SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " disc " 10,429 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
UA provides $1 million in seed funding grants
The I3R Watershed Grants Program recently awarded $1 million to 15 new interdisciplinary research teams at the University of Arkansas. The program is designed to spark new research collaborations, accelerate...
Eau Claire City-County Health Department to offer discounted well water testing
Eau Claire City-County Health Department to offer discounted well water testing
Several Final Fantasy XIV Modding Communities Have Banned Popular NSFW Modder
The bans came after modder Noffletoff was credibly accused of participating in graphic discussions of illegal content
Microsoft CEO Discusses His Goals For The Future Of Xbox, Feels 'Fantastic' About The IP Portfolio
"We want to be a great publisher and a great platform provider"
The Business of Educating Black Parents, Teachers and Kids
Parents once used her name to discipline their children. That unexpected moment sparked an idea that would become a growing education business.
Guardant Health co-CEO Helmy Eltoukhy on breast cancer test
Guardant Health co-CEO Helmy Eltoukhy joins CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the breast cancer test, managing cancer with a blood test, and more.
Business leaders, policymakers to gather for Capitol Connections Breakfast
The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce held its Capitol Connections Breakfast Friday morning, bringing together business leaders to discuss politics, policy and the upcoming midterm elections.
Show-Me-State Politics: Missouri voters deciding new ballot issues; judge hears case over book bans in schools
KY3’s Tyler Wayne and KY3 Missouri Capitol Bureau Chief Hannah Falcon discuss this week in Show-Me-State Politics.
Northfield floats local-business incentives to assuage TIF concerns
As Northfield continues to consider creating a tax increment financing district, village officials are beginning to formally explore potential incentives for local businesses as well as proposals to mitigate concerns from local school districts. Village trustees spent a majority of their Tuesday, Sept. 22 Committee of the Whole meeting discussing possible measures to quell hesitations […]
US Senate approves legislation to address pilot, air traffic control mental health issues
WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The US Senate approved bipartisan legislation to modernize regulations on mental health guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers to encourage early disclosure and treatment. Commercial airline pilots often c...
Employees of Eddy Street restaurants discuss recent shooting, impacts on business
Employees from restaurants near Notre Dame say the recent shooting on Eddy Street has negatively impacted business. Gun violence in the neighborhood to the south of Notre Dame has spiked in the past two years.
October Prime Day 2026: Amazon's biggest early deals from Hanes, DeWalt, Apple and more ahead of the Prime Big Deal Days event
We have the scoop on top pre-Prime Day discounts ahead of the October savings event, including tech must-haves, vacuums, fall style upgrades and more.
Eau Claire City-County Health Department to offer discounted well water testing
The health Department offers two different tests for purchase.
US Senate approves legislation to address pilot, air traffic control mental health issues
The US Senate approved bipartisan legislation to modernize regulations on mental health guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers to encourage early disclosure and treatment.
US Senate Approves Legislation to Address Pilot, Air Traffic Control Mental Health Issues
WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The US Senate approved bipartisan legislation to modernize regulations on mental health guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers to encourage early disclosure and treatment. Commercial airline pilots often conceal mental health conditions for fear ...
The Reality of Human Sex Differences: Why It Matters for Science, Medicine, and Policy, and Why We Need to Talk About It
This lecture is part of the NIH Scientific Freedom Lecture Series, which is designed to promote the principles of gold standard science by providing a formal venue for thoughtful discussion of complex scientific topics. Each...
Proposed Changes to Demographic Data Collection in the Census Could Impact Efforts to Address Health and Health Care Disparities
This issue brief provides an overview of the decennial census and discusses potential implications of the changes outlined in a September 2026 proposed rule to prohibit the collection of race and ethnicity data on the census and exclude many noncitizen immigrants from the apportionment count.
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.
Claude spots a mystery enzyme scientists overlooked
Autonomous agents flagged a family of phage enzymes with CRISPR-like repeats, though what the system does remains unknown.
Democrats press RFK Jr. on an ethics agreement change involving law firm fees
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces scrutiny from congressional Democrats over ethics disclosures | Newsradio 1140 WRVA
CERN has begun disconnecting the Large Hadron Collider
CERN has started replacing some of the Large Hadron Collider’s most important magnets as part of its High-Luminosity upgrade. The new superconducting magnets will produce fields about 40% stronger, allowing particle beams to be squeezed more tightly before they collide. That should create far more collisions for the ATLAS and CMS experiments to analyze, giving physicists a much larger window into the fundamental workings of the universe.
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
Scientists discovered two bizarre new sea spiders that are “nightmare fuel”
Scientists discovered two strange new sea spider species in the Salish Sea, including a hairy-legged, red-eyed species that can groom itself with comb-like appendages. Another is frequently covered in tiny parasites, and researchers say many more undiscovered sea spiders may still be hiding in the region.
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.
Whole Hog Politics: Trump plays the hits, but struggling GOP seeks new material
[Watch Whole Hog Politics Live: Hill Insider members can join us live today at 9 am ET as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon go deep on this week’s political news. Members can join the discussion…
Sony reportedly surveying developers about PlayStation disc-ending decision - is it having second thoughts?
Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production has been hugely controversial, seemingly even among developers. A rumoured survey suggests Sony has noticed.
Are girls more social from birth?
Madeleine Finlay sits down with her co-host and Guardian science editor, Ian Sample, to discuss three science stories from the week, including a study that offers a clue in the age-old debate about whether sex differences are present from birth or a product of socialisation. Also on the agenda is the super El Niño, which is predicted to lead to 450,000 deaths in the next six months, and an answer to why the UK’s meningitis outbreak earlier this year was so big.
Chelsea charged by FA over discriminatory chanting
Chelsea are charged by the Football Association over alleged discriminatory behaviour by fans during their win at Fulham in August.
Talk of US export ban on diesel deepens US crude futures' discount to global benchmark
Washington's talk of a possible ban on diesel exports is widening the gap between US crude oil futures and the global Brent benchmark, a signal that markets expect US refiners to process less crude oil if their diesel output gets stuck at home.
Testing return ahead for Iraola and Liverpool
Liverpool will return from the international break to a "real test", says BBC Radio Merseyside's Chris Coughlin. The Red Kop team discussed Liverpool's start to the Premier League season and how much more difficult it is going to get for Andoni Iraola's side with the upcoming fixtures.
See how this Baton Rouge nonprofit connects area farmers with consumers
As Big River Economic & Agricultural Development Alliance celebrates its 30th anniversary, executive director Darlene Adams Rowland discusses the organization’s growth and work to support local farmers.
Visit Manchester, NH, names Jessica Martin as first executive director
Under Martin’s leadership, Visit Manchester will focus on building awareness of the city, encouraging people to discover what is already here, and creating opportunities for visitors to experience Manchester year-round
BISG’s Industry Champion Kris Kliemann Works to Improve the Global (Rights) Business
From improving the system for rights discovery to standardizing royalty statements, this year's award winner seeks to better the global publishing industry…
Georgia Institute of Technology professor Munmun De Choudhury discusses AI, mental health and humanity
On Wednesday evening, students, faculty and community members gathered in Mills Hall to hear Munmun De Choudhury, a computer scientist, social scientist and professor of interactive computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, speak as part of the Hastings Initiative lecture series. De Choudhury’s research focuses on digital mental health and the effects of emerging […]
Connections: Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for Sept. 25, 2026, puzzle No. 732
Welcome to Connections: Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
Falcons – Packers instant recap: Making the Lambeau leap
It started off bad, and after the first two weeks of the season, that led many of us to brace for the worst. Michael Penix Jr. threw an interception, the team allowed a quick scoring drive for the Packers, and trouble seemed to be on the horizon. Then the switch flipped, the Falcons discovered what […]
Glenwood cremation business searched in South Chicago funeral home investigation
A cremation business in Glenwood is now part of a broader investigation connected to the South Chicago funeral home where authorities discovered 56 bodies last month.
Lansing cremation business searched in South Chicago funeral home investigation
A cremation business in Lansing is now part of a broader investigation connected to the South Chicago funeral home where authorities discovered 56 bodies last month.
Caleb Williams Gets Discouraging Injury Update Before Bears-Eagles Game
Caleb Williams received a discouraging injury update before the Bears-Eagles game, putting the Chicago quarterback’s status in focus. The post Caleb Williams Gets Discouraging Injury Update Before Bears-Eagles Game appeared first on HEAVY.
At the White House, President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping both stress the importance of discussing AI
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 […]
Letter: Ethics of science cannot be separated from who funds it
From Vincent Straub, Interdisciplinary researcher, University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford, UK
Senate bill on college athletics won’t ‘save’ NCAA sports, Sam Acho says
ESPN analyst Sam Acho discusses his perspective on the Senate bill aimed at restructuring college sports.
PlayStation Reportedly Polling Game Developers After Decision to Kill Discs Sparks Backlash
PlayStation is reportedly sending a lengthy survey to game developers with a question about how they sell physical games after their decision to stop producing physical game discs prompted intense backlash.
Packers vs. Falcons Week 3 Game Discussion
Join the APC community to see if the Packers can make it two wins in a row!
Twilio (TWLO) Keeps Climbing as Investors Rediscover its AI Business
Twilio Inc. (NYSE:TWLO) rose another 3.1% on September 24 to close at $299.66. The run has come alongside a series of analyst upgrades. TD Cowen lifted its target to $300 from $260, and Rosenblatt, Wells Fargo and UBS all raised theirs in the same stretch. The stock has roughly tripled from its low of $98.44 […]
Game Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (99-59) @ Philadelphia Phillies (87-71)
Brewers will go for their 100th win for the first time in franchise history against the Phillies
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Dolly Day and other weekend events fill hometowns
DOLLY DAY EVENTS: Our hometowns celebrate 9-2-5 with disco, karaoke and more
Kenora to hold science festival events today and Saturday
Families can enjoy a live science show tonight at the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre, and the Kenora Science Carnival this Saturday.
OKC small-business owners share lessons from the front lines
Small business owners in Oklahoma City gathered at Commonplace Books to discuss challenges and community support in local entrepreneurship.
Archaeologists discover 'tomb of the very highest rank' in 2,700-year-old Etruscan cemetery
Archaeologists have discovered a massive Etruscan burial mound with a vast assortment of grave goods north of Rome.
Discovery Channel’s ‘Moonshiners’ stars, local business excited for Freedom to Home Distill Act
NEWPORT AND ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)- Earlier this month, Tennessee’s First District Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) introduced a bill to end a more than 150-year ban on home distill…
Iranian president claims Mojtaba Khamenei is in good health, able to govern
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discusses Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s health and his conversations with him on ‘Special Report.’
Politics Friday: How would having a woman as governor changes Capitol issue set?
Friday at noon, Minnesota is on the verge of joining the solid majority of states to have a woman as governor. We discuss what impact that could have on issue debates. Also, a look at the polling.
Sponsored Content: The Big E Brings Big Names and Nonstop Entertainment
Discover the exciting entertainment lineup at The Big E, featuring headline concerts, local performers, family-friendly shows, strolling acts, and nonstop live entertainment across the fairgrounds.
‘Business as usual': Pelinka discusses running Lakers amid sale of team
Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka discusses the new sale of the team and how they are going about their business in the front office.
This Book Made Bill Nye the Science Guy
Bill Nye joins Books That Changed My Life to discuss the Newbery Medal-winning novel that set his life’s course: "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch."
Scientists spot a new crater on the Moon
Explore the new Moon crater, the largest yet discovered, and its impact on lunar exploration.
Rumor: Mario + Rabbids dev pitched Zelda spin-off to Nintendo featuring Ganondorf
According to a report from Insider Gaming, the team behind the Mario + Rabbids games once made a pitch to Nintendo for a Zelda spin-off featuring Ganondorf. Nintendo and Ubisoft Milan were apparently discussing their next collaboration in 2022. Previously, this team made Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. The initial pitch was an...
Iowa State researcher part of multistate team recognized for work to improve livestock reproduction
Karl Kerns, assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University, is part of an interdisciplinary team recognized this week with agInnovation's national 2026 Excellence in Multistate Research Award for collaborative work to improve reproductive performance in cattle and sheep.
Scientists Discovered a Mysterious Force Eating Away at Cars, Bridges, and Monuments
When water slides on a surface, it can pick up an electric charge—and that can have consequences for metals exposed to the elements.
