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Microsoft-backed startup raises $40 million for advanced chipmaking equipment tech
Lace, a Norway-headquartered chipmaking equipment startup which is backed by Microsoft, has raised $40 million in funding to further develop a technology that could enable significant advances in semiconductor design and manufacturing, the company said on Monday. To make cutting-edge chips, manufacturers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co and Intel employ a process called lithography that uses light to draw complex circuits that form the foundation of advanced artificial intelligence chips. Manufacturers use light-based lithography systems made by the Dutch company ASML - which dominates the market - as they race to shrink chip components and squeeze in more features to boost the computing horsepower on a limited area of silicon.
Saturn Gets 11 New Moons, Bringing Its Total To A Whopping 285 –66 Percent Of All The Solar System's Moons
There's actually a rule which stops these moons from being given proper names. Don't give them the attention.
Exit polls suggest Italy's Meloni has narrowly lost justice referendum vote
Exit polls on Monday suggested Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had narrowly lost a referendum on her flagship reform of the judicial system, dealing a potential blow to the ruling coalition ahead of next year's general election.
How Will Gravity on Mars Affect Humans? A New Study Reveals a Clue.
Maintaining muscle mass is key.
Sound Advice: A quality soundbar to take your home entertainment system to the next level
Q. You mentioned that the TCL QM9K television sounded so good that an external soundbar was not necessary. I find that most televisions sound awful,...
Microsoft Plans Better Windows 11 RAM Management and a Smoother User Experience
Microsoft recently announced a plethora of changes coming to Windows 11 to reshape the operating system into a completely stable and enjoyable experience. Today we learn that Microsoft plans a major background usage overhaul with future updates, focusing on RAM usage and overall memory management, s...
Small swings, high drama: why UK polls are less volatile than they seem
In what is beginning to look like a fragmented five-party system, small swings carry outsized political consequences
AI Swarm Attacks Are Coming, Is Your Business Ready?
Leaders need a new cybersecurity playbook for the agentic era, with stronger governance, faster response systems, workforce awareness, and up-to-date security frameworks.
Samsung reverses big S Pen change for Galaxy S27 Ultra after bold experiment fails
Samsung has backed away from one of its more ambitious S Pen experiments for next year’s Galaxy S27 Ultra, choosing to stick with its long-standing digitizer-based input system after testing a radically thinner alternative. According to ETNews, Samsung had been exploring a new pen technology that could eliminate the digitizer layer inside the display. The […]
CBS Sports and TNT Sports Announce Tip Times and Commentator Teams for Regional Semifinals on Thursday, March 26, and Friday, March 27
Column: Accessing mental health support shouldn’t require a walk across campus
"While well-intentioned universities have developed mental health support systems, they are poorly designed to meet students’ needs."
Your Thymus and Your Healthspan
Our thymus gland plays a central role in the development or our immune system, specifically for supporting T cell development (how these cells got their name, maturation and differentiation in the thymus) and discriminating between self and foreign, non-self antigen proteins with production of dendritic cells. As we age, our thymus gland shrinks—the process known as involution—with progressive change from spongy to fatty tissue, with loss of functionality. But this process, with respect to timeline and extent, markedly varies from one person to the next. And to make things even more complicated, our thymus gland anatomy and precise location in the chest also is highly variable. So the famous Frank Netter diagrams from the 1960s (such as at left below) don’t capture the remarkable heterogeneity that a random set of 12 chest CT scans (below at right). What I consider as 2 landmark papers in Nature this week (here and here) used AI to quantify health of the thymus in 2 large cohorts, and then correlate the metric to a broad array of health outcomes. In this edition of Ground Truths, I’m going to cover three questions: (1) How was thymus health determined by AI?; (2) How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? and (3) Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? Subscribe 1. How was thymus health determined by AI? This was accomplished by extensive work developing and validating an AI pipeline for 2 stages, the first for localization and segmentation of the thymus bed, and the second to quantify a digital marker, termed the thymic health score. There’s a lot to this algorithmic development, so I won’t go into all the details, but just provide a rudimentary outline of what was done. The 1st stage used supervised learning with 2 radiologists reviewing 2,461 chest CT scans. That work trained a 3D U-Net model to automatically identify the thymic bed’s 3D cropped region using center of mass coordinates, which reached 99.8% accuracy. The 2nd stage used a foundation model that was pre-trained with SwAV (which stands for Swapping Assignment between multiple Views), a self-supervised model, that generated a high-dimensional thymus representation of 4,096 features. That compares to the radiology reductionist and subjective scoring of 0 to 3 where 0 means the thymus is fully degenerated and fatty, and 3 is considered dense, intact glandular soft tissue. Notably, the self-supervised learning (SSL) performance was superior to supervised (AUC ~0.75 vs 0.55, respectively) reflecting the shallowness of the 0-3 classifier vs SSL’s holistic, self-taught AI. The thymic health score ranged from 0 to 100, with the highest number indexed to fully preserved thymic health. The algorithmic work extended to explainability with both Shapely value distribution, meaning the model was holistic not relying on any “magic” pixel, and occlusion sensitivity, demonstrating the model’s performance was not affected by ribs, sternum, lung tissue, but rather focused on the thymic bed directly. Below are a few saliency maps from the occlusion sensitivity that indicate the thymic bed focus, not affected by neighboring