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Scottie Scheffler withdraws from Houston Open, likely won't play again until 2026 Masters
The World No. 1 withdrew from his Masters tune up event on Tuesday
Age Comes for Us All—Even Politicians
Don’t look now, but the period from now through the 2028 presidential election will be a historic inflection point in our politics. We’ll see enormous generational change take place amid enormous uncertainty and volatility.
2026 Houston Open odds, picks: Surprising predictions from golf model that's nailed 16 majors
Mike McClure's model has simulated the Texas Children's Houston Open 2026 10,000 times and revealed PGA best bets
Notre Dame, NBC Sports panel reflects on 20 years of ‘What Would You Fight For?’ storytelling
On Thursday (March 19), the University of Notre Dame hosted an event celebrating 20 years of storytelling through the “What Would You Fight For?” (WWYFF) campaign. Part of the 2025-26 Notre Dame Forum, the panel discussion brought together leaders from the University and NBC Sports to reflect on the impact and evolution of this storytelling platform.
Bird‑like robots promise greater flexibility and control than drones
A bird banking in a crosswind doesn't rely on spinning blades. Its wings flex, twist and respond instantly to its environment. Engineers at Rutgers University have taken a major step toward building bird-like ...
Finishing a video game can trigger “post-game depression,” study finds
Post-game depression is now being studied as a measurable phenomenon, with researchers identifying how finishing a video game can leave players feeling empty, reflective, and emotionally drained.
Jack Gibbens reflects on ‘bittersweet’ decision to leave Patriots
Gibbens signed a two-year deal with the Cardinals in free agency.
A surprising foam discovery could change everyday products
Foams have long baffled scientists because liquid drains from them far sooner than theory predicts. New research shows the reason: the bubbles don’t stay put—they rearrange, opening pathways for liquid to escape. The key factor is the pressure needed to shift bubbles, not just push liquid through them. This insight reshapes how we understand foams and could improve everyday products.
Turning coal to medicines: Chinese scientists bring a 160-year-old dream to life
Study cracks a puzzle that has baffled scientists and will reshape modern medicine production as the world reels from a global oil shortage.
Carrie Anne Fleming, 'Supernatural' and 'iZombie' actress, dies at 51
Carrie Anne Fleming, who appeared on 3 episodes of 'Supernatural' as Bobby's wife Karen, has died. She was 51.
Jason Momoa forced to evacuate as devastating storm hits Hawaii
Thousands have been ordered to flee as the archipelago faces its most intense surge of storms in two decades.
‘We’ve got some unfinished business’: Corey Gipson reflects on historic Austin Peay season
Austin Peay men's basketball head coach Corey Gipson recently reflected on his 2025-26 season and revealed what makes Clarksville special.
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.
Apple iPhone Fold Might Have A Sun Glare Problem
Given the already high reflectance of iPhone displays, Apple's use of a CoE filter on the iPhone Fold can lead to a sun glare problem.
Flexitarian and the MIND included in top diets for a healthy brain, according to U.S. News
Discover four top diets that may support sharper focus, steadier mood, and long-term brain resilience
David Suzuki at 90: A life in science, and a warning still unheard
With ninety laps around the sun, David Suzuki reflects on a lifetime of science advocacy and environmental work. Despite decades of effort, he warns that humanity may have already crossed a tipping point on climate change.
Person robbed at gunpoint outside Dracut business
Dracut police say two suspects in black robbed a man at gunpoint, then fled in a silver Ford Explorer, which was later found. No arrests announced.
Barber reflects on shooting outside of his business
A man was shot and killed outside a local business in Youngstown’s first homicide of the year yesterday afternoon.
Big Money Flows Into State Attorney General Races as Legal Battles Shape American Politics
With control of Congress on the ballot in November, state attorney general races can get lost in the shuffle. But just outside the election spotlight, there are partisan groups, corporate interests and advocacy networks revving up campaigns for offices that are playing a growing role in American ...
Congress could be headed for a tipping point, irreversible decline
After nearly two decades covering Capitol Hill, a reflection on how bad things are.
