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5 dead from rare flesh-eating bacteria in Louisiana
Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, a flesh-eating bacteria, has hospitalized nine and killed five in Louisiana in 2026, health officials say.
Meowth, Alolan Meowth, and Their Illustration Rares from "30th...
Pokemon has officially revealed Meowth, Alolan Meowth, and their Illustration Rares from 30th Celebration. (Only Alolan Meowth's IR was revealed in
5 dead, 4 hospitalized in Louisiana from flesh-eating bacteria outbreak: health officials
A rare bacteria found in warm coastal waters has killed five people in Louisiana so far in 2026, with state health officials warning residents to take notice.
5 dead, 4 hospitalized in Louisiana from flesh-eating bacteria outbreak: health officials
A rare bacteria found in warm coastal waters has killed five people in Louisiana so far in 2026, with state health officials warning residents to take notice.
5 dead, 4 hospitalized in Louisiana from flesh-eating bacteria outbreak: health officials
A rare bacteria found in warm coastal waters has killed five people in Louisiana so far in 2026, with state health officials warning residents to take notice.
Meteorite that smashed through a New Jersey roof reveals clues to life’s origins
A rare meteorite that crashed through a New Jersey roof contains evidence of ancient salty fluids, organic compounds, and amino acids from a primitive asteroid. Its pristine chemistry could offer new clues about how space rocks helped supply early Earth with some of the ingredients needed for life.
Tesla Rolls Out Rare Software Update to Mobile Connectors
In an unexpected hardware drop, Tesla has started pushing a firmware update for its portable Mobile Connector charging units
Tennessee voters oust Trump-backed congressman, set fall matchup for redrawn Memphis-area House seat
Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher defeated U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in a Republican primary Thursday for a significantly reshaped congressional district — marking a rare rejection of a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Chinese breakthrough paves way for production of graphene-based quantum chips
Researchers overcome instability problem of a rare form of the material long prized for its remarkable properties.
TikTok star Sydney Towle, who documented her health journey online, dies at 26 after rare cancer battle
Sydney Towle’s family revealed the 26-year-old influencer has died after entering hospice care. Her death comes after a three-year-long battle with a rare bile duct cancer.View on euronews
Church protesters could face tougher penalties under rare bipartisan crackdown
A bipartisan House bill would impose civil fines up to $10,000 for protests that disrupt worship within 100 feet of a house of worship entrance.
Infrared glasses could push the boundaries of human eyesight
The prototype could help us see light that other animals can.
Bruce Willis’ wife makes rare comment on meeting actor while engaged to someone else
Bruce Willis wife Emma Heming Willis made rare comments about first meeting the actor while she was engaged to someone else: ‘Loved being around him,’ she said.
Leprosy cases climb in Florida: Here’s how to reduce your risk
Leprosy is considered rare in the U.S., and most Americans catch the disease while traveling abroad.
What is ‘rabbit fever?’ Health officials report 3 probable cases in New York
What is “rabbit fever?” Health officials report several probable causes of the rare but serious disease.
What is ‘rabbit fever?’ Health officials report 3 probable cases in New York
What is “rabbit fever?” Health officials report several probable causes of the rare but serious disease.
Rabbit fever cases detected in US. How to check for symptoms
Cases of tularemia, or rabbit fever, have been detected in the United States. Here are symptoms and where the rare disease has been reported.
Colorado’s No. 1 education ranking reflects the power of school choice
By Peter Mason Colorado is now the No. 1 state in the nation for education, according to the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best States rankings. That is a distinction worth celebrating. It is also a distinction worth understanding. Rankings like this one rarely have a single cause. Colorado’s rise to the top reflects […]
Red Sox Land Adley Rutschman in Stunning Al East Blockbuster
The Red Sox just acquired catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, per Jeff Passan. The 28-year-old switch-hitting catcher was the first overall draft pick of the 2019 draft. Multiple outlets confirmed the rare AL East Blockbuster with multiple prospects traded in return for Rutschman. The Orioles will receive C Carlos Narváez. Other names include MLB’s No. […] The post Red Sox Land Adley Rutschman in Stunning Al East Blockbuster appeared first on The Lead.
Samsung bans smart TV apps that share users' internet connections with strangers
New security research offers a rare view inside residential proxy networks, which rely on apps that share a person's internet connection with someone else.
Good Communication Is Good Business by Geoffrey Losee
The following column was contributed by J.D. Fisher. Mixed-use communities are increasingly common. Restaurants, breweries, retail stores, entertainment venues, and professional offices often operate within walking distance of established neighborhoods. That proximity creates tremendous opportunity, but it also means that a business's decisions may affect more than just its customers. Many business owners understandably focus on obtaining the permits necessary to open their doors. However, municipal approval is rarely the end of the conversation. As a business evolves, whether by adding outdoor seating, live entertainment, extended operating hours, or other new amenities, the applicable zoning ordinance may require additional approvals or impose operational standards designed to balance commercial activity with nearby residential uses. From a business perspective, the question should not simply be, "Can we do this?" It should also be, "Have we communicated with everyone who may be affected?" Recent local news coverage highlighted how differing interpretations of a municipal ordinance can quickly become the subject of public hearings, legal arguments, and significant uncertainty for a business. While every situation turns on its own facts, one common theme emerged: practical solutions are more difficult to achieve if communication breaks down. Businesses can often reduce that risk by engaging early with the relevant stakeholders. That begins with municipal staff. Planning departments are oftentimes willing to discuss how an ordinance applies before substantial investments are made. Seeking clarification in advance may identify permitting requirements or operational limitations that can be addressed proactively rather than after enforcement action. Communication should not stop with local government. Nearby property owners and neighborhood representatives frequently appreciate being informed about proposed changes before they occur. A brief meeting, an informational email, or an invitation to discuss concerns can foster goodwill and reveal potential issues while there is still flexibility to adjust operations. That’s why such meetings often required for substantial projects and may be a good idea even if not required. Perhaps most importantly, businesses should view compliance as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. Operational changes that seem minor from a business standpoint may have regulatory implications under local development ordinances. Periodically reviewing proposed changes with experienced land-use counsel or planning professionals can help identify issues before they become disputes. No ordinance can eliminate every conflict between commercial activity and residential expectations. Nor should every disagreement become a legal controversy. But businesses that invest in transparent, proactive communication place themselves in the strongest position to protect both their operations and their relationships within the community. In today's regulatory environment, good communication is more than good public relations, it is good risk management. If your business is planning to expand its operations, introduce a new use, or simply wants to better understand how local land development regulations apply, the attorneys at Rountree Losee LLP are available to help. Our land use and local government practice works with businesses throughout southeastern North Carolina to navigate municipal approval processes, identify potential issues before they become disputes, and keep projects moving forward with confidence. Read more at rountreelosee.com.
Rock crystal scraper: 45,000-year-old Neanderthal tool that shows they had an 'eye for beauty of form and color'
A chance find of rare rock crystal tools a century ago paved the way for a better understanding of Neanderthals today.
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi has rare meeting with Red Cross amid health concerns
The photos were released as international calls are growing for access to or engagement with the former leader, who has been detained since the army seized power in 2021.
Two deadly flowers could inspire powerful new medicines
Scientists have figured out how two famously poisonous plants create chemicals with surprising medical potential. After tracking thousands of genes in wolfsbane and larkspur, they identified six enzymes needed to build a complex compound called atisinium. The team recreated the process inside tobacco plants, offering a sustainable way to produce and test these rare molecules in larger amounts.
How a CT couple keeps a rare business going after 40 years. And yes, vacations are rare.
“If you don’t put everything into it, you’re not going to have people coming in,” the owner said.
No cure, no vaccine: Experts warn of rare Bourbon virus after first NY case
A Long Island patient was hospitalized after researchers confirmed the first Bourbon virus case in New York, transmitted by the common lone star tick.
How scientists finally confirmed rare pink seaweed as new species
An ancient algae first spotted four decades ago will now join the collection of the Natural History Museum.
See the heat: An infrared imaging system that outputs in color
Wavelength and intensity in the infrared are translated into colors in the visible.
Molten, Mushy Planet
35 light years away from Earth is a planet a bit bigger than ours that’s probably not hospitable to life -- because it’s molten. Scientists have known about L98-59d for years, but new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope helped reveal an atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulfide, which could only be explained if the planet was in a rare molten state. Living on Earth’s El Wilson and Bella Smith teamed up on this note on emerging science.
First death of 2026 from rare, flesh-eating bacteria reported in South Florida, state health officials say
According to data from the Florida Department of Health, a person from Palm Beach County was reported dead on July 30 after being diagnosed with Vibrio vulnificus.
A unique antibody system may help explain bats' unusual tolerance of viruses
Researchers found that vesper bats use two separate sets of genes to build antibodies — a rare evolutionary quirk that may give them different ways to fight infection.
Rare Pokémon game that deletes itself found 20 years later
PokéPark Fishing was only accessible for a while, to a select group of fans in Japan. The 2005 game has since resurfaced, but there's a catc
Jonathan Taylor Thomas reunites with 'Home Improvement' cast in rare photo
It may not be a reboot, but the cast of "Home Improvement" is getting the gang back together.
