Search headlines

ECU vocal program offers oft-missing science to singing

ECU vocal pedagogy professors teach the science and anatomy behind singing, benefiting their students and offering a workshop for teachers.

Jul 23 • 11:34 AM EDT • Science • news.ecu.edu

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.

Jul 23 • 11:00 AM EDT • Science • newscenter.lbl.gov

FDA sees early promise in new gene therapy for BAG3-associated DCM

An investigational drug therapy from Affinia Therapeutics has secured the FDA's orphan drug designation. This means the company now has access to certain benefits, including tax credits and fee exemptions, as it works toward approval.

Jul 22 • 4:28 PM EDT • Business • cardiovascularbusiness.com

A community in bloom: Mainers need access to healthcare to thrive

Over 400 people toured the homes of community members who opened up their gardens during the 5th Annual Brunswick in Bloom to benefit Oasis Free Clinics.

Jul 22 • 2:09 PM EDT • Health • pressherald.com

Parents Benefit from NICU Mental Health Support

A Cincinnati Children’s-led study finds that NICU-based mental health support can reduce anxiety, stress and depression among parents, suggesting these services should become part of standard neonatal care.

Jul 22 • 2:00 PM EDT • Health • scienceblog.cincinnatichildrens.org

Governor Moore Announces Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board of Trustees Appoints Johanna Fabian-Marks as Executive Director

Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board of Trustees Appoints Johanna Fabian-Marks as Executive Director

Jul 22 • 11:46 AM EDT • Health • governor.maryland.gov

Nevada health officials brace for new Medicaid work requirements

Nevada health officials are preparing to phase in sweeping new work requirements for the largest safety-net insurance program in the state, a move that will impact an estimated 280,000 Nevadans who benefited from expanded Medicaid coverage.

Jul 22 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • nevadacurrent.com

From Paper to Action: How Systematic Monitoring Can Help Health Benefits Packages Deliver on Their Promise

Health Benefits Packages (HBPs) can be a strategic tool to advance Universal Health Coverage. But their impact depends not only on the services included, but also on whether people effectively receive those services with adequate quality and financial protection. It also depends on the factors behind implementation gaps. While there is no shortage of guidance for using evidence-informed priority-setting approaches, less attention has been paid to monitoring whether, how, and why HBPs deliver (or not) in the real world. This gap matters, particularly in the context of stagnating progress towards Universal Health Coverage, because it leaves policymakers in the dark: Are HBPs delivering on the promise made to the population? If not, why, and what corrective action can be taken?

Jul 22 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • cgdev.org

Will surge in German business bankruptcies hit growth?

Company insolvencies in Germany are rising sharply. Is this a sign of deeper economic weakness, or just a market correction that could ultimately benefit future growth?

Jul 22 • 6:50 AM EDT • Business • dw.com

7 events in Lancaster County this week, from a cat benefit car show to a Hispanic festival

With a beautiful weather forecast planned, there's no excuse to not get out and try something new this weekend.

Jul 22 • 5:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • lancasteronline.com

Less invasive anesthesia strategies during TAVR linked to a key benefit

Long-term TAVR outcomes were comparable. When tracking 30-day data, however, researchers found that hospital readmission was much less common for patients treated with regional anesthesia or moderate sedation.

Jul 21 • 4:55 PM EDT • Business • cardiovascularbusiness.com

Regular Coffee Consumption Linked to Health Benefits, AHA Says

A new report from the American Heart Association says that it's safe for most adults to drink up to five cups of coffee per day. New research also suggests regular coffee consumption may be linked to lower risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart failure for some individuals. Health benefits apply to paper filtered or instant coffee.

Jul 21 • 12:23 PM EDT • Health • today.com

6 Dementia Risk Factors You Can Change

These healthy habits benefit your whole body—including your brain—and may help contribute to lower dementia risk over time.

Jul 21 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • time.com

9 Vitamins and Supplements That May Support Brain Health

Certain vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats benefit brain health by supporting nerve function, protecting brain cells from damage, and improving focus.

Jul 21 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • health.com

Marsh quarterly profit rises on strength in risk management business

Insurance brokerage Marsh reported a jump in second-quarter profit on Tuesday, as it benefited ​from robust demand for its risk management ‌and consulting businesses.

Jul 21 • 7:05 AM EDT • Business • reuters.com

How much caffeinated coffee is too much for heart health?

New research shows that consuming 5 cups of caffeinated coffee a day is safe for most adults and may even benefit drinkers, according to the American Heart Association.

Jul 20 • 9:42 PM EDT • Health • wane.com

The supplement behind the C15:0 trend is now available as a gummy

The popular Fatty15 supplement is now available in gummy form. Discover the benefits of C15:0, ingredients, flavor and current pricing.

Jul 20 • 5:54 PM EDT • Health • usatoday.com

How much coffee is safe for the heart? Doctors explore the benefits and risks of caffeine

Drinking multiple cups of coffee each day may decrease a person's risk of heart disease, heart failure and stroke. Too much caffeine can still cause issues, however, when taken as energy drinks.

Jul 20 • 3:30 PM EDT • Business • cardiovascularbusiness.com

The surprising benefits of red light

Better skin, faster wound healing and reduced vision loss are on the cards

Jul 20 • 1:45 PM EDT • Technology • economist.com

The coffee sweet spot: How much a day is safe — and linked to heart benefits

Jul 20 • 12:26 PM EDT • Health • nypost.com

How to maximise the mental health benefits of your vacation

Don’t just hit the beach. Research is revealing how to have a holiday that leaves you mentally restored and refreshed – with long-lasting effect

