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Mamdani to host 'inauguration of a new era,' with block party
The mayor-elect will be sworn in on the steps of City Hall on Jan. 1.
Photos: Entertainment | Saints vs. Jets | 2025 NFL Week 16
Check out the entertainment photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the New York Jets for Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season on Dec. 21, 2025 at the Caesars Superdome.
GOP politicians are starting to do what once would have seemed unthinkable: defy President Trump
The push to release the Epstein files over his opposition is part of a broader pattern.
Trump's 'A+++++' economy collides with the reality in a Pennsylvania city critical to the midterms
Idalia Bisbal moved from New York City to Allentown, Pennsylvania, hoping for a cheaper life.
Congress didn’t throw a lifeline on health care. Why you should act now
Don’t make assumptions, says Covered California chief. Shopping now could help many Californians avoid steep January premium hikes.
Wind-Sculpted Landscapes: Investigating the Martian Megaripple 'Hazyview'
Written by Noah Martin, Ph.D. student and Candice Bedford, Research Scientist at Purdue University
Major Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam shuttering distillery for 2026
The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is dealing with a glut of supply and slipping sales.
Is winter warmer in Sacramento than it was 50 years ago? What the science says
Climate change has warmed Sacramento’s winters, shrinking Sierra snowpack and threatening water supplies statewide.
New-look classifications set for SC high school sports after realignment. Take a look
There are plenty of changes in the latest reclassification that’ll take effect for the next school year.
Accelerating AI-Powered Chemistry and Materials Science Simulations with NVIDIA ALCHEMI Toolkit-Ops
Machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) are transforming the landscape of computational chemistry and materials science. MLIPs enable atomistic simulations that combine the fidelity of…
Commanders cast new light on in-game entertainment, fan experience at Northwest Stadium
Since Josh Harris and new ownership bought the team in July of 2023, the Commanders have invested more than $120 million to improve the team’s facilities and fan and player experience.
Evaluation of WHO’s coordination in health emergencies helps guide humanitarian reforms
The recent evaluation of the Global Health Cluster sheds new light on how WHO, in its unique role as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) for health, coordinates life-saving health responses in humanitarian crises. It highlights how WHO works through partnerships to reach the most vulnerable crisis-affected populations and strengthen collective action in increasingly complex emergencies. Serving both learning and accountability purposes, the evaluation provided timely and actionable recommendations that are helping to strategically position WHO during the ongoing IASC Humanitarian Reset and the broader UN 2.0 reforms, where prioritization and new ways of working are taking shape. The evaluation was conducted between 2024 and 2025, at a time when humanitarian action funding was plummeting by more than 50%, triggering the launch of the IASC Humanitarian Reset. While restructuring and prioritization across the humanitarian landscape were underway, the evaluation, through iterative feedback loops, shared emerging findings that helped identify the most crucial coordination functions needed. This was especially important at a time when humanitarian needs and health risks due to armed conflict and natural hazards were increasing, while the capacity of health partners to support Member States to equitably reach all populations affected by crises and deliver response was at risk. The evaluation found that the Global Health Cluster (GHC) remains a highly relevant mechanism for strengthening health coordination in crises and has delivered efficiently despite limited resources. It noted strong collaboration with partners and highlighted opportunities to deepen integration within WHO structures and further enhance inter-cluster cooperation. The evaluation also identified areas where greater emphasis on transition planning, national coordination capacity and linkages between humanitarian response and health system strengthening would bring added value. While the GHC has achieved many of its strategic objectives, improvements in monitoring systems would help better demonstrate collective impact. The recommendations will help strengthen the IASC CLA coordination function across WHO, at all levels, and with all partners. It is noted that going forward WHO needs to continue to support capacity to fulfil coordination functions, in line with the IASC Humanitarian Reset whilst ensuring collective prioritization of health cluster action and quality coverage of the health response. The evaluation will help WHO strengthen locally-led action, national ownership and leadership of the sector, and linkages between health system strengthening activities. Additionally, the evaluation evidence will be used to optimize resource mobilization for the GHC and strengthen WHO’s capacity to deliver, plan for and monitor and evaluate results across the Organization. Read the evaluation Global Health Cluster https://healthcluster.who.int/ WHO’s work in health emergencies https://www.who.int/emergencies/overview
Winners and losers are emerging in Trump's new H-1B visa landscape
New H-1B visa rules favor Big Tech's big salaries, limiting opportunities for startups and entry-level applicants in the job market.
The Burning Landscape That Explains India’s Coal Addiction
A journey through Jharkhand reveals why coal remains embedded in the nation’s economy, politics and daily life — and what it would take to break free.
Two NC governors, two parties and ‘mutual respect’: Jim Martin on the late Jim Hunt
Former Republican Gov. Jim Martin talked to The News & Observer about former Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt, who died at 88.
Former NC Gov. Jim Hunt, a longtime, dominant figure in state politics, has died
Jim Hunt was elected to an unprecedented four terms as governor.
Science Lab: Why NFL players refuse to tank
Welcome to "The Science Lab", a place where football facts and in-depth analysis always triumph over feelings.
Owner of Fair Oaks’ Shangri-La seeks to sell the business
What’s going on with Shangri-La + a South Land Park sushi gem.
‘Psychologically, she was who we are.’ Kassie O’Brien’s path to the Final Four
AVCA All-American and National Freshman of the Year Kassie O’Brien is already establishing herself as part of UK’s elite legacy of setters.
