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📺 1 for the road: Hot new TV tech A new Samsung RGB TV on display at CES in Las Vegas in January. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Best Buy will be the exclusive national retailer for new RGB LED TVs — a rollout it calls the biggest change in TV tech in over a decade, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports. RGB LEDs use thousands of red, green and blue backlights for better colors and contrast, Wired explains. 🤩 Incoming Best Buy CEO Jason Bonfig said: "It's not just a spec change — the colors are physically produced differently, and it's something you'll notice immediately." Models will start at $999, in sizes from 50 to 116 inches. Go deeper.

🍎 Apple is hiking MacBook and iPad prices, blaming the "rapid expansion of AI data centers" for causing an "extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage." The company said: "We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions." Go deeper.

A new paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition argues that current public health recommendations for exercise and protein intake are largely aimed at preventing deficiency, not helping people achieve the best possible long-term health, independence, and quality of life. The paper tackles several fundamental questions: How much protein do people really need? What types of exercise offer the greatest benefits? And what does the latest research show? According to author Dr. Chris Macdonald (Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, and Director of the Better Protein Institute), a growing body of evidence suggests that people may benefit from higher levels of physical activity and protein consumption than current guidelines typically recommend. "Public health advice often focuses on the minimum people need to avoid problems," said Dr. Macdonald. "But many people want to know what they should do to remain strong, independent, and mentally sharp throughout life." Exercise and Healthy Aging The paper reviews research linking regular exercise to a wide range of health benefits, including a lower risk of death, better mental health, stronger cognitive function, and greater resistance to age-related decline. The evidence also suggests that combining aerobic activities such as walking, running, or cycling with resistance training may provide especially powerful benefits. Dr. Macdonald argues that physical activity should be viewed not only as a way to avoid disease, but also as a tool for maintaining strength, mobility, and independence throughout life. Protein Intake Beyond Minimum Requirements The review also takes a closer look at protein recommendations. Current UK guidelines are based primarily on preventing protein deficiency in sedentary adults. However, the paper points to newer research suggesting that physically active people, older adults, and pregnant women may benefit from significantly higher protein intake. The review further highlights evidence that higher-protein diets can support fat loss (due to increased satiety and thermic effect), making them beneficial for body composition as well as overall health. Importantly, the paper notes that higher protein consumption is not limited to meat-based diets. With thoughtful meal planning, plant-based diets can also provide sufficient protein, as demonstrated by the growing number of vegan powerlifters and bodybuilders. From Minimum Health to Optimal Health Rather than replacing existing recommendations, Dr. Macdonald suggests supplementing them with guidance focused on what he calls "optimal health outcomes." He argues that people would benefit from clearer and more practical information about how exercise and nutrition can support long-term physical and cognitive performance. In addition to updating guidelines, Dr. Macdonald believes there needs to be a shift in how society views exercise and protein intake. "… high-intensity exercise and high-protein diets are often associated with bodybuilders and superficial aesthetic goals. However, high-intensity exercise and high-protein diets also empower the general population to extend their lifespan and healthspan. Therefore, it is less about having 'abs' and a 'beach body' and more about being able to lift up, play with, and even remember, your grandchildren thanks to a strong and resilient body and mind. When we see a stereotypical image of a hunched-over slow, fragile person with ill health, in their later years, it seems like an inevitable consequence of "Father Time," however, I propose that in most cases, it is evidence of a non-evidence-based lifestyle. In short, we should not be quick to normalize and accept the consequences of a largely sedentary lifestyle; we should proactively empower people to reclaim their health and their independence. The reduction in unnecessary suffering would be profound." https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260622091429.htm

Scientists found that a common saturated fat, palmitic acid, may promote processes linked to type 2 diabetes, including inflammation and impaired insulin function. Meanwhile, oleic acid—the main fat in olive oil—shows protective effects that could help keep metabolism on track. Credit: Shutterstock Researchers are taking a closer look at how different types of dietary fat may influence the risk of type 2 diabetes, a disease that affects millions of people worldwide and is linked to serious health complications and premature death. A new review published in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism (Cell Press) explores the contrasting effects of two major fatty acids found in the diet: palmitic acid and oleic acid. The work was led by teams from the CIBER Area for Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM) at the University of Barcelona. "Palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid widely found in foods, is associated with impaired insulin sensitivity, whereas oleic acid, abundant in olive oil, may have a protective effect against these metabolic disorders," says Professor Manuel Vázquez-Carrera, from the UB's Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, the UB Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute (IRSJD) and CIBERDEM. Other contributors include Ricardo Rodríguez-Calvo of CIBERDEM at the Pere Virgili Institute for Health Research (IISPV), Marta Tajes of the CIBER Area for Cardiovascular Diseases (CIBERCV) at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), and Walter Wahli of the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). According to Vázquez-Carrera, the findings suggest that the type of fat people consume may be more important than the overall amount. "This review highlights the significant role of the quality of dietary fat, rather than the total amount consumed," notes Professor Manuel Vázquez-Carrera, who is a group leader at CIBERDEM at the UB. How Palmitic Acid May Promote Diabetes The researchers examined evidence showing that palmitic acid can trigger several biological processes linked to metabolic disease. As Xavier Palomer (UB-IBUB-CIBER-IRSJD), the article's first author, says, "at the molecular level, palmitic acid promotes the accumulation of potentially toxic bioactive lipids, fosters low-grade chronic inflammation, and contributes to the dysfunction of cellular organelles, such as the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria." The team notes that these cellular changes "are closely linked to impaired insulin action and the progression of metabolic disease." Oleic Acid Shows Protective Effects The picture looks quite different for oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat found in high amounts in olive oil. According to the review, oleic acid encourages the body to store fats in forms that are metabolically less disruptive and have little effect on normal cellular function. It also helps maintain healthy insulin signaling in important metabolic tissues, including the liver, muscles, and adipose tissue. Researchers say oleic acid may also offset many of the harmful effects associated with palmitic acid. This could help explain why eating patterns rich in monounsaturated fats, including the Mediterranean diet, are consistently linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Improving Nutrition Strategies for Diabetes Prevention The authors emphasize that more targeted research is needed to better understand differences seen across population studies. "It is important to consider variables such as the source of fatty acids, their dietary context, interactions with other nutrients, and different food processing methods," says Manuel Vázquez-Carrera. The researchers believe that gaining a clearer understanding of these factors will improve scientists' ability to evaluate how different fats affect metabolic health. In turn, that knowledge could support the development of more effective dietary approaches for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260621060318.htm

