🕷️ Spider-Man: Brand New Day close to beating Star Wars

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is rapidly approaching a massive box office milestone in North America. The Tom Holland led film currently stands as the second-highest-grossing movie domestically. As of the 27th day, the movie has earned $866.5 million in the US. It needs only about $70.2 million more to surpass Star Wars: The Force Awakens' $936.7 million domestic total. This achievement would make it the second film ever to cross the $900 million domestic mark.

🎬 Vishwanath & Sons needs just 10 crore for double century

The film Vishwanath & Sons has proven to be a box office success after two weeks in theaters. Starring Suriya and Mamitha Baiju, it is performing strongly across India and overseas. As of Day 14, the film has earned 109.15 crore net in India and 61.25 crore overseas, totaling a worldwide gross of 190.05 crore. The Tamil rom-com is now only 10 crore away from reaching the 200 crore mark globally. With two solid weeks remaining, Suriya might achieve two 200-crore films this year. 🚀

🩺 Stethoscope sounds aren't always clear in kid pneumonia cases

A new study revealed that clinicians often disagree on findings when listening to children's lungs for pneumonia. Researchers analyzed data from 252 children and infants across seven emergency departments between 2023 and 2025. Agreement was highest for wheezing at 0.5, but varied significantly for other signs. This variability could impact antibiotic use and diagnostic choices across different hospitals. The study suggests digital stethoscopes might help create more objective assessments moving forward. 🩺

🔬 Quick, cheap HIV drug resistance test is here

A new investigational test for HIV drug resistance offers fast and low-cost results for reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Dorothy Mims and her team presented this research at AIDS 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The assay detects resistance down to 10 HIV RT molecules and has a runtime of about 2 hours. This approach avoids complex and time-consuming cell culture methods used in current testing options. Future use depends on further testing and addressing concerns about integrase inhibitor resistance. 🧪

😔 Sunny Deol's Batwara 1947 struggles against Toxic

Sunny Deol's film, Batwara 1947, is facing a tough box office run after its Independence Day weekend release. The film, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, is losing 95% of its shows to Toxic as of Wednesday. Its net collection stands at 37.8 crore in India, with a worldwide total of 53.65 crore as of Day 14. This slow performance means Preity Zinta might miss out on her first 100-crore milestone in her career. The film currently has a budget recovery of only 31.5%. 📉

🔬 Atopic Dermatitis linked to shorter height and higher BMI

A study found that children aged 5 to 11 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis showed lower heights and higher weights. This analysis included 1329 children across 106 sites globally, with findings published on August 18. Specifically, 72% of boys and 53% of girls in this age group were below the CDC 50th percentile for height. Researchers noted that higher BMI patterns became more apparent as children aged from 2 to 12 years. Further studies are needed to confirm these links and see if better disease control normalizes growth. 🔬

🎬 Bethlehem Kudumba Unit's 7-day box office performance

The latest Malayalam release, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, has completed its first week at the box office. Starring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju, the film has achieved a net total of 52.3 crore in India. This performance places it in the top 3 biggest opening weeks of Mollywood in 2026, following Vaazha 2 and Drishyam 3. Having been made on a 30 crore budget, the film has already seen a 74.33% ROI in under a week. It is projected to achieve a hit verdict in its second week at the box office. 🎬

🎬 Korean Kanakaraju's Box Office Status After Three Weeks

Varun Tej’s horror comedy, Korean Kanakaraju, has completed three weeks in theaters with mixed results. The film, directed by Merlapaka Gandhi, earned a net total of 23.53 crore in India and 33.37 crore worldwide. While it had a strong opening, daily collections dipped significantly in its third week due to competition from Irumudi. With an estimated budget of 38 crore, the film has only recovered 61.92% of its budget from Indian collections. Therefore, the film is projected to be a losing venture at the box office. 📉

🔬 Paternal valproate use not linked to kid's disorders

A large Taiwanese cohort study found that paternal use of valproate during sperm development wasn't linked to increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. The research analyzed 2,583,503 individuals born between 2001 and 2016, with findings published on August 19. This study examined if exposure during spermatogenesis affected conditions like ASD and ADHD in offspring. While some initial data hinted at a link, subsequent analyses did not confirm a significant risk across all groups. Clinicians should inform male patients but await more definitive data before mandating drug changes. 👨‍🔬

🏞️ Nepal's flash floods: the science behind the chaos

Flash floods hit Nepal due to specific destructive scientific factors. The event impacted various regions across Nepal. While specific casualty or damage figures are not provided in this excerpt, the destructive patterns are well-documented. These floods are linked to complex meteorological and geographical conditions in the region. Further study is needed to implement effective long-term mitigation strategies. 🏞️

🏏 Gill says Test cricket was won despite the draw

India captain Shubman Gill declared that Test cricket was won after Sri Lanka successfully forced a draw in the second Test. The match took place in Colombo, where Sonal Dinusha scored his second unbeaten century. India finished the two-Test series with a 1-0 victory following the match on Thursday. Gill acknowledged that India tried everything but couldn't break through Sri Lanka's resistance. He also praised the hosts' fightback and backed spinner Manav Suthar for the future.