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NHL’s Texas expansion may be on ice
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the league is in no rush to decide between Houston and Austin for a potential expansion team following an agreement with Texas billionaire Dan Friedkin.
Energy Department will spend $2 billion for more electricity from power grid
The money will go toward 31 projects across 26 states
Energy Department will spend $2 billion for more electricity from power grid
The money will go toward 31 projects across 26 states
New task force aims to address aging small business owners
The Employee Ownership Task Force will look at how the state can expand employee ownership opportunities, especially as thousands of business owners in Vermont get ready for retirement.
GOP candidate Charles vows to dismantle DHHS
Charles drew loud claps and cheers when he talked about dismantling the state Department of Health and Human Services, saying the state has not done enough to protect children in the child welfare system.
Opinion - States should adopt the federal rule that keeps junk science out of criminal courts
It empowers judges to act as gatekeepers, preventing speculative science from reaching juries or being admitted in the discovery process.
Baptist Health South Florida and Lifepoint Rehabilitation Celebrate Grand Opening of New Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in South Miami
Baptist Health South Florida and Lifepoint Rehabilitation recently held a celebratory ribbon cutting to officially open the Baptist Health Rehabilitation Hospital in South Miami. The new 62-bed, state-of-the-art building expands regional access to specialized, patient-centered rehabilitation care for individuals recovering from a decline in function due to an injury or illness. The three-story, 100,000 square-foot […]
No. 13 Penn State vs. Wisconsin: Game Preview
The Nittany Lions open up Big Ten play against the Badgers after a 3-0 start. Penn State (3-0, 0-0) vs. Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0) Kickoff: 5 p.m., Beaver Stadium, State College, PA The Betting Line: Penn State -9.5 (Fanduel) TV: Peacock, 5 p.m., Dave Flemming (play-by-play), Matt Cassel (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline) Weather: A nice day with highs in the upper […]
Is metascience being co-opted?
In July, the White House released a report that argued academia is deeply dysfunctional and in need of radical reform.Science: A New Golden Age sets out a litany of problems many academics will recognise: interminable waits for grants; short-term funding rather than support for longer, more ambitious projects; ballooning administrative requirements; pressure to publish, and many more. “The scientific machine is getting bogged down,” it says. At least on the face of it, Science: A New Golden Age is a triumph for the metascience movement, a loose-knit, global group of academics, philanthropists and think tankers that want far more testing and experimentation in how we fund public research and innovation. The report tells US research funders to set up internal metascience units to do just this. But it has also set alarm bells ringing that metascience is being conveniently deployed to help justify the defunding of US universities, which US vice president JD Vance has openly labelled “the enemy.” “Just because you have an issue with your plumbing in your house doesn't mean you light the entire house on fire and burn it to the ground,” said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, a group campaigning against what it says are attacks on scientists by the Trump administration. No one is arguing that academia doesn’t need reform, but there’s debate over how far and how fast the system should be shaken up. Does public R&D need slow and steady evidence-based adjustment, or radical new experiments?One of the key arguments in Science: A New Golden Age is that there’s not enough funding for what it calls “mid-level” science: engineering-heavy projects that require tens of millions of dollars, involve ten to a hundred people, and last around five years. Such a project might develop a brain-computer interface for people with Alzheimer's disease, for example. As such, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has already announced $1.5 billion to set up so-called X-Labs, effectively new research organisations to pursue breakthroughs in areas such as quantum sensing and new scientific instruments. Funding divertedBut there’s a catch: this money has squeezed NSF budgets for more traditional, fundamental research grants, Science reported in June, likely meaning less cash for university-based scientists. Science: A New Golden Age also makes various swipes at universities, accusing them of extracting overheads from scientists to fund administrative bloat. “We have become dependent on a narrow set of legacy institutions,” it says. The report doesn’t mention it, but the US government is simultaneously seeking greater powers over federal funding, which would allow political appointees at funding agencies to screen or cancel research grants mid-project. The White House is also seeking to slash the NSF’s budget by more than half in 2027, although similar cuts proposed for 2026 were blocked by Congress. Convenient hookThis has worried some that the metascience agenda could be misused as a kind of smokescreen to further weaken universities. James Wilsdon, executive director of the Research on Research Institute at University College London, said that the report contains lots of “interesting ideas” and agrees that in places, academia is a “pretty broken system.” But the risk is that metascience is being deployed as a “convenient hook” to support cuts and a “political land grab” to transfer grant power from scientists to political appointees in US funding agencies.So far, the metascience agenda hasn’t been seized on by radical right parties in Europe. But Wilsdon worries it will cross the Atlantic, politicising research reform efforts and making them more difficult to carry out. The report is already making some in Europe sceptical of the entire idea. “The system is not without flaws, but the metascience discussion is not likely to improve the system but rather to generate munition to undermine it,” said Claes de Vreese, a professor of AI and society at the University of Amsterdam. Peter Thiel protégéOfficially, Science: A New Golden Age has just one named author: Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a former chief of staff to Silicon Valley mogul Peter Thiel. He also served as chief financial officer of Thiel’s Clarium Capital Management. Since the 1990s, Thiel has criticised US universities for moving away from teaching what he views as the classic works of western civilisation, and drifting towards “anti-Western zealotry.” And since 2011, he has offered two-year fellowships of $250,000 to young people to skip or drop out of university, and instead start companies or pursue scientific research. “College can be good for learning about what’s been done before, but it can also discourage you from doing something new,” according to the Thiel Fellowships website. In other areas, the Trump administration has promoted academics with a longstanding interest in metascience. For example, the head of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya, in 2020 co-authored a study arguing the funder backs overly conservative proposals, although he achieved wider prominence as a critic of pandemic lockdowns. Careless talk costs fundingEven before the Trump administration embraced the metascience agenda, some metascientists privately wondered whether they should be careful not to overstate dysfunctions in academia, in case this gets used as ammunition against universities. But others think being cautious with criticism is pointless. After all, last year, the Trump administration sought to cut funding from US universities on an entirely different premise: supposed antisemitism on campus. “I don't think these governments need a technical metascientific excuse to attack the universities, they will want to do so anyway,” said Will Stone, a researcher at Science Works, a new think tank advocating for a “metascience revolution” in the UK. “I think researchers should report what they find, even when the findings may be used to advance policies they disagree with,” echoed Russell Funk, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, who in 2023 co-authored a highly influential paper that argued scientific papers were becoming less disruptive over time. No justificationThat said, Funk thinks that metascientific research certainly doesn’t justify a weakening of universities. Instead, scientists need “time, resources and stability to pursue unfamiliar ideas,” he said. “Taking away those conditions works against the very goal the reforms are supposed to achieve.”The Institute for Progress, a Washington DC-based innovation policy think tank that has championed X-Labs and metascience units, also says that reforms should complement, not supplant, universities. “Unpredictable, unreliable, and reduced federal funding to researchers is destabilising to the very foundations of research and development and is bad,” said Jenn Gustetic, the institute’s director of metascience and R&D policy.Evolution or revolution?This points to a much bigger divide in the metascience community: how far and how fast should public R&D be shaken up? Does it need evolution or revolution? For example, Science: A New Golden Age says the science system relies too heavily on traditional “workhorse” project grants, the type that pay out around $250,000 a year to fund “hypothesis-driven science by small teams on tractable questions.” However, in criticising project grants, the report “decisively picks one side of a debate that is far from settled,” David Hilmer Rex, a metascientist based in Denmark, has written. In June, Pierre Azoulay, a metascientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, defended project grants, saying that the alternative of X-Labs “merits scepticism.”A-B testingOne challenge in metascience is that it’s easier to generate evidence for some types of change than others. Most straightforwardly, research funders can run A-B tests on different ways of awarding money. For example, Germany’s Volkswagen Foundation recently trialled distributed peer review, where applicants rate each other’s proposals, and measured its results against traditional review panels. Distributed peer review made quicker decisions, although awarded money to largely different ideas. However, much of the focus of the metascience movement has been on founding fast-moving and free-acting new research organisations and funders, in contrast to the alleged stodginess of mainstream academia or public innovation grants. A culture of speed and freedom are the animating principles behind Germany’s Sprind or the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (Aria).Related articlesViewpoint: it's time to experiment with how Europe funds science European researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationHowever, while it’s possible to closely study previously successful bodies, such as the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa), for historical clues to their secret sauce, it’s impossible to guarantee in advance that the likes of Sprind or Aria will actually work as hoped. But advocates of new organisations say this inherent uncertainly shouldn’t stop us trying. “If we wait for definitive proof that something will work before we try it, I don't know where your proof is coming from,” said Stone. Trade-offsUp until now, experiments in metascience haven’t generally come with hard trade-offs over money. In the US, new ideas such as focused research organisations have often been funded by billionaire philanthropists. In Europe, new innovation agencies such as Sprind and Aria, or the Netherland’s new National Agency for Disruptive Innovation, haven’t needed explicit cuts elsewhere in the research system. But with the $1.5 billion establishment of X-Labs by the NSF, the trade-offs are becoming clearer. Some metascientists privately wonder whether a smaller pilot would have been more appropriate, given that the idea is untested. The Institute for Progress counters that the $1.5 billion X-Labs budget is spread out over a decade, so will account for less than 2% of the NSF’s annual budget. “It’s important to remember that [Darpa] was once an institutional experiment as well. Now it’s one of the most cited innovative funding models in the world,” said Gustetic.As for Europe?The US isn’t the only country placing metascience at the heart of its research strategy. Science: A New Golden Age looks admiringly at the UK, which in 2024 set up a Metascience Unit to scrutinise how it funds research. In Brussels, it’s more of a mixed picture. In 2018, the EU set up the European Innovation Council to funnel grants and equity to start-ups, although it’s sometimes criticised for awarding money too slowly. Recently, the council has started experimenting with challenges, where teams of inventors compete to overcome a technological challenge. The European Commission also wants to experiment with partially randomising grant winners, to cut down on bureaucracy. However, the Commission’s own advisers have said the EU’s own research schemes are too conventional. They want the Commission to establish a new dedicated unit to scrutinise and experiment with funding. But there’s no sign of a such unit emerging in Brussels’ plans for the next Horizon Europe programme, which from 2028 is set to distribute more than €160 billion over seven years. Sam Bogerd, director of breakthrough innovation at the Brussels-based Arq Foundation, an AI-focused think tank that also looks at metascience, says that Europe might have the opposite problem to the US: universities and basic research funding are still reasonably well supported, but there’s not enough experimentation. “We're not taking a close enough look at where this money can achieve the most, and I am worried that the good ideas around metascience will be tainted politically by their association with the Trump administration,” he said. He’s still lobbying for the Commission to set up an experimental unit. But in the meantime, the Arq Foundation plans to do its own research, and is currently hiring two metascience researchers to run the rule over how Brussels spends research funding.
EU science policy wonks debate prospect of stronger ties with Canada
Europe’s research and innovation sector has started asking questions on how European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s offer to make Canada “the first associate member of the EU” would actually work in practice, and who will get to shape priorities in a transatlantic relationship that is getting stronger. The Commission says it wants “a new model of association” under which the EU and Canada will aim to develop “a shared space” to face ongoing challenges. “Working in close coordination with our member states and the European Parliament, we will aim to create a new form of partnership that has not existed until now, building the closest imaginable form of association with a partner outside Europe,” a spokesperson told Science|Business.Locked in an escalating trade war with US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly talked of annexing Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney has been looking east, but full EU membership was never in play. Taking the floor a day after von der Leyen’s proposal, he agreed to strengthen ties under “an alliance of the future” but reined in enthusiasm on the new label. He also suggested expanding Canada’s involvement in the Erasmus+ student mobility scheme, to which it currently has limited access, and the next iteration of Horizon Europe. Canada joined the present Horizon Europe in 2024, but only contributes to collaborative projects.Neither side has detailed the next practical steps in developing this new relationship. “I think nobody at the moment truly knows how this will work,” said Michael Browne, chief executive and founder of Crowdhelix, a global collaborative network that connects players in research and innovation. “It’s more of a statement of intent for closer collaboration, which requires legislative frameworks and approval processes, which have not started.”Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of the League of European Research Universities, said von der Leyen’s pitch to Canada is “politically significant, but the legal content still has to be negotiated and constructed.”Mattias Björnmalm, secretary general of the Cesaer university group, agreed that she had only opened “a political door” to Canada, as “associate membership does not come with a predefined set of rights in the EU institutions.”Not only does this status not currently exist as a legal category in the two treaties that set up how the EU functions, but the Commission president cannot unilaterally create a new category of EU membership.According to Deketelaere, Article 217 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows the bloc to make association deals with non-EU countries involving reciprocal rights and duties, is “the most obvious existing legal basis for building a much deeper EU-Canada relationship.”Getting universities involvedNo matter how this new cooperation takes shape, Liviu Matei, who heads the School of Education, Communication and Society at King’s College London, hopes to see universities involved in discussions from an early stage.“Its primary motivations, entirely justifiably, are political and geopolitical,” he said. “In the area of higher education, however, restricting the initiative to political and geopolitical considerations would limit the scope of cooperation and lead to distorted frameworks and counterproductive implementation.”It is all the more important since academic interests on the two sides of the Atlantic are “neither identical nor fully aligned,” Matei added. “This is not insurmountable; it simply requires work to articulate the details of this privileged cooperation, including its governance and funding frameworks, as well as its substantive content in education and research.”Related articlesCanada looks to deepen research and education links with the EUZaharieva hopes for a Horizon Europe deal in 2026Canada might participate in European Research Council schemes, for example, which was not on offer in the present Horizon Europe association agreement. But “there would have to be something in it for the EU,” Browne said. “They don’t want to be funding projects outside of the EU where intellectual property is going to sit outside of the EU. There has to be some kind of transfer of knowledge.”But access to funding will not by itself resolve all the practical difficulties of working together, said Björnmalm. “For researchers and students, these include visas and residence arrangements, recognition of qualifications and study periods, and the conditions for pursuing a research career across borders,” he said. “For universities, there is scope for more predictable access to shared laboratories, computing and research data, and stronger support for joint doctoral training and long-term institutional partnerships.”Linda Doyle, provost and president of Trinity College Dublin, said Europe should strive for the “closest possible expression” of this new political alliance. “If Europe is serious about recovering its voice and its place in the world, it needs to be strongly allied with countries who share its values and its vision for a stable, rules-based, peaceful world.”
Kennesaw State researcher developing safer, more efficient computing systems for intelligent vehicles
Modern vehicles are becoming computers on wheels, powered by increasingly complex software and artificial intelligence. As those systems take on more responsibility, they must process information quickly and reliably enough to keep critical functions running safely. Kennesaw State University computer science researcher Kun Suo is working to improve how those systems operate through a $356,782 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant focused on developing more efficient and secure computing infrastructure for intelligent vehicles.
GTA 6 Datamine Reveals 'The Goodtime State
A mysterious new GTA 6 product has been leaked to be coming to the Rockstar Store called the Vice City Collection.
One of the most contagious diseases on the planet is having its worst U.S. outbreak since 1991
The CDC has added a single measles death to its online counter. In the last few weeks, four unvaccinated people have died from measles in Pennsylvania, according to state officials. But RFK Jr. has publicly questioned what caused the deaths.
Ex-NC State sports medicine director indicted, arrested on sexual abuse involving student-athletes
Robert Murphy's arrest comes a week after a grand jury indicted him on multiple counts involving the sexual abuse of male student-athletes.
Live updates: Judge orders Trump to restore media access to White House
Live updates and the latest news as a judge orders Trump to restore media access to White House and Xi Jinping makes his first state visit in over a decade.
Who is the most underrated Texas college football player?
Everyone knows college football's biggest stars by now (hey, Arch). But who's the player deserving of more credit or attention?
Sen. Cohen Welcomes Small Business Healthcare Tax Credits
Sen. Cohen Welcomes Small Business Healthcare Tax Credits State Senator Christine Cohen welcomes the announcement that a new state tax credit is now available in Connecticut to help small businesses offer health insurance to their employees. Eligible businesses, which include those with 50 or fewer employees, can receive a tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee per year…
Sen. Cohen Welcomes Small Business Healthcare Tax Credits
Sen. Cohen Welcomes Small Business Healthcare Tax Credits State Senator Christine Cohen welcomes the announcement that a new state tax credit is now available in Connecticut to help small businesses offer health insurance to their employees. Eligible businesses, which include those with 50 or fewer employees, can receive a tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee per year…
Healey proposes new Health Care Stabilization Fund
Gov. Maura Healey filed a $2.24 billion supplemental budget Wednesday that would pump more money into the workforce that supports SNAP benefit recipients and establish a new healthcare fund as the …
'SNL' Season 52: The state of the show and what to expect
As the long-running sketch comedy series embarks on a new season, here's a look at the lineup of guest hosts, new players, sketches you can expect and the lingering question of Lorne Michaels.
USC has one of best business programs in US, according to US News & World Report
A business program at the University of South Carolina was ranked the best in the country once again, US News & World Report says.
Patrick’s Politics: Trump TV and propaganda programming
Have you ever wanted to live in a country with state-run media? No? Well, now you can with Trump TV!
Golden State Warriors season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction
The Golden State Warriors enter the 2026-27 season as an afterthought despite being one sleeper teams in the league.
Analysis | One Republican could hold back the party’s candidates in Pennsylvania. And it’s not Trump.
Pennsylvania Republicans are starting to worry that the state’s lopsided race for governor is directly affecting four of the nation’s most competitive House races.
Healthcare clash emerges on CT campaign trail. Businesses say it’s the biggest issue in the state.
The skyrocketing costs of healthcare have risen to the point that both the state and federal governments have been unable to fully solve it.
Benfica loanee Franjo Ivanovic makes statement on Lens future
Franjo Ivanovic (22) joined RC Lens on loan from Benfica over the summer. The centre-forward has confirmed that his move to the Stade Bollaert will not be made permanent at the end of the season.Ivano...
Southern faculty voice fears over political interference, academic freedom erosion in annual survey
Most faculty members from Virginia and Southern states say they would not recommend their state as a desirable place to work, citing concerns about political interference and academic freedom, according to a recent survey by state conferences of the American Association of University Professors. The responses come from AAUP’s annual Faculty in the South survey, […]
Lawmakers consider ways to reduce Oklahoma’s high veteran suicide rate
Wait times for mental healthcare, access to firearms and gaps in veteran services in rural Oklahoma could contribute to the state’s high veteran suicide rate.
Democrats Show Strength in Michigan Senate Race but Trail in Maine, Polls Find
The party’s nominees lead in Michigan and New Hampshire but the Republican incumbent is ahead in Maine, according to New York Times/Siena polls of the three battlegrounds.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear pushes to flip a Republican-friendly House seat in test of his political reach
As the midterms near, potential 2028 presidential candidates are looking to prove their appeal in a range of House districts across the country. For Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, it’s all about his state’s 6th Congressional District.
