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  • Meta’s Smart Wristband Can Control Devices Like Tom Cruise in ‘Minority Report’

    Meta’s Smart Wristband Can Control Devices Like Tom Cruise in ‘Minority Report’

    In an iconic scene in the cyberpunk classic Minority Report, the protagonist dons specialized gloves and uses a variety of hand gestures to display and manipulate different tabs on a wall-sized screen—without ever physically touching it.

    Now the film’s sci-fi technology is coming to the real world. This week, Meta revealed a wristband that decodes finger movements using electrical signals in the wrist. The movements are familiar to anyone with a smartphone: Pinching, swiping, tapping, and even writing.

    An onboard computer translates these signals into commands on a laptop screen. Without training or calibration, users tackled a range of tests, like moving a cursor to a target, playing a Pacman-like game, and writing words and phrases—“hello world”—by drawing their index fingers across a tabletop.

    Meta has long teased a muscle-reading wristband, with an early version that could translate computer clicks. The new device has broader capability. Powered by neural networks and trained on data from over 6,000 volunteers, the wristband achieved up to 90 percent accuracy in some tests. On average, participants could write roughly 21 words per minute, and they improved as they became more familiar with the device.

    “To our knowledge, this is the highest level of cross-participant performance achieved by a neuromotor interface,” wrote the team in a paper describing the work.

    The prototype wristband is “off-the-shelf” and comes in multiple sizes, making it a more consumer-viable product. The team hopes to integrate it into Meta’s AR and VR devices. The device could also be an affordable way to reconnect people with hand paralysis, spinal cord injury, or other motor challenges to the digital world.

    Evolution of Controllers

    As computers have advanced, so have the ways we connect with them.

    Users controlled early computers with mechanical knobs. Then came the keyboard, first invented in the late 1800s, and still a staple today. More recently, touchscreens have forever changed computers—to the point younger generations instinctively swipe on paper magazines.

    These days, we don’t even need to use our hands.

    Advances in AI and voice recognition make it possible to talk to your phone instead of typing. But Meta thinks there’s still room for improvement. Voice commands can be drowned out in loud environments, and they may be impractical (or annoying) in public.

    Instead of touch or voice, Mea is tapping into our body’s electrical signals. Every time we swipe, scroll, or pinch, our nerves send electrical signals to wrist and finger muscles and command them to move in highly accurate and specific ways. It’s possible to decode the brain’s instructions for movement by listening in on these signals.

    Surface electromyography (sEMG) uses electrodes on the skin to capture and amplify the electrical chatter. The technology is already used in prosthetic limbs and stroke rehabilitation. It’s less invasive and more flexible than implanted devices, but also less precise. Most sEMG setups need to be carefully fine-tuned for each wearer and recalibrated if transferred to another person, making the technology hard to scale up for a general consumer crowd.

    Despite this, Meta saw the technology’s potential.

    The team sought to design a wearable with an intuitive, accessible, easy-to-use interface that didn’t intrude in everyday life. The device also needed to be useful for multiple types of usage—switching apps, rearranging tabs, or editing documents—and comfortable enough to wear all day.

    They settled on a wristband. People already wear watches and bracelets, so a wrist device might be easier to adopt and more socially acceptable. And crucially, signals captured from the wrist could be used to decode finger motions, enabling a wide variety of gesture controls.

    Power in Numbers

    The device includes several loosely linked electrode blocks and a processor that looks like a small iPod. The gaps provide flexibility to orient the electrodes toward wrist muscles—rather than sitting above bones—and make the device easier to slip on and off. The processor churns through data in real time and sends decoded commands to a computer via Bluetooth.

    To make sure anyone can use the wristband, the team trained its onboard neural network on data collected from thousands of people doing multiple tasks—sliding a cursor to a target, performing a variety of finger gestures, and writing on a hard surface.

    The team then invited new volunteers to test the device on the same three tasks. Everyone improved with experience, especially when given coaching from a supervisor—for example, “swipe faster” or “write more continuously.” By the end, participants were able to track objects in roughly twice the amount of time as using a MacBook trackpad and write roughly 21 words per minute—slower than the average 36 words per minute on a smartphone keypad.

    The speeds don’t sound impressive, but the participants had far less time using the wristband compared to the two other highly familiar “daily drivers.” And more experiments found personalization boosted performance.

    “While generic models allow a neuromotor interface to be used with little to no setup, performance can be improved for a particular individual by personalizing the generic model to data from that participant,” wrote the authors.

    Adding just 20 minutes of personalized data to the generic model boosted performance by 16 percent on average. It would take a hefty 14,000 minutes of additional generic data to yield a similar bump. Tailoring the model was especially helpful for volunteers with relatively poor performance. Although no longer off-the-shelf per se, future generations of the device could potentially incorporate personalized data and “learn” a person’s motor intricacies over time.

    The sEMG approach opens other interaction possibilities, like detecting a gesture’s force and linking it to specific functions. Decoding up-and-down movements, rather than only in a horizontal ones, could further broaden the device’s utility. Adding buzzes and other haptic feedback could make the wristband feel like an extension of the user’s own body—increasing the sense of immersion when controlling smartphones, laptop, or AR/VR glasses.

    “Over time, sEMG could revolutionize how we interact with our devices, help people with motor disabilities gain new levels of independence while improving their quality of life, and unlock new possibilities for HCI [human-computer interfaces] that we haven’t even dreamt of yet,” wrote Meta in a blog.

