Research 12 January 2026 - 24 January 2026

Fire at Germany’s GSI lab in Darmstadt derails FAIR accelerator test plans

A fire broke out early Thursday at the GSI Helmholtz Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, forcing evacuation and postponement of the FAIR accelerator project’s December test phase. Officials blamed a short circuit in the accelerator’s high-voltage power supply. No injuries were reported. Damage estimates have not been released.

February 5, 2026

Artificial Intelligence·News·Research·Technology Policy

Singapore’s S$1 billion AI research bet: new push to keep pace with U.S., China by 2030

Singapore will invest over S$1 billion in public AI research by 2030, officials announced Saturday. The plan targets basic research, industry applications, and talent development, with funds channeled to new research centres. Rising power and water costs linked to AI and data centre expansion were cited as concerns. The initiative forms part of the National AI Strategy 2.0.

January 24, 2026

News·Research

Here’s what researchers reported, based on teens enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study:

Passive monitoring of 640 U.S. teens’ Android phones found average school-hour use at 1.16 hours daily, with social media apps most used. Older teens and those from lower-income households logged more time. Nearly all schools report smartphone policies, but the study shows high use persists. New Jersey and Kansas are moving to tighten enforcement, with New Jersey mandating phone restrictions statewide by 2026–27.

January 12, 2026