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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married in elaborate MSG ceremony
Swift’s publicist confirmed the marriage took place Friday evening inside Madison Square Garden at a star-packed ceremony.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married in elaborate MSG ceremony
Swift’s publicist confirmed the marriage took place Friday evening inside Madison Square Garden at a star-packed ceremony.
Bridging Science and Statecraft: The Raisina Science and Diplomacy Initiative 2026
A report on science diplomacy, technology governance, strategic autonomy, and global collaboration from the Raisina Science and Diplomacy Initiative.
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science celebrates 2026 graduates
STEUBENVILLE — The Trinity Health System School of Medical Laboratory Science graduated its seventh class, comprised of Aliyah Pattie and Audrey Poole. The graduation ceremony was held in the chapel at Trinity Medical Center West, followed by a reception in the Sullivan Room. Trinity’s Medical Laboratory Science program spans 11 months and is designed for […]
The future of Oxford: Science, technology, and collaboration
In conversation with Professor Lady Sue Black and Simon Ruck about Oxford North, from opening to today.
Tufts University and Bigelow Laboratory Partner to Expand Marine Science Training
Tufts University and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences have launched a partnership offering graduate students a Marine Science specialization through the Sea Change Semester, combining coursework with hands-on research voyages and laboratory training in Maine.
House panel explores direct health contracting to lower costs
The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions July 1 examined whether direct health care contracts between employers and providers could help address rising health care costs.
US economy added jobs at a slower pace than expected in June
The Labor Department released the June 2026 jobs report, which showed the U.S. economy added jobs at a steady pace last month despite uncertainty over inflation.
The diminishing political returns of a solid labor market
A rebound in the jobs market hasn’t been enough to get Americans amped about President Donald Trump’s economy.
New Collaboration between Tufts University and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Boosts Experiential Opportunities for Graduate Students
Tufts University is advancing this mission through a new collaboration with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay, Maine, giving graduate students direct access to immersive real-world ocean research.
Boleslaw Wyslouch steps down as director of Laboratory for Nuclear Science
After more than 10 years at the helm of the Laboratory for Nuclear Science (LNS), Boleslaw “Bolek” Wyslouch will step down to continue research in nuclear physics as director of the Bates Research and Engineering Center, a subgroup of LNS. “LNS scientists, including Bolek himself, are world leaders in particle and nuclear physics,” says Nergis […]
Operations workforce powers ORNL’s autonomous science future
Behind every self-driving laboratory at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a team people most never see. Facilities and Operations workers are building and maintaining the infrastructure that makes autonomous science possible. More than a dozen self-driving labs operate at ORNL, placing the Tennessee national lab among the first research institutions in the world to create this autonomous laboratory model at scale.
Boleslaw Wyslouch steps down as director of Laboratory for Nuclear Science
Boleslaw Wyslouch steps down as director of MIT's Laboratory for Nuclear Science after 10 years as its director.
Collaboration is key for Carolina’s newest school
The UNC School of Data and Information Sciences strengthens teamwork among related disciplines.
Operations workforce powers ORNL’s autonomous science future
Behind every self-driving laboratory at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a team most people never see. Facilities and Operations (F&O) workers are building and maintaining the infrastructure that makes autonomous science possible.
Scientists can now study the event horizons of black holes
They make the universe’s most extreme gravitational laboratories
Orlando City SC Signs Strategic Partnership with Football Science Institute
Lions and FSI to collaborate on integrating scientific knowledge with professional practice, research and development
Seth Rogen shares awkward moment with 'Lion King' collaborator Pharrell Williams at dinner party (exclusive)
'The Invite' star Seth Rogen is recounting an incident where Pharrell Williams confronted him at a dinner party over Rogen's 'Lion King' interviews.
Seth Rogen shares awkward moment with “Lion King” collaborator Pharrell Williams at dinner party (exclusive)
The music superstar didn't appreciate Rogen's interviews.
AI Roadshow — An AI Ally for Human Health
Join Argonne National Laboratory and The International Museum for Surgical Science for An AI Ally for Human Health.
Food science sector warns proposed US grant rules could weaken research independence
As the deadline for public comment approaches, a proposed overhaul of the rules governing federal financial assistance is drawing increasing attention from research institutions, universities, and industry organizations, with implications that could extend across the US F&B sector.
Some Supreme Court Justices Are More Political Than Others
The recently ended term provides an interesting laboratory for examining how the various justices vote.
Unisun Sports Commences, Kicking Off 2026-27 Season
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Unisun Sports, the groundbreaking strategic alliance between the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and the United Athletic Conference (UAC), has officially commenced as of July 1, 2026. Unisun Sports will serve both conferences, designed to significantly enhance operational efficiency, foster deeper collaboration, and drive innovation across both NCAA Division I organizations.
Unisun Sports Commences, Kicking Off 2026-27 Season
Unisun Sports, the groundbreaking strategic alliance between the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) and the United Athletic Conference (UAC), has officially commenced as of July 1, 2026. Unisun Sports will serve both conferences, designed to significantly enhance operational efficiency, foster deeper collaboration, and drive innovation across both NCAA Division I organizations.
Wilmington Small Business Coalition: Building Momentum in 2026 by Heather McWhorter
This article was contributed by Lydia Thomas, UNCW CIE Program Manager. North Carolina continues to be one of the best states to start a business and in 2025, Wilmington, North Carolina earned a spot on the GoDaddy list of the top 10 most entrepreneurial cities in the U.S. While many know Wilmington as small beach town with exceptional food, lots of coffee shops, and fun, vibrant summer activities, a closer look reveals a thriving innovation economy. You’ll find startups emerging across industries including software, healthtech, bluetech, and fintech. At the core of this entrepreneurial ecosystem is the Wilmington Small Business Coalition, with small business advocates and entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) dedicated to helping founders grow, thrive, and succeed. “No Wrong Door” Established in 2016, the Coalition was designed to make it easier for individuals and small businesses to access resources most suited to their particular needs. The Coalition is designed to have a “no wrong door” entryway into the regional startup ecosystem. Whether you are exploring a new idea sketched on the back of a napkin or leading a more established, growth-stage company, Coalition members can help connect you with the programs, funding opportunities, mentors, and resources best suited to your needs. No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, any Coalition organization can help point you in the right direction. Coalition Members and Leadership Coalition members include the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UNCW CIE), AARP, Brunswick Community College Small Business Center, Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center, Cape Fear Region SCORE, Genesis Block Foundation, Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington (NEW), Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC), Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, YWCA Living the Dream Center for Entrepreneurship, Carolina Community Impact Fund (CCI Fund), Partner Community Capital, 717mkt Office Collaborative, NC Biotech, and Institute NC. In May 2026, the Coalition held its leadership elections, resulting in the selection of a new executive team. The following officers were elected to serve two-year terms: Chair: Lydia Thomas, UNCW CIE Vice Chair: Diane Lantz, CCI Fund Secretary: Aariene Hansley, Genesis Block Foundation Treasurer: Gloria Monroe, SBTDC Vision for the Wilmington Small Business Coalition In 2026, the Wilmington Small Business Coalition continues its work as a collaborative network of organizations. By connecting programs, expertise, and services across partner organizations, entrepreneurs can more easily find the right support at the right time. Rather than operating in silos, the Coalition aims to function as a unified, cohesive system of support for small businesses and entrepreneurs, ensuring that resources and expertise across partner organizations are visible and accessible. Through stronger collaboration and shared pathways, entrepreneurs can move more seamlessly from idea to startup to growth. Looking to dive into the Wilmington entrepreneurial ecosystem? Connect with any of the Coalition partners to get started! Connect with CIE To learn more about CIE and our services, programs, and events, join the CIE newsletter. You can also follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, or YouTube. CIE’s website is uncw.edu/cie. Heather McWhorter is the director of the UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). CIE supports innovation-forward start-ups and helps to build a vibrant innovation economy for all in southeast NC.
Trump nominates acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to permanent role
President Donald Trump nominated acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to keep the role permanently. Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, touting his experience during his first and second terms in the Labor Department. “Throughout his career, Keith has proven his dedication to delivering strong results for the Hardworking People of our Country, and I […]
From Military Service to Business Success: Seton Hall Program Helps Ne
Victoria Funn, Newark veteran and now culinary business owner, takes her business to the next level through Seton Hall's ImpactNJ program, a national collaborative supporting local entrepreneurs.
Trump nominates acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling to be permanent chief
Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped down in April amid abuse-of-power allegations
Strengthening Collaboration between Workforce, Health, and Human Services to Meet New Federal Requirements
Human Services Policy Advisors Institute | June 24th, 2026 H.R. 1, or “The One Big Beautiful Bill”, introduced significant changes to work requirements across major health and human services programs. including expanding the populations subject to SNAP time limits, reducing state/territory SNAP waiver flexibility, and creating new work requirements in Medicaid. These changes accelerate the […]
Holland & Knight Health Dose: June 30, 2026 | Insights
Senate Committee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Bill Cassidy released a discussion draft making changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
Denmark’s New Government – Initiatives on Business and the Labor Market
After 70 days of negotiations, four parties presented the agenda for Denmark’s new government on June 2, 2026. The four parties are the Social Democrats, the Socialist People’s Party, the Social Liberal Party, and the Moderates. The government is anchored in the center‑left.
New business collective boosts Detroit Lakes community
Collaboration helps small businesses compete
Simon Says... Buy This OpenAI Mechanical Keyboard Thingy
It's a collaboration between OpenAI and Work Louder. It does something or other with Codex.
Trump taps Keith Sonderling, a longtime ally of business, for Labor Secretary
President Trump nominated acting secretary Keith Sonderling to permanently lead the Labor Department after months of turmoil. Business leaders who backed his candidacy say he has already been steering policy and personnel decisions.
Xtalks Launches Life Sciences United (XLSU), a New Global Alliance for Nonprofit Life Science Organizations
Xtalks is pleased to announce the launch of Xtalks Life Sciences United (XLSU), a global alliance and collaborative network designed to bring together nonprofit organizations across the life sciences.
OpenAI teases Codex-branded hardware collaboration coming, here's what to expect
OpenAI just teased an upcoming collaborative hardware project that’s set to launch in July. From the looks of it, OpenAI...
Unredacted comments from California hospital lawsuits show stunning admissions and a 'forced' McKinsey collaboration
Who controls the Medicaid market, GLP-1 usage and pizza household costs, and more from Health Care Inc.
As business concerns mount, Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson taps Amazon, Microsoft and others to shape economic strategy
The group includes leaders from technology, aerospace, organized labor, higher education, tribal governments, ports and economic development organizations who will advise the governor on policies aimed at strengthening Washington's economy.
Health-E Commerce® Announces Telehealth Collaboration with Audien Hearing to Expand Access to FSA- and HSA-Eligible Hearing Aids Available on FSA Store® and HSA Store®
/PRNewswire/ -- Health-E Commerce®, parent brand to FSA Store® and HSA Store®, the first and leading online stores dedicated to selling only products and...
Polish businesses press Warsaw, Kyiv to end political rift
When Wojciech Kostrzewa, who represents some of Poland's biggest firms, went on a Polish economic mission to Kyiv last month, he found a "very good" atmosphere and a collaborative spirit with his Ukra...
NEA Nuclear Science Committee advances strategic priorities for the future of nuclear research
The NEA Nuclear Science Committee met on 8-10 June 2026 to advance international collaboration, strengthen scientific expertise, and shape the future of nuclear science through innovation, data and AI.
Building Community, Capacity, and Collaboration Through gmhCONNECT | Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health
Doctoral trainee Yesenia Garcia shares her experience at gmhCONNECT, a training and mentoring program for global mental health researchers.
Dario Announces Strategic Collaboration with Beluga Health to Deliver Provider-Backed, Integrated Care at Scale
/PRNewswire/ -- DarioHealth Corp. (NASDAQ: DRIO) (the "Company", "DarioHealth" or "Dario"), a leader in AI-powered digital health solutions, today announced it...
Dario Announces Strategic Collaboration with Beluga Health to Deliver Provider-Backed, Integrated Care at Scale
/PRNewswire/ -- DarioHealth Corp. (NASDAQ: DRIO) (the "Company", "DarioHealth" or "Dario"), a leader in AI-powered digital health solutions, today announced it...
VSP Vision Announces Winner of Propel Student Business Challenge Scholarship
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.—VSP Vision, in collaboration with the Student Optometric Leadership Network (SOLN), today announced that Mason Martin, a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, is the winner of the 2026 Propel Student Business Challenge Scholarship, powered by PECAA. Martin, who was awarded the $10,000 scholarship and a travel grant to attend the SOLN conference in Denver, is the first first-year student at the school to receive this honor, the announcement said. VSP said his standout submission featured a thoughtful, patient-centered private practice business plan.
AHA/ACC/ESC/WHF Expert Consensus Document in Collaboration with HFSA, HFA and JHFS: Second Universal Definition of Heart Failure (2026)
In response to the rising global prevalence of heart failure (HF) and limitations in research, surveillance, and prevention, in 2021 multiple cardiac societies convened to issue the First Universal Definition of Heart Failure, establishing uniform terminology, including a designated Stage B (pre-HF) to identify at-risk individuals.
Join the world’s coolest science lesson in Geneva
Head to Switzerland for a tour of CERN, the world’s largest particle physics research laboratory, to discover the secrets of the universe.
Scientists Confirm that Two Gamma-Ray Bursts Were Caused by Collapsing Neutron Stars
Researchers from the Los Alamos National Laboratory have confirmed that two long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) originated from the collapse of neutron stars into black holes.
Efzimfotase alfa demonstrated improvements in bone health in treatment-naïve pediatric patients with hypophosphatasia achieving median difference of 1.67 vs placebo in RGI-C Score at week 25 in MULBERRY Phase III trial
Positive results from the MULBERRY Phase III trial showed that efzimfotase alfa (ALXN1850), an investigational enzyme replacement therapy, demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in bone health in children (2 to
Bond girl Eva Green is 'recovering' after suffering an injury on “Wednesday” set
The frequent Tim Burton collaborator has joined the show as Aunt Ophelia Frump.
Common pesticide linked to more than double the risk of Parkinson’s disease
Scientists at UCLA have linked long-term exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos with a sharply increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. People exposed to the chemical near their homes were more than twice as likely to develop the condition. Laboratory studies showed that chlorpyrifos damages dopamine neurons and interferes with the brain’s ability to remove toxic protein buildup.
Application deadline for 2026 RISE Up Harlingen Business Pitch Competition is July 6
The competition is a collaborative effort between the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation and UT Rio Grande Valley's Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center.
Free health clinic aims to expand care access on city's West Side
Free preventive care is coming to San Antonio’s West Side Saturday. The Health Collaborative’s Neighborhood Clinic offers 3D mammograms, screenings, vaccines, dental checks, food and help connecting to ongoing care.
Florida cases echo Italy’s gangmaster economy
Legal labor systems can still become traps for powerless workers.
How the dairy industry pushed Trump for migrant labor, and won
President Donald Trump was expected to announce the expansion of a guest-worker program to the dairy industry at a Wisconsin event. Instead, the news came out in a press release, angering immigration hard-liners.
Dave Roberts Gives Update on Rushing’s Future Catching Ohtani
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts elaborated on what the plan is for catcher Dalton Rushing after his rough night with Shohei Ohtani pitching.
Goddess of Victory: Nikke x Persona 3, Persona 4 and Persona 5 Collaboration Teased
A teaser trailer has been uploaded teasing a collaboration between mobile and pc game Goddess of Victory: Nikke and the Persona series.
SGMC Health Honors White with BEE Award
SGMC Health recognized Jessica White, patient care technician on 4 South, as the June recipient of the Being Extraordinary Everyday (BEE) Award, which honors non-nursing staff who demonstrate exceptional compassion, collaboration, and dedication to patient care.
Master Inventor Hoffman Turns Chemistry Into Capability | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Christopher Hoffman has been recognized as a Johns Hopkins APL Master Inventor, a distinction earned through a career spent asking a simple question: What can chemistry can do to solve a real-world problem?
Cannes Lions Entertainment Awards: Adidas Takes Home Grand Prix for Oasis ‘Original Forever’ Collaboration
The 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity recognized the best creative campaigns across entertainment, design and craft categories. Sports apparel and footwear maker Adidas’ tie-up wi...
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Twin City Entertainment collaboration to host the Carol Burrnett Show in West Monroe June 27th
WEST MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) — Residents in the West Monroe area will have the chance to enjoy a night of laughter later this week as a live stage production inspired by The Carol Burnett Sho…
Prosperity Council’s Report Challenges Kotek to Signal That Oregon Is Open for Business
The 15-member panel of business and labor leaders proposed four modest tax code changes, replacing the Climate Protection Program, and some less controversial reforms.
Discussing progress in nuclear fuel and materials science
The NEA held the sixth annual week of collaborative meetings of the Working Party on Materials Science Issues in Nuclear Fuels and Structural Materials (WPFM) from 18-22 May 2026 at the NEA offices in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
Joint statement – WHO/Europe and CCEE to collaborate on addressing health inequities and loneliness
WHO/Europe and the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) officially signed a Letter of Intent on 23 June to establish a strategic partnership for promoting pan-European dialogue to reduce inequities, enabling every child and adult to live in health, safety and dignity.
Making Our Own Luck
We are cross-posting a piece that former NIH official Kris Willis wrote for Macroscience. Kris is now the President and Founder of the Woodley Park Institute, for which I’m a board member. Picking winners or hedging bets? Federal science agencies have long wrestled with the question of how to ensure their billions of dollars of grants and contracts result in maximum benefits for Americans. On the surface, it might seem that a goal-oriented, interventionist style of management would be the best policy: prioritize our most pressing problems and distribute funding accordingly.This top-down strategy creates a unique hazard, though: bad choices can send resources in the wrong direction, resulting in slow progress that impedes the delivery of tangible benefits to citizens. Moreover, if decision makers pursue an applied advance when the underlying scientific principles remain poorly understood, they risk costly failures and a loss of support for the research enterprise at large. Examples include Nixon’s 1971 War on Cancer, undertaken on the premise that a cure could be achieved in less than a decade, the drive to build an operational commercial fusion plant by the mid-1990s, and the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, which failed to produce the effective treatments and prevention strategies promised by 2025. The contrasting laissez-faire approach is to hedge your bets. If the path to an advance is impossible to predict, then the wisest choice might be to distribute funding to as widely as possible. The main risk of this strategy is that spreading funding thinly may limit the resources available to the most promising research, resulting in the same negative outcomes as the interventionist approach: limited support for the most promising topics, slow progress, and delayed returns. In reality, at science agencies like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, program managers navigate between these two extremes, setting some funds aside to target high-priority areas and using the rest to cover the widest possible range of meritorious proposals. This middle path seems like the most rational way to proceed, but it still requires making choices. How much should be set aside for high priority topics? What should those topics be? How should we define merit? Expert opinion can provide a helpful guide, but leading experts can have remarkably different opinions about what matters and what should be prioritized. Moreover, experts and administrators alike can be risk averse, giving an edge to high-profile, well-established concepts. What’s really needed is a data-driven framework to help guide decision-making, one that doesn’t simply repackage prestige or incumbency. Recognizing breakthroughs years in advance Many breakthroughs fail to attract funding or recognition at the earliest stages of development. Katalin Karikó, for example, spent years struggling to win grants for work on mRNA that would eventually win her and Drew Weissman a Nobel Prize. Similar stories can be told about Jim Allison’s groundbreaking studies leading to the development of cancer immunotherapy, Stan Pruisner’s demonstration that prions can self-replicate without DNA, or Robin Warren and Barry Marshall’s proof that Helicobacter pylori, not stress, causes ulcers. Yet at some point, the scientific community recognizes and responds to transformative breakthroughs like these. How does that change happen? And what if science funders could identify the areas that are on the cusp of a breakthrough? Those questions led my collaborators and me to study how scientists responded to past breakthroughs. Based on patterns in that data, we developed a means of predicting future breakthroughs, using biomedicine as a proof of concept. It’s worth taking a moment to describe how our approach works. Briefly, our prediction process begins by grouping the 18 million or so peer-reviewed papers in PubMed, the authoritative database of biomedical research, into roughly 50,000 unique topics. A small subset of these topics are so widely acclaimed as breakthroughs that they have been recognized with a major prize like a Nobel or a Lasker Award. We theorized that studying the development of these outliers over time, especially before they gained acclaim, was the key to identifying future instances of them. After defining topics, we chose 21 representative breakthroughs and asked what they looked like before they won prestigious prizes. To answer that question, we re-ran our topic-mapping algorithm repeatedly, winding back the clock one year each time, stringing together the years to follow the progress of each field as it grew and advanced. We found that in each case, the years leading up to a discovery followed a pattern: a burst of papers on a new, rapidly evolving topic, many of which quickly became influential. These characteristics—the percent of papers that are new, the percentage of papers that are brought in from other topics, and the influence of each individual paper—can all be measured separately for any given topic. Together, they act as a predictive signal that is detectable an average of five years before a transformative discovery is made, and up to thirty years before the discovery receives a major prize. Scanning the current research landscape for topics that display this signal allows us to predict what work will likely produce a future breakthrough. Each year we analyzed includes four or five signals, a number that appears to have remained constant across a twenty year time frame. In their classic work on the sociology of science, Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar established that the desire to participate in a major discovery is an important motivator for scientists as they consider whether they should take up (or abandon) a research problem. Although further work is needed, the simplest explanation for our results is that this behavior is widespread enough to detect at scale. A foundational advance, or something like it, draws the attention of scientists and causes them to change the direction of their research. They vote with their feet, staking their own reputation and careers by publishing on and citing the new idea. That upswell of interest is the foundation of our breakthrough signal. What kind of research does our model identify as a breakthrough? After building a model based on the patterns in our 21 preselected breakthroughs, we tested it by identifying all early signals of discovery from 1994 through 1997. Of the 18 signals we found in that time period, 17 can be traced forward in time to a breakthrough. Examples include super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (see the image above), the directed evolution of proteins and enzymes (Chemistry Nobel, 2018), and sequencing the human genome (National Medal of Science, 2008). The discovery of the role of leptin signaling in obesity is a particularly interesting case study. Around 1950, scientists noticed the existence of a type of lab mouse that suffered from a unique inherited form of obesity. When given the freedom to choose their own diet, these mice ate more than normal and preferred food that was high in fat. Researchers had few clues as to why the animals overate; early experiments pointed to the existence of a soluble ob factor found circulating in the bloodstream that regulated appetite, but its identity was unknown. In 1994, Jeffrey Friedman and colleagues identified and sequenced the ob gene, noting that the protein it encoded appeared to fit the profile of a circulating factor. A year later, a trio of high-profile publications demonstrated that ob was a hormone that regulated body weight and fat deposition by regulating appetite. One of these was co-authored by Friedman, who christened it leptin from the ancient Greek word for thin. Using our model, the data from 1996 make it clear this advance would become a breakthrough. Scientists had flocked to study the biology of the new hormone, generating the flurry of new papers and citations required to produce a signal. One of these demonstrated that serum leptin concentrations reflected the amount of adipose tissue in the human body, providing clinical validation of the earlier mouse studies. Before the identification of leptin, scientists were unable to point to a specific molecule that controlled appetite and adiposity, so that it was impossible to rule out non-physiological causes of obesity; its characterization fundamentally changed our concept of weight gain. In 2010, Friedman and fellow pioneer Douglas Coleman were awarded a Lasker for the discovery. Our work also identifies breakthroughs in clinical practice and behavioral and social sciences, even though these areas are less likely to draw the attention of major prize committees. One example that falls into this category is the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm, a leading cause of death among Americans over the age of 65. Relative to the previous standard of care, it reduces in-hospital mortality by almost four-fold. In 2017, Timothy Chuter received the American College of Surgeons’ prestigious Jacobsen Innovation award for his multiple refinements to the technique. Another under-recognized breakthrough identified by our model is the development of standardized survey instruments to assess the quality of life for HIV+ patients. The antiretroviral cocktails introduced in the mid-1990s reduced AIDS mortality, but treatment came with serious side effects. The new evaluations showed that patients whose disease progressed had worse physical functioning than Americans with other chronic diseases, while those who were asymptomatic maintained a health-related quality of life on par with the overall US population. This evidence made it possible for patients and activists to argue that even in the absence of a total cure, and in spite of the side effects, alleviation of symptoms was a worthwhile priority for clinicians. My colleagues and I have failed to identify any significant recognition for the physicians and health policy experts who pioneered this advance, although in 2016, researchers called for the World Health Organization to set targets for good health-related quality of life as part of its framework to end the AIDS pandemic. From forecasting to funding How should science funders use our predictions? Any serious discussion of what we should do with this new capability needs to begin with an understanding of its limitations. We can’t (and shouldn’t) invest all of our resources in the small number of topics predicted to produce breakthroughs. Innovative new fields are born from existing ones; they rarely arise de novo. If funders don’t maintain a diverse portfolio, the breakthroughs of tomorrow will have no antecedents. Think of this as eating the seed corn, or killing the goose that lays the golden egg. There are also multiple goals of funding beyond basic scientific discovery, including translating discoveries into clinical practice, developing new technologies, supporting economic development, and training new scientists. The investments needed to accomplish these goals are likely different from those required to support emerging breakthroughs. Finally, we must be aware that we may not capture every instance of a breakthrough. The concept is fuzzy, and not every significant discovery is recognized with a major award. Further, breakthroughs are rare, meaning that our dataset is, by necessity, small. This makes formal estimates of accuracy challenging. Although our overall success rate appears to be high, any one signal may turn out to be a false positive. We found one apparent example: the development of the third generation COX-2 inhibitors, Vioxx and Celebrex, which were much celebrated in the early 2000s as effective but non-addictive pain relievers, meets all the algorithmic criteria of a breakthrough. Five years after it received FDA approval, researchers demonstrated that Vioxx was associated with serious cardiovascular complications, and the manufacturer voluntarily pulled the drug from the market. Celebrex remains available, although like other NSAIDs, it carries an FDA warning for increased cardiovascular risk. Decision makers who were overly focused on the breakthrough potential of this research might have wasted substantial resources nurturing an area that ultimately proved to be a failure—but so would those who relied on expert opinion at the time. That said, the potential benefits of funding the next mRNA vaccine or cancer immunotherapy years earlier than we might have are large. When we can’t assume the outcome of an action, it’s worth conducting an experiment. Can targeted support for areas that are poised to produce a breakthrough increase the return on scientific investment without cannibalizing future advances? With the necessary administrative infrastructure in place, conducting this experiment would be straightforward. First, identify all the breakthrough signals between 2018 and 2023, select half at random, and commit to a decade of investment. For biomedicine, a six year window should yield about 30 topics with the potential to produce a breakthrough. Providing strong support to half of these might be accomplished for $300 million a year. That’s roughly half of the recent annual budget of the NIH Common Fund or around 20% of the fiscal year 2025 budget for ARPA-H. After five years, then again at ten, compare to see which group — the one that was actively managed, or the control — produced more breakthroughs, and on what timescale. Although we used biomedicine as an example, the same experiment could just as well be run for physics, materials science, or any other discipline. Any attempt to undertake such an experiment should keep three points top of mind. First, we can predict the topic of future breakthroughs, but the people and vision for how to move the work forward are still important. In practice, this means success requires active program managers with the expertise to develop the science and the authority to do so, including by recruiting investigators. Second, we would be wise to learn from the failures of past attempts to fund transformative research. High among these are funding modestly repackaged work, confusing the genuinely novel with the merely unfamiliar, and relying too much on incumbent investigators. All of these risks can be mitigated by thoroughly and intelligently integrating high quality data into portfolio management. Finally, we need to have patience. Even with strong funding support, producing a breakthrough takes time. If supporting breakthroughs is the best way to nurture the birth of new fields, we also need to accurately describe and properly manage the other two stages, so that we invest wisely throughout the productive lifetime of ideas and divest once they reach the point of diminishing returns. We would benefit from more study of all of these phases, especially the transition from one to another. More research could answer questions like: When does a breakthrough become an established field? How do the availability of funding, the size and characteristics of the available workforce, and the accumulation of evidence that disagrees with prevailing models affect a field’s decline? Exactly how do old ideas give birth to new ones, and can we speed up the process? The more we understand about the dynamics of scientific progress, the better we can maximize the odds that our curiosity leads to results. I’d call that finding a way to make our own luck.
Rogers Computer Science Teacher Named Tops in the State
Instructor and coach, Anthony Hanos with members of the cyber security program, students Brandon Wilson, Kerian Santiago and Alex Bettencourt. The sister sectors of computer science, information technology and cybersecurity, continue to be among the fastest growing industries in the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Luckily, Newport area high schoolers interested
Business Briefs: June 26, 2026
Art Deviation Gallery moves GREENFIELD — Art Deviation Gallery & Store has moved from 365 Main St. to inside Whitney Hill Antiques, one-third of a mile away. Collaborators JJ White and Lee Matthew started selling items out of the 50-square-foot space they rent on Feb. 1 and closed the former location later that month. “A […]
How Elifin is reshaping the commercial real estate playbook
Elifin is leveraging a decade's worth of proprietary commercial real estate data as well as artificial intelligence to reshape how properties are marketed, analyzed and sold. The Baton Rouge-based … Already an INSIDER? Sign in. Already an INSIDER? Sign in
Ohio State–led team secures NSF award to advance to next phase of the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory program
The Ohio State University is strengthening its growing prominence in quantum science, technology, and education with a $4 million, two‑year Phase II design award from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance a national effort focused on next‑generation quantum sensing.The funding is helping to bring together top researchers and ...
