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MTV Video Music Awards 2026 winners list
Madonna, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande lead the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations, but who will win big Sept. 27?
AG hopefuls Savit, Lloyd spar over Line 5, AI regulation in first debate
Republican Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd and Democratic Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit are running to succeed Attorney General Dana Nessel
Will Taylor Swift be at Dolphins-Chiefs game? Last Florida sightings
Fans are wondering whether Taylor Swift will attend the Sept. 27 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.
Why we shadowed a Hamilton County caseworker
Here's why The Enquirer decided to spend a day with a caseworker monitoring foster care in Hamilton County.
Nor'easter update: Shore battered by wind, floods for second day
A powerful nor'easter is pounding the Jersey Shore with high winds and floods for a second straight day.
Stars, fans turn out for Mississippi Book Festival
Celebrity authors Kate McKinnon and Rick Ross were on hand to speak at the 2026 Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson on Saturday in Jackson.
I tested the Pixel 11 Pro XL against the Pixel 8 Pro. Here's why it's time to finally upgrade
The Pixel 8 Pro is one of my favorite Google smartphones, but the company has done enough with the Pixel 11 Pro XL to think about upgrading.
Opinion: Remembering Hurricane Helene, recognizing climate change, regardless of politics
Two years after Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, the author argues leaders are ignoring climate change.
10 of our favorite moments from J. Cole's return to Fayetteville
J. Cole's return turned Fayetteville into a citywide celebration. Here are some of the most memorable moments from Wednesday.
Sardines are packed with nutrients. But should you eat them often?
Sardines are a popular, convenient snack. But are they as healthy as people claim?
Could Republicans flip New Hampshire Senate seat? Sununu's got a shot
Republicans, some national forecasters and pundits believe that the GOP has a chance to flip the state’s U.S. Senate seat.
8 more Bills vs. Chargers predictions, scores, odds for Week 3 game
Just one NFL expert thinks the Los Angeles Chargers can escape Sunday with a win against the Buffalo Bills.
39 of the best things to do in Cincinnati this week
If you're looking for the best events happening in Cincinnati, you're at the right place. Find your next concert, game, festival or family event.
Colorado recalls marijuana vape company's products sold at more than 400 stores
Colorado public health and marijuana regulation authorities issued on Friday a recall of marijuana vape devices believed to be contaminated with a volatile industrial solvent.
Is CVS Health (CVS) Cheap As Renewables And Cancer Care Expansion Lift Optimism?
CVS Health (CVS) has put sustainability and access to care in focus, committing to source 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2040, while Aetna expands bundled cancer treatment authorizations for Medicaid members. Recent headlines around CVS Health’s renewable energy push and Aetna’s broader cancer care bundles have landed alongside a 1-year total shareholder return of 21.37% and a 3-year total shareholder return of 43.14%. At the same time, the 90-day share price return has declined...
A celebration for garlic lovers takes over the Hudson Valley
See photos from the 2026 Hudson Valley Garlic Festival and its celebration of all things garlic.
President Donald Trump traveled to Tennessee amid midterm pressure
President Donald Trump spent around three hours in Knoxville at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 26.
Max Scherzer health, retirement possibility after 19 MLB seasons
Max Scherzer talks about feeling healthy right now. \
Trump administration uses rare authority to claw back nearly $1B in spending approved by Congress
Most of the cuts are focused on Health and Human Services programs that serve refugees and unaccompanied minors accused of being in the country illegally.
No breakthrough AI agreement between Trump and Xi during US-China summit
President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not appear to make AI agreement, but Trump says they both like idea of changing its name.
Lawmakers slam Trump’s move to cancel $810M in funding approved by Congress
The White House announced plans to cancel funding for refugee services and other domestic programs. Lawmakers say it infringes on their spending authority.
Jalen Brunson hosts ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season 52 premiere tonight
The New York Knicks star makes his hosting debut as NBC’s long-running comedy series returns for a new season.