‘14 strong.’ Gritty Kentucky volleyball faces program’s second-ever Final Four
No. 1 seed Kentucky volleyball is two wins away from becoming the most-decorated team in program history.
Young Democrat launches primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson in Mississippi
A 33-year-old antitrust lawyer with ties to major Democratic politicians is challenging U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson to represent Mississippi's 2nd congressional district.
New entertainment venue coming to Tanger Outlets in 2026
Main Event will take over a 46,189 square-foot storefront next to Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue and Regal Cinemas.
Chicago Bears announce Stewarts’ Cheesecakes as final 2025 Small Business All-Pros Winner, presented by PNC
The Chicago Bears are proud to announce Stewarts’ Cheesecakes as the fourth and final recipient of the 2025 Small Business All-Pros presented by PNC. From Dec. 17 through Jan. 12, the family-owned bakery will receive Chicago Bears led promotion across the
A new era for sports communication at UNC Hussman | UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
As director of UNC Hussman’s Sports Communication Focus Program, Distinguished Associate Professor of Sports Communication Livis Freeman is building on the work of the school’s legendary Distinguished Professor for Sports Communication John Sweeney. Sweeney, who retired last year, developed one of the most respected sports communication programs in the country. Freeman, now in his 12th year at the school, is launching an ambitious expansion of the program that is transforming how UNC prepares students for careers in sports media. The most visible change came this fall with a reimagining of “MEJO 377: Sports Communication.” Previously offered as two sections with 30 students each, the course expanded to 96 students and welcomed former UNC basketball star and NBA veteran Tyler Hansbrough as the co-instructor with Freeman, bringing real world professional experience directly into the classroom every week. The course has been a huge success. Students have participated in recording a podcast with Hansbrough and learned from an impressive lineup of guest speakers. Steve Kirschner, UNC’s senior associate director of athletics for communications, was the first in the course’s guest speaker series, followed by UNC Hussman alumni including Kaitlyn Schmidt ’23 from Bleacher Report, Deaton Bell ’90 from Turner Sports and Becca Royer ’19 from the Philadelphia 76ers. Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, also shared his insights with the class. The highlight of the semester came when Roy Williams, who coached Hansbrough and the Tar Heels to a national championship in 2009, visited the classroom. Former UNC men’s basketball players Luke Maye and Marcus Ginyard showed up to support their former coach and Hansbrough, creating an unforgettable experience as Williams entertained students with stories and insights that captivated the room. Student demand has been overwhelming. The course reached capacity within two days of registration opening, with more than 40 students on the waitlist. “Students want to learn from people who have actually lived these experiences,” Freeman said. “Tyler shares insights into media relations, broadcast production and athlete communications that you simply can’t get from a textbook.” The model proved so successful that the school secured funding to continue it for the next five years, with a different former professional athlete co-teaching each fall. The school’s curriculum committee approved a proposal to expand the course to 150 to 200 students starting in fall 2026. This change will make it an introductory course accessible to students from across the University, transforming it into a showcase course for the entire campus. The course redesign represents just one piece of a broader sports communication program overhaul. This fall, the curriculum committee approved “MEJO 390: Sports Play by Play,” the first course of its kind at UNC. Limited to 10 advanced students, the course will be taught by Matt Krause, the current voice of UNC women’s basketball and an ACC Network broadcaster. Students will call actual games across multiple sports including women’s softball, soccer, volleyball, field hockey and lacrosse, as well as men’s soccer and lacrosse. They will also shadow broadcasts of men’s and women’s basketball games. “The sports broadcasting industry is exploding with streaming platforms and conference networks creating unprecedented demand,” Freeman said. The course emerged directly from student advocacy, led by Anna Laible ’26 and others who pushed for hands-on broadcasting experience. Professional equipment has been acquired, partnerships with UNC Athletics are in place and a soft launch began this semester with three experienced students calling games to test the system. The program’s growth extends into other specialized areas as well. Last spring, Stembler Professor Charlie Tuggle launched a new sports event management and hospitality course in partnership with On Location, a company that manages major sporting event experiences. The course provided students with opportunities to travel to the Super Bowl and NFL Draft, and Tuggle plans to take a group to the 2026 Milan Olympics this spring. Looking ahead to spring 2026, Associate Professor Ryan Thornburg will debut a sports data visualization course, adding another dimension to the program’s skill-building offerings. The curriculum expansion reflects the increasingly diverse career paths available in sports media, from traditional journalism and broadcasting to digital analytics and strategic communication. The program is also diving into one of college athletics’ most transformative developments: Name, Image and Likeness rights. Freeman’s “MEJO 466: Sports Marketing” class collaborated last spring with Associate Professor Gary Kayye’s “MEJO 371: Advertising Creative” class on a project with UNC’s Carolina NIL group to help rebrand their organization. That same semester, Kayye’s class envisioned Chapel Thrill, UNC football’s new pregame concert and entertainment experience. And Shaun Anderson, the school’s Knight Chair in Sports, Race and Media, continues to explore the broader implications of NIL through his research and teaching. These NIL-focused initiatives give students direct exposure to the business side of college athletics at a moment when the landscape is rapidly evolving. “Our students aren’t just learning about these changes,” Freeman said. “They’re actively helping shape how schools and athletes navigate them.” The transformation of UNC Hussman’s sports communication program reflects a broader philosophy about how to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing industry. By bringing in professional practitioners like Hansbrough and Krause, partnering with industry leaders like On Location and ACC Network, and engaging with current issues like NIL, the program ensures students graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. For alumni who remember the foundations John Sweeney built, the expansion represents an evolution rather than a departure. The program still emphasizes strong reporting, strategic communication, ethical communication and critical thinking. But now it also offers students the chance to call live games, work on real NIL campaigns and learn directly from former professional athletes. “We’re not just teaching students about sports media,” Freeman said. “We’re giving them the tools, experiences and connections to actually build careers in it.” With new courses launching, professional partnerships deepening and enrollment expanding, UNC Hussman’s sports communication program is positioning itself as a national leader in preparing the next generation of sports media professionals. For current students, the message is clear: if you’re interested in sports communication, there’s never been a better time to be at UNC Hussman. And for the hundreds of students trying to get off waitlists and into these new courses, the school is working to create more opportunities. The program John Sweeney built is growing in ways that honor his legacy while meeting the demands of a new era in sports media.
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Commits $6.3 Million to Increase Access to Sports in Six Metro Atlanta School Districts
Grants will establish new sports programs, improve field quality, alleviate cost of participation
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Commits $6.3 Million to Increase Access to Sports in Six Metro Atlanta School Districts
Grants will establish new sports programs, improve field quality, alleviate cost of participation
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest.
How business leaders can adapt and thrive when uncertainty is a certainty
In an economic landscape defined by uncertainty, resilience is now an imperative for business success. Here's what organizations must do to foster that.
Jerry Jones inducted into Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is part of the 19th Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame class for his contributions to helping the NFL secure television rights deals that transformed the league and television forever.
SC measles outbreak could soon reach Charlotte, health director warns
More than 1 in 10 elementary school students in Mecklenburg County are vaccinated, but that’s still below the threshold needed for immunity.
‘Bo Schembechler would never stop throwing up’: How Michigan’s scandal reveals college sports’ transformation
Legendary Michigan-based columnist Mitch Albom says Bo Schembechler would be sickened by today's college sports landscape where player poaching and money have replaced loyalty in an era unrecognizable to the iconic coach.
Immigration raids could threaten the rise of youth sports
The Aspen Institute’s National State of Play details how raids of parks where children play as well as rising costs, NIL, AI could reshape landscape.
Mount Athletics Announces Partnership With Accelerate Sports Ventures - Mount St. Mary's University
EMMITSBURG, Md. (December 16, 2025) - Mount St. Mary's University has officially partnered with Accelerate Sports Ventures to serve as the department's Revenue Sharing and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) consultancy. As the college athletics landscape continues to evolve, Accelerate will play a pivotal role in advising the administration, head coaches, student-athletes, and staff to best navigate this new era of college sports.
Meet nuclear science PhD graduate, 41, who can ‘see through’ walls
He has come up with a new theory on how waves and rays can be used to see through a wall.
An 11th-hour decision to back out of Miami mental health center? That’s a mistake
Fiscal responsibility is good, but the timing here is odd. | Opinion
Baystate Health warns of $146M yearly hit to its finances of Trump policy bill
The Baystate leader said the health care landscape in Western Massachusetts is certain to change.
Newsom announces new public health initiative led by ousted CDC officials
PHNIX will serve as a counter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration’s public health policies.
Farmers and politics threaten to put EU's free-trade deal with South America on ice
France is creating a last-minute hurdle for a major trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc.
Health insurance costs rising in 2026: What to know
Whether you have insurance through work, Medicare, or the exchange, you are likely paying more next year.
Ruben Gallego emerges as key Democratic figure in Latino voter outreach
U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego is emerging as a key figure for the Democratic Party as they aim to regain Latino support lost in 2024.
The impact of the EU's CBAM on business and the carbon-pricing landscape
With the EU's CBAM about to come into full effect, other jurisdictions around the world are exploring introducing border carbon adjustments of their own.
Photos: Entertainment | Saints vs. Panthers | 2025 NFL Week 15
Check out the entertainment photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Carolina Panthers for Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season on Dec. 14, 2025 at the Caesars Superdome.
US women's hockey team beats Canada 4-1 in Edmonton to sweep Rivalry Series
Hilary Knight scored twice in the third period and the U.S. women's hockey team beat Canada 4-1 on Saturday night to sweep the four-game Rivalry Series.
‘Adapt when we need to adapt.’ Mitch Barnhart talks NIL, revenue sharing, more
Mitch Barnhart spoke about Kentucky’s NIL and revenue sharing outlook, among other topics, during an appearance on UK’s radio network.
How ICE raids and tariffs can hurt Hispanic business in South Florida
“Support your local businesses because they contribute to the community as well as give back to the community.”
Why love of the game beats cheating and ambition in sports
“Pouting prevents you from playing well, and a cheater’s medal is a tarnished reminder of misbehavior.”
Democratic former Sen. Doug Jones launches campaign for Alabama governor
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones has launched his campaign for Alabama governor.
UNC Health, Cigna agree to new contract, restoring coverage for 65,000 patients
The two parties’ previous contract expired on Nov. 30, leaving Cigna members with higher costs when treated by UNC Health providers.
KC civil rights leaders back Black business owners in $70 million Westport lawsuit
Local civil rights groups are backing Black business owners in a $70M RICO suit alleging Westport CID prevented Black-focused nightlife from opening in Kansas City.
Trump was unable to insult his way to victory in Indiana redistricting battle
Indiana Republican senators turned down President Donald Trump's redistricting proposal this week.
Kevin Stefanski Press Conference: "Be about our business"
Kevin Stefanski speaks to the media following practice.
Phil Ruffin on his Park City entertainment mecca: ‘It’s gonna blow your mind’
The new Gilley’s entertainment complex in Park City will have pari-mutuel betting, games, a variety of live music and other events.
Gameday Entertainment: Saints vs. Panthers | 2025 NFL Week 15
The New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers at Caesars Superdome for Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 3:25 p.m. CT.
Seahawks To Host Small Businesses At Marketplace During Inspire Change Gameday On Sunday
During pregame of Sunday’s game vs. the Colts, there will be a marketplace featuring small businesses that are a part of Seattle’s Hawks Huddle small business partnership.
‘I didn’t want to tear it down.’ Michael Jordan, Jim France see a new day in NASCAR
Michael Jordan and Jim France stood opposed for over a year. On Thursday, they were united, “moving forward instead of moving separately.”
Science Lab: How the Cowboys Can Make the Playoffs
Welcome to "The Science Lab", a place where football facts and in-depth analysis always triumph over feelings.
‘A new era’: Miami voters resoundingly reject the city’s political dynasties
After Tuesday’s election, four out of five Miami commissioners are serving their first term in any elected office.
Escalona wins Miami District 3 runoff, upending Carollo political dynasty
Rolando Escalona, general manager of Brickell’s Sexy Fish restaurant, has defeated Frank Carollo, a veteran city commissioner.
Miami mayor’s race: Democrat leads Republican backed by Trump
Trump-endorsed Emilio González faced off against DNC-backed Eileen Higgins Tuesday in the unusually partisan race for Miami mayor.
Comings & Goings
Here’s a look at recent changes in the business landscape in the Sioux Falls area.
Analysis: Bangladesh’s BNP seeks Hasina’s liberal mantle before elections
The split between the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami could dramatically reshape Bangladesh's political landscape.
What’s Driving Public Health Legislation in 2026?
Learn about the prospective legislative landscape for public health in 2026 from chronic to infectious disease and more.
UC Davis Announces Winners of Autumn 2025 Science Translation and Innovative Research Grant Program
The University of California, Davis, has awarded $100,000 through the autumn 2025 cohort of the Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR) Grant Program to help scientists advance innovative research with strong commercial potential.
Lidl-Trek partners with Gatorade® to fuel team with science-backed hydration
The home of Trek Factory Racing, and all the Trek programs. Whether its road, XC, enduro, downhill, freeride, cyclocross or triathlon, you’ll find a Trek athlete, racing for the win.
Swing district Republicans brace for political fallout if health care subsidies expire
House Republicans in key battleground districts are working to contain the political fallout expected when thousands of their constituents face higher bills for health insurance coverage obtained through the Affordable Care Act.
Swing district Republicans brace for political fallout if health care subsidies expire
House Republicans in key battleground districts are working to contain the political fallout expected when thousands of their constituents face higher bills for health insurance coverage obtained through the Affordable Care Act.
Sights of the Game: Week 14 Gameday Entertainment vs. Broncos
Get an exclusive look at the gameday entertainment from the Raiders' Week 14 matchup against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium.
Final phase of K-96 STAR bond district would ‘benefit the city dramatically’
Developers hope to make the final phase of the STAR bond district at K-96 and Greenwich plan a $200 million sports entertainment complex.
GSPM director to confront enrollment challenges in shifting political, higher education landscape
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a former member of Congress and university official, said she is aiming modernize the school and increase enrollment amid declines and heightened political polarization.
Golden Globe nominations should give a skewed Oscar picture, plus a new podcast category
Nominations to the 83rd Golden Globes are to be announced Monday morning.
Five things that stood out about the Chiefs’ loss to the Texans on Sunday night
The Chiefs aren’t eliminated just yet, but this one had a feeling of finality about it.
Democratic governors say the party's midterm strategy must focus on voters' pocketbook concerns
Democratic governors who met over the weekend in Arizona say the party must focus on affordability in next year's midterm elections.
Trump lashes out as latest Charlotte light rail stabbing reignites political fight
Trump and other Republicans were quick to criticize Democratic policies after a new stabbing happened less than four months after a fatal one made national headlines.
Democrats see an opening to win the Miami mayor's race in the latest test of the US political mood
Democrats are hoping to win a race for Miami mayor after decades out of power.
PHOTOS | Business trip up north
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders getting on the plane for their Week 14 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
Stone Temple Pilots, Brooke Eden highlight Sunday’s gameday entertainment
Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots will perform at halftime while country artist Brooke Eden will perform the National Anthem.
Netflix Aims for Entertainment Domination
Fewer streaming options, or a streaming landscape where two of the three largest outlets have the same corporate parent, likely means a continuation of the price hikes that we’re already seeing.
Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. studio and streaming business for $72 billion
The acquisition, announced Friday, would bring two of the industry’s biggest players in film and TV under one roof and alter the entertainment industry landscape.
Netflix buys Warner Bros. Discovery in $72B deal, reshaping entertainment landscape
Netflix has struck a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to buy the legacy Hollywood giant’s studio and streaming business for $72 billion.
Netflix buys Warner Bros. Discovery in $72B deal, reshaping entertainment landscape
Netflix has struck a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to buy the legacy Hollywood giant’s studio and streaming business for $72 billion.
