PIA

May 11 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Top sci-fi anime films that stood out in recent years

Animation has always been a playground for bold sci-fi ideas, and the last five years proved no different. Some of these films take viewers on wild space adventures, while others dive deep into personal struggles within futuristic worlds. One standout is a tale about robots and dogs in 1980s New Yor

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May 10 2026SCIENCE

Plainfield North Shines in State Science Olympiad

The University of Illinois hosted the state‑level Science Olympiad, where 54 schools vied for top honors. Plainfield North High School, after placing fourth in its regional meet, qualified to compete among the best teams in the state. At the tournament on April 18, students from Plainfield North

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May 08 2026EDUCATION

First Wisconsin Scholar Wins $10, 000 Science Prize

A young man from Boyceville High School in Wisconsin has just become the state’s first recipient of a $10, 000 scholarship awarded by the Science Olympiad USA Foundation. The award is given to students who show strong academic performance, active community service, and a deep commitment to the Scien

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May 03 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Future Worlds to Explore in Cyberpunk Manga

The world of cyberpunk feels like a playground for questions about technology, identity, and power. One classic that sparks the conversation is Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell, set in a buzzing city where cyber‑criminals and government agents clash. Its lead, Major Motoko Kusanagi, is a cyberne

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May 02 2026HEALTH

Couples Talk, Women Gain Power: A New Approach in Ethiopia

In a region of central Ethiopia, many women face harm from their partners. A study set out to test whether talking with partners in community health settings could change how women see and handle this danger. Researchers chose several villages, split them into two groups, and offered one group a pro

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Apr 19 2026ENVIRONMENT

Microplastics on the Move: From City Streets to Caspian Shores

The world is full of tiny plastic pieces, but how they travel between land and sea is still a mystery. Scientists set up air samplers at seven different heights over the southern Caspian Sea and also used a vacuum pump to pull in air for two months. They collected samples from the coast, from the

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Apr 15 2026EDUCATION

Preston Middle School Wins Science Olympiad Again

Preston Middle School has taken the state science title for the second year in a row, beating last year’s narrow loss by a wide margin. The win marks the school’s 15th overall championship and its 14th since 2010. The state meet was held on April 4 at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs,

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Apr 15 2026TECHNOLOGY

Eye Care Hack: A Smart Tool to Spot Kids’ Near‑Sight Problems Early

A new project is building a computer program that can spot how quickly kids’ vision might worsen. The goal is to help parents and teachers catch myopia before it gets serious. The program uses artificial intelligence, which means the computer learns from many examples of eye measurements and life

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Apr 15 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Pokémon and Mii adventures: How life sims keep evolving after 25 years

Two and a half decades ago, a quiet Nintendo game let players move into a village filled with talking animals, pay off tiny mortgages, and collect seashells instead of worrying about bosses or shootouts. That game, Animal Crossing, didn’t just start a series—it quietly launched a whole style of play

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Apr 04 2026BUSINESS

A Debt Deal with China Could Help Ethiopia Breathe Again

Ethiopia just made a deal with China to ease its debt problems – but the road ahead is still rocky. The country’s finance ministry confirmed that both sides have agreed on a way forward, sticking to the G20’s debt relief plan. This matters because Ethiopia is under pressure not just from China but a

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