The Chains of Generosity Transforming Kidney Donation
A chance encounter in 2020 led Mark Scotch, then 64 years old, to donate a kidney. The donation initiated what became known as a chain of kidney donations among multiple people.
Double tops: Littler and Pogacar in a class of their own, but nothing lasts for ever | Jonathan Liew
Littler and Pogacar have demonstrated exceptional dominance in their respective sports, capable of breaking records during peak performance periods. Both champions exhibit a ruthless competitive streak that allows them to exploit opponents' vulnerabilities and weaknesses during crucial moments.
Meta cashflow craters as Zuckerberg doubles down on AI spending
Meta's second-quarter free cashflow dropped 91 percent due to substantial spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company continues investing heavily in AI development despite uncertainty about future returns on these expenditures.
China warns of retaliation if US sticks with robot ban
China's commerce ministry warned of retaliatory measures if the US maintains its import ban on new Chinese robots and power inverters. The statement came in response to unilateral US trade actions that China views as threatening to its economic interests.
BNB Chain leads all chains in weekly DEX volume at $19B
BNB Chain processed 19 billion dollars in weekly decentralized exchange volume, surpassing all other blockchain networks. This represents the chain's leading position in DEX trading activity during the measured period.
Chicken kidney sponge could be 'outstanding' at cleaning up polluted ports
A chicken kidney sponge material can filter pollutants like oil and toxins from harbor water. Researchers propose using this sponge as a renaturalization method to clean enclosed ports by introducing hardy species that survive in disturbed marine environments.
Gumi and SBI launch $18.3M Bitcoin and altcoin fund as Japan warms to institutional crypto
Gumi and SBI launched an $18.3 million fund investing in Bitcoin and altcoins for institutional investors. Japan's institutional crypto adoption is increasing as regulatory frameworks develop toward potential future ETF approvals.
Samsung’s Chip Profit Soars 250-Fold on Memory Shortages
Samsung Electronics' semiconductor division reported an operating profit of 89.2 trillion won in the second quarter, representing a more than 250-fold increase. This surge was driven by memory chip shortages in the market.
Samsung Profit Jumps 1,800% as AI Chip Demand Powers Record Quarter
Operating profit increased 1,800 percent year-over-year in the second quarter, driven by demand for AI memory chips. Revenue reached record levels as Samsung benefited from heightened need for semiconductor components used in artificial intelligence applications.
Microsoft Extends Data Center Lifespans to Soften AI Buildout Costs
Microsoft is extending data center lifespans to reduce capital expenditure impacts from AI infrastructure buildout. The company reported Intelligent Cloud revenue increased 32% year over year to $39.3 billion during the quarter ended June 30.
Robinhood Takes an Option Out on Owning Customer Transactions
Robinhood is expanding beyond its traditional retail brokerage business model while reporting record second-quarter 2026 revenues. The company's chief financial officer stated the business is "firing on all cylinders" during the earnings call on Wednesday, July 29.
David Johnson, the owl man of Umatilla
Burrowing owls have returned to the Umatilla Chemical Depot in eastern Oregon after badgers disappeared from the area, affecting the small owls that depend on burrows for nesting. David Johnson has worked to restore the habitat by monitoring owl populations and addressing the conditions that allowed badgers to vanish from this former weapons storage site.
Zuckerberg Says Billions Will Rely on Personal AI Agents
Zuckerberg predicted that within five years, billions of people will have personal AI agents. He made this statement during Meta's Q2 earnings call, a day after criticizing OpenAI and Anthropic.
NatWest teams with Uinsure to deliver home insurance quotes in seconds
NatWest partnered with Uinsure to offer home insurance quotes in seconds through a new technology platform. The exclusive partnership aims to simplify how customers find, manage, and review their coverage.
The role of community energy in mediating the sustainable energy transition
Community energy projects governed by local members advance just energy transitions by providing power to remote areas, enabling renewable technology adoption, and strengthening electricity networks. Their current limited adoption raises questions about practical implementation methods and strategies for wider expansion.
Daily multivitamin may help older adults stay independent
A daily multivitamin improved functional health in older adults after three years compared to a placebo group. The preliminary findings, which still need peer review, showed users maintained better strength and stamina for everyday activities.
