NEWSENCE

A tourist helicopter carrying a Spanish family crashed into the Hudson River near Lower Manhattan, New York City, on Thursday afternoon, killing all six people on board, including three children. More Recent Pictures The chartered New York Helicopters chopper was transporting Agustin Escobar, an executive with European automation company Siemens, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children, aged 4, 5, and 11. The 36-year-old pilot was also killed in the crash, according to law enforcement sources. The helicopter took off from the Wall Street Heliport and crashed at 3:17 p.m. near River Drive in Hoboken, New Jersey—just over 15 minutes into its flight. Officials said the aircraft had reached the George Washington Bridge before turning back and going down. The victims were from Barcelona, Spain, according to Spanish officials. “Our hearts go out to the family and those on board,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams during a press briefing. Read More

  Raw Pet Food Trend Fuels Bird Flu Spread and Raises Pandemic Fears The rising popularity of raw pet food is increasingly linked to the spread of H5N1 bird flu, particularly among cats. This growing risk is a byproduct of the booming $6.3 trillion wellness industry, which often thrives on scientific skepticism, the idolization of “natural” alternatives, and fear-driven marketing. But the consequences go beyond human health misinformation — they’re now endangering animals, too. Pseudoscientific practices promoted by holistic pet health influencers, organic farming advocates, and alternative medicine proponents are creating conditions ripe for viral outbreaks. H5N1 has already killed pets and could pave the way for a future human pandemic. The threat is further magnified by weakened oversight. With the effective dismantling of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., critical infrastructure for monitoring and respondin...

Drinking Eight or More Alcoholic Beverages Weekly Linked to Brain Damage and Cognitive Decline Regularly consuming eight or more alcoholic drinks per week is associated with brain lesions known as hyaline arteriolosclerosis. These lesions, caused by damaged blood vessels that reduce blood flow, can impair memory and thinking over time. Researchers also observed a higher presence of tau tangles—a key marker of Alzheimer’s disease—in both heavy and former heavy drinkers. Former drinkers also showed decreased brain volume and poorer cognitive performance. Alarmingly, heavy drinkers were found to have a life expectancy about 13 years shorter than those who abstain. Key Findings: Brain Lesions: Heavy drinkers had a 133% higher risk of developing brain lesions than non-drinkers. Alzheimer’s Risk: Tau tangles were more prevalent in heavy and former heavy drinkers. Shortened Lifespan: Heavy drinkers died, on average, 13 years earlier than non-drinkers. Read More

On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 10% tariff on all imported goods, set to take effect on April 5. Additional tariffs targeting specific countries, including China, were scheduled to begin on April 9. The announcement sent shockwaves through global financial markets, sparking the largest two-day loss in U.S. stock market history. Within just 48 hours—Thursday and Friday—an estimated $6.6 trillion in market value was wiped out. Although markets briefly rebounded on Tuesday, they dropped again on Wednesday as the new tariffs officially kicked in. Among the most dramatic measures: a 104% tariff on Chinese imports, heightening global concerns about an escalating trade war. Read More

  Pollen forecasts are nebulous and allergy sufferers have few options for relief. READ MORE

A daycare center in a Texas county involved in the ongoing measles outbreak has reported several infections, including among children too young to receive the full vaccination, according to public health officials. The outbreak, centered in West Texas, continues to grow, with 505 confirmed cases as of Tuesday. This week, the state expanded the affected area to include 10 counties. The virus, known for its high transmissibility, began circulating in late January and has since spread to neighboring states—New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas—as well as into Mexico. So far this year, three unvaccinated individuals have died due to complications from measles, including two elementary-aged children in Texas. The second child passed away last Thursday at a hospital in Lubbock. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the funeral in Seminole, which is considered the outbreak’s epicenter. By Friday, seven cases had been confirmed at a daycare where an infected young child passed the virus t...