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Maternal health program coming to Maryland as some raise previous budget cut questions
A new, cash assistance program for moms is coming to Maryland aiming to boost low-income families in coordination with other supports offered in the state.While
RFK Jr. Says Men in the '70s Had Twice as Much Sperm as Teenage Boys Today: 'Existential Crisis'
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. characterized the United States' declining birth rate as an "existential crisis," claiming that men in the 1970s had "twice the sperm count" as teenagers today during a White House event on maternal health on Monday, May 11.
How to make the ROI business case for direct tax automation
Discover the ROI of automated direct tax software. Learn how to build a compelling business case with measurable financial benefits and strategic advantages.
A journey of persistence, passion and public health
Nalani Thomas, a doctoral graduate from Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions, defended her dissertation and will graduate this May with a PhD in population health. Her path to this moment was not straightforward — she faced challenges adjusting to college, and at one point was advised to leave school altogether.Instead, she persisted. Through exploration and redirection, she found her way into public health through community work and research focused on maternal and child health, ethics and policy.
Trump touts efforts to improve maternal healthcare, increase U.S. fertility rate
His administration launched moms.gov for expecting and new moms to find prenatal and postnatal care, nutrition and medication information
Bipartisan panel highlights maternal health needs
The reported U.S. maternal death rate doubled over 20 years, and more than 80% of those deaths were preventable.
Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
SAN FRANCISCO, May 11, 2026--Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims & Hers" or the "Company", NYSE: HIMS), the leading health and wellness platform, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. Moving forward, the Company plans to transition to an annual rather than quarterly shareholder letter and will continue to provide regular updates through a quarterly earnings call, earnings release, and supplemental materials.
Richard C. J. Somerville on the Science of Climate Change
In his new book, Climate Change Science: An Essential Reader, Richard C. J. Somerville describes cutting-edge climate change science in language that everyone can understand.
‘Brave Knight’: Animated Musical Pic Sets Five; Lookbook Entertainment Selling At Cannes
EXCLUSIVE: Sydney Agudong (Lilo & Stitch, Ripple), Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Meg Donnelly (Zombies, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series), Jordan Fisher (Had...
Food Frontier and IIFH partner to commercialize nutrition science innovations
The Innovation Institute for Food & Health (IIFH) at the University of California (UC) Davis, US, and Food Frontier are collaborating to advance scientific discovery by integrating it with agricultural production, culinary influence, and market execution. The partners aim to “activate pathways” bringing these innovations into restaurants, supply chains, and consumer markets, where they say adoption is ultimately determined. Specifically, they will build an infrastructure model to accelerate timelines, reduce risk, and unlock new growth opportunities for these new innovations. This platform will help develop, validate, and scale ideas in real-world conditions.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:INSE) Just Reported And Analysts Have Been Cutting Their Estimates
It's been a pretty great week for Inspired Entertainment, Inc. ( NASDAQ:INSE ) shareholders, with its shares surging...
Watch live: Trump promotes moves to advance maternal health
President Trump will preside over an event Monday morning to highlight moves he has made to advance maternal health and support motherhood. Among those measures is the unveiling of Moms.g…
Nutrition manager calls new career a 'dream come true'
Steve Reves' positive influence on residents and teammates is why he’s the National Ever Forward Leader Champion for Good Samaritan.
Watch live: Trump holds event on maternal healthcare
Watch live coverage as President Donald Trump holds an event on maternal healthcare at the White House. The administration had announced a proposal to expand workplace fertility benefits and insurance coverage.
I switched from Gemini to Claude for a month on Android, and I have a clear verdict for you
The ultimate AI experiment
Duxbury, Massachusetts wellness clinic explores new approach to maternal mental health: "This is an oasis"
NYU’s Quantum Institute, IBM Team Up for Postdoctoral Research Program in Quantum Computing
Joint postdoctoral research projects will focus on quantum algorithms and applications in research areas across chemistry, computer science, materials science, physics, optimization, and more
California corrections budget benefits more than inmates from prison sports expansion
California lawmakers want to expand organized sports at prisons. An incarcerated journalist says the only winner would be the prison budget.