A minimally invasive procedure for chronic knee pain is helping some patients find significant relief without undergoing major surgery. For Cynthia Schraf-Fletcher, 74, the results were "remarkably" successful. Nearly a year after receiving genicular artery embolization (GAE) on her right knee, Schraf-Fletcher says the improvement is comparable to the total knee replacement she previously underwent on her left knee. "I couldn't be more pleased," says Schraf-Fletcher, who had the procedure performed by Leigh Casadaban, MD, MS, assistant professor of radiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. Today, she says everyday activities such as gardening and riding a stationary bicycle are far more enjoyable because of the reduction in pain. How Genicular Artery Embolization Works GAE is an outpatient procedure designed to ease chronic knee pain by reducing blood flow to inflamed areas within the joint. By targeting abnormal blood vessels associated with inflammation, the treatment can help decrease swelling and discomfort. "For treating osteoarthritis in the knees, we often think of medications, physical therapy, maybe a steroid injection, and then on the far end of the spectrum is a total knee replacement. There really hasn't been anything for patients in between," Casadaban, a vascular interventional radiologist, says. "GAE is a promising minimally invasive procedure that may fill that spot for people who have failed conservative treatments but are not yet ready to have a major surgery." According to Casadaban, people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis tend to benefit the most. Patients with more advanced disease can also undergo the procedure, although the effects are generally less durable. "We find about 70% of patients have phenomenal results. They cut their pain scores in half, sometimes more. We have a few patients with no pain at all after the procedure," Casadaban says. "Patients that have tried a lot of other treatments and haven't had pain relief are happy to get back to their normal activities." After experiencing complications from knee replacement surgery, Schraf-Fletcher was eager to explore another option. Looking back, she says choosing GAE was the right decision. What Happens During the Procedure? GAE typically takes between one and two hours and is performed under conscious sedation. During the procedure, an interventional radiology team makes a small incision near the crease of the leg. Using X-ray imaging and contrast dye for guidance, doctors advance a tiny catheter through the femoral artery until it reaches the genicular arteries around the knee. Once in position, the team releases microscopic beads that block blood flow to the abnormal vessels located in the painful areas identified by the patient. Patients are monitored for several hours afterward and are usually able to return home the same day. Doctors generally advise taking it easy for a few days during recovery. Originally developed in Japan a little more than a decade ago, GAE has steadily gained attention worldwide. Since 2021, the FDA has granted "breakthrough device status" to multiple devices related to the procedure in the United States. Research Suggests Long Lasting Pain Relief Early and ongoing research continues to produce encouraging results. "The theory is that GAE reduces inflammation inside the knee joint, and symptom relief can last years," Casadaban says. "Four-year data published in Japan shows that if you have one outpatient procedure, your pain relief can last for those four years. In the U.S., we now have two-year data, which shows that if you have a good response, pain relief can last two years. That really speaks to the theory that we're hopefully modifying something in the joint." Casadaban is currently leading two clinical trials at CU Anschutz. One study is examining changes in knee fluid among patients receiving GAE. The other is evaluating a temporary arterial treatment device called Nexsphere-F, which blocks small blood vessels in the knee that may contribute to inflammation and pain. Expanding Beyond Knee Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects millions of people each year and can occur in many different joints throughout the body. Although GAE is currently used only for knee conditions, Casadaban says researchers and physicians are beginning to explore its use for other painful musculoskeletal disorders, including frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260622091502.htm

A placebo, or fake supplement, may offer real benefits for older adults, according to new research from psychologists at the Università Cattolica in Milan. After taking placebo pills for three weeks, participants showed improvements in both physical performance and cognitive function. Surprisingly, the benefits were seen even when participants knew the pills contained no active ingredients. The study, published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, was led by Diletta Barbiani, Alessandro Antonietti, and Francesco Pagnini. It was supported by PNRR grants through the Age-IT project. "The study is part of an established line of research in which we analyze the role of the mind in aging processes, which is very important," says Pagnini, Full Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology of the Università Cattolica. Testing the Placebo Effect in Healthy Aging Until now, no research had investigated whether a traditional placebo could influence abilities that naturally decline with age. "Our goal," Professor Pagnini explains, "was to clarify whether an open-label placebo therapy (i.e., where the recipient is aware it is a placebo) or a fake supplement (people don't know it's a placebo) could influence psychological, cognitive, and physical functions in older adults living in the community." To explore that question, the researchers recruited 90 healthy older adults and randomly assigned them to one of three groups. One group received no treatment at all. A second group received placebo pills but was told the pills contained active ingredients designed to improve well-being and physical function. The third group received the same inactive pills but was openly informed that the pills were placebos that could still trigger beneficial mind-body responses. Before and after the three-week study, participants completed questionnaires (providing information on levels of perceived stress, psychological well-being, sleepiness, fatigue, optimism, self-efficacy, and stereotypes about aging). They also took objective tests measuring short-term memory, selective attention, and physical performance. Memory, Stress, and Physical Performance Improved After three weeks, the participants who knowingly took placebo pills experienced lower stress levels than both the deceptive placebo group and the control group. They also showed significant improvements in short-term memory compared with those who received no intervention. Overall, both placebo groups experienced gains in cognitive and physical performance, although the strongest improvements were generally seen among participants who knew they were taking a placebo. Physical performance increased by 7% in the deceptive placebo group and by 9.2% in the open-label placebo group. Cognitive performance also improved. Depending on the specific test, scores increased by between 12.6% and 14.6% among participants who believed they were taking a real supplement, while those who knowingly took a placebo improved by between 6.9% and 21.5%. "These are significant effects," the psychologist emphasizes, "comparable to those seen in some experimental studies on physical activity regarding physical performance and cognitive training, especially with regard to memory." Researchers also observed reductions in drowsiness. Stress levels improved most noticeably among participants who were aware they were taking a placebo. A New Approach to Healthy Aging? The findings suggest that placebo treatments can improve several aspects of functioning in older adults, with open-label placebos performing as well as, or in some cases better than, deceptive placebos. According to the researchers, this makes open-label placebos a promising and ethically acceptable strategy for supporting healthy aging. Professor Pagnini says the results add to growing scientific evidence that the mind plays an important role in the aging process. Thoughts, emotions, and self-perception may influence not only psychological well-being but also physical abilities and cognitive function, highlighting the powerful connection between the mind and the body. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260625060159.htm

⚖️ Trump gets immigration SCOTUS wins Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images President Trump notched a pair of Supreme Court wins for his immigration agenda today. 🇺🇸 🇲🇽 In one major 6-3 decision, the court cleared the way for the Trump administration to revive a policy limiting the number of daily asylum applicants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Human rights advocates said it created a crisis as thousands of people settled in unsafe makeshift shelters to await their turn. The Trump administration said it was necessary to deal with a huge increase in applicants. More from Axios' Brittany Gibson. 🇭🇹🇸🇾 In another ruling, the court allowed the administration to end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disasters in Haiti and Syria. The move exposes hundreds of thousands of people to potential deportation. Go deeper. Two other headline-grabbing decisions came down today: The Court ruled that consumers can't use state courts to sue manufacturers that don't warn about hazards tied to their products. And it struck down a Hawaii state law requiring people to get permission to carry guns into stores or hotels.

