1. The Hidden Hand in Germany’s Election In the months before Germany’s 2025 federal election, something strange was happening beneath the surface of ordinary political life. A sprawling and shadowy influence operation, known among researchers as the Doppelgänger network, had quietly woven itself into the country’s public conversation. This network, which is widely believed to be linked to Russian disinformation efforts, operates through a constellation of fake or lookalike websites that mimic legitimate news outlets. To an average reader scrolling through social media in a hurry, these pages could pass for genuine journalism. But behind the familiar layouts and bylines…

In the intricate world of molecular diagnostics, a tiny signal can speak volumes—but it can also mislead. For decades, real-time polymerase chain reaction, popularly known as real-time PCR, has been one of the most trusted tools in clinical laboratories and research settings. It became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of people submitted to nasal swabs and anxiously awaited the result that would tell them whether they were carrying the virus. But as public health officials and laboratory professionals soon realized, PCR tests are not perfect. They can produce false positives, especially when the genetic material being…