Science

U.S. Service Members No Longer Required to Get Flu Vaccine

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. service members will no longer be required to receive annual flu vaccinations, allowing them the choice to opt in or out. In a social media video, Hegseth stated that the mandatory nature of the flu vaccine for all troops was 'overly broad and not rational,' emphasizing the importance of personal freedom in health decisions.

Ancient octopuses may have reached 60 feet long

Researchers from Hokkaido University have uncovered fossilized jaws of ancient octopuses, revealing that some species may have reached lengths of up to 60 feet during the Late Cretaceous period, challenging previous assumptions about their role as marine predators. Published in the journal Science, the study indicates that these colossal octopuses likely had a powerful feeding strategy, capable of breaking through shell and bone, and may have preyed on large aquatic reptiles such as mosasaurs.