Top 10 Ars Technica — Latest — September 1, 2026

The Bentley Supersports stands as a testament to a unique automotive philosophy, prioritizing maximum engine output and a driver-focused experience above all else. This model, first introduced in 2009, discarded many of the luxury conventions typically associated with the Bentley marque, opting instead for weight reduction and enhanced performance. It features a powerful W12 engine, delivering substantial horsepower and torque, enabling impressive acceleration and top speeds. The interior reflects this performance-oriented design with lighter materials and sportier seating, a stark contrast to the opulent cabins found in other Bentley models. The trade-off for this raw power and agility is a less luxurious and refined ride, appealing specifically to enthusiasts who value uncompromised driving dynamics over traditional comfort.

The Trump administration significantly reduced research into Cyclospora outbreaks, despite a record-breaking surge in infections. In 2026, two of the three U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research projects focused on the foodborne parasite were defunded by Congress, and a third was slated for relocation from Maryland to Iowa as part of a broader USDA reorganization. This decision emerged as the U.S. experienced its largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak, with confirmed cases climbing past 17,000 across 48 states and the District of Columbia by August 2026. Public health experts raised concerns that these cuts would hinder efforts to understand how Cyclospora contaminates food and impede rapid responses to future outbreaks, even as a USDA spokesperson maintained that research would continue without disruption.

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'Coyote vs. Acme' has garnered critical acclaim as an authentic homage to the Looney Tunes legacy, achieving a 96% Rotten Tomatoes critic review score with 104 reviews counted ahead of its wide release in August 2026. The film, which centers on Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation with the help of lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte), is praised for its seamless integration of two-dimensional animation with live-action. Reviewers have highlighted its ability to honor the source material while also crafting a unique comedic identity, blending courtroom drama with slapstick humor and corporate satire. Despite nearly being shelved for a tax write-off by Warner Bros. Discovery in 2023, the film was ultimately released, delighting fans and critics with its clever tributes to Looney Tunes creators like Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, and Michael Maltese.

In August 2026, then-President Trump publicly called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to "rebuke or punish" NBC journalist Kristen Welker. This directive followed Welker's on-air statement that Trump had experienced "mixed results" with his candidate endorsements in the recent election cycle. Trump, in posts on Truth Social, argued that Welker's characterization was a "purposeful inaccuracy" and questioned how such a statement could be made by someone working for a network utilizing "freely given Public Airwaves." The demand raised significant First Amendment concerns among press-freedom advocates and legal experts, who noted that the FCC primarily regulates broadcast licenses and lacks the authority to penalize journalists for news commentary.

Internal communications from Anthropic, a prominent AI company, have become a key piece of evidence in an ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Sony. These communications, brought to light in September 2026, reportedly show Anthropic staff members discussing and, in some cases, openly endorsing piracy platforms such as Z-Library in casual internal chats. The emergence of these chats presents a significant legal challenge for Anthropic, particularly as the company navigates the complexities of intellectual property in the AI development space. This situation underscores the broader industry debate about the use of copyrighted material in training large language models and the potential liabilities associated with such practices.

A study published in September 2026 revealed that raindrops generate miniature electrical discharges upon impact, functioning as tiny lightning bolts. This phenomenon, which occurs when raindrops strike surfaces, initiates chemical reactions that contribute to the corrosion of automobile exteriors. The research, detailed in the scientific paper "Electrification of Raindrops and Their Impact on Material Degradation," suggests that the cumulative effect of these microscopic electrical events plays a previously unrecognized role in material wear and tear. This finding has significant implications for automotive materials science, potentially leading to the development of new protective coatings and manufacturing processes designed to mitigate this newly identified form of environmental degradation on vehicles.