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N.Y. DOH says childhood vaccine recommendations unchanged despite CDC's update
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday said it would recommend that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases.
Lego introduces ‘smart bricks’ with sound and light effects to new Star Wars sets
But some argue new ‘Smart Play’ technology undermines the Danish construction toy’s gift for harnessing a child’s own imagination
Health Department to freeze $10 billion in funding to 5 Democratic states
The pause could jeopardize child care and other programs serving hundreds of thousands of households in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
Wisconsin health leaders balk at new US vaccine recommendations for children
Wisconsin health leaders say they are "greatly concerned" about the new vaccine guidelines released Monday by the federal government.
Dallas Stars Players Visit Children's Health
Wyatt Johnston and his teammates visited Children's Health over the holidays
Trump freezes child care funding for Colorado, 3 other states
Colorado was swept up in a $10 billion federal child care funding freeze announced on Monday by the Trump administration, a move state officials said they learned about through media reports. The Trump administration said it would freeze child care funding for four states, including Colorado, citing reports of widespread fraud at child care centers […]
State health officials confirm fourth child death due to flu - Boston News, Weather, Sports
BOSTON (WHDH) - A fourth child has now died because of the flu in Massachusetts, according to state health officials. Two of those who diedRead More
4th child dies from flu in Mass., state health officials confirm - Boston News, Weather, Sports
BOSTON (WHDH) - A fourth child has now died because of the flu in Massachusetts, according to state health officials. Two of those who diedRead More
Trump administration freezes billions in social services funding to five Democratic states
The Trump administration is slashing $10 billion in funds for social services and child care in five Democratic-led states, a Health and Human Services official confirmed to CNN, with the agency suggesting without evidence that the funding has been used fraudulently.
Family Entertainment Group’s Prizes with Purpose delivers over 2,000 holiday gifts to children
ITASCA, Ill. — Family Entertainment Group (FEG) today announced the results of its 2025 Prizes with Purpose campaign, a holiday initiative that empowers guests to give back by donating Prize Ticket…
U.S. health officials reduce the number of vaccines recommended for all children
U.S. health officials have announced major changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of diseases children are routinely protected against from 17 to 11.
Health Dept. to Freeze $10 Billion in Funding to 5 Democratic States
The funding pause could jeopardize child care and other programs that serve hundreds of thousands of households in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
Health Dept. to Freeze $10 Billion in Funding to 5 Democratic States
The funding pause could jeopardize child care and other programs that serve hundreds of thousands of households in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
Bank, law firm hold business succession lunch for Copper Country business owners
Organizers touched on pitfalls, including owners assuming their children will take over their business.
Flu surges in 45 states as doctor visits reach highest level in nearly 30 years
About 5,000 people have died of the flu so far this season, including 9 children, as the Trump administration pulls back on advice to get kids vaccinated.
Creepy-crawly science that matters
Written by Douglas C. TowneWhen Karen Clark was a child traveling with her grandfather, the late ASU Professor Herbert L. Stahnke, she didn’t realize how unusual their evening routines were.“When we arrived at our destination, we always hunted outside for scorpions that glowed under our black light,” says the retired nurse. “It wasn’t until later that I learned that normal people didn’t do that. But scorpions were my grandfather’s passion.”
3 children have died of the flu in Mass. as health officials track surge in cases
Three children have died of flu-related illness in recent weeks as Massachusetts health officials warn of a spike in cases early in the season.
Health officials slash the number of vaccines recommended for all kids
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing the number of vaccines recommended for all children. The action follows a presidential memorandum ordering a review of the U.S. schedule.
Trump administration cuts number of vaccines it recommends for every child
Medical experts are slamming the move, saying it could lead to reduced uptake of important vaccinations and increase disease.
HHS will overhaul childhood vaccine schedule to recommend fewer shots
The US Department of Health and Human Services will recommend fewer vaccines for most American children, health officials said Monday.
Trump, RFK dramatically overhaul child vaccine schedule
The move is a public health gamble that assumes children's health won't be endangered by cutting the shots they get.
Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children
Federal health officials now recommend that children be routinely inoculated against 11 diseases, not 17, citing standards in other wealthy nations.
Tim Walz, Democrats' 2024 VP candidate, won't run for a third term as Minnesota governor
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is ending his bid for a third term as governor amid ongoing investigations into fraud in the state's child care programs.
New Omaha mental health center offers 24/7 support for children
Pediatric Psychiatrist says no child is beyond help: 'We are here for everyone'
Scientists Discover How the Uterus “Feels” Its Way Through Childbirth
Molecular discoveries may help improve treatments for labor and pain. When labor starts, the uterus must produce steady, precisely timed contractions to allow a safe delivery. Hormones such as progesterone and oxytocin are known to drive this process, but researchers have long believed that physi
Canadian officials say US health institutions no longer dependable for accurate information
Misinformation from the Trump administration is cited as fuelling Canadians’ concerns over childhood vaccinations
Vang: Somali women entrepreneurs are revving up Minnesota’s economy
They run child care centers, health care agencies, salons, restaurants, consulting firms and retail shops. Many work two jobs while also managing households, Ka Vang writes.
Denver Health, Children's Hospital Colorado suspend gender-affirming care for youth
Denver Health, Children's Hospital Colorado suspend gender-affirming care for youth
In response to regulatory actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Denver Health and Children's Hospital Colorado say they have suspended all medical gender-affirming care for patients under 18.
‘Stranger Things’: Duffer Brothers Tease Spinoff Will Unravel Season 5 Mystery
Fans will learn more about the rock Henry Creel encountered as a child.
In a tumultuous year, U.S. health policy transforms under RFK Jr.
He has also promoted controversial views on vaccines, including removing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation for COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.
In a tumultuous year, U.S. health policy transforms under RFK Jr.
He has also promoted controversial views on vaccines, including removing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation for COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women.
Youth gender affirming care suspended at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health
The action comes after the feds threaten hospital funding.
Parents who delay baby's first vaccines also likely to skip measles shots
Ahead of possible changes to the childhood vaccine schedule, a new report highlights growing confusion over the best time to protect infants from serious infectious diseases.
Supporting Keiki Health With a $50 Wellness Incentive
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is encouraging families statewide to participate in the Hawai‘i Child Wellness Incentive Program (HCWIP), a pilot initiative designed to support regular well-child checkups and […]
Idaho Senator responds to Health and Welfare fraud allegations
KBOI-TV CBS 2 covers news, sports, traffic, and weather in the Treasure Valley and Boise, Idaho and nearby communities, including Meridian, Nampa, Garden City, Caldwell, Kuna, Middleton, Eagle, Mountain Home, Star, Melba, Payette, Weiser, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho City, Marsing, Homedale, Parma, New Plymouth, Murphy, Fruitland, Emmett, Wilder, Notus, McCall, Cascade, Donnelly, Council, and Vale, Oregon, and Nyssa, Oregon, Ontario, Oregon.
This tiny plant is helping solve crimes
Moss may look insignificant, but it can carry a hidden forensic fingerprint. Because different moss species thrive in very specific micro-environments, tiny fragments can reveal exactly where a person has been. Researchers reviewing 150 years of cases found moss has helped solve crimes across multiple countries, including one case where it led investigators directly to a buried child. The study urges law enforcement to pay closer attention to these silent witnesses.
This 100-year-old teaching method is beating modern preschools
A first-of-its-kind national trial shows that public Montessori preschool students enter kindergarten with stronger reading, memory, and executive function skills than their peers. These gains don’t fade — they grow over time, bucking a long-standing trend in early education research. Even better, Montessori programs cost about $13,000 less per child than traditional preschool. The results suggest a powerful, affordable model hiding in plain sight.
Children from struggling families to be offered jabs at home
The scheme is being tested in some areas of England as part of a government plan to prioritise children's health.
