Signal

Oct 05 · AM · 111 · archive
TOP SIGNAL23
More oil is moving through the Strait of Hormuz. What does that mean for Iran’s wartime leverage?
NYT World News7hcommodities-energy9
Scientists found that prolonged fasting triggers major changes throughout the body, but many of the most interesting effects only appeared after about three days without food. The results suggest fasting may influence health in ways that go beyond weight loss and could eventually inspire treatments that mimic its effects.
Science Daily Health Medicine32mbiology-medicine9
Scientists have discovered a human gene with a remarkable double life: it appears to play an important role in brain cells while still retaining the ability to jump around the genome. Called BC200, the gene evolved millions of years ago from a mobile piece of DNA known as a transposon, but unlike most genes that arose this way, it never lost its mobility. Researchers even found BC200 embedded inside a human poxvirus, suggesting it may have jumped from infected skin cells into the virus.
Science Daily Health Medicine2hbiology-medicine9
NASA has selected the GIMLI project to investigate whether the Marius Hill Pit opens into a vast underground cave or lava tube. Using radar, seismic sensors, gravity measurements, and cameras, researchers will search beneath the lunar surface and estimate the size of any hidden void. Such caves could preserve clues to the Moon’s volcanic history and potentially provide protected shelters for future astronauts.
Science Daily Space Time8hearth-paleontology9
A chopping wound above the eye and more carnage solve a mystery that stumped archeologists for a century. The post 5,000-year-old skull fractures reveal human sacrifices in Ancient Egypt appeared first on Popular Science .
Popular Science8hancient-history-archaeology9
Even before the justices start their new term on Monday, the court has spent the summer resolving fast-moving requests on election-related disputes.
NYT Home Page3hpublic-policy8
The justices will begin their new term with a landmark case about whether local governments can sue oil companies over damages caused by climate change.
NYT Home Page3henvironmental-risk-intel8
By pinpointing when it begins in young humans, scientists hope to better understand what consciousness is, and how it arises, in all of us.
NYT Home Page3hbiology-medicine8
We look at the cases before the Supreme Court this term.
NYT Home Page2hpublic-policy8
The Supreme Court is starting its new term already mired in election disputes. Our reporter Ann E. Marimow explains why the court is likely to get pulled into even more of these cases.
NYT US News2hpublic-policy8
The offensive is an effort to wrest control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait from the Houthis, who are backed by Iran.
NYT World News8mpublic-policy8
Manufacturers say they are close to perfecting a new, more efficient solar panel that could help the United States reclaim ground it lost.
NYT Politics3h8
More tankers are getting through the Strait of Hormuz despite Iranian threats in a burgeoning system of risky shuttle runs that cost up to $40 million.
WSJ World News3hcommodities-energy8
Focus has been on the resulting rise in oil prices, but it is potential food shortages the world should be paying attention to, ICC secretary-general John Denton said.
WSJ World News8henvironmental-risk-intel8
The senators, one a Republican and the other a Democrat, question whether companies are driving profits with ‘tactics to delay payments.’
WSJ US Business3hregulation-antitrust8
Amin Nasser said the global supply cushion was scarily thin, with estimates less than 6 billion barrels of commercial inventories remain—and most of that wasn’t practically available.
WSJ US Business1hcommodities-energy8
Oil prices fell with traders weighing an emergency oil and diesel stock release, renewed attacks around the Hormuz Strait and persistent supply risks.
WSJ US Business5hcommodities-energy8
The justices will be venturing into cases at the front lines of politics and culture.
WSJ US News10hpublic-policy8
To understand what the word means today, you have to go back to the beginning of the story.
The Atlantic2hpublic-policy8
Scientists have discovered that E-cadherin, a protein best known as the “glue” holding cells and tissues together, has a surprising second job: helping epithelial cells swallow nearby dead cells. Using live zebrafish and mouse embryos, researchers found that cells can dramatically reshape their lower surfaces to engulf cellular debris while keeping their upper surfaces stable, allowing protective barriers to remain sealed.
