Monthly Archives: October 2025

Overall Positive: Tim Berners-Lee Talks About the Web’s Current State

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Tim Berners-Lee in a rack at the CERN computer center

Maximilian Bryce/CERN

Tim Berners-Lee holds a comprehensive map of the internet on a single page, featuring around 100 blocks linked by various arrows. These blocks encompass blogs, podcasts, group messages, and abstract themes like creativity, collaboration, and clickbait, providing a unique depiction of the digital realm from the innovator of the World Wide Web.

“Most of them are good,” he remarked during our conversation at New Scientist‘s London office, reflecting on the web’s successes and failures. This map serves as a guide for others and a reminder that only a small fraction of the Internet is deemed detrimental to society. The top-left quadrant illustrates Berners-Lee’s concerns, with six blocks marked “Harmful,” including names like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

In the last 35 years, Berners-Lee’s creation has evolved from just one user (himself) to approximately 5.5 billion users, constituting about 70% of the global population. It has transformed communication and shopping, making modern life unimaginable without it. However, the list of emerging challenges continues to expand.

Issues like misinformation, polarization, and election interference have become staples of online discourse, contrasting sharply with Berners-Lee’s vision of a collaborative utopia. In his memoir, This is for Everyone, he reflects, “In the early days of the web, joy and wonder were abundant, but today’s online experience can induce just as much anxiety.”

It’s natural for the web’s architect to feel a sense of disappointment regarding humanity’s use of his creation, yet he remains hopeful for the future of the internet. As one of the foremost technology visionaries (with a plethora of accolades and honors), he shares insights on what went awry and how he envisions solutions.

Invention of the Web

The World Wide Web’s origin story hinges on being at the right place and time. In the late 1980s, Berners-Lee was part of the computing and networking sector at a U.S. company. At CERN, the particle physics lab near Geneva, Switzerland, he pondered over better document management methods.

Most systems forced users into rigid organizational structures and strict hierarchies. Berners-Lee envisioned a more flexible approach, permitting users to link documents freely. Hyperlinks existed for internal references, and the Internet was already available for file sharing—why not merge the two concepts? This simple yet transformative idea birthed the World Wide Web.

Although Berners-Lee had harbored the idea since 1989, he ultimately convinced his supportive supervisors to let him pursue it fully. Within months, he created a surge of developments that led to HTML—a programming language for web pages, HTTP—the protocol for transferring them, and the URL, the means to locate them. The final code consisted of just 9,555 lines, marking the web’s emergence by year’s end.The web was born.

“CERN was an extraordinary place to innovate the web,” he states. “Individuals from around the world, driven by a genuine need to communicate and document their experiences, came together there.”

The inaugural website was hosted on Berners-Lee’s work computer, adorned with a “Do Not Turn Off” sign and instructions for engaging with the web. More web servers emerged, leading to exponential growth: “In the first year, it grew tenfold; in the second year, another tenfold; and by the third, yet another tenfold.” He recalls, “Even then, I sensed we were onto something significant.”

Initially, most web pages were crafted by academics and developers, but soon, everyone began using them to share a wide array of content. Within a decade, the landscape blossomed into millions of websites, hundreds of millions of users, and the inevitable rise of dot-com ventures.

The Spice Girls with their website in 1997.

David Corio/Redferns

Despite the web’s immense potential for profit, Berners-Lee believed it should remain free and open to realize its full capabilities. This was a challenge, as CERN had legitimate grounds to claim royalties on the software being developed. Berners-Lee advocated for his superiors to release this technology openly, and by 1993, after much negotiation, the comprehensive source code of the Web was made available, complete with a disclaimer: CERN relinquishes all intellectual property rights to this code—the web will be royalty-free forever.

Early Days

For its initial years, the web flourished. Although there was a notorious stock market crash at the turn of the millennium, largely driven by speculative venture capital rather than the web itself, piracy was rampant, and malware was ever-present, the web was fundamentally open, free, and enjoyable. “People loved the web; they were simply happy,” Berners-Lee recounted in his memoir.

He captured the essence of this era, believing the web held the potential to foster new forms of collaboration among people. He coined the term “intercreativity” to describe the creative synergy of groups rather than individuals. Wikipedia, with around 65 million English pages edited by 15 million contributors, exemplifies what he envisioned for the web. He notably positions it on his map and describes it as “probably the best single example” of his aspirations.

However, the optimistic phase of the web was not to extend indefinitely. For Berners-Lee, the turning point came in 2016, marked by the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump. “At that moment, discussions arose about how social media could be manipulated to influence voters against their interests. In essence, the web became an instrument of manipulation driven by larger entities,” he shared.

Traditionally, political movements communicated their messages to the public openly, allowing for critique and discussion. However, by the mid-2010s, social media enabled “narrowcasting,” as Berners-Lee describes it, allowing political messages to be tailored into numerous versions for various audiences. This complicates tracking who communicated what and makes it harder to counter misinformation.

The extent of this microtargeting’s impact on elections remains debated. Numerous studies have tried to quantify how such messaging alters public opinion and voting behavior, generally uncovering only modest effects. Regardless, these trends contribute to Berners-Lee’s broader concerns about social media.

He emphasized that social media platforms are incentivized to maintain user engagement, which leads to the creation of “addictive” algorithms. “People are naturally drawn to things that evoke anger,” he states. “When social media feeds users misinformation, it’s more likely to garner clicks and ensnare users longer.”

