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The Discovery of a Deep-Sea Whale Graveyard The oldest, deepest and most extensive whale graveyard yet discovered has been found in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, with fossils dating back more than 5m years. Unprecedented Depth and Extent Whale falls – the term for dead whales that sink to the ocean floor – are not uncommon, but most have been found at depths of less than 4km (2.5 miles). By contrast, the newly discovered necropolis reaches depths of more than 7km, and extends hundreds of miles across the sea floor. Teeming with Life What’s more, researchers found decaying carcasses teeming with life. Dr Giovanni Bianucci, a co-author of the study based at the University of Pisa, said: “This discovery demonstrates that these extreme and unexplored environments are home to species and ecosystems still unknown to science, and that we are therefore still far from understanding the true biodiversity of our planet. “Furthermore, it shows us that life can adapt and evolve even in extreme environments where light is absent and pressure is extremely high.” He added that the study also provided unique information on creatures including the “mysterious and elusive” beaked whales. The Research and Findings A team of researchers based in China, Italy and New Zealand used a submersible to explore an area of trenches and ridges in the south-eastern Indian Ocean, known as the Diamantina fracture zone. This formed between 60m and 50m years ago as the Australian and Antarctic continents drew apart. The team, whose study was published in the journal Nature, discovered whale fossils at depths of up to 7,002  metres – near the deepest point of the Diamantina fracture zone. They subsequently carried out 32 dives to the sea floor, finding 485 whale-fossil sites, as well as five modern natural whale falls in an advanced stage of decomposition. Significance and Future Exploration Stephen J Godfrey of the Calvert Marine Museum in the US described the graveyard as “a truly unique discovery”, saying the site could yield many more exciting finds. “[The research] reminded me of a trailer for the first in a series of epic movies,” he wrote. Jon Copley, a professor of ocean exploration and science communication at the University of Southampton, who was not involved in the work, said: “It’s an exciting and rare discovery – not only the world’s deepest known ‘whale-fall’ colony of deep sea animals, but also such an abundance of modern whale skeletons and fossils in this particular location.”

The Lead SpaceX is set to go public with a $75 billion stock offering that is reportedly deeply over-subscribed. Despite concerns about the company's financials and Elon Musk's erratic behavior, investors are eager to bet on his vision for a future where space data centers enable advanced AI capabilities. SpaceX's Three Hard-Tech Moonshots At the heart of SpaceX's ambitious plans are three significant technical challenges: A reusable rocket, specifically the Starship program, which is crucial for economically putting chips in orbit. A brand-new American chip foundry, known as Terafab, which will be essential for scaling up AI compute production. A sprint to build satellites faster than ever before, with plans to produce 6,666 satellites a year. The Data Analysis Financial analyses by Morningstar and Aswath Damodaran suggest that SpaceX is significantly overvalued at nearly $1.8 trillion. Morningstar assigns a value of about $825 billion, while Damodaran suggests the company is worth $1.2 trillion. The Impact Analysis The company's AI business, which includes enterprise AI and satellite internet, presents both high margins and significant uncertainty. SpaceX's plans to offer compute services to companies like Anthropic and Google raise questions about where value will accrue in the AI tech stack. The Prediction Success in these ambitious projects could make SpaceX a near-monopoly on access to space in the U.S. and Europe, as well as a leader in the AI infrastructure space. However, the challenges are substantial, and the company's ability to deliver on these promises remains to be seen.

The Rise of the Dark Horses Every World Cup needs a dark horse: the team that nobody quite planned for that disrupts the natural order and is remembered more vividly than the finalists. Morocco did it in 2022, beating Spain and Portugal on their way to becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals. Croatia produced a fairytale run to the final in 2018. Costa Rica topped a group that featured three former champions – England, Italy and Uruguay – in 2014 before eventually losing to the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals. And South Korea, who had never won a match at a World Cup, went all the way to the semi-finals in 2002. Ecuador's Strong Defense A defence featuring two Champions League finalists, a 15-game unbeaten streak, and second place in South American qualifying. Ecuador have a great chance to go further than ever before at the World Cup – their last-16 exit at the 2006 tournament in Germany. A new generation of players – led by Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié and Willian Pacho, under the guidance of manager Sebastián Beccacece – have turned Ecuador into one of the hardest teams to break down in world football. Japan's Growing Belief The round of 16 has haunted Japan at World Cups. Four times they have reached the knockout stages and four times their journey has ended there. Japan hold the record for most World Cup matches played without ever reaching the quarter-finals (25). However, this team has been refined over years. Thirteen players from the squad that topped a group featuring Spain, Germany and Costa Rica in 2022 are back, bringing experience and a shared understanding of what it takes to compete on the big stage. Norway's Formidable Attack When Norway last played at a World Cup, in 1998, only nine of the 26 players in this squad had been born. The current generation have ended the country’s long wait and they are not just making up the numbers. Headlined by Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, Norway arrive in North America with wind in their sails. Ståle Solbakken’s side stormed through qualifying, becoming one of only two European teams – alongside England – to win every match.

