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This image made from video shows video taken from a surveillance camera showing a suspected meteor falling through the sky in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, on Tuesday, March, 17, 2026. (Olmsted Falls City Schools via AP)2026-03-18T16:45:24Z The Earth is under assault. Space rocks are constantly hurtling toward us, slamming into the atmosphere and often exploding into fireballs that both delight and alarm. Thankfully, the vast majority cause no damage because they are pulverized into dust or small chunks by the journey to Earth. A fireball streaked across the sky near Cleveland this week, caused by what was thought to be a space rock nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) across and weighing 7 tons. It was seen from Wisconsin to Maryland, according to the American Meteor Society. It traveled more than 34 miles (55 kilometers) through the upper atmosphere before breaking apart, according to NASA. No fragments have been found yet. As dramatic as it was, it was also incredibly common. Heres what to know: Whats the difference between a meteor and an asteroid? An asteroid is a chunk of rock, ice or metal thats left over from the solar systems formation 4.6 billion years ago. A meteoroid is a fragment of a larger space rock such as an asteroid or comet. A meteor is the light emitted from a meteoroid or asteroid as it burns up through the atmosphere. If a meteor is brighter than the planet Venus in the morning or evening sky, it is called a fireball. If a chunk of it makes it to land, its called a meteorite. How common are meteors?Flashes of light from meteoroids are incredibly common, and there are times called meteor showers when they can be seen every few minutes in the night sky, weather permitting. The Perseids meteor shower, which happens in mid-August every year, is considered the best, according to NASA. How common are fireballs?There are several thousand meteors that would qualify as fireballs in the Earths atmosphere every day, according to the meteor society. The problem is that most occur over oceans or other places where people dont live, or the sun is too bright to notice them. Still, plenty are seen by people. And if you see one, the American Meteor Society and the International Meteor Organization want you to tell them so they can check it out. So far in 2026, 10 fireballs have drawn more than 100 reports, which averages nearly one per week. Why do meteoroids break up before they land?Meteoroids travel through empty space at extraordinarily high speeds from 25,000 mph (40,233 kph) to as high as 160,000 mph (257,495 kph). When they suddenly hit the gases that blanket Earth, they undergo incredible stress as they compress the air in front of them, which heats the object to the point it starts to melt and break apart. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00730-6A genome-editing approach called INSTALL combines single-stranded DNA molecules that evade immune detection with a short double-stranded region that allows recombinase enzymes to insert a DNA sequence into mammalian genomes. INSTALL enables the insertion of large DNA sequences into the genomes of human and mouse cells without causing toxic immune responses.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00839-8Theres a shocking lack of understanding of the physics underlying this commonplace phenomenon, but researchers are on the case.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10289-xComparing line-by-line transfer simulations using the radiation code GRTcode with regressions against satellite-observed ongoing longwave radiation shows that instantaneous longwave radiative forcing from well-mixed greenhouse gases has increased by 3.690.07Wm2 since 1850.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00633-6It was thought that the thymus serves its purpose for the immune system early in life. Insights about the organ in adults reveal its importance for later well-being.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10242-yAssessing thymic function and health has highlighted the lifelong importance of the thymus as an organ that could be targeted to improve health outcomes, protect against disease and promote healthy ageing.

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Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00857-6Gene-editing technique promises a potentially safer way to create CAR T cells with a simple injection.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-10088-wBy measuring charge exchange in a sphere/plate pair composed of identical amorphous silicon dioxide and controlling charging polarity using baking or plasma treatment, adventitious carbon is shown to break symmetry in oxide contact electrification.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10287-zData from the recently launched SWOT satellite, a wide-swath satellite altimeter, have been used to map tidal dynamics for thousands of coastal rivers and to document the factors controlling the inland extent of tides.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10235-xStable and cell-specific transgene expression can be achieved through in vivo site-specific integration of large DNA payloads using a two-vector system of enveloped delivery vehicles and adeno-associated viruses.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10259-3A synthetic genetic circuit made up of recombinase-based cell-fate branching devices enables precise control over the ratios of cell types in an offspring population derived from one founder strain, and could be used to build user-defined multicellular aggregates.

The Hockey Hall of Fame said it will not give Jack Hughes the puck from his gold-medal-winning goal from the Milan Cortina Olympics.

