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Up close, a pointillist painting looks like thousands of individual dots. Step back, and a bigger picture emerges. Yale researchers say something similar may help explain how AI chatbots make sense of information. A new study offers clues about how large language models recognize patterns and organize information in ways that resemble aspects of human reasoning. The findings could help scientists better understand how these systems work and make their responses more predictable. Take a closer look at the research:

Cannabis. Chatbots. Salamanders. Cancer research. Four stories. One podcast episode. Under 10 minutes. In the latest episode of Yale's new podcast, Beyond Blue, psychiatrist Deepak D’Souza helps us understand what today's increasingly potent cannabis means for mental health, particularly for young people. We’ll also talk about when to question the answers AI chatbots give us, the quiet evolution of salamanders, and how exercise helps our bodies fight cancer. Stories worth sharing. From Yale, for you. Listen now and follow Beyond Blue on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts:

At Yale, pathologists are using AI to help spot things the human eye might miss. When reviewing prostate biopsies, doctors can compare their findings with areas flagged by an algorithm, giving them another opportunity to catch potential signs of disease. Pathologist Sudhir Perincheri explains how AI is becoming a useful second set of eyes in the lab:

How concerned should we be about plague? Following the mysterious death of a researcher at a Russian laboratory, plague is back in the headlines. But Yale physician-scientist Ingrid Katz says there's no evidence so far that the incident poses a broader threat to the public. In a Q&A, Katz explains what we know and don't know, how different forms of plague spread, and why careful investigation matters more than speculation:

This week, the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences celebrated the recipients of its highest honor, the Wilbur Cross Medal, recognizing their achievements in scholarship, teaching, and public service. The ceremony included remarks from Yale President Maurie McInnis and Graduate School Dean Lynn Cooley. This year's honorees: ▪️ Carol Carter ’72 PhD ▪️ James Dieterich ’68 PhD ▪️ Amy Richlin ’78 PhD ▪️ James Robinson ’93 PhD Learn more:

Even after more than 20 years in diplomacy, Julianne Smith is still learning. The former U.S. ambassador to NATO is now teaching at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, where her students are bringing fresh perspectives to some of the world's toughest security challenges. In fact, Smith says she's considering sharing some of their policy ideas with actual policymakers. In a Q&A, she reflects on her experience at NATO, the challenges facing the alliance, and what she's learning from the next generation:

For Julia Jarcho, making theater and studying it have always gone hand in hand. As a child, she accompanied her mother to experimental theater productions in New York City. By high school, she was writing plays of her own. Now a Yale professor, playwright, and director, Jarcho continues to bring those two worlds together. In a Q&A, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her creative life and what she's working on next:

There's a lot that goes into bringing a story to the stage. And some of the most important work happens long before the curtain rises. Behind Yale Repertory Theatre's production of August Wilson's “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” is a team of Yale staff and students whose creativity and craftsmanship bring every scene to life. The final performance is this Saturday, October 24. Meet the makers and learn more about their work:

An astrophysicist and a musician walk into a bar. What could they possibly have in common? Quite a bit, as it turns out. In the debut episode of Walk Into a Bar, astrophysicist Chiara Mingarelli and musician Maiani da Silva sit down for an unscripted conversation about gravitational waves, sound waves, and the surprising connections between science and music. It's a new series that brings together Yale experts from different fields to explore what they can learn from one another. Watch the full episode: Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast player.

Did animal life begin 200 million years earlier than we thought? A new study coauthored by Yale paleontologist Derek Briggs suggests that the first animals may have appeared on Earth between 700 and 800 million years ago, long before the oldest recognizable animal fossils. By combining clues from ancient fossils with genetic evidence from living species, researchers are piecing together a new timeline for the origins of animal life and raising new questions about how early animals evolved. See how scientists are rethinking the history of animal life:

There's something about Yale's campus that sparks the imagination. For bestselling author Leigh Bardugo ’97, the architecture, history, and mystery she encountered as a student helped inspire her "Ninth House" trilogy, which blends real places at Yale and around New Haven with a world of secret societies and supernatural magic. With the final book, "Dead Beat," now published, Bardugo reflects on her time at Yale, the places and people that inspired her, and how she brought her fictional world to life. Read more in Yale News:

A little more fall with each passing day. 🍁 📷: Gavin Susantio

Big questions about the universe could soon be explored on a tabletop. Yale physicist David Moore is developing a new way to study neutrinos, elusive particles that could help scientists better understand how the universe works. With a five-year, $1.35 million award from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, his team will use tiny particles suspended and cooled to extremely low temperatures to explore a new approach to measuring neutrinos with greater precision. Learn more about the research:

From the distant universe to the future of AI in research, the latest Insights & Outcomes has plenty to explore. This edition includes: ▪️ A radio telescope revealing new clues about distant galaxies ▪️ Yale researchers examining how to keep AI use in science transparent and reproducible ▪️ A Yale paleontologist featured in PBS's new "Evolution" series ▪️ New honors for Yale faculty and a postdoctoral researcher Catch up on the latest science news from Yale:

For people with misophonia, everyday sounds like chewing, sniffing, or tapping can trigger intense feelings of distress, anger, or even panic. Yale child psychiatrist Thomas Fernandez explains what researchers are learning about the biology and genetics behind these reactions, and how that work could eventually point toward more targeted treatments. Learn more about the science of misophonia:

RT @YaleLawSch: Professor Michael Woodford ’80 of @Columbia was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences today with Professor Robert E. Hall of @Stanford “for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilization.” Read more in @nytimes:

Good public health communication starts with understanding the people you're trying to reach. At Yale School of Public Health, a new course is helping students learn how to make science more accessible, connect with different audiences, and build trust. From podcasts to social media, students are putting those lessons into practice, finding new ways to share health information that speaks to people's lives and concerns. See what they're learning:

For tired teens, caffeine can become part of the problem. Caffeine can push bedtime later, leading to more daytime exhaustion and potentially more caffeine. Yale experts explain what parents should know about teen caffeine use, from energy drinks to newer products like caffeine pouches, and how to talk about it without sounding the alarm:

A career in nursing can start in more than one way. Two new Yale School of Nursing programs will give people with bachelor’s degrees in other fields accelerated paths into nursing, without requiring them to earn another undergraduate degree. One program prepares students to become registered nurses in 16 months, while another offers a three-year path to advanced practice and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Explore the new pathways into nursing:

Talking about memory loss can be difficult. Stigma can make it even harder. Yale’s Miia Kivipelto has seen patients wait to seek medical care or hesitate to tell loved ones about an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. That can have real consequences, especially when early diagnosis can open the door to treatment and support. In a Q&A, she explains why changing the way we talk about Alzheimer’s could help people seek care sooner and live better with the disease: