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50 years later, Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war – and signals a dark future for Gaza and Ukraine
50 years later, Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war – and signals a dark future for Gaza and Ukraine The Vietnam War had devastating environmental consequences, including widespread deforestation, pollution, and contamination of soil and water. The US government initially denied responsibility for Agent Orange cleanup, but eventually agreed to remediate contaminated sites […]
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Widespread power outage hits Spain and neighboring countries France and Portugal
Widespread power outage hits Spain and neighboring countries France and Portugal A widespread power outage has hit Spain, affecting homes, businesses, and transportation infrastructure, including Madrid’s underground rail system. The cause of the outage is currently unknown, but Red Eléctrica, Spain’s national electricity system operator, is working to restore power in affected regions. Portugal and […]
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Major blackout sweeps through Europe
Major blackout sweeps through Europe A major blackout swept through Europe on Monday afternoon, affecting vast areas of Spain, Portugal, and France. The power outage began at around 12:30pm local time and caused widespread outages in homes and businesses, bringing transportation infrastructure to a halt. Major cities such as Lisbon, Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, and Valencia […]
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Nike is facing a lawsuit from people who bought its NFTs
Nike is facing a lawsuit from people who bought its NFTs Nike is facing a lawsuit from customers who bought its NFTs (RTFKT) due to the company’s decision to wind down its virtual show project. The plaintiffs claim that Nike did not disclose that the NFTs were “unregistered securities” and accuse the company of causing […]
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A new Alien: Earth teaser includes the miracle of alien birth
A new Alien: Earth teaser includes the miracle of alien birth A new Alien: Earth teaser has been released, titled “Gestation Complete”, which showcases the miracle of alien birth. The teaser also features retro-future visuals from the 1979 Alien movie, including CRT-style displays and blinking buttons from the ship’s Mother’s chamber. Another teaser, “Crate”, hints […]
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Trump DOJ goon threatens Wikipedia
Trump DOJ goon threatens Wikipedia Interim DC attorney Ed Martin has sent a letter to the Wikimedia Foundation, questioning Wikipedia’s status as a nonprofit entity due to alleged violations of US law. Martin claims that Wikipedia is allowing foreign actors to manipulate information and spread propaganda, including rewriting historical events and altering content on topics […]
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The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform
The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform Window-box gardening has been a tradition in Philadelphia since the 1800s, but its role in urban reform was largely overlooked until recent research by historian Sonja Dümpelmann. Women’s window-box gardens were used as a means of female social reform during the Progressive […]
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Tensions over Kashmir and a warming planet have placed the Indus Waters Treaty on life support
Tensions over Kashmir and a warming planet have placed the Indus Waters Treaty on life support The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, has been criticized for its failure to address key issues such as climate change, groundwater management, and Kashmir’s role in water distribution. The treaty only addresses surface water distribution and does not […]
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Pay transparency can come with unexpected consequences
Pay transparency can come with unexpected consequences A new study found that pay transparency can have unexpected consequences on workplace dynamics, including influencing employee feelings of entitlement and collaboration. Employees who are ranked high in performance tend to feel entitled to higher compensation, while those at the bottom of the rankings may feel demoralized and […]
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NASA Invites Local Middle Schoolers to Explore Agency STEM Careers
NASA Invites Local Middle Schoolers to Explore Agency STEM Careers NASA is hosting TECH Day at its Glenn Research Center in Cleveland on May 1 for Ohio middle school students to explore STEM careers. The event, which can be attended by media, will feature tours of various facilities, including the International Space Station Payload Operations […]
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Memes and conflict: Study shows surge of imagery and fakes can precede international and political violence
Memes and conflict: Study shows surge of imagery and fakes can precede international and political violence A recent study by William Theisen et al. found that a surge of manipulated images and memes on social media can precede international and political violence, serving as strong indicators of coming mass violence. The researchers analyzed nearly 6 […]
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Infant abuse goes down when parents get paid family leave
Infant abuse goes down when parents get paid family leave Paid family leave policies have been shown to reduce infant abuse by 14% in states that offer such programs. The study found that substantiated cases of maltreatment declined by 22%, and home removals due to unsafe conditions dropped by 46% compared to states without paid […]
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Google is paying Samsung an ‘enormous sum’ to preinstall Gemini
Google is paying Samsung an ‘enormous sum’ to preinstall Gemini Google is paying Samsung an “enormous sum” each month to preinstall the Gemini AI app on Samsung devices, according to testimony from Google’s vice president of platforms and device partnerships. The deal, which started in January, also includes a two-year agreement where Google gives Samsung […]
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Bending to industry, Donald Trump issues executive order to “expedite” deep sea mining
Bending to industry, Donald Trump issues executive order to “expedite” deep sea mining Donald Trump has signed an executive order to expedite deep-sea mining for critical minerals, bypassing international agreements and potentially harming sea life and coastal economies. The move is seen as a “dangerous precedent” by critics, who argue that it violates customary international […]
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Alaska, rich in petroleum, faces an energy shortage
Alaska, rich in petroleum, faces an energy shortage Alaska, rich in petroleum and natural gas, faces an energy shortage due to declining oil production and a lack of infrastructure for transporting natural gas. The state’s North Slope has significant proven reserves of oil (2 million barrels per day at peak) and natural gas (35 trillion […]
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Auto industry tariffs are doing what now? 24 hours of White House confusion
