Baltimore Files Lawsuits Against Prediction Market Platforms Kalshi and Polymarket
Baltimore filed lawsuits against prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, arguing their sports-related offerings constitute unauthorized gambling. The legal action was initiated on August 13, 2026, by Mayor Brandon Scott and the City Council in Baltimore City Circuit Court.
World’s first superconducting quantum heat engine could help unlock massive quantum computers
A superconducting quantum heat engine converted heat near absolute zero into useful work in the first cyclic demonstration of its kind. Future versions could operate autonomously inside quantum computers, potentially eliminating microwave cables that currently create noise and cost.
Taking the stairs could protect your heart and help you live longer
Regular stair climbing reduces cardiovascular death risk by 39% and overall mortality risk by 24% compared to rarely using stairs, according to an analysis of over 480,000 people. Stair climbers also experienced lower risks of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
The Download: Flock’s new rules, cloning’s future, and children’s cells
Flock is restricting police officers' access to its nationwide license plate reader network in response to surveillance concerns. The police-tech company implemented tighter rules governing how officers can use the system.
AI’s Best ROI Right Now Is Fixing Old Code, Not Writing New Code
AI tools are proving most valuable for modernizing and fixing existing legacy code rather than generating new applications from scratch. Enterprise deployments show better returns on investment when targeting old codebases with outdated documentation and forgotten business logic than when attempting to build fresh systems through AI prompts.
A stress hormone may help the brain repair itself
Myelin-producing precursor cells rapidly release the stress hormone CRH near damaged brain tissue, helping control cell maturation and rebuild protective nerve insulation. This system also influences brain development and myelin thickness throughout life, potentially explaining links between early-life stress and psychiatric disorders.
Women taking estrogen had fewer signs of Alzheimer’s in their brains
Women using estrogen-only hormone therapy in later life showed 39% lower odds of dementia diagnosis and 35% lower odds of Alzheimer's-related brain changes. A study of over 21,000 participants found hormone therapy users had reduced amyloid plaques and tau tangles at autopsy.
Google AI health coach to use Abbott glucose data
Abbott's continuous glucose monitoring data will integrate into Google's AI health coaching service through a multiyear agreement. The Gemini-powered tool in the Google Health app will access Lingo glucose monitor readings to display glucose trends alongside other health information.
Paleontology rocked by organic molecules found in 66-million-year-old dinosaur bones
Collagen protein was discovered intact inside 66-million-year-old dinosaur fossils, contradicting the previous scientific consensus that such organic molecules degrade completely during fossilization. This finding may enable researchers to extract molecular information about dinosaur biology and understand how ancient proteins persisted for tens of millions of years.
Job titles of the future: Space travel agent
# Space Travel Agent Luxury travel concierge Roman Chiporukha, with over twenty years of experience arranging exclusive experiences, is now offering space travel bookings through his firm Roman Erica. His services include coordinating trips to orbital destinations and managing the logistics for clients seeking space vacations.
Cloning could be used to save species—or make human “organ sacks”
Scientists developed a CRISPR-based method to remove the Y chromosome from male mouse embryos, successfully creating female clones genetically identical to the original males. The technique demonstrates potential applications in species preservation, though raises ethical concerns about possible misuse such as creating human bodies for organ harvesting.
This scientist is helping build a missing map of childhood
A comprehensive map of human cells called the Human Cell Atlas was unveiled in 2017 with the goal of mapping every cell in the human body. Scientist Deanne Taylor became concerned after attending a University of Pennsylvania presentation about the project, realizing it lacked information about childhood development.
Z.ai Ships GLM-5.3 Without Retraining the Base Model: Better at Complex Coding and Long-Horizon Tasks
GLM-5.3 reuses the unchanged 743B base model from GLM-5.2 while achieving gains through scaled post-training alone. Terminal-Bench improved from 4.6 to 28.3 and DeepSWE increased from 46.2 to 66.9 through expanded task environments and longer training.
Anthropic needs to bring in Amazon-style earnings to justify its $2 trillion valuation—but it’s barely turned a profit
Anthropic is pursuing a valuation of $2 trillion despite having barely turned a profit. The company plans an October listing requiring exceptionally rapid revenue growth to justify its valuation target.
Superb Summer McIntosh bounces back with 400m medley gold at Pan Pacs
Summer McIntosh of Canada won the 400m individual medley at the Pan Pacific Championships in championship-record time. Australia's women's 4x200 freestyle relay team won in 7 minutes 42.40 seconds, lowering the previous championship record of 7:44.12.
Meet Needle 2: An Open 45M-Parameter Tool-Calling Model That Ships as a 14MB Binary and Runs a Full Session in 28MB of RAM
A 45 million-parameter model called Needle 2 performs tool calling and structured extraction while fitting into a 14MB binary file. The model runs a complete session using approximately 28MB of RAM and requires no GPU or NPU hardware.
South Africa school uses cattle dung to generate biogas for cooking meals
A South African school uses cattle dung to generate biogas for cooking meals for over 1,000 students instead of relying solely on firewood. The biogas system at Tiyani Secondary School in Limpopo province processes dung collected from the local village.
From one deer’s DNA, a road map emerges to save an endangered Philippine species
Scientists sequenced the complete genome of a Visayan spotted deer, an endangered Philippine species, using DNA from a single animal named Abraham. The genetic roadmap will help guide conservation efforts for this critically threatened deer species.
TradFi perps volume surges 117-fold to $387B in 18 months as crypto exchanges eat Wall Street’s lunch
Traditional finance perpetual futures volume on crypto exchanges increased 117-fold to $387 billion over 18 months. This growth reflects traders' migration toward decentralized exchanges offering round-the-clock trading of traditional assets.
Figure’s Blockchain Marketplace Tops $1 Billion Weekly Loan Applications After Record Q2
Figure Technology Solutions' blockchain-based loan marketplace processed $4.3 billion in volume during Q2, representing a 132% increase. Weekly loan applications exceeded $1 billion following the record quarter performance.
Bitcoin miners sell 28,000 BTC worth $2B amid rising costs
Bitcoin miners sold 28,000 BTC valued at approximately $2 billion as operational costs increased. This selling activity reflects a broader strategic shift toward artificial intelligence and data center operations.
Why has Britain's grass turned yellow? A plant scientist explains what happens next
Extended drought has turned Britain's grass yellow as water becomes scarce during an exceptionally dry summer. Ancient underground structures like walls and ditches remain visible as green outlines because they retain moisture that sustains grass above them, while available water is prioritized for homes and farms.
Layered nano-biohybrid uses sunlight, air and water to make hydrogen peroxide
A layered nano-biohybrid material combining inorganic and biological components produces hydrogen peroxide using sunlight, air, and water as inputs. The technology was developed by a research team at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.
Surf’s Up for Pups at World Dog Surfing Championship Where Rosie Leads the Pack (Video)
A 5-year-old Labrador Retriever named Rosie competed at a World Dog Surfing Championship in California. Rosie has nearly 340,000 Instagram followers and is recognized by local surfers.
Databricks Raises $5 Billion to Expand Enterprise AI Agent Platform
Databricks raised $5 billion in funding at a $190 billion valuation, up from $134 billion in February. The company plans to expand its enterprise AI agent platform with the new capital.
Mutation hotspots help 'friendly' viruses outmaneuver the bacteria in your gut
Researchers identified mutation hotspots in bacteriophages that allow these viruses to rapidly evolve and overcome antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut microbiome. These genetic regions enable phages to adapt quickly enough to maintain their role in controlling harmful bacterial populations.
Tether Announces Audit by KPMG, Reports Positive Opinion from Auditor
KPMG US issued a positive audit opinion on Tether following a complete review of the company's financial reserves. This addresses long-standing questions about whether sufficient assets back the USDT stablecoin, the leading digital asset in the stablecoin sector.
Tether Clears First Full Audit From KPMG Without Publishing the Statements
Tether received an unqualified audit opinion from KPMG for its 2025 accounts under AICPA standards rather than PCAOB standards. The company has not published either the audit statements or the opinion letter from the Big Four firm.
Databricks Closes $5 Billion Round at $190 Billion Valuation
Databricks raised $5 billion in funding at a $190 billion valuation, representing a 42% increase in six months. The company has achieved a revenue run-rate exceeding $7 billion with year-over-year growth above 80%.
A 13-year-old boy spent his whole summer 3D printing a custom wheelchair for a baby in need
A 13-year-old boy spent his summer 3D printing a custom wheelchair for a baby using designs from MakeGood. The organization provides free wheelchair designs that anyone can use to manufacture mobility devices.