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“Why water is special” mystery finally solved.
POSTECH and Stockholm University observe water’s liquid-liquid critical point, published in Science, following the team’s 2017 and 2020 papers in the same journal. Ten years of persistent research leads to a discovery that could rewrite textbooks
The billion-dollar bet that turned insurance into entertainment
Four companies in one of America’s least glamorous industries solved one of its hardest business problems—by stopping talking about their product entirely.
The billion-dollar bet that turned insurance into entertainment
Four companies in one of America’s least glamorous industries solved one of its hardest business problems—by stopping talking about their product entirely.
The billion-dollar bet that turned insurance into entertainment
Four companies in one of America’s least glamorous industries solved one of its hardest business problems—by stopping talking about their product entirely.
A massive arctic thaw is unleashing carbon frozen for thousands of years
A sweeping new study reveals that as Arctic permafrost thaws, it is dramatically reshaping rivers and releasing vast amounts of ancient carbon that had been locked away for thousands of years. By analyzing decades of high-resolution data across northern Alaska, scientists found that runoff is increasing, rivers are carrying more dissolved carbon, and the thawing season is stretching further into the fall. This carbon eventually reaches the ocean, where some of it turns into carbon dioxide, intensifying global warming.
This exploding star was spotted doing something weird. Now scientists think it might have solved a key cosmic theory | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
New evidence proves these magnetic monsters are the secret engines behind the Universe’s biggest explosions
Physicists just solved a strange fusion mystery that stumped experts
Fusion scientists have solved a long-standing mystery inside tokamaks, the donut-shaped machines designed to harness fusion energy. For years, experiments showed that escaping plasma particles hit one side of the exhaust system far more than the other, but simulations couldn’t explain why. Now, researchers have discovered that the rotation of the plasma itself plays a crucial role—working together with sideways particle drift to create the imbalance.
St. Tammany Health System offering prediabetes program
Covington resident Ruth Stickler resolved at the start of the year to return to healthier lifestyle after some stressful times led to a diagnosis of prediabetes. But she questioned how
Scientists solved the mystery of missing ocean plastic—and the answer is alarming
Scientists have discovered that the ocean’s “missing” plastic hasn’t vanished—it has broken down into trillions of invisible nanoplastics now spread through water, air, and living organisms. These tiny particles may be everywhere, including inside our bodies, raising serious concerns about their impact.
USMNT second-half collapse vs. Belgium was a reality check that might get worse before better
The Americans have some serious issues that are unlikely to be solved before facing Portugal
Ohio, Michigan strive to overcome shortage of mental health care workers
A shortage of mental health care workers remains unresolved in Ohio, Michigan, and around the country. Worker burnout during the pandemic still leaves the ...
Who Is The American Small Business Now? Banks May Not Know
Fintech made it easier than ever to start a business. Now data reveals why verifying who actually did is the sector's next unsolved problem.
Supercomputers just solved a 50-year-old mystery about giant stars
Astronomers have finally cracked a decades-old mystery about red giant stars—how material from their deep interiors makes its way to the surface. Using cutting-edge supercomputer simulations, researchers discovered that stellar rotation plays a powerful role in mixing elements across a previously unexplained barrier inside the star.
Bucs facing a tough decision with Baker Mayfield in 2026
The Bucs have to get the contract situation with Baker Mayfield solved sooner rather than later.
TSA chaos will look like 'child's play' if shutdown not solved soon
With TSA agents set to miss another paycheck next week, Sean Duffy told CNBC the current chaos could get even worse.
Gerd Faltings of Germany Wins 2026 Abel Prize in Mathematics
Gerd Faltings proved a conjecture that had been unsolved for six decades, using connections between numbers and geometry.
iOS 26.4 lets Family Sharing members use their own payment methods
With the iOS 26.4 RC released earlier today, Apple solved one of the longest-standing limitations of Family Sharing. Here’s what’s new.