Merck, Wellcome partner with global health group to make Ebola vaccine for clinical trials
Hilleman Laboratories, a Singapore-based joint venture between Merck and the global charity Wellcome, is gearing up to manufacture doses of a promising experimental vaccine against the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for a fast-spreading outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sandra Oh Names 'Extremely Rare' Gift She Got During Her 'Grey's Anatomy' Days
“I was really very fortunate,” she said.
The Work Behind Trustworthy Science
From ethical review and mentorship to collaboration and reproducibility, strong science depends on processes the public rarely sees. When a scientific breakthrough captures national attention,...
'Demon cavefish' discovered under WWII chemical weapons facility in Alabama
Introducing demon cavefish (Demogorgonichthys arcanus); the rare eyeless predators that have been hiding in plain sight below a military base for decades.
The Science Behind the AI Panic Is Shakier Than You Think
A column by Sascha Lobo Is AI making us dumb? So asked DER SPIEGEL on its cover a while ago. After a few weeks of recovery and a therapeutic intervention with the help of my AI, I feel able to respond. That’s a bit unfair, of course; the article itself is more nuanced than the loud cover, the image of a schoolkid with dull prompt questions, or the subtitle: “AI is conquering the schools, and educators fear a disaster.” The short answer to “Is AI making us dumb?” is: no. The long answer is more interesting, and even carries a preliminary glimmer of the spectacular. Unfortunately, it requires a detour into the sphere of artificial intelligence, into the mogul-field terrain of technology assessment, the attention economy, and the destructive virus of cultural pessimism. Along with narrowing the scope to AI’s effects on education and work rather than on intelligence. Because the honest version of the question would be: Does AI help us learn and work, or not? Generative AI, which set off the still-ongoing hype with ChatGPT, has only existed in relevant distribution since late 2022, early 2023. For a technology-driven transformation of people and society, that is extremely short. For that reason alone, research is still in its infancy. And technology assessment is not a fast discipline anyway. Prominent voices from Elizabeth Eisenstein to RAND to Tom Wheeler say we still cannot conclusively judge the consequences of the printing press. Its invention is a mere 580 years back, and some scholars would rather not circulate assessments that might have to be retracted in two or three hundred years. We’re Going Through Growing Pains A phenomenon that already caused upheaval in social media research makes serious assessment of AI’s consequences even harder: the “moving target” problem of LLM-ology, as the linguist Sean Trott called it in 2025. AI develops so quickly and so unpredictably that researchers often end up studying snapshots of the past. There are concepts, from morphological analysis to anticipatory governance, for keeping research, planning, and regulation halfway meaningful anyway. But even with those, universally valid statements are rare. DER SPIEGEL - The German View is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe We should therefore treat findings about the interplay between humans and AI as far more procedural and situational. Unfortunately, this challenge comes at the worst possible time. We are going through growing pains: AI’s everyday impact has grown very large very fast, and with it the longing for guidance. Annoyingly, the body of solid knowledge has not exploded along with it. Experts cannot be moved to broad consensus on even banal statements about AI. Sascha Lobo, born in 1975, is an author and strategy consultant focusing on the internet and digital technologies. Together with Jule Lobo, he explores the debates of the day in the podcast “Feel the News – Was Deutschland bewegt” (”What Moves Germany”). Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says software developers are dying out. Bill Gates considers coders one of only three professions that will survive the AI tsunami. Top tech economists find virtually irrefutable arguments both for and against an AI bubble. The same naturally applies to the structurally youth-hostile debate over whether AI is good or bad for young people. The gap between the demand for insight and the supply of solid knowledge creates an orientation vacuum. This vacuum of AI cluelessness is filled, as the attention economy described by Georg Franck in 1998 would have it, with half-knowledge (funnily enough, often AI-generated), marketing, and self-marketing. After all, infinite money is at stake, along with academia’s best current shot at global fame. But this iridescent froth of interpretation operates more by the algorithmic principles of the digital public sphere than by seriously earned insight. That is why dramatized, fear-feeding claims about AI are so promising. It tempts parts of academia into distorted drivel, and parts of the media then sensationalize the published drivel once more. Was the Research Aimed at a Desired Result? How badly this can influence academia and public perception is demonstrated by one of the most-discussed studies on AI’s effects: “Your Brain on ChatGPT.” The MIT study by Nataliya Kosmyna also gets plenty of space in the SPIEGEL cover story. What was measured and interpreted: lower brain activity in people who write with AI assistance, compared to people who only google or write without any tools. As is common with preprints, the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, and it contains substantial weaknesses that experts have sharply criticized. The first round had 54 participants in three groups, the second only 18, who reportedly also came from MIT’s own orbit. There was no preregistration (committing in advance