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'War' review: HBO's delicious legal drama is your next TV obsession
Dominic West and Sienna Miller star in this tale of divorce and betrayal.
Rangers win home finale to go into final weekend still with AL West title chance
The mood had changed completely for the Texas Rangers by time they got back to the ballpark for their home finale while still trying to get in the playoffs.
Rangers win home finale to go into final weekend still with AL West title chance
The mood had changed completely for the Texas Rangers by time they got back to the ballpark for their home finale while still trying to get in the playoffs.
Spence hits first 3 homers of career, helps Astros survive Athletics 7-5
Houston (79-80) remains tied with the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead with three games left in the regular season for both teams.
Spence hits first 3 homers of career, helps Astros survive Athletics 7-5
Houston (79-80) remains tied with the Texas Rangers for the AL West lead with three games left in the regular season for both teams.
Grizzlies' Most Realistic 2026-27 Outcome Could Be Ideal
The Grizzlies may hover around the Western Conference play-in race in 2026-27, an outcome that could balance development with favorable lottery positioning.
Margaret Atwood donates $1-million to establish research chair for bird science
Donation will allow Western University to add a new hire to its biology faculty with the goal of advancing scientific knowledge about birds and bird migration
Earth Tearing Apart Beneath Pacific Northwest
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Scientists have captured an unusually detailed view of a major tectonic system beneath the Pacific Northwest beginning to come apart.
Pioneer of China NewCo model sued in US over trade secret misuse, double-dealing
A legal feud unfolding in New York is putting a spotlight on the work of a business development veteran who is credited for pioneering one of biopharma’s hottest dealmaking mechanism: the China “NewCo” model. In a lawsuit originally filed in New York state court and recently moved to federal court, China’s Lepu Medical Technology has alleged that biopharma business development consultant Su Zhang, who was hired to help shop its GLP-1 weight-loss candidates to Western partners, engaged in corporate double-dealing and trade secret leaks. According to the complaint, while acting as Lepu’s primary dealmaking liaison for a group of obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates, Zhang was secretly double-dipping as the acting chief business officer for a direct competitor, BrightGene Pharmaceutical. “She never adequately disclosed the role, never sought Lepu’s consent, and never proposed any safeguard,” Lepu alleged in its complaint, which was filed in July after Zhang’s consulting firm, CoDevCo, sought certain transaction-based success fees from its angry customer through an arbitration process in Singapore. Lepu, the parent company of Lepu Biopharma, has asked Zhang to pay back its $500,000 retainer and disgorge all benefits she received during the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, plus other damages and relief. The company has also requested the court grant injunctions to protect Lepu’s trade secrets. The ill-fated partnership officially kicked off in December 2024, when Lepu tapped CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism” to identify collaborators for the company’s drug candidates. According to Lepu’s complaint, Zhang personally negotiated and signed the agreement as managing director for CoDevCo, which used her home address. Before the Lepu deal, Zhang made a name following a short stint as the global head of business development for Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. It was during her tenure that Hengrui signed a landmark deal granting exclusive rights for a portfolio of GLP-1 assets to Hercules, which was at that time newly established by a group of private equity and venture capital firms. In addition to the regular upfront and milestone payments, Hengrui also gained an equity stake in Hercules, which later became Kailera Therapeutics. The Hengrui-Hercules deal opened a new paradigm, where a Chinese biopharma company spins off certain early-stage assets to investors for further development through the creation of a new company abroad. The “NewCo” model quickly came into vogue as it allows Western investors to access high-potential assets originating from China at an early stage while giving the Chinese licensors an opportunity to reap long-term benefits through equity stakes in the new firms. The NewCo model proved its value when Kailera staged a record-breaking $625 million IPO on Nasdaq this April, merely two years into the Hengrui deal. Related Kailera CEO 'knew we were in a good spot' before obesity biotech's record-breaking $625M IPO On her LinkedIn page, Zhang described her work at Hengrui as “[b]uilding team and capability from the ground up,” forming NewCo and major pharma partnerships worth billions of dollars. Lepu clearly wanted that kind of track record to help boost its own cardiometabolic portfolio, which includes a range of assets for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and muscle preservation during weight loss treatment. “Lepu’s pipeline is very valuable, but only if Lepu could secure the right international partner to expand into the overseas market during the available commercial window,” the company argued in its complaint. The Chinese biotech said it had little knowledge of U.S. laws, customs or business practices in the business development field, and therefore “needed to rely entirely” on the expertise of Zhang and her team as the firm’s first engagement of a U.S.-based BD consultant. “Zhang’s dominating influence on the business development strategy is further evidenced by the fact that she personally controlled the business-development communications on behalf of Lepu with potential partners,” Lepu said in its complaint. After entering the deal, Zhang introduced Lepu to her four associates. According to Lepu’s version of events, all of them were allegedly employed at different time points to perform similar jobs at other Chinese companies that Lepu described as its competitors, while having access to Lepu’s confidential information. As such, Lepu described Zhang’s team as “a roster of individuals whose primary professional loyalty, by virtue of their concurrent full-time employment, ran to Lepu’s competitors.” As well as the specific examples set out in the case, a look at Lepu’s deals over the period suggests Zhang may have been involved in at least one transaction. During their partnership, Lepu, through its subsidiary Shanghai Minwei Biotechnology, also out-licensed its GLP-1/GIP/FGF21 agonist MWN105 to a NewCo called Sidera Bio in the fall of 2025. The deal included an upfront and near-term payment of $35 million, up to $1.01 billion in milestones, and a 9.99% stake in the Danish startup. It seems likely that Zhang facilitated the Minwei deal given that Lepu is on record as having used CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism.” The big shock for Lepu came in the form of a news article on June 25, 2025. The article, reporting on phase 2 data for BrightGene’s GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist BGM0504, identified Zhang as acting chief business officer of the Lepu rival. Blindsided by her association with BrightGene, Lepu confronted Zhang in July 2025. “Lepu was given assurances that there was nothing to be concerned about and told that Zhang would explain the matter to Lepu,” Lepu alleged in its complaint. “Zhang never did.” Lepu claimed that Zhang had the motive and opportunity to steer potential prospective partners toward BrightGene or other competitors. Later, in February 2026, one of Zhang’s associates joined BrightGene as the vice president for global business development, according to the complaint. Around the same time, Lepu sent written demand letters asking Zhang to account for her BrightGene role, identify what confidential data were shared with the rival firm, and provide any conflict-of-interest or firewall policies during the engagement. According to Lepu, neither CoDevCo nor Zhang answered the questions in their responses. Related Novo vs. KBP: How a $1.3B deal turned into a fraud accusation and an international legal fight In a motion to dismiss filed with the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 4, Zhang’s legal team argued that Lepu’s agreement was signed with CoDevCo, and that an employee of the contractor does not owe fiduciary duties to the client. In its complaint, Lepu said: “That CoDevCo was the contracting entity does not insulate Zhang from personal liability for duties she personally undertook and personally breached.” Taking the argument one step further, the defending party argued that the consulting agreement “does not create a fiduciary relationship even between CoDevCo and Lepu; instead, it identifies CoDevCo as an independent contractor retained to market Lepu’s business to potential western partners.” Although CoDevCo was Lepu’s exclusive business-development contractor, there were no terms stipulating that the consulting firm should serve only Lepu, Zhang’s lawyer noted. As to Lepu’s claims that Zhang misappropriated trade secrets, the defendant argued that Lepu authorized the use of the information so Zhang’s team could perform their service per the agreement. In a rebuttal filed on Sept. 11, Lepu’s lawyer set out why they believe the Chinese biotech satisfied New York law’s misappropriation definition by alleging that the defendant used a trade secret “in breach of a duty or through improper means.” As an alternative to dismissing the suit, the defendant suggested the action should be stayed pending outcomes from the arbitration of a separate case in Singapore. While NewCo pioneer Zhang is defending her business arrangements, momentum behind the NewCo trend has continued unabated into 2026. Through August, Chinese biotech assets have spurred 15 NewCo deals this year, according to local trade publication PharmaDJ.
Renovated building for social science, education and policy institutes will enhance interdisciplinary connections at Northwestern
The newly renovated facility, overlooking Deering Meadow, is a hub for teaching, research and collaboration across fields
Earth is tearing apart beneath the Pacific Northwest
Scientists have captured a subduction zone off Vancouver Island in the process of tearing itself apart, revealing that these massive tectonic systems may die piece by piece rather than all at once. The discovery could help explain ancient plate fragments, volcanic activity, and how hidden breaks beneath Cascadia may influence future earthquakes.
America’s newest soccer star, plus a bad night for Green Bay
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Don’t get fined today. Coming up: 😮 A Falcons blowout win? ✅ The latest MLB playoff clinches 👋 Say hello to Cavan Sullivan Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images It’s a busy day, so this will be short. Important stuff from last night: The Falcons routed the Packers on the road, 35-14, in one of the more surprising results of the early NFL season. A lesson learned: Having a competent quarterback to go with Atlanta’s...
Focus: Americans navigate 'wild West' of health insurance options after dropping Obamacare plans
When Stacy Cox, a self-employed photographer in Kanab, Utah, dropped her Obamacare health insurance plan this year, routine preventive care became a financial dilemma. Now she finds herself weighing $1,200 for a mammogram against survival of her business.
Los Angeles Lakers season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
After a drama-filled offseason sparked by a surprise sale and another Buss family power struggle, a new-look Lakers roster looks to find their place in the Western Conference.
‘Worth the wait’: Social science faculty members describe move to newly renovated 2001 Sheridan Road
For decades, much of Northwestern’s anthropology department had been working out of a two-story house at 1810 Hinman Ave., an Evanston landmark which has faced maintenance issues and is nearly as old as the university. But starting in the 2026-27 academic year, anthropology is one of multiple social science departments moving into one of the...
Kath Smith: Winning breeds winning
Leeds United Women will once again travel to Silsden AFC to face West Yorkshire rivals Bradford City Women, with the two sides meeting in the final Group T fixture of the FA WNL Cup.The Whites current...
Who on Earth Could Start Game 162 for the Astros?
There are three games remaining in the 2026 regular season, and somehow the Astros control their own destiny in the American League West. The Astros have won two of three games this week despite not having a starting pitcher complete three innings. Hunter Brown will start Friday’s game in West Sacramento, with Hayden Wesneski likely […]
Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences Launches Doctor of
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA (September 24, 2026) — Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences has opened applications for its new Doctor of Medical Science program — the first of its kind in
SCIENCE-BATS/
Bats from a cave near the Wat Khao Chong Phran Temple fly out of the cave in search of food at dusk Sept. 14, 2009, in Ratchaburi province west of
SCIENCE-BATS/
Bats from a cave near the Wat Khao Chong Phran Temple fly out of the cave in search of food at dusk Sept. 14, 2009, in Ratchaburi province west of
SCIENCE-BATS/
Bats from a cave near the Wat Khao Chong Phran Temple fly out of the cave in search of food at dusk Sept. 14, 2009, in Ratchaburi province west of
SCIENCE-BATS/
Bats from a cave near the Wat Khao Chong Phran Temple fly out of the cave in search of food at dusk Sept. 14, 2009, in Ratchaburi province west of
Astros at Athletics Game Discussion 9/24/2026
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros will continue their final road trip of the regular season with the first game of a four -game series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, CA…RHP Peter Lambert (8-10) will be on the mound for the Astros, opposite RHP Mason Barnett (1-4) and the Athletics. THE […]
Local business celebrates 30 years of bringing Mexican Western wear to north Georgia
Boots may be her business, but selling her culture is her passion.
