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AI breakthrough cuts energy use by 100x while boosting accuracy
AI is consuming staggering amounts of energy—already over 10% of U.S. electricity—and the demand is only accelerating. Now, researchers have unveiled a radically more efficient approach that could slash AI energy use by up to 100× while actually improving accuracy. By combining neural networks with human-like symbolic reasoning, their system helps robots think more logically instead of relying on brute-force trial and error.
I quit Brown after a year to launch my own venture capital firm at 21.
Smaiyl Makyshov started a VC firm at 21 to invest in young founders, and those from accelerator communities like Y Combinator and A16z's Speedrun.
How FIU and Baptist Health are Using AI and Sound to Detect Heart Disease Earlier
Florida International University researchers working with Baptist Health are combining a digital stethoscope with A.I. and advanced sound analysis to detect subtle signs of heart disease long before symptoms appear.
Kavita Fischer: I lost $400,000 betting on sports
I lost more than $400,000 gambling. I’m also a psychiatrist who works with individuals struggling with substance use and behavioral That combination...
Luca Langoni sparks Revolution to 3-0 victory over Montreal
Luca Langoni scored early before notching his league-high fifth assist on defender Mamadou Fofana's first career goal, and the New England Revolution beat CF Montreal 3-0 on Saturday. New England (2-3-0) has lost all three of its road matches under first-year coach Marko Mitrović, but the Revolution have won their two home matches by a combined 9-1 score. Montreal falls to 1-5-0 as ends a six-match road trip to begin the season.
Congress gave money for global HIV work. The Trump administration isn't spending it
U.S. work combatting HIV/AIDS has saved millions of lives globally. Under the Trump administration, funding has been slow in coming and unpredictable, wreaking havoc on people trying to do the work.
Students found a star from the dawn of the universe drifting into the Milky Way
A group of undergraduate students stumbled into a cosmic time capsule—one of the oldest stars ever discovered—while combing through massive astronomy datasets. What began as a class project quickly turned into a breakthrough when they spotted an extraordinarily “pristine” star made almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, hinting it formed near the dawn of the universe.
Beauty as strategy: Why K-beauty is also a political success
K-beauty is more than just a cosmetics trend. South Korea has combined popular culture, innovation and national strategy to create a business model where beauty products are an economic and political tool.
Sources: NBA investigating Bucks after Giannis says he's healthy
The NBA is investigating the Bucks' handling of Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania, after the star forward told reporters Friday that he is being held out despite being healthy enough to play.
Rising energy costs squeeze Rochester-area businesses, forcing tough decisions
Owners point to a combination of rising expenses, including utilities, insurance, taxes and the cost of goods as key drivers behind the financial pressure.
NAVA Launches Latin Association of Voice Actors, Combatting AI Fraud in Spanish-Language Entertainment
The National Association of Voice Actors has launched the Latin Association of Voice Actors, addressing performers' unique challenges.
Executive order aims to limit NCAA athletes to 5 years, 1 transfer
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump Friday limits NCAA athletes to a five year playing window and how often they can transfer between schools.
NBA, NHL teams told Main Street sports network will end operations
Main Street Sports Group, the flailing regional sports network, has informed NBA and NHL teams it will cease operations at end of their respective seasons.
How The PENN Entertainment (PENN) Turnaround Story Is Shifting With New Targets And ESPN Progress
PENN Entertainment's fair value estimate has shifted from US$18.44 to US$19.11 per share, putting it closer to a cluster of recent Street targets in the mid to high teens and low US$20s. This revision aligns with analyst commentary that combines optimism around the interactive segment and free cash flow with lingering doubts about management credibility and the turnaround story. Read on to see how to track these changing targets and keep up with the evolving narrative around PENN. Analyst...
2026 Best & Brightest Business Major: Nolan Watson, University of Texas (McCombs)
Nolan Watson, a 2026 graduate of the University of Texas, has been named a Poets&Quants Best & Brightest Business Major of 2026
Carbon Emissions in a War-Torn World Threaten Brain Health
The combination of global warming and wars may deliver a double whammy to normal brain function.