Science Daily Health Medicine9hbiology-medicine8
Stimulating the vagus nerve after practice helped mice develop stronger long-term motor learning, revealing a potentially important window when the brain is still locking in a new skill. The effect was linked to rhythmic changes in brain blood vessels, hinting that body-to-brain signals may help prepare the brain for lasting change.
Science Daily Mind Brain44mbiology-medicine8
Scientists have discovered evidence of altermagnetism in a thin, highly tunable material that could help electronics use electron spin instead of relying only on electrical charge. The unusual magnetic state may enable faster, more energy-efficient devices without the unwanted magnetic interference caused by conventional magnets.
Science Daily Matter Energy1hphysics-cosmology8
Illustrative generic image of a skull in a laboratory. (EvgeniyShkolenko/iStockphoto/Getty Images) A new understanding of an ancient mystery. ScienceAlert stories are written, fact-checked, and edited by humans, never generated by AI. Don't miss a story, subscribe here.
Science Alert8hancient-history-archaeology8
GENERAL25
Karl Deisseroth, 54, Peter Hegemann, 71, and Georg Nagel, 73, have carried out research into light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.
PBS NewsHour15h⊕39
The FBI and U.S. prosecutors say Wanying Zhang, also know as Heather, surveilled the Taiwanese president's son and his family.
NPR News1h⊕27
Vivien Lichtenstein says she believes motion is unhelpful as anger grows over Zack Polanski’s absence for vote UK politics live – latest updates The head of the Jewish Greens has said she may leave the party after it voted to adopt a policy that equates Zionism with racism and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state. Vivien Lichtenstein said that while opinion among Jewish members of the party was split on the motion passed at its annual conference in Brighton on Sunday, she said she believed it was unhelpful and it was “possible” she might quit. Continue reading...
Guardian World3h⊕24
In today’s newsletter: As Americans get ready to vote on whether the Republican party remains in control of Congress, our Washington editor talks about the disconnect between Trump and his supporters Good morning. Later today, Donald Trump will be in the state of Nebraska to rev up supporters as he kicks off a campaign blitz of rallies ahead of the midterm elections on 3 November. If his early speeches are anything to go by, cornhuskers can anticipate poll denial, accusations of veganism and an expletive ratio that my nine-year-old would love. And Nebraskans may love it, too: aside from one “blue dot” district in Omaha, Republicans argue their support is steady in the state that has easily backed Trump three times. UK politics | The Greens in England and Wales have formally adopted a policy that equates Zionism with racism and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state. Schools | Lawyers and campaigners have condemned the “horrifying” scale of child-on-child sexual abuse in schools after a Guardian investigation revealed thousands of sexual offences against under-13s are reported to police each year. Brazil | Brazil’s presidential race will go to a second round after the far-right candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, beat the incumbent leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but failed to secure the outright majority he needed to avoid a runoff. Environment | A study of Europe’s summer paints a grim picture for the future , with doctors and climate scientists calling on governments to stop burning fossil fuels, shade buildings, green cities, and install air conditioning in hospitals, schools and care homes. US military | The US Air Force has pulled its bombers from RAF Fairford following an investigation into an alleged planned terror attack at the base. Tuesday | ABC News is suing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over its licence review, and on Thursday its hearing will take place. The broadcaster claims the review, ordered by Donald Trump in April over comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s comments about the US president, is a “retaliatory campaign” in violation of its first amendment rights. Wednesday | Kemi Badenoch is to speak at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham. This day also marks the third anniversary of the 7 October attacks by Hamas. In London, the Met are asking organisers of a pro-Palestinian student march to move the event. Thursday | Holborn and St Pancras will hold its byelection. The seat belongs to former prime minister and Labour party leader Keir Starmer, who held it from 2015 until his resignation in September. Continue reading...