A surprising new study suggests that one of the world’s most widely used weedkillers may be helping dangerous bacteria become harder to kill. Credit: Shutterstock Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) contributes to an estimated 1.1 million to 1.4 million deaths worldwide each year. While this growing threat is typically linked to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, new research suggests another factor may also be playing a role: certain weedkillers. Scientists have found evidence that glyphosate, one of the world's most widely used herbicides, may help select for bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. "Here we show that the most common species of multidrug-resistant bacteria from hospitals are not only resistant to multiple antibiotic classes, but also to high concentrations of the weedkiller glyphosate," said Dr. Daniela Centrón, a researcher at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology in Buenos Aires and the senior author of the study published in Frontiers in Microbiology. "These results suggest that weedkillers -- which, unlike antibiotics, are widely applied in agricultural environments -- may have the unintended side-effect of selecting for AMR among bacterial communities within the soil." For decades, Roundup was closely associated with glyphosate, the herbicide first registered in the United States in 1974. Today, the answer is more complicated. Home-use Roundup products found in many hardware and garden stores have been reformulated without glyphosate and may contain ingredients such as triclopyr, fluazifop, and diquat. But glyphosate remains in professional and agricultural Roundup products used in farming, landscaping, and other commercial settings. Testing Bacteria From Nature, Farms, and Hospitals To investigate the connection, Centrón and her colleagues analyzed 68 bacterial strains collected in 2018 and 2020 from sediment in a protected nature reserve in the Paraná delta, a wetland region north of Buenos Aires. Although herbicides have never been applied inside the reserve, glyphosate is commonly used in nearby agricultural areas. The researchers examined how resistant each strain was to 16 commonly used antibiotics, including ampicillin combined with sulbactam, meropenem, tetracycline, and vancomycin. They also tested resistance to pure glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, which are among the most widely used weedkillers worldwide. The findings were then compared with 19 bacterial strains obtained from local hospitals, including multidrug-resistant species. An additional 15 strains came from feedlots and agricultural soils affected by herbicide use. Hospital Superbugs Also Resist Glyphosate The hospital strains showed widespread antimicrobial resistance. Individual strains were resistant to between one and 16 of the antibiotics tested. Particularly concerning was the finding that 74% were resistant to carbapenems, a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics often reserved as a last line of defense against serious infections. All of the hospital-derived strains were also highly resistant to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides. "This means that if these bacteria enter the environment through untreated wastewater from hospitals, they could go on to thrive in agricultural areas where glyphosate is used," said first author Dr. Camila Knecht from Dr. Centrón's research group. The 68 strains collected from the Paraná delta represented 15 different genera, including Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Exiguobacterium, and Chryseobacterium. Every one of them displayed at least some resistance to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, despite the fact that these chemicals had never been applied within the reserve itself. Among the environmental strains, Enterobacter species tolerated the highest glyphosate concentrations, surviving levels of up to 80 milligrams per milliliter. In contrast, Bacillus species, which are commonly found in soil, were especially sensitive. Their growth was inhibited at concentrations as low as 2.5 milligrams per milliliter. High glyphosate resistance was also observed in strains isolated from hospital infections that showed extreme drug resistance. Resistant Bacteria Share Similar Genetic Backgrounds The researchers then constructed a genetic "family tree" using all 102 bacterial strains included in the study. They found that bacteria with the greatest glyphosate resistance were often closely related, regardless of whether they originated from hospitals, farms, or the Paraná delta. For example, the same bacterial genera showed glyphosate resistance across all three environments. "In the environment, the use of glyphosate leads to the evolution of resistant bacteria in impacted soils, whereas the use of antibiotics favors their evolution in hospitals. Bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes can spread and breed between those two niches in both directions and in multiple ways, with the water cycle playing a key role in transmission," concluded coauthor Dr. Jochen A Müller, a group leader at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Concerns About Glyphosate and Public Health Glyphosate has long been the subject of scientific and regulatory debate. Research has shown that it can harm arthropods (in particular bees), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a probable human carcinogen. Several European countries have already restricted some uses of the herbicide. France, Belgium, and the Netherlands have banned glyphosate for household applications, while Germany currently prohibits its use in public spaces. Based on the findings, the researchers argue that pesticide regulations should take antibiotic resistance into account before products reach the market. "Policies for the use of any pesticide, as well as its metabolites, should stipulate the requirement for co-selection testing with antibiotics before marketing. Labels should include a warming that genes for antibiotic resistance can spread from glyphosate-contaminated soils to hospitals through untreated water," counseled Centrón. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260620100434.htm

Learning a new language or recovering the ability to speak may rely less on the brain's movement centers than scientists once believed. New research suggests that regions involved in processing sound and physical sensations play a much larger role in speech learning and memory. The study, conducted by researchers at McGill University and the Yale School of Medicine, could reshape scientific understanding of how speech is learned and influence the design of future speech recognition and brain-based communication technologies. Sensory Brain Regions Take Center Stage For years, researchers have generally assumed that learning and remembering the complex movements required for speech depended primarily on motor areas of the brain. Those regions control the movements of the face, mouth, and vocal tract that make speaking possible. The new findings point in a different direction. Instead of highlighting motor regions as the main driver of speech learning, the research suggests that auditory and somatosensory systems are critical for acquiring and retaining new speech patterns. "Sensorimotor neuroscience has traditionally focused on frontal motor areas as the principal drivers of movement. This study changes that understanding by showing that human speech learning is extensively sensory in nature," said David Ostry, Professor of Psychology at McGill University. The results may also help guide the development of emerging brain-speech technologies. Such systems could one day help restore communication abilities after stroke by incorporating sensory processes to improve performance and usability. Testing Speech Learning With Brain Stimulation To investigate how different brain regions contribute to speech learning, the researchers first altered participants' speech in real time and played the modified speech back through headphones. This approach encouraged participants to adapt their speech patterns, creating a form of speech motor learning. The team then used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive method of brain stimulation, to temporarily disrupt activity in three key brain regions involved in speech: the auditory cortex, the somatosensory cortex, and the motor cortex. Researchers evaluated retention of the newly learned speech patterns 24 hours later. Their prediction was straightforward. If a particular brain region was essential for learning and storing speech-related memories, disrupting that area should reduce retention. If the region was not critical, retention should remain unchanged. The results strongly supported the importance of sensory processing. When activity in either the auditory cortex or somatosensory cortex was disrupted, participants showed significantly poorer retention of the speech movements they had learned. In contrast, disrupting the motor cortex had little effect on retention. "Our study challenges the assumption that new speech memories are solely reliant on changes in motor areas of the brain. Instead, it underscores the importance of changes in auditory and somatosensory brain areas in shaping how we learn to speak," said study co-author Nishant Rao, Associate Research Scientist at Yale University. Brain Plasticity and Future Stroke Therapies The research is part of a larger effort to understand how plasticity in the brain's sensory systems contributes to learning and long-term memory. It also builds on previous studies by the same research group involving arm and hand movements. Those studies similarly found that disrupting sensory regions of the brain interfered with the ability to learn and retain new motor skills. Future work will focus on identifying the specific cortical circuits involved in learning and investigating sensory-based treatments for movement disorders. The researchers are particularly interested in applications for stroke rehabilitation and speech recovery. About the Study The study, "Sensory Basis of Speech Motor Learning and Memory," by Nishan Rao, Rosalie Gendron, Timothy Manning and David Ostry, was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. The research was funded by the (U.S.) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260619020514.htm

