Andrew Griffin
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Technology editor and science reporter @independent
Articles by Andrew Griffin
Astronomers find entirely new kind of object in space
Andrew Griffin Astronomers have found an entirely new kind of object in space. The “black hole star” looks like an enormous Sun, the size of our solar system. But it is emitting 100 billion times more energy than any known star can produce – more like a black hole. Researchers believe that it is a new kind of object that is a combination of the two. And it could help solve one of the universe's most enigmatic mysteries.
Solar eclipse: Your ultimate guide to today’s spectacle
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Warnings issued as hundreds queue to buy solar eclipse glasses
The UK and parts of Europe are preparing to witness a major solar eclipse on Wednesday as the Moon blocks out the Sun. It is the most total solar eclipse in the region since 1999 and will not be matched again for decades. Special protective viewing glasses have been sold out in many places for days, with huge queues forming outside shops known to sell them in locations such as Greenwich, London, and Falmouth, Cornwall.
Solar eclipse: What happens to your eyes if you look directly at it – and why it’s even more dangerous than you think
But that same sight can cause serious damage to people’s eyes – and it might be considerably more dangerous than you think. The danger is such that it might leave you unable to see anything again. It can however be tempting to look straight at the eclipse. Because the Sun is darker than usual, the usual instinctive reaction to look away from the light may not kick in, but that is exactly where the danger comes from.
Countries where you will be able to see today’s full solar eclipse
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Solar eclipse: What happens to your eyes if you look directly at it – and why it’s even more dangerous than you think
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Solar eclipse glasses are largely sold out across high street and online stores ahead of 12 August, when the Moon will cover over 90 per cent of the Sun above the UK.Health experts have issued urgent warnings against using standard sunglasses, coun The UK’s most complete solar eclipse in 27 years is nearly here.
Solar eclipse 2026 live: Your ultimate guide to tonight’s celestial spectacle over the UK
How, when and why to see the solar eclipse Here's a helpful rundown from Daniel Brown, an astronomy expert at Nottingham Trent University, on what exactly is going to happen today. “Deep partial eclipses of this scale are uncommon from the UK, and the next comparable event will not occur for many years. Even though we won't experience totality in the UK, this is still a wonderful opportunity to experience a remarkable astronomical event.
How can I check that my solar eclipse glasses are certified?
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Apple planning dramatic overhaul of its Watches – including devices without screens
New fitness tracker could follow similar tech from brands including Whoop, Garmin and Fitbit From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
What time is the eclipse? Full path and when to see the celestial spectacle near you
The world is set to see one of the most beautiful and unnerving celestial spectacles this week, as the Moon moves in front of the Sun and forms a solar eclipse. In many of the places where it can be seen – including the UK and Ireland – it will be the most total eclipse that has been seen in decades, and there won't be another chance to see it for a similarly long period of time.
Claude’s invisible watermark could expose AI-written work
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Can I still buy solar eclipse glasses – and how can I check that they are genuine?
Mitch McConnell's Caregiver Assures Public Everything Is Fine Right Before Sprinting Away At Full Speed A caregiver hired to look after Republican Senator Mitch McConnell was filmed sprinting away from a journalist outside his home, fuelling wild speculation about the true state of his ongoing health.
Claude will now include invisible marks to show a text was made with AI, Anthropic announces
Anthropic 4 hours ago Claude will hide a watermark in your AI-written text, and it’ll follow you around Android Authority - Hillary Keverenge • 4h Claude's hidden marks will apply worldwide, not just in the EU.
Claude will now include invisible marks to show a text was made with AI, Anthropic announces
Claude will now start leaving invisible markers to show that a text has been generated with AI, its maker Anthropic has said. The new update is part of the EU's AI Act, which requires that artificial intelligence companies introduce ways of spotting AI-generated content. But it comes amid broad concern that the internet is filling up with low-quality media generated with artificial intelligence, which has come to be referred to as "AI slop".
