Research on conditions like autism, schizophrenia and even brain cancer increasingly relies on clusters of human cells called brain organoids.
These pea-size bits of neural tissue model aspects of h… [+6402 chars]

Pea-size clusters of human cells called brain organoids inspire both hope and fear. Experts are debating how scientists can responsibly use these bits of gray matter.

Brain organoids are helping researchers, but their use also creates unease - NPR

President Trump's pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro is the latest chapter in a long history of U.S. intervention in the Caribbean basin, rooted in the 1823 Monroe Doctrine bu… [+10215 chars]

President Trump's pressure campaign against Venezuela is the latest in a long saga of U.S. intervention in the region that is rooted in the 1823 Monroe Doctrine — and is a mix of success and failure.

U.S. interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean haven't always gone as planned - NPR

The spread of influenza became more severe this fall, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated the 2024-25 flu season… [+3685 chars]

The “super flu” behind outbreaks in the US and UK is a new variant of influenza A H3N2, subclade K. Existing vaccines appear to be insufficiently effective against the virus.

Wired

What Is the ‘Super Flu’ That Is Spreading in Europe and the United States? - wired.com

<ul><li></li><li></li><li></li></ul>
430 ISO lumens is greater than 550 lumens.
430 ISO lumens is greater than 550 lumens.
by
Thomas RickerClose
Thomas Ricker
Posts from this author will be add… [+2745 chars]

430 ISO lumens is greater than 550 lumens.

The Verge

Samsung adds much needed brightness to its Freestyle projector - The Verge

NEW ORLEANS -- Coach Kirby Smart wasn't pointing fingers in the aftermath of a 39-34 loss to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl, but the play that might have ultimately doomed Georgia's season was never supp… [+2976 chars]

After Georgia's 39-34 loss to Ole Miss in Thursday night's Sugar Bowl, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart took responsibility for a failed a fourth-down play in the second half.

ESPN

Smart: UGA 4th-down faux paw 'on us as coaches' - ESPN

Britain's FTSE 100 index on Friday briefly surpassed the symbolic 10,000 points marker for the first time, extending gains after a bumper 2025.
The FTSE 100 index home to the U.K.'s most valuable bl… [+2812 chars]

Britain's FTSE 100 index on Friday surpassed the symbolic 10,000 points marker for the first time, extending gains after a bumper 2025.

CNBC

Britain's FTSE 100 hits symbolic 10,000 mark for the first time as new year trading kicks off - CNBC

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping (except food and gas) and major decisions from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. After that, the moon moves from Gemini into Cancer.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
 This is a low-energy day… [+3753 chars]

Suntimes.com

Horoscope for Friday, January 02, 2026 - Chicago Sun-Times

A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado on Thursday, in what would be the first fatal attack by one of the predators in… [+2234 chars]

A woman was killed in a suspected mountain lion attack while she was hiking alone in the mountains of northern Colorado

ABC News

Woman killed in suspected mountain lion attack while hiking in northern Colorado - ABC News

China's BYD is set to overtake Elon Musk's Tesla as the world's biggest seller of electric vehicles (EVs), marking the first time it has outpaced its American rival for annual sales.
On Thursday, BY… [+2516 chars]

It would mark the first time the Chinese firm has outpaced its American rival for annual sales.

BBC News

China's BYD set to overtake Tesla as world's top EV seller - BBC

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro said on Thursday he was open to talks with the US on drug trafficking and oil, after weeks of an escalating pressure campaign against his government.
In an interview… [+2502 chars]

In an interview with state TV, the Venezuelan president also evaded a question about an attack in his country claimed by the US.

Maduro says Venezuela open to US talks on drug trafficking - BBC

This is an opinion column.
___________________
When Alabama was bad this season, the football on the field was hard to watch.
So it was on Thursday here in Pasadena, Calif., during Alabamas 38-3 l… [+5504 chars]

And just what the heck was Tide coach Kalen DeBoer thinking on that fourth-down call?

AL.com

Goodman: Curt Cignetti calls out Alabama’s toughness after Rose Bowl - AL.com

In one of his first acts as mayor, Zohran Mamdani on Thursday revoked nine executive orders his predecessor, Eric Adams, issued after his federal corruption indictment, a move that undid actions pert… [+4913 chars]

In one of his first acts as mayor, Zohran Mamdani revoked nine executive orders his predecessor, Eric Adams, issued after the date of his federal corruption indictment, on issues from antisemitism …

New York Daily News

Mamdani revokes nine Eric Adams executive orders issued after his corruption indictment - New York Daily News

<ul><li>Trump's WSJ interview marked one of the most in-depth yet on the health of a president who would become the oldest sitting commander-in-chief at the end of his second term.</li></ul>Health sc… [+2607 chars]

Trump told the WSJ he had a CT scan during a recent medical exam and not an MRI scan, as he previously claimed.

Axios

5 takeaways from Trump's defiant WSJ interview on his health - Axios

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the series finale of Netflix‘s Stranger Things.
Matt and Ross Duffer have officially closed the book on Stranger Things.
The supernatural Netflix seri… [+17694 chars]

Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer spoke with Deadline about crafting the series finale of the beloved Netflix series

Deadline

‘Stranger Things 5’: Duffer Brothers Unpack Emotional Series Finale From [SPOILER]’s Death To That 40-Minute Epilogue, Those Needle Drops & A Spinoff Hint - Deadline

Stock futures rose Friday, the first trading day of 2026, as tech looked to build on its momentum from last year. 
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures traded 192 points higher, or 0.4%. S&amp;P 500… [+1570 chars]

Stock futures rose Friday, the first trading day of 2026, as tech looked to build on its momentum from last year.

Augment

Sat Jan 03 2026

Stock futures rise to kick off 2026 as tech shares pick up where they left off 2025: Live updates - CNBC

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