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New MatterChat Model Helps AI to ‘See’ the Language of Science
From writing emails to generating computer code, much of the artificial intelligence prevalent in our daily lives has succeeded by mastering one domain: text. However, this leaves a major blind spot in the physical sciences, where models depend on the high-resolution, three-dimensional data of the physical world, like the intricate lattice of atoms in a crystal. Delivering on the promise of using AI for science requires teaching these data-driven text models to seamlessly “talk to” physics-based models. Now, a new AI framework from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), called MatterChat, solves this problem by creating a specialized “bridge.” It connects the conversational power of a Large Language Model (LLM) with a physics-based AI that models “interatomic potentials”: the complex physical forces between atoms. The resulting system already significantly outperforms general-purpose AI tools like GPT-4 at predicting material properties, and the team hopes it can accelerate scientific discovery by serving as a robust research partner that provides grounded insights and generates step-by-step instructions for synthesizing novel materials. A paper describing this work was recently published in Nature Machine Intelligence. “Traditional simulations can provide the physical rigor required for materials science, yet their computational cost remains prohibitive for high-throughput screening. Conversely, while LLMs excel at rapid knowledge synthesis, they inherently lack the ‘structural vision’ to interpret materials directly from their underlying atomic coordinates,” said Yingheng Tang, a postdoctoral researcher in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Math and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and lead author on the paper. “MatterChat was built to solve this dilemma, empowering LLMs with a structural ‘vision’ that allows researchers to leverage their full potential for solving complex, real-world materials challenges.” Empowering language models to solve complex challenges in materials science To build MatterChat, the Berkeley Lab team drew inspiration from technologies like Vision Question Answering (VQA) and Text-to-Image (T2I) generation. In these tasks, AI must translate high-level text concepts into visual images, or vice versa. Doing so requires developers to build tools that “bridge” two fundamentally different forms of data. The researchers adapted this concept to the physical sciences. With MatterChat, they created a “bridge model” that successfully connects an LLM’s general knowledge with the deep understanding of the atomic-scale world encoded in scientific interatomic potentials. Until now, researchers using LLMs to solve materials problems usually had to feed them raw data files as if they were just strings of text. It’s like asking an AI to understand a complex 3D engine based only on a parts list: the LLM can read the names, but it can’t “see” how the atoms fit together in space. MatterChat solves this by training a specialized AI bridge model, pre-trained on millions of crystal structures and an LLM, to align the LLM’s representation of the world with the interatomic potential’s representation of the world. The bridge model can translate physical insights into a format the LLM can actually understand. By giving the LLM these “scientific eyes”— a scientific “inductive bias” in the terminology of AI — the Berkeley Lab team has transformed it into a robust research tool capable of providing grounded scientific insights into complex materials challenges, such as predicting thermal stability or analyzing electronic band gaps. “We think of atoms as living in a physical space, but from a machine learning perspective, they are just vectors living in some very non-trivially structured manifold in a high-dimensional Euclidean space; and, of course, the same is true for the sentences and paragraphs that we use to express our ideas about those atoms,” said co-author Michael Mahoney, Berkeley Lab’s Scientific Data Division (SDD) AI Initiative Research Lead. “The bridge model basically gets those two structures to ‘talk with’ each other.” As a proof-of-concept of this general approach, the team trained their bridge model on a dataset curated by pairing nearly 143,000 stable atomic structures from the Materials Project with their corresponding physical properties. This training data was automatically assembled using the Materials Project’s API and deliberately enriched with properties fundamental to microelectronics design — like formation energy and bandgap — allowing MatterChat to learn the complex patterns connecting a material’s atomic blueprint to its functional performance. To validate their model, the researchers benchmarked MatterChat against a suite of other AI systems, from general-purpose LLMs to other specialized scientific AI methods. The results show that MatterChat consistently outperformed its competitors across a range of tasks. The model was more accurate in classifying material types and demonstrated superior precision in predicting numerical properties. For example, it excelled at predicting a material’s bandgap, a property critical for designing new electronics from high-capacity energy storage to next-generation computer chips. “Our design is significantly more efficient because we don’t have to build a massive AI model from the ground up,” said co-author Zhi (Jackie) Yao, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s AMCR. “Instead, we take two powerful, pre-trained models — a structural encoder for materials physics and an open-source LLM — and use them off-the-shelf. The only component we actually train is the lightweight ‘bridge model’ that translates between them. It’s the difference between building an entire car factory and simply designing a smart adapter that connects a world-class engine to a world-class navigation system. This approach is not only computationally efficient, but also makes the system modular, so we can easily upgrade components or adapt the bridge for other scientific domains in the future.” Crucially, this modular design highlights exactly how institutions like Berkeley Lab and the Department of Energy are carving out a highly valuable niche in the booming AI landscape. Rather than competing with Silicon Valley tech giants to build ever-larger language models from scratch, the lab is focusing on the specialized connective tissue that makes commercial AI useful for hardcore science. Because the bridge model approach underlying MatterChat is forward-compatible, it is perfectly positioned to leverage these parallel tracks of innovation. As Mahoney pointed out, “We expect that industry will continue to develop improved LLMs, and we expect domain scientists and facilities will continue to generate new data. An important part of scientific machine learning is not simply to solve problems on today’s data, but instead to develop general methods that will be forward-compatible with orders of magnitude more data, whether from scientific domains or from LLMs.” According to Yao, the MatterChat project, which was initially developed and enhanced with funding from a Berkeley Lab Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Program, will now expand its capabilities. In a collaboration with Fermilab, MatterChat is already contributing to a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission project — called Accelerating eXtreme Environment Specs-to-Silicon (AXESS) — that aims to speed up the development of next-generation, high-speed, radiation-hardened detectors for challenging particle physics experiments by using advanced 3D integrated circuits (chiplets) and AI-driven data analysis. In addition to the LDRD support, the team also credits supercomputing resources at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), located at Berkeley Lab, with MatterChat’s success. “We are incredibly grateful to NERSC; this research simply would not have happened without access to the Perlmutter supercomputer through their AI for Science program,” said Tang. Wenbin Xu, a NERSC postdoctoral fellow at the time, was also a major co-author of the work, as was Benjamin Erichson, a research scientist in Berkeley Lab’s SDD, highlighting the benefits of AMCR-SDD collaboration on AI for science. ### 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.
Penn State Health unifies psychiatric and behavioral health services to expand access across central Pennsylvania
Penn State Health has consolidated all psychiatric and behavioral health services under a single identity, integrating former Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute inpatient and outpatient services to…
Into The Unwell delayed to 2027, no longer Early Access
Coffee Stain Publishing and developer She Was Such A Good Horse have delayed “whack ‘n’ slash” cooperative roguelite action game Into The Unwell from its previously planned …
Vietnam’s DAO Music Entertainment strikes strategic partnership with The Orchard
Deal gives DAO Music Entertainment access to The Orchard’s global distribution network…
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Early Access and Full Release Times Confirmed
Warner Bros. Games has confirmed the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight early access and full release times globally. Here's when you'll be able to play in your timezone.
TNT Sports Expands Roland-Garros U.S. Coverage in 2026 with All-Day, Multi-Platform Presentation Across TNT, truTV, HBO Max & Bleacher Report
TNT Sports will build on the momentum of its landmark inaugural year at Roland-Garros with its most expansive and accessible coverage ever in 2026,
Subnautica 2 Dev Gives Players Hope Amid the Game's First Hot Topic Following Launch
Fresh from its huge early access launch, underwater survival and crafting adventure game Subnautica 2 has sparked a significant debate among fans: to kill or not to kill the fish.
Boston Scientific invests $1.5 billion in MiRus with option to buy heart-valve business
U.S. medical device maker Boston Scientific said on Monday it has invested $1.5 billion in privately held MiRus LLC in return for a 34% equity stake and potential access to the startup's heart-valve business.
Connecting care: How Meridian supports Michigan’s foster youth
Meridian’s foster care program helps Michigan youth access care, stability and everyday support during times of transition.
Exploit available for new DirtyDecrypt Linux root escalation flaw
A recently patched local privilege escalation vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rxgk module now has a proof-of-concept exploit that allows attackers to gain root access on some Linux systems.
Helping seniors navigate digital-first health care
Discover how CVS Health is improving digital health literacy, reducing barriers, and designing more accessible health care
MiniPlasma Windows 0-Day Enables SYSTEM Privilege Escalation on Fully Patched Systems
MiniPlasma revives a 2020 Windows cldflt.sys flaw, enabling SYSTEM access on May 2026 patched Windows 11 systems.
