Science Quickly Woodpeckers Rock the Lab, AI Steps Out of the Chat Box, and Flu Hits Hard
Jan 12, 2026
Join Eric Sullivan, Senior Tech Editor at Scientific American, as he shares insights from CES 2026. Discover how AI is moving beyond screens into physical devices and humanoid robots, with a nod to Stevie Wonder's vision of using technology to enhance life. Also, learn about woodpeckers' unique mechanics that allow them to peck without injury. Plus, hear how AI is using sleep data to predict health outcomes, showcasing the evolving connection between technology and our everyday lives.
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This Flu Season Broke Records
- The U.S. flu rate in late December hit its highest level since tracking began in 1997, causing many visits and hospitalizations.
- Vaccination still reduces severe outcomes, and masks like N95s can lower infection risk in indoor public spaces.
CDC Changed Child Vaccine Guidance
- The CDC reversed its long-standing universal flu vaccine recommendation for children and removed promotional campaign materials.
- Changes followed leadership shifts and cancellation of an effective vaccination promotion campaign earlier last year.
AI Predicts Disease From Sleep Data
- Stanford researchers trained SleepFM, a foundation model, on nearly 600,000 hours of polysomnography from 65,000 patients.
- The model predicted outcomes like Parkinson's, dementia, heart disease, cancers, and death by combining multiple sleep signals.