💊 Scientists Develop Bioengineered Chewing Gum That Could Help Fight Oral Cancer

Researchers led by Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report that extracts from a bioengineered chewing gum can significantly lower levels of three microbes associated with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). HNSCC is a widespread cancer that forms in the tissues lining the mouth and throat.

Tests showed that extracts from the bean gum reduced HPV levels by 93% in saliva and by 80% in oral rinse samples. After adding protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide that targets harmful bacteria, a single dose brought Pg and Fn levels close to zero while leaving beneficial oral bacteria intact. This differs from radiation therapy, which reduces helpful bacteria.

Lip and oral cavity cancer was the seventh leading cancer type in cancer incidence and mortality rate worldwide in adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults in 2022. These findings support the value of advancing these therapies to clinical trials as adjuvants with current treatments or as prophylaxis to prevent infection and transmission.

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🤖 DIY robot head inspired by Star Wars’ C-3PO droid comes to life with local AI

Sam Potozkin, a researcher at Chapman University in California, has transformed a popular science fiction character into a functional desktop robot, blending 3D printing with voice technology. The life-size replica can listen to spoken commands and respond in a familiar, character-like voice.

Using consumer-grade materials, the project showcases accessible tools that enable advanced personal robotics, blending 3D printing, finishing, and AI-driven interactive home systems.

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🔬 Apple Plans to Let Users Build Their Own Passes in iOS 27 Wallet App

Apple Inc. is preparing a new “Create a Pass” feature for its next major iPhone software update, allowing users to build and customize their own digital tickets and gift cards within the Wallet app.

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🤖 Moment Energy raises $40M to meet ‘infinite demand for power’ with EV batteries

Moment Energy CEO Edward Chiang believes demand for power in North America is infinite — and that his startup has the solution. The company takes a novel approach to repurposing electric vehicle batteries.

Moment Energy is taking battery packs from electric vehicles, ripping out the automakers’ battery management systems, and writing its own software to manage the packs. It then packages the battery modules into larger grid-scale storage solutions that can host a wide mix of battery chemistries, allowing customers to benefit from future advances in the technology while also reducing downtime if a particular module fails.

Crucially, Chiang said, Moment Energy is doing this all with UL Certification, making it the first company to repurpose batteries with a stamp of approval from the safety organization.

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⚡️ AI Firms Agree to Give US Early Access to Evaluate Their Models

Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Microsoft Corp. and xAI have agreed to give the US government early access to their AI models to assess the systems’ capabilities and help improve their security before the technology is released to the public. With the agreements, the AI developers join OpenAI and Anthropic PBC in allowing pre-release reviews of their models by the US Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation.

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⚡️ Trump Says Xi Has Been ‘Respectful’ on Iran, Downplaying Strains

US President Donald Trump said he would discuss the Iran war with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during their summit next week and sought to downplay tensions over the conflict.

“That’ll be one subject, but he’s been very nice about this,” — Trump told reporters at the White House in response to a question about what he hoped to achieve with Xi on Iran when they meet.

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🤑 Stellar Gets Its First Regulated, Yield-Bearing Stablecoin with YLDS Launch

Figure Technology Solutions (Nasdaq: FIGR) today announced the launch of YLDS on the Stellar network, marking the first time a regulated, yield-bearing dollar product has been made available on the chain.

YLDS is the blockchain-native fintech’s SEC-registered, USD-pegged stable asset issued by Figure Certificate Company, combining stablecoin liquidity with money market-style yield. The product is designed for regulated entities such as fintechs and neobanks that require compliant on-chain dollar holdings.

"We built YLDS to do what banks do with your deposits: hold dollars, earn yield, move money, but onchain and regulated," — said Mike Cagney, executive chair of Figure. "Fintechs and neobanks can now access that product on the Stellar network."

#Stellar

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🏛 Meta will use AI to analyze height and bone structure to identify if users are underage

Meta will start using AI to scan photos and videos for visual clues to see if a user is under 13 and should be removed from Facebook and Instagram, the company announced. These visual clues include a person’s height or bone structure.

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🔥 State Street and Galaxy launch tokenized fund to bring cash management onchain

State Street Investment Management and Galaxy Asset Management (GLXY) have launched a tokenized fund designed to move a core piece of finance — cash management — onto blockchain networks.

🟠The State Street Galaxy Onchain Liquidity Sweep Fund, trading under the ticker SWEEP, allows large investors to park stablecoins into a fund that generates yield, while keeping the ability to move in and out at any time. Unlike traditional money market funds that operate during market hours, the new structure runs continuously on blockchain infrastructure.