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  • Steel Imports Down 9.6% In June vs. May

    Steel Imports Down 9.6% In June vs. May

    Finished Import Market Share YTD at 21%

    Washington, D.C. – Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,246,000 net tons (NT) of steel in June 2025, including 1,643,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 9.6% and 7.6%, respectively, vs. May 2025). Total and finished steel imports are down 4.7% and 7.8%, respectively, year-to-date vs. 2024. Over the 12-month period July 2024 to June 2025, total and finished steel imports are down 1.2% and 1.6%, respectively, vs. the prior 12-month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 19% in June and is estimated at 21% over the first six months of 2025.

    Key steel products with a significant import increase in June compared to May are reinforcing bars (up 71%), wire rods (up 41%), cut lengths plates (up 26%), standard pipe (up 21%) and sheet and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 21%). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period July 2024 to June 2025 compared to the previous 12-month period include tin plate (up 84%), wire rods (up 17%) and line pipe (up 13%).

    In June, the largest suppliers were Brazil (422,000 NT, up 5% vs. May), Canada (343,000 NT, down 15%), Mexico (194,000 NT, down 35%), South Korea (180,000 NT, down 42%) and Vietnam (136,000 NT, up 40%). Over the 12-month period July 2024 to June 2025, the largest suppliers were Canada (5,883,000 NT, down 13% vs, compared to the previous 12-months), Brazil (4,565,000 NT, up 4%), Mexico (3,353,000 NT, down 12%), South Korea (2,742,000 NT, down 3%) and Germany (1,253,000 NT, up 31%). Below are charts on steel imports by country and estimated finished steel import market share in recent months.

    View the full statistical report here.

    ####

    Contact: Lisa Harrison

    202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

    AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers, steel pipe and tube manufacturers and steel processors and fabricators, reflecting the production and distribution of both carbon and stainless steels. These steels are critical to America’s national and economic security, including roads and bridges, buildings, the electrical grid, cars and trucks and all clean energy technologies. AISI also represents associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram. 

     


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  • Food and Beverage News and Trends – July 25, 2025

    This regular publication by DLA Piper lawyers focuses on helping clients navigate the ever-changing business, legal, and regulatory landscape.

    FDA publishes RFI on ultra-processed foods. FDA/HHS and USDA issued its long-awaited Request for Information (RFI) requesting data and information to assist in developing a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods. Defining UPFs is the first step to implementing regulatory requirements and recommendations around these foods, consistent with the Administration’s MAHA agenda to decrease the incidence of childhood chronic disease by improving the US diet. The RFI seeks information and data in response to a series of questions that focus on:

    • Existing classification systems used to define UPFs (eg, NOVA)
    • Types of ingredients that may be used to characterize a food as ultra-processed, including consideration of the relative amounts of an ingredient, as well as whether flavors and colors should be considered separately
    • Whether and how the processing of ingredients, including physical (eg, cutting, extracting juice), biological (eg, fermentation), and chemical (eg, pH adjustments) should be considered when characterizing a food as ultra-processed
    • Whether “ultra-processed” is the best terminology to use or whether there are other terms that should or should not be used to characterize a food in this category
    • Research on nutrition and other attributes (eg, energy density, palatability) relating to health outcomes associated with UPFS
    • How all of these factors can be integrated into a classification system that can be systematically measured and applied to foods, including how such a classification should be used in food and nutrition policies and programs

    The comment period will remain open for 60 days until September 23, 2025.

    FDA seeks to end 52 standards of identity. The FDA has announced its intention to eliminate 52 standards of identity (SOIs) for food products that it considers obsolete or unnecessarily burdensome. According to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., this effort is part of a broader push to “eliminate outdated food regulations that no longer serve the interests of American families” and to “remove regulations that have outlived their purpose.” This SOI elimination initiative will be implemented through three separate rulemakings: one direct final rule and two proposed rules. The direct final rule targets 11 SOIs for canned fruit and vegetable products that the FDA states are no longer sold in the United States, including seven standards for saccharin-sweetened canned fruits, one for canned preserved figs, and another for canned seedless grapes. This rule is set to take effect on September 22, 2025, unless significant adverse comments are received by August 18, 2025. The two proposed rules would revoke an additional 41 SOIs. One would eliminate 18 standards for dairy products such as milk, cream, cheeses, and frozen desserts (among them acidified milk, low sodium cheddar cheese, cream cheese with other foods, high-moisture jack cheese, and goat’s milk ice cream). The other would remove 23 standards covering bakery products, macaroni and noodles, canned fruit juices, fish and shellfish, and certain food dressings and flavorings. These 23 SOIs include but are not limited to milk bread, rolls, and buns; enriched macaroni products with fortified protein; wheat and soy noodle products; vegetable noodle products; frozen concentrate for artificially sweetened lemonade; orange juice with preservatives; frozen raw lightly breaded shrimp; and vanilla-vanillin extract, flavoring, and powder. Both proposed rules are open for a 60-day public comment period ending September 15, 2025. The FDA emphasizes that these actions are intended to reduce redundant regulatory requirements, increase transparency, and support the production and innovation of healthier food options. Elimination of these 52 SOIs could pave the way for 5 new regulations or policy documents under the Trump Administration’s 10 for 1 de-regulatory approach.

    Texas and Louisiana move ahead with MAHA agenda for ultra-processed foods. State legislatures are taking action to regulate what they consider ultra-processed foods. Two state bills that will impact manufactured food companies and their suppliers have recently been signed into law. Texas enacted sweeping legislation, requiring warnings on food products containing any of 44 listed food additives. Louisiana also enacted a law imposing food-ingredient restrictions in school meal programs, disclosure requirements for 44 listed food additives for manufactured foods (not the same list as the Texas law), and disclosure requirements for 8 listed seed oils on the menu or “other clearly visible location[s]” of food-service establishments. These legislative actions reflect a growing trend toward local oversight of food composition and labeling, presenting significant compliance challenges for the food industry. See our alert.

