SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " sing " 21,475 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Teen’s video a ‘Breakthrough’ in science communication
Seventeen-year-old Grace Lee from Chula Vista is gaining national attention as a finalist in the global Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual competition that invites students to create original videos explaining complex scientific ideas in creative and engaging ways. Founded in 2015, the contest encourages young people to break down advanced scientific theories using imagination and storytelling— “Steven Spielberg meets Albert Einstein,” as organizers describe it. Lee’s submission centers on the principle of least time in physics, a concept that explains why light always travels the path that takes the least amount of time. To bring the idea to life, she used intricate origami characters and stop-motion animation, along with simple at-home experiments, she said. “The fact that light always travels via the path that takes the least amount of time sounds simple at first, but nature is full of surprises,” she said. “This principle is actually very profound and underlies many different fields in physics that seem completely unrelated, from optics to Newton’s laws to Einstein’s theory of relativity.” Also, origami has long been one of her passions and integrating it into her project felt natural. She often makes origami gifts for friends and teaches origami in her school clubs. “A single 10-second scene would take hours to craft,” she said, noting the mixture of stop-motion and post-production editing required to animate expressions and movement. To ensure the science remained accurate and accessible, she spent time reading books and online resources, writing a script, creating a storyboard, and filming and editing repeatedly until the visuals worked.The experiments were among the biggest challenges. To demonstrate water waves, she used everyday household items — “a spatula and an electric toothbrush to vibrate the waves, glass in a baking pan for different depths, and an iPhone flashlight so the waves would be visible.” She also put careful thought into explaining the principle through analogies, including a gingerbread man and a fox. “Analogies and visuals are incredibly important,” she said. “Visual demonstrations allow viewers to see how the science actually works.” Beyond the competition, Lee is deeply involved in science leadership and advocacy. She serves as International President of miRcore, the world’s largest student computational biology organization, with 136 chapters across five countries. She leads a 20-member executive board, organizes outreach connecting schools worldwide, and has helped run workshops at locations including Scripps Research Institute and the University of Michigan. “I used to be intimidated,” she said, but she gradually grew her skills and confidence. “Now I am no longer afraid to use my voice and enthusiasm to bring out the best in others.” Her research experience includes two peer-reviewed papers on asthma and vaping. Misconceptions around vaping, she said, show why clear science communication matters. “Our research shows that there is long-term harm to your lungs on the cellular level that isn’t obvious unless you come down with an illness like the flu,” she said. Lee also founded Full Hearts at Eastlake High School, transforming the small club into one of the school’s largest, with hands-on service projects in partnership with local nonprofits. She continues mentoring younger students to sustain the mission. If she wins the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, Grace hopes the $100,000 science lab prize for her school will expand opportunities for students who have limited access to equipment and hands-on science outside the classroom.
On 23rd Street, ethnic restaurants are losing a lot of business, as ICE fears keep diners home
On 23rd Street in Richmond, ethnic restaurants are losing a lot of business, as ICE fears keep diners home.
Super Mario optical illusion fools your eyes with classic animation trick
The barrier grid technique is mesmerising.
Half-Life 3 will be a Steam Machine launch title says journalist, Valve aiming for Spring 2026
Journalist says that Half-Life 3 is a Steam Machine launch game, with Valve aiming for a Spring 2026 release, with the RAM crisis causing headaches.
After House GOP's unprecedented cuts, a potentially long wait for info
A small group of House Republicans single-handedly cut hundreds of millions in previously approved spending. The full impact remains unknown.
K-pop events in China disrupted as Beijing-Tokyo tensions affect entertainment sector
Growing tensions between China and Japan are apparently affecting Korea's K-pop industry, with recent events involving groups with Japanese singers...
Doctor reveals why health care costs are so high
Health care costs are financially straining Americans, rising faster than inflation.
Builders Movement seeks citizen-based solutions to overcome ‘us vs. them’ politics
In an increasingly polarized political environment, the Builders Movement, a nonprofit political advocacy organization, said that it wants to overcome “us vs. them” thinking in politics. It’s…
The CEO of one of Asia’s largest co-working space providers says his business has more in common with hotels
“It's a hospitality business," JustCo CEO Kong Wan Sin tells Fortune.
Bulls 129, Hornets 126: Losing streak ends at seven games
With four days off to get back in the lab, the Bulls finally ended their seven-game losing streak with a 129-126 win against the Charlotte Hornets. Injuries aren’t an excuse for...
Michigan Science Center debuts "moonshot" planetarium renovation
After a year-long renovation, the Michigan Science Center reopened its planetarium Friday, showcasing technology upgrades and a new flagship show.
House G.O.P. Releases Health Plan That Would Allow Subsidies to End
The legislation, expected to come to a vote next week, would make changes that could eventually affect health care costs but are unlikely to immediately curb rising premiums.
After-school student violence worries nearby businesses, prompting police action
Business owners seek relief from rising -caused chaos including vandalism and fights.
Hassan says time running out to make deal on health care credits
With a major deadline passing in the health care debate in Washington, key players are still insisting there is time left to make a deal.
How Bayer transforms Pharma R&D with a cloud-based data science ecosystem using Amazon SageMaker
In this post, we discuss how Bayer AG used the next generation of Amazon SageMaker to build a cloud-based Pharma R&D Data Science Ecosystem (DSE) that unified data ingestion, storage, analytics, and AI/ML workflows.
House Republicans unveil healthcare plan, set up vote for next week
House Republicans unveil a new healthcare proposal to address rising health insurance costs and extend ACA subsidies
How OpenAI is using GPT-5 Codex to improve the AI tool itself
“The vast majority of Codex is built by Codex,” OpenAI told us about its new AI coding agent.
Democrats celebrated Indiana Republicans refusing to redistrict. They’re still moving ahead with their own redistricting push
One day after Indiana Republicans decided to forego political gains by rejecting a new US House map, congressional Democrats made clear Friday they would still press ahead for potential gains in states their party controls.
Franklin restaurant to close after nearly 30 years of business
Barbara’s Home Cookin' shared in a Facebook post that it would be permanently closing on December 31.
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is fundraising off of charges she stole $5M from FEMA
Democratic lawmaker fundraises off indictment, claiming political retaliation amid serious federal charges.
Fintech, AI Very Strong in UK: British Business Bank CEO
The UK economy is at risk of its first quarterly contraction since Labour returned to power, after growth disappointed again by shrinking ahead of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' tax-raising budget. Can the UK's tech sector come to the rescue? British Business Bank CEO Louis Taylor weighs in with Ed Ludlow and Caroline Hyde to discuss on "Bloomberg Tech." (Source: Bloomberg)
Santa brings gifts, holiday cheer to children at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing
Children stuck at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing during this holiday season received a visit from Santa this week.
Disney employees describe its internal AI strategy, from 'DisneyGPT' to a new 'Jarvis' tool in the works
Disney staffers spoke about the company's OpenAI deal and AI strategy, including AI tools they are using and one in development codenamed "Jarvis."
Eagles opposing player to stop, Week 15 edition
Philadelphia can’t let the best player on Las Vegas take over the game.
iOS 26.2 adds new Apple Music features and fixes a viral bug
Apple today released iOS 26.2 for iPhone users, and the update brings several key changes for Apple Music. There’s also...
House GOP leaders are closer to releasing health bill
The provisions under consideration do not currently include an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies.
Google Translate rolling out live translation using Gemini with any headphones
Google Translate is rolling out new features that leverage Gemini, including live translation with headphones...