🤑 SWEEP launches on the Solana (SOL) blockchain, with plans to expand to Ethereum (ETH) and Stellar (XLM). Galaxy provides the underlying tokenization system, while Anchorage handles custody of digital assets and State Street oversees traditional securities held in the portfolio.

The move reflects a broader shift among large financial firms exploring how blockchain can update market plumbing. A blockchain-based system can, in theory, allow money to move instantly and around the clock. 🔃

#Stellar

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🆕 Anthropic Unveils AI Agents to Field Financial Services Tasks

Anthropic PBC unveiled a set of new AI agents designed to handle a broader mix of financial services tasks, part of the company’s push to win over Wall Street.

The Claude maker is releasing AI agents that it says can draft pitch decks for client meetings, review financial statements and escalate cases for compliance review. The new tools — 10 in total — are aimed at professionals across banking, insurance, asset management and financial technology.

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🇺🇸🇧🇷 Trump to Meet With Brazil’s Lula Thursday for Economic Talks

President Donald Trump will host Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Thursday. The working visit between the two leaders will include discussions on economic and security matters of shared importance, according to a White House official.

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⚔️ Pennsylvania sues Character AI chatbot posing as doctor, giving psych advice

The lawsuit, filed by the Pennsylvania Department of State and State Board of Medicine, centers on whether conversational AI can cross into regulated professional territory. Governor Josh Shapiro framed the case as an early test of accountability in the AI era, particularly in sensitive domains like healthcare.

“We will not allow companies to deploy AI tools that mislead people into believing they are receiving advice from a licensed medical professional,” — Shapiro’s office said.

State investigators say they found multiple chatbot characters presenting themselves as medical professionals. One character, allegedly identified as a psychiatrist and claimed to hold valid credentials. The state noted that more than 45,000 interactions had occurred with this character.

Pennsylvania argues the platform violated its Medical Practice Act. The law bars anyone from practicing medicine without a valid license. The lawsuit asks the court to issue a cease-and-desist order.

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🇦🇺🇫🇯 Australia, Fiji Agree New Security Treaty With Eye on China

Australia and Fiji have agreed on a new security and political deal, as Canberra looks to shore up its influence in the region and limit China’s attempts to boost its presence across the Pacific. 🤝

The two nations will sign the “Vuvale Union,” a treaty building on an earlier partnership which was first signed in 2019. Vuvale is a Fijian word for family, and the new treaty will cover security, economic and people-to-people ties, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in Fiji’s capital, Suva.

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🤑 Colombian president seeks to transform the Caribbean into bitcoin mining hub

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said bitcoin mining could drive significant development in the Caribbean region, similar to what is happening in nearby South American countries. Colombia has abundant renewable energy resources, primarily centered on hydropower, while recently diversifying to solar, wind, and other renewables.

Petro pointed to Venezuela and Paraguay as countries that have managed to attract investment in local bitcoin mining industries with abundant clean energy, according to the post on X.

"This could be the case for Santa Marta, Riohacha, and Barranquilla," — Petro wrote. "It's an immense boost to the development of the Caribbean."

Petro also said there should be discussions on the matter between himself and the Wayúu community, the ethnic group indigenous to northern Colombia, so that its people can take part in the bitcoin mining project.

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🇮🇳🇻🇳 Modi, Lam Meet as India and Vietnam Deepen AI, Defense Ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Vietnam President To Lam in New Delhi on Wednesday, with agreements signed across sectors ranging from rare earths to payment systems. The two countries aim to boost bilateral trade to $25 billion by 2030.

"Through new initiatives in critical minerals, rare earths, and ​energy cooperation, we ​will ensure the economic security ‌and ⁠supply chain resilience of both countries," —Modi said, as the ​two countries ​upgraded ⁠their relationship to an 'enhanced comprehensive ​strategic partnership'. 🤝

#BRICS

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🤑 Few thoughts coming out of the first two days at the Milken Institute's Global Conference by Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation.

🟠 Tokenization has taken center stage on Wall Street – and it's not "breaking" banking rails, it's improving them.
🟠 Stablecoins are no longer just a "bridge," they're infrastructure for money movement at-scale.
🟠 AI will underscore the importance of building the future of financial services on open, trusted, and auditable code.

#Stellar

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🤖 Hyundai Robot Performs Handstand, Complex Gymnastics Moves

Hyundai Motor Co.’s robotics (Boston Dynamics) unit released a video showing its production-ready Atlas humanoid robot executing a handstand and transitions into an “L-sit” — supporting its entire body weight on its hands. It's a first-of-its-kind live demonstration that could signal the machine is nearing commercialization.

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