A review of 42 studies found that short-form video platforms like TikTok use personalization, unpredictable scrolling, and novelty to exploit the brain's reward system, leading to addiction-like patterns and desensitization. Researchers caution that evidence for extreme "brainrot" is limited but emphasize the need for user education on recommendation systems.
El Niño has returned, with scientists warning it could be "very strong" and exacerbate global crises. The phenomenon, characterized by hot years and extreme weather, historically caused famines and societal collapse. This year's El Niño arrives amid debt distress in poor countries, high energy prices, and restricted fertilizer supplies, increasing the risk of widespread hunger and humanitarian crises.
France expects a 30,000-tonne cherry harvest, a third more than usual, due to favorable weather. However, the short shelf-life of cherries presents a significant commercial challenge, with producers urging consumers to buy quickly to support the sector.
Benin, Africa's largest cotton producer, is improving its infrastructure with a new 184km road connecting the northern cotton-growing regions to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) near Cotonou, easing a major transport bottleneck.
Shinkei Systems uses its Poseidon robot to instantly kill fish, preserving quality and shelf life. The company is vertically integrating fish harvesting and processing, aiming to create a premium consumer brand.
Shinkei Systems is developing Poseidon, a robot that humanely harvests fish using automated ike jime. The company aims to vertically integrate fish harvesting and processing, offering premium prices to fishermen and selling 'ceremony grade' fish under its Seremoni brand, challenging traditional seafood supply chains.
Queensland peanut growers faced uncertainty after Bega Group exited the industry, but renewed confidence has emerged with the acquisition of processing sites by family business Crumpton Group. Despite challenges like lower yields and import competition, growers are hopeful for the future.
Marc Isaacs's new film, 'Synthetic Sincerity,' uses a fictional AI lab to explore authenticity. The documentary maker and writer Adam Ganz fabricated the university setting, admitting they haven't licensed Isaacs's work for AI. The film features Uyghur restaurant owner Ablikim Rahman and actress Ilinca Manolache as an AI avatar, questioning the nature of reality and truth in the digital age.
台灣預計在今年下半年接收多達八種主要武器系統，包括F-16V戰機、國造潛艦海鯤號、火山佈雷系統、刺針飛彈、MQ-9B無人機、HIMARS火箭系統、魚叉反艦飛彈及MS-110偵察莢艙，為軍隊帶來重大戰力提升。
Pacific Islander women working in Australia on temporary visas face significant risks during pregnancy, including lack of medical care, debt, and fear of deportation. Many are "disengaged" from labor schemes, leaving them without legal status or access to essential services like Medicare, forcing them to work in precarious conditions.
Pacific Islander women working in Australia on temporary visas face significant risks during pregnancy, including lack of medical care, debt, and fear of deportation. Many are 'disengaged' from labor schemes, leaving them without legal status or access to essential services like Medicare, forcing them to work in precarious conditions.
Pacific Islander women working in Australia on temporary visas face significant challenges during pregnancy, including lack of access to healthcare, debt, secrecy, and fear of deportation. Many are forced to work while ill, delay medical care, and give birth in legal limbo.
Xinjiang is in full swing with its winter wheat harvest and grain procurement for 2026, with the harvest progressing from south to north. The region is deploying advanced machinery and ensuring comprehensive support for storage, funding, and policies to guarantee a bountiful harvest, secure regional food safety, and boost farmer incomes.
Taiwan's first rice harvest is underway amidst heavy rain from the plum rain season. The Council of Agriculture's Grain and Feed Administration is coordinating the transport of over 22,000 tons of wet paddy to drying centers to prevent quality degradation and ease farmer wait times. Rice prices remain stable.
Philippine farmer Dan Rae Hugo faces doubled diesel costs and reduced profits due to the Iran war's impact on global energy prices. Meanwhile, ASEAN leaders convened in Cebu to address the energy shock affecting all 11 member states, agreeing to accelerate an energy security framework and a regional power grid. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr stressed the urgent need for these measures, stating they were needed 'yesterday'.
University of Texas at Austin researchers created a wearable jacket using a special textile to harvest water from ambient air, producing 400-900 mL of drinkable water daily, with potential applications in emergencies, medical response, and outdoor activities.
China's summer grain harvest is nearing completion, with advanced machinery and high-yield seed varieties boosting production. Regions like Henan, Shandong, and Shaanxi are employing smart technology and integrated farming practices to ensure a successful and efficient harvest, with efforts to secure grain sales and farmer income.
The US Secretary of Agriculture aims to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, threatening 58m acres of national forests. The former National Park Service director argues against this, citing broad public support, ecological importance, and the rule's protection of undisturbed wildlands, which are crucial for biodiversity, water quality, and public enjoyment.
Dryland farmers in NSW are struggling as flood plain harvesting licences allow neighbours to capture natural water flows, exacerbating drought conditions. Critics cite a lack of transparency and enforcement in the licensing process.
Wando County, South Korea, held its first auction for 2026 dry kelp, with 26 tons traded. Prices ranged from 5,500 to 9,700 KRW per kg. Wando is a major kelp-producing region, accounting for 66% of national output.
China's summer grain harvest is progressing with over 20,000 mu of wheat ripe in Xi'an, Shaanxi. Anhui, Jiangsu, and Shanxi provinces are also reporting good yields and efficient harvesting, with Jiangsu's progress exceeding 70%. Despite challenges like delayed planting due to rain in Shanxi, precise agricultural measures have ensured a bumper crop.
As of June 1st, Shaanxi Province has harvested 1.32 million mu of wheat and 2.35 million mu of rapeseed. The province is utilizing 344,000 sets of agricultural machinery for its "summer grain" production, with 21,000 wheat harvesters available to meet demand.
Linfen City, Shanxi, began its winter wheat harvest on June 1st, covering nearly 3 million mu. Farmers anticipate a bumper crop due to ample rainfall and scientific management, with mechanized harvesting ensuring efficiency and timely replanting.
Sichuan's Beimiao Town's aquaculture base is experiencing a busy harvest season for ecological sea bass. Utilizing advanced land-based circular water technology in a small space, the base achieves high yields, boosting the local economy and providing employment.
