Cholesterol Killer, Leo Messi, & Snoop Dogg's Ice Cream Taster

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
September 01, 2026

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A gene-editing treatment lowered LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by as much as 50%, with the effects lasting at least a year in an early study of people with severe lipid disorders. The results provide new evidence that CRISPR, a technology that allows scientists to make targeted changes to DNA, could produce lasting cardiovascular benefits from a single treatment.
The therapy works by targeting ANGPTL3, a gene involved in regulating how the body processes cholesterol and triglycerides. The CRISPR treatment edits liver cells to disable ANGPTL3, mimicking a naturally occurring mutation found in people who have unusually low levels of LDL and triglycerides and little heart disease. At the highest treatment dose, levels of the ANGPTL3 enzyme fell by nearly 80%.
Researchers reported no significant side effects, but the trial included only 15 people and followed them for one year. Larger and longer studies are needed to establish the treatment's safety and durability. If the results hold up, the approach could eventually offer some patients an alternative to medications such as statins that must be taken continuously.

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer Monday, ending a 21-year career with Argentina that culminated in a World Cup championship in 2022. The 39-year-old will continue playing for Inter Miami but leaves the national team after a record 207 appearances and 125 goals, both Argentine records.
Messi played in a record-tying six World Cups, scoring 21 goals across the tournaments and leading Argentina to three finals, including this year’s 1-0 extra time loss to Spain. He led his country to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar along with Copa América championships in 2021 and 2024, ending years of criticism that his extraordinary club success had never translated into a major senior trophy for his country.
The ending nearly came a decade earlier. Messi briefly retired from international soccer after Argentina lost its third consecutive major final in 2016, but returned months later. He ultimately leaves as an eight-time world player of the year and one of soccer's most decorated players.

Researchers have developed an AI tool that can detect signs of heart failure and heart valve disease from a routine electrocardiogram in less than two seconds. In a U.S. trial involving 67,000 patients, it identified up to 81% of those with heart failure and 90% with valve disease.
ECGs have measured the heart's electrical activity for more than a century and are commonly used to detect abnormal rhythms and heart attacks. The AI expands what doctors can learn from the same test by recognizing subtle patterns in those electrical signals that aren't apparent to the human eye. Trained on millions of patients, the system can extract information about the heart that previously required additional testing.
The technology doesn't diagnose either disease, but could identify high-risk patients who should be prioritized for an echocardiogram. With roughly one billion ECGs performed worldwide each year, researchers say the AI could eventually screen routine tests for unsuspected heart disease and fast-track high-risk patients for further testing.

The Supreme Court allowed construction of President Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom to continue, ruling 5-4 that the group challenging the project likely lacks legal standing. (More)

Prediction market Kalshi permanently banned former Rep. George Santos and fined him $71,356 for allegedly using nonpublic information to bet on whether he would attend the State of the Union. (More)

Tropical storm warnings were issued for parts of Texas and Louisiana as a Gulf system develops and could become Tropical Storm Edouard, bringing up to 9 inches of rain. (More)

U.S. forces struck Iranian rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, ending a monthlong lull in fighting, while Iran said it retaliated with missiles targeting U.S. sites in Jordan. (More)

Two passenger jets flew as low as roughly 40 feet above a packed South African rugby stadium in a pre-game stunt that drew cheers but raised concerns among aviation experts. (More)

The European Union placed ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox under its strictest Digital Services Act rules, subjecting the services to greater oversight and potential fines for violations. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Monday (S&P -0.33%, Nasdaq +0.12%, Dow -0.70%). The major averages finished August with gains. (More)

OpenAI’s advertising business has reached a $1 billion annualized revenue run rate less than seven months after the company began testing ads in ChatGPT. (More)

U.S. mortgage rates rose to a 14-month high of 6.87% as renewed fighting in the Iran war drove oil prices and bond yields higher. (More)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art canceled a planned 2027 exhibit honoring designer John Galliano following backlash over his past antisemitic and racist statements. (More)

Novak Djokovic lost in the US Open first round for the first time in his career, falling to Mariano Navone after a 4-hour, 36-minute match. (More)

Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald ended his 2 ½ year retirement and rejoined the Rams to chase another Super Bowl. (More)

Researchers found plant steroid hormones can alter immune receptors, potentially helping breeders develop crops that combine stronger disease resistance with high yields. (More)

MapQuest downloads surged after the mapping service refused to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America, pushing its app to No. 1 among U.S. navigation apps. (More)

A 2025 solar superstorm caused previously unseen coast-to-coast disturbances in Earth’s upper atmosphere, degrading GPS accuracy across the U.S. by more than 30 feet in some locations. (More)

Snoop Dogg is hiring an ice cream taster for $10K per month.

Marmots are terrorizing campers in California.

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