Welcome the new era with iOS 26

Today’s topics

• Robinhood Ghosted by the S&P 500

• L’Oréal Adds Another Glow-Up to Its Skincare Empire

• WWDC 2025: More Glass, Less Gas

• Scientists May Have Found HIV’s Secret Hiding Spot

• Dutch Baboons Are Better at Social Networking Than You

  and more…

Robinhood Ghosted by the S&P 500

Robinhood shares slid 6% after getting snubbed by the S&P 500. Hopes were high that the online brokerage would join the index in this quarter’s reshuffle — but the S&P didn’t add anyone. Robinhood had been riding a strong rally, recently hitting its highest price since its wild 2021 debut. Even Bank of America called it a “prime candidate.” But the S&P wasn’t impressed, leaving Robinhood — and its $66B market cap — waiting outside the club. AppLovin also dropped, caught in the same wave of dashed index dreams. The takeaway? Betting on index rumors can burn.

Trump Derails California’s Bullet Train Ambitions

The Trump administration is moving to revoke $4 billion in federal funding from California’s high-speed rail project — a plan critics say is more fantasy than transit solution. Once pitched as a sleek SF-to-LA line in under 3 hours, it’s now a pared-down Central Valley “starter” route that’s years delayed and massively over budget. Federal officials are calling it a waste of taxpayer money, while California insists the project is still on track — powered by state funds and sheer determination.

L’Oréal Adds Another Glow-Up to Its Skincare Empire

L’Oréal has acquired a majority stake in British skincare brand Medik8, pushing further into your bathroom cabinet — and your TikTok feed. The deal, reportedly worth around €1 billion, marks yet another splashy purchase in its skincare spree. Over the past year, L’Oréal has also snapped up Aesop, Korean label Dr.G, a share in Galderma, and secured a beauty license for Miu Miu. Its Dermatological Beauty Division — home to giants like La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Vichy, and SkinCeuticals — raked in over €7 billion last year, all thanks to the booming demand for “clinical” skincare with social media clout.

^Sponsored

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WWDC 2025: More Glass, Less Gas

At WWDC 2025, Apple rolled out iOS 26 — yes, the naming system got a refresh — along with its most dramatic design overhaul in years. Dubbed “Liquid Glass,” the new look features more translucency, rounded edges, and see-through toolbars, like Vision Pro and iOS had a stylish little offspring. On the AI front, Apple sprinkled in custom Genmoji via ChatGPT, live message translation, and even hold music muting in the Phone app. Messages now supports polls, colored backgrounds, and automatic spam filtering. Maps can now obsessively track your favorite coffee spots, while Wallet adds digital IDs and refreshed boarding passes. Translation: it’s shinier, smarter, and might just convince you your current phone is suddenly obsolete.

Mysterious Space Beacon Blinks at Earth Every 44 Minutes

Astronomers have discovered a cosmic oddball that flashes signals toward Earth like clockwork — once every 44 minutes. Named the ultra-catchy ASKAP J1832-0911, the object was picked up by Australia’s ASKAP telescope and NASA’s Chandra X-ray observatory. It emits intense two-minute bursts of radio and X-rays, then goes completely silent for 42 minutes, over and over. Theories range from a dead star to a strange, magnetic pair of dying stars… but truthfully, no one knows what it is. Scientists are calling it “unlike anything we’ve seen before” — which, in space-speak, is basically “uh, what the heck?” Could be groundbreaking physics. Could be aliens on a weird schedule. Stay tuned.

NASA & Pentagon Look Beyond SpaceX Amid Political Tensions

Following a highly public feud between President Trump and Elon Musk, NASA and the Pentagon are actively seeking backup launch providers to reduce reliance on SpaceX. Despite Musk’s quick retraction of a threat to halt Dragon spacecraft missions, the incident exposed risks of depending too heavily on a single company. In response, agencies are pushing contracts to competitors like Rocket Lab, Sierra Space, and Blue Origin—and revisiting Boeing’s Starliner capsule as a possible alternative 

Read more

Scientists May Have Found HIV’s Secret Hiding Spot

In a major breakthrough from Melbourne’s Doherty Institute, researchers may have uncovered a way to flush HIV out of its cellular hideouts. The virus is notorious for hiding inside white blood cells, evading both the immune system and antiviral drugs — but now, thanks to mRNA technology (yep, the same kind used in COVID vaccines), scientists have developed a method to expose it. Once visible, the virus could potentially be targeted and eliminated — a huge step toward a long-hoped-for cure. The research team says they’re “overwhelmed” by the discovery — and with good reason.

The Vatican Just Flipped the Switch on Solar Power

The Vatican is officially powered by the sun. Pope Francis’ vision of a solar-powered Holy See is now a reality, thanks to a sprawling new solar farm near Rome. Built on a 1,000-acre site already used for Vatican broadcasting, the agrivoltaic setup (solar panels + crops) now fuels everything from Vatican Radio to the Pope’s espresso machine. The project came together in just six months — divine intervention, or maybe just bypassing Italy’s infamous red tape. Francis calls it a step toward “climate neutrality.” Also, it’s kind of a flex: while most churches rely on donations, his now runs on sunshine.

Science Says: Baboons Just Love a Good Group Walk

Forget the theories about baboons forming tactical lines to ward off predators or compete for food — scientists now say they’re just hanging out with their pals. Researchers at Swansea University strapped GPS trackers onto baboons in South Africa and found that their orderly “progressions” aren’t strategic at all. They simply prefer walking next to their buddies. So no jungle warfare or protective maneuvers here — just some seriously social strolls with the squad.

Dutch Baboons Are Better at Social Networking Than You

When a woman dropped her phone into a baboon enclosure at a Dutch zoo, the primates wasted no time stepping into influencer mode. One curious baboon hit record, capturing seven delightfully chaotic clips — mostly shaky shots of dirt, but also a few accidental selfies. Due to zoo safety rules, the woman couldn’t retrieve her phone immediately, but later found the surprise footage in her iCloud. Of course, she shared it on TikTok — and just like that, the baboons became internet stars, racking up more views than most aspiring content creators.

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