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Amtrak bedroom: Sleeping in the top bunk vs. the bottom bunk
I spent two nights in a bedroom on Amtrak's California Zephyr train. The top bunk was smaller, but it made the room feel bigger.
Chimpanzees and bonobos have human-like friend circles, study finds
Great apes appear to build friendships much like humans do. By studying grooming behavior, researchers discovered that chimpanzees and bonobos form close inner circles along with wider networks of weaker social connections. Chimpanzees focus on a few trusted partners and become more selective with age, while bonobos maintain a more egalitarian social style.
Ukraine tells West: Drone command centers must be mobile, underground
Drone command centers, units, and operators are highly valuable targets, so Ukraine keeps them mobile and underground.
Delivery drivers say customers are asking if they received their tips
DoorDash and Walmart Spark drivers say some recent settlements have sparked conversations with customers about tips.
Job seeker explains two scams he encountered when searching
A graphic designer who used to design cybersecurity content for a bank said he was almost duped by two recruitment scams while job-hunting.
Retail CEOs who make more in a day than workers earn in a year
The median annual pay for retail salespersons is about $34,750 per year. Several top-paid retail CEOs make that much every single day of the year.
Healthcare providers brace for Medicaid cuts. Are layoffs in rural NC next?
More than 250,000 North Carolinians could be kicked off Medicaid next year. The cuts have the potential to devastate local economies, particularly in rural areas, if hospitals and health clinics respond by conducting layoffs or shutting down entirely.
ARC Raiders PvE 'Rebellion' Map Condition Being Tested in China
Embark Studios appears to be testing a new PvE-focused ARC Raiders map condition in China called Rebellion Incident.
Makris Athens review: Michelin-starred restaurant is worth visiting
Makris Athens is a Michelin-starred restaurant with views of the Acropolis. The playful, imaginative dishes beautifully showcase Greek ingredients.
I moved from Germany to California for my career; expensive, worth it
Christiane Schroeter studied in the US and stayed for her work instead of returning to Germany. She says California is like a "Goldilocks place."
The speeches about AI that drew strong responses from 2026 grads
College graduates know about AI. Speakers, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, have learned to tread carefully when discussing it commencement.
The surprising business class travel hack I learned as a parent
Older business-class cabins make flying with a baby far easier for my family of three in a way that newer suite-style pods can't. Here's why.
Baffling. Frustrating. Frightening. What it’s like to be sued over medical debt in Connecticut
Four in 10 US adults have medical or dental debt. CT Mirror and KFF Health News interviewed nearly 40 patients who were sued by providers.
Non-coders embrace vibe coding to solve daily problems
Vibe coders aren't using AI to take over the world. They're just normal people trying to solve daily problems that annoy them.
San Francisco bar operator says tech is going sober, likes mocktails
Greg Lindgren co-owns three bars and an events business in San Francisco. He's noticed the sobriety kick in tech.
Pols & Politics: Massachusetts GOP candidate considers lawsuit over fraudulent signature collections
Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Anne Brensley is speaking out after reportedly falling victim to fraud by a political consultant she hired to collect ballot signatures for her campaign.
Data center critic's arrest draws attention to 387-acre site
An Illinois man was arrested after police said he threatened a local official. The resident said he was protesting against data center development.
More padel courts plea amid rising demand
Bradford Council is considering five applications to build courts as padel's popularity soars.
Liverpool seriously considering re-signing academy graduate for €80m
Ibrahima Konate is set to leave Liverpool when his contract expires. Despite talks stretching back to November 2023 no accord could be found between the French defender and the outgoing Premier League...
During the second week of OTAs the Las Vegas Raiders are trying what fans have been asking for over a year
The Las Vegas Raiders have a lot of young guys on the roster who need some run.
Leaked photo compares Samsung’s wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 to the ‘Ultra’ one
A new leak shows off the difference, in person, of the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s wider form factor versus the...
Nicolas Cage turned down parts in two big franchise movies for roles he thought were better
Nicolas Cage turned down "Dumb and Dumber" and the Green Goblin in "Spider-Man," opting instead for "Leaving Las Vegas" and "Adaptation" over franchise films.
Utah tightens rules for Kevin O'Leary's AI data center after backlash
Tensions have been high in Utah after a local commission, despite opposition, approved a hyperscale data center campus spanning 40,000 acres.
Eric Stokes embracing leader, veteran role for Raiders cornerbacks
As one of the elder statesmen in Las Vegas’ defensive backs room, veteran enters the 2026 season as the team’s CB1 off solid 2025
Ravens, Raiders among top Deebo Samuel landing spots for 2026 season
Deebo Samuel remains a free agent but could be of interest to several NFL teams ahead of the 2026 season. Here are some of his best landing spots.
BI editors tested hundreds of products in May, and these 19 were our favorites
BI editors tested hundreds of products in May and chose 19 favorites, including travel gear, breezy bedding, beauty buys, and summer style essentials.
The Future of Windows 11 Is Already Here: 9 Insider Features You Need to See
You don't have to wait for the next big update—these Windows 11 changes are already being tested in Insider builds right now.
Big 12 coaches unanimously back 24-team College Football Playoff, would consider adding 10th conference game
The league believes playoff expansion would help create more access for its members
White House mulls pulling CBP officers from airports in sanctuary cities
The Department of Homeland Security is considering removing Customs and Border Protection officers from international airports in jurisdictions it labels “sanctuary cities.”
Who is Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire acquiring Caesars Entertainment?
The Fertitta name is ubiquitous in Southern Nevada considering the ownership role the Fertitta family has with Station Casinos and UFC. Frank and Lorenzo Fertit
My favorite school lunch foods at Aldi, from dietitian and mom
I rely on the grocery store for fresh produce, calcium-filled snacks, and protein-packed foods that my child will actually eat at school or camp.
Slot sacked
Liverpool's ownership has issued a joint statement confirming the decision to dismiss head coach Arne Slot. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful. This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title and throughout the season just ended when he faced considerable challenges and burdens.
Newcastle United consider Ligue 1 duo as Anthony Gordon replacement
Anthony Gordon completed his move from Newcastle United to Barcelona on Friday. The Premier League side are therefore in the market for a replacement for the England international, and according to a ...
Pacsun's CEO on the company's winning strategy to target Gen Z
In this Saturday edition of Business Insider Today, we're talking about Pacsun's pivot to a new consumer.
I went to Mistral's summit and heard a clear message about AI
I attended Mistral's first AI summit in Paris. Here's what executives and attendees said about Europe's AI moment.
CEOs cite AI for job cuts while urging worker adoption
CEOs are pushing workers to embrace AI. At the same time, some are citing the technology as a reason for layoffs.
Perplexity gifts Mac Minis in push for Personal Computer tool
Perplexity is sending out Mac Minis for people to test its new Personal Computer technology with.
Oleksandra Oliynykova will not separate her Grand Slam success from advocacy for Ukraine
Oliynykova's first third-round appearance at a Grand Slam comes against Russia's Diana Shnaider, a player she has directly criticized.
On Lou Gehrig Day in baseball and the politics of medical research in 2026 [column]
“For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
Peter Thiel's move to Argentina reflects billionaire trend
Peter Thiel is reportedly moving to Argentina, part of a trend among billionaires looking to live abroad as they hedge their bets on the US.
Raiders 2026 OTAs
View photos from day six of OTAs at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
How the Military Health System is reimagining health IT from the battlefield to the exam room
AI is accelerating health IT integration, empowering providers and patients alike to more easily access and utilize data, according to Dr. Stephen Ferrara.
Dozens of Oakland sports events to catch in June
With World Cup watch parties, the Roots and the Soul on a roll, and the Falcons and Spiders chasing ultimate frisbee championships, it's a packed month .
Seeking Feedback on Plans To Merge Corporate Counsel Section Into Business Law Section - New York State Bar Association
At the April House of Delegates Meeting, the Corporate Counsel Section presented a recommendation to dissolve the Corporate Counsel Section and merge its members and programs into the Business Law Section. “After careful consideration over the last few years, the leaders of the Corporate Counsel Section agreed unanimously to merge the section into the Business Law Section of NYSBA,”
Protective Gear, Essential Medicines Bound for DRC Health Providers Treating Ebola
Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 196 shipments of requested medical aid to 35 U.S. states and territories and 13 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 3.6 million defined dail…
APS brings back Kaiser, Cigna for health insurance next year after 2023 ‘debacle’
Three years after dropping Kaiser Permanente and Cigna as health-insurance providers, Arlington Public Schools is bringing them back. Superintendent Francisco Durán said at the May 28 School Board meeting that the two firms had been selected to provide health-insurance coverage for a three-year period beginning at the start of 2027. They will replace CareFirst BlueCross
Four New Console Features Begin Rolling Out Today For Xbox Insiders (May 29)
"We’re excited to hear what you think"
Amazon shuts down AI leaderboard after employee 'tokenmaxxing'
Amazon nixed an employee-created AI leaderboard called "KiroRank" after concerns it encouraged excessive AI spending.
I quit job in NYC to move abroad; why living in Italy is right choice
I left my career as a culture writer in NYC behind to study Italian in Florence, Italy. The transition abroad was hard, but it's forced me to grow.
Things to know before booking an overnight Amtrak train ride
I spent 60 hours on Amtrak trains between NYC and Miami, 15 on one from Denver to Salt Lake City, and 53 hours on the longest train ride in the US.
Plain Talk: 'We have different views on politics and that's OK'
🔊 On this Plain Talk, recorded at the Blue Rider Bar in Minot, Public Service Commissioner Jill Kringstad talks data centers and utility rates, and Mayor Mark Jantzer discusses living with a 3% cap on spending.
Vensure Launches Sports & Entertainment Division to Support the Demands of Dynamic Workforces
/PRNewswire/ -- Vensure Employer Solutions (Vensure), a leading provider of HR/HCM technology, managed services, and global business process outsourcing, is...
Bungie Reportedly Considered Relaunching Destiny as 'Destiny Infinity' Before Deciding to Pull the Plug on Destiny 2
Bungie's issues with its storied sci-fi shooter, Destiny 2, began around the time of the last summer's Edge of Fate expansion, which reportedly underperformed. The decision to pull the plug was allegedly made "earlier this year" after it decided not to relaunch the franchise as "Destiny Infinity."
Berkeley's soda tax success story deserves wider attention across California
After Berkeley voters first passed a soda tax in 2014, the city has invested millions of dollars into impactful health programs.
SOCOM chief says military must 'creatively destroy' old training
The top special operations leader says the military must cut outdated training to prepare troops for drones, electronic warfare, and future conflicts.
Lancaster County public sales: May 29, 2026
Kline, Kreider & Good Auctioneers, of Brownstown, conducted a public auction of real estate May 5 for Jerry H. and Carla J. Hurst at 330 S. Reamstown Road, Ephrata. A
Russia turning more Shaheds into operator-guided drones, hunt targets
The Shahed-style drones are typically launched at preset targets, but Russia is increasingly making them more dynamic.
Russia is sending swarms of cheap drones after single soldiers
Russia has gone from not wanting to use drones against a single Ukrainian to now using "up to 15 drones to kill a single soldier," an official said.
I left the US when I didn't get an H-1B visa. I'm living a new dream.
Sunjana Ramana left the US in early 2026 after three failed attempts at the H-1B visa. She no longer ties her dreams to being in the US.
Cisco exec says adopting AI is like 'surgery without the drugs'
Liz Centoni, Cisco's chief customer experience officer, is working to reinvent her 20,000-employee division for the AI era. "It's painful," she says.
I vibe coded a tool that hit $50,000 in monthly revenue in 6 weeks
Vitalii Dodonov and his cofounder, John, spent 14 days locked in a flat, vibe coding an AI tool called Stanley for their business, Stan.
Google won the search war. It's using the same tactic to win in AI.
Inference costs are becoming a race to the bottom, and Google's full stack AI approach puts it in a good position to offer cheaper tokens.
Could Paul Pogba leave Monaco this summer?
Paul Pogba’s (33) first season at AS Monaco cannot be considered a success. It was difficult to imagine him hitting the heights of yesteryear, however, with just six appearances, one start, and 115 ...