March 21 Arts & Entertainment Calendar
Events coming up in the Greenville area offer music, arts, theater and family fun. Here is a sampling. In the calendar, “today” refers to March 21.
Michigan's mobile businesses bring convenience to your door
Mobile salons, saunas and gaming trucks are booming in Michigan as entrepreneurs meet rising demand for doorstep convenience and flexible service.
American Express Business Line of Credit Review 2026
The American Express business line of credit offers fast funding, flexible payments and favorable terms, especially for existing Amex customers.
Learning by serving: Rose fellows reflect on lessons from the field | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Rose Service Learning Fellowship funds community-engaged field projects around the globe.
Pete Hegseth's Christian rhetoric reignites scrutiny after the U.S. goes to war with Iran
Hegseth has pushed policy changes that reflect his Christian views, including a revamp of the military chaplain corps.
Corporations flee to red states for better business climate
FOX Business contributor Lou Basenese explains the ongoing "blue state exodus," where companies like Yamaha and ExxonMobil are leaving Democrat-led states.
Markiplier to Microdramas: The Ankler x NAB Show’s Future of Entertainment
Share Subscribe Vegas, baby! The Ankler is heading back to NAB Show for a second year in a row — and doubling down on conversations with the smartest people in the industry. From April 18–22, we’re partnering again with the industry’s biggest media and tech gathering to break down the Business of Media and Entertainment as it’s actually evolving: faster, riskier and increasingly driven by new formats, new audiences and new power players. This curated series will bring together top creators, executives and innovators to tackle the forces reshaping the industry — from the AI disruption of Hollywood’s creative ecosystem to the rise of the creator economy, shifting audience behavior and the changing economics of production. We’ll be rolling out more programming in the coming weeks — including top speakers from leading AI studios, prediction markets and beyond — so keep an eye on the Business of Media and Entertainment hub. But first up, we’re announcing two panels about what’s actually working in Hollywood: The Scary-Smart Business of Horror A good scare has become one of the entertainment economy’s most reliable engines. With disciplined budgets, built-in fandoms and global box office upside, horror consistently outperforms. From theatrical releases to streaming-first originals and creator-driven IP, the genre is artistically flexible and financially durable — and one of the last truly communal experiences for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. Join YouTube creator Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, whose independent feature Iron Lung earned more than $50 million at the global box office, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear and screenwriter Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant) for a conversation moderated by Like & Subscribe’s Natalie Jarvey about why horror travels so effectively across platforms and borders, how studios and independents are building sustainable genre pipelines and why the next wave of breakout franchises may emerge from unexpected sources. Inside the Microdrama Boom Short-form serialized storytelling is having a major moment. Microdramas, social-native series and creator-led narratives are capturing massive audiences with low-cost, rapid production cycles and direct-to-fan distribution. What was once dismissed as niche or experimental is now attracting major platform investment. Moderated by Jarvey, this panel of microdrama creators and executives — including one of the format’s top stars and producers, Kasey Esser, and Dhar Mann Studios’ head of vertical content, Erin McFarlane — examines how format innovation, fandom dynamics and algorithmic discovery are reshaping the economics of scripted storytelling and what traditional studios can learn from these agile models. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Lynne@theankler.com Share
Planet Labs’ stock soars as the satellite company says AI will unlock more business
The company, a Google partner, delivered record revenue for its latest fiscal year, reflecting growing demand for satellite imagery.
How the Trump administration could be hurting Israel’s already damaged brand
On two major occasions, the Trump administration has gestured at Israel being mostly responsible for major inflection points in the Iran war — even though the evidence on both counts isn’t totally clear.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur finalizes his staff moves for 2026
Green Bay's new quarterbacks coach is Luke Getsy, a former Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears offensive coordinator who spent last season as a Packers senior assistant. Getsy previously was Green Bay's quarterbacks coach from 2019-21. The Packers also hired Scott Fuchs as a defensive analyst, T.C. McCartney as offensive quality control coach and Will Smart as a defensive quality control coach.
Packers announce 27-member coaching staff under Matt LaFleur
The Green Bay Packers formally announced their 2026 coaching staff under head coach Matt LaFleur on March 19.
Art in Public Places
Art in Public Places (AIPP) is the City of Austin’s public art program. Administered through Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment, AIPP commissions visual artists to create site-specific artworks that reflect Austin's communities.
The Girl at the End of the World: A Gratitude Day Reflection on the Place that Built Our Science
⏱️ 9 min read | This Gratitude Day, March 23rd, we celebrate the extraordinary partnership between HD families, scientists, and caregivers, and reflect on the place that built the science on which we all stand.
Pikl Pioneers a New Category of Insurance-Enabled Business Models, Earning it 20% UK Short-Term Rental Market Share
Pikl, the company pioneering insurance-enabled business models that drive revenue whilst protecting against downside risk, today announced that it has achieved 20% market share in the UK short-term rental market – the first industry in which its insurance-enabled growth solutions have been delivered. The achievement comes just two years after Pikl launched its flagship flexible cancellation solution in 2024, which allows property management companies (PMCs) to offer guests the flexible booking o
HHS announces first Rural Health Transformation Program funding opportunity to strengthen rural health care workforce | Health and Human Services North Dakota
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the first Rural Health Transformation Program funding opportunity is now available to support the retention of health care professionals in North Dakota’s 37 critical access hospitals and their owned and operated clinics. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. CT April 30.
Exclusive | Russia’s Shadow-Fleet Kingpin Is Back in Business
Moscow’s salesman-in-chief has turned the Iran war to his favor, selling oil that until recently was adrift at sea.
JB Pritzker flexes his political muscle: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Tulsi Gabbard and Markwayne Mullin in the hot seat.
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
Scientists Discover the Brain Chemical That Helps Break Old Habits
A mouse study highlights the role of acetylcholine in behavioral flexibility, offering new insight into the brain mechanisms involved in addiction and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Pritzker flexes political muscle with Stratton victory amid 2028 chatter
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) flexed his political muscle in the Illinois Senate primary to propel Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton to victory, as chatter builds about his&nb…
Pope Leo XIV: Health cannot be a luxury for few
Pope Leo XIV reflects on situations of poverty, loneliness and isolation experienced by many people in Europe today and decries increasing ...
Local farmer says entering politics 'shouldn't be daunting'
In part 2 of NEPM's series on newcomers entering politics, Easthampton, Mass., poultry farmer Karl Prahl reflects on how losing a campaign pushed him into community service.
Local farmer says entering politics 'shouldn't be daunting'
In part 2 of NEPM's series on newcomers entering politics, Easthampton, Mass., poultry farmer Karl Prahl reflects on how losing a campaign pushed him into community service.
Local farmer says entering politics 'shouldn't be daunting'
In part 2 of NEPM's series on newcomers entering politics, Easthampton, Mass., poultry farmer Karl Prahl reflects on how losing a campaign pushed him into community service.
Texas primary results showed limitations of polling
Many factors explain why pollsters face challenges in getting good sample sizes that truly reflect who is going to cast a ballot.
A dietitian and doctor review RFK Jr's new food pyramid
The new food pyramid was released earlier this year. It emphasizes protein, full-fat dairy and what Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls “healthy fats.” These guidelines influence the standards for school lunches, food labeling and programs like SNAP. Today on the show, Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong chats with registered dietitian nutritionist Shana Spence, and Dr. Sarah Kim, a diabetes specialist, about the new guidelines. Plus, NPR’s Reflect America fellow Kadin Mills unpacks how the new food pyramid could change school lunch trays. Check out more of Kadin’s coverage about the changes in dietary guidelines.Interested in more health science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
NASCAR driver Daniel Dye suspended for David Malukas comments
The Kaulig Racing driver will be suspended indefinitely for the second time in the last four years for comments he made about an IndyCar driver.
I Flew JetBlue Business Class to London and Came Home a Fan
Our columnist traveled via Mint service on the underdog airline from JFK to Heathrow.