Quoting author Yuval Noah Harari, he stipulated that creators of “harmful” algorithms should likewise be held accountable for their recommendations. “It’s particularly essential to undermine systems designed to be addictive,” Berners-Lee argues. He admits that imposing restrictions contradicts his usual free and open philosophy, viewing it as a last resort. Social media can unify individuals and disseminate ideas, yet it also poses unique risks that warrant change, as he specifies in his latest book. “This must evolve somehow.”

Nonetheless, he harbors an optimistic view of the web’s potential trajectory. While social media, despite its captivating nature, represents merely a fragment of the internet landscape, Berners-Lee contends that addressing these issues should be part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing the web overall, with a focus on reclaiming digital sovereignty.

A Plan for Universal Web Access

To further this goal, Berners-Lee has dedicated the last decade to developing a new framework reinstating control with the individual. Presently, disparate internet platforms manage personal data. For instance, it’s challenging to share a video from Snapchat on Facebook or a post from LinkedIn to Instagram—the user can create this content, yet each company retains ownership.

Berners-Lee’s concept advocates for consolidating data into a singular data repository known as a pod (short for “personal online data store”), which the user controls, rather than having information dispersed across various platforms. This pod can hold everything from family images to medical records, with users determining what to share. This isn’t merely theoretical; he co-founded a company, Inrupt, that aims to bring this vision to life.

Berners-Lee using an early version of website and web browser invented at CERN in 1994

CERN

He is particularly enthusiastic about merging data wallets with artificial intelligence. For example, when searching for running shoes, current AI chatbots require detailed guidance to offer suitable recommendations. However, if an AI accesses a user’s data wallet, it can understand all past measurements, training history, and potentially spending behavior, leading to more accurate suggestions.

Berners-Lee advocates that AI should serve users, not large tech corporations. His goal isn’t to create individual AIs but to establish safeguards within software. Data wallets are part of the solution, along with an idea that AI should adhere to a kind of digital Hippocratic oath to avoid causing harm. He envisions AI acting as “your personal assistant,” providing tailored support.

While recommending appropriate running shoes may not address the web’s most pressing challenges, Berners-Lee possesses an exceptional ability to envision potential before others. Data wallets might seem mundane today, yet just decades ago, hyperlink-based document management systems were equally obscure. His passion for bettering the world drives him, as he believes enhancing the data ecosystem is crucial to achieving that goal.

All these developments suggest Berners-Lee envisions a fundamental shift for the web. He believes we must transition from an “attention economy,” dominated by competing clicks, to an “intention economy,” where users express their needs and companies—and AI—strive to fulfill them. “This is more empowering for the individual,” he asserts.

Such a transformation could redistribute power from tech giants to users. Some might think such a reversal unlikely, especially with the ongoing trends of tech dominance and the pervasive “doomscrolling” culture. However, Berners-Lee has a proven history of spotting opportunities others miss, and ultimately, he is the architect of the roadmap.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient Crayons Provide Insights into Neanderthal Art Creation

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Neanderthals may have used ocher crayons to draw on cave walls

Golodenkov/Getty Images

A fascinating yellow crayon discovered in Crimea remains sharp after over 40,000 years, indicating that marking objects was a component of Neanderthal culture. This finding serves as the most compelling evidence so far that certain Neanderthal groups utilized colored pigments symbolically, a behavior previously believed to be exclusive to humans.

“It’s truly remarkable. It expands our understanding of the symbolic application of color,” states Emma Pomeroy from the University of Cambridge, who was not part of the study.

The use of ocher, an iron-rich mineral displaying red, yellow, and orange shades, has deep roots in Europe and Africa, reaching back at least 400,000 years. Ocher fragments have been found in numerous Neanderthal sites and seem to have been utilized for practical activities like tanning skins and igniting fires, sometimes being applied to seashell beads.

Neanderthals might have also decorated their bodies, clothing, and surfaces with ocher, although such marks have long since vanished. To delve deeper, Francesco d’Errico and fellow researchers from the University of Bordeaux in France undertook a thorough examination of ocher fragments from Neanderthal sites in Crimea, Ukraine. By analyzing how Neanderthals modified these fragments and examining their wear using a microscope, they gained insights into their usage.

The most intriguing of these ocher artifacts, dating back at least 42,000 years, was yellow and shaped like a crayon, measuring about 5 to 6 centimeters long. In-depth analysis revealed that the tip had been worn down through use and then resharpened, suggesting that it was regularly reused as a marking implement.

“This is a tool that has been refined and reshaped multiple times, making it quite unique,” remarks D’Errico. “It’s not merely a standard crayon; it exists as a crayon because of its use as such. It may have been utilized for drawing lines on skin or stone, reflecting artistic endeavors.”

Ocher fragment tip utilized as a crayon and subsequently sharpened

D’Errico et al., Sci. Advances 11, eadx4722

April Nowell, a professor at Victoria University in Canada who was not part of the study, concurs. “I only retain the dot on the crayon when I aim to create precise lines or designs,” she comments.

The research team also uncovered an even older broken crayon made from red ocher, potentially as old as 70,000 years.

“A small piece of ocher can convey a wealth of information,” says Pomeroy. “It connects with our shared humanity in a deeply emotional way.”

This Crimean crayon discovery contributes to a growing array of evidence of Neanderthal artistic capacity, which includes a 57,000-year-old finger carving found on a cave wall in France, and a mysterious circle created from stalagmites 175,000 years ago in another French cave.

These findings support the notion that symbolic behavior is not merely a recent development but has deep-seated roots in our evolutionary trajectory. “The cognitive capabilities associated with symbolic actions were likely present in our last common ancestor, encompassing Homo sapiens, Denisovans, and Neanderthals over 700,000 years ago,” notes Nowell.

Ancient caves, the origins of humanity: Northern Spain

Explore some of the oldest cave paintings in this picturesque area of northern Spain. Journey back 40,000 years to discover how our ancestors lived, created, and built their lives. From ancient Paleolithic art to stunning geological formations, every cave tells a distinctive and timeless narrative.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Analog Computers May Train AI 1,000 Times Faster While Consuming Less Energy

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Analog computers use less energy compared to digital computers

Metamol Works/Getty Images

Analog computers that can swiftly resolve the primary types of equations essential for training artificial intelligence models may offer a viable solution to the growing energy demands of data centers spurred by the AI revolution.

Devices like laptops and smartphones are known as digital computers because they handle data in binary form (0s and 1s) and can be programmed for various tasks. Conversely, analog computers are generally crafted to tackle specific problems, using continuously variable quantities like electrical resistance rather than discrete binary values.

While analog computers excel in terms of speed and energy efficiency, they have historically lagged in accuracy compared to their digital counterparts. Recently, Zhong Sun and his team at Peking University in China developed two analog chips that work collaboratively to solve matrix equations accurately—crucial for data transmission, large-scale scientific simulations, and AI model training.

The first chip generates low-precision outputs for matrix computations at high speed, while the second chip refines these outputs through an iterative improvement algorithm to assess and minimize the error rate of the initial results. Sun noted that the first chip produced results with a 1% error rate, but after three iterations with the second chip, this rate dropped to 0.0000001%, comparable to the accuracy found in conventional digital calculations.

Currently, the researchers have successfully designed a chip capable of solving 16 × 16 matrices, which equates to handling 256 variables, sufficient for addressing smaller problems. However, Sun acknowledges that addressing the complexities of today’s large-scale AI models will necessitate substantially larger circuits, potentially scaling up to 1 million by 1 million.

A unique advantage of analog chips is their ability to handle larger matrices without increased solving time, unlike digital chips, whose solving complexity rises exponentially with matrix size. This translates to a 32 x 32 analog chip outperforming the Nvidia H100 GPU, a leading chip for AI training.

Theoretically, further scaling could yield throughput up to 1,000 times greater than digital alternatives like GPUs while consuming 100 times less energy, according to Sun. However, he cautions that practical applications may exceed the circuit’s limited capabilities, limiting the perceived benefits.

“This is merely a speed comparison; your specific challenges may differ in real-world scenarios,” Sun explains. “Our chip is designed exclusively for matrix computations. If these computations dominate your tasks, the acceleration will be substantial; otherwise, the benefits may be constrained.”

Sun suggests that the most realistic outcome may be the creation of hybrid chips that incorporate some analog circuitry alongside GPUs to tackle specific problem areas, although this development might still be years away.

James Millen, a professor at King’s College London, emphasizes that matrix calculations are pivotal in AI model training, indicating that analog computing has the potential to make a significant impact.

“The contemporary landscape is dominated by digital computers. These remarkable machines are universal, capable of tackling any computation, yet not necessarily with optimal efficiency or speed,” Millen states. “Analog computers excel in performing specific tasks, making them exceptionally fast and efficient. In this research, we leverage analog computing chips to enhance matrix inversion processes—essential for training certain AI models. Improving this efficiency could help mitigate the substantial energy demands accompanying our expanding reliance on AI.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Nvidia Shatters Records as First $5 Trillion Company Amid Stock Market and AI Surge

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Nvidia has officially become the first company in the world to achieve a $5 trillion valuation, just three months after it made history by surpassing the $4 trillion market cap milestone.

In comparison, Nvidia’s valuation exceeds the GDPs of India, Japan, and the United Kingdom, as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

As the U.S. stock market opened on Wednesday, Nvidia’s stock surged to $207.86, boasting 24.3 billion outstanding shares and a market cap of $5.05 trillion. The company’s significant demand for chips, which are essential for advanced artificial intelligence products and software, has played a crucial role in its rapid stock price increase since early 2023.

This week, the overall U.S. stock market has reached several record highs, driven by increased investment in artificial intelligence.

On Tuesday, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced a massive $500 billion chip order. The company also disclosed a partnership with Uber focused on robotaxis and a $1 billion collaboration with Nokia to advance 6G technology. Furthermore, Nvidia is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop seven new AI supercomputers.

Last month, Nvidia revealed plans to invest $100 billion in OpenAI, part of a partnership that will enhance the computing resources for users of the ChatGPT AI chatbot with at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia AI data centers.

In August, Huang mentioned that Nvidia was discussing with the Trump administration the development of new computer chips tailored for China. Donald Trump stated on Air Force One that he would engage in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding Nvidia chips on Thursday.

Reaching this new milestone highlights the impact of the artificial intelligence boom, deemed one of the most significant technological shifts since Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone 18 years ago. Apple capitalized on the iPhone’s success and became the first publicly traded company to hit a $1 trillion valuation, then $2 trillion, and later $3 trillion.

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However, there are growing worries over a potential AI bubble, with Bank of England officials cautioning earlier this month about the increasing risk that tech stocks, buoyed by the AI surge, could face a downturn. The head of the IMF has echoed similar concerns.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Perfect Timing for Firefox: Developing an AI Browser and the Future of the Web

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Need an assistant for your online activities? Several major artificial intelligence companies have moved away from chatbots like ChatGPT and are now focusing on new browsers with deep AI integration. These could take the form of agents who shop for you or ubiquitous chatbots that follow you, summarizing what you’re looking at, looking up related information, and answering related questions.

