Discovery of a multicomponent alloy forged by the Hiroshima atomic blast Science Advances

An island has been waging war on rats. They think they’ve finally won New Scientist

Climate/Environment

Southern Europe burns as 3 firefighters die and France battles blaze 4 times the size of Paris AP

The EU might weaken its landmark climate law — the ‘most impactful’ in the world Grist

It’s official: Data centers are slowing America’s shift away from coal Grist

NOAA ditches weather-predicting supercomputers for Google Cloud The Register

Hot nights are costing you up to 56 hours of sleep per year, study finds NPR

Pandemics

Why Anthony Fauci might not be safe after pleading the Fifth CNN

A new mouse study gives us a hard close-up of something long COVID data keeps hinting at.
SARS2 gets into the brain, clears out within a month – and the damage it leaves behind doesn’t just persist, it keeps growing. The virus clears out and leaves scorched earth behind it🧵

— Zdenek Vrozina (@ZdenekVrozina) July 28, 2026

Japan

LDP pushes for warrantless spy powers, citing national security Asahi Shimbun

China?

US sanctions Chinese, Hong Kong shipping firms over Iranian oil deliveries South China Morning Post

China’s ‘dying’ companies China Talk

Beijing Draws Its Line on “Overcapacity” Inside China

Chartbook 462: China shocked – beyond 1.0 and 2.0 to the “Big One”. Adam Tooze

Syraqistan

Nearly 60,000 children orphaned in Gaza as Israel’s genocide destroys families and care systems New Arab

Netanyahu challenger thinks Israel isn’t attacking enough neighbours The Canary

EXCLUSIVE: CIA Assessment Details Israel’s Race to Make the U.S.-Israel Alliance Irreversible Capital & Empire

***

US resumes aggression on Iran after five-day pause Al Mayadeen

Saudi Arabia to announce Red Sea coalition to counter Houthi threats Al Monitor

Saudi defense minister holds urgent meeting with Trump after Iraq strikes Axios

China in touch with Yemen’s Houthis to allow ships to sail through Red Sea, sources say Arab News

Drone hits US-owned gas tanker at Egypt port in potential widening of Iran war India Today

Israel declares ‘no more withdrawal’ from Lebanon, will demand ‘freedom of action’ in upcoming talks: Report The Cradle

Africa

Boeings identified in Reuters report carried weapons for Sudanese paramilitary: UN experts Reuters

Old Blighty

UK government reviews why police ceding criminal cases to US military The Guardian

European Disunion

The Story of The Diplomat Who Hated Diplomacy—Kaja Kallas Shane Fitzgerald

Watch out Brussels and Kyiv, Poland’s conservatives are veering right Politico

New Not-So-Cold War

Zelensky’s Lackluster DC Tour Upstaged by Another Mass Russian Air Attack on Ukraine Simplicius

Total war, universal corruption Events in Ukraine

Wildberries Eyes Kazakhstan Warehouses After Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit Russian Logistics Network Kyiv Post

Kazakhstan Resumes CPC Oil Exports After Output More Than Halves Times of Central Asia

Why’d Ukraine Defy The US’ Reported Warning Not To Attack Non-Russian Vessels In The Black Sea? Andrew Korybko

Finland to stop maintaining poles carrying communication lines with Russia, Kommersant reports Meduza

South of the Border

American Oil Majors Trying to Get Into Venezuela Have Hit a Wall WSJ

Imperial Collapse Watch

So It Goes … Aurelien

US weapons stockpiles continue to dwindle with permanent end to Iran war nowhere in sight CNN

US stealth fighter surge risks a readiness nosedive Asia Times

What is Sovereignty to an Imperialist? Un-Diplomatic

Trump 2.0

Revealed: Trump administration forced treatment on hunger striker in ICE detention The Guardian

ICE’s New Detention Center Contracts Declare State Laws ‘Shall Not Apply’ Wired

Trump overrode his own agencies to deny 4 Democratic disaster requests Politico

Senate committee postpones vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination over disagreements with GOP senators NBC News

Democrats Suck

Schumer urges Fetterman not to leave Senate Democratic caucus The Hill

Healthcare?

A For-Profit Hospital Slashed Costs. Then a Patient Froze to Death on Its Roof. Mother Jones

Obamacare enrollment declines in 49 states Minnesota Reformer

Obama Legacy

Obama offers his summer reading suggestions The Hill

AI

🦔AI companies are bulk-buying rare books, scanning them through high-speed machines that cut the spines off, and shredding the originals. A service called ISBNdb facilitates orders of up to a million books and keeps buyers anonymous. Pre-2022 books are premium because they’re… pic.twitter.com/0YPd8N2oi5

— Hedgie (@HedgieMarkets) July 27, 2026

AI’s top startups are barely publishing their research Science

Elon Musk’s AI company sues Minnesota Attorney General Ellison over nudification ban Minnesota Reformer

Meta Stock Tanks In Jittery Market On Massive AI Investment, Mixed Q2 Deadline

Mr. Market

Fed meeting recap: Warsh says Fed won’t hesitate to stop inflation, but bond market has doubts CNBC

Inflation gauge reboot to ease pressure on Federal Reserve to raise interest rates FT

“MAHA”

Untested supplements popular with special operators move a step closer to legal sale The After-Action Report

More than 18,200 cyclosporiasis cases now suspected in US: Where it’s getting worse The Hill

Disease Researchers Blame DOGE Cuts for Spiraling Cyclospora Outbreak Truthout

You Cannot Break Bread With MAHA Pandemic Accountability Index

The Bezzle

Study Shows Corporate Subsidies Only Create Jobs for Lobbyists Boondoggle

Groves of Academe

Arizona State launches influencer degree where students must gain real followers Dexerto

Casino Nation

Sports Betting Giants Join Unprecedented Corporate Efforts to Buy 2026 Midterms Common Dreams

Class Warfare

The Rent Is Higher Than You Think The Economic Populist

Hidden sleep crisis among workers over 50, study suggests Eurekalert!

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.