Two micrograms is an almost unimaginably small amount. It weighs less than a tiny fragment of a grain of table salt. Yet adults need only around this amount of vitamin B12 each day, depending on the guideline used, to support red blood cells, nerves and DNA production. In 2026, it is 100 years since George Minot and William Murphy reported that a liver-rich diet could treat pernicious anemia, then a frequently fatal disease. Their work transformed medicine and eventually led scientists to identify vitamin B12 as the substance in liver that treated the disease. But the route to that breakthrough began with an unexpected clue from animal experiments. The American physician and pathologist George Whipple had shown that liver helped dogs recover from anemia caused by blood loss. Blood-loss anemia happens when the body loses red blood cells through bleeding. Pernicious anemia is different: the problem is not bleeding, but poor absorption of vitamin B12. Even so, Whipple’s experiments pointed researchers towards liver as a source of a powerful blood-forming factor. Patients with pernicious anemia who had been close to death often improved dramatically within weeks of eating liver-rich diets. The success of liver treatment eventually led scientists to isolate the deep red compound now known as vitamin B12, or cobalamin. Often mistaken Despite decades of research, vitamin B12 deficiency remains common, particularly among older adults, vegans, vegetarians and people with conditions that affect absorption. Some people do not consume enough B12 because it is naturally found mainly in foods from animals, including meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. Others struggle to absorb it properly. This becomes more common with age. Some older people produce less stomach acid, which is needed to release B12 from food. Others develop autoimmune gastritis, in which the immune system damages stomach cells involved in producing acid and intrinsic factor, the protein needed for vitamin B12 absorption. Weight-loss surgery and some medicines used for diabetes or acid reflux can also reduce absorption. The symptoms of deficiency can develop slowly and are often mistaken for normal ageing. People may feel exhausted, weak or short of breath. Some develop numbness or tingling in their hands and feet, poor balance, memory problems or what many describe as “brain fog”. These symptoms are not specific to B12 deficiency, so persistent tiredness, tingling or balance problems should be checked rather than assumed to be a simple vitamin problem. People at higher risk, including vegans, vegetarians, older adults and those taking medicines that affect stomach acid or diabetes treatment, may need testing or supplementation advice from a health professional. Doctors have traditionally linked tiredness in B12 deficiency to anemia. Without enough vitamin B12, the bone marrow cannot produce healthy red blood cells. Instead, it releases unusually large and immature cells that carry oxygen less effectively around the body. But anemia may not be the only reason people with low B12 feel exhausted. Low energy In humans, vitamin B12 is directly needed by only two enzymes, the proteins that help chemical reactions happen in the body. One helps the body make DNA, which cells need when they divide. The other helps mitochondria process certain fats and protein building blocks. Mitochondria are the tiny structures inside cells that help turn food into usable energy. This mitochondrial role has attracted growing interest from researchers studying ageing, muscle function and vitamin B12 status. A 2026 study explored what happens when cells do not have enough B12. Researchers found that low B12 could interfere with the DNA inside mitochondria and reduce energy production in laboratory models of skeletal muscle (muscle cells studied outside the human body). A related study in aged female mice found that B12 supplementation improved several signs of mitochondrial health in muscle, including the number and structure of mitochondria. Together, this work points to one possible reason why some people with low B12 report fatigue before obvious anemia is detected. These findings do not mean vitamin B12 supplements can reverse ageing or act as an energy booster for people whose B12 levels are already normal. Scientists have suspected a link between B12 and mitochondrial function for many years, because one of the two B12-dependent enzymes works inside mitochondria. Earlier research has also suggested that low B12 status may be linked with poorer muscle function in older adults, although much of this work is observational and cannot prove cause and effect. So if you’re feeling persistently tired, is it worth paying for vitamin B12 injections at a wellness clinic or medispa? For most people, no. B12 injections are an established treatment for diagnosed deficiency, particularly when absorption is impaired, and the NHS uses hydroxocobalamin injections for vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. But there is little evidence that B12 shots boost energy, weight loss or performance in people whose B12 levels are already normal. The more useful first step is to find out what is causing the tiredness. The story of vitamin B12 is unusual because the body needs so little of it, yet the consequences of deficiency can be profound. Long before scientists understood its chemistry, doctors recognized that something in liver could restore strength, appetite and vitality to desperately ill patients. A century later, researchers are still finding that this tiny cobalt-containing molecule does more than prevent anemia. It may also help explain how cells maintain energy and function as the body ages. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083116.htm

Fructose and glucose are two common sugars found in many foods and drinks. Although they contain the same number of calories, new research suggests the brain responds to them in very different ways. Scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center discovered that fructose and glucose communicate with the brain through separate gut-brain pathways. Their findings indicate that these differences may influence food and beverage preferences and could help explain why certain sweetened products are especially appealing. The study, published June 10 in the journal Neuron, identified a specific signaling route that allows fructose to communicate with the brain. In experiments involving mice, researchers found that this pathway was far less effective than the one used by glucose when it came to reducing activity in neurons associated with hunger. "This work adds to our growing understanding of how modern diets, especially those high in fructose or high-fructose corn syrup, interact with the neural systems involved in appetite," said senior author and Monell Member Amber Alhadeff, PhD. How Fructose and Glucose Affect Hunger Neurons To investigate how the sugars influence the brain, researchers recorded neural activity in mice after exposure to fructose and glucose. The team found that fructose increased levels of the gut hormone PYY. That hormone then signaled through the vagus nerve, leading to a modest reduction in the activity of agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons, which play a major role in driving hunger. When researchers disrupted this pathway, fructose could no longer affect those neurons. Glucose produced a very different response. According to the researchers, it did not rely on the same PYY-Y2 vagus nerve pathway. Instead, glucose strongly suppressed AgRP neuron activity, resulting in a much larger effect on hunger-related brain signaling. Sugar Type Influenced Food Preferences Although fructose and glucose produced similar short-term effects on food intake, the mice eventually developed preferences that corresponded to the degree of AgRP neuron inhibition triggered by each sugar. The researchers also examined high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a widely used sweetener made from a combination of fructose and glucose. The mice showed a preference for HFCS, and the sweetener suppressed AgRP neuron activity more strongly than fructose alone. According to the researchers, this stronger effect on hunger-related neurons may help explain why foods and beverages containing HFCS can be particularly appealing. Challenging Assumptions About Calories and Hunger The results call into question a long-held assumption that AgRP neurons primarily track calorie intake regardless of where those calories come from. Instead, the findings suggest that these hunger-related neurons can distinguish between different sugars and respond through separate biological pathways. Even though fructose and glucose provide the same amount of energy, the mice's brains processed them differently. The study highlights the complexity of nutrient sensing in the body and suggests that even simple sugars can have distinct effects on the gut, the brain, and behavior. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/06/260623083106.htm

Radical new electric trucks Slate's electric pickup and SUV. Photo: Slate Preorders are open for Slate Auto's low-cost electric pickup and SUV, Axios' Joann Muller reports. The Bezos-backed startup says it has over 180,000 "reservations" so far, with interested buyers forking over $50 to put their names down. It's $300 for an actual reservation. Deliveries are set to begin late this year. 💵 Slate's spartan two-seat pickup will start at just under $25,000. An SUV version will start at just under $30,000. The pickup has a range of 205 miles. It can carry up to 1,550 pounds, and tow up to 2,000. What it doesn't have: A radio or touchscreen — or about half the parts found in a typical truck. 🛻 The Troy, Mich., startup is betting that automakers can profit from affordable EVs by selling customization options and accessories, instead of packing every little feature into the vehicle upfront. The "Slate Marketplace" will offer more than 175 accessories for sale — roof racks, stereos, zip-off seat covers, etc. The truck even comes unpainted. Buyers can choose from more than 100 wrap colors for $500, or pick their own custom color. 💸 What we're watching: How many reservation holders turn into actual buyers — and how many pony up for extras. Go deeper ...

