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Integrated Openings Solutions opens Little Flock location
Integrated Openings Solutions, a Lenexa, Kan.-based commercial openings systems integrator, recently opened a new location in Little Flock, near Rogers. The opening at 1721 W. Acorn Drive, just off U.S....
Integrated Openings Solutions opens Little Flock location
Integrated Openings Solutions, a Lenexa, Kan.-based commercial openings systems integrator, recently opened a new location in Little Flock, near Rogers. The opening at 1721 W. Acorn Drive, just off U.S....
GTA 6 Features “Significantly Narrower” Roads Than GTA 5; Devs Wanted Weapons System to Be More Like Red Dead Redemption 2
Vehicle chases are often a big part of any Grand Theft Auto game, and if you find it easy to drive around pedestrians and other vehicles in GTA 5, that…
Scientists are growing human brain tissue in living mice—could this make their welfare harder to assess?
What happens when scientists start changing the brain—the very system through which an animal's mental states are expressed in behavior?
Local Malheur County educators honored with top Oregon Science Teacher Association awards
Five educators from Malheur County were recognized for excellence in science and STEM education by the Oregon Science Teachers Association at its annual conference in Pendleton.
Opinion: How one-party politics and a complacent media fail Cook County
Cook County and lately Illinois are paying a high price for the one-party system that the monetization of politics propagates.
Opinion: How one-party politics and a complacent media fail Cook County
Cook County and lately Illinois are paying a high price for the one-party system that the monetization of politics propagates.
New AI Tool Could Help Scientists Make ‘Rare’ Cross-Disciplinary Leaps
Using a system called BootLoops, scientists produced 36 papers in three months. Paired with experts, the tool could pollinate ideas across fields.
STEM Center brings science and scares to S&T’s Haunted Mine
STEM in the Shadows at Missouri S&T’s Haunted Mine for K-12 students and their families will be Oct. 23. Photo by Photo by Blaine Falkena/Missouri S&T. The Missouri S&T Kummer Center for STEM Education is teaming up with the university’s Haunted Mine for STEM in the Shadows, a free STEM-themed Halloween event for K-12 students...Continue Reading STEM Center brings science and scares to S&T’s Haunted Mine
Small business takes aim at DISA’s Enclave expansion
Competitive Range Solutions claims the Defense Information Systems Agency sat on the requirement for three years and now claims this is the only contract it can use to meet deadlines.
Six years of SQMS: asking what limits quantum systems and building the answers
The founding director provides perspective on the first six years of a DOE National Quantum Information Science Research Center — the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, led by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
With GTA 6's Dating System Incoming, a Surprising Percentage of Adults Think Investing in a Video Game Relationship Is Cheating
With GTA 6's Dating System Incoming, a Surprising Percentage of Adults Think Investing in a Video Game Relationship Is Cheating.
800 Guests, 40 Countries: Chongqing Forum to Unveil Top 10 Science and Tech Foresights
The 2026 World Science and Technology Development Forum will be held in Chongqing from October 21 to 23, bringing together about 800 guests from nearly 40 countries and regions, including leading experts, international science and technology organization heads, and high-tech executives, to discuss “Co-evolution: Shaping a New Ecosystem for Future Industries.”
Commercial Aircraft In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity System Market Forecast to 2030: Analysis of
The Business Research Company’s Commercial Aircraft In-Flight Entertainment Global Market Report 2026 – Market Size, Trends, And Forecast 2026-2035
BYU Alumna Combines AI, Healthcare, and Hope in Brazil
BYU alumna Isabella Roque is improving Brazil's healthcare system and providing internship opportunities for current life sciences students.
BYU Alumna Combines AI, Healthcare, and Hope in Brazil
BYU alumna Isabella Roque is improving Brazil's healthcare system and providing internship opportunities for current life sciences students.
39 homers should force the Yankees to rethink third base
Hanshin has agreed to let Teruaki Sato pursue a move to Major League Baseball through the posting system. For the […]
Net Health Announces Leadership Transition: Ron Books Appointed Executive Chairman, Patrick Rooney Named Interim CEO
/PRNewswire/ -- Net Health, an AI-native specialty platform serving clinicians across the care continuum, today announced that Ron Books is transitioning from...
