SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " mic " 14,554 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Microsoft Realizes It’s Epically Screwed Up Windows 11 as Users Rage at Copilot AI Crammed Everywhere
Windows VP Pavan Davuluri effectively admitted outright that the company went too far to shove AI down users' throats at all costs.
Microsoft announces Xbox Partner Preview for this week, with Ryu Ga Gotoku's Stranger Than Heaven finally making a showing
Microsoft has announced its next Xbox Partner Preview showcase will take place later this week, focused on third-party games from the likes of Sega and GSC.
Microsoft Exchange Online service change causes email access issues
Microsoft is working to address an ongoing service issue that has intermittently prevented some users from accessing their cloud-based Exchange Online mailboxes via Outlook mobile and Mac desktop clients since Thursday.
UNH Paul College Top Public Business School in New England for Academic Experience and Career Outcomes
UNH’s Paul College ranks No. 63 nationally in 2026 Poets&Quants rankings, leading New England public schools in academic experience and career outcomes.
Starmer says ‘every lever’ will be explored to ease rising costs of living from Iran conflict
PM will chair Cobra meeting with key ministers and Bank of England on Monday, as experts warn of economic shock
Closing the women’s health gap: 5 key focus areas and why they need more research
Only 6% of private investment targets women's health, a World Economic Forum report says. 5 examples show how strategic investments could change this.
Microsoft Plans Better Windows 11 RAM Management and a Smoother User Experience
Microsoft recently announced a plethora of changes coming to Windows 11 to reshape the operating system into a completely stable and enjoyable experience. Today we learn that Microsoft plans a major background usage overhaul with future updates, focusing on RAM usage and overall memory management, s...
Scouting Michigan State basketball Sweet 16 matchup with UConn
Get a first glimpse at the NCAA Tournament East region Sweet 16 semifinal matchup between 3-seed Michigan State basketball and 2-seed UConn.
Energy Attacks in War on Iran Could Turn Economic Shock Into Long-Term Damage
A new phase targeting oil and gas infrastructure in the Persian Gulf threatens to hurt businesses and customers around the world for months or even years.
As mayoral election looms, D.C.’s business class worries about what’s next
A potential leftward shift in the wake of the pandemic and the Trump administration’s cutting of thousands of federal jobs has sparked unease in the city’s business community.
Mum on his own replacement, Bennet disrespects voters
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is playing an arrogant game of hide-and-seek with Colorado voters as he seeks to abandon his Senate seat to become governor. Bennet insists that if he is elected governor in November, he will wait until he is inaugurated in January 2027 before he resigns from the Senate so he can unilaterally […]
Stock markets rocked by Trump’s Iran ultimatum, as UK economy faces growth hit
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
St. Louis Blues Weekly Prospect Report (March 22)
Jiricek has big scoring week; McIsaac announces future plans; Ralph, Michigan State head to NCAA Tournament with Mayich, Clarkson University eliminated; Peterson scored pair, including a SH beauty for Springfield
2026 Best Business Schools | How Alumni Rate Their Undergraduate Business Degrees
Alumni rate their undergraduate business programs in Poets&Quants’ 2026 ranking, evaluating academic experience, career preparation, advising, and how well their degrees support long-term career goals.
Dean for Basic Science Colin Duckett tapped to serve as Boston University Provost
Duckett, executive vice dean for basic and preclinical science, will begin his tenure as chief academic officer at Boston University starting in July.
Michigan State basketball time, TV channel set for Sweet 16
Michigan State basketball knows when it will be playing, even before it knows its opponent in the Sweet 16 in Washington on Friday night.
These Michigan U.S. Senate candidates took money from ICE contractors
Anti-ICE messaging is expected to be featured prominently in Michigan's hotly contested U.S. Senate Democratic primary.
Microsoft: Removing some Copilots will improve Windows 11
: 'Doze boss admits OS needs smaller memory footprint, fixes for old issues like bad Bluetooth, more prominent WSL
Scientists Open Moon Rocks Locked Away Since 1972 – and Find Something Totally Unexpected
Decades after being sealed away, Apollo-era lunar samples are revealing unexpected chemical signatures that challenge long-standing assumptions about the Moon’s composition.
Vermont may look across borders to help bring in business
House passes bill to create sister state program for economic development.
Jerry Hanlon, longtime Michigan football coach, dies at 96
"Michigan Athletics has lost one of the finest ambassadors and mentors our football program has ever known," U-M AD Warde Manuel said in a statement.
Extendend interview: Dr Roham Alvandi on Iran, Britain, and the futures that might have been
From Cold War power games to the cultural aspirations of the Pahlavi era, this extended conversation pulls back the curtain on the global forces that continue to shape - and be shaped by - Iran today. Dr Roham Alvandi is Director of the Iranian History Initiative at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Science diplomacy, research and global health
Nature Microbiology - As a young scientist from the global south, engaging in science diplomacy has brought greater purpose and meaning to my career, writes Delfina Fernandes Hlashwayo.
Science diplomacy, research and global health
Nature Microbiology - As a young scientist from the global south, engaging in science diplomacy has brought greater purpose and meaning to my career, writes Delfina Fernandes Hlashwayo.
Michael McCarthy Considering Three Races As Options For Journalism's Return
After Journalism worked five furlongs in company Sunday at Santa Anita, trainer Michael McCarthy said he is looking at three potential races to kick off the colt’s 4-year-old campaign. Journalism could return in either the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) or Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland, both on April 18, or ...
Apple Store Prices for SanDisk SSDs Are Suddenly Astronomical
A 200% price hike is extraordinary.
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026.
US, Iran threaten more energy strikes as gas prices surge. What to know
As the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran enters its fourth week, the economic consequences continue to rattle markets.
The trope of ‘choosing pets over people’ is not new
Letter: The problem isn’t the beaver on the banknote – it’s a politics that no longer recognises what holds value, writes Dr Michael J Richardson
Cuba Says Its Military Is Prepared as Trump’s Threats Multiply
A senior Cuban official said the country is preparing for a possible military assault as President Donald Trump increases economic pressure on the government in Havana and suggests it could be the next US target after Venezuela and Iran.
Third-generation cafeteria owner won't force his 4 sons to take over
Michael Greene, who runs Matthews Cafeteria, shares the highs and lows of managing a family business, and why his kids may not take over one day.
White House navigates vaccine politics, midterm risks in CDC director search
The Trump administration faces complicated political dynamics as it seeks someone to helm the key public health agency suffering a prolonged leadership vacuum.
White House navigates vaccine politics, midterm risks in CDC director search
The Trump administration faces complicated political dynamics as it seeks someone to helm the key public health agency suffering a prolonged leadership vacuum.
Where to watch Oklahoma vs. Michigan State in March Madness Second Round: Time, TV Channel
The No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners face the 5 Michigan State Spartans in the Second Round of the women's NCAA Tournament. Here's how to see all the action.
What time is Michigan women's basketball's second round game?
Michigan cruised to a blowout victory over Holy Cross in their opening NCAA Women's Tournament matchup. See who they play next.
Eating More Ultra-Processed Foods Could Damage Your Bones. Here's Why
Eating higher amounts of ultra-processed foods is associated with lower bone mineral density and a higher risk of hip fractures, even in younger adults under 65.
Teaching Health Through Food: Kayla’s Passion for Nutrition
In celebration of National Nutrition Month, Renee Dease met with Special Olympics Michigan staff member, Health Messenger, and athlete, Kayla Cornell, to talk about how she empowers Special Olympics athletes to build healthier habits through practical cooking skills and nutrition education. Check out their conversation below.
Arizona Cardinals GM perhaps gave hint about Michael Wilson's future
We compare what Monti Ossenfort said this offseason about Michael Wilson with what he said about Trey McBride last year.
March Madness live updates, scores: No. 3 Gonzaga battling No. 11 Texas; No. 3 Illinois facing No. 11 VCU; Duke, Michigan, MSU bound for Sweet 16
Scientists Propose a Radical New Way To Detect Gravitational Waves Using Atomic Light
A new theoretical study suggests that gravitational waves may leave subtle signatures not in giant detectors, but in the light emitted by atoms.
Microsoft says it'll make Windows 11 a calmer OS with fewer upsells or ads, as it tries to win back users
Microsoft has now confirmed it’s scaling back “upsells” (or ads/recommendations) in Windows 11, as it tries to win back users.
More school-based health clinics fill growing needs
An increase in school-based health clinics is sweeping the states of Ohio and Michigan, following research that grounds positive health outcomes for ...
Mapping a career in electron microscopy
Nature Reviews Chemistry - Ahead of his 60th birthday, Paul A. Midgley, Professor of Materials Science at the University of Cambridge, discussed his life in science.