RadNet revises financial projections upward after ‘record’ quarter, with revenue up 22%
This comes after RadNet executed several acquisitions so far this year, including buying French AI firm Gleamer for approximately $270 million.
An overwhelming percentage of Coloradans say climate change is harming human health
A Colorado Health Institute poll found that a strong majority of Coloradans believe climate change is real and is harming human health.
Climate Experts Link Methane Pollution to Food Insecurity and Health Risks
Climate experts and development partners have called for a unified national approach to methane reduction, warning that rising emissions are pushing the climate crisis closer to irreversible tipping points while threatening Kenya’s agriculture, economy, and public health.
Smart, hybrid, integrated, and engineered geothermal (SHIEG) systems
npj Thermal Science and Engineering - Geothermal sources can supply clean, sustainable, baseload thermal or electrical energy to fulfill societal demands in diverse climates via various...
Sanders, Moore tout bipartisan solutions to address maternal healthcare gaps
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Sunday stressed the need for bipartisan cooperation to address maternal healthcare gaps. On Mother’s Day, the two spoke …
Why the Wellness Industry Is Betting Big on Longevity Science: Expert View by Spherical Insights
Wellness market is projected to grow from approximately USD 5.4 trillion in 2024 to nearly USD 10.73 trillion by 2035, registering a CAGR of around 6.44% during 2025–2035.
Hackers abuse Google ads, Claude.ai chats to push Mac malware
Attackers are abusing Google Ads and legitimate Claude.ai shared chats in an active malvertising campaign. Users searching for "Claude mac download" may come across sponsored search results that list claude.ai as the target website, but lead to instructions that install malware on their Mac.
‘You are not alone’: Houston experts shine light on hidden struggles of motherhood
Some women on Mother's Day are navigating the mental and physical health impacts associated with the stigma of pregnancy and child loss.
More polar bears are approaching human sites as the climate warms, and it's not just the skinny ones
It's not just thinner bears that are coming ashore as the climate warms.
‘It has to be bipartisan’: Governors find solutions on maternal health
Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-Ark.) and philanthropist Olivia Walton join Meet the Press for a Common Ground conversation around maternal health.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders highlight maternal health investments
Sanders said she raised alarms about maternal health in Arkansas after noticing the state had one of the highest maternal mortality rates.
LIVE FEED | Ligue 1 Multiplex
Ligue 1, Round 33, 10/05/24Welcome to GFFN’s live coverage of the 33rd and penultimate game week of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season! On Friday, RC Lens secured their place in the Champions League in se...
Motherhood, maternal risk, and the WNBA: What I learned reporting through pregnancy
For women in sports, motherhood is a significant risk. But not for the reason that might come to mind.
Letter: Science corrects itself, but doesn’t issue an apology
For 20 years, climate scientists fed the public a steady diet of apocalyptic projections — flooded cities, mass extinctions, a planet on the verge of collapse. What they didn’t prominently disclose was that most of those projections w…
“Cannot be explained” – New ultra stainless steel stuns researchers
A team at the University of Hong Kong has developed a new “super steel” that can survive the harsh conditions needed to make green hydrogen from seawater. The material uses an unexpected double-protection mechanism that resists corrosion far better than conventional stainless steel. Even more impressive, it could replace costly titanium parts used in today’s hydrogen systems.
Scientists stunned as volcano cloud destroys methane in the atmosphere
A colossal underwater volcano in the South Pacific may have revealed a surprising new weapon against climate change. After the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai, scientists detected enormous amounts of formaldehyde in the atmosphere — a telltale sign that methane, one of the planet’s most powerful greenhouse gases, was being destroyed. Researchers now believe volcanic ash mixed with salty seawater and sunlight created reactive chlorine particles that effectively “cleaned up” some of the methane released by the eruption itself.
Antarctica is melting from below and scientists say it’s worse than expected
Scientists have uncovered a hidden Antarctic threat that could accelerate global sea level rise far faster than expected. Deep beneath floating ice shelves, long channels carved into the ice appear to trap warmer ocean water, dramatically speeding up melting from below. Even regions of East Antarctica once considered relatively stable may be far more vulnerable than scientists realized. Researchers warn that current climate models may be missing this dangerous process entirely, meaning future sea level rise could be underestimated.