Prairieland Defendant Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Moving a Box of Antifascist Zines FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Daniel Sanchez Estrada wasn’t accused of attempted murder or material support of terrorism after a protest turned catastrophically wrong outside an ICE detention center in Alvarado, Texas. He was merely convicted of obstructing the investigation by moving a box full of antifascist zines after the protest. Giving him a long prison term would make a mockery of justice, his defense attorney, Christopher Weinbel, told U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor on Tuesday. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/23/prairieland-texas-ice-protest-prison-sentences/? Socialists Are Setting the Agenda in New York City THree key primaries in New York City delivered whopping victories for an emboldened left led by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, as democratic socialists sought to define the future of the Democratic Party. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/23/new-york-primary-results-claire-valdez-darializa-avila-chevalier/? ICE Tried to Deport an Asylum-Seeker. Now He’s Being Denied Care for a Growing Tumor in a Private Prison. In his dreams, Aliaksei Shcharbachenia is on a plane with an immigration agent’s hands wrapped around his neck. When he wakes up, he’s freed from the memory of his traumatic and botched deportation attempt last month — but then he’s stuck languishing in Farmville, Virginia. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/23/ice-corecivic-farmville-detention-center-va/? The Intercept Sues to Uncover Secretive Government Anti-Protester Database The Intercept is challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s refusal to release public documents relating to an unlawful database intended to stifle protest and punish people who exercise their First Amendment rights. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York today, The Intercept is asking the court to compel the government to release documents requested through the Freedom of Information Act regarding increased surveillance and travel restrictions for protesters. The Intercept is represented by Democracy Forward in the case. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/24/intercept-lawsuit-ice-protesters-surveillance-travel/? The Left Is Unstoppable, According to Republicans Socialists and Republicans agree on one thing: The insurgent left flank of the Democratic Party is ascendant. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/24/new-york-primaries-left-socialists-mamdani-republican-gop/? Rep. Adriano Espaillat Was Slow to Help Mahmoud Khalil. It Could Cost Him His Seat. Eleven months after unidentified Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil from his home in Morningside Heights, he met with his congressional representative, Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., for the first time. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/23/new-york-primary-adriano-espaillat-darializa-chevalier/?

Third party will determine if University of Florida has a governance problem The Florida Board of Governors put most of its agenda aside Wednesday, instead airing grievances about governance standards in the State University System. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/24/third-party-will-determine-if-university-of-florida-has-a-governance-problem/? SNAP error rate lowered, but still too high to skirt potential future costs Newly released data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that Florida has lowered its error rate for a federal food aid program to 12.97%, but that’s not enough to avoid a nearly $1 billion cost-share contribution next year. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/24/snap-error-rate-lowered-but-still-too-high-to-skirt-potential-future-costs/? Lobbyists work for and against Florida governments dealing with PFAS pollution A couple of millennia ago, when I was in elementary school, the teachers dispatched us kids to sell chocolate bars to support our school. That’s how I learned one of the basic principles of salesmanship: Make sure you hit the houses on BOTH sides of the street. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/25/lobbyists-work-for-and-against-florida-governments-dealing-with-pfas-pollution/? Study: Reproductive healthcare out of reach of one third of Florida women Florida outpaces the nation when it comes to women reporting difficulty obtaining reproductive healthcare services, an analysis of women between the ages of 18 and 49 shows. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/24/study-reproductive-healthcare-out-of-reach-of-one-third-of-florida-women/? DeSantis touts property tax amendment, but still laments what it could have been Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills Wednesday related to the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot which, if approved, would dramatically expand Florida’s homestead property tax exemption. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/06/24/desantis-touts-property-tax-amendment-but-still-laments-what-it-could-have-been/?

📸 Pic to go! Photo: Ali Overstreet/MLB Photos via Getty Images Classic American summer night: The sunset painted the sky during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis last night. The Diamondbacks won, 9–4.

🏆 Johnson's dual wins Speaker Mike Johnson emerged from a White House meeting with two much-needed wins: President Trump publicly urged House Republicans to stop tanking procedural votes, which could help unstick the House floor. Johnson officially transmitted the bipartisan housing bill to the White House, a sign of confidence that it's on track to become law after Trump had refused to sign it just a day earlier. Why it matters: The SAVE America Act has consumed the House GOP, with some Republicans frustrated that a bill they've already passed three times is now paralyzing their agenda. Johnson was forced to scrap votes and end the House's workweek early after conservatives made clear they would tank rule votes on the floor over the Senate's failure to act on SAVE. Driving the news: "I think it's a shame that it got canceled yesterday," Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) told us of the housing bill signing ceremony. "I totally disagree with the tactic. These are his New York real estate leverage tactics he's trying to apply to the government, and I don't agree with it," Fitzpatrick added. "He should sign it. ... This is a win, and the House already voted on this SAVE Act three times," Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told us, adding that Republicans should work with Democrats on a bipartisan version of SAVE. Zoom in: The repeated shutdowns of House floor action are wearing on members across the conference. "The SAVE America Act? It's over there," Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.) told us, gesturing toward the Senate. "What I don't like about holding the rule hostage ... is that it denies me, and the 750,000 people I represent, a vote," House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) told us. "With them being obstructionist like they are, that's unfortunate, because we can't get our work done," Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) told us. The bottom line: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) told reporters today she isn't promising to support next week's rule if leadership blocks her effort to attach SAVE to the annual defense bill. — Kate Santaliz