The Acquisition Deal Warner Music Group (WMG) announced on Wednesday that it’s acquiring AI attribution startup Sureel AI. Sureel’s patented technology creates “AI DNA” for songs and breaks them down into component parts to trace how AI models use those elements. Enhancing Intellectual Property Protection Through the acquisition, WMG aims to better track when its artists’ and songwriters’ work is used in AI-generated content or for training AI models. “Bringing Sureel into WMG strengthens our capability for protection, control and monetization and ensures that the creative community remains in control of its intellectual property, name, image, likeness, and voice,” said WMG chief executive Robert Kyncl in the press release. Financial Terms and Future Operations The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Sureel will continue to operate as a stand-alone platform serving the broader music and AI ecosystem, WMG says. Sureel's Technology and Mission Founded in 2022, Sureel also offers intellectual property provenance, audit and compliance reporting, model optimization, and AI business intelligence. The startup also has a name, image, and likeness (NIL) attribution suite to track how artist voices, likenesses, and performance identities are used in AI training and generation. This includes voice clones, AI-generated avatars, and style replication. Industry Implications and Future Outlook “Rightsholders deserve to know how AI interacts with their work, and to share fairly in the value it creates,” Sureel founder and chief executive Tamay Aykut said in remarks. “Sureel was built to make that possible, and with WMG’s backing, we can deliver on our mission at scale, building a more transparent and fair future and driving value growth for the whole music and entertainment ecosystem.” The Road Ahead for WMG and AI in Music WMG has embraced AI after initially opposing it, as the company originally sued music-generation startup Suno in 2024 and later signed a licensing deal with the company last year. WMG said at the time that artists and songwriters would have full control over whether and how their names, images, likenesses, voices, and compositions are used in new AI-generated music. It’s worth noting that Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group are still pursuing massive copyright infringement claims against the AI music startup. WMG last year also settled its lawsuit against AI music startup Udio and reached a licensing deal with the company.

The Focal Point of USMNT's AttackFolarin Balogun has established himself as the undeniable focal point of the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) ahead of the World Cup, delivering sharp movement and clinical finishing despite inconsistent service.Balogun's Ligue 1 Form and International TransitionThe 24-year-old striker, who was born in New York but raised in London, chose to represent the US over England and Nigeria. This past season, he finished fourth in Ligue 1 scoring with 13 goals, priming him for an emergent World Cup on home soil.Consistent minutes in friendlies against World Cup teams.High marks in movement and hold-up play according to captain Tim Ream.Quantifying the Threat: Touches and EfficiencyBalogun has played at least 45 minutes in six of the United States’ 10 friendlies since last summer's Gold Cup. His data reveals a high level of involvement:26.4 touches per 90 in these games.24.1% of touches occurred in the opposition box.High involvement against Japan (9 touches), Ecuador (8), and Senegal (6).Even in a low-touch game against Paraguay (15 touches in 75 minutes), he made them pay with a crucial goal.Tactical Implications of Balogun's IsolationThe USMNT is experimenting with a left-channel buildup led by Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic, which can leave Balogun isolated in the central third against Germany. However, his mobility is a vital asset; he drags center-backs out of position, creating openings for teammates to sprint into wide breaks.World Cup Readiness and Tactical OutlookWhile the team works on central buildup, Balogun backs himself to make the most of the service he receives. His performance against Paraguay demonstrated that he can punish scraps of possession. As the USMNT faces high-stakes games, getting the team's most in-form forward his shooting looks is mandatory.

The Summer Reading ChallengeSummer is here, which means lazy days at the beach or the pool with a great book by your side. The Guardian is inviting readers to share their favorite beach reads for the upcoming season, creating a collective guide to perfect holiday reading.What Makes a Great Beach Read?We would love to hear from people about their favourite beach reads. What books have you loved reading on holiday? What are the page turners that you keep returning to every summer and always recommend to friends? We would love to hear what books these are and why they make a great beach read.Share Your RecommendationsYou can tell us your favourite beach reads using this form. The Guardian is collecting responses from readers across the country to create a comprehensive guide to summer reading. Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only The Guardian has access to your contributions.How to ParticipateTo share your beach read recommendations, simply fill out the form provided. You'll need to share your name, location, and tell us about yourself. Most importantly, you'll need to describe your favorite books to take on holiday and explain why they make perfect beach reads. You can also choose to upload a photo of yourself and indicate whether you're comfortable with your response being published.The Guardian's Summer Reading InitiativeBy collecting these recommendations, The Guardian aims to create a diverse collection of beach reads that cater to different tastes and preferences. Whether you enjoy light fiction, gripping thrillers, informative non-fiction, or poetry that captures the essence of summer, your recommendations will help fellow readers discover their perfect holiday companion.

The Unseen Lives Behind Beloved Characters The article delves into the lives of children who inspired famous literary characters. The author reflects on their own childhood fascination with these characters and how their perspective shifted as they grew older. The Inspiration Behind the Characters The children in question are Michael Llewelyn Davies, who inspired JM Barrie's Peter Pan; Alice Liddell, who inspired Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; and Christopher Robin Milne, who inspired AA Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh. The author notes that these children were not just muses, but their lives were deeply impacted by their association with these characters. The Impact of Literary Fame The article highlights the complexities of literary fame and its impact on the children who inspired these characters. For instance, Christopher Robin Milne later described the bullying and humiliation he faced due to his association with Winnie-the-Pooh. The Llewelyn Davies boys had a tragic fate, with two of them dying young. Alice Liddell, on the other hand, seemed to thrive, but her life was still marked by the shadow of her association with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Blurred Lines Between Reality and Fiction The author notes that the lines between reality and fiction are often blurred in these cases. The children who inspired these characters were not just passive muses, but their lives were shaped by the stories that were created around them. The article raises questions about the ethics of using children's lives as inspiration for art and the impact it has on their well-being. The Legacy of Childhood Literary Fame The article concludes by reflecting on the legacy of childhood literary fame and its impact on the children who inspired these beloved characters. The author notes that while these characters continue to captivate audiences, the children behind them often faced tragic consequences. The article serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of literary fame and its impact on the lives of those who inspire it.

The Lead The romantic drama 'Every Year After' has just landed on Prime Video, and it's a sweet, if predictable, watch. Based on a 2022 novel by Canadian author Carley Fortune, the show follows Persephone Fraser (Sadie Soverall) as she returns to her hometown of Barry's Bay, Ontario, to confront her past and find closure. The Event Details Persephone, or Percy for short, has a seemingly perfect life in journalism, with a cute apartment and a string of handsome men. However, she's struggling to move on from a past heartbreak, and her return to Barry's Bay after a decade-long absence brings with it much angst. The town is filled with attractive men, including Jordie (Joseph Chiu), Charlie (Michael Bradway), and Sam (Matt Cornett), who all vie for her attention. The Data Analysis No specific data is provided in the article, but it's clear that the show's creators have put a lot of effort into crafting a visually stunning setting, with the picturesque lakeside town of Barry's Bay serving as a backdrop for the characters' emotional entanglements. The Impact Analysis The show's impact lies in its ability to transport viewers to a idyllic summer setting, complete with handsome men and a soothing soundtrack. While the plot may be predictable, the show's charm lies in its lighthearted, feel-good nature, making it a great watch for those looking for a romantic drama with a relaxing atmosphere. The Prediction Given the show's predictable plot and familiar tropes, it's likely that viewers will be able to guess the outcome of the story. However, the show's charm and the chemistry between the leads make it an enjoyable watch, and fans of romantic dramas may find themselves swept up in the story despite its predictability.

The Chaotic Friendly Match Brazil were shown eight red cards during a chaotic 1-0 defeat to the United States women’s national team in a friendly in Fortaleza. Brazilian coach Arthur Elias and three of his assistant coaches were sent off, while Bia Zaneratto and Tarciane were also dismissed. Two other players were shown red cards after the full-time whistle on Tuesday evening. The Game-Changing Goal Sophia Wilson's shot deflected off Isabela and snuck past Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena in the 63rd minute for the lone goal of the game before a crowd of more than 55,000 fans in northern Brazil. The hosts had no shots on goal, while the US had six. The Red Card Controversy Brazil manager Elias and several assistants were dismissed from the technical area during the second half. Brazil then went down to nine in stoppage time after attacker Zaneratto was dismissed after picking up a second yellow card for pushing Emily Sonnett. Moments later, her teammate, Tarciane, was shown a straight red for elbowing Wilson. The chaos continued after the full-time whistle, with Brazil’s Kerolin and Ludmila both shown red cards for dissent. The Impact on the Teams It was the second of two matches in Brazil for the Americans, with the US losing 2-1 in the opener on Saturday in Sao Paulo. Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, was subbed into the match in the 80th minute, making her 212th appearance for Brazil. Dudinha appeared to hurt her right knee in a collision with Sonnett in the 30th minute and was stretchered off the field in obvious pain. The 20-year-old forward, who plays for the San Diego Wave in the National Women’s Soccer League, returned to the bench in the second half on crutches. The matches in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza were played at stadiums that will be used next June and July for the Women’s World Cup. The US will start their qualification campaign in November.