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New rage room business in Topeka offers space to break items, relieve stress
Anger Management 785 will join spaces with Odin’s Lair and allow patrons to use bats, clubs and hammers to break objects.
Popular sugar substitute linked to brain damage and stroke risk
A widely used sugar substitute found in everything from keto snacks to diet drinks may not be as harmless as it seems. New research shows that erythritol can disrupt brain blood vessel cells, reducing their ability to relax, increasing harmful oxidative stress, and impairing the body’s ability to break down clots. These changes create conditions that could raise stroke risk, even at typical consumption levels.
Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program sets new record
The Vanderbilt Transplant Center is now the second largest lung transplant center in the United States by volume, with 149 lung transplants in 2025, the most ever in one year at Vanderbilt Health. The Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program leads the nation in organ preservation and regeneration and is among the best in long-term outcomes, demonstrating the success of the interdisciplinary team in caring for these complex patients. Several features make the program unique in the United States, said Konrad Hoetzenecker, MD, PhD, professor of Thoracic Surgery and surgical director of the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program. Vanderbilt serves as a “second opinion center” and accepts most complex candidates that are turned down by other centers due to increased perioperative risk. This includes patients over 70 years old, patients requiring combined procedures with their transplant, multiorgan transplantations and sensitized patients (individuals who have pre-formed anti-HLA antibodies who are at higher risk for complications). The expertise and excellent outcomes have attracted patients far beyond the borders of Tennessee; almost half of Vanderbilt Health’s lung transplant recipients come from out of state. “Another unique feature is our minimally invasive transplant program,” Hoetzenecker said. “By using distinct surgical instruments and techniques, the incisions can be kept as small as 7 to 8 centimeters, which results in better healing, less pain and faster recovery. “This minimally invasive approach is embedded in an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, a multimodal, evidence-based perioperative care pathway designed to reduce surgical stress, minimize complications and speed up recovery. Our unique ERAS protocol, by a dedicated interdisciplinary approach, aims to improve recovery after lung transplant and reduce ICU and hospital stay.” The lung transplant program recently celebrated a milestone — 1,000 lung transplants since the program began in 1990. “This significant achievement reflects the concerted effort of a multidisciplinary collaboration by the Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Medicine, Anesthesiology and Critical Care,” said David Erasmus, MD, associate professor of Medicine and medical director of Vanderbilt Lung Transplant. Lung transplants have been attempted since the 1960s, but they were largely unsuccessful until the 1980s, when surgical techniques were refined and new antirejection drugs proved effective. Patient outcomes steadily improved from the 1990s to the present. Vanderbilt’s fourth lung transplant recipient in 1990, Pam Everett, is the longest-living, single-lung transplant known in the world, recently celebrating 35 years since her transplant. The Vanderbilt Lung Transplant surgical team is led by Hoetzenecker and Caitlin Demarest, MD, PhD, the surgical director and associate surgical director of the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant program. Erasmus is the medical director of Vanderbilt Lung Transplant along with Anil Trindade, MD, associate medical director and associate professor of Medicine.
Ability to remain positive during conflict associated with better overall mental health in young children
Staying positive in stressful situations is a sign of resilience in young children — and it protects against mental health problems.An examination of how young children reacted to challenging and stressful situations by the Arizona State University Department of Psychology has found that those who were able to maintain positive emotions during an argument with their parents experienced fewer mental health problems, such as anxiety, depressive symptoms, behavioral outbursts and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder behaviors.
Texas A&M softball HC Trisha Ford previews the Texas series
Trisha Ford previews A&M’s trip to No. 1 Texas, stressing growth, lineup clarity, and embracing the rivalry’s trademark “spice.”
Local business aims to help those navigating senior care
Navigating senior care for a loved one can be intimidating and stressful, but a local business is here to help.
Wake County teen summit returns this spring with focus on health and empowerment
Wake County Public Health is inviting teens to hit pause on the stress of school, screens, social media and everyday life at the 2026 Teen Spring Kickback on Monday, April 6.
Business owners distressed after Meta suspends Facebook accounts
They say they cannot understand the reason for the bans and have struggled to have them overturned.