Court filings shed light on McGlinchey debts, assets as firm is dissolved in bankruptcy
Documents filed in the McGlinchey Stafford bankruptcy case shed new light on the New Orleans firm’s financial situation in the wake of its surprise decision early this year to shut
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a major display flaw that cheap Android phones solved years ago
Forget the Galaxy S26 Ultra's Privacy Display — I wish Samsung would finally care about PWM dimming and eye comfort features.
The Mystery of Intense Magnetism on The Moon Is Finally Solved
A 3.5-billion-year-old anomaly.
Scientists discover giant swirling plumes hidden deep inside Greenland’s ice sheet
Scientists may have finally solved the mystery of strange plume-like structures hidden deep inside the Greenland ice sheet. New research suggests they form through thermal convection—slow, swirling motions driven by temperature differences inside the ice. This means the deep ice could be far softer than scientists once believed. Understanding this hidden movement could improve predictions about how Greenland’s ice sheet behaves in a warming world.
Nessel vows to continue antitrust case against Live Nation for monopolizing live entertainment industry
LANSING – On Monday, following the announcement of a settlement reached between Live Nation and the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve antitrust claims brought by the federal authority alongside a broad, bipartisan coalition of states, Attorney General Nessel and the multistate coalition have resolved not to join the settlement and instead continue to litigate […]
Democrats ask what happened to millions earmarked for Trump’s library
ABC, Meta, Paramount and X reportedly agreed to pay at least $63 million in settlements with the president. The original fund was dissolved last year.
A Most Unusual Lake
Lake Unter-See in Antarctica, sealed beneath thick ice, contains unusually high levels of dissolved oxygen and cone-shaped microbial reefs resembling some of Earth’s oldest fossils.
A massive asteroid hit the North Sea and triggered a 330-foot tsunami
A long-running debate about the Silverpit Crater beneath the North Sea has finally been resolved. Scientists now confirm it formed when a roughly 160-meter asteroid struck the seabed about 43–46 million years ago. New seismic imaging and rare shocked minerals in rock samples provided the crucial proof. The impact would have sent a massive plume skyward and unleashed a tsunami over 100 meters (330 feet) high.
Scientists control 'free-flowing' electric currents with light
By controlling magnetic fields using light, a team of researchers led by NTU scientists has solved a long-standing challenge to precisely direct electric currents produced by quantum materials. Their ...
High School Students Advance from State Science and Engineering Fair to International Competition
Charleston, W.Va. - The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) is pleased to announce that Pavan Subramani from Morgantown High School (Monongalia County), Iqraa Zaman from George Washington High School (Kanawha County) and the team of Jaxon Milam and Joseph Nodurft from the Linsly School (Ohio County) have advanced from the 72nd annual West Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair (WVSSEF) to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The state-level fair serves as the qualifier for the ISEF, and these four students will represent the Mountain State in Phoenix in May.To compete in the WVSSEF, students in Grades 3-12 had to win their local, county and regional science and engineering fairs. Today’s competition resulted in 48 first place winners, 53 second place winners and 46 third place winners. For the full detailed list, view the 2026 WVSSEF Official Results.The WVSSEF challenges students to think critically about the world around them, encouraging them to find answers to unsolved questions and address problems by introducing proactive solutions. Students are also provided the opportunity to present their projects to judges—industry professionals and university professors—to discuss the research findings, scientific methodologies and hypotheses involved in their work.“The West Virginia Science and Engineering Fair is a highlight of every school year, as it brings some of the Mountain State's most accomplished students together as a showcase of the immense talent and potential they possess," said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. "These young scholars show time and time again that the future economy of West Virginia is bright. The attention to detail in every project and the passion and joy expressed by our students are truly inspiring."The WVSSEF featured 273 aspiring scientists, chemists and engineers who presented 209 projects featuring material science, animal science, plant science, physics, astronomy, engineering and more.View event photos.
Guinea’s main opposition leader warns of a ‘party-state’ after 40 political parties dissolved
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Guinea’s main opposition figure on Sunday accused the country’s leader of trying to build a “party-state,” after the government dissolved 40 political parties by d…
Ryan Gosling breaks and can't stop laughing over surprise joke changes in hilarious 'SNL' sketch
Ryan Gosling broke and dissolved into giggles cold-reading several surprise jokes — including one poking fun at his 'Barbie' role — in a hilarious 'SNL' sketch about passing notes in class.
