The Trump administration has taken unprecedented steps to exert control over the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) flagship medical research publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The move marks a decades-long loss of autonomy for the journal, which is considered the “voice of CDC” and a respected source of federal scientific … Read more
A recent explosion of a multi-ton spacecraft’s upper stage over the Caribbean released significant amounts of atmospheric pollution, according to scientist Connor Barker. The incident, which occurred during SpaceX’s Starship rocket, is estimated to have released 45.5 tonnes of metal oxides and 40 tonnes of reactive nitrogen into the upper atmosphere. Barker estimates that this … Read more
A University of Minnesota neuroscientist, Sylvain Lesné, is resigning after a decades-long investigation into his research on Alzheimer’s disease revealed he had doctored images in several papers. The study, published in 2006, suggested a specific compound was responsible for the disease and sparked significant funding and further research. However, an investigation by academic sleuths found … Read more
The full Snow Moon, which is expected to rise on February 11, will be a treat for skygazers. The moon’s moment of greatest fullness occurs at around 8 a.m. Central Time on February 12. However, due to the moon’s position in the sky, it will appear equally full to the naked eye two nights in … Read more
In 2025, tech giants OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Anthropic will invest heavily in artificial intelligence research, fueling a high-stakes competition for the development of advanced “frontier” foundation models. As the pursuit of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) gains momentum, billions of dollars and gigawatts of resources are expected to be poured into the industry. The outcome … Read more
Scientists have discovered a unique signaling mechanism in brain cells that uses a “muscle-like” process to relay information over long distances. The research, led by the Lippincott-Schwartz Lab, found that dendrites, the branch-like extensions of neurons, contain a network of contact sites that amplify calcium signals similar to how muscles contract. These contact sites regulate … Read more
The UK government is pushing Apple to create a backdoor in its end-to-end encrypted data, giving authorities access to iCloud communications. This move undermines the fundamental right to private spaces and communications. Apple’s Advanced Data Protection feature turns on encryption for backups and other data stored in iCloud, making it impossible for even Apple to … Read more
Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, has faced its worst humanitarian crisis in decades as rebels swept across the city, killing nearly 3,000 people in just one week. The international community is on high alert, with concerns that the conflict could escalate into a broader war among neighboring countries. Red Cross workers have been working tirelessly … Read more
Actor David Schwimmer has criticized Twitter owner Elon Musk for allowing rapper Kanye West to make more “hate-filled” antisemitic statements on his platform X. Schwimmer, who was previously banned from the site, claims that Musk is giving West a megaphone and allowing him to spread hate speech. Schwimmer pointed out that West has 32.7 million … Read more
Real Madrid’s top-of-the-table clash with Atlético Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu ended in a 1-1 draw, as Julián Álvarez’s penalty gave the visitors the lead before Kylian Mbappé equalized in the second period. The match saw an unbalanced defense, with Real Madrid fielding a makeshift backline that raised questions about their ability to contain … Read more