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Yuji Horii reveals Dragon Quest stream for 40th anniversary with next big game reveal
Yuji Horii said on the KosoKoso podcast that fans will get to see the next Dragon Quest game on 27th May. Square Enix will be holding a special livestream to celebrate the franchise’s big 40th…
2026 Multi-country Hantavirus Cluster Linked to Cruise Ship
The CDC is issuing this HAN Health Advisory about a new cluster of hantavirus disease cases
Review: Morgan Wallen opens Indianapolis run with sprawling set
Wallen’s stop marked the first concert at Lucas Oil since Billy Joel and Sting. Takeaways from his first of two Indianapolis outings:
‘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
Small Business Week highlights family-owned companies
'Fox & Friends Weekend' celebrates National Small Business Week, showcasing three family-owned businesses. Cornhole Games USA, Auburn Leathercrafters and Prayer Bowls present their American-made products and stories.
I cashed out my retirement to pay for my son's school
I used my retirement savings to pay for my son's specialized school. It wasn't easy, but it changed his life.
Google Pixel phones will probably let you ditch the search bar in Android 17 QPR1 [Video]
A new leak showcases an incoming ability for Google Pixel phones to turn off the built-in search bar that has...
Health influencers are all over social media. How to be smarter when vetting claims
A new survey finds about half of U.S. adults under 50 get health information from social media influencers or podcasts.
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United: Key stats and talking points
Having had their dreams of European glory ruthlessly dashed by Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest must now pick themselves up and secure the points they need to secure their Premier League status for next season. Six points clear of West Ham with three games to go, four points would definitely see them stay up, but a win should also prove to be enough given their vastly superior goal difference over the Hammers. The improvement by Vitor Pereira's side in front of goal in recent weeks has been astonishing.
'Comedy Bang! Bang!' brings ‘Ground Beefing’ to Madison
The popular comedy podcast features performers improvising fake characters. Host Scott Aukerman is bringing the show to the Barrymore Theatre May 27.
'The Sports Advisors' Podcast Debuts with LIV Golf Deep Dive
Actionable intelligence from senior operators who have built, bought, sold, programmed, monetized, and scaled sports businesses.
Unscripted: Met Gala one step on a journey toward viewing fashion as art [entertainment column]
Decades ago, I read a magazine essay that posited that fashion is a type of art — one you wear on your body to express yourself.
After 45 years, Susquehanna Chorale leader to take a bow [video]
In 1981, Linda Tedford met with 11 other singers for their first performance as a budding chorale. They filled the historic St. Peter’s Kierch in Middletown with harmony, performing songs
Whisky business: Investors pin hopes on Trump’s Scotch tariff reversal after dire three years
President Trump's decision to ditch the 10% tariff on Scotch whisky could boost the market for premium cask collecting.
HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’: Kevin McKidd Responds to Arthur Weasley Speculation
A certain Instagram follow has fans thinking McKidd has been cast in a magical HBO project.
Kansas City bar owner says mayor’s World Cup hours decision will cost his business thousands
Mayor Quinton Lucas said he will introduce a measure to prevent Kansas City bars from staying open 23 hours per day during the World Cup, despite state law allowing the extended hours.
Steelers Afternoon Drive: Reaction to Rodgers, Refs & Rookie Camp
Welcome to the Steelers Afternoon Drive, our new daily podcast featuring all the latest Steelers news and analysis. Alan Saunders […] This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Afternoon Drive: Reaction to Rodgers, Refs & Rookie Camp
Wisconsin shines at national business attraction showcase
Wisconsin shines at national business attraction showcase, highlighting strengths in advanced manufacturing, biohealth, and more.
Health officials warn of potential measles exposure at Roslyn Heights restaurant
A laboratory verified a measles case in a New York City resident, who potentially exposed the highly contagious disease to patrons who visited the 388 Italian Restaurant in Roslyn Heights on May 3.
Big Bets Report: Fan Waves White Flag on Lakers, Pockets $13k
Patrick Everson breaks down how one bettor cashed in their chips on a potential $500k payout. That and more in this week's big bets.
Walmart’s new 4K Google TV stick is the Chromecast replacement I needed [Gallery]
Walmart is in the process of launching its new Google TV streamer lineup and, while I’m pretty intrigued by the...
Trump Has a Disturbing Ability to Make Violent Acts of War Sound Way Too Casual
Remember when presidents sounded, you know, presidential?
