Washington’s tabletop game industry braces for impact from new tariffs

Technology

GeekWish Bash attendees compete in a game of Catan. (GeekWire File Photo)

In the face of new tariffs, many of Washington state’s tabletop, board, and card game developers have sounded alarms over what may prove to be an existential threat to their industry.

Washington is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, states for American tabletop gaming. Several large companies like Wizards of the Coast, Green Ronin Publishing, and Paizo are based in Washington, as well as dozens of indie developers. The state’s tabletop industry is estimated to be worth $2 billion and has steadily grown in the last few decades.

The tariffs, as proposed, could significantly curb that growth.

President Trump on Wednesday placed a 90-day pause on targeted tariffs for most countries after initially announcing the new policies on April 2. Increased tariffs remain in place for China, where many U.S. board game companies manufacture their products, and China has mounted retaliatory tariffs of its own.

Mike Selinker, owner of Renton, Wash.-based Lone Shark Games, told GeekWire that he and his fellow tabletop business owners are wondering how they are going to survive the new tariffs.

Selinker said “there’s not a lot of wiggle room” for companies to absorb manufacturing cost increases.

“Prices will definitely go up,” Selinker said.

Many modern tabletop games include components that require custom manufacturing, such as special dice or tokens, plastic figurines, wooden blocks, or complex game boards.

“American factories simply do not have the right equipment or expertise,” wrote Chris Pramas, president of Seattle-based Green Ronin Publishing, on Bluesky. “Spinning up factories in the U.S. will take years.”

That’s led most developers to have their board games printed in China, because it can’t be done as well and/or as cheaply anywhere else.

“Here are the numbers: A product we might have manufactured in China for $3.00 last year could now cost $4.62 before we even ship it across the ocean,” wrote Meredith Placko, CEO of Steve Jackson Games (Munchkin), on the company’s official blog.

Placko continued, “Add freight, warehousing, fulfillment, and distribution margins, and that once-$25 game quickly becomes a $40 product. That’s not a luxury upcharge; it’s survival math.”

If the tariffs persist in their current state, it would likely lead to a series of major shifts for U.S. board game development. Many studios may simply have to shut down, while others may switch to making smaller games or a print-your-own model.

It’s also possible that some companies take their print needs to other markets, such as South Korea or Vietnam, or use a European intermediary to get around the U.S. tariffs. Right now, it’s difficult to tell what will happen.

“I expect we will survive this,” Selinker said. “We’re a resilient bunch. Some things that we have planned will change. But most of Washington’s game creators are in this because they love it. We’re not sure what else we’d do. So, we’ll figure out a way to survive even this catastrophe.”

5 Worst Timothée Chalamet Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

A24

Timothée Chalamet has become a very big deal over the last decade or so. With two Academy Award nominations and an ever-expanding list of excellent movies under his belt, the actor has flaunted his talent in a vast array of roles that range from playing Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” (2024) to starring as Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” movies and following Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp in portraying eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka in “Wonka” (2023). That’s a lot, especially from a young actor who seems destined to turn in great roles for many decades to come.
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Any one of Chalamet’s best movies is a great way for a movie fan to spend a couple of hours glued to their seat. However, few prolific actors can maintain a perfect win record throughout their career, and even one as wildly successful as Chalamet has a few less than beloved films in his CV. Here’s a look at five of his worst movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.

5. A Rainy Day in New York (2019)

MPI Media Group

As a latter-day Woody Allen movie, “A Rainy Day in New York” (2019) can’t help but be compared to some of the filmmaker’s finest beats. Even without the once-celebrated Allen’s reputation — tarnished by allegations of sexual abuse of his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow – coming in play, it can safely be said that the film doesn’t cut it.
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“A Rainy Day in New York” got shelved by Amazon in 2018 after the accusations resurfaced with the #MeToo movement, and only got a limited U.S. theatrical release in 2020 after already making the rounds in other parts of the world. But again, even discounting its troubled history, this is understandable. “A Rainy Day in New York” comes across like warmed-up leftovers of Allen’s best New York City-themed work. This, however, can’t be blamed on Timothée Chalamet, who leads the love triangle story as a somewhat optimistically-cast Allen protagonist stand-in, complete with the requisite awkwardness and a nifty “Annie Hall”-style tweed jacket.
Allen’s movies tend to be well-cast, and with names like Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Selena Gomez, Diego Luna, and Jude Law, “A Rainy Day in New York” is no exception. Still, despite the talent involved, the movie’s style far overshadows its substance, which leaves it with a Tomatometer rating of just 47%.
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If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