Miami Freedom Park Announces First 125,000 Square Feet of Retail for Entertainment District at the Heart of Transformative New Development
Miami Freedom Park, the under-construction 131-acre hub for world-class sports, entertainment and recreation in the heart of Miami, and home of Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF, announced an initial group of experiential businesses coming to its Entertainment District, marking a major milestone of the project’s first phase. The walkable
Report shows California health care jobs pay, but waitlists clog college on-ramp
Community college programs promise mobility — but demand far exceeds capacity, the PPIC finds.
After being delayed, delayed, and then delayed again, Cyberpunk platformer Replaced finally gets a release date
Replaced, the cyberpunk action-platformer from Belarusian developer Sad Cat Studio, finally has a release date and is set to arrive on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
KC nonprofit is committed to strengthening Black-owned businesses, CEO says
“To promote and support Black businesses means that you look for them and you put forth an effort to do that.” Kim Davis, Black chamber CEO.
AMC Entertainment CEO remains in charge of world's largest theater chain after stroke
AMC Entertainment said Thursday that CEO Adam Aron suffered a minor stroke last month but recovered rapidly and will continue to lead the world's biggest movie theater chain.
Giannis Antetokounmpo mock trades: What potential offers from Knicks, Lakers, Warriors could look like
What could an eventual Giannis Antetokounmpo trade look like? Let's assess the landscape
Not all local arts entertainment has to be Christmas-y this month
Looking for a few arts options in December that aren't holiday-themed? Check out these choices at MSU, LCC and in REO Town.
Through the lens: Four decades of arts & entertainment with photojournalist Roger Mastroianni
For more than 40 years, photojournalist Roger Mastroianni has chronicled Cleveland's arts, healthcare, and corporate landscapes—capturing everything from Cleveland Orchestra performances to hospital operating rooms.
Mental health conditions may heighten liver cancer risk in veterans due to increased hepatitis C, UCLA study finds
A new study led by UCLA Health investigators found that mental health conditions, especially alcohol use disorder and PTSD, significantly increase the likelihood of developing liver cancer among Veterans living with cirrhosis of any etiology.
East Charlotte businesses report thousands in losses during Border Patrol operation
Some local businesses lost thousands of dollars after federal Border Patrol agents came to the city, they said.
Video College sports landscape spurs Saint Francis University to leave Division 1
ABC News’ Ike Ejiochi reports on Saint Francis University’s major decision to move from Division I to Division III athletics because of challenges created by NIL, the transfer portal and more.
Kentucky basketball vs. North Carolina: Get live updates, stats from critical game
Get live updates from the Kentucky-North Carolina men’s basketball game Tuesday.
Charlotte to Host United States Men’s National Team Friendly Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
USMNT returns to Charlotte for key friendly match on May 31 in Allstate Continental Clásico
How to tell time on Mars
Physicists finally know how much faster time moves on the Red Planet.
Sports betting is legal in Missouri. These icons, lawmaker were among the first
The three bets signified the rollout of the legal sports gambling industry in Missouri, which won narrow approval from voters.
Dentons recognized as “Entertainment Law Firm of the Year 2025” by Lexology Index Awards
Dentons is proud to announce that it has been named “Entertainment Law Firm of the Year 2025” by the Lexology Index Awards which celebrates excellence across the global legal landscape.
Science must move from materialism to mystery
Theoretical physicist and neuroscientist Àlex Gómez-Marín argues that modern science has become trapped in a framework that mistakes matter for the whole of reality. In this wide-ranging interview, Gómez-Marín challenges the foundations of materialism, defends the scientific study of near-death experiences, and calls for a new type of science grounded in mystery and a renewed sense of the sacred. He suggests that abandoning materialism could open the door to a deeper understanding of consciousness, death, and the purpose of human existence. Simon Custer: You are both a theoretical physicist and a neuroscientist, and you have also been fiercely critical of materialist theories of mind and consciousness. What do you think the ultimate nature of reality is?Àlex Gómez-Marín: I don't know what the ultimate nature of reality is, but what I try to first assess is whether the stories that they [mainstream science] have told us about it are right, or maybe whether there are other alternatives. That's why I've been a fierce critic of materialism. As a scientist, I realized that they had sold us this idea that to be a good scientist you also had to subscribe to many other -isms, like materialism, reductionism, and even secularism. And so first I think one needs to unmount these -isms, and then, as is happening today in consciousness studies, we have a huge landscape where there isn't only one game in town, the idea that matter is the only thing that really exists. But because we are studying the hard problem of consciousness, it may be the case that other views of reality, like idealism, or even dualism, or other theories like dual aspect monism... these are philosophical ideas that now, I think, have room in science to be taken seriously. How does something like materialism relate to dualism or idealism? What is materialism in the first place?Well, materialism is the philosophical position that matter is the only really ‘real’ thing in the universe. And I think that worked kind of well because science started 400 years ago and Galileo made that split, I call it the foundational wound. It was a great business move.He said, let's start doing science on that portion of reality that lends itself more easily to mathematization and measurement. So, for some reason, the solidity of this table or the movement of planets lend themselves very well to this foundational idea of science. But as time went on, 400 years later, we realized that we had forgotten the other side, which is what really matters.What really matters is pain, is love, is feelings, sensation, consciousness, which is very hard to define, but very intimate. We all know what it is. It's that thing that disappears when we go into deep sleep and comes back in the morning. SUGGESTED VIEWING On the edges of knowledge With Michael Shermer, Rupert Sheldrake, Güneş Taylor It's what it is like to be, as Nagel said. It's the feeling of being alive. So, materialism is good to study certain things, but then when it ossifies into this ideology and then is dressed like science, now it's preventing us from understanding these key questions that are really that everybody wants to know.Why are we here? Why do we feel reality? Where do we go when we die? And so we need other ways. We need pluralism. I'm only asking for having more options on the