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More young people are looking to AI chatbots for mental health help
A new survey estimates 8 million young people use AI chatbots for help when stressed, angry or sad, an increase from 2024.
AMC Stock Pops as Blockbuster Sequels and Horror Hits Drive Big Attendance Numbers
AMC Entertainment stock soars after the movie theater operator announced 25.5 million people attended the theater last month, the strongest May attendance since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apotex Health seeks to raise up to C$1.2 billion, potentially reviving Toronto IPO market
Canadian health company Apotex Health said on Monday it is seeking to raise up to C$1.2 billion ($868.06 million) in an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange, in a deal that could help revive the country’s subdued IPO market.
Qdoba completes $435 million whole business securitization
The capital will be used to support the fast-casual Mexican chain’s continued expansion
The Back Pain Myths Patients Still Believe. And What Science Says Instead
Low back pain is one of the most common and misunderstood health problems in the world. Affecting 619 million people globally in 2020, it is now the single leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Yet despite how widespread it is, many people still make care decisions based on myths that can push them toward fear, inactivity, unnecessary treatment, and confusion before they understand what helps.
Better sleep, improved health, happier people: how ‘cool roofs’ could help millions avoid deadly heat
A project to measure how reflective paint reduces indoor temperatures is delivering tangible benefits across Africa
Governor Morrisey Announces $3.4M Rural Local Health Challenge Funding Opportunity
Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a $3.4 million for a statewide local health challenge funding opportunity to advance prevention-focused, community-based health initiatives through West Virginia’s continued participation in the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
Your kitchen sponge is releasing microplastics every time you wash dishes
Kitchen sponges release microplastics as they wear down during everyday use, with some sponge types shedding far more than others. Researchers estimated that millions of households could collectively release hundreds of tons of microplastics annually.
AMC Entertainment Records Its Highest Domestic and Global May Attendance Since 2019
LEAWOOD, Kan., June 01, 2026--AMC Entertainment (NYSE: AMC), the largest theatrical exhibitor in the United States and the world, welcomed more than 4.2 million moviegoers to its U.S. AMC Theatres and internationally at its ODEON Cinemas this past weekend, from Thursday through Sunday. After yet another strong weekend at the box office in May, both domestically and globally AMC Entertainment received 25.5 million guests at our theatres, recording the highest-attended month of May since 2019.
Former St. Pete Science Center to become AI and startup campus
Plans for a $25 million redevelopment would transform the former St. Pete Science Center into an AI and startup campus.
More candidates are using their personal wealth to campaign than ever before. Should voters care?
All eyes are on one billionaire’s spending for governor. A CalMatters analysis shows the story may lie in the millions spent by down-ballot candidates.
Apotex Health Seeks to Raise Up to C$1.2 Billion in IPO
Canadian generic drug manufacturer Apotex Inc. is looking to raise C$1.2 billion ($868 million) in an initial public offering in Toronto, the company said Monday.
Private credit lent $560 billion to US businesses since 2023, MFA report shows
Private credit funds provided nearly $560 billion in new loans to U.S. businesses over the last three years, helping create more than 6.5 million jobs, according to a Managed Funds Association report seen by Reuters.
Bridgepoint Group to Acquire Obagi Medical
The UK firm investment firm has agreed to purchase the clinical skincare label from Waldencast for $460 million, with co-founders Michel Brousset and Hind Sebti departing the beauty conglomerate to join Bridgepoint.
Here are the top donors to S.F. politics in recent years
Wealthy donors have poured tens of millions of dollars into San Francisco politics over the last six years.
Direct Relief Invests $5 Million to Keep Florida Health Centers Powered During Hurricanes
Direct Relief announced today a more than $5.2 million investment in resilient power infrastructure across Florida, helping community health centers remain operational during hurricanes, flooding, …
AMC Entertainment Records Its Highest Domestic and Global May Attendance Since 2019
More Than 25 Million Moviegoers Attend AMC Theatres and ODEON Cinemas in the month of May 2026, the highest May attendance since 2019 More Than…...
Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor
Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses
Australian state regulator fines Star Sydney $7.2 million for risk management failures
The New South Wales gaming regulator on Monday said that it has fined Star Entertainment's Sydney casino a total of A$10 million ($7.18 million) to strengthen the technology surrounding its financial crime risk management operations.
‘Molecular movie’ technology reveals a better way to thwart environmental pollutant
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The latest production from the “molecular movie” imaging technology developed at Oregon State University is a new, inexpensive way of dealing with a common environmental pollutant. Based on short-pulse lasers, the imaging technology allows chemical and biological actions to be measured as they are occurring, one high-speed frame at a time. The measurements occur on the level of the femtosecond – one-millionth of one-billionth of a second. A femtosecond is to a second roughly as a second is to 32 million years.
