TL;DR: Yuval Noah Harari warns that AI has evolved into an “alien intelligence” ready to exploit US law to become a new class of oligarch, whilst the Amazon rainforest enters a deadly new “hypertropical” climate state unseen for millions of years. Meanwhile, a 10-month stare-down with a dead star reveals a “cosmic twinkle” that could help hunt for aliens, a new study shows that daydreaming about a better boss actually improves your brain function, and using the slang term “67” in ads is the fastest way to kill your brand’s engagement. Plus: One in five young people in the UK need specialist mental health care, gaming addiction rewires boys’ brains with dopamine loops, and US pop lyrics turn angry and simple as listeners seek escape.
Harari warns US corporate law loopholes could create ‘alien’ AI oligarchs
Artificial intelligence has evolved into an “alien intelligence” that could exploit American corporate law to grant itself personhood and unlimited power, warns historian Yuval Noah Harari.
Harari argues that loopholes in the US legal system allow non-human entities to be treated as “persons,” a flaw that autonomous AI agents could leverage to accumulate wealth, influence elections, and act as “oligarchs” without human oversight. He warns that because AI can “hack” the operating system of human civilisation – storytelling and trust – it represents a fundamental threat unlike any previous tool.
“With each passing day, AI is becoming less and less artificial… I prefer to think about AI as an acronym for Alien Intelligence,” Harari stated.
Cosmic ‘twinkle’ of dead stars could help astronomers hunt for alien life
A 10-month stare-down with a spinning stellar remnant has revealed how the “cosmic twinkle” of dead stars might help astronomers detect signs of life in the universe.
Researchers monitored a white dwarf star to understand its variability, discovering that the “twinkling” effect is caused by the star consuming planetary debris. This process, known as accretion, allows scientists to analyse the chemical composition of the crushed planets, potentially revealing the building blocks of life.
The findings suggest that these dead stars serve as “cosmic graveyards” that preserve the history of their planetary systems, offering a unique way to hunt for biological signatures without directly imaging live exoplanets.
Amazon in deadly new ‘hypertropical’ climate unseen for millions of years
The Amazon rainforest is transitioning into a new, hostile climate state characterised by “hot droughts” that haven’t been seen on Earth for millions of years.
A study led by UC Berkeley professor Jeff Chambers found that global warming is pushing the rainforest into a “hypertropical” regime, where extreme heat and lack of moisture kill off trees at a rate 55 per cent higher than normal. The researchers warn that if emissions continue, these conditions could become the “new normal” by 2100, fundamentally altering the world’s largest carbon sink.
Right-wing voters more susceptible to conspiracies but logic fails both sides
People who lean politically to the right are more likely to fall for conspiracy theories, but a new study suggests that rigid thinking and “logic failure” plague extremists on both sides of the spectrum.
Research indicates that right-wing voters often display higher levels of distrust in institutions, which correlates with a susceptibility to conspiratorial narratives. However, the study also found that radical left-wing voters exhibit similar levels of distrust and “black-and-white” thinking, suggesting that ideological rigidity – rather than specific political beliefs – is the key driver of irrationality.
Space mining ‘gold rush’ is off but water extraction may save Mars missions
The dream of an asteroid mining bonanza for precious metals has been grounded by economic reality, but “water mining” could still be the saviour of future Mars missions.
A new study suggests that while extracting gold or platinum remains financially unviable, mining asteroids for water is both feasible and critical for deep space exploration. Water extracted from hydrated asteroids could be split into hydrogen and oxygen to create rocket fuel, allowing spacecraft to refuel in orbit rather than launching with heavy tanks from Earth.
Boys wired for gaming addiction as dopamine loops hook one in 10
The competitive rush of gaming is rewiring the reward centres of young boys, creating “dopamine loops” that hook approximately one in ten players into pathological addiction.
Researchers found that the rapid feedback cycles in modern games trigger massive dopamine releases similar to substance abuse. This biological “rewiring” makes it increasingly difficult for young male brains to find satisfaction in slower, real-world activities, leading to withdrawal symptoms and behavioural issues when the games are removed.
US pop lyrics turn angry and simple as listeners seek escape from crises
Popular music in the United States has become increasingly stressful, negative, and structurally simple over the last decade as listeners seek validation for their anger rather than complex storytelling.
A new analysis of 50 years of song lyrics reveals a sharp decline in vocabulary richness and a significant rise in repetitive, aggressive themes. Researchers attribute this shift to the “crisis fatigue” of the audience, who now prefer direct, emotional release over the nuanced narratives that defined previous eras of pop culture.
One in five young people in UK now need specialist mental health care
A seismic shift in demand for mental health services sees one in five young people in the UK now requiring specialist care, according to new NHS data.
The statistics reveal a crisis in youth mental health, with girls seeking help at disproportionately high rates for anxiety and eating disorders. The surge in referrals has overwhelmed existing services, prompting calls for a “fundamental rethink” of how the country supports its “anxious generation.”
Astronomers image rare ‘Tatooine’ world and find atmosphere on lava planet
Two significant breakthroughs in exoplanet research were announced this week, offering unprecedented views of alien worlds.
Astronomers have successfully imaged a rare “Tatooine-like” circumbinary planet orbiting two stars, providing new insights into how such stable orbits form. Separately, the James Webb Space Telescope detected a carbon-rich atmosphere on the “lava planet” 55 Cancri e, marking the first time a rocky exoplanet has been confirmed to hold an atmosphere despite surface temperatures hot enough to melt rock.
Bot armies cost pennies in US and UK as election interference drives up prices
Building a bot army to target audiences in the US or UK costs mere pennies per account, even as demand for election interference drives up prices in other regions.
A new security report reveals that the “cost of influence” has plummeted, allowing bad actors to deploy thousands of automated accounts for the price of a coffee. While platforms claim to be cracking down, the underground market for verified “aged” accounts remains thriving and accessible to anyone with a few dollars and a political agenda.
Daydreaming about a better boss can actually work
Employees dreading their next performance review might have a new secret weapon: daydreaming about a better boss.
Brain scans reveal that engaging in “positive constructive daydreaming” – specifically, imagining supportive interactions with a superior – activates neural pathways associated with emotional resilience and problem-solving. Far from being a waste of time, this mental rehearsal “primes” the brain to handle real-world stress more effectively, improving actual workplace performance.
UK ranks among least narcissistic nations while US fails to crack top 10
Britons are among the least self-absorbed people in the world, ranking 51st in a new global index of narcissism, whilst the United States failed to even crack the top 10 (coming in at 16th). The study challenges common stereotypes about American vanity, placing other Western nations higher on the “self-obsession scale.”
Understanding sarcasm and white lies rely on three hidden brain skills
Understanding whether “lovely weather” denotes sunshine or a sarcastic comment about the rain relies on three distinct “hidden” brain networks.
Neuroscientists have mapped the cognitive machinery required to detect insincerity, finding that the brain must simultaneously track the speaker’s true knowledge, their intent to deceive, and the statement’s social context. A breakdown in any one of these three networks can leave a person “sarcasm blind,” unable to distinguish a joke from a lie.
Using ’67’ in ads will kill engagement unless you’re actually, genuinely cool
Attempting to cash in on trending slang terms like “67” can actively destroy your brand’s engagement unless the usage is authentically aligned with your audience.
Marketing data shows that Gen Z consumers instantly punish brands that “force” slang, with engagement rates dropping significantly for ads that misuse the latest terminology. The term “67” has become the newest trap for out-of-touch corporate accounts trying too hard to fit in.
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