From a Hanukkah celebration to a sustainable gift market, there's plenty to do when it comes to festive activities in New York City.

Celebrate the season with one of these upcoming events in NYC.

Here are three free science events worth seeking out in New York City this week.

Join a blockchain summit, a discussion of spacesuit design and more science-focused gatherings this weekend.

Explore the ways open data can benefit communities, how to teach climate science in 2019 and more this weekend.

Verizon customers on the East Coast experienced a service outage, affecting internet and landlines and prompting dissatisfaction and compensation demands.

New York AG announces settlement with National Amusements for $250,000 over inadequate employee data protection, following a breach impacting over 23,000 NY workers.

NYC extends high school application deadline due to a glitch in the online admissions tool, particularly affecting applications to competitive schools.

AG Letitia James alerted New Yorkers about mobile phone message security, suggesting encryption as a defense against hacks and advising scrutiny of messaging apps' data collection practices.

The Angel Shot app, designed to improve safety in bars, allows patrons to discreetly request help with coded distress signals. Over 50 establishments are using the app, with plans for national expansion.

Comun, a neobank serving U.S. Latinos, raised $21.5 million in a Series A round, offering no-fee accounts and remittance without needing a social security number.

New York City skies will feature a visible "parade of planets" after sunset, including Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, some viewable with the naked eye.

Regional attorneys general, including New York's Letitia James, demand refunds for Optimum customers amidst a blackout of MSG Networks due to a dispute with Altice USA.

NY Governor Hochul announces a $60 million investment in NYC's EV charging infrastructure, with Revel adding 267 new charging stalls to advance the state's green economy goals.

NY Governor Hochul bans DeepSeek AI app on government devices due to cybersecurity and data privacy concerns, emphasizing protection from foreign threats.

Governor Hochul announces a $26 million investment for broadband in Oswego County as part of New York's ConnectALL initiative, expanding affordable internet access.

Governor Hochul warns of a scam involving fake E-ZPass texts phishing for personal info; urges New Yorkers to verify messages through official channels.

New Yorkers can observe a lunar eclipse on March 13, a solar eclipse on March 29, and spot planets in March's night skies, with the added relief that asteroid YR4's impact threat is nearly zero.

NYC Mayor Adams and CTO Fraser announce a $2.4 million investment for the "NYC Digital Equity Roadmap" to improve tech access for underserved communities.

New York AG Letitia James secured a $650k settlement with app developer Saturn Technologies for not verifying users' ages, endangering teens' online safety.

New York Governor Hochul emphasizes AI leadership and public benefit in response to the federal AI Action Plan, highlighting IP security and collaboration with the federal government.

NY Attorney General Letitia James and 27 attorneys general back an FCC rule in an amicus brief to block telemarketers from selling phone numbers without clear consent, aiming to protect consumers from robocall scams.

After 23andMe's bankruptcy, the NY and CA attorneys general warn customers to delete their data due to privacy risks, following the company's significant data breach and CEO's resignation. Experts advise proactive deletion of genetic information.

Bay Area skywatchers can enjoy the Lyrids and Eta Aquarids meteor showers in April, with peak viewings on April 22 and later in the month, respectively.

Brooklyn residents rally against proposed lithium-ion battery storage facilities, fearing fire risks and impact on property values and insurance, despite assurances of safety standards.

The 2025 Uber Lost & Found Index reveals various unusual items left in Ubers, with NYC being the top city for forgotten things, ranging from Viking drinking horns to live pets. Uber also hosted a pop-up in Manhattan for item retrieval and education.

Governor Hochul announces a $5 million initiative to improve mobile service in New York, seeking innovative solutions to enhance wireless coverage as part of the ConnectALL strategy.

NYC Mayor Adams and NYCEM Commissioner Iscol introduced a simplified signup to Notify NYC alerts via text, adding zip code-specific information for residents.

Venus, Saturn, and the crescent moon will align to form a 'smiley face' in the sky on April 25, visible shortly before sunrise if conditions are clear.

FDNY and NIST co-host a "Train the Trainer" workshop to improve emergency responders' use of robots, with experts from various agencies in attendance, aimed at standardizing operational usage in crises.

