Education
Federal Education Cuts Spark Alarm: U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski and education leaders warn that proposed federal cuts threaten programs like special education, Head Start, and school meals. A $19 million HVAC upgrade in East St. Louis was abruptly canceled, highlighting the potential impact on underserved communities.
Harvard’s International Student Ban Blocked: A federal judge temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to ban Harvard University from enrolling international students. The university argues the move violates constitutional rights and could harm academic freedom.
Science
Ancient Meteorite May Have Boosted Early Life: A study suggests a meteorite impact 3.26 billion years ago dispersed essential nutrients, potentially fostering microbial life and influencing early evolution.
China’s Asteroid Mission Launches: China initiated its first mission to collect asteroid samples, aiming to enhance understanding of the solar system’s formation and evolution.
Philosophy
Alasdair MacIntyre Passes Away at 96: Renowned philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre, author of “After Virtue,” died at 96. He critiqued modern moral philosophy and advocated for a return to Aristotelian ethics, significantly influencing contemporary ethical discourse.
Feminist Philosopher Sandra Harding Dies: Sandra Harding, known for developing feminist standpoint theory, passed away. Her work emphasized the importance of marginalized perspectives in scientific and philosophical inquiry.
Books
‘Heart Lamp’ Wins International Booker Prize: Banu Mushtaq’s “Heart Lamp,” a collection of stories about Muslim women in southern India, won the International Booker Prize. It’s the first Kannada-language work and short story collection to receive the award.
Taylor Jenkins Reid Releases ‘Atmosphere’: Author Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new novel, “Atmosphere,” set during NASA’s 1980s space shuttle program, explores themes of ambition and same-sex romance. Inspired by stargazing with her daughter, the book is already set for a film adaptation.
Female Authors Dominate Fiction Sales: As of May 2025, female authors have outsold male authors in fiction, with 1.25 million novels sold compared to 578,000 by men. Rebecca Yarros leads the fiction charts with her romantasy novels.
Gordon Williams’s Novel Reissued: Gordon Williams’s 1969 novel “From Scenes Like These,” depicting 1950s Scotland’s harsh realities, has been reissued. The book offers a vivid portrayal of societal pressures and personal struggles.