The Search for Life Tops NASA's Science Goals for the First Human Mars Mission
A new report identifies searching for life as the top science priority for humanity's first landing on Mars, ranking it above understanding water cycles, mapping geology, or even studying how the Martian environment affects astronaut health. The report outlines four possible exploration campaigns, with the highest ranked approach calling for missions totalling 330 sols at a single scientifically rich site where crews could investigate everything from ancient lava flows to active dust storms. By placing the search for extraterrestrial life at the centre of human Mars exploration, the report reimagines the first crewed mission not just as a milestone for spaceflight but as humanity's best chance to answer whether we're alone in the universe.
Fake Windows update pushes malware in new ClickFix attack
The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.
Small Business Administration offices in Palisades, Eaton fire zones to close next week
The Small Business Administration is preparing to close its two Los Angeles area offices, but those impacted by the January wildfires can still get help.
Trump's plan to limit student loans for nurses is facing bipartisan backlash
Over 140 bipartisan lawmakers wrote to oppose the Education Department's plan to place new student-loan limits on nursing programs.
Using your superpower: Language and International Business alumna shares her journey from humanities student to business owner
Michelle Wiltse graduated from Clemson in 2018 with degrees in Language and International Business and Economics. Today she owns her own animal wellness company: CompanAIn. Michelle Wiltse graduated from Clemson in 2018 with degrees in Language and International Business and Economics. Today she owns her own animal wellness company: CompanAIn.
Does Sleeping On A Problem Actually Help? Yes
That old adage is rooted in some surprisingly up-to-date research.
The AI race is pushing up Dell computer prices. Here's what to expxect, and what the PC giant is telling its sales staff.
Dell is increasing its prices on December 17 amid a global memory chip supply crisis. Business Insider obtained a list of price changes.
BMW crashes into Santa Monica business, leaving driver seriously injured
A vehicle crashed into a building in Santa Monica late Thursday night, causing significant damage to the structure and sending the driver to the hospital.
December 12, 2025
Over the past century, most cancer research has focused on the tumor itself. Rakesh Jain focused on the tumor’s environment instead. Plus, a glacier’s edge can be a dangerous place to do research. One team is using robots and sound samples to monitor the melting ice. And, when cases of plague pop up in the US, it can feel straight up medieval. It’s treatable, but how and why does it persist?
Fanatics Selects Rokt to Deliver AI-Powered Relevance for Sports Fans Globally
/PRNewswire/ -- Rokt, the leading ecommerce company using machine learning and AI to make the shopping experience more relevant to each customer, today...
Trump signals willingness to work with Democrats on health care
President Trump suggested Thursday that he would be willing to work with Democrats on the issue of health care, as concerns over rising insurance premiums grow. “What a nice group of Democrats,” Tr…
Total asset finance new business in October 2025 rises by 7%: FLA
Over the first ten months of 2025, total new asset finance business was 2% higher than in the same period in 2024.
3 theories that explain Trump’s collapsing support
How Trump’s winning coalition is unraveling in real time.
Video Health insurance premiums set to skyrocket as Trump tease something 'much better'
The Senate failed to advance two competing health care proposals aimed at addressing a spike in costs expected for tens of millions of Americans who receive enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits.
Health insurance prices in Colorado set to soar for 225,000 people as Senate fails to extend subsidies
The U.S. Senate failed to extend expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies, raising health insurance prices for 225,000 Coloradans.
Real estate's rising stars: 18 top young realtors, architects, and executives to watch
From making real estate investing more attainable to developing 500-square-foot homes to fit in your backyard, here's why these rising stars of real estate are the ones to watch in 2025.
First look at One UI 8.5 on Galaxy S23 Ultra: What’s new and what’s missing
Samsung has started working on One UI 8.5 for Galaxy S23 Ultra, which was confirmed through the software server’s listing. The update will bring plenty of new features to the device, and the first hands-on video has just arrived. Folks over at SamMobile gained access to internal One UI 8.5 and installed the firmware on […]
The Grinch is surprisingly more popular than ever. Here's how that happened.
The Grinch seems to be everywhere lately. At McDonald's. In the aisles at Walmart. In memes online. It's a sign of our times.
Laughing about science more important than ever: Ig Nobel founder
With science increasingly coming under attack, using humor as a way to get people interested in scientific research is more important than ever, the founder of the satirical Ig Nobel prizes said.
SNOW FOX | Business, childcare and church closings/delays for Friday, Dec. 12, 2025
This list will be updated frequently.
What smart people are saying about Disney's licensing deal with OpenAI
OpenAI said Thursday it had struck a licensing agreement to use Disney's characters and other intellectual property.
Canada is figuring out what to do with its stockpiles of US alcohol
At least four provinces will be using the sales of their American liquor to fund food banks and charities.
Metro Atlanta doctor warns health insurance premiums could spike 800%, leaving thousands at risk of losing coverage
A metro Atlanta physician says her monthly insurance bill is set to jump from $100 to $800 — and she fears millions of Americans may soon face the same impossible choice.
Trump announces pardon for Tina Peters, increasing pressure to free her though he can’t erase state charges
President Donald Trump announced Thursday he is granting Tina Peters a full federal pardon, which is likely to increase the pressure campaign to free the former Colorado clerk from state prison even though he cannot erase her state charges.
Two Spenard businesses are shutting their doors
Two Spenard businesses announce they are closing their doors, they say the economy is impacting them both
Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons Is a New Single-Player RPG That Leans Into 'Expressive Magic' | The Game Awards 2025
The Dungeons & Dragons franchise has been steadily making more attempts to expand into video games, and we're seeing that next effort with Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, a new open-world single-player action-RPG that's all about wielding dark magic to battle foes.
Yup, That Weird Statue Was Teasing a New Divinity Game | The Game Awards 2025
After some unusual teases and a trademark inadvertently showing Larian Studios' hand, the Baldur's Gate 3 developer's next game has been officially revealed at The Game Awards with one heck of a disturbing trailer. It's Divinity. Just Divinity.
Why Biya's victory damages Cameroon's electoral integrity
Cameroon looks calm — but the disputed election has shaken citizen's faith in the electoral system. Tomaino Ndam Njoya, the only female presidential candidate, joins us Under the Baobab, explains why there were no winners in Cameroon's election, and reveals surprising ways Cameroon's political elite can try to rebuild trust with the electorate.
Analysis: How the White House is using misleading comparisons to make inflation sound better
The year-over-year inflation rate in January, the month President Donald Trump returned to the White House, was 3.0%.
Anderson Hay CEO says company isn’t closing after Ellensburg business files for bankruptcy
Anderson Hay Enterprise, Inc. of Ellensburg has filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington.
C of I Students Shine at Murdock College Science Research Conference - The College of Idaho
Twenty-five members of The College of Idaho community traveled to Vancouver, Washington, on November 7–8 to participate in the annual Murdock College Science Research Conference, a leading regional event showcasing undergraduate scientific research. Every C of I student in attendance presented the results of their summer research projects, reflecting the College’s strong commitment to hands-on, inquiry-based learning.
Health insurance subsidies expire this month but Congress can't agree on a fix : The NPR Politics Podcast
The enhanced subsidies 22 million Americans use to help pay for health insurance are set to expire at the end of this month, and when they do, many Americans will see their insurance premiums balloon. We discuss Democrats' and Republicans' competing proposals to address rising healthcare costs and whether Congress is likely to come to an agreement before — or after — the looming deadline. This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
DOJ sues Colorado Secretary of State for refusing to release voter information
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold after she refused to provide the agency with voter information. Last week, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division asked Griswold’s office to provide unredacted voter data, including full names, dates of birth, residential addresses, and driver’s license numbers. Federal authorities […]
The future of American science and a dispatch from ASH
This week on "The Readout LOUD": Is a new obesity drug making people lose too much weight? Plus catch up on #ASH25 and hear how the country's scientific institutions have had a bruising year.
Business owners fear wall could collapse, crush homeless encampment east of L.A.
Business owners in El Sereno, a neighborhood east of downtown Los Angeles, are raising concerns about a cement block wall along an alley, saying it could collapse and cause serious injuries or deat…
Parcel business is bright spot for global postal operators
The global postal industry is increasingly focused on parcel shipments over mail for its financial health. The post Parcel business is bright spot for global postal operators appeared first on FreightWaves.
Video Competing Democrat, Republican health care proposals both fail in the Senate
The Senate failed to advance two competing health care proposals aimed at addressing a spike in costs expected for tens of millions of Americans who receive enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits.
James Webb telescope spots 'monster stars' leaking nitrogen in the early universe — and they could help solve a major mystery
Researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope spotted huge stars leaking nitrogen in an early galaxy, hinting that such 'monster stars' might have been the source of ancient supermassive black holes.
Nothing Phone (4a) series leaks with surprising processor details
Nothing’s new mid-range devices may be more prepared to clash with the likes of the iPhone 17e, Pixel 10a, and Galaxy A57.
Google announces experimental ‘Disco’ browser with ‘GenTabs’ powered by Gemini 3
Google today announced “Disco” as an experiment to “shape the future of web browsing.” GenTabs are the first flagship feature...
Einstein was right: Time ticks faster on Mars, posing new challenges for future missions
Clocks on Mars tick faster by about 477 microseconds each Earth day, a new study suggests. This difference is significantly more than that for our moon, posing potential challenges for future crewed missions.
Texas Files Antitrust Suit Against Epic Systems Over Health Data
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Epic Systems Corp. for antitrust violations, accusing the healthcare software company of leveraging its control over patient medical records to maintain dominance in the market.
Trump takes steps toward demolishing four federal buildings, preservationist alleges
After demolishing the White House’s East Wing, President Donald Trump is now eying four federal buildings for the same treatment and is circumventing a key government agency with his plans, according to a historic preservationist raising the alarm.
IOC urges sports bodies to let Russian youth teams and athletes compete again with flag and anthem
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC took a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports Thursday by advising governing bodies to let the countries’ youth teams and athletes…
IOC urges sports bodies to let Russian youth teams and athletes compete again with flag and anthem
The IOC has taken a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports. It’s advising governing bodies of Olympic sports to let youth teams and athletes compete with their full identity of national flag and anthem.
World of Warcraft Players Figured Out How to Make Flying Houses, and Blizzard Has Given Them Its Official Seal of Approval
World of Warcraft players have discovered a trick that makes their houses float in the air, which a number of people have used to make wild flying creations. Better yet, instead of patching it out, Blizzard has surprisingly given its blessing for airborne abodes.
Cursor Launches an AI Coding Tool For Designers
The 300-person startup hopes bringing designers aboard will give it an edge in an increasingly competitive AI software market.
'Heated Rivalry' stars talk overnight success, butt tweets, and viral moments
'Heated Rivalry's Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams are still processing those fans tweeting about their butts. The actors get into the spicy drama's runaway success and go behind the scenes of viral moments.
Nike Is Returning to Its Roots in College Sports
Nike is doubling down on college athletes. Its new all-encompassing relationship at LSU is the launchpad for its new Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program.
NASA’s Webb Detects Thick Atmosphere Around Broiling Lava World
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected the strongest evidence yet for an atmosphere on a rocky planet outside our solar system, as
The Senate is set to vote on two rival health plans. Here's what's at stake for Americans
The U.S. Senate is set to vote on two partisan health bills addressing expiring COVID-era subsidies. These subsidies help millions of Americans with insurance costs.
Disney Accuses Google of Using AI to Engage in Copyright Infringement on ‘Massive Scale’
Disney is accusing Google of copyright infringement on a "massive scale" using AI models and services to "commercially exploit and distribute" infringing images and videos.
Breakthrough 3D wiring architecture enables 10,000-qubit quantum processors
The novel 3D wiring architecture and chip fabrication method enable quantum processing units containing 10,000 qubits to fit in a smaller space than today's 100-qubit chips.
Disney bets $1 billion on OpenAI in deal that opens its vault of characters to ChatGPT and Sora
Darth Vader and other Disney characters are coming to ChatGPT and OpenAI's Sora AI video app as part of a three-year licensing deal.
HR's big challenge with AI will force HR people to reinvent themselves
Workers fear AI, so one of HR's biggest challenges is getting workers to trust and adopt it by building credibility and addressing employee concerns.
Libstar divests fresh mushroom business but keeps Denny brand
The South African company is retaining the Denny brand but licensing it to the buyer of the mushroom operations.
Pets dream just like humans, and the science behind it will surprise you | - The Times of India
Witnessing pets twitching in their sleep sparks curiosity about their inner worlds. Scientific studies reveal mammals, including our pets, exhibit bra
The Game Awards are losing their luster
A lot of flash concealing increasingly shrinking substance.
Senate to vote on 2 health care proposals. And, the latest U.S. move against Venezuela
The Senate is expected to vote on two opposing health care proposals today. And, the Trump administration says it has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in its latest move in the region.
Warren Buffett watchers weigh in on Todd Combs' surprise exit
After praising Todd Combs for years, Warren Buffett gave him a "rather cool sendoff" in Monday's press release, one Berkshire watcher said.
Commentary: The U.S. Senate is a mess. He wants to fix it, from the inside
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkeley is waging a largely one-man crusade to reform the Senate filibuster. He sees it as a way to help end obstructionism and address the Senate's increasing dysfunction.
Braid and The Witness Creator Jonathan Blow Teases The Game Awards Announcement
Jonathan Blow has just "announced an announcement," teasing he just may be getting on a plane today to join a "gaming industry event coming up." All roads lead to The Game Awards!
Republicans worry Trump is missing the mark on affordability
President Donald Trump’s high-profile economic speech on Tuesday night was meant to alleviate Americans’ concerns about the cost of living. Instead, it mainly appeared to deepen fears within the GOP that he’s not quite getting it.
Trump calls affordability crisis a "hoax," touts the economy ahead of midterms
As Democrats campaigning on affordability pick up wins, Trump's messaging about a strong economy is at odds with widespread voter sentiment that he's not doing enough to tackle rising costs.
Mental health needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can't be ignored
William Skipworth’s three-part investigation in the New Hampshire Bulletin has laid bare the ongoing traumas experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The community’s response has been swift — shock, grief, and a collective demand for action to prevent future harm. As the dust settles, pressing questions are emerging about oversight and accountability: Which […]
UK Sports Cardiology helps marathoner back to chasing 50-state goal
After a midrace cardiac arrest, Brian Rice was advised not to run again. But with help from UK HealthCare’s Sports Cardiology Program, Rice is back chasing his dream of running a marathon in every state.
Scientists say thousands of tiny black holes may be passing through your home every day | - The Times of India
Trending News: Physicists reveal that thousands of primordial black holes may drift through your home every year, undetected. Learn how these tiny, ancient black holes could be linked to dark matter and what that means for us.
No one is safe from the world’s next superbugs. Is this new science the solution?
Old antibiotics are losing effectiveness — and new ones aren’t being discovered fast enough. Our best hope to save lives may be AI.
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chrome for iPhone rolling out built-in Gemini integration
After teasing in September, Google Chrome for iOS is now more widely rolling out a built-in Gemini experience.
Lawmakers explain their bipartisan efforts to tackle rising health insurance premiums
'Common Ground': Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., discuss their efforts to make health insurance more affordable and prevent premium spikes on 'Special Report.'
Virginia City business owners face steep rent increases from state
Virginia City business owners say new state lease agreements increasing rent to 15% of gross revenue could force closures in the historic town.