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NEW YORK — Shares of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. rose sharply in morning trading Friday, extending a rebound that began a day earlier when the stock absorbed one of the largest post-initial public offering lockup expirations in recent market history without a sustained selloff.

By midmorning Eastern time, SpaceX stock, trading under the ticker SPCX, stood at $122.58, up $7.66 or 6.67 percent. The advance built on Thursday’s 6.14 percent gain that closed the session at $114.92. That earlier rally came as approximately 911.5 million previously restricted shares held by employees and early investors became eligible for sale, expanding the potentially tradable float significantly.

The company, founded by Elon Musk, completed its initial public offering on June 12, pricing shares at $135 and raising tens of billions of dollars in what ranked among the largest U.S. listings on record. Shares opened higher and later climbed as high as $225.64 before retreating in subsequent weeks amid broader technology sector volatility, concerns over valuation and the approaching share unlocks. By early August the stock had traded near its post-IPO lows around $105 before the latest recovery.

On Aug. 4 SpaceX reported its first quarterly results as a public company. Second-quarter revenue reached $7.81 billion, up 92 percent from $4.07 billion a year earlier and ahead of analyst expectations. The net loss narrowed to $541 million from $1.01 billion in the year-earlier period. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $3.54 billion from $1.21 billion.

The Connectivity segment, driven primarily by the Starlink satellite broadband service, generated $4.29 billion in revenue and $1.66 billion in operating income. The AI segment contributed $2.56 billion in revenue, reflecting growth in cloud infrastructure services and related subscriptions, though it recorded an operating loss. The traditional Space segment, encompassing launch services, posted $962 million in revenue and an operating loss.

SpaceX ended the quarter with approximately $100 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and a backlog of $47.5 billion. The company had earlier closed its IPO, generating about $85.7 billion in net proceeds, and completed a $25 billion investment-grade bond offering.

The Aug. 6 lockup release represented the first major tranche of restricted shares becoming available, estimated at roughly 20 percent of eligible insider holdings. Market participants had anticipated potential selling pressure that could weigh on the share price. Instead, volume was elevated and the stock closed higher, suggesting absorption of supply without a disorderly decline. Additional staggered releases are scheduled in the coming months, including further portions through October, a larger release after third-quarter results and the remaining lockup expiration in December.

Analysts and investors continue to weigh the company’s growth trajectory against its valuation and capital intensity. Starlink subscriber expansion and government contracts, including multi-year awards for Starshield, support the Connectivity business. Launch cadence remains high, with Falcon 9 vehicles achieving frequent reuse. At the same time, heavy investment in Starship development, manufacturing capacity and AI-related infrastructure has kept overall profitability negative on a net-income basis even as adjusted metrics improved.

The stock’s path since the IPO has been volatile. After the early peak, shares declined more than 50 percent from the high at points, reflecting both profit-taking and questions about how quickly the company can convert rapid top-line growth into consistent bottom-line results. The first earnings report and subsequent lockup test provided the market with fresh data points on operational momentum and the willingness of existing holders to sell into strength or hold.

Broader market conditions have also played a role. Technology and growth-oriented stocks have experienced swings tied to interest-rate expectations, artificial-intelligence spending scrutiny and macroeconomic data. SpaceX’s combination of aerospace, satellite communications and expanding compute offerings positions it at the intersection of several high-profile themes, amplifying both upside interest and downside sensitivity.

Trading volume on the days surrounding the lockup and earnings has been substantial, reflecting active institutional and retail participation. Options activity has also been notable as traders positioned around key price levels and the unlock event. The average analyst price target remains well above the current trading range according to consensus data, though individual estimates vary widely, underscoring differing views on long-term execution risk and competitive dynamics in launch, broadband and AI infrastructure.

SpaceX continues to pursue vertical integration across manufacturing, launch operations and satellite deployment. The company has highlighted the scale benefits of its approach in recent communications with investors. Government work, commercial satellite deployments and enterprise connectivity deals form the core of near-term visibility, while longer-horizon projects such as next-generation vehicles and expanded AI capacity represent both opportunity and spending commitments.

Friday’s early gains kept the focus on whether the post-lockup stability can persist as additional shares become eligible in coming weeks. Investors will monitor subsequent trading volumes, any commentary from management and the pace of operational milestones for signals on demand for the stock. The next scheduled earnings report is expected to provide further insight into the trajectory of the three reported segments and capital allocation priorities.

As a newly public company with a market capitalization still measured in the trillions of dollars even after the post-IPO decline, SpaceX remains one of the most closely watched names in the technology and aerospace sectors. The combination of rapid revenue growth, substantial cash reserves and ongoing investment programs continues to shape the debate over its valuation and the durability of recent price support.

The morning advance on Aug. 7 added to the evidence that the initial wave of unlocked shares was absorbed without triggering a prolonged decline, at least in the immediate aftermath. Whether that pattern holds through the remaining unlock schedule will be a central question for market participants in the months ahead.

Scientists at Stanford University and the Arc Institute have used artificial intelligence to design entirely new viruses capable of infecting and destroying bacteria, a scientific first that researchers say could open new paths for fighting drug-resistant infections while simultaneously reigniting debate over how quickly biotechnology is outpacing the safeguards meant to govern it.

The research, published this week in the journal Science, marks the first time scientists have used AI not simply to tweak existing viral genomes but to generate functional, previously unseen viruses from scratch, built entirely from patterns the AI learned by studying genetic sequences drawn from millions of organisms across the natural world.

Moving Beyond Copying Nature

For years, scientists have been able to synthesize viruses in the lab, typically to develop and test antiviral drugs and vaccines or to better understand how these microorganisms behave. That earlier work, however, relied almost entirely on replicating known pathogens or their existing variants. The new study represents a meaningful departure from that approach, using AI to generate genuinely novel genetic blueprints rather than working from a template drawn directly from nature.

The research team worked with bacteriophages, viruses that infect only bacteria and are increasingly viewed as a promising alternative to antibiotics in the fight against drug-resistant infections. Because bacteriophages have relatively small, comparatively simple genomes, they are easier to synthesize and manipulate under controlled laboratory conditions than viruses capable of infecting humans or other complex organisms.

How the AI Models Were Built

The viruses were generated using Evo 1 and Evo 2, foundational AI models developed specifically for computational biology applications. Both systems were trained on genetic sequences, rather than text, drawn from across all domains of life, allowing them to learn complex evolutionary patterns, including how genes are typically organized, which sequences tend to be conserved across species, and the underlying biological constraints that allow an organism to remain functional. According to researchers, the models were further trained specifically on genetic sequences from thousands of viruses belonging to the same broad family as Phi X-174, a well-studied bacteriophage capable of infecting the bacterium E. coli, while deliberately excluding any viral sequences capable of infecting humans, animals, plants or fungi from that additional training step.

Using Phi X-174 purely as a reference point, rather than a template to be copied, the AI models generated hundreds of thousands of candidate viral genomes engineered to retain the biological architecture necessary to recognize and infect E. coli, while differing considerably from any naturally occurring bacteriophage at the level of their actual genetic sequence.

From Hundreds of Thousands of Candidates to 16 Working Viruses

Researchers narrowed that enormous pool of AI-generated candidates down to roughly 300 genomes considered most likely to be functional, based on factors including gene organization and the presence of regulatory elements informed by the biology of Phi X-174. Each of those 300 candidate genomes was then physically synthesized, molecule by molecule, in the laboratory and introduced into E. coli bacteria to test whether it could actually produce a working virus.

Of those 300 synthesized genomes, only 16 gave rise to fully functional bacteriophages. Each of the 16 successful viruses featured previously unpublished genetic sequences, different genes, new regulatory elements, and in some cases entirely different genome sizes compared with anything found in nature. The viruses’ behavior also varied considerably from one another, with some infecting bacteria more quickly than others and differing in their overall ability to replicate.

Testing Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Beyond simply confirming that the AI-designed viruses could function, researchers also tested their ability to combat bacterial resistance directly, a key question given the viruses’ potential as an alternative to antibiotics. In that experiment, scientists exposed strains of E. coli that had already developed resistance to Phi X-174 to a mixture of the newly AI-designed phages alongside a comparison mixture of natural phages similar to Phi X-174. The AI-generated viruses were able to rapidly overcome the bacteria’s existing resistance and establish infection, a result the study’s authors said demonstrates what they described as a path toward AI-generated phage therapies capable of targeting rapidly evolving bacterial pathogens.

A Milestone With Two Very Different Implications

Researchers involved in the work say the approach could eventually support the development of highly personalized bacteriophage treatments capable of evolving nearly as quickly as the bacterial pathogens they are designed to fight, a potentially significant advance given the growing global public health threat posed by antibiotic-resistant infections.

At the same time, the achievement has renewed concern among biosecurity experts about the pace at which AI-driven genome design is advancing relative to the regulatory frameworks meant to govern it. While the viruses created in this specific study were deliberately restricted to targeting bacteria rather than humans, the underlying capability, using AI to design an entirely novel, functional virus from scratch, raises broader questions about how such tools might eventually be misused.

Moritz Hanke, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, warned about that dual-use risk directly, noting that a similar genome language model could in principle be asked to design something considerably more dangerous, such as an influenza genome modified to be more infectious or lethal. Speaking separately to The New York Times, Hanke said there remains what he described as a huge disconnect between the speed at which the underlying science and technology are advancing and the development of regulatory frameworks capable of keeping pace with it.

A Debate That Predates This Study

Concerns over AI’s potential role in biological weapons development are not new. A study published roughly three years ago by the Rand Corporation warned that even the AI systems available at that time had the capacity to help refine the planning and execution of attacks using biological weapons. Rand separately cautioned that the speed at which AI systems continue to evolve routinely outpaces governments’ ability to develop and implement effective regulatory oversight, a warning that has only grown more pointed as genome-design capabilities like those demonstrated in this new study have continued to advance.

With the research now published and drawing significant attention across both the scientific and biosecurity communities, calls are likely to grow for closer collaboration between AI developers, biologists, policymakers and regulators to establish clearer safeguards around genome language models before the technology advances further. In the meantime, the study’s authors have framed their work primarily as a proof of concept for AI-assisted phage therapy, even as the broader scientific community continues grappling with how to balance the technology’s genuine medical promise against the biosecurity risks it simultaneously introduces.

Louisiana health officials urged residents Thursday to take precautions following a sharp rise in severe infections tied to a dangerous flesh-eating bacterium found naturally in warm coastal waters, after the state confirmed at least five deaths so far this year.

The Louisiana Department of Health said the state has recorded nine total cases of Vibrio vulnificus in 2026, with all nine patients hospitalized and five of them ultimately dying from the infection. Over the same period across the past decade, Louisiana has averaged just seven cases and one death annually, meaning this year’s toll is already running well above the state’s historical norm even before the peak of the summer season concludes.

How This Year’s Cases Occurred

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, all nine cases reported this year were linked to wounds exposed to seawater, and every one of the affected patients had underlying health conditions at the time of infection. In a statement, the department explained that Vibrio bacteria occur naturally in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers between May and October, when water temperatures rise. Infection can occur when an open wound is exposed to brackish or salt water, or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters.

Vibrio infections can result in a range of illness, from general gastrointestinal illness and wound infections to more severe bloodstream infections, or sepsis. Health officials specifically warned that certain species, including Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections, with some patients requiring intensive care or limb amputation. According to the department, about one in five people infected with Vibrio vulnificus dies, sometimes within just a day or two of first becoming ill.

A Pattern That Has Continued From Last Year

This year’s elevated case count follows a similarly severe year in 2025, when Louisiana recorded at least 26 Vibrio vulnificus cases and five fatalities, according to the state health department. That earlier surge included at least two deaths specifically linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, including one Florida resident who died after eating oysters harvested from Louisiana waters. Jennifer Armentor, the molluscan shellfish program administrator at the Louisiana Department of Health, described the situation during a meeting of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force at the time as, in her words, “just prolific right now,” underscoring how unusually active the infection season had become.

A Broader Regional Trend

Louisiana is not alone in seeing an uptick in severe Vibrio vulnificus cases this year. The Florida Department of Health has recorded two deaths from the bacteria so far in 2026, following a particularly severe stretch in recent years that included 19 deaths in 2024 and five more in 2025. Florida health officials have said the state saw notably higher infection rates following major storms, including Hurricane Helene in 2024, which brought extensive floodwater and standing water into coastal communities, conditions that can create additional opportunities for Vibrio exposure.

Experts have also pointed to rising ocean and coastal water temperatures tied to climate change as a factor contributing to the bacteria’s spread into new regions. Vibrio vulnificus was detected for the first time this spring in water samples taken from coastal areas of New York’s Long Island, a location well outside the bacteria’s traditional range in the warmer waters of the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States.

Understanding the Risk

Vibrio vulnificus is one of roughly a dozen Vibrio species capable of causing the broader illness known as vibriosis, but it is considered the most serious and potentially life-threatening of the group, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria are most commonly contracted between May and October, when ocean water temperatures reach their warmest levels, and can enter the body either through an open wound exposed to seawater or through the consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.

Health officials have emphasized that people with certain preexisting health conditions face significantly elevated risk of severe illness or death if infected. Those at highest risk include individuals with liver disease, weakened immune systems, or other conditions that impair the body’s ability to fight off infection, a pattern consistent with this year’s Louisiana cases, in which every affected patient had an underlying health condition at the time of infection.

What Residents Are Being Advised to Do

The Louisiana Department of Health urged residents to seek medical care immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, painful, warm or discolored, and stressed the importance of specifically informing any treating health care provider about the wound’s water exposure, given how quickly Vibrio vulnificus infections can progress to a severe or life-threatening stage.

Beyond wound-related exposure, health officials also recommended a series of precautions aimed at reducing the risk of infection through seafood consumption. Recommendations included cooking seafood thoroughly rather than eating it raw or undercooked, wearing gloves when handling raw shellfish, and keeping raw seafood separated from cooked food to avoid cross-contamination. For those with open wounds, officials advised avoiding exposure to saltwater or brackish water altogether when possible, and, if entering the water cannot be avoided, covering the wound with a waterproof bandage and thoroughly washing it afterward.

