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NASA’s Webb telescope just discovered one of the weirdest planets ever
A newly discovered exoplanet is rewriting the rules of what planets can be. Orbiting a city-sized neutron star, this Jupiter-mass world has a bizarre carbon-rich atmosphere filled with soot clouds and possibly diamonds at its core. Its extreme gravity stretches it into a lemon shape, and it completes a full orbit in under eight hours. Scientists are stunned — no known theory explains how such a planet could exist.
‘Stranger Things’ Finale Explained: How Did the Series End?
From who lives or dies to what stories were left open ended.
2026 NFL Draft rankings: Why our analysts disagree on Ty Simpson, Rueben Bain
CBS Sports draft analysts explain why some of their prospect rankings are wildly different.
MIT study shows high-fat diets give liver cancer a dangerous head start
A high-fat diet does more than overload the liver with fat. New research from MIT shows that prolonged exposure to fatty foods can push liver cells into a survival mode that quietly raises the risk of cancer. Faced with ongoing metabolic stress, these cells abandon their normal roles and revert to a more primitive state that helps them endure harsh conditions. Over time, that shift leaves the liver less functional and far more vulnerable to tumor formation, helping explain why fatty liver disease so often precedes liver cancer.
From aisles to ballots: How Mass. grocery prices explain what’s at stake in the 2026 midterms
With the 2026 midterms looming, Bay State Democrats are vowing to keep the pressure on Republican President Donald Trump's White House.
Revisited: Is Trump building a political dynasty?
In the second episode of our special Politics Weekly America series, the reporters Ashley Parker, Rosie Gray and Eric Cortellessa explain why some of Trump’s family decided to step back from political life, and who stepped up to get him back to the White House
Apple may see the future of LLMs very differently than most: report
A new report may help explain why, in part, Apple’s AI approach thus far has differed so much from competitors.
A former Trump economic advisor explains why tariffs still worry him heading into 2026
Stephen Moore, the former White House economist who once called for President Trump to receive a Nobel prize, has changed his tune a bit.
Why your vitamin D supplements might not be working
A new randomized trial from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center reveals that magnesium may be the missing key to keeping vitamin D levels in balance. The study found that magnesium raised vitamin D in people who were deficient while dialing it down in those with overly high levels—suggesting a powerful regulating effect. This could help explain why vitamin D supplements don’t work the same way for everyone and why past studies linking vitamin D to cancer and heart disease have produced mixed results.
Inside Uganda’s video halls, ‘video jokers’ transform Hollywood blockbusters into local entertainment
VJs sit at the front of the cinema with a microphone and a sound mixer. Talking over the film, they explain its plot in the local language.
Residents raise concerns over potential health effects from Castaic natural gas leak
While some residents raised concerns over the potential health impact of a natural gas leak in Castaic, Eyewitness News spoke to an expert who explained why they don't have much to worry about.
Dan Hurley perplexed by Baylor adding former NBA pick: 'Need a commissioner'
The two-time national champion explains to CBS Sports why he's alarmed and concerned about the continual lack of leadership in college hoops
Macaulay Culkin explains his perpetual retirement from acting: 'Technically, I'm retired right now'
Retirement is a perpetual state of mind for Macaulay Culkin, who explains his views on that, and why he took a lengthy hiatus from Hollywood at age 14.
Doctor tests host's fitness for longevity, provides New Year's health resolutions
Board-certified rheumatologist Dr. Mahsa Tehrani explains why strength and balance are key to longevity and demonstrates two simple tests that can help gauge how well the body is aging heading into the new year.
Pittsburgh should stop making businesses pay income taxes
Thank you for today’s editorial supporting a land-value tax and explaining the logic behind it. I ask you, who seem to understand that taxing something...
Allegheny County to implement involuntary outpatient mental health care services
Dalton and other human services officials explained the county’s reasoning during an interview Tuesday with Pittsburgh’s Public Source.
Nintendo explains how Metroid Prime 4 came to be, talks development challenges - game was a request from Nintendo of America
Nintendo has provided some noteworthy insight into the origins of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond as well as challenges with the project. Metroid Prime 4 is one of the more fascinating games the company has put out in recent years, and its development cycle is a big reason why. Although the game was announced in 2017, it only just released this...