table and taking them seriously. Why does materialism fail to explain consciousness? For example, if you were to lobotomize me, I would not be a functional human being. What do you say to someone who might think that materialism adequately explains the mind?Well, here we could speak about different things. We could talk about physics or about neuroscience. I happen to have training with both.For instance, for neuroscientists, 99% of them, I'm not included in that portion, believe that the brain can only be a productive organ. It's an organ that somehow, somewhere, consciousness emerges. It's like a lamp. And then something happens, magic happens, and then consciousness emerges.That's the position you need to be if you're a materialist because if the only really ‘real’ thing is matter, then you need to say, just give us some more time and money and we'll figure out how mind emerges or is produced from matter. There are many philosophically sophisticated ways of criticizing this.Now there's another option, which is the brain as a permissive organ. This was said by William James more than 100 years ago.Now then the brain wouldn't be like this machine, like for instance, a heat engine whose smoke is consciousness, which is what we would have in the first big model, the productive model. But in the permissive model, the brain would be a kind of a filter. And so the brain would still have a very important role in consciousness, but it wouldn't be a productive role.It would be permissive, much like a filter or much like a prism which would receive light. And - I'm speaking metaphorically - it would receive the light of the mind and then it could reflect it and refract it.Now, with these two big options on the table, I think we can make progress into what I call the edges of consciousness, which are all these experiences, weird experiences that many people have, but we don't talk about enough, like near-death experiences, precognitive dreams, synchronicities. These experiences are very important for humans and they have a place in the permissive hypothesis and they are literally impossible in the productive hypothesis. So that's yet one more reason to explore alternatives to materialism. There may be anecdotal evidence for near-death experiences, but is there robust evidence that would be accepted by the majority of scientists who subscribe to the scientific method?Sure. And the plural of anecdotes, someone said, is data.And there's a lot of data. Actually, this year is the 50th anniversary, half a century, since Dr. Raymond Moody realized that we have two ears and one mouth and started listening to what his patients had to say about their experiences while they were clinically dead.The heart had stopped, breathing had stopped in these patients. These patients would come back and tell him these amazing stories that some people may say are hallucinations, but for the patients were hyper-real, like seeing light at the end of the tunnels, seeing deceased family members waiting for them, feeling bliss.___I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain.___And so he and others started taking them seriously and writing their accounts down. And then you can do a science based on that material of experience that people have. Now, on the more objective side, more recently people have started to measure what's going on in the brain when people are clinically dead and brought back. This has opened a proper field of study, which is near-death studies.Evidence is a difficult word, because sometimes people think that when you say evidence, this is just the final proof. Evidence is like in a jury. You bring testimony, you bring pieces of data that point in one direction or another.I would say the evidence suggests that the mind can survive the death of activity of the brain. When brains are broken or shut off, there can still be mind going on. And that's revolutionary.That would entail that when we die, it's not game over, which, by the way, is the thesis of materialism. If consciousness survives, materialism dies. It's game over for materialism if something of us continues after we die. Do you think that there is mental continuity after death?Well, I think so, and I believe so, and I could also say I may have experienced it myself, because four years ago I had a near-death experience. I was in the hospital, I lost a lot of blood, and I saw those beings at the end of the tunnel, three beings, and there was yellow light. I was in a well, I was looking upwards, and I hadn't read about NDEs by then, but when I came back from this experience, I decided I would try to integrate this also in my professional life. Not just my personal life, of course, but my professional life as a physicist and as a neuroscientist. So I may have had the experience of glimpses of what an afterlife would be, and I'm not ashamed to say it in this way, and then one can do science of it, and then one can do philosophy of it.One can think about what -isms we were discussing, what views on reality would allow those experiences to be really ‘real,’ as opposed to, well, poor guy, the brain was kind of broken, it must have been a hallucination. Do you have a view about whether individuality or “the ego” persists after death, or whether we sort of merge into some sort of cosmic consciousness instead?I don't know, but my view would be along those lines you're suggesting. I think we could speak about a kind of universal mind, and then the problem is not how we emerge from matter, but how we fragment from a more holistic consciousness into these individual eddies and then when we die, this kind of dissipates.But I'm not sure. For instance, idealism would promote that view, but then what would survive of us after these eddies just vanish and become again the big Consciousness, I'm not sure what that would be. I don't know for sure, but I would tell you I believe something of us survives.And there are other lines of research, not just near-death experience, that can address this really hard question of survival. For instance, there are children who remember previous lives. This was studied by Ian Stevenson at the University of Virginia for more than 50 years.___Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.