Guinea Dissolves 40 Political Parties, Including Main Opposition
Guinea’s military government has dissolved 40 political parties, including the main opposition groups, adding to the number of parties banned since the country’s 2021 coup.
How Processing Unresolved Trauma and a Personal Health Crisis Brought Willa Ford Back to Music (Exclusive)
In an interview with PEOPLE, Willa Ford opens up about releasing her first album in 25 years 'amanda.' The record is out March 6.
Blue Bat Kitchen & Tequilaria closes for 1 day after health inspection
Blue Bat reopened March 3 after the restaurant resolved "several matters" found during a health inspection, the restaurant said in a statement.
Mysterious Roman-era board game that eluded scientists for a century finally solved by AI
The cutting-edge gamebot, named Ludii, "played the game against itself and identified a few variants that are enjoyable for humans to play."
Ancient Microbes Fused Into Earth’s First Complex Cells. Scientists Just Learned What Made It Possible.
Around 1.7 billion years ago, eukaryotes—the building blocks of complex life—first appeared on Earth, and now scientists have solved a longstanding riddle about their origin.
Political questions: Not every issue can be resolved in federal court
Political question doctrine is best understood as one of jurisdiction and judicial restraint.
Horse whinnies are weirder than they sound
Scientists may have finally solved this biological mystery—thanks to some horse larynges.
Between the Rock and a hard place: Gibraltar’s new post-Brexit rules
The UK government will hope that relaxing the land border between Gibraltar and Spain will clear up the ‘last major unresolved issue from Brexit’
Scientists Tracked Particles Floating Through the Air—And Solved a 100-Year-Old Mystery
Accurately modeling irregularly-shaped particles isn’t easy, but a new study found a way to improve a century-old idea.
Scientists Tracked Particles Floating Through the Air—And Solved a 100-Year-Old Mystery
Accurately modeling irregularly-shaped particles isn’t easy, but a new study found a way to improve a century-old idea.
'Freak of Nature': Scientists Think Greenland's Ice Is Churning Like Molten Rock
A decade-old mystery solved.
After Decades of Global Searching, Scientists Finally Create the Silicon Aromatic Once Thought Impossible
A long-standing chemistry challenge has been solved with the synthesis of a five-atom silicon aromatic ring.
Five Berkeley Lab Scientists Receive DOE Early Career Research Awards
Five scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have received Early Career Research Program (ECRP) awards from the Department of Energy. The ECRP program, now in its 16th year, was established to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by supporting exceptional researchers at the outset of their careers, when many scientists do their most formative work. Recipients use the funding to pursue projects that have the potential to solve scientific challenges and advance the country’s STEM capabilities. To be eligible for the program, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant or associate professor at a U.S. academic institution, or a full-time employee at a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility, who is within 10 years of having earned their doctorate. Awards to an institution of higher education will be approximately $875,000 over five years, and awards to a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility will be approximately $2,750,000 over five years. This year’s Berkeley Lab awardees and their projects are listed below: Timon Heim: Better detectors for more powerful particle colliders Timon Heim is a staff scientist in the Physics Division. His ECRP project will develop a new type of detector that can track the particles generated by collisions in particle colliders with high spatial and temporal resolution. Current detectors in use at high-energy colliders, like the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, can track the trajectory and measure momentum of particles, but they can’t track a particle’s time of arrival with sufficient precision to discern from which of the many particle interactions they originate. Heim’s proposed technology — called a 4D tracking detector, because it captures data about particles’ positions in space and time — aims to solve this challenge, allowing researchers to glean more precise data from collision experiments to uncover new insights into fundamental forces and potentially discover new particles. The enhanced capabilities of 4D detectors will be a necessity for experiments at future colliders, such as the Muon Collider or Future Circular Collider. The project will develop custom microelectronics that process the signal of a pixelated silicon sensor that can register charged particles passing through it in an extreme radiation environment that these colliders produce during operation. The goal is to measure individual particles’ position with 50-micro-meter spatial and 50 pico-second (one