In the last week alone, OpenAI released the ChatGPT Atlas browser, while Microsoft showcased Edge’s new Copilot mode, both heavily utilizing chatbots. In early October, Perplexity made its Comet browser available for free. Mid-September saw Google rolling out Chrome with Gemini, integrating its AI assistant into the world’s most popular browser.

Following these releases, I spoke with Firefox General Manager Anthony Enzor-DeMeo to discuss whether AI-first browsers will gain traction, if Firefox will evolve to be fully AI-driven, and how user privacy expectations may change in this new era of personalized, agent-driven browsing.

Guardian: Have you tried ChatGPT Atlas or other AI browsers? I’m curious what you think about them.

Anthony Enzor-DeMeo: Yes, I’ve tried Atlas, Comet, and other competing products. What do I think about them? It’s a fascinating question: What do users want to see? Today, users typically go to Google, perform a search, and view various results. Atlas seems to be transitioning towards providing direct answers.

Guardian: Would you want that as a user?

Enzor-DeMeo: I prefer knowing where the AI derives its answers. References are important, and Perplexity’s Comet provides them. I believe that’s a positive development for the internet.

Guardian: How do you envision the future of the web? Is search evolving into a chat interface instead of relying solely on links?

Enzor-DeMeo: I’m concerned that access to content on the web may become more expensive. The internet has traditionally been free, mostly supported by advertising, though some sites do have subscriptions. I’m particularly interested in how access to content might shrink behind paywalls while aiming for a free and open internet. AI may not be immediately profitable, yet we have to guard against a shift towards a more closed internet.

Guardian: Do you anticipate Firefox releasing an AI-integrated or agent-like browser similar to Perplexity Comet or Atlas?

Enzor-DeMeo: Our focus remains on being the best browser available. With 200 million users, we need to encourage people to choose us over default options. We closely monitor user preferences regarding AI features, which are gradually introduced. Importantly, users retain control; they can disable features they do not wish to use.

Guardian: Do you think AI browsers will become popular or remain niche tools?

Enzor-DeMeo: Currently, paid AI usage is about 3% globally, so it’s premature to deem it fully mainstream. However, I believe AI is here to stay. The forthcoming years will likely see greater distribution and trial and error as we discover effective revenue models that users are willing to pay for. This varies widely by country and region, so the next phase of the internet presents uncertainties.

Guardian: What AI partnerships is Firefox considering?

Enzor-DeMeo: We recently launched Perplexity, akin to a search partnership agreement. While Google search is our default, users have access to 50 other search engines, providing them with options.

Guardian: Given your valuable partnership with Google, what financial significance does the Perplexity partnership hold?

Enzor-DeMeo: I’m unable to share specific details.

Guardian: Firefox has established its reputation on user privacy. How do you reconcile increasing demands for personalization, which requires more data, with AI-assisted browsing?

Enzor-DeMeo: Browsers inherently have a lot of user context. Companies are developing AI browsers to leverage this data for enhanced personalization and targeted ads. Mozilla will continue to honor users’ choices. If you prefer not to store data, that’s entirely valid. Users aren’t required to log in and can enjoy completely private browsing. If it results in less personalized AI, that’s acceptable. Ultimately, the choice lies with users.

Guardian: Do you think users anticipate sacrificing privacy for personalization?

Enzor-DeMeo: We’ve observed a generational divide. Younger cohorts prioritize value exchange—will sharing more information lead to a more tailored experience? In a landscape with numerous apps and social media, this expectation has emerged. However, perspectives vary between generations; Millennials often value choice, while Gen Xers prioritize privacy. Many Gen Z users emphasize personalization and choice.

Guardian: What are your thoughts on the recent court decision regarding Google’s monopoly?

Enzor-DeMeo: The judge acknowledged the influx of competition entering the market. He deliberately avoided delving into the browser engine domain. We support search competition but not at the cost of independent browsers. The ruling allows us to keep receiving compensation while monitoring market evolution over the next few years. The intersection of search and AI remains uncertain, and a prudent stance is to observe how these developments unfold.

Guardian: Firefox’s market share has been steadily declining over the past decade; what are your realistic goals for user growth in the coming years?

Enzor-DeMeo: Every user must decide to download and use Firefox. We’re proud to serve 200 million users. I believe that AI presents us with significant growth opportunities. We want to provide choices rather than lock users into a single solution, fostering diverse growth possibilities for us.

Source: www.theguardian.com

How President Trump’s White House is Leveraging Video Game Memes for ICE Recruitment

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JJust days after Microsoft unveiled Halo: Campaign Evolved, the anticipated installment in the renowned sci-fi franchise “White House” I posted an intriguing photo on X. The image, which seemingly originated from AI, depicts President Donald Trump clad in the armor of Halo’s legendary hero Master Chief, saluting in front of an American flag that has several stars missing. In his left hand, he holds an energy sword, a weapon associated with Halo’s alien adversaries. This was shared in response to a tweet from U.S. gaming retailer GameStop, with accompanying text reading “Power to the Players,” referencing the store’s slogan.

GameStop and the White House exchanged a few more Halo memes, and on October 27, the official Department of Homeland Security X account got involved as well. They utilized visuals from Halo showcasing soldiers from a futuristic realm to encourage enlistment in the increasingly militarized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The accompanying message, “Stop the Flood,” suggests a troubling analogy between America’s immigrant community and the parasitic aliens that Master Chief battles.

