ERA

Feb 24 2026SCIENCE

Old Microplastics Meet Smart Surfaces

Microplastic pieces that have lived in the environment for years are hard to clean up. Scientists want to know how these tiny particles stick or slip off engineered materials. They studied polystyrene microplastics that had aged in water and tested how they interact with surfaces coated with special

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Feb 24 2026TECHNOLOGY

Hidden Bias in AI Advice: How Clicks Can Steer Your Choices

Artificial‑intelligence helpers are useful for quick answers, from picking software to diagnosing aches. Yet a new form of cyber trickery can sway those same tools toward biased suggestions. Researchers at Microsoft Security discovered that when users click a “summarize with AI” button on certain s

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Feb 24 2026POLITICS

A Power Player Behind the Scenes

Stephen Miller is often seen as a tough voice in immigration, but his role stretches far beyond that. He works with many parts of the government at once, from fixing city fountains to tackling drug cartels. On a typical day he meets with top officials to decide on everything from homeland security t

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Feb 23 2026POLITICS

Education Dept. Outsources Jobs to State and Health Agencies

The U. S. Department of Education has begun handing over parts of its work to other federal bodies, a move that aims to reduce the size and reach of the education agency. Two new agreements were announced, each giving a different department specific duties that used to belong to Education. One part

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Feb 23 2026EDUCATION

Small School, Big Impact

A new learning hub is opening its doors for kids in Ogle and Lee counties who need a different classroom vibe. The place is called the Chana Education Center, and it’s built to help students who face anxiety, trauma, or learning differences thrive. Instead of a huge lecture hall, Chana offers a t

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Feb 23 2026BUSINESS

New Partners Hunt Breakthroughs for Kids With Rare Brain Disorders

Angelini Pharma and Quiver Bioscience have joined forces to look for new medicines that could help children suffering from hard‑to‑treat genetic epilepsies. The deal gives Quiver a chance to use Angelini’s long experience in brain drugs while Angelini gains access to Quiver’s cutting‑edge AI tools a

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Feb 23 2026TECHNOLOGY

No Crypto Talk in the OpenClaw Discord

Peter Steinberger, who created the AI agent tool OpenClaw, decided to ban any mention of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies from his community chat. The rule was announced after a user reported being blocked from the Discord server for discussing crypto topics. Steinberger reminded members that they

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Feb 18 2026BUSINESS

Farmers Gather for Big Meeting in Grand Island

The Aurora Cooperative hosted a large gathering last week, drawing more than 700 people who work in farming and ranching. The event took place at the town’s center and included students from local high schools who are part of the Future Farmers of America. During the meeting, the company’s chief

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Feb 18 2026HEALTH

New Paths for Cancer Care: Women Talk About Psilocybin

In the United Kingdom, a small group of women with cancer share how they see psilocybin—a psychedelic mushroom— as a hopeful option for easing the mental strain that often follows a diagnosis. They describe a deep need to heal physically and emotionally, noting how everyday treatments sometimes m

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Feb 18 2026FINANCE

New Leader Steps Up for JPMorgan’s Big‑Deal Financing

JPMorgan has chosen Catherine O'Donnell to head its North America Leveraged Finance unit. She will move to New York and bring more than two decades of experience in complex debt deals. The bank says O'Donnell will run the team that finances large transactions across the continent. Her new role me

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