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The Lead Doctors, scientists, and researchers shared new research about ways to tackle cancer at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) annual meeting, the world's largest cancer conference. Breakthroughs in Cancer Treatment The event in Chicago, attended by 40,000 health professionals, featured more than 200 sessions and 2,700 poster presentations on this year's theme, “the science and practice of translation: improving cancer outcomes worldwide”. Smart Drugs in Cancer Treatment Researchers have developed a smart drug that stops cancer cells hiding. The experimental tablet, GRWD5769, can help shrink tumours by at least 30% in six of the world’s most common forms of the disease, delegates in Chicago were told. 26 of 83 patients with cervical, bladder, liver, bowel, lung or head and neck cancers who were given GRWD5769 alongside cemiplimab had tumour reductions of at least 30%. 15 had tumour reductions of at least 30%. A Daily Pill for Pancreatic Cancer A pill that doubles survival time in patients with pancreatic cancer was presented at the conference. In a trial of 500 patients, all of whom had pancreatic cancer that had spread, the pill, daraxonrasib, doubled survival time, with fewer side-effects compared with chemotherapy. Patients who took the drug lived substantially longer, for an average of 13.2 months, compared with 6.6 to 6.7 months for patients who had chemotherapy. Safely Skipping Some Treatments Some patients can safely skip some treatments, according to research presented at the conference. A genomic test could pave the way for a new era of personalised medicine, enabling doctors to determine which patients can safely skip chemotherapy. The Optima trial, led by University College London, followed 4,000 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer in the UK, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. Those with a low score on the genomic test could be treated safely with hormone therapy alone. The Future of Cancer Treatment Urgent action is required to cope with rising cancer cases. The world faces a cancer workforce crisis, experts said, with a shortage of 100 million staff expected by 2050 when 100,000 people will be being diagnosed every day. A 21% increase in cancer incidence is predicted, according to a report presented at the conference. The rate is set to rise from 165 per 100,000 people in 2025 to 200 per 100,000 in 2050.

The Cine-Theatre Experiment: A Solo ReimaginingA fresh stage adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway has arrived, challenging traditional interpretations by transforming the novel into a multimedia-driven solo show. Co-written and directed by Jen Heyes and performed by Kit Green, this production reimagines the classic narrative not as a sprawling ensemble, but as an intimate, multi-layered performance that bridges the gap between live theatre and cinema.Green takes on the mantle of the protagonist, Clarissa Dalloway, while simultaneously inhabiting other pivotal roles—including her husband Richard, the war veteran Septimus, and friend Sally Seton. This approach is facilitated by Monika Koeck’s video design, which projects Green onto a large screen, creating a visual dialogue between the character’s public persona and her internal turmoil.Blending High Art with CabaretThe production is a bold experiment in genre-blending, moving beyond traditional realism to incorporate elements of cabaret and standup comedy. While the show is strongest when deeply rooted in the text, offering attentive character studies—particularly of Peter Walsh and his lingering regrets—it occasionally veers into maudlin territory.Visually, the contrast between Green’s breezy Clarissa and her tortured Septimus is striking. The use of sepia tones and a "thick blue sea" to engulf the shell-shocked veteran creates a visceral, immersive experience that highlights the psychological weight of the original novel. However, the inclusion of audience roasting and musical interludes suggests a desire to modernize Woolf’s stream of consciousness for a contemporary audience.The Future of Literary AdaptationsThis adaptation signals a growing trend in the performing arts: the use of technology to deconstruct complex literary narratives. By allowing a single performer to inhabit multiple roles and internal states simultaneously, the production demonstrates how multimedia can solve the challenge of translating internal monologue into visual storytelling.Key Performers: Kit Green (Clarissa, Septimus, Peter Walsh, etc.)Production Team: Jen Heyes (Co-writer/Director), Monika Koeck (Video Design), Stephen Hull (Sound Design)Upcoming Dates: Storyhouse (Chester), Harlow Playhouse, Wilton’s Music Hall (London), Home (Manchester)

Thomas Tuchel has publicly declared that Harry Kane is "lean, sharp and training at the highest level" ahead of England’s World Cup campaign. The Bayern Munich forward, who struggled with fitness at Euro 2024, appears to have rediscovered his form during the team’s Florida acclimatisation camp.Tuchel’s Assessment: Kane in Peak Physical ConditionThe manager highlighted Kane’s leadership during a defensive drill, noting that the striker "led the intensity" and seemed fully adapted to Bayern’s high‑press style. Tuchel added that the striker’s readiness eliminates any concerns about the upcoming heat in June.Training Camp Numbers: Heat, Humidity and Squad Rotation PlansLocation: West Palm Beach, Florida (pre‑tournament base)Friendly kickoff: 4 pm local time (9 pm BST) vs New ZealandForecast temperature: 32 °CHumidity: around 40 %Rotation strategy: Tuchel plans to field two different line‑ups in each half at Raymond James Stadium and to limit Kane’s minutes to keep him fresh for the tournament.Strategic Impact: England’s Tactical Flexibility Ahead of the World CupTuchel’s confidence in Kane allows him to experiment with alternatives. He identified Ollie Watkins as the primary understudy and Ivan Toney as a situational wildcard, giving the squad depth while preserving the striker’s stamina.Looking Forward: How Kane’s Fitness Shapes England’s Group‑Stage ProspectsWith the first Group L match against Croatia scheduled for 15 June in Dallas, England now has a clear focal point up front. If Kane maintains the form described by Tuchel, England’s attacking threat could remain potent throughout the group stage, reducing the need for extensive rotation and enhancing their chances of advancing.

The Radiant Star of 'Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait' The National Portrait Gallery's new blockbuster show, 'Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait,' marks Monroe's 100th birthday with a comprehensive exhibition that transforms our perception of the iconic actress. The Evolution of a Hollywood Icon The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from Monroe's early days as Norma Jeane Baker to her rise as a radiant, uncontainable film star. Through self-portraits, photographs, paintings, and excerpts from her films, the show highlights Monroe's agency and self-creation as an American icon. The Art of Self-Creation Monroe's command of the camera is evident in picture after picture, showcasing her unselfconscious charm that defined a century. The exhibition features works by prominent photographers like Richard Avedon, Milton Greene, Cecil Beaton, and Eve Arnold, demonstrating how Monroe remained in control of her image. Experimentation and Artistry The show also explores the artistic techniques used to capture Monroe's image, including surrealist collages, solarisation methods, and altered portraits. Notable works include Philippe Halsman's surrealist collages and André de Dienes' poignant portraits taken after Monroe's death. Beyond the Glamour While the exhibition is a celebration of Monroe's life and career, it also hints at her vulnerabilities and flaws. A 1956 photo by Cecil Beaton and a 1962 paparazzi image of Monroe's body bag being carried out of her home in Los Angeles provide a glimpse into the complexities of her life and death. The Legacy of Marilyn Monroe The exhibition concludes with a reflection on Monroe's enduring legacy, from her impact on midcentury US culture to her influence on pop art. As visitors leave the show, they are left with a deeper understanding of Monroe as a multifaceted individual, rather than just a Hollywood icon.

Executive Summary: Anthropic’s Call for a Temporary Global AI PauseAnthropic announced a proposal for a worldwide “temporary pause” on advanced AI development and pledged to convene policymakers, researchers, and civil‑society actors to discuss the emerging risks of recursive self‑improvement in its Claude model.Anthropic Details Its Latest Claude Advances and the “Recursive Self‑Improvement” NarrativeThe company’s Thursday post highlighted a steady “trend” of increasing capability in Claude, suggesting that with enough compute the system could eventually design and develop its own successor – a scenario long flagged by AI‑safety scholars as a potential pathway to superintelligence.Claude now “runs experiments” and proposes its own coding tasks.As of May 2026, more than 80% of code merged into Anthropic’s codebase was authored by Claude.Anthropic also referenced its unreleased model Mythos, described as “too powerful” for public release.Quantifying Anthropic’s Recent Milestones$1tn potential valuation from the company’s upcoming IPO filing.Embedding of Anthropic engineers inside the US National Security Agency to support offensive cyber operations, as reported by the Financial Times.Claude’s code‑generation contribution surpasses 80% of merged code, indicating a high degree of automation.Implications for AI Governance, National Security, and Public TrustThe juxtaposition of a public safety pause with behind‑the‑scenes collaboration with U.S. intelligence agencies raises questions about Anthropic’s “narrow” definition of AI safety, noted by Steven Murdoch (UCL) and Heidy Khlaaf (AI Now Institute). Critics argue that the company’s actions could undermine credibility and fuel skepticism about the sincerity of its policy outreach.Future Outlook: How a Global Pause Might Shape the AI LandscapeIf policymakers adopt Anthropic’s proposal, the pause could slow competitive pressure among AI labs, allowing regulators to craft standards for recursive self‑improvement and for the use of AI in cyber‑operations. Conversely, without coordinated enforcement, the call may remain symbolic, leaving the industry to self‑regulate amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Breakthrough: Baking Sourdough with 5,000‑Year‑Old YeastScientists have successfully baked a sourdough loaf using yeast strains isolated from the 5,000‑year‑old Alpine mummy known as Ötzi the Iceman. The experiment demonstrates that ancient microorganisms can still perform modern fermentation processes.How the Ancient Yeast Was Extracted and TestedResearchers from Eurac Research's Institute for Mummy Studies carefully sampled the microbial layer on Ötzi’s skin and clothing, then cultured the yeast under cold‑room conditions before introducing it into a standard sourdough starter.Source: Ötzi’s preserved remains, discovered 1991 near the Italy‑Austria border.Age of yeast: ~5,000 years.Lead microbiologist: Mohamed Sarhan.Fermentation time: dough rose in 24 hours, comparable to modern baker’s yeast.Scientific Metrics: Fermentation Times and ViabilityThe ancient yeast produced a normal rise within 24 hours, indicating viable metabolic activity despite millennia of dormancy. No quantitative yield data were released, but the rapid leavening suggests comparable enzymatic efficiency to contemporary strains.Implications for Food Science and ArchaeologyThis result bridges paleomicrobiology and culinary science, offering a tangible link to prehistoric food practices. It also opens avenues for studying ancient microbial genetics, which could reveal lost fermentation traits.Next Steps: Brewing Beer and Expanding Ancient Microbe ResearchThe team plans to collaborate with German brewer Weihenstephan to test the yeast’s suitability for beer production. Further investigations will assess the genetic profile of the strain and explore other potential applications in food and biotechnology.

Critical Situation Develops at International Space StationIn a dramatic turn of events, NASA has issued an emergency directive to astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), instructing them to take shelter in their spacecraft and prepare for potential evacuation. The order comes in response to a worsening air leak detected in the Russian segment of the orbital laboratory, creating a critical situation that requires immediate attention.Deteriorating Air Leak Triggers Emergency ProtocolsThe air leak, which has been identified in the Russian portion of the ISS, has reached a point where NASA considers it a significant threat to crew safety. While the exact nature and severity of the leak have not been fully disclosed, the decision to order astronauts to prepare for evacuation indicates the situation is serious. The crew has been instructed to remain in their spacecraft, which serve as lifeboats in case a rapid departure becomes necessary.SpaceX Crew-12 Astronauts at the Center of EmergencyThe four astronauts affected by this emergency are part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission, which has been operating at the ISS since February 2026. The crew consists of American astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos. This international team has been conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aimed at preparing humans for future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.Operational Impact on Space Station ResearchThe potential evacuation, while necessary for crew safety, would significantly impact ongoing research at the ISS. The station has served as a microgravity laboratory for decades, with thousands of experiments conducted across various scientific disciplines. A sudden evacuation would require the suspension of these activities, potentially leading to the loss of valuable data and experimental samples. Additionally, the ISS relies on continuous crew presence to maintain critical systems, and an uncrewed station would face significant operational challenges.Future Outlook for International Space OperationsThis incident highlights the inherent risks of human spaceflight and the delicate balance between scientific research and crew safety. While the ISS has experienced air leaks before, this particular situation appears more severe, prompting the evacuation preparation. The coming hours will be critical as NASA and its international partners assess the leak and determine whether evacuation is truly necessary or if the situation can be stabilized. Regardless of the outcome, this event will likely lead to enhanced safety protocols and possibly accelerate plans for next-generation space stations with improved redundancy and safety features.