Anthropic will now let Claude do things on your behalf by default
Andrew Griffin Anthropic will now let Claude do things on your behalf, by default. The company is switching on its “auto” mode by default, which lets the chatbot take actions on its owner's behalf. It says it will do that unless an action is seen to be “irreversible, destructive, or aimed outside your environment”. The update comes amid widespread concern about the danger posed by “rogue” AI systems, and the dangers they might bring if they are allowed to act on their own.
Anthropic'in yapay zekası kullanıcılar adına karar vermeye başlayacak
Anthropic, Claude'un kullanıcı adına işlem yapmasına artık varsayılan ayar olarak izin verecek. Şirket, sohbet botunun kullanıcısı adına işlem yapmasına izin veren "otomatik" modunu varsayılan olarak etkinleştiriyor. Anthropic, bir eylem "geri döndürülemez veya yıkıcı olmadığı ya da kullanıcının çalışma ortamı dışındaki sistemleri hedeflemediği" sürece Claude'un bunu otomatik olarak gerçekleştireceğini söylüyor.
The stunning fireball Perseid meteor shower twinning with the solar eclipse
Timelapse image of the annual Perseid meteor shower seen from near Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (Danny Lawson/PA) - (PA Archive) The Perseid summer light show spectacular is back – and it could be better than ever. The stunning meteor shower will peak on Wednesday night into Thursday morning and coincides with a total solar eclipse for parts of Europe — though the best time to view the fireballs will come after totality.
Solar eclipse glasses sell out as warning issued over dangerous alternatives
Solar eclipses glasses are almost impossible to buy in-store and online – and members of the public have been issued with an urgent warning over trying other techniques. On the high street and internet stores, eclipses glasses are largely sold out ahead of the celestial spectacle this week. But members of the public have been warned that counterfeit glasses and other alternative ways of seeing the eclipse could lead to harm.
The stunning 100-strong Perseid meteor shower twinning with the solar eclipse
The Perseid summer light show spectacular is back – and it could be better than ever. The stunning meteor shower will peak on Wednesday night into Thursday morning and coincides with a total solar eclipse for parts of Europe — though the best time to view the fireballs will come after totality. As many as 50 to 100 meteors per hour may be visible under ideal conditions, according to NASA. The American Meteor Society estimates 30 to 50 meteors per hour could be seen from rural regions.
Apple planning dramatic overhaul of its watches, report says
Apple is considering a dramatic overhaul of its Watch line-up – including the possibility of products without screens. The iPhone maker is planning to revamp the whole Apple Watch range with a whole set of new designs, according to a new report from Bloomberg. How and whether it will actually bring the changes is yet to be confirmed, the report suggested, but it could include entirely new looks for Apple's fitness tracker.
Countries where you will be able to see Wednesday's full solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and mainland Spain on 12 August, marking mainland Spain's first total solar eclipse in over a century. The celestial event will coincide with a six-planet alignment before dawn and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower after nightfall. Maximum totality will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds off the west coast of Iceland, with hundreds of millions set to view a partial eclipse across Europe, North America and West Africa.
Anthropic will now let Claude do things on your behalf by default
Andrew Griffin Anthropic will now let Claude do things on your behalf, by default. The company is switching on its “auto” mode by default, which lets the chatbot take actions on its owner's behalf. It says it will do that unless an action is seen to be “irreversible, destructive, or aimed outside your environment”. The update comes amid widespread concern about the danger posed by “rogue” AI systems, and the dangers they might bring if they are allowed to act on their own.
OpenAI pauses work on ChatGPT update over fears it is too dangerous
OpenAI will pause some of its work on a planned update to ChatGPT amid fears it could be too dangerous. The new model, named Astra, brings “significant advancements in agentic coding and cybersecurity”, the company said. But testing showed that it might be too powerful – and represent a threat if it was released. The announcement comes as OpenAI continues to deal with the fallout from an experiment in which one of its unreleased models launched a hack on a fellow AI company entirely by itself.
