Author: TECH

Fur, once considered “soft gold” at the turn of the 19th century, has lost its shine in the last decade — largely thanks to animal welfare activists. According to Humane World for Animals, formerly known as the Humane Society, the number of animals farmed and killed for fur production plummeted from 140 million in 2014 to just 20.5 million in 2024. Tracking the use of animals — including minks, foxes, chinchillas, and the raccoon dogs of East Asia — the data revealed dramatic drops in fur production across China, Russia, North America, and the European Union, all  traditionally leaders in the industry. According…

Human connection plays a major role in mental well-being. Students sometimes attempt to manage stress alone, assuming that asking for help shows weakness. In reality, sharing concerns with trusted people—friends, parents, teachers, or mentors—reduces emotional burden and often provides practical solutions. Talking about problems helps organize thoughts and reduces feelings of isolation. Healthy friendships provide emotional support, encouragement, and understanding. The quality of relationships matters more than the number of connections. Supportive social environments make it easier to handle academic challenges and maintain confidence. When stress becomes overwhelming, professional support such as school counsellors can offer structured coping strategies and…

Portrait of a Canon Regular by Sofonisba Anguissola – credit, Robert Simon Fine Art A lost work by the most famous female artist of the Renaissance has surfaced at a North Carolina estate. The story of how Portrait of a Canon Regular was found begins in 1920 when it was photographed in black and white—before vanishing from all knowledge. 104 years later, art historian Michael Cole recorded a lecture on the illustrious portrait painter Sofonisba Anguissola of Cremona, and posted it on YouTube. In Durham, North Carolina, a pair of art collectors just happened to watch the lecture, and it gave them…

Functional fashion is often equated with little more than comfort.Yet clothing designed with purpose goes beyond that, carrying a deeper significance that deserves closer attention.Adaptive wear, for example, is a segment that addresses practical needs, offering thoughtful designs that support everyday living.Much of its focus is on people with disabilities, a group long overlooked by mainstream fashion.Dawn Adaptive founder, Usha Gopalan Nair, says inclusion should not be treated as an exception in the industry, but as the standard when it comes to functional design.“True functionality means clothing that adapts to real lives, real bodies and real experiences, without compromising personal…

Grand Junction, Colo. – Mesa County Public Health made 2025 a turning point for mental health care in western Colorado. The department launched a dedicated Behavioral Health Division, rolled out a user-friendly online resource platform, and brought community leaders together to map out real solutions. Residents now have clearer paths to care in a county where too many have struggled in silence for too long. Leaders Face Hard Truths at First-Ever Summit The year started with a packed room and honest talk. In February, Mesa County Public Health hosted its first Behavioral Health Summit. Hospital CEOs sat next to street-level…

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is the emerging open standard that lets AI models connect to external tools and data sources. You can think of MCP as a USB‑C for AI—it standardizes how a large language model (LLM) interacts with services, such as databases, web APIs, file tools, etc. Essentially, an LLM, the MCP Host, embeds an MCP Client that mediates a one-to-one connection with an MCP Server, providing specific functions.  The LLM never talks directly to the outside world—all requests go through this client-server layer. MCP is growing exponentially, with researchers finding around 20,000 MCP server implementations on GitHub. They’re…

SINGAPORE – Despite a strong economic performance in 2025 and a robust labour market, many Singaporeans are concerned about jobs, particularly in the face of rapid technological change and a very uncertain external environment, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said on Feb 11 in a video. To help people navigate these changes, the Government will do more, focusing on managing job transitions, equipping them with the skills to stay competitive and ensuring access to good jobs with rising incomes, he said.He added that he would speak more about these plans in his upcoming Budget statement on Feb 12.  Singapore’s…

Startup profile: Forte Founded by: Vineet Rajan, William Norvell Year founded: 2021 Headquarters: Columbia, MD Sector: Healthtech Funding and valuation:  $5 million raised at an undisclosed valuation, according to the company  Key ecosystem partners: Howard County Economic Development Authority A Howard County startup is pushing to make mental health at work a routine, not a crisis-only service. Forte brings private sessions with mental health professionals to the office via an app, which connects users with coaches who can help them with subjects like stress management and work-life balance. As stress and burnout rise, Forte CEO Vineet Rajan says that it’s…

Many Americans rely on Social Security as income to cover their living expenses and basic needs.Each month, the Social Security Administration issues payments to these Americans so they are able to cover a variety of expenses, from food to housing to medical care.Although there are a lot of people who receive Social Security, not everyone knows how their payments are calculated, when they will arrive or how they will change over time.Here’s what you need to know about when you will receive your February Social Security payments.When will I get my February Social Security check?MonthFebruaryBirth date from Feb. 1-10will receive…

New findings from Public Health Wales’ Time to Talk Public Health survey show overwhelming public support for improving health and well‑being support for women during the first year after pregnancy, whether following birth, miscarriage or any other pregnancy outcome. The survey reveals that 78% of respondents believe it is very important that women receive dedicated support for their physical, mental and social well‑being during the first year post‑pregnancy. More than half of respondents (58%) said the best time for healthcare professionals to have a well‑being conversation with women is during a dedicated NHS appointment specifically focused on women’s health. By…