SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " mini " 8,022 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Big Bend region border wall construction begins
The Trump administration has started building the border wall through a west Texas section of the Big Bend region, marking the first major construction in an area of the U.S.-Mexico border where the administration's plans have met heavy opposition.
A mini-workout may help memory as much as a nap after sleep loss
Exercise and naps may protect memory after sleep deprivation in different ways. A doctor explains what these results from a recent study mean.
Whistleblowers accuse Kennedy Center officials of halting planned repairs later used to justify closure
Whistleblowers are alleging that Kennedy Center officials halted plans earlier this year to repair leaks in the building, which the Trump administration has highlighted as its reason to close the storied arts institution.
TikTok settles for over $100 million in mental health lawsuit, Alabama AG says
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office announced Friday it reached a minimum $100 million settlement deal with TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, days before a state court was set to hear arg…
Florida business owners say minimum wage increase could help retain Alabama workers
Supreme Court OKs Use of Social Security Data to Check Voter Rolls. What It Means for the Midterms
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to move forward – for now – with a system that uses federal data to help states identify people on their voter rolls who may not be eligible to vote. The emergency ruling lifts restrictions imposed by a lower court on the administration's ...
Federal appeals court rules Pentagon’s blacklist of Anthropic was legal
The Department of Defense can blacklist Anthropic’s artificial intelligence technology, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday. The decision is a blow to Anthropic after it won a separate challenge in a California court in August that partially invalidated the Trump administration’s label.
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
Partisan Politics Should Stay out of America’s Cultural Institutions
During his second presidential term, President Donald Trump and his administration have initiated countless attacks on free speech. Virtually every entity involved in the public dissemination of information has been impacted by the Trump administration’s censorship campaign. Responses to these attacks have been wide-ranging: while many organizations and institutions have fought back against the administration,...
Blumenthal, Lamont: Trump blocking CT grants for political reasons
A judge ruled the Trump administration illegally halted $53 million in clean energy grants for CT recipients. They have yet to be released.
New Jersey’s lieutenant governor resigns after sexual harassment and ethics complaints
Gov. Mikie Sherrill had given Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell until Friday to bring an end to a scandal that threatened to be a drag on her fledgling administration.
The Supreme Court just threw a new monkey wrench at the midterms. Here’s what to know
Election Day is fast approaching, but the Supreme Court is still weighing in on the rules, most recently on Friday when it allowed states to use a Trump administration-backed tool to ferret out noncitizen voting there’s little evidence occurs in a widespread way.
Anida Yoeu Ali is 'The Buddhist Bug' in a compelling exhibit at VPMA
Performance artist Anida Yoeu Ali's exhibit, 'Anida Yoeu Ali: The Buddhist Bug,' features a 328-foot-long performance installation of an orange bug that explores race, religion, feminism and immigration, and will weave in and out of the gallery rooms.
Here’s How Trump Is Building a National Citizenship Database to Check Voters
The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to deploy a system that merges personal data from across the government. Questions remain about its reliability.
Apple's HomePod Mini 2 Will Reportedly Come In New Colors, But Feature A Similar Design
It's been six years since the original model.
CARICOM endorses new Action Plan on Health and Climate Change developed with PAHO/WHO support
Ministers of Health from the Caribbean Community endorsed the regional framework during the 53rd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development, Health (COHSOD-Health), in Washington, D.C.
Leaks reveal a new Apple HomePod mini, iPad mini, and Apple TV 4K
Apple’s not done with hardware announcements this year.
MindsEye: Ex-GTA developer's studio faces closure
Build A Rocket Boy, founded by Leslie Benzies, has gone into administration after its debut game flopped.
Justices uphold Trump's expanded data checks to spot non-citizens who registered to vote
The Trump administration says Social Security data may help spot non-citizens who are registered to vote.
Supreme Court lets Trump administration use revamped federal voter eligibility database for now
The Supreme Court on Friday lifted restrictions on a controversial federal voter database before November’s elections, granting President Donald Trump a temporary win in his aggressive campaign against noncitizen voting.