‼️ Mods on "war" footing Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who won a Democratic House primary in New York, during a rally last week. Photo: Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images Moderate House Democrats are warning they're prepared for "war" if incoming progressives and democratic socialists try to hijack the House floor to secure ideological concessions. Why it matters: This strategy would mean even more work for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to keep his caucus unified come 2027. "Clearly, there has to be organization," one centrist House Democrat told us. "You can't just wring your hands on this stuff." "There's going to be a war," a second centrist lawmaker said, calling the incoming leftist members "bomb-throwers, not problem solvers." State of play: The New York congressional primaries on Tuesday were a wake-up call for many Democrats on Capitol Hill. DSA members Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez won hotly competitive primaries, and progressive Brad Lander ousted Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.). The trio joins over half a dozen other left-wing candidates who have won primaries this year and another half-dozen vying to unseat more moderate Democratic incumbents. Add that to the current "Squad" members in the House and their allies, and you would start to get Congress' most sizable left-wing bloc in the 21st century. Between the lines: There is a good chance these lawmakers, moving en bloc, would be able to kill party-line votes to get their demands met. The right-wing House Freedom Caucus has used this strategy repeatedly over the last few years, taking advantage of slim GOP majorities to try to get concessions from leadership. Mid-decade redistricting has reduced the historically small number of battleground House seats, meaning any Democratic majority in 2027 would likely be small. What they're saying: "What you're seeing in these elections across the country is voters who are saying, 'I am sick and tired of your loyalty to the establishment,'" progressive Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) said in an interview. "We have some real fighters that will stand up for what's right," said Adam Hamawy, the Democratic nominee in a safely blue House seat in New Jersey. What we're hearing: Moderate Democrats say they are prepared to use their own large numbers to enact the same strategy. "If we have a tight enough majority, you're going to see a group of moderates do exactly the same thing: 'We won't vote for X unless we get Y,'" said the second centrist House Democrat who spoke to us anonymously. A senior House Democrat, asked about the possibility of the left moving collectively to force concessions, similarly said "you'll see Blue Dogs" do the same — referring to the centrist Blue Dog Coalition. The intrigue: Some Democratic centrists are also floating breaking a potential logjam by doing what their moderate GOP counterparts have done repeatedly under Speaker Mike Johnson — signing onto discharge petitions. "The margins may force bipartisanship — you already see what's happening on the floor with discharge petitions," a third Democratic centrist told us. The lawmaker argued that leadership should go along with it: "Negotiating with these guys [on the left] never works out well because they'll never be satisfied." The bottom line: "At the end of the day, Hakeem's got to realize what his real base is," the third centrist lawmaker said. — Andrew Solender

ous: President Trump has labeled antifa a “domestic terrorism group” even though no such legal designation exists. Treating antifa as a “group” that can be labeled doesn’t make a lot of sense either, because antifa is not a single centralized organization or even a clear ideology, but rather a style or affect adopted by various people with a range of political affiliations and views. Indeed, Song denied being a member of antifa, saying that it was not a real group, but he described himself as holding anti-fascist views. Nine people were tried in connection with the incident, and prosecutors leaned into the antifa framing during the trial. All nine activists were convicted: Song of attempted murder for the shooting of the officer, and the others for charges including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to use and carry an explosive, and conspiracy to corruptly conceal a document or record. On Tuesday, eight were sentenced and received extremely harsh sentences: 100 years in prison for Song, and 30 to 70 years for the others. (Attorneys for the defendants have said that they are appealing the convictions, alleging issues with evidence and jury deliberations.) The trial and sentences raise uncomfortable questions about protesting, political violence, speech, and equality under the law—especially when compared with the punishments meted out for those who fomented and participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the subsequent clemency granted to them. Some of the Prairieland charges are ones that any administration in American history would have brought, and rightly so. Anyone who vandalizes government property, fires guns around an ICE facility, or attacks a police officer can and should be charged with crimes. Whether one believes that the activists’ motivations were righteous is more or less irrelevant. Dissent is not without risks; that’s the point. If you believe strongly in a cause, such as opposing ICE, and you decide that you are willing to engage in political violence, you should also understand that you could be arrested and convicted. The Prairieland group’s actions are distinct from, for example, the people arrested in Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis; and elsewhere who were protesting peacefully (or wielding only sandwiches). Yet some of the charges are more troubling and suggest a real attempt to crack down on legal dissent. Daniel Sanchez-Estrada, for instance, was charged with corruptly concealing a document or record and with conspiracy to conceal documents, and received a 30-year sentence even though he wasn’t present at the demonstration. His wife, who was arrested and later convicted, had asked him to move boxes full of zines and other materials that prosecutors described as “anti-government,” arguing that he moved it to try to cover up her connection to the charges. Federal prosecutors’ attempts to criminalize materials critical of the government because of an alleged nexus to terror is troubling no matter how one feels about the content or cause. These misgivings only grow given the stiffness of the sentences. Paul Butler, a Georgetown law professor, told the Post that the sentences were “stunningly severe,” but you don’t need a faculty position to know that. One reason is that the two judges who issued the sentences ruled that the defendants must serve them consecutively rather than concurrently, as is typical. The penalties look even more draconian when compared with those for people who stormed the Capitol on January 6. One of the judges in the Prairieland case, Reed O’Connor, said in court that the sentences fit the crime: “The defendants’ violence and terrorism is an assault on democracy. The defendants’ planning, staging and execution of the attack led to the attempted murder of an officer.” The characterization of “assault on democracy” is even more true of January 6, when rioters—many of them armed—attacked and injured officers, but also sacked the very seat of the government in the hope of disrupting the constitutional process of certifying a presidential election. Yet the longest sentences issued in connection with the riot were 22 years (for the Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio), 18 years (for Stewart Rhodes, the Oath Keepers founder), and 17 years (for Joe Biggs, another Proud Boy). In all three cases, judges gave sentences shorter than what prosecutors sought. Moreover, none of the rioters are in prison now. Upon taking office, Trump pardoned Tarrio and commuted Rhodes’s and Biggs’s sentences. That was part of a sweeping grant of clemency for the nearly 1,600 people involved in the insurrection—including those who’d participated in violence against police officers. Now some people who took part in the riot have been hired for sensitive Pentagon positions, as my colleague Will Gottsegen recently reported, and senior advisory roles at the Justice Department. Several are running for office. (Quite a few others have already reentered the criminal-justice systemfor different reasons.) The administration fired career prosecutors for the sin of having prosecuted overt crimes against the federal government on January 6, and it has explored ways to hand millions of dollars over to participants—most recently in the president’s $1.8 billion fund, though that at least seems to be frozen up by politics for now. Violence directed against anyone demands justice, but it demands justice that is equal and proportionate. The sentences in Texas make it extremely difficult for anyone to pretend that that’s what exists in the United States right now. Related: The J6 rioter now working at the Pentagon The Trump administration’s favorite tool for criminalizing dissent

Venezuelans search rubble for survivors after 2 strong quakes kill at least 188 LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday and rescue teams raced to northern areas rocked by a pair of powerful earthquakes that officials say killed at least 188 people and left more than 200 trapped. https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-earthquake-caracas-rodriguez-aid-0a62e6fc9feb5202a750c4fbb11a6aec?

Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration detention center has closed, governor says The Florida Everglades immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” has served its purpose, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday, closing the makeshift facility heralded by the Trump administration and denounced as inhumane by civil rights groups. https://apnews.com/article/alligator-alcatraz-closure-florida-immigration-detention-3c371f51fe71ed64b7ae9d22d0fab5cb?

Supreme Court strikes down Hawaii law requiring permission to carry guns in stores and hotels WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court struck down a Hawaii law requiring people to get permission to carry guns into stores and hotels on Thursday, in its latest opinion backing Second Amendment rights. https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-hawaii-trump-c5dbdf945bc870f70a03455f5eb1dec7? Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to revive restrictive policy for asylum seekers WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for the Trump administration to potentially revive an immigration policy once used to turn back migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-immigration-trump-d36d0092617c7115780c06de38e2000f? The Supreme Court lets the Trump administration end legal protections for Haitians and Syrians WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Trump administration to end legal protections for migrants fleeing violence and natural disaster in Haiti and Syria, exposing hundreds of thousands more people to potential deportation. https://apnews.com/article/immigration-supreme-court-haiti-syria-tps-1bbbf8115f984a0d53336656924e989d?

