GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The United States and Iran were scheduled to hold their second round of talks regarding Iran's nuclear program on Tuesday in Geneva, as the U.S. increased its military presence in the Middle East and Iran conducted large-scale maritime exercises, according to reports from the Associated Press. Simultaneously, the state of Michigan filed an antitrust lawsuit against major oil and gas companies, alleging collusion to suppress competition from cleaner energy technologies. In other news, researchers are exploring innovative methods of storing solar energy.

The nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran come amid heightened tensions in the region. The meeting in Geneva followed a previous round of discussions. The U.S. military presence in the Middle East was increasing, and Iran was holding large-scale maritime exercises, according to the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Michigan's lawsuit against major oil and gas companies represents a different approach to climate-related litigation. The state accused the companies of driving up energy costs by hindering the adoption of cleaner and cheaper technologies like solar power and electric vehicles, according to legal experts. This strategy, while potentially risky, could be a "game changer" if the state can overcome initial dismissal attempts by the industry defendants, legal experts said.

In the realm of renewable energy, researchers are working on a new method to store solar energy. The approach, known as molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage, aims to trap solar energy in the bonds of a molecule, releasing it as heat on demand. Heating accounts for nearly half of the global energy demand, with two-thirds of that met by burning fossil fuels, according to Ars Technica. While the concept has been discussed for decades, it has yet to be widely adopted.

In other news, demand for GLP-1s, weight-loss drugs, has skyrocketed over the last year, with users more than doubling from 2024, according to Vox. Users report fatigue and nausea as being quite common during use. But with more people using the drug, more side effects are popping up.