Measles Cases in the U.S. Reach Record High Since 2000 Elimination

The U.S. has reported 1,288 measles cases in 2025 across 39 states, surpassing the previous record set in 2019. Most infections (88%) are tied to 27 outbreaks, with 92% of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Roughly one-third of cases are in adults aged 20 and older. A large outbreak in West Texas sparked the surge, though other states—including Missouri, Indiana, and New Mexico—have since reported clusters. Measles is also spreading in unvaccinated communities across North America, including Mennonite groups in Canada and Mexico. South Carolina confirmed its first case involving an unvaccinated international traveler. Despite slowed transmission in Texas, new cases continue in New Mexico and Missouri. Health officials stress the urgency of vaccination to prevent further spread. (CIDRAP)

China builds ‘spy’ laser that can read text smaller than a grain of rice from a mile away

Chinese researchers have unveiled a laser-based imaging system that can resolve millimeter-sized text from nearly 1.4 km away using active intensity interferometry. This breakthrough overcomes atmospheric distortion and traditional long-range resolution limits. Potential applications span archaeology, wildlife monitoring, and security surveillance. However, the system’s precision raises serious privacy and ethical concerns. Experts are calling for international guidelines to govern its use as capabilities may only grow. (Times of India, Wikipedia)

OpenAI’s o3 tops new AI league table for scientific Q&A

OpenAI’s new o3 language model has outperformed peers in a researcher-voted ranking evaluating scientific question-answering ability. It topped the SciArena benchmark on July 10, highlighting its grasp of technical queries and marking a new milestone in AI-assisted research. (Nature)

Ancient proteins rewrite rhino family tree 

Scientists have sequenced proteins from 20-million-year-old rhino teeth — among the oldest ever retrieved — revealing evolutionary relationships that challenge existing classifications. These findings suggest unexpected lineages and may reshape mammalian evolutionary trees. (Nature)

Quantum materials‑based ‘hidden metallic state’ could speed up electronics 1,000× 

Researchers heated and cooled 1T‑TaS₂, discovering a hidden metallic phase that dramatically boosts conductivity. This discovery may unlock quantum-material-based electronics that are thousands of times faster than today’s silicon-based systems. (Live Science)

Earth trapped in a giant cosmic void, echoes from the Big Bang suggest 

New analysis of cosmic microwave background radiation reveals that the Milky Way might lie within a vast, low-density region in the universe. This “cosmic void” could explain temperature anomalies in the CMB and force a rethink of standard cosmological models. (Live Science)

Room‑temperature maser created using LED tech

A breakthrough development: scientists used LED-based components to produce a room-temperature maser. This noise‑free microwave amplifier may revolutionize ultra-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging and quantum communication tools. (Phys.org)

300,000‑year‑old wooden tools discovered in China 

Archaeologists have unearthed Pleistocene-era wooden implements in China, dating back ~300,000 years. These tools indicate sophisticated plant-processing behaviors far earlier than previously believed, reshaping our understanding of early human technology. (SciTechDaily)

New carbon‑capture method repurposes LNG cold energy 

Researchers have developed a cost-effective CO₂ capture technique by harnessing excess cold energy from liquefied natural gas facilities. This approach significantly reduces the energy input needed for carbon capture and storage. (SciTechDaily)

Astronomers catch planets forming around infant stars

Using the e‑MERLIN radio array, astronomers have detected centimeter‑scale dust “pebbles” around two young stars 450 light‑years away. These observations offer direct insight into early planetesimal formation, preceding Neptune‑sized bodies. (sciencedaily.com)

Milky Way’s Fermi bubbles contain unexpected cold hydrogen ice

Researchers using the Green Bank Telescope have discovered cold, dense hydrogen clouds inside the Galaxy’s million‑degree Fermi bubbles. These icy reservoirs within the ancient outflows hint at complex interactions in the galactic halo. (sciencedaily.com)