A Long Island teen developed a successful AI calorie counting app, Cal AI, but was rejected by Ivy League schools despite his impressive achievements.

Former Columbia student Roy Lee's startup Cluely, built on a controversial AI tool, has raised $5.3 million after he was suspended for creating an app that helped job applicants in coding interviews.

New York introduces laws aiming at regulating AI technology, requiring companies to disclose when chatbots are used and directing at-risk users to mental health resources. Creating sexual deepfakes of minors is criminalized under the new legislation.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $10 million expansion to New York's NYFIRST program, aiming to attract top translational research scientists to bolster the state's life sciences sector.

Kevin Boodram founded Serenity Robotic Lawncare, offering quieter electric robotic mowers in Long Island, with around 70 customers favoring the noiseless lawn maintenance.

A GOP-led federal measure may block New York from implementing AI regulations, proposing a 10-year moratorium on state AI laws enforcement. Critics argue it shields corporations, while supporters seek a national AI policy.

Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated the groundbreaking of Farmingdale State College's new Computer Sciences Center, a project supported by state funding to foster tech education and economic growth in Long Island.

New York schools will enforce a "bell-to-bell" smartphone ban next fall, with exemptions for certain students. Concerns arise over potential stigma and enforcement logistics.

Attorneys General from 27 states, led by Letitia James, are suing 23andMe to prevent the sale of customer genetic data following the company's bankruptcy.

A grassroots group in Suffolk County created an app to alert residents to ICE agent sightings, used over 60,000 times since January, amid rising community concerns.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announces a $40 million investment for the Empire AI Beta supercomputer, boosting AI research and capabilities in the state.

New York Governor Hochul signs legislation to strengthen cybersecurity, requiring municipalities to report cyber incidents within 72 hours and ransom payments within 24 hours.

NY AG Letitia James urges Congress for stronger crypto regulation, focusing on stablecoins, to protect investors and national security. She recommends banking regulations and FDIC insurance for stablecoins.

The American Federation of Teachers is leading a $23 million initiative to increase AI literacy among educators, partnering with tech companies and aiming to train over 400,000 teachers by 2030.

The largest piece of Mars on Earth, NWA 16788, sold for $5.3 million at a New York auction, surpassing estimates.

NYC Mayor Adams and Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos will implement a new policy banning student use of personal, internet-enabled devices in public schools starting from the 2025-2026 term.

New York Attorney General Letitia James sues Zelle's operator, EWS, for failing to prevent fraud, demanding restitution and enhanced security measures.

The University at Buffalo will launch AI degree programs, with a $5 million state funding boost, to embed AI into various disciplines, announced Governor Hochul.

Governor Hochul announces $52.6 million for broadband expansion in New York, aiming to reduce the digital divide by connecting over 24,000 households through infrastructure awards.

The article discusses updates on environmental restoration, the role of middle school students in tackling marine debris, OR&R's emergency response to marine incidents, and a ship fire emphasizing the challenges in marine conservation.

A wrongful arrest in Brooklyn, due to misidentification by NYPD's facial recognition technology, has sparked debate over its reliability and ethical use, leading to calls for a ban on the tech by the Legal Aid Society.

The Legal Aid Society calls for an investigation into the NYPD's use of facial recognition citing policy breaches and false arrests, involving cases where the technology led to erroneous identifications.

Plainedge High School in Long Island introduced the XSponse Shield and Display safety alert system to enhance emergency response, featuring classroom devices and staff panic badges for precise location tracking, at a cost of $2,000 per classroom.

The article reports on the rising number of deepfake scams, highlighting the case of Dr. Rachel Goldman, new legislation for digital content watermarks, and the scamming of a woman using actor Steve Burton's deepfake video.

The NYC medical examiner's office continues efforts to identify 9/11 victims' remains 24 years later, with recent technological advancements aiding in the identification of three victims last month.

Governor Hochul announces over $636 million for universal broadband across New York, with public input invited and a webinar scheduled for details on the Final Proposal.

Governor Hochul announces a $300 million investment for a Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at SUNY Stony Brook, positioning New York as a leader in quantum science.