Jul 20 • 11:00 AM EDT • Health • newscientist.com

Shaky political "science": breakdown of the peer review process

[This article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in December 2025, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting (RCV). Many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first four articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report; the second one analyzed a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report; a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research; and a fourth article that analyzed seven studies sponsored by New America’s political reform program that deployed flawed methodology based on “simulated” elections instead of real-world elections, which when combined with some basic misunderstandings of RCV, produced odd and misleading results]. In this fifth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we examine two flawed studies on the impact of RCV on voter turnout authored by San Francisco State University professor Jason McDaniel. McDaniel’s research in these two papers stands out for its puzzling methodology, inadequate and cherry-picked data, and faulty analyses that not only misunderstands ranked choice voting but reflects a basic misunderstanding of politics in general. The first of the McDaniel studies actually passed through a peer review process and then was subsequently published by the Journal of Urban Affairs, despite its obvious errors. It is perplexing that a jury of peer political scientists did not catch the errors and send it back to McDaniel for a rewrite or outright rejection. This calls into question the credibility of the peer review process itself. The peer review process is supposed to represent the intellectual pinnacle of the profession – a way for academics to certify the quality of each other’s work, and to act as a check against sloppy research. In the case of the McDaniel study, the peer review process failed. Yet his flawed study has been cited dozens of times by other political scientists in their own flawed works — an unvirtuous circle of academic research. Here is the first Jason McDaniel study that we analyzed: “Writing the Rules to Rank the Candidates: Examining the Impact of Instant-Runoff Voting on Racial Group Turnout in San Francisco Mayoral Elections,” by Jason McDaniel, 2016, Journal of Urban Affairs. This study covered San Francisco’s use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in mayoral elections, purporting to show that RCV reduces voter turnout overall, increases voter errors, and has a negative impact on “marginal populations,” i.e. racial minorities, mainly as the result of the alleged complexity of RCV asking voters to rank candidates and having to be familiar with multiple candidates and related dynamics. McDaniel reached these conclusions by examining five San Francisco mayoral elections taking place in odd years (i.e. where there are no federal or state races on the ballot) from 1995 to 2011, comparing three earlier non-RCV races (in 1995, 1999 and 2003) with the later two RCV races (in 2007 and 2011). Only two RCV races were studied, and as McDaniel acknowledged, only the contest in 2011 was “competitive” (that contest in 2007 was the first mayoral election using RCV, and incumbent mayor Gavin Newsom won easily in the first round of counting, earning 74% of first choices and far ahead of the second place candidate who had just 6.3% of first choices). Yet even the allegedly competitive contest in 2011was won by an incumbent with a landslide margin of nearly 20 points. No other elections were studied by McDaniel, even though San Francisco elects 17 other offices besides mayor with RCV, including the 11 seats on the Board of Supervisors (the name for the city council) in even years, and six other citywide offices in odd years. Previous academic research has found that competitive elections can stimulate greater voter involvement and higher turnout. For unexplained reasons, this study ignored at least 34 other RCV races between the years 2004 to 2011, many of which were very competitive and had high voter turnout. Instead, McDaniel’s analysis based its conclusions on data from only a single, marginally-competitive mayor’s race using RCV. These 2007 and 2011 mayoral elections were the only two RCV elections that McDaniel used as the sole basis for his small data set to determine the impact of RCV on voter turnout. Despite having no meaningful data to inform his study, McDaniel nonetheless concluded that RCV lowered turnout when compared to the previous three mayoral non-RCV elections using two-round runoffs. Then, using the same inadequate database of San Francisco elections, McDaniel also found that “Instant-runoff voting is associated with a significant decline in Black voter turnout and White voter turnout…On average, Black voter turnout decreases by 18 points and White voter turnout decreases by 16 points …” But how could he credibly arrive at that conclusion when his study was based on voter turnout in two RCV contests that were not even remotely competitive? Beyond that, McDaniel tacitly admits that the key determining factor driving Black voter turnout was not RCV vs non-RCV elections, but the presence of a viable Black candidate. McDaniel wrote, “Black voter turnout was about 17 percentage points higher for the two elections that featured an African American candidate compared to the three elections that did not” — but one of those three elections did not use RCV. The same dynamic was present for White voter turnout, in which higher turnout was not correlated with RCV vs non-RCV elections, but the presence of a viable White candidate. Beyond that, McDaniel’s voter turnout results, whether correlated with the race of the candidates or RCV vs non-RCV elections, showed no clear patterns. In his Figure 1, he shows low Asian voter turnout in the non-RCV elections in 1999 and 2003 when there was no viable Asian candidate running, but in the 2007 mayoral election using RCV, there is still no viable Asian candidate, yet Asian turnout increases dramatically. For Latinos, voter turnout is virtually the same in 1999 (no viable Latino candidate, non-RCV elections), 2003 (leading Latino candidate, non-RCV elections), 2007 (no viable Latino candidate, RCV elections) and 2011 (leading Latino candidate, RCV elections). Meanwhile White voter turnout increased dramatically from a low in the 2007 mayoral election, in which the leading candidate was a white incumbent, to the 2011 election in which there were no leading white candidates that finished any higher than sixth place with 5.6% of the vote. Clearly other factors were determining voter turnout than either the race of the candidates or RCV vs non-RCV elections. Despite these inconsistent findings, McDaniel boldly marches forth to render conclusions about the impact of RCV on different groups of racial voters, even though his conclusions are not remotely supported by his data. This looks like the worst kind of “data cherry picking” to cover up a puzzling conclusion based on a poor data set involving only two RCV elections, neither of which were remotely competitive. McDaniel’s cherry picking didn’t stop there. In calculating voter turnout for the three non-RCV mayoral elections in 1995, 1999 and 2003, he failed to mention that in each of these years there was a two-round runoff election, with a first round election in November in which no candidate garnered a winning majority of the vote, followed by the decisive runoff in December. So there were two non-RCV elections in each election year. But McDaniel only decided to include one of the two elections in his data set, apparently the December runoff in each year (which had higher turnout in two out of the three mayor’s races, and lower turnout in the third). So he ignored the November 1995 election, the November 1999 election when turnout was only 45 percent, and the November 2003 election when turnout was only 45.7 percent. This is flawed methodology based on blatant cherry picking, since McDaniel simply omitted three elections worth of data that did not fit within his frame. His study should never have made it through a peer review process, and it is an embarrassment to political science that not only was it approved for publication, but it has been uncritically cited by dozens of other political scientists. Share A “study” without wider context or credible data Lacking a data set that included even a single competitive RCV mayoral race, McDaniel declared that RCV lowered voter turnout in 2011, when turnout was 42.5 percent. But he also ignored -- or did not realize -- that voter turnout in mayoral elections during 2011 had sharply declined in all big cities, including far more steeply in nearby Los Angeles and other cities. In fact, San Francisco’s election in 2011 had the second highest turnout of any mayoral election in the nation’s 22 largest cities from 2008-2011. Was 2011 just a particularly low turnout year all across the country, perhaps because the country was still reeling from the aftermath of the housing market collapse in 2008-2010? McDaniel ignored this factor and did not search