Auto industry tariffs are doing what now? 24 hours of White House confusion Over the past 24 hours, the auto industry has experienced significant policy changes from the White House, causing confusion among investors and stakeholders. The Trump administration was reportedly considering slashing tariffs on China, potentially lowering them to 50% from 145%, but Treasury […]
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NASA Astronaut to Answer Questions from Students in California
NASA Astronaut to Answer Questions from Students in California NASA astronaut Jonny Kim will answer questions from students in California on April 29 via a space-to-Earth call. The event, hosted by Santa Monica High School, aims to inspire students to pursue their passions and explore STEM fields. Astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the […]
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From Doing Business to B-READY: World Bank’s new rankings represent a rebrand, not a revamp
From Doing Business to B-READY: World Bank’s new rankings represent a rebrand, not a revamp The World Bank has launched its new flagship report, B-READY, which aims to evaluate business environments through more transparent data and measures social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and public service delivery. B-READY differs from its predecessor, Doing Business, in that it […]
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Elon Musk’s robotaxi fantasy is starting to unravel
Elon Musk’s robotaxi fantasy is starting to unravel Elon Musk has promised “millions” of autonomous Tesla vehicles will be on the road by the end of next year, a promise he’s made every year since at least 2020. Musk’s previous promises have failed to materialize, and Tesla has faced investigations into fatalities involving its vehicles […]
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What will happen at the funeral of Pope Francis
What will happen at the funeral of Pope Francis Pope Francis has chosen to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, a fifth-century church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, after expressing his desire to be interred there as early as 2015. The funeral rites will follow three stations: Preparation of […]
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Trump is stripping protections from marine protected areas – why that’s a problem for fishing’s future, and for whales, corals and other ocean life
Trump is stripping protections from marine protected areas – why that’s a problem for fishing’s future, and for whales, corals and other ocean life President Donald Trump’s administration is stripping protections from marine protected areas, which are crucial for preserving biodiversity and supporting fishing industries. The removal of key protections allows commercial fishing in parts […]
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Trump administration pauses new mine safety regulation − here’s how those rules benefit companies as well as workers
Trump administration pauses new mine safety regulation − here’s how those rules benefit companies as well as workers The Trump administration has announced its intention to pause or reverse regulations on mine safety, citing a desire to loosen rules that constrain companies. The proposed rule aimed to reduce exposure to silica dust in mines, which […]
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Stripping federal protection for clean water harms just about everyone, especially already vulnerable communities
Stripping federal protection for clean water harms just about everyone, especially already vulnerable communities Rollbacks to federal clean water protections will disproportionately harm already vulnerable communities, including those facing pollution and failing infrastructure. The Trump administration’s efforts to narrow federal water protections, pause water infrastructure investments, and retreat from environmental enforcement will have devastating consequences […]
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NASA Stennis Continues Prep for Future Artemis Testing
NASA Stennis Continues Prep for Future Artemis Testing NASA’s Stennis Space Center has activated its interstage gas systems for future testing of the SLS rocket stage, which will fly on Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. The activation marks a milestone in preparation for Green Run testing, where teams will test all systems to […]
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NASA Astronaut Don Pettit to Discuss Seven-Month Space Mission
NASA Astronaut Don Pettit to Discuss Seven-Month Space Mission NASA astronaut Don Pettit will discuss his seven-month space mission at a news conference on April 28 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Pettit spent 220 days in space, bringing his career total to 590 days in space during four spaceflights and completing over 3,500 […]
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I study local government and Hurricane Helene forced me from my home − here’s how rural towns and counties in North Carolina and beyond cooperate to rebuild
I study local government and Hurricane Helene forced me from my home − here’s how rural towns and counties in North Carolina and beyond cooperate to rebuild The average number of annual disasters in the U.S. is around 55, but last year was a record year with 90 disasters declared nationwide. Rural towns and counties […]
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From help to harm: How the government is quietly repurposing everyone’s data for surveillance
From help to harm: How the government is quietly repurposing everyone’s data for surveillance The US government is quietly repurposing personal data for surveillance through various means, including executive orders and public-private partnerships. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to sensitive databases, including those of the Internal Revenue Service, and is […]
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Francis, a pope of many firsts: 5 essential reads
Francis, a pope of many firsts: 5 essential reads Pope Francis was a pope of many firsts, including being the first modern pope from outside Europe, the first whose papal name honors St. Francis of Assisi, and the first Jesuit pope. Francis was known for his inclusive approach to LGBTQ+ issues, famously saying “If someone […]
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For Scale
For Scale The US spent $352 billion on the Vietnam War, but only $750 million has been allocated for bomb removal efforts. It’s estimated that it will take another 100 years of sustained work to decontaminate all of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia of explosives. Only 7.6% of contaminated areas in Vietnam have been deemed safe […]
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Federal laws don’t ban rollbacks of environmental protection, but they don’t make it easy
Federal laws don’t ban rollbacks of environmental protection, but they don’t make it easy The Trump administration has announced plans to review or reverse dozens of environmental protection regulations, but the process is not as simple as just saying so. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must follow the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law that […]
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