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  • New trial will test if a low-plastic lifestyle improves your health

    New trial will test if a low-plastic lifestyle improves your health

    Scientists in Australia are launching one of the most comprehensive trials to date to test whether ditching plastics in food, personal care, and household products can lower internal chemical loads and improve markers of cardiometabolic health.

    Protocol: Randomised controlled trial of a low plastic diet and lifestyle intervention for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) trial – a protocol. Image Credit: Oksana Mizina / Shutterstock

    In a recent public health protocol published in BMJ Open, researchers describe the PERTH (Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health) trial, a new randomized controlled study protocol designed to investigate whether a comprehensive, 4-week “low-plastic” diet and lifestyle intervention can reduce exposure to plastic-derived chemicals.

    These chemicals, such as bisphenols and phthalates, are ubiquitous endocrine disruptors with documented links to obesity and cardiometabolic disease. The PERTH trial examines whether a cohort of 60 adults with cardiometabolic risk factors, provided with all-plastic-free food, cookware, and personal care products, can demonstrate measurable reductions in plastic-associated chemical excretion and exploratory changes in cardiometabolic biomarkers.

    Background

    From the top of Mt. Everest to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, plastics from food packaging, kitchen utensils, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies can be found everywhere and comprise an inescapable part of modern life. Alarmingly, in addition to their ecological and environmental impacts, a growing body of scientific literature reports extensive physiological concerns associated with them.

    Two classes of chemicals commonly used in plastics: 1. bisphenols (like Bisphenol A [BPA]) and 2. phthalates (like diethyl phthalate [DEP]) are known endocrine disruptors. Observational research has linked higher exposure to these “plastic-associated chemicals (PACs)” with various adverse physiological outcomes, including obesity, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation.

    Clinical evidence suggests these outcomes substantially increase individuals’ risk and severity of cardiometabolic disease. Unfortunately, whether actively and drastically reducing PAC exposure can reverse previous harm remains to be investigated through controlled intervention studies.

    About the proposed study (PERTH)

    The present public health protocol details the proposed methodology of the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) trial, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to test the efficacy of a low-plastic lifestyle intervention on measurable health outcomes in adults with cardiometabolic risk factors.

    The study will involve 60 community-dwelling adults (aged 18–60 years) in Perth, Australia, who have established cardiometabolic risk factors. Study inclusion criteria include: 1. A body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m², and 2. A high waist circumference (≥102 cm in men, ≥88 cm in women). The study will randomly assign participants into a case (“intervention”; n = 30) or control (n = 30) group.

    The intervention period will last four weeks, during which time the intervention cohort participants will receive a comprehensive, all-inclusive low-plastic lifestyle package. This includes: 1. Delivering all food and beverages in plastic-free packaging, 2. Replacement plastic-free kitchenware (e.g., stainless steel pots, glass containers), 3. Personal care products (such as shampoo and soap), and 4. Cleaning supplies.

    Interventional group participants will receive detailed instructions on how to minimize plastic exposure in their daily lives. In contrast, the control group will be asked to maintain their routine lifestyle and dietary patterns.

    Study outcomes will be measured by evaluating the change in a composite z-score of urinary bisphenol concentrations (BPA and BPS) between participants in the intervention and control groups. Secondary and tertiary outcomes will include changes in urinary phthalate metabolites and a range of key health markers, including cardiometabolic biomarkers, blood pressure, and body composition. Participants will also collect their own stool and nasal lavage samples to support exploratory analyses.

    Participants’ sociodemographic information will be recorded at baseline, and all biomedical measurements will be taken at baseline, midpoint (week 2), and at the end of the 4-week intervention.

    Study design and significance

    By providing all food and products to the intervention group, the PERTH trial will be the most comprehensive and rigorously controlled trial ever conducted on the topic. Impressively, pilot trials have already revealed that BPA was detectable in over 91% of urine samples derived from healthy (no cardiometabolic disease) adults, confirming that PAC exposure is widespread in Australia.

    These pilots further demonstrated that a 7-day low-plastic intervention could significantly reduce urinary PAC levels, providing a strong basis for this larger, longer trial. Notably, while laboratory staff will be blinded to participant allocation, both participants and investigators cannot be blinded due to the nature of the intervention.

    Finally, the PERTH study leverages the Plastic-Associated Chemical-exposure Questionnaire (PACeQ) to meticulously track and assess all potential routes of plastic exposure (ingestion, inhalation, and absorption), ensuring robust and trustworthy results. The protocol also highlights the ethical rationale for the holistic intervention approach, as it avoids artificial PAC exposure in controls due to safety concerns.

    Conclusions

    The PERTH trial is a critically important study that will provide the first protocolised attempt to test the causal effects of whether a comprehensive reduction in exposure to everyday plastic chemicals can lead to exploratory improvements in cardiometabolic health markers.

    Study outcomes have the potential to significantly impact public health guidelines, inform regulatory policy on the use of chemicals in consumer products, and empower individuals with practical, evidence-based strategies to reduce their body’s plastic burden. While the study’s Australian focus prevents its global generalizability, it comprises the first significant step from observational links to real-world interventions.

