In November 2024, Rutgers University-New Brunswick hosted the fall meeting of the Theobald Smith Society. Eighty-six members from New Jersey attended, including students, teachers, and professionals from government and industry. This event showcased the wide range of research done by members of the
Cigarette companies are introducing a new type of cigarette in the US that uses synthetic cooling agents. These cigarettes are meant to mimic the feeling of menthol cigarettes. Why is this a problem? Well, as some states and cities start to ban menthol cigarettes due to health concerns, these new sy
Falls are a big problem for older folks in KSA. Lots of things can cause falls, but issues with balance and walking are really common. This study looked at how physical therapists help older people avoid falls. Physical therapists know a lot about falls and how to stop them. They can spot the signs
You might have heard that gut bacteria can influence your mood. A recent study explored whether adding kefir, a probiotic drink, to regular medication could help women fighting major depressive disorder (MDD). The idea is that by tweaking the microbiota in the gut, we might be able to also tweak the
In the quiet town of LeRoy, Minnesota, an unusual event unfolded over the weekend. An ATM was stolen from First State Bank, leading to a dramatic chase and eventual arrest. The Mower County Sheriff's Office received an alarm from the bank around 3:20 AM on Saturday. Deputies were told to look out fo
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles is alerting people in a unique way. They’ve posted a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS) warning for the region due to a high risk of wildfires. This warning, in bright pink letters, is meant to grab attention and prepare southern California residents
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is changing how it buys weather data. Instead of just buying global datasets, NOAA plans to pay more for specific observations, like oil spills or fires. Steve Volz, NOAA's assistant administrator, said this is the future, but it's not ready
Meet YOUNICON, a new dataset that gives researchers a front-row seat to how conspiracy theories unfold on YouTube. This collection isn't just a bunch of videos; it's a window into the latest conspiracy trends and how people are reacting to them online. It's like a treasure trove for those curious ab
Last week, Meta announced plans to cut its US-based fact-checkers, just as wildfires raged in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, fact-checkers were busy debunking conspiracy theories about the fires. They faced a tough challenge: misinformation spread fast, and influential figures were pushing false claims. So
As the 2010s drew to a close, Sweden's traditional media outlets were talking more about climate change than ever before. This was especially true during the summer of 2018, when a severe drought and wildfires hit the country, and the Fridays for Future movement, led by Greta Thunberg, gained tracti
