Scientists Criticize Major Cuts to U.S. Medical Research Funding

Scientists are raising alarms over significant cuts to vital climate measurement programs in the United States, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) historical data on sea ice and snow cover. The cuts, initiated by the Trump administration on May 5, have resulted in the scaling back of services provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center, according to the Alaska Beacon. This reduction may jeopardize essential tools for climate analysis used globally, which track changes in Arctic conditions dating back to 1850. Rick Thoman from the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy expressed his dismay, stating, "I was completely blindsided" by the decision, which will affect infrastructure planning in Alaska and potentially erase invaluable historical data collections. The reduced services do little to address the ongoing climate crisis, as Arctic sea ice continues to diminish significantly, contributing to a self-reinforcing loop of global warming. The issue has drawn attention from the Alaska Senate, which has urged NOAA to maintain its Marine Environmental Buoy Database, crucial for marine safety data.

Three alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha-13 (MS-13) gang have been charged with the murder of a fellow gang member who was cooperating with the FBI, according to federal prosecutors. The assassination of Herlyn Barrientos, 47, occurred on February 18 at a South Los Angeles grocery store while he was reportedly on the phone with his FBI handler, who heard gunfire during the call. Dennis Anaya Urias, 26, Grevil Zelaya Santiago, 25, and Roberto Carlos Aguilar, 30, face charges of murder in aid of racketeering. This crime carries severe penalties, including a mandatory life sentence or the possibility of the death penalty. Barrientos had recently begun cooperating with authorities following a major crackdown on the gang's meth distribution network in 2023. Prosecutors stated that MS-13, known for its violent reprisals against informants, had issued a "greenlight," a term for a murder contract, against Barrientos upon his release from prison. Despite major law enforcement efforts, MS-13 continues to maintain a significant presence in southern California.

A groundbreaking proposal in the journal *Reports on Progress in Physics* suggests a radical rethinking of our understanding of quantum physics and gravity. Researchers, including co-author Jukka Tulkki, argue that traditional views are flawed and advocate for a model termed "unified gravity," which could reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity, two theories known to be mathematically incompatible. The proposed theory posits that gravity is governed by four interconnected components, allowing for greater compatibility between time-space bending, as described by general relativity, and the behavior of subatomic particles, articulated by quantum field theory. Tulkki stated, "Our theory does not need extra dimensions that do not have direct experimental support," as past theories have suggested. While the framework offers potential for future experimental validation, co-author Mikko Partanen cautioned that significant advancements in both theoretical and observational physics may take decades to yield direct evidence of these proposed quantum gravity effects. Current explorations aim to provide a coherent explanation for longstanding discrepancies in physics.