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Attack on Ilhan Omar Follows Years of Trump’s Targeting Her
President Trump has spent years demonizing and dehumanizing the Somali-born Democrat from Minnesota, fueling escalating threats against her.
Hillary Clinton and Tucker Carlson Speak at Saudi Business Forum
The Democrat and the hard-right commentator found at least one thing to agree upon as they spoke at a conference in Riyadh.
Republicans Gave ICE a Slush Fund. Democrats Want to Limit It.
The sweeping domestic policy law that Republicans muscled through Congress last year made ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency in the country, with no strings attached.
Fake Moltbot AI Coding Assistant on VS Code Marketplace Drops Malware
A fake VS Code extension posing as a Moltbot AI assistant installed ScreenConnect malware, giving attackers persistent remote access to developer syst
With AlphaGenome, Researchers Are Using A.I. to Decode the Human Blueprint
AlphaGenome is a leap forward in the ability to study the human blueprint. But the fine workings of our DNA are still largely a mystery.
Opinion | When Conservative Politics Hit Cash-Starved Universities
If college education is merely a transaction, educators — and facts — are vulnerable.
Starbucks Says Turnaround ‘Ahead of Schedule’ as Sales Rebound
The coffee chain’s stock jumped after a better-than-expected earnings report.
Nervous Allies and Fox News: How Trump Realized He Had a Big Problem in Minneapolis
President Trump often blusters his way through a crisis, refusing to back down. Minneapolis tested the limits of that strategy.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Corey Lewandowski, a Familiar Trumpworld Figure, Is at the Center of the ICE Uproar
Now a top aide to Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, Mr. Lewandowski has a long history of controversy in President Trump’s orbit, but he has always found a way back from exile.
Max Scherzer Predicted To Surprisingly Land With New AL Team
Max Scherzer’s free agency could extend into the season, per reports, as teams weigh his veteran presence against durability concerns. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer pointed to the Kansas City Royals as a compelling surprise option. “According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the latest on Max Scherzer is that he could […]
Trump Threatens to Pull U.S. Help From Iraq if Former Leader Returns
Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a former prime minister, has been nominated to the post by the main Shiite Muslim bloc in the Iraqi Parliament.
Who Decides When a Home Is Safe? A California Bill Says Science, Not Insurers.
Following a Times investigation, a state lawmaker is proposing the first health-based standards for assessing smoke contamination after wildfires.
Predicting Jahmyr Gibbs’ Contract Extension With Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are expected to exercise Jahmyr Gibbs’ fifth-year option and pursue a long-term extension.
Peter H. Duesberg, 89, Renowned Biologist Turned H.I.V. Denialist, Dies
His pioneering work on the origins of cancer was later overshadowed by his contrarian views, notably his rejection of the established theory that H.I.V. causes AIDS.
Android’s full desktop interface leaks: New status bar, Chrome Extensions, more [Video]
A Google bug report on the Chromium Issue Tracker today has inadvertently leaked the Android desktop interface for the first time.
A Shift for NOAA’s Surveys: From Science to Mining
A $20 million agency project will aid companies prospecting the sea for rare-earth elements.
On Immigration, the G.O.P. Finds Itself in a Shocking Place: On Defense
Since President Trump’s rise, the issue has been a strength for the party. But now, after the chaos in Minnesota, Democrats see an opening and some Republicans worry that Mr. Trump is going too far.
UPS Will Cut Up to 30,000 Jobs in 2026
The delivery company said it was planning the cuts this year because it expected to deliver fewer packages for Amazon, a large but unprofitable customer.
Google is about to extends Identity Check to your banking apps and password managers
Locking out all the shoulder surfers
Patriot League and CBS Sports Reach Multi-Year Television Extension
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Patriot League and CBS Sports announce a multi-year television deal that will extend their 23-year relationship. Under the agreement, CBS Sports Network will air Patriot League men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse and a variety of other sports.
Red Wings savor home-ice edge as Kings arrive
The Red Wings need to take advantage of their three-game homestand this week, considering they won't be playing in Detroit afterward for an extended period.
You Wouldn’t Want to Butt Heads With This Small Dinosaur
A newly discovered raptor had a knobby bump on its head, suggesting that, like some larger dinosaurs, it engaged in competitive head bashing.
Opinion | Trump Is Only Part of the Great Power Struggle
Why the competition for, and control of, energy resources is central to global politics.
Wizards carry 9-game skid into matchup vs. Trail Blazers
The Washington Wizards find themselves in the midst of another extended losing streak, but team officials are increasingly optimistic about the future.
Juventus keen on extending Luciano Spalletti’s contract till 2028
Juventus have communicated their desire to extend the contract of Luciano Spalletti following the team’s commanding victory over Napoli, which has convinced the management of his long-term suitabili...
NASA seeks partners for Earth Science extended missions
NASA seeks partners for Earth Science extended missions
Chris Madel Ends Run for Minnesota Governor, Citing Immigration Crackdown
Chris Madel, a defense lawyer, called the operation “simply a disaster.” His decision comes two days after a second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Apple updates iOS 12 to extend support on older devices
Apple has released iOS 12.5.8 for a small group of older devices, to make sure they can continue using FaceTime and iMessage.
Alex Pretti Shooting Poses a Question for the Right: Who’s a Conservative?
Republicans wrestle with Trump administration positions that seem to contradict their beliefs on gun rights, states’ rights and limited use of federal power.
What Minneapolis Means for the Country and Its Politics
Our reporter who spent time in the city weighed in on how the chaos is changing the political landscape.
Health insurers tumble after Trump administration proposes keeping Medicare Advantage rates flat next year
Shares of large Medicare plan providers Humana, CVS Health and UnitedHealth Group plunged in extended trading.
Under Biden Administration, Justice Dept. Began Examining Ilhan Omar’s Finances
The inquiry, initiated by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, appears to have stalled for lack of evidence.
A New Way to Flirt: Dazzle Potential Mates With Patterns Invisible to Humans
Cuttlefish attract prospective sexual partners by creating a pattern on their skin, based on the orientation of light waves.
A New Way to Flirt: Dazzle Potential Mates With Patterns Invisible to Humans
Cuttlefish attract prospective sexual partners by creating a pattern on their skin, based on the orientation of light waves.
White House Wobbles, Distancing Trump From Initial Response to Minnesota Killing
Officials clearly understood that the fatal shooting of a demonstrator posed one of the gravest political threats to President Trump since his inauguration.
Why Is the Trump Administration Demanding Minnesota’s Voter Rolls?
The Justice Department has urged Minnesota to hand over voters’ private data. It is part of a national push that has raised concerns about the Trump administration’s motives.
Anthropic extends MCP with a UI framework
Anthropic is turning Claude into an app platform, with interactive widgets from Slack, Figma, Asana, and others.
Business Leaders Face a Test in Minneapolis
Some companies have begun to respond to the fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti and the immigration crackdown. But others have stayed silent.
In Memphis, Federal Crime Task Force Keeps Residents on Edge
Support from Republican state leaders for the crime-fighting operation — and to an extent, from the city’s Democratic mayor — has kept tensions to an uneasy simmer.
Celebrating Excellence: Honoring P&G’s Top-Performing External Business Partners
P&G recognizes 40 top-performing suppliers committed to performance, partnership and excellence.
Six Flags Entertainment (FUN) Valuation After US$1b Debt Refinancing And Extended Maturities
Six Flags Entertainment (FUN) recently completed a private offering of US$1b in 8.625% senior notes due 2032, using the proceeds to redeem its existing 2027 notes and to extend its debt maturity profile. See our latest analysis for Six Flags Entertainment. The refinancing news comes after a sharp 30 day share price return of 16.25% that partly offsets a 90 day share price return decline of 33.35%. However, the 1 year total shareholder return decline of 61.75% shows that longer term investors...
Oil holds onto gains as Iran keeps investors on edge
Oil prices extended gains on Monday after climbing more than 2% in the previous session, as tensions between the U.S. and Iran kept investors on edge even after Kazakhstan's main export pipeline resumed full operations.
