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Andrew Abbott leaned into some science to get his season back on track
Andrew Abbott locked in on the stick-figure graphic of himself. The world of biomechanics is very advanced. But with Abbott going through the worst rut of his big league career, he opened up to some new ideas to get himself back on track. He asked for some help, and he leaned into some sports science. He said the stick figures made it clear, and he credits biomechanics for helping him get his season back on track. Over his last three starts, he has allowed two total runs in 17 ⅔ innings. “There’s a photo of (me) last year and the year before on a graph, and this year is in a different color,” Abbott said. “You see where you are in comparison to that. Where the hands are at this moment, where your feet are, where the knee is, where your head is at, where your shoulders are at, it breaks it all down if you want it.” When Abbott saw his mechanics in this objective way, he recognized exactly what had been going wrong. “When my tempo, my feet and my hands are aligned, then normally my mechanics are sound,” Abbott said. “And when my mechanics are sound, my stuff behaves normally. The fastball is jumpy. I’m up in velo. My extension is better.” Abbott said that he started diving more into his biomechanics in the middle of April. The Reds have a biomechanics team, which works closely with pitching coach Derek Johnson and hitting coach Chris Valaika. Leading the group is biomecahnics manager Franky Mulloy. “I laugh every day,” Francona said. “When Franky starts talking, I start laughing. I remind him to know his audience.” Francona isn’t a scientist. The Reds’ manager jokes about his own comprehension of the data. But it’s easy for him to recognize the value that the biomechanics team is providing. “That’s why we got them,” Francona said. Abbott said that he had his first big biomechanics-oriented meeting in the middle of April. Behind the scenes, there was already a lot of communication going on within the Reds’ staff. “Franky calculates all the things, builds it into these graphs, and DJ gets them,” Abbott said. “They have their internal communication. Then, we go to them and ask what about this or that. The main thing for me is arm angle.” The data shows Abbott how his arm angle evolves from start to start. He hasn’t meant to change it. But just like all of us, our posture might be different from one day to the next. Pitchers’ arm angles can make minor shifts without the pitcher or even coaches noticing. But the data can’t miss a change like that. Abbott recognized that his arm angle had been moving around without him noticing. Now, he checks in with the data to make sure that his mechanics are in sync. “They get into these cool looking graphs,” Abbott said. “I can’t really describe them. I don’t know what they are. But for me, it’s a photo of a stick figure of myself.” The stick figure of his current positioning is superimposed over previous versions of himself. With that format, Abbott can compare his mechanics on any given day to what they were when he was pitching at his very best. “It was very noticeable from the moment I saw this year as black compared to two years ago and last year, it was very, very different,” Abbott said. “I could see with my eyes without having to ask any questions about the difference in the photos.” For any pitcher, there are a lot of moving pieces in your delivery. For Abbott to be the best version of himself, he needs his head, his arm, his hand, his knee and his feet to be on the right “tempo.” “Tempo is a word I’ve used a lot,” Abbott said. “Getting everything in certain areas working together.” He has been much better at that recently. The data backs that up, and so does Abbott’s ERA. The biomechanics data has also given the Reds’ staff and Abbott some better ideas for some training that he can do between starts. He has added drills to shore up areas of his body that Abbott needed to make stronger. “They make a plan based off what they see,” Abbott said. “If things start changing, we know what to revert back to.” Overall, Abbott says that he’s not a very analytical guy. There’s so much information out there, and he says that it’s important for him to not get too analytical when he breaks down his specific pitches. He has learned the value of being “analytical about mechanics.” And the way that the Reds presented that information to him made it easier for him to make the right adjustments without being overloaded by information. “It was a very simple fix,” Abbott said. “It took a long time to finally get there, feel the results and see it. But for the most part, it was very simple to apply it.”
Sports Daily Live: Chiefs release full schedule
What can we expect from the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2026 season? We take a game-by-game look at the schedule.
BT revives talks for international business sale, Sky News reports
UK's BT is reviving talks over a possible sale or partnership of its struggling international business a year after halting negotiations, Sky News reported.
