Science & Technology — July 26, 2026

U.S. measles cases surpass last year's record. The U.S. surpassed 2025's record measles tally this week, topping 2,300 cases with five months of the year remaining, as national vaccination rates dipped below key thresholds.

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First atmosphere found on a rocky world. Astronomers detected leaking helium from super-Earth LHS 1140b, located in its star's habitable zone -- the first atmosphere found on a rocky, temperate world.

According to Scientific American, the helium escaping from LHS 1140b could point to a more complex atmosphere on the super-Earth, not just a thin envelope of gas. Researchers described the detection as a milestone for the broader search for potentially habitable planets, since confirming any atmosphere on a temperate, rocky world has been a long-sought goal in exoplanet science.

Scientific American · Read more →

Forecasters expect strongest El Niño on record. The developing El Niño has a 90% chance of becoming the strongest in 150 years, forecasters said this week, likely pushing 2027 temperatures to new highs.

Beyond the temperature outlook, Nature reports forecasters expect the event to unleash extreme weather worldwide, with one description characterizing the projected margin over past El Nino events as unusually large. The 90% probability applies to the event ranking as the strongest in 150 years of records, and its warming influence is expected to carry into 2027 rather than peaking this year.

Nature · Read more →