Five Points businesses say IRONMAN road closures hurt access, customers; city promises better communication
Jacksonville’s first-ever IRONMAN brought nearly 2,000 competitors to a route spanning parts of Duval and St. Johns counties this weekend, drawing crowds downtown, and prompting widespread complaints about traffic, road closures and access issues in neighborhoods like Riverside’s Five Points.
New WHO tool supports countries to improve quality of child and youth mental health services
A new practical tool released by WHO/Europe aims to help countries strengthen the quality of mental health services for children and young people across the WHO European Region, addressing persistent gaps in access, consistency and accountability.
New Windows 'MiniPlasma' zero-day exploit gives SYSTEM access, PoC released
A cybersecurity researcher has released a proof-of-concept exploit for a Windows privilege escalation zero-day dubbed "MiniPlasma" that lets attackers gain SYSTEM privileges on fully patched Windows systems.
Subnautica 2's Early Access roadmap is here
Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds has outlined what to expect in the early to mid-term of its early access release.
Walmart Introduces Two New High-End ONN Android Tablets Blending Premium Features with Affordable Pricing
In a move that continues its strategy of delivering strong value in consumer electronics, Walmart has rolled out two fresh additions to its popular ONN lineup of Android tablets. The new 8.1-inch Core Tablet in Silver and the larger 13-inch Pro Tablet in Black position themselves as high-end options accessible to everyday consumers, combining modern […]
Opinion: When voting rights are weakened, health suffers
Communities facing voting barriers are often living with higher rates of chronic disease, shorter life expectancy, and reduced access to care.
Virtual health is helping hospitals deliver care anywhere
Virtual health is reshaping care delivery - expanding access, cutting costs and supporting universal health coverage. Scaling it needs coordinated action.
Derek Candelore Introduces The Service Blueprint Program to Support Home Service Business Growth
PITTSBURGH, PA / ACCESS Newswire / May 16, 2026 /Derek Candelore has announced the launch of The Service Blueprint, a structured business development program designed to address common operational and scaling challenges faced by home service companies. ...
Forza Horizon 6 Has Made Over $140 Million from Premium Edition
Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly surpassed 1 million players during Early Access ahead of its global release on May 19.
Lilly, Caitlin Clark Foundation, and Musco Lighting open three community sports courts in Indianapolis, expanding year-round access for youth
/PRNewswire/ -- The Caitlin Clark Foundation, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Musco Lighting, has opened three new multi-sport...
Americans Are Looking Abroad For Healthcare And A Better Quality Of Life
From healthcare costs to quality of life concerns, more Americans are considering relocation abroad as they reassess stress, access and long-term wellbeing.
What CT health bills passed? Vaccines, hospitals, Medicaid rates and more
“Not increasing rates is impacting the workforce and access to care,” Rep. Jillian Gilchrest said. “The work’s not done.”
A new tool just combined ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and more — lifetime access is on sale for $70
A lifetime subscription with access to 20+ AI models usually costs $619
Forza Horizon 6 Advanced Access Kicks Off With Over 170,000 Concurrent Players
Forza Horizon 6 officially launches on May 19, but advanced access for buyers of the $119.99 Premium Edition kicked off on May 15, and it appears as though, despite a recent leak of the game ahead of the official launch, gamers have come out in droves to play the new open-world racing game. On Steam...
Axios' Future of Health talks ACCESS, AI and regulatory environment
Clear sees health care authentication driving more long term growth than its travel business.
A hotel check-in system left a million passports and driver's licenses open for anyone to see
The tech company that maintains the hotel check-in system set its cloud storage to public, allowing anyone to access customers' data without a password.
How ESPN’s ‘Take Back Sports’ is Widening Access to Youth Sports | The Walt Disney Company
Learn how Disney and ESPN are working together so the next generation grows up with access to the benefits — and joy — of sports.
Unknown Worlds / Subnautica 2 Early Access Roadmap
We want to share a few more details about what you can expect from Subnautica 2 in our first Early Access roadmap.
Democratizing discovery through data science
UD's Cathy Wu, elected an AAAS Fellow, advances team science and broadens access to biomedical discovery
Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion pill, while lawsuit plays out
The court’s order allows women seeking abortions to continue obtaining the drug, mifepristone, at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Access is likely to remain uninterrupted at least until into next year as the case plays out, including a potential appeal to the high court.
Meta brings virtual writing to everyone with Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses
After launching in early access, the feature is rolling out widely.
Governors’ Policy Actions in Rural Health Workforce
Rural Health Transformation Program Insights (Download) Governors play a critical role in shaping the health workforce, using levers such as budget proposals, executive authority, and cross-agency coordination to recruit, train, and regulate workers. States face workforce shortages, particularly in rural areas, which reduce access to healthcare, impact health outcomes and harm local economies. The Health […]
Google's May Android Canary update brings the blur
Google's got a new bleeding-edge release ready for testers, with Android Canary 2605 now available for the Pixel 6 and newer.
Six Popular iPhone Apps Now Available on CarPlay
Apple's CarPlay system for accessing iPhone apps on a vehicle's dashboard screen has received six popular apps in recent weeks: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Google Meet, WhatsApp, and the indie artist streaming platform Audiomack. Make sure you have the latest version of each app and they will automatically appear on CarPlay. ChatGPT Starting with iOS 26.4, CarPlay supports voice-based conversational apps.
Subnautica 2 Early Access Roadmap Sneak Peek
Unknown Worlds Entertainment has revealed a sneak peek at the upcoming early access roadmap for Subnautica 2.
Hinckley Boat Launch Opens May 16 for 2026 Season
Boaters and anglers will soon have access to the Hinckley Dam and Reservoir as the recreational boat launch and fishing area open for the 2026 season.
Why big digital health players are missing from Medicare's chronic care experiment
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Why big digital health players skipped Medicare's ACCESS pilot, Isomorphic's big raise, and more.
FIFA announces World Cup final halftime with Madonna, Shakira and BTS
The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer
Your iPhone Gets Stolen. Then the Hacking Begins
A bustling underground ecosystem is providing criminals with the tools to unlock iPhones—and wage phishing attacks against their contacts to access bank accounts and more.
New Fragnesia Linux Kernel LPE Grants Root Access via Page Cache Corruption
Fragnesia CVE-2026-46300 corrupts Linux page cache via XFRM ESP-in-TCP, enabling local root access on major distros.
Mental Health Crisis and Access Center marks over1 year, serving 1,000+
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- The Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center celebrated its one-year anniversary in January and has se
Class of 2026: Data Science Student Ready to Support Small Businesses and Underserved Communities Through Cybersecurity and AI
By Kelsey Kendall For Makendra Crosby (B.S. ’24), data science and cybersecurity are not just about numbers and computers, they are about people. As she prepares to graduate with her master’s in data science and analytics with a concentration in artificial intelligence and machine learning, she is focused on using her skills to serve others and make technology more accessible.
Start your engines, Xbox's Forza Horizon 6 release dates, launch times, and Early Access is upon us — here's when it comes out, and how to play early
Ahead of its release date, Xbox has announced Forza Horizon 6's official launch times.
Windows BitLocker zero-day gives access to protected drives, PoC released
A cybersecurity researcher has published proof-of-concept (PoC) exploits for two unpatched Microsoft Windows vulnerabilities named YellowKey and GreenPlasma, which are a BitLocker bypass and a privilege-escalation flaw.
Yahoo Sports and FOX One Team Up to Introduce New Soccer Fantasy Games
Discover the new soccer fantasy games from Yahoo Sports and FOX One. Learn how to play the 2026 Soccer Pick ’Em and Soccer Daily Draw, and get easy access to live World Cup coverage through the Yahoo Fantasy app.
The Long Fight for Small Business Lending Transparency Is Not Over » NCRC
Small businesses play a vital role in the US economy, but their ability to access credit has been a longstanding obstacle to their viability. Additionally, the CFPB's recent final revised rule implementing Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act that effectively cuts small business lending reporting requirements could lead to more lending disparities for women and BIPOC entrepreneurs.
Anker's New Prime Charging Station Returns to Low Price on Amazon
Anker's new Prime 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station has been marked down to $104.99 on Amazon, down from $149.99. This is one of Anker's newest accessories, and Amazon's sale today is a match of the all-time low price. This deal, and many of the others shared below, is being matched at Anker.com, with additional savings applied for members. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors.
Amazon's New Prime Business and Amazon Business Credit Cards, Powered by U.S. Bank and Mastercard®, Are Now Available with Enhanced Rewards and Flexible Financing
New cards built for modern businesses—featuring dynamic rewards and industry-leading benefits with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees Amazon today launched the new Prime Business Card and Amazon Business Card, bringing together the Amazon rewards business customers love with powerful new benefits to help businesses make the most of their spending on Amazon. These cards, issued by U.S. Bank as part of the Mastercard® network, offer rewards wherever customers are shopping, access to fle
IUP Athletics Announces Multi-Year Partnership With adidas, BSN SPORTS
INDIANA, Pa. — Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Athletics, adidas and BSN SPORTS have announced a multi-year partnership that will make BSN SPORTS the exclusive supplier of adidas uniforms, apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment provider for Crimson Hawks athletics.
Nick Coté, pursuing “frugal science” like paper centrifuges and origami microscopes
National Merit Scholar Nick Coté chose Nevada to pursue biomedical engineering and mathematics — and a mission to make science more accessible through paper centrifuges, origami microscopes and creative problem-solving.
People in WA prisons get access to 988 mental health crisis hotline
Hotline counselors are trained to contact prisons and get immediate support for incarcerated callers who are at an imminent risk of hurting themselves.
HHS expands access to Parent-Child Interaction Therapy through telehealth | Health and Human Services North Dakota
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) FamilyFirst Services now offers Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) through telehealth by an approved provider to eligible families.Parent-Child Interaction Therapy is an evidence-based program for children ages 2 to 7 and their parents or caregivers. It is designed to improve child behavior, strengthen parenting skills and build healthier parent-child relationships.
Disability Justice: Access, Communication & Belonging in Health Care & Public Health
This session will center on I/DD and deaf communities. From myth-busting to communication best practices to recognizing the intersections with other public health issues and identities.
South Park Youth Gain Increased Sports Access
The South Park Sport Court, officially opened last Saturday, is the third of five such facilities spearheaded by the Kraken’s One Roof Foundation, with two more planned by summer’s end
Making sports and fitness accessible to Ypsi-area kids is this nonprofit's focus
The grassroots nonprofit Ypsilanti Community - The Village was created by Ypsilanti Community High School alumni who wanted to reduce young people's barriers to participating in sports.
Study finds digital therapy app improves student mental health
WashU researchers led a population-based study of thousands of college students showing that a phone app with text coaching increased access to care and eased symptoms of depression, anxiety and eating disorders.
How AI Is Reshaping Entrepreneurship for Gen Z and Small Business Owners
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming entrepreneurship by lowering barriers like cost, connections, and expertise. As a result, 77% of founders say it’s now accessible to start and grow a business regardless of background. Gen Z is driving this shift, with 73% managing multiple income streams and using AI to start and grow businesses. The result is a rise in flexible “portfolio careers,” where networks, personal branding, and digital tools are key to success. Key findings from LinkedIn’s research: 77% of founders say entrepreneurship is accessible regardless of background 73% of Gen Z entrepreneurs have multiple income streams 69% of founders say entrepreneurship is more achievable than ever 75% of entrepreneurs say networks are critical to success 68% of Gen Z entrepreneurs say AI is important to their business How are Gen Z entrepreneurs reshaping business? New research from LinkedIn shows how the use of AI, shifting career priorities, and evolving definitions of success are reshaping how businesses are started and grown. Gen Z is leading a shift toward more flexible ways of working, with nearly three-quarters (73%) of Gen Z entrepreneurs reporting multiple income streams, compared to 56% of Gen X. This highlights growth in “portfolio careers” designed to build resilience and create greater control over work and income. How is AI making entrepreneurship more accessible? AI and digital tools are making entrepreneurship more accessible, lowering traditional barriers such as cost, connections, and expertise. More than three-quarters (77%) of founders say entrepreneurship is accessible regardless of background, while 69% say it is more achievable today than ever before. Younger entrepreneurs are driving this change, with more than two-thirds (68%) of Gen Z entrepreneurs reporting that AI and digital tools are important to their business, more than twice the rate of Baby Boomers (27%). Nearly one in five (18%) Gen Z entrepreneurs say AI made starting their business feel possible. AI is also helping small business owners compete for talent: 57% of US entrepreneurs say that AI can help them compete with larger companies to find and attract better candidates. Related: The AI Edge for Entrepreneurs
Samsung Launches One UI 9 Beta for Galaxy S26 Series Users
One UI 9 beta offers a more intuitive and personalized mobile experience with enhancements across creativity, accessibility and security
Samsung Launches One UI 9 Beta for Galaxy S26 Series Users
One UI 9 beta offers a more intuitive and personalized mobile experience with enhancements across creativity, accessibility and security
What The Abortion Pill Case Could Mean For The Workforce And Healthcare
A federal appeals court said providers could no longer mail mifepristone anywhere in the country. SCOTUS temporarily restored access for mailing the drug until May 14th.
