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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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Exposure to perceptible temperature rise increases concern about climate change, higher education adds to understanding
Exposure to perceptible temperature rise increases concern about climate change, higher education adds to understanding Higher education can increase concern about climate change by training students to carefully consider evidence, but its effect varies depending on the region and individual experiences. The study found that in southern states, higher education levels did not significantly impact […]
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Endowments aren’t blank checks – but universities can rely on them more heavily in turbulent times
Endowments aren’t blank checks – but universities can rely on them more heavily in turbulent times Harvard University is facing pressure from the Trump administration to change its policies or lose out on billions of dollars in federal funding, specifically over allegations of violating students’ civil rights. The university’s endowment, valued at over $53 billion, […]
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Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year
Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year Wildfires are becoming more frequent, larger, and catastrophic in the western United States due to climate change, human activity, and vegetation buildup. The U.S. Forest Service has issued a 10-year strategy to scale up controlled burns […]
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Pete Hegseth reportedly spilled Yemen attack details in another Signal chat
Pete Hegseth reportedly spilled Yemen attack details in another Signal chat Pete Hegseth, US Defense Secretary, reportedly shared sensitive details about the March 15th Yemen military strikes in another Signal chat with non-government officials. The chat included his wife and around a dozen others he knew personally and professionally, and was created by Hegseth himself […]
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NASA Astronaut Don Pettit, Crewmates Complete Space Station Expedition
NASA Astronaut Don Pettit, Crewmates Complete Space Station Expedition NASA astronaut Don Pettit and his crewmates Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner have completed a seven-month science mission aboard the International Space Station, logging 220 days in space. The trio returned to Earth on April 19, 2025, after conducting research on various topics including metal 3D […]
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The creator of Papers, Please wants developers to make weirder, more personal games
The creator of Papers, Please wants developers to make weirder, more personal games Papers, Please creator Lucas Pope received the Pioneer Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards, recognizing his contributions to the industry. In his acceptance speech, Pope expressed a desire for developers to create “unique, off-beat, experimental, creative, and personal games” that showcase […]
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Surge pricing, the scourge of ridehailing, is evolving for the robotaxi era
Surge pricing, the scourge of ridehailing, is evolving for the robotaxi era Surge pricing, a common frustration for ridehailing users, is evolving to accommodate robotaxi era. The use of surge pricing by companies like Waymo and Cruise, which offer driverless vehicle services, raises questions about its purpose. Surge pricing was initially intended to attract more […]
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The government doesn’t understand Meta
The government doesn’t understand Meta The government’s legal attack on Meta is not effectively addressing the company’s power. Mark Zuckerberg testified in court defending Meta against being broken up by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC has misunderstood how social media works, particularly when it comes to defining the market and identifying competitors. The […]
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Cops can’t do cell tower mass surveillance ‘dumps,’ court rules
Cops can’t do cell tower mass surveillance ‘dumps,’ court rules Court rules that obtaining swaths of cellular records through “tower dumps” is unconstitutional due to privacy concerns. The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, which includes searching through cell tower records. A federal judge in Nevada denied a motion to suppress using these records […]
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Judge pauses mass firing of consumer protection workers
Judge pauses mass firing of consumer protection workers A US judge has paused the mass firing of nearly 1,500 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) employees, citing concerns that the Trump administration violated a court order to avoid mass layoffs. The CFPB had announced plans to eliminate 1,483 employees, drastically reducing headcount in several departments, including […]
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NASA to Cover US Spacewalk 93, Hold Preview News Conference
NASA to Cover US Spacewalk 93, Hold Preview News Conference NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will conduct U.S. spacewalk 93 on May 1 to upgrade the International Space Station’s power storage capacity. The spacewalk, scheduled for about six and a half hours, will involve relocating a communications antennae and installing a mounting bracket […]
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