Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pair the faster A20 Pro chip with a variable-aperture Fusion Main camera, a smaller, more capable Dynamic Island, longer battery life, and higher prices, while otherwise changing surprisingly little from last year.

The LUX-ZEPLIN experiment in South Dakota recorded an unexplained flash of light in 2023, suggesting a potential dark matter particle interaction. While the statistical significance of 2.6-sigma indicates low odds of error, much more evidence is needed before confirming a dark matter discovery, which remains elusive despite ongoing research.

Major upgrade for the screenshot utility adds new editing and video enhancement capabilities. ($35 new, free update, 77.7 MB, macOS 13+)

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch into orbit, aims to explore dark energy and dark matter, potentially addressing the unresolved Hubble Tension. This discrepancy highlights conflicting measurements of the universe's expansion rate. Some scientists believe Roman may confirm flaws in the standard cosmological model, leading to new physics.

Three Rogue Amoeba audio apps add initial compatibility with macOS 27 Golden Gate. ($69/$49/$29 new, free updates, various sizes, multiple system requirements)

Adds the ability to to take a layered screenshot of all your open windows from the Dock menu. ($29.99 new, free update, 36.9 MB, macOS 14+)

Reduces flickering and reloading of embedded content in the live preview window. ($59.95 new, free update, 23.8 MB, macOS 10.15.4+)

Brings improvements and bug fixes to the Swiss Army knife of graphics programs. ($39.95 new, free update, 251.8 MB, macOS 10.13+)

Maintenance release for the professional audio app. ($199.99 new or $129.99 annually with Apple Creator Studio subscription, free update, 3.22 GB, macOS 15.6+)

Two Rogue Amoeba audio apps add initial compatibility with macOS 27 Golden Gate. ($35 each new, free update, various sizes, macOS 14.4+)

Photos library manager brings improved compatibility with the public beta version of macOS 27 Golden Gate. ($39.95 new, free update, 39.7 MB, macOS 14+)

Adds a new Render to DNG option. ($9.99/$19.99/$59.99 monthly Creative Cloud subscription, free update, macOS 14+)

The biblical definitions of heart, mind, intellect, body and soul are discussed. I expand the discussion to the immortality of the soul and whether or not an AI machine can ever have or possess a soul.

Brings better file organization and smarter YouTube channel subscriptions to the video downloading utility. (Free with paid license options, free update, 271.6 MB, macOS 12+)

Researchers investigated cellular aging, revealing that somatic mutations significantly contribute to aging and mortality limits. Their model suggests maximum human lifespan could reach 156 years if all reversible aging processes were stopped. However, post-mitotic cells like neurons and cardiomyocytes set critical lifespan limits due to their inability to regenerate.

Bundles dozens of refinements and bug fixes into the audio control utility. ($49 new, free update, 54.4 MB, macOS 15+)

Blogging app updated with improvements for animated GIFs. ($59.95 new, free update, 23.7 MB, macOS 10.15.4+)

The U.S. national debt stands at $40 trillion, with Federal Reserve liabilities at $6.8 trillion, stemming mainly from credit creation since the 2008 financial crisis. Historical analysis shows substantial increases in debt during major wars, suggesting that contemporary conflicts may lead to unprecedented levels of war and debt, impacting the economy and society.