Commentary: Why Archie Bunker voters are disillusioned with U.S. politics
The 1970s “All in the Family” stalwart supported law-and-order, cultural conservatism and strong labor unions, values to which many Republicans have gravitated, while Democrats evolved into a constituency that adopted identity…
‘Long-term Thinking Is Key To Ensuring Cultural Relevance’: Q’s With Gadget Entertainment Group’s Stefan Wyss
Gadget is one of Switzerland’s longest-standing promoters, having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. In 2020, after already collaborating successfully
Binghamton University creates an open-source healthcare simulation repository
Staff from Binghamton University’s Information Technology Services and Decker College of Nursing and Health Services recently collaborated to create the SUNY Share Simulation and IPE Activity Repository.
Scientists catch classical space-time crystals moving like Majorana quasiparticles
A research team from Hiroshima University, the University of Colorado, and other collaborators have demonstrated that space-time crystals—exotic structures that, under external drive, loop endlessly through ...
NSF selects five additional teams in National Quantum Virtual Laboratory design competition
The U.S. National Science Foundation has selected five new teams to design experimental quantum technologies, from networks that can ferry fragile quantum information across long distances to sensors…
NSF selects five additional teams in National Quantum Virtual Laboratory design competition
The U.S. National Science Foundation has selected five new teams to design experimental quantum technologies, from networks that can ferry fragile quantum information across long distances to sensors…
An Olympic-sized collaboration between Lake Placid, Big Apple
Commentary: Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent announcement about New York City possibly hosting the Olympics isn’t a new idea.
Oracle Health Extends AI into the Operating Room in Collaboration with Theator
/PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Health and Theator are working together to provide AI-powered surgical intelligence solutions to Oracle Health customers in the U.S....
Cannes Lions 2026 Grand Prix Winners in Entertainment, Gaming, Music, Sport, Design, Digital Craft, Film Craft and Industry Craft
Little Black Book, Day two saw handcrafted work prevail across the board, as well as adidas’ collaboration with Oasis take home a double Grand Prix, from TBWA\Media Arts Lab Los Angeles, Google, Johannes Leonardo, DAVID New York, CANADA, McCann Peru, Isle of Any, and LOLA
Science Decoupling Hurts Human Progress
Science magazine has reported that in May, several members of the U.S. Congress introduced the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries (SIRA) Act, a bill that would prohibit U.S. researchers from using federal funds to collaborate with 'blacklisted' Chinese entities. These include Chinese institutions and individuals. Joint research projects, co-authored papers, data sharing, personnel exchanges, and even the co-supervision of students would all be prohibited.
A review argues the family dog may become science’s unlikely ally against autism
This peer-reviewed Perspective synthesizes a decade of research on a surprising candidate for autism science: the laboratory Beagle. Drawing together scattered studies, the review authors argue that dogs carrying engineered changes in the Shank3 gene reproduce core human features of autism spectrum disorder, including social withdrawal, altered sensory responses, and reduced attention to the eyes of a face. The synthesis assembles, for the first time in one place, the parallels between mutant dogs and autistic people, alongside early signals that oxytocin, a psychedelic, and a third compound may soften these traits. The authors frame the dog as a complementary, ethically governed model, not a replacement for existing ones.
Flagship Pioneering and Lean Business Services Company Announce Collaboration to Advance Healthcare Innovation and AI-Enabled Biomedical Research in Saudi Arabia
/PRNewswire/ -- Flagship Pioneering, the scientific innovation company behind Moderna, Generate Biomedicines, and more than 100 other life sciences ventures,...
Roku May Help Fox Avoid Aggregeddon
(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.) Scrolling through links over the last week, I stumbled across this fun headline: Wow. Formula 1 (the sport, not the docu-series) is the perfect “dog not barking”. As a reminder, each week in my Streaming Ratings Report, I call out the shows that miss every viewership chart. I dub them “dogs not barking”—like the Sherlock Holmes mystery—because without any data, we forget they even exist. This is in contrast to something like, say, a film flop—cough The Mandalorian and Grogu cough—where even underperforming at the box office is widely discussed here, there and everywhere. In the US, Formula 1 is now in “no public viewership data, so not discussed” territory. After moving to Apple TV from its former home of ESPN, basically no one talks about it. Apple did publish an initial, unsourced, unsubstantiated, (dare I say unserious) datecdote claiming more folks are watching Formula 1 on Apple than ESPN, but we haven’t gotten any updates since. This stands in contrast to when the sport streamed on ESPN, and ESPN PR provided weekly viewership figures. Formula 1 was, at best, a niche sport in America—averaging 1.3 million viewers in the Big Data Plus era—but now it’s basically anonymous. (And yeah, after moving to Apple, I very, very, very much doubt its ratings increased.) Unfortunately, that story isn’t quite big enough to warrant a section in today’s “Most Important Story of the Week” column, but I wanted to call it out, because otherwise, no one else will! Certainly, no one will write articles about the silence/ratings decline, unlike when they wrote breathless articles connecting the rise in viewership to Netflix’s Drive to Survive, including Reuters just last month. (This is a topic I’ve tried to provide a moderate/nuanced/non-hyped take since 2022.) Anyway, on to this week’s issue. I was a bit worried I didn’t have a juicy topic, then the Murdochs went out and did their Murdoch thing: buying Roku. So that’s the story of the week, and it happens to touch on quite a few themes of the streaming wars and the disruption therein. I’ll cover that, plus why more consolidation in Hollywood media looks likely, more good news on the Hollywood labor front, whether we’ll see an uptick in production in Los Angeles, some Broadway and theme park news, cellphone prices going up in the third world (and possibly everywhere), and more. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Another Big Media & Entertainment Merger The story of the week is clearly Fox is buying Roku for $22 billion. I read a lot of good strategy takes on why Fox bought this streaming TV device maker—and I’ll have mine below—but what fascinates me more is how this deal connects to quite a few themes of the streaming wars, linking to everything from the pace of M&A to “aggregeddon” to Netflix’s recent M&A actions/inactions to the shift to advertising from pure play streaming and more. The only topic I can’t really connect it to is my old theory, “never bet against Rupert Murdoch” because he isn’t the one who did this deal; his son Lachlan inked it. (Do I think he provided advice, even at his 95 years of age? Sure.) That plus I have one additional piece of strategy for all entertainment players, inspired by this deal. So let’s dive into all those topics, starting with why I like this deal. Roku is a Great M&A Buy
Vanderbilt Health is first US site for advanced clinical testing platform
Part of the cobas pro integrated solutions produced by Roche, the platform will speed up laboratory testing and improve patient care.
Humidity, Hard Truths, and the Future of Global Health Security
Multisectoral collaboration is a fundamental requirement for stronger health security.
Hallmark Health Care Solutions launches AI solution to tackle workforce ‘black box’
Hallmark Health Care Solutions built an artificial intelligence-enabled platform to give health systems more visibility and control of workforce cost, capacity and incentives. | Health systems partnering with Hallmark have seen significant measurable results, including reducing contingent labor expenses by 15% to 25% and lowering overtime costs by an average of 25%.
Braves offense lifeless again in loss to Padres
The Braves offense was lifeless against Michael King and the San Diego bullpen on Monday night, losing 1-0 to drop their second game in a row. It was more of the same for Grant Holmes, who labored through 4 2/3 innings. He hung a slider to struggling Manny Machado in the fourth inning that was […]
Voluntarism, Free Speech, and American Labor’s Growing Political Divide
What unions need is more internal flexibility. Workers need a way to voice their displeasure with union politics. And if voice isn’t enough, they need a realistic way out.
Baystate Health to enhance care with Oracle Health’s AI solutions
Baystate Health and Oracle Health are expanding their collaboration to launch an enterprise digital transformation, aiming to create a more connected and patient-centered care experience using AI-p…
Baystate Health and Oracle Health Expand Strategic Collaboration to Create a Connected and Patient-Centered Care Experience
/PRNewswire/ -- Baystate Health, a not-for-profit, integrated health system in western Massachusetts, is expanding its strategic relationship with Oracle...
Fentrice Driskell lands trove of labor, environmental group endorsements
Driskell earned support from one of the state's largest labor unions.
Honorees brought science-based blood pressure care home to communities in need
Organizers of “Team Up to Take Down High Blood Pressure” in Philadelphia say collaboration has been crucial to the initiative’s success.
Digital Health Institute welcomes French delegation to explore pathways to collaboration
The Houston Methodist-Rice Digital Health Institute recently welcomed Frank Marchetti, Consul General of France in Houston, and his team to discuss health care innovation and avenues for international collaboration.
Obsidian Entertainment accused of skimping on salaries
Obsidian Entertainment has faced a lawsuit in the United States. The company was sued by former employees who claim it violated California labor laws.
Zeiss Medical Technology Collaborates With Envision Health Technologies to Advance Glaucoma Care Using VR-Based Testing
JENA, Germany—Zeiss Medical Technology, a leader in medical optics and digital healthcare solutions, has announced a strategic collaboration with Envision Health Technologies, a digital eye health company founded by glaucoma surgeon Lama A. Al-Aswad, MD, MPH, CEO, to help advance glaucoma care through gamified virtual reality (VR) technology. The companies said this collaboration aims to firmly strengthen scientific and clinical credibility in VR-based visual function testing, supported by Zeiss’ long history of innovation in perimetry, and will bring together clinical expertise and software innovation to help advance clinically relevant, patient-centered technologies for modern glaucoma care.
Introducing Project Cosmos: Carbon Brief’s ‘universe’ of climate science
Carbon Brief’s Project Cosmos is a major collaborative effort to build the world’s largest and most complete database of climate change research.
Voice of business: A strong chamber builds stronger businesses
A strong economy in the Dayton region doesn’t happen by accident. It requires private sector businesses to invest, leaders to collaborate, and organizations committed to building the conditions that allow
Major review finds vaping likely causes lung and oral cancer
Researchers have concluded that nicotine vapes are likely to cause lung and oral cancers, based on evidence ranging from human biomarkers to animal and laboratory studies. The findings challenge the idea that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking and suggest health risks may be emerging much sooner than many expected.
Drake expresses 'eternal gratitude' to collaborator Tay Keith after his death
Drake has paid tribute to the late music producer Tay Keith, who was found dead in Nashville on June 18 at age 29.