AST SpaceMobile Provides Business Update and First Quarter 2026 Results
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly ...
AST SpaceMobile Provides Business Update and First Quarter 2026 Results
MIDLAND, Texas, May 11, 2026--AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile") (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, and designed for both commercial and government applications, is providing its business update and results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
5 Key Facts on Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Nineteen percent of adolescents experience moderate to severe anxiety and 2 million have a substance use disorder. This analysis covers the latest data on adolescent mental illness, suicide and drug overdose trends, and access to care.
Supreme Court temporarily extends access to a widely used abortion pill
The Supreme Court is leaving women’s access to a widely used abortion pill untouched until at least Thursday, while the justices consider whether to allow restrictions on the drug, mifepristone, to take effect.
PAHO urges countries to expand the role of nursing to strengthen health systems in the Americas
Washington, D.C., May 11, 2026 (PAHO) — For International Nurses Day (May 12), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling on countries in the Americas to take decisive action to strengthen and expand the area of advanced practice nursing, which is a key strategy to improve access to health services and build stronger, more people-centered health systems.
Farm Bill aims to help Wisconsin mink farmers
It would give them access to federal dollars they’ve been excluded from for three decades.
Starlink blocks access to its GPS alternative ahead of SpaceX IPO
Shutdown of Starlink location feature won’t dampen interest in GPS alternatives.
Vendor Notebook: Health AI bolstered by collective approaches to quality
New collaborations aim to ensure rural healthcare organizations have access to artificial intelligence to address rate-limiting factors in care delivery while vendors seek advancements in reliability and AI controls.
UNC Health plans Wilmington hospital
UNC Health plans to create a community hospital on a 62-acre proposed site in New Hanover County, pending regulatory approvals, according to an announcement Monday morning. “Planned for the southeast corner of South 17th Street and Shipyard Boulevard, the site was selected for its accessibility and its geographic infill capacity in serving a rapidly growing region,” according to the release. “This project marks a significant step forward in UNC Health’s commitment to improving access to primary care and specialty care closer to home.” Officials said the proposed hospital would offer a range of specialties, including emergency care, cardiology, oncology, OBGYN and more. While the not-for-profit, state-owned health system’s officials are planning the hospital, the proposal still requires state approval through North Carolina’s certificate of need (CON) process before it can become a reality. UNC Health is targeting an opening date of 2030, the release stated, and “will continue to engage openly with local community leaders and residents and share updates as plans evolve and progress is made towards achieving CON approval.” The state’s CON law requires healthcare providers to obtain a CON from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services before developing or offering what the department’s website dubs “a new institutional health service.” The term encompasses a wide range of facilities, including hospitals. The news of UNC Health’s Wilmington plans follows the recent addition of Ernie Bovio to UNC Health. Bovio, who had served as president of the Novant Health Coastal Region since 2024, became regional president of UNC Health’s Southeast Coastal Region in April. “This is an important first step in our commitment to ensuring that families in Wilmington and the surrounding areas have access to the high-quality, compassionate care they deserve – right here at home,” Bovio stated in the release. “As I’ve listened to my own neighbors and community members across the region, I’ve heard a clear message: Wilmington is ready for more choice in healthcare – and UNC Health is ready to deliver it.” According to the release, Wilmington Health – one of the largest independent, physician-owned practices in Southeastern North Carolina – also supports the project, and its providers are expected to participate on the medical staff of the new facility. “Wilmington Health has served this community for more than 50 years, and we know firsthand that our patients are interested in choice,” stated Jeff James, CEO of Wilmington Health, in the release. “We strongly support UNC Health’s plan to bring a new community hospital to our region – closing critical gaps in specialty care and ensuring families across our region have options to access the services they need, right here at home.”