I'm not tempted to call an early election, Andy Burnham says
The prime minister told the BBC an early poll would throw the country into a "backward-looking process".
Trump administration runs taxpayer-funded ‘love me’ ad
Democratic lawmakers have demanded more details about the ad
Supreme Court lets Trump administration use federal voter eligibility database
The emergency order allows states, for now, to use the Department of Homeland Security program, called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements.
Supreme Court lets Trump administration use federal voter eligibility database
The emergency order allows states, for now, to use the Department of Homeland Security program, called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements.
Supreme Court allows Trump administration to use expanded database for potential voter purges
Critics have said the data could lead to U.S. citizens being kicked off the voter rolls, but the justices noted the law prohibits broad voter purges in the weeks leading up to an election.
Supreme Court Allows Expansive Federal Database for Voter Screening
Critics of a citizenship database built by the Trump administration have raised alarms about privacy and improper voter purges.
Supreme Court lets Trump administration use revamped federal voter eligibility database for now
The emergency order allows states, for now, to use the Department of Homeland Security program, called Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE,
SBA offers disaster loans to Maryland businesses impacted by Empire Towers incident
BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The U.S. Small Business Administration announced low-interest federal disaster loans for Maryland small businesses and private nonprofit orga
iPad Mini With A20 Pro, New HomePod Mini Colors, and New Apple TV 4K All Just Leaked
MacRumors has just leaked the next iPad mini, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K models, all of which are likely to be announced this October. The most notable iPad mini details revealed in the leaks include an A20 Pro chip, a new speaker design, and a landscape front camera, while images have revealed that the next HomePod mini will be available in new colors like green and pink.
iPad Mini 8 Leaked: A20 Pro Chip, Landscape Camera, and More
Apple's next-generation iPad mini will feature the A20 Pro chip, a rearranged front-facing camera, and a new speaker system, leaked code reveals. The information originates from Apple's own code (spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris) and also shows clear product images of the new iPad mini. Although images of the device only show the front, leaving any design changes of the rear or side profile unknown, there are still visible changes.
Exclusive: First Look at HomePod Mini 2 in Three New Colors
Apple's new HomePod mini will share the same design as the original model and come in five colors, MacRumors has found. The information originates from Apple's own code (spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris) and shows clear product images of the new models in all of their colors. The above image contains Apple's own icons, which specifically refer to a "HomePod mini 2". The new HomePod mini will come in green, pink, blue, white, and black.
Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon detained while protesting Netanyahu in NYC
Actors Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon were detained by police on Sept. 24 during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nelson University Launches Doctor of Business Administration Program
Nelson University has launched an online Doctor of Business Administration program with Christian business professionals in mind.
HBO’s Billionaire Divorce Drama War Doesn’t Know What It’s Trying to Say
The glossy series has all the elements of prestige TV but no perspective on the world it's depicting
'War' review: HBO's delicious legal drama is your next TV obsession
Dominic West and Sienna Miller star in this tale of divorce and betrayal.
Iran has suggested a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 7 days
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi detailed the proposal in a private gathering on Thursday
Iran has suggested a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 7 days
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi detailed the proposal in a private gathering on Thursday
You Can Edit Your Photos With Lightroom and Photoshop Inside Google Gemini
Google Gemini users can now edit their photos with Adobe's creative editing tools inside Gemini, including color and lighting changes.
CDC vaccine policy recommendations grind to a halt under Health Secretary Kennedy
NEW YORK (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new flu vaccine that tested well in older adults. But the federal agency responsible for telling doctors and
Removal of 760,000 people from ACA marketplace could undermine US health system
Trump administration move weakens federal insurance programs – and some poor people will likely forego healthcare
Netanyahu turned the UN into campaign theater – but will Israelis buy the show?