Governor Stein Announces $5 Million to Strengthen Small Businesses in Western North Carolina
(RALEIGH) Today in Lansing, Governor Stein announced $5 million in new infrastructure grants to support small business recovery in western North Carolina through the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program. Two years since Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina, Governor Stein continues to advocate for a $10 billion appropriation from Congress to support the next phase …
Greensboro business owners react to deadly shooting on West Market Street, 2 taken out of business in handcuffs
GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Two people were put in handcuffs and taken out of a club in Greensboro on Thursday evening following a deadly shooting on Sunday. The identities of the people taken out in…
Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 vs. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2: How these AI glasses compare
Meta's newest smart glasses are an iterative, expensive update.
Ubisoft hosting new Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch sale, lowest prices ever for Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection, Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, more
Ubisoft is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a brand new sale on the Nintendo eShop, which includes games like Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection, Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, and more at new low prices. Other notable releases are included as well. You can save big on the Mario + Rabbids series, The Rogue Prince of Persia, and more. The full...
ARTSwork announces new Invitational Art Fair
ARTSwork, the sister organization of the Des Moines Arts Festival, will launch a new fall event, the Invitational Art Fair, Nov. 6-7 at the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines. The two-day event will feature 50 professional Iowa visual artists showcasing and selling original works, including ceramics, glass, jewelry, photography, printmaking and sculpture. The…
Tuscarawas County Health Department confirms West Nile virus
The Tuscarawas County Health Department (TCHD) warns the community on Thursday of a horse that tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in the Mineral City area.
Western Ranch Motor Inn sells business; bar and restaurant closing for extended-stay plan
The restaurant and bar inside the Western Ranch Motor Inn is closing.
Nick Robinson talks new film ‘Charlie Harper,’ favorite romantic movies
Seattle actor Nick Robinson shares how his new film, "Charlie Harper" (out Thursday) was impacted by the Netflix Western series "The Abandons."
The Division's New Release is Going Up Against Zelda
The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park launches in November with a new story set in Central Park and the Upper West Side.
Detroit Evening Report: Nonprofit LGBT Detroit provides mental health services at new facility on the city’s West side
A queer support services facility is soon to open on Detroit's West side offering fitness, mental health services, chronic support and more.
Colorado health insurance prices poised for another big jump in 2027
Colorado health insurance prices poised for another big jump in 2027. State and federal subsidies, though, will blunt the price increases for people with lower incomes. Prices for coverage next year will increase by an average of 10% across the state and by even more for those who live in the mountains or on the Western Slope.
Reedijk 'not an academic guy' despite doctorate
New Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk insists he is more a man of action than an academic despite having a philosophy doctorate in sports coaching. The Dutchman is only 35 but had already worked in coaching with Ajax and West Bromwich Albion, Roeselare, Vitesse and Anderlecht before leading Beveren to the Belgian second-tier title and promotion last season. "I'm not a really an academic guy," he told Hibs TV.
Trail Blazers Should Let Their Newest Players Grade the Team
Fresh faces provide a unique lens to test Portland’s chemistry, forcing veterans to refine their communication and ensuring new coach Micah Nori’s system is truly battle-ready.
West Nile illness proves fatal for Stanislaus County resident. First death of 2026
The Stanislaus County resident was younger than 50 years old.
State police investigating after John Deere tractor stolen from Western Pennsylvania business
Police said an unknown-aged male wearing a mask, a hat, jeans and a hoodie stole the tractor that was parked outside.
State police investigating after John Deere tractor stolen from Western Pennsylvania business
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the theft of a John Deere tractor from a Greene County business.
3 things to watch for as Indiana football hosts Northwestern
Indiana starts Big Ten play on Friday night with a home game against the 2-0 Northwestern Wildcats.
Westbrook Health Services Distributes Free Naloxone Across 8 Counties for Save a Life Day
Community health advocates across West Virginia joined a nationwide effort Thursday to place life-saving overdose reversal medication into the hands of the public during Save a Life Day.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade?
