Measles Surges in North America as US and Canada Report Uptick in Cases

Measles cases continue to rise in North America, with the US reporting 185 infections across 20 states so far in 2025, surpassing last year’s total. In Canada, outbreaks have surged, especially in Quebec and Ontario, with most cases involving unvaccinated individuals. The spread is partly linked to international travel and low vaccine coverage in some communities. Public health officials are urging increased vaccination, especially with schools reopening. The CDC reiterated that two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective. A WHO advisory panel also highlighted misinformation as a key barrier to global measles elimination efforts, emphasizing the need for rapid detection and community engagement. (CIDRAP)

AI Leaders Report Strong Earnings as Investors Favor Long-Term Potential

Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta reported solid earnings in Q2 2025, despite market skepticism over high AI infrastructure spending. Alphabet’s cloud and ad business rebounded, and Microsoft saw continued growth in Azure and AI services. Meta faced increased AI investment costs but remained confident in its metaverse and AI-driven ad tools. While investors reacted cautiously to short-term margins, analysts noted that long-term bets on AI capabilities continue to fuel optimism. These tech giants are reshaping how AI is monetized across platforms, with newer models like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s GPT-5 reshaping productivity, search, and enterprise tools. The report highlights a shift toward sustained, foundational investment in AI infrastructure across sectors. (Axios)

China Calls for Global Governance Body to Oversee AI Ethics

As global AI development accelerates, China has proposed a new international body to oversee the ethical use and regulation of artificial intelligence. The proposal, unveiled during a Beijing tech forum, emphasizes equitable participation, transparency, and data sovereignty. Chinese officials argue that current global frameworks lack sufficient enforcement and inclusivity, particularly for developing nations. The suggested body would establish cross-border norms for safety, intellectual property, and AI in warfare. Analysts view the move as an effort by China to assert leadership in global tech governance while counterbalancing Western-dominated standards. The proposal arrives amid growing geopolitical tension and calls for tighter regulation of rapidly advancing generative AI technologies. (Sixth Tone)

Google Unveils Gemini Deep-Think AI for Complex Reasoning Tasks

Google has launched Gemini Deep Think, an AI model designed to enhance multi-step reasoning by evaluating several hypotheses in parallel. Built as part of its Gemini family, the new model mimics human deliberation, enabling it to better tackle complex problem-solving and planning tasks. Google demonstrated use cases including interpreting medical reports, debugging code, and strategizing gameplay. The technology represents a shift from single-pass LLMs to AI capable of simultaneous thought branches and refinement. Deep Think is currently being integrated into select Google Cloud products. With increased competition from OpenAI and Anthropic, Google is emphasizing the model’s speed, efficiency, and potential for enterprise adoption. (TechCrunch)

Google Unveils AlphaEarth AI to Map Global Environmental Change at Unprecedented Scale

Google has introduced AlphaEarth Foundations, a powerful AI model designed to act as a “virtual satellite,” integrating trillions of global observations—including satellite imagery, radar, and remote sensing data—to track land and shallow water changes from 2017 to 2024. Developed with DeepMind, the model enables scientists to analyze climate impacts, deforestation, and biodiversity more efficiently, offering high-resolution, 10-meter-square digital representations via Earth Engine. Researchers praise the model’s scope and time-saving potential but urge transparency and access to raw test data for verification. AlphaEarth outperforms similar systems in accuracy and data density, though experts note that validation of findings remains the responsibility of individual scientists using the tool. (Nature)

Rare Flu-Related Brain Condition in Children Raises Alarm

A new report describes a rare but deadly form of flu-linked brain inflammation in children known as acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). The condition, which results in rapid brain swelling and tissue damage, has been observed in a small number of pediatric flu cases globally. The report highlights six US cases between 2019 and 2023, all involving previously healthy children. Most cases led to severe outcomes, including death or long-term neurological impairment. While rare, experts warn of the need for heightened surveillance and early detection. The findings stress the importance of annual influenza vaccination to reduce complications and call for better diagnostic tools for pediatric encephalopathy. (CIDRAP)

Miso Becomes First Fermented Food in Space, Sparking Cultural and Culinary Milestone

A team of U.S. and European researchers successfully fermented miso aboard the International Space Station in 2020, marking the first verified food fermentation in space. The experiment involved sending a mix of soybeans, salt, and rice koji to the ISS, where it fermented under microgravity for 30 days. Despite technical challenges and safety hurdles, the result was a miso with stronger umami, roasted flavor, and higher glutamic acid than its Earth counterpart, though key microbes like yeast were absent. Researchers celebrated the cultural significance of choosing miso over Western staples, emphasizing food diversity in space. The project inspired future plans for space-fermented sake. While some experts questioned its authenticity, “space miso” symbolized a leap for Japanese cuisine and fermentation science in extraterrestrial environments. (Asahi Shinbun)

Saving the Hellbender: North Carolina’s Salamander Conservation Effort

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, biologists are fighting to save the eastern hellbender, a giant salamander species facing habitat loss and water pollution. Often called “snot otters” due to their slimy skin, hellbenders are sensitive indicators of river health. Conservationists are working to restore stream habitats by reducing sedimentation and reintroducing young salamanders bred in captivity. Despite their elusive nature, hellbenders play a crucial ecological role. The article follows researchers as they wade through streams to find signs of the creature and documents citizen science efforts supporting their recovery. The piece highlights the species’ cultural, ecological, and evolutionary significance amid a challenging conservation landscape. (New York Times)

Pesticides Blamed for Monarch Butterfly Mass Die-Off in US

A mass die-off of monarch butterflies in the western US has been linked to pesticide exposure, alarming scientists and conservationists. Thousands of dead butterflies were found clustered near agricultural zones in California and Arizona. Initial investigations point to neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides as the likely culprits. These chemicals persist in soil and are absorbed by plants, contaminating nectar and pollen. Monarchs are already in decline due to habitat loss and climate change, and pesticide exposure further threatens their fragile migration patterns. Environmental groups are calling for stricter regulations, while scientists stress the need for urgent habitat restoration and pollinator-safe agricultural practices. (The Guardian)