Universities

The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) has decided to stop adding leap seconds to Coordinated Universal Time, ending a decades-long practice of occasionally inserting an extra second to keep atomic clocks in line with Earth's rotation. The change, set out in a resolution from the 2026 General Conference, will be welcomed by technology companies and standards bodies who have long argued that unpredictable leap seconds pose risks to computer systems and network infrastructure.

Indonesia's Constitutional Court is again at the centre of a political controversy over Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's academic diploma, according to a Tempo report drawing wide attention. The case touches on doubts raised about the authenticity of his university credentials, a recurring issue in Indonesian politics. Readers are sharing the report and debating the court's role and the legitimacy of the claims.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the United States to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement during a forum at Harvard University's Institute of Politics. Speaking to students and attendees, he stressed the importance of American leadership in global climate efforts and urged the country to resume its commitments under the accord.

Researchers, including a team at the University of Reading, report that changes in Indian diets are exposing a hidden genetic risk of high cholesterol. As traditional eating patterns give way to more processed, higher-fat foods, people carrying certain genetic variants may see cholesterol levels rise where they previously remained hidden. Findings were reported by Medical Xpress and the university.

Universal Music Group is restructuring, and the shake-up has seen the top executives at two of its flagship labels, Republic Records and Def Jam, leave the company. The moves mark a significant leadership change within the world's largest music group and raise questions about how the labels will be run going forward.

Bryan Kohberger, convicted in the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students, has filed court documents seeking to withdraw his guilty plea, according to ABC News reporting. The move comes after he admitted to the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in a plea deal that spared him the death penalty. Legal observers say the attempt faces steep hurdles, as courts rarely allow plea withdrawals after sentencing.

China Daily reports that China is calling for concrete action on climate change, urging stronger international efforts to address global warming. The appeal comes amid ongoing debates over emissions commitments and cooperation between major economies, and is being picked up by universities and other institutions sharing the state English-language paper's coverage.

Metrologists and scientists have voted to abolish the leap second, the occasional one-second adjustment added to Coordinated Universal Time since 1972 to keep clocks aligned with Earth's rotation. The change, expected by 2035, means atomic time and astronomical time will be allowed to drift apart. The decision follows growing problems for computing systems and telecommunications networks that struggle with irregular time insertions.

Metrologists are preparing to vote on abolishing the leap second, the occasional one-second adjustment added to Coordinated Universal Time since 1972 to keep clocks aligned with Earth's slowing rotation. The change would end a practice long criticised by tech companies and engineers, who say irregular adjustments cause glitches in software and satellite systems.

Google has rolled out Universal Cart, a new shopping feature that tracks prices on items users want to buy, along with three other shopping tools. The features were announced ahead of the holiday buying season, and Google also launched a guide advising shoppers on when to buy. Coverage highlights how the tools could help shoppers find the best deals as holiday spending ramps up.

Researchers at the University of Arizona report that humans living during the last ice age endured abrupt environmental shifts, a finding drawn from ancient footprints preserved in white sand. The footprints serve as a record of how quickly conditions changed for early human populations, offering new insight into how our ancestors adapted to rapid climate variability thousands of years ago.

U.S. science leaders are pushing back against a shift in White House priorities toward artificial intelligence and technology by defending the central role of the American university in research and innovation. Writing in STAT, they argue that universities remain essential to scientific progress even as federal attention and funding tilt toward AI and the tech sector.

National data indicate high rates of anxiety among adolescents, according to researchers at the University of Connecticut. The findings point to widespread mental health struggles among teenagers, a topic that has drawn growing attention from educators, parents and health officials. Commentators are likely to debate the causes, ranging from social media use to post-pandemic pressures, and what steps schools and policymakers should take in response.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have used artificial intelligence and data from online forums to identify potential side effects of retatrutide, an unapproved GLP-1 weight-loss drug still in development. The study highlights a new way to detect adverse reactions before regulators or manufacturers can, drawing attention as interest in next-generation obesity medications keeps growing.

The University of North Dakota has been named the nation's first university clearinghouse for counter-drone technology. The designation positions UND as a central hub for research, information-sharing and coordination on technology designed to detect and neutralize uncrewed aerial systems. It builds on the university's established role in drone and aviation research, and comes as concern over unauthorized drone activity grows across the United States.

Universal Music Group is undergoing a leadership restructure, with senior executives at two of its flagship labels, Def Jam Recordings and Republic Records, among those leaving the company. The departures signal a broader management shake-up at the world's largest music company. Details on the exact roles affected and who will replace the departing executives have not yet been fully outlined, and it remains to be seen how the reshuffle will affect the labels' artist rosters and release strategies.

University of Utah health researchers are highlighting the dangers that air pollution and climate change pose to children's health. The university's academic medical center is promoting efforts to protect young people from polluted air and a warming climate, focusing on how environmental hazards affect children's developing lungs and overall wellbeing.

Students in Brazil are protesting against education cuts promised by Flavio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian senator and son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Demonstrators say the planned reductions would harm public universities and schools, and the protests have drawn attention to ongoing disputes over education funding in the country.