I downloaded the Trump Accounts app: how it worked
I had my daughter in January 2026, so she is eligible for a Trump Accounts app with $1,000 in it. I downloaded the Trump Accounts app to get started.
What smart people are saying about AI ROI crunch
Uber COO Andrew Macdonald gave voice to the growing concerns that, despite spending big on AI, companies aren't seeing meaningful returns.
Tesla has far fewer autonomous vehicles on Texas roads than Waymo
In January, Tesla said that some of its robotaxis in Austin have begun operating without a human chaperone.
They turned hobbies into businesses drawing in analog-obsessed Gen Z
A group of right-brained entrepreneurs is capitalizing on Gen Z's love for analog experiences and turning their talents into profitable side hustles.
Johnson Health Center bringing Mobile Healthcare to Brookneal
In Brookneal, access to healthcare can be a challenge, especially with limited medical and dental providers in the area.
Dell stock explodes higher after blockbuster AI-fueled earnings
Dell is among a handful of 2000s-era computer companies that have gotten a major boost from AI. The company crushed analysts' earnings estimates.
Raiders 2026 OTAs
Head inside Intermountain Health Performance Center to view photos from day five of OTAs.
View from the Other Side: Tyler Young from Camden Chat
The Baltimore Orioles went into the 2026 offseason with a purpose, making significant moves like signing slugger Pete Alonso, Ryan Helsley, and Leody Taveras and dipping into their deep farm system to trade for Taylor Ward, Andrew Kittredge and Shane Baz. Between those moves and the graduation of top prospects like Sam Basallo, many considered […]
Bruce Springsteen calls out the White House and announces a protest festival
The Power to the People festival is set for Oct. 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland. It will focus on "freedom, justice, equality and rock ’n’ roll," and a portion of the proceeds will benefit VoteRiders and HeadCount.
How to use ambient AI in healthcare as litigious winds begin to blow: 10 tips from experienced attorneys
As a class-action lawsuit gets rolling in California over the use of ambient AI in healthcare, a national law firm is drawing takeaways for hospitals and other provider organizations. Makes sense: All AI-equipped providers are potential targets for similar litigation now.
N.Y. sites now won't have to say if dancing is allowed on liquor application
Questions about dancing will also not be considered during the on-premise liquor license application process.
Dolphins work out free agent running back
Former Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White worked out for Miami Dolphins.
EPA delays reporting requirements for health-harming chemicals
Federal regulators are giving chemical manufacturers and petroleum refiners more time to provide data on a group of chemicals that have been linked to human health harms as officials consider tighter regulations.
Trump's DOJ sues Maine over denying undercover license plates for federal agents
President Donald Trump's administration is suing four states over their refusal to issue undercover license plates to federal agents, the latest front in the wider struggle between the White House and Democratic-led states over the Republican president's immigration crackdown.
Sherrill: Health Inspector Denied Full Inspection of Delaney Hall
The New Jersey Department of Health today sought to conduct a health inspection of Delaney Hall, but it was denied full access
Cocktails you should order more often, according to bartenders
From gin 50/50 martinis to classic daiquiris, there are a number of cocktails that bartenders wish they saw people order more often.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, Zohran Mamdani tax billionaires' NYC second homes
A new tax will officially hit ultrawealthy property owners with crash pads or vacation homes in New York City.
Amazon plans to add SpaceX's Grok models, boosting AI offering
Amazon Web Services is in talks to add Grok models to AWS's Bedrock AI platform, expanding its AI offerings and reach.
Elon Musk says SpaceX only has 180-day agreement with Anthropic
On Thursday, Musk wrote on X the deal between SpaceX and Anthropic is a "180 day lease."
Washington's business exodus accelerates due to high taxes, regulation
Nearly 1 in 4 employers are now actively considering relocating their businesses out of state, up sharply from the previous
Mamdani launched his own version of DOGE
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is launching his own government efficiency effort to cut red tape and reduce unnecessary spending in NYC.
Waymo launches spacious Ojai robotaxi in major cities. We tested it.
Waymo introduced the Ojai robotaxi for spacious rides in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. We tested it out and brought our suitcases.
We left jobs to start consulting firm that's raised $580K, wasn't easy
Felicia Jones Taylor and Alexandra Tyson left education to launch a consulting firm. Through pregnancy loss and divorce, they persevered.