to what you want to find out with which data). In their analysis, Stanković et al. even discovered an opposite effect that the study does not further explain. Some measurement data has not (yet) been published. And the EEG analysis method used is considered too imprecise to support such far-reaching conclusions. The biggest criticism, though, is the suspicion of an activism-driven study. In an interview with Time, lead author Kosmyna said she published the study immediately, rather than after full peer review, because she feared politicians might otherwise decide to put ChatGPT in kindergartens. She considers that absolutely harmful. It is legitimate to hold such a view. It just seems unscientific to approach a study with it, and then to design the setup so that the chance of a fitting desired result remains as high as possible. Ideologies Collide It is not easy to separate genuine AI insights from studies that trivialize and weaken well-founded AI criticism. The same goes for the opposing, AI-enthusiastic narratives, because the pro-AI side works against it with billions in resources. Ideologies collide, fed by egos, PR strategies, moral posturing, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Doomsday marketing makes the search even harder: AI companies can profit from warnings about the dangers of AI, whether through the notoriety of apocalypse narratives or because, in some target groups, danger translates into power. Some seemingly negative findings are therefore quite welcome in the AI industry. If you try to get at the findings presumably less influenced by interest groups, the picture in education seems relatively clear: AI can improve educational outcomes when the right AI is used the right way, namely pedagogically. Simply dumping an AI chatbot into a classroom, by contrast, accomplishes little. Huge surprise. But something else is also obvious: whether they are allowed to or not, kids use AI for school, which is why the controlled integration of AI tools into education is, in the medium term, entirely without alternative. In the world of work, the landscape of findings is more complex and requires more differentiation. A series of serious studies points to an AI effect that suits neither the alarmists, regulation fetishists, and AI opponents, nor the trillion-dollar corporations with their armada of paid scientists, PR professionals, and ecosystems: working with AI helps the inexperienced (at least for now) considerably more than it helps the pros, in certain fields of work, and provided they know how to use it correctly. Missing Domain Knowledge Among the experienced, the professionals, and the high flyers, by contrast, despite frequent time savings, partially negative effects and new problems are emerging. Take the jagged frontier problem: AI solves task A brilliantly and fails completely at task B, even though both look similar even to professionals. Or the verification-cost problem, in which AI’s greater productivity gets eaten up by the enormous effort of checking its output. Or the illusion of competence, because AI makes new domains seem easily penetrable, until you painfully discover that deep domain knowledge is missing. Taken as a whole, the effects of working with AI do lean positive. But the promise that AI works as a turbocharger for everyone and boosts practically everything simply refuses to materialize. The AI magic the world has been feeling since ChatGPT arrived in late 2022 has so far barely shown up in most companies’ numbers. The consulting firm McKinsey has coined a term for this, the “gen AI paradox,” and believes that work processes and corporate structures would have to be rebuilt quite fundamentally to realize AI’s benefits at scale. Reuters just reported that only 3.3 percent of Microsoft’s customers have subscribed to the AI package Copilot. That may be down to the product; in other areas we continue to see soaring successes and new AI triumphs. But after the first quarter of 2026, disillusionment is the word for all too many AI projects at traditional companies: because the promised revolution of AI agents has so far failed to arrive or been postponed, and because of the leveling effect that many of the studies cited here suggest. Against Inequality The societal effects, on the other hand, appear rather encouraging. Many previous technologies operated on the Matthew principle, named for the Gospel verse about giving to those who already have: they tended to reward the more competent and more privileged. AI, however, seems more often to have an equalizing effect once a threshold of access and education is crossed. Some anecdotal insights point in this direction, for example, how an unemployed man in Leipzig successfully defended himself in court in 2025 against fraud accusations from Germany’s federal employment agency — without a lawyer, armed only with ChatGPT. The AI made mistakes and cited invented court rulings, but in the end the man walked away unpunished. And a key capability of artificial intelligence is its capacity to learn: set up correctly and fed with data, it can keep getting better. It is a question of time, or more precisely of AI innovations and training data, until even free AI chatbots write better legal briefs than law graduates with perfect exam scores. Whether that will make anyone dumb is something the world’s press will surely inform us of in due time. Subscribe Leave a comment
A tiny molecular basket unlocks a powerful new kind of chemistry
Rice University chemists have found a new way to make neodymium, a rare-earth metal, interact with oxygen. Using a specially designed molecular structure described as a “basket,” the team positioned the atoms so they could form a bond once thought unlikely. The breakthrough produced highly reactive compounds that could eventually give chemists alternatives to iron-based molecules used in biological reactions and chemical manufacturing.
"Storm Emeralda" Secret Rares Revealed!
The secret rares from Storm Emeralda are now being posted to social media by fans! The set releases this Friday, July 31st. The main set list was revealed
Super rare black hole devours unlucky star
Similar black holes are usually found at the center of a galaxy. This one is wandering the cosmos.
Repairs to Madame John's Legacy, one of French Quarter's oldest buildings, causes concern
One of the oldest buildings in the New Orleans French Quarter and a rare surviving example of French Colonial architecture is at the center of a years long dispute between local preservationists and the state, nearly three years after the two sides thought they'd worked out a compromise.
The biohacking sauna blanket Gwyneth Paltrow calls a '10 out of 10' is $140 off at Nordstrom
Fans of the infrared heat therapy also include Kate Hudson and Miranda Kerr.
Amendment 68: New Opportunity: D.8 Habitable Worlds Observatory Precursor Science Investigations
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a large-aperture ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared observatory concept recommended by the National Academies of
Y! Sports Biz: Cheese squeezed financially
The rare annual look at NFL team finances is here.
🧀 Y! Sports Biz: Cheese squeezed financially
The rare annual look at NFL team finances is here.
Why use rare earths in rubber production? China is engineering stronger tyres
A new facility leverages decades of research to produce high-strength rubber designed to meet requirements of EVs and heavy-duty transport.
500,000-year-old elephant bone hammer shows ancient humans were master toolmakers
Early humans in England crafted a rare piece of elephant bone into a reusable hammer for sharpening stone tools nearly 500,000 years ago. The extraordinary find reveals that ancient toolmakers were resourceful, skilled, and capable of surprisingly advanced planning.
What England's local councils tell us about fragmenting politics
Even the most ardent advocate for local democracy would concede that council chambers are not always the most exciting places. Subscribe Whether it’s planning meetings, motions or resolutions, you’d be forgiven for switching off. Unless it’s lockdown and we’re talking about standing orders, of course. Remember Jackie Weaver, who infamously “had no authority here” at a chaotic parish council Zoom call in 2021? Yet, as a general rule since then, council meetings rarely make the headlines beyond local papers and news websites. Reform’s success After Reform’s stunning success at the local elections in May though, the leader of the party’s group on Kirklees Council suddenly found she’d gone viral online for admitting that she didn’t actually understand council procedures. “I don’t understand the constitution”, Councillor Sarah Wood, pictured above, told the council chamber. “I have not had sufficient time to read that as yet. I don’t understand what standing orders are, what they’re made up of, nor do I understand what an amendment is.” Share Channel 4 News Councillor Wood later defended her comments to the BBC, and said that “new councillors and not just us, are coming from jobs”. She claimed that the sharing of the clip mocking her online was an example of “Reform-bashing”. She added: “Yes, we need to know procedures. Yes we need to do the homework. And we have addressed that now and we have put that right.” So, with standing orders getting another moment in the spotlight, not to mention the fracturing and fragmentation from May’s results, we set out to find out how new councillors are doing across England in this new political landscape. New political landscape Where better to start then than Kirklees, in West Yorkshire. Reform is the largest party, the council is under no overall control and has chosen a new leader - Sarah Wood - after two failed attempts to elect one. It is difficult to secure interviews with new Reform councillors, but John Hardie, pictured below, told us it’s been a “whirlwind” since being elected in May. He represents the Dalton ward and told us the party’s lack of political experience hasn’t been a hindrance. “We’ve come with lots of experience, lots of business experience and life experience, and it’s been good, actually, too. And to mix with other councillors who have been in the political world, and we can learn from each other.” Indeed, more parties are now having a say than ever before. In Manchester, the Green Party followed up their victory in the parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton by gaining 17 seats on the city council. That makes them the official opposition to Labour, who have long dominated Manchester City Council. [ ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/how-landmark-green-by-election-win) [ How landmark Green by-election win could