structures, using the jet color scale. Now the AI was ready for processing ~25,000 CT scans, each over 30 MB files, from the 2 large participant cohorts to provide a thymic health score, it did so in less than 14 hours, which is less than 2 seconds per scan! Share 2. How is thymus health linked to key clinical outcomes? The two cohorts were the National Lung Screening Trial, NLST (N=25,031) and the Framingham Heart Study, FHS (N=2,581) each with baseline demographics and long term follow up of >12 years for health outcomes. From the NSLT, you can see below that increased age and body-mass index were correlated to reduced thymic health. And, overall, men had reduced thymic health scores compared with women. There are a lot of graphs in the paper for outcomes, for both the NLST and FHS cohorts. To simplify the major outcomes, below is a composite Figure with striking reduction of all-cause mortality and for the different causes of death. The results were consistent between the 2 cohorts. For example, the cardiovascular mortality hazard ratio average was 0.57 in NLST and 0.38 in FHS (weighted to be 0.53 for the aggregate). The reduction of mortality also extended to digestive diseases and pulmonary disease (data not shown below). Lung cancer incidence was reduced by 36% for high vs low thymic health (Figure below, with a panel -incidence and b panel-mortality, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status). Notably, there was a smoker’s paradox: lower incidence and improved survival for lung cancer in smokers who had a high thymus health score. Smoking was associated with lower thymic scores whereas alcohol was not. Higher thymic health was linked to higher HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower fasting blood glucose, and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Inflammation biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, were elevated in the people with lower thymic health scores. In their second paper, the same team looked at the relationship between thymic score and outcomes for 3,476 patients receiving cancer immunotherapy. The non-small cell lung cancer progression-free survival was reduced in patients with low thymic health score. A parallel relationship for survival was seen for other types of cancer including melanoma, breast, and kidney with a 44% lower risk among high thymic scores (Figure). A similar pattern was seen with different immune checkpoint inhibitors. The thymus health score outperformed programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1)and tumor mutation burden (TMB) assay of the tumor and was an independent prognostic marker of progression-free survival. In this dataset, a direct connect with thymus score and adaptive immune function was noted with a correlation before cancer treatment for both T-cell diversity and thymus T-cell production (a metric known as T cell receptor excision circles). Thymus Removal Study There is a highly relevant citation about thymus function before moving onto ways to rejuvenate it. In 2023, a very important study of thymus removal during cardiothoracic surgery was published, with 1146 patients undergoing thymus removal vs 1146 matched controls (mean age 55 years). The adverse outcomes for thymus removal were striking, with a 2.9 higher risk of all-cause mortality and doubling of cancer incidence, 1.5 fold increase in cancer mortality, and 1.5-fold increase in autoimmune diseases. The immune function showed marked compromise after thymus removal, as reflected by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (Figure below) Share Ground Truths 3. Are there ways we can promote a healthy (aka rejuvenate) thymus gland in our later years? In recent months we’ve learned a lot about the process of thymus involution and the pathways by which this may be modulated. Thymus involution is primarily due to loss to thymus epithelial cells (TECs) and there are 2 subtypes with different functions: the cortical, responsible for positive selection of T cells, and the medullary, for negative selection. When adipose tissue infiltrates the thymus, thymic adipocytes are pro-inflammatory, knocking out T-cell output. Likewise, systemic inflammation, or “inflammaging,” from smoking, obesity, and chronic stress promote thymic adipocytes. Now, from preclinical studies, we know about key pathways that account for these processes. Historically, back in 2014, FOXN1 was recognized as a single master transcription factor essential for TEC function, with studies in mice with forced FOXN1 upregulation leading to thymus regeneration. That laid the foundation for potential regrowth of quiescent thymus cells. It took awhile to find pathways to accomplish this goal and to even refute its role as the master regulator. The Liver-Thymus Axis Feng Zhang and his team recently showed that injection of an mRNA vaccine to the liver encoding DLL1, IL-7 and FLT3-L in combination, factors known to support thymopoiesis (Figure), successfully enhanced immune function in aged mice. However, the effect was transient. The FGF21 Story Two reports in 2025 addressed the thymus gland’s production of FGF21, a growth factor (fibroblast growth factor 21) and its control of thymus involution. This growth factor is also produced by the liver, but it doesn’t have impact on the thymus in aged rodent models. In contrast, The liver’s hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to reverse senescent TEC structural changes. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the liver and the thymus. Two small studies in human participants (TRIIM, for Thymus Regeneration, Immunorestoration, and Insulin Mitigation) of 6 and 50 people, respectively, treated with combined human growth hormone, metformin and DHEA, suggested the potential of slowing epigenetic aging and improving thymus mass and function. But the combination of drugs, small sample, and lack of controls make conclusions murky. Increased thymus FGF21 led to increased CD8 T cells in old mice and extended healthspan and improved physical performance. Building on the previous FOXN1 data, ablation of β-klotho, the obligatory co-receptor for FOXN1, accelerated thymic aging. The benefit to FGF21 was confirmed in a companion paper using an FGF21 knock-in mouse model showing thymus enlargement and increased TECs throughout the lifespan. (schematic Figure below). The accompanying editorial for these 2 papers speculated: “The proposed link between age-associated thymus involution and organismal aging is intriguing, and suggests