Ken Paxton to bring campaign tour to El Paso. Here’s when and where
Paxton’s “Protecting the Texas Promise” tour is scheduled to stop in El Paso next week. The event is free, though spots can be reserved.
The Motorola Signature 27 has one huge advantage over other Samsung rivals
If we're going to get a serious challenge to Samsung in the US, it has to come from Motorola, and the Signature 27 is a solid start.
My favorite Pixel 11 Pro feature is something no other Android phone can match
It's been about 3 years since Google revamped Face Unlock on Pixel phones, and the Pixel 11 Pro reminded me just how magical it is.
3 ways the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is actually worse than last year’s chip
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 cuts key features found on last year's Gen 5 chip. Is Qualcomm's new flagship processor a hidden downgrade?
Historian Price to present program at Owensboro Museum of Science and History
Author and historian Eddie Price will present the historical program "Homemaking on the Kentucky Frontier" at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Owensboro Museum of Science and History.
Supreme Court once again blocks Trump-backed House map in Missouri
The Supreme Court sided for the third time with opponents of a congressional map drawn to give Republicans an extra House seat from Missouri.
Google Health 5.09 arrives with more than just your new Pixel Watch features
Learn about all the changes present in this week's Google Health 5.09 update, arriving for both Android and iOS devices.
Beloved Sarasota business closes after 50 years
A beloved Sarasota business has closed after 50 years and filed for bankruptcy, while the building that housed it is listed for nearly $4 million.
NYC Health + Hospitals and DCAS Celebrate Completion of Major Energy Efficiency Projects at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens And NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
Today, NYC Health + Hospitals, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced the completion
Oregon mental health providers, hospitals challenge mandate to treat criminal defendants first
The providers say the Oregon Health Authority is overstepping its authority in making them prioritize patients discharged from the Oregon State Hospital, but the state argues the requirement is needed to help it satisfy court orders.
Dengue fever researcher talks Florida outbreak
Authorities in Florida have declared local states of emergency following an outbreak of dengue fever that has so far resulted in one death.
Trump Releases ‘Love Me’ Message in New Ad Paid for with Public Money and Using an Unauthorized Song Ahead of Midterm Elections
“I am looking at lawyers and handling this internally,” JMSN, the artist who recorded the song, said
Google's $5 AI plan is now even more tempting
Google AI plans now include premium Colab benefits, offering faster computing, GPU access, and more for subscribers.
Will ABC show Trump during Tennessee vs. Texas game amid media ban
ABC will broadcast Tennessee's game against Texas at noon ET on Sept. 26, a game President Donald Trump plans to attend. The matchup comes amid Trump's ongoing feud with several major media outlets.
Elon Musk PAC ramps up midterms spending to help Republicans
His known political giving so far this cycle falls short of the $290 million he gave to elect Trump and other Republicans in 2024
Author Sarah Longwell says political character counts in ‘How to Eat an Elephant’
Is the idea of political virtue outdated? What do voters say when asked if character counts? That’s just one of the complicated topics Sarah Longwell, publisher of The Bulwark and host of The Focus Group Podcast, tackles in her new book, “How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time.”
Notre Dame's ND-LEEF holds annual Science Sunday in South Bend
The annual free event offers adults and children a chance to explore ND-LEEF and the range of environmental research conducted at Notre Dame.
Certified Nurse-Midwife Practice Authority as a Structural Determinant of Maternal Health
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) provide evidence-based maternity care associated with improved birth outcomes, yet half of US states do not grant them independent practice authority. State scope-of-practice regulations may function as structural determinants of maternal health by constraining both the midwifery workforce and the conditions under which care is delivered.
Why 3 Texas US House races are worrying Republicans. See which ones
A new Cook Political Report analysis moved three Texas U.S. House races toward Democrats as the GOP fights to keep its majority. See where each stands.