👋 Good morning! It's a great day to have a great day. Stat du jour: Cubs SS Dansby Swanson had 11 RBI in Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Mets, and has 15 (!!) so far in the series that ends tonight in Queens. In today's edition: USMNT group-stage finale, NBA Draft recap, Bafana Bafana's night to remember, Serena's audacious comeback, 28,221 Jello shots, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES 🏀 Draft recap: The 2026 NBA Draft is in the books, and the biggest story of the second round — aside from the fact that 29 of the 30 picks were involved in trades — was North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar, who rejected an NIL deal worth more than $5 million in hopes of being a first-round pick but ultimately slid all the way to the Hawks at No. 52. Whoops! ⚾️ No. 300: Mookie Betts hit his 300th career home run in the Dodgers' win on Wednesday, becoming the 17th active player to reach that milestone. And it came in a win for Shohei Ohtani, who's now 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA and sits just three HRs shy of 300 himself. 🏀 WNBA All-Star update: Indiana's Aliyah Boston (683,996 votes) and Caitlin Clark (670,510) lead all players in the second voting update for next month's WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago. A'ja Wilson (LV), Paige Bueckers (DAL) and Breanna Stewart (NY) round out the top five. 🏈 Arnold faces life in prison: Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold was arrested on Wednesday and faces four charges of armed robbery and four charges of kidnapping, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. The 23-year-old former first-round pick continues to deny all involvement in the incident that first surfaced back in February. 🏀 Reaves signs the max: The Lakers are signing star guard Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million max contract, the richest for an undrafted player in NBA history. Reaves, 28, has averaged 21.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists across his last two seasons in L.A.   🇺🇸 STARS AND STRIPES WHY NOT U.S.? (John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images) As the USMNT prepares for tonight's group stage finale (10pm ET, Fox) having already clinched first place after a pair of expectation-altering performances, it's fair for fans to ask the same question that adorns the wall behind head coach Mauricio Pochettino's desk: Why not U.S.? Steven Goff, Yahoo Sports: Mauricio Pochettino is sitting in his makeshift office at the U.S. World Cup team's hotel, the French doors opened to a patio overlooking the sun stubbornly dipping over the Pacific. Four lemons sit in a bowl, a practice the 54-year-old Argentine believes absorbs negative energy. An unused surfboard leans in the corner, decorated in ocean-themed designs by the hotel's executive sous chef, who is also an artist. Down the bluff and in the blue water, surfers are catching the day's last waves before darkness descends. Even the seagulls seem happy. This isn't heaven, but it's just around the corner from it. Pochettino's 20-month coaching project is also in a state of bliss. His U.S. squad began the World Cup with two impressive victories and clinched first place in Group D with one match to spare. The Americans will play winless Türkiye on Thursday at SoFi Stadium before facing a third-place team in the round of 32 on July 1 in Santa Clara, California. While getting to the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years would be celebrated, Pochettino has gotten his team to believe in more. Behind his desk, the team motto is plastered on the wall: Why Not U.S. Pochettino celebrates last week's win over Australia. (Al Sermeno/ISI Photos via Getty Images) In marker, Pochettino has written quotes and aspirational messages on the wall cover. "Every single quote represents our journey from Day 1 to today," he told a small gathering of reporters Tuesday evening. They include: 'The talent has brought us here, but it is heart, effort and unity that will make us unforgettable.' 'Heart turns effort into belief and when everything hurts, heart keeps us fighting together.' 'Now is our time!' with the date, time and score of the three-goal victory over Paraguay in the June 12 opener. 'Believe, work, compete' is strung together in a circle. "Without one," Pochettino says, shaking his head, "disaster." There are more. 'Thank you for being more than a team – for being a family.' On a whiteboard, in both English and Spanish, a message reads: 'Don't fear the void; it's where the soul learns to fly.' A cynic would dismiss them as corny and contrived, but to Pochettino, these quotes epitomize the mindset and attitude that his soaring squad has embraced leading to, and at, the World Cup. Defying the public's — if not the team's — expectations, the Americans have performed with a pirate's swashbuckling and an artist's grace. They are playing — gasp! — quality soccer. Thoughts of a deep run in the tournament are no longer fantasy. Few if anyone is calling them a trophy contender, but after decades mostly in the wilderness, the U.S. is finding its way.   ⚽️ SURVIVE AND ADVANCE IN PHOTOS: WORLD CUP, DAY 14 (Julian Finney/FIFA via Getty Images) Monterrey, Mexico — South Africa stunned South Korea with a 1-0 victory to finish second in Group A and secure their first-ever trip to the knockout round. What a moment for Bafana Bafana. The loss leaves South Korea fourth among third-place teams, which should be enough to advance. Clean sweep: In Group A's other game, Mexico beat Czechia 3-0 to finish with a perfect nine points (3-0-0) in the group stage for the first time ever. Plus: Mexico's legendary goalkeeper Memo Ochoa entered as a second-half substitute, appearing in his fourth World Cup and taking a final curtain call at the Azteca. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) Miami, Florida — Brazil clinched Group C with a 3-1 win over Scotland, who still need some help to secure their first-ever passage to the knockouts, while Morocco claimed second with a win over Haiti. But even in defeat, it was the long-suffering Caribbean nation that won the night. Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports: Haiti fell to Morocco 4-2 on Wednesday night in Atlanta, eliminated in the group stage. But that's not the real story for Les Grenadiers, who exit the World Cup with a record of zero wins, zero draws and three losses. The real story is the miracle that Haiti — at No. 87, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament — even reached this World Cup at all, and still closed off its run with 45 of the finest minutes of soccer in the nation's history. Bosnia and Herzegovina's Ermin Mahmić celebrates the victory. (Alex Livesey/FIFA via Getty Images) Seattle, Washington — Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Qatar, 3-1, to clinch third place in Group B and set up what will almost certainly be a Round of 32 clash against the United States. Goal of the day: Bosnia's Kerim Alajbegović, just 18 years old, opened the scoring with an absolute missile from outside the box. Group winners: Switzerland took down Canada, 2-1, to claim Group B. Despite the loss, Canada finished second and will join fellow host countries Mexico and the U.S. in the knockouts.   💯 STAT SHEET BIG NUMBERS Acuff and Coach Cal during a game last fall. (Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 🏀 30 lottery picks When the Kings selected Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh pick of the NBA Draft on Tuesday, he became the 30th lottery pick to have played for John Calipari, breaking Mike Krzyzewski's record for the most lottery picks ever coached. $6 billion and counting: The 41 Calipari-coached players who've been picked in the first round since 2000 (Acuff was the 42nd) have gone on to make more than $3.6 billion in on-court earnings. In all, Cal has boasted, his players have earned more than $6 billion in professional contracts, writes Yahoo Sports' Shlomo Sprung. 