4. One & Two (2015)

IFC Midnight

“One & Two” (2015) was Timothée Chalamet’s first movie after his appearance as young Tom Cooper in Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” (2014). While he has a far bigger role in this fantasy thriller (which, incidentally, was the first and, to date, only feature film directed and written by “The Green Knight” and “Moon Knight” cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo), the movie didn’t exactly make a similar impact.
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“One & Two” revolves around Chalamet and Kiernan Shipka. The two play Zac and Eva, two siblings with the mysterious ability to teleport who live in a fenced farm compound with their cruel father (Grant Bowler) and ailing mother (Elizabeth Reaser). Ethereal and ominous, “One & Two” has plenty of mysteries and a few surprises up its sleeve. Sadly, many critics felt that the movie’s script simply can’t match its atmosphere, and that the story runs out of steam.
The indie film’s Tomatometer score of 47% means that it has the same critical consensus as “A Rainy Day in New York.” However, “One & Two” has a considerably lower audience Popcornmeter rating (35%, while “A Rainy Day in New York” has 56%), so overall, the film is further down the disappointing end of the Chalamet movie spectrum.
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3. Hot Summer Nights (2017)

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2017 is easy to pinpoint as Timothée Chalamet’s big breakthrough year thanks to his two nuanced takes on the “young rebel” archetype: his Oscar-nominated turn as Elio in “Call Me by Your Name” and Kyle Scheible in “Lady Bird.” Because of the vast appreciation these movies earned the young star, it can be easy to forget that two other Chalamet movies came out that year. One of them is “Hostiles,” the Scott Cooper-directed Christian Bale Western in which Chalamet appears as a young private serving under Bale’s Captain Blocker and is, admittedly, somewhat lost in the well-liked film’s cast (which includes folks like Rosamund Pike, Wes Studi, Stephen Lang, and Jesse Plemons). The other is “Hot Summer Nights,” which Rotten Tomatoes ranks as Chalamet’s third-worst movie.
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Chalamet filmed writer-director Elijah Bynum’s “Hot Summer Nights” before his two better-known 2017 films, but it premiered after them, which means that its 46% Tomatometer rating ended up slightly blemishing his otherwise stellar year. The movie is a fairly straightforward “1990s kids get in way too over their heads” caper where Chalamet’s young Daniel is stuck spending his summer in Cape Cod, befriends Hunter (Alex Roe), and becomes entangled in local drug trade. It’s not a bad movie, per se — just very, very by the numbers.
If a Chalamet fan is running out of movies to watch, though, the reviews shouldn’t necessarily be a deterrent. The young actor is doing a good job here, and knowing how high his star has risen since “Hot Summer Nights” premiered, it may be a good while before the audiences have a chance to enjoy him in a movie as happily simple as this.
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2. The Adderall Diaries (2015)

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In writer-director Pamela Romanowsky’s “The Adderall Diaries” (2015), Timothée Chalamet plays the younger version of James Franco’s troubled protagonist Stephen Elliott. Based on a true crime-style memoir written by the real life Elliott, the 2015 drama is a story about a writer whose newest book project — a biography of a successful programmer named Hans Reiser (Christian Slater) — turns into a true crime project when Reiser is suspected of having murdered his wife (who suddenly disappeared). As Reiser’s murder trial approaches, Stephen has to deal with his copious personal issues, including the fallout of his father (Ed Harris) returning in his life to challenge the version of their family history Stephen describes in his own memoir.
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It’s the sort of hazy, twisty, multi-layered mystery tale that has all the makings of an excellent A24 mindbender. Unfortunately, “The Adderall Diaries” ended up falling short of its lofty aspirations, and has a Tomatometer rating of only 26%. Several critics have pointed out that the movie lacks cohesion and fails to captivate the viewer, leading to an underwhelming experience.

1. Love the Coopers (2015)

Lionsgate

So, yeah, 2015 was not a good year for Timothée Chalamet. His third and easily lowest-rated entry on this list is “Love the Coopers,” which also happens to be the third and final Chalamet movie that premiered in what’s easily the worst year in his post-“Interstellar” career.
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In Chalamet’s defense, “Love the Coopers” is very much not a marquee Timothée Chalamet experience. He only appears in the relatively small role as Charlie, a young member of the eponymous Cooper family. Penned by Steven Rogers and directed by Jessie Nelson, “Love the Coopers” is a Christmas film about a large and contentious family that gathers together for the holidays in a predictably chaotic fashion.
The movie features an all-star cast that includes actors like John Goodman, Diane Keaton, Marisa Tomei, Anthony Mackie, and Olivia Wilde, but the whole is quite a bit less than the sum of its parts. “Love the Coopers” was widely panned by critics and has a dismal 18% Tomatometer score. This makes it Chalamet’s least-appreciated film by far, at least as far as Rotten Tomatoes is concerned. Still, fans of the actor might want to check out his extremely relatable performance as a sullen, nervous teen trying to impress a girl.
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The Science Behind Recovery: Let’s Talk About Naltrexone

Science and Health

If you’ve followed any health news lately, you’ve likely heard about Ozempic and similar drugs. GLP-1 medications, originally developed to treat diabetes, have gained widespread attention for their ability to support weight loss by curbing hunger and cravings. Researchers are even exploring GLP-1s for conditions beyond diabetes and weight loss—like heart disease and substance use disorders—because of their potential to reduce the drive to consume addictive substances. Weekly, dozens of articles highlight their promise in addiction treatment.

But as excitement builds around what’s next, we risk overlooking what’s already here. For decades, a safe, affordable, and effective treatment for addiction has existed, yet it remains largely underused: naltrexone.
What Is Naltrexone?
First developed 60 years ago, naltrexone is a once-daily pill (or monthly injection) that is approved by the FDA to treat both alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and opioid use disorders (OUDs). It works by targeting the brain’s opioid system, a key part of the reward pathway that makes alcohol and opioids feel rewarding. When someone drinks or uses drugs, the brain releases chemicals like dopamine, which produce feelings of pleasure and reduce both physical and emotional discomfort. Naltrexone blocks these effects, dulling the sense of reward that comes from substance use. For someone who drinks, that means the usual pleasure or “buzz” from alcohol is dampened. For someone who uses opioids, naltrexone, which is an opioid “antagonist,” prevents the high entirely. By taking away the reward, the urge to drink or use can be significantly reduced. Over time, alcohol or opioids become less pleasurable, and addictive behaviors may begin to fade.

Importantly, people do not have to be abstinent from alcohol to start taking naltrexone. It can support gradual reduction in alcohol use, making treatment more accessible to those who might not fit into traditional, abstinence-only models. It’s also been shown to reduce binge drinking, which many individuals seek to moderate without necessarily aiming for full sobriety.

Is Naltrexone Effective?
Research has shown that naltrexone can significantly improve outcomes for people with AUD, reducing the chances of returning to heavy drinking​. Even when someone does drink, naltrexone helps them drink less and helps prevent potential brief recurrences that could turn into a full return to use. For opioid addiction, naltrexone can be life-saving. By blocking the effects of opioids, it removes the “high,” which can deter use and support ongoing recovery. It can also be a valuable option for individuals who can’t or don’t want to use the other gold-standard opioid-based treatments like methadone or buprenorphine. Each avoided binge, brief recurrence, or full return to use is meaningful, and for many, naltrexone makes those wins possible.

In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) added naltrexone to its list of essential medicines for treating AUDs. It’s also recommended as a first-line treatment in clinical guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and other professional bodies for alcohol dependence.
The most common side effects are relatively minor – nausea, headache, or fatigue, especially in the first couple of weeks – though they often resolve with time. There’s no risk of addiction with naltrexone, and it doesn’t make people drowsy or impair their ability to function normally. However, it’s important to note that the medication is not appropriate for everyone, including people using opioid pain medications (as it blocks the effects of opioids) and should be used with caution in individuals with severe liver disease.

Why Don’t More People Get This Medication?
Naltrexone has minimal side effects, is well tolerated, and is easy to take. Yet despite its proven benefits, less than 2% of people with AUD receive this medication, even in the most coordinated systems of care. Some studies show prescribing rates as low as 5% during alcohol-related healthcare visits. Meanwhile, an estimated 28.9 million people ages 12 and older had AUD in the past year. So why the disconnect?

One major barrier is stigma, fueled by outdated beliefs that recovery should happen without medications. Patients and even providers may feel that using medication for a SUD is “cheating” or not addressing the “real issue.” The reality is that addiction is a complex brain disease, not a moral failing—and there’s no shame in using effective medication to support recovery.

THE BASICS

Another challenge is a lack of awareness and training. Many general physicians receive little to no training in addiction medicine. They might not think to offer naltrexone, or may feel uncertain about how to bring it up with a patient. But any licensed prescriber can write for naltrexone—no special waiver or certification is needed. While education efforts are underway, much more needs to be done to equip providers with the tools to talk confidently about medication options.

Patient awareness is another key gap. Many people struggling with alcohol or opioids simply don’t know that a medication like naltrexone exists, let alone that it could help them cut back or stay on track. Public awareness is slowly improving; some headlines have even started referring to naltrexone as the “Ozempic for alcohol” because of its ability to reduce cravings​. Catchy comparisons can get people’s attention, but real impact comes when front-line providers routinely bring up the option. When doctors and therapists normalize talking about medication options, patients are much more likely to consider them.

Addiction Essential Reads

Use the Full Toolbox to Treat Addiction
Everyone who seeks help for addiction deserves access to all the tools that might support their recovery. Therapy, support groups, lifestyle changes, and medications all have a place in that toolbox. Naltrexone is one tool—a powerful one—that should be utilized more widely. It’s not a magic cure (no single treatment is), but it can meaningfully tip the scales in the patient’s favor.

Just as people have embraced new solutions for weight loss and other health challenges, healthcare providers need to embrace existing medications for addiction with the same openness. In the end, the goal is simple: to help people get better. Naltrexone alone won’t solve the addiction crisis, but when it’s part of a comprehensive plan, it can save lives and aid recovery.

The Junior League of Albany to host Book Drive for Phoebe NICU

Arts & Culture, Books

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – The Junior League has partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network and Phoebe NICU to create a library in the NICU. Elise Cotten, a board member for the Junior League of Albany, says this is a way for families to bond with their newborns. “So, the NICU actually has about 600 admissions per year, and we are giving a book to each family that comes to stay at the NICU. These books can also go home with them, but we encourage each family member to come and read to their child while they are in the NICU,” said Cotten. Cotten was inspired by a friend who, at the time, had premature triplets. For a while, her friend was unable to hold the triplets, and the only way to communicate was to read to them. The Junior League says this is a legacy project, hoping it will last for years to come. When children are admitted, their parents can select a book to read to them and take home, offering a small piece of comfort and connection during their stay. Here’s what you need to know if you’d like to participate in the book drive:Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025Time: Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m.Location: Lee County Library, 445 Oakland ParkwayWhat to Bring: A children’s book to donate to the NICU and sign up for a library card!The Junior League of Albany to host Book Drive for Phoebe NICUHave a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.

Most Online Shoppers Have No Clue How Expensive ‘Bargain’ Tech Imports Are About To Get

Technology

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One of the more affordable methods of getting tech at discount prices has traditionally been to buy it online. Brick-and-mortar stores like Best Buy, Walmart, and Micro Center occasionally offer some tempting sales, but it’s hard to compete with a global market that can ship you the component you need from anywhere in the world. It appears that the entire tech landscape is about to change, however.
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Prices on ‘bargain’ tech imports, including everything from earbuds and smart devices to computer components and gaming hardware, are likely about to surge due to the new U.S. Tariff policy implemented by President Donald J. Trump. His most recent executive order was issued on April 9, and has placed a 90-day suspension on a majority of the tariffs that he recently put in place, with one notable exception: China. 
While goods shipped from many of the United States’ other trading partners will be getting a three-month reprieve, Chinese goods will see increased import fees–dramatically driving up the importer’s costs. This, in turn, is likely to drive up their market price. These Tariffs will affect several industries, including several car brands and tool manufacturers like Harbor Freight, but it’s going to be a particularly big issue for tech lovers. A substantial portion of the tech goods on the market are either made in China or made with components that were made in China.
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How will the tariffs drive up costs?