Azerbaijan: Authorities must immediately release activist Bahruz Samadov who cut himself during latest court appearance
Reacting to reports that imprisoned Azerbaijani researcher and peace activist Bahruz Samadov harmed himself during a Supreme Court hearing on 25 September, Natalia Nozadze, Amnesty International’s South Caucasus Researcher, said: “Azerbaijani authorities are obliged to protect and fulfil Bahruz Samadov’s right to health while he remains unjustly imprisoned. While they continue to deny him access […]
Trump uses public funds for 'Love me' ad that promotes himself
The White House is using public funds for a TV ad that promotes President Trump and his record, calling it a "public service announcement."
New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2026: SZA, her parents, charm crowd
R&B superstar SZA professed her love for New Jersey at the Thursday, Sept. 25 New Jersey Hall of Fame Ceremony at American Dream in East Rutherford.
Pioneer of China NewCo model sued in US over trade secret misuse, double-dealing
A legal feud unfolding in New York is putting a spotlight on the work of a business development veteran who is credited for pioneering one of biopharma’s hottest dealmaking mechanism: the China “NewCo” model. In a lawsuit originally filed in New York state court and recently moved to federal court, China’s Lepu Medical Technology has alleged that biopharma business development consultant Su Zhang, who was hired to help shop its GLP-1 weight-loss candidates to Western partners, engaged in corporate double-dealing and trade secret leaks. According to the complaint, while acting as Lepu’s primary dealmaking liaison for a group of obesity and metabolic disease drug candidates, Zhang was secretly double-dipping as the acting chief business officer for a direct competitor, BrightGene Pharmaceutical. “She never adequately disclosed the role, never sought Lepu’s consent, and never proposed any safeguard,” Lepu alleged in its complaint, which was filed in July after Zhang’s consulting firm, CoDevCo, sought certain transaction-based success fees from its angry customer through an arbitration process in Singapore. Lepu, the parent company of Lepu Biopharma, has asked Zhang to pay back its $500,000 retainer and disgorge all benefits she received during the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, plus other damages and relief. The company has also requested the court grant injunctions to protect Lepu’s trade secrets. The ill-fated partnership officially kicked off in December 2024, when Lepu tapped CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism” to identify collaborators for the company’s drug candidates. According to Lepu’s complaint, Zhang personally negotiated and signed the agreement as managing director for CoDevCo, which used her home address. Before the Lepu deal, Zhang made a name following a short stint as the global head of business development for Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. It was during her tenure that Hengrui signed a landmark deal granting exclusive rights for a portfolio of GLP-1 assets to Hercules, which was at that time newly established by a group of private equity and venture capital firms. In addition to the regular upfront and milestone payments, Hengrui also gained an equity stake in Hercules, which later became Kailera Therapeutics. The Hengrui-Hercules deal opened a new paradigm, where a Chinese biopharma company spins off certain early-stage assets to investors for further development through the creation of a new company abroad. The “NewCo” model quickly came into vogue as it allows Western investors to access high-potential assets originating from China at an early stage while giving the Chinese licensors an opportunity to reap long-term benefits through equity stakes in the new firms. The NewCo model proved its value when Kailera staged a record-breaking $625 million IPO on Nasdaq this April, merely two years into the Hengrui deal. Related Kailera CEO 'knew we were in a good spot' before obesity biotech's record-breaking $625M IPO On her LinkedIn page, Zhang described her work at Hengrui as “[b]uilding team and capability from the ground up,” forming NewCo and major pharma partnerships worth billions of dollars. Lepu clearly wanted that kind of track record to help boost its own cardiometabolic portfolio, which includes a range of assets for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and muscle preservation during weight loss treatment. “Lepu’s pipeline is very valuable, but only if Lepu could secure the right international partner to expand into the overseas market during the available commercial window,” the company argued in its complaint. The Chinese biotech said it had little knowledge of U.S. laws, customs or business practices in the business development field, and therefore “needed to rely entirely” on the expertise of Zhang and her team as the firm’s first engagement of a U.S.-based BD consultant. “Zhang’s dominating influence on the business development strategy is further evidenced by the fact that she personally controlled the business-development communications on behalf of Lepu with potential partners,” Lepu said in its complaint. After entering the deal, Zhang introduced Lepu to her four associates. According to Lepu’s version of events, all of them were allegedly employed at different time points to perform similar jobs at other Chinese companies that Lepu described as its competitors, while having access to Lepu’s confidential information. As such, Lepu described Zhang’s team as “a roster of individuals whose primary professional loyalty, by virtue of their concurrent full-time employment, ran to Lepu’s competitors.” As well as the specific examples set out in the case, a look at Lepu’s deals over the period suggests Zhang may have been involved in at least one transaction. During their partnership, Lepu, through its subsidiary Shanghai Minwei Biotechnology, also out-licensed its GLP-1/GIP/FGF21 agonist MWN105 to a NewCo called Sidera Bio in the fall of 2025. The deal included an upfront and near-term payment of $35 million, up to $1.01 billion in milestones, and a 9.99% stake in the Danish startup. It seems likely that Zhang facilitated the Minwei deal given that Lepu is on record as having used CoDevCo as its “exclusive business development mechanism.” The big shock for Lepu came in the form of a news article on June 25, 2025. The article, reporting on phase 2 data for BrightGene’s GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist BGM0504, identified Zhang as acting chief business officer of the Lepu rival. Blindsided by her association with BrightGene, Lepu confronted Zhang in July 2025. “Lepu was given assurances that there was nothing to be concerned about and told that Zhang would explain the matter to Lepu,” Lepu alleged in its complaint. “Zhang never did.” Lepu claimed that Zhang had the motive and opportunity to steer potential prospective partners toward BrightGene or other competitors. Later, in February 2026, one of Zhang’s associates joined BrightGene as the vice president for global business development, according to the complaint. Around the same time, Lepu sent written demand letters asking Zhang to account for her BrightGene role, identify what confidential data were shared with the rival firm, and provide any conflict-of-interest or firewall policies during the engagement. According to Lepu, neither CoDevCo nor Zhang answered the questions in their responses. Related Novo vs. KBP: How a $1.3B deal turned into a fraud accusation and an international legal fight In a motion to dismiss filed with the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 4, Zhang’s legal team argued that Lepu’s agreement was signed with CoDevCo, and that an employee of the contractor does not owe fiduciary duties to the client. In its complaint, Lepu said: “That CoDevCo was the contracting entity does not insulate Zhang from personal liability for duties she personally undertook and personally breached.” Taking the argument one step further, the defending party argued that the consulting agreement “does not create a fiduciary relationship even between CoDevCo and Lepu; instead, it identifies CoDevCo as an independent contractor retained to market Lepu’s business to potential western partners.” Although CoDevCo was Lepu’s exclusive business-development contractor, there were no terms stipulating that the consulting firm should serve only Lepu, Zhang’s lawyer noted. As to Lepu’s claims that Zhang misappropriated trade secrets, the defendant argued that Lepu authorized the use of the information so Zhang’s team could perform their service per the agreement. In a rebuttal filed on Sept. 11, Lepu’s lawyer set out why they believe the Chinese biotech satisfied New York law’s misappropriation definition by alleging that the defendant used a trade secret “in breach of a duty or through improper means.” As an alternative to dismissing the suit, the defendant suggested the action should be stayed pending outcomes from the arbitration of a separate case in Singapore. While NewCo pioneer Zhang is defending her business arrangements, momentum behind the NewCo trend has continued unabated into 2026. Through August, Chinese biotech assets have spurred 15 NewCo deals this year, according to local trade publication PharmaDJ.
Find your way around Blink Cincinnati with these festival maps
Explore Blink Cincinnati with official festival maps showing art installations, projection sites, parking areas, shuttle routes and key events.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) Is Back In The Spotlight, What Is Driving Attention?
