(opens original source in a new tab)STAT NewsSTAT+: Public-sector purgatory, and a union-hospital fightAon, the big consulting and brokerage house, confirms 2027 is going to be brutal for job-based health care premiums. Aon’s chief actuary said in the news release: “Employers will need… (opens original source in a new tab)Bob Herman·24 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AGBITotalEnergies to invest in expanding Fujairah oil export pipelineFrench oil major TotalEnergies will invest in a new pipeline allowing the UAE to export crude oil without using the Strait of Hormuz, according to the company’s chairman and chief executive. The second West-East pipeline, which TotalEnergies plans to invest in, is under construction by Abu Dhabi state oil company Adnoc. It is due to […] (opens original source in a new tab)Francesca Washtell·24 August 2026
Clean Energy (opens original source in a new tab)CleanTechnicaBroad Coalition of 95 Organizations Urges Congress to Reject Attacks on Long-Standing Clean Air ProtectionsWASHINGTON, DC — A broad coalition today urged Congress to reject four Congressional Review Act resolutions that would overturn long-standing Clean Air Act preemption waivers relied upon by states to protect public health and air quality. The waivers cover established standards for passenger cars, light-duty and medium-duty vehicles, and small off-road engines. ... [continued] The post Broad Coalition of 95 Organizations Urges Congress to Reject Attacks on Long-Standing Clean Air Protections app (opens original source in a new tab)Sierra Club·24 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)IEEE SpectrumWhat It Takes to Be an Adaptable EngineerThe AI boom has disrupted the way engineers work, introducing new tools to learn, raising expectations for what teams can achieve in a workday, and making it harder to get hired in the first place. This makes it difficult to advise students on which specific coding languages or technical skills they should learn. So amidst the uncertainty, advice for young professionals often turns to a common refrain: Be adaptable. But what does adaptability look like in practice? Engineers often operate on the (opens original source in a new tab)Gwendolyn Rak·24 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)Dark ReadingThe Vulnerability Gap: Why Discovery Is Outrunning RepairAI is discovering more vulnerabilities, faster, and under a tightening regulatory environment, making this an all-hands-on-deck moment for the cybersecurity community. (opens original source in a new tab)Christopher Robinson·24 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)Patently-OAllowable Subject Matter in the Final RejectionOne in five first final rejections in 2024 named allowable claims. Those applications have patented at 92%; the rest at 55%, with a third abandoned. Continue reading this post on Patently-O. (opens original source in a new tab)Dennis Crouch·24 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)IPWatchdogPay for What You Traverse: Ending After-Final Practice with Content-Based FeesFor many small businesses, uncertainty in patent prosecution can mean the difference between a strong issued patent and either abandonment or suboptimal coverage. One source of uncertainty in today’s system is final office action practice. Recent data suggests that roughly 42% of patent applications receive a final office action, meaning they are not allowed initially or after a response to a non-final office action. While receiving a final office action does not close the door on a patent appli (opens original source in a new tab)John Powers·24 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)STAT NewsSTAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicaid obesity-drug coverage, a Regenxbio gene therapy, and morePresident Trump’s pledge to make pricey weight loss drugs widely available for low-income Americans through Medicaid is not panning out (opens original source in a new tab)Ed Silverman·24 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)South China Morning PostEV maker Xpeng set to challenge Tesla in embodied AI after robotics unit raises US$900mChinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng has secured US$900 million in funding from high-profile investors including Alibaba Group Holding and IDG Capital to spur its robotics unit, despite a widening second-quarter loss. Dogotix, a subsidiary of Xpeng, raised US$900 million in the latest round of financing, which valued it at US$6.3 billion, Xpeng said in a statement on Monday, adding that the fundraising marked the biggest single private-equity deal involving a Chinese robotics maker. The... (opens original source in a new tab)Daniel Ren·24 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)New ScientistDiabetes drug metformin may halve the risk of dementiaTaking metformin, a type 2 diabetes drug, has been linked to a lower risk of dementia over the following decades, but the association isn't conclusive (opens original source in a new tab)Michael Marshall·24 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyCommon medications may change your gut for yearsCommon medications may reshape the gut microbiome long after the last dose is taken. In a study of more than 2,500 people, researchers found lasting microbial changes linked not only to antibiotics, but also to antidepressants, beta-blockers, acid-reducing drugs, and benzodiazepines. Some effects were still detectable years later, suggesting past medication use may strongly influence the gut bacteria people carry today. (opens original source in a new tab)24 August 2026
