University Budget & Research Funding: Ohio University’s Faculty Senate heard plans to model budget cuts as inflation and healthcare costs squeeze a system already spending more than it takes in. Student Access & Costs: Ireland’s Budget 2027 permanently cuts student contribution fees by €150 and boosts supports like SUSI maintenance grants. Campus Policy & AI in Schools: In North Texas, students are helping shape district rules for AI tools and managing screen time. Research & Health Advances: Johns Hopkins researchers report a membrane-free electrochemical approach that could lower projected CO₂ capture costs. Climate & Public Health: University of Utah dust scientists are working to clarify how Great Salt Lake dust forms and what it contains. STEM & Workforce Pipelines: Purdue and Elanco broke ground on a One Health Research Institute in Indianapolis, aiming to connect labs, learning, and internships. Breakthrough Science: UW–Madison physicist Francis Halzen won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics for IceCube neutrino discoveries. Education Outcomes: New research finds adults who return to college value skills and personal growth, not just earnings.