for alternative explanations beyond his flawed thesis. Furthermore, while McDaniel suggested that RCV leads to more “overvotes” – which is an invalidated ballot in which a voter, in either a non-RCV or RCV race, makes a mistake and selects two candidates for a single choice – he failed to address that in the June 2012 US Senate primary contest, which used the typical “one-choice” plurality method and did not use RCV, there was more than five times as many overvotes in San Francisco and Oakland than in the RCV mayoral elections in those cities. Additionally, turnout had been significantly higher and more representative in RCV elections for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors races -- that McDaniel didn’t even bother to study -- as compared to previous “delayed two-round runoffs” for those offices, often higher by as much as 40% in the RCV races. Perhaps the most surprising irony was that an earlier study co-authored by McDaniel (Overvoting and the Equality of Voice under Instant-Runoff Voting in San Francisco by Francis Neely and Jason McDaniel, 2015, California Journal of Politics and Policy) found that overvotes are often more common in lower-income precincts, but that the pattern of overvoting is similar in both RCV and non-RCV contests. Wrote Neely and McDaniel: “[Overvote] errors appear to be a function of complexity in general and not IRV per se…. the pattern of overvoting is similar in both IRV and non-IRV contests…Even among votes cast in a top-of-the-ticket race like U.S. Senate, overvoting occurs in an uneven fashion” (IRV, or ‘instant runoff voting,’ is another name for ranked choice voting in single-winner contests). So McDaniel not only contradicted his own conclusion in his earlier study with Neely, but the earlier study had been an important corrective for one of the most frequently made mistakes made by anti-RCV political scientists – a continual failure to provide crucial context by pairing a comparative analysis of real world RCV elections with an analysis of real world plurality or other electoral methods. Unfortunately McDaniel’s earlier study does not get cited much by other researchers, and McDaniel did not even cite it in his own flawed study analyzed above. Incredibly, McDaniel cherrypicked McDaniel, even as his flawed study has been cited dozens of times. Despite being a textbook example of poor political “science,” featuring both inadequate as well as cherrypicked data, the shelf life of McDaniel’s study has been extended endlessly by other political scientists and media outlets who have cited it uncritically. Equally troubling, the Journal of Urban Affairs put this paper through its peer review process and published it despite its numerous flaws. McDaniel gets it wrong, Part II Not content with producing one shoddy, confused paper, McDaniel produced another one a few years later, here is the link: Electoral Rules and Voter Turnout in Mayoral Elections: An Analysis of Ranked-Choice Voting by Jason McDaniel. San Francisco State Univ. (McDaniel, 2019). In this paper, McDaniel extended his previous flawed research focused on San Francisco, about voter turnout and voter impact, to multiple RCV cities through the 2018 elections. In his data set he included San Francisco, Minneapolis, St Paul, Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro and Santa Fe. He then compared their turnout in mayoral elections to non-RCV cities, and to mayoral elections in those cities held before first RCV usage, and concluded “a significant decrease in voter turnout of approximately 3–5 percentage points in RCV cities after the implementation of RCV.” But he replicated many of the same mistakes as his first study presented above. While in this study McDaniel attempted to distinguish between various factors, such as odd year vs. even year elections, competitive races vs. noncompetitive, contests with open seats and other factors, the analysis is superficial and inadequate. He attempts to incorporate so many often-conflicting variables that his conclusions are once again unsupported by the actual data, and ultimately unconvincing (this second study never underwent a peer review process). For example, McDaniel declared that for RCV cities “in elections that are more competitive than average (margin of victory less than 20%), there is no significant RCV effect on voter turnout.” Yet McDaniel is a professor in a city, San Francisco, in which the 2018 special election using RCV to fill a mayoral vacancy was exceedingly close, decided by a margin of only one percentage point, and resulted in the second highest turnout in San Francisco history for a mayoral election. Illustrating the complexity involved in assessing the critical factors in turnout, that special election was held on the same election day as federal and state offices, which tends to boost turnout. Yet more voters participated in that RCV mayoral election than voted on the same day in the non-RCV primary for governor in which former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom was running. Even more puzzling, in this study McDaniel inaccurately cited his own previous study from 2015 with Neely. McDaniel wrote, “Neely and McDaniel (2015) examine individual ballot image files within a natural experiment, and find higher rates of ballot errors in RCV elections compared to non-RCV elections” (emphasis added). However, we quoted from that 2015 study several paragraphs above, and in actual fact Neely and McDaniel actually concluded the opposite -- that the pattern of overvoting – which is the most common form of ballot error – is similar in both RCV and non-RCV contests. McDaniel also ignored the fact that in Bay Area RCV elections held in even years – at the same time as federal and state elections, when turnout is highest -- the “undervote” (that is, the dropoff in ballots cast for governor or mayor) has declined, which contradicts his thesis that the act of ranking ballots in RCV elections is too complex and presents a barrier for certain demographics of voters. To his credit, McDaniel actually acknowledged another contradiction in his own paper, which found a negative RCV turnout effect in some odd-year elections but not others, admitting that “may present a challenge to the theory that increased complexity [from RCV] will have a marginal negative effect on voter turnout.” But he tried to wallpaper over that contradiction by blaming it on an unlikely source -- bad election administration. McDaniels wrote, “This would suggest that the negative impact of RCV on voter participation may be alleviated by high quality election administration,” without presenting any data or even anecdotes to support such an unfounded theory. While competent election administration of any election, whether RCV or non-RCV, is crucially important, there is no credible research that supports the far-fetched notion that the quality of election administration has much of an impact on voter turnout in US elections, whether using RCV or otherwise. Upgrade to a $5 subscription The unvirtuous circle of academic research It is puzzling how McDaniel’s first study could have survived the peer review process for the Journal of Urban Affairs. The mistakes in McDaniel’s first study above should have been obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of ranked choice voting as well as elections in general, and elections in San Francisco specifically. It undermines faith in the credibility of the peer review process to think that a jury of peer political scientists did not catch the egregious errors and reject McDaniel’s sloppy research and paper. And it remains a black mark on political science that this thoroughly discredited study has been cited dozens of times by other researchers. Indeed, in our research paper it became apparent that many political scientists cite each other’s flawed research to pad their list of citations and to legitimize their own flawed research, creating an unvirtuous circle of political science. More broadly, McDaniel’s voter turnout studies, like other studies evaluating RCV’s impact on turnout, lacked a recognition that no credible opinion or research can claim that RCV increases voter turnout merely because so many voters are excited to vote for their favorite candidates instead of “lesser evil” candidates without worrying about spoilers. Instead, with respect to turnout, the advantage of RCV has always been that, in most places where it has been used, it has eliminated a pre-November primary or post-November runoff, which usually saw about half the turnout of the November general election. This is especially true during even years when there are state and federal elections on the ballot which substantially drive turnout more than local contests. Any study that does not adequately account for this non-November primary/runoff vs November general election dynamic, or odd year vs even year election factors, is simply not credible. Both of McDaniel’s studies largely failed on those grounds. Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to a $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS…your digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe

Jul 20 • 9:29 AM EDT • Science • democracysos.substack.com

Sonoma County Latinas building community, business opportunities through networking

Marcos Suarez, Sonoma County’s Business Diversity Program Manager, said it’s great that local groups like Latinas Emprendedoras and Eventos con Amigas are benefiting the local economy, because starting a business is never easy.

Jul 20 • 9:04 AM EDT • Business • pressdemocrat.com

Science can serve dark as well as light

I’m not sure how many of you are watching “Star City,” Apple TV’s spin-off of its “For All Mankind” program (2019-present), but it’s one of the better sci-fi series I’ve seen in a while, with an impressively dark political message. (Some light spoilers below.) For the uninitiated, “For All Mankind” presented a slightly tweaked history of the U.S. space program in which it was the USSR that landed on the Moon first in 1969, and shortly thereafter put a woman cosmonaut on the lunar surface. This sparks an ongoing space race that, in the original series, yields a lot of benefits for humanity. President Nixon’s insistence on a female astronaut corps to compete with the Soviets boosts the feminist movement of the 1970s and the ERA passes. New fuels generated for the space program create clean and cheap energy around Earth. There are also some darker changes — the USSR is thriving well into the 2000s, there are terrorist counter-technology movements around the globe, laborers on Mars work in nightmarish conditions and organize strikes and riots, etc. the @smotus report is a reader-supported publication. To support this work, please become a paid subscriber. Subscribe That show offers glimpses into the subtle ways this Earth is different. Teddy Kennedy never went to Chappaquidick because he was racing back to Washington to deal with the space program crisis; he gets elected President in 1972. John Lennon survives his early 1980s shooting but Pope John Paul II does not. The Apple Newton succeeded. Pretty much the whole of season 4 is a setup for an Al Gore joke. Again, mostly, the vision that “For All Mankind” presents is a positive one, with technology advancing many human interests. “Star City” goes in a very different direction. This spin-off show is about the same set of events but from the Soviet perspective. As we meet them, the team of scientists and cosmonauts responsible for the lunar landing are still basking in their hero status, but their program is embedded deep in the Soviet security state of the late 1960s. Everyone’s apartment is bugged. Whole teams of clerical staff spend their days transcribing recordings of people’s lives. People in the program, including respected cosmonauts, are regularly arrested. An incredibly menacing Colonel Lyudmilla Raskova (Anna Maxwell Martin) forces confessions and tortures and kills, expressing little more than annoyance in the process. Meanwhile, the space program’s highly respected Chief Designer (Rhys Ifans) has a vision for the program that he knows the government will not approve. He insists that they need to think past the Moon to focus on colonizing the solar system, starting with Venus. (This is a rough parallel to the Americans’ pivot to Mars in the original show.) He essentially builds a secret space program within the space program, calculating that the government will embrace the mission after it has succeeded. (As an aside, I’m not sure why the Venus obsession, as a successful mission can’t produce the biggest public relations payoff: a cosmonaut standing on the surface holding the Soviet flag. Anyone standing on Venus would be immediately crushed by the 92-bar atmosphere and then cremated in the 900°F temperatures. But in a country with no free press perhaps the visual payoff was less valued.) But the overall vision is that the technological advances have only amplified the most fearsome aspects of the Soviet system. The state is paranoid (but not incorrect) about American spies and does monstrous things to protect its secrets. People are terrified to trust each other. Classic banality-of-evil figures order people to harm those they care about; those people comply rather than get shot. Others are forced into criminal behavior to protect loved ones. We’re reminded all the time these days of what happens when a government despises science. It manifests in the defunding of schools, the elevation of fossil fuels as the rest of the world pivots to solar, outbreaks of measles and diarrhea, etc. But “Star City” offers a vision of a bad government that likes science. It’s not encouraging. It’s not yet clear if there will be a season two of this show. But I strongly recommend season one. It’s both thoughtful and gripping. Share

Jul 20 • 8:04 AM EDT • Science • smotus.substack.com

AI is becoming part of UK adults' health information journey

New YouGov data reveals how UK adults use AI tools like ChatGPT for health information, where they fit into the health journey and their perceived benefits.

Jul 20 • 6:21 AM EDT • Health • yougov.com

The rave secret: why middle-aged women are larging it – and seeing big health benefits

For those who are burned out, perimenopausal, or both, dancing all night can be a panacea. It’s great exercise, lowers stress, boosts energy and provides connection. No wonder so many are doing it

Jul 20 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • theguardian.com

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.

Jul 20 • 2:40 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Water First, Coffee in Moderation: What to Drink for Better Cognitive Health

The single best beverage for cognitive health is surprisingly simple: water. While coffee has attracted growing scientific interest for its potential brain benefits, hydration remains the foundation of healthy brain function.

Jul 19 • 8:00 PM EDT • Health • baptisthealth.net

AIPAC has spent a record amount on Michigan's Senate primary, the biggest test of its influence yet

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens is benefiting from tens of millions in pro-Israel spending in her race to be the Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan.

Jul 19 • 9:28 AM EDT • Politics • news4jax.com

Common antidepressant may ease long COVID’s crushing fatigue

A low-cost antidepressant may offer new hope for people struggling with long COVID fatigue. In a randomized clinical trial involving 399 adults, fluvoxamine significantly reduced fatigue and improved quality of life compared with a placebo, making it one of the first medications to show meaningful benefits for this disabling condition.

Jul 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com

Avocados Have Been Dubbed ‘Nature’s Moisturizer’—Here’s What To Know About Their Skin Health Benefits

Avocados are rich in healthy fats and antioxidants, including vitamin E and phenolic compounds, that may support firm, hydrated skin.

Jul 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • health.com

‘Everyone’s health has improved’: how tai chi energises these Chinese retirees

Tai chi practitioners at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven talk about learning the ancient Chinese practice and how it benefits health and spirit.

Jul 17 • 4:15 PM EDT • Health • scmp.com

So you want to buy a sports franchise? Why entering sports ownership gives the rich a ‘very elite and exclusive club’ with great tax benefits

Increasingly, the founders and heads of companies like Home Depot, Walmart and LVMH are entering the sports world. There's a good reason for that.

