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Apr 09 2026HEALTH

How Lifelong Habits Shape Brain Health Later in Life

The brain changes as we age, but some people handle those changes better than others. This ability to keep thinking clearly despite physical brain decline is called cognitive reserve. Research shows certain habits might build this reserve, but scientists still debate which habits matter most. Educa

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Apr 09 2026FINANCE

Digital Money Grows Fast, But Most Firms Are Left Guessing

Many business leaders know digital money is coming, and fast. A global survey showed that nearly all company bosses and investors expect online banking and tokenized assets to speed up over the next five years. Yet, most admit they haven’t figured out how to use these tools in their own companies. O

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Apr 09 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Netflix adds games and shows to keep young viewers busy

Kids now have another place to play online thanks to Netflix. The streaming service recently released Netflix Playground, a free app packed with games for children under eight. Right now, the app only works in the U. S. , Canada, and Australia, but it already includes well-known characters like Pepp

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Apr 09 2026BUSINESS

Big Money Steps Up for Nonprofits When Others Pull Back

In a year when many big companies cut back on charity work, one major insurance firm is making a bold move. Liberty Mutual Insurance, known mostly for cars and property policies, just created a $600 million fund meant to keep giving money to nonprofits year after year. This endowment isn’t a reactio

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Apr 09 2026FINANCE

Markets bounce back after Iran-U. S. ceasefire, what’s next for investors?

When Iran and the U. S. called a two-week break in their five-week standoff, markets reacted fast. The Dow shot up nearly 3% in a single day, the biggest jump since early 2025. That kind of reaction shows how sensitive global money is to Middle East flare-ups. Traders who had been playing it safe ar

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Apr 09 2026SCIENCE

How tiny plant boosters help seeds survive the cold

Early spring planting is tricky for pepper and tomato growers because cold soil slows down seed sprouting and weakens baby plants. Scientists tested a two-step trick: soak seeds in a special sugar-like mix, let them dry, then spray the young plants with the same mix. The mix contains three tiny comp

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Apr 09 2026CRIME

Foster Care Scandal: Trust Broken by Church Leaders

A former foster child in South Carolina claims she faced abuse while living with a pastor and his wife. The couple had been in charge of her care since she turned 15. Police say the abuse included both physical and sexual attacks. The pastor, 50, now faces charges like criminal sexual conduct, while

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Apr 09 2026CRIME

A mother’s legal gamble: trading truth for a mental health defense

In a quiet Massachusetts town, a nurse now faces a tough question: what happens when guilt meets suffering? The woman, once a caregiver for new mothers, is accused of ending her three children’s lives in a single day. Instead of denying her role, she’s offering to admit what she did—if it means the

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Apr 09 2026CRIME

When Hunger Meets a Paying Job

Two years after a nighttime shoplifting incident in southwest Portland, the shoplifter has filed a lawsuit against the grocery clerk who chased him. At the time, Joshua Merkel said he took more than $100 worth of food without paying because he was hungry—and claimed the clerk’s response left him wit

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Apr 09 2026HEALTH

Small bursts of movement: Do tiny workouts really boost fitness?

Breaking exercise into tiny chunks might sound too simple to be true, but research keeps asking if these "snacks" actually help. Instead of blocking off an hour for the gym, what if moving for just a minute every hour could keep adults moving better? That’s the big question behind exercise snacks—sh

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