Science & Technology

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> NASA acting administrator Sean Duffy announces fast-track plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030; part of larger effort to build a permanent lunar base (More) | A brief history of the original space race (1440 Topics)

> Google DeepMind unveils Genie 3, an AI-powered model that creates interactive 3D worlds in real time (More, w/video)

> Pregnant roaches require additional sleep, similar to humans, new study shows; sleep deprivation impacted development of offspring (More)

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> Replenishing the brain's natural supply of lithium appears to reverse memory loss and neurological signs of Alzheimer's, new study suggests; researchers identify lithium orotate as potentially protecting against onset of the disease (More) | What we know about Alzheimer's (1440 Topics)

> OpenAI to offer the enterprise version of ChatGPT to federal agencies beginning next year at a cost of $1; move seen as a bid to beat competitors in adoption into government workflows (More)

> Ancient stone tools more than 1 million years old discovered on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi; suggests human relatives made a major sea crossing prior to the use of boats (More)

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>  OpenAI releases GPT-5, the latest version of its flagship large language model, to free and paying subscribers; new model is heavily focused on advanced reasoning and carrying out tasks for users (More) | LLM explained quickly (1440 Topics)

> Astronomers find evidence for a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A; at about 4.4 light years away, the Alpha Centauri system is the closet sun-like star to Earth (More) | How we capture images from space (More, w/video)

> Argentina's Perito Moreno glacier is losing thickness via melting at about 18 feet per year, up from about a foot per year between 2000 and 2019, and may be in irreversible decline; site draws 700,000 visitors per year (More) | Climatology 101 (1440 Topics)

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> Amazon launches 24 Kuiper satellites, bringing the total in its space-based internet network to more than 100; satellites were deployed via competitor SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, company's Starlink has more than 8,000 in orbit (More)

> Ford unveils "universal" electric vehicle manufacturing platform, aiming to streamline production across different model types; company to release a four-door electric pickup for $30K in 2027 (More) | The surprisingly long history of electric cars (1440 Topics)

> Study suggests oxytocin, also referred to as the "love hormone," plays a role in the selectivity of social connections; oxytocin-deficient rodents took up to a week to form bonds, compared to 24 hours for control group (More)

The solar system's red giant: This morning's Science & Technology newsletter explores the mysteries of Jupiter. Email comes out at 8:30 am ET—subscribe here for free!

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> Elon Musk threatens lawsuit against Apple, claiming the company artificially boosts OpenAI's app in the App Store; Musk's xAI runs the Grok chatbot, a competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT (More)

> Seventy-year-old Parkinson's drug shows effectiveness in boosting the body's immune system against tuberculosis; the world's deadliest infectious disease, TB kills an estimated 1.3 million people per year (More)

> Remains of Dennis Bell, an Antarctic researcher who disappeared in 1959, discovered by Polish team studying a receding glacier on King George Island (More)

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> Leaked internal Meta document reveals the company's AI chatbots were allowed to engage in "sensual" or "romantic" conversations with minors; company says it has since struck the guideline; see investigative report (More)

> AI drug discovery platform helps researchers sift through tens of millions of potential drug compounds to identify new classes of antibiotics; two candidates cleared drug-resistant gonorrhea and staph infections in mice (More) | How superbugs evolve (1440 Topics)

> Scientists create new stable carbon structure, the first such demonstration since "buckyballs"—ball-shaped arrangements of 60 carbon atoms—in 1990 (More)

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> SpaceX receives approval for next test flight of its massive Starship, targets Sunday as launch day; 10th flight follows three failed flights, each experiencing separate technical issues (More) | How SpaceX catches returning rockets with "chopsticks" (1440 Topics)

> Researchers discover eight new genes linked to schizophrenia; study suggests the condition may be related to how DNA is organized within cells, and how brain cells communicate using the chemical GABA (More)

> Study reveals neurons help control the inflammatory response in the gut, play a role in inflammatory bowel disease, enteritis, and other conditions (More)

The first spacecraft to Mars: Tomorrow's 1440 Science & Technology newsletter looks at the history of NASA's pioneering Viking program.

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> Tennessee Valley Authority enters a deal with Google and nuclear startup Kairos Power to purchase electricity from a small modular reactor slated for 2030, marking the first US utility offtake agreement with an advanced nuclear plant (More)

> Surgery-free alternative to LASIK that uses electricity instead of lasers to reshape the cornea proves effective on rabbit eyeballs; initial results suggest the method could be a promising technique for correcting human vision (More)

> Largest-ever space antenna, spanning 39 feet, deployed to detect changes within fractions of an inch on Earth's surface, such as shifting ice sheets and subtle movements caused by earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes (More)

The first spacecraft to Mars: This morning's Science & Technology newsletter looks at the history of NASA's pioneering Viking program.