trillionth of a second) temporal precision, for an incoming flux of around 1 billion particles per second per square centimeter. Harrison Lisabeth: Studying underground processes to unleash abundant energy Harrison Lisabeth is a research scientist in the Energy Geoscience Division focused on combining real-world experiments and AI to guide development of geothermal energy systems. His project will explore how deep underground rock formations – where geothermal wells are dug – are stressed by chemical reactions of the minerals and mechanical strain from movements in the Earth. A better understanding of subsurface stresses is essential to engineer safe and reliable geothermal wells that access the heat of deep rocks to produce electricity. It is estimated that the U.S. could generate ten times the amount of energy needed to power the grid using geothermal sources. Lisabeth plans to simulate how minerals grow, dissolve, and influence the behavior of surrounding rock in geothermal reservoirs by tracking chemical changes in rock samples under pressure in the lab. The project will also develop machine learning models to predict geologic strain based on field measurements and refine existing models that describe how common rock types deform under stress. Combining these approaches, Lisabeth hopes to develop a framework to predict stress to improve stability and longevity of geothermal wells. Daniel Carney: Pushing the quantum boundaries of particle measurement Daniel Carney is a staff scientist in the Physics Division who uses quantum information science to study particle physics and gravity. At very small scales, “quantum noise” — random fluctuations from the act of measurement — can drown out faint signals from rare processes. Carney’s ECRP project, “Fundamental Physics at the Quantum Limits of Measurement,” aims to build a new mechanical quantum sensor that can measure extremely small particle interactions below the limits of that quantum noise. The approach uses lasers to hold a tiny bead containing radioactive atoms; when one decays, the system measures the bead’s motion and the energy of any particles emitted. The experiment’s initial goal is to search for heavy sterile neutrinos, hypothetical particles predicted by some extensions of the Standard Model. The system could also help measure the mass of the neutrino, study the way particles interact through the electromagnetic and weak forces, and hunt for low-mass dark matter — all unsolved mysteries in particle physics. Callum Wilkinson: Using machine learning to demystify neutrinos Callum Wilkinson is a staff scientist in the Physics Division and part of the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. DUNE will create an intense beam of neutrinos that interact in detectors in Illinois and, after an 800-mile journey through the earth, in massive detectors in South Dakota. By precisely measuring neutrinos and how they change, researchers will get a better understanding of their fundamental properties and whether they are responsible for why there is so much more matter than antimatter in our universe. Wilkinson’s ECRP project will apply two machine learning techniques to improve the analysis of DUNE’s data and enhance the experiment’s precision. One approach will look for hidden patterns in how neutrinos interact and produce low-energy particles, while the other will help correct for distortions in what the detectors record. The methods will be tested on one of DUNE’s prototype detectors and could be used in other neutrino experiments, improving their measurements and helping scientists build better models. Aditi Krishnapriyan: Machine learning methods that scale as datasets grow Aditi Krishnapriyan is a faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Mathematics and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and assistant professor at UC Berkeley. Her project, awarded through UC Berkeley, will develop machine learning methods that scale with dataset size for modeling complex, multi-scale phenomena. The resulting tools can be applied in a wide range of research, including the study of new electrolytes for batteries or the examination of molecular interactions. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Scientists may have just solved one of the strangest mysteries of Greenland’s ice sheet
Below the surface, Greenland’s ice appears to be churning up, a process one scientist described as akin to a “boiling pot of pasta”
We're creating cutting-edge AI science tools for Google DeepMind—and 3 million researchers across 190+ countries
Five years ago, our AlphaFold AI system solved the 50-year grand challenge of protein structure prediction. But that's not the whole story.
Windows 11 KB5077181 fixes boot failures linked to failed updates
Microsoft says it has resolved a Windows 11 bug that caused some commercial systems to fail to boot with an "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error after installing recent security updates, with the fix delivered in the February 2026 Patch Tuesday update.
