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The lights are off, the house is quiet and nothing seems to be running. But electricity is silently flowing through the plugs in your home. This hidden drain is known as phantom energy.Also called vampire energy, the wasted electricity comes from leaving devices plugged in when they’re not in use. That could range from household items such as phone chargers and microwaves to TVs and gaming consoles.This wasted electricity accounts for about 5% to 10% of home energy use, depending on factors like the age of the equipment, according to Alexis Abramson, dean of the Columbia Climate School.“Phantom energy depends…

NEW YORK (AP) — In one new corner of the internet, users are invited to “paint the world.” And paint they have. Welcome to wplace — an ever-evolving, gamified global map overflowing with drawings made on a more than 4-trillion-pixel canvas.Images of Icelandic singer Laufey float over Reykjavík, while tributes for the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla surround Corpus Christi, Texas. The crest of San Lorenzo and other soccer clubs fill Buenos Aires. “Squid Game” fanart can be found on the outskirts of Seoul. And Walter White’s opening monologue from “Breaking Bad” sits near Albuquerque, New Mexico.Wplace launched July 21,…

Invites to Perplexity’s new AI-powered web browser, Comet, are one of the web’s hottest commodities these days. The new product was made available first to the AI firm’s $200-per-month Max subscribers and a small group of invitees. But now there’s a new way to jump ahead on the waitlist. On Wednesday, PayPal announced it’s giving its customers, including PayPal and Venmo users, early access to Comet as well as a free year’s subscription to Perplexity’s premium service, Perplexity Pro, normally $200 per year. The browser, launched in July, offers an integrated AI assistant, AI-generated summaries of search results, product comparisons,…

MAGOGO, Uganda (AP) — Some call them the continent’s greatest natural resource, the bevy of children who account for so much of Uganda’s population.They watch curiously from a hillside and sail across soccer fields and smile from the backs of their mothers.There are some 25 million children in Uganda, about half the country’s population, and their numbers are a credit its successes. Vaccination drives to combat diseases such as measles, campaigns to distribute mosquito nets to reduce cases of malaria, and a host of other programs have combined to send infant and child mortality plummeting over the decades. Neighborhood children…

Scott Olson | Getty ImagesMacy’s posted second-quarter earnings Wednesday that easily topped Wall Street’s expectations, as it said revamped stores helped sales trends.The department store operator also raised its full-year earnings and sales guidance. It now expects adjusted earnings of between $1.70 and $2.05 per share, compared with $1.60 to $2 per share, and revenue between $21.15 billion and $21.45 billion, compared with $21 billion to $21.4 billion.The stock was up more than 10% before the bell.Macy’s had slashed its full-year guidance last quarter and reported uncertainty in sales due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.”We’re just well-positioned right now for…

Budget travelers have a golden opportunity to purchase early access to unlimited flights in 2026 and 2027, thanks to Frontier Airlines’ latest deal.The low-cost carrier is offering its “GoWild! All-You-Can-Fly Annual Pass” for just $299—a discount of hundreds of dollars off the pass’s usual $599 price tag. Even better: travelers who purchase a pass under the deal can start using it right away, instead of waiting until the standard start date of May 1, 2026.  The pass will be valid through April 30, 2027, giving travelers an extra eight months of unlimited flights. “This is our most exciting GoWild! offer…

Fizz, the college social app, is expanding into grocery delivery thanks to a new partnership with Gopuff, the startup told TechCrunch exclusively. The partnership will allow students to order anything from late-night snacks to weekly groceries directly within the Fizz app in as fast as 15 minutes, Fizz says. Founded in 2021, Fizz is available at more than 620 campuses across the United States, with over 27 million posts shared to date. The social platform allows students to connect anonymously with others at their university. Fizz also features a marketplace where users can buy and sell items locally. Fizz co-founder…

Walmart-backed OnePay offers credit and debit cards, high-yield savings accounts, buy now, pay later loans and a digital wallet with peer-to-peer payments.Photo downloaded from OnePay websiteOnePay, the fintech firm majority owned by Walmart, is launching its own branded wireless plan as it seeks to become a one-stop shop for its users, CNBC has learned.OnePay Wireless will be available starting Wednesday in the OnePay app, according to Gigs, the mobile services startup that partnered with the company.The plan costs $35 a month for unlimited 5G data, talk and text on the AT&T network, Gigs said. The plans are activated in-app with…

Toyota has released a redesigned 4Runner for 2025. This is a big deal for fans of this SUV, as the previous generation was on sale for a lengthy 14 years. The new Toyota 4Runner has distinctive new styling, the latest technology features, and an available hybrid powertrain that promises increased performance without sacrificing mpg. And just like previous models, it has a rugged design that’s well suited for off-road adventures. This isn’t your only option for a midsize family adventure vehicle, however. The Honda Passport is Honda’s midsize SUV that’s bigger and more capable than the CR-V. It has a…

MrBeast, the 27-year-old popular YouTuber known for his elaborate challenges and giveaways, is venturing into a new realm: He’s reportedly launching his own phone company.  According to Business Insider, which viewed a leaked investor deck, MrBeast is planning to launch a mobile phone service next year. Business Insider also reported that MrBeast and executives at Beast Industries are considering fintech and mobile gaming. The YouTuber’s new plan includes establishing a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), a strategy that involves offering mobile phone service using existing networks from major companies like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. By partnering with one of these…