Science & Technology — July 21, 2026

Laptop solves problem thought to need quantum computer. Researchers used tensor networks, a mathematical compression technique, to shrink an overwhelming quantum wave function and solve a problem previously deemed impossible for classical computers -- on relatively modest hardware.

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Judge approves Anthropic's $1.5 billion author settlement. A federal judge approved Anthropic's settlement with authors who sued over the use of their work to train Claude. The broader AI copyright question remains unresolved.

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Blocking brain immune cells restores sleep in Alzheimer's mice. Overactive microglia, the brain's immune cells, trigger inflammation that disrupts sleep in Alzheimer's; blocking them restored two hours of sleep in mice without clearing amyloid plaques, researchers found.

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Hackers steal data from hospital billing firm. Edinburgh-based Craneware, whose billing software serves thousands of U.S. hospitals, pharmacies, and clinics, confirmed hackers stole a significant amount of customer data in a cyberattack.

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