The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics kicked off Friday evening in Milan, Italy, with an opening ceremony showcasing Italian culture and featuring athletes from over 90 countries, according to NPR Politics. While the games promise athletic competition, concerns about athlete well-being, including sleep quality, have emerged, as highlighted by Wired. Meanwhile, provisional data indicates a slight decrease in U.S. births in 2025, according to Fortune, and a correction was issued for a Nature article regarding immunology research.
The opening ceremony, held at the San Siro stadium, featured performances paying tribute to Italian music, art, and culture, as reported by NPR Politics. Athletes marched into the stadium before thousands of spectators. The games, scheduled to run from February 6 to 22, will see athletes from around the world competing for a chance to earn a spot on the podium, according to Wired.
Wired highlighted the importance of optimal sleep for athletes, noting that it is "absolutely critical" for them to perform at their best. The article also pointed out the challenges of creating a conducive sleep environment in an unfamiliar setting.
In other news, U.S. births fell slightly in 2025, offsetting an increase in 2024, according to Fortune. Slightly over 3.6 million births have been reported through birth certificates, which is about 24,000 fewer than in 2024. This decline seems to confirm predictions by some experts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its provisional birth data late last week, offering the first good look at last years tally.
Additionally, Nature News reported a correction to an article published on January 28, 2026, regarding environmentally driven immune imprinting and its protection against allergy. The correction involved the interchange of images in the original publication.
In the realm of technology, Hacker News mentioned the ongoing development of OpenCiv3, an open-source, cross-platform, mod-oriented reimagining of Civilization III. The project is currently in an early pre-alpha state.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment