Top Stories
TOP STORY
TOP STORY
A third of ex-NFL players claim brain damage
A Harvard study of almost 2,000 former National Football League players says about one-third believe they have brain damage.
The study draws attention to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disorder linked to repeated head impacts. A definitive diagnosis of CTE is possible only by performing an autopsy of the brain after death.
Researchers who surveyed former players found a strong connection between perceived CTE (34%) and mental well-being. One-fourth who say they have CTE reported experiencing thoughts and behaviors related to committing suicide, compared to only 5% of players who don't think they have it.
Knowing the share of retired players with perceived CTE and the associated increase in thoughts of self-harm is a major step in helping them pursue mental health treatment, researchers said.
“Until we have a way to diagnose CTE and treat it, going after conditions that cause cognitive problems that add to their CTE anxieties represents the best way to give these guys hope and more good years,” said the study's lead author.
The study used electronic and paper surveys to query players who played professionally from 1960 to 2020. Collected data included demographics and football-related exposures, such as position and career duration, and health problems, such as anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and headaches.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
Coca-Cola Spiced pulled from shelves
Coca-Cola Spiced will be pulled from shelves just seven months after it hit them.
The spiced drink, a mix of classic Coke with raspberry and spiced flavors, was a bid for younger consumers. People, especially Gen Z, are drinking less soda and opting for energy drinks or healthier alternatives like seltzer and flavored water.
While betting on Coca-Cola Spiced might have been risky for Coke, its strong second-quarter earnings beat expectations, with net revenue up 2.9%.
According to Beverage Digest, Coca-Cola remains No. 1 in the cola wars over Pepsi and Dr. Pepper.
“We’re always looking at what our consumers like and adjusting our range of products,” a Coca-Cola spokesperson said, adding the company plans to introduce an “exciting new flavor in 2025.”
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LAW
LAW
Justice Department sues Visa
The Justice Department is suing Visa for monopolizing the debit card market, “charging significant fees and stifling competition.”
“We allege that Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The Justice Department said it filed Tuesday's lawsuit to restore competition and to benefit the American public, as it accused Visa of using exclusionary practices to safeguard its business in the debit market.
According to the lawsuit, Visa, headquartered in San Francisco, has a global operating income of $18.8 billion and charges about $8 billion in network fees on US debit volume annually. Globally, Visa processes $12.3 trillion in total payment volume.
Visa's general counsel, Julie Rottenberg, said: “We are proud of the payments network we have built, the innovation we advance and the economic opportunity we enable.”
SOCIETY
SOCIETY
Indigenous language needs in elections
Over 100 counties in 12 states translate ballots into over a dozen indigenous languages, and courts monitor the progress.
Section 203 of the federal Voting Rights Act requires the translation of election information into specific languages if areas have significant numbers of residents who share a common language and don’t understand English well or if they meet other criteria.
Arizona requires ballot translations in Navajo, Hopi, and Apache. This ensures that language barriers do not disenfranchise voters who are not fluent in English.
Navajo-speaking voters are a critical electoral bloc in Arizona, influencing vital statewide elections. Around 71,000 Arizonans speak Navajo, with many lacking fluency in English, highlighting the importance of accessible translations.
Discrepancies in translating sensitive topics, like abortion, have sparked debates among translators about cultural sensitivity. Issues with language assistance at polling stations persist, as do concerns that practices may need to meet the needs of Navajo voters, particularly elders who require more support.
HEALTH
HEALTH
1 in 3 children short-sighted, study says
A global analysis suggests children's eyesight is worsening, with 1 in 3 being short-sighted or unable to see distant objects.
The study warns that short-sightedness, or myopia, is a growing global health concern that could affect millions more children by 2050.
The highest rates are in Asia — 85% of children in Japan and 73% in South Korea are short-sighted. Paraguay and Uganda, at about 1%, have low myopia. The US, UK and Ireland all have about 15%.
The British Journal of Ophthalmology study examined research involving over five million children and teenagers from 50 countries on six continents.
Number-crunching revealed that short-sightedness tripled between 1990 and 2023, rising to 36%. The increase was "particularly notable" after the Covid pandemic.
Experts say that children should spend at least two hours outside every day, particularly between the ages of seven and nine, to reduce their chances of being short-sighted. It is unclear whether natural sunlight, exercise taken outdoors or children's eyes focusing on objects farther away that makes the difference.
SCIENCE
SCIENCE
Extinct volcanoes ‘rich’ in rare elements
Iron-rich magma in extinct volcanoes is likely abundant with rare earth elements and may be an invaluable source, research says.
Rare earth elements are used in smartphones, flat-screen TVs, trains and missiles and are vital to developing electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines.
The researchers said the iron-rich magma that solidified from some extinct volcanoes contains elements up to a hundred times more concentrated than the magma that erupts from active volcanoes.
Researchers simulated volcanic eruptions in the lab, sourcing rocks similar to those from iron-rich extinct volcanoes. The rocks were put into a pressurized furnace and melted to learn more about the minerals inside.
The researchers say the rare earth elements “aren’t that rare,” but breaking down and extracting them from the minerals they reside in is challenging and expensive.
A researcher said iron-rich extinct volcanoes worldwide could be studied for the presence of rare earth elements. Demand for the elements is expected to increase fivefold by 2030.
OFFBEAT
OFFBEAT
Zoo’s ‘barking’ pandas were painted dogs
People visiting a zoo in China demanded their money back after pandas in an enclosure turned out to be painted dogs.
Visitors to the attraction in Guangyuan raised suspicions after two of the animals began barking. Footage shared online shows two odd-looking animals with black ears, links and dark circles around their eyes – but with very evident canine features.
The zoo claims it didn’t mislead people because the “rare and exotic” animals were declared “panda dogs.” The zoo admitted to dyeing two chow chows, a breed of spitz dog from northern China known for its thick coat.
This isn’t the only time that “bears” have made headlines after accusations of being faked. Last year, another zoo in China confirmed its resident Sun Bear was, in fact, an animal and not a human in costume.
Otherweb Editorial Staff
Alex FinkTechie in Chief
David WilliamsEditor in Chief
Angela PalmerContent Manager
Dan KriegerTechnical Director