Short stories and texts for learning Spanish, French, German and other languages (A1-B2)

20 May 2026

Exercise better than protein powder for older adults' muscle strength

A clinical trial in people aged 65 and over found that extra protein from whey capsules did not increase muscle strength after 24 weeks. Researchers say resistance exercise remains the most reliable way to improve strength.

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Photo by Tony Woodhead, Unsplash

20 May 2026

Small money changes shape financial stress

A study of US workers finds that small weekly changes in income, expenses and overspending change how stressed people feel at home and at work. Relief often comes from modest income gains or lower spending.

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20 May 2026

Daily positive practices can improve heart health

A review in Cardiology Clinics found that frequent positive psychology programs — like gratitude and mindfulness, delivered by apps, messages or journaling over eight to twelve weeks — can improve mood and some heart measures.

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18 May 2026

Cross‑border Ebola outbreak involving Bundibugyo

Uganda and the DRC are responding to a cross‑border Ebola outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo species. WHO declared a public health emergency on 17 May and there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

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18 May 2026

Pollinator Decline Threatens Health and Smallholder Farms

A Nature study in Nepal shows that falling numbers of insect pollinators harm crop yields, family incomes and diets. The loss reduces key vitamins and raises risks of illness and poverty for smallholder farm households.

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18 May 2026

Data centers and mining could raise US power costs by 2030

A new study warns that growing electricity use by data centers and cryptocurrency mining could raise power prices and CO2 emissions in the United States by 2030. Researchers modelled hourly power needs across 26 regions to find likely impacts.

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18 May 2026

AI in American Classrooms

Artificial intelligence is arriving in many U.S. schools. Teachers, researchers and companies are testing new tools; some see time savings while others worry about classroom relationships and fairness.

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18 May 2026

Removing Cookies Cuts Online Ad Revenue

A Boston University study finds that removing third-party cookies substantially reduced publisher ad revenue, with larger losses in the EU. Google’s Privacy Sandbox recovered only a small share, and publishers are changing how they earn money online.

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15 May 2026

Kratom use rising in US and linked to addiction and mental health

A national study found kratom use increased in the United States and is linked to addiction and mental health problems. Researchers used survey data from 2021–2024 and say more policy and treatment are needed.

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15 May 2026

Many US Dogs Show Fear in Daily Life

A large owner‑reported analysis found that most dogs in the United States show at least mild signs of fear or anxiety in everyday situations. The data come from owners and cover many places and types of dogs.

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15 May 2026

Why People Fear the Police

A study from Michigan State University looks at why people fear police and how that fear affects trust. It finds that beliefs about how likely and how serious harm would be help explain fear, and it offers practical steps.

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15 May 2026

Garlic compound stops insect mating

Researchers at Yale found a natural compound in garlic that blocks mating and egg-laying in mosquitoes and some flies. The effect comes from taste receptors, and a method called phytoscreen could lead to eco-friendly pest control.

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14 May 2026

JWST map reveals the cosmic web across time

A new map from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) traces the cosmic web across 13.7 billion years, reaching back to when the universe was one billion years old. The COSMOS-Web survey released maps, data and public tools.

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