Jul 17 • 3:27 PM EDT • Sports • fortune.com

30-30-30 rule popularizes healthy morning routine

The 30‑30‑30 rule is a catchy idea meant to promote weight loss and overall wellness. A Maryland doctor thinks it could benefit a lot of people.

Jul 17 • 3:22 PM EDT • Health • wtop.com

Wegovy, weight loss and cardiovascular health: A closer look at how semaglutide protects the heart

When patients take semaglutide, the dose appears to offer more cardiovascular benefits than weight loss.

Jul 17 • 2:12 PM EDT • Business • cardiovascularbusiness.com

A new kind of chill: Cryo Lab business open in Kenosha

A business recently opened in Kenosha offers the benefits of the cold without winter weather or having to jump into Lake Michigan. CryoLabs opened its doors in Kenosha in May.

Jul 17 • 9:57 AM EDT • Business • kenoshanews.com

Opinion: Burke’s second act should benefit all of Cleveland

Creating a human-scale resident neighborhood at the Burke Lakefront Airport site would provide direct and wide-ranging benefits for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, writes economist James Trutko.

Jul 17 • 5:45 AM EDT • Business • crainscleveland.com

How AI can help heart teams identify TAVR patients

Many heart patients who would benefit from TAVR are still missing out on the care they need. AI, it turns out, can help cardiologists find those patients. An upcoming webinar is set to explore this topic at length.

Jul 16 • 4:49 PM EDT • Business • cardiovascularbusiness.com

GOP leaders forced to abandon signature veterans benefits bill amid intra-party dispute

Speaker Mike Johnson suffered another humiliating political defeat at the hands of his own party on Thursday when he was forced to abandon plans to pass a veterans’ benefits bill designed to be one of the GOP’s big legislative wins before the midterms.

Jul 16 • 4:32 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Trump revives rule denying green cards over public benefits use

The policy was previously implemented by Trump, but it was reversed by Biden

Jul 16 • 1:05 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Trump revives rule denying green cards over public benefits use

The policy was previously implemented by Trump, but it was reversed by Biden

Jul 16 • 1:05 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Trump officials want to make testosterone drugs easier to prescribe. Is that a good idea?

Officials under President Donald Trump want to make it easier for men to get a prescription for testosterone, the latest shift in a decades-long debate over the benefits and risks of replacing the hormone that affects sex drive, mood and other health factors.

Jul 16 • 11:54 AM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Retail sales up a modest 0.2% in June amid economic uncertainty and fading benefits from tax refunds

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers slowed their spending in June from May as amid continuing economic uncertainty and fading benefits from generous government tax refunds. Retail sales rose 0.2% in June…

Jul 16 • 9:01 AM EDT • Business • wtop.com

Retail sales up a modest 0.2% in June amid economic uncertainty and fading benefits from tax refunds

Shoppers slowed their spending in June from May amid continuing economic uncertainty and fading benefits from generous government tax refunds.

Jul 16 • 8:45 AM EDT • Business • seattletimes.com

Alabama state employees could see health benefit changes amid 'difficult choices'

Changes could be presented to the State Employees Insurance Board (SEIB) in September, CEO Stephanie Azar said.

Jul 16 • 6:01 AM EDT • Health • alabamareflector.com

Publicis Raises Guidance, Citing New Business Wins

The advertising group said it is benefiting from new business momentum driven by continued client demand for AI-powered marketing services.

Jul 16 • 1:39 AM EDT • Business • wsj.com

Capital One (COF) Unveils Up To $500 In Spark Business Travel Credits

Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) has introduced new travel credits for Spark Cash Plus and Spark Cash business cardholders. The credits are designed to be used on Capital One Business Travel bookings, adding a new benefit for business customers. This move links card rewards more directly to Capital One's business travel platform and could influence how companies manage travel spend. Capital One Financial, trading at around $208.89 per share, is adding this travel credit feature at a time...

Jul 15 • 9:15 PM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

NC State Health Plan adds Duke Health to its access tier, meaning members will pay more for WakeMed

The State Health Plan's board last week approved tiered benefits beginning in 2027.

Jul 15 • 2:37 PM EDT • Health • wunc.org

Health benefit premiums for NJ school workers expected to rise by 34%

New Jersey's beleaguered health plan for school workers faces another year of double-digit increases, the latest in a series.

Jul 15 • 1:16 PM EDT • Health • newjerseymonitor.com

AHA responds to CMS on potential modifications to ACA’s Essential Health Benefits

The AHA July 15 responded to a request for information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the Affordable Care Act’s Essential Health Benefits framework, which creates the guardrails for defining comprehensive insurance coverage.

Jul 15 • 11:39 AM EDT • Health • aha.org

4 Devices You Should Always Connect To 5GHz Wi-Fi (And 4 That Can Stay On 2.4GHz)

Not every device needs 5GHz Wi-Fi. Some gadgets benefit from faster speeds, while others perform better on reliable 2.4GHz connections.

Jul 15 • 10:02 AM EDT • Technology • bgr.com

Elevance Health Raises Earnings Outlook on Higher Sales

The health insurer raised its earnings outlook after logging a higher benefit-expense ratio and sales number in the second quarter.

Jul 15 • 6:44 AM EDT • Health • wsj.com

Older adults who followed popular diet saw surprising mental health benefit

Eating the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil, may help keep the mind strong even into old age, according to new research.

Jul 14 • 11:19 PM EDT • Health • foxnews.com

OnPay Named Best Online Payroll Service for Small Businesses by business.com

ATLANTA, July 14, 2026--OnPay, a leading payroll, HR, and benefits administration provider, today announced it has been recognized as the Best Online Payroll Service for small businesses in business.com’s annual review of the industry’s leading platforms.

Jul 14 • 7:33 AM EDT • Business • finance.yahoo.com

Birdwatching Hobby Enhances Homeowners’ Health And Outdoor Home Space

Birdwatching hobby can benefit from outdoor enhancements, including native plantings, feeders, houses and water features for drinks and bathing. Expert does and don'ts.

Jul 14 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • forbes.com

Semaglutide dose may matter more than weight loss for heart health

The study shows semaglutide's cardiovascular benefits are more closely tied to attained dose than weight loss, challenging existing treatment assumptions.

Jul 14 • 4:17 AM EDT • Health • news-medical.net

Heat can be deadly, but sunshine itself? Science says we could use more of it

Extreme exposure should be avoided, but we’ve gone too far the other way – enjoyed safely, the sun can have enormous health benefits, says author and MIT journalism fellow Rowan Jacobsen

Jul 14 • 3:00 AM EDT • Science • theguardian.com

The Metro: Why partisan politics makes it harder to keep the lights on in Michigan

Despite the fact that consumers won’t reap the benefits immediately, residents are having to pay for the upgrades now.

