SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " TEI " 1,569 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
UT Health San Antonio study links sleeping long hours with higher levels of an Alzheimer’s-related protein
Findings could signal early neurodegenerative processes at work Contact: Steven Lee, (210) 450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu SAN ANTONIO, July 16, 2026 – Regularly sleeping long hours each night is associated with higher levels of an Alzheimer’s-related protein in the blood, even accounting for other health factors, suggests a new study from UT Health San Antonio, the academic […]
Why the Mediterranean diet is so good for you, and 5 easy ways to try it
Researchers have found the diet, which is full of fiber-rich plants and lean proteins, can improve heart health and longevity.
Scientists finally solved how a common gut bacterium triggers colon cancer
Researchers solved a long-standing mystery behind how a bacterial toxin associated with colorectal cancer damages the colon. The toxin first binds to a receptor called claudin-4, giving it access to attack the cells' protective barrier. After identifying this weak point, the team designed a decoy protein that successfully blocked the toxin in mice. The discovery could pave the way for new therapies to prevent inflammation and colon tumors.
What Blanche said about Trump, Epstein files during confirmation hearing for attorney general
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche tried to assert his independence from President Donald Trump during his confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Vance says Trump administration ‘screwed up’ communications around Epstein files
Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration “absolutely screwed up the comms” around the Jeffrey Epstein files and should have released everything immediately, while insisting the administration was not trying to conceal information.
Trump administration 'screwed up' Epstein files communication, Vance says
During a lengthy podcast interview with Joe Rogan released Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance pointed largely to former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who infamously stated that an alleged “client list” of Epstein’s was “sitting on my desk right now.”
Iran, Epstein, Space Travel: 5 Takeaways From JD Vance’s Interview With Joe Rogan
In his first on-air conversation with the popular podcaster since 2024, the vice president cautiously defended the Iran war while also hinting at skepticism about it.
WATCH: House lawmakers speak ahead of Kathy Ruemmler interview in Epstein probe
Kathryn Ruemmler, the former top lawyer at Goldman Sachs who was White House counsel to President Barack Obama, said Wednesday in testimony to Congress that it “was a mistake to deal with” Jeffrey Epstein but insisted she never witnessed criminal activities.
Former Obama White House attorney says ‘it was a mistake’ to deal with Epstein and she regrets it
Former Obama White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler said she regrets interacting with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and believes now it was a mistake, according to opening remarks she delivered to House committee investigators as part of a closed-door interview.
August's solar eclipse inspires science involving jets, balloons and Einstein’s general theory of relativity
Solar eclipses are a rare and brief opportunity for scientists to gather data on everything from the physics of the sun to air pressure in the upper atmosphere
Silverstein brings emo favorites to Capitol Theatre
Emo band Silverstein will bring familiar favorites and new songs to Capitol Theatre on Saturday, July 18.
Prosecutions, Epstein and the $1.8B fund: What to watch at Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing
Todd Blanche is heading into a high-stakes test this week in his bid to become attorney general.
Mace says split with Trump ‘may have ended my political career’
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) said Monday that her split with President Trump over her push for the Epstein Files Transparency Act could have been the tipping point in her failed gubernatorial bid. “It…
Beauty Meets Entertainment: The Modern Marketing Play
Executives at E.l.f. Beauty, MAC Cosmetics, Liquid I.V., David Protein and Maybelline talk marketing integrations that work.
New SCCT president, a veteran cardiologist, highlights importance of listening and teamwork
New SCCT president Ronen Rubinshtein, MD, says the fields of interventional cardiology and cardiac imaging are two of his greatest interests.
Dietitian Reveals No. 1 Plant-Based Protein to Boost Heart Health
Plant proteins also come with other healthy nutrients to support heart health.
🚨 Manchester United 'in advanced talks' to sign Youri Tielemans
Manchester United are in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, according to reports.David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that all parties are in contact as United attempt t...
"God, the Science, the Evidence" for believers and atheists
Arguments for the existence of God come from science, philosophy, history and more. The book has been a surprising success and is now updated in English.
Alzheimer's tau protein has a surprising secret role in memory
Researchers found that tau is essential for turning new experiences into lasting memories by helping organize the brain's memory-storing cells. The mouse study also revealed how abnormal tau may contribute to Alzheimer's by disrupting both the formation of new memories and the recall of existing ones.
Was Einstein wrong about anything?
Albert Einstein is regarded as a genius, but even he admitted that his work wasn't perfect. So what did he get wrong?
New viral library helps scientists study thousands of proteins
To prevent viruses from sickening or killing us - whether it's an individual case of hepatitis B or a COVID pandemic - it's crucial to understand how the proteins they make initiate changes in our bodies that allow them to flourish.
From booksmaxxing to looksmaxxing: Why the viral trends concern some mental health experts
People are self-optimizing everything — protein, skincare, fitness — to such a degree that "maxxing" is one of social media's most popular suffixes.
Yale scientists may have found how Parkinson's disease spreads through the brain
Yale scientists discovered two neuron surface proteins that appear to help spread the toxic protein linked to Parkinson’s disease. Blocking these proteins in mice dramatically reduced disease progression, offering a potential new target for future therapies.
Want to Boost Your Brain Health? A Neurologist Says to Change This 1 Thing About Your Daily Walk
A long-term study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine revealed a powerful link between walking and cognitive resilience.
Breakthroughs in RNA science
Most people first heard about mRNA during the 2020 pandemic, but this molecule that carries instructions from DNA to make proteins has been studied since the 1960s. Decades of basic
Guest Post: The Cognitive Center of Gravity: Why the AI Entertainment Debate is a National Security Imperative
Success in modern conflicts does not necessarily go to the side with the better warfighting, per se, but may go to the one that most quickly produces and proliferates a convincing narrative support…
Tofu vendor delivers much more than healthy food to an east Tokyo neighborhood
Akiko Sugaya wheels a cart through the alley-like streets of eastern Tokyo selling tofu, the protein-rich staple favored in much of Asia.
Tofu vendor delivers much more than healthy food to an east Tokyo neighborhood
Akiko Sugaya wheels a cart through the alley-like streets of eastern Tokyo selling tofu, the protein-rich staple favored in much of Asia.
Costco hit with lawsuit alleging protein powder sold in stores contains 'dangerous' levels of lead, arsenic
Costco is facing a class action lawsuit alleging Orgain protein powders sold by the retailer contain elevated levels of lead, arsenic and cadmium.
CMS Approach to Work Reporting Requirement Won’t Work for People with Substance Use Disorders or Mental Health Conditions
By Deborah Steinberg, Senior Health Policy Attorney, Legal Action Center A few weeks ago, CCF explained how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new interim final rule with comment period (IFR) that went far beyond its authority to implement the new work reporting requirements. H.R. 1 – the budget reconciliation law […]
I achieved the American dream, then it unraveled; psychedelics helped
Howard Steinberg was a successful, married businessman until it all fell apart. Experimenting with magic mushrooms helped him reconnect with himself.
Exclusive: Epstein survivors say his former assistant Lesley Groff lied to Congress about key details
Multiple Epstein victims told CNN they took issue with multiple aspects of Groff’s recent testimony to lawmakers.
From the legislature to sports arenas to websites, NC weighs accessibility upgrades
Gov. Josh Stein created a 32-member commission to make it easier for people to access government in buildings, old and new, and online.
Wilmington business owner feels impact as NC governor vetoes homeless encampment bill
For business owners along Market Street, like Mark Hicks, keeping up with homeless encampments near their business has become a part of his daily routine. House Bill 437 would have added further restrictions for homelessness statewide, but Gov. Josh Stein said Wednesday the bill creates more problems for people instead of solutions to homelessness.
Science and religion don’t mix? Let’s test the evidence
I suggest a simple use of the “scientific method” to support the historical and current cooperation of science and religion.
Minority business office & health equity office are abolished in NC’s new budget
Gov. Josh Stein says NC shouldn’t be “blind to the fact that different health concerns impact different populations differently.”
Science on Target: Q2 2026 Research Spotlight
Basic Biology Consortium breaks new ground in ALS In 2022, Target ALS awarded funding to Drs. Jonathan Cooper-Knock (University of Sheffield, project lead) and Michael Snyder (Stanford University), along with fellow consortium members Drs. Ophir Shalem (University of Pennsylvania) and Eran Hornstein (Weizmann Institute), for their project “Exploring the landscape of ALS genetics with machine […]
Ask the Intern: Silviana Abreu at ATG Entertainment
A Steinhardt student studying Media, Culture and Communication ended up working front-of-house in NYC’s Broadway theatres this summer
How some Hill Country businesses affected by July 4 flooding are pushing forward
Steve Edelstein is the owner of the Ingram Dam Shopping Center. All of the businesses there were washed away by last July's flooding. Now, he's nearing a return to business normalcy.
Is Israel Losing America?
Join Aaron David Miller as he engages S.E. Cupp and Ron Brownstein in conversation on Israel and domestic U.S. politics, on the next Carnegie Connects.
Accel Entertainment schedules Aug. 4 results call after market close
CEO Andrew Rubenstein and senior management will review Q2 2026 results at 4:30 PM ET, with a webcast replay posted on the investor site.
New criminal justice laws crack down on gangs and where mental health evaluations are conducted
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed four Republican-led bills Monday updating mental health laws, increasing penalties for gang-related crime, amending local parking requirements and making technical changes to state agency operations.
4 Health Benefits of Sardines
Sardines are great sources of nutrients like protein and omega-3s. But before you toss a few down, learn about their potential downsides, too.
Protein lactylation in health and diseases: molecular mechanisms, biological significance, and clinical implications
Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy - Protein lactylation in health and diseases: molecular mechanisms, biological significance, and clinical implications
Retiree in Newark spends $150 a week on groceries: food budget
John Goldstein, a 75-year-old retiree in New Jersey, says he still eats well even as he budgets to manage rising health costs.
Political rivals, Lapid, Edelstein, surprisngly align on national priorities
Both men are defining Israeli politics not through the traditional categories of Left and Right, but through questions of national responsibility, military service, and national consensus.
Scientists find the “Achilles’ heel” of deadly gut bacteria
Researchers discovered an “Achilles’ heel” shared by E. coli, Shigella, and other diarrhea-causing bacteria: enzymes they use to breach the gut’s protective mucus layer. By targeting this common vulnerability, scientists may be able to develop a single vaccine that prevents several major diarrheal infections before they even begin.
Scientists may have finally found how Alzheimer's kills brain cells
Researchers have identified a previously overlooked mechanism of brain cell death that appears to play a major role in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. The finding could lead to new treatments aimed at slowing neuron loss by interrupting the process before cells are destroyed.
Tri-state people in business: New hires, promotions, recognitions
Rachel Steil joined TH Media of Dubuque as a features reporter and news clerk.
A hidden weakness in deadly cancers could lead to powerful new treatments
A UCLA study has identified a hidden Achilles' heel in aggressive small cell cancers that have resisted new treatments for decades. Scientists found that tumors lacking the RB gene become critically dependent on the protein E2F3 for survival. Blocking E2F3 shut down tumor growth in laboratory models, and existing FDA-approved drugs may be able to exploit this vulnerability. The discovery could pave the way for faster development of more effective therapies.
Ro Khanna, the Democrat Musk wants behind bars: ‘Money has hijacked politics in the US’
The Silicon Valley congressman is leading the push to release the Epstein files and does not rule out a 2028 presidential bid. ‘They are not going to silence me,’ he warns
Game 89: Twins at Yankees
Abandon all hope, ye Twins who enter Yankee Stadium. Also, St. Paul honors Dave Winfield, and Steinbrenner did not.
12 Healthy, No-Cook Proteins that Dietitians Love for Hot Days
Dietitians share their favorite nutritious protein options that you can use without cooking.
Old muscle stem cells can act young again but there’s a catch
Scientists at UCLA discovered a surprising reason aging muscles heal more slowly. In older muscle stem cells, a protein called NDRG1 builds up and acts like a brake, slowing the cells’ ability to jump into repair mode after injury. But there’s a twist: that same protein helps the cells survive the stresses of aging, allowing them to stick around longer.
Could your gut bacteria really slow Alzheimer’s? Scientists reveal a surprising link - Futura-Sciences
European researchers previously demonstrated that transferring stool samples from human Alzheimer’s patients into healthy rats triggered symptoms like spatial memory issues. Other models show that altering gut microbes changes the buildup of amyloid plaques and tau proteins, the two main hallmarks of the disease. Scientists have even found that certain...
Gov. Stein names Rep. Tim Reeder to NC Health Care Affordability Commission
Rep. Tim Reeder, R-Pitt, has been appointed by Gov. Josh Stein to serve as a voting member of the newly established North Carolina Health Care Affordability Com
Scientists discover a protein switch that burns fat and blocks new fat cells
A protein called “Mitch” may hold the key to a new generation of obesity treatments. Researchers found that disabling it in human cells boosts fat burning, increases energy use, and makes it harder for new fat cells to develop. The findings help explain why mice lacking Mitch were leaner, more athletic, and resistant to obesity.
Building connections across molecular life science
ASBMB President Ed Eisenstein reflects on how the society shaped his scientific career and outlines his vision for expanding connections across academia, industry and government to accelerate discovery, translation and community-building.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized for 'heart and breathing issues'
Harvey Weinstein is facing another setback in his ongoing health battle.
NC lawmakers send bills targeting gangs, mental health evaluations to Stein
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed two bills targeting criminal suspects: one would change where they are evaluated for mental illness while the other would give prosecutors stronger tools to crack down on gang activity.
Both chambers of General Assembly pass budget, another vote Thursday
Both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly passed a state budget Wednesday and are a second vote away from sending it to Gov. Josh Stein's desk.
Gov. Stein wants a study conducted on rising health care costs in NC, ways to make it affordable
The new commission will study rising health care costs in NC and recommend ways to make care more affordable.
NC Gov. Stein tabs Treasurer Briner, Health Secretary Sangvai to lead probe of rising health costs
North Carolina has some of the fastest-rising healthcare costs in the country. Now, Treasurer Brad Briner, who oversees the State Health Plan, and DHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai will try to fix them.
Longtime Clinton aide walks back claim former president visited Epstein island, sources say
A longtime aide to Bill Clinton walked back a prior claim that the former president visited Jeffrey Epstein’s island, according to two sources familiar with closed-door testimony on Capitol Hill.
Stein creates bipartisan commission to address rising North Carolina health care costs
Gov. Josh Stein signed an executive order Tuesday creating a bipartisan commission to recommend ways to lower health care costs, improve transparency and expand access to care across North Carolina.
Exclusive | Warren Buffett Skips Midyear Donation to Gates Foundation Amid Epstein Review
The billionaire is expected to delay a decision on his “lifetime” pledge until he see the results of the Gates Foundation’s review.
Scientists may have finally found how Alzheimer's spreads through the brain
A common brain protein may be giving Alzheimer’s disease an unexpected way to spread, carrying toxic Tau proteins from damaged neurons into healthy ones. By blocking these harmful protein packages before they reach new cells, researchers believe it may one day be possible to slow the disease's relentless progression.
How a Brain Messenger Protein Drives Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease
In mice, a brain protein called Arc helps spread toxic molecules from sick brain cells to healthy ones. If therapies could be designed to target the spread, they could be a powerful tool to stop disease progression.
EXCLUSIVE: Three Candidates Vying For Global Fund Leadership In Contentious Race
As the Global Fund heads into a secretive but highly contentious election of its new Executive Director, the names of three likely US candidates have surfaced - former Global Fund Executive Director Mark Dybul, former Trump appointee William Steiger and a former NYC public health official, Ashwin Vasan.
6 Ways Your Body Can Change After Starting a High-Protein Diet
Adding more protein to your diet can cause several changes in your body, such as better muscle repair and potential digestive issues.
Common pesticide linked to more than double the risk of Parkinson’s disease
Scientists at UCLA have linked long-term exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos with a sharply increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. People exposed to the chemical near their homes were more than twice as likely to develop the condition. Laboratory studies showed that chlorpyrifos damages dopamine neurons and interferes with the brain’s ability to remove toxic protein buildup.
Spotlight falls on Ocado boss Tim Steiner’s £100m in payouts
Reports claim replacement being lined up for co-founder amid concern over high pay and company’s struggling share price
Bernstein Says Life Science Sector is Improving, Resumes Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) Coverage
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) is included among Billionaire Steven Cohen’s Top 11 Dividend Stock Picks. On June 26, Bernstein resumed coverage of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) with a Market Perform rating. It also set a $520 price target after the analyst returned from maternity leave. In a research note, the firm said “Many […]
Comer rejects calls for White House officials' Epstein testimony
Comer chairs the committee, which has been reviewing the federal government’s Epstein investigation.
Comer rejects calls for White House officials' Epstein testimony
Comer chairs the committee, which has been reviewing the federal government’s Epstein investigation.
"Playhouse For Predator": Epstein Used 'Fake' Science Office As Prison Escape
The Florida Science Foundation was presented as a legitimate organisation focused on supporting research. But a review by The Telegraph of more than 1,000 documents connected to the company painted a different picture.
Why the CEO of AllianceBernstein says you should worry about an AI bubble
"Is it likely we have a meaningful correction? I think it is," AllianceBernstein's CEO told Business Insider in an interview.
Sarah Ferguson visited Epstein in jail twice amid email exchanges: Report
A new report suggests that Sarah Ferguson visited Jeffrey Epstein twice in 2009 during his first prison sentence in Florida.
Rep. Stansbury: Billionaire Leon Black walked out in the middle of Epstein interview
Congress subpoenas Leon Black during interview about Jeffrey Epstein
The House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas to billionaire Leon Black after he declined to answer questions about non-disclosure agreements.
Making Our Own Luck
We are cross-posting a piece that former NIH official Kris Willis wrote for Macroscience. Kris is now the President and Founder of the Woodley Park Institute, for which I’m a board member. Picking winners or hedging bets? Federal science agencies have long wrestled with the question of how to ensure their billions of dollars of grants and contracts result in maximum benefits for Americans. On the surface, it might seem that a goal-oriented, interventionist style of management would be the best policy: prioritize our most pressing problems and distribute funding accordingly.This top-down strategy creates a unique hazard, though: bad choices can send resources in the wrong direction, resulting in slow progress that impedes the delivery of tangible benefits to citizens. Moreover, if decision makers pursue an applied advance when the underlying scientific principles remain poorly understood, they risk costly failures and a loss of support for the research enterprise at large. Examples include Nixon’s 1971 War on Cancer, undertaken on the premise that a cure could be achieved in less than a decade, the drive to build an operational commercial fusion plant by the mid-1990s, and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which failed to produce the effective treatments and prevention strategies promised by 2025. The contrasting laissez-faire approach is to hedge your bets. If the path to an advance is impossible to predict, then the wisest choice might be to distribute funding to as widely as possible. The main risk of this strategy is that spreading funding thinly may limit the resources available to the most promising research, resulting in the same negative outcomes as the interventionist approach: limited support for the most promising topics, slow progress, and delayed returns. In reality, at science agencies like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, program managers navigate between these two extremes, setting some funds aside to target high-priority areas and using the rest to cover the widest possible range of meritorious proposals. This middle path seems like the most rational way to proceed, but it still requires making choices. How much should be set aside for high priority topics? What should those topics be? How should we define merit? Expert opinion can provide a helpful guide, but leading experts can have remarkably different opinions about what matters and what should be prioritized. Moreover, experts and administrators alike can be risk averse, giving an edge to high-profile, well-established concepts. What’s really needed is a data-driven framework to help guide decision-making, one that doesn’t simply repackage prestige or incumbency. Recognizing breakthroughs years in advance Many breakthroughs fail to attract funding or recognition at the earliest stages of development. Katalin Karikó, for example, spent years struggling to win grants for work on mRNA that would eventually win her and Drew Weissman a Nobel Prize. Similar stories can be told about Jim Allison’s groundbreaking studies leading to the development of cancer immunotherapy, Stan Pruisner’s demonstration that prions can self-replicate without DNA, or Robin Warren and Barry Marshall’s proof that Helicobacter pylori, not stress, causes ulcers. Yet at some point, the scientific community recognizes and responds to transformative breakthroughs like these. How does that change happen? And what if science funders could identify the areas that are on the cusp of a breakthrough? Those questions led my collaborators and me to study how scientists responded to past breakthroughs. Based on patterns in that data, we developed a means of predicting future breakthroughs, using biomedicine as a proof of concept. It’s worth taking a moment to describe how our approach works. Briefly, our prediction process begins by grouping the 18 million or so peer-reviewed papers in PubMed, the authoritative database of biomedical research, into roughly 50,000 unique topics. A small subset of these topics are so widely acclaimed as breakthroughs that they have been recognized with a major prize like a Nobel or a Lasker Award. We theorized that studying the development of these outliers over time, especially before they gained acclaim, was the key to identifying future instances of them. After defining topics, we chose 21 representative breakthroughs and asked what they looked like before they won prestigious prizes. To answer that question, we re-ran our topic-mapping algorithm repeatedly, winding back the clock one year each time, stringing together the years to follow the progress of each field as it grew and advanced. We found that in each case, the years leading up to a discovery followed a pattern: a burst of papers on a new, rapidly evolving topic, many of which quickly became influential. These characteristics—the percent of papers that are new, the percentage of papers that are brought in from other topics, and the influence of each individual paper—can all be measured separately for any given topic. Together, they act as a predictive signal that is detectable an average of five years before a transformative discovery is made, and up to thirty years before the discovery receives a major prize. Scanning the current research landscape for topics that display this signal allows us to predict what work will likely produce a future breakthrough. Each year we analyzed includes four or five signals, a number that appears to have remained constant across a twenty year time frame. In their classic work on the sociology of science, Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar established that the desire to participate in a major discovery is an important motivator for scientists as they consider whether they should take up (or abandon) a research problem. Although further work is needed, the simplest explanation for our results is that this behavior is widespread enough to detect at scale. A foundational advance, or something like it, draws the attention of scientists and causes them to change the direction of their research. They vote with their feet, staking their own reputation and careers by publishing on and citing the new idea. That upswell of interest is the foundation of our breakthrough signal. What kind of research does our model identify as a breakthrough? After building a model based on the patterns in our 21 preselected breakthroughs, we tested it by identifying all early signals of discovery from 1994 through 1997. Of the 18 signals we found in that time period, 17 can be traced forward in time to a breakthrough. Examples include super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (see the image above), the directed evolution of proteins and enzymes (Chemistry Nobel, 2018), and sequencing the human genome (National Medal of Science, 2008). The discovery of the role of leptin signaling in obesity is a particularly interesting case study. Around 1950, scientists noticed the existence of a type of lab mouse that suffered from a unique inherited form of obesity. When given the freedom to choose their own diet, these mice ate more than normal and preferred food that was high in fat. Researchers had few clues as to why the animals overate; early experiments pointed to the existence of a soluble ob factor found circulating in the bloodstream that regulated appetite, but its identity was unknown. In 1994, Jeffrey Friedman and colleagues identified and sequenced the ob gene, noting that the protein it encoded appeared to fit the profile of a circulating factor. A year later, a trio of high-profile publications demonstrated that ob was a hormone that regulated body weight and fat deposition by regulating appetite. One of these was co-authored by Friedman, who christened it leptin from the ancient Greek word for thin. Using our model, the data from 1996 make it clear this advance would become a breakthrough. Scientists had flocked to study the biology of the new hormone, generating the flurry of new papers and citations required to produce a signal. One of these demonstrated that serum leptin concentrations reflected the amount of adipose tissue in the human body, providing clinical validation of the earlier mouse studies. Before the identification of leptin, scientists were unable to point to a specific molecule that controlled appetite and adiposity, so that it was impossible to rule out non-physiological causes of obesity; its characterization fundamentally changed our concept of weight gain. In 2010, Friedman and fellow pioneer Douglas Coleman were awarded a Lasker for the discovery. Our work also identifies breakthroughs in clinical practice and behavioral and social sciences, even though these areas are less likely to draw the attention of major prize committees. One example that falls into this category is the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, a leading cause of death among Americans over the age of 65. Relative to the previous standard of care, it reduces in-hospital mortality by almost four-fold. In 2017, Timothy Chuter received the American College of Surgeons’ prestigious Jacobsen Innovation award for his multiple refinements to the technique. Another under-recognized breakthrough identified by our model is the development of standardized survey instruments to assess the quality of life for HIV+ patients. The antiretroviral cocktails introduced in the mid-1990s reduced AIDS mortality, but treatment came with serious side effects. The new evaluations showed that patients whose disease progressed had worse physical functioning than Americans with other chronic diseases, while those who were asymptomatic maintained a health-related quality of life on par with the overall US population. This evidence made it possible for patients and activists to argue that even in the absence of a total cure, and in spite of the side effects, alleviation of symptoms was a worthwhile priority for clinicians. My colleagues and I have failed to identify any significant recognition for the physicians and health policy experts who pioneered this advance, although in 2016, researchers called for the World Health Organization to set targets for good health-related quality of life as part of its framework to end the AIDS pandemic. From forecasting to funding How should science funders use our predictions? Any serious discussion of what we should do with this new capability needs to begin with an understanding of its limitations. We can’t (and shouldn’t) invest all of our resources in the small number of topics predicted to produce breakthroughs. Innovative new fields are born from existing ones; they rarely arise de novo. If funders don’t maintain a diverse portfolio, the breakthroughs of tomorrow will have no antecedents. Think of this as eating the seed corn, or killing the goose that lays the golden egg. There are also multiple goals of funding beyond basic scientific discovery, including translating discoveries into clinical practice, developing new technologies, supporting economic development, and training new scientists. The investments needed to accomplish these goals are likely different from those required to support emerging breakthroughs. Finally, we must be aware that we may not capture every instance of a breakthrough. The concept is fuzzy, and not every significant discovery is recognized with a major award. Further, breakthroughs are rare, meaning that our dataset is, by necessity, small. This makes formal estimates of accuracy challenging. Although our overall success rate appears to be high, any one signal may turn out to be a false positive. We found one apparent example: the development of the third generation COX-2 inhibitors, Vioxx and Celebrex, which were much celebrated in the early 2000s as effective but non-addictive pain relievers, meets all the algorithmic criteria of a breakthrough. Five years after it received FDA approval, researchers demonstrated that Vioxx was associated with serious cardiovascular complications, and the manufacturer voluntarily pulled the drug from the market. Celebrex remains available, although like other NSAIDs, it carries an FDA warning for increased cardiovascular risk. Decision makers who were overly focused on the breakthrough potential of this research might have wasted substantial resources nurturing an area that ultimately proved to be a failure—but so would those who relied on expert opinion at the time. That said, the potential benefits of funding the next mRNA vaccine or cancer immunotherapy years earlier than we might have are large. When we can’t assume the outcome of an action, it’s worth conducting an experiment. Can targeted support for areas that are poised to produce a breakthrough increase the return on scientific investment without cannibalizing future advances? With the necessary administrative infrastructure in place, conducting this experiment would be straightforward. First, identify all the breakthrough signals between 2018 and 2023, select half at random, and commit to a decade of investment. For biomedicine, a six year window should yield about 30 topics with the potential to produce a breakthrough. Providing strong support to half of these might be accomplished for $300 million a year. That’s roughly half of the recent annual budget of the NIH Common Fund or around 20% of the fiscal year 2025 budget for ARPA-H. After five years, then again at ten, compare to see which group — the one that was actively managed, or the control — produced more breakthroughs, and on what timescale. Although we used biomedicine as an example, the same experiment could just as well be run for physics, materials science, or any other discipline. Any attempt to undertake such an experiment should keep three points top of mind. First, we can predict the topic of future breakthroughs, but the people and vision for how to move the work forward are still important. In practice, this means success requires active program managers with the expertise to develop the science and the authority to do so, including by recruiting investigators. Second, we would be wise to learn from the failures of past attempts to fund transformative research. High among these are funding modestly repackaged work, confusing the genuinely novel with the merely unfamiliar, and relying too much on incumbent investigators. All of these risks can be mitigated by thoroughly and intelligently integrating high quality data into portfolio management. Finally, we need to have patience. Even with strong funding support, producing a breakthrough takes time. If supporting breakthroughs is the best way to nurture the birth of new fields, we also need to accurately describe and properly manage the other two stages, so that we invest wisely throughout the productive lifetime of ideas and divest once they reach the point of diminishing returns. We would benefit from more study of all of these phases, especially the transition from one to another. More research could answer questions like: When does a breakthrough become an established field? How do the availability of funding, the size and characteristics of the available workforce, and the accumulation of evidence that disagrees with prevailing models affect a field’s decline? Exactly how do old ideas give birth to new ones, and can we speed up the process? The more we understand about the dynamics of scientific progress, the better we can maximize the odds that our curiosity leads to results. I’d call that finding a way to make our own luck.