    Reminder from FDA about VQIP applications. The FDA is reminding importers that the application window for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program (VQIP) for fiscal year FY 2026 benefits will close on September 1, 2025. VQIP, the agency notes, is “a fee-based program that offers importers an opportunity to expedite the review and importation process of human and animal foods into the United States by demonstrating and maintaining control over the safety and security of their supply chains.” To participate in the program, importers must meet certain conditions – among them, having their foreign suppliers audited and certified under FDA’s Accredited Third-Party Certification Program by an accredited third-party certification body. FDA is urging importers to submit their applications early to avoid delays. For more information about the application process, please visit this FDA page. VQIP benefits will start on October 1, provided the application has been approved and the user fee has been paid.

    Proposed revisions to the SNAP food stocking standards are on the way. Before retailers can be approved to sell to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, they must show that they comply with SNAP’s staple food stocking standards. On July 11, the USDA submitted a proposed rule to OIRA for review that would update those standards. Little information is currently available about the proposed rule; some sources surmise that it will likely add requirements for stocking fresh produce, fresh meats, and whole milk to the standards.

    Wildfire smoke poses new challenges for Canadian food producers. As wildfire smoke becomes a recurring issue across Canada, it’s adding another layer of uncertainty for the agricultural sector. Fires burning across northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario are creating smoky conditions that complicate crop growth and food production. The smoke’s effects on crops are complex and inconsistent, varying by crop type and growth stage. Smoke can block sunlight and hinder photosynthesis, while ozone formed from pollutants can damage plant tissues and reduce yields. Beekeepers, furthermore, are seeing direct consequences from wildfire smoke: sensing danger, bees tend to respond to smoke by reducing their pollinating activities and honey production, as if they are preparing to flee. Some honey producers have reported a 30 to 40 percent drop in output this season, worsened by ongoing drought conditions.

    New Senate bill to close the GRAS loophole. On July 15, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act of 2025, a bill that aims to eliminate the “self-GRAS pathway and require re-assessments of safety not later than every 3 years. With respect to the GRAS pathway, the measure would deem a substance added to food unsafe unless:

    • It is an approved food additive in compliance with section 409 of the FD&C Act
    • It is the subject of a GRAS notification submitted prior to the enactment of this law, and FDA has either not responded or issued a “no questions” letter
    • It is the subject of a GRAS notification submitted after the enactment of this law, and in compliance with the standards in the law, and FDA has determined that it is GRAS

    For the new notifications, FDA would evaluate the new notices on numerous criteria set forth in the statute, including full information on methods; cumulative effects; hazard dose, response, and exposure; application of safety margins; and evidence that the substance is not a carcinogen and does not induce reproductive toxicity or developmental toxicity in humans. The bill also would explicitly exclude certain substances from being determined to be GRAS, including substances identified as being toxic by other named federal agencies, as well as the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. The bill would require FDA to publicly post GRAS notices, with a 60-day public comment period. While the bill does not prescribe a timeframe for review, it would require FDA to review at least 50 GRAS substances annually. The bill would also amend section 402 of the FD&C Act to explicitly deem non-GRAS substances as adulterated, providing an enforcement hook for domestic and imported products. See the text of the bill here. As we reported in March, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has also directed the FDA to explore a possible rulemaking that could eliminate the GRAS Final Rule.

    Change to FDA imports review policy affects low-value imports. On July 15, the FDA announced that due to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) policy change, “all entries of FDA-regulated products must be reviewed for admissibility by the FDA, regardless of their quantity or value.” The change will particularly affect low-value products valued at $800 or less that are being shipped into the US, which previously had been exempt from FDA imports review. FDA stated that it and CBP are able to broaden the reach of their assessments thanks to technological advances and that the new policy would “facilitate legitimate trade and prevent the importation of violative products.”

    Canada: Agriculture ministers agree to changes to AgriStability for 2025. AgriStability, a program under the Sustainable Canada Agricultural Partnership. protects Canadian producers against large declines in farming income for reasons such as production loss, increased costs, and market conditions. Federal and provincial agriculture ministers have agreed to improve the AgriStability program for the 2025 program year by increasing the compensation rate from 80 percent to 90 percent and doubling the payment cap from CA$3 million to CA$6 million. While provinces must formally approve these changes, the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Heath MacDonald, said the provincial ministers were “receptive” during a July 17 virtual meeting. These enhancements aim to support farmers facing trade challenges, particularly with China and the US. Commencing in 2026, a new valuation method will be available for on-farm inventory like feed, and ministers are working to include feed costs for rented pasture as an eligible expense. Ministers will continue discussions at an in-person meeting in Winnipeg In early September. Trade issues and investment promotion were also discussed at the virtual meeting, with MacDonald highlighting the importance of agricultural investment and praising strong federal-provincial collaboration that he has seen since his appointment in May.

    FDA receives 12,000 comments on proposed front-of-package label rule. The comment period for the FDA’s Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling proposed rule closed on July 15, with nearly 12,000 public comments submitted. The proposed rule would “require front-of-package nutrition labels on most foods that must bear a Nutrition Facts label,” supplementing the Nutrition Facts label with “standardized, interpretive nutrition information” focused on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar to help consumers “quickly and easily identify how foods can be part of a healthy diet.” The comment period had been extended an additional 60 days due to the substantial volume of submissions. While consumer and public health groups have supported this regulation, the food industry has pushed back, believing that it may be confusing to consumers, would be costly to comply with, and is not necessary since many in industry are using “Facts Up Front” labeling to simplify nutrition information.

