Summer recall alert: Ford is calling back over 850,000 cars for a fuel-pump defect, while mislabeled Ritz peanut butter cracker sandwiches, Pack and Play crib mattresses, Ozark Trail insulated water bottles and Wegmans mini-muffins are also under recall — find out what to do.
Closest-ever solar images: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has just delivered WISPR photos from only 3.8 million miles away, revealing colliding CMEs and magnetic switchbacks that shape space weather — find out what it means for Earth.
Private funds in 401(k)s: BlackRock plans a 2026 target-date fund with 5–20% private allocations, and Empower aims to follow in late 2025, opening nonpublic investments in Americans’ $8.7 trillion retirement pool — learn what this means for your savings.
Social Security earnings cap: If you collect benefits before full retirement age and earn above $23,400 in 2025, $1 is withheld for every $2 over that limit — find out how it affects your check.
First U.S. plague death since 2007: A Coconino County resident died of pneumonic plague, marking the nation’s first fatal case in nearly two decades — learn what precautions health officials recommend.
mRNA jab fights antibiotic-resistant plague: Israeli researchers at Tel Aviv University and the Israel Institute for Biological Research have developed a bivalent, lipid nanoparticle–delivered vaccine that achieved 100% protection against pneumonic plague in animal models — learn what this breakthrough means.
Lingering antidepressant withdrawal: Many people report debilitating nerve pain, panic and emotional numbness for years after tapering off SSRIs and SNRIs, and online communities are demanding recognition and research — find out what’s driving this push.
Multiple interbreeding waves: A Princeton-led team identifies three major periods of gene flow between modern humans and Neanderthals over 200,000 years, upending the idea of a single out-of-Africa exodus — find out how.
Citizen scientists vs. AI models: A new Nature Communications study reveals that 1,700 volunteers’ rain-or-snow reports outpace AI’s mere 0.6% accuracy boost, proving direct observations are still vital — find out.
Paradox-free time travel proven: A peer-reviewed study demonstrates that closed time-like curves can reconcile determinism with local free choice, sidestepping age-old paradoxes — find out how.
Hidden planet around star: Astronomers using the VLT’s SPHERE instrument have directly imaged a 10-Jupiter-mass world orbiting HD 135344 A—challenging assumptions about planet formation in binary systems — find out how they did it.
Chinese satellites dock in orbit: Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 appear to have docked in geostationary orbit for a historic autonomous refuelling mission after repeated close approaches this summer — find out what this means for in-orbit servicing.
Other national stories this week
- Biggest piece of Mars heads to auction
- Four common foods may trigger body odor
- Search efforts pause amid Central Texas flooding
- Historic Grand Canyon North Rim lodge destroyed
- World Atlas reveals America’s unhealthiest fast-food chains
- Make 16 No-Cook Dinners in 20 Minutes
- Monday stress triggers lasting cortisol spikes
