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What is the Superintendent of Public Instruction responsible for?
Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the Superintendent of Public Instruction oversees.
What it means to be a woman in business
I am currently a Senior Key Account Manager at Alliant Energy. In my role, I’m responsible for managing some of our major commercial and industrial customers, and I also get the opportunity to support economic development across the communities we serve. This year marks nearly a decade for me at Alliant Energy — a journey […]
Henrico business robbed at knifepoint, police searching for suspect
A Henrico County business was robbed at knifepoint in mid-February, with police asking the public for help identifying the person responsible.
South Korea’s Kakao Entertainment appoints JungHee Ko as Co-CEO alongside Joseph Chang in
Ko takes on an additional role as Chief Platform Officer, overseeing a newly created unit responsible for Kakao Entertainment’s platform services…
New proposal would cap Social Security benefits at $100K for wealthy couples
A new proposal from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget would cap Social Security benefits for wealthy couples at $100,000 annually, with a $50,000 limit for single retirees.
Meta and Google damaged girl’s mental health, landmark trial concludes
Social media giants deemed responsible for a teenage user, known as KGM, growing addicted to their platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026.
The Joe Kent saga lays bare the real Trump derangement syndrome
Washington's Kent resigning from the nation's security team seemed like an accountability moment. Instead, it demonstrated how President Trump isn't held responsible for anything.
Towards responsible AI for mental health and well-being: experts chart a way forward
On 29 January 2026, WHO‑supported experts met at a TU Delft workshop to address the rapid, largely untested use of generative AI for mental health support. Participants warned of risks to well‑being, especially for young people, and called for stronger governance.
How the Trump administration could be hurting Israel’s already damaged brand
On two major occasions, the Trump administration has gestured at Israel being mostly responsible for major inflection points in the Iran war — even though the evidence on both counts isn’t totally clear.
State forensic science commission blasts UIC over rogue crime lab
The Illinois Forensic Science Commission called on the university to conduct a proper audit of its lab, which has been responsible for nearly two dozen wrongful DUI convictions.
Oregon Lays Out Core Public Health Plan Goals for Years Ahead
The plan, while largely conceptual, offers some insight into the thinking inside the state agency responsible for Oregonians’ health outcomes.
Pac-12 Announces Wide-Ranging Integrity and Data Rights Partnership with Genius Sports
SAN RAMON, California – Genius Sports (NYSE: GENI) and the Pac-12 today announced a new multi-year integrity, technology and AI partnership to power the next generation of authorized and responsible sports betting, integrity, fan engagement and monetization, and performance analysis in college sports.
What is the California lieutenant governor responsible for?
Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the lieutenant governor oversees.
Scientists crack a 20-year nuclear mystery behind the creation of gold
Gold and other heavy elements are born in some of the universe’s most violent events—but scientists still struggle to understand the nuclear steps that create them. Now, nuclear physicists have uncovered three key discoveries about how unstable atomic nuclei decay during the rapid neutron-capture process, the chain reaction responsible for forging elements like gold and platinum.
Around the MHS
The latest news from around the Military Health System for the week of March 9-13, 2026, includes responsible integration of artificial intelligence into military medicine, honoring Department of War medical leaders and professionals, and tactical training for warfighter readiness.
Preparing our colleagues for the future of work
CVS Health is launching an AI Learning Academy to help colleagues build practical, responsible AI skills and apply them confidently in their work.
Business for Good 2026
Maine companies are increasingly recognizing that success is measured by more than profit alone. Research shows that people value businesses that operate responsibly by protecting the environment, supporting their communities, and fostering workplaces built on shared purpose. Business for Good spotlights the Maine organizations, large and small, that are driving positive change through community involvement, responsible growth, and purpose-driven leadership.
What is California's governor responsible for?
Before you vote, we want to explain what exactly the governor oversees.
‘Unforgivable under any circumstances’: Sen. Murphy responds to analysis that US likely responsible for Iran school strike
The Brains of Ultra-Powerful People Experience an Altered State of Reality, Research Suggests
“The neuroscience is pretty uncomfortable. People in positions of power show reduced activity in mirror neuron systems, the circuitry responsible for empathy and perspective-taking.” –Shonna Waters, PhD
Artificial Intelligence in Military Medicine: USU Leaders Highlight the Future of Health Education
Panelists at the AMSUS annual meeting discussed how the responsible integration of artificial intelligence will shape the next generation of...
Opinion | It’s the Troll vs. the Bore in the G.O.P. Texas Senate Runoff
The state needs intelligent and responsible political leadership, but will it get it?
Are mental health apps like doctors, yogis, drugs or supplements?
Cornell researchers are recommending new guidelines for developing safe and responsible large language model-based mental well-being apps by consulting relevant experts and reviewing existing state and federal regulations.
Samsung’s Digital Home Key will work with UWB and NFC smart locks
Samsung is adopting the Aliro smart lock standard, run by the same team responsible for Matter. In Samsung Wallet, a...
MGM Resorts Highlights Responsible Gaming Push And Sports Ties For Investors
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) and BetMGM announced a $1 million commitment to responsible gaming, including a three year research project into sports wagering impacts and expanded safeguards across their platforms. The initiative was launched during Problem Gambling Awareness Month, aligning product changes and research funding with a period of heightened focus on gambling related risks. MGM Resorts is also set to co host "She Got Game" in Las Vegas, an event honoring U.S. women’s...
100 Burlingame businesses file lawsuit against gas station, operator over gas leak
First a gas leak, now a lawsuit. Burlingame businesses that went through an ordeal of road closures and power outages in January are now suing the companies they say are responsible.
Seven Berkeley businesses burglarized in one night
BERKELEY, Calif. (KRON) — Police in the East Bay are on the lookout for a burglary crew believed responsible for breaking into businesses in at least three cities. On Monday morning, Berkeley…
Rep. Omar: I had to remind him that his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents
From frog saunas to medicated baths: Scientists battle a global amphibian plague
What may sound like a spa day for frogs is all part of a global effort to fight the chytrid fungus — the deadly pathogen responsible for what scientists have called the largest disease-driven loss of vertebrates in recorded history.
First lady Melania and Donald Trump bringing separate guests to SOTU in break with precedent
First lady Melania Trump will bring guests to the State of the Union address representing her foster care and responsible AI platforms while President Donald Trump has invited his own set of guests – a move that marks a break from precedent.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run and Prototype Developer Radical Entertainment Appears to Have Returned, and Fans Are Hyped for Fresh Remakes
Radical Entertainment, the studio responsible for Prototype and the beloved The Simpsons: Hit & Run, appears to be back under a new name: New Radical Games.
Supreme Court to decide if Colorado city can sue oil companies for climate change
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to take up a major environmental appeal from fossil fuel producers who are hoping to shake off a lawsuit from a Colorado city that wants to hold them responsible for climate change.
Budget, housing, business development: Concord City Council sets its priorities
Responsible monetary decisions. Clear and widely disseminated communication with the public, especially on the city’s finances and taxes. Helping people keep their homes and find new ones. Regulatory and cultural changes to make it easier for businesses and development, and investments in the roads, sewers and other infrastructure to support them. These pursuits are what […]
Title IX responsible for so many women's Olympic medals for Team USA
For the third consecutive Winter Games, U.S. women won more gold medals and more medals overall than U.S. men. Success can be traced back to Title IX.
Migrants are not responsible for the UK’s healthcare crisis
They are not a burden on the NHS, but a vital part of how it functions.
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.
Is Sustainability a Supply Chain Bottleneck?
As fashion races to meet stricter environmental targets, brands are discovering that responsible sourcing brings new operational constraints — reshaping timelines, costs and supplier relationships across the global supply chain.
Scientists Discovered An Organism That Can Become Two Different Life Forms
Knowing which genes are responsible for the transformations could help with developing antifungal treatments, and may have other pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
Don’t Let Greed Tarnish the Future of Sports Betting
Sports betting operators and responsible gaming firms must balance short-term profit with supporting long-term industry success of legal sports gambling.
Blood thinners are a leading cause of drug-related harm. Can the risk be lowered?
More than 8 million people in the U.S. take blood thinners to prevent dangerous clots. At the same time, the drugs are responsible for a staggering number of serious bleeding events.
Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects petition for public vote on Rock Creek Entertainment District
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday the gist of Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development’s petition to turn the Rock Creek Entertainment District to a public vote is insufficient.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino called 'infantile' for wanting to lift Russia ban
Ukraine's sports minister calls Fifa president Gianni Infantino "irresponsible" and "infantile" for saying it will look at lifting a ban on Russia.
