Extreme heat strains brains as OpenAI faces US limits

A dangerous heat wave across Western Europe has pushed the UK to its highest ever June temperature, 36.1 °C (about 97 °F), with conditions in London feeling like 39 °C. Beyond effects on agriculture, infrastructure, and health systems, scientists are studying how extreme heat disrupts the brain, including links to irritability, violence, reduced focus after heat exposure for firefighters, and higher risks for children and people with mental health disorders.

Animal research suggests excessive heat can change how chemical signals function in the brain, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. The scientific focus is shifting from immediate physical dangers to the cognitive and behavioral effects of rising temperatures.

In AI, the Trump administration has asked OpenAI to restrict its next model release and wants to vet the first GPT 5.6 users before a broader launch, with each initial partner set to be government-approved. The move is described as the first time a US firm has been told to limit an AI model before release, while OpenAI is also expected to delay its IPO until next year.

Other technology developments include Apple and Xbox price increases of over 20% on some devices, attributed to AI-driven chip costs and memory shortages. Colossal and the US are building a biovault to preserve over 2,300 plant and animal samples, Polestar faces a US EV sales ban tied to anti-China connected-vehicle rules, and environmental lawsuits increasingly target data centers over energy, water, and air pollution.