Skin

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency ignored the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, and the petition has drawn attention to concerns over commercial uses of orbit and light pollution.

With the US midterm elections approaching, a growing number of voters are asking ChatGPT to help them decide how to vote, using the chatbot to compare candidates and break down ballot measures. NPR reports on the trend, raising questions about how AI tools handle election-related questions, whether their answers are reliable, and what influence they may have on voter decisions.

Congress is taking up patent reform legislation that addresses tactics critics say drugmakers and other companies use to extend monopolies, including patent thickets, product hops, and the use of skinny label defenses in litigation. The debate centers on whether these strategies delay generic and biosimilar competition and raise costs for consumers, with proposals now under discussion on Capitol Hill.

Patients are being reminded that requesting a second opinion from another doctor is normal and often wise, even though many feel awkward or fear offending their physician. Doctors themselves say a good practitioner welcomes the practice, and clearer guidance on how and when to seek another view could help patients make better-informed decisions about serious diagnoses and treatments.

A review published in Frontiers examines how chronic spontaneous urticaria could move beyond disease activity scores toward precision medicine. It looks at biomarkers and composite models that might help clinicians stratify patients by risk, predict disease course and tailor treatment. The work reflects a broader push in immunology to personalise management of chronic inflammatory skin conditions.

Tesla has applied for a patent covering touch-sensitive skin for Optimus, its humanoid robot. The technology would give the robot a sensory layer capable of detecting contact, a step toward safer interaction with humans and objects. The filing points to Tesla's continued investment in robotics beyond its automotive business, and observers are weighing what it suggests about the robot's development timeline.

A small walking robot has been developed that can recharge its battery by harvesting power through pads on its feet, according to a report by New Atlas. The feet's skin-like material is used to collect energy as the robot moves, offering a potential way for small robots to extend operating time without frequent recharging.

Despite a broader cooling in the housing market, homes in ten identified zip codes are still selling for more than their asking price. The list highlights how demand remains intense in a handful of very local markets even as national price growth slows and higher mortgage rates dampen buyer activity elsewhere.

A buyer in the San Francisco Bay Area paid twice the asking price for a home, saying they wanted to skip a bidding war entirely. The report highlights how fierce competition has become in the region's housing market, where multiple offers routinely push prices well above list. The story is drawing attention as a symbol of just how desperate some buyers have become in one of America's most expensive and competitive markets.

Spanish health authorities have set out official guidance for people identified as close contacts of monkeypox cases. The advice covers recognising symptoms such as fever and skin rashes, and calls for 21 days of monitoring to detect possible infection early. The rules are being widely consulted as cases raise public concern.