NASA is making final preparations for the planned launch of the Artemis II mission, which aims to return humanity to the moon. The two-hour launch window opens at 6:24 p.m. ET today (April 1).

In AI news, Google has launched Veo 3.1 Lite, a new budget-friendly AI video generation model, while simultaneously announcing a price cut for its existing Veo 3.1 Fast model. A Google executive reportedly took a subtle jab at OpenAI regarding the recent shutdown of its Sora AI video tool.

Scientists announced the discovery of DNA “supergenes” in fish, a powerful genetic mechanism that could explain rapid evolution and species diversification. These “flipped” DNA segments are thought to preserve useful traits and accelerate evolutionary change.

Another breakthrough reveals how squid and cuttlefish survived Earth’s largest extinction event by evolving in the deep sea and retreating to oxygen-rich refuges.

The 2026 ETS Human Progress Report emphasizes that adaptability is becoming the new foundation of job security in the AI age, noting a significant global skills gap in AI literacy.