Jul 13 • 2:11 PM EDT • Politics • wdet.org

Commentary: What we’ve learned from the fight to save SNAP

Coalition organized by the Greater Chicago Food Depository helped preserve an essential benefit for thousands around Illinois.

Jul 13 • 9:45 AM EDT • Business • chicagobusiness.com

Cheering on team brings health benefits

Experts say being a fan can have its benefits.

Jul 13 • 8:55 AM EDT • Health • channel3000.com

NBAA Heads to AirVenture to Highlight Business Aviation, Association Benefits

NBAA will be front-and-center at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture, taking place July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) in Oshkosh, WI - connecting with industry stakeholders and showcasing all that the association has to offer members.

Jul 13 • 8:30 AM EDT • Business • nbaa.org

The surprising health benefits of eating spicy food

Like it hot? Your heart, gut — and even your lifespan — may benefit.

Jul 13 • 5:00 AM EDT • Science • washingtonpost.com

Eating this food regularly could lead to greater longevity

Like it hot? Your heart, gut — and even your lifespan — may benefit.

Jul 13 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com

Handover of Health Commodities

Joint Handover of Health Commodities Speech of Chargé d’Affaires Steve Bremner (…) Thank you for joining us. I am here today to demonstrate how U.S. foreign assistance under President Trump’s America First Global Health Strategy and our bilateral health MOU makes America safer and stronger while helping Madagascar build a more self-reliant health system. Through our bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2025 with the Ministry of Public Health, our two governments outlined shared priorities and responsibilities, including a strong focus on infectious disease threats and Madagascar’s increasing ownership and co-investment in its own health system. The MOU outlines the structure and terms of U.S. support to Madagascar’s health sector from 2026 through 2030, with a total commitment of $134,305,000 from the U.S. government and $41,216,252 from the Government of Madagascar to work jointly to address malaria, maternal and child health, polio and global health security issues. Stronger health systems help prevent instability and reduce the risk that infectious diseases reach the United States, making both our countries safer. America First foreign assistance is clear and disciplined: It is a tool of strategic engagement, not global charity. Every U.S. taxpayer dollar must show measurable results, reduce long-term dependence on U.S. taxpayer resources, and support greater self-reliance in recipient countries. Support must be efficient and targeted, with zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse. This year, through the U.S.-funded Global Health Supply Chain Program – Procurement and Supply Management project, we are distributing: 989,250 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, worth $2,000,000 to 63 districts and 1,661 Community Health Centers across Madagascar, with the third and final delivery of these nets having arrived in late June. Through the U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) project, we are funding: The full cost of Starlink internet connectivity equipment procurement, installation, and one-year subscription for 31 priority District and Regional Health Offices. Through the U.S.-funded Strengthening Infectious Disease Detection Systems project, we are supplying: 908,523 pieces of critical medical equipment and a modernized digital surveillance system to the Ministry of Public Health. These materials will strengthen health systems, improve response capabilities, and help those most in need of protection from mosquito-borne diseases — particularly malaria, which continues to claim the lives of children and women at an unacceptable rate. Deployed effectively, they will contribute to reducing maternal and newborn mortality in rural and hard-to-reach communities where the need is greatest. In these same underserved areas, Starlink connectivity will play a critical role in enabling the rapid transmission of health data and information to central levels, ensuring that decision-makers receive timely, actionable intelligence and can mount swift, coordinated responses to protect populations. For Americans, this support delivers concrete benefits. Stronger health systems in Madagascar help detect and contain infectious diseases before they spread across borders, protecting American and Malagasy families. More stable, healthier countries can expand trade and economic cooperation with the United States. Our goal is not permanent support; it is temporary, targeted assistance that helps Madagascar save lives while achieving greater self-reliance and independence from foreign assistance. To the health workers and community health agents here that will use the products we’re delivering today: your dedication and skills save lives. Your work exemplifies the kind of local ownership that will enable Madagascar to reduce dependence on foreign assistance and manage the country’s health challenges. This targeted support delivers results today while helping Madagascar build toward a future where it can sustain and expand those health gains independently, ensuring that today’s U.S. support leads to Madagascar’s self-sufficiency. Thank you, Misaotra.

Jul 13 • 4:49 AM EDT • Health • mg.usembassy.gov

When regulation is good for business

By now, I think I have established both my view that I am a fan of ESG investing and the benefits of regulating what is and isn’t a sustainable investment, and my view that in Europe, ESG regulation has gone too far and become too costly. It almost feels like the old Aristotelian maxim of doing things in moderation that leads to the best outcomes is valid in regulatory efforts as well. To give you an example, let’s look at a study by the National Bank of Belgium on the impact of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) on fund flows of conventional and ESG funds. The SFDR was announced on 27 November 2019 and came into effect on 10 March 2021. It was implemented in several stages and split funds marketed in the EU into three broad categories: (i) Art. 6 funds that are basically conventional funds without any specific ESG integration, (ii) Art. 8 funds that ‘promote environmental or social characteristics’, which must provide additional reporting how they do that, and (iii) Art. 9 funds that are impact funds. The gaps between the announcement and the phased implementation give us an idea of how fund flows were affected by the regulation. It is clearly visible in the figure below that once the new regulation was announced and when it was initially implemented, fund flows in Art. 8 and Art. 9 funds increased significantly. Conventional Art. 6 funds also saw more inflows, but the increase was not statistically significant. I should add that the data below is pure fund flow, cleaned of performance effects and of any reclassified funds that moved from one classification to another. Note also that once the initial rush in ESG funds was over, additional, stricter regulatory requirements didn’t create that many new flows. This implies that with additional regulation, the funds incurred higher costs to comply but didn’t benefit in terms of new inflows and higher assets under management. Fund flows as the SFDR regulation was implemented in the EU Source: Emiris et al. (2026) When examining the drivers of these flows, the authors of the study found that institutional investors were more likely to switch to ESG funds and particularly so in countries where concerns about sustainability are culturally more accepted. In a society where buy-in into environmental and social risks is higher, private investors were shifting more of their assets into ESG funds as the regulation made it clear which funds are really green and which ones are not. And institutional investors in these countries did so as well, given the societal pressures and reputational risks of sticking with conventional funds. Meanwhile, fund managers reacted to the changing regulatory environment as well. Many funds that were mildly green before the regulation was announced became greener and more sustainable as the regulation was introduced to attract new assets and new investors. Cleverly, and unsurprisingly, these ESG funds also charge on average higher fees, which means that not only did fund managers gather fresh assets, but their profitability increased as well.

