WEIRD FACTS
The U.S.-WHO collaboration has been critical in the country’s response to mpox, shown here, as well as Ebola, Marburg, flu and COVID-19. Uma Shankar sharma/Moment via Getty Images – By Jordan Miller, Teaching Professor of Public Health, Arizona State University Published: 2026 Jan …
Attendees at the 1892 Colored Catholic Congress included the nation’s first openly Black priest, Augustus Tolton, who stands in the middle of the front row. Wikimedia Commons By Annie Selak, Director, Women’s Center, Georgetown University Published: 2026 Jan 27 – The first publicly …
Amyloid plaques that misfold and form oligomers kill brain cells leading to cognitive decline. Scientists find that a protein in some cancers helps the brain get rid of them. Depositphotos By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jan 29 – For some time, we’ve known that it’s …
Ascertaining radiation levels after a leak is a critical step toward providing rapid and accurate treatment for those exposed. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2026 Jan 28 – Researchers at Hiroshima University (HU) in Japan have developed a way to leverage the cameras on …
Your shoes might not necessarily free your mind. ksana-gribakina/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Atom Sarkar, Professor of Neurosurgery, Drexel University Published: 2026 Jan 27 – Athletic footwear has entered a new era of ambition. No longer content to promise just comfort or …
AIs could use some self-reflection. davincidig/iStock via Getty Images – By Ricky J. Sethi, Professor of Computer Science, Fitchburg State University; Worcester Polytechnic Institute Published: 2026 Jan 26 – Have you ever had the experience of rereading a sentence multiple times only to …
New therapy targets the liver’s PCSK9 gene to lower cholesterol. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Jan 25 – A new CRISPR-based one-off procedure that lowers “bad” cholesterol has been approved to enter Phase I human trial. If successful, it could be the first …
Research shows that the brain can be exercised, much like our muscles. RapidEye/E+ via Getty Images – By Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Published: 2026 Jan 23 – If you have ever lifted a weight, you know the routine: …
Parasites love Vitamin C, and it turns out humans stopped producing it internally as a defense mechanism. Depositphotos – By Jay Kakade 2026 Jan 19 – Most mammals produce their own vitamin C using an enzyme called GULO. Around 60 million years ago, humans …
Ecoldbrew, which makes cold-brew coffee from whole beans in five minutes, is currently on Kickstarter. Ecoldbrew – By Shirl Leigh 2026 Jan 22 – Ecoldbrew, engineered by a team of designers with experience working for brands like Xiaomi, Philips, De’Longhi and Ningbo Borine, is …
