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The New York Times reports on questions over whether Anthropic's Claude AI independently produced a genuine scientific finding. A researcher at the University of Copenhagen said his team had been sharing its research with the model, and that the AI's new result matched their own work, raising doubts about claims of an autonomous discovery and fueling debate over how much credit the system deserves.

A new report on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk says his organization, Turning Point USA, insisted he appear outdoors despite security concerns. It also found that Utah Valley University, where he was shot and killed, failed to properly assess threats, including the possibility of a rooftop shooter. The findings raise fresh questions about responsibility and security lapses surrounding his death last year.

University of Arizona researchers analysing satellite data report that the world's drylands are greening in increasingly extreme boom-and-bust cycles, with short pulses of vegetation growth followed by sharp crashes. The findings suggest that rising plant growth in arid regions masks growing instability, which could undermine assumptions about how dryland ecosystems will respond to climate change.

University of Illinois Extension has announced the creation of a new center dedicated to food, nutrition and health. The center is intended to consolidate the organization's outreach work in these areas, though details on its programs, staffing and funding have not yet been released.

A University of Washington study suggests coyote populations are growing in urban areas, with more of the animals living in cities than previously recorded. The findings, reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting, point to expanding coyote habitat across developed regions. Researchers and wildlife watchers are weighing what the trend means for residents, pets and urban wildlife management.

A study using artificial intelligence at the Large Hadron Collider challenges the theory that the universe has ten dimensions. The AI analysis of particle collision data casts doubt on predictions from string theory, which requires extra spatial dimensions beyond the four we observe. If confirmed, the findings would force physicists to rethink one of the leading candidate frameworks for unifying quantum mechanics and gravity.

The city of Coralville, Iowa, has filed a lawsuit against University of Iowa Health Care, accusing the institution of failing to honor commitments it made to the city. The suit centers on alleged broken promises, though specific details of the disputed commitments have not been laid out in initial reports. The case pits a growing eastern Iowa city against the state's flagship medical system.

Florida Tech students are living like astronauts on a simulated 'Mars' mission, operating under the principle that, as the mission motto puts it, 'You're on your own'. Participants isolate themselves in a habitat-style setting to test how crews might handle communication delays, limited resources and self-sufficiency during a real trip to the Red Planet. The project highlights growing university involvement in preparing the next generation of space explorers.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge report that sex differences in attention can be detected in newborns, suggesting the differences emerge far earlier in development than previously thought. The finding is drawing discussion among readers, with debate likely over what it means for the roles of biology versus environment in shaping cognitive sex differences.

California universities and colleges are adjusting to the rapid spread of artificial intelligence in classrooms, according to the Sacramento Bee. Schools in the state are developing policies and programs on how to handle AI tools in teaching, coursework and student assessment. The report highlights how one of the largest public higher education systems in the US is responding to a technology that is changing how students learn and how instructors teach.

Around 4,600 SEIU-represented staff at Oregon's seven public universities are preparing to walk off the job on Monday unless contract talks produce a deal. The threatened strike threatens disruption across the state's university campuses, affecting operations and services for students at the start of the week.

A Northwestern University survey has found that people who read local news around Chicago are wary of artificial intelligence being used in journalism. The findings suggest audiences remain skeptical about AI's role in producing or supporting local reporting. Details on the survey's size, methodology, and specific concerns were not immediately available, but the results add to a broader public debate about trust and automation in the news industry.

Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee has joined the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium, according to an announcement carried by local outlet Clarksville Online. The move ties the university into a statewide effort to advance technology development and collaboration. Details on the university's specific role and expected contributions have not yet been released, and reaction so far appears limited to regional coverage.