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According to Trump’s most recent executive order, “increase the ad valorem rate of duty set forth in section 2(c)(i) of Executive Order 14256 of April 2, 2025 (Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports), as modified by the Executive Order dated April 8, 2025, from 90 percent to 120 percent.”
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This is a bit heavy on the legal-ese, but in short, it means that starting May 2, packages valued at $800 or less that are shipped from China to the U.S. will be subject to a 120% tariff. It doesn’t end there, though. The order also states that there will be an “increase the per postal item containing goods […] from 150 dollars to 200 dollars,” which will take effect on June 1.
So, what does this mean from a consumer’s point of view? Imagine you order a toaster from a Chinese manufacturer that costs $100. Starting in June, you’ll need to pay a flat $200 in postal import fees and $120 in tariff fees on top of the purchase price, meaning you’ll need to pay a grand total of $420. This applies to cheaper items as well. Small, individual parts that may cost as little as $5, such as those used in a 3D printer for instance, will now cost $211 to import individually. Of course, most goods aren’t purchased by consumers directly from Chinese manufacturers. These items are usually purchased in bulk by American retailers who then sell them domestically, but the tariffs will be affecting them as well, which will, in turn, drive up costs for American consumers.
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What tech is made in China?

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So now that you know how these tariffs will affect Chinese-made goods, you might be interested in learning a bit more about which tech items are made in China. The short answer? A lot of them.
The New York Times reported that factories in China produce more goods than those operating in the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and the U.K. combined, also going on to state that China exports 77% of the children’s toys sold in the states. According to the BBC, “The biggest category of US imports from China is smartphones, accounting for 9% of the total. A large proportion of these smartphones are made in China for Apple, a US-based multinational.” This has resulted in Apple and several other companies taking a major hit in the stock market.
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Bloomberg reports that the top 10 U.S. imports from China ranked by market share in 2024 were: game consoles (86%), PC monitors (79%), toys (76%), smartphones (73%), lithium-ion batteries (70%), laptops (66%), plastics (38%), wireless headphones (14%), computer parts (9%), and medicine (7%). Trump’s tariffs have already caused a delay in Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders for this very reason. So, it seems fairly clear that the tech sector is likely to be hit harder by these tariffs than any other market.

Many American-made products contain Chinese components

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You might think that you can get around these tariffs by purchasing American-made products, but that might not be as simple as you think. Many items that are purportedly made in America are actually assembled in America using parts from all over the world–including China. These components still need to be imported and will drive up the manufacturer’s costs, thereby pressuring them to raise the price that they charge the consumer.
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One of the biggest issues in the tech sector is semiconductors. These conductive elements are essential in the manufacture of microchips used in virtually all computerized electronics. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, China exported $48.4 billion in semiconductor devices in 2024, making it the country’s 8th most exported product. This is even higher than the numbers that Citigroup reported in 2023, stating that China was “the world’s largest semiconductor market, representing 31.4% of worldwide final sales or U.S. $180 billion out of U.S. $574 billion in 2022.”
The U.S. has its own semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure, but it may struggle to keep up with the tech industry’s demands, and supply shortages during the pandemic have already shown how this can dramatically affect the price of electronics.
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Raw materials present another problem

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Another problem to consider is the raw materials that these components are made of. Even if tech companies in the U.S. were able to shift all of their manufacturing state-side, they would still need precious metals such as lithium to make them. According to Politico, “China accounts for 63% of the world’s rare earth mining, 85% of rare earth processing, and 92% of rare earth magnet production.”
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Aluminum, iron, silicon, copper, cobalt, and nickel are all important materials for constructing tech goods. However, lithium might strike a particularly brutal blow to tech prices, since the lithium-ion batteries that power most modern cordless electronics require the precious metal in order to be manufactured. 
China’s lithium reserves have recently risen to 16.5% of total global production after discovering ore-rich mines in the Xikunsong-Pan-Ganzi region in Tibet, as well as lithium salt lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This is pretty substantial when you compare it to the United States’ paltry 3%. Once again, limited domestic supply and high tariffs on imports can easily lead to a spike in prices, even when most of the components are manufactured in the U.S.
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Center for Open Science Unveils Collaborative Initiative to Replicate Health Research Findings

