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Race and Ethnicity Don't Always Match Genetic Ancestry, Study Finds
Source: ScienceThe self-reported race and ethnicity of people in the United States don't always match their genetic ancestry, according to a new study that analyzed ancestries of people participating in the All of Us Research Program—the flagship genetics and health project of the National Institutes of Health that has been working to sequence 1 million genomes from people across the U.S. The findings were published today in The American Journal of Human...
Trump Administration Threatens to Strip Columbia's Accreditation
Source: Google NewsThe Trump administration is looking to strip Columbia University of its accreditation over claims it violated the civil rights of its Jewish students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a letter that Columbia violated anti-discrimination laws by acting "with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students." U.S. accreditors play a key role in determining which schools are allowed to access billions of dollars in federal...
Graduate Psychology Programs Rely Less on Standardized Tests
Source: APA MonitorThe percentage of psychology graduate programs requiring GRE scores for admission has fallen sharply since the 2020–21 academic year, when COVID-19 dominated headlines around the world. That year, the verbal and quantitative GREs were both required by 45% of doctoral programs and 36-37% of master's degree programs, but by the 2023–24 academic year, only 7-8% of doctoral programs and 5% of master's degree programs required these exams.
World Bank U-Turn Ends Loan Ban to Uganda Over Gay Rights
Source: BBC News - AfricaThe World Bank says it is lifting a ban on loans to Uganda that it had put in place two years ago when the country passed a draconian new law against LGBTQ people that included the death penalty for certain same-sex acts. Since then, many Ugandans have been evicted from their homes, subjected to violence, or arrested because of their sexuality. But the World Bank says its new funding "mitigation measures" can avoid discrimination against LGBTQ...
Cannabis Use Among U.S. Seniors Has Surged 46% in Just Two Years
Source: Google News - HealthMarijuana use among U.S. adults aged 65 and older has climbed to a record 7%, up nearly 46% from 2021 to 2023. The trend is especially pronounced among college-educated, married, and higher-income individuals—particularly women. Usage also rose more in states with legalized medical marijuana and among seniors with chronic health conditions. Researchers urge caution because cannabis use can interact with age-related changes and complicate...
Bill Gates to Give Most of His $200 Billion Fortune to Africa
Source: BBC News - AmericasMicrosoft founder Bill Gates says that most of his fortune will be spent on improving health and education services in Africa over the next 20 years. The 69-year-old said that "by unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity." Gates said last month that he would give away 99% of his fortune—which he expects to reach $200 billion—by 2045, when his foundation plans to end...
Adopting the MIND Diet May Lower Dementia Risk at Any Age
Source: Google News - HealthA large study suggests that following the MIND diet—rich in leafy greens, berries, nuts, and olive oil—significantly reduces the risk of Alzheimer's and related dementias. Drawing on data from nearly 93,000 U.S. adults, researchers found that the strongest and most consistent benefits were found among African American, Latine, and White participants. People who improved their diet over a decade experienced up to a 25% lower dementia risk,...
Helping Youth Move From Climate Anxiety to Climate Action
Source: APA MonitorThe mental health impact of climate change on youth is increasingly drawing attention from psychologists, other mental health professionals, researchers, and activists. For example, psychologists are examining how "constructive hope"—a positive mindset that combines optimism with the belief in working on meaningful goals—can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Schools, too, have begun teaching students how to cope with climate-related...
APA Calls for Guardrails and Education to Protect Adolescent AI Users
Source: Science Daily - Top NewsThe effects of artificial intelligence on adolescents are nuanced and complex, according to a new report from the American Psychological Association. The report, entitled "Artificial Intelligence and Adolescent Well-Being: An APA Health Advisory," calls on developers to prioritize features that protect young people from exploitation, manipulation, and the erosion of real-world relationships. It also contains recommendations to help adolescents...
Brain-Computer Interface Implanted in Human and Records Neural Activity
Source: United Press International - Health NewsParadromics, a competitor of Neuralink, announced Monday that it safely implanted a brain-computer interface into a human patient, recorded neural activity, and removed it 10 minutes later. The surgical procedure, performed at the University of Michigan, marks the first time Paradromics has temporarily implanted its device—called Connexus—into a human with the goal of restoring neural signals in patients with spinal cord injuries, stroke, or ALS.