Geo-kleptocracy and the rise of 'global mafia politics'
Expert Alex de Waal explains how the capture of Maduro, leaving his corrupt regime in place, is a 'crystalline example' of regime change in the new era
A 65km hike into Norway's vanishing rural past
The Stølstruta offers hikers a responsible, respectful way to witness a pastoral tradition that has disappeared almost everywhere else in Europe.
Event Recap: Fourth Annual Health Solutions Summit | Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
2026-01-30-Despite a recent ice storm, over 200 people turned out for hot chocolate and health policy on January 28, 2026‘s for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget's Fourth Annual Health Solutions
Chicago small business owner says she lost over $8K to fraud, bank held her responsible
A small business owner in Chicago says thousands of dollars were stolen from her bank account.
Democratic Governors Promise Accountability After Alex Pretti Killing
The chin-out rhetoric of Democratic governors about holding Trump administration officials responsible for violence in their cities may be more political than practicable.
One Supreme Court Case Is Most Responsible for Our Oligarchy. It’s Not the One You Think.
Whether or not money is the root of all evil, the root of our current American oligarchy is a single Supreme Court case.
Burning Wood Indoors May Be a Bigger Health Risk Than You Think
By I. Edwards HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, Jan. 27, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Lighting a fire on a cold winter night can feel cozy. But a new study suggests it may also harm your health, even if you don’t burn the wood yourself. Researchers at Northwestern University found that home wood burning is responsible for about 22% of outdoor ...
David McClelland Appointed Head of the Santander US Auto Business
BOSTON & DALLAS, January 26, 2026--Santander Holdings USA, Inc. ("Santander US") announced that David McClelland has been named Head of the Santander US Auto business, effective today. McClelland will be responsible for executing on the company’s Auto growth strategy, enhancing dealer and customer experiences, and managing manufacturer (OEM) relationships. In this capacity, he succeeds Bruce Jackson, who announced his retirement from the company.
Introducing BU's New Online MS in Artificial Intelligence in Business
BU Questrom School of Business has launched a new Online MS in Artificial Intelligence in Business, designed for working professionals responsible for improving performance, scaling change, and making artificial intelligence work in real organizations.
Cornerstone Energy Park names Director of Business Development and Marketing to help advance responsible development
For more than 70 years, Cornerstone Chemical Company, LLC has been a proud community partner in Jefferson Parish. Today, as the company advances a long-term vision centered on modernization, sustainability
The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) receives €5 million donation for AI research
The Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) has received a donation of 5 million euros from Canadian philanthropist and entrepreneur Garrett Camp to help advance AI as a trustworthy, human-centered technology that benefits society. ISTA’s commitment to responsible AI, coupled with its focus on frontier research and interdisciplinary culture, make it perfectly placed to pursue this goal.
Floods Push Crocodiles Into Mozambican Towns as Health Concerns Rise
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — As floods ravage Mozambique, crocodiles are appearing in submerged towns and responsible for at least three deaths. In the town of Xai-Xai, the provincial capital of Gaza province and one of the worst-affected areas in the country’s south, authorities have warned residents of ...
Pedro Allende Confirmed as New Under Secretary of Science and Technology
Pedro Allende has been confirmed as the new Under Secretary for Science and Technology, assuming leadership of the office responsible for advancing research, development, and innovation in support of national security priorities.
Alarm as US mulls prioritising citizens in research funding
A senior White House official said the Trump administration is considering ways to prioritise research funding to American citizens, triggering alarm in the research community that the country could destroy its century-long status as a magnet for overseas talent.Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), said last week that it is “important for us to continue to emphasise the use of federal R&D dollars towards American scientists and technologists that are staffed by Americans in their labs.” Asked about support for Chinese students during a Congressional hearing, Kratsios went on to say that in future funding announcements, the OSTP would “emphasise” that “we're funding American students.”The precise meaning of his impromptu comments, and what they could mean in policy terms, isn’t yet clear. The OSTP did not respond to multiple requests for clarification from Science|Business.But given that US science and technology has relied on overseas talent for the past century, Kratsios’s words have alarmed former US science officials.Immigrants have made up around 30-40% of US Nobel Prize winners since the 1940s, for example. Except for some sensitive projects, countries typically grant research funding on a nationality-blind basis, lest they deter foreign scientists from immigrating. “If director Kratsios’s statements are taken literally and become official policy of the White House, [research-intensive] universities will likely have to close labs if not entire research divisions,” said David Biggs, a former science and technology official in the US State Department. In their most extreme interpretation, Kratsios’s comments would imply that foreign scientists established in the US would see access to funding curtailed. This would “result in many world-leading professors who work in the United States in fields that this administration considers a priority (like fusion energy, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing) leaving the country,” said Cole Donovan, a former US science diplomat, and now associate director at the Federation of American Scientists.CripplingHowever, given the context of the conversation, Kratsios may have been referring more narrowly to funding for doctoral or postdoctoral students. At the hearing, he said he wanted to see labs staffed by US citizens. But even this would have devastating consequences for the US science system, say former officials, because the country is so dependent on early-career foreign researchers. Recent statistics show that nearly half of those in the US with a PhD in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) are considered short-term visitors, or non-residents in the official terminology. If this included residents who are not yet citizens, the proportion would likely be even higher. “Foreign PhD students are really a significant and core part of the university STEM workforce, and postdocs is similarly large,” said Donovan. Preventing US-based academics from hiring them from overseas would be a serious blow, he said. “If it's the case that this administration intends to limit funding to labs staffed only with US citizens, the effect will be to cripple the American scientific enterprise,” said Chris Marcum, a former OSTP official. “To think that these researchers can simply be replaced is a pipe dream. The labs will close,” said Marcum. Go elsewhereAround half of US-trained postdocs are foreign-born, said Biggs. “If these top international students cannot get funding to do their research, or even if they hear that funding for foreign students has been greatly restricted and will be super competitive, they will no longer choose to study in the US and will go elsewhere.” It’s unclear for now if Kratsios’s comments will translate into a real policy shift. But they could add to turmoil in the US science system since Donald Trump took over as president one year ago. Related articlesNIH turmoil risks reciprocal EU-US access to health research fundingUS set to close office responsible for global science and technology dealsTrump halts new NIH grants to international health-research partnersSince then, nearly 8,000 grants at the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation have been frozen or terminated, Naturereports. Courts have overturned most of these cancellations, but the disruption caused remains significant. Both those agencies have also dished out around a quarter fewer grants this year than normal, the journal reported. International student enrolment is also down by 17%. The Trump administration also proposes to cut research budgets by around a third, although Congress may mollify the cuts.
Matt Caja
First Bank Chicago, one of the five largest privately held banks in Chicago, is pleased to announce Matt Caja has been promoted to VP/Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Manager. Matt is responsible for collateral and personal financial analysis and preparing loan presentations, while also managing and servicing his own clients. Matt has over 30 years of expertise in commercial and consumer lending and joined the Bank in 2016.
Health board admits fatal infections probably caused by water system
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had consistently denied its water system was responsible for causing infections which led to the deaths of cancer patients.
Apple's OLED MacBook Pro Launch Moves Closer With Panel Production
Development of Apple's rumored OLED MacBook Pro took another forward step this month when the next-generation production line responsible for manufacturing its displays commenced operation. Samsung Display is expected to make the panels for Apple's MacBook Pro, and has invested heavily in an 8.6-generation OLED production line located at its Asan campus in South Korea.
What Leaders Need To Know About How Americans Define Responsible Business
How is the rise of AI affecting how Americans think about responsible business?
Recovery grants available for East Side merchants who lost business after Brown shooting
Recovery grants will soon become available to help Providence East Side businesses impacted during the roughly five-day manhunt for the gunman responsible for killing two students and injuring nine others at Brown University in December.
Sports Betting Sites Make It All Too Easy to Lose Everything You’ve Got
DraftKings and PointsBet are thriving—but lax regulations, understaffed “responsible gambling” departments, and lack of resources for gambling addicts can make sports betting platforms uniquely insidious, author Danny Funt reveals in this excerpt from ‘Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling.’
Let’s solve health care woes on Earth before eyeing space ambulances
Sending unwell people into space just because they can afford the trip is just as irresponsible as sending unfit people to climb Mount Everest.
Finance Manager - Operations & Business Planning
The Finance team at KABC-TV is responsible for financial planning, reporting, and analysis to support the station's strategic and operational goals while ensuring financial integrity and driving business success.
WellSpan Health Announces Comprehensive Migration of Technology Portfolio to AWS
Add to FavoritesWellSpan Health, the leading health care system serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland, today announced plans for a comprehensive cloud migration of its full technology infrastructure. Together with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider, WellSpan will transition its applications, data and environments from traditional data centers to AWS. This migration will establish the foundation for delivering next-generation, AI-enabled health care solutions that reduce administrative burden and improve outcomes for patients across the region and beyond. Supercharging Innovation, Efficiency and Patient Outcomes WellSpan's migration of systems and clinical applications, which serve 1.2 million patients across nine hospitals and 250+ facilities, is expected to be complete by April 2026, one of the fastest full-scale migrations in the health care industry. This transformation enables WellSpan to unify disparate data systems for care teams and patients alike, achieving operational efficiencies and care improvements that fragmented systems are unable to deliver. “Our comprehensive migration to the cloud accelerates our ability to deploy new clinical capabilities that transform patient care while advancing our overall innovation strategy,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health. “When a physician can access complete patient imaging in seconds instead of hours, we're not just modernizing technology—we're improving patient outcomes. Our new cloud infrastructure also enables us to quickly implement solutions that will free our clinicians from thousands of hours of administrative work annually so they can focus on what they do best: caring for our communities.” The transition allows WellSpan to move away from a data center-based model and enables the rapid deployment and scale of AI technology. WellSpan’s strategic partner, General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Company (HATCo), facilitated the collaboration with AWS to support the migration. WellSpan’s transformation journey benefits from HATCo’s specialized technology solutions, as well as General Catalyst and AWS’s significant partnership to improve patient outcomes, which was announced in January 2025. “Our decision to go all-in on AWS will enable insights and innovations impossible in traditional siloed environments,” said Kasey Paulus, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WellSpan Health. “This is the largest health care technology transformation in our region's history, and it positions WellSpan to be a premier partner for technology leaders across the country.” “WellSpan is building a foundation with AWS that will improve care and outcomes for patients across their health system by bringing data together into standardized formats that are optimized for AI applications,” said Dan Sheeran, vice president and general manager, Healthcare and Life Science, AWS. “To do this, it is essential to have the most secure and compliant cloud when handling patient data, along with AWS’s built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks that follow the industry’s highest standards to protect patient information. We look forward to continuing to work alongside WellSpan as they unlock the cloud and AI’s full potential to deliver exceptional care to their patients.” Key Benefits of the AWS Collaboration Full Portfolio Migration: WellSpan will transition its applications and data from on-premises data centers to AWS, including full IT environments and specialized applications for functions such as nursing, cardiology, pharmacy and the company’s supply chain systems. This represents approximately 7.5 petabytes of clinical and non-clinical data and more than 300 applications—the most comprehensive health system cloud migration in the Mid-Atlantic region. Approved Architectures: AWS will deliver secure, WellSpan-specific architectures tailored to each build, ensuring compliance and reliability across the health system. Unified, AI-Ready Data: Migrating to AWS enables WellSpan to harmonize data across separate systems, transforming unstructured clinical notes and multi-modal datasets into standardized, AI-ready formats. Accelerated Results and Improved Outcomes: Automated data normalization and processing will enable the deployment of applications that reduce turnaround times for items such as analyzing medical imaging or patient records from days to minutes, helping clinicians get patient results faster and improving overall health outcomes. Reduced Administrative Burden: The transition to AWS will enable swift deployment of AI-powered solutions that reclaim thousands of hours for WellSpan’s clinical and corporate teams, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than paperwork. Elastic Infrastructure: Cloud architecture will enable WellSpan to scale computing resources dynamically, supporting seasonal demand fluctuations without infrastructure investments, as well as the rapid deployment of new services across multiple locations simultaneously. Most Secure, Compliant Cloud: AWS offers the highest network availability of any cloud provider, with more than 166 HIPAA-eligible services and certifications for global compliance standards, including HITRUST CSF. Built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks ensure that WellSpan’s data is protected under the industry’s most rigorous standards. Tags:News releaseInnovation and partnerships
How should Thelin's time at Aberdeen be remembered?
For a generation of Dons supporters, the Swede was responsible for orchestrating arguably their finest day in last May's Scottish Cup triumph against Celtic. With the Glasgow club chasing a domestic treble, Thelin formulated a plan to nullify Brendan Rodgers' men to take a nerve-shredding 1-1 game to extra time. Penalties would follow, with goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov earning himself legendary status at Pittodrie, along with Thelin.
Miami-Dade: When local politics become rogue US foreign policy
South Florida's anti-Castro lobby is already rallying for Cuba next after Saturday's regime change operation in Venezuela
Candle Display Sparks Fire in Goleta Business
A candle display is reportedly responsible for sparking a fire inside a Goleta business early Friday morning.
Jan. 6 attack 'does not happen' without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress
In a closed-door interview, Smith characterized the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
An LSU professor’s tips for responsible AI adoption in business
As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, business leaders across a range of industries are having to work out how to adopt them without putting sensitive information or the trust o… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. We are glad you enjoy reading Business Report. Continue reading this story and get ACCESS to all our content […]
As millions of Americans face a steep rise in health insurance costs, lawmakers continue a century-long battle over who should pay for health care
US health care policy will remain fractured until lawmakers address the core question of who is responsible for health care costs.
An energy retrofit saved the Science Museum of Minnesota millions — why not do it everywhere?
The 111 million buildings in the U.S. are responsible for 40% of all energy use in the country at an estimated annual cost of $370 billion.
TKL advises Onza Entertainment on its sale to Culture Cap7
The law firm TKL Abogados has advised Onza Entertainment, a leading independent production and distribution company in the Spanish audiovisual sector, on its sale to the private equity fund Culture Cap7 Fund I. Onza is responsible for some of the most renowned titles in the national audiovisual industry, such as the series El Ministerio del […]
‘Not clear’ who was behind FCDO hack, says minister, amid reports of China link
Chris Bryant confirms October cyber-attack as the Sun names Storm 1849, a Chinese hacker group, as being responsible
Rand Paul criticizes National Science Foundation for wasteful grants and irresponsible spending
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to criticize U.S. pressure on Venezuela, reject military escalation, warn that extreme gerrymandering fuels unrest and unveil alarming examples of government waste.
Accenture exec gets real on transformation: 'the data and AI strategy is not a separate strategy, it is the business strategy'
"Think about the people and the culture," Accenture's Chief Responsible AI Officer Arnab Chakraborty told Fortune. "It is so paramount."
Live updates: Rob and Michele Reiner’s son Nick ‘responsible’ for death, police say
Nick Reiner is “responsible” for the deaths of his parents, legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner, Los Angeles police said. Follow here for live updates.
Governance and responsible business
We're integrating sustainability and responsible business conduct into all our processes and decision-making
'Entertaining' or 'irresponsible'? The rise of bare-knuckle boxing
As Derby's Vaillant Live arena prepares to host a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) event, BBC Sport looks at the debate around the controversial combat sport.
Denver’s science museum sold out their Thanksgiving meal this year
We may or may not be responsible.
Valve Trying to Unblock Open-Source HDMI 2.1 Support on Steam Machine
Valve is reportedly attempting to persuade the HDMI Forum—the consortium responsible for HDMI development—to allow open-source support for HDMI 2.1 on Linux, enabling the standard to function without restrictions on SteamOS. When Valve launched its Steam Machine, it was listed with HDMI 2.0 support,...
Black Hole Eats Star: NASA Missions Discover Record-Setting Blast
Astronomers have been poring over a flood of data from NASA satellites and other facilities as they try to work out what was responsible for an extraordinary
Kevin Stefanski: I'm responsible for unsuccessful two-point play
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski handed play-calling responsibilities to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees earlier this season, but he pointed the finger at himself when it came time to discuss the team's bid to tie the Titans late in the fourth quarter on Sunday.
Apple's Johny Srouji could continue the company's executive exodus, according to report
The Apple exec largely responsible for the transition to in-house silicon may have one foot out of the door.
Target of racist slurs accuses Farage of emboldening ‘toxic environment’ online
Party leader responsible for ‘dangerous’ culture shift, says broadcaster subject to alleged posts from Reform councillor
Lessons from the Past: Responsible Science and Astrobiology
In a recent paper, a team of SETI and astrobiology specialists examines four controversial claims about the existence of extraterrestrial life. From these, they present recommendations for scientists and science communicators when addressing future claims of discovery.
Why addressing deforestation is a strategic business priority
Companies, governments and investors increasingly see the business value of staying focused on responsible commodity production and sourcing.