Science and Health

Charlottesville, VA – In a significant advancement for the field of health-related scientific research, the Center for Open Science (COS) has unveiled the Replicability Project: Health Behavior (RPHB). This initiative is aimed at reinforcing the corpus of evidence and bolstering the integrity of scientific methodologies within health research disciplines. Over the next few years, the RPHB will focus on evaluating the replicability of a wide array of quantitative health studies that have been published in the past decade, specifically targeting the years 2015 through 2024. By initiating this systematic examination, it is anticipated that the findings will yield crucial insights into the reliability and validity of existing research. The necessity of critically assessing research credibility has never been more pertinent. In the realms of health and medicine, the implications of scientific findings extend directly to public health policy and wellbeing. The RPHB aims to address this urgent need by conducting more than 60 replication studies of original empirical health behavior studies. These comprehensive replications will serve not only to validate existing findings but also play a vital role in shaping future health interventions and recommendations made by policymakers. This project is a testament to the commitment of COS to ensuring that the conclusions drawn from health research are based on solid and reproducible evidence. Tim Errington, the Senior Director of Research at COS, underscores the importance of replication in the landscape of scientific progress. He asserts that replication is not merely a procedural formality but a foundational component that drives advancement in health research. Errington highlights the pressing influence of health research findings on public well-being and policy decisions, stating that enhanced replication practices can lead to more informed and effective applications of science in public health efforts. This endorsement of transparency and rigor throughout the scientific process fosters a more credible research environment and ultimately acts as a catalyst for progress in the field. The RPHB will specifically target studies published in a selection of six influential academic journals that align with health communication and behavioral medicine. These journals include the Journal of Health Communication, Social Science & Medicine, Journal of Public Health, Applied Research in Quality of Life, American Journal of Health Promotion, and Annals of Behavioral Medicine. By focusing efforts on reputable publications, the project aims to assess studies that have had considerable implications on health research and public policy. Selected studies will be subjected to stringent replication protocols, ensuring thorough investigation into their original findings. Building on previous initiatives conducted by COS, which have explored the replicability of various scientific disciplines, the RPHB represents an extension of these efforts. Projects such as the Systematizing Confidence in Open Research and Evidence (SCORE), Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology, and Reproducibility Project: Psychology have collectively contributed to a wealth of data surrounding the claims and credibility of scientific research. By utilizing the lessons learned in these prior projects, the RPHB seeks to cultivate a more robust framework for replication in health-related research. The overarching goal is to establish a more transparent and accountable research ecosystem that will benefit all stakeholders involved. To promote engagement and participation within the research community, the RPHB provides two distinct avenues for researchers interested in contributing to the initiative. First, researchers are invited to conduct replications of original studies, utilizing either new empirical data or independent secondary data sources. This can enhance the scope and depth of the analyses and shed new light on previously established findings. Secondly, researchers can step into the roles of peer reviewers or editors, working collectively to ensure that the replication protocols uphold methodological rigor and transparency throughout the research process. All replication studies associated with the RPHB will leverage the Open Science Framework (OSF) as a foundational platform throughout their lifecycle. This integration allows for preregistration of studies, open sharing of research materials and data, and transparent reporting of outcomes. By embedding these principles of open science into the fabric of the project, COS aims to further enhance the reliability of its findings, thereby instilling greater confidence in the outcomes derived from health behavior research. Researchers who are enthusiastic about participating in the RPHB initiative, whether as replicators or in peer review capacities, are encouraged to express their interest without delay. As a project with a defined timeline, all replication studies must be completed by January 31, 2026. In addition to collaborative opportunities, the RPHB seeks to support qualified replication teams with resources and potential funding, thereby reducing barriers to participation and enhancing the quality of the research initiatives undertaken. The RPHB places great emphasis on the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration among researchers. By creating a communal research environment, the initiative aims not just to validate evidence but to inspire further innovation and refinement in health behavior studies. Such collaborative efforts have the potential to engage a wider audience of researchers and enthusiasts, thus expanding the impact of health research findings in meaningful ways. This initiative is a part of a broader transformation within the scientific community, wherein issues of replicability, reliability, and transparency are gaining priority. As public scrutiny of scientific claims increases, calls for reform in research practices have become more pressing. Projects like the RPHB are at the forefront of this movement, paving the way for a more rigorous, transparent, and accountable research culture. In conclusion, the Replicability Project: Health Behavior signifies a vital step towards enhancing the credibility of health research, which is critical for informing public health decisions and ultimately improving community health outcomes. By prioritizing replication and transparency, this initiative aims to lay a stronger foundation for future research, ensuring that the health behavior studies conducted today will yield trustworthy and actionable insights for tomorrow. — Subject of Research: Replicability in Health Behavior ResearchArticle Title: Center for Open Science Launches Replicability Project: Health BehaviorNews Publication Date: [Insert Date]Web References: [Insert relevant web links]References: [Insert any relevant references]Image Credits: [Insert image credits] Keywords: Replication, Health Behavior, Scientific Research, Open Science, Public Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Research Integrity, Transparency. Tags: Center for Open ScienceCOS health initiativeempirical health behavior studiesfuture health interventionshealth research integrityimplications for public health policyquantitative health research evaluationreliability of scientific findingsreplicability of health studiesReplicability Project Health Behaviorreplication studies in medicineresearch credibility assessment

Center for Open Science Unveils Collaborative Initiative to Replicate Health Research Findings

Science and Health

Charlottesville, VA – In a significant advancement for the field of health-related scientific research, the Center for Open Science (COS) has unveiled the Replicability Project: Health Behavior (RPHB). This initiative is aimed at reinforcing the corpus of evidence and bolstering the integrity of scientific methodologies within health research disciplines. Over the next few years, the RPHB will focus on evaluating the replicability of a wide array of quantitative health studies that have been published in the past decade, specifically targeting the years 2015 through 2024. By initiating this systematic examination, it is anticipated that the findings will yield crucial insights into the reliability and validity of existing research. The necessity of critically assessing research credibility has never been more pertinent. In the realms of health and medicine, the implications of scientific findings extend directly to public health policy and wellbeing. The RPHB aims to address this urgent need by conducting more than 60 replication studies of original empirical health behavior studies. These comprehensive replications will serve not only to validate existing findings but also play a vital role in shaping future health interventions and recommendations made by policymakers. This project is a testament to the commitment of COS to ensuring that the conclusions drawn from health research are based on solid and reproducible evidence. Tim Errington, the Senior Director of Research at COS, underscores the importance of replication in the landscape of scientific progress. He asserts that replication is not merely a procedural formality but a foundational component that drives advancement in health research. Errington highlights the pressing influence of health research findings on public well-being and policy decisions, stating that enhanced replication practices can lead to more informed and effective applications of science in public health efforts. This endorsement of transparency and rigor throughout the scientific process fosters a more credible research environment and ultimately acts as a catalyst for progress in the field. The RPHB will specifically target studies published in a selection of six influential academic journals that align with health communication and behavioral medicine. These journals include the Journal of Health Communication, Social Science & Medicine, Journal of Public Health, Applied Research in Quality of Life, American Journal of Health Promotion, and Annals of Behavioral Medicine. By focusing efforts on reputable publications, the project aims to assess studies that have had considerable implications on health research and public policy. Selected studies will be subjected to stringent replication protocols, ensuring thorough investigation into their original findings. Building on previous initiatives conducted by COS, which have explored the replicability of various scientific disciplines, the RPHB represents an extension of these efforts. Projects such as the Systematizing Confidence in Open Research and Evidence (SCORE), Reproducibility Project: Cancer Biology, and Reproducibility Project: Psychology have collectively contributed to a wealth of data surrounding the claims and credibility of scientific research. By utilizing the lessons learned in these prior projects, the RPHB seeks to cultivate a more robust framework for replication in health-related research. The overarching goal is to establish a more transparent and accountable research ecosystem that will benefit all stakeholders involved. To promote engagement and participation within the research community, the RPHB provides two distinct avenues for researchers interested in contributing to the initiative. First, researchers are invited to conduct replications of original studies, utilizing either new empirical data or independent secondary data sources. This can enhance the scope and depth of the analyses and shed new light on previously established findings. Secondly, researchers can step into the roles of peer reviewers or editors, working collectively to ensure that the replication protocols uphold methodological rigor and transparency throughout the research process. All replication studies associated with the RPHB will leverage the Open Science Framework (OSF) as a foundational platform throughout their lifecycle. This integration allows for preregistration of studies, open sharing of research materials and data, and