we might seek to achieve systemic rejuvenation by counteracting thymic involution.” Other Factors Lessons from the Axolotl (Mexican Salamander) In an elegant set of experiments of the axolotl (Figure), known for its complete thymus regeneration after total surgical removal, mediators were identified. Surprisingly FOXN1 was dispensable. But midkine, a growth factor, appeared to be the driver, the initiator of thymus cell growth, survival, and repair. Other components that contributed were Postn+ (periostin-expressing mesenchymal niches) and Ccl19, a chemokine protein from the bloodstream. RANK and RANKL RANK (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB its ligand (RANKL) have been considered key regulators of medullary TECs. In a study of both aged mice and human thymus cell cultures, their key role was confirmed, with multiple benefits of resorting TEC function, recruitment of progenitor cells, and T cell development. Subscribe Summing Up This body of work strongly supports the health of the thymus gland as a critical regulator of human healthspan, not just a correlate or link. The new landmark studies are reinforced by the regenerative biology experimental models that have shown, via an array of mediators, that healthspan of aged mice is at least in part dependent on thymus gland function and its critical role for maintaining adaptive immunity. It sure seems that we’d be better off having an immune reservoir of naive T cells instead of a profile in older adults of exhausted, low quality, memory T cells, with a senescent phenotype. It is striking that we ignored the importance of the thymus gland for many decades. A wake-up call was the results of the thymectomy matched control study reviewed here, with the opposite of high thymic health score improved health outcomes. The convergence of AI and healthspan here is notable. The exceptional and laborious work for developing and validating (no less explaining) the AI to quantify thymus health set the foundation for probing the connect the major health outcomes in two cohorts with extensive follow-up. We’ve never had a way to meaningfully quantify the thymus gland before, so this represents important leverage of supervised, self-supervised, and transformer models. The study wouldn’t have been possible without AI. And it begs the question as to whether there are ways we can maintain our thymus at a high health score. But it’s not so simple to rejuvenate our thymus. There are multiple risks including the induction of autoimmunity, increasing the risk of cancer, and inducing a pro-inflammatory state. For example, factors that increase TEC proliferation could compromise the medulllary negative selection process and leak out auto-reactive (self-attacking) T cells. Thymic cells could be induced to proliferate, but we know, for example, that growth hormone and IGF-1 are associated with an increase risk of cancer. If thymus rejuvenation doesn’t clear out the accumulated senescent cells in older adults, then inflammation within the gland could block the production of TECs. Keeping these risks in mind, we now have identified many ways to keep our thymus healthy as we age that undoubtedly will be tested in clinical trials going forward. Ultimately, the benefit-to-risk tradeoffs will be defined. In the meantime, we have desperately needed an immunome. As I’ve stressed in multiple prior Ground Truths, we have no test in the clinic to assess a patient’s immune status! It was very encouraging for me to get an email from Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the landmark papers in the days after they were published: “I also wanted to say that your Substack on “Why We Need an Immunome” was inspiring for this work. We found it a very compelling perspective and greatly enjoyed reading it.” Just having an assessment of a person’s immune status via a chest CT scan, with millions of these performed per year, might help in guiding the right immunotherapy for cancer (e.g. more intensive, combinations for those with low thymic health scores) and help define people who are increased risk for age-related diseases of cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative. The main theme of Super Agers is that we now have many layers of data (genetics, proteins, biomarkers, organ clocks that can be integrated via multimodal AI) for us to define a person’s specific risk decades before one of these age-related diseases leads to symptoms, enabling prevention. From the new studies this week, we can add thymus health score as yet another way to understand a person’s risk, a window into their adaptive immune system and healthspan. And perhaps someday we will be able to safely rejuvenate the thymus, or maintain its health through one’s life, and use the thymus health score to monitor. NB: I wrote this post (No A.I.) A Quick Poll Loading... ********************************************************************* Thanks to Ground Truths subscribers (now > 200,000) from every US state and 212 countries. Your subscription to these free essays and podcasts makes my work in putting them together worthwhile. Please join! If you found this interesting PLEASE share it! Share Ground Truths Paid subscriptions are voluntary and all proceeds from them go to support Scripps Research. They do allow for posting comments and questions, which I do my best to respond to. Please don’t hesitate to post comments and give me feedback. Let me know topics that you would like to see covered. Leave a comment Many thanks to those who have contributed—they have greatly helped fund our summer internship programs for the past two years. It enabled us to accept and support 47 summer interns in 2025! We aim to accept even more of the several thousand who will apply for summer 2026.
Scientists Uncover Hidden “Second Layer” in Human DNA
A newly identified cellular system monitors subtle variations in genetic coding, hinting at a hidden level of control over how genes are expressed.
Scientists discover surprising brain trigger behind high blood pressure
Scientists have uncovered a surprising brain-based trigger for high blood pressure, tracing it to a small region in the brainstem that normally controls breathing. This area, which kicks in during forceful exhalations like coughing, laughing, or exercise, also appears to activate nerves that tighten blood vessels—raising blood pressure. When researchers switched off this region in experiments, blood pressure dropped back to normal, suggesting it plays a direct role in hypertension.