    Journal reference:

    • Lucas, A., Harray, A., Duong, L., Herrmann, S., Vlaskovsky, P., Trevenen, M., Chan, D., Papendorf, H., Smith, T., Flint, L., Liu, A., Gaudieri, S., Wang, X., Mueller, J., Thomas, K. V., Murray, K., Symeonides, C., & Lucas, M. (2025). Randomised controlled trial of a low plastic diet and lifestyle intervention for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) trial—a protocol. BMJ Open, 15(8), e099330. DOI – 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099330. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e099330

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  • Venice jury chief says films don’t change the world

    Venice jury chief says films don’t change the world


    VENICE:

    US director Alexander Payne, president of the jury at this year’s Venice Film Festival, said on Wednesday that while movies rarely alter the course of society, they serve as vital documents of their times and shape memory.

    “Can a film really change society or culture? I don’t know. Doubtful,” Payne said, recalling that films such as Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” did not stop World War II, but rather showed that people were aware of what was going on.

    “We have those as documents and, as such, we can try to learn from them,” Payne, whose credits include the Oscar-winning comedies “Sideways” and “The Holdovers”, said ahead of the formal opening of the 11-day festival later on Wednesday.

    He lamented the shrinking space for theatrical releases in the age of streaming, saying movies that were only seen online struggled to make a broad impact on society. “It’s typically films which have theatrical release, which become a part of a cinema conversation, of a cultural conversation, and then have some kind of impact,” he said.

    Big streamers such as Netflix and Amazon regularly showcase their films at Venice but then offer little or no exposure for those movies in cinemas, reserving them instead for their subscribers.

    In the run-up to the 2025 event, some 1,500 film industry figures signed a petition urging the festival to take a robust stand over the war in Gaza, calling on the organisers to promote Palestinian voices and denounce Israeli actions.

    Payne declined to say if he supported their call, while the head of the festival, Alberto Barbera, said he welcomed open debate but rejected suggestions that Israeli filmmakers or actors should be banned. “We reject outright the demand to disinvite artists who wish to take part in the festival.

    The Venice festival opened on Wednesday night with the world premiere of Italian director Paolo Sorretino’s “La Grazia.” The event ends on September 6 when Payne and his fellow jury members announce who has won the top Golden Lion award.

    The Festival kicked off with Hollywood royalty heading to Italy. Julia Roberts and George Clooney are some of the biggest names expected at the 82nd edition of the world’s longest-running festival, with top directors from Kathryn Bigelow and Guillermo del Toro to Jim Jarmusch all due to arrive on the sandy Lido across the Venice lagoon.

    Protesters held up a “Free Palestine” banner in front of the festival’s main building, while a group of Italian film professionals have called on organisers to openly condemn Israel’s invasion of Gaza. The festival has selected a film about the war for its main competition — “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Franco-Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, which reconstructs the death of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab who was killed last year by Israeli forces.

    Paolo Sorrentino’s “La Grazia” — about an Italian president grappling with doubts over whether to sign into law a euthanasia bill — was the first in-competition movie screened to the media on Wednesday, the latest from the director best known outside Italy for “The Great Beauty”. Francis Ford Coppola will present daredevil German director Werner Herzog (“Grizzly Man”, “Fitzcarraldo”) with a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement for his more than 70 films over a 60-year career at the opening ceremony Wednesday.

    Herzog’s latest documentary, “Ghost Elephants”, about a lost herd in Angola, will premiere out of competition in Venice. On the same night is the premiere of sci-fi comedy “Bugonia” from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, which stars Emma Stone as a pharmaceutical executive kidnapped by people who mistake her for an alien. Winners of the festival’s prestigious Golden Bear top prize often go on to Oscar glory, such as “Nomadland” or “Joker” in previous years. The flurry of premieres also includes Del Toro’s big-budget remake of “Frankenstein”, starring Oscar Isaac, or Bigelow’s political thriller “A House of Dynamite”, starring Idris Elba.

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  • The University of Tokyo and DENSO Jointly Establish a Social Cooperation Program: “Building Sustainable Production System Infrastructure with Advanced AI Technology” | Newsroom | News

    The University of Tokyo and DENSO Jointly Establish a Social Cooperation Program: “Building Sustainable Production System Infrastructure with Advanced AI Technology” | Newsroom | News

    ■Background
    While Japanese manufacturing is distinguished by its strength in lean manufacturing technologies, the industry is currently facing serious challenges such as a declining labor force and difficulties in passing down specialized skills and expertise. To overcome these issues and achieve sustainable growth, it is imperative to accelerate digitalization on the factory floor and leverage AI technologies.

    Although enormous amounts of data are accumulated daily at production sites, the reality is that this data is not being fully utilized. Furthermore, the expert skills and judgment possessed by experienced workers—often referred to as “tacit knowledge”—are inherently difficult to formalize and transfer, making knowledge succession a significant challenge. In order to dramatically enhance productivity and build resilient production systems capable of adapting to change, it is essential to integrate extensive data with expert knowledge through AI technologies, thereby creating new value for the manufacturing sector.

    ■Overview
    Program Name: “Building Sustainable Production System Infrastructure with Advanced AI Technology”
    Duration: April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2029
    Affiliated Department: Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
    Collaborating Company: DENSO CORPORATION
    Responsible faculty member:
    Jun Ota (Professor, Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering (RACE), School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
    Yasushi Umeda (Professor, Department of Precision Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
    Tatsunori Hara (Associate Professor, Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering (RACE), School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
    Kohei Kaminishi (Project Lecturer, Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering (RACE), School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)
    dedicated website: https://denso.fa.race.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/

    ■Contents of Specific Research
    Systematization of Knowledge on Data Analysis Processes and Logic for Production System Operations
    We will systematize the processes and logic for analyzing operational data obtained from manufacturing sites and translating these insights into improvements, establishing them as reusable knowledge.

    Extraction of Information from Operational Data and Process/Equipment Models; Analysis and Inference of Causes of Abnormality and Countermeasures
    We will combine detailed operational data such as sensor data and images with models of production processes and equipment and use AI to extract useful information. Based on this, we are developing technology to automatically analyze and infer the causes of production abnormalities and countermeasures.

    Model and Knowledge Management for the Sustainable Development of Production System Operation Platforms
    We will establish effective model management and knowledge management methods to keep the developed knowledge models and accumulated knowledge up to date, enabling the production system to continuously evolve and develop.

    Systematization of Research Outcomes and Application to Next-Generation Monozukuri Education
    We will organize and systematize the research outcomes obtained through this course and apply them to the development of educational programs designed to cultivate talent for the future of Monozukuri, where AI and data utilization are essential.

    We aim to establish methods that contribute to the construction of a sustainable next-generation production system operation platform by combining the University of Tokyo’s cutting-edge AI research capabilities with DENSO’s manufacturing knowledge and technologies cultivated over many years.

    Reference 1: To commemorate the launch of this joint lecture series, we will hold a public kickoff symposium to introduce its activities to a wide audience. Through presentations on research topics by lecture series members and panel discussions by speakers, we will examine the future of next-generation production systems.

    Symposium Overview
    Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Optional Tour: 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM)
    Venue: Room 51, 1st Floor, Building 5, Faculty of Engineering, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo, and online (via Zoom)
    Participation fee: Free
    For details such as how to apply, please refer to the website of the Research into Artifacts, Center for Engineering (RACE), The University of Tokyo. (https://race.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/)

    Reference 2: To foster a sense of unity between the University of Tokyo and DENSO, and to encourage deeper empathy with DENSO’s philosophy, the dedicated classroom in Building 5 of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo used for this course will be decorated with DENSO’s corporate colors and logo from September 2025 until March 2029, when the course concludes.

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  • I switched to the Google Pixel 10 from an iPhone 16, and it was surprisingly delightful

    I switched to the Google Pixel 10 from an iPhone 16, and it was surprisingly delightful

    ZDNET’s key takeaways

    • The Pixel 10 has officially launched with a starting price of $799.
    • With a three-camera system, Google Tensor G5, and improved battery life, it’s Google’s best base model smartphone yet.
    • The main and ultra-wide cameras have been downgraded in order to fit the new telephoto.

    aug / 2025

    Google’s entry-level flagship Pixel has proven to be a capable smartphone, with just the right specs and features to please the masses. So when I switched over to the latest model, the Pixel 10, I wasn’t expecting to be wowed. After a week of use, however, I stand corrected. 

    With the Pixel 10, Google kept its sleek design, while adding hardware upgrades that will improve users’ everyday experiences in subtle — but meaningful, Google hopes — ways. These include an improved battery, a new telephoto lens, and Pixelsnap: Android’s version of MagSafe. 

    Also: I tried every new AI feature on the Google Pixel 10 series – my thoughts as an AI expert

    Yet, the Pixel 10’s suite of AI features, powered by the Google Tensor G5 chipset, is the heart of what makes the smartphone stand out. Despite the upgrades, the Pixel 10 retails for the same price as its predecessor: $799. 

    I’ve been using the Pixel 10 every day since Jimmy Fallon put it down on the Made by Google stage. Let’s determine if these upgrades are significant enough to warrant an upgrade from the previous models.

    Specs that won’t leave you wanting more 

    I love a Goldilocks analogy, and it’s especially relevant here. When a product is done well, it won’t leave you longing for more. Such is the case with the Pixel 10’s performance. 

    The form factor is nearly identical to its predecessor, with rounded corners, aluminum sides, and a smooth Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 back (also on the front). The camera bar, 6.3-inch Actua display, and similar weight (just 0.2 ounces heavier than last year) all resemble the Pixel 9, but this isn’t a complaint. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 

    Google Pixel 10

    Kerry Wan/ZDNET

    Despite the surface similarities, more time with the phone makes the upgrades more evident. For example, the display now supports 3000 nits of peak brightness, up from last year’s 2700 nits. This, combined with the 120Hz refresh rate, 2424×1080 resolution, and OLED panel, makes for a bright, vivid display in all lighting conditions. 

    Google Pixel 10

    Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

    A closer look at the camera bar also reveals a new third 5x telephoto lens, which makes it easier to get crisper shots of distant objects. While I typically wait until much later in a review to touch on the camera, I have to say the Super Res zoom up to 20x left me impressed. It didn’t sacrifice details when cropping closely in on a subject, partially due to the camera’s Imaging Signal Processor (ISP) enabled by the new Tensor G5 chipset. 

