The latest science news covers a severe flu season, breakthroughs in AI-driven disease prediction, and insights into woodpeckers’ remarkable headbanging ability. This week’s updates highlight both immediate health concerns and long-term technological trends.
Flu Season Intensifies
The United States is experiencing an unusually severe flu season. As of late December, over 8% of healthcare visits were for respiratory illness – the highest rate recorded by the CDC since 1997. The flu has already led to an estimated 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths, including nine children. The surge is driven by a new H3N2 variant, subclade K. While the current vaccine isn’t a perfect match, it still reduces the risk of severe illness. Wearing high-filtration masks (N95 or KN95) remains an effective preventative measure.
This escalation comes amid recent shifts in CDC guidance on flu vaccination for children. The agency now recommends parents discuss vaccination with their child’s doctor rather than universally recommending it. This change occurred shortly after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became Secretary of Health and Human Services and the CDC canceled an effective vaccination promotion campaign.
AI Predicts Disease Risk From Sleep Data
Researchers at Stanford University have developed an AI model, SleepFM, capable of predicting future disease risk from polysomnography sleep data. By training on nearly 600,000 hours of sleep recordings from 65,000 patients, SleepFM demonstrates predictive accuracy for Parkinson’s disease, dementia, heart disease, cancer, and mortality. The model’s success lies in analyzing combined bodily signals: a brain that appears asleep but a heart that doesn’t, for example, is a strong indicator of underlying health issues. This demonstrates the potential of AI to unlock hidden connections between sleep patterns and long-term health outcomes.
CES 2026: AI Enters the Physical World
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 signaled a major shift in AI development. Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to software; it is increasingly integrated into physical products, including humanoid robots. While the practical applications of these robots remain uncertain, their presence at CES underscores a growing industry trend. Industry leaders also emphasize the importance of AI serving human needs rather than simply replacing human functions. As Stevie Wonder put it, technology should “make life better for the living,” not merely emulate life itself.
Woodpeckers’ Strength: A Full-Body Effort
New research from Brown University reveals how woodpeckers withstand the force of repeated head impacts. By inserting electrodes into live woodpeckers, scientists discovered that pecking is a full-body process. The birds tense their tails, abs, and back muscles in coordination, mirroring human movements when hammering. This coordinated effort allows woodpeckers to generate forces up to 30 times their body weight without injury.
These updates reflect the rapid pace of scientific discovery. From public health crises to technological advancements and natural adaptations, the latest research provides critical insights into our world.
