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NASA proposes sending a repurposed Mars rover test model to the Moon as PROMISE
NASA announced a proposal to send PROMISE, a rover built from engineering test models of the Perseverance and Curiosity Mars rovers, to the lunar south pole. This initiative aims to utilize existing hardware and explore the Moon's surface and subsurface, particularly for water ice, without reliance on solar power.
SDSS DR20 Releases First Southern Hemisphere Optical Data, Maps Half Million Supermassive Black Holes
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) released Data Release 20 (DR20), including the first optical observations from the southern hemisphere and coordinated X-ray identifications. This release provides an all-sky map of approximately 500,000 accreting supermassive black holes, advancing the study of quasars and active galactic nuclei.
US Court Orders Restart of Wind Project Approvals After DoD Halted Participation
A US District Court in Oregon has ordered the US government to resume the approval process for wind projects, which had been on hold since August 2025 due to the Department of Defense (DoD) ceasing its participation. This ruling mandates the DoD to re-engage in the legally required process for evaluating and mitigating radar interference from wind turbines, impacting all new wind development in the US.
Bioengineered Chewing Gum Reduces HPV and Bacteria Linked to Head and Neck Cancer
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed a bioengineered chewing gum that reduced Human Papillomavirus (HPV) levels by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria associated with head and neck cancer in oral samples. This development offers a potentially more accessible and affordable treatment option for preventing and managing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Tinder and Bumble Shift Focus to In-Person Events Amidst Gen Z Preference for Real-World Connections
Tinder is expanding its in-person events to 26 cities by September and 75 cities by the end of 2026, while Bumble is emphasizing group interactions through its new app, Plans, and future updates. This shift by major dating apps responds to Gen Z users' preference for real-world connections over traditional online dating, as indicated by internal research and declining user engagement for Tinder.
US House Republicans express concern over South Korea's new 'fake news' law
US House Judiciary Committee Republicans sent a letter to South Korea's Media and Communications Commission, raising concerns about a new "fake news" law that allows fines for intentionally spreading false information. The Republicans argue the law could censor free speech and target American companies, as it lacks a clear definition of "false information."
TikTok attributes delayed removal of Perez Hilton self-harm livestream to "moderator error"
TikTok stated a "moderator error" caused a 15-minute delay in removing a livestream by blogger Perez Hilton that appeared to show self-harm, despite its automated system flagging the content. This incident raises concerns about content moderation effectiveness on the platform, especially following recent layoffs in TikTok's US moderation team.
Public Backlash Grows Against Elon Musk's AI Data Centers in Greater Memphis
Residents in Greater Memphis face noise and emissions from SpaceXAI's Colossus data centers, prompting public opposition. This discontent has inspired similar resistance to AI projects nationwide, influencing recent moratoriums and legislation in New York and New Jersey.
Erica Schwartz Confirmed as CDC Director by Senate Vote
The US Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz as the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a 51–44 vote. This confirmation fills a nearly yearlong vacancy at the agency, which has faced staff reductions and budget cuts.
Salesforce appoints Miguel Milano as new operating chief under CEO Marc Benioff
Salesforce promoted Miguel Milano to operating chief, a move that expands the company's leadership structure. This appointment follows previous attempts to broaden leadership and comes as Salesforce's stock has declined amid concerns about AI displacement in cloud software.
Google Blogger locks hundreds of legitimate blogs due to malware false positive
Google's automated systems incorrectly flagged and locked hundreds of legitimate Blogger websites for violating its "Malware and Similar Malicious Content" policy, with some sites subsequently deleted. This incident has prevented blog owners from accessing their dashboards and managing their content, causing widespread frustration among users.
Appeals Court Rules Trump EPA Illegally Canceled $20B in Climate Funds
An appeals court ruled that the Trump administration's EPA unlawfully terminated and clawed back $20 billion in climate funds already disbursed to nonprofits. This decision allows the groups to regain access to the funding, which was appropriated by the Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy development.
Senator Warren Questions Commerce Dept. on UAE Export Control Easing After Trump Crypto Investment
Senator Elizabeth Warren has demanded an explanation from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the Trump administration's decision to ease export controls on the United Arab Emirates. This decision followed significant investments by UAE-linked entities into a Trump family cryptocurrency venture, raising concerns about potential influence on national security and access to sensitive U.S. technology.
Uber's Q3 Bookings and Earnings Forecasts Miss Analyst Estimates, Shares Decline
Uber released third-quarter bookings and earnings forecasts that were below analysts' expectations, causing its shares to drop by 3.5%. This financial outlook indicates a slower growth projection for the company despite meeting second-quarter profit estimates and increasing revenue year-over-year.
NASA's PUNCH Mission Improves Solar Storm Prediction Accuracy to Within 30 Minutes
NASA's PUNCH mission has demonstrated the ability to predict solar storm arrival times with an accuracy of within 30 minutes, a significant improvement over previous methods with a five-hour error margin. This enhanced forecasting capability, achieved by continuously tracking coronal mass ejections, can help mitigate the effects of solar storms on Earth's infrastructure.
Palantir paid £2m UK corporation tax in 2024 despite lucrative public sector contracts
Palantir paid £2 million in UK corporation tax in 2024, an effective rate of 8% on £25 million in profits, despite holding hundreds of millions in UK public sector contracts and a 25% corporation tax rate. This low tax payment is attributed to tax breaks and practices like shifting revenues to its US parent company, raising concerns from a trade union about tax avoidance by tech giants with government contracts.
Senators urge CFTC to ban wildfire prediction markets due to public safety concerns
US Senators have written to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) requesting a crackdown on prediction markets that allow betting on wildfires. The senators cite concerns about minimizing suffering, potential for arson, and public safety risks associated with such markets.
Trump administration reinstates Digital Equity Act grant program after court ruling
The Trump administration will reinstate a broadband grant program from the Digital Equity Act of 2021 following a court ruling. This decision allows for the distribution of $1.25 billion in competitive grants, though the government cannot allocate funds based on race or ethnicity.
Germany's Wind and Solar Power Exceeds Fossil Fuels for First Time in 2025
In 2025, wind and solar power generated 225 TWh of electricity in Germany, surpassing the 217 TWh produced by fossil fuels for the first time. This shift, analyzed by Carbon Brief using Energy Institute data, reflects Germany's "Energiewende" strategy to transition to renewables. Additionally, in July 2026, German photovoltaic systems fed a record 12 billion kWh of solar electricity into the public grid, indicating solar's increasing contribution.
Judge Allows $30 Billion Class-Action Lawsuit Against Apple Over Photos Face Recognition
A judge has certified a class-action lawsuit against Apple, alleging its Photos app's "People" feature violates Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The lawsuit, filed by a group of Apple users in 2020, could result in damages exceeding $30 billion for Apple, similar to previous BIPA settlements involving Meta and Instagram.
Skyral wins £2bn UK MoD contract to train British soldiers in virtual environments
Skyral, a UK company, secured a £2 billion contract from the Ministry of Defence to provide advanced virtual training environments for the British Army. This initiative aims to train soldiers and tacticians on the complex, second-order consequences of military decisions in highly detailed simulated urban and national settings, moving beyond basic combat familiarization.
Apple Sued in Brazil Over Alleged Lack of Age Verification for Casino Games on App Store
Apple faces a R$300 million (approximately $59 million) civil lawsuit in Brazil for allegedly allowing minors to download and access casino-style games on its App Store without effective age verification. The lawsuit demands Apple implement robust age checks for all casino games and continuously monitor existing titles, with a daily fine proposed for non-compliance.
Russia opens antitrust case against Apple over failure to preinstall state-backed apps
Russia's antitrust regulator has initiated a formal case against Apple for not preinstalling the state-backed MAX messenger and RuStore app marketplace on its devices, as mandated by Russian law. This action escalates an ongoing dispute regarding app preinstallation requirements for devices sold in Russia.
Snap's Q2 Revenue and User Growth Exceed Estimates, Stock Jumps 10%
Snap reported second-quarter revenue of $1.6 billion and 493 million daily active users, both surpassing analyst expectations. The company also provided a Q3 sales forecast that exceeded estimates, leading to a 10% jump in its stock price.
John Ternus Recruits Retired Hardware VP Laura Legros Ahead of Apple CEO Transition
John Ternus, incoming Apple CEO, has brought back Laura Legros, a former Vice President of hardware engineering, who retired in 2022. Legros will report directly to Ternus and work cross-functionally, indicating Ternus is shaping his leadership team before officially taking over on September 1.
WhatsApp addresses account blocks, working to restore access for affected users
WhatsApp users reported their accounts were blocked and placed "under review" by Meta, with the company confirming it is working to restore access. This disruption impacts a significant number of users given WhatsApp's over 3 billion monthly active users.
SpaceX Nears Deal to Acquire 130,000 Acres of Louisiana Marshland for Starship Launches
SpaceX is close to finalizing an agreement with the state of Louisiana to acquire approximately 130,000 acres of marshland southwest of Lafayette, known as Pecan Island. This acquisition would provide SpaceX with an additional launch site to support its goal of thousands of Starship flights annually, which is crucial for expanding its orbital operations.