Anthropic will now let Claude do things on your behalf by default
Anthropic will now let Claude do things on your behalf, by default. The company is switching on its “auto” mode by default, which lets the chatbot take actions on its owner’s behalf. It says it will do that unless an action is seen to be “irreversible, destructive, or aimed outside your environment”. The update comes amid widespread concern about the danger posed by “rogue” AI systems, and the dangers they might bring if they are allowed to act on their own.
Apple planning dramatic overhaul of its Watches – including devices without screens
Apple is considering a dramatic overhaul of its Watch line-up – including the possibility of products without screens. The iPhone maker is planning to revamp the whole Apple Watch range with a whole set of new designs, according to a new report from Bloomberg. How and whether it will actually bring the changes is yet to be confirmed, the report suggested, but it could include entirely new looks for Apple’s fitness tracker.
Warning over dangerous ‘fake’ solar glasses ahead of Wednesday’s eclipse
Solar eclipse glasses are largely sold out across high street and online stores ahead of 12 August, when the Moon will cover over 90 per cent of the Sun above the UK. Health experts have issued urgent warnings against using standard sunglasses, counterfeit glasses, or unsafe DIY filters, which fail to block harmful infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
The countries where you will be able to see Wednesday’s full solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse will sweep across Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and mainland Spain on 12 August, marking mainland Spain's first total solar eclipse in over a century. The celestial event will coincide with a six-planet alignment before dawn and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower after nightfall. Maximum totality will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds off the west coast of Iceland, with hundreds of millions set to view a partial eclipse across Europe, North America and West Africa.
Will you see the full solar eclipse? All the countries where it will be visible
18 hours ago Cosmic beings, welcome to eclipse season. This is one of the most astrologically active weeks of August, with the main event arriving on the 12th: the New Moon Total Solar Eclipse in Leo, the first Leo eclipse in over a decade. Solar eclipses accelerate new beginnings, and with this one taking …
Will you see the full solar eclipse? All the countries where it will be visible
For the first time in more than 100 years, a total solar eclipse is coming to mainland Spain. Throw in a crescendoing meteor shower and a six-planet parade on the same day, and stargazers will be treated to a view like no other. Daytime darkness will descend August 12 across the Iberian Peninsula close to sunset — plus slivers of Greenland and Iceland — as the sun, moon and Earth align perfectly in the sky.
AI experts are panicking about a terrifying new era of hacking. Here’s what you can do
AI experts are panicking about a future in which artificial intelligence undermines the safety and security of our devices and the personal information they contain. But is there anything we, as normal computer users can do? In recent days, there have been a wave of terrifying-sounding reports about AI-powered cyber attacks.
Expert reveals the kitchen utensil that will help you watch the solar eclipse safely
The Independent and Yahoo will earn a commission from purchases made via links in this article. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The UK is about to see its most spectacular solar eclipse for the next 54 years on Wednesday – and experts have suggested an unusual way of seeing it. A kitchen colander could be key to watching the event, they say. But there are plenty of more conventional ways to see it safely, too.
Scientists use AI to create new viruses – and give urgent warning
AI has been used to create new viruses for the first ever time – and researchers have warned that it could be the beginning of a dangerous new trend. In the new study, researchers used an artificial intelligence system to make bacteriophages, a virus that infect bacteria and are used to treat infections. The newly developed viruses are able to kill E coli bugs that could not be treated with naturally occurring viruses, the scientists say.
Facebook parent Meta slapped with massive $567M penalty over youth mental health crisis
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Meta to pay $1bn for harming children with Facebook and Instagram
Meta has been ordered to pay a $567 million fine for inflicting harm on young people with Instagram and Facebook. The ruling, part of the second phase of a landmark trial, brings the total penalty against the parent company to $942 million. It is part of a series of actions against Meta that aim to hold it responsible for damaging children's mental health and wellbeing.
Best ever pictures of the sun reveal something we've never seen before
Andrew Griffin Scientists have captured the best ever images of the Sun's surface – and spotted something never seen before. To see the vortices, which are between 500 and 2,000 kilometres across, researchers needed to be able to peer at the Sun in finer detail than ever before. And a new telescope allowed them to do exactly that. The images were actually intended as a test of the National Science Foundation's Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope, located on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
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