Business investment in the era of digital transformation
The weak performance of business investment across the OECD since the Global Financial Crisis holds back potential growth. However, it masks a strong investment dynamic in digital assets such as hardware, software, and databases. This column describes how this divergence between digital and non-digital assets has intensified from the mid-2010s. The strong investment performance of the US relative to the rest of the OECD is almost exclusively a digital phenomenon. A ‘digital divide’ is emerging, where laggard countries are accumulating digital capital per worker more slowly than those with higher initial starting levels.
March Madness live updates, scores: No. 3 Gonzaga battling No. 11 Texas; Duke, Michigan, Michigan State bound for Sweet 16
Michigan meeting only 40% of mental health workforce needs, report finds
A new report shows Michigan’s mental health workforce is in a crisis.
Barber reflects on shooting outside of his business
A man was shot and killed outside a local business in Youngstown’s first homicide of the year yesterday afternoon.
March Madness live updates, scores: No. 1 Duke takes on No. 9 TCU; Michigan State, Michigan bound for Sweet 16
March Madness bracket live updates, scores: No. 3 Michigan State takes on No. 6 Louisville; Michigan routs Saint Louis
Microsoft could drop the forced Microsoft account sign-in during Windows 11 setup
Windows 11 nudges you to use a Microsoft account, and it's been getting worse since the last few Windows updates, but that could change soon.
NCAA tournament live bracket updates, scores: Follow men's March Madness Saturday games with Michigan, Duke back in action
Refund checks coming for former Boston Sports Club members, AG says
Former members of Boston Sports Clubs in Massachusetts may be eligible for a refund if they were wrongfully charged by the company during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wellness expo offers financial and health resources to Allen County families
According to a press release, the free event is open to the public and seeks to help reduce health and economic disparities, in turn improving and saving lives.
NASA’s Hubble accidentally caught a comet breaking apart in real time
In an incredibly lucky cosmic accident, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured a comet breaking apart in real time—something astronomers have long tried and failed to observe. The comet, C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), wasn’t even the original target, but when researchers pivoted to it, they unknowingly caught it mid-disintegration into multiple pieces.
People inside Microsoft are fighting to drop Windows 11's mandatory Microsoft Account requirements during setup
Microsoft's big sweeping set of improvements coming soon to Windows 11 don't address its controversial Microsoft account requirements, but that might soon change.
High Gas Prices, Driven Up by the Iran War, Loom Over the Midterms
The war has complicated the Republican message on affordability. Democrats see an opportunity to drive their economic message while tying President Trump to an unpopular overseas conflict.
Microsoft Promises Slew of Windows 11 Changes in Response to "Microslop" Criticisms
With every Windows 11 update seemingly introducing a new bug or somehow breaking some core functionality, it seems as though trust in Microsoft and Windows is at an all-time low, with the recent "Microslop" insult popping up in online tech circles as a sort of culmination of the recent spate of issu...
Laid Off in Midlife, China’s Reform Generation Braces for Downward Mobility
The future once seemed boundless for those who grew up during China’s reform era. Now in middle age, they are pinned between economic stagnation and institutional age discrimination.
Yankees news: Optimism at shortstop
2026 looks promising at shortstop; Carlos Lagrange was electric this spring; Michael Kay defends Judge
Michigan's mobile businesses bring convenience to your door
Mobile salons, saunas and gaming trucks are booming in Michigan as entrepreneurs meet rising demand for doorstep convenience and flexible service.
Michigan vs Saint Louis prediction, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round
Our March Madness experts pick the winner for No. 1 Michigan vs No. 9 Saint Louis in the 2026 NCAA Tournament on March 21
Scientists turn probiotic bacteria into tumor-hunting cancer killers
Scientists have engineered probiotic bacteria to act as tumor-seeking drug factories. In mice, these bacteria infiltrated tumors and produced a cancer-fighting drug right where it was needed. This targeted approach could make treatments more effective and reduce side effects. More research is needed before it can be tested in people.
Gran Turismo 7 Was an Inspiration for Microsoft Flight Sim 2024's PSVR2 Mode, Coming Soon
Out early this year
Tectonic shift: Earth was already moving 3.5 billion years ago
Scientists have uncovered the oldest direct evidence yet that Earth’s tectonic plates were on the move 3.5 billion years ago. By analyzing magnetic fingerprints in ancient rocks, they reconstructed how parts of the planet slowly drifted and even rotated over time. This challenges long-standing ideas that early Earth may have had a rigid, unmoving surface. Instead, it suggests the planet was already dynamic—and possibly setting the stage for life—much earlier than expected.