    HHS comment period asking which regulations to eliminate closes. The comment period for commenting on the HHS Request for Information (RFI): Ensuring Lawful Regulation and Unleashing Innovation To Make American Healthy Again, asking the public which regulations should be eliminated, closed on July 14. While more than 13,000 comments were reportedly received, only 975 of those are visible on the docket, and, of those, only 20 mention food. Among those are calls for the FDA to simplify the Food Traceability Rule, withdraw the guidances on voluntary disclosure of sesame as an allergen and on the labeling of plant-based alternative foods, milk alternatives, and animal-derived food alternatives, and review of agency voluntary sodium reduction targets.

    EPA establishes food tolerance levels for three pesticides. The EPA has published three final rules establishing food residue tolerance levels for three pesticides: triclopyr, which is used on certain citrus fruits, harmonizing the tolerance level with the European Food Safety Authority’s Maximum Residue Limit; cypermethrin, used on durian, harmonizing its tolerance levels with Codex Alimentarius limits; and acetamiprid, used in connection with various spices, also harmonizing its tolerance levels with Codex Alimentarius limits. EPA is authorized under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to set pesticide tolerances for foods, and FDA enforces these tolerances. The tolerances were established in response to a petition by a Chilean company, although the ultimate tolerance levels were different from those sought so as to better harmonize with regulatory tolerances in other jurisdictions.

    FDA approves new blue color additive derived from gardenias. On July 14, the FDA announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s color additive petition to use the color gardenia blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practices. This is the fourth color derived from natural sources that has been approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months. The agency approved the color for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks, and ready-to-drink teas, as well as hard and soft candy. The FDA said that its action is in line with HHS Secretary Kennedy’s priority of working with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food suppl, part of the Administration’s broader effort to Make America Healthy Again. Since Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phaseout of such dyes, the FDA said.

    DOJ sues California over state Proposition 12. On July 9, the Department of Justice announced that it had filed suit against the State of California over a state regulation that it says raises the price of eggs, poultry, and pork. The suit, which also names California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta as defendants, focuses on several California laws, among them Proposition 2, which sets out requirements for housing covered farm animals, including egg-laying hens; AB1437, which regulates the quality of eggs sold for human consumption; and Proposition 12, which sets California standards for the sale of certain egg, veal, and pork products – most notably, it bans the sale of pork in California from farms anywhere in the country that confine pregnant pigs in “gestation crates” for almost their whole lives. The department said that the laws and regulations challenged by the complaint directly conflict with federal regulations and impose requirements on farmers that have the effect of raising food prices – and especially egg prices – for American consumers. As we reported in our previous issue, the US Supreme Court recently declined to hear a case brought by the Iowa Pork Producers Association that had challenged Proposition 12. See the DOJ’s compliant in USA v. the State of California here.

    Major study suggests links in developed world obesity to ultra-processed foods. A sweeping new global study of the relationship between calorie intake, energy expenditure, and obesity finds that people around the world, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status, burn about the same number of calories in a day, which stands in contrast to conventional wisdom and other studies that link the obesity crisis to developed countries’ sedentary lifestyles. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), looked at data on more than 4,200 “economically diverse” adults in 34 countries, assessing a broad spectrum of possible contributors to obesity, such as sedentary habits or higher consumption of meats, in seeking to determine why obesity is more prevalent in developed nations. The study concludes that there may be a link between obesity and the availability/regular intake of ultra-processed foods, which the study defines as industrial formulations with five or more ingredients. But the study concedes that the “mechanisms involved are not clear” and may simply be attributable to “increased availability of calories” because UPF are “low cost and [have] long shelf” lives. The study’s conclusions, the nearly 70 authors state, “highlight the need to identify the factors that make foods in developed countries obesogenic.” The authors also note, “The central role of diet in the global obesity crisis does not mean that efforts to promote physical activity should be minimized.” See the study, Energy expenditure and obesity across the economic spectrum, here.

    Avian flu update.

    • At this writing, in the last 30 days the USDA has detected H5N1 at only one poultry operation and two dairy farms, a drop being attributed to seasonal factors. The June report from the World Organization for Animal Health, however, notes that H5N1 infections among wild birds appear to be rising worldwide.
    • Because no new human cases of H5N1 have been detected since February, the CDC on July 7 announced that it is ending its emergency response to H5N1 bird flu. The CDC declared the H5N1 emergency on April 4, 2024, giving its additional financial support to develop its public health response. “CDC will continue to monitor the situation and scale up activities as needed,” a spokesperson stated. The CDC will no longer report avian flu data, but the USDA will continue offering that information on its website.
    • Fate of BC ostrich farm in limbo as CFIA cull policy faces rare legal challenge. The Federal Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in a high-profile challenge to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) decision to cull 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, BC, following an avian flu outbreak in December 2024. In May 2025, the Federal Court ruled that the CFIA’s decision – and its application of the stamping-out policy to the ostriches – was reasonable. On appeal, the farm’s counsel argued at a July 15 hearing that the CFIA applied the policy in an overly rigid, one-size-fits-all manner, ordering total depopulation within 41 minutes of receiving positive test results from only two birds. Counsel emphasized that no bird deaths had occurred since January, and the herd was showing signs of recovery. The CFIA defended its actions as consistent with international standards and necessary to protect animal health and trade, noting the novel virus strain found on the farm and the risk of re-emergence. As we reported last month, the court stayed the cull pending the decision and indicated it will rule quickly given the stakes. The case, believed to be the first test of stamping-out policy as applied to ostriches, has drawn international attention. US figures including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, have repeatedly lobbied Ottawa to preserve the birds for research purposes.
    • Raising fresh alarm, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) reported on July 18 on the discovery of H5N1 in house flies. Raj Rajnarayanan, MSc, PhD, a computational biologist with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University, who detected the virus in house fly sequence samples that had been uploaded to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data, said in a post on X, “Detection of avian influenza in house flies shows these insects can mechanically move virus around farms.” Meanwhile, a study published on July 1 in the National Science Review reported another potential route for H5N1 virus transmission in dairy cattle – mouth-to-teat transmission during nursing.

