Hello, N2K’ers!

The winner of Cheddar’s world-famous News Haiku™ competition is John G., who wrote this haiku, on the theme of the Airforce buying up Tesla Cybertrucks to practice blowing them up:

Here’s your prize, John. It’s a gif of Rutger Hauer’s character dying in “Bladerunner.”

We contacted John on Friday to let him know he’d won.

“Amazing,” he said. “'I’d like thank my beautiful wife Allison for her love and support and give a shout out to my friend Ben M for his 40th birthday.” 

Consider it done, John G.!

This week, our world-famous News Haiku™ competition theme is that only 54% of Americans now drink alcohol — a record low reflected in N2K readership — the majority of whom are “rethinking” alcohol according to last week’s poll.

Send me a haiku on the subject by Thursday at noon ET right here. Winner gets glory — lots of glory, and a GIF!

Now, let’s talk about the news you Need2Know?

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• The data highway to Mars is the new space race

• Hip-hop and martial arts: The first robot games

• Shares in UnitedHealth rise on Buffett stake

• Considering a solar panel to fit on your balcony?

• Retail sales rise as shoppers shrug off pressures

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▼ 0.29% ) $DJI ( ▲ 0.08% ) $NDX ( ▼ 0.4% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

 $BRK.A ( ▼ 0.2% )  $UNH ( ▲ 11.98% )  $NUE ( ▲ 0.73% )  $LEN ( ▲ 1.15% )  $HDP ( ▲ 1.8% )  $AMZN ( ▲ 0.02% )  $WMT ( ▼ 0.61% )  $TGT ( ▼ 1.18% )  

The data highway to Mars is the new space race

NASA has once again ignited innovation in the space industry by sparking a race to establish the data pipeline to Mars. Shifting its strategy from owning and operating relay orbiters to purchasing connectivity "as a service," NASA is driving a competitive push among commercial players. The change mirrors the agency’s earlier moves with astronaut transport and rocket launches.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. As NASA’s existing relay network — built on aging spacecraft such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN — continues to operate well past its intended lifetime, the agency is making moves to ensure reliable, scalable communication for future missions.

NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) to tackle the monumental problem. The goal is to build two key components: a “lunar trunkline” between Earth and the Moon and an “end-to-end communication framework” that can relay data from Mars rovers and landers to Mars orbiters and, ultimately, to Earth.

This opens the door for major space tech companies. Blue Origin has introduced its Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, leveraging its Blue Ring platform to support missions as early as 2028. Similarly, Rocket Lab has revealed its Mars telecom orbiter concept, focusing on its role in the boringly-named “Mars Sample Return” campaign. SpaceX, already a major player in commercial space, proposes adapting its Starlink technology for Mars communications.

The long-term vision is clear: to replace patchwork relay networks with fault-tolerant, scalable systems. NASA aims to create “an interoperable marketplace” where it is just one of many customers, paving the way for a permanent human presence on the Moon and Mars. Meanwhile if somebody could help me fix my wireless router here on Earth I’d be grateful.

Song of the day: Audrey Hobert, ‘Sue Me’

A sugary pop track about bumping into someone she dumped at a party, “sue me I wanna be wanted” is the repetitive chorus of Audrey Hobert’s debut single about “young adult emotions.” She also directed the video.

Hip-hop and martial arts: The first robot games

The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games kicked off in Beijing this past weekend with a spectacular opening ceremony that showcased the immense potential and entertaining prowess of humanoid robots. These robots dazzled the audience by dancing hip-hop, performing martial arts, and playing musical instruments such as the keyboard, guitar, and drums. The ceremony set a vibrant tone for the competition, which features over 500 robots from 280 teams across 16 countries, including the U.S., Germany, and Japan.

As the competition unfolds, robots will vie in sports such as soccer, running, and boxing, signifying a significant leap in the capabilities of AI. During the opening ceremony, robots demonstrated skills in soccer and boxing, with some even backflipping and cheering, creating an almost surreal sports environment. One notable moment included a robot soccer player scoring a goal, which led the robot goalkeeper to fall dramatically to the ground. Just like in a real soccer match.

China’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, quoted a government officer in Beijing: "Every robot that participates is creating history." 

The games will continue for three days.