Samsung’s wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 hardware leaks in hands-on [Gallery]
The leaks continue, as Samsung’s new and wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 has just surfaced in a hardware hands-on with...
Second-year NFL players poised for massive breakout: Giants' Abdul Carter, Raiders' Ashton Jeanty ready
These Year 2 players are in position to rise in 2026
Things you need when traveling alone, from a frequent solo traveler
As a woman who's traveled alone to many countries, I never leave home without packing my essentials, like a 55-liter backpack and a water filter.
American in Germany: My 8-year-old walks to school alone
As an American mom in Germany, I struggled with the anxiety of letting my child walk to school alone. The experience transformed his confidence.
US states with the most and least college-educated adults, ranked
Educational attainment varies widely across the US. See the states with the highest and lowest shares of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher.
Wix CEO cites AI while announcing layoffs affecting 20% of roles
Wix CEO Avishai Abrahami announced a 20% staff reduction, citing AI advancements and currency shifts as driving factors for the layoffs.
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for 3% funding target
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
Polish scientists and students rally in campaign for better conditions
Polish scientists and students have been flooding social media with calls on the government to raise research and development spending as part of 3% for Science, 100% for Poland, a campaign born earlier this month out of frustration with chronic underfunding in the academic sector. On May 27, thousands took the slogan on to the streets.The EU has been trying to convince member states to raise their R&D expenditures to 3% of GDP for more than two decades, but the idea has never gained traction in capitals. Finance ministers were too busy plugging budget holes created in the aftermath of the 2008 crisis, then the Covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and now the war in Iran.Critics say that countries missed or ignored the target because it is voluntary, but also because research communities have rarely raised their voice to put pressure on national governments. The European Commission hopes to make the target legally binding in the upcoming European Research Area Act, an EU-wide regulation that should be announced by the end of the year. Academia in Poland has been faced with a funding crisis for years, often leaving its members with no other choice but to work abroad in order to access better resources, or leave the sector altogether in the hope of earning a decent living. The risk, in the long-term, is that brain drain stifles local innovation capacity and technological competitiveness.In just a few weeks, the movement rallied nationwide support, including from major academic bodies and trade unions such as the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and the Presidium of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its public petition collected more than 23,000 signatures. On May 27, it formed the first large protest for science in Poland, gathering thousands of people in front of the parliament building in Warsaw.Ilona Uryga-Bugajska, representative of the Marie Curie Alumni Association Poland Chapter, was there. “The protest was peaceful, with no incidents reported, and the entire event took place in a respectful and calm atmosphere,” she said. Banners she saw in the crowd carried slogans such as “A little longer and I’ll be teaching in a supermarket,” “National culture, starvation salary,” “Stop the destruction of science,” “Passion will not pay the rent,” “Without action, don’t expect a better future,” and “Pull science out of the hole.” She also observed a strong presence of young researchers, who are on the frontline of Poland’s academic crisis.“Academics are usually people who prefer discussion, analysis, dialogue and compromise. We are not a group that protests easily,” said Katarzyna Marzec, professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College and AGH University of Krakow, who also took part. “But many of us feel that we have been pushed against the wall.”Aleksandra Rutkowska, translational neuroscientist and research group leader at the Medical University of Gdańsk, agreed. “Frustration in the scientific community is very high,” she said. “Science is often used politically as a symbol of innovation and modernity, but the everyday reality inside many institutions is much more difficult. There is a large gap between the public narrative and the actual condition of the sector.”Maria Wiktoria Górna, head of the structural biology group at the University of Warsaw and one of the organisers of the movement, told Science|Business that the campaign would continue without proven results. This might involve another strike in the autumn, she said. “Empty promises are not enough by now.”Campaign demandsAccording to Uryga-Bugajska, the organisers officially presented their demands and concerns to representatives of the government present at the event. These included Marek Gzik, deputy minister of science and higher education, and Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, secretary of state of that same ministry.The headline demand, for the government to increase national spending on R&D to 3% of GDP by 2030, should be within Poland’s economic capacity, Rutkowska said. “The