Combining creativity and science
Science and creativity often seem like completely separate worlds, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Materials Science and Engineering Weekly Seminar with Dr. Mathias Kläui
Combining The Best Of All Worlds: Altermagnets – A New Class Of MagnetsAbstract While known for a long time, antiferromagnetically ordered systems have previously been considered as “interesting but useless”.
Punjab face Mohammedan in ISL; Indians at Asian Boxing Championships: Indian Sports LIVE, April 3
Here are all the updates from Indian sports on April 3, 2026.
John Elberling, combative S.F. nonprofit housing leader and political power player, dies at 79
The nonprofit leader helped preserve affordable housing in South of Market and shaped San Francisco politics for decades.
Phil Mickelson to miss Masters over personal health matter
Phil Mickelson announced Thursday that he won't play in next week's Masters and will be out for an extended period as his family continues to "navigate a personal health matter."
Philadelphia 76ers star rookie receives major NBA acknowledgement
Philadelphia 76ers star rookie V.J. Edgecombe was acknowledged by the NBA for his productive play throughout the month of March. On Thursday, the league announced that Edgecombe has officially been named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in March. The acknowledgement is the first career monthly award for Edgecombe, who becomes the eighth player in Sixers franchise history to be named Rookie of the Month.
76ers' Edgecombe, Kings' Raynaud named March Rookies of the Month
76ers guard VJ Edgecombe and Kings center Maxime Raynaud have been named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month for March.
ARPA-H launches groundbreaking, $144 million program to combat toxic microplastics in the human body
New STOMP program will uncover how microplastics build up in the body—and drive new ways to protect people from their potential health impact.
Documents: NC State trainer initiated 'unwelcome,' 'sexual' contact
A Title IX investigation found a former NC State trainer's conduct was "unwelcome and of a sexual nature" while treating a male athlete, according to documents obtained by ESPN.
Rostrum Pacific’s FatBeats acquires physical distro company Traffic Entertainment, plus D2C store and label
The deal brings together three companies with a combined 50 years of experience in vinyl distribution, physical distribution, and premium catalog re-issues.
Big South to be first in Division I to sponsor flag football
The Big South Conference will be the first league in Division I sponsoring women's flag football as its 19th sport starting with the 2027-28 year.
The Taylor Standard: How Wendy Taylor Built A Business Of Lasting Legacy And Community Trust
Discover how Wendy Taylor combined 30 years of financial mastery with 17 years of community trust to establish the first Black-owned funeral home in Rockledge, Florida.
Carolina Complete Health and WellCare of North Carolina Combine to Form Provider-Led Managed Care Organization
The combined organization will continue to serve Medicaid, Marketplace, Medicare and Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plan members statewide CHARLOTTE, N.C.,...
NCAA proposes barring players who opt into, remain in draft
The NCAA Division I Cabinet will consider proposed changes to eligibility rules - including one that would bar athletes who have entered and remained in a professional sports draft from competing in college.
ENTERTAINMENT: Hot Springs festival celebrates cherry blossoms
Samurai sword demonstrations by Yoshi Amao, whose presentations combine history, discipline and storytelling; drumming by Dallas Kiyari Daiko; and performances and demonstrations highlighting martial arts, traditional music and cultural storytelling are part of the Hot Springs National Park Sister City Foundation’s Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival.
Raising Cane's looks to add Sioux Falls location
Popular national chicken restaurant Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers is taking steps toward a Sioux Falls location.
Pesticides and cancer: Study reveals the biological mechanisms behind an environmental health risk
A new study, published in Nature Health, reveals a strong link between exposure to agricultural pesticides in the environment and the risk of developing cancer. By combining environmental data, a nationwide ...