Today on the ‘gram: Robot fight!

Post of the day: A geography lesson

Quote of the Day

Shares in UnitedHealth rise on Buffett stake

Berkshire Hathaway $BRK.A ( ▼ 0.2% ) , led by legendary investor Warren Buffett, unveiled four new investments in a Thursday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including a $1.57 billion stake in troubled UnitedHealth Group $UNH ( ▲ 11.98% ) . The significant investment has raised speculation about whether Buffett himself orchestrated the move, as he typically handles Berkshire's largest investments — those exceeding $1 billion.

The firm’s stock has declined sharply over recent months after a surprise earnings miss as well as lowered revenue and profit forecasts, particularly in its Medicare Advantage business. It’s also under scrutiny from government investigations over Medicare overcharging. 

Still, evidently the Oracle of Omaha believes the firm is undervalued and that its share price will recover. His record of trouncing the S&P 500 for decades has inspired legions of followers. Berkshire reportedly purchased nearly 5 million UnitedHealth shares in the second quarter, and the stock surged nearly 8% in aftermarket trading following the revelation. The move reflects Buffett's continued interest in expanding Berkshire’s $258 billion portfolio across diverse industries, from healthcare to manufacturing and housing.

While Buffett plans to retire as CEO at the end of this year, his ability to identify lucrative opportunities remains unmatched, even in recent years when he has struggled to find investments for Berkshire's substantial $344 billion cash reserves. It’s a nice problem to have, I’d imagine.

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👍️ 

Yes.

Considering a solar panel to fit on your balcony?

Solar energy is becoming increasingly accessible for U.S. homeowners, thanks to compact plug-in solar panel systems designed for balconies, decks, and backyards. These systems, long popular in Europe, are now gaining traction in the U.S. due to their affordability and simplicity. President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget-and-policy package will also scrap residential rooftop solar tax credits, so people are looking at cheaper solar.

Terrence Dwyer of Oakland, California, embraced solar with a $2,000 plug-in system that features two 400-watt panels, an inverter, a smart meter, and a circuit breaker. He saves about $35 per month on his power bill and noted that environmental benefits were his primary motivation: “We like the environmental benefits of solar and wanted to engage with solar in some fashion,” he told the Associated Press.

Manufacturers like Bright Saver are leading the charge in this new solar movement. The company’s nonprofit co-founder, Cora Stryker, said “the interest and demand have been overwhelming. It is clear that we are hitting a nerve — many Americans have wanted solar for a long time but have not had an option that is feasible and affordable for them until now.”

Cost remains a factor, as prices for systems in the U.S. hover around $2,000, compared to Europe’s $600 systems. However, for Baltimore resident Craig Keenan, the benefits of renewable energy outweighed the cost. “The amount of carbon emissions that we produce as a species is very, very unsustainable for our world,” Keenan explained, sounding like a man who hasn’t caught up with the zeitgeist lately. Installation took him only 15 minutes, and he estimates savings of $40 per year.

Advocates like Utah Rep. Raymond Ward aim to clear hurdles for homeowners by passing legislation that eliminates restrictive regulations on plug-in solar. “Europe has these things. You can go buy them and they work...There is no reason why we shouldn’t have them here in the United States,” Ward said.

Retail sales rise as shoppers shrug off pressures

In July, shoppers across the United States defied economic concerns tied to tariffs, spending at a steady pace and boosting retail sales by 0.5%. The Commerce Department’s report also revealed that June sales were stronger than initially expected, revised upward to 0.9%, signaling resilience in consumer behavior despite rising prices.

Auto sales drove much of the July increase with a 1.6% surge, returning to normal levels after a volatile few months caused by the 25% tariffs on imported cars and parts. Solid gains were also reported in other sectors, such as clothing stores (+0.7%), online retailers (+0.8%), and home furnishings (+1.4%). Analysts attributed some of the spending to promotional events like Amazon Prime Day $AMZN ( ▲ 0.02% ) , which spurred competition among major retailers like Walmart $WMT ( ▼ 0.61% ) and Target $TGT ( ▼ 1.18% ) .

With major retailers set to report earnings over the coming days, analysts are watching to determine how businesses absorb or pass on tariff-related costs ahead of the busy holiday season.

Poll of the Day: Solar vie