ARI

Apr 15 2026ENVIRONMENT

Building safer materials from volcanic ash

Scientists found that ash from Spain’s 2021 Tajogaite volcano could help make greener building materials. They mixed it with strong alkaline solutions and tested how it behaves in water. The tests showed some metals like molybdenum (Mo) leak out more than allowed for safe landfills. Other experimen

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Apr 15 2026FINANCE

What’s Really Driving U. S. Economic Predictions This Year?

The U. S. Treasury Secretary recently shared an upbeat take on the country’s economy, brushing off worries about the Iran conflict. While wars often disrupt markets, he argued that America’s economy could still expand by more than 3% this year. Global watchdogs like the IMF and World Bank, however,

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Apr 15 2026POLITICS

Maine’s Upcoming Vote on Transgender Athlete Rules

Maine is gearing up for a major vote in November that could decide whether transgender students can play school sports and use facilities matching their gender identity. A recent public hearing in Augusta gave people a chance to debate the issue, but lawmakers already decided not to move it forward.

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Apr 15 2026OPINION

Why Maine's rich should pay a little more to keep the state strong

Maine has always had a habit of standing up for fairness in taxes. The state is filled with people who work hard and look out for each other, whether it’s helping a neighbor clean up after a storm or contributing more when they can afford it. Wealthy residents, like the speaker who grew up in August

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Apr 14 2026OPINION

Alaska’s charity gaming needs a tech update to help veterans

Alaska’s veteran groups rely heavily on pull-tab games to fund their work, from fixing up buildings to hosting community events. These paper-based games have been the backbone of their income for years. But times have changed. Most people now handle their money, shopping, and social lives through ap

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Apr 14 2026POLITICS

Hungary’s New Leader Pushes for Big Changes After Big Win

Hungary just flipped the script after 16 years of one-party rule. The Tisza party, a center-right group barely on the radar a year ago, stormed into power with a clear message: enough of the old ways. Their leader, Peter Magyar, isn’t wasting time. He’s already talking about rewriting the constituti

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Apr 13 2026TECHNOLOGY

Team Dynamics in Digital Games: What Really Drives Success

In the world of serious games, people are trying to figure out how teams work better. The focus has been on single pieces like who leads or how people talk, but the whole picture is missing. Researchers used machine‑learning tools to look at many different clues at once—like body language, words

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Apr 13 2026POLITICS

Hungary’s New Leader and the Shift in European Politics

A 45‑year‑old lawyer named Peter Magyar has taken the helm in Hungary after a landslide win that gave his party, Tisza, 138 of the 199 seats in Parliament. The result means a two‑thirds majority that can push reforms and potentially undo years of rule by former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has b

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Apr 12 2026OPINION

Do Low Taxes Mean More Smiles? A New Look at State Happiness

A recent comparison of state tax rates and happiness scores shows that the answer is not as simple as “pay less, feel better. ” Researchers used a method that adds up property, income and sales taxes as a share of the average person’s earnings to rank states by tax burden. The state with the lowest

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Apr 12 2026POLITICS

Breaking the Blockade: A New Aid Mission to Gaza

A group of about thirty boats is preparing to leave Barcelona on Sunday, carrying medical supplies and other help for people in Gaza. The plan is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which hopes to open a path through Israel’s blockade. Last year the same organization sent around forty ships, but Isra

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