Scientists found a way to plant ideas in dreams to boost creativity
Sleeping on a problem might be more powerful than we ever imagined. Neuroscientists at Northwestern University have shown that dreams can actually be nudged in specific directions — and those dream tweaks may boost creativity. By playing subtle sound cues during REM sleep, researchers prompted people to dream about unsolved brain teasers they had struggled with earlier. An astonishing 75% of participants dreamed about the cued puzzles, and those puzzles were solved far more often the next day.
New calcium-ion battery design delivers high performance without lithium
Scientists at HKUST have unveiled a major leap forward in calcium-ion battery technology, potentially opening the door to safer, more sustainable energy storage for everything from renewable power grids to electric vehicles. By designing a novel quasi-solid-state electrolyte made from redox-active covalent organic frameworks, the team solved long-standing issues that have held calcium batteries back—namely poor ion transport and limited stability.
Department of Homeland Security on track to shut down with lawmakers leaving Washington and an unresolved ICE fight
A bitterly divided Washington is headed for its third government funding lapse of President Donald Trump’s second term — this time, a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security over the issue of federal immigration enforcement.
Partial US government shutdown likely to continue amid funding standoff
Speaker Mike Johnson is ‘convinced’ the impasse over homeland security funding will be resolved by Tuesday
Report: Apple 'exploring' clamshell foldable iPhone as potential follow-up model
In today’s Power On newsletter from Mark Gurman, an interesting new possibility was shared for the iPhone lineup: a smaller,...
Gov. DeSantis to talk future Tampa Bay Rays ballpark? Speculation mounts
The stadium issue could be resolved finally
Trump Threatens Canada Over Business Jet Dispute
The president said he would restrict the use of Canadian-built aircraft and impose a 50 percent on them until the dispute was resolved.
Stingray-inspired robot cracks the mystery of how rays swim
‘Nature seems to have already solved the problem.’
Windows 11 hit by bevy of bugs to kick off 2026
Some of the bugs have been resolved, but others continue to plague Windows users.
Massive Microsoft 365 outage affects Outlook, Defender, more
Microsoft is investigating a widespread outage affecting several Business and Enterprise Microsoft 365 services, including Outlook.
Officers de-escalate armed person having mental health crisis in Canton police lobby
"Because of the officers' actions, this situation was resolved without injury, and the individual was connected with the appropriate mental health services."
The 2026 Entertainment Law Forecast: Navigating Fair Use, AI Training, and Trademark Trends
The year 2025 left the media and entertainment industry with a series of significant, unresolved legal questions. As we move into 2026, several high-profile cases are poised to redefine the...
Health advisory lifted after sewage leak into Peconic River in Riverhead
A sewage leak in Peconic River, Riverhead, has been resolved. Health officials confirm the area is now safe for recreational activities.
iPhone 18 Pro Dynamic Island confusion now appears resolved
There’s been considerable confusion about the fate of the iPhone 18 Pro Dynamic Island, with conflicting claims about the position...
Trotter's Trends: Midseason riers and fallers; building the All-Bench All-Stars
An inside look at the problems the Blue Devils have solved, why Georgetown has regressed and 10 off-the-bench gamechangers
Supreme Court keeps nation waiting on Trump tariff decision, releases 3 lower-profile opinions
The Supreme Court leaves Trump tariff challenge unresolved while delivering three rulings in lower-profile cases.
iPhone 18 Pro may hide Face ID under the display, but one big question remains
A report says iPhone 18 Pro could get under-display Face ID and a more efficient screen, but the Dynamic Island’s fate is still unclear.
The ozone layer is still healing…thanks to science : Short Wave
In the mid-1980s, scientists published a startling finding–a giant hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. That’s the protective shield that blocks large amounts of harmful UV radiation. And without it, the rate of cancer, cataracts and crop failure would skyrocket. Today on the show, we dive into ozone science and examine how scientists successfully sounded the alarm and solved an Antarctic mystery.Check out our episode on an Antarctic plankton mystery. And, listen to our monthly series Nature Quest.Interested in more atmospheric science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.This episode was produced by Berly McCoy. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Becky Brown.