New Jersey highlights newborn screening program, public health laboratory work
TRENTON, N.J. — The New Jersey Department of Health is highlighting more than 60 years of universal newborn screening in the state as it recognizes National Newborn Screening Awareness Month …
Former NC State sports medicine director arrested in Florida, facing dozens of sexual abuse charges
NC State's former sports medicine director is in a Florida jail on dozens of sexual abuse charges out of North Carolina.
Five Takeaways: Commercial Real Estate Market
For its latest episode of Elevating The Conversation, the Journal sat down with Alicia Barbieri, co-president of Goodale & Barbieri, to discuss the commercial real estate market.
Time for the Supreme Court to finally end Boulder’s climate shakedown
The first case the U.S. Supreme Court hears in its new term won’t come from Washington or Wall Street. It will come from Boulder. And if you drive to work, heat a house or buy groceries in this state, you have a stake in how it comes out. On Oct. 5, the court will hear […]
Montana Supreme Court candidates Eddy, Wilson meet in Bozeman forum
Two candidates made their cases Wednesday for why they’re the best choice to fill an open seat on the Montana Supreme Court. Amy Eddy and Dan Wilson met for a forum at Montana State University.
Judge orders Trump administration to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico
Federal Judge Timothy Kelly has reinstated CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s access to the White House after they were banned from the premises by President Donald Trump.
Husker football scouting report: Michigan State
Nebraska opens conference play in East Lansing against Michigan State this Saturday. Sports reporter Matthew Malloy previews the match.
Network for 2030 Census launches
Leaders from across Arkansas gathered Wednesday (Sept. 23) in Little Rock for the 2026 Arkansas Census Summit, beginning a statewide effort to help communities prepare early for a complete and...
Network for 2030 Census launches
Leaders from across Arkansas gathered Wednesday (Sept. 23) in Little Rock for the 2026 Arkansas Census Summit, beginning a statewide effort to help communities prepare early for a complete and...
Bradbury Art Museum receives 'Big Read' grant
The Bradbury Art Museum (BAM) at Arkansas State University has been awarded a 2026–27 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant, making it the only organization in Arkansas...
Ex-NC State sports medicine director arrested after indictment
Former NC State sports medicine director Robert Michael Murphy was arrested Wednesday evening after a grand jury indicted him last week on multiple felony and misdemeanor counts involving the sexual abuse of male student-athletes he had treated.
Political yard signs still play a role in a digital campaign era
Political yard signs remain part of local and statewide elections even as campaigns increasingly use social media to spread their messages quickly and cheaply.
Toronto Blue Jays Manager Makes Honest Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Statement
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider dropped an honest statement on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after being eliminated from playoff contention. The post Toronto Blue Jays Manager Makes Honest Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Statement appeared first on HEAVY.
Three Oklahoma State football players questionable vs West Virginia
Three Oklahoma State players are questionable for Saturday's Big 12 opener against West Virginia in Morgantown.
Mississippi health officials issue warning after deaths of two Ole Miss students
The Mississippi State Department of Health is urging people to avoid counterfeit pills and other unregulated drugs
State’s Attorney: IDHS delays Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center closure plans
Union County State’s Attorney Tyler Tripp shared the Illinois Department of Human Services’ update on their plan to close psychiatric hospital beds at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center.
State error in Texas creates huge backlog in voter registration applications
In Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, the election office received about 45,000 backlogged voter registration applications.
Mississippi State University College of Business offers hands-on learning
Mississippi State University College of Business Dean Scott Grawe joined Studio 3 to discuss experiential learning and entrepreneurship.
Idaho state, healthcare, tribal leaders meet to advise process for millions in rural health grants
The Idaho rural health task force received an update on the awarding of $186 million in grants, which must be done by Oct. 30.
