How Some Butterflies Fooled Evolution and Developed a Second “Head” ZME Science
Feather-like crest on Triassic reptile challenges ideas about reptile evolution Phys.org
Underground maps reveal 90% of mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity hotspots lie outside protected areas Society for the Protection of Underground Networks
Hulk Hogan Is Dead Defector
Climate/Environment
The Heat is On Balanced Weather
A weather station in Storforshei, Norway, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, has now hit 30°C (86°F) or greater for 12 consecutive days.
Let that sink in. pic.twitter.com/WqzF8Gjb04
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) July 24, 2025
The US military is about to become a world class polluter Responsible Statecraft. About to be?
Pandemics
COVID Can Cause Alzheimer’s-Like Plaques in Eyes And Brain Science Alert
Young doctors in England are getting sicker – and fast.
For decades the levels of sickness absence of NHS Staff were stable, until Covid infections arrived.
Now, in all three of these groups, sickness absence rates have *more than doubled*.
And they’re STILL CLIMBING. pic.twitter.com/KWRXAIG611
— tern (@1goodtern) July 24, 2025
Japan
Tragic to the last Observing Japan
China?
A billion dollars’ worth of Nvidia chips fell off a truck and found their way to China, report says The Register
China unveils the largest crystal for high-powered laser weapons South China Morning Post
Thailand- Cambodia Conflict
Thailand and Cambodia exchange fire in deadly border clashes Al Jazeera
Thai-Cambodia clashes could be death knell for Shinawatra rule Asia Times
🇹🇭🇰🇭On the Recent Thailand-Cambodia Conflict – Details the Western Media Won’t Report
▪️Following Thai soldiers injured by Cambodian-placed mines along a disputed border and downgraded diplomatic ties, Cambodia has launched Grad MLRS strikes (video) on populated areas causing… pic.twitter.com/puC3q2BA4D
— Brian Berletic (@BrianJBerletic) July 24, 2025
Syraqistan
‘Double tap’ airstrikes: How Israel targets Gaza rescue efforts 972 Magazine
The Disgrace of Deliberate Starvation: Israel’s War of Hunger in Gaza Haaretz
As a longtime humanitarian who has battled famines and hunger crises, I fear that starvation in Gaza has now passed the tipping point and we are going to see mass-scale starvation mortality.
A thread on famine momentum, famine response, and what it means for Gaza today. https://t.co/RCtLserW1J
— Jeremy Konyndyk (@JeremyKonyndyk) July 24, 2025
Trump tower glimmers over Gaza in Likud minister’s AI video pushing Gazan emigration Times of Israel
Israel and US recall teams from Gaza truce talks, US says Hamas not showing good faith Channel News Asia
***
French President Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state AP
British premier says Gaza suffering ‘unspeakable, indefensible’ as UK seeks urgent action with E3 partners Anadolu Agency
What dam? Acknowledging a point of no return in a man-made famine that no one is going to stop is not breaking a dam. It’s preparing oneself for self-pity in the guise of concern. https://t.co/erTTanZgou
— Alex Colston (@enoughformethx) July 24, 2025
Watching Western leaders tweet about the ‘conditions in Gaza’ while still arming Israel and refusing to use all the power to stop them, as is their duty under the Genocide Convention, is like Hitler tweeting “Conditions in Auschwitz are really bad” while ordering more Zyklon B
— Tiberius (@ecomarxi) July 24, 2025
***
“No One Is Coming”: Why Christians in the Middle East Are Facing a New Age of Menace and Betrayal. Elijah J. Magnier
Old Blighty
Yes, you can now join the new Sultana/Corbyn-led party The Canary
UK and India seal free trade agreement slashing tariffs, barriers Business Times
European Disunion
EU says China’s links with Russia now ‘determining factor’ in ties Channel News Asia
(Chuck L):
Xi refused to bow to Europe.
The summit was forced to Beijing.
Two days slashed to one.
The EU slapped sanctions on Chinese banks.
China condemned the blatant attack.
Ursula grilled Xi over Russia.
Xi called out the toxic rivalry mindset.
Trade tensions boiled over.
