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Today’s Pulse rundown
US Heatwave
Transcript: What if stepping outside felt like walking into a giant oven? At least forty million people are under extreme heat warnings across the central and southern United States. The National Weather Service says heat indexes reached well above one hundred degrees Fahrenheit from Minnesota down to Mississippi, and even hit one hundred and twelve degrees in Rapid City, South Dakota. This sweltering weather is the result of a heat dome, where atmospheric conditions trap heat, accentuating and prolonging the high temperatures. How do you stay cool when the summer sun is blazing?
Lion's Mane Jellyfish
Transcript: Have you ever seen a jellyfish with tentacles over 100 feet long? The New England Aquarium is warning beachgoers that Lion's mane jellyfish are appearing near Massachusetts beaches. These massive creatures are known as one of the planet's largest species! Because jellyfish get around by drifting instead of swimming, ocean currents and winds may have led to their sudden appearance in the Bay State. Experts believe water temperatures may also contribute to these unexpected increases. If you spotted a giant jellyfish in the water, what would you do? Now it is
Twisted Laser Light
Transcript: Imagine if you could use a beam of light like a tiny wrench! Researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Hyderabad figured out how to distinguish between mirror-image molecules. They directed ultrashort laser pulses with a controlled spin and twist at gaseous samples. The interaction caused the molecules to break apart into charged fragments, and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer measured how quickly the ions traveled to a detector. The number of fragments produced depended on the combination of the light's twist and the molecule's handedness. What invisible mysteries would you want to solve with a laser?
SkoBot
Transcript: What if a toy robot could help save an endangered language? A 12-year-old Michigan student named Holden Hoy programmed a robot named Sabe to speak Ojibwe. The learning robot was invented by Danielle Boyer to help Indigenous children learn their native languages. When the robot hears one trigger word, it plays a prerecorded audio file instead of using generative artificial intelligence. Holden says it is important to protect the language because it is some people's way of life. If you could build a robot to teach your friends a new skill, what would it do?
Small Businesses AI
Transcript: Are robots actually coming to take everyone's jobs? Despite the rumors, small businesses on Main Street are using artificial intelligence to help their existing workers, not replace them. The Department of Labor reports a nine percent increase in employed people since mid-2021. One business owner connected an AI called Claude to a folder of manuals so their customer-support team can ask questions and get quick answers. Another application listens to conversations and automatically creates a quote, saving salespeople valuable time. How could artificial intelligence make your homework a little bit easier?
Astronauts Return
Transcript: Imagine falling back to Earth after spending eight months floating in space! NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two crewmates safely returned to Earth on Sunday. They landed southeast of Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan after spending two hundred and forty-one days aboard the International Space Station. During the mission, Williams completed two spacewalks and the crew orbited the Earth over three thousand eight hundred times, traveling more than one hundred and two million miles. Their research helps prepare for future human missions to the Moon and Mars. If you could travel to the International Space Station, what experiment would you run?
ADHD in Women
Transcript: Did you know that a common brain condition can look completely different depending on who has it? Researchers at the Duke Center for Girls and Women with ADHD say the condition is often missed in girls. While boys might act hyperactive, girls are more likely to appear distracted or disorganized. Because the symptoms are less disruptive, girls are often diagnosed years later than boys, and fluctuations in estrogen levels can exacerbate symptoms later in life. Nearly seven million women in the US had the diagnosis as of 2023. Why is it important for doctors to study how conditions affect different people?
Path of Exile 2 Cozy
Transcript: What if an intense action video game could actually help you relax? Players of the action role-playing game Path of Exile 2 are finding cozy ways to play. The game was released in early access in 2024 by Grinding Gear Games. By using a specific Oracle class build, players can throw vines onto the ground that damage enemies and make plants grow and explode. Meanwhile, a spirit gem automates a Thunderstorm skill, and an Oracle passive skill guarantees critical hits. This powerful math lets players breeze through levels! What is your favorite video game to play when you just want to chill out?
JENNIE Less Than a Lover
Transcript: Which new song is currently dominating the summer playlists? Fans voted BLACKPINK singer JENNIE's new solo single, Less Than a Lover, as their favorite new music release of the week. The track topped a Billboard poll with over sixty-two percent of the vote! JENNIE co-wrote the music video, which was filmed on the coast of Spain. She previously previewed the song live in New York City at Governors Ball in June, and it has been a huge hit with listeners ever since. If you were directing a music video for your favorite song, where would you film it?
Oil Prices
Transcript: How does a conflict on the other side of the world change the price of your groceries? Economists warn that the Bank of England could be forced to raise interest rates if global oil prices return to above one hundred dollars a barrel. The breakdown of a ceasefire in the Middle East sent oil prices back to recent highs, sparking fears that higher prices at the pumps would send inflation soaring and increase food prices driven by diesel transportation costs. Have you noticed the prices of everyday items changing at your local store?