This floating time crystal breaks Newton’s third law of motion
Scientists have created a new kind of time crystal using sound waves to levitate tiny beads in mid-air. These particles interact in a one-sided, unbalanced way, breaking the usual rules of motion and creating a steady, repeating rhythm. The system is surprisingly simple yet reveals complex physics with big implications. It could help advance quantum computing and deepen our understanding of biological timing systems.
Guilty Gear: Strive version 2.00 update, Season 5 DLC characters Jam Kuradoberi and Robo=Ky announced
Arc System Works has announced the version 2.00 update for fighting game Guilty Gear: Strive, which will launch on April 9 alongside Season 5 downloadable content character Jam Kuradoberi.
Inflatable homes on the Moon? Scientists reveal how humans could live there sooner than expected - Futura-Sciences
How could humans live on the Moon? Although the Artemis program has taken a more cautious approach following recent delays, the goal remains the same: send astronauts back to the lunar surface. Doing so will require systems that allow crews to stay there for several days, or even several weeks....
Thank God for Wyoming — the un-Colorado
Years ago, I interviewed a Canadian health-care broker whose job was helping his countrymen escape their own failing system. When their “free” health care turned into “free to wait until you die,” he’d save his clients by routing them to doctors in the U.S. who’d accept cash and rescue their lives. I asked him what […]
U.S. health care system is beyond repair
Letters to the editor for Sunday, March 22, 2026
Four truths about covid that have become clouded over time
In the early days, the virus posed a graver threat to people and the health care system, Trump embraced lockdowns he now blasts, and the benefits of vaccines were oversold.
Bridging medical realities in the study of technology and health
Anthropologist and MIT Associate Professor Amy Moran-Thomas studies medical technologies and how they fail to reach some communities. “What anthropology has to offer the world, and other knowledge systems, is the insights of people that might be missing from many accounts,” she says.
Health Literacy as a Modifiable Clinical Risk Factor: Operationalizing an Underrecognized Determinant of Outcomes
Health literacy has been considered a social determinant of health and has never been extensively incorporated in the general practice of clinical care. Systematic reviews and cohort studies sho...
California settles with El Monte schools over misconduct complaints
The El Monte Union High School District must appoint a compliance coordinator and roll out an electronic sexual misconduct complaint system.
A massive freshwater reservoir is hiding under the Great Salt Lake
A hidden freshwater system deep beneath the Great Salt Lake has been revealed using airborne electromagnetic surveys. Scientists found that freshwater extends much farther under the lake than expected, reaching depths of up to 4 kilometers. The discovery began with mysterious reed-covered mounds formed by pressurized groundwater pushing upward. Researchers are now investigating whether this underground water could help control hazardous dust from the drying lakebed.
Health system operating in full emergency mode following Iranian missile impacts in south
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Lacrosse player-turned-entrepreneur has ideas to fix youth sports
Dan Soviero's Signature Athletics zeroes in on fixing a “broken” system. Its goal is to get 10 million new kids playing by 2030. How can he do it?
Israel deliberately targeting medical facilities in south Lebanon, say health workers
Medics and officials say there is systematic use of double-tap strikes in campaign to make the south uninhabitable
Teleporting across the Solar System? These are the most horrific places near Earth you could re-materialise | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
From volcanic moons to stormy gas giants, these are the worst places you could possibly teleport to in our Solar System.
Press Release - Girls in STEM Program from Keystone Science School
Delivered in an all-girl+ learning environment, Keystone Science School’s Girls in STEM programs encourage participation, collaboration, leadership, and confidence.
What Giants learned from spring training using MLB's ‘interesting' ABS system
The San Francisco Giants learned plenty from a full spring training using MLB's "interesting" ABS system.
Whole Hog Politics: The political establishment thrives in our broken primary system
[Watch Whole Hog Politics live: Join us today at 9 a.m. EDT at TheHill.com as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon break down this week’s political news and answer questions from a live online audi…
Samsung is bringing AirDrop to Galaxy phones soon
Starting with the Galaxy S26, AirDrop compatibility is coming to Samsung phones, rolling out through software updates. Samsung’s mobile boss Choi Won-joon just confirmed it publicly at a press briefing in Japan. AirDrop has always been the ecosystem glue that people actually feel. People stick with iPhones because their friends all tap a button for […]
Allina-Sutter deal will likely boost AI in Minnesota health care
Contractor who tests accuracy of AI tools used by both health systems said they are liked-minded in their ambitions to improve care through technology.
China's Bank of Ningbo readies digital yuan business as Beijing expands e-CNY
China's Bank of Ningbo said it is inviting suppliers to help build a system to handle the digital yuan, in a sign that the country's central bank may soon hand out more licenses as it tries to broaden the use of its e-CNY.
Scientists turn CO2 into fuel using breakthrough single-atom catalyst
Researchers have created a cutting-edge catalyst that turns CO2 into methanol more efficiently than ever before. Instead of using clumps of metal atoms, they engineered a system where each single indium atom actively drives the reaction. This dramatically reduces energy needs while making the process easier to study and optimize. The result could accelerate the shift toward cleaner fuels and sustainable chemical production.
Markiplier to Microdramas: The Ankler x NAB Show’s Future of Entertainment
Share Subscribe Vegas, baby! The Ankler is heading back to NAB Show for a second year in a row — and doubling down on conversations with the smartest people in the industry. From April 18–22, we’re partnering again with the industry’s biggest media and tech gathering to break down the Business of Media and Entertainment as it’s actually evolving: faster, riskier and increasingly driven by new formats, new audiences and new power players. This curated series will bring together top creators, executives and innovators to tackle the forces reshaping the industry — from the AI disruption of Hollywood’s creative ecosystem to the rise of the creator economy, shifting audience behavior and the changing economics of production. We’ll be rolling out more programming in the coming weeks — including top speakers from leading AI studios, prediction markets and beyond — so keep an eye on the Business of Media and Entertainment hub. But first up, we’re announcing two panels about what’s actually working in Hollywood: The Scary-Smart Business of Horror A good scare has become one of the entertainment economy’s most reliable engines. With disciplined budgets, built-in fandoms and global box office upside, horror consistently outperforms. From theatrical releases to streaming-first originals and creator-driven IP, the genre is artistically flexible and financially durable — and one of the last truly communal experiences for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. Join YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, whose independent feature Iron Lung earned more than $50 million at the global box office, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear and screenwriter Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant) for a conversation moderated by Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey about why horror travels so effectively across platforms and borders, how studios and independents are building sustainable genre pipelines and why the next wave of breakout franchises may emerge from unexpected sources. Inside the Microdrama Boom Short-form serialized storytelling is having a major moment. Microdramas, social-native series and creator-led narratives are capturing massive audiences with low-cost, rapid production cycles and direct-to-fan distribution. What was once dismissed as niche or experimental is now attracting major platform investment. Moderated by Jarvey, this panel of microdrama creators and executives — including one of the format’s top stars and producers, Kasey Esser, and Dhar Mann Studios’ head of vertical content, Erin McFarlane — examines how format innovation, fandom dynamics and algorithmic discovery are reshaping the economics of scripted storytelling and what traditional studios can learn from these agile models. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Lynne@theankler.com Share
Democrats prepare for health care overhaul
Democrats are outlining a new vision for the health care system ahead of the midterms.
CHOA, Grady Health System CEOs stepping down in major Atlanta public health shakeup
Atlanta healthcare systems are preparing for new leadership transitions in 2027 as the longtime CEOs of Grady Health System and Children's Hospital of Atlanta (CHOA) step down.
Nintendo Switch 2 handheld boost mode is great but it does impact battery life
The new addition of handheld boost on the Nintendo Switch 2 is great for when you are playing original Nintendo Switch games as the system acts as if you are playing in docked mode…
German Health Minister Nina Warken and WHO Hub in Berlin highlight 2025 achievements
Germany’s Federal Minister of Health, Nina Warken, visited the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin today to review progress and launch its 2025 Annual Report. The report highlights advances in using artificial intelligence, data science and pathogen genomics to strengthen global preparedness for future pandemics.In 2025, the WHO Hub in Berlin worked with more than 160 Member States and over 190 partners to help countries and organizations develop new systems and tools to detect and understand new public health threats as quickly as possible, whenever and wherever they occur.BMG to confirm whether they wish to contribute a quote. “Detecting outbreaks early is one of the most effective ways to save lives and prevent epidemics from becoming global crises,” said Federal Minister of Health Nina Warken. “Germany is proud to host and support the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. Its work strengthens our safety at home and helps protect people worldwide.”Artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming the detection of outbreaks. In 2025, the Hub launched an upgraded version of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, which uses enhanced AI functions to scan global online information in real time and help experts quickly identify unusual health events. The system is now used by 120 countries.To better anticipate health threats, countries need information beyond traditional health data. The Hub supports countries in implementing Collaborative Surveillance, which integrates data on climate, animals, travel, and population movement to provide a more comprehensive and real-time understanding of health threats.The Hub also expanded global access to pathogen genomics, which helps scientists detect new pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, understand how they spread and how dangerous they may become. Through the International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN), the WHO Hub in Berlin worked with 309 partners in 101 countries to expand access to these technologies.“We are in a new era of global health threats, and we need new tools to face tomorrow’s challenges,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. “The WHO Hub in Berlin helps countries use data and technology more effectively so they can identify risks earlier and respond faster. No country can address these threats alone. Strong cooperation remains our best defence.”“Berlin offers an ideal environment for our work. We collaborate closely with world-leading institutions such as the Robert Koch Institute and the Charité Center for Global Health,” said Dr Oliver Morgan, Head of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. “Germany has supported the WHO Hub since its establishment, and we are pleased to welcome Federal Minister Nina Warken to the Hub today. This strong partnership helps us advance innovation in pandemic and epidemic intelligence and better support countries to prepare for future health threats.”The Hub is expanding the use of advanced analytics and mathematical modelling to forecast how outbreaks may develop and to assess which response measures are most effective. Through its Collaboratory, the Hub connects modelers and analysts with governments to ensure their work addresses real public health needs. In 2025, the community grew to 1300 members from 50 countries and 200 institutions. An AI-powered pandemic simulator, currently in the prototyping phase, will help decision-makers compare outbreak scenarios and help identify effective disease control measures.
Will the Allina-Sutter Health deal drive up the cost of health care in Minnesota?
Minneapolis-based health system says bigger will be better for patients, but economists worry about the consumer cost.
Forum on harnessing Artificial Intelligence for health equity
Register to this forumOver the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly evolved in complexity, performance, and utility. Its integration across a wide range of industrial sectors has accelerated, with healthcare emerging as one of the most transformative sectors. In this sector, AI has enabled high-impact applications – from enhancing the speed and accuracy of disease diagnosis and supporting clinical decision-making, to strengthening public health initiatives such as disease surveillance and workforce optimization. Moreover, AI holds immense potential to empower individuals, enabling them to take greater control of their personal health and well-being. Yet the central question remains: Who benefits, who is at risk, and do these innovations close or widen health inequities? While the potential of AI-enabled applications is substantial, many countries have approached their adoption with caution. This hesitancy stems from concerns about risks and benefits, including model bias, data breaches, privacy violations, and the erosion of professional skills due to over-reliance on AI. Additional barriers include inadequate data infrastructure and a lack of robust evidence on the most effective forms and interfaces of AI to enhance service delivery and system performance. Moreover, the rapid rise of Generative AI has introduced a heightened urgency for the development of comprehensive governance and ethical frameworks. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Health Practice Team and Digital Sector, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific, are convening the Forum on Harnessing AI for Health Equity on 25–26 March at ADB Headquarters. Senior health officials from 16 developing member countries (DMCs), alongside leading researchers, innovators, and policymakers from across Asia and the Pacific, will engage in discussions on how AI can be governed, financed, and scaled to deliver healthier lives for all. The forum is funded through the High-Level Technology Fund with support from the Government of Japan. Objectives The two-day forum aims to:Identify high-impact, evidence-based health AI use cases suitable for resource-constrained settings and map out a pipeline for potential supportIntroduce and validate the WHO's policy guidance on minimum necessary ecosystem for countries and institutions to self-assess readiness for AI adoptionObtain initial commitment from participating stakeholders to join a pilot regional initiative focused on data/model sharing for a priority health challengeEndorse a prioritized set of actionable policy recommendations focusing on governance, regulation, and sustainable financing necessary to scale high-impact health AI use cases in resource-constrained settings Target participants The forum will convene participants from 16 ADB DMCs including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam. In addition, health system leaders and practitioners, private sector technologists, academic experts, representatives from civil society organizations, development partners, and philanthropic institutions engaged in AI for Health from Australia, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea will also be invited. SessionsDay 1 (25 March)Session 1: AI Use Cases for the Care Continuum: Improving Access and QualitySession 2: Adopting a risk-based approach for AI use case prioritizationSession 3: Establishing the Minimum Ecosystem for Implementation Risk ManagementSession 4: Future-Ready Health Workforce: Building Competency for Human-AI CollaborationDay 2 (26 March)Session 5: The Political Economy of AI in Health: Understanding Stakeholder Interests and their Impact on EquitySession 6: AI and Health Financing: Supporting Fair Coverage and ProtectionSession 7: AI Regulation and Oversight: Pathways for Different RealitiesSession 8: The Way Forward – Building Alliances and Regional Partnership How to registerThe forum will be held in a hybrid format. In-person attendance is by invitation only, while livestreaming of the forum will be available to the public. To register, please complete this form on or before 24 March 2026.Event organizers / partnersAsian Development Bank (ADB)WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific High-Level Technology Fund (HLTF)ContactAkihito WatabeHealth Specialist, SD3-HSDawatabe@adb.org Jae Kyoun KimHealth Specialist, SD3-HSDjkkim@adb.org
Sandhills Calving System continues to protect calf health, ranch profitability
Twenty-five years ago, a collaboration between a Sandhills ranch family, a rural veterinarian and Husker researchers led to a management innovation that transformed how cattle producers prevent calf scours. Known today as the Sandhills Calving System, the approach has become one of the most widely recommended strategies for preventing neonatal calf diarrhea.
The acquisition of Allina by a California health system sparks concerns among employees
STEM vending machine installed at Rochester Academy of Science
A school in the city is serving up science in a unique way.
Intel reportedly limits first Core 200HX Plus shipments to select laptop makers
Core Ultra 200HX Plus gaming laptops arrive first on Lenovo Legion and Razer Blade systems Intel’s new Core Ultra 200HX Plus laptop processors are not
Prediabetes Detection: A Critical Lever for Health Systems
Dr Aman Chawla explains why prediabetes detection is a strategic lever for health systems aiming to improve quality and lower total cost of care.
Around the MHS
The latest news from around the Military Health System for the week of March 16-20, 2026, includes remarks from Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata on the Military Health System’s mission, the Defense Health Agency’s innovative data strategy, and Chef Robert Irvine offers healthy cooking and nutrition tips.
Game Developers "Found Out At the Same Time as the Public" About NVIDIA DLSS 5
Much has been said about NVIDIA's recent DLSS 5 announcement, with many criticisms of the tech stemming from how the neural rendering potentially alters the artistic vision and tone of the game. While NVIDIA insists that developers remain in full control, and that the game studios were involved in c...
UW Health resident creates adaptive crayons for children with disabilities
MADISON, Wis. — A physical medicine and rehabilitation resident at UW Health is reimagining crayons by creating adaptive crayons for people with developmental disabilities, stemming from her past experiences.
Nothing CEO Carl Pei says smartphone apps will disappear as AI agents take their place
Nothing CEO Carl Pei says AI agents will eventually replace apps, shifting smartphones toward systems that understand intent and act on a user's behalf.
