Sample Science editor. Mon 3 Feb 2025 01.00 EST. Share. For all motorists, but perhaps the Ferrari-collecting rocker Rod Stewart in ...

6. How The Sims accidentally invented the cosy game genre

Ooboo Vroose Baa Dooo! That's “happy birthday” in Simlish, the delightfully nonsensical language of The Sims. The life simulation video game franchise turns 25 this year, making me feel officially old. Like many others, I grew up playing The Sims, ...

7. Best iPad deals in February 2025: Save £40 on the iPad Air

Despite their high price tags, Apple's iPads are among the most popular tablets in the world. While the tech giant rarely takes part in sales, savvy shoppers can often pick up the iPad with a discount at third-party retailers, including Amazon, Currys and ...

8. Anthropic has a new way to protect large language models against jailbreaks

AI firm Anthropic has developed a new line of defense against a common kind of attack called a jailbreak. A jailbreak tricks large language models (LLMs) into doing something they have been trained not to, such as help somebody create a weapon.

9. Global smartphone market soared 7% in 2024 as vendors prepare for tricky 2025

Xiaomi maintained a stronghold on the third spot, being the biggest contributor to the industry's volume growth in 2024. Driven by strong momentum in Mainland China and continued strategic expansion into emerging markets, its shipments grew by a strong 15% ...

10. The Sims at 25: How a virtual dollhouse took over the world

The Sims was never supposed to be a hit. Back in the 1990s, when creator Will Wright pitched the game to his bosses, they weren't convinced by his idea of a "virtual dollhouse". A so-called life simulator where players design their own characters, ...

11. The Sims at 25: How a virtual dollhouse took over the world

Creator Mollie, who streams as TheEnglishSimmer, makes a lot of LGBT-themed content for her channel. She says developer Maxis has "always been kind of a spearhead in the gaming industry when it comes ...