Trump Administration Seeks to End Citizen Lawsuits Against Polluters
The Trump administration, in a legal filing, argued that citizens should not be allowed to enforce environmental laws, claiming enforcement should be left solely to the executive branch. This position challenges established "citizen suit provisions" in major environmental laws like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, which have allowed individuals and groups to sue polluters for over 50 years.
JP Morgan Lowers Apple Stock Target to $350 Following Q4 2026 Guidance
JP Morgan reduced its price target for Apple's stock from $345 to $350 after Apple reported quarterly results and warned of worsening supply constraints due to a memory shortage. This adjustment reflects concerns over potential revenue impact, particularly for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which typically account for 64% of Apple's Q4 revenue.
Scientists Propose Fifth 'Dark Dimension' to Explain Dark Energy and Matter
Scientists have proposed a fifth "dark dimension" that could explain both dark energy and dark matter, building on string theory. This hypothesis suggests that dark energy's value changes over time, a concept supported by recent data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). The proposal offers a potential solution to major mysteries in cosmology and could be observationally detected in the near future.
EU Right to Repair Directive Takes Effect, Mandating Manufacturer Repairs and Manuals
The EU's Right to Repair directive officially begins today, requiring manufacturers to offer repairs for faulty products within a reasonable timeframe and price, and to publish free repair manuals. This initiative aims to promote a more sustainable economy by making it easier for consumers to maintain their hardware, including smartphones, tablets, and major household appliances.
FCC faces bipartisan opposition over attempt to sanction ABC for speech critical of Trump
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is facing opposition from both liberal and conservative groups, as well as former FCC chairs, regarding its attempt to compel ABC to file early license-renewal applications. Critics allege the FCC's actions are an effort to punish ABC for speech critical of President Trump, setting a precedent that could impact future free speech on broadcast television.
Space Force-backed Victus Haze mission demonstrates satellite evasion and pursuit in orbit
The US Space Force's Victus Haze mission, involving True Anomaly's Jackal satellite and Rocket Lab's Puma satellite, publicly demonstrated satellite evasion and pursuit maneuvers in orbit. This exercise showcases the military's ability to rapidly deploy and operate satellites for defensive and responsive space operations.
Hungary's only nuclear plant to shut down due to record low Danube water levels
Hungary's sole nuclear power plant, Paks, will be forced to shut down due to record low water levels in the River Danube, which it uses for cooling. This shutdown, alongside a similar situation in Romania, could lead to critical energy supply issues in the region, prompting calls for energy conservation.
UEFA and its 55 member associations reject FIFA's proposal for private World Cup ownership
UEFA and its 55 member associations have unanimously rejected FIFA's proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors. UEFA states that its national teams will not participate in any FIFA competition as long as these proposals are active, citing concerns that private ownership would prioritize commercial return over the sport's integrity and future.
ABC opposes FCC's 'punitive' early license renewal demand, citing free speech concerns
ABC has formally opposed the FCC's demand for early renewal of its broadcast station licenses, calling the action "extraordinary and unprecedented." The company alleges the FCC's move is retaliation for content and viewpoints expressed on ABC network programs, aiming to chill broadcaster speech. This dispute highlights tensions between regulatory bodies and media organizations regarding content oversight and free speech.
Physicists Re-evaluate Muon Wobble Calculations, Creating New Discrepancies
Physicists have updated theoretical calculations for muon wobble in a magnetic field, resolving a 25-year discrepancy with experimental results. This update, however, has created a new puzzle as the previously valid older calculations, based on experimental data, no longer align with the new theoretical predictions, suggesting potential issues with past experimental data or the emergence of new particles.
Genetic Makeup Influences Cancer Risk and Tumor Evolution, Study Finds
Scientists have found direct evidence that inherited genes interact with acquired genetic mutations to shape how tumors evolve, explaining why some individuals are more susceptible to cancer than others. This research suggests that future cancer prevention, screening, and treatment strategies may need to account for inherited genetics and population diversity.
IAB Publishes RFC 8890: The Internet is for End Users
The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) has published RFC 8890, titled "The Internet is for End Users," which advocates for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to prioritize the interests of end-users in its decision-making processes. This RFC emphasizes that IETF decisions, while technical, have political implications and should actively benefit the people who use the internet.
ChatGPT and Roblox to be designated as 'very large online platforms' in EU
The European Union is reportedly designating ChatGPT and Roblox as "very large online platforms" (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act (DSA) in August. This designation subjects them to stricter regulations, including requirements for transparency, risk assessment, and content moderation, due to their large user bases.