Killing Prompts Only a Defiant Response From Trump
Even as the second death of a protester in Minnesota brought demands for accountability, the president, insulated from dissenting voices, stuck to his pattern of reflexively blaming opponents.
RAF, Fox Nation agree to long-term extension
RAF will remain on FOX Nation for the foreseeable future after agreeing to extension
Eleanor Holmes Norton Files to End Re-election Campaign
It was not clear whether Washington’s 88-year-old veteran delegate, who has been in declining health but has insisted she would seek re-election, was aware of the filing.
For Trump, the Truth in Minneapolis Is What He Says It Is
The Trump team has advanced one-sided narratives to justify each of the killings, even when bystander video shows something else entirely.
Meet Laurent Simons: He completed PhD in quantum physics at 15 and now pursuing second PhD to extend human life | - The Times of India
Science News: Laurent Simons is one of the most talked-about young minds in science today. At just 15, the Belgian prodigy defended a PhD in quantum physics at the .
Minnesota’s Biggest Companies Call for ‘De-escalation’ of Tensions
The letter from chief executives at some of the state’s most recognizable companies like Target and Cargill stops short of condemning the recent killings by federal immigration agents.
Republicans Struggle to Respond to Shooting, Reflecting Political Peril
The killing of a 37-year-old man by a federal agent exposed fresh cracks in G.O.P. unity, with some expressing alarm while others stayed silent or backed the Trump administration.
G.O.P. Senator Cassidy Calls for Investigation of Fatal Minnesota Shooting
The Louisiana Republican, who is facing a primary opponent backed by President Trump, said there should be a joint state and federal inquiry into the shooting death of 37-year-old Minneapolis man.
Retro Recap: All The Classic Gaming News From The Past Week (January 25th 2026)
Sonic! Smurfs! Lara Croft! 2DS!
Game Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Vancouver Canucks 1/25/2026
Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (25-14-11, 61 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Vancouver Canucks (17-29-5, 39 points, 8th place Pacific Division) When: 6:00 p.m. ET How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, SN and TVAS in Canada, streaming on ESPN+ Pens’ Path Ahead: There’s another extended break after this one for the Pens, who don’t play again until a […]
Opinion | What Science Tells Us About Arguing With Your Father-in-Law
It’s rarely been harder to disagree politically — but social science suggests ways to have constructive conversations across ideological divides.
A Grip on Sports: The Seahawks have a chance today to write another chapter in their legacy as well as the region's pro sports history books
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The calendar has flipped to 2026. But in the NFL sense, this is still 2025. The extension of the season that began just after Labor Day. And a chance for the Seattle Seahawks to continue the best professional sports year Washington has experienced this century.
High January Is the New Dry January. Sales of THC Drinks Are Booming.
Sales of beverages containing hemp-derived THC are rising as consumers look for the buzz without the booze. But a new federal law could push them off shelves.
Arsenal vs Manchester United – Predicted lineup and team news
Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday while they aim to extend their lead at the summit.The Gunners have moved seven points clear of their rivals despite recent goalless d...
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
His containment strategy helped wipe out the disease in the 1970s, one of the world’s greatest public health triumphs. He also led the C.D.C. and promoted childhood vaccination worldwide.
Wisconsin red hot going into matchup with struggling USC
Surging Wisconsin looks to extend its winning streak when it returns home to host Southern California in a Big Ten matchup on Sunday in Madison.
Democrats Running for U.S. Senate in Texas Call for Overhaul of ICE
In a debate, Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico differed in their political styles but agreed that violent immigration agents needed to be held to account.
DUE DATE EXTENDED: Draft 2026 Delta Science Plan
From the Delta Science Program: The Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Science Program is developing the third iteration of the Delta Science Plan, which outlines the vision, principles, and approaches that guide science in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Updated approximately every five years, the plan incorporates new concepts and actions that reflect current science and management needs and is developed collaboratively and transparently. The draft 2026 Delta Science Plan is available for public review! All members of the Delta science community […]
Fable lets you enter and even buy any building in its world because that was one of the "requirements that we took from the original games," dev says
Playground Games had to think about every building's interior and exterior
José Ramírez contract extension being finalized with Cleveland Guardians
José Ramírez is signing another extension with Cleveland that will keep him a Guardian through 2032.
