Author: Lester Holt

WASHINGTON, Sept 9 — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified Chagas disease, a parasitic infection spread by triatomine insects—commonly known as “kissing bugs”—as endemic in the United States. Once largely confined to Latin America, the disease is now appearing consistently in multiple regions across the country. Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted when infected kissing bugs bite humans, typically around the face, and then defecate near the wound. The parasite can enter the body when the bite area is scratched. Additional, though less frequent, routes of infection include blood transfusions, organ…

BBC leadership will face scrutiny from MPs over recent controversies involving a Gaza documentary, Glastonbury coverage, and Gregg Wallace. Director-General Tim Davie and BBC chairman Samir Shah are set to appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday. They will respond to questions on multiple high-profile issues. One major topic is the internal review of Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone. The review, concluded in July, found the documentary breached editorial rules. It failed to disclose that the child narrator’s father held a position in the Hamas-run government. MPs will question the BBC chiefs on how this oversight…

Government Hosts Forum on Soil Disposal Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has organized meetings to discuss strategies for handling soil cleared from areas affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident.The discussions focus on safe storage, potential reuse, and long-term disposal of roughly 14 million cubic meters of decontaminated soil temporarily held near the Fukushima plant. Public Demonstrations to Build Confidence In mid-2025, the government carried out a demonstration using slightly radioactive soil at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, incorporating it into flower beds.The soil, which contains radiation levels under 8,000 becquerels per kilogram, was intended to illustrate its safety…

Antarctic “megaberg” A23a rapidly breaking apart Nearly 40 years after detaching from Antarctica, one of the largest and oldest icebergs on record, A23a, is now disintegrating in warmer waters and may vanish entirely within weeks. Earlier this year, the colossal iceberg weighed just under a trillion tonnes and was more than twice the size of Greater London, making it one of the most massive ice formations ever observed. The giant slab of freshwater ice was so vast that it briefly threatened penguin feeding grounds on a remote South Atlantic island, before drifting away. Rapid fragmentation Satellite analysis by the EU’s…

Climate crisis driving surge in extreme heat The UK has recorded its hottest summer since 1884, the Met Office has confirmed, with experts pointing to human-induced climate change as the driving force behind the exceptional warmth. Scientists warn that such extreme conditions are becoming increasingly likely as the planet continues to heat. The milestone comes in the same year that the world logged its hottest summer on record, with vast parts of Europe battling dangerous heatwaves that triggered destructive wildfires in Spain, Portugal, and other regions. New temperature record set for the season From June through August, the UK’s mean…

Kemi Badenoch pledges to scrap net zero rules Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has declared that, if elected, her party would remove all net zero obligations for North Sea oil and gas companies. Speaking ahead of a formal speech in Aberdeen on Tuesday, she said the government would focus entirely on “maximising extraction” to ensure the UK taps “all our oil and gas” from the North Sea. Badenoch argued that current climate regulations inflate household energy bills. “Families are paying the price for these net zero measures,” she said. Labour warns against environmental and economic costs The Labour government, which has…

Unprecedented Sighting Near Costa Rica Fishermen off Costa Rica were left astonished when they hooked a strikingly orange nurse shark—a phenomenon never recorded before. The anglers shared photos of their catch, describing it as “an extraordinary moment in marine history that amazes scientists, fishers, and ocean enthusiasts alike.” Shark Identification The unusual shark measured roughly two meters and was identified as a nurse shark, easily recognized by the characteristic “whisker-like” barbels on its snout. This individual represents the first documented case of a nurse shark exhibiting such a vivid orange coloration. Genetic Explanation Researchers writing in Marine Biodiversity analyzed the…

Federal Funding Linked to Curriculum Changes The Biden administration has signaled that states risk losing federal sex education funding if their programs include references to transgender individuals or gender identity. Under the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), 46 states and territories received letters from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) instructing them to remove such content within 60 days, or risk losing federal support. Officials cited the need to align curricula with statutory objectives and guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services. Controversy Surrounding the Policy The directive follows the administration’s earlier decision to revoke a $12…

Maryland Resident Diagnosed After Travel Health officials have confirmed the first human case of New World screwworm infection in the United States. The patient, a Maryland resident who had recently returned from Central America, was diagnosed earlier this month. The individual has since recovered, and authorities stress there is no evidence of spread to others. Understanding the Parasite The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae infest open wounds, feeding on living tissue. While the parasite is most dangerous to livestock, it can occasionally affect humans. Symptoms include painful wounds and visible larvae, requiring immediate medical treatment. Cases…

Extreme Heat May Speed Up Biological AgeingA recent study indicates that repeated exposure to heatwaves can accelerate the ageing process, with effects similar to those from smoking, heavy drinking, poor diet, or sedentary lifestyles. Scientists warn that as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, billions of people could face long-term health consequences. Research Tracks Heat Exposure and Health ImpactThe study followed 25,000 adults in Taiwan over 15 years, analyzing their heatwave exposure against biological age, a measure of overall physiological health. Results showed that just four extra heatwave days over two years were associated with an increase…