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Health professionals say Hantavirus outbreak won’t lead to another pandemic
As health officials around the world monitor an outbreak of Hantavirus, related to a cruise ship that traveled across the Atlantic, professionals from the World Health Organization on down say it w…
Man Wearing Smart Glasses Secretly Records Woman, Demands Money to Delete Video From His Socials
A man who recorded a woman without her knowledge for a viral video said he would only remove the clip as a "paid service."
Sen. John Fetterman — again — says he won’t leave the Democratic Party in late-night interview
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he's a "committed Democrat" during a late-night talk show interview Friday. His comments followed renewed speculation of a party switch.
‘My ambition is to change the country,’ AOC says when asked about seeking higher office in 2028
New York’s Democratic representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brushed off question about run for presidency
No, AI isn’t going to fix the loneliness epidemic — it may make it worse
Stories abound of people falling in love or developing friendship with a chatbot. But that doesn’t actually solve the loneliness problem.
WA filing week closes as Democrats chase supermajority in Olympia
Washington state's candidate filing week sets up key legislative races as Democrats look to expand control and potentially secure a supermajority.
Colorado needs a sane, viable opposition party
If you are upset with the increasing regulatory burden in Colorado, the exodus of too many large employers, accelerating property taxes, the condition of the roads, and all of the funding for transit schemes with low demand, of course, you can lay the blame on Democrats who control all levers of state government. The same […]
For a Moment, It Looked as if Trump’s Efforts to Rig the Midterms Had Failed. Then Three Things Happened.
Just two weeks ago, the redistricting wars appeared to be resolving in Democrats’ favor.
Why memory stocks are the tech sector's hottest trade
Memory stocks are soaring as AI drives demand. Sandisk, Micron, and Sansung are some of the stocks driving the rally.
Actor known for ‘Shawshank Redemption’ role dies at 87
He passed away peacefully on April 26, according to his online obituary.
Redistricting Ruling in Virginia Adds to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Headaches
Gov. Abigail Spanberger had initially been skeptical of the push for new maps, but as the state’s leading Democrat she had a political stake in its fate.
Nebraska’s ‘blue dot’ becomes the center of a closely watched Democratic primary fight
Omaha may be a blue dot in a sea of Nebraska red, but that point of political pride has sparked a bitter divide among Democrats in one of the nation’s most closely watched congressional races.
Top Maryland Democrat is fighting for his job after resisting redistricting plan
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) faces a tough primary challenge after defying Democratic leaders including Gov. Wes Moore on redistricting.
Democrats shy away from questions on whether Harris should run for president in 2028
House Democrats are shying away from endorsing Kamala Harris for a 2028 presidential run as names like Newsom, Shapiro and Whitmer are also being discussed.
Are legal challenges to Memphis redistricting likely to win?
In the wake of Tennessee Republicans carving new U.S. House districts, Democrats ran to the courts for help. Are they likely to prevail?
How Democrats’ redistricting luck ran out: From the Politics Desk
Plus, this week showed why Trump’s grip on the GOP can be a double-edged sword for the party.
Whoop health-tracker new AI and on-demand doctor features
If you own a Whoop fitness-tracking wearable, you’ll want to check out these new updates surrounding medical records and AI insights.
A state-by-state guide to the redistricting fight
Republicans have opened up an advantage in a national redistricting battle among states after a pair of court rulings that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities and invalidated a key Democratic redistricting effort.
A different kind of leader: Scaling impact in geospatial science
David Page, head of the Geographic Data Science Section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, leads with a focus on judgment, collaboration and empowering teams. Drawing on experience in academia, entrepreneurship and national security science, he has helped advance faster, scalable geospatial analysis while building resilient, forward-looking research teams.
Chinese buyer plans partial residential conversion at Wacker Drive office building
The deal is part of two major trends: A wave of downtown office buildings trading at fractions of their pre-pandemic values and office-to-residential conversions.
Alabama lawmakers pass plan for new U.S. House primary if courts allow different districts
Demonstrators outside the Alabama Statehouse on Friday shouted “fight for democracy” and “down with white supremacy.”
Top House Democrat vows to go ‘all in’ on 2028 gerrymandering push after Virginia setback
Hakeem Jeffries predicted his party would still win the US House in November despite the GOP’s now-clear advantage in the nationwide redistricting fight.
How to Manage Your Health Anxiety About Hantavirus
A deadly hantavirus cluster on a cruise ship is reviving pandemic-era fears.
Why the hantavirus cruise outbreak is not the next pandemic, according to WHO
Experts say because this strain of hantavirus typically requires prolonged or intimate contact, it is not as contagious as covid during the pandemic.
In California governor race, single-payer healthcare is a litmus test. There’s still no way to pay for it
Single-payer healthcare is a central talking point in the chaotic race for California governor. In a crowded field, top-polling Democrats are declaring their support for a government-run health system but providing few details about how they’d accomplish it.
‘The hill just got a little steeper’: Dems reel after Virginia Supreme Court voids redistricting referendum ahead of midterms
The Hidden Challenge of Seasonal Hiring — and How Smart Businesses Solve It
Hiring for seasonal demand is just the first step. But small businesses can go the extra mile to speed up onboarding, make new hires feel welcome and keep pace with demand in real-time.
Experts worry 'we are not prepared' for pandemic under Trump, RFK Jr.
The hantavirus outbreak is not the start of a pandemic, officials say. But experts worry about the nation's preparedness for public health threats.
Funding crisis in Argentina sparks new wave of protests
Two years after the country’s research funding collapsed, scientists are demonstrating against the government’s failure to restore previously cut scholarships and increase salaries as required by a 2025 law.
Metabolic liver disease to hit 1.8bn by 2050, and other health stories
Top health news: Metabolic liver disease is on the rise; Global pandemic treaty deadline missed again; Hantavirus cases linked to cruise ship.
Berkeley Lab’s Kristin Persson Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The Materials Project founder is among the 252 new academy members inducted this year.
Virginia Supreme Court strikes down Democrats’ redistricting plan, dimming party’s midterm hopes
Voters narrowly approved the amendment April 21, but the court's ruling renders the results of that vote meaningless.
Court rejects Virginia redistricting in a blow to Democrats' counter to Trump, GOP
Virginia voters approved redistricting that could help Democrats pick up four House seats. Democrats said it was to counter the gains that Trump and the GOP have picked up in Republican-led states.
Virginia Supreme Court blocks Democratic-drawn congressional map voters approved in April
The court ruled that Democrats did not follow proper procedure when they put the constitutional amendment on the ballot in an effort to flip four House seats.
Virginia Supreme Court rules on new congressional map
The ruling is a significant victory for Republicans in the state, who argued the map was an "unconstitutional power grab," and would grant Democrats a 10-1 advantage.
Virginia Supreme Court blocks referendum that would have helped Democrats win up to four more US House seats
The Virginia Supreme Court voided Democrats’ attempt to redraw the state’s US House map in an April referendum.
In Huge Blow to Democrats, Virginia Court Strikes Down House Map
The decision by the state’s top court is a major victory for Republicans, wiping away a measure approved by voters to allow Democrats to gain as many as four House seats in the midterms.
Official Feature Entertainment Group (OFEG) Announces Strategic Alliance with Nubian TV to Expand Digital Distribution
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Official Feature Entertainment Group (“OFEG”), a next-generation entertainment and media platform focused on premium digital access and scalable content experiences, today announced a strategic alliance with Nubian TV, a Boston-based OTT distribution platform operated by Leverett Media. The collaboration is designed to support OFEG’s Phase I rollout of live-stream and on-demand content distribution, expanding audience reach through integrat
Fitness wearable Whoop to offer on-demand clinician access to U.S. users
Whoop is introducing on-demand clinician access and AI-powered health guidance, largely included in the price of membership.
Democrats Might Actually Win Iowa
Are the party’s hopes for the Hawkeye State real, or just another mirage?
Posthumous degree to be awarded to former animal science student
Alison Ciancio, a former animal science student, will posthumously be awarded her degree in recognition of her academic dedication, service to others and lasting impact on the Iowa State University community.
AI, Democracy And The Politics Of The Kitchen Table
AI is becoming a kitchen table issue as data centers, electricity bills, jobs, privacy, children and democracy collide before the 2026 midterms.
Quid pro no-no: When campaign contributions become a crime
When prosecutors criminalize politics, democracy becomes the defendant.
Liberia’s community health assistants are up at dawn to work at the healthcare frontline
Launched after the Ebola epidemic of 2014–2016, the community health assistant programme has proven itself valuable. Is it now at risk?
Marbling trend relentless, business on the move
Marbling improvements drive beef quality higher, reshaping market dynamics and consumer demand for premium cuts.
‘People are not passive’: Newsom and top California Democrats move behind the scenes in governor’s race
California Democratic leaders have shifted their strategy to prevent their party from being locked out of the governor’s race: Instead of thinking about consolidating the field, they have turned to behind-the-scenes operations and political spending aimed at tamping down Republicans and building up Democratic turnout.
Dr. Chloe Carmichael on political breakups destroying American friendships
Clinical psychologist Dr. Chloe Carmichael discusses a study revealing politics destroys American friendships, with Democrats leading in ending relationships.
Anger mounts after Tennessee Republicans redraw maps
Legislature has eliminated the state’s one Democratic, Black-majority congressional district
See How the G.O.P. Cut Up Tennessee’s Only Majority Black District
A recent Supreme Court ruling makes it much harder to argue that a map illegally dilutes Black voting power. Tennessee has since broken up a predominantly Black district.
Anti-woke Vivek Ramaswamy confronts racism in his run for Ohio governor
Vivek Ramaswamy built a political brand casting racism as an obsession of Democrats. As a Republican running for Ohio governor, he’s facing racism on the right.
How a charity basketball game became a flashpoint in Louisiana’s tense redistricting fight
Democrats have few tools to halt Republican moves on redistricting, but they are making clear their displeasure at potentially losing majority-Black districts.
MARY BRUNKOW
A chance discovery made around 80 years ago paved the way for Mary Brunkow’s painstaking work, which contributed to redefining how the immune system functions. From investigating an obscure gene dismissed as ‘junk’ by other scientists, to choosing to opt out of academia and conduct her research at a biotech startup, Brunkow has embraced the unexpected throughout her career.
‘Infinity Castle’ and ‘GOAT’ Buoy Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Total Sales Numbers for the Fiscal Year
Animated titles including "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaibe The Movie, GOAT and Chainsaw Man— The Movie: Reze Arc helped Sony Pictures Entertainment bring in $9.917 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2026.
Sony Pictures' FY Sales Boosted By Crunchyroll But Flat Overall Due To Pixomondo Shutdown
Full year sales were flat at around $9.917B for the year ending March 2026 as anime titles helped offset a one-time loss due to the shutdown of Pixomondo
Nihar Gala Scholarship Program for American Entrepreneurs Launches to Support Emerging American Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
Seaford, Delaware--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2026) - The Nihar Gala Scholarship for American Entrepreneurs officially opens its application cycle, offering a strategic opportunity for undergraduate students and aspiring business professionals across the United States. This initiative focuses on identifying the next generation of innovators who demonstrate resilience and a clear vision for the future of the American economy. By providing financial support and a platform for creative thought, Nihar
Asus ExpertBook Ultra 14 with Core Ultra X7 launches today for an insane $3599 price tag
The ExpertBook Ultra definitely impressed us at CES 2026 with its thin design and tandem OLED touchscreen, but it's gonna cost customers an arm and a leg.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Earnings Q4 2025 and Fiscal 2025
Sony Pictures Entertainment turned in roughly flat revenue for fiscal year 2025, as higher sales at its Crunchyroll anime streamer and its global blockbuster film "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle" were offset by overall lower revenue from theatrical releases.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Revenue Flat for Fiscal Year 2025 at $9.9 Billion, Profit Takes Hit From Shutdown of Pixomondo VFX Division
Sony Pictures Entertainment revenue came in roughly flat for fiscal year 2025, as higher sales at its Crunchyroll anime streamer and the success of global blockbuster film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle” were offset by overall lower revenue from theatrical releases. For the year ended March 31, 2026, Sony Pictures Entertainment had sales …
‘They are such liars’: TN Democrat slams Republicans for redrawn map that she calls ‘racist’
TAMEST Executive Director Visits Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to Strengthen Research Collaboration
TTUHSC welcomed Terrence Henry, executive director of the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology (TAMEST), for a campus visit aimed at strengthening partnerships and expanding research engagement opportunities across Texas.
Deal or no deal? Gov. Hochul says pencils down, Albany Democrats say not so fast
Rep. Jeffries sent Rep. Morelle to meet with Hochul and legislative leaders.
