Science is taking a back seat today to the wider forces shaping research, energy and risk. Markets are watching a wave of securities-fraud class actions against firms including Zillow, Via Transportation, Hub Group, GeneDx and Futu, as investors weigh allegations ranging from misstated finances to undisclosed regulatory exposure ahead of August lead-plaintiff deadlines. Energy security is also in sharp focus after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed two tankers struck mines and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, an account the U.S. disputes, underscoring how quickly geopolitical conflict can threaten a critical global shipping corridor. In Britain, expected moves by incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to revisit North Sea licenses for Rosebank and Jackdaw signal a renewed clash between climate goals and industrial policy. And in Venezuela, the human toll after last month’s earthquakes has climbed past 5,000 as IMF emergency funding begins to support recovery.