A Lost Literary Treasure EmergesA never-before-published short story by Edith Wharton, the first female Pulitzer prize winner who encapsulated the so-called gilded age of US society in bestselling novels including The Age of Innocence, has received its first public airing more than a century after it was written.The Discovery of "The Men Who Saved the World"The story, discovered in the author's archives at Yale University, appears in The Strand, a quarterly magazine that has previously turned up lost or previously unknown works by literary luminaries such as Raymond Chandler, Graham Greene and Tennessee Williams. Believed to have been written no earlier than July 1918, the story was found "incomplete and unpublished" in the Edith Wharton Collection at Yale's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.A Tale of Contrasting RealitiesSet during a dinner party in a French chateau towards the end of the first world war, the story tells of the country's wealthiest residents attempting to move on from the conflict that recently scarred them, even as guns are heard still booming and soldiers dying only miles away. The tale is punctuated by the meal being served on a grand dining room table that was used as an operating table for amputations only months before when the chateau was used as a field hospital.Wharton's War Experience Reflected in FictionA main character is a young American nurse called Milly Arden, who observes the household's easy return to its privileged prewar days as she wrestles with the horrors of war and the injuries she has seen and treated. Arden's character appears to be at least in part autobiographical: Wharton, who died in 1937 aged 75, had extensive experience of field hospitals during the conflict also known as the Great War, and helped set up medical care and facilities for affected women and children.Modern Parallels in a Century-Old NarrativeAndrew Gulli, editor-in-chief of The Strand, said the story from more than a century ago has parallels in global events of today. "We live in a time where we're very far away from a lot of horrific events that are happening around the world, and this story sort of encapsulates that mood where there's this beautiful chateau, and people are trying to go back to the old prewar era with the chandeliers and this wonderful dancing, and a dinner party, and not far away the war's still happening," he said.Scholarly Significance and Future DiscoveriesProfessor Isabelle Parsons, a British Open University professor and Wharton scholar who first uncovered the manuscripts, noted that "in the past decade, news of fresh archival discoveries has frequently thrilled Wharton's casual and critical readers." She described the story as "casting a satirical eye over the volunteer efforts of privileged women" and "reads like an experimental attempt – ultimately abandoned by Wharton – at confronting the traumatic effects of warfare through its explicit references to amputation as medical care at the front."

The Lead: A Surreal Wrong‑Com That Puts Friendship on TrialThe Guardian’s latest review spotlights Alice and Steve, a Disney+ “wrongcom” that follows two 50‑ish ex‑lovers‑turned‑best‑friends as their bond is shattered by a scandalous affair with a 26‑year‑old daughter. The series uses dark humor to explore how love, loyalty and generational values collide when a platonic relationship is tested by sexual betrayal. The Show’s Premise: A Friendship Framed as a Love‑Story LabCreated by Sophie Goodhart, the series treats every stage of love as a microscope experiment.Central characters: Nicola Walker as Alice, a fiercely protective friend, and Jemaine Clement as Steve, her long‑time confidant.Plot catalyst: Steve’s affair with Alice’s 26‑year‑old daughter Izzy (Yali Topol Margalith). Generational and Sexual Ethics TensionThe affair ignites a clash between Gen X attitudes and contemporary sexual mores. Clement notes the “different sets of rules” that separate generations, while Goodhart emphasizes that the age gap is secondary to the emotional explosion it triggers. Performances and Comic Chemistry: Walker’s Fury Meets Clement’s SurrealismWalker delivers a “white‑hot rage” that feels authentic, echoing her roles in Unforgotten and The Split. Clement balances a “cad” perception with genuine empathy for his friend, creating a comic chemistry that keeps the absurdity grounded. Thematic Exploration: Friendship, Marriage, and the Limits of LoyaltyBeyond the scandal, the series interrogates long‑term marriage (Alice’s relationship with Daniel, played by Joel Fry) and the idea that platonic bonds can be hotter than marital ones. Goodhart states the show aims to “look at love in all its different shapes and sizes,” from marital stagnation to teenage experimentation. Outlook: A Bold, Controversial Entry in the Wrong‑Com LandscapeWith its blend of dark humor, drug‑laden realism and a willingness to dissect uncomfortable power dynamics, Alice and Steve positions itself as a daring, conversation‑starter for future seasons. Its success will likely hinge on whether audiences embrace its unapologetic examination of friendship turned rivalry.