WorldPride Is in D.C. This Year, Prompting Concerns Over Safety
Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsThis year, WorldPride is coming to Washington, D.C. A series of events, organized by the nonprofit InterPride, aims to bring visibility and awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues to an international stage. This year's location is leaving the community conflicted, however, about showing up at the nation's capital amid a presidential administration that has worked to role back LGBTQ rights.
Large Study Links Midlife Caffeine Intake With Healthy Aging
Source: Google News - HealthA study following nearly 50,000 women over 30 years found that drinking caffeinated coffee in midlife was linked to healthier aging. Women who drank regular coffee were more likely to avoid chronic disease, cognitive decline, and physical impairment later in life. These benefits did not extend to tea or decaffeinated coffee, and soda consumption was associated with worse aging outcomes. The study did not include male participants.
An AI Bot Might Be Asking the Questions at Your Next Job Interview
Source: Canadian Broadcasting Company - Top Stories NewsWhen Wafa Shafiq realized her upcoming job interview would be conducted by an artificial intelligence bot, she thought: Why not? "I wanted to try it," said Shafiq. Alex, an AI bot powered by software company Aprioria, interviewed the 26-year-old for a marketing position, acknowledging her responses and complimenting her before probing further. "I was shocked that it was asking such good followup questions," Shafiq told CBC News.
Singing to Babies Improves Their Mental Well-Being, Study Suggests
Source: Science Daily - Top HealthSinging to an infant can significantly boost the baby's mood, according to a study recently published in the journal Child Development. The study's findings, which were based on data from 110 parents and their babies, suggest that singing is an easy, safe, and free way to help improve the mental well-being of infants, which in turn may be associated with a greater quality of life for both caregivers and and babies.
U.S. Army Document Outlines Plans for Expelling Transgender Troops
Source: CBS News - U.S. NewsTransgender military service members must come forward and voluntarily leave active-duty service by June 6, according to guidance issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. After that, the military is expected to remove any remaining active-duty trans service members. For example, in its effort to identify and remove soldiers with gender dysphoria, the Army will begin asking soldiers about their gender identity during routine medical check-ups.
Electronic Tattoo Gauges Mental Strain
Source: Science Daily - Top HealthResearchers gave participants face tattoos that can track when their brain is working too hard. The study introduces a non-permanent wireless forehead e-tattoo that decodes brainwaves to measure mental strain without bulky headgear. This technology may help track the mental workload of workers like air traffic controllers and truck drivers, whose lapses in focus can have serious consequences.
Mindfulness and Brain Stimulation May Reduce Bladder Leaks
Source: Science Daily - Top HealthArriving home from work may be a relief, but for some people, seeing their front door triggers a powerful urge to pee. Now, a new study suggests that mindfulness training and/or non-invasive brain stimulation may reduce bladder leaks and feelings of urgency in patients with "latchkey incontinence." The findings—from the first evaluation of brain-based therapies for urinary incontinence—appear in the latest issue of the journal Continence.
Trump Nominates Lawyer with Ties to Antisemites to Lead Ethics Agency
Source: Google News - HealthPresident Trump has nominated 30-year-old conservative lawyer Paul Ingrassia, to lead the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, a government ethics office, despite Ingrassia's ties to multiple antisemitic extremists such as Andrew Tate. "Appointing someone to a senior administration role despite their documented support for antisemites seriously conflicts with and undermines ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism," the Anti-Defamation League said in a...
Scientists Test Real-Time View of Brain's Waste Removal
Source: Science Daily - Top NewsA new device that monitors the waste-removal system of the brain may help to prevent Alzheimer's and other neurological diseases, according to a new study. In the study, participants were asleep when they wore a head cap embedded with electrodes that measure shifts in fluid within brain tissue, the neural activity from sleep to wakefulness, and changes in the brain's blood vessels. The findings could prove key in the development of new...
Writers Denounce Israel's "Genocidal" Actions in Gaza and Call for Ceasefire
Source: BBC News - Top HeadlinesWriters, including Zadie Smith and Ian McEwan, have put their names to an open letter—signed by more than 400 authors and organizations—calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The letter describes Israel's military campaign there as "genocidal" and urges people to join them in "ending our collective silence and inaction in the face of horror." Israel says it is working to destroy the Palestinian armed group Hamas and denies allegations...

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