___It's amazing research. He went all over the world, especially in the East, and collected all these case studies, all these stories. In plural, these were data of kids, very young age, who would describe up to 40 items that then he could go and verify.There was no internet. There was really no way the kid could know. Why would the kid say that when I was living in this other body and I was a woman and that's how my house would look like or that's how I would die, right? Again, there is evidence, not proof, but there's evidence not only that something weird and interesting is happening as we cross the threshold, but also when we come back to this life.Scientists should not be afraid of studying this, but they are because there's stigma. There's usually stigma upon the enigma, and this is so unfortunate. And one of the reasons is because of the ideology of materialism, because those things cannot be possible. What is wrong with the politics of science such that they have generated this stigma?So many things. Science is a human activity to begin with.So it falls prey to all our passions and ego and greed. That's one thing. Science is a job for the good and for the bad.You need to get a salary. You need to get grants. Research takes place within a selection mechanism that also sometimes reinforces things that are not very scientific.And then, we didn't have time to unpack this, but science for many years become entangled, as I was suggesting before, to other -isms, materialism, secularism. So anything that smells like the afterlife, people may think has to do with God, and then they freak out.Anything that suggests that there's something about the mind that may not need a physical material substrate to exist, it smells like non-materialism. So, all these -isms are ideologically blocking that kind of research, and then there are all these sociopolitical constraints as to what should be studied and what shouldn't be studied.I call it the backstage of science. Sometimes we scientists or science communicators seem to speak as if the data is the only thing that matters. We say, well, data and theory.But then there's a third leg of this stool, which is all the politics that goes behind the scenes. And we often don't speak about this, and it's quite vicious and petty, and it's very real. Why is materialism so attractive to most scientists?Well, an easy answer is because we've grown up with it.It's what the educational system promotes, and that's what you hear when you go to university. So it's like growing in a culture. It feels like the air in which you breathe.So it's very hard to begin with to detect, well, maybe there's another alternative. Maybe there are other ways of doing science, other environments in which one could do science. That's one reason.And other reasons maybe are more profound, and I'm not qualified to explain them, but I could say, looking at this 400-year history of science, since it started around 1623 with Galileo's book The Assayer, that science went and coupled with all what's going on in the West.And so the fall of religion, you could say, and science presented us this new alternative that then could be coupled very well with other -isms, and this idea of growth, and then science losing its good twin brother, which was philosophy. There's a whole natural history of science starting as philosophy, kind of emancipating or breaking out from philosophy, and then marrying technology, and then marrying other social systems.From that point of view, materialism is a very convenient idea to propose. There were attempts, like the German idealists tried to do a more romantic science. But no, the idea prevailed, like Francis Bacon said: You should pursue nature through all her corners, he said, and make her spill her secrets.Our attitude towards nature in the science that dominates is very much reflecting how we treat nature in our society, in our culture, like a resource to extract secrets by force and then dominate it. How is materialism related to the notions of growth and progress? What's wrong with having a productive citizenry?This is another very interesting and very difficult question to answer.But there's this recent book coming out by Paul Kingsnorth. In it, he explains this idea of the machine and this idea of progress. And this, again, this conflation of more is better, of we need to go forward always, and convincing us that the way to do that is to continually extract more from nature. But because we don't have the religious context anymore, because God is dead, then what do we have? We have what we can do as humans with our own gadgets.It's kind of the story of the Promethean fire. We will just build anything to make ourselves God.A good example today is transhumanism. Transhumanism is this pseudo-religion dressed in technoscientific language whose goal is very religious. They promise immortality, they promise redemption, they promise transformation of the entire natural world, but it's done by human means through technology. Are you suggesting that we can't have ethics without religion?Well, we should have ethics with or without religion. That's another pruning that has happened in science. We say, forget about aesthetics, although some physicists still think that beautiful means probably true, and forget about politics. We pretend there's no backstage of science, and even let's forget about ethics.___Science needs to be in the service of mankind.___Scientists, when they become more like engineers, they're just thinking how to make things work so that they can go to the moon, go to Mars, make machines that think, but they don't think whether that's a good idea.And also consider metaphysics. Many scientists for a long time pretended, and maybe that comes from the stream of positivisms, that really one doesn't need metaphysics at all, except that materialism is always the metaphysics running the system.You see, it's not just ethics. It's the pruning of all of these, you could say, five main legs of philosophy that just makes a kind of unconscious science, a science that doesn't really know what it's doing. It's doing it very well locally, but it just doesn't know what it's doing globally. Do you think science has to have an ultimate vision and purpose behind it for it to be effective or for it to be meaningful and transformative?Yes, a way I would say that is that science needs to be in the service of mankind. And it hasn't been that. And we can see it through, you know, when we discovered the secrets of the atom, and all of a sudden, the Manhattan Project, and then we create nuclear weapons.And now we're trying to crack how machines may think, and now we're creating this mess, right? So science needs to be in service of mankind, not in service of a few ideas that maybe want to make more money or just dominate upon nature. What about planes, trains, automobiles, and modern medicine? Hasn't science served mankind by helping us develop those technologies?Yes and no. I see where you're going, and it's fair.I came here by plane, and it's a blessing. When I almost died, the surgeons did their job, and they saved my life. But these two forced choices between Luddites and Silicon Valley types, I think, of course, it's a false dichotomy.Progress, in a way, it's good, but we often don't speak about the dark side of the moon. We say the great things that progress has brought, and we don't speak about the disasters, the side effects that it has come with, and the same when we promise new technologies. We tend to think that any technology is great, that email is going to save us so much time because we don't need to write letters and send them anymore.Is that true? I spend so many hours a week writing emails. Let's just say there are great things about it and bad things about it. People like Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker, for example, argue that we've made moral progress over time because of the Enlightenment. Do you think that's totally wrong-headed?I think he's emphasizing a side of the moon, and he does that very well, and you can find tons of plots where there's a slope going up and say it's great. But I think he should also tell the not-so-friendly story.But if your ideology is just to resist and continue to explain that the Enlightenment is the best thing ever and reason is the best thing ever… this feels to me like you're worshipping these abstractions.I'm very critical of it and also of these, again, science communicators and scientists that say, Oh, science says, in the name of science, experts say. It's like, come on, let's be careful because we can shoot ourselves in the foot by putting forth to the people an image of science that we know is not really true. Recently there's been a resurgence of spirituality and of people who say that they're spiritual but not religious, especially in the United States. If materialism is going away, what is going to fill that gap? Are we going to return to traditional religion? Do you see that being connected with the rise of the political right?I'm not a fortune teller, so I don't know what's going to happen. But, yeah, we could say we're in this post-materialist age and even post-secular age. One cannot come back to the past, but maybe just to contact with the roots is a good idea.What do I mean by that? I think we need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method. We need to do so in a culture where we realize humans cannot thrive in a vacuum where there's this idea that the sacred has to be removed.Now, how do we do that without bringing in back all the vices of religion? I don't know. I'm from a Catholic country.Here we are in England, so there are differences and interreligious dialogue has always been a challenge. But I think maybe a way of putting it is: after all these conflicts and branchings I was quickly alluding to, science from philosophy and then also from religion, now there's a time of reconciliation perhaps and maybe debates in the proper sense, like exchange of ideas in service of learning and getting into something higher than both poles. We need science to talk to religious people and it's interesting when people say they're spiritual and not religious.I think this is just a way of saying, no, I don't want to go back, I want to go forward. But at the end of the day, religions have offered us practices and grounding that we now desperately need. Everybody can and should just meditate or pray or do whatever they want, but we're in a crisis and it's time for reconciliation. What do you say to critics that say you are merely projecting our need for meaning onto a fundamentally indifferent universe?Yeah, I know that the typical science communicator says something like this. But we're not projecting. Human beings feed on meaning.It's the other way around. If you're a materialist, because the only thing that there is is matter, all that comes next, free will, consciousness, meaning, this is a kind of illusion that we need to explain.They're just craving for meaning, but there isn't really for them. I would also like to remind my materialist friends that for decades, if not centuries, they've said in the name of science, we know that this and this and this doesn't really exist. I think now they sense they're forced to say, well, actually, we don't know. We've been saying, for instance, that there's nothing after you die, and now probably they need to admit that they don't know the answer.___We need to do a science 2.0, a science that says thank you to Galileo and thank you to materialism, but we need to reinvent even a new kind of scientific method.___So it's a moment to open up possibilities and also to gently but fiercely critique these claims that I think harm society. If you say in the name of science, get on with it, when your father dies, you'll never see him again. Well, what the F do you know about it? You haven't studied the literature, you haven't had any of those experiences, and basically what you're doing is you're just doing marketing on ideology. This needs to stop. Do you think that it's scarier for some people to entertain the thought that there might be life after death, compared to a materialist worldview where you just die, given that there might be consequences for unsavory behaviour?Well, death and dying is scary. It's maybe the ultimate ending. It's a limit on life, and when we're in this conquest mode, we don't like limits.And it also has, there's a shockwave backwards, so I think if you change your notion of what death is or may be, you live differently. It also has consequences, as you're saying, for the future because this is not our only goal here and we come back in whatever form. And again, different religions would say different things. I the East, they are more happy with the idea of reincarnation, and here in the West, there are other preferences. But in any case, it changes how we live, and that's really what matters.It's not about just projecting or imagining what we'll be after, but how we live now and also how we treat those who are dying. So it goes from the individual to the families, to the hospitals.Now in the near-death research I do, this has ramifications at all these levels, all the way to society.But our society is thanatophobic. It has a phobia of death. We don't want to hear about death, and this is another thing we need to put on the table and be willing to talk about it. Do you think that we might get closer to answering ultimate questions like why is there anything at all if we jettison materialism?That’s an excellent question, Simon. Two things: we should stop treating reality, I believe, as a great sudoku, as an enigma, as something that with intelligence, money, and time that we will crack and instead treat reality more like a mystery. And what you do for in front of a mystery is not to be the clever guy in a class and say “I’ll solve you” but more like “I will bow and you will transform me.”I know this sounds a bit like a scientist speaking like a mystic. But I think this reorientation is needed. In the end, we won’t crack the big questions, but they will transform us. If we free ourselves from this prison of materialism, the way we will explore these questions will be freer, more creative, and in service of mankind. Do you think exploring mystery is the reason why we are here?I think we are here because, and this pseudo-theological argument I’m making off the cuff, But the One, the Absolute, if there is such a thing, had everything except limitation. We are that absolute experiencing that contingency. It’s like an act of divine proprioception. It’s a wonderful adventure, it’s just incredible to be alive. Perhaps we have forgotten why we are here and the whole point is to experience the flesh.Let me end by saying this. I criticize materialism harshly. I bang on this dead horse, because I think it’s dead. But matter is a great mystery. So maybe my invitation is as follows: hey materialist friends, come here, let’s work on materialism 2.0! Consciousness is a mystery, but matter is also a mystery. The fact that we can have an intersubjective experience consensus, the fact that we can apply mathematics, that we can measure things... the physical world we take for granted, but it is a great mystery too.Maybe that’s related to your last question: why are we here? Why did spirit decide to incarnate? Being in the flesh may be a great thing if spirit decided to do so.Àlex Gómez-Marín, thank you very much.My pleasure.
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