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Apr 09 2026SCIENCE

How tiny plant boosters help seeds survive the cold

Early spring planting is tricky for pepper and tomato growers because cold soil slows down seed sprouting and weakens baby plants. Scientists tested a two-step trick: soak seeds in a special sugar-like mix, let them dry, then spray the young plants with the same mix. The mix contains three tiny comp

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Apr 09 2026CRIME

Foster Care Scandal: Trust Broken by Church Leaders

A former foster child in South Carolina claims she faced abuse while living with a pastor and his wife. The couple had been in charge of her care since she turned 15. Police say the abuse included both physical and sexual attacks. The pastor, 50, now faces charges like criminal sexual conduct, while

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Apr 09 2026CRIME

A mother’s legal gamble: trading truth for a mental health defense

In a quiet Massachusetts town, a nurse now faces a tough question: what happens when guilt meets suffering? The woman, once a caregiver for new mothers, is accused of ending her three children’s lives in a single day. Instead of denying her role, she’s offering to admit what she did—if it means the

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Apr 09 2026CRIME

When Hunger Meets a Paying Job

Two years after a nighttime shoplifting incident in southwest Portland, the shoplifter has filed a lawsuit against the grocery clerk who chased him. At the time, Joshua Merkel said he took more than $100 worth of food without paying because he was hungry—and claimed the clerk’s response left him wit

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Apr 09 2026HEALTH

Small bursts of movement: Do tiny workouts really boost fitness?

Breaking exercise into tiny chunks might sound too simple to be true, but research keeps asking if these "snacks" actually help. Instead of blocking off an hour for the gym, what if moving for just a minute every hour could keep adults moving better? That’s the big question behind exercise snacks—sh

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Apr 09 2026OPINION

Science clues that make some scientists rethink atheism

Astronauts floating above Earth often come back feeling something big, not just in their bones but in their beliefs. The view of our tiny blue planet against the endless dark seems to stretch their thoughts beyond numbers and equations. Reports from space travelers over decades show this pattern—fro

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Apr 09 2026SPORTS

Why Women’s Sports Categories Matter

The Olympics just set a clear rule: only biological females can compete in women’s events. This might sound obvious, but it’s a big deal after years of confusion. Some athletes, like U. S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe, are upset. She calls the rule unfair and claims it lacks science. But here’s the iro

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Apr 09 2026SPORTS

Smokies pull off last-second win in Knoxville

Knoxville fans saw a game full of frustration before the Smokies turned things around in the final inning on April 8. The team had spent much of the night feeling unlucky, especially after a messy eighth inning where umpires made controversial calls and a key groundout ended in a broken bat. By the

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Apr 09 2026HEALTH

Tracking disease changes in mouth scarring

Doctors often see scarring inside the mouth that can turn into cancer over time. This scarring, called oral submucous fibrosis, starts small but can grow worse. Researchers wanted to know if a specific protein might predict when the disease gets more serious or turns cancerous. They looked at studi

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Apr 09 2026TECHNOLOGY

Why hospitals hesitate to use blockchain for health records

Many hospitals still keep medical records locked in old systems that feel safe but slow. These systems rely on passwords and firewalls that hackers keep breaking. Blockchain promises a better way: a digital ledger that spreads data across many computers so no single hacker can steal everything at on

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