GOP Senator: Pete Hegseth ‘is responsible’ for processes that lead to strike on survivors in the Caribbean
Cities put science in the spotlight
When three European cities launch an initiative next year to boost scientific excellence and collaboration, much of the action is likely to take place in public spaces rather than in the laboratory.That is welcome news for Ana Marušić. A medical doctor and professor at the University of Split Medical School in Croatia, Marušić champions close connections between “town and gown” to encourage citizen involvement in research, raise public health awareness and ignite young people’s interest in science. “Responsible research and innovation cannot be done in an ivory tower, answering only the questions that are relevant for scientists,” explains Marušić, who chairs the Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health and leads the Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. “The role of the university is to be a medium for transferring new discoveries in science to society, but also to listen to society about what is important and what is needed.”Three cities united by scienceMarušić’s efforts stand to gain traction through Science Comes to Town (SCTT), a new European project to highlight science’s role in society and strengthen cross-border collaboration in research, innovation and sustainability. With funding from the European Commission, three cities—Split, Brest (in France) and Kiel (in Germany)—plan more than 1,000 public events, workshops and competitions for citizens of all ages, researchers, businesses and policymakers. The year-long project kicks off in Spilt on 20 January with a conference involving partner institutions, community representatives and European policymakers. The three cities may be geographically far apart, but they share much in common. All are located on coasts and are home to top regional research institutions that are part of SCTT. Among the project's partners, the University of Western Brittany in Brest, Kiel University and the University of Split belong to the SEA-EU university alliance, uniting nine European coastal academic institutions to advance research, student exchanges and sustainable development. “These universities have a very strong connection between gown and town,” explains Marušić, who is one of Split’s SCTT ambassadors. “It's very important that these universities are there for the community so that we can learn from each other and grow together.”Tackling Europe’s STEM shortagesSCTT will also reinforce efforts to address Europe’s widening gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Studies show that nearly eight out of ten small- and medium-sized businesses cannot find enough workers with the skills required in advanced computing and artificial intelligence (AI)—hindering initiatives to boost European innovation and competitiveness. In healthcare, the European Commission has estimated a shortfall in medical professionals of 1.2 million, due to fewer young people joining the field and an ageing population that needs more care.Strengthening knowledge and dialogue can also help build trust between scientists and the public at time when disruptive technologies are reshaping research and clinical practice, but are also sparking questions about ethics and accuracy. With experience in the classroom and in clinical epidemiology—a discipline involving monitoring and controlling public health problems—Marušić sees the potential risks of over-reliance on AI and chatbot answers for both research and learning. “AI is a very good tool, but one has to be very critical about it,” she adds. “Delegating brain activities will definitely diminish your neural capacities because you are not developing the circuitry that is important for higher-level cognitive engagement.” She stresses the importance of critical thinking and encourages students to use AI as a researcher’s tool to reinforce rather than supplant human discretion and brainpower.The power of outreachSplit’s experience in bringing scientists and the public together has provided a platform for discussing research ethics and explaining science in simple terms. Local efforts to expand health literacy and awareness have helped reduce cardiovascular disease among women, according to Marušić’s research. The city’s university also hosts events to introduce schoolchildren to science, using hands-on experiments to spark curiosity.Marušić’s own love of science began with an interest in studying molecular biology. “But my parents told me, why don't you study medicine?” she recalls. “I said, OK, why not? And that was the best decision that I made.” Marušić is not a practicing physician, but teaches anatomy and public health. She also co-edits ST-OPEN, an overlay university journal that works on capacity building for research publishing among students and their supervisors. Balancing teaching, research and editorial work, she is a strong advocate for medical studies, urging high school students to consider medicine “because later on it gives you a really wide perspective about human life and about society” as well as many career opportunities.As SCTT prepares to bring science into daily life in 2026, Marušić hopes that it will build permanent bridges between scientists and citizens across Europe. “We can be a showcase for making collaboration with the community stronger to share knowledge, attract young talent and integrate critical and scientific thinking into everyday life,” she explains, adding that "collaborating with businesses to improve cities and communities is also an important aspect of this project."Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.
Scientists discover a hidden brain circuit that rewrites vision
MIT scientists found that what we see is strongly influenced by how alert or active we are. Parts of the brain responsible for planning and control send specialized signals that either boost or quiet visual details. These areas seem to balance each other, sharpening important information while dimming distractions. The study shows vision is constantly being shaped by our internal state.