Ars Technica Features

1. A massive, Chinese-backed port could push the Amazon Rainforest over the edge

   The port will revolutionize global trade, but it’s sparking destructive rainforest routes.

2. The NPU in your phone keeps improving—why isn’t that making AI better?

   Shrinking AI for your phone is no simple matter.

3. “Players are selfish”: Fallout 2’s Chris Avellone describes his game design philosophy

   Avellone recaps his journey from learning on a TRS-80 to today.

4. After 40 years of adventure games, Ron Gilbert pivots to outrunning Death

   Interview: Storied designer talks lost RPG, a 3D Monkey Island, “Eat the Rich” philosophy.

5. We put the new pocket-size vinyl format to the test—with mixed results

   It's a fun new format, but finding a place in the market may be challenging.

6. Vision Pro M5 review: It’s time for Apple to make some tough choices

   A state of the union from someone who actually sort of uses the thing.

7. “Go generate a bridge and jump off it”: How video pros are navigating AI

   I talked with nine creators about economic pressures and fan backlash.

8. Stoke Space goes for broke to solve the only launch problem that “moves the needle”

   "Does the world really need a 151st rocket company?"

9. OnePlus 15 review: The end of range anxiety

   OnePlus delivers its second super-fast phone of 2025.

10. I’ve already been using a “Steam Machine” for months, and I think it’s great

    With a little know-how, you can get yourself a Steam Machine right this minute.

11. US spy satellites built by SpaceX send signals in the “wrong direction”

    It seems US didn't coordinate Starshield's unusual spectrum use with other countries.

12. What if the aliens come and we just can’t communicate?

    Ars chats with particle physicist Daniel Whiteson about his new book Do Aliens Speak Physics?

13. Review: New Framework Laptop 16 takes a fresh stab at the upgradeable laptop GPU

    New components make it more useful and powerful but no less odd.

14. You won’t believe the excuses lawyers have after getting busted for using AI

    I got hacked; I lost my login; it was a rough draft; toggling windows is hard.

15. NASA is kind of a mess: Here are the top priorities for a new administrator

    "He inevitably will have to make tough calls."

16. Mark Zuckerberg’s illegal school drove his neighbors crazy

    Neighbors complained about noise, security guards, and hordes of traffic.

17. How to declutter, quiet down, and take the AI out of Windows 11 25H2

    A new major Windows 11 release means a new guide for cleaning up the OS.

18. Internet Archive’s legal fights are over, but its founder mourns what was lost

    "We survived, but it wiped out the library," Internet Archive's founder says.

19. “Unexpectedly, a deer briefly entered the family room”: Living with Gemini Home

    Gemini for Home unleashes gen AI on your Nest camera footage, but it gets a lot wrong.

20. Halloween film fest: 15 classic ghost stories

    From The Uninvited to Crimson Peak, these films will help you set the tone for spooky season.