🍄 Mushroom linked to 'tiny people' hallucinations

Reports of people seeing tiny humans after eating wild mushrooms first surfaced in Papua New Guinea in 1934. Anthropologists identified the culprit to certain Boletaceae species in the region. More recently, similar incidents were reported in Yunnan, China, and the Philippines in 2024. DNA sequencing revealed that the mushrooms in China and the Philippines were the same species, L. asiatica. This confirms the visions have a shared chemical basis, not just cultural stories. 🍄

😠 MP moves notice against BJP MP over regional jab

CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas moved a privilege notice against BJP MP Sushmita Dev. This action took place in New Delhi after Dev allegedly used the term “Lungiwala” against him during parliamentary discussions. The incident occurred on Monday while Brittas was speaking on the Income-Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026. Brittas argued that the remark targeted his regional identity and invoked historical stereotypes against South Indians. He urged the Chairman to start privilege proceedings to stop cultural stereotyping in Parliament. 😠

🎧 Sarvam AI drops big dataset for Indian languages

Sarvam AI has launched a new dataset designed to test speech recognition across 22 Indian languages. This crucial resource was developed by Sarvam AI and is available for testing purposes. The dataset has specifically allocated two hours of audio data for each of the 22 languages included. This effort aims to improve the accuracy and performance of AI models in regional Indian dialects. Future work will involve utilizing this dataset to enhance multilingual voice technology significantly. 🎧

🤖 SpaceXAI drops Grok Bot for business tasks

SpaceXAI has launched Grok Bot AI teammates designed to assist with various business tasks. This AI integration is being rolled out by SpaceXAI itself across its operations. The rollout includes features active as of the latest updates, focusing on enhanced productivity. These bots aim to streamline workflows and automate routine processes for businesses. The company plans to further integrate Grok Bot into its wider suite of enterprise solutions soon.

🚨 Zepto warehouse sealed in Bengaluru over safety issues

A Zepto warehouse, run by Nippon Express in Bengaluru’s Hoskote, was sealed by Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration. The inspection, which took place on Tuesday, August 11, found serious violations in food handling, storage, and labeling. Officials noted unhygienic conditions and non-compliant labeling practices at the facility. Consequently, the warehouse was sealed under the FSSAI framework, and a fine of ₹25,000 was imposed. Further legal action is recommended to be filed before the relevant adjudicating officer.

🤖 IBM and Together AI team up for big AI deal

IBM and Together AI have signed a substantial deal worth $240 million. This partnership is focused on building an AI inference cluster powered by Nvidia technology. The agreement was finalized recently, aiming to boost AI capabilities significantly. This move reflects the growing industry demand for advanced AI infrastructure. The collaboration is expected to drive innovation in AI deployment across various sectors. 🤖

🔥 Fire hits 11th floor of Mumbai highrise

A major fire erupted on the eleventh floor of a ground-plus-12-storey building Tuesday night. The incident occurred at Shanta Bhavan Building on Baptista Road in Vile Parle (West), Mumbai. The Mumbai Fire Brigade and police were immediately mobilized following the 10.02 pm report. So far, preliminary reports confirm the fire was contained to the 11th floor without any reported injuries. Further investigations are pending to determine the exact cause and scale of this blaze.

🛡️ BigID levels up Microsoft Sentinel with data context

BigID has enhanced Microsoft Sentinel integration to provide security teams with deeper data context regarding risk and exposure. This update brings details on sensitive data, access rights, and risk severity directly into existing security workflows. The integration utilizes Microsoft’s Codeless Connector Framework with nested API support for rich data flow. Security teams can now triage serious issues inside Sentinel without needing to switch between different applications. The BigID DSPM connector is accessible via the Microsoft Marketplace and Security Store.

🧐 Centre's panel checks out demographic changes in Jammu

A high-level committee studying demographic shifts met with civil society groups in Jammu on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. The panel, led by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, visited Jagti Migrant Township, home to over 5,000 Kashmiri Pandit families. The committee also inspected a slum in Narwal allegedly housing Rohingya immigrants. BJP leader Sunil Sharma warned about Pakistan's infiltration and land jehad efforts. The Centre formed this panel in May this year to study changes from illegal immigration and suggest solutions. 🧐

🔬 COVID-19 reactivates dormant viruses, study reveals

New research in Nature confirms that COVID-19 can reactivate dormant viruses in the body. Researchers analyzed data from 1,154 people hospitalized with COVID-19 before mid-2021. Nearly half of these individuals showed a previously carried virus waking up, even with normal immune systems. This suggests viral reactivation might contribute to severe COVID-19 and Long COVID, though causation isn't proven. The NIH's RECOVER program is now funding pathobiology research with grants up to $800,000 per year. 🔬

🧠 Wordle Answer for August 12, 2026

The daily Wordle puzzle for Wednesday, August 12, 2026, has been released for players. The official NYT puzzle number for this day is #1880. Players can now check the hints and the correct answer for the game. This puzzle is part of the ongoing daily word game challenge. Users are encouraged to try solving it to see if they can get the perfect score.