Author: studyblog

For The Gottman Institute’s 30th anniversary, we’re exploring five relationship myths that just won’t quit, and what the research actually says.After 50 years of relationship research, we know more than ever about what makes love last. Yet some relationship myths refuse to disappear.You’ve probably heard a few of these myths before. Your parents might have shared them as advice, you may have encountered one during a well-meaning conversation with friends, and movies and media are notorious for perpetuating the most cliché relationship myths.Over time, these myths become expectations people use to measure their relationships. And when reality doesn’t match the…

Key points: If I had been asked a few years ago, I would have told you that chronic absenteeism was a school system’s problem to fix. With better data systems, staff trained on outreach, and improved intervention protocols, school districts could move the numbers on their own. But today we can see that while the numbers moved a little, the deeper story didn’t change nearly as much as we hoped. Why? Because chronic absenteeism isn’t the problem. It’s the symptom. In speaking with school leaders across the country, I’ve found near-unanimous agreement that the real issue is disconnection. When a…

Transplant August 20, 2026 DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m getting a new driver’s license and am thinking about checking the “organ donor” box for the first time. I don’t know anyone who’s been an organ donor, and my family and friends haven’t talked about this. Can anyone donate?  ANSWER: People of many ages, backgrounds and health histories may be eligible to become organ donors. More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for an organ transplant, but the number of available donor organs falls far short of the need. Broadening the pool of registered organ donors gives more patients the…

Gastroenterology August 20, 2026 ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic researchers have estimated the risk that pancreatic cysts with worrisome or high-risk features will progress to pancreatic cancer or advanced precancerous changes within three years. The findings, published in Gastroenterology, could help physicians and patients better assess risk and make more informed decisions about whether to monitor a cyst or consider surgery.  The prospective study found that risk increased with the number of worrisome features, or findings that the cyst needs closer monitoring. Patients whose cysts had one worrisome feature had about a 2% chance of developing pancreatic cancer or advanced…

Key points: When people hear about the literacy gains we’ve seen in our middle schools, they often ask a simple question: What program did you use? I understand why. In education, we’re always looking for the lever, the thing that will move outcomes quickly and at scale. But what changed outcomes for our students wasn’t a single tool. It was a set of deliberate decisions about time, instruction, data, and, most importantly, people. And none of it started with a solution. It started with an uncomfortable realization. Facing the gap we could no longer ignore Like many districts, we had…

Cardiovascular August 19, 2026 PHOENIX — Mayo Clinic researchers have developed and externally validated an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can identify a potentially significant heart obstruction from routine ultrasound videos without relying on specialized Doppler imaging. The technology could help clinicians flag patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) who may need additional testing, particularly in settings where specialized echocardiography expertise is limited. Study findings are published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.   HCM is a genetic condition that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick. About two-thirds of these patients develop left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, which restricts blood leaving…

Key points: If you ask most educators where college and career readiness (CCR) begins, many will point to high school. That’s when many students start thinking seriously about graduation requirements, dual enrollment, financial aid, career pathways, and college applications. High school is the last stop before students pursue a postsecondary pathway, whether that’s a degree, credential, or something else, and it might feel like the logical place to focus on CCR. But exceptional school systems know that by the time students reach high school, many of the foundational beliefs that influence those decisions have already taken shape. Students have developed…

Key points: Walk into almost any classroom in America, and you’ll see a system designed for consistency: same lesson, same pace, same expectations for every student. For decades, that model has served millions well. But today’s learners are changing, and some of the most driven among them are quietly outgrowing the structure meant to support them. Across the country, high-achieving students are hitting an unexpected ceiling. Not because they lack ability or ambition, but because traditional classrooms weren’t designed to move at their pace. These are students enrolling in college courses while still in high school, training at elite levels…

Featured News August 17, 2026 Dr. Robert L. Frye and his son, Dr. Mark Frye Dr. Frye’s pioneering work transformed cardiac catheterization from an experimental procedure into a cornerstone of routine cardiovascular care.  Robert L. Frye, M.D., professor emeritus of Cardiovascular Medicine, passed away on Aug. 4 at age 94. Dr. Frye helped shape cardiovascular medicine at Mayo Clinic and beyond through his pioneering work in coronary angiography, an X-ray procedure using contrast dye to show blood flow through the heart’s blood vessels, as well as his visionary leadership and mentorship of generations of cardiologists.   After earning his medical degree…

Key points: A year ago, many educators were still asking whether artificial intelligence belonged in the classroom. Some were cautiously experimenting with AI-generated lesson plans, while others were focused on preventing students from using it altogether. Today, the conversation has evolved. Across the country, school districts are developing AI guidance, investing in educator-specific platforms, and providing professional learning around responsible implementation. Teachers are moving beyond asking, “Can AI write a lesson plan?” and beginning to ask a much more meaningful question: “How can AI help me become a more effective teacher?” That’s an important distinction. The best educators aren’t using…