🎾 15 minutes Some top tennis players will limit their post-match media appearances next week at Wimbledon to just 15 minutes in continued protest over prize money at Grand Slams. They did the same thing at the French Open, with 15 representing the roughly 15% of tournament revenues offered as prize money, which falls short of what they've asked for. Worth noting: Wimbledon did significantly increase its prize money to a record $86 million (20% more than last year) in response to the earlier protests, a gesture the players welcomed as a "genuine and significant step forward." But that still represents only 14.4% of revenues; players requested 16% from Grand Slams and get 22% from ATP and WTA 1000-level events. Scheffler speaks with the press on Wednesday ahead of the Travelers Championship. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour via Getty Images) ⛳️ 22 golfers That's how many players have made the cut at all three majors so far this year, a group led by — who else — Scottie Scheffler. His aggregate score of -13 across the Masters (-11, 2nd place), PGA Championship (-2, T14) and U.S. Open (E, T4) is the best of the bunch. The rest: Sam Burns (-12), Justin Rose (-11), Rory McIlroy (-10), Xander Schauffele (-10), Ludvig Åberg (-5), Collin Morikawa (-3), Cameron Young (-2), Matt Fitzpatrick (-2), Aaron Rai (-2), Justin Thomas (E), Maverick McNealy (+1), Ben Griffin (+1), Chris Gotterup (+3), Jordan Spieth (+4), Sam Stevens (+5), Dustin Johnson (+8), Hideki Matsuyama (+9), Brian Harman (+10), Kurt Kitayama (+13), Corey Conners (+14), Michael Brennan (+17). 🍻 28,221 Jello shots Oklahoma may have won the College World Series, but they finished a distant second to mighty West Virginia in the all-important Rocco's Jello Shot Challenge. Mountaineers fans purchased 28,221 Jello shots in the annual contest hosted by Rocco's Pizza and Cantina, situated right across the street from the site of the CWS in Omaha. Charitable endeavor: Rocco's has hosted the challenge since 2019, when the winning tally was a mere 864 Jello shots (well done, Arkansas). And each year, $1.50 of every $5 shot is donated to a local food bank (one in Omaha and one associated with each of the eight schools in the CWS). That means this year they collectively raised $122,273 for charity. Drink up!   🎾 THE GOAT SERENA'S AUDACIOUS, INEVITABLE COMEBACK Serena trains at the All England Club's practice courts on Wednesday. (Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images) Nearly four years and another pregnancy after playing what was supposed to be her final match, Serena Williams is taking the court again as a singles player next week at Wimbledon at age 44. It's audacious, it's absurd… it's totally Serena. And perhaps it was inevitable. Dan Wolken, Yahoo Sports: Tennis players are notoriously terrible at retirement. They burn out, get old, become less competitive with age, but the grind is such a part of them that many find it hard to live without it. And there's always that little kernel of what-if doubt colliding with championship ego: How good is this new generation really? Most of the high-profile comebacks have been short-lived and not particularly successful. The game moves on, the competition gets better and the impact of age becomes apparent. Logically, "But it's Serena" shouldn't apply. But it's Serena, and it's Wimbledon. If she can do it at all, she'll do it there — on a surface that doesn't require the physicality of a hard court and where the greatest serve in the history of the women's game can still win her points without having to do anything else. Catch the right draw and an opponent freaked out by playing Serena Williams on Center Court and who knows. For someone who has done what she's done, with even a little competitive drive left in the tank, that's enough to convince her of what's possible. But there's risk, too. Not legacy-altering risk because nobody will remember or care if all this amounts to is losing a few matches and reversing course. The risk is that it goes badly, she looks old and overwhelmed and leaves with a worse taste in her mouth than she's had since retiring the first time. After all, she's 44, hasn't played an official singles match in four years. Her preparation has consisted of a couple doubles matches that showed she still has her racket skills (no surprise there) but didn't tell us anything about her movement or competitive stamina. At the pro level doubles is a vastly different game from playing singles against women in their physical prime. And Wimbledon is a heck of a place to jump back into the pool.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, JUNE 25 (Yahoo Sports) ⚽️ World Cup, Day 15 The Americans wrap up their group stage tonight in Los Angeles against Turkey (10pm ET, Fox). Plus: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast in Philadelphia (4pm, FS1), Ecuador vs. Germany in East Rutherford (4pm, Fox), Japan vs. Sweden in Dallas (7pm, Fox), Tunisia vs. Netherlands in Kansas City (7pm, FS1) and Paraguay vs. Australia in Santa Clara (10pm, FS1). Where it stands: In Group D, the U.S. already clinched first place and Australia will clinch second with a win or draw against Paraguay; in Group E, Germany already clinched first and Ivory Coast will clinch second with a win (and likely a draw) against Curaçao; Group F is wide open as Netherlands, Japan and Sweden could all still finish on top. ⛳️ Women's PGA Championship The third LPGA major of the season tees off today (8am, Peacock; 11am, Golf) at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, where 156 golfers will compete for a $13 million purse, the largest in women's golf history. The Year of Nelly: World No. 1 Nelly Korda has hit yet another gear this season with four wins (including both majors) and three runner-up finishes. If she wins again this week, she'll not only join Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1950) and Inbee Park (2013) as the only women to win the first three majors of a season, but she'll also officially earn her spot in the Hall of Fame. More to watch: ⚾️ MLB: Yankees at Red Sox (7:10pm, MLB) … AL Cy Young favorite Cam Schlittler (8-3, 1.71 ERA) takes on the team he grew up rooting for. In his three previous starts against the Sox, he's allowed just two runs with 22 strikeouts and two walks. Decent. 🏀 WNBA: Sparks at Tempo (7pm, Prime); Wings at Aces (10pm, NBA) … Dallas (11-6) has already won more games than it did all of last season (10-34). ⛳️ PGA: Travelers Championship (7:45am, ESPN+; 3pm, Golf) … Scottie Scheffler headlines the field in the $20 million event at Connecticut's TPC River Highlands. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.   ⚽️ HOST NATIONS WORLD CUP TRIVIA (Yahoo Sports) All three hosts have advanced to the Round of 32, with Mexico and the U.S. finishing first in their groups and Canada finishing second. Question: Can you name the only two World Cup hosts this century who failed to reach the knockouts? Hint: 2010, 2022 Answer at the bottom.   💵 CASH GRAB TURNING MOMENTS INTO MONEY (Topps) Topps transformed the lasting image of OG Anunoby's Game 4 tip-in into a Topps NOW trading card and sold 105,842 copies. Quick math: While individual cards sold for $11.99, collectors can buy in bulk at lower prices. If you assumed a $10.00 average price, that would mean Fanatics-owned Topps printed (literally) nearly $1.1 million in revenue on one card in mere days. Just wait… The card's sales volume was impressive, but the basketball that Anunoby tipped into the basket will make it look modest by comparison when it sells at Sotheby's next month. Darren Rovell has set his estimate at $3 million. This story appeared in Wednesday's inaugural edition of Dylan Dittrich's Yahoo Sports Biz newsletter. Subscribe here to start receiving it every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.   Trivia answer: South Africa and Qatar

Contraband The Justice Department has announced charges in a "sophisticated" criminal operation that it says used high-powered drones to deliver weapons, drugs, cell phones and escape tools into prisons in East Coast states. Authorities say the rogue drone operation led out of a former daycare in Georgia was a staging ground where multiple drones were launched on covert missions to deliver the contraband by air to 10 federal prisons at night. Read more.