When I sought an official comment on this post, White House Deputy Press Secretary Khush Desai stated in an email: “Another war has concluded on President Trump’s watch. There’s only one leader who is dedicated to empowering his players, and that leader is Donald J. Trump.” “That’s why he enjoys significant support from the American public and gamers alike.” (Microsoft did not respond to requests for comment.)




The White House has shared an image of Donald Trump as Master Chief from the game Halo. Photo: @WhiteHouse on X

Though this string of video game imagery may seem bizarre, Trump and his associates have been integrating gamer culture for almost a decade. Since his initial election, Trump has been appealing to gamers, a constituency that includes a significant segment of disenchanted youth. Media executive Steve Bannon joined the campaign in August 2016, acting as chief strategist and senior advisor, bringing extensive insight into video game culture and the online behavior of its most ardent enthusiasts.

Bannon had previously collaborated with the Hong Kong firm Internet Gaming Entertainment to secure funding. This firm paid low wages to Chinese laborers to collect gold in the multiplayer game World of Warcraft. According to Joshua Greene’s book on Bannon: (The Devil’s Deal: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Assault on the Presidency), Bannon recognized, “These rootless white men wield immense influence.” In 2014, Bannon observed GamerGate, a murky online force in the dark recesses of the web, consistently targeting women and other marginalized individuals in the gaming industry. He noted that the movement’s actions prompted tangible events such as sustained harassment and doxxing (the public release of personal data).

Upon joining the Trump campaign, Bannon utilized his grasp of gamer culture to propel Trump into new political realms. “You can mobilize that force. They are engaging via platforms like Gamergate and transitioning into politics and Trump,” Bannon informed Greene.

Their ranks were primed for meme warfare at a moment’s notice, and indeed, they were. Throughout the campaign, Trump’s meme battalion monitored and disseminated every move of then-candidate Hillary Clinton. They circulated fabricated health-related claims using the hashtag #HillaryHealth. Pro-Trump memes were frequently produced based on internet humor and niche pop culture references. It was perhaps owing to this brigade that Trump secured victory over Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

Following his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Trump turned to his social media platform, Truth Social, where he persistently critiqued Biden and the Democratic Party throughout Biden’s four-year tenure. He continued to attract gamers and the online reactionary right until he regained the presidency. The second Trump administration remains reliant on the strategies and framework established by online agitators (or trolls), but this time, there is one crucial difference: Elon Musk.




The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s X post features Halo visuals as part of an ICE recruitment campaign. Photo: @DHSgov on X

The South African entrepreneur acquired Twitter in October 2022 and swiftly reinstated Trump’s banned account alongside many others. Musk, who frequently engages with gamer culture and shares memes on his platform, has further facilitated this trend.

Since President Trump assumed office in January, the White House and various federal agencies have begun disseminating memes. Last month, both the official Department of Homeland Security X account and the official White House TikTok account released a video of an ICE raid set to Pokémon theme music, interspersed with arcs from the animated series and clips of agents making arrests, accompanied by the slogan, “We’ve got to catch them all.” Following this, The Pokémon Company International informed the BBC that “permission was not granted to use our intellectual property.” Nonetheless, the video remains available as of this writing.

The video game industry has often remained silent about the reactionary politics and ideology that are prevalent in its community. For the millions of Americans engaged in gaming, who are disheartened by an administration that discourages pregnant individuals from taking Tylenol and promotes the narrative that immigrants are parasites while suggesting that the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement produces incompetent workers, it is deeply frustrating to witness these events. As the administration increasingly embraces video game iconography and internet memes, video game companies will inevitably find themselves, whether they like it or not, linked to the polarizing and reactionary politics of the right.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Struggling to Focus After a Poor Night’s Sleep? Blame Your Overworked Mind!

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Are you having trouble focusing? It might be that your brain needs a wash.

Jenny Evans/Getty Images

We all recognize that lack of sleep hampers our concentration, but what’s the reason behind it? It may be that your brain is temporarily losing focus as it attempts to refresh itself.

During sleep, the brain undergoes a cleansing process where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulates into the organs and drains out at the base of the brain. This cycle helps eliminate the metabolic waste that builds up during waking hours. If this doesn’t happen, brain cells could be harmed.

Laura Lewis and her team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology theorized that the drop in alertness often seen after insufficient sleep could stem from the brain trying to make up for lost time while awake.

To test this theory, researchers enlisted 26 participants aged between 19 and 40 to first ensure they were well-rested. Two weeks later, they were kept awake overnight in a lab setting.

In both instances, the researchers recorded participants’ brain activity using MRI scans the next morning while they performed two specific tasks. During these tasks, participants needed to press a button every time they heard a particular sound or saw a cross on the screen transform into a square. This occurred many times over a span of 12 minutes.

As anticipated, participants struggled to hit the button significantly more often when sleep-deprived compared to when they were well-rested. This indicates that lack of sleep diminishes concentration capacity.

Notably, the analysis of the brain scans revealed that participants lost focus approximately two seconds before the CSF was expelled from the base of the brain. Additionally, the CSF was reabsorbed into the brain about one second after attention was regained.

“Think of the brain-cleansing process like a washing machine: you fill it with water, let it agitate, and then drain it. The loss of attention corresponds to the swirling phase,” Lewis explains.

The results imply that if the brain is unable to cleanse itself during sleep, it compensates while you’re awake, thus impairing concentration, according to Lewis. “If this wave of fluid flow doesn’t occur, because you were awake the entire night, your brain starts sneaking in this process during the day, but it comes at the price of your focus.”