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The $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project, under construction between Manhattan and New Jersey, will improve passenger rail service, an important issue for New York City commuters. It would seem to have nothing to do with whats happening in northern Wisconsin.But after the White House froze federal grant funding for the project in the fall, citing concerns about diversity and equity measures, lobbyists with an interest in the tunnel donated $2,500 to a political novice running in the Republican primary in Wisconsins 7th Congressional District.The young candidate, Michael Alfonso, has no sway over the matter. However, his father-in-law does: Sean Duffy is secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.The contributions are among dozens to Alfonsos campaign from lobbyists, business executives and political action committees tied to industries from rails and highways to shipping and air travel that Duffys department funds and regulates. His department also oversees the Federal Aviation Administration.Duffy held the 7th Congressional District seat for nearly a decade before resigning in 2019. He was succeeded by Tom Tiffany, who is now running for Wisconsin governor, leaving the seat open again. Alfonso, 26, who has worked in construction and podcasting, has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.A ProPublica analysis found that many of the Alfonso donors with transportation interests had never given to Duffy or Tiffany. While legal, such donations set up the appearance that helping Alfonso might assist the donors with issues influenced by Duffy. (Politico has reported on some of these contributions.)The law, as it stands, provides very little constraint, said Daniel Weiner, director of the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, a law and policy institute based in New York. Theres a very large gulf between what is legal and what is ethical. Obviously, this raises numerous ethical questions.This is not the first time a Cabinet secretarys relative has created thorny ethical issues. During the first Trump administration, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao made headlines for appearing to give preferential treatment to Kentucky officials for millions of dollars in infrastructure grants. Kentucky is the home state of her husband, Mitch McConnell, then Senate majority leader. At the time, Chaos office denied showing any favoritism, saying that Kentuckys share was not out of the ordinary.And in 2012, under President Barack Obama, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, an Iowa Democrat, fielded questions about the separation between U.S. Department of Agriculture business and the campaign of his wife, Christie, who was running for Congress. Christie Vilsack told ProPublica in an interview that the couple was careful about making sure her husband was not involved in the campaign, other than to support her at some debates and on election night. He never did any fundraising at all, she said.An influential member of Trumps Cabinet, Duffy has been openly assisting his son-in-laws campaign. The notice for a November meet and greet with Alfonso in Wausau, Wisconsin, mentioned that Duffy would be a special guest, as did an invitation for another December fundraiser.Among the sponsors for the December event was the political action committee for Delta Air Lines. The invitation included a caveat: Sean Duffy is not soliciting funds in connection with this event.Alfonsos campaign did not respond to requests from ProPublica for an interview or for comment. A spokesperson for Duffy, Nathaniel Sizemore, provided a written statement saying: The Secretary attends fundraising events in his personal capacity. Regulatory decisions are guided by career safety professionals, the law, and the facts.Nothing in law bars Duffy from campaigning for his son-in-law, so long as he goes about it on his personal time, does not use government resources and does not promise to take some official action in exchange for a contribution.Alfonso is using the same fundraising consultant, Kirstin Hopkins, that Duffy employed, Federal Election Commission records show. In addition, Alfonso has received help with ads and mailers from a super PAC, the Northwoods Future PAC, that is funded with $1 million from Duffys former campaign committee. Alfonsos familial advantage has irked some Wisconsin Republicans who dont want the newcomer to glide into such an important position.Through his own campaign committee, Alfonso had raised a little over $305,000 as of the end of 2025, the latest filing available. By law, contributions for each election are limited to $3,500 from individuals and $5,000 from political action committees. Donors can contribute to more than one election at the same time, such as a primary race and a general.Alfonsos donors include lobbyist Jeffrey Miller, a finance chair of Trumps most recent inaugural committee. In December, Miller and his companys chief operating officer donated separately to Alfonso, for a combined $8,500. No one listing their firm, Miller Strategies, as an employer had donated to either Duffy or Tiffany in the past, according to FEC records.Lobbyist disclosure reports show that Miller lobbied the Transportation Department in 2025 on behalf of at least nine companies, one New York county and one Native American tribe. The issues included airport signage regulation, aviation permitting for the developer of a supersonic airliner and advancements in GPS technology. Miller reported advocating for Archer Aviation regarding electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft technology, known as eVTOL the basis for future flying cars.Earlier this month, Duffy announced a first-of-its-kind FAA pilot program to test eVTOL technology in eight demonstration projects across 26 states. Archer was among the companies selected to participate, according to the Transportation Department. In a video accompanying the announcement, Duffy spoke enthusiastically about the technology, envisioning Ubers in the air taking people from one airport to the next and beyond. He said, eVTOLs are going to make the airspace far more interesting and far more fun, and we have to be prepared for that.Miller did not return calls or emails seeking comment.Alfonso graduated in 2022 from the University of Wisconsin with a math degree. He moved to Florida for a time to help produce a popular podcast hosted by Dan Bongino, a Trump supporter who later served a brief stint as deputy director of the FBI. (Bongino is back podcasting again.)By Alfonsos account, he and Trump first met in 2022 at Alfonsos wedding to Duffys daughter, Evita. The reception took place at one of Trumps New Jersey golf courses.Alfonso has said that in an Oval Office meeting after he decided to run for Congress, he pledged loyalty to the president. I promised him that I would always be America first, I would always fight for his agenda and that nobody would ever outwork me, Alfonso told Mark Halperin, another podcaster.On social media in November, Alfonso thanked Duffy for coming to his first campaign event in Wausau, the city where the candidate met his future wife while they were in middle school.In a post on X, Alfonso thanked his father-in-law for joining him on the campaign trail in Wisconsin last November. XThe following month, the transportation secretary appeared at a campaign fundraiser for Alfonso at a hotel in Green Bay, near the storied Lambeau Field. The donors in attendance included Sharad Tak of Bethesda, Maryland, the CEO of ST LNG, a company seeking a DOT-issued license to construct and operate a deep-water port offshore of Matagorda, Texas, to load liquefied natural gas onto carriers.Tak gave $500 to the campaign, and his wife, Mahinder, who did not attend the function, gave $7,000. Neither had donated to Duffy or Tiffany.Tak did not reply to ProPublicas request for an interview but asked a longtime friend of his, Ann Murphy of Green Bay, who works as a consultant for him, to respond. Tak owns a paper mill in Oconto Falls, north of Green Bay. It is not in the 7th Congressional District. But Murphy said Tak was visiting the state and agreed, at her request, to attend the fundraiser for Alfonso.She said in an interview that the Texas liquefied natural gas project had no bearing on Taks campaign contribution. Absolutely not.Its typical, she said, for Tak and his wife to support causes, both political and philanthropic, that Murphy and her husband find worthwhile and vice versa.We were very excited about Michael, Murphy said of Alfonso, likening him to Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA who inspired many young people before being killed last year. And he does have the endorsement of President Trump.Others donating to Alfonsos candidacy include political action committees for employees of the military jetmaker Lockheed Martin, which is subject to FAA safety regulations and has lucrative government contracts, and for T-Mobile, which is working on a DOT project to enhance the resilience of critical 5G infrastructure. PACs for unions and trade associations for heavy equipment operators, engineers, aeronautical services and the travel industry have also pitched in.The PAC for Brightline, a high-speed train service in Florida, also donated, giving $2,500 in December. Brightline trains have struck and killed more than 180 pedestrians or drivers at crossings since 2017, according to an investigation by the Miami Herald and WLRN. Duffy promised at a congressional committee hearing in July to work to drive down the number of deaths. In September, he announced that his department would distribute $42 million to improve safety along the line. In a statement to the Florida news organizations, Brightline officials blamed the deaths on suicides and the reckless behavior of people who put themselves in harms way.Brightline, T-Mobile and Lockheed Martin did not respond to ProPublicas requests for comment. On its website, Lockheed notes that it complies with all applicable laws and regulations with regard to its political and public policy activities.Alfonsos campaign has drawn donations from others in the heavily regulated railroad sector. They include Peter Bartek, founder of FTS Rail, which manufactures battery-powered railroad repair tools and sensors that detect rail breaks caused by extreme heat or cold. He gave $3,644 in November. Duffy appointed Bartek last July to serve on a DOT advisory committee.Bartek had never given to a candidate in the district before. In an interview, he said he read a news article about Alfonsos campaign and decided to donate. I like Secretary Duffy very much, he said, and I thought very simply, boy, if hes anything like his father-in-law, it would be nice to support him as well.He said in a text that he didnt know Duffy personally and was not involved in Alfonsos campaign or fundraising.In New York, construction on the Hudson Tunnel Project to improve commuter rail service came to a screeching halt in early February after the federal government cut off funds. A court intervened, ordering the money released, and work resumed. A bistate commission overseeing the project warned this month that it could face disruptions again in upcoming months if federal disbursements do not continue.In response to outreach from ProPublica, an executive at Venture Government Strategies, whose lobbyists for the tunnel project gave a combined $2,500 to Alfonso, said in an email the company had no comment.On his campaign website, Alfonso lists a dozen issues that matter to us ranging from education and health care to immigration. He wants to make farms and families strong, give Gen Z a voice and work against access to abortion.Transportation issues are not among those priorities, but he still is getting support from General Motors, which regularly lobbies DOT on various issues, including fuel economy, vehicle safety and emissions standards, and other mandates. The giant car manufacturer also gave to Duffy when he was running for the congressional seat, and the transportation secretary has become a booster. (GM did not respond to ProPublicas request for comment.)In mid-December, viewers of social media saw Duffy slide behind the wheel of a sleek, black, limited-edition Corvette, imbued with patriotic insignia to celebrate the nations upcoming 250th birthday.Over 1,000 horsepower, Duffy said in a promotional video, emphasizing the dynamic featuresof the $200,000 supercar. Were going to take this bad boy on a little test drive to the Army-Navy game. Off he went.The video, uploaded to the social media platform X, highlighted a travel app the carmaker made in partnership with the Department of Transportation, while also showcasing Chevrolets automotive series dubbed Stars and Steel.The post received over 130,000 views: valuable advertisement for the storied carmaker, General Motors. A couple of weeks later, GMs political action committee donated $1,000 to Alfonso.The post Transportation Lobbyists Have Donated Thousands to Sean Duffys Son-in-Law as He Runs for Congress appeared first on ProPublica.

Kents resignation letter is partly rooted in truth, even if it taps into old antisemitic tropes about occult Jewish control.

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Ms. Stratton, a Democrat whose viral campaign ad featured voters profane views of Mr. Trump, said her campaigns aggressive messaging was resonating.

Cesar Chavez, a farm worker, labor organizer and leader of the California grape strike, is seen in a California works office in 1965. (AP Photo, George Brich, File)2026-03-18T18:28:13Z Labor rights leader Dolores Huerta says she was sexually abused by Csar Chavez amid reported allegations of abuse by others during his tenure as president of The United Farm Workers union.On Wednesday, an investigation by the New York Times found that Chavez, groomed and sexually abused young girls who worked in the movement, including the co-founder of the union Dolores Huerta.In a statement released Wednesday, Huerta said she stayed silent for 60 years out of concern that her words would hurt the farmworker movement.Huerta described two sexual encounters with Chavez, one where she was manipulated and pressured and another where she was forced against my will.I carried this secret for as long as I did because building the movement and securing farmworker rights was lifes work. The formation of a union was the only vehicle to accomplish and secure those rights and I wasnt going to let Csar or anyone else get in the way. Huerta said she did not know that Chavez hurt other women and condemned his actions but reminded readers that the farmworker movement is bigger than one person.Csars actions do not reflect the values of our community and our movement, Huerta said in her statement. The farmworker movement has always been bigger and far more important than any one individual. Csars actions do not diminish the permanent improvements achieved for farmworkers with the help of thousands of people. We must continue to engage and support our community, which needs advocacy and activism now more than ever. Latino leaders and community groups are now weighing the impact of his actions on the labor rights movement.In their reactions to the news, Latino civil rights advocates emphasized that the farmworker movement was not just Chavez but thousands of other individuals who came together to fight for justice.Voto Latino leaders said in a statement that no matter his legacy or historical framing Chavez actions are inexcusable. Similarly, LULAC released a statement condemning any form of sexual violence stating that no individual, regardless of statue or legacy is above accountability. While the news of these allegations are devastating to the Latino community, Voto Latino said it does not erase the work done by the thousands women and men who built the farmworker movement.The women who organized, marched, and sacrificed alongside farmworkers carried this movement on their backs, Voto Latino said. Dolores Huerta a fighter, a giant of the labor movement, and someone who is among the survivors of this abuse helped build everything this movement stands for.U.S. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernndez, chair of the Democratic Womens Caucus, issued a statement Wednesday saying she was heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the stories of women who say they were abused as girls by Chavez and what she described as a painful account of what Huerta endured.Leger Fernndez said the farmworker and civil rights movement was built by countless people, including women and families who sacrificed for a better future. Honoring that legacy means facing painful truths and continuing the work for justice with honesty and humanity, the New Mexico congresswoman said. A movement rooted in justice must address all injustice.Leger Fernndez said the womens caucus will stand with survivors and continue fighting for a future where all women and girls are safe in their communities, homes, and at work.The United Farm Workers union has already distanced itself from annual celebrations of its founder, calling the allegations troubling.In a statement Tuesday, the union said allegations of abuse of young women or minors were concerning enough to urge people around the country to participate in immigration justice events or acts of service instead of the typical events in March to commemorate Chavezs legacy. FERNANDA FIGUEROA Figueroa reports on Latino/Hispanic affairs as a member of the APs Race & Ethnicity team. twitter mailto

