Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: A North Carolina-focused op-ed warns that cyberattacks are a top threat to water, gas, supply chains, and the power grid, pointing to past transformer sabotage and recent port disruptions that forced manual operations. AI & Materials Innovation (NJ): A Princeton startup, Princeton Critical Minerals, raised $16M to scale brine-based lithium production using its Lilypad platform, aiming to boost yields for energy storage and AI-driven demand. Social Media Safety (NJ policy + national trial): New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a children’s online safety package, including an age-appropriate design code and a research center; the same week, a landmark multi-state Meta child-safety trial in Oakland centers on claims of addictive design. Local Tech/Research Talent (NJ): A 17-year-old Swedesboro student, Mason Corey, used AI with schlieren imaging to predict 3D-printed plastic strength, showing promise but still needing validation. Health & Environment (NJ-adjacent): Research links living near dry cleaners with higher Parkinson’s risk, with strong clusters reported in New York. STEM/Business (NJ): NJEDA and RWJBarnabas Health announced $10M for life sciences startups, backing innovation in the state’s health-tech pipeline. Education (NJ): U.S. News & World Report’s high school rankings show New Jersey with a large share of top-tier schools, reinforcing the state’s STEM-and-academics momentum. Food Assistance: SNAP enrollment fell sharply as paperwork demands tightened, with advocates saying administrative hurdles are pushing people off rolls.