SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " increase " 2,384 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Satellite science: FSU research increases accuracy of high-resolution ocean surface measurements
Florida State University research published today in Science Advances demonstrates a new framework for predicting the motion of kilometer-scale underwater
US economic activity and inflation both up in recent weeks, Fed survey shows
U.S. economic activity increased a bit in recent weeks, employment was little changed, and the fallout from higher energy prices due to the war in the Middle East was pervasive, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday, two weeks before Kevin Warsh convenes his first policy meeting as head of the U.S. central bank.
Denver Broncos win Hashtag Sports Award for Best Youth Sports Partnership
The award recognizes a partnership that increased the visibility and/or accessibility of youth sports with players, fans, and/or new audiences.
AHA to celebrate Community Health Improvement Week, June 8-12
The AHA and health care organizations across the country will celebrate Community Health Improvement Week, June 8-12. CHI Week honors those working in partnership to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities throughout the country. Hospitals and health systems are encouraged to plan in-person or virtual events to highlight and increase awareness of their work. LEARN MORE
This new diabetes pill burns fat without the downsides of Ozempic
Scientists have developed an experimental diabetes and obesity pill that works in a completely different way from drugs like Ozempic. Rather than reducing hunger, it activates metabolism in skeletal muscle, helping lower blood sugar and increase fat burning while preserving muscle mass. Early clinical results suggest the treatment is safe and well tolerated.
Macquarie Sees World Cup Boost Driving Betting Growth, Favors Flutter Entertainment (FLUT)
Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:FLUT) stands out as one of the biggest potential beneficiaries of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Macquarie, which expects the expanded tournament to generate a substantial increase in global sports betting activity and provide a meaningful earnings tailwind for leading operators. The investment bank estimates that betting volumes tied to the competition could exceed $50 billion worldwide, creating a favorable backdrop for major sportsbook and online gaming comp
Mercy Health expands into New Carlisle, Fairborn
The hospital system said the goal was to increase access to care closer to home for residents.
One extra serving of processed meat a day linked to higher cancer risk
Processed meat consumption may be linked to an increased risk of stomach and esophageal cancer, according to a large European study spanning 14 years.
FDA highlights recall of certain Impella introducer kits after 3 injuries
This latest recall was put in place due to an increased risk of blood clots developing during use. Only a small number of hospitals are affected.
Texas leads U.S. in children without health insurance, Georgetown University study shows
The report found that nearly 11% of Texas children under the age of 6 lacked health insurance in 2024 — a dramatic increase from 7.9% just two years earlier. Researchers say that jump translates to more than 73,000 additional uninsured children across the state.
Atlanta takes steps to reduce number of arrests linked to mental health challenges
The number of people experiencing homelessness increased ahead of the FIFA World Cup’s arrival in Atlanta.
Measure ER aims to fund health services through an Los Angeles County sales tax increase
Here’s what electric customers should know about the Dominion Energy sale
lorida-based NextEra Energy’s proposed $66.8 billion purchase of Dominion Energy is likely a portent of the future as power companies seek ways to increase electricity generation capacity and access to the nation’s power grid, according to two experts at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
175 Years Ago, He Set Out to Prove the Earth Was Spinning. His Experiment Took the World By Storm.
Foucault’s pendulum experiment led to an increase in the public’s interest in both real-life science and science fiction.
Scientists deploy experimental corals to Dry Tortugas to test introduction of new genetic diversity
The new corals are also intended to increase heat tolerance in Florida’s depleted elkhorn corals.
iPhone 18 Pro Battery Capacities Allegedly Leaked
Battery capacities for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro have allegedly surfaced, and the numbers suggest only a modest increase over the iPhone 17 Pro. According to prolific Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing the iPhone 18 Pro with different battery capacities for the China and U.S. versions of the device, similar to last year's iPhone 17 Pro models. The Chinese model is said to have a roughly 4,056 mAh battery, while the U.S.
Investors react to Andrew Left securities fraud verdict
One financial intelligence firm warned of increased scrutiny for other short sellers after Left was found guilty on 13 counts of securities fraud.
Milan Momcilovic NIL value reportedly revealed following commitment to Kentucky
Milan Momcilovic gets a massive NIL pay increase from last season.
NHL viewership maintains post-Olympic glow through conference finals
The NHL is maintaining its strong viewership pace heading into the Stanley Cup Final. Viewership for each of the league’s conference finals saw near-50% increases on both NHL broadcast partners. ESPN’s coverage of the Western Conference Finals, a Vegas Golden Knights sweep over the Colorado Avalanche, averaged 2.2 million viewers, up 44% versus last year’s…
Is coffee bad for the heart? New research links it to a major risk—and multiple benefits
Drinking a lot of coffee may increase a person's heart attack risk, according to a new meta-analysis. On the other hand, coffee intake was linked to key benefits in the same study.
Roundup: US retail industry / Anthropic / Business opportunity
Facing challenges: The retail industry emerged from a choppy first quarter relatively unscathed, but higher-than-usual tax refunds likely helped to buoy spending. The second quarter could offer a clearer view on consumer health and just how much gas price increases and persistent inflation have disrupted the economy and put more pressure on household budgets. The […]
JOINT RELEASE: Bill to Create Jobs and Support New Small Businesses Becomes Law
DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis on May 29 signed a bill into law to expand eligibility for the successful CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) program to better equip small businesses for success, create more good-paying jobs and support local economies.
More young people are looking to AI chatbots for mental health help
A new survey estimates 8 million young people use AI chatbots for help when stressed, angry or sad, an increase from 2024.
Increased UK Harassment Liability from October 2026: Is Your Business Ready?
October 2026 will mark a fundamental shift in UK workplace harassment law, significantly raising the stakes for employers and reinforcing a broader move away from reactive complaint handling towards proactive prevention, governance, and risk management.What is Changing?Key legal developments in October 2026 under the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA 2025) are:
Health department warns summer sun myths can increase skin cancer risk
DHS of the Mid-Ohio Valley stress the importance of applying sunscreen during the summer months.
Increase Science Literacy — Use R&D Labels On All Products
If the science and technology that went into making a product were included on the label, could that increase science literacy?
Mosquito populations return as temperatures increase
Mosquito populations return as temperatures increase across the state
White House releases Trump's physical results, says he's in 'excellent health' but almost obese
The White House doctor recommended increased physical activity and weight loss.
Kuo: Apple’s iPhone camera roadmap includes a costly upgrade
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is out with a new look at Apple’s upcoming iPhone camera plans, including an under-the-hood ultra-wide module change and a surprisingly steep cost increase.
IRS unveils new health savings account limits for 2027
The IRS has increased the health savings account limits for 2027. Here's what you need to know.
Auburn city budget vote delayed
It comes as the proposal includes an 8% property tax increase, which would go above the state cap.
"This market is not behaving normally" - analysts react to Valve's Steam Deck price increases, and what it means for the cost of the upcoming Steam Machine
Video games analysts chat with Eurogamer about the recent price increase for the Steam Deck, and what this means for Steam Machine.
Bill to Create Jobs and Support New Small Businesses Becomes Law
Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill into law to expand eligibility for the successful CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) program to better equip small businesses for success, create more good-paying jobs and support local economies.
Women make up 53% of science & technology ranks
In 2025, more than 81.6 million people in the EU aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology, a 1.8% increase from 2024 (corresponding to 1.5 million of people) and a rise of 25.3% over the last decade. Of the 81.6 million people, 52.5% were women (42.8 million), working mainly in service activities. Their share increased by 2.3% compared with 2024 and by an impressive 27.9% compared with 2015, corresponding to an absolute increase of more than 9.3 million women in science and technology...
Cardiac emergency survivors, advocates encourage ‘Smart Heart Act’ inclusion in state budget
The bill would require that every school have automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which increase the chance of surviving a heart attack.
Sunbed firm in hot seat over false claims that tanned skin protects against sunburn
Health organisations refute assertion by Sunbed Association that tanning is protective and warn it could increase risk of skin cancer
Valve Steam Deck Sells Out in 24 Hours Despite Price Hike
The internet has recently been rife with complaints and discussions about the recent price increases to the Valve Steam Deck OLED, which saw prices of the gaming handheld spike by as much as $300. However, that same price increase coincided with the first restock of the Valve Steam Deck in anywhere ...
Do Utahns support tax increase for Salt Lake City sports, entertainment district?
City banking revenue for planned sports, entertainment, culture and convention district
Report Shows People With Medicare Feeling Pinch of Rising Health Care Costs
As affordability concerns remain top of mind for many Americans, a timely KFF report examines Medicare beneficiary finances and health care costs, lending context to these anxieties. Recent KFF polling found that as health care costs continue to grow and cost-of-living increases stress household budgets, paying for care and coverage tops the list of consumer financial concerns. In total, 64% of households […]
ECU Health Medical Center Graduate Medical Education Program expands rural residency tracks to strengthen physician workforce
New training tracks in Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics-Gynecology and Pediatrics will increase access to care in rural communities
Steam Deck's Massive Price Hike May Not Bode Well for Steam Frame
Valve announced that Steam Deck is getting a sizable price hike, bringing an increase of $240 to $300 to its handheld gaming PC–not exactly a vote of confidence for those of us waiting for Steam Frame, its upcoming standalone VR headset. The company revealed the 512 GB OLED Steam Deck has increased from $549 to […]
Black Women Political Candidates Are Expected to Be 'Likable,' Qualified and Tireless. Men Aren’t.
