The ‘mono’ virus raises the risk of MS and cancer in some. 22 genes hint at why. | Live Science

February 5, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Around 90% of people are infected with Epstein-Barr virus at some point in their lifetimes. For most of them, the virus causes a mild, transient illness or no symptoms at all. But for a subset of people, Epstein-Barr can eventually contribute to chronic illnesses, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis, or to the development of cancer.

Now, new research uncovers 22 human genes that might make an Epstein-Barr infection more likely to turn into a chronic condition.

Researchers can’t yet definitively say whether these genes directly make Epstein-Barr more dangerous, or whether they are part of an underlying immune suppression that allows the virus to persist at higher levels in the body than usual. But the new study should provide a jumping-off point, said Jill Hollenbach, a professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study.

Source: The ‘mono’ virus raises the risk of MS and cancer in some. 22 genes hint at why. | Live Science

Genetically unique group in southern Greece can trace their paternal ancestry to the Bronze Age | Live Science

February 5, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A group of people living in the far southern reaches of Greece’s Peloponnesian Peninsula have been genetically isolated for over a millennium and can trace their roots back to the Bronze Age, an analysis of their DNA reveals.

A new genetic study shows that this group, known as the Deep Maniot Greeks, are paternally descended from ancient Greeks and Byzantine-era Romans. Long-term genetic isolation and strict patriarchal clans likely contributed to the unique genetics of the Deep Maniot Greeks over the past 1,400 years, according to the study authors.

The Mani Peninsula is the middle of three peninsulas that extend south from mainland Greece. In ancient times, the area was part of the Laconia region, which was dominated by the city-state Sparta in the seventh century B.C. Much of the Greek Peloponnese region experienced demographic upheaval as Slavic peoples invaded in the sixth century A.D. However, the Mani Peninsula was spared, and the Deep Maniots who lived in the far southern part of the peninsula became geographically and culturally isolated from the rest of Greece.

15 Companies Founded by Amazing Young Entrepreneurs | businessnewsdaily.com

February 4, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You’ve heard about the “30 under 30” lists celebrating young business leaders and innovators. But have you ever seen a list that includes teenage CEOs and 4-year-old founders?

Age does not limit success. You’re never too young or too old to start pursuing your ambitions. No one knows that more than the young entrepreneurs on this list. They don’t need high school diplomas or even driver’s licenses to turn their ideas into thriving businesses. Tip: If you’d like to help your child start a business, make sure that the business follows all legal requirements applicable in your city or state. Business News Daily’s guide to helping your kids start a small business walks you through that process, so your kid is set up for success.

15 companies started by young entrepreneurs

1. Aline Morse — Zolli Candy

At age 7, Alina Morse went on an errand to the bank with her father. The teller offered her a lollipop, but she reluctantly declined — her parents had taught her that candy would damage her teeth. The experience sparked an idea: why not make candy that tastes great and is good for your teeth? Zollipops were born, and before long, Zolli Candy was sold in stores across the country. Since then, Morse has expanded the vegan, sugar-free, tooth-friendly candy line to include taffy and drops. Now a teenager, Morse is the company’s CEO and has been featured in a variety of publications. She launched the Million Smiles Initiative, which encourages schools to discuss dental hygiene by donating Zollipops to them.

Green Business Ideas to Consider | Business News Daily

February 4, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Green business ideas for eco-minded entrepreneurs

Eco-friendly companies may include outdoor apparel brands, businesses that make reusable plastic bottles, eco-friendly cleaning companies, businesses that install solar panels, a local recycling business, and many other potential ventures. If you want to start a business with an eco-friendly focus, these green business ideas are for you.

1. Ink refill business

Starting an ink refill business can be an environmentally conscious — and highly profitable — decision. While the shift toward digital documentation continues, many businesses still rely on printed materials for contracts, legal documents, and client presentations. However, when people reuse old ink cartridges, less nonbiodegradable waste accumulates in landfills. Paper, printers, and copiers are still necessary in the business world, but empty ink containers are not.

2. Environmental publications

If you love to write, start your own environmentally minded publication. Your actions can make a big difference in the world. By debunking popular myths and sharing the truth about the world we live in, you can help consumers rethink how their actions affect the planet.

Why Personal Development Programs Fail (And What Actually Works) | LifeHack

February 3, 2026February 1, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You’ve done the courses. Read the books. Downloaded the apps. Filled out the worksheets, journaled the gratitude, and visualized the outcomes. You have a shelf full of personal development programs, each one promising to be the one that finally changes everything.

And yet here you are.

Not that the programs were useless. They worked for a while. You felt the surge of motivation after finishing that online course. You had clarity for three weeks after that retreat. The habit tracker made perfect sense until it didn’t, and then it sat in your drawer, a monument to another abandoned attempt.

The frustrating part isn’t that you don’t know what to do. You probably know more about personal development than most people will ever learn. You understand the importance of goals. You’ve heard about atomic habits, mindset shifts, and morning routines. You could give a decent TED talk on productivity frameworks.

Best Apps for Habit Tracking: 5 Tools That Actually Work | Lifehack

February 3, 2026February 1, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You’ve downloaded habit apps before. Set everything up on a motivated Sunday, felt that spark of possibility, then watched it all collapse by Thursday when life got in the way.

The culprit isn’t your willpower. It’s that most habit trackers obsess over streaks without addressing why you break them. A red X on a calendar doesn’t tell you what went wrong or how to recover. It just makes you feel like a failure.

The apps that actually work do something different: they build systems around your psychology, not against it. Here are five that understand this.

Should You Send a Late Account to Collections? | Business News Daily

February 2, 2026February 1, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The decision to send someone to collections is one that should be given serious consideration. Federal law governs how you and the collection agencies you hire can and cannot attempt to collect a debt.

In this guide, we explain the rules you should follow to keep your business out of hot water when pursuing unpaid debts, and we walk you through sending someone to collections while complying with the law.

How to Avoid International Marketing Mistakes | businessnewsdaily.com

February 2, 2026February 1, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Expanding your business internationally can be an exciting step for any entrepreneur, but marketing your product or service abroad requires adequate research and preparation. To succeed in foreign markets, businesses must tailor their messaging to resonate with local cultures rather than simply translating words directly.

Without the proper considerations, marketing to a foreign audience can have disastrous outcomes. Sending the wrong message can discourage consumers from buying your product and could lead them to boycott your business altogether.

Mariko Amekodommo, CEO of international marketing and consulting agency Mariko Communications, said that one of the most common marketing mistakes businesses make when taking their company international is not understanding their market and audience.

“There can be a cultural gap from one country to the next where campaigns, slogans, and initiatives don’t resonate or make sense to the end user,” Amekodommo said. “Companies can avoid basic marketing mistakes, like slogans that don’t translate appropriately, by putting in the due diligence to research and understand the new market.”

What carbon capture is and why it’s not an ideal climate solution | Fast Company

January 30, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Power plants and industrial facilities that emit carbon dioxide, the primary driver of global warming, are hopeful that Congress will keep tax credits for capturing the gas and storing it deep underground.

The process, called carbon capture and sequestration, is seen by many as an important way to reduce pollution during a transition to renewable energy.

But it faces criticism from some conservatives, who say it is expensive and unnecessary, and from environmentalists, who say it has consistently failed to capture as much pollution as promised and is simply a way for producers of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal to continue their use.

Trump’s anti-EV rules aren’t stopping California’s electric truck boom—yet | Fast Company

January 30, 2026 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Wes Lowe uses so much Claritin that he started an Amazon subscription to avoid running out. His kids take two asthma medications. This reflects the normalcy of pollution in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where residents breathe some of the dirtiest air in the nation.

Lowe lives about 20 miles outside of Fresno, in the valley’s heart. More than a dozen highways, including Interstate 5, run through the region, carrying almost half of the state’s truck traffic. The sky is usually hazy, the air is often deemed hazardous, and 1 in 6 children live with asthma. “You don’t realize how bad it is until you leave,” Lowe said.