Aidan Miller not doing baseball activities, but Phillies optimistic for 2026
Aidan Miller is not currently doing baseball activities, but Preston Mattingly said the Phillies remain optimistic their top prospect will play in 2026.
007 First Light Budget Over $200 Million to Develop; Considered Denmark's Most Expensive Entertainment Project
007 First Light has cost IO Interactive over $200 million to develop across 7 years and is considered Denmark's most expensive cultural project.
007 First Light Budget Over $200 Million to Develop; Considered Denmark's Most Expensive Entertainment Project
007 First Light has cost IO Interactive over $200 million to develop across 7 years and is considered Denmark's most expensive cultural project.
Low-budget horror films from YouTubers conquer the box office
"Backrooms," a film based on 20-year-old Kane Parsons’s popular YouTube series of the same name, debuted to $81.4 million at the U.S. and Canada box office this weekend, setting a
Republican Party of Texas expects $600 million to be spent on campaigns in Texas
‘Purely politics’: Row over Zohran Mamdani’s new communications office costing $5 million
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new communications office is facing backlash after budget documents revealed it could cost taxpayers more than $5.2 million in salaries. Critics are calling the spending “morally incomprehensible”.
Africa’s Digital Entertainment Boom: How Mobile Payments Are Reshaping Leisure Across the Continent
Africa’s digital entertainment industry is expanding rapidly as mobile payments, smartphones, streaming services and gaming platforms transform how millions of people access leisure and entertainment.
Longview, a town built on mill industry, caught between loss and fear
After what Gov. Bob Ferguson called the most fatal industrial disaster in the state’s modern history, the community is stuck in limbo.
Why dayclubs make millions for Las Vegas hotel-casinos
The venues are part of a broader recalibration in Las Vegas hospitality, where daytime entertainment has evolved from a seasonal amenity into a near-continuous revenue stream with its own marketing...
Women hope renaming PCOS health condition could help millions of women worldwide
Rochelle Lewis is among more than 170 million woman globally to be diagnosed with PCOS.
Moore announces $3 million in aid to help small- and minority-owned business in Maryland
Some small- and minority-owned businesses in Maryland will be able to get some investment help from the state.
Cleveland Browns rookie QB hits record mark off the field
Shedeur Sanders was reportedly No. 1 in the entire NFL in licensing income last season at a cool $17.7 million.
Shedeur Sanders earns reported $17.7 million in licensing income in 2025, breaking Tom Brady's record
Lowell business owner admits to hiding $6 million in payroll, avoiding taxes
BOSTON — A Lowell employment agency owner has pleaded guilty to running a years‑long scheme that hid more than $6 million in payroll, allowing him to avoid paying over $1.5 million in federal employment taxes and secure cut‑rate worke…
State Airfields Receive Funding
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chair of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, has reported that 24 municipal airfields in Mississippi have been awarded just over $20 million for facility improvements. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the third round of FY2026 Airport Improvement Program grants, which meet Airport Safety and Resilient […]
Backrooms is a certified blockbuster with a $38 million opening day
It’s already the biggest opening weekend for an A24 movie ever.
Shedeur Sanders Made Record-Breaking Money From NFLPA Group Licensing
Shedeur Sanders doesn't have a lucrative contract with the Cleveland Browns, but he still banked a ton of money in 2025. Since Sanders fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, his four-year contract with the Browns is worth roughly $4.6 million. Luckily for the Colorado product, he had a ...
Shedeur Sanders breaks Tom Brady's record, earning a reported $17.7 million in licensing income in 2025
Ivey encourages Alabama small businesses to compete in national America 250 pitch contest
Gov. Kay Ivey encourages Alabama small businesses to join the America 250 pitch contest for a chance to win $1 million.
Everyone told this Atlanta couple to sell their inherited cemetery business — it now makes $6 million a year
Atlanta couple quit their full-time jobs to run cemeteries — and it's paying off big
Samsung Releases Free Upgrades To Millions More Galaxy Phones
Samsung's One UI 8.5 rollout has reached some of its cheapest Galaxy phones, and more Galaxy S26 features could be heading to the Galaxy S25 series too.
Can NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech take home a national title?
The million-dollar pitcher reflects on her college career as she gets her last shot at winning it all.
Could the unlikely savior of US college sports be … Donald Trump?
As universities prepare to spend millions paying athletes directly, fears mount that Olympic and women’s sports will pay the price. An improbable figure could well stop it
Atlanta airport parking is getting a big boost
The seven-level, $441 million Domestic Terminal South Parking Deck is a far cry from its over-40-years-old predecessor.