Scientists measure hidden quantum forces that could power a new generation of pharmaceutical drugs
It's one thing to design a pharmaceutical drug. It's another to know if and why it actually works; not on paper or in a computer model, but inside the chaotic world of living systems, where proteins twist ...
Harvey Weinstein rape charge dismissed after mistrial
Prosecutors are dismissing Harvey Weinstein's rape charge involving Jessica Mann.
Is it Healthy to Eat Eggs Every Day? Dietitians Weigh In
Eggs are packed with protein, vitamins and omega-3s. But can you eat them every day?
Scientists measure hidden quantum forces that could power a new generation of pharmaceutical drugs
Researchers invent a laser technique that reveals the hidden forces shaping proteins, advancing a future of precision medicine engineered with quantum precision.
How should European scientists respond to the US AI kill switch?
Earlier in June, Europe’s worst fears of technological dependence were confirmed when the White House ordered the AI firm Anthropic to stop non-US citizens using its leading models. This kill-switch moment crystalised anxieties in Brussels that the continent, lagging the US on the creation of leading-edge AI models, is now a technological of vassal of Washington. The shock has specific implications for European scientists and universities. Some governments are now worried that with AI being integrated into labs, Donald Trump now has his finger hovering over an off switch for European science. “Having restrictions on this tool, it can have an impact on our own research,” said France’s research minister, Philippe Baptiste, at the VivaTech conference in Paris on June 18.Baptiste, himself a former academic, said that colleagues in mathematics had recently warned him they were now cut off from leading-edge US models, risking their work. “This model is not available anymore now because of the US restriction, and for the first time this had an impact on mathematics,” a field where large language models (LLMs) are making a significant contribution, said Baptiste. So, should European scientists avoid relying on US models in the future? Or would this be a self-harming overreaction? And how is AI being used in science, anyway? What happened?On June 12, it emerged that Washington, citing cybersecurity concerns, had ordered Anthropic to stop non-US citizens using two models: Claude Mythos 5, and Claude Fable 5, a version of Mythos but with guardrails to prevent abuse. Anthropic said Washington’s concerns were overblown. But forced to follow the order, yet with no way to check who was using the models, the company suddenly shut down access for everyone, US citizens included. There’s still no agreement on how to restore broad access. But last week, Bloomberg reported that select US companies, and the US government, still had access to Mythos despite the ban, but the EU’s cybersecurity agency Enisa had been shut out. Class division of researchersIn the longer term, access outside the US should be restored, said Marcel Salathé, co-director of the AI centre at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), because a permanent restriction would be financially ruinous to US AI firms. “Even Trump will eventually budge to economic pressure,” he said.However, US AI firms might end up operating rather like banks, doing due diligence on users of their leading-edge AI models, he went on.European scientists are unlikely to fall foul of such checks, he said. But having a Chinese postgraduate in their lab, or doing a type of research the US disapproved of, could potentially result in access being denied. “It will create a sort of class division of researchers,” he said. More than frontier modelsHowever, successfully deploying AI in science is about far more than just having access to leading LLMs such as Mythos.Instead, many science-specific tools, most famously Alphafold, which predicts protein folding structures, require “far less” computing power to train than frontier models, well within the capabilities of European supercomputers, according to a recent analysis by the Arq Foundation, a Brussel-based AI think tank. Instead, tools such as Alphafold are possible because certain fields, like protein folding, weather prediction or astronomy, have large, clean, standardised datasets that can be used to train predictive models. Rather than compute, “data is the central constraint for AI for science,” the report says. For example, a less powerful physics model trained on CERN’s data “will be more valuable than the best model without certain data,” said Bengüsu Özcan, author of the report. European advantage?Europe could therefore steal a march by using its scientific data and infrastructure to create models US digital giants cannot. “They might actually match or go even beyond what these big [US] companies are doing,” said Özcan.Indeed, some European start-ups hope to create automated testing labs to create the kind of standardised data that could speed up the discovery of new materials. Materials scientists say there’s currently too little data to train models. AI scientistsHowever, even if the bottleneck for AI in science is often data, rather than compute, being at the mercy of the US for LLM access could still become a problem for European scientists. A new class of “AI scientists” based on leading LLMs is also emerging, Özcan’s report says.Unlike domain-specific tools like Alphafold, these try to automate day-to-day scientific work, by providing an overarching tool that coordinates specific models to synthesise existing literature, generate hypotheses or run analysis of data. The problem for Europe, however, is that these tools are sometimes based on US leading models. Google Deepmind’s AI Co-Scientist, for example, is built on Google’s Gemini LLM. Systematic failureThese scientific automation tools are still in their early stages, and still exhibit “systematic failures on scientific tasks,” Özcan’s report says. One of the problems is that the messy, day-to-day process of scientific discovery is largely not documented, meaning LLMs don’t have a good source of data to learn how scientists actually work. Meanwhile, some tasks, such as