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Trump 'immediately' imposes 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran, including China
The announcement appears to mean goods from China, a major trading partner of both Iran and the United States, would become significantly more expensive to import.
How many miles should you walk each day? It’s more personal than you think.
The real question isn’t whether walking benefits you, it’s how much walking delivers meaningful results.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Gets Updated Release Date
Samsung confirms "inevitable" price increases. The real concern is what this means for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 deals.
Nutrition Strategies to Improve Health With Protein, Fiber, Carbs
Following the release of a new food pyramid and dietary guidelines for Americans, nutrition expert and author of "The Whole Body Reset," Heidi Skolnick joins TODAY with what the recommendations mean for you, how to pace protein intake, how to get more fiber in your diet through foods, what people on GLP-1s should keep in mind about the new guidelines and more.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Price Rise Has A Risky Side Effect
Samsung confirms "inevitable" price increases. The real concern is what this means for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 deals.
Alex Bregman signing with Cubs: What that means for Bichette, Red Sox, Hoerner, more
Bregman's five-year, $175 million contract will shift the MLB offseason landscape with two months to go
Inside Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Public Health Policies
At the start of the new year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services formally recommended fewer vaccines for American children and offered a new approach to nutrition with a revamped food pyramid. So what does it all mean for public health police in the United States? NBC’s Anne Thompson reports in this week’s Sunday Focus.
What Vortec Means On Chevy Engines
The term Vortec signals that a Chevy engine is using Vortex technology, which employs a circular motion within the cylinder as the fuel and oxygen mix.
This Week in Texas: Venezuela fallout, improving political dialogue
On the latest episode of This Week in Texas, ABC13 takes a hard look at the developments in Venezuela and what they could mean for southeast Texas.
G.I. business owner sentenced to jail for 3 misdemeanor third-degree sexual assaults
GRAND ISLAND - A Grand Island business owner has been sentenced to 270 days in jail for three counts of misdem...
Georgia gets $219 million to `transform’ rural health
The grant is to be the first of five annually, and is meant to offset health care cuts in the federal spending plan.
‘I love science': NASA administrator explains decision to close Goddard library
NASA’s newly confirmed administrator visited Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and defended the decision to close the facility’s library – NASA’s largest. Jared Isaacman emphasized Goddard’s importance Friday. “We’ve got Roman Space Telescope here, Nancy Grace Roman Telescope, so if I like Hubble, you’ve got to love Roman,” he said. “I mean, you know, 100 times the field of…
AFC Playoff Predictions: Who Win in the Wild Card Round?
The NFL season has quickly come to a close, and the playoffs are about to begin. Coaches have been fired, hearts have been broken, and first-round matchups have been determined. While the AFC may be the weaker conference this season, it has the means for a playoff spectacle not seen in years. No. 3 Jaguars […] The post AFC Playoff Predictions: Who Win in the Wild Card Round? appeared first on The Lead.
Week in politics: Minneapolis ICE shooting and congressional Republicans defect : The NPR Politics Podcast
This week, a fatal shooting by an immigration enforcement officer in Minneapolis inflamed tensions. Meanwhile in Washington, congressional Republicans bucked President Trump and their party leaders. We discuss what to make of it all.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, Minnesota Public Radio host Clay Masters, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Why Greenland is indispensable to global climate science
With no Antarctica-style treaty to protect Greenland, a US takeover could mean scientists lose access.
Millions v. billions: New health funds in rural Minnesota are welcome, but they won’t offset Medicaid cuts
Minnesota’s allocation from a new federal program meant to offset significant budget cuts comes in below the average.
How New Digital Entertainment is Changing What Indoors Leisure Time is | The Rockland County Times
Indoor time used to feel like a break. A chance to sit back and disconnect. Today, it’s less about switching off and more about choosing how to stay engaged. What once relied on television schedules or local board games now spans real-time multiplayer platforms, streaming hubs, and interactive digital environments that reshape what downtime means. [...]
US Politics Newsletter: Trump's power plays in Venezuela and Greenland
This was originally published in the U.S. Politics newsletter which is issued every Thursday.Sign up here to learn about the latest updates and what they mean in U.S. politics.
What the Senate's Venezuela vote does — and doesn't — mean: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Vance defends the ICE officer involved in the Minneapolis shooting.