Houston Rockets Reveal Ambitious Toyota Center Transformation
A $180 million renovation will modernize the franchise's home with upscale suites and a glass atrium, aligning the arena’s evolution with the team’s aggressive championship pursuit.
Stateside Live! opens expanded entertainment complex in South Philly
Stateside Live! in South Philly completed a $20 million expansion featuring multiple stages, concerts and event space ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Applyrs lauds 'historic' $60 million state aid commitment for Albany
The $20 million in additional state aid the city received is expected to be renewed the next two budget cycles, the mayor said.
Evoke Entertainment Closes $35 Million Production Financing Facility
Evoke Entertainment has closed a senior secured production financing facility of up to $35 million with an eye toward expanding its film & TV output.
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…
Shapiro touts $30 million to ease traffic around South Philly Sports Complex
A $15 million on-ramp to I-76 will open in 2028, helping fans avoid getting stuck in gameday traffic.
Eastern North Carolina health centers receive more than $10.4 million in federal funding
Six community health centers serving eastern North Carolina will receive more than $10.4 million in continued federal funding through the U.S. Department of Hea
New grant program targets lingering Helene recovery gaps for Asheville businesses
More than $14 million in grant funding will soon be available to small businesses across Asheville as part of a new effort to support their Helene recovery.
South Carolina Businesses Pay Millions To Settle PPP Fraud Claims
Federal prosecutors say five companies falsely claimed eligibility for COVID-era relief loans...
$3 million awarded for small and minority businesses in Maryland
The Maryland Department of Commerce has awarded six businesses with a total of $3 million in loans and equity investments through the Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA). MSBDFA provides various funds to small and...
Longview mill implosion comes amid turnaround effort by foreign owners
Days after the fatal incident at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant, it's unclear what the accident means for the facility or its Japanese owner.
This newly discovered raptor may have hunted like a giant heron
A newly discovered raptor-like dinosaur from Patagonia is changing how scientists think about ancient predators. Named Kank australis, the 70-million-year-old dinosaur appears to have hunted fish much like modern herons, using a long, flexible neck and specialized vertebrae adapted for swift, precise movements.
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.
Hubble Captures M88 on Journey to Center of Virgo Cluster
This Hubble image features the active spiral galaxy Messier 88 (M88), located about 63 million light-years away.
How Small Businesses Are Fueling U.S. Job Growth
Small businesses account for over 80% of U.S. hiring since early 2025, driving nearly 4 million hires a month. See what is fueling this jobs surge.
Giants’ Rafael Devers Makes Agency Change After Trade Report
The San Francisco Giants slugger has more than $225 million remaining on a blockbuster contract signed with the Boston Red Sox.
Millions of Americans are losing their health insurance
The GOP’s Big, Beautiful Bill sought to roll back the Affordable Care Act. Now, the human costs are becoming clear.
Women make up 53% of science & technology ranks
In 2025, more than 81.6 million people in the EU aged 15 to 74 were employed in science and technology, a 1.8% increase from 2024 (corresponding to 1.5 million of people) and a rise of 25.3% over the last decade. Of the 81.6 million people, 52.5% were women (42.8 million), working mainly in service activities. Their share increased by 2.3% compared with 2024 and by an impressive 27.9% compared with 2015, corresponding to an absolute increase of more than 9.3 million women in science and technology...
CAMC Foundation announces $5 Million gift for Vandalia Health Neuroscience Institute
The new facility is expected to open in Fall 2027
Italian Police Uncover Dead Mob Boss’s $230 Million Business Empire
When Matteo Messina Denaro died in 2023, many of his secrets died with him. That began to change with a tip about a wealthy Sicilian woman’s significant assets in a tiny European principality.
A silent kidney crisis is spreading far faster than experts expected
A sweeping global study found that chronic kidney disease now affects nearly 800 million people and has become one of the world's leading causes of death. Often silent in its early stages, the condition is also a major contributor to heart disease and may be even more common than current estimates suggest.
Antarctica’s ice sheet hit a climate tipping point 1 million years ago
A new study suggests Antarctica’s ice sheet hit a climate tipping point about one million years ago, making it far more reactive to temperature and CO2 changes. Researchers warn this surprising sensitivity could offer clues about how the continent may respond to today’s warming world.
Upstate N.Y. cities receive millions from state budget to help with deficits
Changes to the Tier 6 pension plan for more than 830,000 public employees hired after April 2012 included in the state budget is anticipated to take a bite out of this funding.
M&T Bank Stadium renovations add entertainment district
A $435 million renovation at M&T Bank Stadium will introduce an entertainment district, expanded concourse and upgraded amenities.
New Henderson $70M indoor fieldhouse sets opening date
More plans have been unveiled for the new $70 million Henderson indoor sports and entertainment complex.
