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Phys.org / Most AI assistants are feminine—and it's fueling dangerous stereotypes and abuse

In 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) voice assistants worldwide surpassed 8 billion, more than one per person on the planet. These assistants are helpful, polite—and almost always default to female.

Jan 27, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Groundhogs are lousy forecasters but valuable animal engineers—and an important food source

Whether you call him groundhog, woodchuck, whistle-pig or use the full genus and species name, Marmota monax, the nation's premier animal weather forecaster has been making headlines as Punxsutawney Phil for decades.

Jan 27, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / Nearly half of CDC surveillance databases have halted updates, raising concerns about health data gaps

An audit of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public databases found that nearly half of routinely updated federal health surveillance systems had stopped or delayed updates in 2025, raising concerns that ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Health
Phys.org / Want to ride your bicycle? Study highlights rise of Canada's bike network

A new Simon Fraser University study has found that Canada's cycling network is growing, but not everyone is benefiting. Between 2022 and 2024, nearly 3,600 kilometers of high-quality cycling infrastructure was added across ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Earth
Medical Xpress / Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus

Athletic footwear has entered a new era of ambition. No longer content to promise just comfort or performance, Nike claims its shoes can activate the brain, heighten sensory awareness, and even improve concentration by stimulating ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Neuroscience
Phys.org / Back to school: What are the money lessons to teach your kids at every age?

As parents prepare for another school year, there's one subject that often gets overlooked: money.

Jan 27, 2026 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Epigenetic switch found to halt fat cell formation in adipose tissue

Metabolic diseases such as obesity, fatty liver, and insulin resistance are rapidly increasing worldwide, but fundamental methods to regulate the process of fat formation remain limited. In particular, once adipocytes (fat ...

Jan 26, 2026 in Biology
Medical Xpress / A shared process underlies oral cancer pain and opioid tolerance

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in the tissue around oral cancers both increases nerve sensitivity and makes opioids less effective. The findings point to a shared mechanism underlying both oral cancer pain ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Addiction
Medical Xpress / ChatGPT Health promises to personalize health information. It comes with many risks

Many of us already use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT for health advice. They give quick, confident and personalized answers, and the experience can feel more private than speaking to a human.

Jan 27, 2026 in Health informatics
Medical Xpress / The statin gap: Survey reveals many Americans are unaware of life-saving cholesterol alternatives

Unhealthy cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. When lifestyle changes like diet and exercise aren't enough to lower cholesterol, medications can help. A new national survey commissioned ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Cardiology
Medical Xpress / Researchers explore new diagnostic tools, genetic roots for early-onset dementia

Researchers at the new Center for Brain Health at UT Health San Antonio are studying midlife testing for early-onset dementia with blood-based biomarkers to see if they can detect disease activity up to 20 years before symptoms ...

Phys.org / Ensuring equitable technological transitions: AI use in the workforce

Much of the public conversation about generative AI and work focuses narrowly on job loss or productivity gains. But research by Professor of Sociology Chris Benner draws on lessons from past technological transitions and ...

Jan 27, 2026 in Other Sciences