Outrage at European science center as director fired after study on glyphosate
A leading European chemical safety institute has fired the director of its cancer research center after the director launched an extensive testing program into the safety of the pesticide glyphosate, sparking concerns about chemical industry influence into what has been an independent research institution.
José Ramírez, Guardians reportedly working towards new 7-year, $175M extension
Guardians' Jose Ramirez gets incredible $175 million extension news
Jose Ramirez isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Clemson looking to extend road win streak against Georgia Tech
Clemson aiming for Q3 win in Atlanta against the Yellow Jackets.
WHO statement on notification of withdrawal of the United States
WHO regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe. The notification of withdrawal raises issues that will be considered by the WHO Executive Board at its regular meeting starting on 2 February and by the World Health Assembly at its annual meeting in May 2026.
The hidden health impact of growing up with ADHD traits
A large, decades-long study suggests that signs of ADHD in childhood may have consequences that extend well beyond school and behavior. Researchers followed nearly 11,000 people from childhood into midlife and found that those with strong ADHD traits at age 10 were more likely to experience multiple physical health problems and health-related disability by their mid-40s.
Mark Carney Takes On Donald Trump and Emerges as a Global Political Star
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the prime minister was praised for his blunt talk about the president’s irrevocable “rupture” in the world order.
6 Podcasts About Medicine and Health Care
These shows can help you navigate a time of soaring insurance costs, confusing policy changes and medical misinformation.
Massive Sconces Take Over the World of Luxury Lighting
Massive wall reliefs are the new frontier in luxury lighting
Genetic Data From Over 20,000 U.S. Children Misused for ‘Race Science’
The National Institutes of Health failed to protect brain scans that an international group of fringe researchers used to argue for the intellectual superiority of white people.
Are Republicans Growing a Little Uneasy About the ICE Raids?
Polls, careful remarks from JD Vance and chats with voters all point to some wariness.
(Rescheduled from Jan 26) Behind the Science: Herbivores That Chewed Through Time: How Insects and Pathogens Responded to Earth’s Biggest Events
Announcing a new After-Hours series at the National Museum of Natural History: Behind the Science A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers Each month, join the National Museum of Natural History for the new series, Behind the Science, where NMNH researchers share insights into their latest discoveries and explore the fascinating questions driving their work—from the origins of life to the future of our planet. Come learn what’s happening behind the scenes and how science shapes our understanding of the natural world. Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now! February 10 (RESCHEDULED FROM JAN 26): Conrad Labandeira, Paleobiology The leaves of plants are everywhere. They provide the primary documentation of insect and pathogen feeding styles – or herbivory – on plants in the modern and fossil records. Leaves also are the most abundant, macroscopic item in the fossil record during the past 400 or so million years. During the past 25 years, studies of insect and pathogen damage on fossil and modern leaves have addressed the response of herbivores to major events of the fossil record. These events include, in chronological order, the origin of herbivory itself, the appearance of seed plants, the profound ecological crisis at the end of the Paleozoic, the appearance of flowering plants, the profound ecological crisis at the end of the Mesozoic, and a major change in the global climate 56 million years ago. Let’s put damaged, fossil leaves to work in helping us to understand how insect and pathogen herbivores have historically transformed the world we live in. Upcoming Dates: Jan. 26: Feb. 10: Conrad Labandeira, Paleobiologist Mar. 10: Briana Pobiner, Anthropologist Apr. 14 May 11 Jun. 9 Jul. 14 Aug. 11 Sep. 15 Oct. 13 Nov. 10 Dec. 8
Louis E. Brus, Nobel Laureate Who Illuminated the Nanoworld, Dies at 82
He accidentally created some of the first quantum dots, tiny semiconductors that now power many electronics.