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: The prime minister presents himself on the global stage as a leader uniquely equipped to defend Israel in a hostile world, seeking to bring that same message home to Israeli voters.
India orders crackdown on nicotine pouches, citing health risks, letter shows
India's government has ordered states to crack down on the sale of nicotine pouches, which it considers a major health risk, saying globally popular brands are being widely sold illegally in the country, a letter from the health ministry shows.
Arzana raises $4.3M to automate factory paperwork
Growing up around manufacturing in Okoboji, William Alexander wondered if there were ways to make administrative tasks more efficient to give manufacturers more time to focus on their specialties. After graduating from Stanford University, Alexander teamed up with classmate Marshall Kools to develop Arzana, which builds custom artificial intelligence models around client workflows and data,…
Google Adds Creepy Avatars To Gemini 3.8 Live's Agents
Google has introduced Gemini 3.8 live avatars designed for customer service and other tasks.
India’s ‘cockroach’ movement targets election chief in political pivot
The Gen Z group that forced out an education minister is demanding the election chief’s resignation over alleged voter roll irregularities.
As RFK Jr. Opens Inquiry On Disputed Health Effects Of Cellphone Radiation, What Does Science Tell Us About Radiofrequency Emissions?
The Trump Administration aims to “identify gaps in our knowledge.” But it's not clear this investigation will add much to the conversation beyond what scientific studies have already shown.
As RFK Jr. Opens Inquiry On Disputed Health Effects Of Cellphone Radiation, What Does Science Tell Us About Radiofrequency Emissions?
The Trump Administration aims to “identify gaps in our knowledge.” But it's not clear this investigation will add much to the conversation beyond what scientific studies have already shown.
Africa’s universities need overhaul to harness continent’s young talent, says public health expert
Dr John Nkengasong, a former WHO adviser who worked with Biden administration on Aids policy, says decolonising curriculums and investment are key to unlocking potential of continent’s graduates
Why Germany Is Building an Ark for U.S. Climate Data
As researchers around the world begin work on the next U.N. climate assessment, fears are growing that the Trump administration could meddle with critical U.S. climate data.
Pope Leo XIV affirms need for media when asked about Trump ban at White House
Pope Leo XIV told reporters they were welcome to cover him as he responded a question about the Trump administration’s attempt to bar U.S. media from the White House by affirming the importance of...
Pope Leo XIV affirms need for media when asked about Trump ban at White House
Pope Leo XIV told reporters they were welcome to cover him as he responded a question about the Trump administration’s attempt to bar U.S. media from the White House by affirming the importance of...
Unused tents and uneaten food: Watchdog finds ‘waste’ in immigration crackdown
In a report Thursday, the Government Accountability Office said the Trump administration squandered millions of dollars to expand detention.
Imprisoned tech fraudster Elizabeth Holmes to be moved to halfway house
Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced onetime youngest self-made billionaire whose health care startup Theranos turned out to be a fraud, will be moved from her current minimum-security prison to a halfway
Justice Jackson Calls Emergency Docket ‘Potentially Corrosive’
Hours after fielding the Trump administration’s latest emergency application, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson gave a speech urging the Supreme Court to rethink such requests.
Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court as 3rd-country deportations are thrown into question
A ruling to halt deportations of people to countries other than their own threw a core immigration policy of the Trump administration into question, at least temporarily, and prompted a desperate appeal to the Supreme Court on Thursday.
Hannah Einbinder, Susan Sarandon arrested in protest against Netanyahu
Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon were arrested after protesting the arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the United Nations in New York City. Cynthia Nixon, Elliot Page, Indya Moore, Mary Beth Barone, Caleb Hearon and Sarah Sherman were also at the demonstration.
At least 30 arrested, including actors, politicians during anti-Netanyahu protest outside UN
Police arrested at least 30 people, including actors and politicians, during a protest outside the United Nations headquarters on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hours before he addressed the UN General Assembly.
Police arrest actors, politicians protesting against Netanyahu outside UN
Police arrested at least 30 people including actors and politicians as they protested outside United Nations headquarters on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his speech at the General Assembly.
Trump urges Supreme Court to restart deportations to countries with poor human rights records
President Donald Trump’s administration urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to allow it to remove migrants to countries other than their homeland without giving them an opportunity to raise human rights concerns.
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Deportations to Third Countries
A lower federal court on Wednesday imposed restrictions on deporting migrants to countries other than their own.
Maryland businesses impacted by drought can apply for federal disaster loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering federal disaster loans to eligible Maryland businesses and private nonprofit organizations that have been impacted by drought.
Gemini 3.8 Live with Live Avatar gives Google’s AI a face
The AI avatar can transition between 97 languages.
Senate rejects measure to block Trump from ordering more strikes on Iran
The administration ignored passage of a similar resolution in June, arguing that it lacks the force of law.
Unique mural painted on Mount Vernon real estate business building
MOUNT VERNON — Real estate and the "Final Fantasy" franchise might not typically go hand-in-hand, but that didn't stop Dominic Pettruzzelli when designing a mural for his business.
Scientists sound alarm over new endangered species rules
Scientists and environmental advocates say Trump administration changes could put species like the North Atlantic right whale in harm’s way.
Ohio football coach resigns following investigation into 'unprofessional conduct'
Rob Page had been placed on administrative leave following a loss to Pickerington Central (OH) on September 18.
Kamin Science Center adds local library to Miniature Railroad & Village exhibit
The Kamin Science Center in Pittsburgh is marking its 35th anniversary with the addition of a replica of the Andrew Bayne Memorial Library to its Miniature Railroad & Village exhibit.
FAA: No political interference in Trump arch review
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) head Bryan Bedford said there was no political interference in the air safety review for President Trump’s proposed triumphal arch, which concluded that …
Google Photos Getting 5 Fun Feature Upgrades
Today, Google Photos announced that it is rolling out 5 upgrades to your experience, giving you power over photos with Gemini Spark, access to your digital closet, new Moods to style things with, new Remix templates, and an upgraded markup tool. Some of this new stuff you’ve heard of before, but this is Google acknowledging...
Trump administration in N.C. marks Republicans' 'make or break time'
President Trump and Vice President Vance hold separate campaign events a week apart in North Carolina ahead of the midterm election, as republicans hit "make or break time."
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) […]
Gemini can now call businesses for you so you don’t have to wait on hold
Would you let Gemini do the talking for you?
Google’s Gemini Can Now Make Calls for You on Pixel Phones
Call for Me—a feature that’s exclusive to the Pixel 11 series—gives robocalls a new meaning.
Google tests letting Gemini call businesses for you
Google says the AI-calling feature will first be available to Pixel 11 owners in the U.S. who pay for a Gemini subscription.
Pixel 11 starts testing ‘Call for Me’ to have Gemini phone on your behalf
Following Direct My Call and Hold for Me, Google is introducing "Call for Me" on the Pixel 11 series. Reminiscent of Google Duplex...
Google tests letting Gemini call businesses for you
Google says the AI-calling feature will first be available to Pixel 11 owners in the U.S. who pay for a Gemini subscription.
SBA Loan Defaults Surged at 2 Nonbank Lenders. $1.3 Billion Entered Liquidation
The Small Business Administration stopped non-bank lender exams just one week before lifting a nearly 40-year moratorium on admitting more of them into the program.
From 15,000 to 185 to Zero: Trump’s Claims of Illegal Voting in Nevada Fizzle
It was the Trump administration’s latest stumble in its effort to find proof of widespread noncitizen voting, despite decades of evidence that it is extremely rare.
An undrafted rookie scored every Giants point on Monday
The Giants scored six points against the Rams on Monday. Every one of them came from Dominic Zvada, an undrafted […]
GSA Issues Notice of “Glitch” and Recommends Contractors Validate Small Business Status Representations on SAM.gov
The General Services Administration (GSA) has begun sending out email notifications of a “known glitch” affecting certain System for Award Management
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...
'Extreme concern': OpenAI agent hacked Australian public health website, prime minister says
An OpenAI agent "infiltrated" an Australian public health website earlier this summer, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters during a media briefing.
Googlebooks will get full GeForce Now support ‘later this year’
Nvidia says Google’s new Gemini-infused laptops are slated to get GeForce Now support before the year is up, which is...
Australia to investigate if OpenAI hack of government health website broke the law
The incident is the first known breach to affect a government agency, and Australia's prime minister has vowed to hold OpenAI accountable.
New iPad mini coming soon with these major changes
A new iPad mini is reportedly coming as soon as October with an OLED display, faster chip, and better durability. Here's what we know.
After US Embassy Monitors Went Offline, Air Pollution Spiked
New research found that after the US sdministration suspended its embassy air pollution monitoring initiative, air pollution increased by 23-33%, particularly
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.
EU science policy wonks debate prospect of stronger ties with Canada
Europe’s research and innovation sector has started asking questions on how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s offer to make Canada “the first associate member of the EU” would actually work in practice, and who will get to shape priorities in a transatlantic relationship that is getting stronger. The Commission says it wants “a new model of association” under which the EU and Canada will aim to develop “a shared space” to face ongoing challenges. “Working in close coordination with our member states and the European Parliament, we will aim to create a new form of partnership that has not existed until now, building the closest imaginable form of association with a partner outside Europe,” a spokesperson told Science|Business.Locked in an escalating trade war with US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly talked of annexing Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney has been looking east, but full EU membership was never in play. Taking the floor a day after von der Leyen’s proposal, he agreed to strengthen ties under “an alliance of the future” but reined in enthusiasm on the new label. He also suggested expanding Canada’s involvement in the Erasmus+ student mobility scheme, to which it currently has limited access, and the next iteration of Horizon Europe. Canada joined the present Horizon Europe in 2024, but only contributes to collaborative projects.Neither side has detailed the next practical steps in developing this new relationship. “I think nobody at the moment truly knows how this will work,” said Michael Browne, chief executive and founder of Crowdhelix, a global collaborative network that connects players in research and innovation. “It’s more of a statement of intent for closer collaboration, which requires legislative frameworks and approval processes, which have not started.”Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of the League of European Research Universities, said von der Leyen’s pitch to Canada is “politically significant, but the legal content still has to be negotiated and constructed.”Mattias Björnmalm, secretary general of the Cesaer university group, agreed that she had only opened “a political door” to Canada, as “associate membership does not come with a predefined set of rights in the EU institutions.”Not only does this status not currently exist as a legal category in the two treaties that set up how the EU functions, but the Commission president cannot unilaterally create a new category of EU membership.According to Deketelaere, Article 217 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows the bloc to make association deals with non-EU countries involving reciprocal rights and duties, is “the most obvious existing legal basis for building a much deeper EU-Canada relationship.”Getting universities involvedNo matter how this new cooperation takes shape, Liviu Matei, who heads the School of Education, Communication and Society at King’s College London, hopes to see universities involved in discussions from an early stage.“Its primary motivations, entirely justifiably, are political and geopolitical,” he said. “In the area of higher education, however, restricting the initiative to political and geopolitical considerations would limit the scope of cooperation and lead to distorted frameworks and counterproductive implementation.”It is all the more important since academic interests on the two sides of the Atlantic are “neither identical nor fully aligned,” Matei added. “This is not insurmountable; it simply requires work to articulate the details of this privileged cooperation, including its governance and funding frameworks, as well as its substantive content in education and research.”Related articlesCanada looks to deepen research and education links with the EUZaharieva hopes for a Horizon Europe deal in 2026Canada might participate in European Research Council schemes, for example, which was not on offer in the present Horizon Europe association agreement. But “there would have to be something in it for the EU,” Browne said. “They don’t want to be funding projects outside of the EU where intellectual property is going to sit outside of the EU. There has to be some kind of transfer of knowledge.”But access to funding will not by itself resolve all the practical difficulties of working together, said Björnmalm. “For researchers and students, these include visas and residence arrangements, recognition of qualifications and study periods, and the conditions for pursuing a research career across borders,” he said. “For universities, there is scope for more predictable access to shared laboratories, computing and research data, and stronger support for joint doctoral training and long-term institutional partnerships.”Linda Doyle, provost and president of Trinity College Dublin, said Europe should strive for the “closest possible expression” of this new political alliance. “If Europe is serious about recovering its voice and its place in the world, it needs to be strongly allied with countries who share its values and its vision for a stable, rules-based, peaceful world.”