Protesters gathered at Apple stores, demanding better safety features for children on Apple's devices amidst the iPhone 17 launch. They accuse Apple of neglecting to protect kids from online harm and hosting child sexual abuse material on iCloud.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams extends 'Big Apple Connect', offering free internet and basic cable to 330K NYCHA residents until June 2028, saving them $1,700 yearly.

The first supermoon of the year, the Harvest Supermoon, will be visible in NYC tonight, offering a larger and brighter view due to its proximity to Earth. Optimal conditions are expected for viewing.

Governor Kathy Hochul announces a $10 million investment to create the SUNY Brain Institute, enhancing New York's neuroscience research in areas like brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Governor Kathy Hochul visited the Garden City Police Department to highlight a $21 million investment in law enforcement technology in Long Island, part of a larger $127 million grant aimed at improving public and officer safety.

The AFT collaborates with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to train teachers in AI, funded by a $23 million investment, to integrate AI into education without replacing educators.

The FDNY has deployed AI-powered cameras in NY parks for early brush fire detection, streaming live footage for swift response and supplemented with drone surveillance.

FIT unveils the $188.5 million Joyce F. Brown Academic Building in Manhattan's Fashion District, poised to enhance creative education with state-of-the-art resources and LEED Gold certification.

A young entrepreneur who cut her teeth in San Francisco's biotech scene is now leading one of medicine's most controversial ventures from Manhattan's Upper East Side. Seven years after a Chinese scientist went to prison for creating the first gene-edited babies, Cathy Tie believes she can prove the technology is ready—if society will let her.

We tried to check our own website this morning and got an error message, joining millions of users locked out when the company protecting a fifth of the internet went dark. Whether you can read this right now depends on where you're sitting—a fitting introduction to the fragile infrastructure holding the digital world together.

The FDA has announced a recall of over 500,000 bottles of blood pressure medication prazosin over cancer risk concerns.

Maimonides Health in Brooklyn launched a program for students to experience and train in emergency medicine, and opened a large pediatric emergency department.

NY Governor Hochul implements new AI interaction safety regulations, requiring crisis intervention protocols and regular reminders to users that they are engaging with AI.

Brown pelicans and a rare common cuckoo are spotted in New York, exciting bird-watchers and raising ecological concerns about climate change and migration patterns.

Bronx high school students create a bodega-themed escape room, showcasing community culture and their robotics skills.

The NYC DEP launched an app, "NYC Noise," allowing residents to measure and report noise pollution in the city, aiding enforcement of sound regulations.

The opening of Queen One's new headquarters in Brooklyn was celebrated, set to create 600 jobs and invest in local tech innovation, with state support via tax credits.

A small asteroid with a non-zero percent chance of hitting the Moon in 2032 has scientists from the Bay Area to Houston and New York scrambling to refine its orbit. As teams weigh everything from reconnaissance missions to nuclear disruption, the question is whether the odds will shrink before time runs out.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams directs city agencies to adopt language tech, enhancing accessibility for non-English speakers, with the NYPD and public schools developing custom apps. The initiative aligns with broader tech strategies for city inclusivity.

New York celebrates the completion of NanoFab Reflection, a key part of a $1 billion investment in semiconductor innovation, expected to create jobs and attract private investment.

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York announces a $40 million funding plan to boost worker training for the state's growing advanced nuclear energy sector, as part of NYPA's commitment to produce one gigawatt of nuclear power.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and 41 attorneys general demand tech companies address AI chatbot dangers, citing cases involving minors and AI interactions linked to severe incidents.

NY Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to regulate AI in media, requiring disclosure of AI-generated images and consent for using deceased individuals' likenesses.

Governor Hochul signed the RAISE Act in New York to regulate AI development with safety and transparency, establishing oversight and imposing penalties for non-compliance.

ElevenLabs expands in NYC, backed by Governor Hochul, investing $33M and creating 230 jobs, focusing on AI audio innovation with state support of $4.4M in tax credits.

NYC debates intensify over Wegmans and Fairway's use of facial recognition, raising privacy concerns and outpacing regulations, despite businesses informing customers as required by a 2021 law.

Ashley St. Clair says Grok undressed and sexualized her in AI‑generated images, including one tied to a photo of her at 14. xAI has moved to federal court and countersued in Texas.

New York strengthens its tech sector with the establishment of the first independent AI research center at SUNY Binghamton, funded by a $30 million donation led by Bloomberg co-founder Tom Secunda and $25 million from SUNY.

Governor Kathy Hochul announces a $3 million renovation for SUNY Upstate Medical Center's CNY Biotech Accelerator to expand life science incubator space in Syracuse.

AG Letitia James leads a bipartisan group urging xAI to strengthen controls on Grok to prevent creation and sharing of sexualized nonconsensual images.

Radical AI is establishing New York's first fully autonomous materials science lab in Brooklyn Navy Yard, supported by $2 million in tax credits, with plans to conduct 100 AI-driven experiments daily and create 115 high-wage jobs.

NYC public schools are establishing new rules for AI use, addressing concerns from parents and educators about privacy and the authenticity of students' work, with some schools creating their own AI policies in the interim.

Zucker Hillside Hospital has initiated a study observing participants use substances like alcohol, cannabis, psilocybin, and MDMA to understand their therapeutic potential and risks.

Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn heats its facilities with vegetable oil biofuel, becoming the first NYC public school to do so, and thereby potentially reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality in the city.

Talkspace’s CEO spoke on Capital Tonight about Gov. Hochul’s plan to curb AI chatbots and expand teen mental‑health training, and urged parents to favor licensed care.

Queen One’s Rise and Fly Vision Centre at 25 Kent Avenue turns a Williamsburg office into an immersive art-meets-tech hub with promised jobs and neighborhood programming.

Jonathan Haidt's book and public push have helped move age-based social media limits from debate into law and school policy. The science is contested and young people want a voice.

The FDA cleared Optune Pax, a wearable tumor‑treating‑fields device, after a Phase 3 trial showed a small survival benefit and delayed pain progression for inoperable pancreatic cancer.

SUNY researchers say dim indoor light during close-up work may be driving the rise in nearsightedness and offer simple fixes for parents, schools and commuters.

Massachusetts plans to join the GUARDIAN newborn genome‑screening pilot that tests for 450+ treatable genetic conditions. The voluntary program would require state review before enrollment begins.

Nobel laureate Richard Axel stepped down as co‑director of Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute after DOJ records linked him to Jeffrey Epstein. Columbia said it found no evidence of legal violations but accepted his resignation.

Mount Sinai‑affiliated clinics in Manhattan are using an FDA‑cleared AI from BrightHeart to flag fetal heart abnormalities, a move studies show boosts detection and shortens review time.

Hong Kong’s RedotPay is reportedly weighing a New York IPO that could raise more than $1 billion and value the company north of $4 billion as regulators ready licenses. Investors will be watching reserves and redemption rules closely.

Mount Sinai is rolling out face‑scan check‑ins with CLEAR1 across its hospitals and clinics, promising faster check‑ins and fewer duplicate records while prompting privacy debate.

A small NYU Langone pilot found microplastic fragments in nine of 10 prostate tumors, with tumor tissue holding roughly 2.5 times more plastic than nearby healthy tissue. Researchers call the result surprising but preliminary.

Trump Media said it is in talks to spin off Truth Social and merge the platform with a SPAC after its planned merger with fusion firm TAE Technologies.

Perplexity asked a federal judge to narrow parts of suits by The New York Times and Chicago Tribune while leaving core copyright allegations intact.

Federal probes into banks' AI hiring tools raise questions about bias in résumé screeners. Here’s what researchers and regulators are watching and how applicants can respond.

Gracenote sued OpenAI in Manhattan, alleging its curated media metadata was copied to train ChatGPT. The suit says the company's database structure was used without permission.

UT Austin researchers built a near-atomic map of the Andes hantavirus and produced a vaccine candidate that triggered neutralizing antibodies in mice.

A viral cellphone clip from Corona shows three glowing orbs moving in a triangular pattern. Authorities say corroborating radar or sensor data are needed to identify the sighting.

Pfizer reported mid‑stage results showing atirmociclib plus fulvestrant cut progression or death risk by about 40% in patients previously treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors.

New reporting shows Epstein paid consultants and used fake sites and Wikipedia edits to bury negative search results and burnish a philanthropic image.