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 arrives three years after the Ultra 2. Across those two generations, Apple added satellite connectivity, a larger display, new health sensors, and longer battery life. Are those changes enough to justify replacing an Ultra 2 or paying more for the newest model? Both watches retain a 49mm titanium case, an Action button, a siren, a 3,000-nit display, dual-frequency GPS, and support for recreational diving to 40 meters. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 in the U.S.
Glenville State establishes College of Business as programs expand beyond campus
Glenville State University has established a College of Business as the rural West Virginia university expands online and graduate business programs.
Frugal Fannie’s in Westwood is closing after 43 years in business
The longtime discount clothing store is holding a going-out-of-business sale starting Thursday. A final closing date is not set.
Kaddurah-Daouk named inaugural chair of Precision Behavioral Health
Rima Kaddurah-Daouk, PhD, has been named the inaugural chair of the Department of Precision Behavioral Health, the first department established at the UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences, the university’s newest school.
Miami Central at Northwestern rivalry football game has big stakes
USA TODAY Florida reporters Jon Santucci and Nick Wilson look at the key football games in Week 6 that have Open Division implications.
49ers’ Brandin Cooks Makes Heartfelt Admission After Signing
New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandin Cooks has an unusually personal connection to his newest team.Cooks’ Childhood Ties to the 49ersCooks, a Stockton, California native, signed to San Francisco’s practice squad Tuesday. It’s the seventh NFL team of his 12-year career, but easily the closest to home. He fondly recalled attending 49ers training camps […] The post 49ers’ Brandin Cooks Makes Heartfelt Admission After Signing appeared first on HEAVY.
49ers Get Concerning Injury News Ahead of Cardinals Game
Ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, the San Francisco 49ers kicked off preparations Wednesday, and their initial Week 3 participation report showed a busy list of absences. 49ers Lose Another Defensive Tackle to IR San Francisco placed defensive tackle C.J. West on injured reserve Wednesday with a knee injury, the ninth player the […] The post 49ers Get Concerning Injury News Ahead of Cardinals Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Lexington’s newest concert venue inks deal with new co-owner, promoter
The Rail in The Commons Entertainment District in Lexington will announce concert line-up later this year.
Hope Network acquires behavioral health provider
Hope Network says it has acquired Developmental Enhancement Behavioral Health, expanding access to autism services for West Michigan families.
Claims for unemployment benefits drop to 197,000, the lowest since mid-July
Most Americans enjoy job security
Claims for unemployment benefits drop to 197,000, the lowest since mid-July
Most Americans enjoy job security
Claims for unemployment benefits drop to 197,000, the lowest since mid-July
Most Americans enjoy job security
Multicultural Meet and Greet celebrates belonging and community
Multicultural Affairs for Students (MAS) hosted the 2026 Multicultural Meet and Greet on Sept. 22 in the WMU Student Center.
Downtown Denver design gets the celebration it deserves
Downtown Denver has much to offer when it comes to architectural and design spots worthy of recognition. Some of them are locations that most people are familiar with, but equally
GNDC honors legislator and business with awards at policy summit
Baker Boy was recognized for its continued investment in its people, operations and community
Walker Kessler's ESPN Rise Sends Clear Message to Utah Jazz
A 25-spot rankings surge for the Lakers’ newest center exposes a harsh reality: elite production often stays hidden until paired with superstars and the national spotlight.
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
Smurfit Westrock to Acquire CMPC's Chilean Containerboard and Corrugated Business for $420 Million
Smurfit Westrock has announced its agreement to acquire the Chilean Containerboard and Corrugated business of Empresas CMPC S.A. for $420 million
Regenerative fields, animal science and new markets
What does the future of farming in the Western Balkans look like? The LAN Belgrade team went looking for answers at three recent events. We visited a regenerative farm near Subotica that works with Dutch machinery, joined an animal science...
NBA Western Conference rankings 1-15 entering 2026-27 season
Let’s rank the NBA’s Western Conference teams coming into the 2026-27 season.
Business Briefs: Sept. 25, 2026
Western Mass EDC names new chief marketing officer SPRINGFIELD — The Western Mass Economic Development Council has named Justin Roberts as its new chief marketing officer. Roberts will work with President and CEO Aaron Vega to expand regional storytelling, increase collaboration among members and partners, and build a long-term marketing and communications strategy. Roberts brings […]
Looking back at Notre Dame’s soggy 1993 win over Purdue
One of the best Notre Dame teams of the past 50 years had one hell of a time in the rain in West Lafayette.
In rural Pa., doctors confront the hidden health impacts of environmental disasters
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. In February 2023, George Garrow jumped in his car and hurried to help people impacted by a freight train that had derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The crash happened about a quarter-mile west of the […]
New eligibility rules may stretch NRF, science minister says
Blade Nzimande admits regulations expanding pool of potential beneficiaries might put pressure on grants budget
Many INW businesses report AI integration issues
Some Inland Northwest companies are facing security concerns and public perception issues as they integrate artificial intelligence tools into their operations. A new program at Gonzaga University, however, could help businesses address some of those challenges.
Passing the torch: Who will own the business next?
Across our region, businesses are changing hands. While 350,000 U.S. baby boomers attempt to sell their businesses annually, the Inland Northwest alone holds a pool of 49,000 baby boomer-owned businesses facing transition. However, local and national success rates hover between 20% and 30%. When…
Proposition 4: Allow public financing of political campaigns
In-depth explanations of California ballot Proposition 4, including pros and cons, endorsements and key arguments to help voters make informed decisions.
Manchester United announce seventh annual loss in latest financial record
Manchester United finished third in the 2025/26 Premier League season while recording their lowest wage bill in six years, The Athletic reports.United spent £302 million on wages during the year, dow...
Frugal Fannie’s Westwood Store Retains SB360 Capital Partners to Run Going-Out-of-Business Sale
Frugal Fannie’s Fashion Warehouse, a discount fashion retailers, is closing its doors after 43 years. Owners Kathleen Doxer and Orrin Doxer decided to end
Cloudy Cloak Over the Northwest
A low-lying cloud layer brought autumn ambience to western Washington and Oregon, while mountainous areas near the coast remained above the pall.
Jason Landers: Facing WV's rural healthcare crisis (Opinion)
West Virginians are facing a challenge that we cannot overcome through our unwavering grit alone. There is a growing rural health crisis.
Three Oklahoma State football players questionable vs West Virginia
Three Oklahoma State players are questionable for Saturday's Big 12 opener against West Virginia in Morgantown.
Feds confirm exposure to some levels of Tijuana River odors can lead to health effects
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry analyzed more than 800,000 air measurements collected between September 2024 and May 2025.
Home care business gets new home
FAIRMONT – After working from a home office since opening up in 2025, Midwest Valley Home Care has set up shop in Fairmont at 111 East 2nd Street. Owner Ashley Brown previously worked in the Twin Cities as an emergency department nurse before moving into home health after earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice. “I’ve […]
Palmetto Sports Daily: Clemson takes 1st trip out west, How SC looks to bounce back after loss
Clemson prepares for its first West Coast trip since the ACC expansion, and South Carolina looks for answers as it heads to Alabama.
Alaska Beacon reporter recognized with national science journalism award
Alaska Beacon reporter Yereth Rosen’s award-winning science story weaves together regional indigenous knowledge, scientific study findings and political influences to answer a freighted question about the future viability of village life in Western Alaska after ex-typhoon Halong.
AL West Race Comes Down to the Wire!
The American League West is turning into one of baseball’s most dramatic division races, and it could come down to the final game of the regular season. The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers are tied at 78-79 with just five games remaining. Houston currently holds the tiebreaker after winning the season series against Texas, giving…
Where problems are solved: Get to know the new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building at Case Western Reserve University | CWRU Newsroom
This story is the first in a series introducing the research, people and building that will define Case Western Reserve’s next chapter of discovery....
New Jersey Community Colleges Offer Hands-On Data Science, AI Training
As employers seek workers who can effectively use data science and artificial intelligence, the County College of Morris and Camden County College are working to train students quickly and strategically.