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  • European Vega C rocket launching CO2-mapping satellite and 4 Earth-observation spacecraft tonight: Watch it live

    European Vega C rocket launching CO2-mapping satellite and 4 Earth-observation spacecraft tonight: Watch it live

    Vol VV27 | CO3D / Microcarb | Vega C I Arianespace – YouTube


    Watch On

    A carbon dioxide-mapping satellite and four Earth-observation spacecraft are scheduled to launch tonight (July 25) from South America, and you can watch the action live.

    A Vega C rocket, operated by the French company Arianespace, is scheduled to lift off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana tonight at 10:03 p.m. EDT (11:03 p.m. local time in Kourou; 0203 GMT on July 26).

    You can watch live here at Space.com in the window above, courtesy of Arianespace, or directly via the company. Coverage will begin at 9:40 p.m. EDT (0140 GMT on July 26).

    a white rocket launches into a night sky

    An Arianespace Vega C rocket launches the European Space Agency’s Biomass forest-monitoring satellite from Kourou, French Guiana on April 29, 2025. (Image credit: 2025 ESA-CNES-Arianespace/Optique Video du CSG – S. Martin)

    The four-stage, 115-foot-tall (35 meters) Vega C is carrying five satellites on this mission, which Arianespace calls VV27.

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  • Underground fungi networks that sustain life on Earth are in trouble

    Underground fungi networks that sustain life on Earth are in trouble

    With over 2.8 billion fungal DNA sequences from 130 countries, scientists have produced the first high-resolution global maps of underground mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi support ecosystems by transporting nutrients, capturing carbon, and protecting plant health.

    Yet, over 90 percent of this underground biodiversity lies outside protected areas. That makes these vital ecosystems vulnerable to environmental damage.


    The data powers a new interactive platform called the Underground Atlas. This tool helps anyone explore fungal biodiversity from Ethiopia to Brazil, and from Tasmania to West Africa.

    These maps expose not only diversity but also rarity, revealing patterns previously hidden from view.

    Why underground fungi matter

    Mycorrhizal fungi form massive underground networks that interact with nearly every plant.

    These fungal systems capture more than 13 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year – about a third of global fossil fuel emissions. They help crops grow, rebuild forests, and regulate water cycles.

    Still, fungi remain missing from major conservation plans. That absence is dangerous. When these networks get disturbed, forests regenerate more slowly, crops suffer, and entire ecosystems unravel.

    “For centuries, we’ve mapped mountains, forests, and oceans. But these fungi have remained in the dark,” said Dr. Toby Kiers of Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN).

    “They cycle nutrients, store carbon, support plant health, and make soil. When we disrupt these critical ecosystem engineers, forest regeneration slows, crops fail, and biodiversity aboveground begins to unravel.”

    “This is the first time we’re able to visualize these biodiversity patterns – and it’s clear we are failing to protect underground ecosystems.”

    Maps show fungi need protection

    The research team used machine learning to build predictive maps from their vast dataset. These maps reveal fungal richness and rarity at a global scale, down to one square kilometer.

    Less than 10 percent of biodiversity hotspots appear in protected areas, exposing a huge gap in global conservation strategy.

    High-resolution map of from SPUN's Underground Atlas showing predicted arbuscular mycorrhizal biodiversity patterns across underground ecosystems. Bright colors indicate higher richness and endemism. Credit: SPUN
    High-resolution map of from SPUN’s Underground Atlas showing predicted arbuscular mycorrhizal biodiversity patterns across underground ecosystems. Bright colors indicate higher richness and endemism. Click image to enlarge. Credit: SPUN

    This work is the first large-scale scientific product of SPUN. The group launched in 2021 with the goal to map and protect Earth’s fungal networks.

    “For too long, we’ve overlooked mycorrhizal fungi. These maps help alleviate our fungus blindness,” explained Dr. Merlin Sheldrake of SPUN.

    Now, SPUN offers a powerful new tool: the Underground Atlas. It allows researchers, policymakers, and conservationists to explore biodiversity anywhere on Earth.

    “The idea is to ensure underground biodiversity becomes as fundamental to environmental decision-making as satellite imagery,” noted Jason Cremerius of SPUN.

    Users can locate biodiversity hotspots, identify rare fungal species, and support restoration work. The tool can inform the placement of conservation areas, especially in biodiversity-rich regions that remain unprotected.

    “These high-resolution maps provide quantitative targets for restoration managers,” said Dr. Alex Wegmann from The Nature Conservancy. “Restoration practices have been dangerously incomplete because the focus has historically been on life aboveground.”

    According to the researchers, the data could help shape climate and biodiversity laws. For example, Ghana’s coast hosts a vital underground fungal hotspot – yet this coast erodes by two meters each year. If left unprotected, this fungal diversity could vanish into the sea.

    “Underground fungal systems have been largely invisible in law and policy,” said César Rodriguez-Garavito of NYU. “These data are incredibly important in strengthening law and policy across all of Earth’s underground ecosystems.”

    SPUN has built a global dataset of 40,000 samples covering 95,000 fungal taxa. The organization partners with more than 400 scientists and 96 “Underground Explorers” from 79 countries. These teams now sample remote regions – from Bhutan and Mongolia to Ukraine.

    Future depends on these networks

    Despite the achievements, scientists have sampled just 0.001% of Earth’s surface. SPUN needs more data to improve maps, define restoration goals, and identify endangered fungal communities.

    “These maps reveal what we stand to lose if we fail to protect the underground,” said Dr. Kiers.

    To protect Earth’s underground biodiversity, collective action is essential. Researchers can partner with SPUN to expand data collection and improve the accuracy of fungal diversity maps.

    Conservationists should use these insights to design strategic interventions and prioritize high-value ecosystems. Policymakers need to recognize the critical role of underground fungi by including them in biodiversity and climate frameworks.

    The public can explore the Underground Atlas to better understand this hidden world and support ongoing efforts. Funders play a key role by investing in the next phase of global fungal exploration and restoration.

    To see the hidden world beneath your feet, visit the Underground Atlas and help protect the life that sustains ours.

    The study is published in the journal Nature.

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  • Reimagining life sciences roles with AI and automation

    Reimagining life sciences roles with AI and automation

    The impact of AI and automation has broader implications for life sciences experts and organizations. Leading employers in the field aren’t simply digitizing legacy processes, they’re engaged in a digital transformation — adapting their talent strategies, operating models, and corporate cultures to become increasingly human-centric and tech-enabled. 

    Digital transformation sets the stage for an AI-augmented operating system, the future state of digital-first organizations. It leverages AI and automation for exponential gains in efficiency, productivity and innovation. It also maximizes employee engagement and well-being by addressing the myriad risks and opportunities that arise from these technologies.  

    From an organizational perspective, the integration of AI into workflows, systems and processes can lead to significant efficiencies and cost savings. By streamlining routine tasks like data entry while augmenting relational tasks like storytelling, life sciences employers can allocate resources more effectively and focus on strategic initiatives that drive growth and innovation. 

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  • PAHO and Resolve to Save Lives strengthen partnership to bolster epidemic preparedness across the Americas – PAHO/WHO

    PAHO and Resolve to Save Lives strengthen partnership to bolster epidemic preparedness across the Americas – PAHO/WHO

    Washington, D.C., 25 July 2025 — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Resolve to Save Lives have renewed their commitment to enhancing epidemic preparedness and response capacities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. This strengthened collaboration follows the recent signing of a comprehensive Framework Agreement between the two organizations.

    The newly established Framework Agreement creates a regional partnership dedicated to implementing and institutionalizing the Early Action Review (EAR) methodology using the globally recognized 7-1-7 target. These metrics are crucial for evaluating the timeliness of outbreak detection and response.

    “7-1-7” represents the first real-time, end-to-end assessment of a country’s speed in detecting and containing infectious disease threats. It establishes clear objectives: detection within seven days, notification within one day, and response within seven days. The simplicity, focus, and clarity of these metrics have led to their inclusion in the Pandemic Fund’s results framework and their increasing adoption worldwide.

    In May 2025, PAHO signed an MoU with Resolve to Save Lives and this renewed commitment was recently highlighted during the visit of Ms. Amanda McClelland, Senior Vice President for the Prevent Epidemics program at Resolve to Save Lives, to PAHO Headquarters in Washington, D.C. During her visit, Ms. McClelland met with Dr. Ciro Ugarte, Director of PAHO’s Health Emergencies Department, to strategically plan the implementation of the agreement and explore avenues for deeper collaboration.

    Through this partnership, PAHO will spearhead the implementation of regional initiatives, offer technical support to countries, and develop training materials on the implementation of the methodology. The Organization will also promote the integration of detection, notification and response metrics as key quality performance indicators for national early warning  surveillance systems, reporting  progress to its Member States through PAHO’s Governing Bodies.

    Resolve to Save Lives will contribute technical expertise and provide a comprehensive tool kit containing training materials, tools, and guidelines for the adoption of the 7-1-7 methodology. Resolve to Save Lives will additionally  participate in regional capacity-building efforts, support data analysis to identify gaps in outbreak response, and engage in advocacy and stakeholder coordination.

    This partnership reflects a shared vision for a region better equipped to  respond to health emergencies, where  countries can act quickly, decisively, and collaboratively to save lives. By embedding the 7-1-7 metrics into national systems and fostering a culture of early action, PAHO and Resolve to Save Lives are actively contributing to building  a safer, healthier future for all.

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  • Gil Vicente 1 Brentford 1: Thiago scores as Andrews’ first game ends level | Brentford FC

    Gil Vicente 1 Brentford 1: Thiago scores as Andrews’ first game ends level | Brentford FC

    Keith Andrews’ first game in charge of Brentford ended in a 1-1 pre-season friendly draw against Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente.

    Igor Thiago was on target for the Bees at Estádio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday evening as the Bees stepped up their preparations for the 2025/26 Premier League season.

    Summer signings Caoimhín Kelleher and Jordan Henderson started in the first half, with Antoni Milambo getting his first minutes in a Brentford shirt in the second period.

    Aaron Hickey played at right-back after the interval, featuring in a first-team fixture for the first time since October 2023.

    24 players were involved in total for the visitors against the Portuguese top-flight outfit, a strategic partner of the club, however Gustavo Nunes was forced off through injury.

    The west Londoners enjoyed plenty of early possession with Fábio Carvalho having the first effort of the game within the opening two minutes. Having won the ball back inside Gil Vicente’s box after a Mathias Jensen long throw-in, his low drive was blocked.