Vaccine Panel Chair Says Polio and Other Shots Should Be Optional, Rejecting Decades of Science
Dr. Kirk Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist who leads the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, said a person’s right to refuse a vaccine outweighed concerns about illness or death from infectious diseases.
Grand Strand man accused of operating business without a retail license
State agents say a man has been charged with operating a business without a retail license.
‘Enough Is Enough’: Hundreds of Minnesota Businesses Take Stand Against ICE
After protesters called for a pause on economic activity and work to strike against the federal immigration crackdown, many business owners won’t open their doors on Friday.
7 Sports Documentaries to Stream Now
A beloved sports commentator, the W.N.B.A.’s leading scorer and the franchise known as America’s team go under the microscope.
Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico Face Off in a Texas Senate Primary Campaign
Two of the Democrats’ rising stars, Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, are seeing if a red state should be won courting disaffected Republicans or focusing on the party’s base.
A Senate Primary in Texas Tests the Future of Democratic Politics
Two of the Democrats’ rising stars, Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, are seeing if a red state should be won courting disaffected Republicans or focusing on the party’s base.
After TikTok Deal, Chinese Firms Search for a New Global Path
Chinese firms must contend with geopolitical tensions and mistrust to do business in the United States. Some are choosing to avoid the U.S. altogether.
Extend the federal budget window to boost preventive health
Many strong health reforms get bogged down because the CBO fails to properly account for long-term savings. The AMA backs a new bill to change that.
D.H.S. Cited Foreign Students’ Writings and Protests Before Their Arrests
Documents unsealed by a federal judge on Thursday include dossiers that investigators prepared on pro-Palestinian student activists before they were targeted for deportation.
Big Insurers Try to Shift Blame for High Health Costs to Hospitals and Drug Makers
At two congressional hearings, lawmakers slammed executives of major companies, saying they were failing to rein in the cost of medical care for consumers.
U.S. Formally Withdraws from World Health Organization
Global health experts worry that a lack of international coordination will lead to death and disaster.
Rams-Seahawks Preview
RENTON, Wash. (AP) To some extent, Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams was anticipating that the NFC championship game would shake out this way, with Seattle facing the division-rival Los Angeles Rams for a third time this season.
Report: Mets' Freddy Peralta open to extension after Brewers trade
This would be a significant development for the Mets.
Video: Why Climate Isn’t a Top Business Priority at Davos
The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was once ground zero for an unofficial climate movement in the business community. David Gelles, a climate reporter for The Times, describes why climate is no longer a key focus in Davos today.
Amy Klobuchar Files Papers for Run to Succeed Tim Walz as Minnesota Governor
The Minnesota senator, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, appears set to enter a race that has been transformed by President Trump’s immigration crackdown in the state and protests against it.
Sonic Booms and Seismic Waves Can Reveal Where Space Junk Crash-Lands
The sensors used to listen for earthquakes could help protect people from the hazards created by falling spacecraft.
Qatari jet-turned-Air Force One expected to be delivered this summer, Air Force says
The luxury Qatari jet being transformed into a new Air Force One will be delivered this summer, the Air Force said in a statement, roughly a year after its extensive modification began.
House passes appropriations package for health care funding, extends key health care provisions
The House Jan. 22 voted 341-88 to pass a three-bill minibus for fiscal year 2026 that includes funding for key health programs and other bipartisan health care provisions and extensions. The bill includes extensions of AHA-supported priorities, such as the Medicare-dependent hospital and low-volume adjustment programs for one year, telehealth flexibilities for two years, and hospital-at-home flexibilities for five years.
Microsoft Teams to add brand impersonation warnings to calls
Microsoft will soon add new fraud protection features to Teams calls, warning users about external callers who attempt to impersonate trusted organizations in social engineering attacks.
1Password adds an extra layer of phishing protection
The browser extension now warns you if you're about to paste credentials into a bogus site.
Europe’s Leaders Scramble to Find a Path Forward With Trump
Top officials from across the European Union will meet in Brussels on Thursday to discuss Greenland and, more broadly, their dire relationship with America.