Midland’s Out West prepares for big weekend of entertainment
Out West Midland is scheduled to host the Randy Rodgers Band featuring Ashley Walls on Friday and the XKO Fight Night, which will feature its first female fighters, on Saturday.
'Home Improvement' star Jonathan Taylor Thomas arrested for alleged public intoxication, resisting deputy
Jonathan Taylor Thomas was detained in Westlake Village after reportedly exiting a vehicle.
Sarasota Memorial Invests in Future Healthcare Access for One of Southwest Florida’s Fastest-Growing Communities
Sept. 22, 2026 – With the four-county region expected to grow from approximately 1.2 million residents today to nearly 1.8 million over the next 25 years, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) is moving forward with plans to acquire approximately 120 acres in Manatee County’s fast-growing State Road 64 corridor. Located within Sarasota Memorial’s four-county […]
Speck hired as chief marketing officer at Hyper Energy Bar
Hyper Energy Bar has named Rebecca Speck chief marketing officer as the drive-thru beverage company expands across the Midwest. Speck will lead the company’s brand and marketing strategy. She most recently served as vice president of strategy and insights at Scooter’s Coffee, where her work included brand growth, menu and product strategy and customer insights.…
Single-tenant shop space offers high-visibility west-side opportunity
A single-tenant shop space is for lease on one of the busiest streets in South Dakota.
First impressions of the Lucas Museum on opening day
'Star Wars,' R2-D2, Padmé Amidala, D'Arcy Carden, C.S. Lee: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening day visitors on L.A.'s newest cultural institution.
ICE presence in southwest Kansas prompts temporary business closures
Some businesses in southwest Kansas are shutting their doors temporarily this week as federal immigration agents make arrests.
Marijuana business eyes Oak Bluffs zoning amid legal disputes
A cannabis entrepreneur group’s plans to set up a dispensary on the Island fell through last year, and assets in 90 Dr. Fisher Road in West Tisbury, the former location of the Island’s only marijuana-growing facility, are being liquidated. But representatives of Black Harbor Group, which had rented the West Tisbury location, said they’re making […]
Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek feels mounting pressure
Amid calls for boycotts, resolutions from the Board of Trustees and fans wearing bags on their heads, Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek feels the pressure.
Press Release: The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Awards $15,000 Grant to Ozark Center for Behavioral Health Training in Southwest Missouri Schools
The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Missouri (“Molina”), awarded a $15,000 grant to the Ozark Center
West Tennessee Healthcare Announces Plans to Bring Labor and Delivery Back to Henry County
We're trusted with the health and wellbeing of more than half a million people living across 9,000 square miles of West Tennessee.
Brandin Cooks back in the NFC West
Brandin Cooks signs with NFC West rival and more NFL news on a Wednesday
A Massive Jackpot of Green Fuel Is Locked Underground—and Scientists May Have Just Found the Key
A new study replicated the heat and pressure conditions of Western Australia’s vast iron-ore deposits to produce natural hydrogen gas.
Can the Lib Dems actually get back into power?
After Ed Davey’s final speech at the party conference, many supporters are still uncertain of the direction required for Westminster
Aberdeen's attacking issues laid bare
The 48 chances created by Stephen Robinson's side is the lowest tally in the division - same for their 37 chances from open play - while they have the fewest shots on target (18) and second-fewest shots (70). It must be noted Aberdeen haven't had the kindest fixtures, with Robinson keen to point out they have faced five of last season's top-six teams in their opening seven games. Eight points have been accrued, leaving the Dons seventh in a congested table and just two points shy of fourth, so there's no reason for panic.
West Tennessee Healthcare announces plans to bring labor and delivery back to Henry County
West Tennessee Healthcare announced plans to bring labor and delivery services back to Henry County Tuesday, with a goal of welcoming the first deliveries in spring 2027.
Hometown’s Best: Nominate your favorite Southwest Virginia pet care business in 2026
What’s your favorite place to take your pet in Southwest Virginia?