Microsoft Is Finally Ready to Make Windows 11 Less Terrible After Bloating It With AI Crap
Less Copilot, better search, and more taskbar customization are apparently in the pipeline.
Brian Michael Bendis' Powers Animated TV Show in the Works
Bendis and co-creator Michael Avon Oeming are participating in the show's development.
Microsoft rolls back some of its Copilot AI bloat on Windows
The company is reducing Copilot entry points on Windows, starting with Photos, Widgets, Notepad, and other apps.
'Keep it Kountry': How Kountry Wayne refused to code-switch and became comedy's most authentic voice
The Georgia-born comedian stands out through his authentic Southern voice and unconventional family dynamic as a father of 10, now breaking into film.
Microsoft's 7-point plan to fix Windows 11 makes macOS Tahoe look golden
macOS Tahoe may have its critics, but even Microsoft is struggling to find things to like about Windows 11. The...
Microsoft confirms a major Windows 11 update with faster Explorer, reduced Copilot, and more
Windows 11 in 2026 will bring taskbar fixes, better performance, lower RAM usage, and fewer updates as Microsoft responds to user feedback.
Windows 11 is finally getting a movable taskbar
Microsoft is also working on a smaller taskbar option
Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitely
Pause updates “for as long as you need.”
This is Microsoft’s plan to fix Windows 11
Microsoft is focusing on performance, reliability, and experiences this year.
Charleston Waterkeeper opens Community Science Lab for researching water quality, monitoring microplastics
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WBCD) — Charleston Waterkeeper has opened a first-of-its-kind Community Science Lab, inviting residents, students, and volunteers to take a hands-on role in monitoring Lowcountry wat...
35 photos that show what life looked like in 1973
A senior portrait so perfectly 1973 it could have been Michael Kelso's yearbook photo — the side-swept hair, the wide lapels, the expression of a guy who knows exactly how good-looking he is. The menu behind him says coffee is 15 cents.
Politics Friday: Consumer safeguards gain bipartisan support at the Capitol
Friday at noon, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst talks about proposals to protect consumers from scams and other ways Minnesotan’s might be swindled. Plus, a check-in with the state’s economic development commissioner.
Opinion | There’s No Judicial Climate Science Scandal
My co-writer and I didn’t commit academic misconduct in our chapter for a federal evidence manual.
Unilever in talks to sell food business to smaller rival McCormick
Unilever, which owns Hellmann's mayonnaise and Knorr stock cubes, seeks to focus on higher-growth businesses.
I made a Michelin-starred chef's version of a McDonald's McMuffin
The Michelin-starred chef's bacon and egg muffin was crunchy, cheesy, and moist. It tasted way better than a McDonald's McMuffin breakfast sandwich.
Michigan confirms measles outbreak in Washtenaw County: What to know
An initial case was identified in an unvaccinated adult who visited sites in Ypsilanti and Canton earlier this month. Since then, two more related cases have been reported.
The Homicide Upending French Politics
A recent killing of a neo-Nazi activist could bring France’s far-right party closer to power than it’s ever been.
Pittsburgh Steelers salary cap update after free agency
The Pittsburgh Steelers were active in the early portion of free agency, with general manager Omar Khan making waves with a big-time trade for wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and several free agency additions.
Younger Chinese Americans are fighting to save traditions
Younger business owners are adapting to challenges their parents didn’t face: historic tariffs, dwindling adherence to tradition and lower foot traffic in a post-pandemic San Francisco.
Marmite maker Unilever in talks to merge food business with US-based McCormick
Group, which also owns Dove and Hellmann’s, will focus more on personal care products if deal agreed
Where to watch Michigan State vs. Colorado State in March Madness First Round: Time, TV Channel
The No. 5 Michigan State Spartans face the 12 Colorado State Rams in the First Round of the women's NCAA Tournament. Here's how to see all the action.
New Spider Mimics ‘The Last of Us’ Zombie Fungus Cordyceps
A newly discovered species of spider in the Ecuadorean Amazon mimics a pathogen, known as a zombie fungus, to protect itself.
Demand destruction fears rise after Iran war drove up oil and gas prices; UK government borrowing jumps
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
Unilever Confirms Talks on McCormick Offer for Food Business
Unilever Plc said it’s in discussions to sell its food business to McCormick & Co. in a major shift for the maker of Hellmann’s mayonnaise.
Unilever in takeover talks with McCormick for food business
Unilever said on Friday it was in talks with U.S.-based McCormick & Company about selling its foods business, which includes brands such as Hellmann's mayonnaise and Knorr soups and seasonings.
Santa Fe small businesses awarded microgrants to pursue new opportunities
A total of 40 Santa Fe business owners received the microgrants, which were valued at between $3,000 and $5,000.
Trump’s global agenda flies into domestic headwinds
Even as US President Donald Trump calls for international support for the war in Iran, within the US there are dissenting voices, as not everyone is convinced that war is the answer. What is clear is that domestic factors will increasingly limit Trump’s foreign policy and diplomatic engagement. Academic Derek Grossman discusses the issue.
America started a war. The economic pain will be borne by countries that never asked for it
The war in Iran has delivered what economists call a “black swan” event — an unforeseen shock so destructive, no one is immune to it.
La Michoacána Burgos struck in hit and run crash in Elkhart
After being struck, the Buick continued through the parking lot and hit the La Michoacána Burgos.
Scientists turn CO2 into fuel using breakthrough single-atom catalyst
Researchers have created a cutting-edge catalyst that turns CO2 into methanol more efficiently than ever before. Instead of using clumps of metal atoms, they engineered a system where each single indium atom actively drives the reaction. This dramatically reduces energy needs while making the process easier to study and optimize. The result could accelerate the shift toward cleaner fuels and sustainable chemical production.
Unilever in talks to combine food business with McCormick, WSJ reports
Unilever is in talks to separate its food business and combine it with spice maker McCormick in an all-stock deal which could come within weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing sources.
Unilever in Talks to Combine Food Business With McCormick, Report Says
Unilever Plc, the maker of Hellmann’s mayonnaise, is in talks to combine its food business with McCormick & Co., according to a report in the Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter.
Exclusive | Unilever in Talks to Separate Food Business and Combine It With McCormick
The remaining Unilever company would focus on beauty, personal-care products and home.
Markiplier to Microdramas: The Ankler x NAB Show’s Future of Entertainment
Share Subscribe Vegas, baby! The Ankler is heading back to NAB Show for a second year in a row — and doubling down on conversations with the smartest people in the industry. From April 18–22, we’re partnering again with the industry’s biggest media and tech gathering to break down the Business of Media and Entertainment as it’s actually evolving: faster, riskier and increasingly driven by new formats, new audiences and new power players. This curated series will bring together top creators, executives and innovators to tackle the forces reshaping the industry — from the AI disruption of Hollywood’s creative ecosystem to the rise of the creator economy, shifting audience behavior and the changing economics of production. We’ll be rolling out more programming in the coming weeks — including top speakers from leading AI studios, prediction markets and beyond — so keep an eye on the Business of Media and Entertainment hub. But first up, we’re announcing two panels about what’s actually working in Hollywood: The Scary-Smart Business of Horror A good scare has become one of the entertainment economy’s most reliable engines. With disciplined budgets, built-in fandoms and global box office upside, horror consistently outperforms. From theatrical releases to streaming-first originals and creator-driven IP, the genre is artistically flexible and financially durable — and one of the last truly communal experiences for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. Join YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, whose independent feature Iron Lung earned more than $50 million at the global box office, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear and screenwriter Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant) for a conversation moderated by Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey about why horror travels so effectively across platforms and borders, how studios and independents are building sustainable genre pipelines and why the next wave of breakout franchises may emerge from unexpected sources. Inside the Microdrama Boom Short-form serialized storytelling is having a major moment. Microdramas, social-native series and creator-led narratives are capturing massive audiences with low-cost, rapid production cycles and direct-to-fan distribution. What was once dismissed as niche or experimental is now attracting major platform investment. Moderated by Jarvey, this panel of microdrama creators and executives — including one of the format’s top stars and producers, Kasey Esser, and Dhar Mann Studios’ head of vertical content, Erin McFarlane — examines how format innovation, fandom dynamics and algorithmic discovery are reshaping the economics of scripted storytelling and what traditional studios can learn from these agile models. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Lynne@theankler.com Share