Sunday Special: Birth of a solar system

Welcome back, Superhuman. It’s been a big week for baby photos. Astronomers just caught the birth of a nearby solar system on camera for the first time, and it could give us a peek into how our own solar system got its start. Meanwhile, Chinese scientists just delivered the world’s first cloned yak in what’s being hailed as a major leap for high-altitude farming.

SCIENCE SUNDAY

The most interesting scientific discoveries and breakthroughs this week

1. Birth of a solar system is caught ‘on camera’ for the first time: Using some of the world's most powerful telescopes, astronomers have spotted early signs of planet formation around a sun very much like our own. They snapped tiny concentrations of minerals forming around the baby star HOPS-315, at about the same distance as our Solar System's asteroid belt. It’s a rare glimpse into how our own solar system might have looked around 4.5B years ago. Here are some of the historic photos.

2. Hair-thin chip can transfer over 100M books in less than 7 minutes: Canadian scientists claim they’ve created an optical chip that transmits data at an unprecedented 1,000 gigabits per second — enough to transfer 100M books in less than 7 minutes. The breakthrough uses tiny ring-shaped micro-resonators that toggle both the intensity and phase of light. With giants like NVIDIA already incorporating similar tech, this could potentially overhaul AI data centers that currently sprawl across kilometers.

3. Scientists crack the code on growing blood vessels in lab-made organs: Two research teams claim to have successfully used stem cells to form organ tissue and blood vessels. Stanford's recipe created heart organoids with nearly all-natural cell types, while UC researchers produced tiny lungs that developed breathing structures. The organoids could potentially advance how we study disease and test new drugs.

4. Chinese scientists have successfully delivered the world's first cloned yak: The 74-pound calf was born on July 11 via C-section in Tibet, and was created using the same somatic cell cloning method that gave us Dolly the sheep in the ‘90s. It’s a major breakthrough that could revolutionize high-altitude livestock breeding, potentially securing food sources and economic stability for regions where traditional agriculture can get pretty tough. Watch the tiny calf in action here.

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NEW TECH

Our favorite new tech gadgets this week

1. Smart Swim 2: One of the most advanced swim goggles yet. It auto-tracks your workout, offers real-time feedback on the go, and adjusts training based on your data, goals, and progress.

2. Eufy S4 Max: A home security system with a dual-lens AI camera. The system runs entirely offline, pinging you with smart alerts and 24/7 color video.

3. Rokid AR Spatial: Glasses that turn any space into a private 300-inch screen. They run on Android, support voice commands, and float up to 3 apps in view.

4. Saga HoloBike: A holographic training bike for immersive indoor rides. It packs a panoramic light-field display to simulate a 3D trail ride — no VR headset required.

SOCIAL SIGNALS

What’s trending in tech on socials this week

👷 Don’t Sweat It: A video showing a team of construction workers in China operating heavy machinery from what looks like a luxury office is going viral on social media. With robotics on the upswing, it’s a glimpse into what the future of work could look like.

🌊 Salt Solution: Japanese scientists claim to have created a novel plastic that maintains normal stability during regular use but rapidly decomposes in saltwater, breaking down into harmless substances.

🏝️ Island Inception: In Canada, there’s an “island on a lake on an island on a lake on an island”. A video showing the unique geological phenomenon has blown up on Reddit.

🧠 Smart Kicks: A paper studying cognitive decline came to a surprising conclusion. It claims that having stronger legs is linked to better cognitive aging and brain health, even when controlling for genetic factors.

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ONLY GOOD NEWS

A healthy dose of optimism to kickstart your week

Taste Test: Scientists say they’ve developed an artificial tongue that can identify flavors with near-human accuracy, achieving 98.5% precision for learned tastes and up to 90% for new ones. The graphene-based device uses machine learning to recognize everything from basic tastes to complex combinations like coffee and cola. It’s a proof-of-concept that could one day help restore taste to those who've lost it due to stroke or disease, revolutionizing food safety testing and quality control across industries.

The Real Thing: MIT researchers claim to have built a bionic knee that plugs directly into the bones and nerves, making it feel like a natural part of the body rather than an external tool. In clinical trials, amputees not only walked faster and navigated obstacles more naturally, but said they actually felt ownership of the limb. It represents a fundamental shift in prosthetics — moving from external devices to extensions that become part of the self, potentially transforming the quality of life for millions of amputees worldwide.

Super Sniffers: A new study claims that specially-trained pups can sniff out Parkinson's with up to 98% accuracy, years before symptoms appear. These canines spot an odor linked to the disease from simple skin swabs, outperforming current medical tests. It’s a simple, non-invasive diagnostic method that helps us flag the disease early, paving the path for treatments to begin before there’s any significant brain damage. This could potentially slow down the progression of a disease that affects millions worldwide.

SUNDAY SCIENCE TRIVIA

Medusa’s Retreat

Don’t Cheat: You can read more about the mysterious lake here.

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Zain and the Superhuman AI team