Digital Foundry: Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave is 720p docked, 540p handheld and 30fps, but uses DLSS
The tech-focussed team at Digital Foundry has been busy examining the recently released Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave on the Nintendo Switch 2. The strategic RPG runs at 720p when played in docked mode…
Australian health website breach by OpenAI causes concern
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was extremely concerned about OpenAI 's breach of an Australian health department website and that the company took too long to reveal the incident.
Greek PM urges 'courage' in talks with UK over Parthenon Marbles
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday called for "political will and courage" to resolve the country's protracted battle with Britain over returning the prized Parthenon Marbles to A...
HCA Healthcare Names Dan Miller President of East Florida Division
HCA Healthcare announced that Dan Miller has been named president of the East Florida Division, succeeding Charles Gressle, who has been appointed president of HCA Healthcare’s newly formed Ambulatory Operations Group. Miller currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Methodist Healthcare System, a 50/50 partnership between the Methodist Healthcare Ministries and HCA Healthcare, […]
Dominican immigrant builds NC construction business from the ground up
Ada Esther Gil Jimenez, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic and owner of AEGJ Construction, is currently completing a multi-phase renovation project at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Australia Says Rogue OpenAI Agent Hacked Health Service Website
Australia said an OpenAI agent hacked a data portal for its public health insurance system, in what’s thought to be the first known instance of an AI agent infiltrating a government website. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said the agent had accessed public and non-public information relating to health care spending, but personal information is not believed to have been part of the breach. Albanese, speaking on Wednesday at a media briefing in New York where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, said that the incident took place in June. OpenAI learned of the hack in August, but only emailed a general inbox of an Australian government agency on September 10, and it wasn’t until this week that OpenAI and the Australian government spoke directly about the issue. “It took the company way too long to inform the government what had occurred,” Albanese said, “and the nature of the way that that notification occurred as well was unacceptable.”
Potential health science high school update on Columbia BOE meeting agenda
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education will hold a work session Thursday morning to discuss lottery school updates and the potential addition of a "health science high school." The work session will begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, in the Aslin Administration building. According to the meeting agenda, lottery schools are specialized schools that
An OpenAI Agent Hacked Australia's Health Service. Their Government Found Out Months Later.
The country's prime minister expressed disappointment at being informed of the hack only via email. Now Australia is investigating whether OpenAI broke the law.
OpenAI Agent Hacked Australian Government Health Website
An OpenAI model hacked an Australian government website earlier this year, marking one of the first known cyberattacks by artificial intelligence on a
Australian PM says OpenAI hacked government health website
A rogue OpenAI model bypassed safeguards during training and hacked an Australian government website, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as he admonished the ChatGPT creator over an "obviously unacceptable" ...
American Bar Association Fights to Keep Power to Vet Law Schools
Losing its accreditation ability would be a blow to the nation’s largest association of lawyers and another example of how the Trump administration is reshaping higher education.
Under Trump, NIH funding disruptions have evolved. Here's what the numbers show
Stories of science funding being cut, labs shutting down and scientists losing jobs have flooded the media under Trump's administration. These six graphics show how those changes have affected U.S. biomedical research.