Research

• Dr. Bert Mandelbaum is overseeing the health, performance, and overall wellbeing of the United States men’s national soccer team during their current tournament competition. • The FIFA World Cup is returning to the U.S., with matches scheduled across 16 different cities throughout Canada, Mexico, and the United States. • The event takes place throughout June and July, drawing global attention to North America as the host region for the prestigious tournament.

• Researchers have uncovered new details regarding the asteroid impact that occurred 66 million years ago, leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs. • The findings emphasize the extreme misfortune of the dinosaurs, though scientists continue to investigate the precise mechanisms that wiped out life on Earth. • The discovery is significant as it helps clarify the catastrophic event, while some experts suggest that pre-existing climate change or volcanic activity may have also contributed.

• NASA is conducting crew swap activities aboard the International Space Station (ISS), welcoming three new crew members while a trio from Expedition 74 prepares for their return to Earth. • The incoming crew is currently undergoing orientation to adapt to living and working in a microgravity environment. • Scientific operations have resumed in full swing, with researchers focusing on studies regarding how weightlessness impacts the human body.

• The Planetary Society has warned that a new Trump administration proposal to place political appointees in charge of grant funding could cause "concrete harm" to space science. • The move is part of a broader effort to combat "woke science," potentially shifting the criteria for how research funding is allocated and awarded. • This shift matters because it threatens the independence of scientific research and could prioritize political agendas over empirical data and peer-reviewed merit.

• Laala Bechetoula and Prof. Michel Chossudovsky held a video debate on July 15, 2026, focusing on the ongoing genocide in Palestine. • The discussion highlighted devastating casualty figures, reporting over 73,000 deaths and 173,000 wounded over a period of a thousand days. • The debate emphasizes the scale of the humanitarian crisis, noting that approximately 9,500 individuals remain trapped under concrete rubble.

• Ken Research released a strategic analysis on July 16, 2026, projecting that the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence (AI) in marketing market will reach USD 305.35 billion by 2030. • The report highlights a growth trajectory of 28.3%, driven largely by the integration of generative AI and evolving marketing technology ecosystems across the region. • This growth is significant as it outlines critical regional investment priorities and strategic imperatives for businesses aiming to remain competitive in the AI-driven landscape.

• In an article published July 14, 2026, author Colin Todhunter explores how individuals can reclaim sovereignty from the combined influence of state and corporate power. • The piece highlights the rise of an "emerging digital control grid" as the primary mechanism used by these entities to shape and monitor modern life. • This analysis matters as it addresses the systemic erosion of personal autonomy and the increasing centralization of power through technological surveillance.

• OpenAI researcher Miles Wang is reportedly in talks to launch an AI-driven drug discovery startup with a projected valuation of $2 billion. • Venture capital firm Lightspeed is in discussions to lead the funding round, though Wang has disputed the specific valuation figures and company description. • The move highlights a surge in investor interest in life sciences, exemplified by Chai Discovery's recent announcement of $400 million in funding at a $3.8 billion valuation.

• Check Point Research released its Annual AI Security Report 2026, highlighting a shift where AI has evolved from a "force multiplier" to a tool capable of building deployment-ready malware. • The report details a specific instance where a developer used an AI environment to create VoidLink, an 88,000-line command-and-control offensive framework, in less than one week. • This transition matters because AI's involvement is often invisible in the final attack artifacts, making it harder for security professionals to detect AI-generated threats.

• The website "Watts Up With That?" has published a critique claiming that research measuring climate change consensus is "the worst, most invalid research ever published." • The author argues that the methodology—using keyword searches and abstract reviews by political activists—is scientifically unsound and lacks epistemic standing. • This critique highlights a perceived collapse of scientific standards within peer-reviewed journals, comparing the research process to using "crystals" or a "Ouija board."

• Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and nine colleagues sent a formal letter to OMB Director Russ Vought demanding the reversal of a proposed federal regulation. • The lawmakers argue that the proposed rule change would negatively impact American science, research, and innovation by creating restrictive political barriers. • This action matters because the senators believe the rule could lead to the loss of American jobs and the exportation of domestic innovation due to "partisan games."

• Nearly 80% of high-net-worth investors in Singapore are utilizing AI for investment research, though they lack full trust in the technology's results. • To mitigate risks, these investors continue to rely on human financial advisors to double-check and validate AI-generated insights. • This trend highlights a hybrid approach to wealth management where AI provides efficiency while humans provide necessary oversight and trust.

• China is currently evaluating the security risks of open-weight AI models against its national strategy for technological innovation. • The debate follows the release of Zhipu AI’s GLM-5.2, a powerful LLM that has significantly closed the performance gap with global frontier models. • Concerns have intensified after the model demonstrated an ability to autonomously identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities and potentially lower barriers to creating bioweapons.

Exclusive New study contradicts statements that play products removed from shelves because of asbestos concerns were ‘low risk’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColourful children’s play sand that was sold in Australia while contaminated with asbestos can release hazardous airborne fibres of the toxic mineral, researchers have discovered.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the lead researcher of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study, which found 90% of craft sand samples released asbestos into the air when played with, confirmed the products had been sold in Australia. Continue reading...