While the exact reason for how this cleaning process affects attention remains unclear, pinpointing the specific brain circuits involved may help uncover strategies to mitigate the cognitive impacts of sleep deprivation, Lewis states.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

AFP Creates AI Tool to Decode Gen Z Slang Amid Concerns Over ‘Criminal Influencers’ Targeting Young Women

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The Australian Federal Police is set to create an AI tool designed to understand Gen Z and Alpha slang and emojis as part of its efforts to combat sadistic online exploiters and “criminal influencers”.

During a speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday, AFP Commissioner Chrissy Barrett highlighted the increasing presence of online criminal networks predominantly led by boys and men who target vulnerable teenage and pre-teen girls.

The police chief detailed how these individuals, mainly from English-speaking nations, groom their victims, coercing them into “engaging in severe acts of violence against themselves, their siblings, other individuals, and even their pets”.

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“They act as criminal influencers, driven by chaos and the desire to inflict harm, with most of their victims being teenagers, specifically teenage girls,” she remarked, addressing parents and guardians.

“The motivations behind these networks are not financial or sexual in nature; they are purely for entertainment, fun, or gaining online popularity, often without an understanding of the repercussions.”

“This perverse form of gamification encourages the production of increasingly extreme and depraved content, allowing offenders to elevate their status within the group.

“In some instances, these perpetrators will swap victims much like in online gaming scenarios.”

The Federal Police confirmed they have identified 59 suspects involved in these networks, taking action against an undisclosed number of them, all aged between 17 and 20.

Barrett mentioned that AFP is collaborating with Microsoft to create artificial intelligence tools capable of “interpreting emojis and Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang in encrypted communications and chat groups to detect sadistic online exploitation.”

“This prototype is intended to assist our teams in swiftly removing children from dangerous situations,” she stated in a pre-released version of her speech.

“While it may feel like an endless struggle to safeguard children, I urge parents and caregivers to understand they are not alone and that there are straightforward steps they can take.”

Barrett also addressed the radicalization of youth, noting that four young individuals faced terrorism-related charges this year due to 10 investigations.

Since 2020, a total of 48 youths aged between 12 and 17 have been investigated for suspected terrorist activities, resulting in 25 charges.

She pointed out that 54% had a religious motivation, 22% had an ideological motivation, 11% had a mixed or unclear ideology, and 13% had undetermined motives.

In one notable case from 2022, a 14-year-old was investigated after posting on Snapchat about violent extremism, Barrett revealed.

This 14-year-old boy had access to firearms and explosives, with a tip-off suggesting he was plotting a school shooting in Australia.

During his arrest, police discovered a tactical vest, a bulletproof helmet, and “extremist-style” drawings.

Barrett’s address also referred to the AFP’s ongoing investigation into the arson at the Adas Israel synagogue, asserting that the suspect is linked to several incendiary bombings targeting tobacco shops.

“This individual represents a national security threat to our nation,” she stated.

“Among all the criminals who pose a threat to Australia, he is my primary concern, and I have directed my most seasoned investigators to focus on him.”

Barrett’s recent appointment as AFP’s chief, succeeding the retiring Reece Kershaw, suggests a shift in the police’s mission.

The AFP is now mandated to “protect Australia and its future from both domestic and global security threats,” implying increased international actions and operations.

Barrett mentioned the AFP’s collaboration with Colombian law enforcement, highlighting that AFP personnel were dispatched to a remote area of the Colombian jungle to “deliberately dismantle a cocaine manufacturing facility.”

“The AFP is determined to prevent criminal organizations from targeting Australia and will persist in collaborating with local law enforcement to confront criminals in our own vicinity when legally feasible,” she said.

“In recent years, AFP and Colombian cooperation has led to the seizure of over eight tonnes of cocaine.”

In partnership with Colombian authorities, a cache of arms and explosives from narco-terrorist groups, employed in assaults on police and military personnel, was also confiscated.

Barrett stated that AFP assisted in the seizure of 295 military grenades, 200 detonators, firearms, and ammunition.




Source: www.theguardian.com

Founder Discusses Wikipedia’s Use of AI

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Artificial intelligence (AI) systems that drive today’s technologies, from chatbots to search engines, predominantly rely on a single source: Wikipedia. With over 7 million articles in English and a policy for free use, this platform is a goldmine of high-quality training data.

But will online encyclopedias adopt AI technology? In the BBC Science Focus instant genius podcast, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales expressed optimism about using AI for editing and error detection, though he remains uncertain about its role in drafting complete articles.

“What excites me about AI is its potential to aid the Wikipedia community,” Wales remarked.










Wales elaborated on various methods he’s exploring, mentioning a tool designed to analyze brief Wikipedia entries and their sources to pinpoint missing information and unsupported claims. “I’ve found that I’m quite adept at it,” he noted.

He also emphasized that this experimentation is not limited to his own efforts. The Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, has a committed machine learning team working on developing valuable AI tools for the Wikipedia community.

“Many individuals are engaged in maintaining Wikipedia,” Wales stated. “[These tools] represent an exciting initiative that enhances quality.”

When queried about the prospect of AI drafting Wikipedia entries soon, Wales was skeptical.

“I’m not ruling it out completely, but it seems unlikely in the short term. From a Wikipedia perspective, the current models still fall short.”

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales made the first edit on the site’s homepage on January 15, 2001. Today, the encyclopedia boasts over 7 million articles in English alone. – Credit: Getty

One area where Wikipedia’s founders see potential for AI is in mitigating bias within the encyclopedia itself. For instance, research indicates that 20 percent of biographies on Wikipedia feature women, and these entries often skimp on coverage by focusing more on family, relationships, or appearance.