What’s new, what’s not: Parsing the rhetoric around the Minnesota child care fraud firestorm
A conservative influencer’s viral video alleging widespread fraud at taxpayer-funded child care centers in Minnesota’s Somali community kicked off a political firestorm that was years in the making.
Event will bring families, providers together for maternal health dialogue in Springfield
A Springfield forum will discuss fair, community-driven solutions for pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care.
Assessing health and vaccine skepticism in the U.S. ahead of 2026
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood vaccination rates continued to decrease during the 2024-2025 school year, and measles cases in the U.S. in 2025 exceeded 2,000 for the first time in more than 30 years.
Florida bill targets vaccination discrimination by health care providers
The House measure would prevent physicians from refusing to treat patients because of vaccination status and add disclosure requirements for when children get vaccinated.
Health Dept. Pauses Child Care Funding to Minnesota, Citing State’s Fraud Scandal
The pause affects a funding stream that provides $185 million in annual aid to the state’s day care centers, as federal investigations into fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs continue.
An open science resource for accelerating scalable digital health research in autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions
Nature Neuroscience - This paper describes the Simons Sleep Project, an open resource designed to accelerate research into the sleep and daily behaviors of autistic children using synchronized...
Joe Nuxhall Miracle League opening new sports facility for children with disabilities
For families who come to the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields, this isn’t just a ballpark.
Ohio to get $200M in federal money to aid rural health care, but feds haven’t yet said how
Ohio will get $200 million in federal funding as part of a 5-year, $50 billion program to bolster rural health care. State plans include expanding child vision services and creating the Rural Healthcare Workforce Pipeline, but guidelines for spending flexibility remain unclear.
Youngsters learn about positive mental health in Independence
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Children at Independence Primary School enjoyed a special day focused on developing positive mental health.
On Indonesia’s longest river, a Borneo community passes crucial public health milestone
SEKADAU, Indonesia — Children’s laughter skimmed over water the color of mud as mothers wrung laundry over banks where the Sekadau joins the Kapuas, the longest river in Indonesia. Local testimony along the Kapuas River, which flows 1,143 kilometers (710 miles) east to west from Borneo’s Müller Mountains out into the Natuna Sea, suggests this […]
Petah Tikva declared 'red city' for measles outbreak, six-month-old children to be vaccinated
According to the ministry’s statement, the exceptional step was taken due to the rapid spread of the disease in the city and the makeup of the population.
ADHD drugs don’t work the way we thought
ADHD stimulants appear to work less by sharpening focus and more by waking up the brain. Brain scans revealed that these medications activate reward and alertness systems, helping children stay interested in tasks they would normally avoid. The drugs even reversed brain patterns linked to sleep deprivation. Researchers say this could complicate ADHD diagnoses if poor sleep is the real underlying problem.
Partnership will bring Bio-Med STEM school to Kent State campus
Children from Bio-Med Science Academy locations in Shalersville and Ravenna will relocate to Kent State University building.
Partnership will bring Bio-Med STEM school to Kent State campus
Children from Bio-Med Science Academy locations in Shalersville and Ravenna will relocate to Kent State University building.
How Cameroon Fought to Save Its Malaria Program After the U.S. Cut Critical Funding
When the Trump administration slashed foreign aid, it gutted a program that had reduced malaria deaths world wide. In northern Cameroon, health workers tried to protect children in one last rainy season.
Nevada youth rank last in sports participation. Will rising costs make it worse?
Children from high-income families in Nevada are nearly three times more likely to play on a sports team as children from low-income families. Dive into the data on declining participation and rising costs.
My family of 7 moved from a 6-bedroom home in Salt Lake City to a 3-bedroom apartment in NYC. Our cost of living went up, but it's worth it.
Maren Droubay moved from Salt Lake City to NYC with her husband and five children. She says her family is thriving despite the cost of living.
ADHD drugs may work indirectly to boost attention
Drugs like Adderall and Ritalin appear to help children with ADHD by activating brain areas involved in alertness and motivation.
The Missing History of Children’s Mental Health in Oregon
It seems fitting that this history of mental health ends with Oregon’s attempt to grapple with the needs of children and families.