Scientists just found DNA “supergenes” that speed up evolution
Hidden within fish DNA are powerful genetic twists that may explain one of nature’s biggest mysteries: how new species form so quickly. In Lake Malawi, hundreds of cichlid fish species evolved at lightning speed, and scientists now think “flipped” sections of DNA—called chromosomal inversions—are the secret. These inversions lock together useful gene combinations, creating “supergenes” that help fish rapidly adapt to different environments, from deep waters to sandy shores.
Wrigley Field to host Big Ten/SEC volleyball doubleheader
Wrigley Field will host a women's college volleyball doubleheader to highlight the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week in September.
It's a 'tough business,' but love of the game fuels Red Wings' Todd McLellan
The influence of social media, the pressure to win, and the growing finances in the NHL have combined to put coaches under more scrutiny.
Syracuse two-sport athlete Calvin Russell III out indefinitely
Syracuse two-sport athlete Calvin Russell III, who also played basketball this season, will miss an "indefinite period of time" after suffering an undisclosed injury in spring football practice.
Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham: Are Spurs gambling with their Premier League future in a relegation battle?
A manager with a history of combativeness, who fans are protesting against getting the job is now the man tasked with saving Tottenham
Snipers test signature management tech to enhance health and safety
Fort Benning, Ga. – The U.S. Army Sniper Course (USASC) at Fort Benning is working to improve sniper survivability and lethality in large-scale combat o...
McCormick buys Unilever's food business in deal that values it at nearly $45 billion
McCormick will pay a combination of cash and equity to expand further into condiments and spreads.
Military Health Care in Korea: What You Should Know
Moving to Korea is an exciting assignment filled with new opportunities, experiences, and adjustments. One of the first questions many arriving service members and families ask is simple: How does health care work overseas? The good news is that U.S. military beneficiaries stationed on the Korean Peninsula have access to a comprehensive health care system that combines American military medicine with one of the most advanced civilian health networks in the world. Through Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) operated by the Army, Air Force, and Navy -- along with TRICARE Overseas host nation providers and hospitals -- patients receive coordinated, high-quality care designed to support readiness while keeping families healthy throughout their tour. Here’s what to expect when receiving care in Korea.
Panthers hire Michael White as business president
The Panthers have hired former Amazon and Disney executive Michael White as the team's new business operations president.
Masai Ujiri joins ownership group of WNBA's Toronto Tempo
Former Raptors president Masai Ujiri has joined the ownership group of the city's new WNBA franchise.
Unilever says nears deal to merge Foods unit with McCormick
Unilever said on Tuesday it was in advanced talks with spice maker McCormick about a potential combination of its foods business in a deal that would include an upfront cash component of about $15.7 billion, with the majority of the consideration in McCormick equity.
NFL partners with TMRW Sports for pro flag football league
The NFL announced a partnership with TMRW Sports, the company behind the TGL, to develop a professional flag football league for men and women that will be backed by all 32 teams plus a plethora of well-known names in and out of football.
NFL partners with TMRW Sports for pro flag football league
The NFL announced a partnership with TMRW Sports, the company behind the TGL, to develop a professional flag football league for men and women that will be backed by all 32 teams plus a plethora of well-known names in and out of football.
Arizona State coach Randy Bennett dealing with 'health situation'
New Arizona State coach Randy Bennett had to reschedule his introductory news conference Monday as he's dealing with an undisclosed medical issue.
Axcelis Announces SBTi Approval of Science-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets
Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLS), a leading supplier of enabling ion implantation solutions for the semiconductor industry, is pleased to announce the approval of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis.
A Legacy of Valor; Virginia Air and Space Science Center opens new Tuskegee Exhibit
HAMPTON, VA – U.S. Air Force Gen. Adrian Spain, commander of Air Combat Command, joined U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt (former) Thomas Newton, Documented Original Tuskegee Airman, and others in cutting the ribbon of the new exhibit on Mar. 26, 2026, officially cementing the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen at the VASSC.
Your guide to April events and things to do in Memphis
In Memphis, April offers plenty of opportunities for those seeking entertainment or enlightenment or some combination thereof. Here are 8 of them.
GACHIAKUTA: The Game ‘Combat’ trailers – Enjin, Riyo, Rudo, and Zanka
Com2uS has released a series of “Combat” trailers for action RPG GACHIAKUTA: The Game, showcasing playable characters Enjin, Riyo, Rudo, and Zanka in “fast-paced, dynamic battles …
Scientists Stunned: Colossal Eggs Discovered 3,500 Meters Beneath an Active Volcano
Beneath an active seafloor volcano off Vancouver Island, researchers have documented a congregation of giant eggs at roughly 3,500 meters, a discovery that reframes how life can flourish under extreme conditions. The eggs belong to the Pacific white skate, an elusive deep‑sea species adapted to cold, crushing pressure and perpetual darkness. What seemed an unlikely nursery is actually a geothermally warmed refuge, where subtle heat helps embryos survive a marathon incubation. The finding links volcanic energy to a quiet engine of biodiversity, turning a hostile landscape into an incubator. A living volcano, a hidden nursery The seamount long assumed dormant now exhales mineral‑rich, shimmering plumes, proof of hydrothermal life at depth. Expedition cameras swept across black basalt and pale bacterial mats, revealing vents that pulse with warmth. That warmth, though modest by human standards, alters the physics of development for cold‑adapted embryos. In a realm where metabolism creeps, even a few degrees can mean faster growth and higher survival. The volcano is not only active; it is ecologically formative, drafting a blueprint for a thriving oasis. Giant eggs and a skate built for the abyss The Pacific white skate, Bathyraja spinosissima, is built for the abyss: broad wings, armored spines, and a life history that trades speed for endurance. Females lay outsized, rectangular “mermaid’s purses,” often 46–50 centimeters long, packed with rich yolk to fuel years of growth. In the frigid deep, embryos can require around four years to hatch, a timeline that magnifies every energetic advantage. The scale is striking—large eggs, large adults, and a textbook case of deep‑sea gigantism. The volcano’s gentle heat may literally shave months or years from the wait. Why heat matters at the bottom of the sea Hydrothermal circulation delivers low‑level warmth without the turbulence that would scatter fragile egg‑cases. Slightly elevated temperatures accelerate enzyme kinetics, nudging development along while keeping embryos within a safe range. Mineral‑laden fluids likely shape local microbiomes, which, in turn, can influence biofilms on egg surfaces. The environment acts like a slow, steady incubator, countering the deep sea’s tyrannies of cold and scarcity. For a species with long maturation and few offspring, every incremental boost compounds across generations. An ecosystem sculpted by fire and water Seafloor volcanoes create steep environmental gradients, stitching together hot vents, cool eddies, and mineral gardens into mosaic habitats. Microbes harvest chemical energy, seeding food webs that support crustaceans, fishes, and skates. Cameras documented egg‑cases nestled among rocky ledges, near communities nourished by vent‑driven chemistry. These islands of productivity behave like deep‑sea oases, sustaining life far beyond the vent orifice’s flickering light. The nursery’s success underscores how geological forces engineer biological opportunity. “Finding a cradle of life tucked beneath a breathing volcano reminds us that the planet’s harshest places can be profoundly generous.” What the discovery could change The nursery reframes conservation priorities in regions where volcanism quietly underwrites reproduction. Protecting hydrothermal corridors could safeguard entire lifecycles, not just charismatic adults spotted during occasional surveys. It also sharpens questions about how climate‑driven shifts in ocean circulation might influence vent activity, temperature fields, and embryo survival. With methodical mapping, time‑series cameras, and environmental DNA, scientists can track whether nurseries remain stable or drift with geologic rhythms. Key implications include: Enhanced understanding of deep‑sea reproduction at hydrothermal sites. New conservation targets centered on geothermal nurseries. Comparative studies with other volcanic regions, from the Galápagos to rift zones. Biotechnological insights from organisms adapted to long, cold development. Better models of how seafloor heat shapes regional biodiversity. Methods behind the revelation Remotely operated vehicles threaded through chimney fields, gathering video, temperatures, and mineral signatures. High‑definition imagery captured the distinctive, horned egg cases, their edges dusted with fine volcanic silt. Geochemical profiles mapped how heat and chemicals disperse, outlining the “thermal lanes” where eggs most cluster. Combined, these datasets reveal a nursery organized by geothermal topography, with egg‑cases concentrated in pockets of gentle, sustained warmth. A fragile boon in a changing ocean Deep‑sea environments feel remote, yet they intersect with global pressures: mining proposals, cable routes, and shifting oxygen levels. The nursery’s resilience hinges on stable heat flow, intact substrates, and minimal disturbance from noise or sediment. Safeguarding such places is not just about protecting novelty; it preserves a slow, ancient strategy that lets large, long‑lived animals endure in the coldest reaches of the Pacific. Where geology and biology meet, the planet’s deep time still writes living stories. This volcano‑warmed nursery adds a vital chapter to that story, revealing how subtle thermal gifts can tip the scales toward life in the abyss. With each dive, researchers trace the contours of an unseen world, where fire feeds water, and water—against all odds—feeds the future.
Rugby player with no football experience commits to Gamecocks
Neff Giwa, a 20-year-old Irishman who has never played American football, committed on Sunday to play at South Carolina as an offensive lineman.
Caster Semenya calls out IOC chief over Olympic transgender ban
Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya expressed her disappointment with International Committee President Kirsty Coventry over the decision to ban transgender athletes from competing at the Olympics.
Floyd Mayweather pumps brakes on rematch with Manny Pacquiao
Floyd Mayweather cast some doubt on details of his pending fight with Manny Pacquiao, saying the location has not be set and that the bout will actually just be an exhibition.
Hubert Kós leads Texas men to second straight NCAA swim title
Hubert Kós broke his own NCAA record while defending his title in the 200-yard backstroke to help the Texas men win a second straight national championship in swimming and diving.
Macomb Co. Clerk Anthony Forlini to be GOP secretary of state nominee
"He's the most electable," said former state Rep. Pete Lund, a Republican state convention delegate from Macomb County.
Denver Summit set NWSL attendance record in inaugural home game
Denver Summit set the NWSL attendance record in their inaugural home game, brining in a crowd of 63,004 against the Washington Spirit.
UFC Brings Cage-Match Bout to the White House, Home of a President Who Favors Cage-Match Politics
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cage-match fighting is coming to the White House to fete President Donald Trump, a proud proponent of cage-match politics. In the coming weeks, crews will erect a 6-foot wire-mesh fence shaped into an octagon on the lawn, where UFC fighters will use a combination of kickboxing,
Controversial star receiver named Philadelphia Eagles' most overpaid player
Earlier this month, star cornerback Cooper DeJean was named the Philadelphia Eagles’ most underpaid player by Brad Gagnon of Blecher Report. Gagnon recently released a list of every NFL teams’ most overpaid player, and for the Eagles, that distinction went to mercurial star wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his four seasons in Philadelphia, but declining production combined with a huge contract and some distracting behavior has led Brown to being overpaid, at least in the eyes of Gagnon.
Macomb city officials break down proposed sports complex, residents voice concerns
A crowd of about 100 people gathered at Thursday evening's economic development update.
Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program sets new record
The Vanderbilt Transplant Center is now the second largest lung transplant center in the United States by volume, with 149 lung transplants in 2025, the most ever in one year at Vanderbilt Health. The Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program leads the nation in organ preservation and regeneration and is among the best in long-term outcomes, demonstrating the success of the interdisciplinary team in caring for these complex patients. Several features make the program unique in the United States, said Konrad Hoetzenecker, MD, PhD, professor of Thoracic Surgery and surgical director of the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program. Vanderbilt serves as a “second opinion center” and accepts most complex candidates that are turned down by other centers due to increased perioperative risk. This includes patients over 70 years old, patients requiring combined procedures with their transplant, multiorgan transplantations and sensitized patients (individuals who have pre-formed anti-HLA antibodies who are at higher risk for complications). The expertise and excellent outcomes have attracted patients far beyond the borders of Tennessee; almost half of Vanderbilt Health’s lung transplant recipients come from out of state. “Another unique feature is our minimally invasive transplant program,” Hoetzenecker said. “By using distinct surgical instruments and techniques, the incisions can be kept as small as 7 to 8 centimeters, which results in better healing, less pain and faster recovery. “This minimally invasive approach is embedded in an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, a multimodal, evidence-based perioperative care pathway designed to reduce surgical stress, minimize complications and speed up recovery. Our unique ERAS protocol, by a dedicated interdisciplinary approach, aims to improve recovery after lung transplant and reduce ICU and hospital stay.” The lung transplant program recently celebrated a milestone — 1,000 lung transplants since the program began in 1990. “This significant achievement reflects the concerted effort of a multidisciplinary collaboration by the Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Medicine, Anesthesiology and Critical Care,” said David Erasmus, MD, associate professor of Medicine and medical director of Vanderbilt Lung Transplant. Lung transplants have been attempted since the 1960s, but they were largely unsuccessful until the 1980s, when surgical techniques were refined and new antirejection drugs proved effective. Patient outcomes steadily improved from the 1990s to the present. Vanderbilt’s fourth lung transplant recipient in 1990, Pam Everett, is the longest-living, single-lung transplant known in the world, recently celebrating 35 years since her transplant. The Vanderbilt Lung Transplant surgical team is led by Hoetzenecker and Caitlin Demarest, MD, PhD, the surgical director and associate surgical director of the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant program. Erasmus is the medical director of Vanderbilt Lung Transplant along with Anil Trindade, MD, associate medical director and associate professor of Medicine.
Troop Shortage Crisis Grips Israeli Military as War Expands
Meanwhile, the Israeli army has acknowledged a shortfall of approximately 15,000 troops, including around 8,000 combat soldiers.
Iran forbids sports teams from travel to 'hostile' countries
Iran has banned its sports teams from traveling to countries it considers "hostile," Iranian state TV reported Thursday ahead of Tractor FC's scheduled soccer game in Saudi Arabia.
Rays squander Opening Day lead, fall to Cardinals
The Opening Day contest was tied at 1-1 in the sixth inning before the teams combined for the 14 runs.
UConn's Geno Auriemma says Title IX 'pretty much out the window'
UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma on Thursday said Title IX legislation, in practice, is "pretty much out the window."
UCLA's Close asks NCAA to make changes, ease coaching burden
UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close said Thursday that collegiate sports success comes with an exhausting pace for coaches, and pleaded for the NCAA to make changes.
Motorola Razr 70 Ultra leaks on high-resolution renders for the first time
The Motorola Razr 70 Ultra can be seen for the first time in high-resolution render images. Motorola's next-generation folding flagship combines a 4-inch secondary display with slim bezels with a 7-inch main display and a dual camera.
Alien Deathstorm: Sci-fi Survival and Action Combine for a New First-Person Horror Hybrid
New from Rebellion (Atomfall, Sniper Elite) is Alien Deathstorm, an atmospheric first-person horror hybrid, coming to Xbox and Xbox Game Pass.
Lynn sports management students attend National Football League Combine
Lynn University sports management students attended the Sports Management Worldwide National Football League (NFL) Combine Football Career Conference in…
UCLA softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez breaking records amid changing landscape
Last month, Inouye-Perez became the winningest coach for the winningest program in softball history.
Pullman Danang Beach Resort Responds to Rising Bleisure Travel with Expanded Business and Leisure Facilities
/PRNewswire/ -- As global travel patterns continue to evolve, "bleisure" travel, which combines business trips with leisure experiences, has become a...
Jaouadi sets record as Florida, Indiana co-lead NCAA swim
Florida freshman Ahmed Jaouadi broke the NCAA record in the 1,650-yard freestyle, and the Gators shared the Day 1 lead with Indiana at the Division I swimming and diving championships on Wednesday.
A story of carnival, dance and politics
“I saw the power of combining story with dance and fashion and was really intrigued by the dynamics of that combination,” Amy Kimberly, former executive
Students ‘Surge’ with fun at local entertainment center
Have you ever wanted to visit an arcade, a restaurant and a bowling alley all in one place? Surge Entertainment by Drew Brees combines all three in same building, along with more activities including laser tag and sports simulators. While the venue offers variety, its attempt to do everything at once leaves certain areas underdeveloped,...
Inside the impact of NIL and revenue sharing on college hockey
Can competitive balance survive in the sport with the widest variety of athletic programs?
Going into the community to bring down high BP
Rush University Medical Center, the AMA and others combine efforts to address hypertension. Find out how.
Jay-Z felt 'uncontrollable anger' amid sexual assault, rape lawsuit
Jay-Z has broken his silence about the lawsuit that accused him and fellow music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs of raping a teenage girl more than two decades ago.
Cabin Fever Reliever combines expo and entertainment
Two Harbors Community Radio is bringing back its Cabin Fever Reliever event this Sunday, March 29, at the high school.
Apple Combines Business Offerings on Single Platform
Apple has introduced a platform that brings together several of its business offerings. Dubbed “Apple Business,” the platform will be launched April 14 in
76ers' Paul George blamed mental health for banned substance use
The Sixers' Paul George, who was suspended 25 games for a failed drug test, is set to return Wednesday when Philadelphia faces the Boston Celtics.
The Economist launches new Economist Enterprise business unit
The move combines business-to-business teams and units that currently service more than 2,700 organizations globally.
2026 NFL Draft combined rankings: No. 1 overall prospect is a Big Ten star — just not Fernando Mendoza
Arbitration case could bring change to NCAA's 'messy middle'
Why Nebraska's recent challenge could have wide-ranging salary cap implications.
Colorado Sen. Mike Weissman calls for cold water on heated hate speech
Likening the recent record-setting warm temperatures to hot political rhetoric, Colorado Sen. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, pleaded for an end to death threats and other hate speech directed at lawmakers of both parties. “The increasingly tragic reality of our politics, however, like the increasingly tragic reality of our climate, is one of combustibility,” Weissman said from the well […]
Kraken assume majority ownership of Climate Pledge Arena
The Seattle Kraken ownership group, led by Samantha Holloway, announced the creation of One Roof Sports and Entertainment on Monday.
Bill introduced seeks to ban sports bets on prediction markets
A bipartisan Senate bill introduced Monday seeks to ban prediction markets from allowing transactions that mimic sports betting.
WATCH LIVE: Trump joins Memphis Safe Task Force roundtable, initiative aimed at combating crime
Borussia Dortmund names second-division exec as sporting director
Borussia Dortmund has dipped into the German second division to appoint a new sporting director who won praise for making impactful transfers on a budget.
New ‘Crimson Desert’ Patch Fixes Storage, Combat, Controls, Bosses, Fast Travel
A new Crimson Desert patch has fixed many of the game's biggest issues not even a week after launch. They really transform the game.
Crimson Desert Update Makes Control Improvements, Eases The Difficulty
Crimson Desert's latest update introduces early player-driven improvements, including new storage options, combat balance tweaks, and expanded fast travel.
Bill Self says coaching future at Kansas to be determined
Longtime Kansas coach Bill Self said after Sunday's season-ending loss to St. John's that he has not yet made a decision about his coaching future, later adding that any decision will be based solely on his health.
Wisconsin edges Ohio St., wins another title at Frozen Four
Claire Enright scored the go-ahead goal in the third period Sunday, Ava McNaughton had 34 saves, and No. 2 seed Wisconsin beat top-seeded Ohio State 3-2 at the Frozen Four to win its second consecutive national championship.
Notre Dame men join women in winning inaugural three-weapon title
Notre Dame's Ahmed Hesham won the men's saber Sunday, and the Fighting Irish men joined the women in winning the inaugural three-weapon national championship at the Joyce Center.
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. 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