real question is whether there is genuine long-term political commitment to treating science as a strategic priority rather than a slogan.”In 2024, R&D expenditure in Poland stood at 1.41% of GDP, which is slightly above the average for central and eastern Europe, with countries such as Czechia recording 1.82%, Hungary 1.31% and Romania 0.46%. However, it falls noticeably short of the EU average of 2.24%, which just a handful of countries exceed, including Germany, Belgium and Sweden.Campaigners are also asking for fair wages for scientific staff, including PhD stipends and junior academic salaries, which are widely considered uncompetitive. Starting doctoral scholarships amount to some €843 gross per month, when the statutory minimum wage stands at €1,135. By pushing early-career researchers out of Poland, growing precarity has caused a generational gap in the academic workforce, with just 25% of lecturers aged under 40. In this context, the movement fears that scientific careers could soon be accessible to a privileged minority only.Grzegorz Spólnik is a case in point. After 15 years working in mass spectrometry at the Polish Academy of Sciences, he decided to leave partly “to earn enough money to live a normal life,” he said. “At that time, my earnings were similar to those of people working in grocery shops, and the work-life balance is something that does not exist in science, or is very hard to achieve.”Now a senior field service engineer for Polish laboratory equipment supplier Bioanalytic, he would consider going back to research, “but never in the public sector, maybe some start-up or a big private company with ambitious R&D.”The campaigners want to see more support for basic research and have called for €236 million to be added to the budget of the National Science Centre (NCN) in 2027 so that the average grant application success rate does not fall below 25%.“At the protest, there was a banner I particularly liked: ‘NCN is not a lottery.’ Unfortunately, for many researchers, it increasingly feels exactly like one,” Marzec said. “Personally, I am one of the lucky ones. I work at two of the strongest institutions in the country, where the research standards are very high. I know that in many other institutions, the situation is much worse and obtaining funding for research at an early-career stage is becoming nearly impossible.”Rutkowska also considers herself fortunate. After studying abroad and holding a postdoctoral position, she returned to Poland, where her pay was supported through an NCN-funded project linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. “This also made me very aware that good research conditions in Poland often depend on external competitive funding rather than on stable support from the system itself,” she said.Long-term strategyBeyond the lack of funds for both salaries and grants, scientists believe that the issue is structural. “The biggest problem at the moment is the complete lack of a clear long-term strategy for the development of science and research from the current government,” Marzec said. “Everything ends with declarations and promises that are never truly followed by concrete actions or structural reforms.”Rutkowska agreed, citing a lack of infrastructure, continuity and long-term institutional support.“Running a research group in Poland often means functioning as an entire institution at once,” she said. “I am a principal investigator, a mentor, a recruiter, a project administrator and, when needed, still someone who returns to the lab bench to help with experiments,” she went on. “This creates a large hidden workload that takes time and energy away from actual science. At times, it feels as though scientists are no longer expecting extra help; we simply hope the system will stop creating additional obstacles that make research unnecessarily difficult.”Related articlesStrategic thinking: Germany funds joint research with Poland and FrancePoland to transfer €30M of regional funds to boost Horizon Europe participationPoland is funding fewer basic research grants as high inflation hitsIn short, “academics are expected to teach, publish papers, apply for grants and conduct high-quality research, while funding and salaries remain very limited,” said Uryga-Bugajska, who returned to her home country after 13 years in the UK.According to Marzec, another issue is the way that research institutions are evaluated. Previously, this took place every four years, with a clear differentiation between stronger and weaker institutions. “The current government, perhaps to avoid political backlash, effectively concluded that everyone is doing well, so in practice no meaningful evaluation took place,” she said.But in her view, “some form of serious assessment is necessary” to ensure the excellence and international competitiveness of Polish institutions, and to determine how to best use public resources and where institutional structures need reform. “Some institutions may need to rethink hiring practices in order to attract ambitious young researchers who are capable of obtaining competitive grants and building internationally visible research groups.” Rutkowska has already had to adapt. “When hiring PhD students, I often have to combine different funding sources creatively to make positions attractive enough for talented people to stay in science,” she said. “Many young researchers do not see a stable future in academia in Poland, and that is deeply worrying.”
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