Jul 13 • 2:00 AM EDT • Business • klementoninvesting.substack.com

iPhone 18 Pro Release Date: Apple’s Strategic Decision To Defeat Android

Apple’s September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro allows it to learn from its Android rivals. Samsung and Google will take the pain as Apple reaps the benefits.

Jul 12 • 7:56 PM EDT • Technology • forbes.com

Big Medicine threatens your wallet and your health. But there is a solution.

The Break Up Big Medicine Act has bipartisan support, and builds on new laws restricting pharmacy benefit managers.

Jul 12 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • ms.now

They're Building Half A Bridge to Save Science...

Today’s post is about science: what you can do now to protect it from unprecedented threats, and how your action is the first half of a long-term program that Congress must take up next. Let me start with describing the embryonic state of science advocacy. There are many well-meaning organizations: the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Research!America, and subject-specific organizations such as the Society for Neuroscience and the American Physical Society. Their general approach is to emphasize the common good: the remarkable value that science and innovation have provided to all Americans. However, these organizations are offering an incomplete solution. Before I start, a preliminary: If you already know about the threat, go ahead and weigh in with OMB at this link. Ideas about what to say come from Research!America and the American Physical Society. You have until Monday, July 13 at 11:59pm Eastern. Then come back here and read the rest of this post. Finally, get in touch with whoever is likely to be your next member of Congress in 2027. The threat: An end to merit-based science… The onslaught of attacks on science is accelerating. It’s not just cuts to grants, which was the last battle. That battle is not done yet, but there is a new and worse threat. Now comes a proposed public rule from the Office of Management and Budget. The rule would take decision-making power over grants away from experts and put it into the hands of political appointees. Former NIH official Elizabeth Ginexi wrote an excellent summary of what OMB is trying to do, which is codify the executive branch’s ability to award or terminate grants, for arbitrary cause or no stated cause. Since World War II, a necessary step in scientific grant-making has been consideration of scientific merit. This approach has made America into a dominant scientific superpower, the envy of the world. Of course, political considerations do come into the mix. The proposed rule tilts the balance dramatically away from merit. …but why? Many people have difficulty comprehending why Russell Vought and OMB would want to damage science in this way. If you’re a working scientist, you are likely to be particularly uncomprehending. Who would hurt an activity so self-evidently good? The answer is: this is part of the program to replace the rule of law with a personalist regime. OMB Director Russell Vought, a Christian nationalist, would like to implement what legal scholars call a “unitary executive,” and what I would call a dictatorship. Or if you like, a personalist authoritarian regime. I am a working scientist. This rule will debilitate my research. It may chill the speech of scientists for speaking freely in the public sphere. It is a form of personalizing power and decision-making within the executive branch. In short, it sacrifices science in the service of tyranny. To Russell Vought, a decrease in the quality of science might be an acceptable cost. He might even consider it an added benefit to weaken a pillar of soft U.S. power based on knowledge and skepticism. The professional societies are building half a bridge The nonprofits are asking you to make public comment. Public comment is like building the first half of a bridge. Before implementation, OMB is compelled by law to have a period of public comment. Rules have to be consistent with the law and the Constitution. They express the federal government’s stance toward how those laws will be implemented. When a presidential administration works in good faith, these public comments are used to inform their eventual action, and sometimes mitigate it. The comment period reflects our First Amendment right to petition our government. The executive branch is then supposed to take those comments into account - completing the bridge between us, the people, and our government. Project 2025 seeks to take away the second half of the bridge. We have to replace it. The first half of the bridge Organizations like AAAS, Research!America, and SfN are partly right. You should certainly comment. Their core model is earnest: if enough of us make noise, then we will achieve change. This idealistic point of view is offered in good faith. That point of view is also currently bullshit. The fundamental reason is that the federal rulemaking process has two parts: There has to be a period of public comment. OMB makes the final rule…but is free to disregard public comment. Oops. That’s a loophole. However, not all is lost. Congress can complete the bridge Congress has enormous power. That power suggests a roadmap for how to proceed. This lawless administration is still going to issue that rule. Nonetheless, your comments still play an essential role. Here are two steps you can take. Step 1: Send your comment to your Representative and Senator. Whether they are Democrats or Republicans, many of them support science. Whatever you wrote as public comment in the Federal Register, also send it to your member of Congress. You can include information about jobs in your district or state by looking at Joshua Weitz’s ScienceMatters interactive map. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and give your town, zip code, or state, then deliver your message. Step 2: Politicize the hell out of science. You heard me, politicize it as an issue. We hear a lot from the old scientific establishment about science being nonpartisan. This is obsolete, sentimental thinking. Under normal conditions, it was true. But we can no longer make that assumption. We can keep on pretending, but we’re putting science at risk. There is a way forward. Rules are subordinate to the law…and Congress makes laws. Therefore Congress can step in. In this fall’s election, it is likely that Democrats will retake the House of Representatives. That puts at least one chamber of Congress in the hands of Democrats. They are far more inclined than the current Congress to investigate and legislate. This opens a path to undoing the damage. It also creates a permission structure for pro-science Republicans to find a way back from the brink. We have to encourage them. In the House, every district is up every two years. In your district, contact both of the major party candidates. If your state has a Senate race, contact those candidates too. Specifically mention the proposed OMB rule. Ask for two things: For this year’s appropriations process in August and September, ask that amendments be added to stop the implementation of the new rule. Those amendments should support peer-reviewed science and stop political interference. Looking ahead to next year, ask the Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator to work to hold hearings in 2027 on the importance and benefits of peer-reviewed science for health and prosperity. What hearings and amendments will accomplish Congress can use its investigatory power to summon heads of agencies and the director of the OMB. That will allow fact-finding regarding the consequences of this rule. Congress can override the rule through the appropriations process. They can write into statute a requirement to follow peer review and best scientific practices. In this way, Congress can stop the attacks on science. Postscript: Moving forward Now I have a request for you, to help me. As many of you know, I ran for Congress in order to save democracy and science. Although I did not win, that battle continues by other means. I met and heard from thousands of supporters both here in New Jersey and nationally. I learned that pro-science, pro-democracy activists have the potential to become a much greater force. In the weeks and months ahead, I will be building ways to harness that energy. I will be announcing those plans soon. In the meantime, an important step is to wind down the Congressional campaign, which has a few remaining bills to pay. Please help me retire that last debt.

