ISU

Scientists report finding an unexpected visual clue suggesting the presence of dark matter inside our own Milky Way galaxy. The observation offers a rare chance to study dark matter close to home, since most evidence so far has come from distant galaxies and galaxy clusters. Astronomers say further observations will be needed to confirm the signal and rule out more ordinary explanations.

Meta is presenting artificial intelligence as a way to address a long-standing trust problem with its platforms, arguing that public concerns about the company are often misunderstood. The move comes as scrutiny of social media companies' handling of misinformation, privacy and content moderation remains intense.

Eyal Weizman, professor of spatial and visual cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London, and founder of the research agency Forensic Architecture, is taking part in a discussion about his book "Ungrounding: The Architecture of Genocide". The conversation covers his investigations into destruction in Gaza and the built environment's role in the Israel-Palestine conflict, drawing attention amid ongoing fighting.

South Korean figure skater Kim Yuseong rallied from fourth place after the short program to win the women's title at the ISU Challenger Series Nepela Memorial 2026 in Bratislava. A strong free skate lifted her past the field, while Austria's Sauter dropped from contention to seventh after the final segment, reshuffling the podium on the closing day of the event.

Russia's Evgeni Semenenko held on to his lead after the men's free skate to win the ISU Challenger Series Nepela Memorial 2026 in figure skating. Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov finished third, falling short of the podium's top spot despite his champion status. The event in Bratislava serves as an early-season test for skaters building toward the Olympic season.

Iowa State University researchers are working on ways to reduce firefighters' elevated risk of cancer, which has been linked to exposure to toxic chemicals and smoke on the job. The Gazette reports on the effort, which comes as firefighting is increasingly recognised as a hazardous occupation with higher cancer rates than the general population.

Russia's Evgeni Semenenko held onto his overnight lead to win the men's event at the ISU Challenger Series Nepela Memorial 2026 in Bratislava, delivering a strong free skate. Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan finished third after the free skate. The result offers an early-season form check for the men's field heading toward the Olympic season.

At the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, under Agenda Item 4, the NGO CAP Freedom of Conscience denounced what it describes as the misuse of human trafficking laws against spiritual and minority religious communities. The group argues such laws are being weaponised to justify persecution rather than protect victims, and is calling on Council member states to scrutinise these practices.

New Jersey regulators have fined a DataOne datacenter in Vineland $1.1 million after a journalist-led visual investigation found dozens of unpermitted diesel generators on the site. It is described as the state regulator's largest fine of its kind, and the case is drawing attention to the environmental footprint and regulatory oversight of rapidly expanding datacenter infrastructure.

Tourists have not stopped arriving in Cavtat and the Konavle region of southern Croatia, but hospitality workers, taxi drivers and others in tourism say spending habits have changed noticeably. A report by news outlet Post notes that visitors are no longer 'open-handed', spending less on restaurants and services even as the tourist board reports steady arrivals throughout the season.