Why your brain may be sabotaging your balance as you age
Balance problems in aging and Parkinson’s may come from the body working too hard, not too little. Scientists found that the brain and muscles become overactive during even minor disturbances, yet this actually weakens balance recovery. At the same time, muscles can stiffen against each other, making movement less stable. This unexpected pattern could help predict who is more likely to fall.
New Fathers Face Mental Health Challenges, Study Finds
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, March 24, 2026 (HealthDay News) — New fathers might be proud poppas, but their mental health might be shaky as they adapt to their increased responsibilities, a new study says. Men have a 30% increased risk of depression and stress disorders by the end ...
Latest stats show stress and lack of physical activity are rising, putting heart health at risk
As people navigate higher levels of stress and spend more of their day sitting, finding time to move can feel challenging. Less than half of adults and fewer than one in five children in the U.S. get ...
Secondary Trauma and Healthcare Providers | Modern Midwives Blog |…
Secondary trauma is a common form of distress experienced by anyone who is witness to the trauma another person experiences. Those who work in the…
MacBook Neo Silences Critics Over 8GB RAM Being Inadequate; Can Open 60 Apps In Unison While Windows Laptop Powers Off Performing The Same Task
A YouTube channel decided to take the MacBook Neo for an apps stress test and opened up 60 apps at the same time to see if that 8GB RAM will be sufficient
Two-thirds of workers are burned out—here's what science says about how to tackle it
Burnout is at an all-time high, with some studies saying two-thirds of employees now cite job burnout as a major challenge. Overwork and chronic stress do not just drain energy, they can erode health, ...
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.
This CEO took legal advice from ChatGPT to avoid paying $250 million bonus. It backfired
The court stressed that company executives are expected to exercise independent judgment, not outsource good-faith decisions to an AI.
How to reduce stress
Simple lifestyle habits and professional support can reduce how frequently stress occurs.
Federal employee retired, works at TJ Maxx; feels happy, less stress
Karime Masson thought she'd keep working for the Social Security Administration until she was at least 62. But after a tough 2025, she retired early.
Giant Study May Have Found The Ideal Amount of Coffee to Lower Stress
There's actually a sweet spot.
Giant Study May Have Found The Ideal Amount of Coffee to Lower Stress
There's actually a sweet spot.
Ancient DNA reveals a farming shift that pushed a society to the brink
A new study reveals that farming in Argentina’s Uspallata Valley was adopted by local hunter-gatherers rather than introduced by outside populations. Centuries later, a stressed group of maize-heavy farmers migrated into the region, facing climate instability, disease, and declining numbers. Despite these pressures, there’s no sign of violence—instead, families stayed connected across generations, using kinship networks to survive. The research shows how cooperation, not conflict, helped communities navigate crisis.
I've been a neuroscientist for 20 years. I keep my brain strong and healthy by avoiding 6 things
UCLA professor and neuroscientist Dr. Alex Korb shares the the habits he avoids to help strengthen his brain and manage his stress.
How Stress, Depression and Anxiety Hit the Heart
Depression, anxiety, PTSD and more are linked to higher odds of heart attack, stroke and heart failure — and the risk is especially relevant after age 50
We (Still) Have the Science on Cumulative Impacts
That’s why we need cumulative impacts policies, which require the evaluation of multiple stressors and burdens so the decisions that get made are more comprehensive, effective, and equitable.
3 stress signals show why investors are underpricing Iran war risks
Amova Asset Management's Naomi Fink thinks investors are looking at the Iran war market volatility all wrong, and it's not just a simple oil shock.
Ever Joint Claims Evaluated: What the Science Says About EverJoint Joint Support Ingredients
A 2026 company-issued informational report outlining how Ever Joint positions its joint support formula, ingredient-level research context, oxidative stress claims, pricing structure, and what consumers should verify before purchasingTallmadge, Ohio, March 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This release is based on information provided by Ever Joint and reflects how the company describes its product, ingredients, and related scientific context. It is not an independent product review or third-party ev
Living amid bombings in Iran: How fear impacts mental health
Bombs, government oppression, and fear are wearing down Iranians. How does trauma build up? And what can help people living with constant stress?
That’s a first: a dog chewed on an AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU, but the warranty will not cover it
Dog vs. CPU Redditor Acceptable_Stress295, whose username was clearly put to the test, says his dog chewed on an AMD Ryzen CPU. According to the post, it
Health benefit of walking: E dey help your brain, keep your heart healthy and five oda reasons you suppose waka more
Apart from promoting creative thinking, to dey waka dey improves mood and reduce stress. Here na eight ogbonge reasons to increase your daily step count.
Rick Pitino: My Players Got St. John's 'Out of Hibernation'
After advancing to the Big East Championship, St. John's head coach Rick Pitino stressed the importance of the program's revival.
Portland facing $1 billion-plus in arts, culture and entertainment infrastructure requests
A scrap between backers of Keller Auditorium and a new performance center at PSU, plus expensive upgrade bills for downtown's Portland'5 halls and a big upgrade bill for Moda Center, muddy the waters and stress the city's budget.
Health Care Workforce: Federal Grants Supporting Mental Health
Health professionals often work in stressful environments that can affect their mental health. From 2022-2024, the Department of Health and Human...
Report: Scott County Jail staff ignored inmate’s mental health crisis
Scott County Jail workers allowed a woman in mental distress to repeatedly bang her head against cell walls without intervening, a report alleges.
Carruth Center offering Mental Health 101 training March 25
Faculty and staff are invited to learn about mental health statistics, warning signs and interventions used to help others who are in distress from noon to 1:30 p.m. March 25 on Zoom.
Watch: Police sergeant rescues woman from oncoming train in Mass.
With the train closing in, the sergeant refused to let go of the distressed woman.
Mental health solutions for the digital age
Ask the digital natives of Gen Z about the source of their biggest mental health challenges, and most will say social media and AI.Several of the nearly 400 guests at the third annual Gen Z Wellness Summit, presented by the Friends of Semel Teen Advisory Council at UCLA on March 8, explicitly named the endless stream of content on their phones as serious stressors. “Everybody is addicted to (Tik Tok) as if they were addicted to substances,” said Jantin Asmar, 17, a senior at Virtual Academy in Antelope Valley. “We’re always chasing that dopamine. We’re expecting that dopamine rush and it’s really decaying our interactions with others.” High school student Jantin Asmar was among nearly 400 people who attended the third annual Gen Z Wellness Summit. (Photo by Sandy Cohen) Even young teens feel pressure to be on social media constantly, both to consume content and collect “likes,” said 13-year-olds Chloe and Sophia, both students at Brentwood School. “Everyone’s always on, and you miss stuff if you’re not on it,” Chloe said, adding that social media’s emphasis on appearances is leading to eating disorders: “That’s a big thing for our generation.”The incessant influx of images and updates creates expectations that “weigh teenagers down,” said Linda Kou, 16, a junior at San Gabriel High School.Even though digital spaces allow people to connect with others beyond their immediate surroundings, it doesn’t always translate to real-life community, said Kelah Morgan, 17, a senior at Animo South Los Angeles Charter High School. High school students Kelah Morgan, left, and Linda Kou, shared about the challenges presented by social media. (Photo by Sandy Cohen) “Even if you see people saying that they relate to you online, it might be hard to find people in your personal life who you see every day who you feel comfortable enough to say, ‘You see me online, but this is me in real life and what I’m actually going through,’” she said.Solutions for our digital timesThe Gen Z Wellness Summit was intentionally designed as a free, in-person gathering where young people interested in mental health from across the southland could meet in person. “Peer support is the most important element of maintaining our mental health in community,” said Helena Hansen, MD, PhD, director of UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.Keynote speakers at the summit addressed AI, social connection and self-empowerment, while breakout sessions included discussions about eating disorders, dating, substance use, phone detox and breathwork. Here are some of the day’s top takeaways:Beware of FOPO: Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, a psychology professor at Columbia University, said that rather than FOMO, or fear of missing out, we ought to be more aware of FOPO: fear of people’s opinions. “Just think about how much your FOPO might be holding you back in your life,” Dr. Kaufman said. “And just that inner contemplation should be enough for you to change your life, because there’s so many things we don’t go after because we have debilitating FOPO.”We don’t need to feel like we’re the best – or what he called “narcissistic self-esteem” – but it’s helpful to acknowledge our own worth, recognize our good qualities and develop self-belief in the skills and talents we’ve cultivated. When we have that – dignity and self-respect, without needing everyone to like us – FOPO is less of a concern.Self-reflection is most effective in community: “When we try to self-reflect alone, we sometimes ruminate,” said Ira Bedzow, PhD, executive director of the Emory University Purpose Project. “But when we self-reflect with people that we trust … (it) allows us to hold ourselves accountable to different ways of seeing and different ways of hearing and different ways of being.”Opening up about our experiences and listening to others are skills we can develop, Dr. Bedzow said.He invited students to participate in what he called a “fishbowl exercise,” where four students sat in a small circle, surrounded by a dozen or so students forming a larger circle. Those in the inner circle answered such questions as: “What stops you from being you today?” and “What helps you feel most like you?”Within minutes, the group in the small circle (the fishbowl), were sharing intimately about their life challenges as those in the outer circle nodded in understanding.After the exercise, one participant said, “I felt like I wasn’t alone, that it wasn’t just me who feels that way.”Another remarked on how “personal” it felt to share face-to-face with others, even strangers.Don’t let AI crush your creativity: Theoretical neuroscientist Vivienne Ming, PhD, has been studying artificial intelligence for more than 20 years. And while she said “it’s reasonable to be concerned” about the fast-growing technology, it can also help humans become better problem-solvers when used strategically.“The smartest thing on the planet today are humans and machines working together creatively,” Dr. Ming said. “What gets more valuable in humans as machines get smarter? Our ability to explore the unknown.“Your unique voice is literally your value to the world … but most of us for most of our lives have been taught to not be unique,” she continued. “Be your own person. Celebrate being different. It is genuinely, measurably, truly valuable.”In a breakout session called “Phone Detox? IYKYK: Living Your Story IRL” led by Don Grant, PhD, students shared their frustrations with AI compromising academic work, art and creativity.“Art is a translation of human experience,” one participant said. “When people use AI, they diminish their own human experience.”Dr. Grant urged them, as “the last generation to remember a world before AI,” to remember the power of imagination and creativity – and to act on it.Remember that social media distorts perceptions: Stuart B. Murray, PhD, PsyD, who directs the Eating Disorders Program and Translational Research in Eating Disorders Program at UCLA, asked the students in his breakout session to take a spontaneous selfie and edit it to conform with society’s beauty standards. All 20 girls in the room immediately got to work, thickening their hair, slimming their faces, plumping their lips.“The pressure to look like what we present on social media can be crippling,” Dr. Murray said. “We now know that social media use is part of a causal pathway into an eating disorder.”Adolescents and young adults are most at risk of developing an eating disorder, he said, with one in three students on college campuses exhibiting clinically meaningful eating-disorder symptoms. More than 4 million people in California will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.Even for those who don’t develop anorexia or bulimia, the ubiquity of modified images online distorts what we consider normal, making us feel worse about ourselves. Remembering that, he and other speakers said, might inspire us to log off occasionally and spend time in the real world with people who love us as we are.
New NAACP, Sanofi Report Unveils Roadmap for Advancing Health Equity Across the Country
The NAACP, in collaboration with Sanofi, released the findings of the ACE Your Health Community Wellness Survey, one of the largest contemporary grassroots assessments of community health resources in the United States. The report, with nearly 23,000 respondents across 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, provides insights into the real-world conditions that drive health outcomes, from the quality of housing and access to transportation to the pervasive impact of chronic stress.
Stress of Pregnancy Complications Might Impact Future Heart Health, Study Says
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, March 10, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Women who have pregnancy complications might face a higher risk of heart disease, a new study has concluded. The stress of these complications increase a woman’s risk of high blood pressure for years after they deliver,
Opinion: Youth Incarceration is a Public Health Crisis
Instead of receiving care, incarcerated youth are exposed to violence, isolation, chronic stress and medical neglect, write José Perez and Reggie Chatman.
Galaxy S26 Ultra for $399 Seems Good
Every single year, we try to stress that if you are interested in Samsung’s latest devices, the best time to strike is during the pre-order period. That time is coming to... #GalaxyS26Ultra #Samsung
Difficult people in your life might make you age faster, study suggests
New research suggests that difficult people, aka hasslers, contribute to chronic stress and elevate epigenetic biomarkers associated with aging.
Stressed out by politics? You're not imagining it, and research shows that social media is largely to blame
Social media brings constant exposure to politics. And this comes with a psychological cost.
Traveling with kids taught me flexibility and stress management
Traveling the world with my kids has made me a better, more flexible parent. Here are 6 lessons I now live by whether we're home or abroad.
Cardiologist shares 4 simple ways to protect your heart, lower stress
A cardiologist said stress is driving heart disease risk in younger patients. Protect your heart with stress-busting habits in just minutes a day.
Olympian, sports group host panel for youth and mental health in Rockville
Helping students cope with stress, anxiety, and depression in a healthy way was the goal of Thursday night's mental health panel held in Rockville, Maryland.Fa
Olympian, sports group host panel for youth and mental health in Rockville
Helping students cope with stress, anxiety, and depression in a healthy way was the goal of Thursday night's mental health panel held in Rockville, Maryland.Fa
Study Links Rising Cannabis Use to Poor Mental Health
By Deanna Neff HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, March 5, 2026 (HealthDay News) — For many, cannabis is a go-to for stress relief, but a large Canadian study suggests that for many, that fix may be closely tied to a worsening mental health crisis. Researchers have found that as cannabis use becomes more ...
War Is In Your Pocket: The Mental Health Toll On Women
From Gaza, to Isreal, to Iran, constant social media exposure to conflict is reshaping women’s stress and anxiety levels.
Stressed out by politics? You’re not imagining it, and research shows that social media is largely to blame
Political content on social media finds you even if you’re not looking for it, and it tends to do so through a sensationalized and emotionally charged lens.
Scientists just found the brain’s hidden defense against Alzheimer’s
A new study has uncovered why some brain cells are more resistant to Alzheimer’s damage than others. Researchers found a natural cleanup system that helps remove toxic tau protein before it can form harmful clumps. The study also shows that cellular stress can produce a dangerous tau fragment linked to Alzheimer’s. Strengthening the brain’s natural defenses could point the way to new treatments.
Patriot missiles fired in Iran war, stressing strained stockpile
US officials have expressed concerns on Patriot interceptor stockpiles as recent conflicts have seen reliance on the system.
How financial and practical stressors can affect emotional health during cancer care
A cancer diagnosis changes almost everything—but it doesn't stop life's other responsibilities. Bills still arrive. Work still needs attention. Family routines keep going. Trying to keep up with it ...
Research in college and NFL athletes links early sports specialization to higher injury rates
New research presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) studied college and National Football League (NFL) players to determine the long-term impact of early, single-sport specialization on injury risk. The studies showed that repetitive stress from focusing on one sport from a young age can have negative, lasting effects on the musculoskeletal system, potentially making them more prone to hip dysfunction, reduced function, and surgical interventi
New iron nanomaterial wipes out cancer cells without harming healthy tissue
Scientists at Oregon State University have engineered a powerful new nanomaterial that zeroes in on cancer cells and destroys them from the inside out. Designed to exploit cancer’s unique chemistry—its acidity and high hydrogen peroxide levels—the tiny iron-based structure sparks not one but two intense chemical reactions, flooding tumors with cell-damaging oxygen molecules. This dual attack overwhelms cancer cells with oxidative stress while sparing healthy tissue.
New iron nanomaterial wipes out cancer cells without harming healthy tissue
Scientists at Oregon State University have engineered a powerful new nanomaterial that zeroes in on cancer cells and destroys them from the inside out. Designed to exploit cancer’s unique chemistry—its acidity and high hydrogen peroxide levels—the tiny iron-based structure sparks not one but two intense chemical reactions, flooding tumors with cell-damaging oxygen molecules. This dual attack overwhelms cancer cells with oxidative stress while sparing healthy tissue.
The Very Real Benefits of Tai Chi Walking
The mindful movement has become popular online. You won’t bulk up if you practice it, but it can improve balance and reduce stress.
This plant's been called 'nature's Valium' — it can help fight anxiety, reduce stress and treat insomnia
Deep roots, strong communities: Farm Stress Summit focuses on mental health challenges in Georgia’s rural farmers
MACON, Ga.– Georgia farmers, farm family members, agricultural community members and agricultural mental health stakeholders will meet at the fifth annual 2026 Georgia Farm Stress Summit to connect…
Youth sports in CT create stress, inequality and distrust
Youth sports are not just becoming more expensive, they are more stressful, unequal, and tougher on kids' mental health.
WATCH: ‘We all know' Trump is not making your life more affordable, Spanberger says
In the official Democratic response to the president’s speech, Spanberger stressed how Trump’s policies on a host of daily issues, from health care to housing, hasn’t made life more affordable.
The Health and Climate Benefits of Slow Living
Pick one day a week to slow down. It can lower stress levels—and your carbon footprint.
Can solar storms trigger earthquakes? Scientists propose surprising link
Scientists have proposed a surprising connection between solar flares and earthquakes. When solar activity disturbs the ionosphere, it may generate electric fields that penetrate fragile fracture zones in Earth’s crust. If a fault is already critically stressed, this extra electrostatic pressure could help trigger a quake. The idea doesn’t claim direct causation, but it offers a fresh way to think about how space weather and seismic events might interact.
7 Healthy Habits You Can Fit Into a Commercial Break
Don’t just scroll during ads. These smart habits during commercial breaks can strengthen muscles, lower stress and support heart health.
Now scientists can hear when plants are saying ‘Ouch!’
Using AI, biologists have begun to decipher electrical distress signals that are emitted when pests strike
Why Winter Olympic medals broke and what the failure revealed
A small design flaw in the medals for the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina turned a durability promise into a very public stress test
James Harden leads the Cavs to another one-sided win
The Cavs came away with a stress-free 112-84 victory.
Five Berkeley Lab Scientists Receive DOE Early Career Research Awards
Five scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have received Early Career Research Program (ECRP) awards from the Department of Energy. The ECRP program, now in its 16th year, was established to bolster the nation’s scientific workforce by supporting exceptional researchers at the outset of their careers, when many scientists do their most formative work. Recipients use the funding to pursue projects that have the potential to solve scientific challenges and advance the country’s STEM capabilities. To be eligible for the program, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant or associate professor at a U.S. academic institution, or a full-time employee at a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility, who is within 10 years of having earned their doctorate. Awards to an institution of higher education will be approximately $875,000 over five years, and awards to a DOE national laboratory or Office of Science user facility will be approximately $2,750,000 over five years. This year’s Berkeley Lab awardees and their projects are listed below: Timon Heim: Better detectors for more powerful particle colliders Timon Heim is a staff scientist in the Physics Division. His ECRP project will develop a new type of detector that can track the particles generated by collisions in particle colliders with high spatial and temporal resolution. Current detectors in use at high-energy colliders, like the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, can track the trajectory and measure momentum of particles, but they can’t track a particle’s time of arrival with sufficient precision to discern from which of the many particle interactions they originate. Heim’s proposed technology — called a 4D tracking detector, because it captures data about particles’ positions in space and time — aims to solve this challenge, allowing researchers to glean more precise data from collision experiments to uncover new insights into fundamental forces and potentially discover new particles. The enhanced capabilities of 4D detectors will be a necessity for experiments at future colliders, such as the Muon Collider or Future Circular Collider. The project will develop custom microelectronics that process the signal of a pixelated silicon sensor that can register charged particles passing through it in an extreme radiation environment that these colliders produce during operation. The goal is to measure individual particles’ position with 50-micro-meter spatial and 50 pico-second (one trillionth of a second) temporal precision, for an incoming flux of around 1 billion particles per second per square centimeter. Harrison Lisabeth: Studying underground processes to unleash abundant energy Harrison Lisabeth is a research scientist in the Energy Geoscience Division focused on combining real-world experiments and AI to guide development of geothermal energy systems. His project will explore how deep underground rock formations – where geothermal wells are dug – are stressed by chemical reactions of the minerals and mechanical strain from movements in the Earth. A better understanding of subsurface stresses is essential to engineer safe and reliable geothermal wells that access the heat of deep rocks to produce electricity. It is estimated that the U.S. could generate ten times the amount of energy needed to power the grid using geothermal sources. Lisabeth plans to simulate how minerals grow, dissolve, and influence the behavior of surrounding rock in geothermal reservoirs by tracking chemical changes in rock samples under pressure in the lab. The project will also develop machine learning models to predict geologic strain based on field measurements and refine existing models that describe how common rock types deform under stress. Combining these approaches, Lisabeth hopes to develop a framework to predict stress to improve stability and longevity of geothermal wells. Daniel Carney: Pushing the quantum boundaries of particle measurement Daniel Carney is a staff scientist in the Physics Division who uses quantum information science to study particle physics and gravity. At very small scales, “quantum noise” — random fluctuations from the act of measurement — can drown out faint signals from rare processes. Carney’s ECRP project, “Fundamental Physics at the Quantum Limits of Measurement,” aims to build a new mechanical quantum sensor that can measure extremely small particle interactions below the limits of that quantum noise. The approach uses lasers to hold a tiny bead containing radioactive atoms; when one decays, the system measures the bead’s motion and the energy of any particles emitted. The experiment’s initial goal is to search for heavy sterile neutrinos, hypothetical particles predicted by some extensions of the Standard Model. The system could also help measure the mass of the neutrino, study the way particles interact through the electromagnetic and weak forces, and hunt for low-mass dark matter — all unsolved mysteries in particle physics. Callum Wilkinson: Using machine learning to demystify neutrinos Callum Wilkinson is a staff scientist in the Physics Division and part of the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. DUNE will create an intense beam of neutrinos that interact in detectors in Illinois and, after an 800-mile journey through the earth, in massive detectors in South Dakota. By precisely measuring neutrinos and how they change, researchers will get a better understanding of their fundamental properties and whether they are responsible for why there is so much more matter than antimatter in our universe. Wilkinson’s ECRP project will apply two machine learning techniques to improve the analysis of DUNE’s data and enhance the experiment’s precision. One approach will look for hidden patterns in how neutrinos interact and produce low-energy particles, while the other will help correct for distortions in what the detectors record. The methods will be tested on one of DUNE’s prototype detectors and could be used in other neutrino experiments, improving their measurements and helping scientists build better models. Aditi Krishnapriyan: Machine learning methods that scale as datasets grow Aditi Krishnapriyan is a faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Applied Mathematics and Computational Research Division (AMCR) and assistant professor at UC Berkeley. Her project, awarded through UC Berkeley, will develop machine learning methods that scale with dataset size for modeling complex, multi-scale phenomena. The resulting tools can be applied in a wide range of research, including the study of new electrolytes for batteries or the examination of molecular interactions. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
What Is ECMO Life Support?
Kettering Health now has ECMO, an iron heart acting as life support for patients in extreme cardiac distress.
Smartphone App Successfully Supports First-Time Moms
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, Feb. 17, 2026 (HealthDay News) — First-time moms are facing a potentially overwhelming amount of stress, caring for their new baby while also managing their own recovery from pregnancy and birth. But a new smartphone app can provide them much-needed ...
Herrera’s meat science path winds from quiz bowl to lab
After a quiz bowl changed her path, Dr. Zena Herrera returns to Arkansas to study how pregnancy stress and production shape meat quality.
India and Pakistan's Water Politics Is Starting to Boil
Climate stress is rewriting the region’s rules of water sharing.
Scientists find nerves actively fuel pancreatic cancer
Scientists have uncovered a hidden partnership between pancreatic cancer and the nervous system. Support cells in the pancreas lure nerve fibers, which then release signals that accelerate early cancer growth. This creates a self-sustaining loop that helps tumors take hold. Blocking the nerve activity significantly reduced tumor growth in experiments, suggesting a new treatment strategy.
Will AI’s Next Casualty Be Paris’ Office Towers?
Paris’s version of Canary Wharf suffers real-estate distress as WFH, Zoom and emerging AI reduce office space needs.
Xero sees 'emotional tax' on small business from financial stress
Small business owners are losing the equivalent of 33 working days a year due to financial stress, according to a report from Xero.
Improving Brain Health: Expert says exercise routine can cut dementia risk
Mass. doctor stresses important connection between a healthy heart and a sharp brain.
This tiny organism refused to die under Mars-like conditions
Baker’s yeast isn’t just useful in the kitchen — it may also be built for space. Researchers found that yeast cells can survive intense shock waves and toxic chemicals similar to those on Mars. The cells protect themselves by forming special stress-response structures that help them endure extreme conditions. This resilience could make yeast a powerful model for astrobiology and future space missions.
In Focus Maine: State Sen. Jill Duson
Today on #InFocus, State Sen. Jill Duson talks about the nation’s current political climate. She stresses the need to better understand our nation’s history to address the challenges of today. @breedriscoll @mainedems
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
Many Democrats are staying focused on health care, an issue that was once a political liability but has become foundational for the party in recent elections.
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — President Donald Trump's second term has presented an array of opportunities for political opponents, from immigration crackdowns...
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering campaigns for Ossoff and other Democrats
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, one of the party's most endangered incumbents this year, said at a rally Saturday attended by more than 1,000 people in an Atlanta suburb that health care is part of President Donald Trump's abandonment of working people.
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
Democrats are focusing on health care in the November elections and making it a key issue
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
Republicans have cut Medicaid through new work requirements and they’ve declined to extend COVID-era subsidies.
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
Democrats are focusing on health care in the November elections and making it a key issue.
That dry, bitter taste may be waking up your brain
New research suggests the astringent sensation caused by flavanols could act as a direct signal to the brain, triggering effects similar to a mild workout for the nervous system. In mouse experiments, flavanol intake boosted activity, curiosity, learning, and memory—despite these compounds barely entering the bloodstream. The key appears to be sensory stimulation: the taste itself activates brain pathways linked to attention, motivation, and stress response, lighting up regions involved in arousal and memory.
What watching the Super Bowl does to your health
Watching sporting events like the Super Bowl can influence our brains and bodies—and not always in a good way
Health costs are fueling voter stress
ATLANTA (AP) — President Donald Trump ’s second term has presented an array of opportunities for political opponents, from immigration crackdowns and lingering inflation to attacks on independent institutions and friction with overseas allies.
Health costs are fueling voter stress and powering Democratic campaigns
By ALI SWENSON and JEFF AMY ATLANTA (AP) — President Donald Trump’s second term has presented an array of opportunities for political opponents, from immigration crackdowns and lingerin…
Health costs are fueling voter stress
Democrats are focusing on health care in the midterm elections, highlighting it as a key issue. Republicans have cut Medicaid through new work requirements and declined to extend COVID-era subsidies, leading to increased costs for Affordable Care Act plans.
Health costs are fueling voter stress
Democrats are focusing on health care in the midterm elections, highlighting it as a key issue
Health Costs Are Fueling Voter Stress
ATLANTA (AP) — President Donald Trump ’s second term has presented an array of opportunities for political opponents, from immigration crackdowns and lingering inflation to attacks on independent institutions and friction with overseas allies. But many Democrats are staying focused on health care,
Public Health Service officers deployed in detention centers suffer 'moral distress'
A special corps of health care workers have been called in to work with detained immigrants and many feel deeply conflicted about the assignment, saying they're not able to provide good care.
U.S. Health Secretary Kennedy renews backing for vaccination “freedom of choice”
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stressed his support for parents choose which vaccinations their kids get.
Cooper Health's new mobile unit brings primary care to people with autism and other developmental disabilities
The program aims to reduce the stress that medical visits may cause for these patients and remove barriers to care.
136 schools nationwide awarded grants to improve student, faculty health
DALLAS, Feb. 4, 2026 — Physical activity is vital to American students’ physical health and emotional well-being, helping them learn, concentrate and manage stress throughout the school day, yet most youth are not getting enough movement. According to...
Oneida County Health Plan Targets Poverty, Anxiety, Prenatal Care
Oneida County is launching a new plan to improve community health by focusing on poverty, anxiety and stress, and prenatal care through 2030.
Making science move: Organoids project re-imagines adrenal glands through models and motion
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] In 2024, University of Georgia Associate Professor Nadja Zeltner received a grant to advance research in human cell generation, including adrenal gland organoids used to study disease. Adrenal gland organoids are tiny, lab-grown versions of your body’s stress response control center—adrenal glands release hormones in response to stress or excitement, regulate energy and … Continue reading “Making science move: Organoids project re-imagines adrenal glands through models and motion”
Old Post Office owner buys massive Loop office building
The deal kicks off a new chapter for a massive distressed Loop building and completes one of the most staggering losses of value ever for a Chicago office property.
What Causes Thinning Hair In Young Women? Beauty Gurus Share Science & Solutions
Miami, Florida / Syndication Cloud / January 23, 2026 / Trybello LLC Key Takeaways Female pattern hair loss affects about 12% of women by age 29, making it the most common cause of thinning in young women. Hormonal changes linked to PCOS, thyroid disorders, and birth control shifts can trigger sudden shedding episodes. Stress-related conditions, […]