• Author Laala Bechetoula published an analysis on July 7, 2026, titled "The Manufacture of Impunity," examining how political structures shield crimes and influence American power. • The piece focuses on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting the devastation occurring over a period of "a thousand days." • The article argues that a specific political apparatus has successfully captured U.S. power to ensure legal and political impunity for its actions.

• The 5W Index, released July 7, 2026, ranked the 50 largest U.S. publications based on how frequently AI answer engines cite their content. • Forbes secured the top spot with a score of 98, followed by Reuters at 91 and The New York Times at 88, while Fast Company trailed significantly with a score of 36. • The findings suggest a shift in the media prestige hierarchy, indicating that strict paywalls are negatively impacting a publication's visibility and citation rate within AI systems.

• An autopsy study conducted as part of the NIH’s RECOVER program found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can persist in the hearts of some individuals after they have died from COVID-19. • The researchers presented these unpublished findings via a poster at a pathology conference this spring to highlight the long-term presence of the virus in cardiac tissue. • Separately, the FDA has approved the antiviral drug Xocova for use as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent COVID-19 infection.

• Lam Research is preparing to release its fourth-quarter earnings report, with analysts forecasting double-digit growth for the company's bottom line. • CEO Timothy Archer reported that the Customer Support Business Group achieved a record $2 billion in quarterly revenue, driven by increased demand for spares, upgrades, and services. • Revenue and margins were further bolstered by strategic investments in NAND, DRAM, and advanced packaging specifically tailored for AI data centers.

Exclusive University of Sydney study finds heat-related hospital admissions to increase by 6% to 7.7% by the end of the centuryGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastExtreme high temperatures in warmer months double the risk of young people being admitted to hospital for a mental health condition, according to research.The analysis, which looked at 720,000 New South Wales hospital admissions of young people aged up to 24, suggested the climate crisis would aggravate the already declining mental health of young people. Continue reading...

• Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) are developing a new solar wind forecasting method to locate the first plasma boundary of the outer heliosphere. • The team is combining this forecasting approach with analytic and numerical heliosphere models to map the region's characteristics. • This research is critical for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, which is currently traveling toward this mysterious boundary of the solar system.

• Zacks Research downgraded FOX (NASDAQ:FOX) from a “strong-buy” to a “hold” rating in an investor note issued on Wednesday. • In a contrasting move on June 24th, Weiss Ratings upgraded FOX shares from a “buy (b-)” to a “buy (b)” rating. • These conflicting analyst updates provide mixed signals to investors regarding the short-term valuation and growth potential of the company.

• Research Professional highlights key European policy developments between 19 June and 2 July, focusing on the upcoming FP10 budget demands. • The report emphasizes a "now or never" moment for European research funding and the introduction of a "competitiveness fast track" to streamline innovation. • These updates are critical as the EU determines how to allocate resources to maintain global scientific leadership and economic competitiveness.

• July 2026 reports from Startup Research Breakthroughs highlight key growth areas for founders, specifically neuromorphic chips, brain-computer interfaces (BCI), and biotech. • The analysis emphasizes the commercialization of scientific discoveries and the importance of investing in technologies with long product cycles but high defensibility. • Notable industry leaders mentioned include Intel Loihi for its work in neuromorphic computing and Synchron for its advancements in BCI development.

Exclusive: Guardian analysis exposes evidence of racial inequalities in pain relief offered across healthcare‘The epidural failed and no one believed me’How the ethnicity pain gap follows people from birth to deathWomen from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than their white counterparts to receive an epidural while giving birth, research has revealed.The findings, based on data collected from more than 2.7 million births in the UK, prompted experts to raise the alarm about an “ethnicity pain gap” that means people of colour are more likely to be deprived of adequate pain relief within medical settings. Continue reading...

Figure is more than five times the widely used 600,000 figure widely cited in apologies by king and politiciansAt least 3.3 million people were enslaved in the Netherlands during the transatlantic slave trade, research claims – more than five times the 600,000 figure widely used in history books and cited in apologies by the king and politicians.King Willem-Alexander referred to the more than 600,000 people who were brought from Africa on Dutch ships to be sold as enslaved people when he apologised three years ago for the role of the Netherlands in the transatlantic slave trade. Continue reading...

• A study published in Sage Journals used advanced imaging on 40 Long COVID patients to identify metabolic brain dysfunction in those experiencing post-exertional malaise (PEM). • Research highlights a severe economic impact, revealing that 46% of Long COVID patients are unable to work and are twice as likely to leave the workforce as those who never had the disease. • The findings underscore an urgent need for targeted medical interventions, workplace accommodations, and long-term societal support to address the burden of the condition.

• Researchers highlighted several overlooked science stories from June, including the science of soccer's scissors feint and the physics of poop's coiled shape. • The list also featured a breakthrough on boron buckyballs and progress on deciphering the Herculaneum scrolls, which were damaged by the Vesuvius eruption. • These findings showcase recent advancements in various scientific fields, from physics and chemistry to archaeology and sports science.

• The global space research funding has surpassed $130 billion annually, making 2026 one of the most heavily financed years in space exploration history. • Notable growth is seen in companies like Starlink, with subscriber counts increasing from 2.3 million in 2023 to 10.3 million by Q1 2026. • This increase in funding and growth can be attributed to rising attention on Moon missions, space stations, climate-monitoring satellites, and defense-related space systems.