Hands-on science can be cool
After spending many long days conducting experiments to find a new way to combat bacterial infections in crops, Misha Hegde and Mia Soleil Maurer have been rewarded with international recognition and access to top research facilities. But these are not typical scientists. They are 16-year-old German high school students.“Our supervisor told us that in order to start a project, you need to begin with either a question or a problem,” says Misha, adding that she and Mia had read about antibiotic resistance in certain plants being treated for bacterial infections. “We found out that antibiotics overuse is very common in agriculture,” explains Mia. “Our aim was to create an alternative to antibiotics and to try to raise awareness of the problem of overusing antibiotics.”Their subsequent research has focused on harnessing bacteriophages, the natural predators of bacteria, to eliminate pathogens threatening food crops treated with antibiotics. At the Schuldorf Bergstraße Jugend forscht MakerLab in Seeheim-Jugenheim, located in the German state of Hesse, they discovered a novel phage that infects the Rhizobium rhizogenes bacterium, which causes the hairy root disease that can reduce yields of tomatoes, carrots, soya beans and other food staples.The students believe their method could curb antibiotic use, while protecting plants from infections without disturbing the natural soil microbiome. “The application of phages is host-specific, so they would only kill the targeted pathogen or disease-causing bacteria,” explains Mia. It may also offer environmental benefits, since applying antibiotics can contaminate groundwater.Getting to this point has not been easy. The childhood friends admit to feeling frustrated when their trials did not yield the expected results. “We spent six months on our first experiment, just doing the same thing over and over and over again, to the point where we thought, is it even worth it? Why are we doing this?” Misha says. “You just need to be brave enough to take that first step and keep going.”The benefits of inquiry-based learningTheir determination has paid off. In 2025, the pair won first prize in biology at Jugend forscht, Germany’s national competition for young people interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They were also among the winners of the German Research Foundation Europa-Preis, which is awarded to selected national winners at Jugend forscht, and took third place in the 2025 European Union Contest for Young Scientists.The Jugend forscht Foundation opens doors for young people to connect with scientists as well as industry professionals. Jessica Bönsch, executive director of the Foundation, sees Misha and Mia as prime examples of how young people can develop a deeper understanding of science through their own research projects. “The experience of working on your own research question is very important,” she explains, adding that “inquiry-based learning engages with real-life problems in a way that can be more motivating than traditional classroom teaching.”The Jugend forscht Foundation offers financial support through sponsor pools in Germany’s federal states. Some projects are developed in cooperation with student research centres, university labs or informal collaborative learning areas called makerspaces. Other activities start as hands-on “garage projects” and can grow within the Jugend forscht network and infrastructure.The Jugend forscht Foundation is also a partner of Science Comes to Town, an EU initiative to strengthen public awareness about science and create bridges between researchers and communities. The EU-financed project involves universities, research institutions and other stakeholders in three host cities — Brest (France), Kiel (Germany) and Split (Croatia).“It's so important for people not to live in a bubble, because I think science can be very scary if you misunderstand it,” Mia says of SCTT. The initiative’s aim of raising awareness about science is “absolutely amazing,” Misha adds. “I think it's the best way to kind of make science digestible for the public. In a world where misinformation in science is getting more radical, more dangerous, becoming more of a threat to the trust in scientific infrastructure and foundations, we need such programmes.”Misha and Mia also believe that SCTT can help break down gender stereotypes in science by encouraging young women to study and pursue careers in scientific fields. Both students have benefited from female mentors and encouragement they had when they were much younger. Mia’s love of science began with a class trip to a lab, while Misha — with a smile on her face — says she wanted to study history until “a teacher kind of coerced me into joining a school science club.”Recognition beyond EuropeIn May, Misha and Mia were among the finalists at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair held in Phoenix, Arizona, and involving nearly 1,700 pre-university students from over 60 countries. “It was very crazy because there were so many people and so many teenagers interested in science,” Mia recalls. The event was also challenging. “It was eight hours of continuously presenting your project,” adds Misha.Attending the fair was a chance for the young women to see first-hand the value of international collaboration as well as how research cultures differ. “America is a bit more willing to take risks, and I think that's something we can learn about here in Europe,” Misha explains. However, she continues, “I think Europe has the talent, has the innovation and has the resources” to be competitive.Misha and Mia plan to continue their phage experiments in the new school year, inspired by the project’s hands-on nature and the support they receive from their supervisors. They have also attracted the interest of professional scientists and received invitations to leading research facilities, including the Centre for Synthetic Microbiology, jointly run by the University of Marburg and the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Germany. “It is so cool that we can do something to try to move the world in our school and at this age,” Mia says.After completing secondary school, Mia plans to study microbiology and pursue a career in medical research, focusing on Ebola and other infectious diseases. “This has been my dream for so long,” she says. Her friend Misha is interested in biological research with a focus on medicine. “I've gotten addicted to the process of going to the lab, planning out experiments, then failing, trying again,” Misha says. “I think there's just so much to be discovered, so much to be done.”The students' names and photos were published with the permission of their parents.Science|Business, which connects policymakers, academics and industry through its news reporting, analysis and events, is an SCTT partner.
Reality Check: Kathleen Taylor’s “Kate Marshall Gambles” ad
The General Election is approaching with political attack ads emerging early, including one by Kathleen Taylor targeting Kate Marshall's tenure as Nevada State Treasurer.
Tennessee lawmakers discussing more authority over entertainment districts
State lawmakers could create more control over local entertainment districts across Tennessee.
Breakthrough changes how we think about ice formation
In November 2026, scientists, politicians and diplomats from all over the world will meet at...
Nonprofit Black Health Matters No Longer Says 'Health Equity'
In a new political climate, the nonprofit revises its mission statement -- but not its mission.
Trump gives Xi Jinping rare airport welcome as summit visit begins
Trump greeted Xi on the tarmac, an unusual gesture that president's don't typically extend to foreign heads of state, underscoring his desire to court the Chinese leader.
Here’s how much UNC, NC State will receive for their men’s basketball games in Greensboro
North Carolina and NC State are scheduled to play in the inaugural Tobacco Road Classic on Dec. 15 in Greensboro. The teams will meet next season, too.
Measles cases confirmed again in northeast Indiana
Two of state's 17 confirmed measles cases were in northeast Indiana as of Wednesday.
Trouble in the Heartland
The G.O.P. is on defense in the so-called “blue wall” states and beyond as gas prices remain high.
Healey proposes new health care stabilization fund
Gov. Maura Healey filed a $2.24 billion supplemental budget Wednesday that would establish a new health care fund as the state prepares for federal funding cuts.
Inside Dolly Parton's estate drama and family legal battle, explained
Dolly Parton's estate, valued at an estimated $450 million, is embroiled in a legal battle involving her nephew, Bryan Seaver, and manager, Danny Nozell.
The new Sangamon Mental Health Board selects Tatyana Gardner to be its first executive director
In a statement, the board said her appointment represents a major milestone as the panel continues building the organizational foundation necessary to carry out its mission.
Packers vs. Falcons Preview: Green Bay Welcomes Atlanta to Lambeau
The Green Bay Packers return home Thursday night for a Week 3 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, with both teams looking to make an early statement after very different starts to the season. Green Bay enters the game at 1-1 after escaping with a 20-17 overtime victory over the New York Jets last Sunday. The…
Beacon Health System appears to have new round of layoffs, according to statement
Beacon Health said it is navigating significant financial pressures, lower reimbursement rates from insurance companies, and rising costs of providing care.
Dolly Parton's estate granted temporary restraining order against singer's nephew
A Tennessee judge has granted Dolly Parton’s estate a temporary restraining order against the late singer’s nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security company. She’s Alive, the entity founded to
Demuth-affiliated political action committee receives $10 million infusion
A super PAC backing Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth’s campaign for Minnesota governor received a $10 million cash infusion in recent weeks, cutting into Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s longtime financial advantage in the race. Restore Sanity — a political action committee that has provided the most significant outside money in support of a statewide Republican candidate […]
AACF: Uninsured Arkansas children reached 7.7% in 2025
The percentage of Arkansas’ uninsured children climbed to 7.7% in 2024 – the latest in a trend that began after the state reached a historic low of 4.1% in 2016,...
N.C. State QB CJ Bailey takes positive approach after costly Vanderbilt fumble
The third-year starter says the team has showed him support to help him move forward for Saturday's visit from Appalachian State.
ASU hockey coach says he is 'right guy' despite player collapse
Arizona State head hockey coach Greg Powers declined Wednesday to answer questions about a player's collapse during a team workout last month but said he still believes he is the right person to lead the team.
One Penn State Position Group to Watch vs. Wisconsin
Penn State kicks off Big Ten play this week against Wisconsin, and it will be the first real test of the season for the Nittany Lions. Wisconsin has played Penn State close over the last decade and change. Since 2012, the largest margin of victory for the Nittany Lions is only 15 points, and that …
Hearing on NextEra-Dominion utility merger scheduled in Fairfax
Virginia's state regulatory body has scheduled a Northern Virginia hearing as it weighs a proposed merger between Dominion Energy and Florida-based NextEra Energy.
State promotes employee ownership to protect Vermont small businesses from closures
Facing an upcoming wave of aging Vermonters retiring, state leaders are working to insulate small businesses.
Sarasota Memorial Invests in Future Healthcare Access for One of Southwest Florida’s Fastest-Growing Communities
Sept. 22, 2026 – With the four-county region expected to grow from approximately 1.2 million residents today to nearly 1.8 million over the next 25 years, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) is moving forward with plans to acquire approximately 120 acres in Manatee County’s fast-growing State Road 64 corridor. Located within Sarasota Memorial’s four-county […]
UL System schools share team-level revenue sharing budgets despite new state law
Louisiana Tech University will spend nearly $2 million in public money to pay its student-athletes this year, while the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will devote $1.5 million to its sports teams.
States can soon order covid vaccines for low-income children, after delay
The Vaccines for Children program, which serves nearly half the nation’s youths, had been in limbo for almost a month, with doctors unable to obtain the shots.
HHSC Highlights Healthy Aging Resources, Seeks Input on Aging Plan | Texas Health and Human Services
HHSC is observing Healthy Aging Month in September by highlighting resources that support older Texans and encouraging people to help shape the future of aging in the state.
Trump's focus on noncitizen voting has led to 160 arrests. That shows it's rare, experts say
The Trump administration's whole-of-government effort to find and prosecute noncitizens illegally on state voter rolls has resulted in about 1,600 voter fraud cases that have led to 160 arrests, Homeland Security Investigations senior official Matthew Millhollin said in a press briefing Tuesday.
Police investigating theft from State College business, look to identify person of interest
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Police are asking the public for help in connection with a theft investigation in State College. According to Ferguson Township Police, the incident occurred Wedne…
City of Lynchburg issues statement on noncompliance issues with Mason Lane Entertainment
Almost a day after members of Lynchburg City Council
Dolly Parton estate gets restraining order against nephew Bryan Seaver
NEW YORK — Representatives for Dolly Parton’s estate have been granted an order of protection against the late singer’s nephew and former head of security Bryan Seaver. Seaver is also
Arizona sues popular ‘feel free’ kratom drink maker, alleging it hid health risks
Arizona is suing Botanic Tonics, the maker of a popular kratom drink “feel free” sold at convenience and vape stores throughout the state.
NASCAR Legend Darrell Waltrip Stepping Away From Public Life For Health Reasons
NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip will step away from the limelight, according to a statement from his family.
New Jersey Department of Health Celebrates Newborn Screening Awareness Month, Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month and Continues to Lead Robust Newborn Screening Efforts Statewide
New Jersey Department of Health Celebrates Newborn Screening Awareness Month, Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month and Continues to Lead Robust Newborn Screening Efforts Statewide
As Xi Visits Washington, Trump Plays Down China’s Actions Against U.S. Interests
Despite the rivalry between the United States and China, President Trump has repeatedly found ways to give President Xi Jinping of China a pass, portraying him more as a personal friend than a competitor.
Campaign Reports Show How Much Local Candidates Have Raised, Spent
The latest round of campaign spending reports have been filed by state and county candidates.
Idaho Sec. of State issues guidance for church political spending
Churches in Idaho now have official guidance on how they can spend money backing – or supporting – ballot initiatives this fall without disclosing their donors.
State Chamber CEO: Data centers need to be ‘regulated properly’
Randy Zook, CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas, is on the front lines of economic development in the state. The hot topics...
Brazil's Petrobras may consider Colombia offshore gas project in 2027-2031 business plan, executive says
Brazil's state-run oil firm Petrobras may consider the Sirius offshore gas project in Colombia as part of the production curve to be unveiled in its 2027-2031 business plan later this year, a company executive said on Wednesday.
China Capital stories reveal how ICBC advanced China’s political goals across four continents
ICIJ’s media partners uncovered strategic deals and moves the Chinese bank made around the world to further the political priorities of the party-state.
Changes Coming to Texas Secretary of State Business Filings, Sept. 29th
The SOSPortal, a new Business Filing system, will be launched on September 29, 2026.
The Motley Fool: What's Beta?
It's a measure of its volatility. A beta of 1.0 reflects a stock that moves pretty much in tandem with the overall stock market.
NJ Business Council for Childcare Launches to Strengthen NJ’s Workforce and Economy
ATLANTIC CITY — Today, the New Jersey Business Council for Childcare officially launched, bringing together some of the state’s most influential business organizations and employers to address childcare as a critical workforce and economic issue. Advised by Moms First, the statewide, business-led coalition includes the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), New Jersey Chamber of[...]
Dolly Parton's estate is accusing her nephew of threatening to destroy the country music icon's legacy
Danny Nozell, the late country music icon’s longtime manager, is seeking a restraining order against her nephew, Bryan Seaver, accusing him of threatening to commit violence and destroy his aunt’s leg...
North Carolina expands access to donor breast milk for families: health officials
Families across North Carolina will now have more places to access and donate pasteurized donor breast milk, state health officials announced Wednesday.
A Texas-Sized Data Gap: How Anti-Abortion and Anti-Trans Politics Threaten Birth Justice
What happens when our data sources–like birth certificates, death certificates, and medical records–lose their integrity to comply with anti-trans state laws?
California Seeks to Implement AI Guardrails for Mental Health Treatment
A bill has been unanimously passed by the California Senate that seeks to establish common-sense guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI) use in mental A bill has been passed by the California legislature that sets common sense guardrails for Artificial intelligence in mental health treatment. The bill now awaits the signature of the state governor.
GOP challenger gets within single digits of blue-state gov despite Dem's massive advantage
Bruce Blakeman trails Kathy Hochul by just 9 points in a new Siena poll, closing the gap in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one.
NH Libertarian Party endorses ‘assassination’ of elected Democrats
The state Libertarian Party has issued repeated calls for political violence in social media posts.
Gable Steveson breaks silence after allegations resurface during UFC 331
Gable Steveson issued a statement after allegations from a 2019 case resurfaced before and during UFC 331.
Faculty Spotlight: How a Florida State University professor is advancing music therapy in healthcare
Although music has been used as a form of healing for centuries, music therapy is still considered an emerging healthcare practice. At the Florida State