CDC pares back active surveillance for six foodborne illnesses amid cuts

Budget pressure has pushed the CDC to halt parts of its active monitoring for six foodborne infections, moving some tracking to sampled data from hospitals and labs instead. Epidemiologists warn the change could dull early warning for diffuse outbreaks or emerging strains, while the agency argues core outbreak response remains intact. Active surveillance has long been credited with detecting upticks in illnesses like Salmonella and Campylobacter before they mushroom; scaling back can introduce blind spots and delays. The shift lands as climate change, globalized supply chains, and consolidation in food production complicate tracebacks. Scientists say transparent methods and supplemental sentinel systems will be key to mitigate risk. (Ars Technica)

Origin‑of‑life hint: RNA may have stitched the first proteins—no enzymes required

A lab study suggests strands of RNA could have helped amino acids bond into short peptides long before ribosomes existed, offering a plausible bridge from an “RNA world” to today’s RNA‑protein biology. Researchers showed that RNA can catalyze key steps of peptide assembly under prebiotic‑like conditions, implying that primitive tRNA‑like molecules might have charged and extended peptides without protein enzymes. The work doesn’t prove how life began, but it constrains conditions and chemistry that could have jump‑started metabolism on early Earth—and guides searches for similar signatures on other worlds. Next up: testing robustness across salts, temperatures, and nucleotide sequences to see whether this route scales beyond short chains. (Science)

AI flags 1,000+ “questionable” journals, aiming to curb predatory publishing

An algorithmic tool analyzed journal practices and signals—from editorial transparency to indexing patterns—and labeled more than a thousand outlets as “questionable” or “possibly shady.” The goal is to give researchers and institutions a triage aid to avoid predatory titles that siphon fees and pollute the literature. Advocates say the approach scales better than static blacklists; critics warn machine labels can misclassify niche or newer journals and must be used with human judgment. Developers stress the tool’s outputs aren’t enforcement, but a starting point, and they plan to release criteria and updates. Universities and funders could integrate such scoring into tenure, grant, and repository checks to boost quality control. (Science)

AI-Generated Ransomware Is Here

Cybercriminals are now leveraging generative AI tools to efficiently create and deploy ransomware, marking a troubling escalation in digital threats. The new era of AI‑generated ransomware allows attackers to automate malware creation, increasing the volume and sophistication of ransom campaigns. Experts warn this automation could overwhelm conventional cybersecurity defenses and amplify attack frequency. Rapid evolution in AI makes crafting convincing, polymorphic malware significantly easier—posing fresh challenges for organizations and cybersecurity professionals. Bolstered detection strategies and AI‑aware defenses are urgently needed to counter this emerging threat vector. (WIRED)

China Sets Strategic Vision for Brain‑Computer Interface Industry

A newly released policy document from China lays out a bold five‑year plan to cultivate a globally competitive brain‑computer interface (BCI) industry. The initiative spans health and consumer applications, signaling Beijing’s intent to lead in neurotechnology. The strategy includes investment in R&D, startups, and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate adoption of devices that link human neural activity with machines. This national-level push could usher in transformative applications—from treating neurological disorders to immersive tech in daily life—raising both excitement and privacy and ethical considerations. (WIRED)

Fossils in Ethiopia Reveal a Novel Human Ancestor

Paleoanthropologists have unearthed fossilized teeth in Ethiopia that belong to a previously unknown Australopithecus species dating back nearly 2.8 million years. These findings challenge the conventional “linear” view of human evolution, instead supporting a branching model where multiple hominin species coexisted. By revealing a more complex evolutionary tree, this discovery reshapes understanding of how our ancestors evolved—and suggests that natural selection explored multiple hominin paths before Homo sapiens emerged. (ScienceDaily)

Butterfly Nebula Yields Unexpected Ingredients of Life

New data from James Webb and ALMA reveal that the Butterfly Nebula harbors gemstone‑like crystals, fiery dust, and complex carbon molecules. Instead of being a simple cosmic spectacle, the nebula appears chemically rich—suggesting it may help seed planetary systems with prebiotic materials. Scientists believe these crystalline compounds could play essential roles in the early chemistry of star‑forming environments. This discovery may reshape models of how the building blocks of life emerge and distribute across galaxies. (ScienceDaily)

New Light-Based Spacetime Crystals Formed in Lab

Researchers in China have created spacetime crystals composed of knotted light—an exotic and previously theoretical state of matter. These structured light configurations exhibit temporal periodicity, meaning their patterns repeat in both space and time. The breakthrough opens novel avenues in quantum optics and could inform future technologies in precision measurement, photonic devices, and quantum computing. By turning theoretical spacetime crystals into a physical reality, the experiment pushes boundaries at the intersection of physics and advanced photonics. (ScienceDaily)