FedEx board approves trucking business spinoff
A new standalone FedEx Freight may resemble a start-up, but the LTL carrier is far from it, experts say.
Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.
Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe
Sustainable science mapping: benchmarking green AI against transformers for cross-disciplinary abstract classification using arXiv
Scientific Reports - Sustainable science mapping: benchmarking green AI against transformers for cross-disciplinary abstract classification using arXiv
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope could reveal millions of invisible neutron stars
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope could expose a vast hidden population of neutron stars lurking unseen across the Milky Way. By detecting subtle shifts in starlight caused by gravity, the mission may identify and even weigh isolated neutron stars that are otherwise impossible to see. Scientists hope the discoveries will reveal how these extreme objects are born and why they are blasted through space at incredible speeds.
Climate change and social health
Nature Human Behaviour - Climate change and social health are deeply interconnected: climate impacts erode social conditions, while social disconnection weakens collective climate action....
Why the Price of Gas Is the Most Important Number in US Politics
Gasoline accounts for a shrinking share of household budgets, but its political power can still make or break a presidency.
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Local Colors Festival, concerts and outdoor movies are happening this weekend
Weekend Calendar: Travis Tritt and Raul Midón perform Friday night, and Local Colors is happening Saturday
AMNH Presents For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence
New York, N.Y. - On May 15, the American Museum of Natural History will open For the Win: Objects of Sports Excellence , a special exhibition that celebrates the artistry, history, and cultural impact of the world’s most coveted athletic prizes. The exhibition will open in the Melissa and Keith Meister Gallery, part of the Museum’s Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, and will showcase more than 70 championship rings, trophies, medals, and jewelry spanning nearly 150 years of sports history. For the Win opens in advance of FIFA World Cup 2026™ and kicks off World Cup, World Cultures: Celebrating the Community and Science of Sport, a series of programs and experiences at the Museum for New Yorkers and visiting fans from around the world.
Pound dips as political crisis engulfs Britain
The pound dropped on Thursday, as a political crisis in the UK escalated with the resignation of health minister Wes Streeting turning up the heat on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Sports Daily Live: What’s behind Royals recent struggles after resurgence?
he Royals drop another one after shaky starting pitching. Jaylon Thompson joins to discuss.
PGA Championship first round live updates, leaderboard, tee times: Follow Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and others Thursday at Aronimink
Indianapolis public health office audit referred to state for examination
The city's Office of Audit and Performance has given the report to the Indiana State Board of Accounts, highlighting "high risk" factors including conflicts of interest and missing documentation for most contracts.
The political polarization of health outcomes in the USA
Nature Human Behaviour - Using individual-level medical data and death records, this study finds that conservatives in the USA experienced worse health and higher mortality than liberals during the...
Time matters: circadian genetics and the molecular logic of human health and disease
Nature Reviews Genetics - The circadian clock controls transcriptional and signalling networks across tissues to maintain homeostasis, with pathological consequences to its disruption. Kuo et al....
Smithsonian reveals 'In Pursuit' exhibit in celebration of semiquincentennial
The exhibit consists of 250 objects throughout the museum's 250,000 square feet
In 'Spider-Noir,' Nicolas Cage gives the Humphrey Bogart version of Marvel's web-slinger (exclusive)
'Spider-Noir' is 'smashing together' superhero TV with film noir, co-showrunner Oren Uziel explains: "We're really trying to make an old Bogart movie. It's just that Bogart happens to be Spider-Man."
FDA head Marty Makary resigns under pressure
Makary had drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle
Haleon tackles sports injuries with latest soccer play
Haleon has completed a hat-trick of recent soccer initiatives, inki | Haleon has completed a hat-trick of recent soccer initiatives, inking a pain management partnership with the organization responsible for protecting the health and safety of players in Europe.
Yahoo Sports and FOX One team up to introduce new soccer fantasy games ahead of summer's biggest sporting event
The games give fans fun new ways to put their predictions to the test while enjoying the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX One.