Binance.US Prepares CFTC Application to Launch Prediction Markets
Binance.US plans to submit a Commodity Futures Trade Commission application for a Designated Contract Market license to offer prediction markets. The company announced this intention through CEO Stephen Gregory at a blockchain event in July.
A climate resilience strategy to strengthen US seafood competitiveness
Climate-driven disruptions pose a significant threat to U.S. seafood production competitiveness, requiring resilience investments in fisheries and supply chains. NOAA is advancing efforts to increase domestic seafood production while a University of Miami study emphasizes that long-term competitiveness depends on fisheries' ability to withstand climate disruptions.
Hydrothermal microbes shape seafloor minerals at newly found vents near Greek island
Researchers discovered hydrothermal vents at 100 to 250 meters depth near a Greek island where fluid flow intensity shapes microbial communities and mineral formation. Different hydrothermal fluid intensities control how microbes colonize the seafloor and influence the minerals that form there.
WSL brings back Sunday evening kick-offs after indifferent viewing figures
The Women's Super League is reintroducing Sunday evening kick-offs this season after last season's viewership disappointed. The league will now offer six different television time slots to broadcasters, a shift from last season when most games aired on Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes.
Lake ice loss could accelerate after winter temperatures cross critical thresholds
Lake ice duration is decreasing faster than air temperatures alone would predict, indicating that warming winters are crossing critical thresholds that accelerate ice loss. Research shows that lakes lose ice cover increasingly rapidly once winter temperatures rise above specific transition points where physical processes change.
Freehand Raises $75 Million to Automate Enterprise Procurement and Payments
Freehand raised $75 million to expand autonomous AI agents that automate procurement, supplier management, invoicing, and payments for enterprises. These agents can negotiate rates, enforce contracts, manage suppliers, process payments, and reconcile data within enterprise systems.
Meta Bets Its Next Revenue Line on Personal AI Agents
Meta announced personal AI agents as a core component of its future revenue strategy during second-quarter earnings on July 29, 2026, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling them "the foundation for our next wave of products and revenue lines." The company has not yet launched this consumer agent business but plans to provide additional details in coming months.
WEX Deploys AI to Stop Fleet Fuel Fraud Before It Happens
WEX is adding an AI-powered fraud prevention tool called SecureFuel to its WEXOnline platform to identify and block unauthorized fuel purchases before approval. The capability will be deployed for North American fleet customers beginning August 3.
EnFi Secures $15 Million to Bring Agentic AI to Commercial Lending
EnFi raised $15 million in Series A funding to scale agentic AI technology for commercial lending workflows. The Massachusetts-based fintech will use the capital to grow its team and accelerate go-to-market efforts.
Businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees made 92% of May hires
Small businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees accounted for 92% of private sector hires in May, with companies employing 10 to 49 people making the largest contribution. Companies with 5,000 or more employees posted 3% of job openings but made fewer than 2% of actual hires.
Morgan Stanley Unveils Lowest-Cost Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) ETFs
Morgan Stanley launched two new exchange-traded products: the Ethereum Trust trading under ticker MSSE and the Solana Trust under ticker MSOL. Both products are positioned as low-cost options for investors seeking exposure to these cryptocurrencies through NYSE Arca trading.
NASA Awards 2026 Innovative Technology Concepts
Eighteen innovative aerospace technology concepts received awards totaling $3.2 million from NASA's NIAC program. Each Phase I award provides up to $175,000 for nine-month investigations into solar system exploration and universe understanding.
At Waymo, an AI project isn't ready until its evals are — not when the model performs well
Waymo uses "eval-centric development," making continuous evaluation a core engineering practice rather than a final deployment check. The company has driven over 220 million fully autonomous miles with 17 times fewer serious crash injuries than human drivers.
Microsoft’s Azure just crossed $100bn a year, and the AI bet mostly paid off
Microsoft's Azure cloud service revenue exceeded $100 billion annually, with quarterly cloud revenue reaching $59.3 billion, up 27% year-over-year. Total company revenue rose 18% to $90 billion for the quarter ending June 30, and net income increased 31% to $35.8 billion.