Stories from Washington DC · United States

A neuroscientist told the US Senate that children today are less cognitively capable than previous generations. New research from three countries suggests this observation may be accurate. A neuroscientist has issued a warning regarding a perceived decline in cognitive capabilities among children. The expert suggests this trend warrants further investigation and attention.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for June 4, 2026, features an image of the planetary nebula Tc 1. The image provides exquisite detail of the nebula, with its diameter measured between 10 and 23 meters.

The death toll from offensives initiated by the Trump administration has risen to at least 207. This figure marks the total number of deaths since the offensive began in September.

Cybersecurity leaders are investing in AI and agentic defenses to combat AI-enabled threats, according to an EY study. OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch a cybersecurity model to rival Anthropic's Claude.

Senate Republicans have blocked a $1 billion funding request for a new White House ballroom. Opposition to what is described as Trump's 'anti-weaponisation fund' delayed a bill to fund immigration agencies.

The US House of Representatives approved a war powers resolution aimed at rein in President Trump's military actions. The measure passed with a vote of 215 in favor and 208 against, with four Republicans joining Democrats. The vote was held on June 4, 2026.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for June 3rd featured an image of the Andromeda galaxy, showcasing it through gas and dust. This image highlights humanity's oldest known record of the galaxy, published over 1000 years ago by Persian astronomer Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi.

NASA is tracking two near-Earth objects, including one designated potentially hazardous. NEO (2019 US10) has a diameter between 194 and 435 meters and is traveling at 42,704 km/h.

The U.S. Treasury has released average interest rates for Treasury Notes, Bonds, and Bills as of April 30, 2026. Treasury Bills had the highest average interest rate at 3.696%. The average interest rate for Treasury Bills was 3.696%, for Treasury Notes it was 3.230%, and for Treasury Bonds it was 3.403%. No specific details on the rates or their implications were provided. Treasury Bonds had an average interest rate of 3.413%, and Treasury Notes averaged 3.248%. Treasury Bills show an average rate of 3.690%, Notes at 3.248%, and Bonds at 3.413%.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day features an infrared image of the Eagle Nebula's pillars, captured by the Hubble telescope. The image showcases newborn stars forming within dense gas clouds. The image provides detailed insights into the star-forming regions within the nebula. The image was captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. This image provides a unique perspective on the celestial formation.