GOP governors, AGs back Trump SAVE Act push, warn system gives ‘undue influence’ to states with illegal aliens
Republican governors and attorneys general back citizenship verification through the SAVE America Act for federal elections, arguing gaps in voter registration create unfair influence.
Georgia's Union City will get a medical center affiliated with Grady Health Systems
Grady is partnering with the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority to add a more than $1 billion hospital facility to Union City
Opinion: The Midwest is chasing the wrong innovation strategy
Rather than building capital density at home, Midwestern research universities have chosen physical proximity to the dominant ecosystem. Here's why that may be a mistake.
Advancing Technology Innovation through the Rural Health Transformation Program
States are using the $50B Rural Health Transformation Program to expand telehealth, strengthen health IT systems, and pilot AI-driven innovations in rural care.
Federal investment fuels new labs for coastal science and restoration
The two are part of the Institute of Environment’s efforts to expand research on the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and other South Florida’s coastal ecosystems. The project received $11.5 million in funds.
China targets measurement science in tech race with U.S. - Futura-Sciences
The invisible backbone of modern technology Behind every electronic chip, satellite, and medical device sits a system of measurement. Without extreme precision in units, standards, and calibration methods, no technology operates reliably. Metrology ensures that a nanometer is actually a nanometer, that a processor performs exactly as intended at atomic...
‘Stop the Steal’ delusions are back, aimed right at WA’s vote by mail
After going through a cooling off period, election denialism has come roaring back. It's fueling an attack on Washington's popular vote-by-mail system.
Pope Leo calls universal health care a 'moral imperative'
States have a moral obligation to develop universal health care systems, Pope Leo XIV said, stating that health cannot be "a luxury for the few."
Survey Findings: Integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health into UHC Requires Leadership, Financing, and Political Will
SRHR remains critically underfunded, leaving 164M women with unmet needs and driving preventable maternal deaths. Global survey findings show political commitment is the key driver of financing and integration into UHC. While fiscal constraints persist, leadership determines whether resources are prioritized, enabling equitable access and strengthening health systems.
Meet the Public Health Leaders of the 2026 Workforce Advisory Council
Members' insights will help de Beaumont identify and develop practical strategies to support public health professionals and strengthen systems.
How lawyers got their hands on thousands of private patient records
The nation’s largest health records company, Epic Systems, has sued multiple firms including GuardDog Telehealth, alleging they had improperly accessed personal medical records.
Doctor, business owner sentenced to federal prison in tax fraud case
Federal prosecutors say Dr. Nitesh Ratnakar cheated the system and tried to cover it up.
Tireless Advocates for Health
Three Gonzaga alumni are strengthening Washington’s community health network, supporting 28 systems and 400+ clinics that provide essential care regardless of insurance, income or circumstance.
Michigan's Corewell Health East nurses vote to authorize strike
Employees say demands include better nurse-to-patient ratios and fair wages. Hospital system said it 'remains committed' to reaching a pact.
Peer review at the service of society
Nature Nanotechnology - The peer review system, as we know it now, is a relatively recent achievement. It will still evolve to better fit the needs of science and society in the future.
Allina Health agrees to Sutter acquisition
Following the merger, they will be one of the largest health systems in the U.S.
Allina Health to join Sutter Health in $26B proposed merger
Sutter Health and Minneapolis-based Allina Health unveiled plans to join and form a 39-hospital, $26 billion revenue nonprofit health system. | The cross-regional proposed deal would create a 39-hospital nonprofit system and is expected to close before the end of the year, pending a definitive agreement and regulatory approvals.
UBS faced brief incident that impacted trading business, source says
UBS Group's global technology systems have been nearly restored on Tuesday after a brief incident that impacted some of its trading business, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.
Allina Health to be acquired by California-based Sutter Health
Allina Health, one of the largest health care providers in Minnesota, is being bought out by California-based Sutter Health, the health systems announced on Tuesday.
Minnesota's Allina Health merges with Sutter Health
Allina Health is set to join forces with Sutter Health, forming a nonprofit healthcare system with a focus on innovation and patient care. Allina Health and Sutter Health have signed a Letter of Intent for Allina Health to join the California-based system.
Allina Health to Join Sutter Health, Creating Bold Vision for Nonprofit Healthcare
United by a shared mission, trusted nonprofit health systems have a unique opportunity to advance innovations that strengthen quality and extend care to more patients NORTHERN CALIF. and MINNEAPOLIS — Sutter Health and Allina Health have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for Allina Health to join the California-based system, which would create a combined […]
Large California nonprofit to acquire Allina Health, creating $26B health system
The acquisition by Sutter Health would bring together nonprofits with a total of 88,000 employees, 39 hospital campuses and hundreds of clinics.
Sutter Health looks to combine with Minnesota hospital system
The Sacramento-based health system said it has signed a letter of intent to combine. Officials expect the deal to close by the end of 2026.
Sparse evidence for cannabis to treat mental health conditions highlights research gap
A new analysis represents the largest effort yet to systematically parse all the data from high-quality clinical trials on cannabis and mental health. The evidence is lacking.
Former state health commissioner appointed to role supporting Minnesota hospitals
Former Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm will collaborate with leaders from hospitals and health systems across the state to tackle financial challenges to support hospitals and ensure access to care statewide.
Google's Personal Intelligence feature is expanding to all US users
Personal Intelligence allows Google's AI assistant to tap into your Google ecosystem, such as Gmail and Google Photos, to provide more tailored responses.
Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS May Be Far More Ancient Than We Thought
The team attempted to pin down the visitor's origins, finding it is "unlike any Solar System body" and came from a different part of our galaxy altogether.
We work in an ICU — and see firsthand how Trump’s health care cuts are endangering Americans’ lives
Senate Republicans have deliberately allowed health insurance protections to expire to reduce federal spending, exposing a fragile system built upon temporary fixes — and leading to a growing number of tragic outcomes.
UTC-hosted Regional Science and Engineering Fair highlights STEM talent
Dozens of students from across the Chattanooga region gathered on Monday, March 9, at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Challenger STEM Learning Center to present their research projects to a panel of judges. The Chattanooga Regional Science and Engineering Fair has existed for 74 years and attracts both middle and high school students to showcase their projects and compete for the chance to advance to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Dr. Adia Ross Named President of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist High Point Medical Center
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist has appointed David W. Zaas, M.D., M.B.A., as chief executive officer of the health system, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
US race to counter Iranian drones echoes response to roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan
Facing deadly Iranian drone attacks across the Middle East, the US military has been rushing defensive systems into the region while adjusting to a threat that has come to dominates modern battlefields and carries echoes of a weapon that haunted service members during the 20 years of the war on terror.
Nintendo Switch 2 System Update 22.0.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
"Handheld Mode Boost" and Switch update
GameStop Declares Xbox360, PS3 Retro Consoles, Millennials Are In Shambles
GameStop released a memo designating the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U retro consoles, reminding every Millennial who grew up with those systems they are now washed.
Fathers’ health crucial for pregnancy and child outcomes | University of Hawaiʻi System News
Investing in the wellbeing of boys and young men is a key to improving outcomes for future generations.
Reusse: St. Patrick’s Day parade of deep thoughts about Minnesota’s sports teams
This Patrick must confess he might have been wrong about the Wild, Jaden McDaniels and the MLB challenge system.
Analysis of Shaut v. Commissioner: Substantiation, Trade or Business Determinations, and Theft Loss Deductions in the Sixth Circuit — Current Federal Tax Developments
For tax professionals advising clients on the deductibility of losses stemming from defunct investments and complex litigation, the Sixth Circuit’s recent unpublished opinion in Michael H. Shaut v. Commissioner , No. 25-1568, CA6 (March 12, 20 26) serves as a critical reminder of the strict evid
The scientist who warned that profit, not science, decides which drugs reach patients
In a Genomic Press Interview published in Brain Medicine, Dr. Gabriella Gobbi, Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Therapeutics for Mental Health, and President-Elect of the Collegium Internationale of Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP), delivers a pointed warning: the greatest threat to drug discovery is not scientific failure but a financing system that abandons effective, affordable treatments whenever they cannot promise sufficient returns to investors. Across a career that began in central Italy and moved through Sardinia and Montreal, Dr. Gobbi has generated landmark research linking adolescent cannabis exposure to depression, identified novel melatonin receptor mechanisms in sleep and pain, and launched psychedelic neuroscience before it became fashionable. The interview reveals a scientist whose best questions have always begun at the bedside, and whose most urgent fears concern the structures that stand between discovery and patients.
This unified approach helps put effective healthcare AI into practice
Health systems can transition from small-scale artificial intelligence pilots to high-speed, validated rollouts that meaningfully improve patient outcomes by maintaining three key guardrails, according to presenters at HIMSS26.
Federal judge blocks RFK Jr.'s changes to childhood vaccine schedule
The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by major medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Sony's enhanced PSSR upscaling arrives on PS5 Pro today
Sony's upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) tech is rolling out as part of the PlayStation 5 Pro system update that's available today.
Massachusetts ER doctors say long wait times reflect a health system under strain
Emergency doctors say hospital bed shortages, an aging population, and gaps in primary care are driving delays.
EHR fragmentation offers an opportunity to enhance care coordination and experience
Harmonizing electronic health record platforms and their legacy data tames complexity and enables easier patient access to information and greater patient trust in the healthcare system, says NewYork-Presbyterian's EHR manager.
Sony Confirms PlayStation 5 Pro PSSR Upgrades for Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Even Former Xbox Console Exclusive Hellblade 2
Sony has confirmed an array of games set to benefit from PlayStation 5 Pro's upgraded PSSR visual boost, which launches more broadly via a new system software update available later today.
Asteroid Reveals The 5 Key Genetic Ingredients For Life on Earth
Could they be widespread in the Solar System after all?
WHO says six hospitals evacuated in Iran but health system holding up
WHO says six hospitals evacuated in Iran but health system holding up
Oregon's hospitals are highly consolidated, report shows
A Yale analysis finds about 72% of Oregon hospitals are concentrated under a few systems.
Girls in Math and Science Day welcomes young scientists with unique STEM experiences
The Mid-Michigan Graduate Women in Science chapter and campus RSO hosted a Girls in Math and Science Day on March 14. This year’s event had the highest attendance since the pandemic, with an estimated 150 kids, 150 volunteers and 80 parents in attendance.