ELECTION

Dec 27 2024HEALTH

COVID-19: How Politics Played a Role in Colorado's Death Toll

Imagine walking through the streets of Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic. You might have noticed that some counties were hit harder than others. Why was that? Researchers found a surprising link between the outcome of the 2020 presidential election and COVID-19 mortality rates. Let's break it d

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Dec 26 2024POLITICS

Marianne Williamson Aims for DNC Leadership

Marianne Williamson, a well-known author and former Democratic presidential candidate, has thrown her hat in the ring to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). She believes she can bring a unique perspective to help the party win in the coming years. Williamson has talked

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Dec 26 2024SCIENCE

Checking for Non-Normal Traits in IRT Models: A New Approach

Ever wondered how to spot if something's off with the hidden traits in your data? Researchers have come up with a neat way to do just that. They've created what they call the "generalized Hausman test. " This isn't your average test; it's designed specifically for those tricky unidimensional latent

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Dec 25 2024ENVIRONMENT

Fending Off Fungus-Farming Beetles: Ethanol vs. Flood Stress

Ambrosia beetles, known for their penchant for farming fungus while munching on wood, are a threat to trees. These crafty critters have a unique talent: spotting stressed plants that emit ethanol. To keep them away from valuable crops, scientists have suggested using ethanol-injected trees as decoy

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Dec 25 2024POLITICS

Why Top CEOs Are Betting Big on Donald Trump's Inauguration

High-profile business leaders are shelling out millions to support President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural committee. Companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Uber are making big donations, hoping to win favor with the incoming administration. Trump's 2017 inaugural committee set a record with $107 mil

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Dec 24 2024ENTERTAINMENT

Unlock Wordle: Tips for Daily Wins with Cyber Tricks!

Are you fed up with being stumped by Wordle's daily puzzles? There’s a nifty tech term that could help you tackle them with ease: CYBER! To kick things off, if you're new to Wordle, head over to the New York Times website. Feeling a bit lost? Don't sweat it! WordleBot suggests CRANE as a brilliant w

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Dec 24 2024ENVIRONMENT

Sage-Grouse Winter Survival: Weather Matters!

Greater sage-grouse, native to Colorado and Wyoming, face harsh winters. For these birds, finding the right place to hang out becomes crucial. Researchers found that sage-grouse don't just hibernate or reduce their activity in winter. Instead, they actively seek out cozy spots with plenty of sagebru

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Dec 23 2024TECHNOLOGY

Image Questions: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All

Let's talk about image questions. These are the queries we can ask about pictures. We've come a long way in creating good questions from images automatically. But, most methods forget about something important: the variety and clarity of these questions. Imagine you're planning a trip and need to as

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Dec 21 2024SPORTS

Why Does the Big Ten Get So Much Love?

ESPN's Sean McDonough raised some eyebrows recently when he questioned if Indiana should have made the College Football Playoff. Despite a strong season, Indiana didn't face many tough teams. McDonough wondered if their inclusion was more about being in the Big Ten. His partner, Greg McElroy, agreed

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Dec 21 2024POLITICS

The Hidden Cost of Voting by Mail

Have you ever wondered what happens to votes that don't make it to the ballot box? With the increase in mail-in voting, there's a growing concern about "lost votes by mail. " These are votes that never get counted due to procedural issues. Let's break down how these problems can eat away at the voti

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