🤰 Asthma meds safe for pregnancy, but people stop taking them

A cohort study found that pregnant women using inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the first trimester had no higher risk of bad outcomes for mother or baby. This research was conducted in South Korea between 2009 and 2023, analyzing 2108 women with asthma. Despite guidelines, nearly two-thirds of these women stopped the treatment early on. Continuing ICS use was not linked to increased risks like preeclampsia or low birth weight. Clinicians must emphasize that maintaining asthma control during pregnancy is the recommended safest approach.

🔬 Grok 4.6 shows strong biosecurity skills

LatchBio analyzed Grok 4.6's biological capabilities and biosecurity performance using specialized benchmarks. The model proved the strongest in refusing disguised and hazardous tasks while still handling routine biological work. Specifically, Grok 4.6 scored above 50% on both the BioSecBench-Refusal and routine compliance measures. On the BioSecBench-Surveillance test, it achieved a 53.5% success rate, placing it between Opus 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol. These results suggest Grok 4.6 is well-calibrated for both helpful science and critical safety measures.

🍽️ Eating time matters for weight loss, say new studies

Time-restricted eating (TRE) may help maintain weight loss, according to a Spanish clinical trial involving 99 adults. This study, from University of Granada and Public University of Navarre, ran for 12 weeks, showing TRE groups lost 2.4 kg–2.6 kg more at 12 months. Separately, a US analysis of 31,000 adults linked delaying the first meal to higher mortality. Both studies suggest avoiding extreme eating times for better health outcomes. The advice is to make any eating strategy realistic and sustainable. 🍽️

❤️ Big updates in heart health and medicine

A new Fifth Universal Definition categorizes myocardial infarction into primary, secondary, or procedure-related types. Eli Lilly got FDA approval for tirzepatide to lower heart attack risk in Type 2 diabetes patients. In the AIR-STEMI trial, revascularization guided by functional angiography showed fewer major cardiovascular events. Inclisiran proved safer and more effective than bempedoic acid in lowering LDL cholesterol, per the VICTORION-Challenge trial. Allegations of misconduct surfaced against a former ESC president over conflicts of interest. 🩺

🎬 Bollywood's August box office dipped, but two films crushed it

Bollywood's total net collection fell by 17% in August 2026 compared to July's haul. Awarapan 2 and Hanuman Ansh emerged as major successes during this month in India. These films contributed 154 crore and 45.63 crore net, respectively, out of the total 255.29 crore. While Batwara 1947 disappointed, the success ratio improved with two hits this month. The next major releases, Mirzapur The Movie and Haiwaan, will be tracked in September.

🎬 Daayra trailer hints at big box office debut

The crime thriller Daayra, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, shows strong potential based on its trailer. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film is positioned to outperform Deepika Padukone’s Chhapaak on its opening day. Chhapaak had opened at 4.77 crore, which is Gulzar's third-highest career opener. Given the trailer's reception, Daayra could aim to surpass Gulzar's previous best openings. However, releases like Kunal Kemmu’s Vibe might limit its initial run.

🕸️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits top 3 box office

Spider-Man: Brand New Day officially joined the all-time top 3 highest-grossing films worldwide on Monday. This massive superhero movie, starring Tom Holland, achieved this milestone after a strong run. The film has grossed over $2.33 billion globally, surpassing Avatar: The Way of Water. This is noted as the biggest-ever solo superhero movie, marking a shift in Disney's top-tier film list. The movie, released on July 31, is tracking to earn between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion in its original run.

🎬 Haiwaan needs 3.07 Cr to hit top 3 crime thriller spot

Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan's crime thriller, Haiwaan, is set to release soon after its excitement built up. The film stars Saif as a visually impaired protagonist and Akshay as the antagonist, directed by Priyadarshan. To secure the third spot among post-COVID crime thriller openers, the movie needs an opening collection of 3.07 crore on Day 1. Currently, Chup: Revenge Of The Artist holds this third spot with 3.06 crore. The film aims to challenge Raid 2 and Drishyam 2 for the top two openings. 🎬

🕷️ Spider-Man nears Avatar's Chinese box office mark

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is steadily climbing the Chinese box office rankings, getting closer to Avatar: The Way of Water’s total. The Marvel film currently stands at $225.7 million in China, while Avatar: The Way of Water earned an estimated $246 million there. In its fifth weekend, Spider-Man collected $2.9 million, securing a spot in the top five. This performance makes it the biggest Hollywood earner of this year in mainland China. The movie continues its global success, with Tom Holland becoming the third-highest-grossing actor of all time. 🕷️

🔬 Prostate cancer checkup: what's the latest?

The approach to prostate cancer diagnosis is changing fast with new tech like mpMRI and targeted biopsies. PSA remains the initial screening tool, but it needs context with age, symptoms, and family history. Routine PSA screening isn't advised for asymptomatic men over 70 due to potential harms. MRI-ultrasound fusion biopsy is preferred over TRUS biopsy when lesions look suspicious on mpMRI. PSMA PET/CT is key for finding cancer recurrence after local treatment. 🔬

🔬 China makes longest single-metal atom chains ever

Researchers in China successfully created the longest single-metal-atom chains to date using copper. The scientists achieved this by subjecting a copper phthalocyanine crystal to high pressure, specifically 21.5GPa. These resulting chains stretched over 4000 atoms long, with electrical conductivity coming from the internal carbon layer. The team now plans to test this high-pressure strategy on other metal-phthalocyanine structures like cobalt and nickel. Experts remain cautious about the scalability of this complex, high-pressure synthesis method. 🔬