Reflecting On Health Insurance Providers Stocks’ Q4 Earnings: Progyny (NASDAQ:PGNY)
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Progyny (NASDAQ:PGNY) and the best and worst performers in the health insurance providers industry.
Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson reflects on 32 years in politics
As Women’s History Month highlights the achievements of women in society and culture, one woman has served the metro area community for more than three decades.
Sky 5 flies over large police presence at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham
Sky 5 flew over the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, where there is a large police presence. This video does not have sound.
2026 NFL mock draft 7.0: Free-agent frenzy shuffles the board where RB Jeremiyah Love lands in top 5
ASUS Announces 2026 TUF Gaming Laptop Lineup
ASUS TUF Gaming A16, F16, A18 laptops for 2026: Featuring stunning OLED/300Hz anti-reflection displays, Intel Core Ultra 9, AMD Ryzen 9, and NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti for elite gaming. Subscribe to ASUS Pressroom for the latest tech updates!
Asteroid Bennu’s Rugged Surface Baffled NASA, We Finally Know Why
In one of the biggest surprises of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, its target asteroid, Bennu, turned out to be a jagged, rugged world covered in large boulders, with few of the smooth patches of sandy or pebbly material scientists had expected based on observations with Earth-based instruments. Bennu's looks were quite deceiving, and until now, scientists struggled to figure out why.
OPPO Find N6 - Ultra Flat, Flexible & Powerful
Discover the OPPO Find N6: foldable flagship featuring Zero-Feel Crease and 200MP Hasselblad Camera. Paired with OPPO AI Pen, unleash your creativity.
Montana’s wild week in politics could have national consequences
What was shaping up to be a sleepy election year in Montana is now anything but. It was a head-spinning week in Montana politics: Two incumbent congressmen declared they weren’t running for re-election — and another got into a scuffle on Capitol Hill. In a tight election year, the shakeup could have national consequences.
Supreme Court to hear case over push to end legal protections for Haitian, Syrian migrants
The Supreme Court will hear arguments over the Trump administration’s push to end legal protections for people fleeing war and natural disaster from countries around the world, including Haiti and Syria.
2026 NAMI-Ipsos Workplace Mental Health Poll
A NAMI-Ipsos poll conducted in January – February 2026 highlights what mental health support American employees are looking for from their companies. This data reflects employee sentiment across industries at companies with at least 100 employees.
Bridging Classrooms and Cutting-Edge Science
Kat Bay ’16, a University of La Verne chemistry alumna, now manages the Teaching with Schrödinger program (Courtesy Kat Bay). The ULV alumna now helps professors and students around the world explore chemistry through advanced computational tools When Kat Bay reflects on her journey from undergraduate chemistry major to manager of the Teaching with Schrödinger program, […]
Trump calls on allies to help guard the Strait of Hormuz. Most have refused
The diplomatic friction reflects the limits of Trump’s influence at a moment when the global economy is absorbing one of the worst oil supply shocks in modern history.
Merlin and Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. IV Announce Closing of Business Combination
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Pritzker flexes political muscle in Illinois Senate primary as 2028 buzz builds
Illinois primary could make history as three candidates vie for Durbin's Senate seat, with potential for second Black woman or Indian American senator.
Massachusetts ER doctors say long wait times reflect a health system under strain
Emergency doctors say hospital bed shortages, an aging population, and gaps in primary care are driving delays.
Play-off dream back on for Stoke?
Final Score's Sam Fletcher reflects on an important win for Stoke City and how it could reignite their promotion ambitions.
SKF announces new business segments and releases restated figures
SKF today announces the introduction of a new segment reporting structure, effective from Q1 2026. The purpose of these changes is to reflect the Group's strategic focus and to provide increased transparency ahead of the planned separation of the Automotive business. SKF is also publishing restated financial information for the new segments for 2024 and 2025.
‘It’s not a solvable problem’: Maine’s outgoing hospital lobbyist says there’s no fix for rising health care costs
As Steven Michaud leaves his long-time role with the Maine Hospital Association, he reflected on pivotal events during his tenure.
The Unoptimized Tensor G5: The Smaller Battery In Samsung Galaxy S26 Lasts 3 Hours Longer Than The One In Pixel 10 Pro XL
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Egypt’s Mixed Signals: Activist Releases Amid Crackdowns Signal Fragile Politics
2026 began uneasily for Syrians in Egypt. In Rehab City, an upscale suburb east of Cairo that became home to many Syrians fleeing civil war under the Assad regime, security officials entered a crowded restaurant and asked diners to produce their residency permits. Scenes like this have become increasingly common in Egypt, alongside a malicious…
West Virginia repeats, wins program's 21st NCAA rifle title
West Virginia defended its NCAA rifle championship on Saturday, edging out TCU to claim the 21st national rifle title in program history.
Kansas prepares to update Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility stuck in 2008
Kansas is the only state where eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Program is tied to income levels from 2008
Kansas moves closer to updating Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility stuck in 2008
Kansas is the only state where eligibility for the Children's Health Insurance Program is tied to income levels from 2008
Linux Finally Catches Up to Windows with a Game-Changing Performance Feature
For years, the Linux kernel’s scheduler has been world‑class at balancing loads, yet it missed a crucial, cache‑aware instinct. In modern multi‑core systems, that gap can turn into measurable latency, especially when threads bounce between cores that don’t share the same cache. A new upstream feature, often called Cache Aware Scheduling, is now set to change that equation. A cache‑savvy scheduler arrives At the heart of any OS, the scheduler decides which thread runs where and for how long. In modern CPUs, small private caches (L1 and L2) sit beside each core, while a larger Last Level Cache (LLC, typically L3) is shared among groups of cores. When a task migrates across LLC boundaries, its warm data may vanish from the cache, forcing slower trips to main memory. Cache Aware Scheduling keeps related tasks close to their shared LLC, reducing destructive migrations. By respecting cache topology, the kernel minimizes cold‑start penalties and preserves locality that many workloads desperately need. The result is less thrashing, fewer memory stalls, and more consistent throughput. "Keep tasks close to their data, and the system will keep performance close to its peak." Why this narrows the Windows gap Windows has long leaned on topology‑aware, cache‑sensitive heuristics, especially since the Windows 10 era. That advantage helped Microsoft handle hybrid designs with P‑cores and E‑cores, plus complex cluster and NUMA layouts. With cache awareness integrated upstream, Linux brings parity to this vital dimension, without sacrificing its trademark flexibility. The Linux approach remains deeply configurable, reflecting the ecosystem’s breadth across servers, desktops, and embedded devices. It layers atop existing NUMA‑balancing and energy‑aware logic, refining placement rather than reinventing the wheel. Crucially, it aligns scheduling with the hardware’s real shape, not just with abstract CPU counts. Real‑world gains and who benefits Early tests on Intel Sapphire Rapids platforms point to gains in the 30–45% range for select workloads. Those wins appear in cache‑sensitive tasks like in‑memory analytics, high‑thread compilation, and microservices with tight working‑sets. Games and latency‑bound engines can also feel steadier frame‑times, especially when threads share hot assets. The benefits extend to AMD’s 3D V‑Cache parts, where keeping threads near enlarged cache slices prevents needless misses. Hybrid x86 designs with performance and efficiency cores further profit when cache and core roles are scheduled in concert. Even handhelds running SteamOS can squeeze more out of limited power, translating cache locality into smoother play. Key advantages include: Lower end‑to‑end latency Fewer expensive misses to RAM Better multi‑socket and NUMA behavior Improved energy efficiency More predictable QoS under mixed loads Stronger scaling on dense servers Caveats, tuning, and rollout No scheduler change is purely free, and trade‑offs still exist. Favoring locality can reduce cross‑cluster balance if limits are set too tight. Likewise, fairness and utilization must remain healthy, especially under heterogeneous, bursty workloads. Linux’s implementation is designed to be measured and tunable, not a blunt instrument. It cooperates with energy‑aware scheduling for mobile efficiency, and with NUMA‑balancers on big iron. Expect architecture‑specific refinements as vendors surface richer topology hints and cache‑sharing maps. Upstream integration has begun, with