NAMRU Dayton spotlight: Driving Warfighter Health
Lt. Cmdr. Travis Landry's day-to-day responsibilities at NAMRU Dayton are incredibly diverse. On the clinical side, he maintains his operational skills by conducting submarine and physicals and supporting recruiters heading back to the fleet. Notably, he also provides essential medical care for a large, displaced population of Navy personnel in the Dayton area who are far from traditional Navy Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs)—ensuring that these sailors maintain their readiness even while stationed away from the fleet. On the research side, he plays a critical role in human subject safety. Before any study begins, he evaluates participants to ensure they qualify, reviewing their medical histories and medications to guarantee that the research will cause no harm and that the data collected will be accurate.
Introducing Claude for Small Business
We're launching Claude for Small Business, a package of connectors and ready-to-run workflows that put Claude inside the tools small businesses use every day.
Sports Daily: Paul Mills discusses new Shockers as roster comes together
Paul Mills discusses the new-look Shockers and how they fit with the returners.
Arizona Cardinals have one of NFL's toughest scheduled in 2026
Their opponents in 2026 have the third-highest win-loss record in the NFL from 2025.
49ers mourn passing of Super Bowl XIV champion Charle Young
The San Francisco 49ers issue a statement celebrating the life of Charle Young after his passing on Tuesday.
Network topology of the gut microbiome associates with metabolic health in obesity
Nature Communications - Here, the authors show that microbiome network topology associates with metabolic health across obesity phenotypes, with reduced connectivity in metabolically unhealthy...
Corteva to keep its headquarters in Indianapolis post-split
Corteva, which is planning to split into two publicly traded companies later this year, announced Tuesday that the crop protection part of its business will continue to be based in Indianapolis.
Patriots content team shortlisted for three Hashtag Sports Awards
The New England Patriots content team has been shortlisted for three Hashtag Sports Awards for videos produced during the 2025 season. Fan voting is live now.
Raffensperger Event Is Disrupted by ‘Active Threat,’ Bomb Squad on Site
The discovery of a suspicious object disrupted a campaign stop for Brad Raffensperger, the Republican secretary of state in Georgia, who is running for governor.
Scientists Subjected Fruit Flies To Hypergravity And Their Behavior Became Counterintuitive
Some of the flies were subjected to extreme hypergravity for 10 whole generations, living out their lives in conditions found around a super-Jupiter.
Sports Daily: Could Wichita be host option for expanded NCAA Tournament games?
Could Wichita be an option for the expanded NCAA tourney games? Should it? We dive into what could lie ahead with March Madness and the Air Capital.
3 things to know about Akron City Series sports this week
The Akron City Series is set to have its softball and baseball finals, and track and field championship meet this week. Check out the details.
Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia subject of Al-Ittihad approach
It has already been confirmed that Medhi Benatia will leave Olympique de Marseille at the end of the season. He initially departed back in February, alongside Roberto De Zerbi, who left OM by mutual c...
Eric Clapton, 81, ends concert early after fan throws large object at his chest in Madrid
Eric Clapton, 81, did not return to the stage for his encore performance in Madrid after fan throws large object at his chest.
College Sports Commission wins key NIL arbitration in case brought by Nebraska football players
An arbitrator ruled in favor of the College Sports Commission on Monday in a case brought on behalf of Nebraska football players that is viewed as a key test for the new entity in charge of approving third-party name-image-likeness deals in college sports.
Transforming artificial intelligence into artificial wisdom
Nature Mental Health - In this Perspective, the authors discuss reframing digital mental health tools by transforming artificial intelligence into artificial wisdom.
Talking quantum with a 9-year-old
Nature Reviews Physics - Katia Moskvitch shares her experience of launching a quantum computing podcast with her child.
Pope Warns Main Threat Common to Religion and Science Is Denial of Objective Truth
Pope Leo XIV pointed out that both science and the Church clearly teach that caring for the planet is threatened by the irresponsible exploitation of both people and the natural world.
Pope warns main threat common to religion and science is denial of objective truth
Pope Leo XIV pointed out that both science and the Church clearly teach that caring for the planet is threatened by the irresponsible exploitation of both people and the natural world.
Roanoke family challenges VHSL policy banning homeschool athletes from public sports
Monday, a judge heard arguments over whether the student should be allowed to run while the lawsuit moves forward.
Religion steers Bengal politics in Bangladesh, India
Bengal, a region known for its secular traditions, is seeing a rise of religion in politics as Islamists grow stronger on the Bangladesh side of the border and Hindu nationalist BJP takes power in India's West Bengal.
Hubble Survey Sets Up Roman’s Future Look Near Milky Way’s Center
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be the first to make studying the galactic bulge a part of its core science objectives.
Manistee school holds science fair in gymnasium
Trinity Lutheran School in Manistee hosted its science fair, allowing students to show off their projects and shared what they learned about a variety of subjects.
Sports Daily: Royals get set for week on road after series win; Did KU add missing piece?
The Royals take the weekend series against Detroit and reset the division race.
GDP alone cannot measure human progress and well-being
Nature Health - Gross domestic product remains the dominant metric of progress, but new measures such as healthy lifetime income offer policymakers a clearer and more relevant view of well-being.
Smart, hybrid, integrated, and engineered geothermal (SHIEG) systems
npj Thermal Science and Engineering - Geothermal sources can supply clean, sustainable, baseload thermal or electrical energy to fulfill societal demands in diverse climates via various...
DHA-GEIS strengthens biosurveillance, force health protection during African Lion 26
AGADIR, Morocco — A coalition of U.S. military and research organizations deliver integrated biosurveillance support, strengthening commanders’ situational awareness and directly bolstering mission readiness during African Lion 26, April 20-May 8, 2026. The Defense Health Agency’s Global Emerging Infections Surveillance program coordinated subject matter experts and laboratory partners from Walter Reed Army Institute of Research‑Africa; Naval Medical Research Unit, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central; the 1st Global Field Medical Laboratory; and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Together they provided pre‑exercise risk assessments, rapid laboratory analysis and real‑time reporting that commanders and medical planners used to protect forces.
Apple's 2026 MacBook Pro Available for Record Low Price This Weekend
Apple's new 14-inch M5 Pro MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD is still available for an all-time low price this weekend on Amazon. It's available for $1,983.94, down from $2,199.00. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. This beats the previous deal we tracked on this model by about $17, and as of writing it's only available in Space Black.
Chicago Teachers Union wants $8.5 million dues hike to fund politics
“Has your brand become toxic?” This was a pointed question from WGN Political Editor Tahman Bradley, posed to Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates in a recent interview. Her immediate response: “I don’t understand the question.” When pressed, Gates added, “The Chicago Teachers Union is not a political party, it is a labor union.” But internal union documents show CTU leadership is trying to skim $8.5 million more from teacher paychecks explicitly for politics, while trying to silence union members critical of Gates’ leadership. Under the proposed dues hike, Chicago teachers would see up to $800 more per year flow from their paychecks to union coffers. The union already takes in more than $40 million a year, mostly from dues. And it spends less than 18 cents of every dollar on teacher representation. The No. 1 reason for the proposed dues hike? Politics. “We must win a majority of the first 21 person fully elected school board in November,” reads the first point in CTU’s member FAQ document.1 This directly contradicts CTU’s promise to members about how leadership uses dues money. The official CTU handbook tells members that the union does not use dues money for politics, so if they are interested in funding political activity, they should consider voluntary donations to CTU’s political action committee. “Our dues are not used for political purposes,” according to the handbook. “So our PAC relies on extra contributions from our members to support progressive candidates and to impact elected officials at the city, county and state levels.” This kind of double-speak is one reason members are concerned about another constitutional change slipped into the dues hike vote, which will take place on May 20-21: an attempt to stop members from holding the union accountable. A proposed amendment to the union constitution tries to place limits on when members may bring a lawsuit against the union for violating members’ rights.2 This provision is clearly a response to members’ lawsuit against union leadership regarding Gates’ years-long refusal to publish audited financial statements. The judge in that case has repeatedly denied the union’s attempts to dismiss it. Teachers opposed to these changes have been circulating this flier, urging members to vote no. What will CTU members get in return for millions of dollars in additional dues? If the 2024 school board elections are any indication—not much. CTU leadership’s record on school board races may not inspire confidence among members. A Chicago Policy Center analysis of a dozen affiliated PACs found CTU spent nearly $2.9 million on school board races in 2024. Of that spending, more than $2.1 million (75%) went to losing candidates. And while CTU-backed candidates lost six of the nine competitive seats overall, they fared worse in their biggest-spending races, losing five of six contests in which the union and its affiliates put up more than $250,000 for their candidate. The Chicago school board elections take place Nov. 3.3 Is another $8.5 million enough to clean up a toxic reputation? Not likely. Update on federal tax credit scholarship: Last week, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to opt into the federal tax credit scholarship program. If Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker follows suit, Illinois could unlock $1 billion in donor money statewide for both public- and private-school students. If Illinois does not opt in, that money will flow to other states. The Last Ward reported in February on how Illinois Democrats could unlock at least $100 million in new resources for Chicago public-school students by opting in. Update on the investigation into how Chicagoans learned about a meeting to hike their property taxes: The Last Ward reported in January on an absurd, taxpayer-funded investigation into how local media learned of a planned Chicago school board meeting to hike the district’s property tax levy. That investigation is now complete. Lawyers interviewed two dozen witnesses, and found nothing. Update on Illinois’ muni debt crisis: My colleague Joe Tabor last week published a must-read piece in Crain’s Chicago Business about how Illinois recently rejected south suburban Harvey’s request to be designated a “distressed city.” The saga shows why the state must implement a better structure to assist insolvent local governments, including allowing for the option to pursue debt relief via Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The Last Ward reported in October on how Harvey is tipping the first domino in Illinois’ municipal debt crisis. Mincing Rascals: I joined the Mincing Rascals podcast to discuss the SAFE-T Act, the millionaires tax, and more. My “green light” recommendation: Force Majeure (2014). 1 Notably, the No. 2 reason cited is “resources to fund a state-wide millionaires tax campaign in order to fully fund the state’s school funding formula.” The constitutional amendment necessary to implement a progressive income tax in Illinois recently died in the Illinois House, meaning this question would not appear on the ballot until 2028 at the earliest. 2 There is seemingly no single-subject rule for CTU constitutional amendments. So members only get one vote on the full package. One cannot vote “yes” on the dues hike and “no” on the restriction of members’ rights, for example. 3 Illinois law grants far too much power over local government to unelected officials like Gates. State lawmakers should fix that.
James Webb telescope zooms in on a black hole that could reveal the truth about 'little red dots'
A peculiar object dubbed an 'X-ray dot' could help solve the mystery of the 'little red dots' discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope.
The unexpected region fuelling UK's American football rise
The NFL UK manager says he is keeping an eye out for talent in Bristol and its surrounding areas.
The Cannes Film Festival is about to begin. Here are the key films making their debut
For 12 days this week, the eyes of the movie world will be on the Cannes Film Festival.
The Cannes Film Festival is about to begin. Here are the key films making their debut
For 12 days this week, the eyes of the movie world will be on the Cannes Film Festival.
Art Can’t Compete With Politics in Venice or New York
Plus: Astrocartography, Michael Jackson, and a “hotspan” hack
How Republicans Gained an Edge on the Midterm House Map Over 10 Days
Republicans are charging ahead in the nation’s redistricting race, and showing new bullishness after months of growing midterm fears.
ABC argues Trump administration is trying to chill free speech
In a filing, ABC accuses the Trump administration of trying to chill its constitutionally protected free speech. The point of contention: "The View," and whether it's subject to equal time rules.
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Musician William Seymour to host “Songwriters of Roanoke” event
Enjoy live music and storytelling Friday night at 8 at The Spot on Kirk.
Sports Daily: Royals settle for split, continue crucial stretch; NCAA Tourney expanding
The Royals can’t take the series against Cleveland and now set their sights on the Tigers in another key showdown.
Spring sports scores and highlights: May 7, 2026
Highlights feature the boys and girls soccer game between Waynesboro at Staunton
Detroit sports radio host Pat Caputo dies at 67 after battle with pancreatic cancer
Longtime Detroit sports radio host and columnist Pat Caputo has died after a battle with cancer at the age of 67.
Quantum topology emerges at near field
Light: Science & Applications - Near-field nanophotonics platform with spin-orbital coupling enables single-photon skyrmions with robust topological structures for high-dimensional quantum...
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Last-minute Mother’s Day ideas including free admission, concerts and shows
Mother’s Day events from museums to concerts still have tickets available.
Mess Fest returns to Orlando Science Center May 9–10 with messy, hands-on physics
Mess Fest is back at Orlando Science Center May 9–10, and I got a media preview of the messy, hands-on fun (including 3 experiments outside). Expect washable paint, physics demos, and big reactions—plus it’s included with general admission (members get in free).
MNUFC, Minnesota Amputee FC, American Amputee Soccer Association Host Inaugural Soccer Clinic at the National Sports Center
Three amputee soccer clinics to be hosted at NSC in 2026
Small business hiring picks up pace in April, Paychex reports
Paychex reports small business hiring accelerated in April with the national jobs index rising 0.35 points, the largest monthly gain since last year.
Rare Pink Katydid Slowly Transforms Green and Upends Camouflage Science
Camouflage is a widely studied antipredator technique that we thought we understood. A rainforest insect, however, is rewriting the textbooks on the subject as it reveals previously unseen behavior. O...
Sports Daily: Royals streak ends with potential injury to key pitcher
The Royals streak ends at five with potentially another Cole Ragans injury.
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
Texas-based teleradiologist wins court battle over California income taxes
The California Franchise Tax Board had charged that the rad and his sole proprietorship could be combined to constitute a "unitary business," subject to state taxation.
What’s eating healthcare AI? Not healthcare AI itself
When AI fails to thrive in healthcare, the problem is usually not with an algorithm. It’s with something deeper. Three unrelated opinion pieces authored by far-flung subject matter experts hit on this theme just this week.
Sports tourism generates $150 million annually for Panama City Beach
Dozens gathered at Publix Sports Park to celebrate Tourism Appreciation Day as the facility continues to serve as a major draw for visitors.
Environmental and lifestyle drivers of early-onset cancer
Nature Health - Early-onset cancer of many body sites and organ systems is increasing worldwide; this Review outlines the potential causes.
New Mavericks president Masai Ujiri gives perfect answer when asked if he would've traded Luka Dončić
Xbox continues its brand refresh with a slick new boot-up animation that leans into nostalgia and the return of "Team Green"
Xbox is introducing a brand new boot-up animation for Xbox consoles as part of the company’s ongoing brand refresh.
Burlington therapist's jiu-jitsu gym helps people grapple with life
Jason Amerosa, owner of Grind BJJ in Burlington, found confidence through jiu-jitsu, leading him to social work and opening a mental health practice.
Old Navy turns to retail, entertainment vet to invigorate turnaround
Michael Francis has led marketing at Walmart, Target and Dreamworks and is now taking newly created roles at Gap Inc. and its value brand.
Sports Daily: Reaction to surprise announcement from Wichita State; visit from KU insider
We react to Wichita State’s surprise announcement that the university is cutting its golf team.
Officials advance expanded tax district for Downtown Chesterfield development despite business opposition
A divided Chesterfield City Council needed the mayor to break a tie Monday night to approve an expansion of the Downtown Chesterfield Special Business District, despite objections from business owners now being pulled into it. The expansion, which would bring Drury Inn & Suites, Hyatt Place Hotel, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, Bishop’s Post, and […]
Iran war amplifies divisions within both parties over U.S.-Israel ties
On the campaign trail and elsewhere, the alliance has gone from a bipartisan consensus to a subject of fierce debate among Republicans and Democrats alike.
Columbia County sports complex moves forward
A $30 million plan to expand youth sports facilities and draw national tournaments to land near the new hospital moved forward this week.
JD Vance makes his Iowa debut as he campaigns for GOP congressman
The state will play a key role if the vice president decides to run for president in 2028, and other potential GOP candidates have visited in recent months.
ECOSOC Science, Technology and Innovation Forum 2026 | UN Meetings Coverage and Press Releases
The two-day Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals, held 6-7 May, will focus on the theme "Transformative, equitable and coordinated science, technology and innovation for the 2030 Agenda and a sustainable future for all”. In the morning, Economic and Social Council President Lok Bahadur Thapa and Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Bjørg Sandkjær will make opening remarks. Wednesday will feature a ministerial session under the theme “Strengthening the science-policy nexus to drive sustainable development” and a session on "Transforming water systems with science, technology and innovation".
How Ancient Centipede Ancestors Conquered the Earth
A long-neglected fossil seems to show the evolutionary leap that let the ancestors of today’s many-legged arthropods crawl forth from the seas.
Icy object beyond Pluto has an atmosphere that shouldn't exist, study suggests
Observations suggest there's a small, icy object with an atmosphere beyond Pluto, challenging assumptions about which bodies can sustain atmospheres.
Arizona Cardinals Player Recruiting Aaron Rodgers Away From Pittsburgh Steelers
Could Aaron Rodgers leave the Pittsburgh Steelers and sign with the Arizona Cardinals?
NASA’s Next-Gen Near-Earth Asteroid Space Telescope Takes Shape
The Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor — NASA’s first infrared space telescope purposely designed to discover potentially hazardous asteroids and comets — is
SPONSORED How health systems navigate patient data with Claude
Health systems are sitting on massive amounts of clinical data, but turning that data into timely patient care isn't always easy.
Simons scoop up another property along downtown's South Meridian entertainment corridor
The building is on the same block as planned Simon-backed developments for a Ritz-Carlton hotel, Live Nation music venue and Ole Red bar, restaurant and country music hall.
We asked kids — and Hollywood's most stylish child star — to rate Met Gala outfits. Here's who looked like 'Gru,' a 'jellyfish' and a 'basketbutt.'
The kids are back — and ready to judge Met Gala fashion. Plus, a special guest star — child actor Duke McCloud ‚— weighs in.
Sports Daily: Royals stay hot early in critical stretch
The Royals are right back in it, continuing a recent hot streak with a series-opening win against Cleveland.
This tiny outer Solar System world has an atmosphere. It shouldn’t
Astronomers have spotted something surprising in the far outer Solar System—a faint, short-lived atmosphere clinging to a tiny icy world that shouldn’t be able to hold one at all. The object, called 2002 XV93, is far smaller than Pluto, yet observations during a rare stellar alignment revealed its presence through a subtle dimming of starlight. Even more puzzling, calculations suggest this atmosphere should vanish within about 1,000 years unless it’s constantly being replenished.
Vinnie Jones Leads Netflix’s Biggest UK Sports Slate Yet
Jones anchors a campaign celebrating the stories behind Untold UK, The Rest Is Football, and more.
Cowboys news: Brian Schottenheimer on wearing the ‘green dot’
All the Dallas Cowboys news that’s fit to print.
Taiwan player victim of ‘inappropriate contact’ at UK table tennis event
Officials say a female player was subjected to inappropriate physical contact during a security check.
German firms abroad grow more pessimistic as Iran war disrupts supply chains
German firms operating abroad have become more pessimistic about their prospects, with nearly one in three expecting economic conditions to worsen as the Iran war exposes vulnerabilities in global supply chains, a survey showed on Tuesday.