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WATCH LIVE: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's address to state's General Assembly
Bears' surge has White Sox hopeful of their own 'good, better, best' era
CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears fandom might not reside at the top of Chris Getz’s sports list as both a Michigan native and a member of the Grosse Pointe South High School Hall of Fame. But in his role as White Sox general manager, Getz appreciates the fervor, frenzy and unabashed
Trump Announces Members for Gaza ‘Board of Peace,’ Including Rubio and Kushner
The president also tapped a U.S. general to lead an international peacekeeping force that will be deployed to disarm Hamas and occupy Gaza.
New Texas poll finds Talarico leading Crockett by 9 points in Senate Democratic primary
Texas’ Senate Republican primary, meanwhile, looks headed for a runoff. The survey found U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in a dead heat against Attorney General Ken Paxton, with neither eclipsing 30%.
Why Jenrick’s Reform Defection Fractures UK Political Right
The dramatic sacking of a senior Conservative and his defection hours later to Nigel Farage's Reform UK all-but ended the chances of any deal to unite the British right, confirming the next general election as the most widely contested in decades. Some Tories had held out hopes they could forge a pact with the insurgent Reform party that has rapidly eclipsed them in voter affections. The fallout from leader Kemi Badenoch's shock decision to fire her rival Robert Jenrick on Thursday put that further from reach. Our UK Politics Reporter James Woolcock joined Caroline Hepker and Lizzy Burden on Bloomberg Radio to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
Polis delivers final state address to Colorado legislature
Watch live here. Gov. Jared Polis delivered his final State of the State address to the Colorado General Assembly this morning and outlined his agenda for this year’s legislative session, with a focus on housing, early childhood development, and the economy. He expectedly touted his accomplishments in the last seven years, as well as spelled […]
Yost: ‘sloppy work,’ not politics, sank attempt on pot-law referendum
Ohio's attorney general, David Yost, has rejected a petition calling for referendum on Senate Bill 56 that enacts sweeping changes to marijuana law, including a ban on hemp.
Polis to deliver final state address to Colorado legislature
Watch here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyifKnLhTJo Gov. Jared Polis will deliver his final State of the State address to the Colorado General Assembly this morning and outline his agenda for this year’s legislative session, notably in the areas of housing, early childhood development, and the economy. He is also expected to tout his accomplishments in the last […]
Business Briefs: Jan. 16, 2026
National Grid hosts in-person customer assistance events WALTHAM — National Grid continues its commitment to supporting customers with a series of in-person customer assistance events this month. With colder temperatures, these events are designed to help residents manage seasonal energy bills and explore cost-saving programs. At every location, National Grid customer service specialists will be available […]
Governor Stein Provides NC Strong Update: Promoting Safe & Healthy Families Across North Carolina
Today Governor Josh Stein held his latest NC Strong Update to reaffirm his commitment to a healthier North Carolina, including announcing new funding for rural health care and summer meals for kids and calling on the General Assembly to pass a comprehensive state budget that fully funds Medicaid as federal Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. Governor Stein also gave an update on his successful work to keep people safe from malicious drones.
'Massive' Russian losses in Ukraine push it toward breaking point: official
Up to 25,000 Russian soldiers are being killed every month, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this week.
Minnesota’s biggest companies starting to feel heat from ICE surge
From Target to General Mills and Caribou Coffee, Minnesota’s largest employers are feeling pressure amid a surge of immigration officers in the state following the killing of Renee Good.
iOS 26.3 Hints at Improved iPhone-to-Android Texting Coming Soon
Starting with the iOS 26.3 beta, Apple appears to be laying the groundwork for carriers to be able to support end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for RCS messages, and that news could actually have even bigger implications for the Messages app on the iPhone.
Flu prompts mask mandate at health system with Lancaster County operations
Starting today, masking is mandated for staff working in all Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health facilities who interact with patients.
Md. attorney general says state wins most appeals on denied health care claims, too many give up
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said a unit within his office has recovered or saved consumers $2.6 million by challenging denied health care claims.
‘Smearing the victim’: Minnesota’s attorney general accuses federal investigators of maligning Renee good
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison reacts to reports that the DOJ is investigating Renee Good’s possible ties to activist groups following her death. He says her background is “irrelevant” to the case and that it is an attempt to smear the victim.
ICYMI: Florida Releases Infant Formula Test Results Under Healthy Florida First - Florida Department of Health
Bartow, Fla.— Today, Governor Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced the release of infant formula testing
Scientists Solve Mars Water Mystery With a Thin Layer of Ice
New climate modeling suggests that small lakes on ancient Mars could have stayed liquid for decades, even in a generally cold environment. Small lakes on early Mars may have stayed in liquid form for many years, despite average temperatures that were far below freezing. Researchers at Rice Uni
Vote for Week 6 Delaware HS Athlete of the Week, presented by Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists
Voting is free on Delaware Online. The winner will be announced on Jan. 16.
Western Pacific Region achieves milestone: 19 countries complete comprehensive health information system assessments
The Health Information and Digital Health (HID) unit in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has successfully supported 19 countries, covering 99% of the Region’s population, to conduct comprehensive health information system (HIS) assessments, surpassing the regional target of 15 set for 2025 and advancing efforts toward universal health coverage. Using SCORE, a technical package of essential interventions, recommended actions, tool and resources developed by WHO and partners to address challenges in meeting HIS needs, these assessments systematically assess health data availability and quality, enabling countries to monitor trends, identify and respond to emerging health challenges, and improve policies and programmes for healthier families, communities and societies. The first round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2019-2021 in 14 countries in the Region and over 130 countries globally. The second round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2024-2025.SCORE assessments are a key priority identified by Member States and WHO at all levels, including within WHO-Country/Multi-Country Cooperation Strategies, the Regional Vision Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025–2029), and the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14, 2025–2028). Within the Regional Vision, implementing SCORE assessments is a key action for technology and innovation to advance health equity (strand 5).The SCORE for Health Data technical package is based on five key interventions, represented by the acronym SCORE. Interventions S, C and O focus on strengthening core data sources. Survey (S) covers population-based health surveys, surveillance systems and censuses, including their capacity to monitor health-related SDGs. Count (C) focuses on birth, death and cause of death registration as parts of a functional CRVS system. Optimize (O) addresses routine health service data and key health service inputs such as health financing and health workforce.Interventions R and E focus on data use for action. Review (R) examines regular analytical reviews of health sector progress and performance, together with national analytical capacity. Enable (E) looks at the policy, governance, and digital foundations needed to support effective data use.The Western Pacific Region shows relatively strong performance in the Review (R) and Count (C) interventions. Most countries in the Region demonstrate good analytical reporting and institutional capacity for analysis and learning. More than two-thirds of countries show more mature CRVS systems, driven by improvements in birth and death registration. However, medical certification of cause-of-death remains a key gap, with limited or low coverage in over half of countries in the Region.Performance under the Survey (S) intervention is mixed. While surveillance systems are generally strong, several countries in the Region continue to face challenges in implementing their surveys and censuses. Monitoring health-related SDGs is still a challenge for more than a third of countries in the Region.The greatest challenges are observed in the Optimize (O) and Enable (E) interventions. More than half of countries have lower maturity levels in routine health service and resource systems. Two-thirds of countries also face challenges with effective use of data and evidence for policy and action, largely due to gaps in digital infrastructure, governance and legislation for health data systems, and especially in data and sharing.  As part of the SCORE methodology, multi-stakeholder consultations and validation workshops were conducted in many countries to review findings and plan strategies for HIS strengthening. The HID unit continues to provide targeted support to facilitate dialogue and assist countries in developing HIS improvement plans. These plans guide governments and partners to align investments and coordinate efforts for maximum impact.WHO also assists countries with tailored technical support to address key gaps as requested by countries/national health authorities. SCORE assessments should be conducted periodically to monitor progress in HIS strengthening, although progress across addressing gaps identified in SCORE should be continually tracked as countries implement improvements.Additional countries will be supported to implement SCORE in 2026. The Regional Vision delivery-for-impact target, endorsed by Member States, is for all countries and areas to have implemented SCORE assessments and have an increased SCORE index by 2029 while WHO is aiming for 80% of Member States in the Region to conduct round two assessments. Countries yet to complete assessments are therefore encouraged to contact the HID unit at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific for tailored support.The implementation of SCORE HIS assessments in the Western Pacific Region was supported by The Gates Family Foundation.
A new theory of gravity could explain cosmic acceleration without dark energy
The accelerating expansion of the universe is usually explained by an invisible force known as dark energy. But a new study suggests this mysterious ingredient may not be necessary after all. Using an extended version of Einstein’s gravity, researchers found that cosmic acceleration can arise naturally from a more general geometry of spacetime. The result hints at a radical new way to understand why the universe keeps speeding up.
On This Day, Jan. 11: Surgeon general says smoking a 'health hazard'
On Jan. 11, 1964, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry released a report saying smoking cigarettes is a definite "health hazard."
Florida GOP backs James Uthmeier for Attorney General
'United and focused on winning.'
Matt Ryan hired as Atlanta Falcons' first president of football
Ryan will need to hire both a general manager and head coach in his first offseason
Unsolicited advice to both Republicans and Democrats
This even-numbered year will be one of political turnover in Colorado with the governor’s chair opening up, along with the other state executive offices (attorney general, state treasurer, and secretary of state), all due to term limits. A U.S. Senate seat will also be on the ballot. The ultra-competitive 8th district to Denver’s north will […]
GOP-led Michigan House sues all state departments, directors to maintain $645M in cuts
House Republicans responded to an attorney general's opinion that they can't legally cut programs unilaterally by suing multiple state agencies.
And more teams I speak to than not, generally …
And more teams I speak to than not, generally …
GM takes $6 billion hit as cost of backing away from EVs
General Motors on Thursday said it will take an additional $6 billion hit against its earnings as result of it pulling back on its electric vehicle plans.
Judge says Trump’s acting US Attorney investigating Letitia James is serving unlawfully
A federal judge on Thursday ruled that the Trump administration’s pick to be the US Attorney for the Northern District of New York must stop his work on two ongoing criminal investigations into President Donald Trump’s political foe Letitia James, the New York state attorney general.
Mass General Brigham to acquire insurer Fallon Health
Massachusetts' insurance landscape is consolidating amid challenging financial times.
WellSpan Health Announces Comprehensive Migration of Technology Portfolio to AWS
Add to FavoritesWellSpan Health, the leading health care system serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland, today announced plans for a comprehensive cloud migration of its full technology infrastructure. Together with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider, WellSpan will transition its applications, data and environments from traditional data centers to AWS. This migration will establish the foundation for delivering next-generation, AI-enabled health care solutions that reduce administrative burden and improve outcomes for patients across the region and beyond. Supercharging Innovation, Efficiency and Patient Outcomes WellSpan's migration of systems and clinical applications, which serve 1.2 million patients across nine hospitals and 250+ facilities, is expected to be complete by April 2026, one of the fastest full-scale migrations in the health care industry. This transformation enables WellSpan to unify disparate data systems for care teams and patients alike, achieving operational efficiencies and care improvements that fragmented systems are unable to deliver. “Our comprehensive migration to the cloud accelerates our ability to deploy new clinical capabilities that transform patient care while advancing our overall innovation strategy,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health. “When a physician can access complete patient imaging in seconds instead of hours, we're not just modernizing technology—we're improving patient outcomes. Our new cloud infrastructure also enables us to quickly implement solutions that will free our clinicians from thousands of hours of administrative work annually so they can focus on what they do best: caring for our communities.” The transition allows WellSpan to move away from a data center-based model and enables the rapid deployment and scale of AI technology. WellSpan’s strategic partner, General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Company (HATCo), facilitated the collaboration with AWS to support the migration. WellSpan’s transformation journey benefits from HATCo’s specialized technology solutions, as well as General Catalyst and AWS’s significant partnership to improve patient outcomes, which was announced in January 2025. “Our decision to go all-in on AWS will enable insights and innovations impossible in traditional siloed environments,” said Kasey Paulus, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WellSpan Health. “This is the largest health care technology transformation in our region's history, and it positions WellSpan to be a premier partner for technology leaders across the country.” “WellSpan is building a foundation with AWS that will improve care and outcomes for patients across their health system by bringing data together into standardized formats that are optimized for AI applications,” said Dan Sheeran, vice president and general manager, Healthcare and Life Science, AWS. “To do this, it is essential to have the most secure and compliant cloud when handling patient data, along with AWS’s built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks that follow the industry’s highest standards to protect patient information. We look forward to continuing to work alongside WellSpan as they unlock the cloud and AI’s full potential to deliver exceptional care to their patients.” Key Benefits of the AWS Collaboration Full Portfolio Migration: WellSpan will transition its applications and data from on-premises data centers to AWS, including full IT environments and specialized applications