Melco Resorts & Entertainment (MLCO) drew fresh attention after its Morpheus hotel at City of Dreams received the top-tier Three MICHELIN Keys award, and the group announced a new US$500 million share repurchase authorization. Despite the Morpheus accolade and the new US$500 million buyback plan, Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s short-term share price momentum has been weak, with the stock down 14.78% over 30 days and 12.87% over 90 days. This has contributed to a year-to-date share price...
'If you do want to be a criminal, there is no better place to do it': Author Rose George dives into the dark depths of the fishing industry
Live Science spoke with Rose George, journalist and author of "Every Last Fish," about her book, which delves into the murky world of the fishing industry, the intelligence of the animals harvested, and the hurdles preventing sustainability in the oceans.
Oktoberfests on Cape Cod offer beer, music, food trucks and family fun
Cape Cod is hosting several Oktoberfest celebrations featuring local food, beer, and family fun.
New Haywood Mall mural aims to spark mental health conversations
A new mural outside of Haywood Mall honors the late son of Walt's Waltz founder Susan Crooks. It will serve as a reminder of hope for the community.
Author of America’s tariff statute: Trump’s tariffs are illegal
Ambassador Alan Wolff says President Donald Trump’s novel implementation of America’s tariff law is illegal and runs counter to how Congress intended the presidential power to be used.
Your grip strength says more about your health than you might think
Grip strength is a window into your existing health and strength. Here’s what to know.
New Orleans’ Section 8 housing has ‘life-threatening’ problems, HUD inspector finds
New Orleans' public housing authority failed last year to fix electrical hazards, inoperable windows, and other life-threatening problems in its subsidized apartments, federal regulators said.
The World Health Organization in crisis
The World Health Organization faces a deepening crisis of funding, authority and relevance as alternatives emerge for disease surveillance and emergency response.
Where you can (and can't) pick your own apples in Cincinnati
The Enquirer created an up-to-date list of which apple orchards are still offering u-pick apples in Greater Cincinnati and Ohio.
Michigan's economy feels rising diesel prices
Higher diesel fuel prices are being felt across Michigan’s economy
Glenwood cremation business searched in South Chicago funeral home investigation
A cremation business in Glenwood is now part of a broader investigation connected to the South Chicago funeral home where authorities discovered 56 bodies last month.
Lansing cremation business searched in South Chicago funeral home investigation
A cremation business in Lansing is now part of a broader investigation connected to the South Chicago funeral home where authorities discovered 56 bodies last month.
'I'm in a pretty good place.' Why Terry Francona's health key for Reds
Reds manager Terry Francona said his regular swimming regimen has kept him sharp and healthy through a rough season, Thursday's 7-6 victory over Atlanta notwithstanding..
Mexico promotes a community tourism model strengthened by knowledge
UNESCO continues to support Mexican authorities and communities in transforming the tourism paradigm for sustainable development.
Tennessee assistant William Inge battling serious health issue in hospital
Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge is hospitalized with a serious health issue and will not coach in the team's game against Texas.
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 arrives for Pixel testers
Google's latest preview of Android's next big update has landed, with Android 17 QPR2 Beta 6 builds now available.
Googlebook laptops are already selling out just days after pre-orders opened
Google's online store has already sold out of Googlebook pre-order stock in the US, but you can still order through Best Buy.
Mental health probe, more patrols launched after Chipotle worker stabbing
The latest actions in response to the Sept. 20 stabbing of a Chipotle worker in a downtown Detroit alley were outlined at a Sept. 24 press conference
OpenAI agent hacks Australian healthcare database
The AI company informed Australian authorities of the incident on Sept. 10.
What is Frontotemporal Degeneration? Darrell Waltrip health update explained
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Darrell Waltrip's family announced that he has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD).
DC Health Link Not Impacted by Federal Health Insurance Cancellations
Earlier this week, the Trump Administration announced plans to remove more than 750,000 Americans from health insurance plans purchased through healthcare.gov, a marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The administration alleges that the removed individuals were fraudulently enrolled in the program. In the District of Columbia, the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (DCHBX) […]
Study reveals evolutionary history of bats, dating back 65 million years
Researchers assembled the largest collection of high-quality bat genomes to date
New poll shows Democrats with big lead over GOP on generic ballot
A new Emerson College poll has Democrats with a sizeable lead over Republicans on a generic congressional ballot two months from midterm elections.
Pensacola Seafood Festival starts Friday. Here’s all the details.
This weekend's Pensacola Seafood Festival features more than just great food. Plan ahead to get the most out of your experience.
Businesses shocked in Kiryat Shmona: State demands $68 million return
Blow to northern businesses: Out of nearly $1.7 billion transferred to the city, the Tax Authority is demanding hundreds of millions back.
Trump praises Xi as 'strong, vibrant, and fit' amid health questions
"I met President Xi at the plane (Airport!) yesterday and he looks strong, vibrant, and fit - Better than ever," Trump said on social media.
Man, woman accused of stealing $200,000 from York County business
A man and woman face felony charges after being accused of stealing more than $200,000 from a York County business.
Earth life support systems are flashing red, warns 2026 Planetary Health Check
Human activities continue eroding the planet’s stability, resilience and life-support functions, the third edition of the Planetary Health Check released in September warns. The “scary” part of the 2026 report, says lead co-author Levke Caesar, is that the trends are largely going in the wrong direction. “We still have seven out of the nine planetary […]
South Carolina Research Authority Receives Grant From SBA
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it awarded more than $8 million in grants to 50 organizations, including the South Carolina Research Authority, through the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership...
Rial-Faigenbaum Helps Advance New Strength–Risk Continuum in Sports Medicine
Tamara Rial-Faigenbaum, Ph.D., specialist professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, is a co-author in the British Journal of Sports Medicine editorial calling for muscular weakness to be recognized as a clinically relevant risk marker and for muscle strength to become a routine component of health care. The article “The Strength-Risk Continuum: Reframing […]
Republican coordinated campaign spending surges after US Supreme Court ruling
The Republican committees supporting the party's candidates have exceeded the former national caps by more than $48 million
Grad Students, Academic Workers Rally at Science Center as HGSU-UAW Sets Strike Authorization Vote
Grad Students, Academic Workers Rally at Science Center as HGSU-UAW Sets Strike Authorization Vote
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
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This week, Kiel has become a meeting place for science in Europe. Researchers, school pupils, young scientists and members of the public are coming together through a series of major events led or co-organised by Kiel University.At the centre of it all are around 150 of Europe’s most talented young researchers, aged 14 to 20, who have travelled to Kiel from nearly 40 countries for the 37th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS). Running from 22 to 27 September, the European Union’s flagship competition for young scientists brings together winners of national science competitions to present around 100 original research projects across fields ranging from engineering and computer science to medicine, environmental research and the social sciences. The winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony on Saturday.For Kiel University, hosting EUCYS is both an honour and a natural extension of a much longer story. Germany’s northernmost comprehensive university has invested for many years in supporting young scientific talent and bringing research into dialogue with society. The Kiel Science Factory gives school pupils opportunities to experience research first-hand, while programmes such as Rent-a-Scientist send researchers directly into local classrooms. Major annual public events including Kiel Week and the European Researchers’ Night take science beyond the campus through talks, exhibitions and hands-on activities.That long-standing commitment has increasingly taken on a European dimension – and this week, many of those efforts are coming together.One of the foundations for this success is the European Researchers’ Night (ERN), which celebrates its tenth edition in the Kiel region this year. The initiative is funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, with Kiel University developing the successful EU proposals and securing the funding, while regional partner KielRegion coordinates the many activities on the ground. Together with research institutions, schools, companies, local authorities and civil society, they have built ERN into a major platform for public engagement.Over the years, Kiel’s ERN programme has grown far beyond a single evening into a whole “Science Summer”, beginning with “Science Shopping” in spring and culminating tomorrow, 25 September, in Science Day.