Guardian US7h⊕25
The announcement comes after Trump hosted top executives of AI companies at the White House last week and said they had signed a voluntary accord that would effectively self-police the development of the technology.
PBS NewsHour20h⊕26
Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, an ally of President Donald Trump, and Brazil's incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will face off in a runoff Oct. 25 for the top job of Latin America's powerhouse economy after neither won a majority in Sunday's vote.
PBS NewsHour6m5
The Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday over a bid by Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy to block a lawsuit filed by the city and county of Boulder over the effects of climate change.
CBS News8m9
Brent crude hovers around $100 a barrel despite news of increased Mideast oil flows, as Iran's Houthi allies battle over control of Red Sea shipping lanes.
CBS News8m6
US media reported a new threat led to the bombers being removed on Sunday, following an incident near the base last week.
BBC World10m5
In what's believed to be a first in U.S. courts, Pelkey's family used AI to create a video of his likeness to give him a voice.
CBS News14m6
Analysts say Flavio Bolsonaro is projected to win the run-off vote on October 25 and become Brazil's next president.
Al Jazeera23m5
The UK’s Green Party has voted to define Zionism as a form of racism.
Al Jazeera41m4
Boss of OpenAI calls for a regulatory light touch because of the ‘good stuff’ the technology can deliver Sam Altman says he believes the world should accept “bad things” happening with AI in exchange for the benefits of the technology. The chief executive of OpenAI cited hacks, scams and “other bad things that will happen” in an interview that sparked an instant backlash from critics of the major AI companies. His comments came after one of his company’s safety experts resigned , saying at the weekend that its “culture is broken”. Continue reading...
Guardian World44m6
Minnesota's law banning AI "nudification" images has been put on hold after a federal appeals court sided with Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company.
CBS News55m8
Culture of silence and fears of exclusion means aviation workers less likely to seek help for mental health issues Pilots and air traffic controllers in the US could soon have an easier time achieving a healthy mental altitude – a move with implications for the safety of air travel in America. The US Senate recently approved bills aimed at encouraging aviation professionals struggling with a mental health condition get treatment. Continue reading...
Guardian US57m6
The vice-president’s recent remarks seek to maintain a posture of strength while they inadvertently expose political realities JD Vance has parachuted into the midterm election campaign on a rescue mission in a new guise: a risk management consultant. Speaking in the flat language of the expert hired to identify threats, weaknesses and losses affecting a business’ reputation, he has presented his executive summary for limiting vulnerabilities and a scenario for averting disaster. “There’s a lot of good that’s been done, but there’s a lot of work left to do,” he informed his clients on 15 September about the words to use. “Give us another chance, or give us another couple of years, to continue to work on the amazing things that we’ve been doing for the past two years.” He turned the focus to harm reduction rather than total agreement and then shifted the equation to a negative binary choice. “Even if you don’t agree with us on every issue, the other party is consumed by craziness.” Sidney Blumenthal, former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, has published three books of a projected five-volume political life of Abraham Lincoln: A Self-Made Man , Wrestling With His Angel and All the Powers of Earth . He is a Guardian US columnist and co-host of the Court of History podcast Continue reading...
Guardian US57m4
Extreme heat is increasingly linked to problems such as premature births or underweight babies, the U.N. climate chief is warning.
CBS News57m9
All World Medical Association members have a duty to uphold their commitment to the protection of healthcare workers.
Al Jazeera1h6
On Monday, the first day of the Supreme Court's new term, the justices will hear the Boulder case that could decide the fate of others like it.
PBS NewsHour1h8
Banks and building societies raise prices as turmoil in bond markets increases expectations of base rate rise The average cost of a five-year fixed-rate mortgage has hit the 6% barrier for the first time in three years, as jitters in the money markets make the loans more expensive for lenders to offer. Figures from financial information provider Moneyfacts show the average is now 6.00%, its highest point since September 2023, while the average two-year fixed rate is not far behind at 5.98%, its highest since December of the same year. Continue reading...