    Zoom on Google Pixel 10

    Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

    The triple camera array is comprised of a 48MP main camera, a 13MP 120-degree ultrawide, and a new 10.8MP telephoto lens, with a 10.5MP selfie camera on the front. Consistent with prior models, the camera system is capable of taking vibrant, detailed shots with rich contrast. The expanded zoom capabilities make it more on par with the Pro models, which have always had telephoto cameras.

    Also: I’ve bought every flagship Google Pixel phone since the first – but 2025 has me reconsidering

    Another upgrade, though not immediately visible, is the new Pixelsnap magnetic technology, which works similarly to MagSafe on iPhones. With the Pixelsnap, users can attach magnetic accessories to the back of their phones (including MagSafe-compatible ones), such as chargers, mounts, and docks. 

    This alone is a convenient addition that you probably won’t appreciate until you find an accessory you love. As an iPhone user, I can’t imagine life without my MagSafe portable chargers. 

    EMBARGO - Google Pixel 10 with PixelSnap Stand

    Kerry Wan/ZDNET

    Under the hood, the phone received some upgrades, including a slightly bigger battery that Google claims lasts up to 30 hours, up from the 24 hours on the Pixel 9. During my time testing, even after normal work activities, including playing music nearly all day as I write, doom scrolling on social media, and texting (only during breaks, of course), I was able to not only make it through an entire day, but also have some juice leftover the next morning. 

    Also: Why Google’s best Pixel 10 announcement was an iPhone feature – and I don’t mind

    Lastly, the phone’s most notable upgrade is the Google Tensor G5 chipset, the company’s most advanced processor. Not only does it support an overall better performance from your phone, including faster speeds, optimal battery performance, and better photography, but it also powers all of the advanced AI features found on the Pixel 10. 

    The Tensor G5 was designed with Google DeepMind and, as a result, optimized for on-device AI workloads. For example, the Tensor G5 runs Google’s Gemini Nano model entirely on-device, giving users optimal speeds and the peace of mind that their data isn’t leaving the device. This powerful model supports the extensive suite of AI features, which is what really sets the Pixel 10 apart. 

    The most baked AI features on a smartphone yet

    Pixel 10 AI features

    Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

    In the era of AI, nearly every phone launch also includes a suite of automated, machine-learning-based features. However, in my experience, many of these features are easy to ignore. With the Pixel 10, Google struck a good balance, baking various tools into many of the phone’s primary functions so that they’re intuitive to use, while not being too overbearing. 

    A prime example is Magic Cue, a new predictive feature that uses the context of what you’re doing — combined with your activity across Google’s apps — to generate suggestions in real time for actions or information. For example, if someone asks me in a text what time our reservation is, Magic Cue “reads” it and surfaces the information so that I just have to tap on it to reply. 

    Also: The best Android phones to buy in 2025

    While I can confirm the feature works, as I tested the Pixel 10 in everyday interactions, Magic Cue wasn’t intrusive, one of the concerns I had going into it. I think of it more as something you can tap into should you need it, to reduce the friction of having to dig to find information. 

    Another AI-powered feature I enjoyed is the new Daily Hub feature found in the Discover feed. Using context from my Google Calendar and YouTube activity, it curated a convenient summary of my day that I could be briefed on at a glance instead of having to toggle between different apps. 

    Camera Coach Pixel 10

    Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

    The camera app received the bulk of the updates, with features such as Camera Coach, where the AI instructs you on how to improve your shot, Add Me, which now works with even more people, and Auto Best Take, which automatically finds the best picture with all your subjects in what Google considers the ideal state.

    Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model – the biggest upgrades

    There are also a plethora of other AI features, including a real-time Call Translation feature, a Take a Message feature, which uses AI to provide transcripts for missed calls, Pixel Journal prompt suggestions, and even a NotebookLM integration in Pixel Screenshots.  

    ZDNET’s buying advice

    I’ve enjoyed my experience with the Pixel 10 and would recommend it to most users looking for a relatively accessible Android, especially if the helpful AI features resonate with you. Ultimately, it delivers on performance, camera, battery life, and AI features, making it a strong competitor against other flagship smartphones in the same price range. 

    You can preorder yours now for a starting price of $799, with several phone carriers offering additional promotions and deals. The colors include Indigo, Frost, Lemongrass, and Obsidian, and storage sizes range from 128GB to 256GB. 

    You can keep up with my latest stories and tech adventures on social media. Follow me on Twitter/X at @sabrinaa_ortiz and on Instagram at @sabrinaa.ortiz. 


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  • Overview of Honda Exhibits at the Japan Mobility Show 2025

    Overview of Honda Exhibits at the Japan Mobility Show 2025

    Since its founding, Honda has always been driven by the dreams of Honda associates and creating mobility products using its original technologies and ideas. As a comprehensive mobility company, Honda continues to take on challenges to augment possibilities for people and society through its mobility products and services.

    At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, Honda will exhibit a wide variety of its mobility products for land — mostly automobiles and motorcycles — as well as mobility products for the sea and skies, which represent Honda dreams realized with its latest technologies.