New Year, Same Health Fight
Congress returned from its break facing a familiar question: whether to extend the expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans that expired at the end of 2025. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. broke a promise to Bill Cassidy, the chairman of Senate health committee, by overhauling the federal government’s childhood vaccine schedule to reduce the number of diseases for which vaccines will be recommended. Sarah Karlin-Smith of Pink Sheet, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss those stories and more.
Shangri-La owner pivots on business sale. What’s next for the popular restaurant?
“We mean something to people. Even in our hardest time we’re still showing our community love, and we’re getting it back.”
Small Town Politics: Proposed charter to change Nicholls city structure
WALB’s Investigative Reporter Brittanye Blake explains what this means for residents.
Building Open-Source AI Models That Emphasize Generating Mental Health Advice
I discuss what open-source means in the realm of AI and LLMs. There are efforts to devise open-source LLMs for mental health guidance. An AI Insider scoop.
Tax hikes coming to some Southeast DC businesses — and they welcome what it means
The Soul of the City Business Improvement District, which plans to transform Congress Heights and nearby neighborhoods, will fund local business growth, workforce development and community revitalization.
Stopping obesity drugs means people regain weight and lose heart health benefits
Why the weight, and heart risks, return after stopping GLP-1 drugs.
How Meteorologists Make Science Personal When Reporting
Meteorologists learn that reporting on the weather means losing the jargon and focusing on impact for their audiences.
Why connecting with nature shouldn't mean disconnecting from science
There is a growing trend to see our relationship with nature as a spiritual thing. This is a mistake, argues Richard Smyth
What Medicaid changes in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' mean for family caregivers’ health coverage
New Medicaid changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will require community engagement from beneficiaries ages 19 to 64. But family caregivers are exempt.
Life Science Fills Day as Expedition 74 Nears Thursday Spacewalk
Exercise research and biomedical science promoting healthy humans on and off Earth topped the schedule aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. Meanwhile, two NASA astronauts are preparing for the year’s first spacewalk, scheduled to begin Thursday.
What Science Actually Means When It Says ‘Your Body Keeps Score’
As you age, you realize maybe your body really does keep score. But what does that mean? It's not what online trends would have you believe.
My Clicks Communicator Hands-On: Boldly Going Where Phones Have Been Before
The new Android handset is meant to be a secondary phone optimized for messaging, with a BlackBerry-like physical keyboard, headphone jack and other features lost to time.
Holiday Sports Wrap: What happened locally on the basketball court and wrestling mat
The Holidays are over, which means that tournament and pre-conference play is mostly behind us on the hardwood and wrestling mat. With that in mind, let’s take a look at […]
What does Browns firing Kevin Stefanski mean for Shedeur Sanders?
Rogers Victor: The false story we tell ourselves about health
The new year has arrived, and that means Americans are making resolutions.
How the Increasingly Wide World of Sports Became the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of International Relations
More than 80 percent of sports diplomacy today is undertaken by non-government-credentialed “diplomats.” Ahead of the Olympics, SPS’s Lindsay Krasnoff explains what that means.
Boom in business: Victory Monday means Jacksonville scores economic boost
Securing the AFC South championship title isn’t the only thing that scores a boost of excitement in Jacksonville.
What Trump’s Venezuela intervention means for US domestic politics
Trump’s Venezuela intervention has divided his ‘America first’ support base.
US sends global message with Maduro's takedown: Trump 'means business'
'America's Newsroom' co-anchor Dana Perino joins 'Fox & Friends' to react to Nicolás Maduro's arrest and the broader global impact as President Donald Trump protects U.S. interests abroad.
Tips to Hit Your 2026 Health Goals From Diets to Workouts
The new year means new health goals for lots of people so TODAY fitness contributor Stephanie Mansour stops by Studio 1A with strategies to help you start the new year off on the right foot, including quick workouts, healthy recipe ideas, and more.
What Ravens vs. Steelers means for Detroit Lions draft order
Here’s what SNF between the Steelers and Ravens means for the Detroit Lions’ 2026 draft order.
Why some people really struggle to lose weight more than others
Thousands of genes that have an influence on weight, say experts - which means weight loss isn't a level playing field
Sen. Cotton on Trump saying US will ‘run’ Venezuela: ‘It means that the new leaders… need to meet our demands’
The ultimate price Ford is paying to overhaul its business strategy
Ford and other carmakers must shift gears in their business plans away from EVs, a costly endeavor. Here is what it could mean for the industry.
Three free agents Barcelona should consider signing in the summer
As Barcelona look ahead to the summer transfer window, planning is already centred around realism rather than luxury. Financial limits remain tight, and that means free agents will once again be a ke...