for functions such as nursing, cardiology, pharmacy and the company’s supply chain systems. This represents approximately 7.5 petabytes of clinical and non-clinical data and more than 300 applications—the most comprehensive health system cloud migration in the Mid-Atlantic region. Approved Architectures: AWS will deliver secure, WellSpan-specific architectures tailored to each build, ensuring compliance and reliability across the health system. Unified, AI-Ready Data: Migrating to AWS enables WellSpan to harmonize data across separate systems, transforming unstructured clinical notes and multi-modal datasets into standardized, AI-ready formats. Accelerated Results and Improved Outcomes: Automated data normalization and processing will enable the deployment of applications that reduce turnaround times for items such as analyzing medical imaging or patient records from days to minutes, helping clinicians get patient results faster and improving overall health outcomes. Reduced Administrative Burden: The transition to AWS will enable swift deployment of AI-powered solutions that reclaim thousands of hours for WellSpan’s clinical and corporate teams, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than paperwork. Elastic Infrastructure: Cloud architecture will enable WellSpan to scale computing resources dynamically, supporting seasonal demand fluctuations without infrastructure investments, as well as the rapid deployment of new services across multiple locations simultaneously. Most Secure, Compliant Cloud: AWS offers the highest network availability of any cloud provider, with more than 166 HIPAA-eligible services and certifications for global compliance standards, including HITRUST CSF. Built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks ensure that WellSpan’s data is protected under the industry’s most rigorous standards. Tags:News releaseInnovation and partnerships
In Trump’s words, ‘we’re in the oil business’
This brought to mind the words of Marine Major General Smedley Butler: 'I was a racketeer for capitalism.'
Dream Impact Trust Provides a Business Update
TORONTO, January 07, 2026--DREAM IMPACT TRUST (TSX: MPCT.UN) ("Dream Impact", "we", "our" or the "Trust") today provides a general business update on liquidity, development and strategic initiatives.
Americans generally like wolves − except when reminded of politics
Recent studies found that attitudes toward wolves became more polarized when people's political identies were activated.
Galaxies with ‘hoop skirts’ are more common than we thought
The discovery of thousands more galaxies with stars ringing their main disks could help astronomers study galactic evolution more generally.
Share your health and fitness questions for Devi Sridhar, Mariella Frostrup, and Joel Snape
Whether your question is about exercise, eating, or general wellness, post it below and we’ll put a selection to our panel on the night
Americans generally like wolves − except when we’re reminded of our politics
New research shows how identity-driven assumptions can turn common ground into conflict.
AMD unveils new AI PC processors for general use and gaming at CES
AMD announced the latest version of its AI-powered PC chips designed for a variety of tasks from gaming to content creation and multitasking.
Georgia state budget, personal income tax, among top issues for 2026 Georgia General Assembly
The new year is just getting underway, and it’s already a busy time for politics in Georgia ahead of the annual legislative session. WABE’s politics reporter Rahul Bali returned to “Closer Look” to talk more about Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens' swearing-in ceremony and preview the upcoming legislative session.
Amazon Alexa+ released to the general public via an early access website
Amazon brings back browser-based Alexa but will eventually add a paywall.
Vote for Week 5 Delaware HS Athlete of the Week, presented by Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists
Voting is free on Delaware Online. The winner will be announced on Jan. 9.
Brookfield's retail division has a new name
The move back to General Growth Properties comes from an effort to reflect how the division operates as an independent business within Brookfield.
Brookfield's retail division has a new name
The move back to General Growth Properties comes from an effort to reflect how the division operates as an independent business within Brookfield.
North Carolina awarded $213 million to improve rural health amid Medicaid cuts
The federal government has awarded $213 million to North Carolina to help support rural health care.The funding backed by Congressman Chuck Edwards comes from t
Top general details US military raid that captured Venezuela's Maduro
The operation involved more than 150 military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and bomber planes.
NFL head coach, GM firings: What's coming this hiring cycle
Sources around the league outline which head coaches and general managers are safe, which are not, and how the NFL's hiring calendar is about to unfold
Expert: There's a flood of political campaign spending flowing into Michigan in 2026
2026 is a big political year in Michigan. Voters are not only electing a new governor, attorney general and secretary of state, but also 13 representatives to the U.S. House and a U.S. senator.
2026 election could be Alabama’s biggest political shakeup in decades: The races to watch
The ballot includes open seats for governor, U.S. Senate, attorney general, and lieutenant governor.
