The Bias Brief

Lean

New York PostSep 21, 2026Sig. 6NewsAI Health Science

New study finds startling flaw if AI starts choosing who gets organ donations: ‘Diverge from human values’

A Penn State study found that leading AI chatbots weigh patient traits differently from humans when deciding who should receive a scarce kidney, often fixating on one factor and projecting confidence instead of acknowledging moral ambiguity. Researchers and a collaborator say the findings show a need for continued research and governance before AI is used in ethically sensitive medical decisions.

The HillSep 21, 2026Sig. 8NewsHealth Politics Science

White House drafting executive order to take over NIH grant approvals: Reports

Reports say the White House is drafting an executive order to move NIH grant approvals to an external board, giving political appointees more power to veto awards seen as misaligned with Trump's agenda. NIH and HHS officials respond that no funds would be rescinded and stress rigorous biomedical research.

Left 3.1

PBS NewsHourSep 21, 2026Sig. 7NewsHealth Science Politics

Key senators reject White House proposal on NIH grants

Two key senators, Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Patty Murray, reject a Trump administration proposal that would give the White House control over NIH grant funding. Murray warns a political appointee could block cancer research for no scientific reason, while Collins calls politicizing grantmaking contrary to congressional intent.

Left 2.9

Daily MailSep 21, 2026Sig. 3NewsScience

Move over, Pavarotti! World's only singing lemur opens its mouth wider on higher notes - just like a trained soprano

A new study finds that indris lemurs open their mouths wider on higher notes, using formant tuning similar to trained opera singers. Researchers analyzed video recordings of wild lemurs and suggest the technique helps their songs carry across territories in Madagascar.

Neutral

The HillSep 21, 2026Sig. 2NewsCulture Science Other

Fat Bear Week 2026 begins: What to know, how to vote

Voting for Fat Bear Week 2026 begins Tuesday, with the public choosing which Katmai National Park brown bears have best prepared for hibernation. The annual National Park Service tournament started in 2014 and drew about 1.5 million votes last year. A winner will be named Sept. 29.

Neutral

BBC NewsSep 21, 2026Sig. 3NewsScience

Two pilot whales dead after mass stranding

A pod of about 40 pilot whales was spotted in distress off the Northumberland coast, and two died after rescue attempts were hampered by tides and limited access. Rescue teams and RSPB staff are continuing to monitor the coast and aid surviving whales. The article also outlines common explanations for mass strandings.

Neutral

New York PostSep 21, 2026Sig. 7NewsHealth Science

3-year-old boy’s quick-spreading cancer is cured thanks to 2 doses of new treatment

A 3-year-old boy with chemo-resistant hepatoblastoma that had spread to his lungs and possibly bones was declared cancer-free after two doses of an experimental GPC3-CAR T-cell therapy. The case report, published in a major medical journal, suggests the therapy may be safe and effective for some solid tumors, though more research is needed.

Neutral

New York PostSep 21, 2026Sig. 5NewsScience

‘1.3 billion premature deaths’: Scientists give frightening play-by-play of hypothetical Yellowstone supervolcano eruption

Scientists published a thought experiment describing the sequence and global consequences of a hypothetical Yellowstone supervolcano super-eruption, including possible mass casualties and societal disruption. The article notes such an eruption is not imminent and remains highly uncertain.

Neutral

Washington ExaminerSep 21, 2026Sig. 7NewsHealth Science Politics

Trump health agencies fast-track end to animal testing

The Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies announced new programs and an FDA rule to reduce animal testing in biomedical research, shifting toward human organoids, artificial intelligence, and computational models. The article presents the Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as modernizing federal research and advancing U.S. biopharmaceutical competitiveness.

Right 3.2

New York PostSep 21, 2026Sig. 2NewsScience Other

Shocking discovery of ancient bones turns couple’s kitchen renovation into ‘crime scene’

A homeowner in Kent describes how a kitchen renovation led to the discovery of roughly 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon human remains, a police investigation, and eventual re-interment. The article also notes a similar backyard discovery of historic coins.

Neutral

Daily MailSep 21, 2026Sig. 2NewsSports Science Technology

The science behind the catsuit: Experts reveal how Keely Hodgkinson's all-black speed suit helped propel her to victory

A sports science feature explains how Nike engineered Keely Hodgkinson's black catsuit for aerodynamic advantage in her 800-metre victory. It describes the suit's materials, seams, vortex generators, and testing without political or ideological framing.

Neutral

Fox NewsSep 21, 2026Sig. 3NewsScience Culture Other

Shocking discovery of ancient bones turns couple's kitchen renovation into 'crime scene'

A couple's kitchen renovation in Kent, England, was interrupted when a builder unearthed ancient human bones, briefly turning the home into a crime investigation. The remains were later re-interred in a church ceremony, and the homeowner spoke about the unusual ordeal.

Neutral