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Apr 07 2026SCIENCE

Breaking the wind: what the science of flatulence really tells us

The study that tried to settle the great gas debate started with beans, sugar water, and a very weird setup. Sixteen volunteers ate foods known to turn stomachs into bioreactors, then sat in a lab while tubes were taped to their backsides. Yes, the goal was flatulence. No, the researchers weren’t jo

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Apr 07 2026POLITICS

NASA’s science budget faces another big cut—what’s really at stake?

For the second year in a row, a new budget plan suggests slashing NASA’s science spending by nearly half. If passed, missions studying planets, stars, and Earth’s climate could be delayed or scrapped entirely. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch soon, and missions to Titan and near-

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Apr 07 2026HEALTH

Online health advice: when guesses beat facts

Many influencers now push quick-fix chemicals sold through short videos rather than proven medicines backed by mountains of research. One doctor reports seeing patients who trust glowing testimonials over decades of clinical trials. A common example is peptides—tiny proteins—hyped online as youth se

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Apr 07 2026FINANCE

The Hidden Cracks in Private Credit and AI's Double-Edged Sword

Private credit has grown into a massive $3 trillion industry, but not all lenders are playing by the same rules. Weak lending standards and shaky agreements mean trouble could be brewing when the next economic downturn hits. Some players jumped into the game late, hoping to cash in without understan

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Apr 07 2026SCIENCE

Sweet Potatoes Change Color When Stressed - Here's How

Sweet potatoes aren’t just orange or white anymore. Purple varieties pack a powerful antioxidant punch thanks to anthocyanins, the pigments that give blueberries and red cabbage their deep colors. But when these plants don’t get enough phosphorus—a key nutrient—they change how they make these health

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Apr 07 2026SCIENCE

How word order changes our understanding of sentence structure

Scientists once believed that repeating words in a sentence could help the brain remember sentence patterns. This idea came from tests where the main action word (like a verb) was repeated, making it easier to recall the sentence structure. Repeating other words in a sentence didn’t seem to help as

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Apr 07 2026HEALTH

Small swaps for big health changes

Dave Coulier spent years playing a fun-loving dad on TV, but behind the scenes his body was sending urgent signals. At 66, two cancer diagnoses forced him to look closer at daily habits most people ignore. He noticed his toothpaste, shampoo, even trash bags might contain hidden risks. Instead of pan

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Apr 07 2026TECHNOLOGY

Bringing XR to Life in the Dark

Most Extended Reality (XR) headsets struggle when the lights go down, turning otherwise useful tools into blurry messes in dim settings. That is common knowledge. But what if these headsets could actually see better in the dark? A new approach called NoctuaXR is testing that idea by making headsets

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Apr 07 2026EDUCATION

What’s Next for Medical Students Facing Rising Costs?

Medical school is expensive—way more expensive than most people realize. Tuition has climbed way faster than average earnings, leaving students with huge loans before they even start practicing. Policies keep changing, but they don’t always make things easier. Some new rules might help short-term, b

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Apr 07 2026FINANCE

Oracle's fresh financial face and the tangled web of layoffs, growth, and stock moves

Oracle just hired Hilary Maxson as its new finance boss, stepping in on April 6, 2026. She’s taking over from Doug Kehring, who helped steer the company through big changes in the past half year. Maxson comes with experience in industrial, software, and cloud worlds—areas where smart spending and st

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