What I had experienced during that run wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to me. The year before, in 2013, I had run for president of the Young Democrats of America (YDA), a national political party office role, against a popular opponent. The opponent was a Black man, so race wasn’t a factor in the election; however, gender was. Before my campaign, I was vice president of YDA and had heard only good things about my service: my fundraising efforts, the partnerships I had engineered with progressive organizations, and programming coordination for the membership. However, when I decided to run for president, I instantly became ‘difficult to work with’ and ‘mean.’ Research on women candidates confirms that voters are less likely to vote for a woman if they don’t like her; by comparison, voters don’t need to like men to elect them. But when I was running as the Black woman candidate in a seven-candidate primary for public office, with two other women in the race, I noticed almost nothing about my being ‘difficult’ and more about my ability and work ethic. My experience running for public office reflected the systemic bias and double standards not just for women candidates, but Black women candidates who dare to aspire to any sort of political leadership—and that needed to change. We need more progressive Black women in public office for a myriad reasons, but we also specifically need the younger generation of Instigators in office, candidates who understand the times in which we live currently. Electing more Black women will take real investment in changing the biases and attitudes (conscious and unconscious) of mostly white donors, media, campaign staff, consultants and institutional leaders to help shift the culture and systems. But this support needs to be substantively increased so that we can rebuild an inclusive, multiracial democracy with the leaders we want and need. (Excerpted from The Instigators: How Black Women Have Been Essential to American Democracy by Atima Omara.)
Thinner Oura Ring 5 finally tracks live activity, $50 price increase
Leaks gave a quick preview of the Oura Ring 5, but it wasn’t clear just how much thinner the new...
'Unaffordable reality' ahead for WA individual buyers of health insurance
Health insurance companies that serve the individual market requested an average rate increase of 22.4% for for 2027 — one of the highest changes in years.
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for 3% funding target
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for better conditions
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Bird tests positive for West Nile Virus in Ventura County, according to health officials
Ventura County health officials on Tuesday confirmed that a local bird tested positive for West Nile Virus earlier in May. They advised the public to be wary of increased mosquito breeding following above-average temperatures and rain.
Scientists thought brain inflammation was driving long COVID but the scans told a different story
A new brain imaging study has found no evidence of widespread brain inflammation in patients suffering from prolonged symptoms after COVID-19 infection. Instead, the most severe long COVID symptoms were associated with increased brain activity in regions involved in mood and emotion.
Health insurers again propose double-digit premium increases
Insurers in the merged market, where many individuals and small businesses get coverage, have proposed an average rate hike of 12.9 percent for 2027, according to plans posted online by the Division of Insurance.
Penn State Health reports strong financial, volume growth through third quarter
Penn State Health reported strong third-quarter results for fiscal year 2026, highlighted by double-digit total revenue growth, improved operating margin, and increased patient volumes — reflecting sustained demand for care and ongoing efforts to expand access across the region.
NH providers skeptical business tax credit will move the needle on childcare capacity
New Hampshire's Child Day Care Tax Credit Program aims to increase childcare spots, but providers doubt its effectiveness due to business landscape.
