NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, July 20 (game #504)
Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day…
Scientists discover metformin may block key exercise benefits
A widely used medication for diabetes prevention may unexpectedly interfere with one of the most reliable ways to lower disease risk: regular physical activity. A Rutgers-led team reported in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that metformin appeared to weaken several important benefits normally gained from exercise. These include improvements in blood vessel function,…
Supercomputers decode the strange behavior of Enceladus’s plumes
In the 17th century, astronomers Christiaan Huygens and Giovanni Cassini pointed some of the earliest telescopes at Saturn and made a surprising discovery. The bright structures around the planet were not solid extensions of the world itself, but separate rings formed from many thin, nested arcs. Centuries later, NASA’s Cassini-Huygens (Cassini) mission carried that exploration…
Eleven countries added to methanol poisoning warning list
The UK Foreign Office has added a further 11 countries to its list warning of the risks of methanol poisoning from tainted alcoholic drinks. The updated travel guidance includes Bangladesh, India, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, and Rwanda following “a global increase in the number of reported cases” of methanol…
Secret underwater language of Hawaiian monk seals has 25 new calls
New research led by the UH Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) has greatly expanded scientists’ understanding of how Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) produce underwater sounds. The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, examined thousands of hours of passive acoustic recordings and uncovered 25 distinct underwater vocalizations. This…
Catherine’s first speech in two years calls for dignity for carers
The Princess of Wales has called for more dignity for carers and a greater respect for values such as “tenderness” in business, in her first public speech in two years. At an event in the City of London, Catherine called on 80 top business leaders to play their part in ensuring employees can have healthy…
Pinterest appoints Beth Horn to lead Western and Southern Europe
Published November 18, 2025 Pinterest’s operations in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, and Spain have been entrusted to Beth Horn, who has been appointed as the social network’s Vice-President for Southern Europe. Beth Horn – Pinterest Beth Horn previously served as business director for the UK market. She joined Pinterest in June 2024, having earlier…
A silent kidney crisis is spreading faster than anyone expected
A growing number of people worldwide are now believed to have reduced kidney function, according to a new analysis. The number of affected individuals increased from 378 million in 1990 to 788 million in 2023. As populations have expanded and grown older, the condition has reached a point where it is now listed among the…
Immigrants Report Rising Fear, Negative Economic and Health Impacts, and Changing Political Views During the First Year of President Trump’s Second Term
A new KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants reveals deepening anxiety and fear among immigrants of all statuses amid the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement and restrictive policies. The survey paints a portrait of families under strain—where fear of detention and economic instability are negatively impacting immigrants’ health and reshaping immigrant families’ daily lives and…
2025 California Health Benefits Survey
This survey asks employers about the cost of single coverage and coverage for a family of four for up to two of their largest plans. Health Insurance Premiums In 2025, the average premiums for covered workers in California are $10,033 for single coverage and $28,397 for family coverage. Premiums for covered workers in California are…
KFF/New York Times 2025 Survey of Immigrants: Worries and Experiences Amid Increased Immigration Enforcement
Immigrants are a diverse group who play a significant role in our nation’s workforce and communities. As of June 2025, there were 51.9 million immigrants living in the U.S., and roughly one in four children in the U.S. live with at least one immigrant parent. During his second term, President Trump has implemented an array of immigration policy changes focused on restricting immigration…
