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The Summary An advanced diagnostic test uses genetic sequencing to detect a range of pathogens — viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites — that might be causing an illness. A new study found that it has been effective at identifying the cause of neurological infections like meningitis. The test is not yet FDA-approved and expensive to run, but its creators hope to see it used more broadly in the future. A cutting-edge diagnostic test is helping some doctors find diagnoses for medical mysteries by analyzing DNA and RNA to detect a broad swath of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites, according to a pair of studies published Tuesday. Traditional diagnostic tests are generally designed to measure specific substances such as proteins, hormones or trace amounts of genetic...

A barrage of misogynistic comments have permeated social media in the days after Donald Trump became the president-elect last week, according to research from the London-based think tank Institute for Strategic Dialogue . “Your body, my choice” — a phrase popularized by white nationalist Nick Fuentes — became the reigning chant among men on the far-right who commented on women’s posts across social media, especially those who expressed sorrow at the election results, the report found. The phrase — a retaliatory play on “my body, my choice,” which for decades has been a rallying cry for advocates of reproductive rights — surged shortly after Fuentes posted last Tuesday on X : “Your body, my choice. Forever.” The phrase was mentioned thousands of times per day on vario...

Protesters waved Nazi flags outside of a community theater production of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” leaving performers "understandably shaken" by the hateful display in Michigan, officials said Monday. The shocking protest by a handful of masked men unfolded Saturday night outside of American Legion Post 141 in Howell, where the play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett was being staged. Even though American Legion staff had the swastika-waving protesters "under control" and "moved off the property," show producers decided to inform everyone in the house at intermission of what was happening outside. "For this production, our cast was also on stage in character during intermission, which was when they found out as well," according to a statement by the Fowlervi...

Two people have been charged in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old in Connecticut whose body was found wrapped in a comforter on a highway, as family say the suspects are the victim’s cousins. Edgar Josué Chiche Martínez’s body was found on Pope Park Highway in Hartford Saturday morning. He was just days away from his 19th birthday, family members told NBC Connecticut . The body was transported to the state’s Chief Medical Examiner’s Office and it was determined the victim suffered “from apparent gunshot wounds,” Hartford police said in a news release. The investigation found Martínez had been shot inside an apartment on Magnolia Street the day prior, and his body placed on the highway for about a day before he was discovered. On Sunday, two suspects, Sende...

A " Wheel of Fortune " contestant has gone viral for his hilariously wrong answer on the Nov. 11 episode of the show. The correct answer to the puzzle in question was, "Give yourself a round of applause." With only a few tiles missing, the board read "___E _OURSE_F A ROUN_ OF A___AUSE," before contestant Will Jordan gave his answer. "Treat yourself a round of sausage," he guessed — which, clearly, was wrong for a number of reasons. A clip now viewed over a half a million times on X shows Jordan's comical "missolve." After Jordan's fellow contestant Kitina solved the puzzle correctly, host Ryan Seacrest joined in the fun. "Will, I kind of like yours better," he joked. "That sounds better than just clapping right now." Following the silly sausage solve, the game show...

Amid a presidential loss and hand-wringing over the wreckage, congressional gains for Democrats in New York state are one of the small bright spots shining out from the party’s bleak results. The Democratic Party lost five competitive House races in this blue state two years ago — the exact margin by which they lost the House majority. Now, three of those districts are back in Democratic hands , even as Vice President Kamala Harris underperformed her former running mate, President Joe Biden, in the state. New York’s unlikely battleground state status might inform Democrats’ path forward, including the receipts from early investment and sustained organizing on the ground, as well as candidates who ran ahead of the national ticket and who weren’t afraid to buck the national part...

The U.S. will not change its policy on arms transfers to Israel even though the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire, the State Department said Tuesday, the deadline the White House set for Israel to ramp up access to aid in the besieged Palestinian enclave. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters the decision came as "Israel has taken a number of steps" outlined in a letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Israeli counterparts last month. "We continue to be in discussion with Israel about the steps they took and other steps they need to take," he said. An average of just over 30 trucks a day have been let into Gaza in recent weeks, representing “just over six percent of the daily needs,” acc...

A luxurious mattress and a pricey set of pillows won’t promise a good night’s sleep if they’re paired with low-quality sheets. If you find yourself tossing and turning throughout the night, it may be time to invest in a great set of bed sheets that will keep you comfy and cool through the night. “Your bedroom should be a haven of comfort,” says Pamela O’Brien, principal interior designer at Pamela Hope Designs . “I believe it’s worth the extra effort to make sure you create a bed you love and that helps you relax.” SKIP AHEAD How we picked the best bed sheets | The best bed sheets in 2024 | How to shop for bed sheets | Why trust NBC Select? To help you shop for the best bed sheets, w...

President-elect Donald Trump said he intends to nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, a high-profile diplomatic posting in a tumultuous region. Huckabee, if confirmed, will arrive in Jerusalem to face conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon that have raged for over a year. On the campaign trail, Trump, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed to put an end to the conflict. Peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled in recent days after Qatar pulled out of its meditation efforts. Huckabee is likely to be at the center of international pressure on the U.S. to help broker a cease-fire deal. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, elevating a longtime loyalist and former rival for the R...

A loyal dog that refused to leave his dead owner's side helped solve the case of her murder by allowing detectives to identify her body, prosecutors said. Mandy Rose Reynolds, 26, was shot before her body was “burned beyond recognition” in a field fire in Robinson, Texas. She was found by police on April 5, 2023, the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office said in a release. Her cousin, Derek Daigneault, 29, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 7 for her murder following an investigation that spanned two states, according to the DA's office. And one of the keys to identifying Reynolds was her white-haired labradoodle, Titan. Police found Titan near her body, barking "frantically." He refused to leave the area and wouldn't allow police to capture...