Duke Wins On the Road, 91-87
Not a beautiful game by any means, but the Blue Devils are now 13-1.
Trump says the US is going to “run” Venezuela. What does that mean?
Regime change, MAGA-style.
Gov. Jared Polis celebrates ouster of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro
Colorado leaders lambaste, criticize military operation capturing South American leader Colorado Gov. Jared Polis celebrated the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro via a military operation that captured and flew him out of the country early Saturday, even as other Democrats lambasted America’s action and expressed wariness about the U.S. embarking on “nation building.” Republicans, meanwhile, […]
Gov. Jared Polis celebrates U.S. capture of Venezuela’s Maduro
Colorado leaders lambaste, criticize military operation Colorado Gov. Jared Polis celebrated the military operation that captured President Nicolas Maduro and flew him out of the country early Saturday, even as his party mates lambasted America’s action and expressed wariness about the U.S. embarking on “nation building.” Republicans, meanwhile, said President Donald Trump is keeping Americans […]
Tens of thousands of Tennesseans face health care, SNAP benefit changes in 2026
Affordable Care Act subsidies, which were expanded during the pandemic, are expiring, meaning millions of Americans will likely have to pay more for health care or go uninsured.
What the US strike in Venezuela means for gas prices and the largest proven oil reserve on the planet
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country following a largescale US strike on Caracas, leaving behind uncertainty for the country – and its massive oil reserves.
Leaders, business owners on Missouri minimum wage increase
Missouri voters approved Proposition A in 2024. The approval meant a steady increase in minimum wage over time.
Hints from Heloise: Good manners never get old
So many times, a small act of kindness can mean the world to another person.
A new year means new films to look forward to
Awards columnist Glenn Whipp shares his picks from The Times' list of the most anticipated movies of 2026.
The NFL comeback for Colts quarterback and dad of 10 Philip Rivers extended his health insurance for 5 years. Here's how his plan compares to yours.
Returning to the Colts didn't just mean another hefty paycheck for Philip Rivers. It meant access to a strong health plan for another five years.
Whole Hog Politics: 6 counties to watch in a two-faced election year
January, named for that two-faced Roman god, brings us into a midterm election year. And Janus makes a good emblem for these biennial contests, which are full of double meaning. For the broad elect…
Corsair Reportedly Cancels User's PC Order, Hikes The Price By $800
It appears that these companies can take advantage of market volatility without facing meaningful repercussions Corsair is Reportedly Changing PC Prices Significantly; Cancels User's Order Without Reason So, it appears that PC vendors are no longer hesitant to hike prices of their products, and Corsair is a recent example. While PC price hikes are common these days, what's not acceptable is cancelling the already placed order without any valid reason. A Redditor just reported that he became a victim of such an incident after he placed an order for a Corsair pre-built system two days ago. Related Story ASUS Announces […]
Health trackers aim to improve health. For this Louisiana baker and others, it means more stress.
Worried about your health? You're not alone. Health anxiety is on the rise.
Post-holiday blues? Here's a list of indoor entertainment near Holland
The holidays might be in the rearview, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. There's plenty of indoor activities to enjoy in the greater Holland area, from trampoline parks and rock climbing to movies and shopping. Here's a list:
SSM Health and UnitedHealthcare Reach Temporary Deal to Keep Missouri Patients In-Network
Missourians covered by UnitedHealthcare can breathe a sigh of relief. SSM Health and UnitedHealthcare have signed a letter of agreement, extending their contract for 30 days after months of negotiations and a looming December 31st deadline. The temporary deal means more than 140,000 Missourians with UnitedHealthcare commercial or Medicaid plans can continue seeing SSM Health […]
Gen Z-ers are taking to Pinterest to find their vibe
A Pinterest executive said Gen Z uses the platform to figure out their aesthetic, which means looking at interview outfits or dorm room ideas.
Health advances marked 2025, even as wars and funding cuts strained systems
From eliminating deadly infections to expanding access to lifesaving vaccines, 2025 delivered meaningful progress for global health, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), offering cautious optimism at the close of a year marked by both breakthroughs and strain.
Apple says iPhone 11 Pro is ‘vintage,’ here’s what that means
Apple keeps a running list of products dubbed ‘vintage’ and ‘obsolete,’ and the latest additions include the iPhone 11 Pro and more.
Tesla just made an 'unusual' move — and it could mean a rough end to the year
Tesla released a consensus of analyst predictions for its latest quarterly sales, the first time it has publicly given Wall Street such a heads-up.
It’s been a difficult year for science. Here’s what researchers say about the future : Short Wave
Science in the United States took some big hits this year. The Trump Administration disrupted federal funding for all kinds of scientific pursuits. Administration officials say those changes were a step towards reinvigorating federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health. But many scientists disagree. NPR health and science correspondents Rob Stein and Katia Riddle chat with host Emily Kwong about what these cuts could mean for the future of science.Interested in more stories on the future of science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Snyder's Soapbox: There are no 'meaningless' professional sports games
Forget playoff contention, forget the calendar and show up
AI’s errors may be impossible to eliminate — what that means for its use in health care
In the past decade, AI’s success has led to uncurbed enthusiasm and bold claims – even though users frequently experience errors that AI makes.
New issue: Don't count the calories | BBC Science Focus Magazine
January’s long nights, howling winds and unending drizzle that constitute a British winter all seem to scream: stay indoors, get under a blanket and stay very still. But every year, I reach January and the same conclusion as millions of others: it’s time for change. Christmas is what does it. There’s only so much indulgence the body can take. It starts on the 24th when, if you’re lucky, work’s finished and the fridge is full. Over the next seven days, I’ll feast like a Tudor monarch, picking at carcasses, stabbing at cheese and washing it all down with a bit of port (well, someone’s got to finish it). But by New Year’s Day I’ve had enough. Meaningful, lasting change isn’t easy. The science says so. Sure, a fitness influencer will scream at you until they’re Christmas-ham-pink in the face that losing weight is JUST SIMPLE MATHS: burn more calories than you consume, and you’ll lose weight. But your genes, biology and chemistry don’t work like a calculator. There’s more to it. So we’re here to help you construct bite-sized changes that will add up to significant improvements in your health and wellbeing this year.
Microsoft’s business is on fire. So how can its stock break from its curse?
The OpenAI and Nvidia narratives need to come back into fashion in order for Microsoft shares to move meaningfully higher.
Kratom and 7-OH products are widely available. They’re also at the heart of a public health debate. : Short Wave
Kratom and 7-OH products are available in many smoke shops. But earlier this year, the FDA recommended certain 7-OH products be scheduled alongside opioids. This isn’t the first time kratom has come under scrutiny. Nearly a decade ago, the DEA wanted to make certain active ingredients in kratom controlled substances. Meaning products would go from being widely available to highly restricted. After a massive wave of protest, the DEA decided not to move forward. Producer Rachel Carlson joins host Emily Kwong to talk about what could happen this time around, and what scientists know – and don’t know – about kratom and 7-OH. Interested in more of the science behind drugs and supplements? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Steelers’ Bizarre Struggles Against Browns Continue With Embarrassing Loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers have consistently been one of the NFL’s top teams for years, posting a non-losing record in 22 straight seasons and counting. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns have been historically inept, posting just three winning seasons during the same span. The Steelers should dominate the Browns. And yet, that hasn’t been the case at […]
Streaming Music To Cassette
In almost every measurable way, a lossless digital audio file is superior to any analog media. This doesn’t mean that analog audio isn’t valuable though; plenty of people appreciate the…
Kosovo's ruling party wins election after months of political deadlock
The decisive victory for the Albanian nationalist Vetevendosje party means a third term for leader Albin Kurti.
Five New Year's Resolutions to Help You Breathe Easier
By Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay ReporterSUNDAY, Dec. 28, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Making resolutions for the new year? Keep in mind that small ones can make a big difference if you have allergies or asthma. "Simple lifestyle adjustments and preventative care can make a meaningful difference for ...
Memory loss: As AI gobbles up chips, prices for devices may rise
Demand for memory chips currently exceeds supply and there's very little chance of that changing any time soon. More chips for AI means less available for other products such as computers and phones and that could drive up those prices too.
Democracy is under attack, right here in Colorado
Remember during COVID, when the people screaming the loudest for government-mandated jabs were the very same people chanting “my body, my choice” when it came to abortion — I mean, “women’s health care”? They’re also the folks who insist a 12-year-old is far too young to get a tattoo, but perfectly mature enough to make […]
The Year in Trump's Health
What do bruises and dozing off mean for the president's health?