Ebola, chemical plants and health, hantavirus, common colds, heat and more
As they say, bugs have ears. Public health has had a relentless May. Chemical plant (near) explosions, Ebola, hantavirus, and that's before you even get to the usual suspects: common colds, heat, and ticks. Here’s an attempt to keep you up to speed and, more importantly, what it means for you and your community. But first, an announcement: World Cup The World Cup starts in 15 days (not like anyone is counting down), and we are hanging TVs in the Health Security Operations Center. It’s going to be a gorgeous, chaotic celebration of basically every culture on earth. And it’s going to take a team effort—from communities to individuals, from public health to health care—to keep people healthy. That’s where you come in. If you’re going to the games or live within 30 miles of a stadium, we would love to hear from you. Sign up for a weekly survey here. Thanks to the more than 1,280 people who have already signed up…you will be hearing from us soon!! Global disease “weather report” Hantavirus: Two more cases The global count of cruise ship passengers with hantavirus has now increased to 13 cases (11 confirmed), with three deaths. The two new cases are overseas and among people who were already quarantining: A crew member in the Netherlands. A Spanish national passenger who was quarantining at home tested positive through daily monitoring. They are now in a biocontainment unit. In the U.S., everyone remains negative. There may be more cases, given that the incubation period of hantavirus (the time from exposure to infection) is 45 days. But this week, we will reach a major milestone: the median incubation window is 18 days, and that will pass on May 29. What this means for you: Your risk from this cruise ship outbreak remains essentially nil at this point. Ebola rages on in Central Africa Big thanks to Dr. Craig Spencer, a humanitarian physician who has treated and survived Ebola, for jumping in to provide the YLE community with an update. Craig, take it from here… The combined confirmed and suspected Ebola cases in DRC are now more than 1,000. All signs are pointing to a very long and catastrophic outbreak in Central Africa: This is a vast undercount. We know this because the test positivity rate is hovering around 50%, only 20% of contacts are being traced (and in some areas, no contacts at all), and more cases keep popping up with no known connection. This all points to widespread and undetected community transmission. This is in only a week of detection. Compared to previous outbreaks, the growth is very fast, as the huge West Africa outbreak in 2016 was first detected at 49 cases and rose to 208 cases a month later. It took four months for that outbreak to reach the size of the current one in the DR Congo. The cases are spread out across 16 health zones. There are now multiple epicenters, making containment very difficult. Next door in Uganda, the case count is seven. While this number is low compared to DRC, a concerning development is that two health care workers recently tested positive with uncertain exposure histories. If they weren’t treating known Ebola cases, this means it’s spreading undetected in Uganda as well. On the ground, backlash, including the burning of health centers, has emerged, a pattern seen in nearly every outbreak and rooted in deep community distrust. It often stems from outside actors working in communities without fully understanding or addressing local priorities. Affected populations may recognize the severity of Ebola while still holding other concerns as more pressing, such as where their loved ones are buried. Community trust is essential to an effective response, but difficult to build during an active emergency. It is best established long before a crisis begins. U.S. priorities are made clear, and may backfire. The U.S. Administration has shown that its first priority is keeping Ebola out, with helping end the outbreak in the DRC a secondary concern. That's meant travel restrictions broader than anything we've imposed before — covering travelers from across the region, and reportedly some green card holders and permanent residents as well. For example, just these past two days, news broke that high-risk American travelers will be subject to a mandatory quarantine in Kenya before they are allowed to return. If an American is infected, the U.S. government plans to send them to a hospital it is standing up from scratch in Kenya. (Currently, Americans who were in the area are allowed to return but are diverted to three airports—Houston, Atlanta, and DC—for further screening.) Past administrations have used travel notices and stepped-up screening; this goes much further. At first blush, these strict precautions may sound prudent. But this approach could backfire in three ways: Restrictions this blunt give people every reason to hide where they’ve been and whom they’ve been near — making the people we most need to find harder to track, not easier. They also breed a false sense that this is someone else’s problem. But diseases are humbling. They find the small cracks in even the most impenetrable-seeming defenses. Lives lost. There is no treatment for this Ebola strain, which means survival depends heavily on the quality of the health system. We have that system in the States, but we are choosing not to use it for infected Americans. This is unbelievable and infuriating. (See a deeper dive from me here.) The only real way to lower the risk to Americans — and everyone else — is to end the outbreak in the DRC and across the region. What this means for you: If you have travel plans to this region, it’s time to cancel them. This is a high-risk situation in Central Africa, and CDC released a Level 4 Travel Advisory. There is also great uncertainty if and when the Administration will let you back in. To the general public in the U.S., your risk remains very, very low right now. U.S. disease “weather report” Ticks: past peak season? Good news, especially for people in the Northeast and Midwest: tick numbers continue to decline. Though we are at the peak of the season, this unusually early year is trending favorably. Heat-related illnesses in the North Heat risk is certainly not blanketing the entire country yet, but this week it will be moderate in the Midwest and the Southeast. What this means for you: Be sure to check the CDC HeatRisk tool. A red day isn’t the best day for that soccer game for a kid with asthma, and a stretch of orange days is a great time to check on your elderly neighbor. Common colds