Republican senator vows to block all Fed nominations after DoJ investigates Powell
Thom Tillis says he would oppose any nominee, including upcoming chair vacancy, ‘until legal matter is fully resolved’
Essay Highlights Overlooked Welfare Risks for Fish and Aquatic Animals
Researchers evaluate how standard animal welfare guidelines account for the biological needs of fish and other aquatic animals, including access to dissolved oxygen.
CES 2026: The Tone Outdoors T1 solved the biggest problem with leaf blowers
Whisper Aero's new spinoff used aerospace engineering to reduce the annoyance of cleaning your yard.
Family says car dealership took advantage of elderly man with dementia; business says it’s resolved
The man was sold a nearly $90,000 truck.
Most Cape Cod renters are 'housing burdened.' It's a problem that needs to be solved.
The Cape Cod Commission Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy report lays out goals to create a vibrant Cape economy. Here's a look.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Is Hiding One More Unsolved Mystery
Rockstar's open-world blockbuster seems to be hiding at least one more mysterious puzzle for players to solve
Historical Mysteries Solved by Science in 2025
Researchers across the globe put on their sleuthing hats this year to provide answers to questions that have lingered from decades to centuries. The thought-provoking findings offer new ways of
Rainbow Six Siege Is Being Hacked, As Players Are Gifted 2 Billion Credits, While Ban Logs Are Spammed With Digs At Ubisoft
Content creators urge players to stay offline until the problem has been resolved, given the extent of the breach.
A rare cancer-fighting plant compound has finally been decoded
UBC Okanagan researchers have uncovered how plants create mitraphylline, a rare natural compound linked to anti-cancer effects. By identifying two key enzymes that shape and twist molecules into their final form, the team solved a puzzle that had stumped scientists for years. The discovery could make it far easier to produce mitraphylline and related compounds sustainably. It also highlights plants as master chemists with untapped medical potential.
Nintendo Suggests Metroid Prime 4's Tortured Development Meant It Was "Divorced From The Changing Of Times"
"We resolved to move forward with our original vision"
Have Eagles really solved things on offense?
It’s understandable if you had given up on the Eagles’ offense a month ago. But in the last three games, things have looked a bit different.
Historical mysteries solved by science in 2025
Researchers studied fossils, well-preserved remains and even a single fingerprint to solve some of history’s long-standing mysteries this year.
The Gear That Defined Tech Editor Josh Ross's 2025: AI, Cameras, WorldTour Bikes, and More
It wasn’t just about the fastest bikes or the lightest parts. This year my favorites included items, both bike related and not, that fostered connection, solved real problems, and brought me joy.
Why Sports Is The Fastest Way To Break CTV’s Programmatic Ceiling
Programmatic media buying is expected to account for the majority of growth in the CTV market in 2026. This year alone, over 90% of CTV ad dollars were transacted through programmatic pipes. That data isn’t surprising. Programmatic has solved a real problem by helping brands reach TV viewers with targeted precision at much lower costs. […]
Foldable phone makers have solved every issue except one
In 2025, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold proved that manufacturers have solved all the major issues with foldable phones except one last thing.
NH's Business: Tackling unresolved issues in NH heading into 2026
Fred Kocher sits down with Matt Mowry with Business NH Magazine and Mike Cote with the New Hampshire Business Review to talk about key issues across the state heading into the new year.
Mystery solved: Amazon is the tenant in talks with data center developer rocked by stock plunge
"The lead negotiator for Amazon called me on Thursday," Fermi CEO Toby Neugebauer told Business Insider. The deal would pay more than $20 billion over the next 20 years, he said.
Michigan coaching search lingers as top targets send mixed signals
Michigan football’s coaching search remains unresolved as Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham addresses rumors.
Mamdani and top New York rabbis will meet privately, but their core divide remains unresolved
The Friday after Zohran Mamdani won, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch gave a sermon saying that he believed the incoming New York mayor’s criticisms of Israel aligned with Hamas and that critics of Israel wanted to separate “good Jews” from “bad Jews” in a way that endangers the city’s Jewish community.
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
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