US debuts world's first blended-wing passenger jet with 5,000 nm range

It has been long understood that a single flight surface with a specific shape would theoretically be more aerodynamic than the designs where there are multiple attached parts, and the surface characteristics are limited by our ability to machine these parts. 

But now with new ability to manufacture shapes and have fewer attachment points, it has become feasible to create the plane of the future: a blended wing that is more aerodynamic than anything we’ve ever seen.

https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/worlds-first-blended-wing-jet-promises-5000-nm-range-and-50-fuel-savings

UVA Study Reveals How New Weight-Loss Drugs Reshape the...

Their study is intriguing. In short, what they found was that the weight loss drugs affect your brain chemistry so that not only do you “feel full,” but you also don’t crave certain food types.

You might say it’s a side effect that wasn’t completely intentional, but is useful in a way.

And that got me to thinking… back when Covid was the talk of the day, a vaccine was introduced that had been developed and tested for quite some time. It helped the body’s immune response, so that it could fight off the infection. It did this by working with the response at the RNA level.  

But people got stupid, and listened to their crazy uncle or some “influencer” who told them that it affected their DNA (different three letter acronym, but also in the body) and would change them somehow.  And that this vaccine was never tested and on and on.  They rejected the science and accepted wild conspiracy theories. 

And yet, when GLP-1s were introduced, they were never tested for use in weight loss but people used them that way because like magic they were able to shed pounds.  And here we are.  It wasn’t tested thoroughly for this purpose, and it does, in fact, change one’s brain function.

But it’s perfectly okay! It’s recommended by these same influencers and crazy uncles because it helps fight off obesity.

I think “the jury is still out” on these drugs, and their long-term effects. And yeah, they apparently do work as weight loss drugs.  And the side effect related to cravings may be an okay thing.

I’m just fascinated (maybe alarmed) by how science is eschewed, until something has a seemingly desirable effect on how one changes behaviors and loses weight. 

https://as.virginia.edu/news/uva-study-reveals-how-new-weight-loss-drugs-reshape-brain

Updating Darwin: Biologists are returning to an older theory to explain anomalies in evolution

This is an interesting thought experiment about how Lamarcks theories on inherited traits turn out to be true, but not quite in the way that he suggested.  Rather, it’s a more nuanced thing that happens in evolution. 

So the suggestion that both he and Darwin are both correct in their evolutionary theory, and can be used together to explain how plants and animals evolve

https://phys.org/news/2026-07-darwin-biologists-older-theory-anomalies.html

The Cavendish Experiment: In 1797, Henry Cavendish Used Two Small Metal Spheres To Weigh The Entire Earth | IFLScience

The explanation is helpful, but the embedded video showing how one can easily calculate the weight of the earth using some weights is very, very cool

https://www.iflscience.com/the-cavendish-experiment-in-1797-henry-cavendish-used-two-small-metal-spheres-to-weigh-the-entire-earth-81658

CO2 Treatments May Clear Alzheimer's Proteins From The Brain | HuffPost UK Life

The short version is that inhaling higher doses of CO2 in a controlled setting at regular intervals stimulates the brain to clear more of the plaque that leads to Alzheimer’s.

So the thinking is that changing our breathing methods and focusing on the exercise could help the brain to flush more of the plaques and help with prevention.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/co2-alzheimers-protein-clearing_uk_6a5f4130e4b06bbe43f3d702

Record heat in Europe!

The Tour de France is wrapping up, and while there are always fun takeaway moments, the bigger story has been the heat, even in the mountains!

Temperatures have been as high as 110F in the low lying lands, and in the upper 80sF in the mountainous regions.   Which is mostly unexpected.

Except that's not really true.  Climate scientists have been warning about this coming through the area.  'We've entered a dangerous zone' they say. 

Record heat, historic drought and sweeping wildfires have marked France's 2026 summer. Yet climate scientists mostly see global warming's expected effects playing out. Only the rapid succession of heatwaves has caught them off guard.

  

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2026/07/21/climate-scientists-aren-t-surprised-by-summer-s-record-heat-we-ve-entered-a-dangerous-zone_6755684_114.html

two additional thoughts about the pitch used in the world cup

As I noted in previous posts, FIFA requires that a specific type of grass be used for events they host.  And that's why the stadia in used in the World Cup changed to that grass, from whatever had been used (and is being re-installed).

But its more than that.  The grass gets watered before the game, at halftime, and in any breaks - like a hydration break.  The reason for this is to keep the playing surface slick and fast.  There's a science behind this!

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7192624/2026/04/14/football-pitches-dry-wet-condition/

https://disneyworldpodcast.net/newsie.php

Yet because of the halftime show, they weren't able to water the grass sufficiently at halftime, so the second half was slow.

Its a wonder to me that the NFL doesn't want to keep grass and doesn't seem to mind that the fields are slow.  Its so strange.

And speaking of that, there are a large number of purpose-built soccer stadiums in the US.  They have great pitches and watering systems.  But they were not selected.  Why?  Because they only seat between 20l - 30k fans.  These monster NFL stadiums can seat 65k - 80k, and they have luxury suites ... meaning more tickets sold!

Its crazy how this all went.  Talk about greed...