change British politics ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/how-landmark-green-by-election-win) Krishnan Guru-Murthy · Feb 27 [ Read full story ](https://channel4news.substack.com/p/how-landmark-green-by-election-win) Thirza Amina Asanga-Rae, pictured below, is one of those new councillors, representing Moss Side. We asked her how being the official opposition can make a difference. She said: “I think even the fact that we’ve made history in what we’ve done, it’s been a 50-year stronghold of Labour in Manchester, and now that we’ve broken that and chipped in that, there’s real hope that we can not only run the council in the future, but currently hold them to account. So, I think that’s powerful. It’s just going to help shape and build what I call the green wave.” The reality, though, is that several newly elected councillors across the country have already left their roles through resignations, suspensions or defections. ‘It’s a slog’ Asanga-Rae adds: “It’s a job, it’s a slog. Obviously, we’re going through hard times. Austerity is real. We’re talking about food, child poverty, furniture poverty. The list is endless, and I think people who come into a councillor role need to be willing to help, really roll the sleeves up and get involved and help, and I think a lot of the career politicians, who think it’s the ‘la-di-da’ position, get in and realise I’m not going to do this work and bounce.” Share Although Manchester still has a clear majority, many councils, including Kirklees, are now under no overall control. That is perhaps the strongest sign of the political fragmentation we are seeing. Burnley is another example of this. Reform is now the largest party, yet they’re not part of the power-sharing coalition on this council - the Liberal Democrats and a local group of independents. Zulkernehn Hayat, pictured below, is part of The Independent Group. He represents Queensgate ward and told us all councils can benefit from having more independent councillors. ‘This is where I was brought up’ He said: “This is my home. This is Burnley. This is where I was brought up. Why do I need to get approval from somebody in a head office down south somewhere, you know? “This is my biggest argument. If okay, my neighbour comes to me with an issue, I can then take that straight to the council, because I don’t need to get approval from anywhere else. And this is the benefit of being independent.” So, while voters will always inevitably want quick results, perhaps spare a thought for the newly-elected councillors who are still navigating local government - one standing order at a time. 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Congo Ebola death toll tops 1,400 as vaccine trials start
DR Congo's Ebola outbreak has continued to grow, with confirmed infections reaching 3,200 and a fatality rate of nearly one in two. Scientists are racing to test the first vaccines against the rare Bundibugyo strain.
Spines of saber-toothed cats tell a tale of the doomed species
Remains pulled from the La Brea Tar Pits revealed deformed vertebrae and rare tumors, possible signs of inbreeding among now-extinct saber-toothed cats.
7 Rarely Mentioned JDM Engines With Surprising Power
The 2JZ and RB26 are famous, but the Toyota 7M-GTE and Nissan S20, among others, prove the sheer power and depth of Japanese engineering.
Growlithe and Groudon Illustration Rares from "Storm Emeralda"! -...
Illustration rare versions of Growlithe and Groudon have just been revealed from Storm Emeralda! The set will release in Japan on July 31st as their sixth
Are redheads going extinct?
Redheads are rare and the trait carries an increased risk of melanoma. Does that mean ginger locks might one day go extinct?
Rare Nintendo Console Discovered Throughout No-Tell Hotel
Each room in an unnamed hourly establishment was outfitted with a fully functioning 'Famicombox,' resurrecting rumors that a former Nintendo president dabbled in some after hours assignments
Inside 530-million-year-old embryos, scientists uncover rare time-lapse of early animal growth
Think of a small fossil as the equivalent of a homemade video of prehistoric life. Fossils formed when sea organisms began their great proliferation more than half a billion years ago rarely contained ...
John Cusack makes rare comment about why he pivoted away from film career
The star of “High Fidelity” and “Say Anything” was promoting his new graphic novel that required “no committee.”
John Cusack makes rare comment about why he pivoted away from film career
Actor John Cusack explains why he’s not working as much in Hollywood these days
China Wields Its Rare Earth Leverage Over Europe With New Export Controls
Beijing banned shipments of important supplies to 14 companies on the cutting edge of chemicals processing, electric motors and defense.
When It Comes to Fusion, Materials Matter
Fusion at high temperatures powers the sun and, if harnessed, could provide a potential source of energy here on Earth. But controlling fusion reactions has other benefits. The process also generates subatomic particles called neutrons that are used in a range of applications spanning medicine, research, and national security. Now, scientists at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), and the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have found that the materials surrounding a fusion reaction can dramatically increase how often it occurs, particularly at low energies where fusion is rare. The study was published July 18 in Nature Communications. Their approach sets up a way to study and engineer nuclear reactions within solid materials, opening a new field of “materials-driven fusion.” Instead of designing materials just to survive the harsh conditions of fusion, researchers might be able to design materials that boost the reaction in specific conditions, similar to the way catalysts speed up chemical processes. “It gives you a new knob to turn that you didn’t have before,” said Arun Persaud, head of the Fusion Science & Ion Beam Technology group in Berkeley Lab’s Accelerator Technology & Applied Physics (ATAP) Division. “If we understand this effect better, it opens the door to engineering new materials that would affect the fusion rate under certain conditions. Someday future progress might enable more compact and efficient neutron generators, which have all kinds of applications, like cargo screening, planetary science, and medical therapy and imaging.” In the experiment, researchers used two different methods to pack deuterium, a heavy form of hydrogen atoms that is often used in fusion, into thin foils of palladium and titanium. They then fired a beam of deuterium ions at the foils at different energies and measured how often fusion happened. Then they compared the rates from the different materials and methods with the “bare” fusion reaction (not in a material). The team found that fusion rates depended on how the deuterium was loaded into the metal foils. The biggest effect was at the lowest energies, below 2.5 kiloelectronvolts (keV), where theory predicts fusion rates drop off sharply. Instead, researchers found a surprising plateau: Some samples showed elevated fusion rates roughly a quintillion times higher than bare fusion reactions. (A quintillion is a 1 followed by 18 zeroes.) Researchers are not exactly sure why that’s happening, though they have some ideas and ways to test them. The electrons and defects within the material might partially shield repulsive electrostatic forces between deuterium nuclei, making it easier for them to get close together and fuse. Tuning the electronic structure, defects, and composition of materials could help make nuclear reactions happen more readily. “It comes down to better understanding the mechanism so that we can try to enhance it,” said corresponding author Jeremy Munday, a professor at UC Davis. “We’ve seen that we can increase fusion rates, but what is the limit? Can we bring it to lower temperatures or energies? There’s obviously a lot of interest and excitement about fusion, so if there’s something we can learn about the physics at these lower energy scales, maybe there’s something we can translate to other areas of nuclear science.” The team plans to explore a wider range of materials and continue probing the unexpected fusion plateau at lower energies. Their work establishes a reproducible experimental platform to study how solid materials influence nuclear reactions, creating a new area of research that links fusion science with materials science and chemistry. “The work shows conclusively that the material environment where fusion occurs at low temperatures is an active participant rather than a passive container,” said Cameron Geddes, director of ATAP. “That adds a new dimension to fusion research.” This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Why the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history is becoming more challenging
More than 1,000 people have died in eastern Congo’s latest rare Ebola virus outbreak.
OU Health performs rare dual pulmonary valve procedure
Physicians at OU Health have successfully performed a rare and technically complex heart procedure that placed two artificial pulmonary valves at the same time.
'Rare' contagious cancer found in fish from Quebec and U.S. lakes
It's rare that cancerous tumours can spread from one individual to another. But a genetic study suggests that's what's happening with melanoma skin cancer tumours among catfish in Quebec and the northeastern U.S.
Why Did This Man Avoid Alzheimer’s? Scientists Reveal Their Astonishing Theory - Futura-Sciences
A Family Plagued by Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Doug Whitney inherited a rare genetic mutation that’s devastated much of his family: many relatives experienced significant cognitive decline as early as their 50s. Yet Doug himself has stayed mentally alert well past the age at which illness struck in the family. According to...
India’s ‘cockroach’ protests: a rare political opening for the opposition?
Analysts say Congress’ failure to be fully in sync with the movement reveals a missed opportunity to connect with India’s Gen Z.
Volunteers help Polish scientists restore rare Mastodonsaurus skeleton
More than 2,000 volunteers are helping Polish scientists restore a Mastodonsaurus skeleton. This massive amphibian was an aquatic predator from around the dawn of the dinosaur age.
An Australian woman gives birth to rare identical quadruplet girls
An Australian woman has given birth to identical quadruplet girls after a pregnancy doctors described as incredibly rare
Inside Ukraine's secret uncrewed weapons revolution
We were given rare access to Ukraine's military units already deploying the technology of the future to turn the tide against Russia.
Amazon science meets rare disease innovation
A plant-derived therapy rooted in Amazonian medicine is advancing as a potential treatment for rare and life-threatening intestinal failure conditions
Arenado Hits 2,000, Joins Elite Baseball Club
Nolan Arenado reaches 2,000 career hits with a double against Oakland, becoming just the sixth active player to achieve this rare feat.
LG’s glossy OLED gaming monitor is rare to find under $400
A bargain if you’re looking for WOLED.
RAMageddon Is Hammering Retro Handheld Makers Like Evercade
The makers of Evercade are buying up every component they can way in advance
Most California lawmakers never buck their party. These few do
In California's lockstep Legislature, breaking party ranks is rare. Meet the handful of mavericks who do it anyway
Forgotten ‘90s Sci-Fi Classic Is Begging For A Reboot
A brilliant multiverse premise deserved better. This cult sci-fi favorite is the rare series that could truly benefit from a fresh reboot.
Citizen Scientists Helped Decipher How Harvestmen Became Oddly Devoted Dads
Paternal care is vanishingly rare in the animal kingdom, yet one spider relative pulls it off repeatedly across thousands of species. Unlocking why required a surprising shortcut that compressed decad...
A tiny universe in a bottle reveals clues to the origins of life
Researchers have created cosmic dust from scratch by recreating space-like conditions inside glass tubes. The dust contains complex carbon-rich molecules built from elements essential to life and produces infrared signals similar to real material found in space. By studying these laboratory samples, scientists can explore how organic chemistry unfolds around stars and how comets, asteroids and meteorites may have carried those ingredients to Earth.
Opinion: Cancer doesn't care about politics — federal research funding must stay science-driven
A New Mexico family fighting a rare pediatric cancer warns that proposed federal grant changes could delay lifesaving research for children.
Scientists reveal the rare type of space rock that wiped out dinosaurs
Scientists identified the rare CO chondrite meteorite that killed the dinosaurs, revealing the impact dust killed life — not sulfur from the rock itself.
Scientists identify the rare meteorite that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago
The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs was likely an exceptionally rare CO chondrite from a distant region of the solar system. Its unusual chemistry suggests that planet-cooling dust and debris, rather than sulfur inside the asteroid, may have delivered the deadliest blow.
76ers Leverage Rare Advantage as LeBron James Pursuit Nears End
The Philadelphia 76ers got an unlikely leg up in their recruitment of LeBron James at Fanatics Fest in New York City. The post 76ers Leverage Rare Advantage as LeBron James Pursuit Nears End appeared first on HEAVY.
Why so few scientists serve in Congress
Scientists in Congress are rare, and scientific advice alone can't fill the gap. See why science policy needs research-trained people serving in office.
Too Much Happiness Sent A Woman To The Emergency Room In an Incredibly Rare Case
Ever heard of happy heart syndrome?
Marco Bassetti on why global entertainment still depends on local culture
In an age when viewers can drift from TikTok to Netflix to YouTube within minutes, the World Cup remains a rare thing: a live event that can capture the attention of a huge, simultaneous worldwide audience. Banijay Live, part of Banijay Entertainment that is behind hit TV franchises including "MasterChef," "Big Brother," and "The Traitors," is producing the tournament's closing ceremony on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Marco Bassetti, its chief executive, says earning that kind of global attention is harder than ever — and keeping it depends on understanding local culture.
Reclusive comedian Steven Wright, 70, resurfaces for extremely rare appearance as fans all say the same thing
The reclusive comedian, Steven Wright, made a rare appearance on Howie Mandel's podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff on Tuesday, July 14
Foodborne illnesses at restaurant chains are rare but can sicken customers, roil businesses
Here’s a brief history of some other recent outbreaks that roiled restaurant companies.
Rare Pair of Improbably Light ‘Super-Puff’ Planets Is Discovered
They’re less dense than cotton candy, and they will help astrophysicists better understand the most unusual ways giant planets can form.
Matthew Stafford's 2025 pocket efficiency put him in rare company
Matthew Stafford was one of three quarterbacks in 2025 who rated efficiently inside and outside the pocket.
Meteorite that crashed into a New Jersey home contains ‘extraterrestrial’ amino acids
A meteorite that crashed into a New Jersey home in 2024 is a rare, primitive space rock containing evidence of ancient water.
Fireball over New York City was a rare meteorite containing evidence of extraterrestrial water
A meteorite that crashed into a New Jersey home in 2024 is a rare, primitive space rock containing evidence of ancient water.
In a First, Scientists Witness the Seafloor Spread in Real Time, Giving Them a Rare Glimpse at a Mysterious Geologic Process
Across a matter of days in 2024, the seafloor in part of the Indian Ocean dropped by about 13 feet, and roughly 5.7 billion cubic feet of molten rock rose to the crust's surface, according to a new study
Troy Jackson’s Politics Are Rooted in Maine Logger Struggles
Maine Senate hopeful Troy Jackson’s history is a case study of something the Left often discusses but rarely sees: a working-class politician who emerged from workplace organizing struggles and used his power to advance pro-worker policies.
This pet gecko could help scientists unlock the secrets of cancer
An unusual leopard gecko that naturally develops aggressive tumors may become an important new model for cancer research. Scientists found its tumors share key genetic changes with human cancers, offering a rare opportunity to study the disease as it develops naturally.
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
China’s rare earth weakness, new rocket to rival SpaceX: 7 science highlights
From China unveiling microwave weapons to top neurobiologist leaving US, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.
College Football 27 and a rare victory for consumers
Until Saturday is The Athletic's free college football newsletter.
Who's the Best QB from the 2024 NFL Draft Class?
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye headlined a rare quarterback class in the 2024 NFL Draft, but which one is the better player after two seasons?
Supreme Court justices making rare appearance on Capitol Hill
Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are testifying before the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee.