SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " mpr " 5,899 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
'iPhone Ultra' Will Solve Two Key Problems
Apple reportedly plans to unveil a foldable iPhone in September, and the device will supposedly solve two problems with foldable smartphones. In case you missed it, a leaker on Chinese social media platform Weibo recently claimed that the foldable iPhone will be named "iPhone Ultra". According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the device will have improved screen quality and overall durability compared to competing foldables.
“AI polls” are fake polls
A few weeks after Donald Trump’s second presidential win, I took the train up from London (where I was living at the time) to Oxford to attend a conference on polls and forecasts of the 2024 election. Most of the attendees were pollsters or academics, but I also watched presentations from Aaru and Electric Twin, two companies that do what is interchangeably called synthetic sampling, silicon sampling, or synthetic audiences. Stripped of startup jargon, that means they use large language models (LLMs) to simulate responses to public opinion polls by having AI agents take on the role of survey respondents. I had already heard of Aaru thanks to some articles with eye-catching headlines like “No people, no problem: AI chatbots predict elections better than humans” in the months leading up to Election Day. The founders were making some big, some might even say far-fetched claims, such as: “within two years, we will simulate the entire globe — from the way crops are grown in Ukraine to how that impacts production of oil in Iraq, trade through the strait of Malacca, and elections for the mayor of Baltimore.” When Semafor asked Aaru’s cofounders — Cameron Fink and Ned Koh — about my boss, they said “we respect all those who came before us.” Nate (as he so often does) shared his thoughts on Twitter: Fink and Koh were relatively good-natured about this back-and-forth when we spoke at Oxford. They even offered to mail me one of the t-shirts featuring Nate’s quote they apparently had made. I never took them up on the offer, which I now somewhat regret. These synthetic sampling companies fell off my radar for a while, but they do still exist. In fact, Aaru recently received a $1 billion valuation. Is what they’re doing anywhere close to the most important frontier in AI development? Not by a longshot, especially when Anthropic just developed a model so adept at exploiting software vulnerabilities that it’s only being released to 40 companies. Still, silicon sampling is increasingly finding its way into public polling. Axios reported in March that “a majority of people trust their own doctors and nurses” based on findings from Aaru — without mentioning that the “people” in that sentence were actually LLMs. Around the same time, the Public Sentiment Institute “boosted” their online sample of 373 real survey respondents with 114 AI agents.1 (Spoiler alert: even the co-founder of Electric Twin doesn’t think that’s a particularly defensible approach.) Polling companies like Qualtrics and Ipsos are also developing synthetic data panels. So, what should we make of these … “polls”? Let’s get one thing out of the way: whatever they are, they’re not polls in the way that term is usually defined. Subscribe You can’t replace polls with AI On one hand, using LLMs to essentially make up fake survey respondents sort of sounds like the dumbest idea ever, one that will at best imperfectly replicate real polls while introducing all sorts of biases. On the other hand, with LLMs improving at a remarkable, perhaps even alarming rate, maybe that means I’m a dinosaur at the ripe old age of 24 because I still want to rely on polls that talk to actual people. I’m not going to argue that synthetic samples are completely useless. In fact, as I’ll return to later, there is evidence that some techniques can replicate topline survey results quickly and cheaply. But the marketing from certain companies can be slightly optimistic. “No traditional poll will exist by the time the next general election occurs,” said Fink in 2024. We’re just 206 days away from the midterms, and based on the fact that I still have to collect a bunch of polls every day, I’d say he should have run that prediction by a sample of AI agents before the interview.2 To see why synthetic samples can’t replace polls, here’s a quick primer on how they work. The simplest version of these models involves taking a LLM (like ChatGPT or Claude), giving it a demographic profile (e.g., a white, college-educated woman who lives in Utah and makes $70k a year), and then asking it to respond to a survey question. You repeat that process a few thousand times using different demographic profiles and end up with a sample of synthetic survey responses. The actual models used by private companies are more sophisticated than this, usually because they incorporate more hypothesized demographic characteristics for each agent and provide them with extra information. Aaru, for example, feeds agents a diet of news and information they’d be likely to consume, while Electric Twin incorporates their customers’ proprietary data about the audience they’re trying to replicate. The way Ben Warner, the co-founder of Electric Twin, explained it to me was “we have a large amount of data on […] for instance, 5,000 people. Can we make an accurate prediction of how they would respond to another question?” Still, it should be obvious why synthetic samples can’t replace polls. Polling is fundamentally a data collection process. We might use surveys to make predictions by feeding them into election forecasts, but the main purpose of a poll isn’t prediction, it’s gathering new data about what people think and how they feel. Silicon sampling, on the other hand, produces no new data. It’s simply a model: you input LLM training data, demographic prompts, and a bunch of other information, and it spits out a prediction for what a poll would say. We love models here, but models aren’t polls. That difference is an important philosophical sticking point for most pollsters I talk to. “I think politics should stay away from [synthetic sampling], because we’re trying to […] represent the voice of the people,” said Natalie Jackson, a vice president at GQR Insights. Democratic pollster John Hagner told me: “I think I’m just incredibly skeptical of this idea. I don’t think it’s research. At that point, you’re asking the machine to tell you what you already believe.” Hagner has seen some presentations of early synthetic sampling experiments, but so far, “if it’s being used in a campaign, people are keeping it incredibly quiet.”3 But Eli, I hear you saying, aren’t polls themselves increasingly governed by modeling decisions? Indeed they are: pollsters’ choices on which sampling method to use, how to define their likely voter models, and how to weight their samples can and do lead to dramatic differences in the results they publish. Aaru even referenced these limitations in the methodology statement included with that maternal mortality “poll” — although I’m using the term “methodology statement” loosely here, because it doesn’t really explain how the model works at all. We can ignore the (frankly preposterous) implication that synthetic sampling isn’t subject to a separate set of biases. The important point is that there’s still a meaningful difference between using weighting and other statistical techniques on actual polling data and using a model to predict what a poll would say. The latter is far closer to election forecasts or techniques like MRP — potentially useful models, but not a replacement for polls.4 To be fair, other synthetic sampling companies are perfectly happy with the distinction between polls and models. Warner compared polling and synthetic sampling to different tools in a toolbox. “The mistake I think we make is we think that these new tools should either work in exactly the same way or somehow replace these old tools,” he said. “Rather than thinking of it as, okay, so we’ve always had the hammer, we’ve always had the screwdriver, now we’ve got a saw. But don’t use a saw to try [to] do the job of a hammer.” A quick comment from Nate Eli didn’t ask me for a comment — rather rude of him, don’t you think? But since I’m editing this story, I figured I’d add a few quick thoughts rather than putting words in his mouth. Beyond the frequently misleading marketing, what bothers me about the AI “poll” hype is that as AI tools make statistical inference cheaper and/or better (note that these are not synonyms) that actually increases the comparative value of collecting original data. You might be able to train a model to make a reasonable estimate of what some hard-to-reach poll respondent would say — say, a young Black man who voted for Trump. (Such a person checks a number of boxes for a voter who is usually hard to reach in surveys.) Indeed, this is closely related to what models like the Silver Bulletin forecast already do. They essentially smooth out the kinks in noisy survey data by making inferences based on past voting patterns or national polls or surveys of other states. But you don’t actually know what these voters think unless you’re reaching them directly. If there’s a shift in opinion among this subgroup, you’re not going to detect it. So if I were running a campaign, I’d invest more in going the extra mile to find a representative sample of those voters. And then I’d hire some smart quants — or Claude? — to figure out the implications for campaign strategy based on proprietary data that my competitors didn’t have access to. -Nate Silver Are these models any good? If synthetic surveys are just a new type of model, the next obvious question is whether the models are at least accurate. The answer very much depends on who you ask. On one end of the spectrum, you have the maximalist argument that synthetic sampling is more accurate than actual polls. “It’s an incredibly challenging problem to go to someone and say ‘hey, we’re going to be more accurate at predicting human behavior than you, even when you talk to your customers directly’,” Koh recently told CNBC. In his view, synthetic sampling isn’t a saw to polling’s hammer, it’s “magic.” There’s certainly evidence that synthetic samples can replicate certain survey toplines. But if Aaru does have any examples of their approach outperforming the polls, they’re keeping those to themselves.5 Aaru’s 2024 election model, for example, had Kamala Harris leading in Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin on November 4th. And although they’ve since taken down their forecast page, they gave Harris a 50.5 percent chance of winning the race on November 2nd.6 After the election, Fink told Semafor he was happy enough with those results because they were “within margin of error,” a term that is completely meaningless when applied to a “sample” of AI agents. And of course, Aaru says their models have improved since 2024, so supposedly now they’d be more accurate than the polls? Still, their stronger argument is on cost: “We are significantly faster and cheaper than traditional polling, and still more accurate,” said Fink. The first two claims are undeniably true, but the third brings us to the opposite end of the spectrum. Both Jackson and Hagner are skeptical that these models are reliable for anything beyond replicating common survey toplines. “I just […] don’t think the machines are what we want when we’re looking for nuanced views. My example on this is people in Arizona and Nevada in 2024 who voted for Trump and voted for expanding abortion in their states on ballot initiatives,” said Jackson. Hagner identified another issue. Maybe the synthetic respondents, like sycophantic LLMs, are inhuman in one important way: they’re too nice. “The reports that have come through at the meetings that I’ve been at are that the early experiments on this, they cannot get respondents to be as racist or sexist or, frankly, as negative as human respondents,” he said. Academic research mostly agrees on this point. While there are some papers that show promising results when using LLMs to replicate polling data, most show that LLMs suffer from various quirks like producing too few “don’t know” responses and can seriously overpredict the favorability of politicians like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. They also seem to struggle with too little variation between demographic subgroups, so the difference in predicted opinion between Democrats and Republicans, for example, is too small. When I asked Warner about these studies, his response to these papers was that just because academics can’t get synthetic sampling to work doesn’t mean that the technique doesn’t work in general. “Actually, the argument is, okay, yours does not [work]. That does not mean […] for this complex set of machinery, which uses a lot of investment, a lot of time, a lot of money, you can’t get it to work.” Cards on the table, I’m somewhat sympathetic to this argument because academics aren’t exactly great at making election forecasts. Usually, the people with skin in the game are the most accurate. Warner’s argument is that the approach Electric Twin takes — which includes, for example, making multiple predictions for each synthetic respondent using different models and prompts and subsequently averaging those to get a final prediction in a sort of ensemble forecast — produces better results than the simpler academic models. Warner shared a comparison between his method and the method from a recent academic paper with me, and Electric Twin was indeed able to get more accurate replication. But even still, he acknowledged that synthetic sampling “is not a crystal ball.” “If you asked me, do I think using other data sources will be more accurate than asking somebody who they will vote for, I would probably say no. But if you asked me ‘would your system be useful for our turnout modeling today?’ I would say yes.” For better or worse, it looks like the method is already getting more popular in the market research world. Most of the clients Aaru touts these days are businesses like EY and McDonald’s. And AI will probably begin to pop up in other parts of the political polling process. Pollsters are already using it to code open-ended survey responses, and some firms, like YouGov, are testing using LLMs to ask survey respondents questions. More worryingly, one danger to actual polls is that AI agents can be used to infiltrate online surveys. Most online polls use various checks to prevent that from happening, but there’s conflicting evidence on how effective those filters are and how prevalent AI agents currently are in online panels. If those agents ever become impossible to detect, it might spell the end of online polling, but the solution isn’t to replace all of your respondents with ChatGPT. Silver Bulletin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a subscriber. Subscribe 1 That particular poll obviously doesn’t meet Silver Bulletin standards for aggregation. But we exclude all Public Sentiment Institute polls from our averages because we classify them as an amateur polling firm. 2 You could argue that Fink meant the next presidential election, but (a) I’m also confident we’ll still have real polls in 2028 and (b) in that case he should have asked an LLM to define “general election.” 3 Quick caveat: that’s reporting from a Democratic pollster. It’s possible that Republicans are more willing to use AI in political campaigns. 4 Indeed, Silver Bulletin does not include “polls” produced by MRP in our forecasts or averages, and we think it’s extremely misleading when their practitioners describe them in a way that suggests original data had been collected among a large number of states or Congressional districts. 5 A recent report from Aaru and EY did show two examples of a synthetic estimate being closer than a survey to a real-world benchmark — but I’d take those findings with a grain of salt because the report reads more like an ad and didn’t involve any sort of prediction being made ahead of time. 6 For comparison, our odds for Harris on the same day were 48.2 percent.
Major Wolverhampton genetics study targets community health gaps
A study invites Pakistani and Bangladeshi residents in Wolverhampton to help improve health care.
Your nose could detect Alzheimer’s years before symptoms begin
Losing your sense of smell might signal Alzheimer’s far earlier than expected. Scientists found that immune cells in the brain actively destroy smell-related nerve fibers after detecting abnormal signals on their surfaces. This damage begins in early stages of the disease, well before cognitive decline. The discovery could help identify at-risk patients sooner and improve treatment timing.
New metal with triple copper’s heat conduction challenges fundamental physics
With performance three times better than copper’s, this new material could substantially improve heat management of electronics, data centers and energy systems
A simple guide to staying fit without needing a gym membership
Fitness pros say it’s still possible to build strength, improve endurance and support overall fitness goals from home, both safely and effectively.
New Crimson Desert Patch Just Dropped With Many of the Improvements Pearl Abyss Said Were Due in the Coming Months, and Some It Hadn't Mentioned at All
Just a day after Pearl Abyss’ announcement of the various improvements it said were coming soon to Crimson Desert, we have a new patch that adds many of them already — and even a few changes fans hadn't expected.
Local business expands to new market after recent acquisition
A Youngstown business is expanding into newer markets after acquiring J&L Supply Company.
Altoona business owner accused of fraud
The owner and operator of Tipton Construction in Altoona was taken into custody Wednesday for allegedly committing a string of home improvement frauds. John Bailey Tipton II, 44, was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin F. Jones on seven felony counts of making a false statement to induce agreement for home improvement services, five […]
Impressive Ulster into Challenge Cup semi-finals
Ulster are one game away from a first European final since 2012 after a 41-24 win over La Rochelle in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.