Guardian World1h5
Move would strengthen Britain’s case to be included in new legislation to protect European manufacturing Business live – latest updates The UK is reviewing whether to impose tariffs on Chinese car imports to align itself with the EU and strengthen its case to be included in new legislation designed to protect the European manufacturing sectors including autos and chemicals. It is understood the EU has raised the question of tariffs with the UK as part of the discussions on the “Made in Europe” legislation , known as the Industrial Accelerator Act. Continue reading...
Guardian World1h6
France’s Cac 40 index slides as announcement of snap election in Spain also helps fuel eurozone uncertainty Business live – latest updates The euro has slumped to the lowest level against the dollar in 17 months amid growing concern France’s debt position could threaten the stability of the wider single currency bloc. The single currency fell as much as 0.8% against the dollar in early trading on Monday to below $1.12, its lowest level since May 2025, before recovering slightly. It has slumped by about 1.2% this month, accelerating a drop of about eight cents against the greenback from a peak of $1.20 in January. Continue reading...
Guardian World1h7
The Supreme Court is set to hear a blockbuster climate change case that could affect more than just climate issues. And, Brazil's presidential race is too close to call.
NPR News1h8
Flávio Bolsonaro is favorite to win 25 October runoff against 80-year-old incumbent leftwing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Plus the ‘pawsome’ new recruit to Mexico’s national guard Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Brazil’s presidential race will go to a second round after the far-right candidate, Flávio Bolsonaro, beat the incumbent leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but failed to secure the outright majority he needed to avoid a runoff. The 45-year-old son of the disgraced former president Jair Bolsonaro will go into the second round as strong favourite, likely to pick up votes from the election’s other rightwing candidates, including Ronaldo Caiado, who secured 2.1%, and Renan Santos, who won 2.2%. The second round will take place on 25 October. How have Bolsonarista politicians taken a grip on B razil? Brazil’s far right put in an even stronger than expected showing, with a succession of Bolsonarista politicians winning congressional or gubernatorial races. They included Jair Bolsonaro’s second son, Carlos Bolsonaro, and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, who both won seats in the senate. Bolsonaro’s youngest son, Jair Renan Bolsonaro, was elected to the lower house of congress. What has been the latest response from Cornell University? In a video message, the Cornell University president, Michael Kotlikoff, said the school would take “a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life”, adding: “At ​their best, these organisations can provide ‌students with friendship, belonging, mentorship ‌and a powerful sense of community. But being part of a group can never diminish ‌individual responsibility.” Continue reading...
Guardian US1h4
School year is on hold with teachers on strike and other unions threatening to take action.
Al Jazeera2h4
SCIENCE HISTORY12
Biology medicine9
American chestnut trees were wiped out more than a century ago. Now, new trees that are fungus-resistant are being planted at the zoo.
NYT NY Region3h7
Cancer immunotherapy can lose its punch when tumor-fighting T cells become exhausted, but researchers may have found a way to keep them going longer. Scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center identified a signaling molecule called MEK that can push T cells to burn through their energy while producing cancer-killing proteins. In animal and laboratory studies, blocking MEK helped the cells conserve energy, survive longer, and remain active even in the harsh environment around tumors.
Science Daily Health Medicine3h7
(Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library/Getty Images) There's an urgent need for new treatment options. ScienceAlert stories are written, fact-checked, and edited by humans, never generated by AI. Don't miss a story, subscribe here.
Science Alert16h7
A new nanoparticle therapy reduced lung tumors in mice while also targeting cachexia, the severe muscle wasting that can accompany cancer. By delivering follistatin mRNA directly to tumors, the approach could eventually offer a way to fight both the disease and one of its most dangerous complications.
Science Daily Health Medicine1h6
Freedivers repeatedly experience hypoxia while holding their breath underwater. (Matt Porteous/Stone RF/Getty Images) This is a voluntary activity. ScienceAlert stories are written, fact-checked, and edited by humans, never generated by AI. Don't miss a story, subscribe here.
Science Alert1h6
Researchers found that just 20 minutes of comfortable walking can rapidly stimulate the gut. Within one to two minutes after exercise, bowel sounds became stronger, more frequent, and lasted longer, suggesting increased intestinal movement. The boost was brief, fading within a few minutes, but it may help explain why walking can provide relief from constipation.
Science Daily Health Medicine11h5
The spread of measles in Pennsylvania and Ohio is largely affecting Amish communities where vaccinations levels are low.
NYT US News15h4
What happened in Mangala, where residents were left with little outside support, helps explain how this outbreak became the worst seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
NYT World News8h4
A teenage boy went into surgery for a broken arm and emerged with brain damage. His mother was determined to figure out what had happened.
The Atlantic1h4
Physics cosmology1
October skywatchers can see Saturn at opposition, catch meteors from Halley’s Comet during the Orionid peak, and watch the Moon sweep past the famous Pleiades star cluster. Moonlight may obscure some Orionids, but the best viewing should come before dawn after the Moon sets.
Science Daily Space Time58m5
Unsorted2
We asked 100 scientists about unsolved problems in their fields. They sent back provocations — on the origins of life, the possibilities for human progress and much more.
NYT Home Page3h7
The recipients of the six awards in science, literature, economics and peace work are being announced this week.
NYT Home Page44m5
POLICY ACADEMIA17
Public policy16
There remains an opportunity for the group to play a positive and honest role in American politics.
NYT Home Page7h7
The alleged foreign agent was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport before she could board a flight to Shanghai.
WSJ World News2h7
The Trump administration is breaking a fundamental promise of political impartiality.
The Atlantic54m7
Nine months ago, regime change in Cuba appeared imminent. Then reality set in.
The Atlantic1h7
Plus, why school music classes are under threat.
NYT Home Page2h6
Assisted dying accounts for more than 5 percent of deaths in Canada.
NYT Home Page3h6
From jail, the former mayor of Istanbul accuses President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of hollowing out Turkey’s democracy to stay in power.
NYT World News3h6
Arsonists targeted a defense-robotics company in Estonia.
WSJ World News17h6
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is gambling that outrage over soaring rents will help his socialist party secure a majority.
WSJ World News2h⊕25
Democrats are increasingly confident they will have a record number of women serving in the House next year, after backing women in competitive districts they are now positioned to win.
NYT US News3h5
More than 200 U.S. intelligence and military analysts are in Saudi Arabia helping it provide assistance to its Yemeni allies, current and former U.S. officials say.
NYT World News15h⊕35
For a city as diverse as New York, the school system is one of the most segregated in the United States.
NYT NY Region5h5
The Trump administration says all Iranian airlines are being “shut down.” So why is this jumbo jet still flying from Tehran to Southeast Asia?
NYT Home Page48m4
The strange story behind the first federal terrorism prosecution of American protesters.
NYT Home Page3h4
The Parti Québécois, which promised an independence referendum if elected on Monday, could return to power after more than a decade.
NYT World News3h⊕24
The eldest son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro finished first, leaving the leftist incumbent with an uphill fight ahead of an Oct. 25 runoff.
WSJ World News10h4
Regulation antitrust1
Authorities in three countries missed opportunities across the board; “there wasn’t proper vetting.”
WSJ World News11h6
AI ML6
Ai governance2
Another executive departed OpenAI, raising questions about the company’s commitment to safety.
NYT Business40m7
Plus: Community banks swing back at Trump regulators over crypto charters, and a near-catastrophe on flight 1073 exposes gaping hole in Dubai’s aviation security.
WSJ US Business1h7
Applied ml3
The German company aims to capitalize on growing demand for autonomous industrial robots.
WSJ US Business5h6
The telecommunications group said it expects AI to generate gross savings outside the U.S. of around $1.24 billion by 2027.