In light of these statistics, Wales proposed, “It’s feasible to envision AI continuously scanning Wikipedia for certain types of bias and alerting us to areas we should focus on.”

However, he also raised concerns about biases present in the Large-Scale Language Model (LLM), as many are trained extensively on data from Wikipedia: “Model trainers must be vigilant about this issue, reflecting deeply on it.”

Wales contends that while Wikipedia may contribute to AI bias, AI could also assist in reducing bias within Wikipedia itself. – Credit: Getty

Despite these concerns, Wales insists that few online spaces rival Wikipedia for quality training data.

“Fortunately, we don’t have an AI model trained exclusively on Twitter. That would result in a rather peculiar and hostile model,” he remarked.

“It’s crucial to have training materials that are factual, well-considered, and thoughtful.”

He summed up, saying, “Broadly speaking, the more fact-driven and extensive the language models we have, the better it is.”

Jimmy Wales’ new book, 7 Rules of Trust, is now available for purchase.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

99-Million-Year-Old Amber Contains the Earliest Mosquito Larvae

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This newly discovered fossil, preserved in amber from Myanmar’s Kachin region, marks the first instance of a mosquito larva found in amber and represents the earliest immature mosquito of the Mesozoic era, designated as a new genus and species: Cletosabetes primaevus. This discovery strongly suggests that the mosquito family Culicidae has its origins in the Jurassic period and indicates that its larval structure has remained largely unchanged for at least the past 99 million years.

Larva of Cletosabetes primaevus. Image credit: Amaral et al., doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2025.09.011.

Mosquitoes comprise a vast group of insects, with over 3,727 known species alive today.

Although small, they are quite noticeable and widely distributed, playing significant roles in ecosystems, human history, and both human and veterinary health.

To date, 31 species of mosquito fossils have been documented. These ancient mosquitoes closely resemble modern species and are classified within the same genus as their modern counterparts.

“The earliest known mosquito fossils are adults, also found in amber dating back about 99 million years,” stated Dr. Andre Amaral from Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich and his team.

“Given their morphological distinctions from living species, they are considered part of a separate group, Burmaculicinae, representing an extinct lineage within Culicidae.”

The authors note that Cletosabetes primaevus belongs to the Sabetini group, which includes existing species.

Similar to the larvae of current Sabetini species, this new species’ larvae likely thrived in small water bodies.

“According to currently uncovered fossils, the evolutionary roots of mosquitoes are believed to be in the Jurassic period, roughly 201 to 145 million years ago,” the researchers remarked.

“Molecular phylogeny analyses yield varying conclusions, from the Triassic to Jurassic periods.”

“Our research strongly indicates that mosquitoes had already diversified during the Jurassic period, with their larval structure remarkably consistent for nearly 100 million years.”

“This finding challenges previous notions regarding the early evolution of this insect group and offers fresh insights into its evolutionary ecology.”

A segment of amber containing Cletosabetes primaevus larvae was sourced from the Kachin Amber Mine in Myanmar’s Hukaung Valley.

This amber dates back to the Late Cretaceous, about 98.79 million years ago.

“This fossil stands out as the larva closely resembles modern species. Unlike other mosquito fossils from this period, it displays distinct morphological features no longer found in today’s species,” Dr. Amaral explained.

A paper detailing Cletosabetes primaevus was published in this month’s edition of Gondwana Research.

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Andre P. Amaral et al. 2025. The first fossilized mosquito larva discovered in 99-million-year-old amber illuminates the evolutionary history of mosquitoes (Diptera: Mosquitoidae). Gondwana Research 150: 154-162; doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2025.09.011

Source: www.sci.news

Quantum-Inspired Algorithm May Uncover Hidden Cosmic Objects

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Galaxy clusters create gravitational lenses, bending light around them

NASA, ESA, Michael Gladders (University of Chicago); Acknowledgment: Judy Schmidt

Quantum physics might hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of celestial objects that remain undetectable or poorly observed through telescopes.

In our quest to comprehend the universe, we gather and scrutinize light emitted by stars and various celestial entities. However, this light often doesn’t travel in a straight path. When passing near massive entities like planets or black holes, the light’s trajectory can curve, resulting in a distorted image, akin to having an additional lens in the process.

Considering smaller objects that lack significant mass, traditional imaging strategies often fall short when dealing with “microlensing” effects. Researchers including Liu Zhenning at the University of Maryland have demonstrated that light analysis protocols that respect the quantum aspects may yield superior results.

They aimed to utilize the quantum features of light to deduce the mass of objects responsible for microlensing. According to Liu, microlensing is detectable when light brightness increases, signaling the presence of an object obscuring our view. However, if this object doesn’t possess substantial mass, its weight remains indeterminate from the light characteristics already measured by the telescope. Such bodies could encompass solitary small black holes or wandering planets.

Given that light consists of photons—quantum particles—there’s valuable information embedded in the quantum nature of its journey to Earth. Notably, when a photon encounters multiple paths around an object, the travel time discrepancies impact its quantum properties. Due to the wave-like characteristics of quantum particles, these photons can traverse both paths simultaneously, mimicking a water wave around a rock. The team’s methodology is adept at analyzing the time differences of both routes, which can be transformed into mass estimates for the objects.

Liu mentions that while planets and black holes inducing microlensing may not be completely imperceptible by other means, these techniques could necessitate more light collection, implying the need for larger telescopes. Quantum methods, however, can function effectively even with smaller photon counts.

