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What’s on tap: 

• Harvard ethics professor found unethical

• GLP-1 use for weight loss surges in the US

• Optical illusion destinations

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Big Stories

Ancient DNA Puzzle

Scientists have discovered a mysterious ancient group that doesn't fit the genetic family tree of the Americas.

• Researchers found DNA from hunter-gatherers who lived 6,000 years ago in the high plateaus near present-day Bogotá, Colombia. The group is genetically distinct from both ancient North Americans and ancient or present-day South Americans, creating a puzzle about how humans spread across the Americas.

• The discovery is significant because these people lived near the land bridge between North and South America, the bottleneck that ancient populations had to cross to reach the southern continent. Just 2,000 years later, this group had vanished and been replaced by genetically different people in the same area.

• Scientists aren't sure what happened to make them disappear - whether they mixed into larger populations or were pushed out entirely. Analyzing more ancient South American DNA will help determine if this group truly vanished or left descendants elsewhere across the continent.

Ethics Professor Exposed

Harvard has revoked a professor's tenure over research fraud allegations.

• The university stripped tenure from Francesca Gino, a 47-year-old Harvard Business School professor who built her career studying honesty and ethical behavior. It is Harvard’s first tenure revocation since the 1940s and was finalized after the school put Gino on unpaid leave in 2023.

• The trouble began in 2021 when Data Colada, a research integrity blog run by behavioral science professors, flagged concerns about fabricated data in papers Gino co-authored. After examining more than four of her studies, they shared their findings with Harvard, which launched an 18-month investigation that concluded she committed "research misconduct."

• Gino maintains her innocence and is fighting back with a $25 million lawsuit against both Harvard and Data Colada, claiming defamation, breach of contract, and gender discrimination. The case continues in federal court, though a judge already dismissed her defamation claims against the university.

France Abuse Case Sentencing

France has sentenced a surgeon to 20 years in a massive abuse case enabled by its medical system failures.

• The court convicted Joël Le Scouarnec, 74, of sexually assaulting 299 children over three decades as he moved freely through France's medical system despite repeated warnings. He worked across nine hospitals and five regions, using his position to abuse young patients under anesthesia or recovering from surgery, with most victims averaging 11 years old.

• Le Scouarnec received the maximum 20-year sentence and confessed to the "hideous acts" during his trial in Brittany. Police built their case using digital diaries where he meticulously cataloged his abuse, as many victims don't remember the assaults that occurred while they were under medical care.

• The case has exposed critical failures in France's medical oversight - Le Scouarnec continued practicing despite a 2005 conviction for possessing child abuse images. Victims' lawyers argue the system created a "hunting ground" for a predator and are calling for stricter monitoring of doctors accused of misconduct.

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Quick Stories

US News

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new visa restrictions on foreign officials accused of censoring Americans online, calling free speech a birthright beyond the control of foreign governments. (More)

• Two escapees from a group of 10 who broke out of a New Orleans jail on May 16 remain at large as the manhunt enters its 12th day. Authorities have arrested at least 13 people who helped the inmates escape. (More)

• President Trump pardoned reality stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion, clearing the way for their release from federal prisons in Florida and Kentucky. (More)

World

• Japan introduced new rules limiting kanji pronunciation in children's names to stop creative "kirakira" (flashy or unconventional) names that caused administrative headaches and potential bullying from classmates. (More)

• The US issued its highest Level 4 travel advisory for Venezuela, warning more Americans are wrongfully detained there than anywhere else, and citing risks like torture, terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. (More)

• Israeli PM Netanyahu confirmed Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas' Gaza chief and brother of deceased leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an Israeli strike on a southern Gaza hospital. (More)

Business & Economy

• US stock markets closed lower on Wednesday (S&P -0.56%, Nasdaq -0.51%, Dow -0.58%). (More)

• The Trump administration relaxed 401(k) barriers for buying cryptocurrency, NFTs, and meme coins by rescinding Biden-era Labor Department guidance that protected investors from digital asset risks. (More)

• E.l.f. Beauty acquired Hailey Bieber's skincare brand, Rhode, for $1 billion. The brand reached $212 million in sales in under three years with just 10 products. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• The OKC Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 to move on to the NBA finals. (More) The Florida Panthers advanced to their third straight NHL Stanley Cup Final after beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3. (More)

• Stunt performer Devyn LaBella sued Kevin Costner, alleging he directed an unscripted rape scene on the set of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2; Costner's attorney denies the claim. (More)

• Charlie Woods, Tiger's 16-year-old son, won his first AJGA title at the Team TaylorMade Invitational, shooting 6-under 66 to beat a 71-player field including top-ranked juniors. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• GLP-1 drug use for weight loss has surged nearly 600% in six years, with over 2% of Americans using them for obesity and 4% total using them for obesity or Type 2 diabetes. (More)

• Swiss robotics company Rivr is testing wheel-legged delivery robots in Austin, navigating stairs and porches to deliver packages from Macy's and Lululemon alongside human drivers. (More)

• Scientists discovered a new group of ancient hunter-gatherers who lived 6,000 years ago near present-day Bogotá, Colombia, through DNA analysis. They're unrelated to other known Native American populations. (More)

Extra Credit

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