    The exhibit will include Honda 0 Series EV models, scheduled for global market introduction in 2026, as well as motorcycle and automobile models which are already on the market. In addition, Honda will bring back the full-size interior mockup of the HondaJet Elite II light business jet, which was exhibited at the Japan Mobility Show 2023, welcoming visitors to step into the mockup to experience the spacious interior of HondaJet.

    The Honda booth is designed to enable the visitors to experience dream-inspiring mobility products Honda created with its original technologies and ideas while being driven by its own dreams. The complete list of items to be included in the Honda exhibit will be shared toward the end of September, via news release and the Honda Japan Mobility Show 2025 special website.

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  • A week later with Google Pixel 10 Pro: These upgrades are convincing me to leave Samsung

    A week later with Google Pixel 10 Pro: These upgrades are convincing me to leave Samsung

    Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL

    ZDNET’s key takeaways

    • The latest Pixel flagships are priced the same as last year, but get meaningful upgrades across the board.
    • The Pro XL model, with its base storage of 256GB and faster wired and wireless charging, is the best Pixel phone right now.
    • You’ll just have to settle for the same design and camera hardware as last year.

    more buying choices

    aug / 2025

    Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

    It’s hard to believe that we’re officially at year 10 for the Google Pixel, but even just a look back at the past three generations of the search giant’s phone lineup paints a clear picture of its maturity and where things are headed.

    Case in point, the Pixel 10 Pro series, consisting of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, is, at first glance, a safe upgrade. Their designs look nearly identical to last year’s models, you’ll struggle to spot the differences in specs between the 10th and 9th generations, and they’re priced squarely in the threshold of modern flagships.

    Also: I compared the Pixel 10 Pro to every older Google flagship model – the biggest upgrades

    But they also have a software suite that truly advances the way we interact with our smartphones — or at least, that was my takeaway after using the phones for the past week. With the Pixel 10 series (standard model included), I’ve never been more convinced that AI on phones is here to stay. It doesn’t have to be forced, intrusive, or excessive; it just has to be intelligent enough to know its place.

    Before I dive into all the AI madness, there’s a critical topic that deserves just as much attention: eSIM. It’s the first hurdle every new Pixel 10 owner (in the US) will encounter — whether they’re switching from an older Pixel or jumping ship from an iPhone — and thankfully, it’s one Google has made surprisingly painless.

    To compare the setup processes, I ported my physical SIM from T-Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro XL and my secondary eSIM from Mint Mobile onto the Pixel 10 Pro. Both methods took less than five minutes and were only a few QR code scans away from working cellular connections. 

    Also: Google made a bold move with the Pixel 10, even if it’s not obvious yet. Here’s why

    I’d never had a more burdenless interaction at my local carrier shop, but something did catch me off guard. At one point, the T-Mobile associate congratulated me on switching to a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. That’s not a typo. With the Pixel 10 Pro series, the year-over-year difference in hardware design is at an all-time low, and I don’t blame Google for that — or the associate for mixing up the models.

    Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL

    The Pixel 10 Pro in Moonstone (left) and Pixel 10 Pro XL in Jade (right). 

    Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

    The contoured edges still greet your fingers with a warm embrace, the polished aluminum frame exudes premium, and the camera bar constantly reminds you how seriously Google takes its mobile optics.

    Allow me to chase my geekery with one of the few downsides of this year’s Pixel design: the weight. At 232 grams, the Pixel 10 Pro XL is one of the heaviest phones on the market, beating my previous daily driver, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (218 grams), and iPhone 16 Pro Max (227 grams). The phone isn’t necessarily top or bottom-heavy, either, meaning you’ll feel the slow build-up of wrist strain no matter how you hold the device up.

     Also: Google Pixel 10 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: I tested both Androids, and it’s pretty darn close

    Google tells me there are several reasons why its phones weigh more this year, which I can only nod in approval to. First, the Pixel 10 Pro series features upgraded top and bottom speakers, producing a change in loudness that I noticed almost immediately when playing my usual recipe videos by J. Kenji López-Alt in the kitchen. 

    The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL also have larger 4,870 and 5,200mAh batteries, respectively, up from last year’s 4,700 and 5,070mAh capacities. Throughout the weekend, I was ending my days with roughly 35% of battery remaining on the XL model, a minor but still appreciated improvement over its predecessor. The faster 45W wired charging, exclusive to the XL, was another welcome touch.

    Google Pixel 10 Pro Pixelsnap

    Kerry Wan/ZDNET

    Perhaps the biggest new feature, and the one that may be most effective in convincing iPhone users to switch over, is Pixelsnap, a system of in-body magnets that can pull in wireless power at the Qi2 standard. Think MagSafe for Android. This enables the phones to snap onto the thousands of magnet-based accessories on the market, from tripod stands to wallet cases to charging docks.

    Also: The best Google Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro cases of 2025

    Google has fully embraced the technology by offering a slew of screen savers that appear when you’re charging its Pixel 10 phones. These include a full-scale weather display, a Google Photos slideshow, smart home controls, and a clock. As someone who often sets their phone on a wireless charging stand bedside and at the office desk, the ambient feature is easy to appreciate.

    EMBARGOED - Google Pixel 10 Pro Dock Wireless Charging

    Joseph Maldonado/ZDNET

    The option to proc the screen saver when the Pixel 10 Pro is charging or charging and set upright is a nice touch. You can also restrict the feature to when the device is in wireless charging only, as it would otherwise appear with even a wired connection.

    However, the screen savers aren’t perfect. For one, the weather panel, especially when I saw it demoed on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold at the Made by Google event, can appear too conspicuous and display an excessive amount of information for what will likely be something I look at every half an hour. And while the clock screen saver can also display the temperature, it doesn’t show incoming notifications, making it feel more like a downgraded always-on display.

    Also: I’m a longtime iPhone user, but Google just sold me on the Pixel 10 with these features

    One of the looming questions going into my Pixel 10 Pro testing was how significant an upgrade the new Tensor G5 chipset brings. Since Google took the matter of processing power and silicon into its own hands, the brand has always played second fiddle to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon models. Based on benchmarks, that still holds true, with the Tensor G5 performing worse than the Snapdragon 8 Elite found on competing flagship phones.

    Google Pixel 10 Pro Magic Cue

    Magic Cue naturally sifts through your various Google services to find relevant information and context.

    Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

    But from a more practical outlook, I’ve found the Tensor G5 still capable enough to operate under intense workloads, from editing HDR, 60fps videos to gaming to running Android Auto navigation while on a call. The in-house processor, which features a modified architecture that dynamically shifts between full and sub models, is truly realized in the various new AI features on the Pixel 10 Pro series.

    I’m talking faster compute times across Pixel Screenshots, Recorder transcriptions and translations, and other native AI tasks that would typically take seconds longer. That time adds up, folks.

    Also: 7 AI features I’d like to see the iPhone 17 embrace from Google, OpenAI, and others

    A standout AI feature for me is Magic Cue, which sifts through your Gmail, Calendar, and other Google services to populate relevant information and context when and where it makes sense. I recently booked the wrong return flight for a work trip, and during my call with United, Magic Cue displayed my flight and account information on the phone app screen, reducing the friction of me parsing through my Gmail and the various confirmation messages that typically come with booking flights.

    It’s this seamless, intuitive integration of AI that keeps catching me off guard – in the best way. That carries through to the cameras, a familiar assembly of 50MP wide, 48MP ultrawide, and 48MP telephoto sensors. The most notable change with the Pixel 10 Pro camera is the Tensor G5 chip’s enhanced image signal processing (ISP) and the slew of AI tricks that it handles.

    Google Pixel 10 Pro camera

    Camera Coach guides your shot, from the framing to the camera mode, to capture subjects effectively.

    Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

    I took hundreds of photos over the past week with the Pixel 10 Pro XL, 9 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra, and I found the former to deliver the ideal combination of colors, shadows, and highlights. The improved image stabilization on the main lens also helps preserve detail with fast-moving subjects and low-lit photography.

    Also: Pixel just zoomed ahead of iPhone in the camera photography race

    Where the Pixel 10 Pro camera truly shines this year is in far-distance capturing, thanks to a new Pro Res Zoom that uses generative AI to correct noise and distortion. It’s a touchy subject, I know, but the output, even at 100X zoom, is what customers who favor idealism over realism and convenience over labor have been waiting for. The difference between the Pixel Pro Res Zoom and Samsung’s Space Zoom leans heavily in Google’s favor.

    Pixel 10 Pro XL vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra camera samples

    Kerry Wan/ZDNET

    The AI-enhanced zoom on the Pixel 10 Pro series isn’t flawless — at times, it overcorrects and makes people look like sci-fi characters. But when it works, which is at a 95% success rate for me, it’s genuinely impressive.

    Camera Coach is the other big new AI feature within the camera app, and I found the on-screen instructions easy to follow, clear to understand, and flexible enough to capture various shots of the same subject. Where it falls short is in capturing moving objects like impatient children or speeding vehicles, as going through the tips and tricks requires time and constant focus. So long as you’re leaving the camera app with one helpful takeaway each time you use the feature, I’d consider that a win for Google.

    ZDNET’s buying advice

    There’s still plenty to unpack with the Pixel 10 Pro series, but my first week with the devices has shown me what living with AI superphones feels like. For longtime Pixel users eyeing an upgrade, both models are a no-brainer — showcasing Google’s best hardware to date and an Android 16 experience that feels tastefully familiar, delightfully playful, and genuinely useful.

    The Pixel 10 Pro is the way to go for users who prefer a more ergonomic and comfortable mobile experience. If mobile entertainment and fast charging are high on your priority list, consider the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The larger model costs $100 more than last year, but it also starts with 256GB of storage (versus 128GB), so the $1,199 may be easier to justify.

    As always, consider the various trade-in offers and promotions from your carriers and big-box retailers. There’s a good chance you’ll score a couple of hundred dollars off with minimum effort.