surging As far as respiratory viruses go, the only thing really going around right now is the common cold. It is higher this year than last year, but should peak very soon before returning this fall. Spotlight: Chemical plants Over the weekend, YLE California covered the serious situation that unfolded around a chemical plant in Orange County, California. Thankfully, the worst-case scenario (a chemical explosion) was mitigated, but only through luck. The health implications in a densely populated area could have been catastrophic. As the situation was winding down, another chemical explosion struck Washington State. This one was fatal. Health officials say the risk to surrounding residents from chemicals in the air and ground remains low, though the community deserves far greater clarity. Clean air and clean water consistently rank as Americans’ top public health concerns — yet when chemical disasters strike, communities are too often met with reassurances rather than transparency and accountability. Residents near the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment, for example, are still waiting to understand the long-term impact on their health, with few clear answers. What this means for you: Many are wondering if facilities processing potentially dangerous materials are in their neighborhoods. This interactive map allows you to enter your ZIP code and see all facilities monitored by the EPA, including any violations. Good news Ebola vaccines and treatment for the Bundibugyo species are in development. Two vaccine platforms are being explored, at least one of which may be deployable in as little as 2 months. One vaccine is being developed by Oxford, and the other uses the same biotechnology as the FDA-approved Zaire species of Ebola. (It may provide cross-protection, but it’s unclear at this point.) On the treatment side, two promising monoclonal antibody cocktails are likely to be deployed, though doses are limited and logistical hurdles remain significant challenges. Anni over at The Biotech Tea had a great explainer about the Ebola vaccine gap, if you want to read more. [ The Biotech Tea The Ebola vaccine gap, reading vessel damage, & the Makary exit 🗝️ Paid subscribers get the Biotech Term of the Week at $30/year (~$2.50/month). I try to keep it intentionally accessible, but if cost is ever a barrier, send me a message. A few people asked about expensing your subscription, so I put together a short email template… Read more 6 days ago · 10 likes · Annicka Evans, PhD ](https://www.thebiotechtea.com/p/the-ebola-vaccine-gap-reading-vessel?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), following more than a decade of debate and input from roughly 22,000 clinicians, researchers, and patients worldwide. This is good because the old name was medically misleading, leading to patients without visible cysts being dismissed or overlooked entirely. The WHO estimates that 70% of people with the condition remain undiagnosed. A more accurate name should improve recognition, reduce stigma, and ultimately help the millions of people living with this condition get diagnosed and treated sooner. Poll Loading... Bottom line Public health situations are everywhere right now. Staying healthy takes public health professionals and systems working tirelessly behind the scenes and each of us showing up for our neighbors and communities. Love, YLE Big thanks to Ed Nirenberg for staying on top of the Ebola vaccines, Hannah Totte for all the figures, Dr. Craig Spencer for the Ebola insight, and Dr. Matt Willis for covering the chemical situation in CA. Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) comprises a team of experts, ranging from physicians to immunologists to epidemiologists to nutritionists, working together with one goal: to “Translate” ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. YLE suite of newsletters reaches over 475,000 people across more than 132 countries. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
Washington health insurance rates could rise 22.4% on average in 2027
Health insurance rates could increase next year for hundreds of thousands of Washington residents who buy coverage on the individual market.
Blood test added to colorectal cancer screening options by cancer group
The updated guidelines from the American Cancer Society are meant to increase the number of people screened for colorectal cancer.
Poll highlights Oklahoma business demands for education improvements
Facing continued workforce issues, most Oklahoma business leaders value increased state investment in education over a tax cut.
Energy bills to grow by more than £200 a year for millions as Ofgem increases price cap
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news
What is Measure ER? Why some say LA County sales tax increase is crucial after health cuts
L.A. County voters will decide on Measure ER -- a proposed half-cent sales tax increase that would last five years. While tax increases aren't popular, supporters say this one is a lifeline to healthcare services.
LA TIMES: In deal with business leaders, $30 minimum wage for L.A. hotel and airport workers will be delayed - UNITE HERE Local 11
In May 2025, the council approved a proposal that would have increased the minimum wage to $30 in July 2028 and also raised an hourly payment for healthcare coverage. In response, a coalition of airline and hotel businesses gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot that took aim at the city’s gross […]
Scientists say guava juice could make iron supplements work better
Researchers found that drinking guava juice may significantly improve anemia by helping the body absorb iron more efficiently. In a review of 17 studies, women and teenage girls who consumed guava juice — especially with iron supplements — experienced noticeable increases in hemoglobin levels. Since guava contains far more vitamin C than oranges, scientists believe it could become a simple, affordable nutrition tool in regions where anemia is widespread.
Health insurers again propose double-digit premium increases
Nearly 700,000 Bay Staters are facing the prospect of double-digit premium increases next year as insurers struggle to handle cost pressures across the healthcare landscape.
Unemployment rate increases for fourth straight month in Florida
Florida's jobless figure stood at 4.8% in April, a jump more than 1 percentage point compared to a year ago.
Pinterest Searches Increase With Sports Fans
With 600 million active monthly users, Pinterest is tracking sport-related in a trend report for the first time.
Providers skeptical business tax credit will move the needle on childcare capacity
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte and business leaders celebrated the passage of the Child Day Care Tax Credit Program in the Legislature this month, a bill that would allow businesses to receive a tax credit for creating new childcare spots. However, childcare providers say they are skeptical the bill will increase capacity as intended.
Allegheny County residents warned of increased risk for ticks and Lyme disease
As Allegheny County residents step outside to enjoy spring, local health experts are warning about the dangers of Lyme disease after an unusually high number of tick bites reported across the country. In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an early advisory urging the public to guard
Why Arsenal can go to the next level
Mikel Arteta has already said he wants "to have the parade with two big trophies" as he sets out to win the Champions League for the first time in Arsenal's history. Arsenal backed Arteta with about £250m of spending last summer as they looked to increase the quality and depth of their squad, and they brought in players like Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, who were categorised as 'win now' signings. Arteta wants to build a legacy of sustained success at Emirates Stadium and once the Champions League final is over, focus will move to tying him down to a new contract.
Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre Nurses Demand Fair Wages to Protect Primary Care
More than 30 registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), members of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), at Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (PQWCHC) are calling on their employer to close the wage gap and offer fair wages as they head to conciliation seeking a new collective agreement. After years of wage freezes or minimal wage increases, the group of highly-skilled nurses are struggling to make ends meet, forcing them to look for jobs in other health-care sectors.
FSU pushing for increased civics teaching in schools to reconnect with Memorial Day meaning
FSU educators are concerned that a recent poll shows only 48% of Americans know why Memorial Day was established.
Scientists trained an AI model using an IBM quantum computer — and it answered questions correctly that the base model couldn't
When running an AI model through a quantum computer, scientists have increased accuracy by only adding a relatively small number of parameters.
Seattle Mariners' Miller relishing return to good health
Seattle Mariners starter Bryce Miller is having fun on the mound again while fully healthy and showing increased velocity.
Tourism gains spread across California with Sacramento seeing big results
A Visit California study shows the state's tourism economy is thriving, with Sacramento experiencing notable increases in visitor spending and hotel tax revenue.
61% of Americans Said They Had to Cut Back on Groceries
More than three quarters of Americans, including 55 percent of Republicans, said President Trump’s policies have increased the cost of living in their community.
Even Positive Life Transitions Can Affect Mental Health
Recent studies suggest that the transition to marriage and parenthood may be associated with increased suicide risk in some individuals.
Ebola outbreak now third largest recorded and "spreading rapidly"
Ebola outbreak risk level increased as deaths reach 177 with nearly 750 cases.
Anti-social: It's fads, not friends, which now dominate our feeds
Social media platforms used to be about communication between friends. The business model is to increase the time people spend on their apps and increase ad revenue.
Business prep for summer tourism as travelers face increased gas prices
The average price for regular unleaded gas is up about $1.50 per gallon from the same time last year.
Lawmakers target hospitals – and Atrium Health in particular
Legislation aims to increase oversight of hospital mergers, cap hospital CEO pay and add more accountability for hospital authorities like Atrium Health.
Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide are living with mental disorders. The number has been growing
Nearly 1.2 billion people had a mental disorder in 2023, a new study has found — reflecting a 95.5% increase since 1990.
Houston ISD plans to raise employees’ costs for health insurance
A draft of HISD’s budget proposal for next year reveals the district plans to increase salaries, but mostly to offset the rise in health insurance costs.
Famitsu sales (5/11/26 - 5/17/26) - big Nintendo Switch 2 sales ahead of price increase
The latest Japanese hardware sales from Famitsu are as follows: Switch 2 – 217,922 Switch Lite – 8,303 Switch OLED – 7,804 PS5 Digital Edition – 6,902 Switch – 5,285 PS5 Pro – 1,747 PS5 – 594 Xbox Series X – 193 Xbox Series X Digital Edition – 191 Xbox Series S – 47 For comparison’s sake, here are the...
It's not just PS Plus Essential getting a price hike: Premium and Extra tiers are now more expensive too
Following its carefully worded PS Plus price increase announcement, Sony has confirmed what everybody already expected what it hadn't yet said out loud.
A money mindset trick to increase your savings rate
"A business is trying to earn a profit, right? It's the exact same thing for you — your savings are your profit."
Profanity is a hallmark of Trump’s second term, a Post analysis finds
The analysis of President Trump's speeches and social media posts shows a sharp increase in his use of vulgarities, insults and bombastic rhetoric since his first term.