WSJ US Business6h5
Also, 90s nostalgia is back, and that’s helping Levi Strauss
WSJ US Business1h4
Agentic systems1
I went to Galaxy Robot Park in Seoul to see how we might one day live with robots. It was part cutting-edge technology, part theatrics.
NYT World News1h4
STRATEGY BUSINESS5
The Jaecoo 7, made by China’s Chery, was the U.K.’s bestselling vehicle in September.
WSJ US Business3h7
The luxury carmaker is expanding its factory in Britain to focus on rarefied custom cars. First up is a $3.5 million-plus electric roadster.
NYT Business3h6
WSJ US Business3h5
The growing use of walk-and-talk social videos can be traced to Zohran Mamdani’s successful campaign for mayor of New York City. But not all candidates are naturals on camera.
NYT Home Page3hmarketing-funnels4
Why marketers like HBO and Spotify think dance parties offer good returns on their investment.
WSJ US Business1hmarketing-funnels4
MARKETS FINANCE19
Commodities energy5
Many say energy prices are top of mind as they head to the ballot box in November.
WSJ US Business17h7
Oil prices fell in early trading as recovering Middle East crude exports and the release of oil stocks by the Group of Seven eased concerns over supplies.
WSJ Markets5h7
Plus, small business are facing longer waits to get tariff refunds than the biggest importers.
WSJ US Business1h6
Gold prices rose after recent soft U.S. economic data sharply lowered expectations of a Fed rate hike in October, though a stronger dollar limited gains.
WSJ Markets4h5
The company said the deal adds scale and diversification in an operating environment similar to the U.K. Continental Shelf and materially enhances its production outlook.
WSJ US Business6h4
Macro monetary8
They’re a sign of a healthy economy and a portent of lower home prices.
WSJ US News18h7
Lenders have stronger balance sheets now as they face a new rate-hiking cycle.
WSJ Markets3h6
U.S. stocks were steady and Treasurys largely strengthened, while the dollar gained against the euro amid concern that French fiscal stress could spread elsewhere on the continent.
WSJ Markets31m6
Spending is rising because prices are climbing and Americans are buying more stuff.
WSJ Social & Economy11h6
The euro was weighed down by France’s fiscal woes and Spain announcing a snap election.
WSJ Markets55m5
The euro fell to an 11-week low against sterling and Rabobank reckoned France’s political and fiscal issues were arguably worse than those of the U.K.
WSJ Markets2h5
The recent rise in energy prices may cool demand in the eurozone that would limit the need for rate rises to contain inflation, ECB’s Chief Economist Philip Lane said.
WSJ Social & Economy4h5
Brazilian real rallies on first-round win for Flávio Bolsonaro
WSJ Markets3h4
Equities earnings5
The acquisition aims to create one of the largest industrial-software portfolios at a time when the rise of AI is reshaping customer needs.
WSJ US Business4h6
The listing comes as tanker rates have surged to record highs since the conflict in the Middle East upended oil markets.
WSJ US Business3h6
C.H. Robinson Worldwide has agreed to buy truck broker RXO for around $5 billion in cash and stock in a deal that would create a logistics company with an enterprise value topping $25 billion.
WSJ US Business1h4
The Japanese drugmaker said IntraBio’s expertise would strengthen capabilities across its rare disease pipeline.
WSJ US Business5h4
The deal expands GE HealthCare’s footprint in radiopharmaceuticals, its fastest-growing segment.
WSJ Social & Health23m4
Portfolio theory1
Plus, the euro is slumping
WSJ Markets2h5
MISC4
Hundreds lined up to call loved ones as the internet went down and the flames closed in on the Australian town of Narooma in 2019.
NYT World News8h5
As the weekend arrived, much of the nightlife in the upstate New York college town was subdued. But there were still some students looking to cut loose.
NYT NY Region9h5
This six-story building in the East Village has long been colorful, but its most recent refresh was inspired by New York City.
NYT NY Region14h4
Many women start out with a notion of their ideal number of children—but a variety of obstacles can get in the way.
The Atlantic58m4