Welcome to an election year. What to expect from 2026 Arizona politics
Arizona is gearing up for a major midterm season with the governor's and attorney general's offices on the line. Gaggle guests look ahead to 2026.
Health research grant reviews restored after settlement with Mass. AG, Trump admin.
More than a dozen state attorneys general filed suit against the Trump administration earlier this year, claiming it was intentionally delaying grant reviews.
Science in 2050: the future breakthroughs that will shape our world
Nature - Nuclear fusion. People on Mars. Artificial general intelligence. These are just some of the advances that could come by the mid-century mark.
Why Americans are facing rising health insurance costs
Experts point to several factors behind the surge in health insurance prices, including general inflation, the growing use of high-cost prescription drugs, and consolidation among medical providers.
Citrus Burn Cited in Scientific Discussion of Metabolic Health and Dietary Support
Citrus Burn is discussed in the context of consumer and scientific discourses with wider discussions on the topic of metabolic health, dietary supplements, and wellness decision-making Citrus Burn Citrus Burn New York City, NY, Dec. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dietary supplements positioning, understanding, and appraisal by the general population have become a subject of consumer reporting and scientific debate as interest in metabolic health and weight-related wellness and in the role dietary
Photographing Cosmic Rays With A Consumer Camera
The reason photographic darkrooms are needed is because almost any amount of light can ruin the film or the photographic paper before they are fixed. Until then these things are generally kept in s…
Seeing Sound For Under $200
There are five general senses: touch for feels, taste for food, smell for avoiding trash, hearing for sounds, and, of course, eyesight for visualizing the very waves making up that sound. [Plasmatr…
New York Enacts FAIR Business Practices Act Expanding State Consumer Protection Law
On December 19, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law S8416, amending New York’s General Business Law to enact the Fostering Affordability and
Health System Barriers, Treatment Disparities Prolong gMG Diagnosis
Patients with generalized myasthenia gravis face significant barriers to diagnosis, creating the need for improved patient–health care interactions.
Waymo is testing Gemini as an in-car AI assistant in its robotaxis
Waymo is testing a Gemini-powered in-car AI assistant, per findings from a 1,200-line system prompt. The assistant can answer general knowledge questions, control certain in-cabin features, and more.
Maine among 19 states suing HHS over youth gender-affirming care
Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, its Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and its inspector general over a declaration that could complicate access to gender-affirming care for young people.
Nine mental-health tips for a happier 2026
Regardless of any resolutions you may have for 2026, one thing is for sure: Everyone wants to have a happy new year.While losing weight or saving money may be great goals, the most straightforward path to happiness is caring for your mental and emotional health. A robust body of research shows that simple cognitive and behavioral strategies can reliably boost happiness and reduce stress – and they’re generally free and accessible to all.These strategies don’t have to be super time-consuming, but they do require intention: They only work if you do them.Here, psychologist Valentina Ogaryan, PhD, clinical director of the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, shares her top tips for cultivating more calm, centeredness and happiness in the new year (or anytime):Make time for playPlay isn’t just for kids, and it’s far from frivolous. The National Institute for Play says engaging in silliness, fun and just-for-pleasure activities reduces stress and increases optimism and resilience. A recent review also found that play improves mental health.“Adults can benefit from play as much as children,” Dr. Ogaryan says, “not just as a reward, but something that helps regulate.”So go ahead and dance with your dog, build something with Legos, tell a joke, sing karaoke or do anything else that feels like fun. Don’t worry about being productive, just enjoy yourself. And, if you can, opt for more analog play, Dr. Ogaryan suggests, as a respite from our ever-more-digital world. Move your bodyWhether you dance, ski, do yoga, play pickleball, ride a bike, roller-skate, hike or lift weights, physical movement benefits overall happiness and well-being. A 2018 review study of more than 1.2 million adults in the U.S. found that doing any kind of exercise was “significantly and meaningfully associated” with better self-reported mental health.The sweet spot was 45 minutes of movement three to five times a week, but even short bursts of physical activity can boost brain health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“Movement helps support mood and regulate the nervous system,” Dr. Ogaryan says.Plus: exercise can improve sleep quality, and sleep is essential for mental health.Prioritize sleep“Sleep plays a major role in managing stress,” Dr. Ogaryan says. Research shows that lack of sufficient sleep increases the risk of various diseases, including depression.While stress can interfere with sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene can make logging ZZ’s easier. That means maintaining a consistent bedtime; keeping the bedroom cool, dark and quiet; and avoiding social media, news and stimulating shows before bed.Consume lessWe live in a consumer culture, inundated by endless streams of content and advertising everywhere we go, which makes it easy to get overstimulated.“Something really helpful for stress reduction is to simply consume less,” Dr. Ogaryan says – less news, less social media, less information, less noise, less screen time. “It’s about reducing the input,” she says.Consider setting a maximum number of news articles per day, for example, or a time limit on scrolling. Maybe even go device free for an afternoon or a whole day.Practice present-moment awarenessWith so much coming at us all the time, focusing on the here and now can make life feel more manageable, Dr. Ogaryan says: “When everything feels super overwhelming, when everything feels larger than life, let’s make our world a little bit smaller for that moment in time.”She suggests taking things one day, or even one hour, at a time. Ask yourself: What’s my next right action? Release the need to know how everything turns out and liberate yourself from having to handle everything right now. Let the future take care of itself and just focus on the current moment. Then the next one. Have a daily anchorFrom work to the daily commute to family and life responsibilities, our days can feel jam-packed. Dr. Ogaryan recommends creating a centering daily anchor that can fit into even the busiest day.Maybe it’s a 10-minute walk during your lunch break or mindfully enjoying your coffee in the morning. Let your anchor adapt to your needs each day, she says, but be intentional about using that time to ground yourself and calm your nervous system. You might even say to yourself, “I choose this walk to help me become centered,” or “My day already feels stressful, so I’m going to take the next 10 minutes to enjoy this cup of coffee, feel the warm mug in my hand and just be present.” Having an anchor won’t erase the busy-ness from your day, but it will allow you to approach it more calmly.Be kind to yourselfMost of us have a harsh inner critic in our heads who works overtime. But that critical voice only increases our stress, triggering the same fight-or-flight response as caustic words from another person.To feel happier, we need to replace that inner critic with a kinder, more compassionate voice, Dr. Ogaryan says. Studies show that self-compassion is a source of eudaimonic happiness – the kind of happiness associated with purpose and meaning in life.While our knee-jerk reaction may be to self-criticize – “How could you let it get to this point? You didn’t manage your time well and now the project is going to be late. You’re so inept.” – we fare better mentally by treating ourselves with kindness, like we would a friend. That might sound like, “You’ve got a lot on your plate, but you are capable and you’ll get it done. I believe in you.”We may think that speaking kindly to ourselves means letting ourselves off the hook, so we end up becoming lazy do-nothings. But research shows the opposite: People who are self-compassionate are more likely to try harder in the face of failure and ultimately reach their goals.You can thank your inner critic for its good intentions, but resolve to talk to yourself in a kind, compassionate voice.Connect with othersHumans are social animals built for connection. Stress can be isolating and cause us to withdraw, but connecting with others is a salve for the psyche, Dr. Ogaryan says.“We know that not all relationships are always easy, but if we can think about intentional, nourishing connection – even in really small doses – it could really help center us,” she says.Take a moment to laugh with your colleagues, hug your pet, have a conversation with a friend or smile at the barista making your coffee. A study found that even tiny interactions with casual acquaintances and strangers decreases loneliness and improves happiness and well-being.Seek supportIf you try these practices and happiness remains elusive, or if you can’t access the wherewithal to follow these tips, seek support from your physician or a therapist. Mental health conditions are among the most common health issues in the U.S. and around the world – more prevalent than diabetes or heart disease. One in five people in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, with depression and anxiety the most common, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.“We can all think about these tips,” Dr. Ogaryan says. “But it’s important to recognize if you’ve done everything you can and you’re still really struggling, it’s really important to seek help.”
The disunity of science is a feature, not a bug
Mathematical models wield miraculous power, but mistaking them for reality has trapped science in a destructive quest for a “Theory of Everything.” Physicist and philosopher Ragner Fjelland argues that this leads to bloated, Frankenstein theories kept alive by clumsy, ad-hoc amendments, which reduce rather than boost science’s power. Fjelland calls for a radical shift in our attitude: we must reorientate towards creating entirely new theories, celebrating rather than lamenting disunity and diversity in science. Science, from the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day, has more or less developed in a “reductionist” way. The fundamental assumption is that all sciences may be ordered in a hierarchy that can be represented as an upside-down pyramid. At the top we find the human sciences, and at the bottom physics. Strong (or “ontological”) reductionism maintains that all theories at one level can be completely reduced to the lower level, all the way down to theories of atoms and elementary particles, or whatever is “at the bottom.” In the end, all diversity in the world can be unified in one fundamental theory. Hence it is called a final theory, or a Theory of Everything.One of the central figures in developing the idea of a Theory of Everything is the Dutch theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft, who received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1999 for his work. He emphasizes the non-empirical status of the theory:There exists no closely resembling alternative theory. This means that any slight change brought about in the rules would make the theory unlikely or inelegant. The theory will be a "package deal": take it, or leave it. This should hold both for the local laws and for the boundary conditions.This endeavor is not new. On the contrary, it goes all the way back to the birth of Western philosophy 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians made regular astronomical observations during a period of 600 years, from 747 BCE until 150 ACE. They developed mathematical techniques to predict astronomical phenomena, but they made no attempts at explaining them. However, the Greeks developed models, both material and theoretical, to explain the observed phenomena.The best example is Plato’s late dialogue Timaeus. Here he introduces a divine craftsman, the Demiurge, who has constructed the universe according to an original plan. Plato seems to have thought that the original plan is what is actually real, while the material world is merely an imperfect realization of it. He therefore does not, in the Timaeus, reconstruct the material universe, but the original plan, which can then be used to explain the material universe.Plato’s aim in producing a theoretical model is to reconstruct the original plan. That is what he carries out in Timaeus—and some modern physicists have embarked on the same project. For example, Einstein’s basic attitude is reflected in the title of Abraham Pais’ biography: “Subtle is the Lord...,” echoing Einstein’s comment, “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not.” In an interview Einstein compared our situation to a child who enters a huge library. The child knows that someone has written the books, but he does not know the languages in which they are written. He suspects that there is a mysterious order, but he does not know what it is.___“We have all been working in what Husserl called the Galilean style; that is, we have all been making abstract mathematical models of the universe to which at least the physicists give a higher degree of reality than they accord the ordinary world of sensation.”Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics (1979)___This Platonist view is contrary to a widespread impression of science, symbolized by the picture of the “father” of modern science, Galileo Galilei, with his telescope. According to this impression, Galileo liberated himself from the dominating metaphysics of his day—basically Aristotelian philosophy—and constructed a telescope that he directed towards the sky, showing that Jupiter has four moons. He also performed experiments with bronze balls rolling down inclined planes and found the law of freely falling bodies.However, in other cases Galileo emphasized the unreliability of our senses. It is easy to see why. He defended Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we are not at rest at the center of the universe, but moving at a tremendous speed through space. Why don’t we observe this motion? Galileo praises Copernicus because “with reason as his guide he resolutely continued to affirm what sensible experience seemed to contradict.” In other places he directly refers to Plato. SUGGESTED VIEWING The quest for a final theory With Michio Kaku Galileo’s Platonism goes back to his early writings. In The Assayer, published as early as 1623, Galileo compared the universe to a grand book that is written in the language of mathematics, and “its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” Therefore, things that cannot be described by mathematics—for example, colors, smells and odors—are not real. They are merely subjective.This division into subjective and objective, advocated by Galileo and his younger contemporary René Descartes, is normally associated with a mechanistic world view, which is regarded as the opposite of Platonism. When we reduce something to, for example, molecules and atoms, we move “downwards.” In contrast, the Platonist moves “upwards,” to abstract entities. However, it only shows that when we address fundamental questions, we should be careful in applying everyday spatial metaphors like “up” and “down.”___Nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world.___The endeavor of finding a Theory of Everything has been heavily criticized. In 2006, the theoretical physicist Lee Smolin published “The Crisis in Fundamental Physics.” He argued that one of the most fundamental principles of science is that we should only regard theories as scientific if we have the possibility to show that they are false by experiments. Although he did not refer to Karl Popper, other critics have referred to Popper and argued that a theory is not scientific if it cannot be falsified (see for example Ellis & Silk 2014).These were not the first physicists to be anti-reductionists. In 1972, the journal Science published an article by the physicist Philip Anderson with the title “More Is Different.” This is the kind of article a scientist would normally write only after he has won a Nobel Prize. However, Anderson won the Nobel Prize for physics five years later, in 1977. The article is amazing, not primarily because it argues in favor of anti-reductionism in general, but because it argues for anti-reductionism within physics itself. Anderson’s conclusion was:At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requiring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry.We may say that Plato started the “unity of science movement,” based on Euclidean geometry as the model of all knowledge. A distinguishing mark of geometry is that all possible constructions can be reduced to a few fundamental principles. We have to acknowledge that this approach has limitations. In general, we can easily model technological systems. In addition, we may construct simplified and idealized models that capture important aspects of systems, from various perspectives and for various purposes. But nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world. In a complex system, each level has its distinct, emergent, properties that are characteristic of this level. Therefore, a complex system should be investigated at different levels and from different perspectives. Instead of exclusively pursuing a scientific ideal based on the unity of science, we should acknowledge the diversity—or even the disunity—of science.
Trump expedites marijuana reclassification: Ohio cannabis businesses to benefit
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday directing the attorney general to expedite the reclassifying of marijuana from a Schedule I down to a Schedule III substance in the Controlled Substances Act.
Bernie Sanders to swear in Zohran Mamdani at public ceremony Jan. 1
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Calls for penalties as outrage grows over limited release of Epstein files
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BBC South political editor Peter Henley bows out
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Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Securities Fraud Class Action Result of Undisclosed Financial Problems and 63% Stock Decline - Investors may Contact Lewis Kahn, Esq, at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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Maryland takes next step toward redistricting, but roadblocks remain
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T. Rogers Wade, mentor and adviser to prominent Georgia politicians, has died
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D.C. auditor finds advisory neighborhood commissioner misused public funds
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2025 Science Activation Opportunity
Full details on the Science Activation opportunity can be found here.
Large Minnesota study underscores disproportionate rates of health problems among recently incarcerated and unhoused people
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Wayne Guymon Named Vice President & General Manager of Learfield’s USC Sports Properties
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Dan Bongino plans to step down as FBI deputy director
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NYC Health + Hospitals' NYC Care Partners With Consulates to Promote Health Care Access and Provide Blood Pressure Screenings - NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals’ NYC Care program today announced a partnership with the Consulate General of Guatemala in New York to provide NYC Care tabling
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Susie Wiles offered unflattering assessments of her colleagues to Vanity Fair. In return, they showered her with praise
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Attorney General Jeff Jackson Announces Health Care Fraud Sentencing
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Metro Atlanta health facility owners indicted for stealing over $1.4 million in Medicaid, AG says
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Sabres introduce new general manager to the public
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RSM US Middle Market Business Index Improves on Rising Revenues and Earnings
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Bruins to Host Mental Health Awareness Night, Presented by Mass General Brigham, on Dec. 16
The Boston Bruins will host Mental Health Awareness Night, presented by Mass General Brigham, on Tuesday, December 16, during their home game against the Utah Mammoth at 7 p.m. at TD Garden. During the game, the Bruins will recognize Dr. Rahel Bosson as the Community All-Star. Bosson is a Medical
World leaders adopt a historic global declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health
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Apple Seeds First Betas of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to Developers
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming just a few days after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.
GM Revamps In-Car Entertainment, Adds Apple Music Directly to Cadillac and Chevrolet
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Penn State Health Lancaster, Milton S. Hershey medical centers earn 2025 Leapfrog Top Hospital Awards for outstanding quality, safety
The Leapfrog Group has named Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center a Top Teaching Hospital and Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center a Top General Hospital for 2025.
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Vote for Week 2 Delaware HS Athlete of the Week, presented by Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists
Voting is free on Delaware Online. The winner will be announced on Dec. 19.
WHO launches call for high-level experts to join the Science Council
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Ben Gibson reappointed General Counsel of Republican National Lawyers Association
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2025 Was The Year True Crime Entertainment Went Too Far
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Democratic states sue Trump administration over new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas
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Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. iOS 26.2 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation iPhone SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
NASA’s Webb, Curiosity Named in TIME’s Best Inventions Hall of Fame
Two icons of discovery, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and NASA’s Curiosity rover, have earned places in TIME’s “Best Inventions Hall of Fame,” which
Amendment 29: F.6 Science Activation Final Text and Due Date.
The Science Mission Directorate Science Activation Program encourages all people to actively participate in science through activities and resources developed
Justice Department fails to reindict Letitia James for a second time
A grand jury, for a second time, declined to bring a new indictment against Letitia James, the New York attorney general who defeated President Donald Trump and his company in court, according to multiple sources.