Prisma moves to restrict child visitors in light of rising flu rates in SC
Greenville-based Prisma Health, which serves much of the Midlands and Upstate SC, is cutting child visitors as flu infections rise in South Carolina.
Prisma Health to temporarily restrict children from visiting hospitalized patients
Prisma Health announced it will temporarily restrict children’s visits to hospitalized patients.
Ohio children face barriers to accessing mental health services, report finds
Seventy-five of Ohio’s 88 counties were designated as experiencing shortages in mental health care professionals as of July 2025, according to a policy brief released earlier this month by Health Policy Institute of Ohio.
New science points to 4 distinct types of autism
When Marc and Cristina Easton’s son was diagnosed with autism at 20 months, the Baltimore couple left the doctor’s appointment in confusion. Their toddler - who was very social - didn’t resemble the picture of the condition they thought they knew. And the specialists could offer little clarity about why or what lay ahead. It wasn’t until four years after their child’s diagnosis that the Eastons finally began to get answers that offered them a glimmer of understanding. This summer, a team from Pr
New science points to 4 distinct types of autism
When Marc and Cristina Easton’s son was diagnosed with autism at 20 months, the Baltimore couple left the doctor’s appointment in confusion. Their toddler - who was very social - didn’t resemble the picture of the condition they thought they knew. And the specialists could offer little clarity about why or what lay ahead. It wasn’t until four years after their child’s diagnosis that the Eastons finally began to get answers that offered them a glimmer of understanding. This summer, a team from Pr
Should the U.S. model its vaccine policy on Denmark's? Experts say we're nothing alike
The Trump administration wants to revamp U.S. childhood vaccination recommendations to align with some other peer nations, including one tiny country in northern Europe.
Nationwide Children's school-based programs keeping kids in classroom
Unaddressed health conditions fuel chronic absenteeism, impacting one in four Ohio students. School-based health centers are helping to change that.
Aluminum salts emerge as likely target as health officials scrutinize childhood vaccines
The vaccine ingredient has long been a talking point for anti-vaccine activists. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made unsubstantiated claims that it is linked to allergies and autism.
Maryland launches Community Business Compass for entrepreneurs
Maryland unveils Community Business Compass with data tools and $10M in funding to boost child care and fresh food access.
Take your best shot at Kamin Science Center's new Sports360 exhibit
Kamin Science Center’s new Sports360 exhibit covers childhood curiosity in sports from sideline to sideline, with simulators that allow visitors...
This common food ingredient may shape a child’s health for life
Scientists discovered that common food emulsifiers consumed by mother mice altered their offspring’s gut microbiome from the very first weeks of life. These changes interfered with normal immune system training, leading to long-term inflammation. As adults, the offspring were more vulnerable to gut disorders and obesity. The findings suggest that food additives may have hidden, lasting effects beyond those who consume them directly.
This common food ingredient may shape a child’s health for life
Scientists discovered that common food emulsifiers consumed by mother mice altered their offspring’s gut microbiome from the very first weeks of life. These changes interfered with normal immune system training, leading to long-term inflammation. As adults, the offspring were more vulnerable to gut disorders and obesity. The findings suggest that food additives may have hidden, lasting effects beyond those who consume them directly.
North Pole visitors surprise families at UVA Health Children’s on Christmas morning
From one room to the next, Santa - otherwise known as Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade - and his elves delivered gifts to these young patients.
Donald Trump is spending Christmas at Mar-a-Lago. Photos show his lavish holiday celebrations.
President Donald Trump spent the holiday playing golf, calling children and service members, and eating Christmas dinner in Mar-a-Lago's ballroom.
Chinese billionaire who has fathered more than 100 children hopes to have dozens of U.S.-born boys to one day take over his business
Xu Bo, the founder of one of China’s largest mobile gaming companies, is looking to have “50 high-quality sons” in the U.S. to take over his billion-dollar empire.
Belvidere business owner donates leftover toy drive gifts to children in need
A Belvidere business owner says seeing children smile is what motivates her to keep giving back.
Pediatrics group sues HHS for cutting funds for children's health programs
The suit alleges HHS made the cuts in retaliation for the doctors' group speaking out against the Trump administration's positions and actions.
Trump tells 10-year-old child he made sure ‘a bad Santa’ is not ‘infiltrating’ the US
The phone rings. Would your 10-year-old like to speak with the president? He’s tracking Santa Claus from his living room in Palm Beach.
Trump warns against infiltration by a 'bad Santa,' defends coal in jovial Christmas calls with kids
President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve by chatting with children about their holiday wishes
Trump warns against infiltration by a 'bad Santa,' defends coal in jovial Christmas calls with kids
President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve by chatting with children about their holiday wishes.
Pediatrics group sues U.S. agency for cutting funds for children's health programs
Earlier this month, the federal government 'abruptly terminated' grants to the group, the lawsuit says.
Pediatrics group sues HHS for cutting funds for children's health programs
The American Academy of Pediatrics sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, seeking to block nearly $12 million in cuts to the group.
Pediatrics group sues HHS for cutting funds for children's health programs
The American Academy of Pediatrics sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, seeking to block nearly $12 million in cuts to the group.
Pediatrics group sues HHS for cutting funds for children's health programs
The American Academy of Pediatrics sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, seeking to block nearly $12 million in cuts to the group
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Hosts Annual Holiday Toy Giveaway for More than 1,000 Children and Families - NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan today announced its annual holiday toy giveaway has distributed gifts to over 1,000 children and families this holiday
Advocates want bill to protect children during custody battles in state budget
Kyra's Law would be named for 2-year-old Kyra Franchetti.
19 states and D.C. sue HHS over effort to ban transgender care for minors
The declaration issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services called treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries unsafe and ineffective for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria.
‘Silver tsunami’ of retiring business owners leaves Main Streets at a crossroads
(This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.) ALPENA — Mary Rajasekhar had owned Olivet Book and Gift for 35 years when she decided last Christmas it was time to retire. But, with her children spread out across the country and into their own […]
What is the goal now?
Let’s start with the low bar to clear: as long as our coach doesn’t assault a small child with a projectile, this season will be mostly ok. Of course, Xavier could always schedule a throwaway game so they could sternly pretend to have disciplined the coach. That kind of behavior is usually saved for guys […]
In Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, children's entertainment comes with strings
For more than 30 years, Puppetworks has delighted Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood with performances of The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio, Aladdin and, during the holidays, retellings of stories like The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
In Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, children's entertainment comes with strings
For more than 30 years, Puppetworks has delighted Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood with performances of The Tortoise and the Hare, Pinocchio, Aladdin and, during the holidays, retellings of stories like The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
Boston reports 114% surge in flu cases; Children most affected
Flu-related emergency department visits also increased 44% in that same period of time.
Nine mental-health tips for a happier 2026
Regardless of any resolutions you may have for 2026, one thing is for sure: Everyone wants to have a happy new year.While losing weight or saving money may be great goals, the most straightforward path to happiness is caring for your mental and emotional health. A robust body of research shows that simple cognitive and behavioral strategies can reliably boost happiness and reduce stress – and they’re generally free and accessible to all.These strategies don’t have to be super time-consuming, but they do require intention: They only work if you do them.Here, psychologist Valentina Ogaryan, PhD, clinical director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, shares her top tips for cultivating more calm, centeredness and happiness in the new year (or anytime):Make time for playPlay isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from frivolous. The National Institute for Play says engaging in silliness, fun and just-for-pleasure activities reduces stress and increases optimism and resilience. A recent review also found that play improves mental health.“Adults can benefit from play as much as children,” Dr. Ogaryan says, “not just as a reward, but something that helps regulate.”So go ahead and dance with your dog, build something with Legos, tell a joke, sing karaoke or do anything else that feels like fun. Don’t worry about being productive, just enjoy yourself. And, if you can, opt for more analog play, Dr. Ogaryan suggests, as a respite from our ever-more-digital world. Move your bodyWhether you dance, ski, do yoga, play pickleball, ride a bike, roller-skate, hike or lift weights, physical movement benefits overall happiness and well-being. A 2018 review study of more than 1.2 million adults in the U.S. found that doing any kind of exercise was “significantly and meaningfully associated” with better self-reported mental health.The sweet spot was 45 minutes of movement three to five times a week, but even short bursts of physical activity can boost brain health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“Movement helps support mood and regulate the nervous system,” Dr. Ogaryan says.Plus: exercise can improve sleep quality, and sleep is essential for mental health.Prioritize sleep“Sleep plays a major role in managing stress,” Dr. Ogaryan says. Research shows that lack of sufficient sleep increases the risk of various diseases, including depression.While stress can interfere with sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene can make logging ZZ’s easier. That means maintaining a consistent bedtime; keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet; and avoiding social media, news and stimulating shows before bed.Consume lessWe live in a consumer culture, inundated by endless streams of content and advertising everywhere we go, which makes it easy to get overstimulated.“Something really helpful for stress reduction is to simply consume less,” Dr. Ogaryan says – less news, less social media, less information, less noise, less screen time. “It’s about reducing the input,” she says.Consider setting a maximum number of news articles per day, for example, or a time limit on scrolling. Maybe even go device free for an afternoon or a whole day.Practice present-moment awarenessWith so much coming at us all the time, focusing on the here and now can make life feel more manageable, Dr. Ogaryan says: “When everything feels super overwhelming, when everything feels larger than life, let’s make our world a little bit smaller for that moment in time.”She suggests taking things one day, or even one hour, at a time. Ask yourself: What’s my next right action? Release the need to know how everything turns out and liberate yourself from having to handle everything right now. Let the future take care of itself and just focus on the current moment. Then the next one. Have a daily anchorFrom work to the daily commute to family and life responsibilities, our days can feel jam-packed. Dr. Ogaryan recommends creating a centering daily anchor that can fit into even the busiest day.Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk during your lunch break or mindfully enjoying your coffee in the morning. Let your anchor adapt to your needs each day, she says, but be intentional about using that time to ground yourself and calm your nervous system. You might even say to yourself, “I choose this walk to help me become centered,” or “My day already feels stressful, so I’m going to take the next 10 minutes to enjoy this cup of coffee, feel the warm mug in my hand and just be present.” Having an anchor won’t erase the busy-ness from your day, but it will allow you to approach it more calmly.Be kind to yourselfMost of us have a harsh inner critic in our heads who works overtime. But that critical voice only increases our stress, triggering the same fight-or-flight response as caustic words from another person.To feel happier, we need to replace that inner critic with a kinder, more compassionate voice, Dr. Ogaryan says. Studies show that self-compassion is a source of eudaimonic happiness – the kind of happiness associated with purpose and meaning in life.While our knee-jerk reaction may be to self-criticize – “How could you let it get to this point? You didn’t manage your time well and now the project is going to be late. You’re so inept.” – we fare better mentally by treating ourselves with kindness, like we would a friend. That might sound like, “You’ve got a lot on your plate, but you are capable and you’ll get it done. I believe in you.”We may think that speaking kindly to ourselves means letting ourselves off the hook, so we end up becoming lazy do-nothings. But research shows the opposite: People who are self-compassionate are more likely to try harder in the face of failure and ultimately reach their goals.You can thank your inner critic for its good intentions, but resolve to talk to yourself in a kind, compassionate voice.Connect with othersHumans are social animals built for connection. Stress can be isolating and cause us to withdraw, but connecting with others is a salve for the psyche, Dr. Ogaryan says.“We know that not all relationships are always easy, but if we can think about intentional, nourishing connection – even in really small doses – it could really help center us,” she says.Take a moment to laugh with your colleagues, hug your pet, have a conversation with a friend or smile at the barista making your coffee. A study found that even tiny interactions with casual acquaintances and strangers decreases loneliness and improves happiness and well-being.Seek supportIf you try these practices and happiness remains elusive, or if you can’t access the wherewithal to follow these tips, seek support from your physician or a therapist. Mental health conditions are among the most common health issues in the U.S. and around the world – more prevalent than diabetes or heart disease. One in five people in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, with depression and anxiety the most common, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.“We can all think about these tips,” Dr. Ogaryan says. “But it’s important to recognize if you’ve done everything you can and you’re still really struggling, it’s really important to seek help.”
The disunity of science is a feature, not a bug
Mathematical models wield miraculous power, but mistaking them for reality has trapped science in a destructive quest for a “Theory of Everything.” Physicist and philosopher Ragner Fjelland argues that this leads to bloated, Frankenstein theories kept alive by clumsy, ad-hoc amendments, which reduce rather than boost science’s power. Fjelland calls for a radical shift in our attitude: we must reorientate towards creating entirely new theories, celebrating rather than lamenting disunity and diversity in science. Science, from the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day, has more or less developed in a “reductionist” way. The fundamental assumption is that all sciences may be ordered in a hierarchy that can be represented as an upside-down pyramid. At the top we find the human sciences, and at the bottom physics. Strong (or “ontological”) reductionism maintains that all theories at one level can be completely reduced to the lower level, all the way down to theories of atoms and elementary particles, or whatever is “at the bottom.” In the end, all diversity in the world can be unified in one fundamental theory. Hence it is called a final theory, or a Theory of Everything.One of the central figures in developing the idea of a Theory of Everything is the Dutch theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft, who received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1999 for his work. He emphasizes the non-empirical status of the theory:There exists no closely resembling alternative theory. This means that any slight change brought about in the rules would make the theory unlikely or inelegant. The theory will be a "package deal": take it, or leave it. This should hold both for the local laws and for the boundary conditions.This endeavor is not new. On the contrary, it goes all the way back to the birth of Western philosophy 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians made regular astronomical observations during a period of 600 years, from 747 BCE until 150 ACE. They developed mathematical techniques to predict astronomical phenomena, but they made no attempts at explaining them. However, the Greeks developed models, both material and theoretical, to explain the observed phenomena.The best example is Plato’s late dialogue Timaeus. Here he introduces a divine craftsman, the Demiurge, who has constructed the universe according to an original plan. Plato seems to have thought that the original plan is what is actually real, while the material world is merely an imperfect realization of it. He therefore does not, in the Timaeus, reconstruct the material universe, but the original plan, which can then be used to explain the material universe.Plato’s aim in producing a theoretical model is to reconstruct the original plan. That is what he carries out in Timaeus—and some modern physicists have embarked on the same project. For example, Einstein’s basic attitude is reflected in the title of Abraham Pais’ biography: “Subtle is the Lord...,” echoing Einstein’s comment, “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not.” In an interview Einstein compared our situation to a child who enters a huge library. The child knows that someone has written the books, but he does not know the languages in which they are written. He suspects that there is a mysterious order, but he does not know what it is.___“We have all been working in what Husserl called the Galilean style; that is, we have all been making abstract mathematical models of the universe to which at least the physicists give a higher degree of reality than they accord the ordinary world of sensation.”Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics (1979)___This Platonist view is contrary to a widespread impression of science, symbolized by the picture of the “father” of modern science, Galileo Galilei, with his telescope. According to this impression, Galileo liberated himself from the dominating metaphysics of his day—basically Aristotelian philosophy—and constructed a telescope that he directed towards the sky, showing that Jupiter has four moons. He also performed experiments with bronze balls rolling down inclined planes and found the law of freely falling bodies.However, in other cases Galileo emphasized the unreliability of our senses. It is easy to see why. He defended Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we are not at rest at the center of the universe, but moving at a tremendous speed through space. Why don’t we observe this motion? Galileo praises Copernicus because “with reason as his guide he resolutely continued to affirm what sensible experience seemed to contradict.” In other places he directly refers to Plato. SUGGESTED VIEWING The quest for a final theory With Michio Kaku Galileo’s Platonism goes back to his early writings. In The Assayer, published as early as 1623, Galileo compared the universe to a grand book that is written in the language of mathematics, and “its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” Therefore, things that cannot be described by mathematics—for example, colors, smells and odors—are not real. They are merely subjective.This division into subjective and objective, advocated by Galileo and his younger contemporary René Descartes, is normally associated with a mechanistic world view, which is regarded as the opposite of Platonism. When we reduce something to, for example, molecules and atoms, we move “downwards.” In contrast, the Platonist moves “upwards,” to abstract entities. However, it only shows that when we address fundamental questions, we should be careful in applying everyday spatial metaphors like “up” and “down.”___Nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world.___The endeavor of finding a Theory of Everything has been heavily criticized. In 2006, the theoretical physicist Lee Smolin published “The Crisis in Fundamental Physics.” He argued that one of the most fundamental principles of science is that we should only regard theories as scientific if we have the possibility to show that they are false by experiments. Although he did not refer to Karl Popper, other critics have referred to Popper and argued that a theory is not scientific if it cannot be falsified (see for example Ellis & Silk 2014).These were not the first physicists to be anti-reductionists. In 1972, the journal Science published an article by the physicist Philip Anderson with the title “More Is Different.” This is the kind of article a scientist would normally write only after he has won a Nobel Prize. However, Anderson won the Nobel Prize for physics five years later, in 1977. The article is amazing, not primarily because it argues in favor of anti-reductionism in general, but because it argues for anti-reductionism within physics itself. Anderson’s conclusion was:At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requiring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry.We may say that Plato started the “unity of science movement,” based on Euclidean geometry as the model of all knowledge. A distinguishing mark of geometry is that all possible constructions can be reduced to a few fundamental principles. We have to acknowledge that this approach has limitations. In general, we can easily model technological systems. In addition, we may construct simplified and idealized models that capture important aspects of systems, from various perspectives and for various purposes. But nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world. In a complex system, each level has its distinct, emergent, properties that are characteristic of this level. Therefore, a complex system should be investigated at different levels and from different perspectives. Instead of exclusively pursuing a scientific ideal based on the unity of science, we should acknowledge the diversity—or even the disunity—of science.
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Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy - U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria
Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy The United States signed a five-year, $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Republic of Nigeria December 19 to advance the America First Global Health Strategy, supporting resilient, self-reliant, and durable health systems while promoting accountability and shared responsibility. Under the five-year MOU, the United States intends to commit nearly $2.1 billion in health assistance, with nearly $3.0 billion in new domestic health expenditures by the Government of Nigeria over the same five-year period. This represents the largest co-investment any country has made to date under the America First Global Health Strategy and underscore Nigeria’s commitment to greater national ownership of its health system. Under the MOU, the United States will continue to support surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, health commodities; frontline healthcare workers, and data systems. Nigeria faces significant health challenges, including one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and approximately30 percent of the global malaria burden. U.S. assistance under the MOU will expand access to affordable, preventive and curative services for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, polio, and maternal and child health, strengthening health outcomes across Nigeria. The MOU places a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers, recognizing their indispensable role in delivering care to communities in need. Nigeria’s more than 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals serve more than 30 percent of the country’s 230 million people, often in areas where healthcare facilities are limited or absent. The MOU provides approximately $200 million in dedicated support to strengthen and support these Christian facilities, enhance workforce capacity, and expand access to integrated HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal child health services. Investments in Christian faith-based health institutions are uniquely positioned to complement public-sector facilities and reinforce Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure. The MOU was negotiated in connection with reforms undertaken by the Government of Nigeria to prioritize the protection of Christian populations from extremist violence. As with all U.S. foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate programs that do not align with U.S. national interests, and the United States expects Nigeria to continue making measurable progress in combating religiously motivated violence against Christian communities. This five-year MOU is the latest of several health cooperation MOUs signed in Africa this month. The United States will continue to sign multi-year Bilateral Agreements on Global Health Cooperation with countries receiving U.S. health assistance to advance the America First Global Health Strategy.