Jul 12 • 2:14 AM EDT • Science • samwang.substack.com

iPhone 18 Pro Release Date: Apple’s Strategic Decision To Defeat Rivals

Apple’s September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro allows it to learn from its Android rivals. Samsung and Google will take the pain as Apple reaps the benefits.

Jul 11 • 1:24 PM EDT • Technology • forbes.com

ENTERTAINMENT: Mandolin legend set for Ozark Folk Center benefit

Mandolinist Sam Bush, a member of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and three-time Grammy Award winner, performs with his band as headliners of a 7 p.m. concert Saturday in the Ozark Highlands Theater.

Jul 11 • 1:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • arkansasonline.com

US judge won't block FTC case against transgender health nonprofit

A U.S. judge on Friday declined for now to block the Federal Trade Commission from ​pursuing a lawsuit accusing a nonprofit focused on transgender health of making misleading statements about the benefits ‌of gender-affirming treatments for minors.

Jul 10 • 5:32 PM EDT • Health • reuters.com

NC’s State Health Plan switching who administers its members’ benefits, again

The State Health Plan announced who won its health and pharmacy benefits contracts.

Jul 10 • 1:29 PM EDT • Health • newsobserver.com

GLP-1 drugs linked to long-term benefits for PAD patients

PAD patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists lived longer, stayed out of the hospital more and experienced fewer amputations than those given metformin.

Jul 10 • 12:38 PM EDT • Business • cardiovascularbusiness.com

NC State Health Plan raises premiums, offers new tiered benefits that could help members cut costs

The N.C. State Health Plan's Board of Trustees voted Friday morning to raise premiums for many of its 770,000 members.

Jul 10 • 12:26 PM EDT • Health • wunc.org

Health Innovations for the Restaurant Industry

Explore how CBIZ helped a restaurant identify, design, implement, and administer a revised health and benefits strategy.

Jul 10 • 11:50 AM EDT • Health • cbiz.com

7 Types of Magnesium and What Each Is Used For

From glycinate for sleep to citrate for constipation, experts explain how common magnesium forms differ, who may benefit, and why it's important to talk to a health care provider.

Jul 10 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • aarp.org

One Type Of Screen Time May Actually Benefit Your Brain, New Study Finds

Turns out, some screen time may actually be good for your brain.

Jul 10 • 6:23 AM EDT • Science • mindbodygreen.com

Indiana: Stop playing politics with kids' food.

In Indiana, over 650,000 kids are without consistent meals this summer because the state opted out of an important federal food program. I just introduced a bill to change that.The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program is designed to fill a gap for kids who typically rely on free meals at school. It’s a win-win program: the federal government covers the cost of the food benefits. Congress has already approved it, and it’s set to go — signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered to 650,000 Hoosier kids in need. That’s how the program works in other states.

Jul 9 • 1:43 PM EDT • Politics • indianapolisrecorder.com

Arts and Entertainment Agenda, July 10-16

Aspen Words Annual Benefit Dinner, July 10 Great company is paired with great words Friday at Aspen Words’ 2026 Book Ball, an annual benefit dinner from 5:45-9:30 p.m. July 10 at Doerr-Hosier Center, Aspen Meadows...

Jul 9 • 11:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • aspentimes.com

Structural Factors Impacting White Men’s Health

LDI Fellow Derek Griffith and a colleague theorize that structural factors that benefit white men also may contribute to their poorer behavioral health outcomes.

Jul 9 • 9:42 AM EDT • Health • ldi.upenn.edu

Strip resort launches parking, dining, entertainment deals for Nevada residents

The program offers parking benefits, dining discounts and gaming rewards for all locals with a valid Nevada ID, according to a news release.

Jul 8 • 2:33 PM EDT • Entertainment • reviewjournal.com

Justin Ishbia’s Shore Capital buys employee benefits firm in healthcare push

Chicago-based Shore Capital has raised more than $2 billion for healthcare investments since 2024.

Jul 8 • 11:34 AM EDT • Business • chicagobusiness.com

Joint Society Editorial Calls For Science-Based Approach to CV Health Equity

A joint editorial on behalf of the ACC, American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology and World Heart Federation calls for a new era of equity-centered cardiovascular care designed to redefine prevention, optimize care delivery and ensure that all patients worldwide benefit equally from the promise of modern cardiovascular medicine.

Jul 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • acc.org

A Dog Named Dug: The Science Behind Therapy Animals

Through the Cornell Companions program, volunteer therapy animals on campus bring emotional and neurochemical benefits to students during stressful times.

Jul 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • cornellsun.com

Are glucose monitors a good thing for 2-year-olds? Experts look at risks, benefits

The newly approved over-the-counter CGM offers a new approach to tackling childhood obesity but also raises a host of questions.

Jul 8 • 4:30 AM EDT • Health • statnews.com

Principal to acquire Beam Benefits in small business benefits deal

Beam generated $175 million in premiums last year, and the deal targets Principal's specialty benefits 5-9% growth range

Jul 8 • 4:10 AM EDT • Business • insurancebusinessmag.com

Academic Excellence Award Winner

Academic Excellence Award Winner Erin shares her experiences as a Public and Community Health Major, with double minors in Legal Studies and Health Policy and Management:"I came to Ithaca from the suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts knowing that I wanted an education that would allow me to change the world in a positive light. Admittedly, I was unaware when choosing the public health major just how much of an impact I could make, but through my experiences in this rigorous program, I know public health is where I am meant to be. Being a public health major during the COVID-19 pandemic was a unique experience. My education granted me the opportunity to work on and off campus with different populations to provide support during the pandemic. Professor Srijana Bajracharya was my professor for Research Methods in Health. She encouraged her class to create research projects that would benefit our communities. She was a mentor for me and helped me find my passion in research, which I have brought with me to my job as a research assistant for Rescue - The Behavior Change Agency. I thank Professor Bajracharya for her guidance and support throughout my time as a public health student."

Jul 8 • 2:44 AM EDT • Health • ithaca.edu

Oregon eyes $421 million in Medicaid cuts, including fewer benefits and limits on prescription drugs

Major cuts are coming to the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s free healthcare program covering 1.4 million children and low-income adults. But the group of experts Gov. Tina Kotek charged with minimizing the harm of those cuts has given her no definitive recommendations.

Jul 8 • 12:31 AM EDT • Health • opb.org