Breaking Science, Not Your Brain
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Meta Platforms has announced plans to sell approximately $2 billion in data center assets as it seeks external partners to co-develop AI infrastructure. The move reflects the rising cost of supporting generative AI. (Reuters) The unsold assets, currently classified as land and construction-in-progress, will be transferred to a third party within a year. Meta aims to … Read more
Researchers today launched the Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics, a real-time global tracker quantifying the health harms of plastic pollution. It coincides with critical United Nations treaty negotiations in Geneva, slated to run August 5–14. (EurekAlert! / Boston College) The initiative responds to mounting evidence linking plastic production and waste to disease, environmental damage, and … Read more
The global foldable smartphone market reached around 19.8 million unit shipments in 2025, holding roughly 1.5 % penetration of overall smartphone sales. Growth continues even as the broader market remains flat. (Cognitive Market Research; Reuters) Samsung reclaimed the global smartphone lead in Q2 2025, shipping 57.5 million units—up 7 % year-on-year—with its Galaxy A-series and tablets driving sales. … Read more
Germany and other European nations have recently scrapped or suspended several flagship green hydrogen projects, citing steep costs and limited demand. These setbacks undermine ambitions outlined in the EU hydrogen strategy and risk delay for climate targets. (Reuters) European developers have paused more than one-fifth of hydrogen projects globally, with cancellations in Germany, Spain and … Read more
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg cautioned on August 1 that cyberattacks today can cause damage equivalent to traditional military strikes. He emphasized the need for collective cyber defense across alliance members. (Reuters) Speaking at the Brussels summit, Stoltenberg called for increased investment in AI-enabled cybersecurity tools, cross-border threat intelligence, and mechanisms to coordinate rapid response … Read more
Chinese biotech services giant WuXi AppTec announced plans to raise approximately HK$7.70 billion (US$980.9 million) by issuing new H shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange. This move aims to support rapid global expansion of its drug development, contract research, and manufacturing services. (Reuters) WuXi reported a more than 95% jump in half‑year net profit … Read more
Astronomers have captured the first-ever direct image of a planet forming within a protoplanetary disk—embedded in a spiral arm around the young star HD 135344B, located 440 light‑years away in Lupus. This breakthrough observation was made using the ERIS instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. (Live Science) The newly observed object is estimated to … Read more
Germany reported zero gigawatts of new offshore wind capacity in the first half of 2025, leaving its installed total at 9.2 GW—unchanged since the end of 2024. Industry associations are pressing the government to reform auction systems and accelerate expansion. (Reuters) The pause comes as Germany strives to reach 30 GW by 2030 and 70 GW by 2045. … Read more
Nasa’s acting administrator Sean Duffy and Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov met at Kennedy Space Center on July 31 in the first such encounter since 2018. The two reaffirmed collaboration on ISS operations, lunar exploration and deep‑space planning. (Reuters) The meeting coincided with the Crew‑11 launch delay due to poor weather. The mission carrying astronauts from the … Read more
As general-purpose AI model obligations become effective on August 2, the EU’s landmark AI Act gains momentum. Google has formally signed the full voluntary Code of Practice, while Elon Musk’s xAI has agreed to sign only the safety and security chapter. Meta still refuses to participate. (Reuters; Reuters) Google joins OpenAI and Anthropic in endorsing … Read more