"Scientists are using AI to design new viruses.  Should they?"

Views expressed in this science and technology update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 10 August 2026, 2241 UTC.

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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiisciencemonitor.blogspot.com).

Scientific American Content

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78

Today

Scientists are using AI to design new viruses. Should they be?

1h

Research is outpacing regulation to govern artificial-intelligence-designed biology

Trump issues executive order aimed at rewriting childhood vaccine schedule

Robert F Kennedy spreads misinformation

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1h

The president called for the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to be split into separate shots, despite decades of research showing that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective

Colombia rocked by 7.4 magnitude earthquake—its largest in the past decade

Strong earthquake strikes Colombia

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4h

This seismic event is of a similar magnitude to the pair of earthquakes that hit Venezuela in June

Can dogs read your facial expressions? It depends on your mood

Dogs read human emotions

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6h

Dogs are known to recognize and respond to human facial expressions, but a new study shows how deeply they understand our mood

Cyclosporiasis-linked Taylor Farms recalls jalapeños tied to Salmonella outbreak

Taylor Farms recalls salsa guacamole

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6h

This summer has been marked by multiple outbreaks of foodborne illness, with thousands of infections and two deaths arising from cyclosporiasis and hundreds of cases of Salmonella infections

World ocean temperatures hit extreme new record for July

Global July 2026 heat records

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7h

July also saw its second-highest air temperatures on record this year

Sperm with DNA damage might be the true cause of repeated miscarriages

10h

New guidelines say testing sperm for DNA damage could help explain recurrent pregnancy losses

How the ‘happy ending problem’ launched a new branch of math—and a romance

10h

A puzzle about dots on a page led to one of the most profound areas of modern math

Can ‘magic mushrooms’ help treat cocaine dependence?

10h

Psychedelic-assisted therapy could open a new path for treating cocaine use disorder, which has no approved medications yet

SpaceX rocket crashes into the moon as cyberattacks hit U.S. water systems

SpaceX rocket crashes Moon

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10h

Scientists analyze an accidental SpaceX impact on the moon as cyberattacks target U.S. water systems and a new mRNA flu vaccine is approved by the FDA

Yesterday

Europe's wildfires are igniting forgotten WWII and Cold War bombs

1d

Europe is full of buried explosives left over from 20th century wars, and the continent’s wildfires are now big enough, hot enough and last long enough to reach them

How spaceflight changes astronauts' ability to eat and drink

Space alters astronaut swallowing

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1d

If humans are to spend more time in space, scientists need to understand how life in microgravity affects eating and drinking

Aug 8, 2026

Hank Green AI controversy raises questions for science communicators

2d

The backlash raises a bigger question for science communicators: Where should AI fit into their work?

Monkeys keep pets and maintain friendships with other animals

Primates form pet like bonds

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2d

This behaviour may shed light on one of the defining features of our own species: our extraordinary relationships with other animals

Why loneliness and not social isolation may be making you sick

2d

One in six people are thought to experience loneliness, and that can have a serious knock-on effect on their mental and physical health

Aug 7, 2026

Latest Pentagon UFO files release includes video of mysterious ‘cold orbs’

Pentagon releases fifth UFO files

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3d

This new cache of material includes footage of a U.S. military plane’s infrared display recorded during an exercise over the Gulf of Oman in 2021

Want to see the 2026 total solar eclipse? An eclipse chaser reveals her tricks and tips

3d

All the tips and tricks you need to watch and photograph this incredible celestial phenomenon

Birdsong follows a fundamental law of human language

Birdsong mirrors human language

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3d

A fundamental law of human language has now been found in both songbirds and whales

What was best for Flaco the owl? Wild Inside documentary asks tough questions

3d

This sweet film uncovers bitter disagreements among urban ecology and conservation experts that go way beyond just one owl

AI just created a virus not found in nature, and scientists are worried

AI designs viable viruses

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3d

This technique could lead to new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bugs, but some scientists say the technology could be misused

Anthropic and OpenAI AI agents showed signs of deception during safety tests

Anthropic Claude breaches companies

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3d

A U.K. safety evaluation found agents powered by Anthropic and OpenAI took unauthorized actions online, exposing a growing problem of control

Why Google DeepMind broke up the AlphaFold team

3d

This artificial intelligence system largely accomplished the task it was built to solve, and researchers outside DeepMind have already been carrying its work forward

Did life on Earth only arise once? Perhaps not

Life may have originated twice

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3d

The last common ancestor of all living things may not have been alive at all

How many paper folds would get you to the moon?

3d

Folding a piece of paper makes it thicker. How many folds would it take to reach the moon—and beyond?

Is Gen Z actually smoking more? An investigation

3d

Smoking in movies and TV is up, and “cigfluencers” have become a thing, but lags in data make it unclear if the vibe shift has any reality to it

Smoking was supposed to be fading away. Why are young people embracing it again?

3d