Apps

Mantic Raises $25M After Beating Human Forecasters — 18hLondon AI startup Mantic raised $25 million in seed funding led by Radical Ventures, with Microsoft’s M12, after its judgmental forecasting system beat all human forecasters at the Metaculus Cup, signaling strong demand from hedge funds, corporates, and governments for medium-term risk and scenario planning. Founded in 2024 by Toby Shevlane and Ben Day, Mantic blends human-style reasoning with backtested historical data to predict geopolitical, economic, and strategic events, targeting scenarios where traditional models struggle.

Nicole Hardy Beating the top human forecasters on Metaculus shows this approach could help with tricky geopolitical calls that pure models miss.

Minnesota Farm Blends Indigenous Knowledge With Regenerative Practices — Sep 10, 2026Salvatierra Farms in southern Minnesota showcases regenerative, chemical-free farming on 63 acres, aiming to be a model for others by blending crop diversity with natural solutions and spiritual stewardship rooted in Indigenous wisdom. The effort mobilizes a diverse Midwest network—Lakota members, former large-scale farmers, Catholic sisters—reflecting a broader renewal of eco-spirituality and historically rooted approaches to land stewardship.

Chris Dalton It's inspiring how this farm combines Indigenous wisdom with practical regenerative methods to restore the land without chemicals.

Texas Tech, Houston Meet in Ranked Rivalry — 2dTexas Tech’s roster-spending push remains front and center as it reportedly spent around $5 million to keep Brendan Sorsby and has long been a leader in the Big 12, though recent estimates show BYU now closer to the pack and Tech not necessarily the most expensive. The narrative blends a high-stakes program-building push with a high-profile showdown against Houston, a test of whether Tech’s 2025 breakthrough can translate into sustained national power amid coaching tensions and fanfare about the program’s spending and strategy.

Historic Towns Showcase Markets, Heritage, Local CultureLifestyle — 6dA series of travel profiles highlight market towns and historic quarters—Helmsley in North Yorkshire, Ormskirk, and Longridge in Lancashire—with emphasis on independent shops, local food, and access to countryside and heritage. Also featured are cultural celebrations and heritage districts such as Old Town North's Taste festival in Alexandria and Valencia’s San Blas neighborhood, which blend tradition with modern dining and community life.

Bellinger Homer Powers Yankees Past Mets — Sep 12, 2026In a Subway Series game framed by 9/11 remembrance ceremonies, the Yankees honored first responders with patches and a wreath-laying as Cody Bellinger delivered a decisive three-run homer to power a New York win over the Mets. The events blended memorial tributes with on-field highlights as players from the 2001 Yankees reflected on the tragic anniversary while the current team secured the victory.

Nicole Hardy The first responder tributes felt right at home with the game, especially with those 2001 players reflecting on it all.

Mandel’s 'Exit Party' Expands Dystopian MandelverseEntertainment — 5dEmily St. John Mandel's Exit Party is a 2031 post-civil-war dystopian novel that splits between parallel versions of the United States and follows Ari Waker amid Mandelverse connections to her earlier works, highlighting a blend of crime and sci-fi and themes of surveillance and political fracture. Across interviews and profiles, outlets emphasize how current political anxieties inspired the book, Mandel's plans for adapting Exit Party for screen, and the cohesive universe linking her acclaimed novels.

NCPA selects VAIR as official rating system for college pickleball — Sep 11, 2026VAIR has been named the official rating system of the National Collegiate Pickleball Association, granting NCPA players VAIR+ access, integrated performance statistics, and a pathway to becoming VAIRified to better understand and develop their game. The partnership blends AI, match data, and certified human evaluation to produce a more accurate representation of on-court ability beyond wins and losses.

Marcus Bell Hope the VAIR+ access makes it easier for teams to analyze matches without extra hassle.

Dear Abby Advises Struggling Double DreamerLifestyle — 6dDear Abby columns feature a 'Soda Stand Dreamer' juggling parenting, work, and ambitions to write a book or start a small business, with pragmatic guidance to pick one dream and commit time or gain related skills, while also addressing privacy boundaries in a blended-family finances debate about child support. The articles collectively note the column’s long-running authorship by Jeanne Phillips, highlighting its role in offering advice and shaping perspectives on everyday challenges.

Jared Kim Learning skills tied to your dream before quitting your job makes more sense than jumping straight into a soda stand with little kids at home.

Ciara, Russell Wilson Expecting Fifth Child — Sep 7, 2026Ciara and Russell Wilson have announced they are expecting a fifth child, marking their fourth with each other, revealed through a collaborative Instagram post and a playful display of a clothesline with five shirts and a blank onesie. The couple, known for a blended family that already includes Future Zahir, Sienna, Win, and Amora, have publicly celebrated expanding their family as Wilson has moved into retirement from football and Ciara continues her music career.

Sam Okafor Good for Russell settling into this next chapter with family after football, seems like a natural transition.

USA Rout Czechia 105-64, Extend World Cup Streak — Sep 8, 2026Team USA crushed Czechia 105-64 to sweep the group and extend their World Cup win streak to 33, with Breanna Stewart contributing 19 points and a well-rounded line as the veterans leadership boosted a strong return after a tough prior outing against Italy. The win sets up a quarterfinal clash as the U.S. continues to blend the experienced core with the young talent on a roster that remains dominant this tournament.

Kai Trump Opens Miami Career With 78 — Sep 5, 2026Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, makes her collegiate debut for the University of Miami at the Golfweek Fall Challenge after wrist surgery, competing as an individual as she proves her readiness for NCAA competition. She emphasizes prioritizing golf and studies over partying, approaching college with a serious work ethic and early rounds that reflect her blend of athletic pedigree and influencer background.