    On 10 minutes, the hosts took the lead against the run of play. Brazilian striker Pablo dispossessed Sepp van den Berg 35 yards out from goal before driving forward and firing into the bottom corner from the edge of the D.

    Eight minutes later, the Bees equalised through their own Brazilian frontman, Thiago. Jayden Meghoma regained possession on the left flank and Kevin Schade, in front of him on the same wing, drove forward and evaded the tackle of Facundo Cáseres before playing a low ball into the middle of the area for Carvalho. He found Mikkel Damsgaard on his left with a first-time pass and the Dane squared the ball for Thiago to tap into an empty net from close range.

    Kelleher was forced into a smart save midway through the half, parrying away Luís Esteves’ snapshot from the right side of the penalty area after the former Nacional midfielder had worked a yard of space and pulled the trigger.

    The trio of Carvalho, Schade and Damsgaard continued to link up well. With just over half an hour played, the latter’s cross from the left found Thiago but the forward’s header was caught by compatriot Andrew in the Gil Vicente goal.

    Brentford continued to dominate the ball but the Roosters did look dangerous on the counter attack as Sergio Bermejo sent a left-footed strike whistling past the upright.

    Thiago went inches away from adding his and the west Londoners’ second goal of the evening moments before the interval. Nathan Collins threaded a sublime pass through to Schade on halfway, who raced forward and played in the Bees’ no.9. He rounded the keeper before his effort from a narrowing angle deflected off Marvin Elimbi and hit the top of the post.

    As planned, Andrews made XI changes at the interval.

    Nunes was forced off just over 10 minutes after being introduced with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was replaced by Romelle Donovan.

    The Bees created the first chance of the second period with an hour on the clock. Benjamin Arthur’s lengthy headed clearance was misjudged by Elimbi, allowing Myles Peart-Harris to latch onto it. He found Ryan Trevitt in the middle of the box but the 22-year-old, sliding to meet the ball, saw his effort palmed around the post.

    With five minutes left of a far less eventful second half, Antonio Espigares inadvertently directed Yehor Yarmoliuk’s cross from the left wing narrowly wide of the mark in what was the last moment of note.

    Gil Vicente: Andrew (Dani Figueira 82); Zé Carlos (No.2), Buntu, Elimbi (Espigares 65), Konan; Cáseres (Guilherme Freitas 82), Santi García, Luís Esteves; Martín, Pablo (Varela 65), Bermejo

    Subs not used: Picornell, Zé Carlos (No. 6), Bamba, Paolo, Gui Beleza, Hevertton, Diego Collado, Diogo Costa, Rodrigo Rodrigues

    Brentford first half: Kelleher; Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Meghoma; Henderson, Jensen; Carvalho, Damsgaard, Schade; Thiago

    Brentford second half: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Ajer, Arthur, Henry; Milambo, Yarmoliuk; Nunes (Donovan 58), Trevitt (Konak 82), Lewis-Potter, Peart-Harris

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  • Intel Slides After New CEO’s Comeback Plan Worries Investors

    Intel Slides After New CEO’s Comeback Plan Worries Investors

    (Bloomberg) — Shares of Intel Corp. tumbled 8.5% on Friday after Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan sparked concerns that he was more focused on cost cutting than restoring the chipmaker’s technological edge.

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    As part of Intel’s second-quarter report, Tan said the company will cancel some factory projects and take a more conservative approach to future spending. Tan called the investments begun under his predecessor, Pat Gelsinger, excessive and unwise.

    “I do not subscribe to the belief that if you build it, they will come,” he said on a conference call with analysts.

    At the same time, Tan struggled to give a clear picture of how he’ll make the company more competitive again. Gelsinger had embarked on an ambitious plan to turn Intel into a chip foundry, a business that makes products for outside clients. A key part of that was moving toward a more advanced production technique called 14A. But Tan signaled Thursday that Intel will only roll out that technology tentatively.

    The company will add large-scale capacity for 14A when Tan is convinced he has enough customers committed to using it, he said on the call. That didn’t sit well with investors, who sent the shares down to $20.70 in New York on Friday, the stock’s biggest single-day decline in more than three months.

    “The idea you might step away from 14A if you can’t get someone to invest in it is a problem,” said Wedbush Securities Inc. analyst Matt Bryson.

    The crux of the concern: If Intel stops introducing new manufacturing technology, it’s bowing out of the race for leadership of the chip industry — and closing the book on what made it untouchable for decades.

    Intel’s woes have previously spurred speculation that it might be acquired or broken up, though there’s no clear path to a major deal. Possible suitors for Intel’s factory division, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., have backed away from the idea. Tan also has said he aims to keep Intel’s manufacturing and product-design businesses together, though he does plan to offload smaller divisions.

    Intel confirmed on Friday that it aims to spin off its networking group into a standalone business. The company said it has begun identifying strategic investors, without naming them. CRN previously reported on the plan.

    In its earnings report, Intel gave an upbeat third-quarter sales forecast while missing estimates for some profit measures. Margins will be tighter than Wall Street anticipated in the period, and Intel only expects a break-even quarter. Analysts had projected a 4-cent gain on that basis.

    In the second quarter, revenue amounted to $12.9 billion, little changed from a year earlier. Analysts had projected $11.9 billion. The company posted a loss of 10 cents a share, compared with an estimated profit of 1 cent.

    Intel’s stock had been up 13% this year through Thursday’s close. Though that gain was in line with most chip stocks in 2025, rivals Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. have performed better — lifted by their artificial intelligence prospects.

    Tan’s focus is getting Intel’s financial house in order, a task that has included thousands of layoffs and the slashing of capital spending. The company said Thursday that already-paused factories in Germany and Poland won’t go ahead, and progress at another project in Ohio will be slowed.

