Engineering News Today — July 18, 2026

As engineers and scientists continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge and innovation, today's headlines showcase a range of breakthroughs and challenges across various fields. In the realm of environmental management, European authorities are considering culls of the cormorant population, which is known to have a significant impact on local fish populations. Meanwhile, researchers are making strides in materials science, with the development of a prototype bicycle tire that leverages the strength and endurance of silk to outperform traditional nylon materials.

Advances in technology and engineering are also yielding exciting results, from the development of a new optical chip design that can control light speed in real time to upgrades to the Large Hadron Collider, which aims to unlock the secrets of the Higgs boson. In addition, scientists have made progress in understanding plant biology, identifying a 'dimmer switch' that can regulate the immune system of plants. Furthermore, a portable system for testing PFAS has been developed, significantly reducing testing time from days to hours. These breakthroughs demonstrate the power of interdisciplinary research and innovation to drive progress and address complex challenges.

Today's signal:
• 'Chainsaw massacre': Europe mulls culls for fish-guzzling cormorant (phys.org)
• New optical chip design controls light speed in real time, simulations suggest (phys.org)
• The Large Hadron Collider is being upgraded so that it can unlock the secrets of the Higgs boson (phys.org)
• Prototype bicycle tire uses silk to outperform nylon in strength and endurance (phys.org)
• Researchers identify 'dimmer switch' for plants' immune system (phys.org)
• Portable system cuts PFAS testing time to hours (phys.org)