Scientists say a critical Atlantic ocean current is weakening and the world could feel the impact
Scientists have uncovered strong evidence that a major Atlantic Ocean current system tied to global climate is weakening. The slowdown has been detected across a vast region of the North Atlantic over nearly two decades. Since this ocean circulation helps regulate weather and temperatures, changes could affect storms, rainfall, sea levels, and even winter conditions in parts of Europe and North America.
Nonprofit offers Mother’s Day weekend maternal health panel on South Side
A panel of doctors, midwives and health advocates spoke on navigating the birthing experience as a Black woman.
Annual Boston walk supports maternal health equity, improving infant health
Supporters gathered at the Hatch Shell despite rainy weather for the annual March for Babies Boston, raising funds for maternal and infant health research.
Arkansas health leaders push to improve maternal, infant care access in rural areas
Many Arkansas families welcoming a new baby are also navigating long drives, limited resources and difficult access to care, particularly in rural parts of the
Advantage Southampton after first leg stalemate
BBC Sport's Dan George gives his thoughts on Southampton as they draw away at Middlesbrough in the first leg of their play-off semi-final.
Mother's Day Black Maternal Health Panel happening Saturday, May 9th
Join writer Kirsten Corley Bennett as she shares her postpartum journey, moderated by 3x Emmy winner Jasmine Minor, discussing Black Maternal Health.
Prep talk: Division 1 semis feaitures matchup of volleyball powers
Huntington Beach hosts Mira Costa while Loyola hosts Redondo Unionn in Southern Section Division 1 boys' volleyball semifinals.
The hidden atomic gap that could break next-generation computer chips
A major obstacle may be standing in the way of the next generation of ultra-tiny computer chips. Researchers discovered that many promising 2D materials lose their advantages because an invisible atomic-scale gap forms when they are combined with insulating layers. That tiny gap weakens electronic performance and could prevent further miniaturization. The team says new “zipper materials” that lock together more tightly may offer a path forward.
Just Show Us the Spaceships Already
Until the U.S. government has data or samples of alien material that can be shared, the story of extraterrestrial visitors is just a story.
Is Autodesk (ADSK) Using Small-Business Flex Pricing To Quietly Redefine Its Competitive Moat?
Earlier this month, Autodesk Inc. launched “Autodesk for Small Business,” introducing a Small Business Hub, product refinements across AutoCAD, Revit, Fusion, and Flow Studio, plus more flexible Autodesk Flex token and pricing options in the US and UK. The initiative materially lowers onboarding complexity and upfront commitment for small firms, potentially broadening Autodesk’s customer base while giving these users a clearer feedback channel into future product development. Next, we’ll...
‘The odds are not in our favour’: who sets the Doomsday Clock – and what can they tell us about the future of humanity?
With the war on Iran, Ukraine, AI and climate breakdown increasing the likelihood of a nuclear war, the clock stands closer to midnight than ever before. So who decides how many seconds we have left – and can we buy ourselves more time?
Northeast Arkansas jails to lose mental health services as provider will not renew contract
Hundreds of inmates across Northeast Arkansas jails will lose access to mental health services after Arisa Health announced it will not submit to a new contract.
Good Sports: Torres High tennis turns tragedy into push for section championship
The Torres High tennis team is chasing history on the court, doing it all without one of their most impactful teammates.
Advancing maternal health: How HCA Healthcare supports moms from pregnancy to postpartum
HCA Healthcare experts explain how we support moms and moms-to-be through education, clinical innovation and compassionate, coordinated care.
Prosecutors aim to strip U.S. citizenship from diplomat-turned-spy
The Trump administration moved this week to denaturalize 11 other people accused of crimes, including child sexual abuse and providing material support to terrorists.
The ultimate Tampa Bay weekend entertainment guide
Explore the Tampa Bay Weekend Entertainment Guide for concerts, nightlife, and unforgettable events across the Bay area this weekend.