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> Tech giant Nvidia reportedly developing China‑bound AI chip that is more powerful than the H20, which the Trump administration approved last week for sale on Chinese markets (More) | See previous write-up (More)

> James Webb Telescope discovers previously unknown moon orbiting Uranus, bringing the planet's moon count to 29; the moon's relatively tiny 6-mile diameter rendered it invisible to less advanced telescopes (More) | The $10B telescope's tech and earlier discoveries (1440 Topics)

> Megalibrary of nanoparticles helps researchers quickly find abundant, cheap alternative to iridium, a rare metal critical to clean hydrogen energy production; could accelerate discovery of commercially viable materials for various applications (More)

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> Google debuts line of Pixel smartphones that use Google's artificial intelligence assistant, Gemini, to let users complete multiple tasks simultaneously (More)

> Study shows triple-negative breast cancer cells feed on nearby fat cells, prompting researchers to develop a treatment that blocks the aggressive cancer’s access to fat; the approach may also work against other cancers (More) | Why it's so hard to cure cancer (More)

> Never-before-seen supernova—or exploding star—confirms massive stars have several onion-like layers and an innermost iron core (More) | IBM and NASA release an advanced open-source AI model for predicting solar weather (More)

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> CT scans and 3D mapping of an ancient child's bones discovered in modern-day Israel suggest humans and Neanderthals interacted 100,000 years earlier than previously believed (More)

> Giraffe genetic data reveals Africa is home to four distinct species, not just one as long assumed; new taxonomy will enable more nuanced understandings of population threats and targeted conservation efforts (More)

>  Light pollution is interfering with songbirds' biological clocks, causing them to chirp an average of 50 minutes longer per day—18 minutes earlier in the morning  and 32 minutes later in the evening (More)

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> Meta to partner with AI startup Midjourney to license the company's image and video generation technology (More) | What is generative AI good for? (1440 Topics)

> Researchers discover deep sea microbes that collaborate via electrical signals to consume methane seeping from the ocean floor; neither of the two microbe species can break down the molecule on their own (More)

> New study reveals random and inherited genetic mutations can interact to raise the risk of developing blood cancers; findings may lead to new early detection methods (More) | The difference between healthy and cancerous cells (1440 Topics)

Wind energy 101: Tomorrow's 1440 Science & Technology newsletter explores the operations and economics of harnessing wind power. Subscribe here for free!

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> SpaceX scrubs second attempt at the 10th test launch of its massive Starship space vehicle, citing unfavorable weather; next launch window yet to be announced (More) | See previous write-up (More)

> Heat wave exposure can accelerate biological aging, new study reveals; each four-day exposure to prolonged heat was roughly correlated with nine days of accelerated aging (More) | Aging at the cellular level (1440 Topics)

> First human US case of a New World screwworm parasite following travel reported in Maryland; eradicated in the US in 1966, larvae of the insect devastate livestock and have been reappearing in Central America and Mexico (More)

Wind Power 101: This morning's Science & Tech newsletter explores the power source that accounts for more than 10% of US electricity. Email comes out at 8:30 am ET—subscribe here for free!

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> SpaceX carries out 10th test flight of its massive Starship space vehicle, deploys dummy Starlink satellites for first time before splashing down in the Indian Ocean (More) | See previous write-up (More)

> Researchers demonstrate treatment preventing premature fusion of infant skulls in mice; craniosynostosis affects roughly one in 2,200 human births (More)

> Primate study reveals correlation between longer thumbs and larger brains, suggesting increased cognition evolved with improved manual dexterity (More)

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> US health regulators approve updated COVID-19 boosters for those 65 and older and those over age 5 with underlying risk factors (More) | CDC director Susan Monarez fired less than one month after Senate confirmation (More)

> Historians use models predicting disease outbreaks to trace how conspiratorial rumors spread through France during the Great Fear of 1789 (More)

> Scientists create glow-in-the-dark succulents by injecting phosphorescent particles into the leaves; researchers suggest they could one day provide ambient nighttime lighting (More)

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> CDC Director Susan Monarez removed from post by President Donald Trump after refusing order from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; four top agency officials have departed in recent days, RFK Jr.'s deputy appointed acting director (More)

> Engineers develop self-assembling electrolyte that easily breaks apart at the end of its life; marks a key advance toward cost-efficient recycling of electric vehicle batteries (More)

> Researchers combine two decades of satellite data to create most detailed map of global seasonal cycles to date, identifying regional hot spots where seasons are out of sync (More)

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> Chinese law requiring clearly identified labels on all AI-generated online content goes into effect; government says effort is meant to combat misinformation (More)

> Newly discovered tectonic activity may be responsible for historic but unexplained earthquakes in Portugal in recent centuries (More) | An 8.5 magnitude quake in 1755 is considered Europe's first modern natural disaster (More, w/video)

> Mars study reveals planet's interior contains mile-wide structures left over from massive collisions around 4.5 billion years ago (More)

Turbulence: This morning's Science & Technology newsletter looks at the chaotic, but everyday, phenomenon. Email comes out at 8:30 am ET—subscribe here!

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> Cancer study reveals how pilocytic astrocytoma tumors, the most common form of childhood brain cancer, use a molecule called glutamate to grow (More)

> Engineers develop rubber band capable of generating electricity from body heat; could provide passive power for health monitoring, smartwatches, and more (More)

> Brain-computer interface allows paralyzed patient to control robotic arm via thought; device uses AI to decipher and transmit brain signals (More)

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> First known organism capable of giving birth to two separate species discovered; queen Iberian harvester ant mates with a different species to create an army of worker ants (More)

> Neurons responsible for sociability in children gradually stop driving the behavior as brains age into adulthood (More) | How aging affects the brain (1440 Topics)

> DNA analysis of hundreds of ancient skeletal remains reveals a mass migration of Slavic groups into Eastern Europe during the sixth to eighth centuries (More)

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> New study suggests thumbnails instead of claws provided certain rodent species an evolutionary advantage, allowing the animals to better manipulate food (More, w/photos)  > Spaceflight accelerates aging of stem cells, lowering their production of healthy new cells; findings suggest health risks of long-duration space flights (More) | What are stem cells? (More) > Fine particle air pollution linked to Lewy body dementia; particles can trigger formation of protein clumps in the brain, a hallmark of the disease (More)

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> Warner Bros. sues AI startup Midjourney for use of images of Batman, Superman, and other intellectual property; follows recent $1.5B settlement by Anthropic over pirated books for chatbot training (More)

> Researchers find blue-throated macaws can learn new behaviors by observing third-party interactions between others, a trait previously seen only in humans (More)

> Paleontologists discover pair of baby pterosaur fossils that died roughly 150 million years ago in a violent storm (More)

Microchips 101: Tomorrow's 1440 Science & Technology newsletter unpacks the core element of modern electronics. Subscribe here!

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> OpenAI to back first full-length animated film for theatrical release; "Critterz" targets 2026 debut at Cannes Film Festival (More)

> Researchers uncover brain circuits controlling the release of growth hormones during sleep; compounds support bone and muscle development during childhood and metabolic levels in adults (More)

> Low-cost "nanosieve" detects and sorts plastic waste smaller than the width of a human hair; device allows for cheap pollution monitoring in oceans and waterways (More) | Microplastics 101 (1440 Topics)

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> Amazon launches electric robotaxi Zoox with free rides in Las Vegas; the Waymo and Tesla rival plans to enter the Austin and Miami markets next (More)

> Advanced instruments enable clearest-ever detection of gravitational waves emitted by black hole merger, confirming Stephen Hawking's black hole area theorem (More) | How Hawking shaped our understanding of black holes (1440 Topics)

> Neuroscientists link rare gene variant to the development of Alzheimer's and find treating mutated neurons with choline—an essential nutrient found in foods like eggs, meat, and legumes—reduces disease risk (More)

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> Federal Trade Commission orders Alphabet, Meta, OpenAI, and several other AI chatbot makers to disclose information on products' effects on children (More)

> Fossilized dinosaur eggs in central China are dated to roughly 85 million years ago using a novel laser-based method; further egg sampling may reveal how dinosaurs adapted to climatic shifts (More)

> Marine biologists discover octopuses prefer their four front arms for exploring and four rear arms for walking by analyzing videos taken in the wild; finding could inform the design of life-saving robots (More)

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> Electric vehicle sales in January through August rise 25% worldwide compared to the same window last year, increase 6% in North America (More)

> New tsunami alert system from NASA successfully detected 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in late July, provided warning to Hawaii 30 to 40 minutes before waves arrived (More)

> Neuroscientists create miniature wearable microscope allowing imaging of mouse brains in real time; will help link behaviors and perception with specific brain circuits (More)