Fourth-year Purdue Veterinary Student Wins National Simmons Business Aptitude Award
For the first time, a Purdue veterinary student has won the national Simmons Educational Fund (SEF) Business Aptitude Award. The recipient is Luke Bousema of the DVM Class of 2026. The award includes a cash prize of $35,000.
Starz Entertainment Q1 Loss Wider Than Expected, Revenues Fall Y/Y
STRZ posts a wider-than-expected Q1 loss; revenues fall 7.2% YoY and miss estimates, while free cash flow remains positive.
Austin Public Health confirms first Travis County measles case of 2026
Austin Public Health confirmed a measles case in Travis County, the first since 2025, involving an unvaccinated adult male who contracted the virus while travel
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.
NBC Sports' Full WNBA Broadcast Team, Explained: Play-By-Play, Commentators & More
With the WNBA returning to NBC and debuting on Peacock for the 2026 season, here's NBC Sports' all-star roster of broadcasters, analysts and commentators.
From prospect to castaway to favorite: The resurrection of Julian Rodriguez's career
One loss derailed Rodriguez's career, but he's built himself back up heading into Sunday's Zuffa Boxing 06
From Campus to Capitol Hill: Stony Brook Students Advocate for Science and Research Funding
Members of Stony Brook University’s student Advocacy Corps recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop, representing the university in the national program focused on science policy and advocacy. The undergraduate students were selected and sponsored by the university’s Office of Federal Relations to attend
Primm business owners, travelers react to closures of casinos, gas stations
Multiple Primm casino-resorts, two I-15 gas stations, and the Lotto Store are set to permanently close July 4, impacting 344 employees, notice says.
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.
Business Schools Need Cash. Some Are Counting On Executive Education
Training corporate bigwigs can pay off handsomely—if schools navigate past the obstacles.
A PvP Analysis on Community Day Oinkologne
Sorry ol’ JRE has been quieter of late, Pokéfriends. Just been a very busy (and occasionally very stressful) couple of months as we approach the midway point of 2026 (already?!), and the time to write with now three high schoolers and all else going on has just taken a hit. I haven’t covered all the […]
Lawyers for press dinner gunman seek to disqualify Pirro and Blanche from case citing their presence at event
The legal team of the man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last month has asked the court to disqualify top Department of Justice officials from being involved in his case, arguing there is a conflict of interest because they were present during the incident.
Sony forecasts lower gaming business sales amid memory price surge
By Sam Nussey TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Sony forecast on Friday annual sales at its gaming business would fall 6% to 4.42 trillion yen ($28 billion) due to lower hardware sales as its PlayStation 5 ages and as the industry grapples with a surge in memory chip prices. The Japanese company, however, said it expects gaming profit to rise 30% due to higher first-party software sales and the absence
The shaky policy foundations of California’s overambitious science bond
“Research is best treated as a public good — supported through sustained public investment, not borrowing tied to uncertain returns.”
Bangor public health director reflects on HIV outbreak
Penobscot County has now logged 41 known cases of HIV, but there are likely more.
Saints decline fifth-year option on Tyree Wilson: Best, worst-case scenarios for edge rusher after trade
What's next for Tyree Wilson after the Saints acquired him and chose not to exercise his fifth-year option.
Frame-Gen to 30fps? Lego Batman's "Bizarre" PC Specs Sheet Is a Case Study in How Not To Market a Game
"It's a bad decision and kind of funny."
‘Try to find that edge’: Nebraska college students are betting on sports
Go to WarHorse Casino on any night, and it’s not uncommon to find college students. In 2020, Nebraska voters legalized casino gambling at horse racing tracks, and WarHorse’s Lincoln operation was the first to open in 2022.
Flight attendant tests negative for hantavirus; new case suspected on remote island
The negative test dampens fears that the virus could already be spreading beyond passengers from the Hondius cruise ship.
Lancaster County public sales: May 8, 2026
Martin & Rutt Auctioneers LLC, of New Holland, conducted a public auction of real estate April 28 for Sarah Ann Landis at 616 Pearl St., Lancaster. A three-bedroom brick house
Sony forecasts lower gaming business sales amid memory price surge
STORY: Sony forecast lower sales in its gaming business due to a memory chip price surge.The tech giant said Friday annual sales in the segment would fall 6% to $28 billion.It also blamed lower hardware sales as its PlayStation 5 ages.Although the Japanese company said it expects gaming profit to rise 30%.That's due to higher first-party software sales and no repeat of the impairment loss it recorded a year earlier.Sony has been praised by analysts in recent years for its transformation into an entertainment powerhouse.But markets have grown concerned about the impact of AI on its business, while Sony also faces a perceived lack of growth catalysts.Both factors have weighed on shares in recent months.Investors are also concerned about the impact of a memory-chip price surge.As well as disruption to supply chains from the Iran war on margins at electronics manufacturers.The firm said it sold 1.5 million PS5 consoles in the fourth quarter, which was a 46% drop on the same period a year earlier.Looking ahead, the PS5 is expected to receive a major boost from the launch of the delayed "Grand Theft Auto VI."The game is due to release in November.Sony said in February it had secured the minimum quantity of memory needed to manage the year-end shopping season. Sony also said it sees higher profits at its pictures and chips units but a lower profit at its music business.The group reported operating profit for the year ended March rose 13.4% to $9.2 billion - below analyst forecasts. Meanwhile, rival Nintendo said it expects to sell 16.5 million units of its Switch 2 console in the financial year ending March 2027.It also projects profit to rise 2.7% to $2.36 billion.But, like with Sony, investors are concerned about the possible impact of a memory price surge on margins.
Ex-US Spy, Mole for Israel Enters Politics Citing Major Concerns in Gaza
Decades after being tied to a major spy case, Jonathan Pollard seeks power.
Bill Cassidy has taken political risks to get funding for Louisiana. Will voters care?
Cassidy coasted to reelection six years ago but is fighting for his political life against two other Republicans, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow of Baton Rouge and State Treasurer John Fleming of Minden, in the upcoming May 16 party primary election.
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.
Martin Brundle reacts as Sky Sports extends F1 deal until 2034
Martin Brundle has praised Sky Sports’ renewed F1 deal as a major responsibility and proof of the broadcaster’s long-term commitment to the championship
‘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
Under the Radar: Iowa State’s Gaming and E-Sports Club
AMES — The rise of gaming among college students has turned video games into a competitive outlet, and Iowa State students have found a place to connect through the university’s Gaming and Esports Club. The club gives students opportunities to play competitively and casually across multiple platforms, including consoles, PCs and mobile devices. Members can...
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 …
Minnesota Wild Support Mental Health Awareness Month at Playoff Home Games
Minnesota Wild Support Mental Health Awareness Month at Playoff Home Games The Minnesota Wild will host a monetary drive during Home Playoff Games 3 and 4 of the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena in support of Sophie’s Squad. As the nation recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month, the Wild are proud to spotlight this meaningful partnership and help advance [...]
Sony forecasts 11% rise in annual profit but lower sales
Sony forecast on Friday its operating profit for the year ending March 2027 would rise 11% to 1.6 trillion yen ($10.20 billion), with higher profit but lower sales at its main gaming business.
Former Celtics' guard shuts down Jaylen for Giannis talk
Speaking on the "Club 520" podcast, Jeff Teague shut down the idea of trading Jaylen Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo
2 early Lightning trade targets after Game 7 Canadiens loss
The Lightning have lost in the first round on four consecutive occasions, potentially putting them in the trade market this offseason.
Hot August Nights’ Spring Fever kickoff event starts Friday with classic cars, live music, and entertainment at Atlantis Casino
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
The Real Danger to Women Isn’t Hormone Therapy, It’s Bad Science
Are all hormones created equal? Drs Rachel Rubin and Kelly Casperson unpack the missing details in recent menopause research and explain why nuance matters.
New Missouri law aims to protect small businesses from 'sue-and-settle' cases
A new Missouri law will offer protections for small business owners facing "sue-and-settle" cases over alleged web accessibility violations — lawsuits some leaders call "predatory."
Red Sox's Roman Anthony headed to IL while recovering from hand injury, says it's 'nothing too serious'
Makar, Nelson nominated for NHL awards
Will another Norris and Selke get added to the trophy case?