Black Maternal Health Week puts focus on improving outcomes
Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a slight decline in maternal deaths, from 18.6 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 17.9 in 2024. […]
Billionaire Duff brothers wrongly got federal PPP loans, lawsuit says
Billionaire brothers Tommy and Jim Duff improperly took advantage of a COVID-era loan program meant to keep small businesses afloat, a lawsuit says.
Microsoft brings Windows 11 FAT32 2TB support, fixes network data bug, with new builds
Microsoft has released new Windows builds under Dev and Beta channels. They bring improvements and fixes.
Proactive business decisions are improving local cancer care
Two of the region’s leading cancer organizations—Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Ochsner Cancer Center—are pushing deeper into underserved communities, deploying new technology and rethinking how care is delivered. The challenges of access, staffing and financing remain formidable, but the distance between patients and quality care is shrinking. Nearly 80% of Louisiana’s land is classified […]
Advancing equity for Black mothers through better nutrition
Discover how better nutrition, cultural support and community action can improve Black maternal health and reduce preventable pregnancy risks.
MSI MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 Review - Less Expensive and Even Better
MSI MPG 322UR QD-OLED X24 brings fifth generation V-Stripe QD-OLED technology to a 32-inch 4K panel, pairing a 3840×2160 resolution with a 240 Hz refresh rate, a 80 Gbps bandwidth DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20 interface, and a price tag that undercuts its predecessor by $200. Improved text clarity, higher SDR brightness, and an AI Care Sensor make for a strong all-around package.
European business aviation association cancels annual convention
European business aviation convention EBACE scheduled for June in Geneva, Switzerland has been cancelled by the organizer
Walmart CFO bullish on e-commerce growth, Marketplace potential - Talk Business & Politics
Walmart’s e-commerce business has become a meaningful contributor to the retailer’s growth, now comprising roughly 20% of the company’s revenue. Last year, Walmart’s e-commerce sales exceeded $150 billion, with 27%...
SVS quality initiative gathers data to improve vascular care
More than 7,000 physicians from a wide variety of healthcare specialties are already participating in the project.
Neuroscientist To Lead Engineering-Driven Brain Health Research
Dr. Matthew Walker joined UT Dallas in January to build the future of sleep science. His research spans fundamental neuroscience and the development of innovative engineering tools to improve the quality of life. Dr. Matthew Walker is helping to transform sleep research from an observational field into one in which engineered solutions can measure and […]
Neuroscientist To Lead Engineering-Driven Brain Health Research
Dr. Matthew Walker joined UT Dallas in January to build the future of sleep science. His research spans fundamental neuroscience and the development of innovative engineering tools to improve the quality of life. Dr. Matthew Walker is helping to transform sleep research from an observational field into one in which engineered solutions can measure and […]
Colten Ellis gets first NHL career shutout in Sabres 5-0 win over Blue Jackets
Ellis improved to 8-4-1 while making his first start in more than two months.
Washington, DC Small Business Opportunities: 2027 NFL Draft
Local DC businesses can join a procurement process with NFL Draft Source to provide services and gain national visibility.
Washington, DC Small Business Opportunities: 2027 NFL Draft
Local DC businesses can join a procurement process with NFL Draft Source to provide services and gain national visibility.
20 years after passing nation-leading health care law, Mass. braces for new challenges
A landmark health coverage law passed 20 years ago gave Massachusetts among the lowest uninsured rates in the country. It inspired the sweeping federal overhaul known as the Affordable Care Act. Now many are wondering whether that period of intense negotiations and compromise offers lessons for today's urgent health care challenges.
CPUID compromise: users report getting malware with HWMonitor and CPU-Z tools
Multiple users are reporting that the CPUID website has been compromised, leading to popular Windows utilities such as CPU-Z and HWMonitor delivering multi-stage, evasive malware.
Barcelona Complains to UEFA Over 'Incomprehensible Refereeing' After UCL Loss
Barcelona have taken the extraordinary step of filing a formal complaint to UEFA following their controversial 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
List of college basketball national players of the year, All-Americans: CBS Sports' archive of award-winners
Our comprehensive archive of college hoops All-Americans, Players, Freshmen and Coaches of the Year dating back to the mid-2000s
WATCH: Conversations on ways to improve health care in North Carolina
On Thursday, April 16 at 9:00am ET, Axios Live will host an event in Raleigh looking at the key issues shaping the health of North Carolinians.
‘The Price Is Right’ Contestant Wins $20,000 in ‘Quickest Game Ever’
Even Drew Carey was impressed.