RFK Jr.'s ethics filing reveals book deals worth millions of dollars
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s annual financial disclosure revealed he has received two lucrative book advances and free flights from a friend while in office.
Meet the expert: Shelby Buso on building the business case for climate resilience
Discover how cities can embed resilience into everyday decision-making by aligning climate risk, investment, funding, and long-term planning.
Princess Diana’s Painful Mental Health Struggles Revealed in Brother’s Explosive Memoir
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Princess Diana’s brothe...
Detroit’s entertainment economy needs more than star power to grow, Big Sean and others say
Entertainment should be a bigger part of Detroit's economic pie, said panelists during a Detroit Homecoming discussion with Grant Gilbert, Sean “Big Sean” Anderson and Shawn Wilson.
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.
Disability concerns shape talks on healthcare worker assault penalties
Legislative negotiators working on solutions to address violence against healthcare workers offered a glimpse Wednesday into their discussions.
Cornwall resident, filmmaker Lena Dunham to give book talk in town
In a 2022 essay for Architectural Digest, Lena Dunham discussed living on a home constructed on her parents’ Connecticut property in Cornwall.
Paid influencers quietly push political messaging on social media
Paid content creators are quietly pushing political messaging on social media platforms like TikTok to shape public opinion. Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell reacts to the trend and a new California law requiring political ad disclosure.
76ers Star Tyrese Maxey Addresses Relationship With LeBron James
Tyrese Maxey discussed what it's like working out with LeBron James, and even explained the kind of relationship they have.
Slow Thursday Discussion: What’s the origin of your username?
It’s a slow day. Time for a community post!
New entertainment spot ‘Funder Alley’ opens in Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Discover Funder Alley, a fresh entertainment spot in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, offering duckpin bowling, axe throwing, and darts alongside a varied food menu and full bar. Located on Battlefield Parkway, it boasts both indoor and outdoor seating options, perfect for casual fun and group events.
ICYMI: Chairman Smith on The Will Cain Show: Big Insurance Cashed in on Taxpayer Subsidies for Health Care That Wasn’t Actually Provided
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) joined Fox News’ The Will Cain Show to discuss...
California senator proposes tax to discourage price gouging at the pump
With gas prices spiking and diesel prices at an all-time high, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., says he is introducing legislation to discourage oil companies from price gouging at the pump
California senator proposes tax to discourage price gouging at the pump
With gas prices spiking and diesel prices at an all-time high, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., says he is introducing legislation to discourage oil companies from price gouging at the pump
California senator proposes tax to discourage price gouging at the pump
With gas prices spiking and diesel prices at an all-time high, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., says he is introducing legislation to discourage oil companies from price gouging at the pump
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear hints at future political run during book talk
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Tuesday that he is no longer certain his 2023 reelection campaign will be his last, while discussing his faith, political divisions and the future of the Democratic Party at GW.
Opinion: Social media & local politics: The death of citizen discourse?
Acrimonious social-media pile-ons can do much more than cause hurt feelings. On a personal level, at their worst, they result in court cases alleging slander and defamation. They contribute little of a positive nature to public discourse. Even more significantly, something larger is at play that threatens our very system of government and citizen involvement
“Sopranos” writer and “Age of Disclosure ”director to adapt bombshell memoir from ‘real-life Agent Mulder’
Emmy winner Terence Winter tells EW the series answers “whether we are the only intelligent life in the universe.”
Shaping society, inspiring change: The future of arts and social science
Study arts and social sciences at three universities where interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experiences prepare you for the modern workplace.
Opinion - States should adopt the federal rule that keeps junk science out of criminal courts
It empowers judges to act as gatekeepers, preventing speculative science from reaching juries or being admitted in the discovery process.
"I assume someone is being greedy somewhere" - Tim Schafer discusses current game industry woes following Double Fine's split with Xbox
Tim Schafer speaks to the BBC about Double Fine going independent, Game Pass, and the games industry in general.
Arts and entertainment events happening September 24th-27th across the Mid-Ohio Valley
Kelsi Ullom joins Daybreak to discuss what’s happening September 24th-27th across the Mid-Ohio Valley!
