A federal judge has ruled that California’s 32-year-old assault weapons ban is unconstitutional — and that the state cannot limit civilian access to weapons he considered to be “fairly ordinary, popular, modern rifles.”
Biden Aims to Bolster U.S. Alliances in Europe, but Challenges Loom
The good will President Biden brings on his first trip abroad papers over lingering doubts about U.S. reliability and the cost that Europe will be expected to pay.
Experts call for new standards for diagnostic tests to address problems during pandemic
The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) has today published its review of the statistical evidence needed to assure the performance of future diagnostic tests, so we are better prepared for future pandemics.
Why standard ways of valuing health were set aside during the pandemic
Governments around the world initially responded to COVID-19 according to the single most important aim: saving lives. But as the pandemic continued, affecting both health and finances, questions started arising as to what the right focus should be: protecting health or protecting the economy—or both. Implicitly, governments across the globe began considering a trade-off between …
Ultra-marathon running: How safe is the sport?
The 2021 Yellow River Stone Forest 100km trail race in Gansu province, China, ended in tragedy in May, when unexpectedly severe weather resulted in the deaths of 21 of the 172 competitors. Among them was the Chinese champion Liang Jing, who in 2018 won the Ultra Gobi—three and a half days of non-stop running across …
Why Most Ancient Civilizations Had No Word for the Color Blue
In an old Zen story, two monks argue over whether a flag is waving or whether it’s the wind that waves. Their teacher strikes them both dumb, saying, “It is your mind that moves.” The centuries-old koan illustrates a point Zen masters — and later philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists — have all emphasized at one …
Why it’s difficult for children to understand sarcasm
Sarcasm is simple! Yeah, right. Although sarcasm is widespread, found across languages and in the various ways we communicate, it is not simple. For most children, learning to understand sarcasm is challenging.
New study mixes vaccine doses to boost immunity to COVID and variants
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is participating in a new clinical trial that will mix-and-match the initial regime of an approved vaccine with a booster dose from a different manufacturer. The research will help inform public health decisions around re-vaccination schedules and the deployment of boosters that target COVID variants.
Existing leukemia treatment could hold promise for Bile duct cancer
Bile duct cancer is a rare but aggressive form of cancer, affecting just over 2,000 people in the UK every year. However, incidences of bile cancer are steadily increasing every year—with some estimating it could one day be as common as breast cancer.
Coco Gauff Eliminated in French Open Quarterfinals
The American teenager, playing her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, was frustrated and defeated by the unseeded Barbora Krejcikova.