SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " promo " 2,043 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Improving Connecticut’s Public Health Through Cross-Sector Data-Sharing
The Prevention Data Portal, launched in 2018 by Connecticut’s State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW), houses data from local, state, and federal sources to advance health promotion and substance use prevention in the state.
Business: Coastal Orthopedics surgeon named to Blake Hospital post
IN BRIEF: New president at Syprett Meshad; business liaison named for Venice; Chamber's youth leadership program; Affinity Care Hospice promotion.
How a Civics School With a Conservative Bent Divided Its Supporters
A University of North Carolina program was intended to promote civil discourse and ideological diversity. Some of its early conservative supporters say it is doing the opposite.
Do good neighbors make good economies? Minnesota could be a test case
Economic studies strongly suggest that higher levels of trust can lead to increased commerce, promote financial innovation and even foster economic growth. Will the neighborly care and civic engagement in Minnesota during the Immigration and Customs Enforcement surge translate into economic resilience?
“Self-Determination is the Pathway to Liberation”
The 66-page report, “‘Self-Determination is the Pathway to Liberation’: Alternative Mental Health Crisis Response in the United States,” identifies key elements of rights-respecting responses to mental health crises and explores how alternative mental health crisis response programs have carried out these approaches in practice. Many of these models share core elements, including promoting individual autonomy, providing voluntary support rather than mandating compliance, and avoiding unnecessary law enforcement involvement.
Navigating the social media minefield
Scientists and researchers seeking to announce promising findings, exchange ideas or contribute to policy discussions outside of academic circles may find social media an expedient tool.But increasingly, scientists and other professionals are discovering that online platforms can be a double-edged sword: while sharing their work and expertise is crucial for visibility and meeting funder expectations, it also exposes them to baseless criticism and even accusations of spreading false information."It is getting harder and harder for scientists, and researchers in general, to convey their findings without facing attacks on their legitimacy and accuracy of their research," says Valère Ndior, a professor of public law at the University of Western Brittany in Brest, France, who has spent more than a decade studying misinformation on social media. Researchers attempting to challenge deceptive online information may themselves be accused of political bias or not being objective in their research, he explains, adding that some scientists disengage because they feel overwhelmed and unable to sustain meaningful dialogue. "It is quite sad to see in some instances that researchers end up leaving social media altogether because they feel like the pressure is getting too intense or feel threatened," he says.Ndior, a past president of the Francophone Network of International Law, is also involved in European efforts to make science and research findings more accessible to the public. As an ambassador for the Science Comes to Town (SCTT) project, he has participated in recent discussions on public perceptions of science and online misinformation. The European Commission-funded initiative connects Brest and two other cities — Kiel in Germany and Split in Croatia — and aims to strengthen ties between communities, universities and research institutions to promote science awareness and cooperation across Europe.Coordinated campaigns around contentious topicsNdior draws a clear distinction between critical thinking and thoughtless criticism. Yet he sees online discussions being increasingly shaped by suspicious behaviour and coordinated information campaigns — including "raids" aimed at dominating discussions and "astroturfing," where small groups act as larger movements to sway debates. Tracking these patterns has become harder because some platforms have restricted data or charge for it, despite provisions of the European Union's Digital Securities Act aimed at ensuring researchers can have access to such data. According to Ndior, "platforms became more reluctant from the moment access to data became a legal requirement rather than a voluntary initiative."Unfounded claims and scepticism about science existed long before Internet chat groups. But the noticeable rise in online hostility has intensified around contentious topics, such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, alongside the weakening of gatekeepers to moderate content.For Ndior, dubious claims about pandemic countermeasures and vaccine safety highlighted the struggle between "balancing freedom of expression and the protection of public health and order." Efforts to remove social media content deemed false or risky for public health triggered accusations of censorship and the silencing of legitimate discussion, and in some cases, legal challenges.Concerns about attacks on the credibility of scientists and researchers have generated a flurry of academic papers in recent years and prompted professional communities to address ways to counter online attacks. Such unease extends to the generation that has grown up with digital media. Ndior points out that his students, some of whom research artificial intelligence regulation, hate speech, online surveillance and other controversial topics, hesitate to share their work or viewpoints online. "Many of them don't want to expose themselves too much because they don't feel ready to be faced with the backlash of other people criticising their research," he explains.Safer harbours for engagementLegal challenges against false or defamatory posts are not necessarily a solution — especially given the trans-jurisdictional nature of the Internet. Lawsuits also take time and money, and if they fail, can be counterproductive. Instead, Ndior advises scientists and researchers to be selective in how and where they communicate. Professional online platforms and moderated discussion spaces offer a better environment for engagement. He also highlights the value of more traditional formats, such as radio interviews and in-person discussions at schools, libraries and science fairs, which encourage dialogue with the public. "Personal contact makes a big difference," he says, while acknowledging that these approaches lack the global reach of social media.Ndior’s interest in digital law and online misinformation stems from his time as a doctoral student in international law in the early days of social media. He began analysing posts from governments and heads of state to determine if they could be considered official and thus used as evidence in litigation. His work attracted media attention and led to conference and speaking invitations. "This was not part of my plan," he says, "but this is what happens as a researcher — your interest is sparked by a certain event or phenomenon, and it suddenly becomes your focus."Ndior believes SCTT provides "a double benefit" for researchers, enabling them to connect with peers and interact with the public. "There is a wide community of people who are not in academia who are critical thinkers looking for opportunities to ask questions, to get information and contribute their ideas,” he says. "I really value that kind of feedback."Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.
Navigating the social media minefield
Scientists and researchers seeking to announce promising findings, exchange ideas or contribute to policy discussions outside of academic circles may find social media an expedient tool.But increasingly, scientists and other professionals are discovering that online platforms can be a double-edged sword: while sharing their work and expertise is crucial for visibility and meeting funder expectations, it also exposes them to baseless criticism and even accusations of spreading false information."It is getting harder and harder for scientists, and researchers in general, to convey their findings without facing attacks on their legitimacy and accuracy of their research," says Valère Ndior, a professor of public law at the University of Western Brittany in Brest, France, who has spent more than a decade studying misinformation on social media. Researchers attempting to challenge deceptive online information may themselves be accused of political bias or not being objective in their research, he explains, adding that some scientists disengage because they feel overwhelmed and unable to sustain meaningful dialogue. "It is quite sad to see in some instances that researchers end up leaving social media altogether because they feel like the pressure is getting too intense or feel threatened," he says.Ndior, a past president of the Francophone Network of International Law, is also involved in European efforts to make science and research findings more accessible to the public. As an ambassador for the Science Comes to Town (SCTT) project, he has participated in recent discussions on public perceptions of science and online misinformation. The European Commission-funded initiative connects Brest and two other cities — Kiel in Germany and Split in Croatia — and aims to strengthen ties between communities, universities and research institutions to promote science awareness and cooperation across Europe.Coordinated campaigns around contentious topicsNdior draws a clear distinction between critical thinking and thoughtless criticism. Yet he sees online discussions being increasingly shaped by suspicious behaviour and coordinated information campaigns — including "raids" aimed at dominating discussions and "astroturfing," where small groups act as larger movements to sway debates. Tracking these patterns has become harder because some platforms have restricted data or charge for it, despite provisions of the European Union's Digital Securities Act aimed at ensuring researchers can have access to such data. According to Ndior, "platforms became more reluctant from the moment access to data became a legal requirement rather than a voluntary initiative."Unfounded claims and scepticism about science existed long before Internet chat groups. But the noticeable rise in online hostility has intensified around contentious topics, such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, alongside the weakening of gatekeepers to moderate content.For Ndior, dubious claims about pandemic countermeasures and vaccine safety highlighted the struggle between "balancing freedom of expression and the protection of public health and order." Efforts to remove social media content deemed false or risky for public health triggered accusations of censorship and the silencing of legitimate discussion, and in some cases, legal challenges.Concerns about attacks on the credibility of scientists and researchers have generated a flurry of academic papers in recent years and prompted professional communities to address ways to counter online attacks. Such unease extends to the generation that has grown up with digital media. Ndior points out that his students, some of whom research artificial intelligence regulation, hate speech, online surveillance and other controversial topics, hesitate to share their work or viewpoints online. "Many of them don't want to expose themselves too much because they don't feel ready to be faced with the backlash of other people criticising their research," he explains.Safer harbours for engagementLegal challenges against false or defamatory posts are not necessarily a solution — especially given the trans-jurisdictional nature of the Internet. Lawsuits also take time and money, and if they fail, can be counterproductive. Instead, Ndior advises scientists and researchers to be selective in how and where they communicate. Professional online platforms and moderated discussion spaces offer a better environment for engagement. He also highlights the value of more traditional formats, such as radio interviews and in-person discussions at schools, libraries and science fairs, which encourage dialogue with the public. "Personal contact makes a big difference," he says, while acknowledging that these approaches lack the global reach of social media.Ndior’s interest in digital law and online misinformation stems from his time as a doctoral student in international law in the early days of social media. He began analysing posts from governments and heads of state to determine if they could be considered official and thus used as evidence in litigation. His work attracted media attention and led to conference and speaking invitations. "This was not part of my plan," he says, "but this is what happens as a researcher — your interest is sparked by a certain event or phenomenon, and it suddenly becomes your focus."Ndior believes SCTT provides "a double benefit" for researchers, enabling them to connect with peers and interact with the public. "There is a wide community of people who are not in academia who are critical thinkers looking for opportunities to ask questions, to get information and contribute their ideas,” he says. "I really value that kind of feedback."Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.
Turkey Mountain cleanup event focuses on improving mental health
Volunteers gathered Sunday to clean trails at Turkey Mountain, while promoting mental wellness and community connection.
Business Notes for March 29, 2026
The Gazette’s Business Notes is a compendium of the week’s promotions, new hires, certifications, added business lines and business events.
UFC Seattle bonuses: Top of the card banked bonus checks
Following Saturday's UFC Seattle event at Climate Pledge Arena, the fight promotion announced the recipients of the performance-based bonuses. The 13-bout fight card featured 9 finishes, including finishes in every main card match. Two "Performance of the Night" bonuses were awarded and "Fight of ...
York City 1-0 Woking
Ollie Pearce's penalty sees promotion-chasing York return to winning ways with a victory over Woking.
Brewers To Reportedly Promote Top Catching Prospect
Jeferson Quero is joining the Milwaukee Brewers to make his MLB debut
Anderson outlet mall has new owner? Redding's new kitchen, bath store
In the Buzz: Shasta Gateway center looks to fill empty spaces as new owner takes over. A new kitchen and bath store has opened in this ex-pub space.
Hegseth Criticized for Removing Four Officers From Promotion List
Bitter rifts have opened over the defense secretary’s campaign to reverse policies that he says are prejudiced against white officers.
Missouri sports betting market officially launched: $5,000 in sportsbook sign-up bonuses, promos right now
Missourians can now place sports bets with mobile sportsbooks and get Missouri sports betting offers for the Missouri betting launch
Roseman University launches life science incubator to promote discoveries
Roseman University is launching a new life science incubator to support the growth of the biotechnology sector in Southern Nevada.
Top Senate Dems blast proposed ACA rule promoting ‘junk coverage’ that would push estimated 2 million off enrollment
A trio of top Senate Democrats led their colleagues in condemning a proposed rule by the Trump administration that would lift restrictions on the number of non-standardized plans that insurers in t…
Anthony DeMaio named global head of sales at Business Insider
Anthony DeMaio has been promoted to global head of sales and George Scordo is being promoted to Managing Director of the Finco team
How to Turn a Chicken Egg Into a Drug Factory
A biotech start-up is testing a novel way of efficiently producing pharmaceutical drugs.
Saros Preview - Speaking My Language
We played Saros for three hours to learn the language of Housemarque's latest roguelite and we had an excellent time.
Memphis People in Business for March 26, 2026
A look at promotions, hirings, movers and newsmakers in the Memphis area business scene.
Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say
Cuban health care was once the pride of the island. Now the U.S. oil blockade is upending even basic medical care.
In Rural Ukraine, Basic Health Care Is a Casualty of War
Elderly people in isolated villages are going without medicine. One woman said she hadn’t seen a doctor in four years.
PlayStation Store Spring Sale Brings the Best Promotion of the Year So Far
The PlayStation Spring sale is live and brings over 5,400 items to the discount rack and includes a slew of new AAA games.
Strand Entertainment Promotes Aileen Lewis To Manager (EXCLUSIVE)
Strand Entertainment has elevated Aileen Lewis to Manager, Deadline can tell you first.
UT Health San Antonio launches clinical trial to study rapamycin and healthy aging - UT Health San Antonio
Contact: Eileen Teves, 210-450-7239, tevese@uthscsa.edu Content provided by Claire Kowalick SAN ANTONIO, March 25, 2026 – UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is launching a multi-phase clinical study to better understand how the drug rapamycin may promote healthy aging. Funded by the National […]
O'Connor touts business opportunities at latest tech summit held in Pittsburgh
Mayor Corey O’Connor sees himself as Pittsburgh’s biggest promoter, which is why he’s been making dozens of calls to sell people on settling...
Inter Miami CF Announces Heron Sports & Entertainment as Club Continues Unprecedented Growth
Heron S&E to serve as promoter of major entertainment events both locally at their new home at Miami Freedom Park, Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Blue Training Center, and globally Continuing to push the boundaries in the global entertainment landscape, Inter Miami CF is excited to
Inter Miami CF Announces Heron Sports & Entertainment as Club Continues Unprecedented Growth
Heron S&E to serve as promoter of major entertainment events both locally at their new home at Miami Freedom Park, Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Blue Training Center, and globally Continuing to push the boundaries in the global entertainment landscape, Inter Miami CF is excited to
Compilation of Events Supported by Heron Sports & Entertainment
With the opening of Nu Stadium in Miami, Heron Sports & Entertainment, the dedicated platform focused on arranging, promoting, and producing major events in South Florida and Globally enters a new era. Since opening its doors in 2020, the Club’s state-of-the-art facilities have staged hundreds of events including Major International
Compilation of Events Supported by Heron Sports & Entertainment
With the opening of Nu Stadium in Miami, Heron Sports & Entertainment, the dedicated platform focused on arranging, promoting, and producing major events in South Florida and Globally enters a new era. Since opening its doors in 2020, the Club’s state-of-the-art facilities have staged hundreds of events including Major International
Newcastle should resist any calls for change
The biggest game of the weekend was Newcastle v Sunderland - well, it was in the north east, anyway. For all the passion, and there was plenty on show, as well as the usual late drama, in the end it was Sunderland winning to go 11th leaving their neighbours down in 12th. For Sunderland it is still a fine season as a promoted side, but for Newcastle this is disappointing mid-table mediocrity following defeat in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup against Manchester City and in the Champions League against Barcelona.
Tampa Bay Rays, Rowdies announce wave of internal promotions
The promotions come as the Tampa Bay Rays push for public funding for a new ballpark and mixed-use district in Tampa.
Robins School of Business ranks as a Top 20 undergraduate business school
Poets&Quants for Undergrads has named the University of Richmond’s business school a top 20 school for the fifth consecutive year.
Did Dana White want Nate Diaz back in UFC?
Former title contender Nate Diaz will return to MMA for a promotion not named UFC.
Veterinary Science Certificate Program promotes early steps on career path
Rural communities face a growing shortage of veterinary professionals, creating challenges for pet owners and livestock producers alike.
Microsoft announces Xbox Partner Preview for this week, with Ryu Ga Gotoku's Stranger Than Heaven finally making a showing
Microsoft has announced its next Xbox Partner Preview showcase will take place later this week, focused on third-party games from the likes of Sega and GSC.
Small Business Promotion Week: Hey Honey Marketplace
Jennifer Reeves, nurse turned boutique owner, came up with the idea for Hey Honey Marketplace, a boutique on Abram Street that aims to not just be a store but a community gathering place for women.
University of Richmond Robins School of Business Ranked as Top 20 Undergraduate Business School
The University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business ranked in the top 20 of the annual by Poets&Quants for Undergrads, the leading online publication for undergraduate business education news.
The problem with Trump promoting "gold standard science"
This simplistic branding is confusing, misleading, and potentially harmful to scientific literacy.
Diabetes, Overlooked and Unchecked, Poses New Risks in Africa
As deaths from diabetes start to rival those from infectious threats like malaria, a new form of the condition linked to malnutrition is surfacing in patients who can afford neither screening nor care.
How the G.O.P. and Democrats Are Talking About the Surge in Gas Prices
Republicans have largely been on defense against Democratic criticism. Here are five arguments advanced by figures in both parties.
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026.
New law firm formed; new executive director at chamber; hospital picks new chief of staff
Take a look at some of the recent promotions and new hires announced at south Louisiana businesses.
Black Family Wellness Expo returns to Wichita, promotes health awareness for second year
Organizers say more than 40 different vendors participated in the expo.
RJ promotes Traci Wilson to vice president of digital strategy
Wilson succeeds Jim Prather, who retires on April 3. She will assume her new role on April 6.
Music Industry Jobs: The Core Entertainment, Republic Records, CAA
Music industry hires and promotions this week include job appointments at The Core Entertainment, MCA, Republic Records, CAA and AudioSalad.
Missouri sports betting is now live: See the best sports betting apps to claim over $5,000 in launch promos
Missouri sports betting is now live, and the top Missouri sportsbooks are offering Missouri sports betting promos
The Problem With Promoting ‘Gold Standard Science’
Opinion | Branding scientific research with a simplified label risks misleading the public and harming scientific literacy.
Mid-Ohio Valley Entertainment Commission hosts training session on film production
The Mid-Ohio Valley Entertainment Commission brought together film enthusiasts for a film crew training event at Marietta College on Sunday. The event sought to promote creativity and inspire filmmakers in the region. The event was originally scheduled for the entirety of the weekend but due to weather, the session was condensed to Sunday only. MOV […]
Mid-Ohio Valley Entertainment Commission hosts training session on film production
MARIETTA – The Mid-Ohio Valley Entertainment Commission brought together film enthusiasts for a film crew training event at Marietta College on Sunday. The event sought to promote creativity and inspire filmmakers in the region. The event was originally scheduled for the entirety of the weekend but due to weather, the session was condensed to Sunday […]
RFK Jr. makes food sound like a miracle drug. Researchers say he often overstates the science
In the Trump administration’s campaign to promote healthy eating, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not stopped at his slogan urging people to “eat real food” to prevent disease. In recent speeches and…
RFK Jr. Makes Food Sound Like a Miracle Drug. Researchers Say He Often Overstates the Science
In the Trump administration’s campaign to promote healthy eating, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not stopped at his slogan urging people to “eat real food” to prevent disease. In recent speeches and podcast appearances, the nation’s health secretary also has claimed that diet can “cure” schizophrenia and ...
RFK Jr. Makes Food Sound Like a Miracle Drug. Researchers Say He Often Overstates the Science
In the Trump administration’s campaign to promote healthy eating, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not stopped at his slogan urging people to “eat real food” to prevent disease. In recent speeches and podcast appearances, the nation’s health secretary also has claimed that diet can “cure” schizophrenia and ...
Nextdoor Promotes Tony Castellanos to Executive Vice President, People as AI-Driven People Strategy Becomes Core to Business Growth
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2026--Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NXDR), the essential neighborhood network, today announced the promotion of Tony Castellanos to Executive Vice President, People. Castellanos will lead Nextdoor's People organization — including talent acquisition, compensation, HR business partnering, and benefits — as the company deepens its investment in AI-enabled People operations and continues to scale its workforce strategy.
Memphis People in Business for March 19, 2026
A look at promotions, hirings, movers and newsmakers in the Memphis area business scene.
‘SNL U.K.’: Tina Fey Spoofs ‘Mary Poppins’ in Series Premiere Promo
Find out which celebrities will host the series' first few episodes.
Eastern Athletics Announces Two Promotions in Sports Medicine - Eastern Michigan University Athletics
Eastern Michigan University Athletics announced two promotions within the sports medicine department, recognizing the work and leadership of athletic trainer...
No Trump Endorsement for Cornyn or Paxton in Texas Senate Race as Deadline Passes
President Trump’s decision not to weigh in before the deadline means both John Cornyn and Ken Paxton remain on the ballot, extending their costly and increasingly personal battle into a May runoff.
Rumor: iPhone 19e may bring ProMotion display
Apple is at least considering it, according to a new report. It’s been less than a week since the iPhone 17e was announced, but we’re already getting our...
Read the White House Letter to Senate Republicans
In a letter sent to two Republican senators, White House officials outlined narrow changes it would be willing to make to its immigration enforcement operations.
Hawks fans sport Magic City gear despite canceled promotion
Hawks fans showed up in Magic City gear Monday night even though the NBA shut down the team's short-lived promotion with the well-known adult entertainment club.
Black women lead fastest-growing segment of US entrepreneurs
Black women are launching businesses at a faster rate than any other demographic in the U.S., driven in part by layoffs, stalled promotions and a corporate environment many say feels increasingly inhospitable, The Wall Street Journal writes. The number of Black women-owned businesses rose about 13% last year, according to research from Wells Fargo and […]
Missouri sports betting market officially launched: $5,000 in sportsbook sign-up bonuses, promos for March
Missourians can now place sports bets with mobile sportsbooks and get Missouri sports betting offers for the Missouri betting launch
Play-off dream back on for Stoke?
Final Score's Sam Fletcher reflects on an important win for Stoke City and how it could reignite their promotion ambitions.
Ronda Rousey's return likely a one-and-done deal
Former UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey will return to competition after a decade on May 16, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. "Rowdy" will face fellow women's MMA pioneer Gina Carano under Most Valuable Promotions. Rousey, 39, last fought in December ...
Deepfake Influencers Push Supplements Online
AI-generated figures are promoting wellness products to unsuspecting consumers
Trump Administration Turns to Migrant Workers to Help Farm Labor Shortage
As the president’s immigration policies squeeze an already tight supply of farm labor, the Trump administration is making it cheaper to hire foreign farmworkers.
Fewer people ventured to Downtown and OTR last year, data shows
An Enquirer analysis of eight indicators shows economic activity took a hit in Cincinnati's urban core amid concerns about crime. What's next in 2026?
Promoting early relational health and resilience in pediatric primary care: a qualitative study
Pediatric Research - Promoting early relational health and resilience in pediatric primary care: a qualitative study
White House war promo videos marry action movies, sports and video games to real-life combat footage
Some critics, including an official with the U.S. Catholic Church, have accused the administration of trivializing a real-life conflict.
Health benefit of walking: E dey help your brain, keep your heart healthy and five oda reasons you suppose waka more
Apart from promoting creative thinking, to dey waka dey improves mood and reduce stress. Here na eight ogbonge reasons to increase your daily step count.
Microsoft released Windows 11 KB5079471 OS recovery update
Microsoft this week has released a new dynamic update for Windows 11 26H1, 25H2, and 24H2, under KB5079463 and KB5079471.
Broncos' coaching staff includes new arrivals, in-house promotions
The Broncos' updated coaching staff includes several new arrivals and a few in-house promotions.
Corey Andeen Promoted to Business Development Manager at PCL Construction
PCL Construction is pleased to announce the promotion of Corey Andeen to Business Development Manager for its Fargo-area operations.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones travels to Taiwan to promote San Antonio business partnerships
Using magnesium supplements for sleep is all the rage. What to know
Magnesium supplements have caught influencers’ attention and long been praised for promoting healthy sleep. Here’s what the science shows.
NVIDIA, Intel join Microsoft for Advanced Shader Delivery, confirmed for Lunar/Panther Lake and GeForce RTX 50
Intel and NVIDIA promote Advanced Shader Delivery Advanced Shader Delivery is currently supported through the Xbox PC app, while Intel and NVIDIA say they
Memphis People in Business for March 12, 2026
A look at promotions, hirings, movers and newsmakers in the Memphis area business scene.
Her Lab Worked to Future-Proof Fruits and Vegetables
Erin McGuire ran a research network that studied how to get healthy food to marginalized populations around the world.
How Trump Officials Embraced an Animal Rights Campaign
The Trump administration is curbing animal experiments in response to shifts in public opinion, technological advances, years of animal rights advocacy and the work of a conservative activist.
Trump visits northern Kentucky, pushes economic record and midterm message
Trump visits a logistics facility to promote his economic record, highlight tax law and weigh in on the midterms and Rep. Thomas Massie’s reelection.
I guess this wasn't an Xbox after all
Microsoft is no longer promoting Xbox by telling people what an Xbox is.
Why Falling Cats Always Seem to Land on Their Feet
It takes backbone to solve an enigma like the “falling cat” problem.
Pontifical Academy for Life launches “Scientists for peace” appeal
The Pontifical Academy for Life launches an international appeal to all scientists, researchers, and academics to enact concrete actions to promote ...
Samsung wants Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display users to stay cautious
Samsung has released some of the important notes about the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display feature, which you should know before you buy this phone based on its intriguing promos and advertisements. The privacy display feature allows you to hide the on-screen content from other people while using the phone in public or crowded places. […]
In Talking to Parents About Vaccines, Pediatricians Navigate a Sea of Misinformation
Practitioners nationwide are striving to do what’s best for children’s health, while staying supportive in the face of mistrust and confusion.
Jake Paul: 'I believe the UFC is dying'
Jake Paul has always been critical of the UFC business practices and fighter pay. With the UFC steaming on Paramount+ and his Most Valuable Promotions airing on Netflix, the two organizations have become competitors. UFC CEO Dana White recently entered the boxing promotion game with Zuffa Boxing ...
Clayton Fuller and Shawn Harris Advance to Runoff in Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Georgia District
Clayton Fuller will face Shawn Harris, a Democrat, in an April runoff. Mr. Fuller’s win over a flashier Republican showed the power of the president’s support.
Bumblebee Queens Can Breathe Underwater
A new study offers clues as to how the insects survive flooding as they emerge from a hibernation-like phase every winter.
Bumblebee Queens Can Breathe Underwater
A new study offers clues as to how the insects survive flooding as they emerge from a hibernation-like phase every winter.
Why is Trump gamifying the war in Iran?
The White House is posting ‘video-game vibe’ content to promote US success in the Middle East conflict
Apple creates adorable little Finder guy to promote its adorable little Mac
Apple is pitching the MacBook Neo at people who’ve never owned a Mac before, and it’s reaching out to them...
An Appreciation: Russ Meyer, Business Aviation Legend
Meyer, who died March 4 at age 93, is largely credited with saving business aviation from possible ruin and helping propel the sector’s sustained recovery.
Unlike in Past Conflicts, Most Americans Oppose Iran Attacks
While the public has historically backed military intervention initially in international conflicts, deep polarization has left the latest strikes against Iran with record-low support.
NBA cancels Atlanta Hawks' Magic City event, citing 'significant concerns' about strip club promotion
Spurs center Luke Kornet was among those who spoke out against the scheduled event
NBA cancels Atlanta Hawks’ promotion with Magic City adult entertainment club after backlash
The NBA has canceled a popular Atlanta Hawks promotion with Magic City after receiving some backlash.
NBA cancels Atlanta Hawks’ promotion with Magic City adult entertainment club
The NBA has canceled a popular Atlanta Hawks promotion with Magic City after receiving some backlash.
Get Your Small Business Jobs Done With VistaPrint
Elevate your brand presence with these cost-effective print and promotional products, without stretching your budget.
Promoting disability inclusion in the entertainment industry
Nic Novicki joins "Your Morning"