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Today’s Pulse rundown
AliExpress Fined
Transcript: What if an online store was fined millions for selling dangerous toys? The European Union recently fined the shopping platform AliExpress a record five hundred and fifty million euros. The European Commission says the company failed to stop the sale of illegal and fake goods, including harmful cosmetics. What this means for you: Officials found that illegal products often stayed online for multiple weeks. By issuing this massive penalty, the government hopes to force the company to protect its one hundred and ninety-three million European users from unsafe items. Have you ever ordered something online that looked completely different when it arrived?
Whale Poop
Transcript: Did you know that whale poop can tell us how animals survive? Scientists recently analyzed fifty-two fecal samples from southern right whales in the Southern Ocean. They discovered that these massive marine mammals eat a much wider variety of seafood than previously thought. What this means for you: Experts used to believe the whales mostly ate krill. However, the samples showed they also feast on young crabs, shrimp, and jellyfish! Because their diet is so flexible, researchers hope the population of fifteen thousand whales can adapt as ocean temperatures change. If you were a marine biologist, what ocean animal would you study?
Alzheimer's Protein
Transcript: What if a natural protein could protect your brain from damage? Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have discovered that a protein called SORLA acts as a powerful defense against Alzheimer's disease. In a recent study, mice with extra SORLA had less brain atrophy and healthier connections between their neurons. The protein works by reducing the excessive addition of phosphate groups to tau, limiting the ability of malformed tau to act as seeds that build larger clumps. By stopping these toxic tangles from forming, the protein preserves the brain's communication networks. What kind of puzzle do you like to solve to keep your brain sharp?
Subsidence
Transcript: Have you ever wondered why some massive cities are slowly sinking? The geological process is called subsidence, and it happens when land sinks because water, soil, or rock is removed from underground. Over time, the overlying rock and soil collapse into the porous rock when water is removed, causing the surface to sink. What this means for you: This often happens when humans pump too much groundwater out of natural aquifers. It can also happen when heavy buildings press down on fine sediments, which is why places like New York City and Shanghai have experienced sinking! This process can even cause sudden sinkholes to form!
CuspAI Investment
Transcript: Imagine building a search engine that discovers materials that do not even exist yet! A British startup called CuspAI recently raised four hundred and fifty million dollars to do exactly that. Backed by investors like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and the UK government, the company is using artificial intelligence to invent new materials. What this means for you: Right now, building better computer chips and batteries requires rare metals. By using advanced AI, the company hopes to quickly discover new, efficient materials that can replace those rare elements and power the next generation of technology. If you could invent a brand new metal, what would it do?
Maine Coastline
Transcript: Why does the coastline look like a smooth beach in one spot and jagged rocks in another? Using data from the Landsat satellite, NASA Earth Observatory highlighted the sharp contrast along the coast of Maine. Geologists say the different shapes were caused by ancient melting glaciers and different types of bedrock. Glaciers scoured and widened coastal valleys which later flooded as the Laurentide Ice Sheet melted and sea levels rose, producing a jagged shoreline. Today, those rocky inlets in Casco Bay create the perfect cold-water habitats for the state's famous lobster fisheries. Do you prefer swimming at a sandy beach or exploring rocky tide pools?
E-Bike Injuries
Transcript: What happens when a bicycle can suddenly travel as fast as a car? A new study from UC San Diego found that electric bike injuries are rising rapidly across California. Researchers recorded one thousand five hundred and sixty-six e-bike crashes in the state in 2024 alone. What this means for you: The study revealed that fifteen point eight percent of the injured riders were fourteen years old or younger. Because some of these bikes can reach speeds of twenty-eight miles per hour, accidents are often much more severe than crashes on traditional bicycles. Do you always remember to wear your helmet when you ride your bike?
Leon Kennedy Voice
Transcript: How does an actor prepare to voice a legendary video game hero? Nick Apostolides, the voice actor for Leon Kennedy in the Resident Evil games, revealed that he uses heavy music to get into character. In a July 2026 video, he shared that he listened to different rock bands for each game. What this means for you: To capture a younger Leon, he listened to Nirvana. For the older, tougher version of the character in Resident Evil Requiem, he blasted classic 1980s Metallica to match the heavy, fast energy of the game! What kind of music would you listen to before a big sports match?
Heated Rivalry Soundtrack
Transcript: Can the music from a television show compete with the biggest pop stars in the world? The soundtrack for the hit series Heated Rivalry recently debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart. It earned forty-one thousand equivalent album units in the United States in a single week! What this means for you: This is a massive achievement in the music industry. In fact, it achieved a rare Billboard 200 feat for a television series soundtrack not seen in more than a decade. Fans even bought twenty-eight thousand vinyl copies of the album! What is your absolute favorite song from a movie or show?
Tech Stocks
Transcript: Would you risk your entire savings account to bet on the future of technology? Across the globe, young retail investors are pouring their money into artificial intelligence stocks. A twenty-six-year-old investor named Michelle Huynh saw her tech savings jump by fifty percent earlier this year! What this means for you: While the stock market can create massive wealth, it is also incredibly unpredictable. In South Korea, the Kospi index surged to nine thousand points in June before plunging down to six thousand five hundred, causing many young investors to lose money just as quickly as they made it. Would you rather save your money safely or take a big risk?
How Amazon Grew From a Bookstore Into Everything
Today’s deeper dive follows a story from this episode.