Science & Technology — August 2, 2026

FCC bans new Chinese humanoid robots. The FCC banned imports of Chinese-made humanoid robots, robot vacuums, and foreign power inverters this week, citing 'unacceptable risks' as the U.S. and China race for robotics dominance.

BBC World attributes the move to the Trump administration and frames it as part of a broader technology rivalry between Washington and Beijing that extends beyond robotics into artificial intelligence. The order's reach into household devices and energy equipment suggests regulators view a wide range of connected Chinese-made hardware as a potential security concern, according to the outlet's reporting.

BBC World · Read more →

Astronomers detect an exomoon for the first time. Astronomers confirmed the first detection of a moon orbiting a planet outside our solar system, 73 light-years from Earth — a find that blurs lines between stars, planets, and moons.

Wired · Read more →

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

According to Nature, forecasters describe the projected event as the largest on record by a 'mind-blowing margin.' The outlet reports the phenomenon is not expected to act alone: its effects would compound ongoing global warming, and it is that combination that forecasters say would drive worldwide temperatures to unprecedented levels in 2027.

Nature · Read more →