April 20, 2022, was a dark day for the United States in Oceania. On that day, China signed its first-ever security agreement in the South Pacific, with the Solomon Islands authorizing Chinese navy ships to make routine port visits. The pact also allows Chinese security services to train the island nation’s law enforcement to, in… Continue reading America Is Winning Against China in Oceania
Scientists Create Human Embryo-Like Structures with Stem Cells
Scientists have created synthetic blobs that resemble a 14-day-old human embryo for the first time, meaning they can study embryo development beyond a particularly tricky period of pregnancy. Historically, international rules prevent research on human embryos more than 14 days after fertilization. But the new technique uses stem cells, which have the potential to transform… Continue reading Scientists Create Human Embryo-Like Structures with Stem Cells
Amid an Epidemic of Loneliness, Nonprofits Are Helping Keep Veterans Connected
The U.S. surgeon general recently issued an advisory on America’s loneliness epidemic (PDF) and the healing effects of social connection. Former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald also issued a statement on veterans’ social isolation. These are important reminders of veterans’ need for connection and community. Fortunately, there are many nonprofit organizations seeking… Continue reading Amid an Epidemic of Loneliness, Nonprofits Are Helping Keep Veterans Connected
Loving With the Sacred Heart of Jesus
One of the most common depictions of Jesus in Western art outside the crucifixion is the depiction of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. All of these depictions show Our Lord’s closeness, tenderness, and love toward all of us. Out of the varying depictions of the Sacred Heart, there is one unique feature of all… Continue reading Loving With the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Sparse Neural Networks Point Physicists to Useful Data
Graham tried tweaking the CNN approach so that the kernel would only be placed on 3-by-3 sections of the image that contain at least one pixel that has nonzero value (and is not just blank). In this way, he succeeded in producing a system that could efficiently identify handwritten Chinese. It won a 2013 competition… Continue reading Sparse Neural Networks Point Physicists to Useful Data
U.S.-China Rivalry in an Era of Weakening States
In his recent meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns reportedly emphasized the importance of stabilizing the bilateral relationship. After an alarming downturn in U.S.-China relations, an easing of tensions could indeed provide a welcome breather for two countries confronting intractable domestic problems. Washington continues to grapple with slowing growth, bitter… Continue reading U.S.-China Rivalry in an Era of Weakening States
Brain Waves Synchronize when People Interact
Neuroscientists usually investigate one brain at a time. They observe how neurons fire as a person reads certain words, for example, or plays a video game. As social animals, however, those same scientists do much of their work together—brainstorming hypotheses, puzzling over problems and fine-tuning experimental designs. Increasingly, researchers are bringing that reality into how… Continue reading Brain Waves Synchronize when People Interact
The Case for a Governance-First U.S. Security Policy in the Sahel
Both terrorism and coups are on the rise in the Sahel. This is a troubling trend that the United States should be working to reverse. To do this, Washington needs to ramp up support aimed at improving security governance, professionalizing militaries, and strongly sanctioning all forms of military takeovers in the region. This will require… Continue reading The Case for a Governance-First U.S. Security Policy in the Sahel
How We Caught the D.C. Beltway Snipers (Beltway Snipers, John Muhammad, Lee Malvo)
Podcast: Download MYS263: A year after the 9/11 attacks, the Washington DC area was rocked by a series of random sniper attacks that left 10 people dead. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the shootings, the men behind them, how police caught them, and why they went on their murder spree Get all new episodes… Continue reading How We Caught the D.C. Beltway Snipers (Beltway Snipers, John Muhammad, Lee Malvo)
How to Unravel The Recent Mifepristone Rulings
The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency ruling on April 21, 2023, that allows continued access to the abortion pill mifepristone in states where abortion is legal. The court’s decision, which included few details and only indicated that Justices Clarence Thomas… Continue reading How to Unravel The Recent Mifepristone Rulings