    ZDNET’s review team spends upwards of a year testing the ins and outs of every major phone release, evaluating the day-to-day performance, camera quality, battery life and endurance, and special features. Here’s a breakdown of every factor we consider before we make recommendations:

    • Design and ergonomics: How good a phone looks and feels plays a big role in many users’ buying journeys, so we consider these aspects heavily when testing.
    • Performance: Several factors affect a phone’s performance, including LTE/5G signal, battery life, and background tasks. Therefore, we typically begin our evaluations with a fully charged handset, all background tasks closed, and as stable a mobile connection as possible.
    • Camera quality: ZDNET tests phone cameras by capturing hundreds of photos and videos of various subjects and in various lighting conditions. We also compare the output to that of older models.
    • Battery life and charging: It’s also important for us to evaluate how long phones last under light, moderate, and heavy usage, how long they take to recharge, and how they do it (wired, wireless, or both). 
    • Special features: These features distinguish tested devices from a bustling smartphone market and hopefully bring added value to users, not the opposite.
    • Pricing and availability: Beyond budget considerations, we also note if a phone is available in the US or only internationally.

    For a more extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive phone testing methodology page.

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  • Kid Cudi opens up about dark past with weed addiction

    Kid Cudi opens up about dark past with weed addiction

    Kid Cudi gets honest about his sobriety journey

    Kid Cudi is spilling how his relationship with marijuana has shifted after a past of heavy addiction.

    In a recent chat with People, the rapper opened up about his readmission to rehab back in November 2024, which he also shared in his book Cudi: The Memoir.

    “I just was in this place where I was abusing it,” Cudi said. “I was really abusing it. I was smoking maybe 15 blunts a day, wake up in the mornings, get high. It truly ruled my life.”

    Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, revealed that he even got sober for two months before he restarted taking it in moderation.

    “And now I just get after it at night or on the weekends when I have the free time and I’m just relaxing, but I’m not smoking nowhere near as much weed as I was smoking before,” he detailed.

    “A joint lasts me all day, damn near. So my relationship has changed with that in a major way. And I’m just more interested in being sober a lot more and being more present.”

    Cudi added that cutting back has improved his acting. “Because in this movie, I cried a handful of times and it was easy to get there because I was sober,” he said. “There’s no way I could have done this if I was high as s***.”


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  • Emma Raducanu cruises past Janice Tjen to reach third round

    Emma Raducanu cruises past Janice Tjen to reach third round

    Emma Raducanu returned to familiar territory at Flushing Meadows, advancing to the third round of the US Open for the first time since her 2021 title-winning run with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over Indonesia’s Janice Tjen.

    The 22-year-old Brit has looked sharp all week, dropping just four games in her first two matches. After sweeping past former doubles World No. 4 Ena Shibahara in her opener, Raducanu dismantled Tjen — a qualifier who had enjoyed a stunning rise since graduating from Pepperdine University last year. Tjen, ranked No. 149, came into the match on the back of a 101-13 win-loss record and a first-round upset of 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova. But against Raducanu, her dream run came to a swift end in just over an hour.

    Raducanu’s serve proved decisive, firing eight aces and conceding only 13 points behind her delivery. She faced three break points in the third game but saved them all, ensuring her hold on the momentum. The Brit was equally clinical from the baseline, directing the majority of her attacks to Tjen’s backhand side, drawing frequent errors and carving out space for her 16 winners.

    “Super dangerous opponent,” Raducanu said after the match. “She was playing extremely well, and I thought any ball that I put mid-court that was not necessarily good enough, she just put away easy. So I was really pleased with how I performed today.”

    Though Tjen impressed with her volleying skills, winning all six points at the net, Raducanu’s precision and depth largely kept the Indonesian away from her strengths. The result marked Raducanu’s third run to the third round of a major in 2025, underlining her resurgence this season.

    Next up, Raducanu will face either ninth seed Elena Rybakina or 18-year-old qualifier Tereza Valentova as she bids to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the fourth time in her career.

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  • FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines with new restrictions, potentially limiting access for healthy children

    FDA approves updated COVID-19 vaccines with new restrictions, potentially limiting access for healthy children

    Guidance around COVID-19 vaccines has once again shifted after the Food and Drug Administration on Aug. 27, 2025, approved updated shots for the fall season, but for a more limited group than in prior seasons.

    These changes, announced on X by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raise new questions about eligibility and availability of COVID-19 vaccines for children.

    As a pediatrician and researcher who studies vaccine delivery and health policy, I foresee these changes adding to the confusion facing parents and providers, just as this summer’s COVID-19 wave continues to rise.

    How does the new guidance differ from before?

    The FDA revoked the emergency use authorizations for COVID‑19 vaccines, a status used during public health emergencies that made it possible to provisionally approve vaccines swiftly during the pandemic. The agency also limited their approval to only people at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 infection, such as those over 65 or with underlying health conditions. But for children it is even more complicated.

    The FDA approved two updated mRNA-based vaccines – Moderna’s vaccine for children 6 months and older and Pfizer’s vaccine – both targeting a new variant called LP.8.1, for children 5 years and older. The agency also approved an updated version of the the protein-based Novavax vaccine targeting a strain of the virus called JN.1 for children 12 years and older. But all three approvals are limited to children at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 infection.

    Previously, all children 6 months and older were able to receive either the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, with the Novavax vaccine available for anyone 12 years and older. These changes mean it may be significantly more difficult for infants and young children to get vaccinated, even though they remain at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 compared with the general population.

    The decision comes as, for the first time in decades, guidance from federal health authorities and pediatric experts diverge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer routinely recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children ages 6 months to 17 years. The decision to take this approach bypassed the CDC’s normal independent review panel, creating concerns about credibility.

    In contrast, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued its own guidance based on its review of the evidence. The AAP recommends that all children 6 months to 23 months old and children 2 to 18 years old at higher risk receive vaccines. They also emphasize that COVID-19 vaccines should be available for all children whose parents want them.

    The FDA’s new guidance on vaccines may make it difficult for families to obtain vaccines for healthy children.

    The AAP’s review of the evidence showed COVID-19 remains a serious risk for young children and kids with certain high-risk conditions. It also found that children are still being hospitalized and dying at rates similar to those with other illnesses for which vaccines are routinely recommended, such as influenza. And an independent expert group called the Vaccine Integrity Project confirmed that no new safety concerns have emerged relating to COVID-19 vaccines and that the vaccines remain effective.

    How might access to COVID-19 vaccines for kids change?

    Despite young children remaining particularly vulnerable, changes to FDA approval and conflicting recommendations will mean access to vaccines could be challenging.

    Children under 5 years of age can now only receive Moderna’s vaccine. Providers who had planned to use Pfizer’s vaccine need to quickly pivot, and Moderna will need to fill supply gaps. Also, providers may not be able to use any Pfizer vaccine stock they still hold now that the emergency use authorizations is no longer in effect. Families who already face barriers to vaccination, such as those who live in rural areas or who lack health insurance, may be especially affected by these new limitations.

    If providers give healthy children a COVID-19 vaccine, they would be doing this “off-label,” meaning different than what the FDA label says. This practice is legal and common, with an estimated 1 in 5 medications prescribed off-label. However, while physicians can give vaccines off-label, in many states, pharmacists and other non-physicians may not be able to do so for any age.

    Even if it is legal, some providers may be hesitant to give COVID-19 vaccines off-label. After the AAP released its own recommendations, Kennedy warned that vaccine recommendations that diverge from the CDC’s official list are not protected from liability, though legal experts argue that this is misleading.

    The AAP published a list of high-risk health conditions or characteristics to guide parents and providers in deciding whether a child should receive the vaccine.

    At the federal level, the only current list is on the CDC website and is not specifically related to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. For example, it includes pregnancy, even though federal health leaders have previously stated the vaccines would no longer be recommended in pregnancy. In contrast, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly recommends updated COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, when planning pregnancy, in the postpartum period and while lactating, noting benefits for both patients and their newborns.

    What might happen next?

    Unfortunately, the confusion may deepen as the CDC’s recommendations, including who is at high risk, may be revised after an upcoming meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of independent experts that advises the agency.

    In June 2025, in an unprecedented move, Kennedy disbanded the entire committee and hand-picked new members. The new committee has yet to weigh in on COVID-19 vaccines for children. The chair of the COVID-19 vaccine work group, which will make recommendations to all committee members, is led by an outspoken critic of COVID-19 vaccines who does not have a biomedical degree or medical experience. Also, on Aug. 27, 2025, federal officials attempted to oust the CDC’s director just a few weeks after she was confirmed, and multiple top officials resigned.

    The bottom line is that with these FDA changes, fewer vulnerable children may end up vaccinated against COVID-19 because of supply constraints, parental confusion or provider uncertainty. The best thing a family can do is talk with their pediatrician about what options remain and what is best for their child.

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  • Scientists tried to make a bunch of cyclists crash – here’s why

    Scientists tried to make a bunch of cyclists crash – here’s why

    Science

    Would you be willing to ride in a lab and let researchers tug on your handlebars?

    Image: Accident Analysis & Prevention

    Matt de Neef

    You’ve probably had it happen to you. You’re riding along, not a care in the world, when suddenly your handlebars twitch, and in an instant you’re scrambling to keep yourself from hitting the deck.

    Maybe you’ve hit something in the road, maybe another cyclist – or, heaven forbid, a motorist – has clipped your handlebars. However it happened, it’s a horrible feeling. Sometimes you manage to keep the bike upright; other times you aren’t so fortunate.

    For any given incident, there are many variables that help decide whether you fall or not – how much your handlebars moved, how much force was involved, how fast you were riding, how quickly you reacted, and so on. And yet, what if there was a way to quantify whether, for a given incident, you’re likely to fall or not? Information like that could help us to understand cycling crashes a little better and, just maybe, help reduce the number of crashes in the future and make cycling a little bit safer overall.

    That’s the goal of a new piece of research out of the Netherlands, more specifically from researchers out of Delft University of Technology and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. As per the title of their new paper, published in the journal Accident Analysis & Prevention, the researchers set out to create a mathematical model that would predict the “maximum allowable handlebar disturbance from which a cyclist can recover balance.”

    The way they went about their research is quite fascinating (and more than a little anxiety-inducing).

    Did we do a good job with this story?


    Science
    Crashes
    Rider Safety


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