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Today’s Pulse rundown
Hungary President
Transcript: What if a country's leader suddenly agreed to step down? In Hungary, President Tamás Sulyok has agreed to leave office after signing a new constitutional amendment. The law immediately ends his term, which began in early 2024. Lawmakers from the Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, passed the rule. What this means for you: This is a major shift in how the country's government operates. The amendment also sets a twelve-year term limit for lawmakers and a retirement age of seventy for constitutional court judges. If you were a leader, what new law would you want to pass?
New Monkey
Transcript: Imagine exploring a dense rainforest and spotting a completely unknown animal! Scientists have identified a new species of monkey living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Known to local Mituku communities as the branch shaker, the fifteen-pound monkey has spiky black hair and orange-cream skin around its mouth. What this means for you: Discovering a new mammal is incredibly rare! This is only the fifth new African monkey species found in seventy-five years. Because they live in a tiny range of six hundred and fifty square miles, researchers believe they are likely endangered. What would you name a brand new species if you discovered one?
Super Strong Glue
Transcript: Have you ever tried to glue something slippery, only for it to fall apart? Materials scientists at the University of Tokyo have developed a super strong adhesive that can grip nonstick surfaces like Teflon. Even better, it washes away completely without leaving any residue! The glue is made of small molecules. The addition of fluorine atoms helps the glue molecules stick together, creating an adhesive that can grip nonstick surfaces. Picture tiny chemical magnets locking together tightly, but releasing instantly when you apply a splash of ethanol. What broken item in your house would you fix with this super glue?
Diana Grass
Transcript: What if your clothes could listen to the signals inside your body? Diana Grass, a PhD candidate in the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, is building soft bioelectronic devices. Her inventions are designed to decode how the nervous system communicates with the rest of the body. What this means for you: Instead of taking a single snapshot of your health, these flexible tools could continuously monitor your physiological signals. Grass hopes her research will eventually help doctors predict diseases earlier and personalize medical treatments for patients. If you could invent a wearable medical device, what would it track?
Robot Bird
Transcript: Could a robot learn to swim like a fish and fly like a bird? Engineers at MIT have built a bird-sized robot that can move through water and air. Weighing half a pound, the machine was inspired by diving seabirds like the Atlantic puffin. The robot leaves the water by moving its wings ten times a second to generate enough thrust to lift out. Think of it like a swimmer kicking off the wall of a pool with a massive burst of energy to launch themselves forward. Where would you send a flying, swimming robot to explore?
Shattered Asteroid
Transcript: What if a giant space rock shattered and sent pieces flying toward Earth? Scientists at the Southwest Research Institute believe a colossal asteroid breakup near Jupiter bombarded the Earth and Moon eight hundred million years ago. An asteroid absorbs sunlight and releases it as infrared radiation, producing a tiny push that changes its orbit through the Yarkovsky effect. Imagine a spaceship firing a tiny thruster continuously for millions of years, slowly steering the rocky debris into a new path across the solar system. Next time you look at the Moon, will you search for ancient craters?
Darline Graham
Transcript: What if you spent your whole career helping others, and suddenly became a senator? Darline Graham has been appointed to fill her late brother's seat in the United States Senate representing South Carolina. Her term will run until January 2027. What this means for you: Graham brings a unique background to the government. She has spent her career working in vocational rehabilitation, focusing on employment and training for people with disabilities. In 2019, she became the head of the state's Commission for the Blind. If you worked in the Senate, what community would you want to help?
Anime Nolan
Transcript: Do you love movies that completely twist your sense of time and reality? A new list from Polygon highlights ten incredible anime series and films that share mind-bending themes with director Christopher Nolan's movies. The recommendations include Satoshi Kon's brilliant year 2000 film, Paprika. What this means for you: If you enjoy complex puzzles, these stories are perfect for your next movie night. From the time dilation in Makoto Shinkai's Voices of a Distant Star to the deep space isolation in Planetes, these animated adventures explore massive sci-fi concepts. What is the most confusing movie you have ever managed to figure out?
U2 Collab
Transcript: What happens when a legendary rock guitarist teams up with a famous DJ? The Edge, the iconic guitarist from the rock band U2, joined DJ Martin Garrix on stage at the Tomorrowland festival in Antwerp. On Friday, the duo debuted a brand new collaboration track called Fireflies. What this means for you: This is not the first time these musicians have worked together. Garrix previously collaborated with U2 members for the 2021 UEFA European Football Championship theme song. The new track officially releases on July 24. If you could mix two completely different styles of music, what would they be?
Endangered Species Act
Transcript: How does a government decide which animals need the most protection? The United States Interior Department has canceled a rule that provided automatic protections for threatened species. Now, imperiled plants and animals will need individualized protection plans once they are added to the list. What this means for you: This policy change impacts how wildlife habitats are managed. Officials like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum say the new approach will allow for better individualized conservation. However, environmental groups worry it will make it harder to quickly save vulnerable animals. What is your favorite endangered animal that you want to see protected?