literature synthesis, don’t typically require access to leading edge models.However, the performance of AI scientific assistants could improve as companies such as Google pour resources into developing them. Rely on US“Unfortunately, for scientific assistants, there is not much we can do right now except rely on US frontier AI,” said Antoine Bosselut, a natural language processing expert based at EPFL. Chinese-built open models, which can run on local computers, lessening the risk of a shutdown, are touted as one alternative to US dependence. There’s also Mistral, once seen as Europe’s main AI hope, but the Paris-based company has seen its recent models fall behind in performance. But the Chinese alternatives are generally not as capable as US frontier AI models, said Bosselut, unless paired with fiddly, custom tools that allows them to act as independent agents. “Most scientists do not have the time,” he said. Don’t jump ship yetAlthough the kill switch moment is seen a warning shot for European scientists, it doesn’t mean labs should abandon US AI tools immediately. “I do not think the right response is simply to abandon US-based models and systems under the banner of sovereignty or independence,” said Mattias Björnmalm, secretary general of the Cesaer university association. “That would be an overreaction.”Related articlesEuropean sovereignty in AI requires ‘ugly trade-offs,’ say experts Robotic lab start-up makes case for €500M EU-funded materials testing facilityAI in science: is it useful? Instead, European researchers need to ask themselves whether they’re becoming dependent on technology that could be turned off in Washington, said Özcan. “They might not see this today, but they should really start asking this question,” she said. European researchers need a plan B, said Salathé. “I would recommend to every researcher, very proactively explore alternatives.”Own toolsIn addition, Björnmalm and others want European research institutions to develop their own scientific AI tools.Instead of signing AI deals with US digital giants, European universities should be using this money to create their own models, which may end up being superior for research, said Sabine Leonelli, an expert on the use of AI in science at the Technical University of Munich. “Universities in Europe seem to be happy to sign commercial contracts with US companies on the assumption [their AI tools] are better,” she said. But US frontier LLMs are typically opaque, and have been developed without independent scientific input, she said. “This is not good enough for science.”Last year, Swiss researchers released Apertus, an LLM designed to be completely transparent, from its development methods to its training data. The idea is that this makes scientific tools built on top of the model far more reproducible than with closed, commercial alternatives.“Europe needs more of this: serious capacity-building that gives researchers, universities and companies credible options,” said Björnmalm.
Folarin Balogun and USMNT Transfer Updates
Hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas break down a massive six-match World Cup slate as group stages reach their climax. Soccer insider David Ornstein joins the show to discuss the escalating transfer market buzz surrounding USMNT star Folarin Balogun and Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall. Plus, the team highlights The Athletic’s interactive World Cup Tracker with Jay Harris to map out the complicated qualification pathways for Group A, B, and C. Can the USMNT line up a favorable Round of 32 matchup? Senior Editor Hannah Vanbiber also dives into the debate surrounding Jeremy Doku’s...
Jeffrey Epstein's friends' settlements draw Congress' interest
Members of Congress have discussed issuing subpoenas to find out about the NDAs between some of Jeffrey Epstein's friends and his accusers.
Lewis Hamilton's Barcelona win draws Ferrari warning from Guenther Steiner
Guenther Steiner has urged Ferrari to stay grounded and build on Lewis Hamilton’s Barcelona victory
WATCH: Under proposed rule, USPS won't deliver mail ballots to states that don't provide voter rolls, postmaster general says
Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate committee Wednesday that, if a proposed rule is adopted, the U.S. Postal Service would withhold mail ballots from states that do not hand over to the federal government lists of people who have requested absentee or mail ballots.
2026 NBA Draft grades: Updating pick-by-pick analysis from AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer through Round 2
Adam Finkelstein has the breakdown of each pick in one of the best drafts in recent memory
Scientists design 'tunable' biomolecules to probe how sugars behave
Sugars are not just a source of energy—they also play a crucial role in how cells communicate, how proteins interact and how materials behave in medicine and industry. But studying these processes is ...
China's Einstein Probe detected a mysterious cosmic explosion — and scientists have no idea what caused it
The explosion, consisting of two mysterious double flares, matches no known space eruption.
USPS tells Congress it needs cash rescue amid broken business model
Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate committee the agency has amassed nearly $31 billion in cumulative defaults and could run out of cash by year's end
5 foods that contain both protein and fiber
With these sweet-spot foods you get both the protein perks, like muscle maintenance, and the fiber perks, like improved gut health and reduced risks of chronic conditions, all in one bite.
Hershey names Pepsico vet as president of US business
Heather Hoytink will oversee the Reese’s maker’s confection, salty and protein portfolio when she takes over July 8.
2026 NBA Draft Grades: Analysis for AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, rest of first-round picks
Adam Finkelstein has the breakdown of each pick in one of the best drafts in recent memory
Bill Gates: Jeffrey Epstein used billionaire connections to get to me
Bill Gates told Congress that Jeffrey Epstein wormed his way into his life with "veiled threats" to disclose extramarital affairs.