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May 16 2026BUSINESS

US factories bounce back but war risks still loom

April saw American factories bounce back strongly, with output jumping by its biggest margin in over a year. Cars and tech gear led the charge, thanks to heavy spending on artificial intelligence and renewed consumer demand after months of slowdowns. Yet even as production picks up speed, growing su

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May 16 2026ENVIRONMENT

What we know so far about Maine’s lumber mill fire chaos

A fire tore through a century-old lumber mill in Searsmont on Friday morning, sending thick smoke over Route 131 and forcing emergency crews to deal with explosions inside the site. The blaze erupted just after 10 a. m. and raged for hours, turning a place that’s been family-run since the 1800s into

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May 15 2026POLITICS

Crypto Money Powers Alabama Senate Race

In a state where the Republican nominee almost always wins, money can change everything. A handful of crypto billionaires are ready to pour millions into the Alabama Senate primary, hoping to secure a seat for a candidate who will favor their interests. The race is set for Tuesday, with a possible r

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May 15 2026SCIENCE

Joint Models vs. Cox: Which Works Best in Real‑World Studies?

In studies that track health markers over time and link them to when people experience an event, researchers often use “joint models. ” These methods combine two types of data: repeated measurements and the time until an event happens. They are seen as a fair way to see how a marker, like kidney fun

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May 15 2026SCIENCE

When the Brain Fixes a Sentence Mistake in Seconds

In German sentences, people sometimes read a part that looks like a normal subject‑verb‑object phrase even when the earlier words make it impossible. For example, after hearing “The coach smiled at the player, ” the reader might momentarily think that “the player tossed a frisbee” is a complete clau

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May 15 2026ENVIRONMENT

How tiny plastic bits in cow poop could harm beetle families

Scientists tested how plastic pollution in cow dung affects a common beetle species known for cleaning up animal waste. They found that when cow manure contains tiny plastic pieces—even in small amounts—it can seriously harm beetle babies. The beetles’ larvae struggled to survive when exposed to hig

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May 15 2026BUSINESS

How AI is reshaping jobs in unexpected ways

A well-known tax software company in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, just let go of 170 workers. That’s about 9% of its total staff. The company, called Vertex, explained they’re shifting focus to AI tools. They want to become more automated and efficient. But this move isn’t sitting well with local

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May 14 2026HEALTH

Weather‑Driven Lung Infection Threatens 1, 000 Lives Annually

Valley fever is a lung disease caused by spores from the fungus Coccidioides, which thrives in dry soil across parts of the southwestern United States and south‑central Washington. The illness can be fatal, with up to 1, 000 deaths reported each year. A study in Phoenix showed that the risk of infe

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May 14 2026SCIENCE

How Fast Should You Really Drive to Save Gas?

Driving faster than 55 mph can drain your wallet faster than you think. Most cars guzzle gas the most when pushed beyond this speed. The difference is noticeable—going from 45 mph to 75 mph can make a car burn 25% more fuel. That’s like buying four gallons of gas and only getting three. Why? The mai

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May 14 2026TECHNOLOGY

A Tiny Chip That Could Change How We Explore Space

Space missions face a big problem: their computers are slow and outdated. Most current chips, like the RAD750, rely on old technology that struggles with modern tasks. That’s where a new NASA-Microchip project comes in. They’ve created a small but powerful processor called HPSC, designed to handle t

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