Congress moved to restore SBIR/STTR authority, reopening non‑dilutive R&D grants that many New York biotech startups rely on.

Goldman Sachs is investing $42.5M in Chicago‑based GeoWealth to extend its Series C and deepen a product partnership aimed at RIAs.

Merlin Labs went public this week via a SPAC merger, listing on Nasdaq under MRLN and closing at $9.03. The Boston startup arrives with fresh capital and a $105M defense contract to accelerate hiring and certification.

An international drilling mission found low‑salinity water trapped beneath the Atlantic off New England. Early estimates say the supply could be huge — but tapping it would be complex.

Abbott has closed its roughly $21B purchase of Exact Sciences, paying $105 a share and folding Cologuard and other cancer‑testing assets into its diagnostics arm while keeping Exact’s Madison operations intact.

Pfizer and Valneva say their VLA15 Lyme vaccine is showing promise in late‑stage trials; a Phase 3 readout is expected in early 2026.

A fake CAPTCHA scam is tricking Windows users into pasting and running commands that install the StealC info‑stealer. Experts explain what it does and how to respond.

The Associated Press is offering buyouts to U.S. staff as it pivots to video and paid data products — a shift that could reshape local news coverage.

A Manhattan scientist with a deadly family history of ALS has been receiving experimental spinal antisense infusions at Columbia; early tests show promise.

Stony Brook planetary scientist Timothy Glotch was chosen as a participating scientist on NASA’s Artemis lunar surface team. He’ll help plan and support astronaut science operations for the Artemis IV landing campaign.

The FCC added foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List, blocking new models from receiving U.S. authorization. Existing devices remain usable but future upgrades may slow.

A Manhattan federal judge refused to dismiss a class action accusing CNN of sharing visitors’ browsing data with adtech firms, keeping alive a test of California’s pen‑register law.

A $100 million BATWorks initiative will turn the Brooklyn Army Terminal into a climate tech testing ground, promising hundreds of local jobs and pilots ahead of a 2028 launch.

A Manhattan ruling in February has spurred law‑firm advisories and contract changes after judges found consumer AI chats can be discoverable. Lawyers are urging enterprise tools and stricter prompts.

A Manhattan judge denied Bayer's bid to block Johnson & Johnson ads claiming Erleada halves the risk of death versus Nubeqa, leaving the Lanham Act suit to play out in court.

Adaptive Security is relocating its New York HQ to 120 Broadway, taking the 12th floor in a BarkBox sublease as it expands after a major funding round.

ServiceNow and IBM rocked markets on Thursday, triggering a broad selloff in software names as investors fretted over AI’s impact on subscription businesses.

A new international advisory warns China‑nexus actors are routing attacks through compromised routers and IoT to mask espionage and pre‑position strikes.

3D imaging and AI of fossil beaks suggest finned octopuses up to about 62 feet long once patrolled Cretaceous seas. The jaws show heavy wear consistent with crushing hard prey.

MeiraGTx priced a roughly $100M share offering after reacquiring bota‑vec from Johnson & Johnson. The cash will fund regulatory filings and potential product launches.

New York City startups pulled in $1.6B in late-stage digital health funding in Q1 2026 as investors concentrate on AI-enabled, revenue-generating platforms.

Anthropic teamed with Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman and Goldman Sachs on a roughly $1.5B venture to put Claude into private‑equity and mid‑market companies.

The AP won a Pulitzer for a three‑year probe that traced surveillance tools from Silicon Valley to China and back into U.S. systems. The reporting raises fresh questions about oversight and tech policy.

Five major publishers and Scott Turow sued Meta in Manhattan, alleging millions of copyrighted books and articles were used to train Llama. The filing could reshape licensing and liability for AI training data.

Mounjaro's Q1 sales topped Keytruda, lifting Lilly's revenue and reshaping the blockbuster drug ranking.

A Lancet‑published consensus has renamed PCOS to PMOS to emphasize hormonal and metabolic causes. Patient groups are split as the three‑year roll‑out begins.

Goldman Sachs' operations chief says the bank will build a 'digital factory floor' of AI agents to automate back‑office work while saying overall headcount should stay largely unchanged.

