People Change:
Stanford University scientists used the Evo 2 AI tool to create a virus not found in nature.
Researchers at Cornell University found that patients taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs were spending an average 11.5% less on savoury snacks six months after starting on the drugs.
According to UN population estimates, 64 countries and territories, mostly in Europe and East Asia, have already passed peak population.
The number of retirement age Americans is predicted to have risen from 8% of the population in 1950 to 21% by 2030 making existing social welfare systems unsustainable. Meanwhile India has 370 million people aged 15 to 29.
According to Betterment, 52% of Americans below the age of 30 have moved money from investments into their sports betting accounts as part of deliberate long-term financial planning.
Climate Change and the Environment:
As of mid July, more than 10,400 heat-related deaths had been reported in Europe during 2026. According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, England experienced 40,000 heat related deaths between 1988 and 2025.
According to Copernicus, average global sea surface temperatures outside the polar regions were at their July highest in 2026.
Many parts of Asia have experienced record high temperatures or massive storms culminating in flash floods on the Nepal / Tibet border caused by a collapsed glacier.
China’s Sea Legend Shipping company has introduced a route through the Arctic Circle to Europe.
Panama Canal transit fees are as much as 16 times higher than previously as a result of low water levels and the closure of the Straits of Hormuz.
Lake Mead and Lake Powell on Colorado River are at their lowest levels since the dams were built.
Greece is using thermal satellites for the early identification of wild fires. Algeria, Indonesia and Nevada are the latest regions to experience widespread wildfires.
Low Cost Renewable Energy:
According to BNEF global installed solar capacity exceeded 3 TW at the end 2025, with at least 74 countries having at least 1GW of installed solar capacity, with global forecast to exceed 9 TW by 2036.
Italian researchers have developed a four terminal PV tile that uses spectral splitting to direct visible and infrared light to GaAs and bifacial silicon cells respectively.
Chinese 75 tonne capacity mining trucks are the first in the world powered by sodium-ion battery packs.
The Australian government is arranging funding for Australia’s largest aluminum smelter (and energy user) to transition from coal to renewables.
Autonomous Electric Vehicles:
According to the International Road Transport Union the number of unfilled truck driver positions in the EU increased to 502,000 in 2025.
Uber and Wayve had been granted licences to operate self-driving taxis in London.
Amazon’s Zoox received federal government approval for robotaxis with no steering wheels or pedals.
A partnership between Uber and Zipline plans to make one million deliveries by drone each day by end 2029.
A battery-powered self-unloading limestone bulk carrier has begun operation in South Australia.
Heart Aerospace reported that its battery electric aircraft, the world’s largest, completed its maiden 27 minute flight.
Mass Data Mining and Storage:
According to Dune, prediction markets have reached $US 162.65 billion in notional volume with 3.08 million unique users conducting 757.6 million transactions. The expansion has been driven primarily by Polymarket and Kalshi and sports, crypto, politics, and geopolitics account for the largest share of trader attention.
