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May 09 2026ENVIRONMENT

Trace metals in water: why some algae struggle more than others

Algae act like the grass of underwater worlds, turning sunlight into food for fish and other creatures. But tiny amounts of metals in water can harm them. A new study looked at how different algae types react to these metals. Researchers found that diatoms—algae with silica shells—are easily damage

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May 09 2026BUSINESS

Sweet Goodbyes: A Napa Valley Chocolate Maker Closes Shop

For fifteen years, Kollar Chocolates has been a well-known spot in Yountville, a small town in California’s wine country. The shop is now shutting down, but not before they sell off every last piece of chocolate. The owner, Chris Kollar, made the announcement on April 28, sharing the news on social

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May 09 2026BUSINESS

Styling under glass: Salem’s answer to tough New England weather

Salem, New Hampshire now hosts a clear-span studio that turns cloudy days into perfect shoots. The glass-walled space, opened in 2026, wraps photographers and subjects in soft daylight no matter what the outdoor forecast says. Creating strong visual stories outside a studio has always been hard in

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May 09 2026ENVIRONMENT

Why the Ocean’s Health Affects Your Daily Life

The ocean isn’t just a big body of water—it’s a lifeline we often overlook. A free public talk in Lancaster plans to highlight how fast the ocean is changing and why that should matter to everyone. Scheduled for May 12, 2026, at Lancaster University, the event will feature a marine biologist sharing

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May 09 2026LIFESTYLE

A fresh spot in Searsport: sandwiches by day, drinks by night

After months of searching, one woman turned a closed café into a space that feels both classic and modern. The converted Coastal Cafe now hosts Scullery Made, a place where giant sandwiches rule the morning and cocktails take over after four. The owner, who grew up in restaurants, chose Searsport fo

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May 09 2026HEALTH

Do kids need X-rays so soon after arm fracture surgery?

Doctors often take X-rays four weeks after fixing broken forearms in children using a metal rod inside the bone. This practice started because it feels like the safe thing to do, not because anyone proved it helps kids heal faster or better. A new look back at old patient records asked whether those

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May 09 2026SPORTS

College sports: Where big budgets win and small programs lose

Money talks louder than rackets in college sports these days. While basketball courts are flooded with new sponsor cash from beer and liquor brands, smaller sports like tennis and golf are getting the short end of the budget stick. This year alone, several top tennis programs vanished, including Ark

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May 09 2026BUSINESS

Prime Video’s Big Play for Ads and Sports

Streaming services usually fight over shows and movies, but Amazon’s Prime Video is playing a different game—one where live sports and ads score big points. The platform recently revealed it made over $17 billion from ads in just three months, beating traditional media giants like Warner Bros. and P

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May 09 2026POLITICS

What’s Really Behind the Rising Tensions Between the U. S. and Iran?

The recent clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman have put the spotlight on how politics is shaping military decisions. A security expert recently highlighted how Washington’s response to Iran’s actions might be making things worse instead of better. After U. S. naval ships were targeted,

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May 09 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Behind the Mask: How Blackface Shaped America’s Hidden Culture

Blackface wasn’t just a stage act—it was America’s unofficial pastime for a century. A new book digs into how everyday people, not just performers, kept this racist tradition alive, turning it into a tool for politics, profit, and power. From government-sponsored shows during the Great Depression to

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