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Policy & Society

Record $50.1 Million Sale of T. rex 'Gus' Reignites Debate Over Fossil Access

A Tyrannosaurus rex specimen named Gus sold for a record $50.1 million at Sotheby's, highlighting the ongoing conflict between private collectors and paleontologists over the preservation of irreplaceable fossils.

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2,800-Year-Old Face-Down Burial with Sea Turtle Vessel Found in El Salvador

Archaeologists in El Salvador have uncovered a 2,800-year-old skeleton buried face down with a ceramic sea turtle vessel, a discovery that may reshape understanding of pre-Maya ritual practices.

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Google to Allow Competing App Stores Inside Play Store Starting July 22

Google will let users find and install rival app stores directly within the Play Store from July 22, 2026, after withdrawing a joint motion with Epic Games, marking a major shift in Android app distribution in the US.

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Bipartisan AI Kill Switch Act Would Let DHS Shut Down Dangerous Systems, Fine Up to $20M/Day

A new bipartisan bill introduced in Congress would give the Department of Homeland Security unprecedented authority to shut down or suspend AI systems deemed capable of catastrophic harm, with fines reaching $20 million per day for violations.

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New York Becomes First US State to Impose Year-Long Moratorium on Large Data Centers

Governor Kathy Hochul signs an executive order halting approvals for data centers over 50MW for up to one year, citing environmental and energy concerns.

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China's Five-Year Climate Plan Prioritizes Renewable Energy Integration into Industry and Transport

China published a detailed climate plan on July 10, 2026, focusing on deeper integration of renewable energy into factories, data centers, and transport through 2030, while maintaining existing emissions targets.

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Local Opposition to AI Data Centers Gains Momentum

A grassroots movement against data center construction is spreading across communities, echoing earlier protests that halted Apple's plans in Ireland.

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DHSC Unveils New Plans to Accelerate Value-Based Procurement in NHS

The UK Department of Health and Social Care has outlined fresh measures to speed up value-based procurement, aiming to shift focus from upfront costs to long-term patient outcomes.

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Tropical Forests May Lose Carbon Absorption Ability During El Niño, Study Warns

A new analysis suggests that tropical forests could stop absorbing carbon dioxide during El Niño events, with this year potentially being the worst on record for such disruption.

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Lockheed Martin Secures $850M for Trident II D5 Life Extension

The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin $850 million to continue modernizing the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missile, supporting its service life into the 2040s.

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El Niño Disrupts Pacific Fisheries as Warm Waters Reshape Catches

The El Niño climate phenomenon is causing uneven impacts across Pacific fisheries, with some regions facing losses while others experience unexpected gains.

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Music Industry Unveils Labeling System for AI-Generated Content

Major music organizations have introduced a new labeling system to identify content created with generative AI, aiming for widespread industry adoption.

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SoFi Stadium Emerges as Unlikely Star of 2026 World Cup

The $5.5-billion venue in Inglewood hosted eight World Cup matches, drawing praise from players, coaches, and fans as one of the world's top football stadiums.

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Strait of Hormuz Oil Traffic Continues via Oman Corridor Amid U.S.-Iran Strikes

Despite renewed U.S.-Iran airstrikes, a limited number of oil tankers still transit the Strait of Hormuz using the Oman shipping corridor, though overall vessel traffic remains below normal.

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US Responsible for Nearly Half of Global CO2 Emissions Growth in 2025, Report Finds

A new analysis from the Energy Institute reveals that the United States accounted for nearly 50% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions increase in 2025, driven by the surge in AI data centers and policy shifts under the Trump administration.

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EPA Proposes Removing Public from Data Center Pollution Permit Process

The EPA has proposed eliminating public participation requirements for air pollution permits for data centers and other minor sources, a move that critics say reduces transparency.

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ESA Video Highlights the 12 August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse

The European Space Agency has released a short video previewing the total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026, featuring two of its astronauts.

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EU Declares Meta's Addictive Design Illegal, Threatens Fines

The European Commission has preliminarily found that Facebook and Instagram's addictive features violate the Digital Services Act, threatening Meta with fines if it fails to address risks to users' mental wellbeing.

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Apple Takes OpenAI to Court Over Alleged Hardware Secret Theft

Apple has filed suit accusing OpenAI of orchestrating the theft of confidential hardware designs through former employees, naming Jony Ive's io Products among the defendants.

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