    Intel will reduce capital expenditures on new plants and equipment this year and plans to make further cuts to that budget next year. The company will spend about $18 billion this year and less in 2026, executives said.

    Tan, who took the CEO job in March, acknowledged that he still has work to do to make the company more competitive in its main markets: processors for personal computers and servers. He’s also still crafting Intel’s plan to crack the AI chip industry — an area where Nvidia dominates.

    Tariff Effect?

    Third-quarter sales will be $12.6 billion to $13.6 billion, Intel said. Analysts on average had projected a number at the low end of that range.

    The company has benefited from a resurgence in the PC industry, driven in part by manufacturers’ efforts to build up inventory before tariffs hit. But the Silicon Valley pioneer has lost market share to rivals and is struggling to attract foundry clients.

    Intel’s layoff plans — first announced during the previous quarterly report — will reduce staff by 15%, Intel said. And the company expects further cuts through attrition and the splitting off of business units, Chief Financial Officer Dave Zinsner said in an interview.

    The chipmaker aims to end the year with 75,000 employees, down more than 20% from the end of the June quarter. Bloomberg News reported in April that Intel was looking to cut its workforce by roughly that amount.

    Analysts have expressed concern that PC demand will decelerate after a strong first half. The threat of tariffs imposed by the US — and other nations in retaliation — may have prompted PC makers to rush to stock up ahead of prospective cost spikes, the company warned last quarter.

    Economic Fears

    Demand was better than expected last quarter because an economic slowdown didn’t materialize, Zinsner said. But the company is aware that some demand might have stemmed from consumers and businesses trying to avoid tariffs.

    “We felt like tariffs might be a headwind in the second quarter and would further unsettle the economy,” he said. “None of that transpired.”

    Intel’s client computing division had revenue of $7.9 billion last quarter, topping the average prediction of $7.3 billion. Data center sales were $3.9 billion, compared with a $3.7 billion estimate. The foundry division generated revenue of $4.4 billion, in line with projections.

    Intel had previously said it planned to cut operating expenses to about $17 billion this year and $16 billion in 2026. The Santa Clara, California-based company remains on track for the 2025 cuts, Intel said Thursday.

    Tan’s predecessor, Gelsinger, had concentrated on expanding Intel’s factory network, once its key competitive advantage. He laid out plans to spend tens of billions of dollars on making its plants the best in the industry again, a status that would force rivals to use it as an outsourced provider of manufacturing.

    “We will take a fundamentally different approach to building our foundry business,” Tan said in a memo to staff Thursday. “Over the past several years, the company invested too much, too soon – without adequate demand. In the process, our factory footprint became needlessly fragmented and underutilized. We must correct our course.”

    For now, the biggest user of its factories is Intel’s internal design teams. Some of Intel’s best offerings now contain components made by TSMC, adding more pressure to its margins.

    Narrower Margins

    Adjusted gross margin — the percentage of sales remaining after excluding the cost of production — was about 30% in the second quarter and will be 36% in the current period. That’s close to half of what it was when Intel’s chips dominated the data center market. Nvidia has margins above 70%.

    Intel’s Zinsner said the company isn’t yet ready to unveil AI-related gear. The chipmaker is focusing on the development of products that will fit in unserved parts of the market.

    Ultimately, Intel needs to figure out how it can benefit from artificial intelligence, Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne said in a note.

    “A fundamental market truth isn’t going away,” he said. “Global demand for AI chips continues to soar, and Intel must find its footing in that value chain.”

    (Updates shares starting in first paragraph.)

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  • Meme-Stock Roar Fades on Wall Street as Retail Finds New Thrills

    Meme-Stock Roar Fades on Wall Street as Retail Finds New Thrills

    (Bloomberg) — It was once a symbol of rebellion against the well-heeled Wall Street establishment. Today, it’s just another day in markets.

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    This week proved the point. Opendoor surged 43% in a single day. Krispy Kreme rallied 39% in a matter of hours. GoPro briefly spiked 73%. Reddit message boards lit up once again with rocket emojis and call-option bravado.

    Yet it wasn’t the magnitude of the surges that mattered — but the indifference they met. Customary warnings about speculative excess fell on deaf ears. What once felt seismic now feels like a normal part of daily trading — another episode in a US financial system where bursts of retail speculation are routine, expected, and largely unremarkable.

    By the end of the week, with the quick rallies faded, the broader market ended with modest moves after a record-setting run. Meanwhile, crypto — once cast as the financial resistance — continued its steady march into the mainstream. A new blockchain-based project involving the likes of Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. was announced. Crypto funds posted their biggest four-week cumulative inflow ever. Michael Saylor’s Strategy clinched another $2.8 billion in capital markets to fund additional Bitcoin buying.

    Taken together, the week offered a broader lesson: retail-driven speculative behavior no longer signals generational angst or post-pandemic distortion. It has instead become a settled feature of the current cycle. Short-dated options are part of the retail toolkit, trading platforms span everything from sports betting to complex stock bets, and manic episodes rarely require justification to take hold.

    Peter Atwater, an adjunct professor at the College of William & Mary who studies retail investors, said the current wave of activity reflects a shift in both market sentiment and investment toolkit. Meme stocks trading, he says, has lost its sense of novelty — and that’s precisely the point. “We’ve normalized memeing,” he said. “There’s a yawn to it now.”

    In Atwater’s view, the most aggressive traders have already moved on to riskier frontiers – digital tokens, leveraged ETFs, prediction markets — while meme stocks have become more of a cultural rerun. “It’s like 30-year-olds dancing to music 20-year-olds used to party to,” he said.

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