Discord launches Nitro Rewards, giving subscribers access to the base tier of Xbox Game Pass for no extra cost
Discord's Nitro Rewards program will give Nitro subscribers access to Xbox Game Pass, and discounts from Logitech, SteelSeries, and other gaming brands.
MyFlyYatra Enhances Access to Business Class Flights for U.S. & Canada Travelers with Expanded Route Coverage
MyFlyYatra is expanding its international travel platform by introducing enhanced coverage for global destinations, including Middle East, New Z...
European Football Alliance Expands North American Reach Through Distribution Agreement with Fubo Sports Network
Partnership brings live EFA games and original programming to Audiences in U.S. and Canada The European Football Alliance (EFA) today announced a new content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the owned-and-operated FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) channel from FuboTV Inc. (NYSE: FUBO), significantly expanding the league's visibility and accessibility across the United States and Canada. Launching its inaugural season in May 2026, the EFA is dedicated to elevating the quality,
Learner spotlight: Vivian’s path to rights based mental health advocacy
For Vivian Anyango Aola, mental health is deeply personal. Growing up she witnessed people around her struggling with emotional distress without access to support, understanding or solutions. Those early experiences laid the foundations for her work today as a mental health advocate at St. Daniel Comboni mission in Nairobi, Kenya.“Mental health is about feelings – something we all experience every day,” Vivian explains. “Ensuring people are supported in those feelings is what drives my work.” Creating safe spaces and challenging stigmaIn her role, Vivian works closely with people living with mental health conditions and psychosocial, intellectual and cognitive disabilities. Through dialogue, listening and shared learning, she helps create safe spaces where people feel seen, heard and respected. However, stigma and discrimination remain significant barriers.“Witnessing stigma only strengthens my resolve to fight for inclusion, acceptance and equal treatment for all,” she says. Vivian enrolled in the WHO ‘QualityRights in Mental Health’ online, self-paced course available on the WHO Academy learning platform to strengthen her knowledge and advocacy skills. The six-module course provides the foundation for challenging stigma and discrimination and for promoting person-centred, rights-based approaches in mental health.“The course gave me a new perspective,” she says. “It showed me how to support people in ways that respect autonomy and promote recovery, rather than focusing only on treatment.”The importance of language and cultureSince its launch, more than 141 000 people have enrolled in the course globally, and it is now available in 17 languages on the learning platform – the highest number of languages of any WHO course. For Vivian, accessibility is key to transforming mental health systems. “Language is a bridge between professionals and communities,” she explains. “When mental health resources are available in local languages, they reduce misunderstanding, build trust and encourage people to seek help. It also empowers health workers to deliver care in ways that are culturally sensitive and relevant.”In a global evaluation of the course, which analysed data from over 3000 learners, attitudes toward people with mental health conditions improved by 22.78% overall after completing the course, with even greater shifts in low- and middle-income countries (29.18%) compared to high-income countries (20.58%)[1].“The course equips participants with the essential knowledge and skills to transform mental health into a more rights-based, inclusive and recovery-oriented system,” explains Vivian. “It reinforces that change is possible. When people understand rights, dignity and recovery, the entire system can begin to shift.”Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use[1] Breaking stigma, discrimination and promoting rights: global evaluation of the World Health Organization QualityRights e-training on mental health, recovery and community inclusion
Science of reading for all: Proposal would require Denver schools to use research-backed literacy lessons
A policy being considered by the Denver school board would require the district to ensure students with dyslexia are identified early and that all students have access to “high-quality digital apps” to practice reading at home.
Where Detroit's Greektown streetscape construction stands entering summer
A $20M Monroe Street streetscape project has cut traffic and access, leaving some Greektown businesses down up to 50% as work stretches through 2026.
Major US health provider drops prior authorization for 30% of services — and 93% of doctors say it's long overdue
UnitedHealthcare is taking a big step to make healthcare access easier.
How minimum wage hikes and food stamps fit in to suicide prevention
Studies show income, debt and access to basic needs shape mental health outcomes, but U.S. strategies have largely focused on clinical care.
The weird travel accessory I never fly without
Can a glorified tube top help you sleep on a plane? Our travel reporter tested it on many long flights.
FBI investigating recent deaths and disappearances of multiple US scientists
The scientists supposedly all had access to sensitive government research, and the nature of their work has led to speculation that their cases might all be connected.