Immigration crackdown risks adding to Wisconsin's healthcare woes
As Wisconsin communities face rising healthcare costs and worker shortages, a new report highlighted how immigrant workers are essential to keeping the state’s care system running and why supporting them benefits residents across the state.
Ben Logan Environmental Science Club celebrates 10 years of discovery
From planting trees and creating wildlife habitats to exploring local ecosystems, Benjamin Logan students are discovering that environmental science isn’t just something they study in a classroom. It’s something they can experience, investigate, and influence right in their own community. The Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club kicked off its 10th year with a visit to Jolly Acres, where 28 student members pressed fresh apple cider, painted pumpkins, and explored a...
F5 releases out-of-band patches for critical NGINX vulnerabilities
F5 has released out-of-band security patches to address multiple NGINX web server flaws, including three critical-severity vulnerabilities that can let attackers execute code on vulnerable systems.
Blue Language Labs Launches MyOS Business for AI Agents to Conduct Business Across Companies
LAS VEGAS, October 19, 2026--Blue Language Labs introduced MyOS Business, an operating system that enables agents to carry out commercial work across companies and systems.
Booth Insights: Who coaches the new boss? The support new CEOs need beyond the board.
First-time CEOs who buy a business need independent support. Coaches, peer groups and management-system guides can help them lead effectively.
Foundation to hold trials this October
The Leeds United Foundation will be holding open trials for aspiring players on Friday 30 October, aiming to potentially recruit any promising players to the Academy system and Foundation centres.Thes...
Windows 11 runs faster when you disable these 5 Microsoft apps
Stop Microsoft bloatware from quietly draining your system memory
Battelle Extends CDC Partnership with New Public Health Data and Mission Support Awards
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 19, 2026 — Battelle has announced two significant awards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reinforcing the organization’s longstanding partnership in advancing public health through data, analytics, science, and mission support services. Battelle was awarded a five-year, $12.3 million contract to provide information systems and technical data support for CDC’s […]
Huntington Bank Introduces The 1866 Studio, an AI-Powered Small Business Operating System Built with Google Cloud
New connected experience designed to help small business owners build and scale their businesses with access to financial, operational and business management AI tools and expertise COLUMBUS,...
Top salaries at Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center is a West Side academic medical center and the flagship of the Rush University System for Health.
Top salaries at Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center is a West Side academic medical center and the flagship of the Rush University System for Health.
Violence in France is a consequence of the last decade's political reconfiguration
NEWS ANALYSIS. The violence on the fringes of protests across France on Saturday is the result of the evolution of the political system during Emmanuel Macron's presidency, marked by the rise of radical parties that promote a conflict-driven vision of society and a confrontational approach.
Opinion | Warning signs are flashing for Minnesota’s health care system
"However, having a strong health care system and having a sustainable health care system are two different things. Increasingly, Minnesota is struggling to achieve both," state Rep. Danny Nadeau writes.
Nutex Health Schedules 2026 Third Quarter Financial Results Release and Conference Call
Nutex Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUTX), a physician-led, integrated healthcare delivery system comprised of 28 state-of-the-art micro hospitals and hospital outpatient departments in 12 states and primary care-centric, risk-bearing physician networks, today announced that it plans to file its Form 10-Q for the third fiscal quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, after the market close. The Company will also issue a corresponding press release summarizing financial results on the same
Elbit adds $235 million deal to growing European rocket business
The contract covers PULS artillery systems, EXTRA-MR rockets and logistical support. It follows a series of European rocket artillery deals worth more than $1.2 billion combined, according to estimates.
Vote now for Thibodaux Regional Health System Athlete of the Week (Oct. 12-18)
The poll is back open voting for the Houma Today/Daily Comet Athlete of the Week sponsored by Thibodaux Regional Health System. Vote for Oct. 12-18.
Vote now for Thibodaux Regional Health System Athlete of the Week (Oct. 12-18)
The poll is back open voting for the Houma Today/Daily Comet Athlete of the Week sponsored by Thibodaux Regional Health System. Vote for Oct. 12-18.
Researchers have uncovered a likely origin of our allergies
While bacteria and viruses set off immediate alarm in our immune system, allergies follow a different path.
Researchers have uncovered a likely origin of our allergies
While bacteria and viruses set off immediate alarm in our immune system, allergies follow a different path.
Burnham says there will be ‘big changes’ to the way the welfare system works to tackle Neets crisis
Dame Rachel de Souza’s has called the disparities of experiences between young children in England ‘staggering’
Expansion of the security segment wholesale business through the acquisition of shares in companies
The security segment of TKM Grupp AS is expanding its operations across the Baltics by establishing a subsidiary in Latvia and acquiring companies engaged in the wholesale distribution of security systems in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In 2023, TKM Grupp AS acquired a 100% shareholding in Walde AS, a company engaged in the wholesale distribution of security systems in Estonia (stock exchange announcement of 23 December 2022). On 16 October 2026, Walde SIA, a 100% subsidiary of Walde AS, was e
Weigeltisaurids: Earth’s first gliding vertebrates
260 million years ago, weigeltisaurids were the first vertebrates to glide through the air, their flight system unlike anything alive today.
Weekly Recap: Open-science AV partnership and benchmark performance pledge
Valeo SE (EURONEXT:FR) is partnering with KE:SAI to co-develop an open-science autonomous driving system for general vehicles, aiming to match and surpass major public driving benchmarks while committing to reproducible AI research and openly publishing results.Previous Week RecapThis is an AI-gene…
Atrium Health’s $340 million behavioral health initiative
The health system says it’s building a hospital and expanding virtual care to meet rising needs in Charlotte and beyond.
What Is The Most Affordable Gaming Console In 2026?
On paper, Nintendo ties Xbox for the cheapest console to date, but it also has the weakest hardware, and owning one of its systems comes with hidden costs.
‘You reach a tipping point’: New Zealand’s strained healthcare system at centre of election battle
With care shortfalls biting across the country, the National-led coalition has been accused of letting chronic underfunding worsen
Four Tiny Snail Species New to Science Found on Limestone Karsts of Laos
Biodiversity surveys on Laos limestone karsts have revealed eight Alycaeinae micro land snail species, four of which are new to science, highlighting the urgent need to protect these overlooked ecosystems.
The Waltham Public Library this week: Spooky Science
Curated by Amber Harvey, reference librarian Drop in for some super fun, super cool and super spooky hands-on STEM activities. Recommended for ages 5 and
Memorial Health System receives $15,000 grant for Packaged Meal Program
The Food and Nutrition Services department at Memorial Health System has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County to support the development of a new
Teardown of revised Switch 2 console confirms lack of anticipated upgrade
Nintendo’s updated EU console was an opportunity to debut a leaked screen. Yet a teardown of the handheld with a modified Switch 2 battery compartment didn't reveal the Sharp LCD display. The current system suffers from poor pixel response times, leading to ghosting in games.
Singing River Health System hosting ribbon cutting for mobile clinic
MOSS POINT, Miss. (WXXV)- Singing River Health System will be hosting a ribbon cutting for its new mobile clinic next week. That’s taking place at the Community Action Center in Moss Point on October 21 starting at 11. The clinic will be stopping at the center from 8:30 to 1 p.m. that day. The clinic will also be stopping at...
South Texas Health System (@stxhealthsystem)
2 likes, 1 comments - stxhealthsystem on October 18, 2026: "Put Your Skills at the Heart of Innovation: South Texas Health System is seeking skilled and dedicated Cardiac Cath Lab Technologists to join the cardiovascular teams at STHS Heart and STHS Edinburg. In this vital role, you’ll support advanced cardiac procedures, help deliver potentially lifesaving care and make a meaningful difference for patients when it matters most. Join a team committed to clinical excellence, innovation and compassionate care. Ready to take your career to the next level? Explore opportunities with the Rio Grande Valley’s largest integrated healthcare network. STHS offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and an increased sign-on bonus for qualified applicants. Ready to make your next career move? View current openings and apply at the link in our bio.".
“Something out of Science Fiction” – Astronomers Discover a Star That Glows a Bizarre Shade of Green
A star’s color usually reflects its temperature, but white dwarfs can break that pattern, with models revealing unexpected shades of green, pink, and purple. A star that has drawn in rocky debris from its planetary system would appear chartreuse green to the human eye, according to new calculations by University of Warwick astronomers. As far
Oblivion Remastered Mod Built Using Claude AI Boosts FPS By Over 40% And Drastically Reduces Stuttering Without Sacrificing Visual Quality.
AI-assisted mod Oblivion Remastered Performance Fix boosts FPS by over 40% while enhancing visuals on Ryzen 7 5800X/RX 9070 XT systems.
Benjamin Logan Environmental Science Club Celebrates 10 Years of Discovery
BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO – From planting trees and creating wildlife habitats to exploring local ecosystems, Benjamin Logan students are discovering that ...
Regional Science Consortium Researching Harmful Algal Blooms
If you've noticed large buoys or boats out on the bayfront and wondered what they were, you're not alone. The Regional Science Consortium is collaborating with Princeton Hydro on a research project funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study ways to control harmful algal blooms. Dr. Jeanette Schnars, the Executive Director of the Regional Science Consortium, explained the goal of the research."We are researching different ways to control blue-green algae, which creates harmful algal blooms and releases toxins," Dr. Schnars said.The project aims to identify potential techniques for controlling harmful algal blooms in Presque Isle Bay.Schnars explained that people may notice circular floats in the water near Perry's Landing and Liberty Park. Those floats are part of the testing process."You might see a circular float, almost like a hula hoop, that is out in the bay, near Perry's Landing and Liberty Park area, and those limn corrals go all the way to the bottom. And what we will do are some treatments within the limn corral in the bottom," Schnars said.After samples are collected, they are brought back to the laboratory at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center for analysis."A lot of those samples are coming back here. We are going to test them for the harmful algal bloom toxins before, during, and after, and see how effective the testing was," Schnars said.Sarah Magyan, an aquatic biologist with the Regional Science Consortium, explained that the team also collects samples from locations throughout the region."We pull samples every week from 30 different sites, and then we bring those back here, we preserve them and run them through the ELISA test," Magyan said.Schnars said researchers hope the results will help them develop effective ways to reduce harmful algal blooms in the future."If we can do some treatments over space and time in upcoming seasons, we may be able to reduce the number of harmful algal blooms we have in this area," Schnars said.The research is also important for public and animal safety. Magyan explained that toxins produced by certain algae can affect the skin, nervous system or liver.While toxin levels may be low for people, she emphasized the importance of protecting pets that swim in local waterways."Toxins can either be skin toxins, nerve toxins, or liver toxins. While we have low levels for people, it is important that we are keeping our pets safe because we recreate with our animals in the water, and we see hundreds and hundreds of dogs on Presque Isle and the rest of the shoreline," Magyan said.Testing began in September, and Schnars said researchers expect to conduct at least another six to eight weeks of testing to better understand the effectiveness of the treatments.
Scientists Thought This Wolf Pack Was Too Inbred To Survive, Here’s What A New Study Found
Park officials gambled that bringing 19 wolves to a struggling island ecosystem would save a pack on the brink of collapse. Five years later, researchers got an answer, along with a new set of complic...
World leaders must wise up to threat of cyber-attacks or rogue fridges will be least of their worries
Global cooperation seems unlikely despite AI increasing the risk of digital fraud and the need to protect the financial system
Huge exit: The Israeli company sold for $6.3b.
Cybersecurity company Proofpoint will acquire Israeli information security firm Varonis Systems in a massive deal.
Entertainment
Playhouse at McConnellstown has launched its "Raise the Roof" Capital Campaign to raise $30,000 for repairs to the theater's roof and gutter system. Donations of any amount are being accepted
Japan to launch world-first mission to collect samples from Martian moon
Japanese space agency leading five-year mission to Phobos, one of ‘most important unclimbed mountains in the solar system’
A Deep-Sea Mining Trial Rapidly Threw The Seafloor Ecosystem Off Kilter
Even short-term disturbance has significant impacts.
Is Teladoc Health (TDOC) Cheap Following Its New AI Tools?
Teladoc Health (TDOC) just rolled out two AI tools inside its Solo platform, SoloVitals and SoloScribe, aimed at contactless vital sign tracking and streamlined clinical note taking for hospital and health system clients. Despite Teladoc Health unveiling AI tools aimed at making virtual visits smoother for hospitals, the 30-day share price return is down 10% and the 90-day move has fallen 41.24%. The 5-year total shareholder return has declined 95.88%, pointing to longer term momentum that...
NHS faces more challenging winter than normal, health secretary warns
Yvette Cooper has announced £140m investment in England's urgent care system, after summer heatwaves piled pressure on the NHS.
NHS faces more challenging winter than normal, health secretary warns
Yvette Cooper has announced £140m investment in England's urgent care system, after summer heatwaves piled pressure on the NHS.
Earth's Core Is Leaking All Sorts of Materials That Have Been Trapped Since Our Planet's Birth
Earth is belching up the materials of the Solar System's birth.
Scientists discover that male and female skin play by different rules
Scientists have uncovered a surprising difference in how male and female skin repairs and renews itself. By tracking individual skin stem cells in living mice for five months, researchers discovered that female cells work together in a highly coordinated way, while male cells operate more independently. This synchronization, driven by sex hormones, helps explain why wounds heal faster in female mice, especially during the first few days.
VA Illiana Health Care System receives funding for maintenance projects
Five projects will be funded through this effort.
UT System's $60 million Laredo Center expansion begins
UT System officials broke ground on a new Laredo Center building that will expand educational access, research opportunities and health care training.
Voices: Jessie Trice Community Health System opening new facility
Jesse Trice Community Health System is opening up a new health facility near Liberty Square. Jawan speaks with CEO Ryan Hawkins and employee Patrice Gervin on what the new center will add to the community
Appeals court blocks part of Arizona prison healthcare order
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in the unsigned order, said that the state is raising "serious questions" about the ability of a federal judge to take over health care in a prison system.
Apple's New Home Collection Gives Investors Another Reason to Remain Bullish
The move into smart home products deepens Apple's customer relationship and ecosystem.
Bar Harbor in limbo as legal disputes over cruise ships continue
The disputes stem from an ordinance that aimed to limit disembarkations to 1,000 passengers per day.
NASA’s Webb reveals the wild weather of a mysterious world 20 light-years away
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed that a turbulent world 20 light-years away has a surprisingly orderly weather system, with three recurring atmospheric states driven by temperature changes and shifting clouds. The breakthrough gives scientists a powerful new tool for uncovering weather patterns on distant worlds and understanding the conditions that shape their atmospheres.
Is the brain actually 2 nervous systems smooshed together? A new study claims it is.
A recent study may reshape our understanding of brain evolution and open new avenues for studying neurological diseases.
As Israel blocks PA funding, the West Bank’s healthcare system is failing
Hospitals across the occupied West Bank have been hit by a funding shortage.
GTA VI not yet gold: Rockstar explains the final push before launch
Grand Theft Auto VI has yet to go gold ahead of its scheduled November 19, 2026 launch, with Rockstar developers telling Bloomberg that final fixes and refinements remain underway. The report examines how the game’s complex, interconnected systems have shaped development, though ongoing work does not itself signal another delay.
OPINON: A vote for progress over politics
As the father of four young children the Talbot County Public School system, I am a strong supporter of public schools. I’d love to see all schools succeed, because at
Construction underway on new medical tower at Colquitt Regional Health System
The new medical tower will add a number of new beds and jobs for Colquitt County.