Pre-summit… https://t.co/SBs66P5nGD— 🅰pocalypsis 🅰pocalypseos 🇷🇺 🇨🇳 🅉 (@apocalypseos) July 25, 2025
Spy cockroaches and AI robots: Germany plots the future of warfare Reuters
New Not-So-Cold War
The war in Ukraine is over and its EU aspirations are dead for now Intellinews
Zelensky ‘Rolls Back’ Anti-Corruption Changes Amidst Pressure, But the Mob’s Ire Not Yet Slaked Simplicius
Ukraine – Zelenski’s Backtracking Shows Fatal Weakness Moon of Alabama
Flag raising ceremony on Knyaz Pozharsky nuclear-powered cruiser President of Russia
U.S. Building Container Vaults To Deploy U.S. Nuclear Bombs To Remote Bases The War Zone
***
🇷🇺🇨🇳🪖🇺🇸‼️Moscow’s gift to Beijing could unsettle the US‼️
July 24, 2025
Russia is considering the possibility of handing over to China parts of Western military equipment that it obtained in the field, writes the Chinese portal NetEase. 👇 pic.twitter.com/cGbSfwSgQN
— Djole 🇷🇸 (@onlydjole) July 24, 2025
***
Russian Development Continues: Innoprom-2025 Industrial Exhibition. Karl Sanchez
Russian general public have divided views on EU sanctions Bastille Post Global. Commentary:
L’affaire Epstein
Top DOJ official Todd Blanche meets with Ghislaine Maxwell in Florida CBS News
Former Watergate prosecutor questions DOJ, Maxwell meeting: ‘Extremely unusual’ The Hill
Newsmax has begun referring to Ghislaine Maxwell as “a victim.”
You heard that correctly.pic.twitter.com/XHNgCUgRo8
— Travis Akers 🇺🇸 (@travisakers) July 24, 2025
🚨WTF. Ghislaine Maxwell was caught on camera being returned to her cell after meeting with the DOJ today and she is carrying a BOX of materials back to her cell.
What the hell is in the box?
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) July 24, 2025
Jeffrey Epstein’s Birthday Album Included Letters From Bill Clinton, Leon Black WSJ
Trump’s Name Is on Contributor List for Epstein Birthday Book New York Times
South of the Border
Trump Expected to Authorize Chevron to Resume Oil Operations in Venezuela TeleSur
Erick Prince Visits Peru: Blackwater’s Shadow Extends Across Latin America Orinoco Tribune
“Liberation Day”
Window dressing Warwick Powell
Trump 2.0
Trump Signs Order Pushing Cities to Remove Homeless From Streets NOTUS
Predictable, but no less shocking or reprehensible: Trump just signed an executive order urging states to forcibly institutionalize homeless people, defund Housing First, criminalize encampments, and cut aid to cities that don’t comply. pic.twitter.com/olsMQSAybl
— Brian Goldstone (@brian_goldstone) July 24, 2025
***
Cryptocurrency, Epstein and the Bullshit Asymmetry Principle The Connector
Trump’s FCC abandons the future Cory Doctorow
Starlink goes dark globally, Musk vows ‘root cause’ remedy after rare satellite outage Interesting Engineering
Democrats en déshabillé
unironically the future of the Democratic Partyhttps://t.co/5GwQ5yYvo8
— Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) July 25, 2025
My sister in christ you took a smiling photo with Netanyahu exactly two weeks ago https://t.co/NakOWqR4eh
— Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonCHI) July 24, 2025
She sure did. As did Adam Schiff (D-California), Chuck Schumer (D-New York), Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Chris Coons (D-Delaware), and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey):
Police State Watch
BORDER PATROL WANTS ADVANCED AI TO SPY ON AMERICAN CITIES The Intercept
Accelerationism
Trump’s AI Action Plan is a blueprint for dystopia Blood in the Machine
Big Brother is Watching You Watch
Bold move to have the sizzle reel include the user recording someone in a private bedroom against their will. https://t.co/4qILxRVYMi
— Leah Libresco Sargeant (@LeahLibresco) July 24, 2025
Healthcare?
UnitedHealth says it is cooperating with DOJ investigations into Medicare billing practices CNBC
An Inventor Is Injecting Bleach Into Cancerous Tumors—and Wants to Bring the Treatment to the US Wired
The Dismal Science
Imperial Collapse Watch
The Righteous Community London Review of Books
PATRICK LAWRENCE: Washington Takes on the BRICS Consortium News
US and its allies unprepared to repel saturation missile attacks Asia Times
Groves of Academe
Regulation by Deal Comes to Higher Ed Balkanization
Our Famously Free Press
Paramount Sells Out Journalism to Secure Purchase by Skydance FAIR
Class Warfare
Ford Breaks Union Neutrality Agreement in Kentucky Union Drive Payday Report
Social Security payments have become an increasingly relevant income support for children Brookings
The Bezzle
Capitalism Devours Crypto Ann Pettifor
Startup Claims Its Fusion Reactor Concept Can Turn Cheap Mercury Into Gold Gizmodo
It is one of the deadliest chemicals on Earth – but even Mexico’s cartels can’t resist the lure of mercury The Guardian
If Charlie Brown Were a Socialist: On Beloved Argentine Comic Strip Mafalda Lit Hub
Antidote du jour (via):
See yesterday’s Links and Antidote du Jour here.