8 exemplars to guide us into the new year
It started as a one-off in my first year of writing this regular column. To ring in the new year back in the eventful year of 2020, I offered a shoutout to eight Coloradans who served as models of how to lead lives to meaning, decency and contribution. The response to that initial piece quickly […]
North Texas vs. San Diego State prediction, odds, spread: 2025 New Mexico Bowl picks from proven model
SportsLine's computer model reveals its North Texas Mean Green vs. SDSU Aztecs best bets
Forest analysis: Still progressing under Dyche
The feeling around the City Ground should be one of pride, and the belief Nottingham Forest are continuing to move in the right direction. The chaos of the start of the season - when Ange Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo and barely lasted six weeks - has been replaced by the almost serene nature of the past two months under Sean Dyche. Defeat meant it is successive losses for the first time under Dyche, a testament to how quickly he got to grips with a floundering team, but Forest cannot afford to allow it to become a habit.
'Memory manipulation is inevitable': How rewriting memory in the lab might one day heal humans
Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez has found ways to plant memories in mice. Here's what that could mean for humans.
A sobering thought: Even short-term Dry January can offer health benefits
Once a niche challenge, Dry January has become a mainstream reset — prompting new research into how even short breaks from alcohol can yield meaningful...
Bang for your buck: the best affordable watches of 2025
Affordable is subjective, of course, but here's a list of watches from 2025 that are both budget-friendly and extremely impressive.
Nintendo Suggests Metroid Prime 4's Tortured Development Meant It Was "Divorced From The Changing Of Times"
"We resolved to move forward with our original vision"
The Top 10 political developments in Florida in 2025
Choosing the top political stories in an “off year” when no statewide elections took place is challenging — although jockeying for the 2026 elections is well under way. Property taxes and gun rights, meanwhile, have emerged as issues likely to dominate the 2026 legislative session, which kicks off in a little more than two weeks. […]
The economy is growing. That doesn't mean companies are hiring more.
Can't find a job, but keep hearing that the economy is strong? That might be the economic story of 2026.
RFK Jr. says the U.S. should look to Europe on vaccines. That could mean Americans get fewer.
Public health experts say Europeans can afford to vaccinate less because they have universal access to health care.
Breakthrough Listen Searched Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS For Technosignatures During Its Closest Approach To Earth
The team found nine "events" that they investigated further. Meanwhile, another team looked at the "non-gravitational" acceleration of the comet, finally pinning down a better estimate of its size.
AI supercharges scientific output while quality slips
AI writing tools are supercharging scientific productivity, with researchers posting up to 50% more papers after adopting them. The biggest beneficiaries are scientists who don’t speak English as a first language, potentially shifting global centers of research power. But there’s a downside: many AI-polished papers fail to deliver real scientific value. This growing gap between slick writing and meaningful results is complicating peer review, funding decisions, and research oversight.
Public Health Informatics Specialist
📊 DATA MEETS PUBLIC HEALTH! 📊Northern Nevada Public Health is seeking a PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS SPECIALIST to turn data into life-saving insights! 💡 $78,936/yr + excellent benefits & NV PERS retirement! 📍 Reno, NV | Perfect for you if you have: Bachelor’s in computer science/data sciences and 2+ years health informatics experience; OR an equivalent combination of training and experience ✅ Skills in SQL, R, Python, Power BI desired | Ready to start the new year using your tech skills to improve public health outcomes? This role combines cutting-edge data analysis with meaningful community impact! 🚀 You’ll analyze health data, support disease surveillance, and help shape public health decisions that protect our community! 🌟👉 Apply now: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washoecounty ⏰ Application Deadline: January 30! #HealthInformatics #HealthStatistics #DataScience #PublicHealth #WashoeCounty #TechJobs #RenoJobs
Science funding was hit in 2025. What does that mean for the future? : Consider This from NPR
2025 was a hard year for science. The Trump administration upended federal funding for all kinds of scientific pursuits, slashing budgets across agencies like NASA, NIH and NOAA. NPR's Rob Stein and Katia Riddle spoke to scientists and officials who worry that those cuts could cause the United States to lose its competitive edge as a global hub for research and innovation, and steer future generations away from careers in science. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Michael Levitt, with audio engineering by Zo vanGinhoven. It was edited by Sarah Handel, Scott Hensley and Amina Khan. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
Duke Health nurse charged with additional sex crimes after third victim comes forward, police say
Jomil Tugado faces three felony counts each of sexual contact/penetration under the pretext of medical treatment and sex acts by a government or private institution employee. He also has three misdemeanor charges of sexual battery.
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.
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