[8-K] Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. Reports Material Event
Stock Titan provides an ultra-fast stock market news feed and multiple tools for traders and investors.
Long-Qing Chen named Evan Pugh University Professor
Long-Qing Chen, Hamer Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, has been named an Evan Pugh University Professor, the highest honor that Penn State bestows on a faculty member.
Petaluma businesses earn California Green Business Certification; community invited to celebrate May 12
A cohort of 16 forward-thinking Petaluma businesses has successfully achieved or are working to achieve California Green Business Certification through a collaborative program led by local climate action nonprofit, Cool Petaluma. The initiative supports businesses in adopting environmentally responsible practices that reduce waste, conserve resources, and improve operational efficiency.
Desert school, ocean science: How an ASU student found her calling beneath the waves
Makena Krause came to ASU with dreams to change the world — but with no clear plan on how she was going to do so.This spring, she graduates with a clear answer, found through coral reef ecology, collaboration, and the next generation of scientists and practitioners she hopes to inspire.Coming from a family of Sun Devils, Krause has always had an affinity for Arizona State University. However, what ultimately solidified her decision to attend was ASU's focus on real-world application and impact.
Antarctica sea ice collapse driven by triple whammy of climate chaos, scientists find
Antarctica is being ravaged by a triple-whammy of climate chaos that has melted sea ice to record lows, a new study has revealed. For decades, the frozen wilderness at the bottom of the world defied global ...
Why the hantavirus cruise outbreak is not the next pandemic, according to WHO
Experts say because this strain of hantavirus typically requires prolonged or intimate contact, it is not as contagious as covid during the pandemic.
2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award
First year Materials and Nanoscience graduate student Stéphane Miaule (Tolbert group) has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, one of the country’s most prestigious honors for graduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, supports doctoral students across a broad range of scientific and technological fields of strategic importance. This highly competitive fellowship provides full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for three years. In 2026, only 102 fellowships were awarded nationwide, and Stéphane is the sole recipient from UCLA. Before transferring from Santa Monica College to UCLA, Stéphane interned at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center, where he researched the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of lunar regolith, as well as radiation shielding materials for lunar habitation development. At UCLA, he joined the Soft Materials Research Laboratory under Professor Qibing Pei, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of hafnium oxide nanocomposite scintillators. After earning his bachelor’s degree in chemistry, he remained in the Soft Materials Research Laboratory as a post-baccalaureate researcher for one year before joining Professor Sarah Tolbert’s group as a Ph.D. student. Stéphane’s Ph.D. research is focused on improving the properties of conjugated polymers, which are a family of plastic materials that can conduct electricity. Stéphane is specifically looking at self-assembling polymers that can be processed in water to create light-weight, flexible, high-conductivity polymer devices without the need for toxic or volatile organic solvents. After completing his Ph.D., Stéphane hopes to work in a national laboratory, researching semiconducting polymers for applications in new electronic devices. “The Graduate (1967) featured a memorable scene in which the protagonist was told that ‘there’s a great future in plastics.’ We know this still holds true today, as polymer research has expanded rapidly due to the wide variety of applications these materials enable. Through my work on semiconducting polymers, I hope to contribute to the continued development of plastic electronics,” Stéphane said. Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
Mozilla says Anthropic's Mythos found hundreds of flaws
Mozilla says Anthropic's unreleased Claude Mythos AI found security flaws that automated testing systems missed for years.
Alabama college receives $1.8 million grant to improve maternal and child health
UAB’s School of Public Health will receive $1.8 million over the next five years from the Health Resources and Services Administration as a Center of Excellence in Maternal and Health Education.
Study links air pollution to worse post-surgical outcomes
Results could inform Utah environmental policy and ultimately help keep people healthy after surgery.
Fox Entertainment Writers Incubator Names 2026 Fellows
Fox Entertainment has selected the four Fellows for its 2026 Fox Entertainment Writers Incubator.
Starz Entertainment Q1 Loss Wider Than Expected, Revenues Fall Y/Y
STRZ posts a wider-than-expected Q1 loss; revenues fall 7.2% YoY and miss estimates, while free cash flow remains positive.
