Intense drought and record heat across Europe are overwhelming the region's electricity infrastructure. Water shortages reduce hydropower output and hinder cooling for nuclear plants, while soaring temperatures drive up demand. The crisis highlights the urgent need for a more resilient and diversified energy system.

Researchers report progress toward a universal vaccine against pneumococcal disease, which causes pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. The new approach targets a common bacterial component rather than strain-specific capsules, potentially covering all known serotypes. If validated in trials, it could replace current vaccines that require periodic reformulation.

Google DeepMind has unveiled WeatherNext, an AI system that significantly improves cyclone forecasting accuracy. The model can predict storm tracks and intensity faster and more reliably than traditional methods, which could give vulnerable regions more time to prepare for extreme weather.

DeepMind researchers have developed an AI model that predicts cyclone paths a full day earlier than current forecasting methods. The system gives communities more time to evacuate and prepare. This advance could meaningfully reduce casualties and economic losses from severe storms.

Researchers in the UK are strongly opposing planned budget cuts to physics and astronomy, warning that the reductions will severely damage scientific progress and the country's research standing. The cuts threaten ongoing projects and future discoveries, prompting an outcry from the scientific community.

A study published in Nature shows that an AI-based system can generate operational tropical cyclone forecasts with accuracy comparable to or better than traditional numerical models. The AI approach runs far faster, enabling more frequent updates and potentially stronger early warnings. This advance could significantly improve preparedness and reduce storm-related losses.

In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, researchers used fecal microbiota transplantation—a "poo transplant"—from healthy donors to treat severe food allergies in people. The approach appeared safe and produced encouraging results, suggesting that altering gut bacteria could reduce allergic reactions. While larger studies are needed, the findings point to a potential new therapy for a condition with few treatment options beyond strict avoidance.

New research indicates that a COVID-19 infection can trigger dormant viruses, such as herpesviruses, to become active again. This reactivation may contribute to persistent symptoms and complications, including long COVID. The findings underscore the potential need for antiviral monitoring and treatment in at-risk patients.

Astronomers observed the X-ray polarization from a radio magnetar, providing direct evidence of vacuum birefringence, a quantum electrodynamics effect predicted by QED. The result confirms a key prediction of quantum physics in extreme magnetic fields, offering new insights into high-energy astrophysical processes.