Trends in Female First Authorship in Anatomical Science International: A 24-Year Analysis (2002-2025)
In recent years, the promotion of gender equity and diversity in academic research has attracted increasing international attention. However, studies examining gender differences in authorship w...
DeMonye's Greenhouse in Columbus slated for demolition after nearly a century in business
Fetterman Says He Has ‘No Plans’ to Leave the Democratic Party
In an opinion piece in The Washington Post, the Pennsylvania senator wrote that while he was “at odds” with the party’s approach to some issues, his values had not changed.
New certificate focuses on civically engaged health equity
The Department of Biobehavioral Health in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development has launched a new undergraduate certificate in Civically Engaged Health Equity, designed to prepare students to work in and with local communities on efforts related to health equity. The certificate is ideally suited for students interested in public health, healthcare, health promotion, social epidemiology, and other community-oriented careers, but it is open to all undergraduates at Penn State University Park.
Mess Fest returns to Orlando Science Center May 9–10 with messy, hands-on physics
Mess Fest is back at Orlando Science Center May 9–10, and I got a media preview of the messy, hands-on fun (including 3 experiments outside). Expect washable paint, physics demos, and big reactions—plus it’s included with general admission (members get in free).
Can blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drugs also protect brain health?
UCSF experts share their research on medications’ potential to slow or reduce risk of dementia and to treat the triggers that drive addiction.
Tennessee Approves New Map Aimed at Flipping the Last Democratic Seat
After a Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Republicans carved up a majority-Black Memphis seat as the national redistricting wars continue.
Soybean industry gets $14 million boost from USDA
The Department of Agriculture is hoping to grow global demand for American soy.
Trump demands Hakeem Jeffries be charged with inciting violence with 'maximum warfare' rhetoric
President Trump accused Hakeem Jeffries of inciting violence, tying the Democrat's "maximum warfare" rhetoric to the recent assassination scare.
Colbert on time slot not going to traditional late-night show: ‘None of my business’
Comedian Stephen Colbert demurred when asked about the time slot on CBS he will soon vacate not being replaced by a traditional late-night show. “It’s none of my business,” Colbert said…
Tennessee approves House map to eliminate Democratic-held seat
Republicans in the state could hold a 9-0 advantage in the U.S. House with their new map, the first approved since the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act.
Bill Would Stop Sports Blackouts
New legislation led by democratic Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin would stop professional sports leagues from blacking out games for fans and end the complicated, costly web of streaming services. The […]
Crisis on the sidelines: Youth sports facing epidemic of abuse by adults
Violence among parents at youth sporting events is on the rise, but that’s not the only danger inherent in adult-entrusted settings.
Appeals court appears poised to reject Hegseth’s bid to punish Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video
A federal appeals court appeared ready Thursday to reject Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s effort to punish Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over his call to US service members to refuse illegal orders.
Yerby Fellows present new research on mental health, stress, and HIV | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Yerby Fellowship Program provides a bridge between academic training in public health-related fields and entry-level faculty positions.
The National Academy of Sciences Elects Two Berkeley Lab Researchers
Two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. They are part of a cohort of 120 new members and 25 international members. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that was established under a congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. It recognizes achievement in science by election to membership, and — alongside the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine — provides science, engineering, and health policy advice to the federal government and other organizations. The 2026 electees bring the total number of active members to 2,705 with 557 international members. Gary Karpen is a biologist senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biological Systems and Engineering Division and a Professor of Cell and Developmental Physiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. Karpen studies how the structure, organization, and maintenance of genetic material impact inheritance and cell function. His lab focuses on chromatin — a packaged form of DNA strands wrapped around proteins that comprises our chromosomes — with a particular emphasis on centromeres, rarely expressed sequences called heterochromatin, DNA repair, and regulatory RNAs. His research reveals insights into fundamental aspects of nuclear organization and genome regulation that are shared across the tree of life, broadening our understanding of cancer and other diseases, birth defects, and aging. Kam-Biu Luk is a Professor Emeritus of physics at UC Berkeley and a retired senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Physics Division. He is an experimental particle physicist whose research has focused on neutrinos: nearly massless, electrically neutral elementary particles that can pass through matter virtually undetected. Neutrinos are created during radioactive decay processes, including the fusion process occurring in stars and the fission process that powers nuclear reactors. Luk initiated and co-led the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment, a project based in China with more than 200 international collaborators. In 2012, the Daya Bay experiment discovered a new form of a phenomenon called “neutrino oscillation” in which neutrinos change from one type to another. For this discovery, Luk and his collaborator Yifan Wang received the 2014 American Physical Society Division of Particles and Fields W.K.H. Panofsky Prize for outstanding work in experimental particle physics, and he was also the co-recipient of the 2016 Breakthrough Prize. Luk is currently participating in the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) hosted by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which will investigate any potential difference in behavior between neutrinos and antineutrinos that may shed light on the evolution of the universe, especially why antimatter is absent in the present universe. ### Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is committed to groundbreaking research focused on discovery science and solutions for abundant and reliable energy supplies. The lab’s expertise spans materials, chemistry, physics, biology, earth and environmental science, mathematics, and computing. Researchers from around the world rely on the lab’s world-class scientific facilities for their own pioneering research. Founded in 1931 on the belief that the biggest problems are best addressed by teams, Berkeley Lab and its scientists have been recognized with 17 Nobel Prizes. Berkeley Lab is a multiprogram national laboratory managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.