Scientists split gentoo penguins into four species, one totally new to science. Three of them are already threatened.
Biologists argue that gentoo penguins should be divided into four separate species, including a newly recognized “cryptic” species. The habitats of three of them are imperiled by climate change.
Berkeley Lab’s Kristin Persson Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Materials Project founder is among the 252 new academy members inducted this year.
The Material Science Behind A Spacecraft's Impact Armor
Aerospace engineers have to consider numerous factors when designing a spacecraft, but one that comes up more and more often is the need to design against Micro-Meteoroids and Orbital Debris (MMOD). While most designers understand the threat, designing structural solutions capable of withstanding the hypervelocity impacts these undercontrolled pieces of material can cause can take a significant bite out of a mission’s mass budget. A new paper from Binkal Kumar Sharma of the University of Bremen and Harshitha Baskar, an independent researcher, provides a detailed review of cutting-edge options for defending against those deadly particles.
Money for maternal health
The Dallas Foundation will invest $2 million toward improving pediatric and maternal health in underserved parts of Dallas County, the foundation announced this week.
Investing In Climate Health Could Generate High Returns, Study Finds
Every $1 invested in climate health solutions could yield up to $68 in benefits for low and middle-income countries, according to a new analysis.
‘Infinity Castle’ and ‘GOAT’ Buoy Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Total Sales Numbers for the Fiscal Year
Animated titles including "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaibe The Movie, GOAT and Chainsaw Man— The Movie: Reze Arc helped Sony Pictures Entertainment bring in $9.917 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2026.
Scientists unlock fungi's secret chemistry, offering a greener path to crop protection
Pesky pests can wreak havoc on plants by chewing leaves, boring into stems, and sucking sap from trees. Beyond the direct damage, they also spread harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect and ultimately kill the ...
US job growth likely slowed in April as boost from temporary factors fades
U.S. job growth likely slowed in April as the boost from warmer weather and return of striking health workers faded, but that would not signal a material change in labor market conditions, with the unemployment rate expected to have held steady at 4.3%.
How to watch UFC 328 ‘Chimaev vs. Strickland’
The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday will pitch its promotional tent in Newark, New Jersey, where UFC 328 “Chimaev vs. Strickland” touches down at Prudential Center.
Exclusive: Inmates describe being punished for speaking out about Ghislaine Maxwell
Julie Howell did not know what she was getting into last year when she was asked about a new inmate who had arrived at her prison – or that she was about to become an unwitting supporting character in the ongoing drama around convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Taxpayers could foot the bill for millions in unpaid bills from insurer, Harris Health says
Harris Health has filed a federal lawsuit alleging one of its contracted insurance providers owes the public hospital system millions of dollars in unpaid medical claims, costs the county says could ultimately fall on taxpayers.
A simple dietary change could lower your blood pressure risk by 30%, study suggests | BBC Science Focus Magazine
An estimated 1.4 billion adults worldwide have high blood pressure, putting them at risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Connecting climate science and storytelling at Mission Hill Middle School
Working with seventh grade science teachers Sallie Corbin and Christy Fairbairn, Lookout developed a science communication workshop to support students’ climate change research projects and help students think about how complex scientific ideas can be communicated clearly and meaningfully. The visit introduced students to the basics of journalism, storytelling and audience engagement, with support from UC Santa Cruz science communication graduate student and Lookout intern Cassidy Beach. Students later presented their climate change projects at Mission Hill’s Climate Change Symposium through creative formats including videos, games, comics, sculptures and interactive activities. The partnership marks one of Lookout’s first middle school classroom visits as part of its growing educational initiative focused on media literacy, civic engagement and local journalism.
Watch: Bridge reporters talk medical debt, health care costs on WJR
An estimated 700,000 Michiganders are saddled with medical debt. Bridge reporters joined WJR in Detroit to discuss.
Karoline Leavitt announces birth of baby girl and will take maternity leave
The first White House press secretary to give birth while in the job will take an unspecified amount of maternity leave.
Amid NIL tumult, Florida mulls regulating college sports agents
The possibilities in Florida include capping the cut agents can take from athletes, adding new registration requirements and even charging them a fee to prove they’re legitimate business representation.
The National Academy of Sciences Elects Two Berkeley Lab Researchers
Two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are part of a cohort of 120 new members and 25 international members. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — alongside the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The 2026 electees bring the total number of active members to 2,705 with 557 international members. Gary Karpen is a biologist senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biological Systems and Engineering Division and a Professor of Cell and Developmental Physiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Karpen studies how the structure, organization, and maintenance of genetic material impact inheritance and cell function. His lab focuses on chromatin — a packaged form of DNA strands wrapped around proteins that comprises our chromosomes — with a particular emphasis on centromeres, rarely expressed sequences called heterochromatin, DNA repair, and regulatory RNAs. His research reveals insights into fundamental aspects of nuclear organization and genome regulation that are shared across the tree of life, broadening our understanding of cancer and other diseases, birth defects, and aging. Kam-Biu Luk is a Professor Emeritus of physics at UC Berkeley and a retired senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division. He is an experimental particle physicist whose research has focused on neutrinos: nearly massless, electrically neutral elementary particles that can pass through matter virtually undetected. Neutrinos are created during radioactive decay processes, including the fusion process occurring in stars and the fission process that powers nuclear reactors. Luk initiated and co-led the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, a project based in China with more than 200 international collaborators. In 2012, the Daya Bay experiment discovered a new form of a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation” in which neutrinos change from one type to another. For this discovery, Luk and his collaborator Yifan Wang received the 2014 American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields W.K.H. Panofsky Prize for outstanding work in experimental particle physics, and he was also the co-recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize. Luk is currently participating in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which will investigate any potential difference in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos that may shed light on the evolution of the universe, especially why antimatter is absent in the present universe. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
[8-K] Inspired Entertainment, Inc. Reports Material Event
Stock Titan provides an ultra-fast stock market news feed and multiple tools for traders and investors.
Nancy Guthrie Update: Forensic Science Professor Reveals What She Thinks Will Ultimately Solve the Case
'Today' co-anchor Savannah Guthrie's mom is still missing three months after her abduction.
Rubio’s Rome mission balances diplomacy and Republican politics
As global affairs expert Ian Lesser argues, Marco Rubio’s visit to Rome is unlikely to fully repair recent tensions between Washington, Italy and the Vatican, but it could still help ease the political climate. According to Lesser, Rubio embodies a more diplomatic and moderate Republican voice, yet remains constrained by the broader posture of the [...]
Over half of Israeli adults are overweight or obese, Knesset Health Committee told
31.4% of 7th graders overweight; officials blame high cost of medications, inadequate health services in low-income areas, lack of accessible educational materials in Arab, Ethiopian sectors
World Patient Safety Day 2025 Webinar on Goal 4: Prevent health care-associated infections
Webinar Series on the World Patient Safety Day GoalsSafe care for every newborn and every childPatient safety for newborns and children remains a critical global health priority. Children are particularly vulnerable to preventable harm due to developmental factors, dependency on caregivers, complex medication dosing requirements, diagnostic uncertainty, and increased susceptibility to health care-associated infections.Ensuring safe care for every newborn and every child is therefore essential to improving health outcomes and strengthening quality of care across health systems.The World Patient Safety Day 2025 campaign, under the theme:“Safe care for every newborn and every child: Patient safety from the start!”emphasizes the importance of embedding patient safety principles early in life and across the continuum of maternal, newborn and child health services.The campaign identifies five priority goals, calling for coordinated action by governments, health professionals, professional associations, civil society, and families globally.Webinar 4: “Prevent health care-associated infections”Thursday 7 May 2026, 14.00–15.30 CESTJoin this five-part webinar series on the Patient Safety Goals for safe care for every newborn and every child, featuring global experts and practitioners discussing real-world implementation, challenges, and solutions to reduce avoidable harm.The webinar will address the following topics:• Why infection prevention and control is essential for safe newborn and childcare• How Goal 4 can be implemented in practice at the point of care• What health care workers, leaders, managers, and policymakers can do to Prevent healthcare-associated infections.Registration linkDownload the flyer
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