MUSC launches $250M capital campaign for new cancer hospital
MUSC Health on Thursday announced a $250 million capitol campaign to build a new Comprehensive Cancer Hospital,
'At the edge of the future': ASU breaks ground for better health outcomes for Arizona
Arizona State University is taking a huge step toward addressing one of the biggest crises in the U.S. — the disparity in health care, according to ASU President Michael Crow.Crow spoke Thursday in downtown Phoenix at the groundbreaking of the headquarters for ASU Health, the hub of the university’s efforts to improve health outcomes for Arizona residents.He told the crowd that despite great wealth, the U.S. health care system is failing.
'At the edge of the future': University breaks ground on ASU Health building
Arizona State University is taking a huge step toward addressing one of the biggest crises in the U.S. — the disparity in health care, according to ASU President Michael Crow.Crow spoke Thursday in downtown Phoenix at the groundbreaking of the headquarters for ASU Health, the hub of the university’s efforts to improve health outcomes for Arizona residents.He told the crowd that despite great wealth, the U.S. health care system is failing.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index
Small businesses are healthy but cautious in Q1 2026, with inflation back as the No. 1 concern and owners dialing back growth plans.
The best sleepwear may be no sleepwear. Here’s what experts say
Sleeping too hot can ruin rest. Experts explain how cooler bedding, breathable fabrics or going naked may improve sleep and more.
What will bring visitors back to the Science Museum of Minnesota?
The Science Museum of Minnesota is drawing half the number of visitors it did compared to before the COVID 19 pandemic. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Thursday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks about how the museum is responding to the plunge in attendance and revenue.
UC Berkeley students express transparency concerns in computer science comprehensive review process
UC Berkeley students attempting to add the computer science major have been navigating an uncertain comprehensive review process this year.
Navy Sports Information Office Named one of the 11 Best SID Offices in the Country for the Ninth Time and for the Seventh Time in the Last Eight Years
DALLAS (FWAA) – One first-time winner and 10 previous ones comprise the 17th Super 11 Awards, presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America to the best performing College Sports Communicators departments in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. The awards announced today are for the 2025 season.
Sling TV Launches Sling Essentials – An Unbeatable Price for ESPN, Family Entertainment, & More
Exceptional Value: The new Sling Essentials delivers top-tier sports, family programming, and classic TV favorites for just $19.99 per month.An Unbeatable Price for ESPN: Sling Essentials offers the most cost-effective way to live stream ESPN and ESPN2.Ultimate Flexibility: Subscribers can bundle Sling Essentials with Sling Select for a comprehensive sports and entertainment combo starting at $34.99/month. ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sling TV, the most flexible TV stream
'We Released a Game With Flaws for a Number of Reasons' — Samson Dev Promises Improvements Amid 'Mixed' Reception
The creative director of Samson has promised the team is "committed to the future" of the game despite launching to a 'Mixed' reception on Steam amid complaints about performance, gameplay, optimization, and more.
100K new veterans sign up for VA health care amid 'landmark improvements'
Veterans Affairs has recorded 100,000 new health care enrollees already this year, hitting the milestone faster than in six of the last seven years, the department said this week.
100K new veterans sign up for VA health care amid 'landmark improvements'
Veterans Affairs has recorded 100,000 new health care enrollees already this year, hitting the milestone faster than in six of the last seven years, the department said this week.
Scientists discover hidden gut trigger behind ALS and dementia
A new study reveals that gut bacteria may play a key role in triggering ALS and frontotemporal dementia. Harmful sugars produced by these microbes can spark immune responses that damage the brain. This breakthrough explains why some genetically at-risk people develop the diseases while others don’t. Even more promising, reducing these sugars improved brain health in experiments, hinting at new treatment possibilities.
Syrian Doctors Fight Infant Blindness After War
Syrian American ophthalmologists are banding together to improve pediatric tests for retinopathy of prematurity
Browns hosting dynamic tight end for pre-draft visit
Could the Browns go a different route to improve the pass game? Drafting Kenyon Sadiq sure would be a shock
Health Subcommittee: Healthier America: Legislative Proposals to Improve Public Health
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee.
Essentia Health-Fosston breaks ground on new emergency department
Essentia Health leaders, staff and project partners gathered Wednesday, April 8, to break ground on a new emergency department at Essentia Health-Fosston, marking the start of construction on a $12 million project that will improve the patient experience and strengthen care for the Fosston community.
Monkey business: Small fleet keeps getting violations for handling lab animals
JKL Secure Freight's been getting in trouble with the USDA -- and an animal-rights groups -- over its handling of monkeys for science experiments. A look at the fleet's roadside-inspection history doesn't inspire much confidence either.
Should’ve put a ring on it? Maybe! Marriage is linked to lower risk of cancer
A new study suggests marriage may be linked to a lower risk of cancer, adding to a growing body of research tying it to improved health outcomes.
18 new features coming to Windows 11 in 2026, confirmed by Microsoft
Windows 11 is getting major upgrades with faster performance, improved File Explorer, better updates, native apps, etc. Here is the full list.