Oscar statuette costs $400, but winners can't just sell it — Sep 1, 2026Oscars blend prestige with mystery and controversy, evolving from a modest 1929 ceremony into a billion-dollar industry underpinned by fierce campaigns and opaque traditions. Across articles, the statuette's value is largely symbolic: about $400 to make, with tens of millions spent on campaigns, and post-1951 winners must offer the statue to the Academy for $1 before disposal.

Tom Gallagher Funny how something worth $400 in materials somehow requires millions in campaigning just to win one.

Influencer Disruptions Spark U.S. Open Debate — Sep 2, 2026At the US Open, chair umpire Kader Nouni halted Naomi Osaka's match after influencers in a suite disrupted play with a photoshoot and bright lighting, prompting a brief admonition to sit down. The episodes have intensified the debate over influencers at tennis events, even as the USTA says such incidents are infrequent and notes it is expanding media credentials for content creators to blend digital coverage with on-court action.

YHWH Timepieces expands automatic watch lineup after rapid sellouts — Sep 2, 2026YHWH Timepieces says it is finalizing a new wave of automatic designs and multiple forthcoming collections amid strong demand and sold-out releases, with a design language that blends contemporary styling and explicit Christian details. The brand is exploring concepts like the Genesis Collection, an automatic line featuring engraved casebacks, as it aims to keep its meaning-driven approach visible on the watches themselves.

MarketBeat screener spotlights hydrogen, space and infrastructure stocks amid sector risksBusiness — Sep 4, 2026MarketBeat’s stock screeners highlight top picks across four sectors, naming hydrogen leaders CF Industries, Plug Power and NuScale Power; Canadian plays Canadian National Railway, Canadian Natural Resources and Canadian Pacific Kansas City; space names Boeing, Rocket Lab, GE Aerospace and Howmet Aerospace; and infrastructure firms Marvell Technology, Cerebras Systems and Astera Labs. The roundups emphasize the blend of growth potential and higher risk across these emerging tech and transportation subsectors.

Full Circle Memoir Reframes Reincarnation, GriefLifestyle — Aug 27, 2026Gayle R. Lee's memoir Full Circle: Life After Life chronicles a 30-year journey through the loss of her son and explores reincarnation and the afterlife, presenting grief as a catalyst for resilience and spiritual growth. The book blends memoir, self-help, and spirituality and is pitched as guidance for readers grieving, with availability through major retailers and a focus on meaning beyond this life.

Nitun Ahir Scholarship Announces 2026 ApplicationsHealth — Aug 30, 2026Across multiple regions, new medical scholarships are expanding access and prioritizing holistic, equity-focused approaches to healthcare, with Nitun Ahir’s 2026 call for essays blending clinical care, public health, and business strategy; Indigenous-focused awards in Australia recognizing community health impact; and the Dr. Valinda Nwadike Scholarship supporting undergraduates aiming to reform care delivery for underserved populations.

Sound of Harvest 2026 blends ancient Silk Road music with global traditions — Aug 31, 2026The Chinese Musicians Association of North America presents Sound of Harvest 2026, its cross-cultural concert series, on September 12 at Rutgers University and September 13 at Montclair State University, bringing together diverse traditions from China, Japan, West Africa, Europe and the Americas. The program highlights pieces such as Riffs and Flow inspired by Dunhuang pipa notation and Tan Dun’s Desert of Sorrow, emphasizing interactive exchanges across musical backgrounds.

Dancing With the Stars unveils Season 35 cast ahead of September premiere — Sep 1, 2026Dancing with the Stars has announced its Season 35 cast, featuring a diverse mix of celebrities from acting, sports, and reality TV, including Jenna Dewan, Shum Jr., Julia Stiles, and Tatyana Ali, with the competition kicking off in a two-night season premiere on September 15–16. The lineup emphasizes a blend of established dance credentials and athletic achievement, signaling a high-stakes season on ABC with audience-vote dynamics and star-power driving promotional momentum.

Nicole Hardy Two-night premiere already feels like a lot, but I'll take any excuse for more dance numbers before winter sets in.

Girl Scouts Announce New Cookie to Lineup — Dec 11, 2025Move over, Thin Mints. There’s a new cookie in town. Exploremores has been added to the cookie lineup, per NewsNation . The new cookie is described as having a creme-filled center that blends flavors of chocolate…

Trump EPA Sides With Farmers Over Refiners in Biofuel Waiver DecisionReporting — Sep 14, 2020The Trump administration said on Monday it rejected scores of requests from U.S. oil refiners for waivers that would have retroactively spared them from their obligation to blend biofuels like ethanol into their fuel…

Watch: Would You Want to Board This Flight in This Wicked Alaskan Snowstorm?Reporting — Dec 25, 2022Alaska is an interesting blend of rugged beauty and crazy-cold weather. It’s an outdoor lover’s dream, given all the possibilities for adventure and activity. Alaska also tends to be one of the more difficult places for…

Taliban Leader Declared President, Name Change Coming Soon To AfghanistanReporting — Aug 16, 2021Kabul, soon to be the capital of what will be formally known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, had a blend of fear and panic with patches of surface calm Monday, one day after the Taliban took control of the city…

Odysseus Maeotis Premieres in Wartime KyivWorld — Aug 28, 2026Kyiv theater stages Odysseus, Maeotis as a wartime reimagining of Homer that blends active-duty soldiers with modern warfare imagery, delayed by Russian strikes but aimed at exploring return, home, and Ukrainian identity. The project sits alongside Ukraine’s cultural resilience, with discussions on nuclear security, NATO guarantees, and festival plans like Kharkiv’s East Opera Fest, underscoring a broader effort to preserve memory and national identity amid conflict.