Distant time crystals can somehow fall into the same rhythm
Researchers have shown that multiple time crystals inside a semiconductor can synchronize their oscillations, much like pendulum clocks gradually falling into the same rhythm. The coupling is carried by spin-polarized electrons, allowing time crystals separated by up to 40 micrometers to lock to a common frequency. The discovery reveals surprisingly long-range connections between these exotic spin systems and could help researchers develop future spin-based devices.
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.
EU science policy wonks debate prospect of stronger ties with Canada
Europe’s research and innovation sector has started asking questions on how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s offer to make Canada “the first associate member of the EU” would actually work in practice, and who will get to shape priorities in a transatlantic relationship that is getting stronger. The Commission says it wants “a new model of association” under which the EU and Canada will aim to develop “a shared space” to face ongoing challenges. “Working in close coordination with our member states and the European Parliament, we will aim to create a new form of partnership that has not existed until now, building the closest imaginable form of association with a partner outside Europe,” a spokesperson told Science|Business.Locked in an escalating trade war with US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly talked of annexing Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney has been looking east, but full EU membership was never in play. Taking the floor a day after von der Leyen’s proposal, he agreed to strengthen ties under “an alliance of the future” but reined in enthusiasm on the new label. He also suggested expanding Canada’s involvement in the Erasmus+ student mobility scheme, to which it currently has limited access, and the next iteration of Horizon Europe. Canada joined the present Horizon Europe in 2024, but only contributes to collaborative projects.Neither side has detailed the next practical steps in developing this new relationship. “I think nobody at the moment truly knows how this will work,” said Michael Browne, chief executive and founder of Crowdhelix, a global collaborative network that connects players in research and innovation. “It’s more of a statement of intent for closer collaboration, which requires legislative frameworks and approval processes, which have not started.”Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of the League of European Research Universities, said von der Leyen’s pitch to Canada is “politically significant, but the legal content still has to be negotiated and constructed.”Mattias Björnmalm, secretary general of the Cesaer university group, agreed that she had only opened “a political door” to Canada, as “associate membership does not come with a predefined set of rights in the EU institutions.”Not only does this status not currently exist as a legal category in the two treaties that set up how the EU functions, but the Commission president cannot unilaterally create a new category of EU membership.According to Deketelaere, Article 217 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows the bloc to make association deals with non-EU countries involving reciprocal rights and duties, is “the most obvious existing legal basis for building a much deeper EU-Canada relationship.”Getting universities involvedNo matter how this new cooperation takes shape, Liviu Matei, who heads the School of Education, Communication and Society at King’s College London, hopes to see universities involved in discussions from an early stage.“Its primary motivations, entirely justifiably, are political and geopolitical,” he said. “In the area of higher education, however, restricting the initiative to political and geopolitical considerations would limit the scope of cooperation and lead to distorted frameworks and counterproductive implementation.”It is all the more important since academic interests on the two sides of the Atlantic are “neither identical nor fully aligned,” Matei added. “This is not insurmountable; it simply requires work to articulate the details of this privileged cooperation, including its governance and funding frameworks, as well as its substantive content in education and research.”Related articlesCanada looks to deepen research and education links with the EUZaharieva hopes for a Horizon Europe deal in 2026Canada might participate in European Research Council schemes, for example, which was not on offer in the present Horizon Europe association agreement. But “there would have to be something in it for the EU,” Browne said. “They don’t want to be funding projects outside of the EU where intellectual property is going to sit outside of the EU. There has to be some kind of transfer of knowledge.”But access to funding will not by itself resolve all the practical difficulties of working together, said Björnmalm. “For researchers and students, these include visas and residence arrangements, recognition of qualifications and study periods, and the conditions for pursuing a research career across borders,” he said. “For universities, there is scope for more predictable access to shared laboratories, computing and research data, and stronger support for joint doctoral training and long-term institutional partnerships.”Linda Doyle, provost and president of Trinity College Dublin, said Europe should strive for the “closest possible expression” of this new political alliance. “If Europe is serious about recovering its voice and its place in the world, it needs to be strongly allied with countries who share its values and its vision for a stable, rules-based, peaceful world.”
What can AI do for science? Four Argonne interns investigate
This summer, four Argonne interns used AI to advance research on vaccine development, weather forecasting and high performance computing. Their work shows how AI can speed discovery and help tackle major scientific and public health challenges.