broad distribution adoption likely over the next cycles. Many users will encounter the change through standard kernel updates in 2025–2026, depending on distro cadence. Server‑class kernels may enable or tune it sooner for targeted fleets where cache locality is money in the bank. How to think about performance impact Cache Aware Scheduling amplifies gains when your workload is both CPU‑bound and cache‑sensitive. Think tight inner loops, hot code paths, and datasets that fit snugly in shared LLC. It’s less dramatic for I/O‑bound services or memory‑hungry tasks that blow past cache capacity. Still, even modest locality improvements often translate into smoother tail‑latency, which is where user experience and SLAs typically break. Developers can further help by pinning related threads, batching work, and aligning data to reduce cross‑cluster chatter. The scheduler’s new awareness works best when applications expose good hints. The bottom line By understanding and honoring cache topology, Linux removes a subtle yet costly bottleneck. The kernel’s smarter placement keeps hot data hot and work near where it belongs. That narrows a long‑standing gap with Windows, while preserving the openness and tunability Linux champions. For gamers, creators, and operators, the payoff is practical: more consistent frames, faster builds, and snappier services. For the ecosystem, it’s another step toward hardware‑savvy scheduling that turns transistor complexity into real‑world speed. And for Linux itself, it’s a timely upgrade that matches today’s silicon with tomorrow’s expectations.
This doctor treated migrants’ severe injuries at the US-Mexico wall: ‘Political decisions made it as violent as possible’
Dr Brian Elmore witnessed a public health crisis unfold at the border near El Paso. He reflects on why it was like a ‘perverse Groundhog Day’
Trump’s war alliance with Israel is reshaping the Middle East
President Trump is the first American leader to embrace fighting a full-fledged, joint war with Israel. Washington has tried to avoid that level of coordination in the past.
Trump’s War Alliance With Israel Is Reshaping the Middle East. But It Carries Risks.
President Trump is the first American leader to embrace fighting a full-fledged, joint war with Israel. Washington has tried to avoid that level of coordination in the past.
Spirit Airlines to shrink fleet to one‑third of pre‑bankruptcy size
Spirit Aviation Holdings , the parent company of Spirit Airlines, said on Friday it plans to shrink its fleet to about one‑third of its pre‑bankruptcy size, according to a court filing.
Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg take control at The Players as Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy struggle
Åberg and Schauffele are in control halfway through The Players.
NBC's 'Access Hollywood' is canceled as daytime TV audiences shrink
Talk programs "The Steve Wilko Show" and "Karamo" will also end, reflecting the shift to streaming and the decline in daytime TV viewing.
Full interview: Bill Nye reflects on being the science guy and what's next
Congressman Scott Perry tours Camp Hill business with Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler
Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler is back in Pennsylvania to tout the Trump Administration’s economic agenda. On Friday, Loeffler joined Rep. Scott Perry (PA-10) in Lower Allen Township, Cu...
Person arrested on charges of selling rifle to gunman in Old Dominion University attack
A person has been arrested and is facing federal charges for allegedly selling the rifle used in the deadly shooting during an ROTC class at Old Dominion University, according to court documents.
Who Will Be the Packers’ Next Quarterback Redemption Story?
The Green Bay Packers have become victims of their own success. Matt LaFleur has had to rely on backup quarterback Malik Willis several times over the past two seasons. Willis stepped up impressively, leading the Packers’ offense to nine touchdowns with only one turnover in 11 games. Willis clearly benefited from working with LaFleur and the […] The post Who Will Be the Packers’ Next Quarterback Redemption Story? appeared first on The Lead.
Public Administration as Solution Science
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization. By Naim KapucuMarch 13, 2026 Public administration is often described as the bridge between public goals and real results. When communities face complex problems such as public safety, health threats, climate risks, housing pressures or […]
Willie Robertson says he ‘never would have dreamed’ of joining family business in his 20s
The Duck Commander CEO reflects on nearly taking a different path and explains why, on “Duck Dynasty: The Revival,” he now encourages his children to pursue what they love.
Micah Bob Finds His Foundation in Materials Science
UC Davis materials science and engineering student Micah Bob studies sustainable cement alternatives to reduce carbon emissions. As graduation approaches, he reflects on the transformative course, research experiences and campus life — including MASC and Video Game Orchestra — that shaped his journey.
Parallels Confirms MacBook Neo Can Run Windows in a Virtual Machine
Parallels Desktop virtualization software is compatible with the new MacBook Neo, according to an update from the company – but Windows VM performance will depend on your intended use case. From Parallels' updated knowledge base article: Parallels Desktop runs on MacBook Neo in basic usability testing. The Parallels Engineering team has completed initial testing and confirmed that Parallels Desktop installs and virtual machines operate stably on MacBook Neo.
Arts & Entertainment Calendar
Events coming up in the Greenville area offer music, arts, theater and family fun. Here is a sampling.
Former rapper’s fledgling political party sweeps Nepal’s first post-revolt election
The election — the country’s first since last year’s youth-led revolt — was won by the Rastriya Swatantra Party, or RSP, of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah.
No. 5 Houston stops record-setting Dybantsa, BYU
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Kingston Fleming scored 17 points as No. 5 Houston held off AJ Dybantsa and defeated BYU 73-66 in the Big 12 quarterfinals Thursday night.
Five Iron Golf Indoor Entertainment Venue Coming to Forth Worth's Near Southside
Five Iron Golf’s Fort Worth location will be its first in Texas. Projected to add 40 jobs to the local economy, it will feature 12 Trackman simulators with multi-angle swing-capture technology and access to more than 300 famous courses around the world. The venue will feature a full-service bar and kitchen, along with flexible indoor event spaces including a private bay.
75-Million-Year-Old Mystery: Scientists Uncover Tyrannosaurs’ Dark Secret
3D analysis of bite marks on a tyrannosaur foot bone shows that smaller tyrannosaurs scavenged carcasses, likely consuming the final remains after most flesh was gone.
Torrent Come From Behind To Beat First Place Boston
The last place Seattle Torrent beat the first place Boston Fleet erasing a pair of deficits to snap a four game losing streak.
Class struggle, but weird: The surreal politics of this year's Oscar nominees
The Best Picture contenders reflect a mad world—and they're suitably lurid, pulpy, comic, and strange.
HAL Makes Fleetwide Entertainment Updates in 2026
Holland America Line is updating its entertainment offerings throughout 2026, with new shows, the return of classical music, and more.
ICYMI: NAM’s Jay Timmons, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler Join Fox Business to Discuss Inaugural Supplier Matchmaking Expo
Watch NAM’s Jay Timmons and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler on Fox Business Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Small Business Administration host the inaugural 2026 Supplier Matchmaking Expo at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. There, large manufacturers will connect with smaller suppliers, strengthening their U.S. supply chains and […]
2026 Players Championship odds, picks: Surprising predictions from model that's called 16 majors
Mike McClure's model has simulated The Players Championship 2026 10,000 times and revealed PGA best bets for TPC Sawgrass
Satellite images show strikes turning Iran's vintage F-14s into wrecks
Iran is the only country still flying the F-14 Tomcat, a jet iconized by the 'Top Gun' films. Images from the war show fresh damage to the fleet.
Kansas City Chiefs, key cities and state officials endorse sports authority ownership of $3B stadium
The Kansas House plans to work quickly on a bill creating a state sports authority to provide oversight of facilities built for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Behind the Crown & Anchor – Delivering Royal Caribbean’s Next-Level Entertainment
Royal Caribbean delivers the ultimate entertainment at sea – from Broadway-caliber productions and original shows to high-diving AquaTheater performances, Olympic-level ice skating shows and immersive live music across the fleet. In the episode of Behind the Crown & Anchor, go behind the curtain of Royal Caribbean’s entertainment innovation - spotlighting the creatives, performers, production teams and technology that power these next-generation experiences.