Two Fresh Apple Maps Features Introduced in iOS 26 Beta

Apple revealed a multitude of thrilling updates regarding iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, yet as new beta versions have been released, data miners are uncovering additional features that Apple has not yet made public. The most recent leak comes from iOS developer Steve Moser, who discovered two new functionalities for Apple Maps in iOS 26 beta 3.

There’s no certainty that these new features will be present when iOS 26 is officially released this fall. In fact, it’s quite possible that we may never see these features at all. However, there is a strong likelihood that both will eventually be integrated into the Apple Maps app, especially considering the code exists in the latest beta.

Natural-language search for Apple Maps

At present, conducting a search on Apple Maps resembles utilizing a search engine. The best results are obtained by employing keywords and location names. In iOS 26, Apple appears to intend to change that approach by enabling more conversational and natural searches.

“Search the Way You Talk,” states a code string in the localization files for the updated Maps app. “Utilize natural language to discover places like “Best coffee shops with free wi-fi.””

As Moser highlights, Apple introduced a comparable feature for its App Store in iOS 18.1. “App Store search allows you to use natural language to locate what you need more effortlessly,” mention the update notes from Apple. It permitted users to search for apps by defining them more distinctly, such as: “Apps that can help me fall asleep.”

Moser asserts that Maps on iOS 26 is already exhibiting improved responsiveness to conversational inquiries. For example, when searching for the “best coffee shops with free wi-fi” in a small town in Germany, the map zooms out to display more than a dozen results in the vicinity. Previously, the same inquiry would yield only one coffee shop in the town.

Maps won’t always keep your screen on

Alongside the search enhancement, there is a new string suggesting that the Maps app will cease to compel your screen to remain on when your iPhone is overheating: “Maps will no longer keep your screen on to allow your iPhone to cool down.”

Netflix’s Alice in Borderland Delivers an Exciting Adventure for Enthusiasts of Squid Game

For numerous viewers, *Squid Game* Season 3 fell short of expectations. Whether it was the slower pace of the final season, some peculiar character developments, or simply the sensation that the novelty of Netflix’s greatest hit had diminished, many fans felt unsatisfied.

If you find yourself among them, there’s some positive news: Netflix features a Japanese survival thriller that I genuinely believe could satisfy the need that *Squid Game* may have missed for you. The show is *Alice in Borderland*, and its narrative similarly revolves around intense games, challenges to the characters’ ethics, and the eerie feeling that no one is ever truly safe. Like *Squid Game*, it plunges regular individuals into extraordinary and lethal situations, compelling them to fight for their lives — facing dilemmas of do-or-die decisions along the way.

The series, which holds a 91% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, starts with Arisu, a directionless gamer and slacker, who is abruptly transported to an empty, alternate reality of Tokyo. He is soon compelled to take part in a series of sadistic games, each identified by a playing card that signifies its level of difficulty and theme (participants encounter everything from logic challenges to physical trials and psychological distress). Losing results in death, while victory grants players “visa” days to prolong their survival. Failing to join a new game before your visa ends, and I’m sure you can predict what happens to your longevity.

Visually, these two extremely dark Netflix series share a contrasting, cinematic aesthetic that’s both surreal and harsh. *Alice in Borderland* inclines more towards sci-fi than *Squid Game*, with Tokyo effectively transforming into a nightmarish game board — every abandoned structure or alley a potential trap. The action is meticulously choreographed, the suspense rarely eases, and the world-building deepens significantly in Season 2.

I should mention: There’s no better time than now to catch up on the series. Netflix has announced that Season 3 of *Alice in Borderland* is set to premiere this September — so whether you’re exploring it for the first time or revisiting the madness, there’s still an opportunity to engage before the story progresses. If you’re yearning for another dose of stylish survival drama, and you’re still a bit disappointed that *Squid Game* didn’t conclude as strongly as you may have hoped, prioritize *Alice in Borderland* on your watchlist immediately.

Climate Tipping Point Possibly Achieved Before the Permian-Triassic Extinction Incident

One of the most significant extinction events recorded in Earth’s history has led to an exciting new finding. Recently uncovered fossils from the era known as the “Great Dying” indicate that the climate tipping point may have already been surpassed before the onset of the event.

The Great Dying, scientifically referred to as the Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction, occurred approximately 252 million years ago. This event resulted in the extinction of the majority of marine life and substantial reductions in terrestrial plants and animals. Although this event is predominantly blamed on intense global warming triggered by volcanic eruptions, scientists have long wondered why the severe greenhouse conditions persisted for around five million years following the extinction.

Crossing the tipping point

Evidence from the fossils discovered during this era may provide an explanation. According to findings published by the researchers in Nature Communications, the extinction and slow recovery of tropical forests during this time constrained what we refer to as carbon sequestration. This process is essential for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in plants and soil, playing a crucial role in regulating the climate on our planet.

In the absence of this process, carbon dioxide could not be effectively eliminated from the atmosphere, leading to its continued accumulation. Consequently, there were extended durations with elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Thus, the researchers propose that the climate tipping point was crossed before the volcanic activity that initiated the event actually commenced.

This is the sole high-temperature occurrence in Earth’s history known to result in the collapse of the vital biosphere found in tropical forests. This is precisely why the researchers initiated this line of inquiry. After several years of data collection and analysis of fossil records, they have finally amassed the evidence needed to support their hypothesis.

This theory also appears to lend credence to the notion that multiple tipping points, or thresholds, exist within the Earth’s climate-carbon system. When these tipping points are approached—akin to our current situation—there can be significant amplification of global warming. If the tipping point was reached, it may have catalyzed the volcanic activity that researchers frequently associate with the start of the event.

What is done with this data is ultimately the responsibility of the researchers. It could prove pivotal in comprehending the current battle against climate change and assessing whether we will be able to prevent crossing the tipping point once more.