A Season That Isn’t Over Yet

With Vibrio infections historically continuing through October as coastal water temperatures remain elevated, health officials in Louisiana have signaled that this year’s case and fatality totals could still climb further before the season’s typical seasonal decline begins later in the fall. Given that this year’s toll has already surpassed the state’s 10-year historical average with several weeks of peak risk still remaining, health officials are continuing to urge heightened caution among residents and visitors engaging in coastal water activities or preparing raw seafood throughout the remainder of the summer.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first messenger RNA-based vaccine for seasonal influenza, clearing Moderna’s mFLUSIVA for use in adults 50 years and older, the company announced this week.

The approval, granted Wednesday, marks a milestone for mRNA technology beyond its established use in COVID-19 vaccines. mFLUSIVA received traditional approval for adults ages 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older. Moderna has committed to a postmarketing study to confirm clinical benefit in the older age group.

“Flu remains a significant public health challenge, and mFLUSIVA provides an important new option for America’s seniors,” Moderna Chief Executive Officer Stéphane Bancel said in a statement. “This approval also reflects the ongoing potential of our mRNA platform to help address important public health challenges through continued scientific innovation.”

The decision followed a unanimous recommendation in June from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. The panel concluded that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed its risks for adults 50 and older.

Approval for the 50-to-64 age group rests on results from a large Phase 3 trial that enrolled more than 40,000 adults across 11 countries. In that study, known as Fluent, mFLUSIVA demonstrated 26.6 percent relative vaccine efficacy compared with a licensed standard-dose influenza vaccine. Among participants 65 and older in the same trial, relative efficacy was 27.4 percent. Most adverse reactions were mild to moderate and temporary, including injection-site pain, fatigue and headache. Serious adverse event rates were similar between the mRNA vaccine and the comparator.

For adults 65 and older, the accelerated approval was supported by a separate Phase 3 study showing stronger antibody responses than a high-dose influenza vaccine. Confirmation of clinical effectiveness in this group will come from the required follow-up study.

Moderna said it expects supplies of mFLUSIVA to become available at select retailers in the coming weeks, in time for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season. The vaccine will join the company’s existing U.S. portfolio, which includes Spikevax and mNEXSPIKE for COVID-19 and mRESVIA for respiratory syncytial virus.

Seasonal influenza continues to impose a substantial public health burden. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated tens of thousands of deaths in the United States in recent severe seasons, with older adults facing the highest risk of serious complications, hospitalization and death. Traditional egg-based and recombinant vaccines have long been the mainstay of prevention, but their effectiveness can vary from year to year depending on how well the selected strains match circulating viruses.

mRNA technology offers potential advantages in manufacturing speed and adaptability. Traditional flu vaccine production often begins months in advance based on predictions of circulating strains. mRNA platforms can be updated more rapidly once a new strain is identified, a capability that public health experts have long sought for influenza.

The path to approval was not without complications. Earlier this year the FDA initially declined to review Moderna’s application, citing concerns about the trial design. The agency later reversed that decision and accepted the filing. The subsequent advisory committee review and final approval proceeded on the basis of the submitted clinical data.

mFLUSIVA is a trivalent vaccine targeting influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B/Victoria strains. It will compete in a crowded market that includes products from Sanofi, GSK, CSL Seqirus and AstraZeneca. Pricing details were not immediately disclosed.

For older adults, who often receive high-dose or adjuvanted formulations to compensate for age-related declines in immune response, the availability of an additional option with demonstrated relative efficacy and immunogenicity data is expected to expand choices for clinicians and patients. Public health authorities continue to recommend annual vaccination for this population as the most effective way to reduce severe disease.

The approval represents Moderna’s fourth product cleared by the FDA and the first mRNA influenza vaccine authorized in the United States. The company has pursued a broader pipeline of mRNA candidates targeting other infectious diseases and has highlighted the platform’s versatility in repeated communications with investors and regulators.

As the 2026-2027 season approaches, attention will turn to uptake among eligible adults, real-world effectiveness data and the results of the confirmatory study in those 65 and older. Health officials and clinicians will also monitor how the new vaccine fits into existing immunization recommendations and whether its manufacturing flexibility translates into improved strain matching in future seasons.

Influenza remains a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness among older adults. The introduction of an mRNA-based option adds a new tool grounded in clinical evidence of superior relative performance against standard-dose vaccines in the studied population. Moderna has stated that supply will be available for the upcoming season, positioning the product for use alongside other authorized flu vaccines this fall and winter.

The regulatory clearance closes a multiyear development effort and underscores the continued evolution of vaccine platforms more than five years after mRNA technology first entered widespread use during the COVID-19 pandemic. For adults 50 and older, the decision provides a newly authorized choice backed by large-scale trial data and the endorsement of the FDA’s independent advisory committee.

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