Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,134 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Trump admin faces criminal contempt for deportations

• Dallas high school shooter arrested

• Average tax refunds by state

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Big Story

We (May) Not Be Alone

Scientists have discovered what may be the strongest evidence yet of extraterrestrial life.

• Using the James Webb space telescope, the team detected dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) on planet K2-18 b - chemical compounds that on Earth are primarily produced by marine phytoplankton and other living organisms.

• K2-18 b orbits in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star in the Leo constellation, located 124 light years from Earth. It is nearly nine times Earth's mass, 2.6 times its size, and believed to be covered by a vast ocean.

• Cambridge astrophysicist Prof Nikku Madhusudhan, who led the research, said: "This is the strongest evidence to date for biological activity beyond the solar system." The chemical signatures appeared with concentrations thousands of times stronger than Earth levels, and researchers noted, "I don't think there is any known process that can explain this without biology."

• The team acknowledges that other scientists must confirm their findings, but believes the discovery could be a turning point in humanity's search for alien life. As Madhusudhan put it, “This could mean that, suddenly, the fundamental question of whether we're alone in the universe is one we're capable of answering."

Big Story

Probable Cause

Federal Judge James Boasberg has found probable cause that the Trump administration acted in contempt of court by defying his order to return planes carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members to the US.

• The deportations involved over 200 alleged members of Tren de Aragua, whom the administration had targeted using the rarely-invoked Alien Enemies Act, claiming the gang represents a "hybrid criminal state" invading the US.

• Judge Boasberg criticized officials for showing "willful disregard" for his order, stating that allowing such defiance would make "a solemn mockery" of the Constitution. Despite the Supreme Court eventually vacating his order, Boasberg determined the administration still defied it during the three weeks it was in effect.

• The Trump administration now faces a one-week deadline to explain steps taken to comply with the original order. If officials fail to "purge" the contempt finding, Boasberg may identify responsible individuals and potentially appoint an independent attorney to prosecute the government.

Big Story

Pandemic Prep for the World

World Health Organization members struck a legally binding agreement that aims to better prepare the world for future pandemics.

• The deal requires governments to establish policies for research sharing and ensures pandemic-related drugs and vaccines will be globally accessible - a first in international health agreements. It also mandates manufacturers allocate 20% of their real-time production during pandemics to the WHO, with at least 10% as donations and the rest at affordable prices.

• The plans draw on lessons from COVID-19, which killed millions in 2020-22. This is only the second binding agreement in the WHO's 75-year history, after a 2003 tobacco control accord. Notably, the United States won't be bound by the agreement after the Trump administration began withdrawing from the WHO in January.

• The agreement still requires final adoption at the World Health Assembly in May and subsequent ratification by member states, with negotiations continuing on pathogen access and benefit sharing.

Quick Stories

US News

• Officials have arrested the shooting suspect who injured four students at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas on Tuesday. Three suffered gunshot wounds with injuries ranging from serious to non-life-threatening. (More)

• Rep. Elise Stefanik is exploring a New York governor run after encouragement from Republicans, Trump allies, and GOP donors. This follows Trump withdrawing her UN ambassador nomination and asking her to remain in Congress. (More)

• California became the first state to sue President Trump over tariffs. It has the world’s fifth-largest economy and stands to lose billions to tariffs, especially in the tech and agriculture industries. (More)

World

• South African police rescued American pastor Joshua Sullivan during a shootout that killed three kidnappers. Kidnappings in South Africa have tripled over the past decade, with over 17,000 cases recorded last year. (More)

• The UK Supreme Court ruled that "woman" means biologically female, excluding transgender people. Five judges determined that the Equality Act allows excluding trans women from certain single-sex spaces like changing rooms and shelters. (More)

• China appointed Li Chenggang as its new trade negotiator amid escalating tariff battles with the US. China now faces 145% taxes on US exports while imposing 125% tariffs on American goods. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Wednesday (S&P -2.24%, Nasdaq -3.07%, Dow -1.70%). Tech stocks and concerns from Fed Chair Jerome Powell about the economic impact of tariffs drove market losses. (More)

• Nvidia will take a $5.5 billion quarterly charge due to H20 GPU export restrictions to China and other countries. The stock dropped over 6% in after-hours trading. (More)

• OpenAI is negotiating to buy Windsurf (formerly Codeium) for about $3 billion. The AI coding assistant competes with Cursor and similar tools from Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI itself. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls to advance in the NBA Play-In tournament. They will face the Hawks. (More) The Dallas Mavs handled the Sacramento Kings to move on to the next round against Memphis. Both games will be played on Friday. (More)

• Comedian Nate Bargatze will host the 77th Emmy Awards on September 14. The ceremony broadcasts live from Los Angeles' Peacock Theater at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+. (More)

• Time Magazine released its Most Influential People of 2025. The five covers include Snoop Dogg, Serena Williams, Ed Sheeran, Demi Moore, and Demis Hassabis. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• Gemini Live's camera and screen viewing feature is now free for all Android users in the Gemini app. Google originally planned to make this AI function a paid feature, but reversed course after launching it on Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25. (More)

• Scientists filmed a live colossal squid in the wild for the first time since its discovery a century ago. It was captured on video near the South Sandwich Islands by researchers using a remotely operated vehicle. (More)

• Astronomers found a new exoplanet 120 light years away that orbits two brown dwarfs at an unusual right angle. Researchers identified this Tatooine-like world after noticing changes in the brown dwarfs' movement patterns (More)

Extra Credit

🐶 Missing toddler found with rancher’s dog seven miles from home.

🦷 Why do humans have wisdom teeth?

⭐️ See a dying star up close via NASA’s Webb Telescope.

💵 Where does your state rank among average tax refunds?