MINA

Jan 29 2025CRIME

Five Years On: How Americans Feel About Using DNA to Solve Crimes

In 2018, when law enforcement first used a technique called Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) to catch the Golden State Killer, many Americans were on board. A survey at the time showed that most people supported using DNA to solve violent crimes. Five years later, FIGG has helped clos

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Jan 29 2025POLITICS

Transgender Troops Fight Back Against Trump's Ban

Two major LGBTQ legal groups have filed a lawsuit against President Trump's latest ban on transgender people serving in the military. The suit, filed on behalf of six active-duty trans troops and two aspiring recruits, claims the ban is un-American and weakens our country. The ban, signed as an exec

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Jan 29 2025POLITICS

Caroline Kennedy's Warning: RFK Jr. Unfit for Health Secretary

Caroline Kennedy didn’t mince words in her letter to senators. Her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , is not the right choice for health secretary, she said. She called him a "dangerous influence" with a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines. Kennedy detailed her cousin's past drug addicti

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Jan 28 2025POLITICS

What Should We Ask Robert F. Kennedy Jr. About Vaccines and Public Health?

Recently, the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the position of health and human services secretary has caused a lot of buzz. Experts from various fields and ideologies have come together to highlight important questions he should answer before taking on this role, which manages a budget of $1

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Jan 28 2025ENVIRONMENT

Fatty Acids in Dolphins and Porpoises: A Warning Signal

In the busy waters of the northern South China Sea, scientists have been studying something unusual happening to dolphins and porpoises. They found high levels of something called organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) in these marine mammals. These OHCs can mess with the body's fatty acid (FAs) levels,

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Jan 27 2025SCIENCE

Cleaning Old Oil: Which Bioremediation Methods Are Best?

You've probably heard that oil spills are bad news. But did you know that cleaning up these spills can also have hidden environmental impacts? A study in Iran's Khuzestan province looked at different ways to clean up old oil in super salty soil. They found that some methods might do more harm than g

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Jan 27 2025POLITICS

Is RFK Jr. the Right Choice for HHS? His Confirmation Date Revealed

Ever since Donald Trump was elected president in November 2024, people have been wondering who he would choose to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Recently, Trump announced his nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , widely known as RFK Jr. , for this key role. Trump believes th

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Jan 26 2025POLITICS

Robert Kennedy Jr. 's Money Matters: Debts and Deals Await HHS Nomination

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , nominated by President Trump for the Health and Human Services Secretary role, is facing a mix of debt and income as he awaits confirmation. His financial disclosures show he owes millions, including a significant amount on his American Express card and multiple mortgages. Ho

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Jan 25 2025HEALTH

The Battle Against River Blindness in Africa

River blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, is a major health concern in Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target to eliminate this neglected tropical disease (NTD) by 2030. More than 99% of people infected live in 31 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The goal here is to ex

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Jan 25 2025POLITICS

Congress Investigates Sudden Bank Closures in Tech and Crypto

You might have heard about people and companies losing their bank accounts suddenly. This isn't just happening to regular folks, but also to big names in the tech and crypto world. Recently, the U. S. Oversight Committee, led by Representative James Comer, started looking into these cases. They're t

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