ITO

May 26 2026ENVIRONMENT

Tracking pollution in hidden corners of the sea

Scientists took a close look at a quiet stretch of coast where the Skagerrak Sea meets land. They wanted to see how certain chemicals move around in water, mud, and shellfish. These chemicals, called PAHs, come from old fires, car exhaust, or oil spills. But the team also checked for two new types o

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May 26 2026FINANCE

Japan’s overseas wealth grows, but global rank drops as rivals surge ahead

Japan still holds the biggest pile of money invested abroad, but its spot in the global ranking just slipped—again. In 2025, the country’s net external assets, which include everything from stocks and bonds to property overseas, hit a new high of 561. 75 trillion yen ($3. 53 trillion). That’s up 4.

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May 25 2026HEALTH

A Simple Tool to Keep Blood Pressure in Check

Keeping tabs on your health shouldn’t feel like a chore, yet many people overlook something as important as blood pressure. While smartwatches track steps and sleep, measuring blood pressure has been missing from most mobile health tools—until now. A device like the iHealth Track changes that by off

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May 22 2026HEALTH

Health checks for World Cup fans as diseases spread globally

When the World Cup kicks off in 2026, North Texas will host soccer fans from every corner of the planet. But along with excitement comes a less talked-about concern: diseases that travelers might bring with them. Right now, Africa is facing an Ebola outbreak, while Argentina has seen more hantavirus

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May 19 2026HEALTH

How Hidden Chemicals Could Be Hurting Your Kidneys Without You Knowing

Every day, tiny amounts of man-made chemicals slip into water and soil, slowly building up in our bodies. These substances, called PFAS, are found in everything from food wrappers to firefighting foam. Scientists recently focused on one specific PFAS called OBS and its surprising effect on the kidne

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May 15 2026HEALTH

A Fresh Look at a Simple Drug‑Use Tracker in Taiwan

The Brief Addiction Monitor, or BAM, is a quick questionnaire that helps doctors keep tabs on people dealing with substance use disorders. Researchers wondered if this tool would work well outside the United States, so they translated it into Chinese and called it BAM‑Taiwan (BAM‑T). They tested

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May 14 2026ENVIRONMENT

River Watch: Spotting City and Farm Pollution

A new system has been set up to tell the difference between pollution that comes from a city and pollution that comes from farms or factories. The idea is to help people fix the river faster by knowing exactly where bad water is coming from. The project was tested on the Sile River in Treviso,

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May 14 2026FINANCE

Smart Money Moves: How AI Helps Finance Teams Catch Risks Early

Money moves fast these days. Faster than most finance teams can keep up. Last year, nearly 8 in 10 companies dealt with some kind of payment scam—whether it worked or not. These aren’t rare hackers in hoodies. They’re often inside email inboxes, pretending to be bosses or vendors to trick workers in

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May 14 2026HEALTH

Tracking the hantavirus: How health teams handle rare outbreaks

Earlier this year, a cruise ship carrying Americans from Argentina toward Antarctica became the center of attention after a hantavirus case was detected on board. Health officials quickly pointed out that the actual danger to the general public remains minimal, but they also emphasized the importanc

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May 14 2026POLITICS

Judge Halts US Sanctions on UN Rights Expert After Free-Speech Concerns

A federal judge recently put a temporary stop to US sanctions placed on a UN investigator looking into Palestinian territories. The judge argued the punishment likely broke her free-speech rights because it came after she publicly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. Normally, sanctions like these b

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