Cancer Risk Linked to Alcohol Consumption Underestimated, Studies Show
A series of recent reports have shed light on the underestimation of alcohol as a carcinogen, while other news highlights a promising fungal solution to climate change-driven bark beetle infestations, potential political interference in NIH appointments, financial challenges for Asda, regulatory hurdles for the hemp industry, an intensifying divide regarding transgender rights in the U.S., and a federal judge condemning the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics.
According to a 2025 report by the U.S. Surgeon General's office, citing a 2019 study, less than half of Americans recognize alcohol as a carcinogen. This is in stark contrast to the recognition of tobacco (89%) and radiation (91%) as cancer-causing agents, according to Time. A more recent 2025 study from JAMA Oncology found that nearly 53% of Americans are unaware of any link between alcohol and cancer.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists seven cancers with known links to alcohol consumption: cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast, according to Time.
In other news, researchers at the Max Planck Institute have discovered that specific Beauveria bassiana fungal strains can effectively combat climate change-driven bark beetle infestations by overcoming the beetles' defenses, offering a potential alternative to traditional insecticides, according to Nature News.
Multiple news sources also report that the death toll from the New Year's Day fire at the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, has risen to 41 after an 18-year-old Swiss national died from their injuries, according to NPR Politics. Investigations suggest that sparkling candles ignited the blaze, and authorities are examining potential safety regulation violations and have opened a criminal investigation into the bar owners, one of whom was briefly detained.
Additionally, concerns are being raised about potential political interference in NIH appointments, while Asda is facing challenges with declining sales, according to NPR News and Nature News. Furthermore, a secret warehouse containing 450,000 archaeological objects unearthed during HS2 railway construction promises new insights into British history, according to Nature News.
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