Science is on the federal chopping block and North Carolinians will suffer
Americans have long maintained a healthy instinct to be skeptics. We pride ourselves on demanding proof.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the explosion of social media in which every person has a public platform has allowed this natural skepticism to fuel a situation in which distinctly unscientific conspiracy theories get way too much attention.
And this, tragically, has led millions of people to waiver in their faith in science.
This trend is on display right now in Washington where federal budget writers are planning to slash scientific research funding at a time in which the need in numerous realms — like combating disease and developing clean energy – has never been greater.
Here in
And that would be a terrible mistake.
The bottom line: Science — genuine science — is the ultimate expression of a skepticism-based search for the truth. By forsaking it, we head down a very dangerous road indeed.
For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
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Los Angeles Times
10 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
The fight to keep space shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian: L.A. arts and culture this weekend
The Smithsonian Institution has faced pressure from President Trump since March when he issued his 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History' executive order, which demanded an end to federal funding for exhibitions and programs based on racial themes that 'divide Americans.' Amid Trump's headline-grabbing gambits to remake the landscape of American arts and culture into a more MAGA-friendly image, another challenge to the Smithsonian flew largely under the radar. In early April, Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz introduced the Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act, which proposed to move the space shuttle Discovery from the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to a spot near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The act was folded into President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, which Trump signed into law on July 4. NASA gifted the Discovery to the Smithsonian in 2012 and it has been in Virginia ever since. Discovery launched on its maiden voyage in 1984 and flew 39 Earth-orbital missions — more than any other orbiter. The Smithsonian considers it a key part of its collection and issued a statement to Congress objecting to the proposed move. According to the Hill, the statement noted that 'the case against relocating the orbiter Discovery is both philosophical and practical … It would be unprecedented for Congress to remove an object from a Smithsonian collection and send it somewhere else.' In late June, the Houston Business Journal reported that the Smithsonian estimated the cost of moving Discovery to Texas would be between $300 and $400 million, far more than the $85 million cited by Cornyn and Cruz in Trump's massive reconciliation and spending package. Since the passage of of the bill, the fight over Discovery has heated up. Earlier this week, Rep. Joe Morelle, a Democrat from New York, introduced an amendment to keep Discovery at the Smithsonian. The Appropriations Committee agreed to the amendment, which now moves to the Rules Committee before going to the House floor for a vote. 'The forced removal and relocation of the Space Shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian Institution's Air and Space Museum is inappropriate, wasteful, and wrong. Neither the Smithsonian nor American taxpayers should be forced to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on this misguided effort. I am grateful for the bipartisan support of my colleagues on this amendment and hope we can continue working together throughout the remainder of the Appropriations process to keep a treasured Smithsonian artifact where it belongs,' Morelle said in a statement sent to The Times. The Smithsonian did not respond to a request for comment on the evolving situation, or its quest to keep the Discovery in its collection. I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, hoping to orbit a positive news cycle someday soon. Here's your arts and culture roundup for this week. The Corpse FlowerThe infamously stinky plant, formally Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum), 'produces the largest unbranched inflorescence in the plant kingdom' and is known for its pungent aroma. 'Green Boy,' one of 43 corpse flowers in the Huntington's collection may have already blossomed by the time you read this, so be sure to check it out as the bloom lasts only 24-48 hours. 'It smells pretty bad,' Brandon Tam, the Huntington's associate curator of orchids,' told Times summer intern Aspen Anderson in her story on the event. But for those who prefer to avoid the full olfactory experience, there's a livestream.10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Tuesday. The Huntington, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Father John MistyJosh Tillman, whose Misty persona was described in a 2017 profile by Times pop music critic Mikael Wood as 'a convivial (if polarizing) chronicler of society's growing absurdity,' is joined by Lucinda Williams and Hamilton Leithauser for an eclectic evening of indie rock and folk.7 p.m. Friday. Greek Theatre, 2700 N. Vermont Ave. Phasmagorica: The Room Between WorldsLimited to nine audiences members at a time, this 'experiential paranormal encounter' proudly boasts that it is not a performance and does not use actors. Instead, sacred geometry, occult methodology, immersive light phenomena and 13 speakers of Dolby Atmos sound produce 'a fully-contained, tactile installation designed to provoke contact.' Guests are guided through a séance featuring spirit communication via arcane instruments and trigger objects, fortune-telling and psychological thresholds.7:30 and 9:15 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St. Austin Powers triple feature Yeah, baby! The academy's 'Summer of Camp' series continues with the shagadelic trilogy of 'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery' (1997), 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' (1999) and 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' (2002). Director Jay Roach will be in attendance.2 p.m. Saturday. Academy Museum, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Billy WoodberryThe MOCA Artist Film Series presents the L.A. Rebellion filmmaker's 2016 feature, 'And when I die, I won't stay dead,' a documentary on the life of Beat poet Bob Kaufman. Best known for 'Bless Their Little Hearts' (1983), Woodberry assembled archival footage and photos, interviews with Kaufman's contemporaries, and readings from Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis and others, plus a jazz soundtrack featuring Billie Holiday and Ornette Coleman.3 p.m. Saturday. Museum of Contemporary Art, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Queens of SoulThe peacocks and peahens will not be the only ones strutting and preening at the L.A. County Arboretum when the Pasadena Pops performs this salute to such divas as Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Adele and others, featuring hit songs such as 'Respect,' 'Proud Mary, 'I'm Every Woman' and 'Rolling in the Deep.'7:30 p.m. Saturday. L.A. County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Black Pasifika: Deep Sea ProtocolsWriter, relational architect and guerrilla theorist Neema Githere hosts this program exploring the links between climate crisis and technology across Melanesia. Githere will provide context and discuss deep-sea protocols and the consequences of technological accelerationism on sea-stewarding peoples from the Swahili coast to Melanesia with their grandfather, Dr. Gilbert Githere, founder of the Mombasa-Honolulu Sister City society. The filmic essay 'AI: African Intelligence' by Manthia Diawara searches for a more humane and spiritual control of algorithms. Ahead of the program, from 10 a.m.–6 p.m., the time-based somatic works 'Oceanic Refractions' and 'Cries From the Moana' will be shown on monitors in LACMA's Smidt Welcome Plaza.6 p.m. Sunday. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. L.A. Phil at the Hollywood BowlIn a week of debuts, Italian conductor Daniele Rustioni, recently appointed principal guest conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, makes his Los Angeles Philharmonic bow leading the orchestra through Mendelssohn's 'Violin Concerto' (with soloist Veronika Eberle), selections from Berlioz and Liszt, and Respighi's 'Pines of Rome.' Two nights later, former Dudamel Fellow and current Boston Symphony Orchestra assistant conductor Anna Handler makes her first Bowl appearance, leading the Phil in the world premiere of Eunike Tanzil's 'Ode to the City of Dreams,' Mozart's 'Concerto for Flute and Harp' and Richard Strauss' 'Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30.' Mendelssohn, 8 p.m. Tuesday; Tanzil, Mozart and Strauss, 8 p.m. Thursday. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave. — Kevin Crust Times art critic Christopher Knight was thrilled to see the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's exhibit 'Realms of the Dharma: Buddhist Art Across Asia.' Currently installed in the temporary exhibition spaces of the Resnick Pavilion, the show consists of roughly 180 objects that have been in storage for years after being boxed up in preparation for the demolition of the museum's original campus and the debut of the new David Geffen Galleries. Catch the exhibit now, before it gets stowed away again, writes Knight, adding that it 'includes some of the most splendid sculptures and paintings' in the museum's permanent collection. Times classical music critic Mark Swed hopped a plane to Austria and headed for the small town of Bregenz, where a major arts festival that attracts more than 250,000 visitors in July and August and boasts a $31-million budget is hosted. The biggest draw at the bustling festival is opera, and the biggest show is a production staged each year on the Seebühne — a massive stage built directly on Lake Constance with bleachers to accommodate an audience of 7,000. 'This year's 'Die Freischütz,' Carl Maria von Weber's early 19th century opera about a huntsman who makes a very bad deal with the devil for a magic bullet, opened last week and runs through Aug. 17,' writes Swed. 'All 27 performances are expected to sell out as usual for the kind of spectacle that exists nowhere else.' Read all about the world-famous technical and artistic extravaganza, here. Johanna Burton is leaving the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, to become the new director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania, ICA Philadelphia announced Thursday. Burton became MOCA's first female director in 2021 after its recently named Artistic Director Klaus Biesenbach unceremoniously left his position for a job in Berlin. Burton's departure makes her the fifth director to leave MOCA since 2008. Burton will fill the role at ICA Philadelphia left vacant by Zoë Ryan who exited the museum to take over leadership at the UCLA Hammer Museum in Westwood after its longtime director Ann Philbin retired. MOCA did not respond to a request for comment about Burton's departure. Architect Paul R. Williams' L.A. building, Founders Church of Religious Science, is among five structures across the country picked to receive funding through the Getty Foundation's Conserving Black Modernism Initiative. Announced earlier this week by the foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, the money will support preservation plans for the buildings and further train caretakers in maintenance best practices. Another overarching goal is to increase public awareness of the architects' legacies and the buildings they created. The other four buildings receiving Getty funds are the ITC Administration Building in Atlanta, designed by Edward C. Miller; First Church of Deliverance in Chicago, an adaptive reuse project redesigned by Walter T. Bailey; McKenzie Hall in Eugene, Ore., designed by DeNorval Unthank Jr.; and Vassar College's 2500 New Hackensack building in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., by Jeh Vincent Johnson. Artist Amy Sherald has canceled her upcoming solo show, 'American Sublime,' at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, citing censorship after she was told the museum wanted to exclude a painting featuring a transgender woman holding a torch in a pose meant to evoke the Statue of Liberty. Sherald was told that the museum did not want to provoke a reaction from President Trump, who has brought anti-trans ideals into the federal government. In a statement to the New York Times, Sherald wrote, 'It's clear that institutional fear shaped by a broader climate of political hostility toward trans lives played a role.' The Ebell of Los Angeles has named Camille Schenkkan its chief operating officer. The nonprofit organization, which dedicates itself to 'inspiring women and fostering community through arts, culture and education,' was founded in 1894 and occupies one of the city's most storied historic buildings — a campus and theater designed in 1927 by architect Sumner Hunt. Schenkkan arrives at the Ebell from Center Theatre Group, where she served as deputy managing director. Republican members of the House Appropriations Committee introduced a proposal earlier this week to rename the Opera House at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington after the first lady, Melania Trump. — Jessica Gelt Marlee Matlin shared her favorite Sunday activities with The Times — including a stop for pizza in Eagle Rock (hint: it's a classic). See you there!
Newsweek
11 hours ago
- Newsweek
Tiny 'Flowers' Offer New Hope Against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tiny, metallic, flower-shaped nanoparticles may offer fresh hope for patients with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This is the conclusion of researchers from Texas A&M University, who found that the so-called nanoflowers can protect and heal brain cells. The do this by promoting the health and turnover of mitochondria—the oft-dubbed "powerhouses of the cell" which are responsible for turning food into energy. While this process is essential for life, the mitochondria also produce waste in the process—including so-called "reactive oxygen species"—which can damage cells. The finding could pave the way for new treatments for neurological diseases that address the underlying root causes—in this case mitochondrial health and oxidative stress—instead of just managing symptoms. "We expect that our drug can reverse neuronal damage and consequently reverse neurodegeneration," study lead and biochemist professor Dmitry Kurouski told Newsweek. Alzheimer's is the most common neurodegenerative disease with Parkinson's coming in second—and promising new treatments are much sought after. In fact, more than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, a figure projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Meanwhile, around 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson's, expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030, according to Parkinson's Foundation. Alongside potentially helping combat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, Kurouski said, "it is important to mention that similar reversing effects could be expected in other pathologies including acute brain and spinal cord injuries." Doctor and older patient smile while looking at phone results, with inserted image of nanoflowers overlayed in corner. Doctor and older patient smile while looking at phone results, with inserted image of nanoflowers overlayed in corner. Lacheev / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Journal of Biological Chemistry In their study, Kurouski and colleagues explored—in a petri dish in the lab—how nanoflowers affect both the brain's nerve cells, or 'neurons', and the star-shaped 'astrocytes' that support them. Within 24 hours of treatment, the team saw a "dramatic" drop in the levels of ROS, accompanied by signs of improved mitochondrial function. "Even in healthy cells, some oxidative stress is expected. But the nanoflowers seem to fine-tune the performance of mitochondria, ultimately bringing the levels of their toxic byproducts down to almost nothing," Kurouski explained. Having assessed the effects on individual cells, the researchers next tested the impact of the nanoflowers on whole creatures—specifically a species of worm, C. elegans, which is commonly used as a model organism in neurological research. The team found that, on average, worms treated with one specific flavor of nanoflower survived for days longer than their untreated counterparts (which typically live for around 18 days) and were less likely to die during the early stages of their lives. "These nanoflowers look beautiful under a microscope, but what they do inside the cell is even more impressive," Kurouski said in a statement. "By improving the health of brain cells, they help address one of the key drivers of neurodegenerative diseases that have long resisted therapeutic breakthroughs." With more research needed before clinical trials could be conducted on humans, Kurouski says he plans to undertake further studies in more complex animal models. The team are also exploring practical concerns towards clinical applications. "We are currently working on finding the best way to administrate the drug. We anticipate that internasal spray will be the best solution," Kurouski said. The biochemist stressed that he is keen to make sure the nanoflowers are safe, effective and have clear mechanism of action—but, he concluded, he thinks they could be a "new class of therapeutics" with "incredible potential." Do you have a health story to share with Newsweek? Do you have a question about the study? Let us know via health@ Reference Mitchell, C. L., Matveyenka, M., & Kurouski, D. (2025). Neuroprotective properties of transition metal dichalcogenide nanoflowers alleviate acute and chronic neurological conditions linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 301(5).
Medscape
16 hours ago
- Medscape
NIH Launches Agency-Wide Plan for Autoimmune Research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has unveiled its first agency-wide strategic plan to address autoimmune diseases, supporting research on preclinical autoimmunity, early diagnosis, and innovative therapies. An estimated 23.5-50 million Americans are living with one or more autoimmune diseases. The initiative follows a congressional directive in 2023 that led to the creation of the NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR) within the Office of Research on Women's Health. The office convened a committee with representatives from multiple NIH institutes and centers to develop the plan, gathering input from researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, and people living with autoimmune diseases to define research priorities. The initiative 'is long overdue,' said Sonia Sharma, PhD, of the Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation at La Jolla Institute for Immunology in La Jolla, California, in an interview with Medscape Medical News . 'Individually, some folks may consider these rare diseases; but as a collective, they are not rare and they are increasing.' While NIH investment in autoimmune disease research has increased from $822 million in 2014 to more than $1 billion in 2024, according to the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT), 'current funding levels are not proportional to the rising prevalence of autoimmune diseases, highlighting a significant gap,' said OADR Director Victoria Shanmugam, MBBS, in a video introducing the initiative. The launch of this plan comes at a precarious time for medical research funding. Over 2480 NIH grants, totaling $8.7 billion, have been canceled as of mid-June, according to Scientific American . The proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget also includes a $18 billion cut to the NIH, a nearly 40% reduction from the current NIH budget. It's unclear if these cuts could affect this initiative, and the announcement included no funding details. The 5-year plan, announced on July 21, 2025, will run from 2026 through 2030 and has the following priorities: Accelerate scientific discovery in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and cure of autoimmune diseases. Promote research to enhance health for people living with and at risk for autoimmune diseases. Support research to understand the full complexity of autoimmune diseases. Build and maintain capacity for autoimmune disease research. Build and strengthen partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration across the autoimmune disease community. One research area emphasized in the plan is preclinical immunity, referred to as the prodrome, where autoantibodies and other markers of autoimmunity are present, yet symptoms have not yet developed. 'That's the black box of autoimmunity,' Sharma said. Studying the preclinical phases of disease could lead to earlier diagnosis, treatment, and potentially prevention, she added. The plan also included five 'crosscutting themes': develop infrastructure, support multimodal data-driven approaches, promote engagement of all patient populations, support community partnerships, and harness technologies to advance autoimmune disease research. Currently, the strategic plan lacks detailed timelines, but experts anticipate greater specificity as it advances. 'We would like to see more clarity around a timeline with specific deliverables, but that can't occur until they understand what and where the resources will be located,' said Molly Murray, president and CEO of the Autoimmune Association, in a statement to Medscape Medical News . She emphasized the need for 'specific, measurable milestones,' particularly for early disease detection and testing. 'We also want to see greater detail on how NIH will partner with existing centers of excellence in autoimmune research, and how patient voices will be consistently integrated into research design and priority-setting,' she continued. 'Ultimately, we're looking for this plan to become more than a document, but rather a catalyst for sustained coordination, investment, and accountability across the entire NIH enterprise.'
