Bits & Bites

There was AI-created misinformation and propaganda, but it was not as catastrophic as many feared. It’s been the biggest year for elections in human history: 2024 is a “super-cycle” year in which 3.7 billion eligible voters in 72 countries had the chance to go to the polls. These are also the first AI elections, where many feared that deepfakes and artificial intelligence-generated misinformation would overwhelm the democratic processes.

Music acts as an emotional lure, becoming intertwined with memories and subtly altering their emotional tone. Have you ever noticed how a particular song can bring back a flood of memories? Maybe it’s the tune that was playing during your first dance, or the anthem of a memorable road trip.

The newly named Commercial Space Federation has a fresh mandate and a heightened focus on political action. The trade association formerly known as the Commercial Spaceflight Federation is getting a new name, a concise mandate, and a way to support the politicians who support space.

A Shein Activation in England earlier this year. The fast-fashion brand is pronounced "SHE-in."Anthony Devlin/Getty Images for SheinThis year brought us another slate of words to butcher in the popular discourse. Fast-fashion company Shein and Ozempic's active ingredient, semaglutide, both made the list. Here are the top 10 most mispronounced words that dominated conversations this year, according to Babbel.

Protesters demonstrate against the country's president at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol's shock martial law announcement that he reversed hours later. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty ImagesSouth Korea's political turmoil is likely to make the 'Korea discount' in stocks harder to shake off. South Korean President Yoon announced martial law late on Tuesday, shocking markets.

Hoda Kotb says she was body-shamed by her former boss. Nathan Congleton/NBCHoda Kotb, 60, says she was body-shamed by a former boss when she was younger."He goes, 'Hey, I got an idea. Maybe you might want to try to get on the treadmill,'" Kotb said, recalling his words. In the US, there are no federal laws that prohibit weight discrimination.