Artificial Life, Student Loan Overhaul, & Fountain Yodeling

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
July 02, 2026

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Researchers have created synthetic cells that can grow, copy their DNA, and divide using entirely lab-made components, marking what scientists say is the first artificial system to complete the full cell cycle. The tiny "SpudCells" were built from chemical compounds and synthetic DNA rather than being modified from existing living cells.
The cells are not alive and remain far less capable than natural cells. They rely on nutrient-rich laboratory solutions to function, cannot regulate their own metabolism or produce all of the machinery needed to survive, and quickly stop functioning after only a handful of cell divisions.
Researchers say the work provides a blueprint for studying how life emerges from nonliving matter by recreating key cellular functions from known chemical components. The synthetic cells could also become test platforms for engineering microbes to produce drugs, fuels, and other materials.

California became the first state yesterday to standardize expiration labels on packaged food, banning "sell by" dates in an effort to reduce consumer confusion and cut food waste. Manufacturers must now use "Best if Used By" to indicate peak quality and "Use By" to indicate when food may no longer be safe to eat.
More than 50 different date labels are currently used on packaged foods, even though most are unregulated and often have little to do with food safety. Researchers estimate confusing labels contribute to nearly 20% of US food waste, while California alone discards about 6 million tons of unexpired food each year.
The law could become a model for the rest of the country. New York lawmakers have approved similar legislation, which awaits the governor's signature, while a bipartisan bill that would establish national food-labeling standards remains pending in Congress.

Major changes to the federal student loan system took effect yesterday, limiting how much many students can borrow while reducing repayment options for future borrowers. The overhaul, enacted under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, affects millions of current and future student loan recipients.
The law caps Parent PLUS loans at $20,000 per year and $65,000 per student, imposes new lifetime borrowing limits for graduate and professional students, and eliminates Graduate PLUS loans for new borrowers. It also reduces repayment choices for anyone taking out a new federal loan to just two plans: a standard repayment option and the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
Borrowers enrolled in the Biden-era SAVE plan will also need to transition to a different repayment option. Loan servicers are expected to begin notifying roughly 7.2 million SAVE borrowers to select a new plan within 90 days or be automatically enrolled in the standard repayment plan.

The Justice Department sued California and Virginia over state gun restrictions, arguing bans affecting AR-15-style rifles and certain handguns violate the Second Amendment. (More)

Two people climbed to the top of New York City's Empire State Building without safety equipment, unfurled a banner, and appeared to get engaged before being arrested. (More)

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Pentagon from requiring The New York Times to use official escorts, ruling the policy likely violated the First Amendment. (More)

A breakaway traditionalist Catholic group consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV's approval, incurring automatic excommunications and widening its split from the Vatican. (More)

Four Venezuelan police officers were arrested after allegedly looting cash from a collapsed building while rescue efforts continued following last week's deadly earthquakes. (More)

Three people died of asphyxiation as roughly one million fans crowded Mexico City to celebrate Mexico's first World Cup knockout win since 1986. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Wednesday (S&P -0.22%, Nasdaq -0.66%, Dow -0.03%) as investors sold off chipmaker stocks. (More)

Kroger will acquire Giant Eagle in a $1.65 billion deal, expanding its grocery and pharmacy footprint across five Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states. (More)

Meta shares jumped 10% after reports that the company plans to launch a cloud computing business, allowing it to sell excess AI infrastructure capacity to outside customers. (More)

The US men's soccer team defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 despite losing Folarin Balogun to a red card, securing its first World Cup knockout victory since 2002. (More)

Victor Willis, lead singer of the Village People known for "Y.M.C.A.," "Macho Man" and "In the Navy," died at 74. (More)

Harry Kane scored twice to surpass Pelé's World Cup goal tally as England rallied past Congo DR 2-1 to reach the round of 16. (More)

A large, two-decade study found no link between taking acetaminophen during pregnancy and a higher risk of autism or ADHD in children. (More)

China's planted forests are growing significantly faster than natural forests, suggesting climate models may underestimate how young, human-made forests respond to rising CO₂. (More)

Sony will stop producing physical PlayStation game discs in 2028, accelerating its shift to digital-only sales. (More)

Ranking US cities by family income needed to live comfortably.

Remote workers try to take over San Diego beach.

Swiss yodeleres forced to sing in fountains.

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