Traffic and safety upgrades coming to Philadelphia Sports Complex
PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — On Thursday, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, and regional stakeholders announced a nearly $30 million investment in and around th…
State budget delivering $30 million in aid to Syracuse
The city of Syracuse will receive a total of $30 million in additional aid through the 2026-27 state budget, officials said.
Mulit-million dollar plan aims to fix sport complex traffic woes in South Philadelphia
Traffic has long been the nemesis of sports fans heading to South Philadelphia to watch games in-person.
Multi-million dollar plan aims to fix sports complex traffic woes in South Philadelphia
Traffic has long been the nemesis of sports fans heading to South Philadelphia to watch games in-person.
Six Flags bans influencer from all parks 'for life' over safety violation video (exclusive)
Six Flags has banned influencer Allen Ferrell from all of its parks 'for life' after he shared a video sneaking chicken nuggets onto Cedar Point's Millennium Force roller coaster.
The Science of Flavored ENDS: A Response to Bloomberg, Durbin, and the Senate Letter on FDA's Recent Actions
The stakes: half a million American lives every year Cigarette smoking kills roughly 480,000 Americans annually, and nearly 28 million American adults still smoke. Peer-reviewed population modeling estimates that displacing combustion with substantially less harmful nicotine delivery would avert between 1.6 and 6.6 million premature deaths and recover 20.8 to 86.7 million life-years by 2100....
Gov. Shapiro announces major traffic upgrades coming to South Philly, sports complex
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Thursday announced a multi-million dollar plan to address traffic congestion in South Philadelphia and within the sports complex.
Period poverty: A global menstrual health crisis
500 million women lack menstrual health basics. From Gaza to Ethiopia, CARE is turning period poverty into dignity, one community at a time.
Artists drop out of DC Freedom 250 festival over reported political ties
WBFF Fox45 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Baltimore and nearby towns and communities in Maryland, including Annapolis, Crofton, Glen Burnie, Linthicum, Pasadena, Severn, Cockeysville, Dundalk, Essex, Parkville, Owings Mills, Towson, White Marsh, Woodlawn, Hampstead, Sykesville, Taneytown, Westminster, Elkton, Perryville, Pt. Deposit, Rising Sun, Aberdeen, Abingdon, Bel Air, Edgewood, Fallston, Havre De Grace, Columbia, Elkridge, Ellicott City, Fulton, and Ocean City.
Ex-CIA official charged with stealing millions of dollars in gold bars
Federal officials found more than 300 gold bars valued at more than $40 million, as well as about $2 million in cash in David Rush's home
Rochester to receive $20M in aid as part of state budget
It's part of a $135 million package of additional funding, on top of Gov. Kathy Hochul's original budget proposal, to help distressed cities across the state.
Statewide: The unfulfilled promise of mental health courts
Mental health courts have expanded in Illinois. There are 31 of them in 25 counties. But a new report finds about two million Illinoisans are left out.
He left big law, became a DJ to pay his bills, and built sports clubs inside refugee camps. Now he wants more members than Bayern Munich
Jan van Hövell's KLABU turns shipping containers into community hubs for some of the world's 120 million displaced people. PSJ just signed on to help.
Best Buy Ups Quarterly Entertainment Sales 38%
Best Buy May 28 reported a 38.1% surge in first-quarter (ended May 2) same-store entertainment sales, compared with a 15.2% decline in the previous-year period. The entertainment segment, which includes video game hardware and software, books, music CDs and computer software, saw revenue of $577.4 million, or 7% of Best Buy’s domestic revenue of $8.2 … Continue reading "Best Buy Ups Quarterly Entertainment Sales 38%"
Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) and Three Other Science and Technology Institutes Launch Korea’s Largest Student Startup League, “GRAVITY 2026” to Foster Global Startups
-Offering a total prize pool of KRW 200 million and overseas acceleration opportunities, the program provides full-scale support for student startup teams preparing to debut on the global stage.
Heastie: State budget includes additional funding for Buffalo
State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said at least $55 million is coming to Buffalo, including $30 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance.
American Gaming Association CEO on prediction markets: The vast majority of their business is sports betting
Bill Miller, American Gaming Association president and CEO, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss his thoughts on the CFTC's plan to regulate prediction markets, sports gambling vs. prediction markets, news of Fertitta Entertainment buying Caesars Entertainment, and more.
Garner Health Raises $100 Million to Expand Best-Doctor Ranking
Garner Health, a startup that’s developed a financial incentive for patients to go to high-quality doctors, raised $100 million in a late-stage funding round to expand the company’s reach.
Follow the money: Who's backing California's next governor
Spending on the California governor’s race is breaking records, and it’s not just Tom Steyer’s $213 million in contributions
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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