Catamist News

GOP Blocks ACA Subsidy Vote Amid Looming Expiration

The U.S. House of Representatives is currently debating a critical healthcare package, but Speaker Mike Johnson has blocked a bipartisan amendment aimed at extending enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. This decision means the crucial subsidies, set to expire on December 31, 2025, will likely lapse, potentially leading to significantly higher healthcare costs for millions of Americans and an estimated 4.8 million becoming uninsured.

5 min read

Living Cells Generate Electricity from Motion

In a groundbreaking theoretical development, researchers propose that living cells inherently generate their own electrical signals through subtle, microscopic membrane movements, creating voltage spikes remarkably similar to those in neurons. This novel insight could fundamentally redefine our understanding of cellular processes, impacting fields from neuroscience to the development of intelligent, bio-inspired materials.

NVIDIA Acquires SchedMD to Boost AI, HPC Open-Source Support

NVIDIA acquired SchedMD, the developer of the widely used Slurm workload manager, on December 15, 2025, aiming to significantly enhance open-source support for high-performance computing and AI infrastructure. This strategic move includes NVIDIA's commitment to maintaining Slurm as an open-source, vendor-neutral solution, ensuring its continued broad accessibility and development within the HPC and AI communities.

Musk First to Surpass $600 Billion Net Worth

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has made financial history, becoming the first individual to exceed a net worth of $600 billion, with Forbes reporting his fortune at an astonishing $677 billion as of December 15, 2025. This unprecedented wealth surge is primarily attributed to the soaring valuation of his private aerospace company, SpaceX, which is reportedly preparing for a $1.5 trillion IPO that could potentially make him the world's first trillionaire.

Global Leaders Adopt Landmark Health Declaration

World leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly have adopted a historic political declaration to collectively address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges for the first time. This landmark agreement, adopted on December 16, 2025, sets ambitious global targets for 2030, including reducing tobacco users by 150 million and expanding mental health care access to an additional 150 million people, aiming to transform lives and livelihoods worldwide.

Sydney Hanukkah Massacre: Terror at Bondi

A horrific terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney's Bondi Beach resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and left over 40 injured, marking Australia's deadliest terror incident in decades. Authorities have declared the shooting an ISIS-inspired act of antisemitic terrorism, carried out by a father and son who specifically targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.

Indonesia Floods: Over 1,000 Killed, Hundreds Missing

Devastating floods and landslides, triggered by relentless monsoon rains and Tropical Cyclone Senyar, have claimed over 1,000 lives and left hundreds missing across Indonesia's Sumatra island by December 15. This catastrophic event has sparked a major humanitarian crisis, displacing over 624,000 people and destroying vast infrastructure, prompting the Indonesian government to pledge a significant three-month recovery effort.

Long COVID Genetic Drivers Uncovered

Australian scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough, identifying 32 causal genes linked to an increased likelihood of developing Long COVID, with 13 of these genes being newly associated with the condition. This pivotal discovery, led by researchers at the University of South Australia, is expected to accelerate the development of targeted treatments and personalized diagnostics for the debilitating global health challenge.

Singapore, China Forge Deeper Ties with 27 New Pacts

Singapore and China significantly strengthened their bilateral ties by signing a record 27 new agreements at their 21st Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation meeting in Chongqing. These comprehensive agreements, focusing on critical areas such as financial connectivity, green and digital development, and a new pilot scheme for digital renminbi payments, underscore a deepening commitment to their "All-Round High-Quality Future-Oriented Partnership".

Hidden Dimensions Reshape Mass Theory

A groundbreaking new theory proposes that the universe's fundamental forces and the very origin of mass may arise directly from the dynamic geometry of hidden extra dimensions, challenging established physics. This innovative perspective suggests that mass originates from "torsion" within evolving seven-dimensional G2-manifolds, offering a novel explanation for particle properties and cosmic expansion beyond the Standard Model.

Meta's AI Policy Shifts: Privacy Concerns Mount

Meta's updated privacy policy, effective today, December 16, 2025, allows the company to utilize user interactions with its AI systems for targeted advertising and content personalization across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This significant change has drawn strong criticism from digital-rights advocates and consumer groups, who express concerns about the commercial exploitation of private AI conversations and are urging regulatory intervention.

Ukraine Peace Talks Advance in Berlin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is engaged in high-stakes peace talks in Berlin with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, aiming to forge a political agreement to end Europe's deadliest conflict. While discussions have reportedly yielded "real progress" and U.S. offers of "NATO-like" security guarantees, significant disagreements persist, particularly concerning Ukraine's territorial integrity.

5 min read

Latest News

GOP Blocks ACA Subsidy Vote Amid Looming Expiration

Living Cells Generate Electricity from Motion

NVIDIA Acquires SchedMD to Boost AI, HPC Open-Source Support

Musk First to Surpass $600 Billion Net Worth

Global Leaders Adopt Landmark Health Declaration

Sydney Hanukkah Massacre: Terror at Bondi