A teenage Buddhist lama recently blessed thousands at a monastery in the Himalayan foothills. Just six months earlier and thousands of miles away, he was pulling all-nighters to play Madden NFL on his Xbox at his home in a Minneapolis suburb. Both world's are Jalue Dorje's. He grew up a typical American teen, loving rap music, video games and football. But he's also an aspiring spiritual leader — recognized from an early age by the Dalai Lama as a reincarnated lama. He graduated from high school last year and is now studying at monasteries in India and Nepal. His goal: become “a leader of peace,” like Nelson Mandela, Gandhi and the Dalai Lama.
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The coronavirus pandemic's impact lingers, influencing our lives in both obvious and subtle ways. Work-from-home jobs, mask-wearing and hand sanitizers are now common. Some effects are less visible, like grief, chronic health conditions and interrupted lives. Recently, a rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sparked fears of another pandemic. Despite reassurances of low risk, the fear highlights a deeper issue: There's been an erosion of trust. It raises questions about who people now rely on for guidance and understanding. Arizona State University research professor and sociologist Elisa Jayne Bienenstock says COVID-19 undermined confidence in science for people who don’t understand how science works.
A group of Black divers recently visited the site where the British slave ship Henrietta Marie sank 326 years ago. The ship, which had transported enslaved people from West Africa to Jamaica, sank near Key West, Florida. Divers said they felt a deep connection to their ancestors during the pilgrimage. It included a dive at the wreck site, a visit to the museum housing artifacts from the slave ship, and a cemetery containing the remains of African refugees who arrived at Key West on slave ships. Pilgrims said the journey was a quest to connect with their history, roots and an effort to tell historically accurate stories that will nourish future generations.
Researchers are warning that the U.S. is experiencing a reading recession, a slide that predates the COVID-19 pandemic. A new analysis of state test scores from third to eighth grade for over 5,000 school districts in 38 states found that only five states, plus the District of Columbia, had meaningful growth in reading test scores from 2022 to 2025. The analysis by scholars at Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth also found students remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic levels in reading and only slightly better in math. Still, some states and school districts are making progress — largely by shifting toward phonics-based instruction and providing extra support for struggling readers.
The condition PCOS is now called PMOS. What to know about the name change and what it means for care
A hormonal condition affecting 1 in 8 women around the world just got a new name in hopes of improving care. It Is now called polyendocrine me…
STOCKHOLM (AP) — The coffee might be poured by a human hand, but behind the counter something far less traditional is calling the shots at an …
Recess isn’t just a fun break for grade schoolers. It’s crucial to good health and good grades for kids of all ages.
Geopolitical tensions have spilled over into the Venice Biennale contemporary art exhibition. This year's edition is chaotic and contested, with no Golden Lions awarded after the jury quit in protest of Israel’s and Russia’s participation. Visitors will vote for the best national pavilion and best participant in the main show, “In Minor Keys,” with winners announced Nov. 22. Highlights include Koyo Kouoh’s focus on minority perspectives, Lubaina Himid’s exploration of life as a newcomer, the Vatican’s Mystic Garden offering spiritual respite, and Austria’s provocative performance art by Florentina Holzinger.
Olivia and Liam have topped the list of baby names in the United States for 2025, marking the seventh consecutive year. The Social Security Administration released the list on Friday, just in time for Mother’s Day. Charlotte climbed to second place among girls, ending Emma’s six-year run in that spot. Ava slipped out of the Top 10, replaced by Eliana. On the boys’ side, the top four names — Liam, Noah, Oliver and Theodore — held steady. Kasai had the biggest surge in popularity for boys, while Klarity with a K led for girls. The U.S. saw 3.6 million births in 2025, slightly down from the year before.
California will become the first state in the nation to provide infants with hundreds of free diapers before they leave hospitals after birth. Officials say the goal is to ease the financial burden on families welcoming newborns in the notoriously costly state. The state will provide 400 diapers to each newborn through participating hospitals. The program in its first year will be limited to hospitals largely serving low-income patients, and then it will expand statewide after that. It comes two years after Tennessee and Delaware became the first states to offer free diapers to families enrolled in their state's Medicaid programs.