Western Europe just got hammered by a dangerous heat wave. The UK recorded its highest June temperature ever at 36.1°C — and that’s not just uncomfortable, it’s messing with people’s brains. Studies show that as temperatures spike, irritability and violence go up. Firefighters struggle to focus after heat exposure. Kids and people with mental health conditions are hit especially hard. Lab research suggests extreme heat alters chemical signaling in the brain, though scientists still don’t fully understand the mechanism.
In AI news, the Trump administration asked OpenAI to stagger the release of GPT 5.6, vetting initial users before a wider launch. It’s the first time a US company has been told to restrict an AI model before public release. Anthropic’s own feud with Washington continues in parallel.
A few other things worth your time: Apple and Xbox have hiked some product prices by over 20%, blaming AI-driven chip costs and memory shortages. Colossal Biosciences is partnering with the US Interior Department to build a biovault preserving DNA from over 2,300 endangered species. The US banned Polestar from selling EVs over its China-linked connected-vehicle technology. And researchers claim to have detected the “fingerprints” of a black hole’s event horizon by studying gravitational wave ripples.
Also: OpenAI’s IPO is reportedly delayed until next year, a master gene that triggers human development has been found, and Grok’s most popular use case is apparently adult content. Make of that what you will.