Syracuse, National Grid & Micron Team Up for 3rd STEM of Sports Academy
Syracuse Athletics, in partnership with National Grid and Micron Technology, are proud to present the third annual STEM of Sports Academy. This program creat...
NASA’s Prithvi Becomes First AI Geospatial Foundation Model In Orbit
A team of researchers demonstrated NASA and IBM’s open-source Prithvi Geospatial artificial intelligence foundation model aboard two in-orbit platforms.
Sphere Entertainment generated $386.4M in Q1 revenues, up 38% YoY – driven by The Wizard of Oz and concert
‘Today’s results demonstrate our continued success proving out Sphere’s business model,’ said Executive Chairman and CEO James L.
Class of 2026: Academic Renewal Helps Lucas Koon Right His Path to a Business Degree
Business major Lucas Koon returns to UNCG after a first-year misfire to graduate with a 3.5 GPA and internship experience from Volvo.
Demise of Crypto MAGA Sponsor in Poland Sparks Political Furor
The downfall of Poland’s biggest digital asset trading platform is causing trouble for Donald Trump’s ally in the presidential palace.
College of Science recognizes Outstanding Seniors and Excellence in Undergraduate Research Awardees
Students were nominated by their home departments in recognition of their outstanding academic work, research participation, community engagement, extracurricular activities, leadership, and more.
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
Meet the School of Biological Sciences Class of 2026 | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) School of Biological Sciences (SBS) takes an innovative approach to advanced science education. Graduates of the doctoral program go on to pursue a wide range of careers across academia and industry. On May 3, the SBS awarded six graduates Ph.D. degrees. Here, the class of 2026 reflects on their...
The 15 best moments in historic Iowa Hawkeyes sports year
Register sports columnist reflects on Iowa's 2025-26 sports year by ranking the top 15 Hawkeye moments in football, basketball and wrestling.
Republicans poised to vote on new House map that would erase Democratic seat in Tennessee
Such a move could reshape the electoral map ahead of the midterms by carving up a majority-Black congressional district
Is the FDA Really Suppressing Science? Plus. . .
It’s Thursday, May 7. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Aaron MacLean says Trump is poised to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in the Iran war. Joe Klein on the life of CNN founder Ted Turner. Jillian Lederman on why cruise ships are here to stay. And much more. But first: Is the FDA suppressing science? On Tuesday, The New York Times published a story with an alarming takeaway. “FDA Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe,” read the headline. It is the latest in a string of stories that all have the same message: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other agencies, are engaged in a cover-up—and silencing scientists trying to get the word out about the Covid vaccine. What all these stories suggest—some more subtly than others—is that the outsiders now running the public health establishment, officials such as Marty Makary at the FDA and Jay Bhattacharya at the National Institutes of Health, are on a revenge tour. That they are doing harm to the country to get back at the scientists and bureaucrats who ostracized them for deviating from the public-health consensus during the pandemic. It’s a seductive narrative. But is it true? That’s the question we address in our latest editorial. —The Editors Read [ Marty Makary's FDA Has All the Right Enemies ](https://www.thefp.com/p/marty-makary-vaccine-study-fda) [ Trump Blinks First ](https://www.thefp.com/p/iran-peace-deal-pakistan-trump-strait-of-hormuz) Aaron MacLean In return for no detectable concessions, President Trump this week gave up on forcing open the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the Trump administration looks desperate for a deal to end the war with Iran. It’s easy to understand the desire to end the war, but are they blowing the chance at victory? Aaron MacLean makes sense of the administration’s latest moves—and Iran’s response—in his column today. Read full story Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson: Live in New York City Join Aaron MacLean and Niall Ferguson on May 19 for a live recording of School of War at the iconic New York Historical. In a conversation as timely as it is wide-ranging, Aaron and Niall will explore the strategic stakes of the moment, including the Middle East, China, and the future of American leadership on the global stage. Get Tickets Now [ Ted Turner, the Optimist Who Built CNN ](https://www.thefp.com/p/ted-turner-cnn-tribute) Joe Klein The man who gave us CNN and the 24-hour news cycle, Ted Turner, died Wednesday at the age of 87. Today, political writer Joe Klein—who almost ghostwrote Turner’s autobiography—remembers his friend, the American media mogul who stood out for his idealism and lack of a filter—something that got Turner in trouble more than once. “His was not a traditional intelligence, but one of horizon: Ted saw things before other people did,” Joe writes. Read full story [ Nothing Can Sink the Cruise Ship ](https://www.thefp.com/p/cruise-ship-hantavirus) Jillian Lederman A viral outbreak on a cruise ship that left three passengers dead has left some people wondering: Are cruise ships on the way out? Not so fast, says Jillian Lederman, who has been on many a cruise herself. Read her piece on why 38 million people a year take a cruise—and aren’t about to stop. Read full story [ The Great Writers Who Were Terrible People ](https://www.thefp.com/p/the-great-writers-who-were-terrible) Shilo Brooks Throughout history, some of the greatest literary geniuses have also been immoral bigots. In the latest episode of Old School, Shilo Brooks is joined by Eli Lake for a conversation about those geniuses, from Voltaire to Norman Mailer and Roald Dahl—and why we should read their work despite their odious prejudices. Listen on MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS [ Inside the Digital Intifada ](https://www.thefp.com/p/digital-intifada-social-media-hamas-terror) Warren Kinsella Read full story [ This Week in American History: Trump’s Over-Arching Problem ](https://www.thefp.com/p/this-week-in-american-history-trumps-over-arching-problem) Jonathan Horn Read full story [ Humanity Is Still Evolving—and Fast ](https://www.thefp.com/p/humanity-is-still-evolvingand-fast) Razib Khan Read full story THE NEWS Thirteen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers have been placed on administrative leave and could face termination after an internal investigation found evidence that crime statistics were manipulated to make the city look safer. The Republican-led House Oversight Committee previously alleged that former D.C. police chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to skew data. Tennessee Republicans unveiled a redrawn U.S. House map yesterday that would split up Memphis’s black-majority Democratic district, the latest move in a nationwide push to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The effort follows a Supreme Court ruling last week on Louisiana’s districts, which Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said gave states the green light to redraw maps along partisan lines. Israel struck Beirut for the first time since a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect last month, saying it targeted a commander of the militant group’s elite Radwan force in the city’s southern suburbs. The strikes risk destabilizing that truce at a delicate moment, as Iran and the U.S. report progress toward a deal to resolve their own standoff. The U.S. Air Force is aiming for a Fourth of July delivery of a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, hoping to add it to the Air Force One fleet in time for the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Reuters reported. (For more on the controversy surrounding the aircraft, read Jed Rubenfeld’s piece “It’s a Terrible Idea, but Trump Probably Can Accept a Free Jet from Qatar.”) Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified privately before Congress that he has no memory of why he and his family dined on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to Reuters. The admission contradicts Lutnick’s earlier claim that he had cut ties with the convicted sex offender well before that visit. Weeks before a former JPMorgan investment banker filed a lawsuit packed with explosive allegations, the bank reportedly offered him $1 million to settle his sexual assault and harassment claims, according to The Wall Street Journal. The suit, filed by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted by a female colleague, subjected to racial discrimination, and forced into a degrading dynamic at work. JPMorgan says the claims lack merit, and the female colleague’s lawyers call the accusations fabricated. A new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows that, for the first time in roughly 20 years, church attendance is trending upward, with more people volunteering and clergy expressing renewed optimism. The study’s authors described the findings, based on a survey of more than 7,400 congregations, as showing signs of widespread recovery from low attendance numbers.
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