UConn forward Sarah Strong (21) is guarded by Villanova forward Brynn McCurry (13) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)2026-03-18T15:54:37Z Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd helped UConn to an undefeated season heading into March Madness. The pair became the first teammates in six years to make The Associated Press All-America team.Its the 10th time that teammates have made the first team, seven of those involving UConn players. The last pair to achieve the feat was Oregons Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard in 2020.Strong and Fudd were joined by Vanderbilts Mikayla Blakes, UCLAs Lauren Betts and Texas Madison Booker.Strong was a unanimous choice from the 31-member national media panel that chooses the AP Top 25 each week. Blakes and Betts received all but two first-place votes.Strong, who set numerous records as a freshmen for the Huskies, raised her game in her sophomore season, helping the No. 1 Huskies to a perfect record heading into the NCAA Tournament. She averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds a game and shot 60.1% from the field. Fudd was right behind her, with 17.7 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 43.6% from the 3-point line. Im thrilled for Azzi and Sarah. They worked really hard this season and theyre great teammates, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. Its been a long time coming for Azzi. Shes worked through so many hardships in her time at UConn, and its great to see all her perseverance pay off. Sarah picked up where she left off last season and has been so consistently good and reliable for us. Im happy for them individually, but I know it means a lot for them to get this accomplishment together as well. Blakes has had a sensational sophomore season, leading the country in scoring with 27 points a game. She also averaged 4.4 assists and shot 45.8% from the field.Mikayla has cemented herself as one of the best players in the country as she continues to bring our team and program to new heights while staying laser-focused on winning, Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph said. She continues to do everything our team needs to put us in position to be successful and has elevated her play all season long against the toughest competition in the country. View and download the womens NCAA tournament bracket Vanderbilt had one of the best seasons in school history behind Blakes, who became only the second first-team All-American ever for the Commodores, joining Chantelle Anderson in 2002. Mikayla has changed the trajectory of our program by making everyone around her better and by betting on herself to create a legacy here at Vanderbilt, Ralph said. She is both deserving and has earned being named first-team All-American, and we are so proud to be on this journey with her and so happy for her recognition!Betts averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds and shot 60.1% from the field for UCLA. Its the second straight season the senior post player has earned first-team All-America honors. Last year she became the first Bruins player ever to receive that accolade.Lauren Betts is a generational player; shes had incredible impact on the game. Im not surprised for this honor, but Im also thrilled for her and so excited for what shes earned, UCLA coach Cori Close said. Shes been not only impactful on a on-court and individual level, but also on a team and program level. This is well deserved for Lauren. Booker earned first-team All-America honors for the second consecutive season. She averaged 18.9 points and 6.5 rebounds and shot 51.6% from the field. The junior wing helped the Longhorns win the SEC Tournament with a victory over South Carolina in the title game.She has the vision and passing skills of a point guard. She enjoys the pass and the assist as much as the bucket, Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. She can score at all three levels, but her ability to rise above the defense, create space and get her shot off is what sets her apart from everyone else. Her work ethic and investment in her game is elite. She sees the game and understands the game like a 15-year pro.Strong, Betts, Booker, Hannah Hidalgo and TaNiya Latson were all on the preseason All-America team.Second teamThe AP second team was headlined by Notre Dames Hannah Hidalgo, a member of the first team in her first two seasons. She was joined by South Carolinas Joyce Edwards, TCUs Olivia Miles, Iowa States Audi Crooks and Ohio States Jaloni Cambridge. Third teamThe AP third team was LSUs FlauJae Johnson, Michigans Olivia Olson, UCLAs Kiki Rice, Dukes Toby Fournier and South Carolinas Raven Johnson.Honorable mentionClara Strack of Kentucky, Rori Harmon of Texas and Cotie McMahon of Mississippi were the leading vote getters among players who didnt make the three All-America teams. Players earned honorable-mention status if they appeared on one of the ballots.___AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