Sony Quietly Increased the Price of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Subscriptions, Too
Sony has quietly increased the price of the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscription tiers as well as the Essential tier, having suggested only the Essential tier would get more expensive.
Natural Food Colors Embraced by MAHA Linked to Health Problems
Natural food colors—not just artificial dyes—are associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and cancer, new research shows..
Congress increases scrutiny into sports betting, prediction markets
Congress is intensifying its scrutiny of sports gambling and prediction markets amid a wave of scandals in professional and collegiate sports that have raised c
PS Plus Price Increases Also Hit Extra, Premium Tiers - Here Are All the New Prices
This deal keeps getting worse
Coverage is Care at Trinity Health Michigan - MHA | Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Chiquita Berg, MD, MBA, FACOG, vice president, Community Health & Well-Being, Trinity Health Michigan. Significant changes to Medicaid are expected to take effect in 2027, bringing new requirements and processes that could increase the risk of coverage loss for eligible individuals if systems are not prepared. While many details are…
City's upward trend in sales tax collection continues in April
Consumers continued to spend more than last year, driving an increase in Sioux Falls sales tax revenue in April.
Outscraper Sees Continued Growth in Use of Its Google Maps Scraper for Business Intelligence Needs
Outscraper has announced increased adoption of its Google Maps Scraper as more agencies, marketers, and researchers use automated tools to collect publicly available business data from Google Maps. Outscraper Sees Continued Growth in Use of Its Google Maps Scraper for Business Intelligence Needs Outscraper has announced increased adoption of its Google Maps Scraper as more agencies, marketers, and researchers use automated tools to collect publicly available business data from Google Maps. Ancho
Pickleball and pizza: BTS’s Bay Area tour boosts local businesses
(KRON) — Members of global K-pop supergroup BTS were recently spotted playing pickleball in Campbell and grabbing pizza in Redwood City, leading to a significant increase in attention and cus…
In deal with business leaders, $30 minimum wage for L.A. hotel and airport workers will be delayed
The minimum wage will still increase to $25 in July and continue in increments until reaching $30 in January 2030.
Plex Tripling Lifetime Plex Pass Price to $750 in July
Media platform Plex today said that it is increasing the price of its Lifetime Plex Pass option to $750, which is a $500 increase from the current $250 price tag. Plex said that the updated price reflects the "real, ongoing value" of the software that it plans to build and maintain.
Effects of early exposure to toxic metals
Scientists found that toxic metal exposures during specific time windows increased the risk of brain and mental health symptoms a decade later.
Retirees are worried about the cost of healthcare — and who can blame them?
The increase in Medicare Part B premiums has sparked concerns about out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
Plex increasing Lifetime Plex Pass cost to whopping $750
Plex has announced a massive price increase for the Lifetime tier of its Plex Pass plan. Starting in July, Plex...
Some Pensacola Beach businesses seeing payoff from traffic increase but others are hurting
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A record number of cars made their way onto Pensacola Beach on Saturday. Nearly 28,000 cars passed through the Bob Sikes Toll Plaza.
Michigan health officials warn of rising Salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry
Michigan health officials are reporting an increase in Salmonella infections linked to three multistate outbreaks tied to contact with backyard poultry, particularly baby chicks and ducklings.
Whoa! Netflix is Sending Narnia Heading to Theaters...What This Means for the Future of Film
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Here’s a funny thing about the debate over whether streamers should release their movies in theaters first: Both sides think the other side represents the “conventional wisdom”. If you’ve been reading me for any amount of time, or even just scanned my front page, you know I think movies make more money by having a robust theatrical window compared to going straight-to-streaming. I’ve published thousands of words on this topic. And for years, I felt like I was standing up to a wave of opposition. See, while the “put your films in theaters to make money” take was obvious at any point before 2019, post-streaming revolution, most of the trendy thinkers took the opposite point of view. Big names argued that Netflix putting their film straight-to-streaming (“S-to-S” from here on out) actually made more money. Netflix was “disrupting” theaters, just as they disrupted Blockbuster Video, and since innovation is always good, this too was a great idea. This thinking then leaked into the mainstream business outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. I read many articles whose take boiled down to “Netflix makes tons of money from S-to-S releases” and “theaters were in structural decline” anyways. Covid-19 shutting down theaters and the 2023 strikes shutting down film production seemingly justified this point of view, as the box office struggled to return to 2017-2019 heights. Yet I’ve also read folks arguing the opposite point: the conventional wisdom says to put films in theaters! From some writers’ points of view, “everyone” actually agrees/agreed with my “send your films to theaters” take—especially the stodgy traditional studios—and folks still didn’t understand Netflix’s genius. I feel like, for the last two years, many people have argued this point as if it’s conventional wisdom. You know what? I may have been wrong. At this point, the “S-to-S strategy makes money” might be the minority viewpoint. Especially with the news this month that Netflix will put at least one film—Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film The Magician’s Nephew—in theaters in 2027 for a full 49-day run is big news. So that’s the story of the week, but I’ll also explain why they’re making this move now and why Netflix may not completely embrace theaters, along with other topics, like how I don’t buy Disney’s “super app” strategy, the latest good news out of the unions, my take on the latest attacks against free speech, and a whole lot more. Let’s get started. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Netflix Goes to Theaters! Listen, I promise not to victory lap too hard today. As I just wrote, I’ve argued against sending films straight-to-streaming for—checks calendar—eight years now. Since 2018. Yikes. That’s a long time. And for years, others painted my thinking as “conventional” in that I was standing up for the status quo against trendy, cool disruption. And that’s not cool! But math is math, and I never could make the S-to-S numbers work. The only thing that ever enabled that model was Wall Street’s brief exuberance for it. It seems like the heads of Netflix now agree with me. (There were always rumors that former head of film for Netflix Scott Stuber argued internally for theatrical releases as well.) As they announced: “The Magician’s Nephew_—the first film in a Narnia series of films—will open on 12-Feb-2027, with a 49 day theatrical exclusive run.”_ I’m a little surprised at how little coverage this big change actually got. Credit to Bloomberg for leading with it and Matt Belloni’s The Town for highlighting it with the provocatively titled podcast “Hell Hath Frozen Over”. But after that? Instead of getting as much coverage as, say, the FCC’s latest egregious crackdown on free speech, this news story got crickets. But it’s massively more important for the future business of entertainment. So let’s start with the obvious question… Why Put Your Movies in Theaters? So…why should Netflix put (some!) of their movies in theaters? Well, I’ve already written that in a very, very, very long article from 2022: [ ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) [ The Data Is In: Theatrical Films Massively Outperform Straight-To-Streaming Films ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) Entertainment Strategy Guy · April 5, 2023 [ Read full story ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) To summarize, theatrical runs make much more money, especially blockbusters, because they earn more money per viewing,1 and that helps boost home entertainment sales. Theatrical films also perform as well or better than the streaming-only films. Now, partially this is driven by increased marketing for said films, but said marketing ultimately boosts the awareness of the movies and drives improved streaming and library performance as well. Again, I’ve made this case after reviewing the economic models and streaming data for years. Just last week, Emily Horgan also made the case for kids films! Yes, it is probably conventional wisdom, but that’s also because it’s true! I’d also argue we’ve seen a lot of data in the various studios’ behavior. As I’ve noted before, the more a studio needs to make money, the likelier they are to put films in theaters. As such, Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., Paramount and Sony all send their major films to theaters. Even if they once made a big S-to-S push (*cough* Disney *cough*), they’ve since relented and returned to theaters. The tech companies don’t need to make money, per se, so it took them years to embrace theaters. Apple doesn’t need to make money because it doesn’t disclose their (likely) Quibi-sized losses each year. (They fear bad press more than losing money.) Amazon announced two years ago that they planned to make Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video profitable on its own, and guess what? Now they’re putting films in theaters. That leaves Netflix. They’re in between the “no need to make money at all” and the “desperately need to make money to offset linear TV declines”, so they had less pressure to put some films in theaters. Plus, for years, they were the sexy disruptor, and Wall Street rewarded them for that. (Honestly, they still do.) Yet, even Netflix likely saw the money they were leaving on the table (I’ve estimated it at an easy billion dollars before) so they changed their course. I heard one pundit argue that, because Netflix already makes so much money, they don’t need to make more money, which sort of goes against everything I’ve ever learned about business and economics. Again, to be super-nuanced, sending “films to theaters” does not mean EVERY film. TV movies have been a thing for decades. Lifetime films, Hallmark holiday films, Disney Channel Original Movies, and so on, don’t need theatrical runs. But films above a certain budget level (say $25 to 50 million) almost certainly need theaters to maximize their revenue. The Scenarios (with a Dose of Skepticism) Now time for some skepticism: it won’t surprise me at all if Netflix re-changes course. Specifically, Netflix announced that their Narnia film will go to theaters. And I’d bet anything we see KPop Demon Hunters 2: The Huntering2 also goes to theaters, cause it’s the surest hit outside of a Disney animated sequel right now. But how much does Netflix truly commit to theaters? They’ve already tried to emphasize that this is a one-off move. I see three broad scenarios: