This material sounds like the bee's knees.

Scientists say new artificial cartilage could be used in knees

Soft Serve

A new durable hydrogel is both strong and flexible enough to replace missing knee cartilage, potentially doing away with invasive knee replacements.

Scientists Say New Artificial Cartilage Could Be Used in Knees

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/there-s-now-an-artificial-cartilage-gel-that-s-strong-enough-to-work-on-knees">There&#8217;s Now an Artificial Cartilage Gel Strong Enough to Work in Knees</a> [ScienceAlert]

More on cartilage: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/injectable-cartilage-plastic-surgery">New &#8220;Injectable Cartilage&#8221; Could Revolutionize Plastic Surgery</a>

Developments

"We set out to make the first hydrogel that has the mechanical properties of cartilage."

"This is such a weird year in so many dimensions."

Murders have spiked in major US cities since the pandemic

Redrum

According to an investigation by The New York Times, the number of murders has spiked in several larger US cities in the first half of 2020.

Murders Have Spiked in Major US Cities Since the Pandemic

And nobody knows why.

"It was a surprising relationship that we had no reason to believe would exist."

NASA discovers huge potential caches of metal on the Moon

Digging a Hole

A team of NASA scientists found that there might be more subsurface metals beneath the Moon's surface than previously thought.

NASA Discovers Huge Potential Caches of Metal On the Moon

"Imagine taking a pile of metal five times larger than the Big Island of Hawaii and burying it underground."

Tesla is now worth more than ExxonMobil

How the Turntables

The market valuation of electric automaker Tesla now exceeds that of ExxonMobil, one of the planet's largest fossil fuel megacorporations.

Tesla Is Now Worth More Than ExxonMobil

Congrats, Elon.

You've never seen anything like these before.

A neural network generated a bunch of mutated-looking new animals

Dark Bird

A programmer named Aldo Cortesi created an algorithm that draws nonexistent animals, some of which look plausible and others which look like bizarre.

A Neural Network Generated a Bunch of Mutated-Looking New Animals

"Straying even further into the unknown, the model produced weird abstract patterns and unidentifiable entities, all with a vaguely biological, 'life-ish' feel to them."

"Essentially, the goal of this technology is to try and use electricity and air to replace gasoline."

This scientist says he's built a jet engine that turns electricity directly into thrust

Ride the Lightning

Jau Tang says replacing fossil fuels with plasma-generating microwaves could slash major sources of our carbon emissions from things like air travel.

This Scientist Says He’s Built a Jet Engine That Turns Electricity Directly Into Thrust

If this plasma propulsion tech is real, it could change everything.

NASA astronaut says SpaceX Crew Dragon looked "Awesome" during spacewalk

Awesome View

NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken got a tremendous view during their spacewalk on Monday. "Not bad for a view while working."

NASA Astronaut Says SpaceX Crew Dragon Looked “Awesome” During Spacewalk

"It was just awesome to be able to look back and snap a picture."

"If you take these reactor designs and combine them with a fuel that can handle the heat, you essentially have an accident-proof reactor."

"Radioactive gobstoppers" could stop the next nuclear reactor meltdown

Great Balls of Fire

Researchers are hoping that tiny graphite-coated balls of uranium could revolutionize and bring back nuclear energy production to the United States.

“Radioactive Gobstoppers” Could Stop the Next Nuclear Reactor Meltdown

"When you start with a reactor that can’t melt, your safety case completely changes."

This "space Tiger King" was convinced NASA's Mars rovers found a "mushroom-like fungus" in 2014. It turned out to be a rock.

Extremely dubious scientist believes there's mushrooms and lichen on Mars

Science is Hard

Scientists have yet to find any evidence of life on another planet.But that hasn't stopped some rogue scientists from making outlandish claims.

Extremely Dubious Scientist Believes There’s Mushrooms and Lichen on Mars

"I feel like these guys have just poisoned the whole field."

The fairing could fit objects that are up to 72 feet in length and 26 feet wide.

Here's how many shipping containers you could fit inside SpaceX's Starship

So Much Room for Activities

A new visualization by SpaceX enthusiast and Twitter user Neopork shows just how much room there is inside Starship's cargo fairing.

Here’s How Many Shipping Containers You Could Fit Inside SpaceX’s Starship

Getting this much cargo into space at a time could be "truly revolutionary."

Scientists are worried this new swine flu strain could cause another pandemic

More Viruses

Scientists have discovered a swine flu virus that has the potential to mutate and be transmitted to and eventually between humans.

Scientists Are Worried This New Swine Flu Strain Could Cause Another Pandemic

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/swine-flu-strain-human-pandemic-potential-increasingly-found-chinese-pigs">Swine flu strain with human pandemic potential increasingly found in Chinese pigs</a> [Science]

More on influenza: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/2020-flu-season-quirky-start">2020 Flu Season Off to Quirky Start, Also Affects Seals</a>

"We just do not know a pandemic is going to occur until the damn thing occurs."

Someone made a perfume that smells like outer space

Space Smells

Omega Ingredients, a UK-based natural flavors company for the food and beverages industry, has created a fragrance that it claims smells like outer space.

Someone Made a Perfume That Smells Like Outer Space

"We've all had Space Ice Cream...this takes it a step further."

Even their names are allusions to the same inventor.

A brief history of Elon Musk's festering feud with rival automaker Nikola

Beef History

Earlier this month, Tesla competitor Nikola Motors rose to a valuation of over $20 billion, eclipsing Ford and Chrysler. It's secret weapon: hydrogen.

A Brief History of Elon Musk’s Festering Feud With Rival Automaker Nikola

A lawsuit, bad blood, and a series of zinging disses between Elon Musk and a rival startup — explained.

"The US has to recognize that it is competing for first or second position of the worst affected country in the world."

US pandemic advisor says the country needs to shut down again

Reverse Course

Pandemic preparedness expert Eric Toner says that the U.S. response to the coronavirus has been abysmal and that the country needs to lock it down.

US Pandemic Advisor Says the Country Needs to Shut Down Again

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/living-with-masks-for-years-covid-19-through-the-eyes-of-a-pandemic-expert/">&#8216;We&#8217;ll be living with masks for years&#8217;: COVID-19 through the eyes of a pandemic expert</a> [CNET]

More on the pandemic: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/photos-cops-not-wearing-masks">Here Are a Bunch of Photos of Cops Not Wearing Masks</a>

"The US response has been extraordinarily disappointing and wrongheaded. Whenever there's been an opportunity to do the right thing, we seem to have done the wrong thing"

Luckily, they're still both extremely rare.

Experts confirm outbreaks of black death, brain-eating amoeba

Year's Not Over

Local health officials have confirmed an extremely rare case of the bubonic plague, also known as the black plagu, in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia.

Experts Confirm Outbreaks of Black Death, Brain-Eating Amoeba

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/world/asia/china-bubonic-plague-inner-mongolia.html">Bubonic Plague Found in a Herder in Inner Mongolia, China Says</a>

More on the plague: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/outbreak-black-death-plague-china">There&#8217;s an Outbreak of the “Black Death” Plague in China</a>

A stark reminder that the year 2020 is far from over.

Did the media get suckered by a fake story about college kids catching COVID on purpose?

Fake News

Yesterday, you might have noticed a wave of news stories about college kids intentionally trying to catch coronavirus. It may not have been true.

Did the Media Get Suckered by a Fake Story About College Kids Catching COVID on Purpose?

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More on coronavirus misinformation: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-sharing-coronavirus-misinformation">Elon Musk Is Still Sharing Coronavirus Misinformation</a>
</div>

That story about college kids trying to win cash pools by catching the coronavirus may have been too good to be true.

Recent protests are illuminating the myriad ways law enforcement can surveil the public.

Oh no, spying on protestors might make the public distrust surveillence

Hardly Missed Ye

Last month, San Diego police repeatedly tapped streetlight cameras to surveil BLM protestors: a chilling use of smart city tech that threatens public trust.

Oh No, Spying on Protestors Might Make the Public Distrust Surveillance

Business Insider asks: Won't someone think of the surveillance panopticon?

We can expect some bumper-to-bumper interplanetary traffic.

Three separate countries are launching Mars missions this month

Crowded Skies

China, the UAE, and the U.S. all plan to launch Mars missions this month to capitalize on the planets' fortunate alignment.

Three Separate Countries Are Launching Mars Missions This Month

The interplanetary gulf is particularly easy to cross at the moment.

Five members of the angry mob have been arrested.

Passengers beat a bus driver who demanded they wear masks, leave him brain dead

Stop The Ride

A Bayonne, France bus driver was beaten by a group of angry passengers because they refused to abide by mask guidelines. The driver is now brain dead.

Passengers Beat Bus Driver Who Asked They Wear Masks, Leaving Him Brain Dead

The mayor of Bayonne called it a "barbaric act."

힘내라 대한민국 의료진들에게 감사와 응원을 전하는 '덕분에 챌린지' 드론 아트 플래시몹_in hanriver

That's one way to thank healthcare workers.

South Korea encourages mask wearing with massive drone-powered light show

Thanks and Hope

South Korean officials dispatched three hundred drones over the Han river in Seoul as part of a massive light show to thank workers at the frontlines.

South Korea Encourages Mask Wearing With Massive Drone-Powered Light Show

"Cheer up, Republic of Korea."

"Coming soon, our battle with Big Tequila!"

Here's why Tesla is selling naughty short-shorts

Bootylicious

Electric carmaker Tesla has officially started selling "limited edition" red satin short shorts. "Run like the wind or entertain like Liberace."

Here’s Why Tesla Is Selling Naughty Short-Shorts

Elon Musk says he might wear the sexy shorts to the next Tesla shareholder meeting.

"This is casting light on a life phase that has been largely ignored."

Climate change threatens 60 percent of the world's fish species

Fish Fry

New research suggests that climate change could kill off 60 percent of all fish species this century. It's a sharp increase over past estimates.