Xbox Achievements Are Getting A 'Refresh' With Multiple New Improvements
"We’re excited to hear what you think"
Texas Hemp Businesses Sue State Over Rules That ‘Rewrite Law’
The Texas Hemp Businesses Council and other industry stakeholders are hoping to block the state from enforcing new rules that prohibit popular products.
Paramount Launches Book Imprint in IP Play
The new division, Paramount Global Publishing, will adapt the company's IP into books and other titles, while also developing new original stories that could find their way to the screen.
Prepare your business for summer energy demand
Spring is the ideal time to evaluate your facility’s energy use, identify opportunities for improvement and take steps to reduce costs before peak demand arrives.
No Man's Sky Xeno Arena Update Channels Pokémon, Lets You Raise, Train and Battle the Alien Creatures Found Across the Universe
No Man’s Sky’s latest update, Xeno Arena, is doing its best Pokémon impression by letting you raise, train and battle the alien creatures found across the universe. Here's everything you need to know.
Polygon Labs in Talks to Raise Up to $100 Million for Payments Business
Polygon Labs, developer of the blockchain that underpins prediction market Polymarket and other crypto platforms, is in early talks with investors to raise as much as $100 million to build a new stablecoin payments business, according to people familiar with the talks. The funding discussions ...
Blue Envelope Program Launches in Luzerne County
All Luzerne County police departments will participate in the initiative aimed to improve communication between police officers and drivers with special needs
How smoking fell to lowest level ever and other public health wins
High tobacco taxes and comprehensive smoke-free laws that made smoking expensive to start and disruptive to continue. But federal cuts may make that progress difficult to sustain.
How the Navy's retail business is working to pull off a turnaround
Sales have fallen at the Navy Exchange, the government-owned department store chain that provides tax-free products to enlisted servicemembers and veterans. Its stores are an important benefit to military families stationed across the world, and its profits directly improve the welfare of Navy sailors. The company is working to revamp its fleet of stores with a planned investment of around $100 million to better compete with major e-commerce players like Walmart and Amazon.
Why art is important for your health, just like exercise
Regular participation in the arts improves cognition, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress, according to "Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives."
Health care transparency, a win in new federal law
A new federal legislation requires providers to identify where care occurred, improving billing transparency and reducing costs
Power outages disrupt North Texas businesses, raise concerns in Celina
Repeated power outages in Celina are disrupting businesses and costing thousands as officials work on upgrades to improve reliability.
New WhatsApp for CarPlay now available to all iPhone users
Following just a few days of beta testing, WhatsApp has now released its improved CarPlay experience to all iPhone users.
U.S., Georgia partnership strengthens military mental health, resilie
As part of a comprehensive mental health engagement from March 2-6, experts from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Europe-Middle East (WRAIR-EME) and Global Health Engagements (GHE) Branch
Google Brings Vertical Tabs and Improved Reading Mode to Chrome
Google today updated its Chrome browser with support for vertical tabs, which are displayed in a sidebar instead of at the top of the browser. The tab layout can be changed by right clicking on any Chrome window and choosing the "Show Tabs Vertically" option. Sidebar tabs feature full page titles and make it simple to organize tab groups. Google has also added a new full-page interface for reading mode.
Health improving in Jefferson County, but mental health stands out
Jefferson County sees health gains, but mental health—especially among youth—remains a top concern, officials say.
UT Health San Antonio researchers report breakthrough findings significantly reducing symptoms for combat PTSD victims - UT Health San Antonio
Adding navigated TMS to psychotherapy can ‘greatly improve’ quality of life Contact: Steven Lee, (210) 450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu SAN ANTONIO, April 7, 2026 – An advanced version of a procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate brain nerve cells in treating depression was significantly effective for 85% of active military and veterans suffering from combat post-traumatic stress […]
Affordability and Preventive Public Health Policy
Affordability pressures increasingly shape health risk in the United States, influencing both the upstream conditions that sustain health and the downstream ability to access health promoting resources. Financial stability is a key driver of health, affecting patterns of health, health care use, and the tradeoffs people must make among competing needs. The economic policy landscape aimed at improving financial security for Americans is expansive, complex, and often difficult to organize, making it challenging to discuss how different policies influence financial resilience and population health. We propose the Earn–Keep–Grow framework as a practical way to organize and guide discussion of these policies in population health research and policy decision-making.
Together for Health: How the Inter-American Court Brings Science and Knowledge to the Climate Fight - Petrie-Flom Center
In July 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) issued Advisory Opinion OC-32/25 on the climate emergency, one of the most comprehensive judicial pronouncements on climate change to date.
Together for Health: How the Inter-American Court Brings Science and Knowledge to the Climate Fight - Petrie-Flom Center
In July 2025, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) issued Advisory Opinion OC-32/25 on the climate emergency, one of the most comprehensive judicial pronouncements on climate change to date.
Small Businesses Cut Back Hiring Plans as Inflation Concerns Grow
The U.S. Chamber's Q1 2026 Small Business Index reflects rising concerns among small businesses about inflation and the economy.
Immunic COO highlights the importance of science-led innovation to mark World Health Day
Immunic Inc (NASDAQ:IMUX, FRA:10VA) chief operating officer Jason Tardio talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the importance of science-led innovation in tackling neurological diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis, on World Health Day 2026. Tardio highlighted that the biotech industry is fundamentally grounded in scientific research and data, noting that “everything we do is rooted in science.” He explained that Immunic is focused on developing innovative therapies designed to improve patient outcomes and address significant unmet medical needs. The discussion centred on multiple sclerosis (MS), a complex neurological disease that continues to present challenges despite decades of progress. Tardio pointed out that while advancements have been made, “the disease is not solved for,” with many patients still experiencing disability progression and requiring safer, more tolerable treatments. He emphasised the urgent need for innovation, particularly in progressive forms of MS where treatment options remain extremely limited. Immunic’s lead asset, vidofludimus calcium, is being developed as a novel approach aimed at addressing the full spectrum of the disease. Tardio also reinforced the broader mission of the healthcare and biotech sectors, stating that the ultimate goal is to help individuals “live a better quality of life” and “a healthier life longer.” Watch the full interview to learn more about Immunic’s approach to advancing MS treatment through science. For more videos like this, visit Proactive's YouTube channel, like this video, subscribe to the channel, and enable notifications so you never miss an update. #Immunic #MultipleSclerosis #BiotechInnovation #Healthcare #MSResearch #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalTrials #Neurology #WorldHealthDay #ScienceDriven #VidofludimusCalcium #PharmaNews #BiotechNews
Inside Huntington’s growing music & entertainment scene
Within the past decade, Huntington has drastically improved its music and entertainment scene. Growth of live music locales like The Loud, 9th Street Live and summer concert series provide exposure and experience to local artists. This change has opened new doors for Huntington musicians, especially Marshall students looking to launch a music career. One live...
What everyone's talking about in Louisiana politics
Catch up with this 1-minute guide.
Google updates Gemini to improve mental health responses
Google today announced a series of Gemini updates to help when users ask about mental health. The company believes...
Health insurers secured a better Medicare Advantage rate for 2027, and their stocks are soaring
Shares of health insurers rallied in premarket trading on Tuesday after the government improved the initial Medicare Advantage rate increase for next year.
PS5 Update for April 2026 Stealth Drops UI Redesign
Sony is quietly rolling out a new PS5 UI update for April 2026 featuring minor but welcome improvements. Check it out.
CT lawmakers must improve funding for reproductive health care
Sexual and reproductive health care has always been, and remains, chronically underfunded in our health care system. CT lawmakers must fix that.
Overwatch's Anran redesign is a massive improvement from Blizzard
Though it still features an 'Ozempic chic' nose
2 CSU Campuses Receive $77M to Support Mental Health in L.A.
The Ballmer Group has donated $77 million to two California State University campuses to improve mental health services in the Los Angeles area.
Empowering Young Hmong to Make Health Choices
A Hmong community has used the Lao PDR Gender Equity Innovation Fund to improve sexual and reproductive health knowledge so they can better plan their futures
FTI Consulting Adds Three Leading Mining and Resources Business Improvement Experts
SYDNEY, April 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointments of James Chapman, Steve Dyson and Franz Wentzel as Senior Managing Directors in its Australian Transformation practice, bringing their experience as former global heads of Big Four accounting firm mining practices to help clients realise their full value potential. The appointments of Mr. Chapman, Mr. Dyson and Mr. Wentzel continue the firm’s growth of its Transformation – Mining team, fo
Small Business Index Q1 2026
Small Businesses Express More Concern Over The Economy Amid Uncertainty
Research retreat focuses on community health, maternal mental health
Researchers, healthcare providers, and community organizations gathered last week in Fayetteville for the inaugural Maternal and Reproductive Community Health, or MaRCH, Research Retreat. The event focused on collaboration and sharing research aimed at improving maternal health outcomes in Arkansas.
Expanding Digital Horizons: A Practitioner's Guide to the Newly Expanded IRS Business Tax Account — Current Federal Tax Developments
On April 6, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service released News Release IR-2026-46, marking a significant milestone in the agency's ongoing service improvement efforts. For CPAs and EAs navigating the daily complexities of tax administration, the newly expanded Business Tax Account (BTA) platform promi
Three YouTubers accuse Apple of illegal scraping to train its AI models
The lawsuit claims that Apple "improperly circumvented" YouTube's platform protections to scrape videos.
Disparities persist in infant mortality rates despites overall improvements in Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County sees improvements in infant mortality rates, yet health disparities endanger Black infants.
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo and George Mason University scientists mine past air temperature forecasts, lower cost with greater subseasonal prediction accuracy
Researchers at Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo and George Mason University‘s College of Science have developed a new method that improves air temperature forecasts one to five weeks in advance—without requiring additional model simulations.
Senior Spotlight 2026: For this aspiring physician, computer science is ‘empowering’ asset
Rice senior Pankti Mehta is channeling her drive to improve how people access and experience health care by combining computer science with hands-on clinical insight.
Want to improve your memory? The right type of exercise can give it a boost
A brief bout of physical exercise can create "ripples" of activity in your brain that help you store and retrieve memories.
NCT's TEN parts ways with SM Entertainment, continues to stay with WayV & NCT
SM Entertainment has announced that TEN’s exclusive contract will conclude on 8 April following what the company described as caref...
Galaxy S26 gets new software update with possible camera improvements
Samsung has released a new software update to the Galaxy S26 series. It includes the April 2026 security patch and camera improvements.
Jonathan Chapman: Florida must act to curb rising preterm birth crisis
Florida must act now to improve maternal health outcomes statewide
A global consensus establishes a basis for measuring and improving gut health
While “gut health” is becoming a popular term, mainly in media and marketing claims but also in the clinical context, researchers have not yet nailed down a definition. Now, a global group of 13 scientists and clinicians updates a consensus definition of gut health and implications from bench to bedside.
Manchester City are utilizing a French international to devastating effect
Rayan Cherki has had an impressive debut season for Manchester City. The French international has scored nine goals and added eleven assists in 42 appearances so far this season. Outside of his goals ...
On plant health and embracing new plant-breeding techniques in South Africa
The major challenge currently confronting South Africa’s agriculture is the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. For many farmers across the country, the most urgent tasks are both securing sufficient vaccines and rolling them out quickly in the coming months, particularly as the beef and dairy industries continue to suffer big losses. There is also pressure on sheep, goats, and other livestock to prevent the disease from spreading. As efforts to get the country through this monumental challenge continue, I believe it is important to sharpen our focus on the broader task at hand: strengthening biosecurity. This covers both animal and plant health. In recent years, we haven’t focused much on plant health, except a few times, such as when we had a goss’s wilt scare in the maize industry, a few cases of citrus black spot, or cases of sclerotinia in sunflower seeds. But the fact that South Africa managed to control the outbreaks of these particular diseases when they occurred a few years ago was due to organized agricultural and government scientific capabilities, and, most importantly, the availability of crop protection or agrochemicals necessary to address some of them. Therefore, as the animal health division in the Department of Agriculture focuses on the pressing challenge of the day, the foot-and-mouth disease, there is an opportunity for the plant health division to assess if they have all the requirements to tackle any outbreak that may occur on fruits, vegetables or crops in future. The challenge with crop diseases is that they can spread quickly and cause much more rapid damage in the field than we typically see with livestock. Therefore, speed is everything in ensuring the appropriate controls are available. I raise this as an important area, particularly given the drastic climate variation we observe across the country. The production conditions in some areas have changed noticeably over time, which may introduce new risks. The other essential part is ensuring that South Africa has access to the best crop protection technology available in the market. Many technology developers worldwide have operations in South Africa. Therefore, the Department of Agriculture, along with the Agricultural Research Council, must continuously interact with technology developers to assess the various crop protection technologies they are releasing globally and determine their suitability and need in South Africa. This will require a proactive approach from the government, unlike the current approach, in which technology developers typically approach regulators with new technologies. The government, recognising the food security risks, must take a proactive approach to ensure that South African farmers have access to the latest crop protection technologies, thereby safeguarding the country’s food security. Beyond crop protection, we must never forget that South Africa’s agriculture is key to ensuring that the country is the most food-secure country at the national level in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa is also the only African country in the top-40 global agricultural exporters, having more than doubled since 1994 on the back of the adoption of high-yielding seed cultivars. South Africa has been the only African country to adopt a bold approach to embracing science and adopting genetically engineered seeds for grains and oilseeds in the early 2000s. Since then, we have seen crop yields improve noticeably, contributing to the gains we mentioned above. But ensuring that South Africa improves further is not a given. The key lies in South African regulators’ attitudes towards new technologies. We have to maintain a progressive approach and not give in to the politics of non-food and non-scientific voices that shout on the sidelines. Food security is national security, and the government must ensure we progress, leaning on science. Therefore, the registration of high-yielding new genomic techniques is required. South Africa cannot afford to fall behind the EU, the USA, South America, and many of its competitors in global agriculture. The Department of Agriculture’s crop science division must adopt a progress-and-science-embracing approach for the good of the country. Thanks for reading AgriView! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe Share
Mercy Health outsources 24/7 critical systems monitoring
The Catholic-run healthcare provider has moved to managed monitoring of its clinical integration systems to improve incident response and reduce downtime across its services.