
The U.S. Department of Education cut its workforce by nearly 50% on March 11, 2025, when it laid off about 1,315 employees. The move follows several recent directives targeting the Cabinet-level agency. Within the...

When algorithms take the field – inside MLB’s robo-umping experiment
Baseball fans tuning into spring training games may have noticed another new wrinkle in a sport thats experienced a host of changes in recent years. Batters, pitchers and catchers can challenge a home plate umpires ball or...

Simple strategies can boost vaccination rates for adults over 65 − new study
Knowing which vaccines older adults should get and hearing a clear recommendation from their health care provider about why a particular vaccine is important strongly motivated them to get vaccinated. Thats a key finding...

Semiconductors power nearly every aspect of modern life cars, smartphones, medical devices and even national defense systems. These tiny but essential components make the information age possible, whether theyre...

When humans use AI to earn patents, who is doing the inventing?
The advent of generative artificial intelligence has sent shock waves across industries, from the technical to the creative. AI systems that can generate viable computer code, write news stories and spin up...

Radioisotope generators − inside the ‘nuclear batteries’ that power faraway spacecraft
Powering spacecraft with solar energy may not seem like a challenge, given how intense the Suns light can feel on Earth. Spacecraft near the Earth use large solar panels to harness the Sun for the electricity needed to run...

The psychology behind anti-trans legislation: How cognitive biases shape thoughts and policy
A state law signed Feb. 28, 2025, removes gender identity as a protected status from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, leaving transgender people vulnerable to discrimination. The rights of transgender people those who present...