A PLOS ONE study traced a 2020 apartment outbreak to shared bathroom ducts and urges retrofits — exhaust fans and non‑return flaps — to reduce airborne spread.

New York’s cannabis regulator has launched a pilot observational study testing oral THC and CBD for adults with inflammatory bowel disease, partnering with licensed dispensaries.

A new Frontiers study finds a small uptick in lung cancer incidence after COVID‑19, especially among current and former smokers, and points to the enzyme TYMP as a likely mechanism.

NYC‑based Runway hit No. 45 on CNBC's Disruptor 50 after a $315M Series E and major product and compute moves that pushed its valuation toward $5.3B.

The Commerce Department unveiled a $2B CHIPS‑funded quantum package that includes $1B for IBM’s new foundry and minority equity stakes in several startups.

Modelers have removed the extreme RCP8.5/SSP5‑8.5 marker from the CMIP7 design; the revision narrows the upper‑end of projections but still leaves large warming and financial risk.

An experimental drug called bepirovirsen produced durable 'functional cures' in roughly 20% of patients in large trials, offering a potential finite therapy for chronic hepatitis B.

Chicago's Architect is pushing exchange‑traded futures on GPU and DRAM prices, setting up competition with CME and ICE. The move could make compute costs a tradable asset.

Cette AI founder Michael LaFave alleges Voya Financial accessed his devices, stole code and tracked him, a New York lawsuit says.

Mastercard won a New York BitLicense on May 27, giving it regulated footing to expand stablecoin and tokenized‑payment services under state supervision.

John Hill has been named director of Brookhaven National Laboratory as the Upton campus pivots from RHIC operations to the Electron‑Ion Collider and major upgrades. He'll oversee the lab's $900M budget and 3,000 staff.

DFS told banks, insurers and crypto firms to tighten authentication, accelerate patching and test backups amid concerns that frontier AI and geopolitical shocks could raise cyber risk.

Columbia researchers identify SIRT1 as a driver of treatment‑resistant neuroendocrine prostate cancer and show blocking it halts tumors in mice.

Early trial data show amivantamab shrank—and in some patients erased—tumors in treatment‑resistant head and neck cancer, with results set for ASCO on Sunday. Investigators call the responses striking but preliminary.

Updated CHORD trial numbers presented in Seoul suggest most children with otoferlin‑related deafness gained meaningful hearing after Otarmeni treatment. The therapy was FDA‑cleared in April.

A Baylor‑led consortium's AllFaith Benchmark finds major language models often omit religious perspectives in ethics answers and show conversion biases. The work is open‑sourced for developers and scholars.

Justice Department files show Jeffrey Epstein deposited sperm with California Cryobank and signed a 2016 contract leaving the samples to his estate; the material’s whereabouts remain unclear.

Columbia researchers report precise base edits in early human embryos, targeting PCSK9 and HBG. Experts warn mosaicism and long‑term safety risks remain.

Flourish surfaced from stealth with $500M and a $2.5B valuation, backed by Bezos and top VCs, promising a low‑power 'Cortex AI' that blends neuroscience and machine learning.

Albany approved S9051 this week to bar AI chatbot features that can harm or manipulate kids; the move was driven by parents testimony and advocacy groups.

Long Island scientists are growing patient 'avatars' — organoids — to test dozens of drug combinations. Early trials show promise but wider validation and faster methods are still needed.

Federal prosecutors say LangInnov settled after allegedly performing SBIR‑funded R&D overseas, a possible breach of NSF rules. The U.S. Attorney’s office framed the move as enforcement of domestic R&D requirements.

A New York‑led coalition of state attorneys general served OpenAI with a sweeping subpoena seeking memos on advertising, retention, data and child and senior safety as the company confirms a confidential IPO filing.

A Rutgers genetic survey found many city mice carry mutations that blunt commonly used poisons, complicating pest control in Brooklyn.

Pfizer announced that CFO Dave Denton will step down Aug. 15; Cecile Guegan will serve as interim CFO while the company launches a search for a successor. The move follows several major deals that reshaped Pfizer’s balance sheet.

SpaceX has agreed to provide Reflection AI with GB300-class compute at its Colossus campus near Memphis in a deal that could reach $6.3 billion.