Glow-in-the-dark succulents spark sustainable lighting innovation

Scientists have engineered succulents embedded with light-emitting phosphor particles that charge via sunlight and glow for several hours—acting like living nightlights. Unlike traditional genetic engineering, the method involves coating plants with biodegradable phosphors, enabling passive luminescence after exposure to daylight. Beyond novelty, this botanical illumination could offer sustainable aero‑ or biosensing applications, green lighting alternatives, or low‑power night‑time signaling. Researchers are investigating longevity, recharging efficacy, and environmental impact. If optimized, glowing plants might offer biodegradable, energy‑free illumination for indoor settings or remote deployments. Still in early stages, the breakthrough underscores creative intersections between living organisms and functional materials. (ScienceDaily)

Quantum light teleported over internet cable signals future communications

On August 26, researchers at Northwestern University successfully teleported a quantum state of light across 30 km of fiber carrying standard internet traffic. This marks a major leap toward integrating quantum communication into existing infrastructure, laying groundwork for quantum-secure networks. Achieving teleportation under real-world network conditions surmounts previous lab-only constraints, demonstrating robustness and practicality. As quantum cryptography gains momentum, this study showcases how conventional fiber systems can host next-generation encrypted links. It promises scalable, secure quantum internet development as teleportation fidelity and network integration improve further. (Wikipedia)

First detection of cyanide and nickel in interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS (Wikipedia)

Astronomers studying interstellar object 3I/ATLAS have, via spectroscopy, detected cyanide and nickel in its coma—marking the first such findings in an interstellar body. SPHEREx and VLT observations from August 21 revealed these compounds alongside water ice and CO₂ gas, while Hubble and JWST imaging had previously characterized its nucleus and dust. The compositional clues deepen understanding of material circulation between star systems—and hint at chemical diversity in objects that visit our Solar System. JWST plans further December observations as 3I/ATLAS departs, potentially revealing more about its origins and interstellar chemistry. (Wikipedia)

U.S. to fast‑track climate science consensus amid administration change

In response to growing political skepticism over climate, the U.S. National Academies plan to fast-track a comprehensive climate assessment, reinforcing scientific consensus and policy grounding. The move aims to preempt efforts undermining climate data amid administration transitions. Though details remain evolving, the initiative signals urgency in advancing evidence-based policymaking. By expediting peer-vetted findings, the Academies stand to reaffirm mainstream climate understanding against shifting political winds—and equip legislators and the public with updated, authoritative guidance. (Ars Technica)

NASA’s acting chief challenges agency’s Earth-science role

NASA’s acting administrator has stirred controversy by suggesting the agency should pivot away from Earth science, focusing instead on space exploration. Critics cite NASA’s founding mandate and its vital role in climate monitoring and environmental research. The debate raises broader questions about funding allocation, mission priorities, and governmental attitudes toward climate observation. Science stakeholders warn that reducing Earth-focused programs could undermine national and global efforts to track environmental change and respond to crises. The controversy underscores tension between exploration imperatives and planetary stewardship. (Ars Technica)

Modeling the “Great Fear of 1789” as a Viral Spread of Misinformation

A new study models the rapid spread of the “Great Fear” in 1789 France—the panic over alleged aristocratic starvation plots—as if it were an epidemiological outbreak. Researchers digitized historical records documenting when and where rumors circulated and applied virus‑spread models to this data. The analysis reveals a surprising alignment between rumor propagation and disease transmission dynamics, including metrics like reproduction number. The framework underscores how misinformation can cascade through societies with terrifying speed. By putting an 18th-century panic under the lens of modern epidemiology, the study offers fresh insights into the mechanics of virality and the perennial human susceptibility to rumor. (Phys.org)

Four Decades of Sargassum Surge Mapped in Landmark Review

A comprehensive review by Florida Atlantic University researchers traces 40 years of changes in Atlantic pelagic sargassum—a free-floating brown seaweed critical to marine ecosystems. The historical overview integrates satellite data, field studies, and modeling to outline patterns of seasonal influx, biomass shifts, and ecological consequences. The study sheds light on sargassum’s role in coastal inundations, marine habitat formation, and nutrient cycles, while revealing long‑term trends tied to climate variability. By contextualizing recent surges within multi‑decade rhythms, the work provides a vital baseline for predicting future blooms, guiding mitigation in coastal communities and marine resource management efforts. (Phys.org)

IBM and NASA Model the Sun with a Digital Twin to Forecast Solar Storms

IBM and NASA have teamed up to create a “digital twin” of the Sun—an AI-driven model that simulates solar activity to forecast dangerous solar storms. This dynamic virtual counterpart delivers predictions with 16% more accuracy and in half the time compared to current systems. By capturing real‑time solar data and learning from past flare events, the model enhances readiness for geomagnetic disturbances, which threaten satellites, power grids, and communications. The digital twin approach may transform space weather forecasting, improving response times and protective planning, with far-reaching benefits for industries and systems sensitive to solar behavior. (WIRED)