CPA Chairperson and South African Speaker highlight women's, children's and adolescents' health at 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in South Africa
Parliamentarians and health leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in South Africa to discuss how stronger parliamentary leadership, oversight and collaboration can advance the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. The session highlighted the need to translate commitments into measurable action, strengthen accountability for health financing and ensure policies deliver meaningful results for communities.
Scientists find two tiny new snails with shells that close like doors
Scientists discovered two tiny new snail species in Montenegro, showing that even Europe still holds animals unknown to science. One lives in the threatened Komarnica Canyon, where a proposed hydropower reservoir could destroy habitat before its full biodiversity is understood.
Inside Neko's U.S. expansion: Co-founder Daniel Ek on the future of preventative health
Daniel Ek, Neko co-founder joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the company's expansion in the U.S., future of preventative health, and more.
CJ Bailey discusses aftermath of Vanderbilt game
CJ Bailey met with the media yesterday, the first time he’d spoken with reporters since The Thing That Happened. There is no way to explain any part of what went down during The Thing That Happened, of course, but he did the best he could. Sometimes the football is snapped and major regret ensues. In […]
Potential health science high school update on Columbia BOE meeting agenda
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education will hold a work session Thursday morning to discuss lottery school updates and the potential addition of a "health science high school." The work session will begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, in the Aslin Administration building. According to the meeting agenda, lottery schools are specialized schools that
Negotiations the Knicks have discussed extensions …
Negotiations the Knicks have discussed extensions …
Valley fever spreading to Central Valley cities, linked to oil drilling
Researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered valley fever spores in cities in the Central Valley and linked nearby oil drilling to an uptick in infection risk — challenging the long-held belief that the deadly disease only affects rural areas.
Sporticast: It’s Fat Bear Week. Where Are the Chicago Bears?
On the 590th Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including Sportico‘s recent list of the highest-paid players in the NFL. First, however, they talk about Fat Bear Week. The viral creation from Alaska’s Katmai National Park & Preserve allows people to vote …
Calling all current and future scientists: Kiel is the place to be this week
This week, Kiel has become a meeting place for science in Europe. Researchers, school pupils, young scientists and members of the public are coming together through a series of major events led or co-organised by Kiel University.At the centre of it all are around 150 of Europe’s most talented young researchers, aged 14 to 20, who have travelled to Kiel from nearly 40 countries for the 37th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS). Running from 22 to 27 September, the European Union’s flagship competition for young scientists brings together winners of national science competitions to present around 100 original research projects across fields ranging from engineering and computer science to medicine, environmental research and the social sciences. The winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony on Saturday.For Kiel University, hosting EUCYS is both an honour and a natural extension of a much longer story. Germany’s northernmost comprehensive university has invested for many years in supporting young scientific talent and bringing research into dialogue with society. The Kiel Science Factory gives school pupils opportunities to experience research first-hand, while programmes such as Rent-a-Scientist send researchers directly into local classrooms. Major annual public events including Kiel Week and the European Researchers’ Night take science beyond the campus through talks, exhibitions and hands-on activities.That long-standing commitment has increasingly taken on a European dimension – and this week, many of those efforts are coming together.One of the foundations for this success is the European Researchers’ Night (ERN), which celebrates its tenth edition in the Kiel region this year. The initiative is funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, with Kiel University developing the successful EU proposals and securing the funding, while regional partner KielRegion coordinates the many activities on the ground. Together with research institutions, schools, companies, local authorities and civil society, they have built ERN into a major platform for public engagement.Over the years, Kiel’s ERN programme has grown far beyond a single evening into a whole “Science Summer”, beginning with “Science Shopping” in spring and culminating tomorrow, 25 September, in Science Day.“We have developed a wide range of public engagement formats, often together with the other research institutions in the region, the city and regional authorities, schools, companies and civil society,” says Eckhard Quandt, Kiel University’s vice president for research, academic infrastructure and transfer. “Over the past decade, we have increasingly taken this commitment to the European level.”That combination of European funding expertise and strong regional partnerships also helped Kiel University take the next step. Drawing on its experience with ERN and its European networks, including the SEA-EU University Alliance, the university brought together Brest in France and Split in Croatia for a successful bid to the EU’s new Science Comes to Town initiative. Throughout 2026, the three cities are serving as Europe’s first Science Ambassadors, with more than one thousand activities bringing science into schools, public spaces, cultural venues and everyday life.EUCYS is perhaps the clearest example of how Kiel University is using Science Comes to Town to create new connections between major European initiatives. From the outset, the university deliberately planned the contest for the week of European Researchers’ Night and opened the EUCYS exhibition to the wider Science Day audience. Tomorrow, that means thousands of visitors can encounter the next generation of scientific talent first-hand, while the young researchers themselves gain a much bigger public stage.“Because we opened EUCYS up for European Researchers’ Night, there will be a lot of people actually visiting the exhibition,” says organiser Stefanie Altemark of Kiel University.“We wanted Europe’s most talented young scientists not only to compete with one another, but also to become visible to the wider public. At the same time, people in Kiel will have the opportunity to see what the next generation of scientists are already capable of,” says Quandt.“We’ve shown over the last years that science is a big part of Kiel, and it’s always been the goal to not only show that to people in Germany, but also to show it to people all over Europe. Thanks to Kiel University’s expertise in European funding programmes, we have been able to turn that ambition into reality,” says Sünje Fock, who is coordinating the Science Summer at KielRegion.The model is characteristic of Kiel University’s approach: combining European funding expertise and international networks with strong regional partnerships to give major initiatives greater reach and visibility.This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, giving Kiel University the special opportunity to welcome Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Head of Department for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions at the European Research Executive Agency, to Kiel tomorrow. Her visit brings together two priorities that have shaped Kiel University’s work over the past decade: supporting researchers and bringing science closer to society. Debiais-Sainton emphasises how closely the two are connected: "For thirty years, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) have given more than 150,000 researchers the chance to pursue their dreams and open up new fields. Doctoral Networks and Postdoctoral Fellowships give them the freedom to move, to connect, to train and to follow their curiosity across borders, sectors and disciplines. But excellence cannot live only in laboratories. Researchers’ Night takes science out of the lab and into the city, to the families, the schoolchildren and the curious minds who will become the next generation. Kiel shows what that looks like at its best. That is the MSCA promise: open science, open borders, open doors."For Kiel University, these activities are not separate endeavours. They are part of a broader understanding of academic excellence in which outstanding research, talent development, international cooperation, knowledge transfer and engagement with society strengthen one another.“For me, one of the most important lessons from the past decade is that scientific excellence, knowledge transfer, talent development and engagement with society cannot be treated as separate tasks,” stresses vice president Quandt. “They reinforce one another.”That philosophy is also reflected in Kiel University’s current bid for Germany’s Excellence University status. The designation is part of Germany’s national Excellence Strategy, which provides substantial long-term funding to selected universities to strengthen internationally competitive research and their overall institutional development. A successful outcome would provide new opportunities to build on what has already been created: deepening international cooperation, creating more opportunities for knowledge exchange and public engagement, and extending the university’s reach across the region and beyond. “If we are successful, it would allow us to take what we have built in Kiel considerably further – including expanding our networks and transfer activities beyond the region and increasingly across the Baltic area,” says Quandt.This week’s events offer a glimpse of what that could mean in practice: a university using its research strength, European expertise and regional partnerships to create opportunities for scientists at every stage of their careers while making science more visible, accessible and exciting to the wider public.
Sony Allegedly Surveyed Game Developers on its Disc-Killing Plan for 2028, Hinting at a Possible Reversal amid Fan Boycotts
According to leaker MLID, Sony has surveyed game developers on its disc-killing plan, suggesting they may consider a shocking reversal.
Five Takeaways: Commercial Real Estate Market
For its latest episode of Elevating The Conversation, the Journal sat down with Alicia Barbieri, co-president of Goodale & Barbieri, to discuss the commercial real estate market.
Alcaraz on late finishes, missing Sinner and Laver Cup return
Carlos Alcaraz discusses his US Open return, why he "misses" rival Jannik Sinner and his excitement for this year's Laver Cup.
Attackers Exploit WordPress CVE-2026-87902 Within Hours of Disclosure
Attackers are exploiting WordPress CVE-2026-87902 to include pearcmd.php and write PHP files when specific theme and server conditions are met.