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Apr 25 2026POLITICS

Pandas return to Atlanta Zoo after years apart

After a gap of more than ten years, giant pandas are heading back to Atlanta. The zoo there will welcome two new arrivals, continuing a tradition where China loans pandas to other nations as part of wider diplomatic efforts. The move comes as global tensions rise, especially between China and the Un

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Apr 25 2026ENVIRONMENT

A Small Whale vs Big Energy: The Fight Over the Gulf

Scientists say there are only about 50 Rice’s Whales left in the world, making them one of the most endangered marine mammals. Yet some politicians are pushing back against their protected status, claiming the whale isn’t actually endangered. A recent study suggested the Rice’s Whale might just be a

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Apr 25 2026SCIENCE

NASA’s new flying lab: a 777 turned into the ultimate Earth detective

NASA just got a hand-me-down plane that used to fly thousands of passengers around the world. But this isn’t any ordinary jet—it’s now the biggest flying science lab in the agency’s fleet. After a year of heavy-duty upgrades in Texas, the former Japan Airlines Boeing 777 landed at NASA’s Langley Res

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Apr 24 2026TECHNOLOGY

AI and crypto: A quiet partnership reshaping money

Most people associate AI with chatbots or robots that give advice. Now, though, AI is doing more than talking. It’s actually moving money around, especially in crypto. Three big AI systems—Grok, Gemini, and Claude—were asked about AI payments. Their answers show how fast this is growing. But the rea

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Apr 24 2026ENVIRONMENT

Saving a lake: why Utah’s new water rules could make a difference

For years, people living near the Great Salt Lake barely noticed it shrinking. The smell and dust storms felt like normal parts of life in northern Utah. But as the water vanished, so did the lake’s hidden value—supporting wildlife, local jobs, and even the air people breathe. Instead of waiting for

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Apr 24 2026BUSINESS

Mini Golf Meets Happy Hour: How One Chain Rewrote the Rules of Fun

Back in the early 2010s, a Wall Street trader named Greg Bartoli bought three mini-golf courses in Florida with a simple goal: create a place where parents could watch sports while their kids played safely nearby. The first spot, Lighthouse Cove, paired two 18-hole courses with a sports bar and ice

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Apr 24 2026HEALTH

Why the heart fights cancer better than most organs

The heart never stops. Every second of every day, it pumps blood through miles of vessels, pushing against high pressure to keep the body alive. This relentless mechanical work turns the heart into a tough environment for cancer cells. While cancer spreads easily to organs like the lungs or liver, i

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Apr 24 2026ENVIRONMENT

Green Living Gets a Boost in Oak Park

Oak Park isn't just talking about going green—it's throwing a party to show it. The village teamed up with local park leaders to turn Earth Day into a hands-on showcase at the Oak Park Conservatory. Instead of the usual classroom-style learning, residents got to explore real stations run by half a d

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Apr 24 2026BUSINESS

An 85-Year-Old CEO’s Unpaid Mission to Revolutionize Healthcare

At 85, most people are winding down, but one entrepreneur is charging full steam ahead without a salary. His goal? Making healthcare cheaper, faster, and easier to access for everyone. Back in 2006, he cofounded a company that let migrant workers video-call their families and send money at the same

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Apr 23 2026POLITICS

Behind the Scenes of the Kennedy Center Makeover

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is about to close for two years starting this summer, and the public is getting its first real look at why. Officials claim the renovations are long overdue, pointing to crumbling infrastructure like broken cooling systems and rusted support beams.

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