FILE -Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)2026-03-18T04:01:38Z WASHINGTON (AP) Federal Reserve officials expect the Iran war will worsen inflation this year while having little impact on economic growth, but they still expect to cut their key rate once in 2026.For now, Fed policymakers left short-term interest rates unchanged Wednesday for the second straight meeting at about 3.6%. In a statement, the central bank said that the implications of developments in the Middle East for the U.S. economy are uncertain.Still, by keeping their forecast for a rate cut this year and next the same projections that they made in December central bank policymakers appear to expect the gas price spike from the Iran war to have a largely temporary effect on inflation and the economy. Policymakers also foresee unemployment remaining unchanged by the end of this year, a more optimistic outlook than most outside economists. Whether that turns out to be true will largely depend on the length of the conflict in the Middle East. The officials expect inflation to fall back to 2.2% in 2027 and hit the Feds 2% target in 2028.Fed officials now expect that inflation will be 2.7% at the end of this year, up from their December forecast but slightly below the 2.8% it reached in January. They expect core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy categories, to also finish the year at 2.7%, up from a previous forecast of 2.5%. The Fed considers core prices a better measure of longer-run inflation. Consumer prices will spike higher in the coming months as gas prices have soared, but those increases could unwind by the end of the year, particularly if the conflict ends soon. The Fed also expects that the war will have no sustained impact on growth or unemployment. Officials still see the unemployment rate at 4.4% at the end of this year, the same as it is now. And they project the economy will grow 2.4% this year, up slightly from a 2.3% forecast in December. One Fed official, governor Stephen Miran, dissented in favor of a quarter-point cut. Miran was appointed by President Donald Trump last September. Gas prices jumped Wednesday to a nationwide average of $3.84 a gallon, according to AAA, up 92 cents from a month ago. The increase will push inflation much higher in March, but core inflation, since it excludes gas, could be much less affected.Typically, the Fed would look past a supply shock like the disruption in oil supplies from the Middle East and its impact on inflation. Once it ends, any inflation it produces may fall back, without the Fed having to raise rates. As a result, the Fed could leave rates unchanged or even cut them to boost weak hiring.Yet as the economy emerged from the pandemic in 2021, inflation jumped as Americans sharply raised their spending, aided by stimulus checks and pandemic-era savings. Powell initially said that inflation would be transitory and would fade as the economy returned to normal. Instead it spiked to a four-decade high in June 2022. With inflation still elevated, many Fed officials are wary of repeating the mistake. This weeks meeting will be among the last with Powell as chair. His term ends May 15 and President Donald Trump has nominated a former top Fed official, Kevin Warsh, to replace him. Yet Warshs nomination has been delayed in the Senate because key Republican senators have objected to a Justice Department investigation of Powell over his testimony about a building renovation. Last Friday, a judge threw out a pair of subpoenas that the Justice Department had issued to the Fed, dealing a blow to the investigation. But U.S. Attorney Jeannine Pirro has said she will appeal the ruling. This weeks meeting will be Powells second-to-last, unless Warsh isnt confirmed by May 15, at which point Powell could remain chair of the Feds rate-setting committee until a replacement is named. Even before the Iran war, problems had cropped up in both the inflation and jobs data, putting the Fed in a tight spot. Prices rose more quickly in January than in recent months, according to the Feds preferred measure, with inflation excluding food and energy reaching 3.1% compared with a year earlier. That is little changed from where it was two years ago, a sign that prices are still rising at a stubbornly elevated pace. Yet hiring has also stumbled. Businesses and other employers shed 92,000 jobs in February, the government reported earlier this month, an unexpectedly weak showing that followed an encouraging gain of 130,000 in January. The unemployment rate ticked higher to a still-low 4.4% from 4.3%. CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Rugaber has covered the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy for the AP for 16 years. He is a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb award for business reporting. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00634-5Laboratory-engineered immune cells called CAR T cells provide effective treatment for some cancers. Progress is being made towards creating these cells in vivo.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00636-3Antarctic ice cores hint that changes in the ocean might have played a larger part than have greenhouse gases in key climate shifts of the past three million years.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00631-8Objects made from the same insulator can sometimes acquire different charges when rubbed together, owing to a thin layer of carbon-based material on the objects surface.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10220-4Synchronous activation of climbing fibres engages disinhibitory circuitry to promote large dendritic calcium signals in Purkinje cells that are necessary to promote cerebellar learning.

Nature, Published online: 18 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10268-2Catabolism of extracellular glutathione by -glutamyltransferases supports tumour growth and survival, and pharmacological targeting of these enzymes slows tumour growth.

Rory McIlroy hosts this year's Champions Dinner at the Masters, with his menu including wagyu filet mignon, seared salmon, glazed carrots and Vidalia onion rings.

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The presidents nominee, Markwayne Mullin, said he would avoid micromanaging FEMA.