“We have developed a wide range of public engagement formats, often together with the other research institutions in the region, the city and regional authorities, schools, companies and civil society,” says Eckhard Quandt, Kiel University’s vice president for research, academic infrastructure and transfer. “Over the past decade, we have increasingly taken this commitment to the European level.”That combination of European funding expertise and strong regional partnerships also helped Kiel University take the next step. Drawing on its experience with ERN and its European networks, including the SEA-EU University Alliance, the university brought together Brest in France and Split in Croatia for a successful bid to the EU’s new Science Comes to Town initiative. Throughout 2026, the three cities are serving as Europe’s first Science Ambassadors, with more than one thousand activities bringing science into schools, public spaces, cultural venues and everyday life.EUCYS is perhaps the clearest example of how Kiel University is using Science Comes to Town to create new connections between major European initiatives. From the outset, the university deliberately planned the contest for the week of European Researchers’ Night and opened the EUCYS exhibition to the wider Science Day audience. Tomorrow, that means thousands of visitors can encounter the next generation of scientific talent first-hand, while the young researchers themselves gain a much bigger public stage.“Because we opened EUCYS up for European Researchers’ Night, there will be a lot of people actually visiting the exhibition,” says organiser Stefanie Altemark of Kiel University.“We wanted Europe’s most talented young scientists not only to compete with one another, but also to become visible to the wider public. At the same time, people in Kiel will have the opportunity to see what the next generation of scientists are already capable of,” says Quandt.“We’ve shown over the last years that science is a big part of Kiel, and it’s always been the goal to not only show that to people in Germany, but also to show it to people all over Europe. Thanks to Kiel University’s expertise in European funding programmes, we have been able to turn that ambition into reality,” says Sünje Fock, who is coordinating the Science Summer at KielRegion.The model is characteristic of Kiel University’s approach: combining European funding expertise and international networks with strong regional partnerships to give major initiatives greater reach and visibility.This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, giving Kiel University the special opportunity to welcome Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Head of Department for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions at the European Research Executive Agency, to Kiel tomorrow. Her visit brings together two priorities that have shaped Kiel University’s work over the past decade: supporting researchers and bringing science closer to society. Debiais-Sainton emphasises how closely the two are connected: "For thirty years, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) have given more than 150,000 researchers the chance to pursue their dreams and open up new fields. Doctoral Networks and Postdoctoral Fellowships give them the freedom to move, to connect, to train and to follow their curiosity across borders, sectors and disciplines. But excellence cannot live only in laboratories. Researchers’ Night takes science out of the lab and into the city, to the families, the schoolchildren and the curious minds who will become the next generation. Kiel shows what that looks like at its best. That is the MSCA promise: open science, open borders, open doors."For Kiel University, these activities are not separate endeavours. They are part of a broader understanding of academic excellence in which outstanding research, talent development, international cooperation, knowledge transfer and engagement with society strengthen one another.“For me, one of the most important lessons from the past decade is that scientific excellence, knowledge transfer, talent development and engagement with society cannot be treated as separate tasks,” stresses vice president Quandt. “They reinforce one another.”That philosophy is also reflected in Kiel University’s current bid for Germany’s Excellence University status. The designation is part of Germany’s national Excellence Strategy, which provides substantial long-term funding to selected universities to strengthen internationally competitive research and their overall institutional development. A successful outcome would provide new opportunities to build on what has already been created: deepening international cooperation, creating more opportunities for knowledge exchange and public engagement, and extending the university’s reach across the region and beyond. “If we are successful, it would allow us to take what we have built in Kiel considerably further – including expanding our networks and transfer activities beyond the region and increasingly across the Baltic area,” says Quandt.This week’s events offer a glimpse of what that could mean in practice: a university using its research strength, European expertise and regional partnerships to create opportunities for scientists at every stage of their careers while making science more visible, accessible and exciting to the wider public.
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