Why This 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Needs A New Battery: P1AA700 Issue Explained
Some early-model 2025 Ioniq 5s may experience charging issues. Don't worry, though: The fix is usually a free battery replacement.
Made for More Health: Knowing when it's more than a cold
In this Made for More Health segment, Dr. Diaz Martinez explains how to recognize when a simple cold may signal something more serious.
Where Is All the A.I.-Driven Scientific Progress?
A tech C.E.O. explains why A.I. probably won’t cure diseases anytime soon. Hint: You still need humans.
Does science agree it’s better to give than receive? A doctor explains
Gift-giving is often framed as a source of stress and obligation, but a growing body of research suggests there may also be something beneficial about giving itself.
There's Always Room For Dessert, And Science Can Explain Why
Oh, go on then.
Blackstone's CTO explains how he uses his 35-minute subway ride to stay sharp and upskill
John Stecher reads about technology in another industry on his daily subway ride to work and spends his weekends being hands-on with tools.
Ukraine explains how it attacked Russian Sea Dragon with drone carrying an airburst warhead
The SBU said that it used the drone to strike a Russian Sea Dragon maritime recon aircraft, a key step for its later attack on the submarine.
Waymo explains why its robotaxis clogged San Francisco streets during a power outage
Waymo says the San Francisco power outage overwhelmed its robotaxis at scale, creating a backlog that led to response delays.
I'm 'Shark Tank' investor Kevin O'Leary. I wake up at 5 a.m. with no alarm and refuse to answer emails.
"Shark Tank" and "Marty Supreme" star Kevin O'Leary explains his daily routine, which includes eating protein, biking, taking naps, and avoiding email.
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.
What explains the perpetual need for political enemies?
Politics today is driven by grievances that can never be assuaged. For democracy’s survival, we must grapple with this dynamic
Video: Why Scientists Are Performing Brain Surgery on Monarchs
Scientists in Texas are studying monarch butterflies to understand how they navigate thousands of miles, possibly by sensing Earth’s magnetic field. Alexa Robles-Gil explains how researchers are examining the butterflies’ brains to find answers.
Prediction markets are coming to sports in a big way. Here’s what you need to know
Prediction markets are growing quickly in the United States. Here's what you need to know about them and how they affect the sports world.
2 culinary legends explain how to improve your baking — and your mental health
During a recent event at WBUR's CitySpace, renowned chefs Joanne Chang and Dorie Greenspan convinced me that even I could whip up beautiful holiday treats. And more surprising still, they said it might be good for me to do so.
A navigator for better science reporting
Science touches nearly every beat in local journalism, yet many reporters lack the training or time to confidently navigate complex scientific topics. In this piece, Bob Sillick explains how The Open Notebook, in partnership with the Reynolds Journalism Institute, has launched the Science Reporting Navigator to close that gap. The new tool aims to help local journalists spot misinformation, understand research and bring scientific clarity to their daily reporting.
James Cameron explains 'the power couple from hell' at the core of 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'
With the help of the VFX experts at Wēta FX, the filmmaker turned his focus to the physics of fire for 'Avatar 3' — and forged a villain alliance like no other.
The role of business insurance for small businesses
For small businesses, the right insurance coverage is critical to your business operations. In this episode of Small Business Smarts, Victoria Jordan dives into business insurance essentials and explains what every small business owner needs to know to protect their people and their passion. For more information, visit ADP.com/SPARK
Trump named Gov. Jeff Landry a special envoy to Greenland. Denmark isn’t happy about it.
The Danish foreign minister said he was summoning the U.S. ambassador to explain the move.
Gender Politics and the Weaponization of Personal Data
Katelyn Ringrose, CJ Larkin, Os Keyes, and Jay T. Conrad explain how federal policies are weaponizing data to target transgender and gender diverse communities.
What is the winter solstice? Storm Team4 Meteorologist explains
Storm Team4 Meteorologist Ryan Miller explains how the Earth's rotation around the sun contributes to the winter solstice and other seasons.
Is it really better to give than receive? It depends, expert says
Research shows that giving time, money or support to others is associated with benefits to well-being. But doing so isn’t always beneficial. Dr. Leana Wen explains.
Global warming could trigger the next ice age
Scientists have uncovered a missing feedback in Earth’s carbon cycle that could cause global warming to overshoot into an ice age. As the planet warms, nutrient-rich runoff fuels plankton blooms that bury huge amounts of carbon in the ocean. In low-oxygen conditions, this process can spiral out of control, cooling Earth far beyond its original state. While this won’t save us from modern climate change, it may explain Earth’s most extreme ancient ice ages.
Derrick Henry explains the secret behind Mike Vrabel’s success
Who better than Derrick Henry to explain what makes Mike Vrabel as good as he is?
Exclusive | ‘No need to explain’: leading mRNA vaccine expert Hu Haitao leaves US for China
China is catching up fast in mRNA-related fundamental research and technological development, Hu says.
Hand on Government: Rising health insurance costs and subsidy expiration threaten coverage for 1.5 million Floridians
As 2026 approaches, affordability remains a dominant concern for Americans, with health insurance costs poised to rise sharply, especially in Florida. Government law attorney Chris Hand explained on This Week in Jacksonville that the end of COVID-era subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could have severe consequences.
Science with Stevie: Winter Solstice
Meteorologist Stevie Daniels explains what the winter solstice is and how it impacts various areas on planet earth in this Science with Stevie segment!
Mysterious Structure Identified Beneath Bermuda Could Explain Its Weird Geology
A massive discovery.
Stefanik Quits Governor’s Race, Will Not Run for Reelection
The Republican explains why she’s leaving politics.
Justice Melissa Hart to step down from Colorado Supreme Court
Justice Melissa Hart will step down from the Colorado Supreme Court effective Jan. 5, the Judicial Department announced unexpectedly on Friday. Hart has been on an unexplained and unusual leave of absence from the court since Oct. 28. She told Colorado Politics in November that the leave was for “family and personal health reasons,” but provided no […]
Nex Playground Boss Says The Console Solves The Wii "Problem"
David Lee explains why the Nex Playground isn't selling any games.
Jeff Dye on leaving Los Angeles, Newsom, and the politics driving comedy’s new divide
Comedian Jeff Dye sat down with Fox News Digital and explained why he’s leaving California for Texas and how politics have increasingly influenced the stand-up comedy world.
Vertex Forward: Our animated video series
Watch the animated video series “Vertex Forward” to see the Vertex Pharmaceuticals philosophy and strategy explained.
The Business of Sports Tourism: How Dallas Converts Sporting Events Into Long-Term Economic Growth
On the DLC Drop Podcast, Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul explains how the region recruits major sporting events—and what hosting nine 2026 FIFA World Cup matches means for Dallas–Fort Worth’s economy, community, and global brand.
The Burning Landscape That Explains India’s Coal Addiction
A journey through Jharkhand reveals why coal remains embedded in the nation’s economy, politics and daily life — and what it would take to break free.
Doctor explains health symptoms to watch for this holiday season
ABC7 was joined by Dr. Tiffany Hackett, who talked with us about symptoms not to ignore this holiday season - from heart and stomach concerns to colds, flu, and even mental health.
Pediatrician says HHS grant cuts ‘clearly detrimental to the health of America's children’
Dr. Peter Hotez joins Meet the Press NOW to explain how grant cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services could impact millions of American children and their parents. NBC News Medical Reporter Erika Edwards reports on the Trump administration's moves to end transition-related care for minors nationwide.
This Week in Jacksonville - Business Edition: Franchise opportunities grow in River City
In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, Kent Justice talks with David Montanez, vice president of franchise development for Authority Brands, about the growing franchise opportunities in Northeast Florida and beyond. Montanez explains how franchising offers a proven business model that reduces risk and supports entrepreneurs, including many veterans transitioning from military service.
This Week in Jacksonville - Business Edition: Franchise opportunities grow in River City
In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, Kent Justice talks with David Montanez, vice president of franchise development for Authority Brands, about the growing franchise opportunities in Northeast Florida and beyond. Montanez explains how franchising offers a proven business model that reduces risk and supports entrepreneurs, including many veterans transitioning from military service.
Your body feels cold in two different ways
Researchers have uncovered that the body uses different molecular systems to sense cold in the skin versus internal organs. This explains why surface chills feel very different from cold experienced deep inside the body.
A teenage entrepreneur who does 6-figures in sales explains how anyone can start an e-commerce business with a 3D printer and a couple of hundred dollars
Learn how a teenager built a six-figure business with 3D printing and low-cost resources in high school.
Rethinking Business Education: Kristin Skogen Lund, Chair, INSEAD Board of Directors
INSEAD Board of Directors Chair Kristin Skogen Lund MBA'92J explains why business education must evolve to equip leaders with the skills to navigate AI-driven change and embed AI into strategic decision-making.
Australian Surf Crew Captures a Real-Life Ocean 'Glitch' That Repeats
The converging waves swirl until they finally break into a 130-foot pillar of saltwater, in a process that scientists have yet to fully explain.
The uphill battle for health care subsidies still hasn’t cleared the abortion hurdle
Abortion-rights and anti-abortion groups warn lawmakers that if they buck them, they will pay in the midterms
He built JPMorgan's coast-to-coast banker network. Now exec John Richert says the middle market's moment is coming.
JPMorgan's mid-cap chief explains how investment banking works beyond Wall Street, and why the middle market has become a billion-dollar opportunity.
Trump administration takes its economic message to Pennsylvania again as Vance heads to swing state
President Donald Trump bragged to Pennsylvanians last week that he’d delivered an “unbelievable” economy. Now, it’s up to Vice President JD Vance to explain why they’re not yet feeling the benefits.
Claude Code's creator explains the limits of vibe coding
The engineer behind Claude Code says vibe coding works for prototypes, but today's AI models still fall short for maintainable software.
What’s worse for us, sugar or sweeteners?
We all know eating too much sugar is bad for our health – but would we be better off replacing it with artificial sweetener? It’s a question Science Weekly listener Marion posed recently and, as Madeleine Finlay tells Ian Sample, the answer is complicated. She explains what the science says about sugar v sweeteners with the help of Prof Havovi Chichger, from Anglia Ruskin University, and Prof Jim Krieger, from the University of Washington’s school of public health
Science has always been marketed, from 18th-century coffeehouse demos of Newton's ideas to today's TikTok explainers
People often see science as a world apart: cool, rational and untouched by persuasion or performance. In this view, scientists simply discover truth, and truth speaks for itself.
Oklahoma doctor explains health risks of processed meats
Health experts warn processed meats like bacon and hot dogs are linked to higher risks of cancer, heart disease, stroke and obesity, while unprocessed meats are healthier choices.
Amherst astronomers to explain winter solstice science at campus Sunwheel
Astronomer Stephen Schneider will lead the morning session and Grant Wilson will join the evening event. T
Science has always been marketed, from 18th-century coffeehouse demos of Newton’s ideas to today’s TikTok explainers
Science has always been part of a marketplace of ideas, where claims vie for audiences, resources and belief, and where power, persuasion and status shape which ideas are heard, trusted or forgotten.
Dark matter ‘nuggets’ could explain the Milky Way’s mysterious glow
A mysterious excess of far-ultraviolet light seen across the Milky Way could come from the annihilation of clumpy dark matter.
Science has always been marketed, from 18th-century coffeehouse demos of Newton’s ideas to today’s TikTok explainers
Science has always been part of a marketplace of ideas, where claims vie for audiences, resources and belief, and where power, persuasion and status shape which ideas are heard, trusted or forgotten.
In the Wake of Divinity's Gruesome Reveal Trailer, Larian Publishing Director Says It's Not Trying to Shock the Audience, Rather Treat Them 'With a Level of Intellectual Respect'
Larian publishing director Michael Douse has explained the studio’s thinking in the wake of the gruesome reveal trailer for Divinity, the Baldur’s Gate 3 studio’s next big role-playing game.
Opinion | The hunting tradition that explains Pennsylvania’s wild politics
To understand this critical swing state, you must understand bear camp.
Monday ‘Dawg Bites Is Kickin’ It During Awards Season
Good morning, Bulldog Nation! Here’s hoping you enjoyed a fantastic weekend in which your coach didn’t appear for an arraignment and your Athletic Director isn’t trying to explain why this sort of thing keeps happening on his watch. Sadly University of Georgia athletics has t been completely immune from crime and punishment news as word […]
NFL legend Fran Tarkenton explains why he invested millions in Apple — and is bullish on Tim Cook
NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton holds hundreds of thousands of Apple shares. He told Business Insider why he's bullish on the tech giant's future.
The mystery of the Seneca Drums persists
Researchers are plumbing the depths of the largest and deepest of New York’s Finger Lakes to explain the source of its famous booming sounds.
How does salt help melt snow on the roads?
Did you know that not all roads are treated with the same salt? Ryan Miller explains the different types and how it can harm the environment.
Health insurance under Affordable Care Act to skyrocket after Senate fails to extend tax credits
Health care advocates and progressive groups across Florida said the U.S. Senate's failure to extend premium subsidies for the Affordable Care Act was a "disheartening setback" that will significantly raise the cost of health insurance for nearly 5 million Floridians, including hundreds of thousands of people in South Florida.
Without quantum physics, you wouldn't be reading this. Scientist explains the mind-blowing concept that underpins all our lives | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Paul Davies, a prominent British scientist and one of the biggest authorities on quantum physics, reveals how it affects all our lives.
Aspyr explains how it approached the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, patches planned
In a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, Aspyr explained how it approached the recently-released Nintendo Switch 2 version of Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. There’s been a lot of talk about the port since the launch last month. Especially given that there’s also a version for the original Nintendo Switch, some have speculated that the Switch 2 version is based on...
Kindle’s New AI Feature Can Answer Questions About Your Books (Whether Authors Want It or Not)
The Kindle app's new feature will provide AI-generated tips to explain your book's plot or how the characters relate to one another, though it's currently only available on the iOS version.
Teen’s video a ‘Breakthrough’ in science communication
Seventeen-year-old Grace Lee from Chula Vista is gaining national attention as a finalist in the global Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual competition that invites students to create original videos explaining complex scientific ideas in creative and engaging ways. Founded in 2015, the contest encourages young people to break down advanced scientific theories using imagination and storytelling— “Steven Spielberg meets Albert Einstein,” as organizers describe it. Lee’s submission centers on the principle of least time in physics, a concept that explains why light always travels the path that takes the least amount of time. To bring the idea to life, she used intricate origami characters and stop-motion animation, along with simple at-home experiments, she said. “The fact that light always travels via the path that takes the least amount of time sounds simple at first, but nature is full of surprises,” she said. “This principle is actually very profound and underlies many different fields in physics that seem completely unrelated, from optics to Newton’s laws to Einstein’s theory of relativity.” Also, origami has long been one of her passions and integrating it into her project felt natural. She often makes origami gifts for friends and teaches origami in her school clubs. “A single 10-second scene would take hours to craft,” she said, noting the mixture of stop-motion and post-production editing required to animate expressions and movement. To ensure the science remained accurate and accessible, she spent time reading books and online resources, writing a script, creating a storyboard, and filming and editing repeatedly until the visuals worked.The experiments were among the biggest challenges. To demonstrate water waves, she used everyday household items — “a spatula and an electric toothbrush to vibrate the waves, glass in a baking pan for different depths, and an iPhone flashlight so the waves would be visible.” She also put careful thought into explaining the principle through analogies, including a gingerbread man and a fox. “Analogies and visuals are incredibly important,” she said. “Visual demonstrations allow viewers to see how the science actually works.” Beyond the competition, Lee is deeply involved in science leadership and advocacy. She serves as International President of miRcore, the world’s largest student computational biology organization, with 136 chapters across five countries. She leads a 20-member executive board, organizes outreach connecting schools worldwide, and has helped run workshops at locations including Scripps Research Institute and the University of Michigan. “I used to be intimidated,” she said, but she gradually grew her skills and confidence. “Now I am no longer afraid to use my voice and enthusiasm to bring out the best in others.” Her research experience includes two peer-reviewed papers on asthma and vaping. Misconceptions around vaping, she said, show why clear science communication matters. “Our research shows that there is long-term harm to your lungs on the cellular level that isn’t obvious unless you come down with an illness like the flu,” she said. Lee also founded Full Hearts at Eastlake High School, transforming the small club into one of the school’s largest, with hands-on service projects in partnership with local nonprofits. She continues mentoring younger students to sustain the mission. If she wins the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, Grace hopes the $100,000 science lab prize for her school will expand opportunities for students who have limited access to equipment and hands-on science outside the classroom.