What causes sleep paralysis; health indicators of Alzheimer's diagnosis; sober October; plus other stories with Vanderbilt Health sources
(iStock) Food and Wine interviewed Peter Martin, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, for a story about sober October. William Schaffner, MD, Professor of Preventive Medicine, was quoted in CNN International’s Connect the World with Becky Anderson and NewsNation Morning in America for stories about the reported plague situation in Russia, after a laboratory worker at an institute in Siberia dedicated to studying the plague and other infectious diseases died of a mysterious illness. Prevention interviewed James McGuirk, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Sleep Medicine, for a story about what causes sleep paralysis. Modern Healthcare interviewed Daniel Fabbri, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Computer Science, for a story about how health systems are managing AI token costs. WNKY interviewed Ziv Beckerman, MD, Associate Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Surgical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplantation in the Golisano Pediatric Heart Institute at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt about rapid recovery with extended ultra oxygenated preservation (REUP) that is a new form of preservation for heart organs. Ray Romano, PhD, MPH, MSN, Nurse Practitioner, Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center, was quoted Prevention about research that found other health issues may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s.
Sister Monica Heeran, longtime PeaceHealth leader and Northwest healthcare pioneer, dies at 95
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — PeaceHealth mourns the passing of Sister Monica Heeran, a visionary leader who rose through the ranks of Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene and would shape healthcare throughout the Northwest and beyond.Sr. Monica died Oct. 9 at St. Mary on the Lake in Bellevue, Wash. She was 95.She boldly led PeaceHealth through a period of great innovation, guided by her faith, compassion and generosity toward those in need.
Self-care is the first line of action for all healthcare
As healthcare systems face growing pressure from aging populations, chronic diseases, workforce shortages and unequal access to care, self-care is increasingly being recognized as a potential solution.
All Lancaster County health systems will soon use same software for patient records
All major health systems in Lancaster County will be using the same online portal for health records by Nov. 2, allowing caregivers to access records with patient consent regardless of
Amarillo VA Health Care System to host Veterans Flue Fairs next week
The Amarillo VA Health Care System set to host a walk-in Veterans Flue Fair Next week, October 19-24.
Parkview Health acquiring shared services vendor Ovation Healthcare
Parkview Health is acquiring Ovation Healthcare, a nationwide shared services vendor for providers, the Indiana rural care system announced Friday. | Parkview Health is taking its shared-services strategy nationwide with a deal to acquire Ovation Healthcare, which works with nearly 500 healthcare organizations across the country.
WATCH: Maine Health Care Professionals Slam Collins’ Health Care Record
This week, Maine health care professionals gathered to slam Susan Collins for failing to protect Mainers’ health care. Dr. Nirav Shah and Maine State Nurses Association Co-President Erin Oberson called out Collins for advancing Trump’s Medicaid cuts and voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has eviscerated America’s public health system.
Saturday Science Gets Spooky: 100-Plus Hands-On Experiences Return to Alexandria
Alexandria's free Spooky Mad Science Expo returns Saturday with hands-on STEM activities, costumes and more than 100 interactive experiences.
The Next Pandemic Might Already Be Taking Shape at the Edge of the World’s Vanishing Forests
Outbreaks cluster where people, livestock, and damaged ecosystems collide, a new Nature study finds.
Parkview Health to acquire Tennessee-based Ovation Healthcare
Indiana-based health care system Parkview Health announced Friday it has signed an agreement to acquire Tennessee-based Ovation Healthcare, a shared services company that works with more than 500 health care organizations across 48 states.
World time to drop the leap second from May 2027
Global timekeepers have voted to end the practice of adding extra seconds to UTC, citing risks to computer systems and the prospect of the first-ever negative leap second.
Baystate Health installs weapons detection systems at ER entrances
Baystate Health has begun installing AI-assisted Apollo 500 weapons detection systems at entrances to enhance safety for patients and staff.
A Time For Science to host STEM Expo
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — A local science museum will host a STEM Expo this month. A Time For Science invites the community to interact, ask questions, and dive into the world of STEM with ed…
Turn Calf Health Records Into Herd Improvements
There is a cycle of incomplete calf health records and limited veterinary feedback. Breaking it requires practical recordkeeping systems and a commitment to turning data into management decisions.
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
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Plague is stoppable. The next health threat may not be.
The word plague is scary. Centuries ago, the Black Death killed tens of millions of people and changed the course of history. Plague still kills people around the world, and the word still evokes catastrophe. New fears of plague surfaced on October 2, when a lab worker in Irkutsk, Russia, died of pneumonia. Reports suggested that she may have contracted plague through a laboratory exposure. Understandably, people were alarmed. On October 7, the World Health Organization called for the Russian Federation to be transparent about what it knew. WHO issued an update on October 10. Russian authorities told WHO that testing did not identify plague and that investigations found no laboratory release. WHO said confidence in its risk assessment remained limited and that further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory information was needed. The cause of the woman’s illness remains unknown, and WHO says a laboratory-associated exposure cannot be excluded. As I explained in a recent interview, this incident is very unlikely to lead to a pandemic. Plague is still active, including in the U.S., which sees a handful of cases each year. But it is a disease we can prevent and treat. Plague doesn’t spread readily, and it responds to antibiotics. The standard response—isolate the patient, trace contacts, and administer antibiotics and monitor for symptoms among contacts for seven days—works. We have even planned for antibiotic-resistant plague. At CDC, we developed a playbook for antibiotic-resistant plague and ran exercises on how to find and stop it. CDC guidance anticipates engineered resistance and recommends two different classes of antibiotics if there’s reason to suspect it. There is no evidence that resistance—or even confirmed plague—is involved in this incident. We have thought through how to address plague, but we’re not ready for the next major health threat that emerges from a lab or from animal spillover to humans. What should concern people is how little stands between the world and the next pathogen to get loose. Since peak COVID, epidemic preparedness has fallen off the political agenda, but the risk is greater than ever. More labs handle dangerous pathogens with more ways to make those pathogens deadlier, and more people live and work in close contact with animals. There are actions we can take now: We need better lab safety in every country. The number of labs that work with dangerous pathogens has increased worldwide over two decades, but there’s no enforceable international standard and no inspection regime; the Biological Weapons Convention, fifty years on, still has no verification mechanism. Labs that study dangerous germs need strong safety systems, training, and oversight. We need to reduce spillover events. Three in four emerging human infections start in animals, and there’s a lot we can do to reduce spillover risk, but the world is doing very little of it. Live-animal markets are one place to act. For instance, closing live-bird markets helped control H7N9 influenza in China. Reducing opportunities for people to encounter infected animals can prevent infections before they become outbreaks. In The Formula for Better Health, which is now out in paperback along with the hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook versions, I argue that labs do too many risky experiments with too many dangerous pathogens in too many institutions, and that every experiment should first answer one basic question: Is the likely benefit greater than the risk? Spillover risk can also be reduced: In the book, I discuss how Brazil cut its deforestation rate by 70% from 2004 to 2012 while increasing agricultural production and reducing risky contact between people and forest animals. We need faster detection and response. Delay costs lives. Strong surveillance, good labs, and trained responders can turn a single case into a small cluster of infections instead of an epidemic. Resolve to Save Lives has worked for nearly a decade to help countries find and stop outbreaks faster. The 7-1-7 target, which Resolve to Save Lives developed with partners in Uganda and elsewhere, provides a clear standard: detect within 7 days, notify within 1 day and complete all essential early response actions within 7 days. In Uganda’s Kasese district, for example, a review of a measles outbreak using 7-1-7 identified shortages of accessible funds, fuel, and vehicles that delayed the response. District leaders established funds they could access quickly. When, a few months later, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever appeared, the district detected it in three days, notified authorities in one, and mounted an effective response in two. Only one case was confirmed, and the patient survived. Because funds were available before the emergency, authorities were prepared and able to act. This kind of preparation can’t wait until the next crisis begins. Plague is an old disease we that know how to stop. The next threat may be harder to recognize, harder to treat, and easier to spread. Safer labs, less risk of spillover, and faster outbreak detection and response need sustained investment now, while we still have time to prevent the next emergency. Share
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