UFL ref interviewed during game on Fox broadcast
The UFL has come up with innovative features and unique access on broadcasts that have left fans wondering if we could see such additions to future NFL broadcasts. But something that happened on Friday night’s Fox telecast of a UFL game between the Columbus Aviators and St. Louis BattleHawks that probably won’t carry over to…
Why tai chi and qigong are great for health, and English classes in Hong Kong
The Chinese ‘internal’ arts of tai chi and qigong offer a host of health benefits and are slowly becoming more accessible to English speakers.
Arkansas health leaders push to improve maternal, infant care access in rural areas
Many Arkansas families welcoming a new baby are also navigating long drives, limited resources and difficult access to care, particularly in rural parts of the
JDownloader site hacked to replace installers with Python RAT malware
The website for the popular JDownloader download manager was compromised earlier this week to distribute malicious Windows and Linux installers, with the Windows payload found deploying a Python-based remote access trojan.
Field day with sports made accessible for people with physical disabilities hosted at WMU
Activities like sit volleyball and adaptive golf took over Western Michigan University's (WMU) recreation center on Saturday.
Piedmont University receives federal funds for Forensic Science Program
Piedmont University has been awarded $608,000 in federal funding, through the efforts of Sen. Jon Ossoff, to strengthen its forensic science program and expand workforce development opportunities throughout Georgia. University officials said the funding will help address growing workforce shortages in forensic science and provide enhanced training opportunities for students,
Northeast Arkansas jails to lose mental health services as provider will not renew contract
Hundreds of inmates across Northeast Arkansas jails will lose access to mental health services after Arisa Health announced it will not submit to a new contract.
Construction closures in EaDo frustrate businesses, residents ahead of FIFA World Cup
Businesses and residents in Houston’s EaDo say overlapping construction projects are hurting access and traffic ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bayer Crop Science and bp partner to expand camelina market for biofuels
A new partnership between Bayer Crop Science and bp could increase access to the biofuels market for farmers. Chad Bilby, biofuel crops innovation and commercial lead at Bayer, says the collaboration will commercialize camelina to produce biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel. “It has a lot of great properties that allow it to be […]
Discord down today: What is wrong with servers? Company addresses API errors - how to fix
Users across multiple regions reported issues accessing Discord today, with many complaining about API errors
Vanderbilt Health to open Acute Care Center
Access to the new center’s services will be limited to existing adult Vanderbilt Health patients referred by Vanderbilt Health clinicians. The center will not accept walk-up patients or referrals from providers outside the Vanderbilt Health system.
Sanford Health, North Memorial Health plan to combine
Sanford Health and North Memorial Health plan to form single nonprofit health system, expanding access to locally driven care in Minnesota.
Google Fitbit Air preorders come with a second band for free
An easy way to save on an accessory you might otherwise buy.
As federal government pulls back, Colorado charts independent course with vaccines
As state leaders change laws to make vaccines more accessible, a coalition of doctors, public health advocates and everyday Coloradans is trying to start a public conversation about their importance.
YouTube app for Google TV, more revamps side menu with easier library access, recent channels [Gallery]
The YouTube app for TVs, including Google TV, is rolling out a new design for the sidebar that makes it...
The Galaxy S26 Ultra taught me how to use AI Select, and I am not going back
Samsung's AI select is now more accessible, which got me to use it more often. Here's what I learned
Official Feature Entertainment Group (OFEG) Announces Strategic Alliance with Nubian TV to Expand Digital Distribution
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Official Feature Entertainment Group (“OFEG”), a next-generation entertainment and media platform focused on premium digital access and scalable content experiences, today announced a strategic alliance with Nubian TV, a Boston-based OTT distribution platform operated by Leverett Media. The collaboration is designed to support OFEG’s Phase I rollout of live-stream and on-demand content distribution, expanding audience reach through integrat
This Week In Security: Another Linux Exploit, Ubuntu Knocked Offline, Finals Interrupted, And Backdoored Tools
After the CopyFail vulnerability gave root access from any user on almost all distributions last week, this week we’ve got DirtyFrag. This chains the vulnerability in CopyFail (xfrm-ESP) and …
Fitness wearable Whoop to offer on-demand clinician access to U.S. users
Whoop is introducing on-demand clinician access and AI-powered health guidance, largely included in the price of membership.