An international relations expert explains U.S.-Europe political split over Ukraine war
There are tensions between the U.S. and Europe over how to end the Ukraine war. NPR's Rob Schmitz talks to Nathalie Tocci from Johns Hopkins University about what's fueling these political divisions.
Giant structure discovered deep beneath Bermuda is unlike anything else on Earth
A thick layer of more than 12 miles of rock may explain why Bermuda seems to float above the surrounding ocean.
How religious extremists have influenced science curriculum in Texas and beyond
AU Youth Organizing Fellow Ishan Kanaskar explains how religious extremists have tried to influence science curriculum in Texas.
'There's a fear': How Bills fans are reacting to Patriots' resurgence with Maye
Has the AFC East's balance of power already shifted back to the Patriots? NFL insider Tyler Dunne explains how Bills fans are feeling about New England's rise.
3 theories that explain Trump’s collapsing support
How Trump’s winning coalition is unraveling in real time.
Why Biya's victory damages Cameroon's electoral integrity
Cameroon looks calm — but the disputed election has shaken citizen's faith in the electoral system. Tomaino Ndam Njoya, the only female presidential candidate, joins us Under the Baobab, explains why there were no winners in Cameroon's election, and reveals surprising ways Cameroon's political elite can try to rebuild trust with the electorate.
Video: Opinion | The Duality in Conservative Politics
Andrew Kolvet of Turning Point USA explains why he endorses a tough-love approach to politics on this episode of “Interesting Times.”
A Philly restaurant came clean about its Health Department shutdown. Was that the right call?
Cafe Michelangelo’s management chose to explain, point by point, the issues that led the city to close it temporarily. The restaurant also has vowed to improve its sanitation practices.
Former 'DWTS' pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy explains why he wouldn't return to the ballroom
Former 'DWTS' champion and 17-season pro Maksim Chmerkovskiy doesn't think he would go back to the series if asked, saying, 'I think the boat has sailed.'
Lawmakers explain their bipartisan efforts to tackle rising health insurance premiums
'Common Ground': Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., discuss their efforts to make health insurance more affordable and prevent premium spikes on 'Special Report.'
Shasta County HHSA speaks on fog and connection to daylight, seasonal affective disorder
Makaylah Fazzari with Shasta County HHSA explained how fog can limit daylight hours, which may contribute to certain conditions.
McDonald's AI Christmas ad controversy explained: How the fast food chain has responded to the backlash
McDonald's is under fire for releasing an AI-generated Christmas ad. Here's everything to know about the controversy, and how the fast food chain responded to the criticism.
Sydney Sweeney debunks plastic surgery rumors while promoting 'The Housemaid'
Sydney Sweeney denies plastic surgery rumors, citing her fear of needles and explaining how professional makeup and lighting create different looks.
Charlie Kirk's focus on God, not politics, in his final book is fitting, his close friend explains
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet discusses Charlie Kirk's final book on faith and the Sabbath on 'The Story.'
Pebble's founder introduces a $75 AI smart ring for recording brief notes with a press of a button
After rebooting the Pebble smartwatch, founder Eric Migicovsky is expanding his company's device lineup with a new smart wearable: an AI-powered smart ring known as Index 01. Named for the finger where the ring is meant to be worn, the new $75 ring is not meant to be a competitor to the always-on, always-listening AI devices, like the AI pendant Friend, but instead offers a way to record quick notes and reminders with a press of a button on the ring's side. AI only comes into play via the open source, speech-to-text, and AI models that run locally on your smartphone, via the open source Pebble mobile app. That is, if the Ring's button is not being pressed, it's not recording. (And this is a press-and-hold gesture, too, which means you can't start the ring's recording and then let go to surreptitiously record a conversation.) You can wear the stainless steel ring while in the shower, washing hands, doing dishes, or in the rain, but you would have to take it off for other water-related activities, like swimming. At launch, it's water-resistant to 1 meter. The ring is also not a fitness tracker or sleep monitor. It doesn't record details about your heart rate or health. And it's not there to be your AI friend. "I'm not trying to build some AI assistant thing," Migicovsky told TechCrunch in an interview. "I build things that solve one main problem, and they solve it really well," he explains. "I think of as external memory for my brain...that's what this is. It's always with you." Plus, the ring has been designed to be highly reliable and privacy-preserving, he says, as all your thoughts are stored on your phone, not in the cloud. There is no subscription. Migicovsky has been wearing the ring for three months now and says he cannot imagine going back to a world where he doesn't always have a memory device with him. "The problem is that, during the day, I get ideas or I remember something, and if I don't write it down that second, I forget it," he says. The ring solves this problem, he adds, without becoming another device you need to charge. "The battery lasts for years," Migicovsky claims. Technically, the ring is said to support roughly 12 to 14 hours of recording. On average, the founder says he uses it 10-20 times per day to record 3-6 second thoughts. At that rate, he'll get about two years of usage. When the ring's battery dies, you can ship it back to the company for recycling. When using Index, you can record up to five minutes of audio, which can be saved to the ring and synced to your phone later. This makes sense for recording briefer, personal thoughts and notes, even when you don't have your phone handy, but it wouldn't work for recording a longer chat, like a presentation, meeting, or in-person interview of some kind. The ring also supports 99+ languages and has a bit of on-device memory, in case you're not in Bluetooth range of your device, where the recording is ultimately saved and transcribed. (The raw audio is retained, too, in case the speech-to-text is garbled due to loud background noise). If you own a Pebble smartwatch or one from another brand, your recorded thought can even appear on the watch's screen so you can verify it's correct. The ring works with Pebble's mobile app, which offers notes and reminders, but can optionally integrate with your phone's calendaring system, too, or other apps, like Notion. And the ring's software is open source, which makes it hackable by the community, the founder points out. Because of its open nature, the ring's button is already programmable. In addition to the press-and-hold gesture, you can program the ring to do other things with a single or double press, like play or pause your music or control the shutter on your phone's camera. You could use it to send a message through the universal chat app Beeper, which Migicovsky also created, or you could add your own voice actions via MCP. A new approach to hardware Migicovsky acknowledges that hardware can be difficult to get right -- as the previous exit of Pebble to Fitbit showed. (Fitbit, too, was later acquired by Google in 2021). "I didn't earn any money during Pebble -- we exited, but it was not a great exit," Migicovsky admits. This year, however, he decided to reboot the Pebble project after Google open sourced the PebbleOS, which opened up the door to new hardware. With his new company, Core Devices, Migicovsky plans to do things differently. Still, the founder doesn't regret his previous choices, he clarifies. "I wouldn't have gone back and changed anything. I loved what we built. I loved what we did. I love the company that we built, but it's not the only way to build a company," he told TechCrunch. " And, speaking as an ex-YC partner, there are -- there's a time and a place for building a venture-backed startup. Some companies are phenomenal when they raise money and build a big team, and I tried that...I think what I'm doing now is trying an alternative path, which is start from profitability," he says. The new company is a small team of five, self-funded, and focused on sustainability. So far, Core Devices has shipped the Pebble 2 Duo smartwatch with a black-and-white display. Its first run sold out, and the company is now preparing to ship the upgraded version, the Pebble Time 2. The newer device, which has seen 25,000 pre-orders, is a stainless steel watch with a larger, color e-ink screen. As for the Index 01, the ring's pre-order offer ends in March 2026. After that, the price increases to $99. It currently comes in silver, polished gold, and matte black and works with iOS and Android devices. Customers can select from eight ring sizes and three colors.
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