How Disneyland Remade American Politics
America is turning 250, and The Free Press is marking the occasion with a yearlong series of events, conversations, and stories celebrating our country’s history. Today, we’re taking a journey with historian Beverly Gage to Southern California. Beverly traded the archives for the open road for her new book, This Land is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History. We’re proud to publish an excerpt, on the theme park that shaped American politics—and the presidents who loved it. —The Editors On July 17, 1955, Ronald Reagan stood near a mocked-up wood-plank town in Anaheim, California, where a 13-star flag flew incongruously over an “Old West” landscape, and introduced the world to Disneyland. He had been invited by Walt Disney himself to co-host the park’s live ABC broadcast, alongside Art Linkletter and Bob Cummings—three Hollywood actors who seemed to embody a wholesome, all-American ethos. From the imagined past of Frontierland, the show leaped ahead to Tomorrowland, set in the far-off year of 1986, emphasizing the technical marvels yet to come: nuclear energy harnessed for civilian purposes, human beings riding rocket ships into space. Disney foretold great things for a 1980s in which the United States would serve as “a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” But even he could not predict the most important political fact of the age: that his genial co-host would become president. Southern California was a strange place to build a park about the past, because the region at the time was all about newness and abundance and growth. For a lot of its history, Orange County had been Southern California’s version of flyover country: a vast agricultural expanse between two desirable places, Los Angeles and San Diego. But Disneyland was changing that. Before long, 50 miles south of deep-blue Hollywood, Orange County would become a region famed for its right-wing politics—but also for its mythmaking skills. Those two things, it turned out, went naturally together. ADVERTISEMENT The two presidents Southern California gave America both understood this instinctively. Richard Nixon and Reagan each built a national career on invoking a version of the American past in which the specificities of historical context mattered less than the big picture. For Nixon, progress meant proclaiming a “New American Revolution” on the eve of America’s bicentennial while dismantling the federal programs that had built the postwar middle class. For Reagan, it meant recapturing a lost optimism and an old-fashioned faith in America as an exceptional nation. Both men were less interested in history as it actually happened than in history as it felt—and Orange County, a place that had built itself almost entirely from scratch, turned out to be exactly where the myth of America’s future was getting made. I’m a historian—and historians tend to be myth-busters. With the country’s 250th birthday on the horizon, I figured it was a good time to step out of the ivory tower and check in with the past as it exists here and now, at the museums and monuments and roadside attractions where Americans go to learn about their history. After all my travels—to Davy Crockett’s Tennessee and Texas, to the real Erie Canal, to the birthplace of the American automobile and the actual Old West—I couldn’t miss out on Disneyland, the single most influential historic attraction in U.S. history.
Indosat CEO Vikram Sinha is building an AI for Indonesia’s local languages. Can he make a business case for sovereignty?
Vikram Sinha wants Sahabat AI to be a platform for Indonesia's startups—even if he admits his team can't quite think of a "business case" right now.
Attorney for SPLC expecting a superseding indictment in fraud case
During the initial hearing in the Justice Department’s fraud case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, an attorney for the civil rights group said he believes a second indictment might be coming in the case.
OpenAI introduces new 'Trusted Contact' safeguard for cases of possible self-harm
The company is expanding its efforts to protect ChatGPT users in cases where conversations may turn to self-harm.
Connecting climate science and storytelling at Mission Hill Middle School
Working with seventh grade science teachers Sallie Corbin and Christy Fairbairn, Lookout developed a science communication workshop to support students’ climate change research projects and help students think about how complex scientific ideas can be communicated clearly and meaningfully. The visit introduced students to the basics of journalism, storytelling and audience engagement, with support from UC Santa Cruz science communication graduate student and Lookout intern Cassidy Beach. Students later presented their climate change projects at Mission Hill’s Climate Change Symposium through creative formats including videos, games, comics, sculptures and interactive activities. The partnership marks one of Lookout’s first middle school classroom visits as part of its growing educational initiative focused on media literacy, civic engagement and local journalism.
David Attenborough Has Inspired Countless Scientists. To Mark His 100th Birthday, Here Are Ten Living Things They've Named After Him
Researchers around the planet grew up watching documentaries hosted by the English broadcaster and naturalist, which sparked their love of the natural world. Now, their discoveries become tributes to his legacy
Starz Entertainment Corp. Reports Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2026
STARZ Delivers Positive Operating Cash Flow and Accelerates Margin Expansion Timeline OTT Revenue Grew Sequentially to $211.1 Million Net Cash Provided by...
Xenon Reports Q1 2026 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
Reported positive topline data from Phase 3 X-TOLE2 study of azetukalner in FOS in March and anticipate NDA submission in Q3 2026Five additional Phase 3 studies of azetukalner continue to enroll in epilepsy and depression indications with Phase 3 X-NOVA2 MDD topline data expected in H1 2027 Phase 1 studies of novel NaV1.7 (XEN1701) and KV7 (XEN1120) candidates expected to complete H2 2026 to support Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies in pain Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $1.3
Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs wraps 2026 thoroughbred season
The 2026 spring thoroughbred racing season has officially concluded at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs after 28 days of live racing and more than $20 million in wagers, a significant
Why ‘Today’s Dylan Dreyer Once Feared Her Son Had Skin Cancer
Dreyer opened up about the recent health scare on her podcast.
ICYMI: Rep. Smucker in York Daily Record: From Main Street to family farms, small businesses power region
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Rep. Smucker (PA-11), Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee and senior member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, published an op-ed in recognition of Small Business Week in the York Daily Record, highlighting the ways small businesses bolster our economy.
Netflix will reportedly broadcast Week 1 49ers-Rams game in Australia
Roundup: All The Biggest Xbox Reveals From The Nacon Connect Showcase 2026
Here's what we saw
Bryan Police searching for man accused of exposing himself inside local business
Police are encouraging anyone who recognizes the man or has information related to the case to come forward.
Healthy Returns: First Ozempic generics in Canada will be a test case for Novo Nordisk
New generics in Canada likely mark the start of a decline in international revenue of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo's Ozempic and Wegovy.
Microsoft internal document shows buyout offers to US employees
Microsoft offered buyouts to thousands of US employees to cut costs amid AI infrastructure spending plans. The offers include cash and insurance.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS: Olivia Rodrigo, Survivor casting call
Renee DiNino shares some entertainment news, including Olivia Rodrigo tickets and a Survivor casting call.
Women lead as health and wellness influencers. Why do so many men have more followers?
The dominance in that online space comes as 4 in 10 U.S. adults say they get health and wellness information from social media influencers or podcasts.
Hantavirus cruise LIVE: World Health Organization hosts briefing as authorities race to track contacts from cruise ship infections
Thursday, May 7, 2026: The latest news and updates on the hantavirus cluster associated with the MV Hondius. The cruise ship is on course to arrive in Spain on Saturday while health authorities trace contact cases from the roughly 40 people who have already disembarked.
Recognizing excellence in global health: Student Research Showcase winners
The 2026 Harvard Global Health Student Research Showcase, held in partnership with the Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, brought together an interdisciplinary community of students, researchers, and faculty committed to addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
OpenClaw and Claude can put your AI-generated podcasts in Spotify
Your own personal AI podcast feed.
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.
MasterClass is 50% off today. It's worth it just for the entertainment
Until May 10th, MasterClass annual plans start at $60/year. It's great for casual learners who want high-quality, entertaining courses from big names.
Moms, Coaches, Doctors, Entrepreneurs: Who Are America’s Health and Wellness Influencers?
Half of U.S. adults under 50 say they get health and wellness information from social media influencers or podcasts. About 4 in 10 of these influencers describe themselves as health care professionals; coaches and entrepreneurs are almost as common.
Savannah Guthrie returns to 'Today' after unexpected mid-show exit
Savannah Guthrie returned to 'Today' Thursday following an unexpected mid-show exit in the middle of Wednesday's broadcast.
New Nielsen Report Shows The Profound Impact of Asian Influence on Sports and Pop Culture
Alysa Liu and Shohei Ohtani Help Drive Viewership as 91 of the Top 100 Broadcast Programs for Asian American...
Kalshi is losing Washington
Congress, the courts, the states, the leagues, and now the President's own circle have all landed in the same place at the same time: this isn't a market. It's a casino with a lobbyist.
Victoria Beckham’s Teen Daughter Turned Her Skin Issues Into Business Idea
Victoria Beckham’s teen daughter turned her skin problem into a business idea. During an episode of the “Aspire with Emma Grede” podcast, the fashion designer made an appearance. She spoke about how h...
Google’s video streaming strategy has backfired
Google stopped making sub-$50 streaming dongles when it discontinued the Chromecast line in 2024. That's becoming a problem.
Save Your Personal Podcast to Spotify and Listen Anywhere
From our earliest days, Spotify has been built on a simple principle: Great audio should be easy to reach. It’s what’s driven us to expand from music to podcasts to audiobooks, and onto more than 2,000 devices. Whether you’re listening on your morning commute or through your speakers at home, Spotify moves with you throughout...
UK voters head to the polls in local elections
Voters in England, Scotland and Wales are casting their ballots in local elections.
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.
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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.
CAS Class Stresses That Religion and Science Are Reconcilable and Crucial
In new era of AI, course now explores transhumanism and its implications for immortality