transparent reporting of outcomes. By embedding these principles of open science into the fabric of the project, COS aims to further enhance the reliability of its findings, thereby instilling greater confidence in the outcomes derived from health behavior research. Researchers who are enthusiastic about participating in the RPHB initiative, whether as replicators or in peer review capacities, are encouraged to express their interest without delay. As a project with a defined timeline, all replication studies must be completed by January 31, 2026. In addition to collaborative opportunities, the RPHB seeks to support qualified replication teams with resources and potential funding, thereby reducing barriers to participation and enhancing the quality of the research initiatives undertaken. The RPHB places great emphasis on the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration among researchers. By creating a communal research environment, the initiative aims not just to validate evidence but to inspire further innovation and refinement in health behavior studies. Such collaborative efforts have the potential to engage a wider audience of researchers and enthusiasts, thus expanding the impact of health research findings in meaningful ways. This initiative is a part of a broader transformation within the scientific community, wherein issues of replicability, reliability, and transparency are gaining priority. As public scrutiny of scientific claims increases, calls for reform in research practices have become more pressing. Projects like the RPHB are at the forefront of this movement, paving the way for a more rigorous, transparent, and accountable research culture. In conclusion, the Replicability Project: Health Behavior signifies a vital step towards enhancing the credibility of health research, which is critical for informing public health decisions and ultimately improving community health outcomes. By prioritizing replication and transparency, this initiative aims to lay a stronger foundation for future research, ensuring that the health behavior studies conducted today will yield trustworthy and actionable insights for tomorrow. — Subject of Research: Replicability in Health Behavior ResearchArticle Title: Center for Open Science Launches Replicability Project: Health BehaviorNews Publication Date: [Insert Date]Web References: [Insert relevant web links]References: [Insert any relevant references]Image Credits: [Insert image credits] Keywords: Replication, Health Behavior, Scientific Research, Open Science, Public Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Research Integrity, Transparency. Tags: Center for Open ScienceCOS health initiativeempirical health behavior studiesfuture health interventionshealth research integrityimplications for public health policyquantitative health research evaluationreliability of scientific findingsreplicability of health studiesReplicability Project Health Behaviorreplication studies in medicineresearch credibility assessment

Pearl Beach Easter Book Fair on again

Arts & Culture, Books

Celebrating 48 years this year, the Pearl Beach Easter Saturday Book Fair promises to be the best ever from 9am-4pm in the Memorial Hall on April 19. 

The annual Book Fair is a significant event in the Pearl Beach yearly calendar and participants are encouraged to get in early to snap up a book bargain.

Don’t miss out on finding that special book whether it be a novel, biography, children’s book or specialist art or house and garden book.

Also on offer will be puzzle books, vinyl records and DVDs. 

There is always a surprise or two among the thousands of titles of pre-loved books..

Book Fair co-ordinator Alison Phillips said she was delighted with the standard and quality of books donated, and invited locals and visitors to come along and have some fun searching for that special book.

The Back Deck Café will be open and there will be an Easter raffle and a Homemade by Locals stall situated at the front of the Memorial Hall selling quality and unusual handmade items.  

Entry is free and cash or credit cards will be accepted for purchases and raffle tickets with a chance to win an Easter hamper.

Proceeds from the Book Fair and raffle will go toward Pearl Beach initiatives and the Memorial Hall upkeep and maintenance.

Pearl Beach Artists will also run an Art Fair in the Pearl Beach Arboretum from 10am-4pm with art, jewellery and craft products made by local artisans.

Lunch will be available and art installations for the PBEAT exhibition will be available for viewing.