For instance, his team’s mathematical assessments indicate that their protocol is particularly effective for stars located in the galactic bulge, a section of the Milky Way where dark matter candidates have been previously identified using gravitational lensing techniques. Because this new approach doesn’t demand a sophisticated quantum computer and can be employed with more conventional devices combined with classical computers to capture and analyze individual photons, it’s poised for real-world testing in the near future.

Daniel Oy, a professor at the University of Strathclyde in the UK, asserts that quantum methodologies significantly enhance the extraction of time-delayed data from light, an enhancement he characterizes as a pivotal advancement in quantum technology. He posits that since quantum theory sets limits on measurement precision in physics, it aligns perfectly with the challenge of detecting faint astronomical signals like those from a limited number of photons.

reference: arXiv, DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2510.07898

topic:

  • astrophysics/
  • quantum physics

Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient Ice from 6 Million Years Ago Found in Antarctica

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Scientists have uncovered ice and air that is 6 million years old from a shallow ice core in the Arran Hills of East Antarctica. They believe this ancient ice showcases a preserved surface snowpack or permafrost due to the development of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet during the mid-Miocene to late Miocene epochs.

Ancient ice extracted from the ALHIC1902 ice core. Image credit: Shackleton et al., doi: 10.1073/pnas.2502681122.

“Ice cores function as time machines, allowing researchers to glimpse Earth’s past,” stated Dr. Sarah Shackleton, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

“With the Allan Hills Core, our timeline extends much further than we previously thought was possible.”

“This is a groundbreaking discovery for the NSF-funded Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX),” remarked Dr. Ed Brook, COLDEX director and paleoclimatologist at Oregon State University.

“We were aware that the ice in this area was ancient. Our initial estimates placed its age at around 3 million years, or perhaps slightly older, but this discovery has far surpassed our expectations.”

COLDEX is engaged in a friendly race with various international teams to push the ice core record beyond its historical 800,000-year threshold.

A European research team recently reported finding a continuous ice core dating back 1.2 million years deep within East Antarctica.

For months, the team operated in a remote field camp within East Antarctica’s Arran Hills, drilling 100 to 200 meters into the outskirts of several ice sheets, where ice movement and rugged mountain landscapes work together to safeguard ancient ice and bring it closer to the surface for easier retrieval.

In contrast, obtaining the oldest continuous ice cores from archaeological sites in East Antarctica necessitates drilling deeper than 2,000 meters.

“We are still exploring the specific conditions that enable such ancient ice to remain near the surface,” Dr. Shackleton explained.

“Besides the terrain, factors like intense winds and extreme cold may play a role.”

“The winds can disperse newly fallen snow, while the cold can slow down accumulation until the ice is nearly stationary.”

This makes the Arran Hills one of the premier locations globally for discovering shallow, ancient ice, while also being one of the most challenging environments for fieldwork.

The air trapped within these new ice cores enables scientists to directly ascertain the age of the ice by precisely measuring isotopes of the rare gas argon.

This direct dating method means that scientists can derive age indicators directly from the ice, instead of making assumptions based on accompanying features or deposits.

While this ancient ice record doesn’t form a continuous stretch, its age is unparalleled, the researchers noted.

“By dating multiple samples, our team has compiled a library of ‘climate snapshots’ approximately six times older than previously recorded ice core data, supplemented by more detailed younger data from other Antarctic ice cores,” Dr. Higgins stated.

Temperature records derived from oxygen isotope measurements in the ice indicate that the region underwent a gradual cooling of about 12 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit) over an extended timespan.

This marks the first direct assessment of the cooling extent in Antarctica over the past six million years.

Ongoing analyses of these ice cores aim to reconstruct atmospheric greenhouse gas levels and ocean heat content, which hold significant implications for understanding the drivers of natural climate change.

“The COLDEX team plans to return to the Arran Hills for additional drilling in the coming months, potentially yielding more detailed snapshots and even older ice,” Dr. Brook shared.

“In light of the unexpectedly ancient ice recovered in the Arran Hills, we are preparing a comprehensive, long-term study of the region with the goal of extending the record even further, which we hope to commence between 2026 and 2031.”

The team’s paper has been published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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S. Shackleton et al. 2025. Miocene and Pliocene ice and air from the Allan Hills blue ice belt in East Antarctica. PNAS 122 (44): e2502681122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2502681122

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Develop 3D Temperature Map of the Exoplanet WASP-18b

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A newly released map of WASP-18b, a hot Jupiter exoplanet located approximately 325 light-years from Earth, showcases an atmosphere characterized by distinct temperature zones. Within this region, the scorching temperatures are capable of decomposing water vapor.

Hot Jupiter WASP-18b. Image credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

The WASP-18b map represents the first implementation of a method known as 3D eclipse mapping, or spectroscopic eclipse mapping.

This study features a 2D model. The paper, published in 2023 by members of the same research team, illustrated how eclipse mapping can leverage the sensitive observations from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

“This technique is unique in that it can simultaneously survey all three dimensions: latitude, longitude, and altitude,” stated Dr. Megan Weiner Mansfield, an astronomer at the University of Maryland and Arizona State University.

“This enables a greater level of detail than previously possible for studying these celestial objects.”

With this technology, astronomers can now begin to chart the atmospheric variations of many similar exoplanets observable through Webb, resembling how Earth-based telescopes once scrutinized Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and its striped cloud formations.

“Eclipse mapping allows us to capture images of exoplanets whose host stars are too bright for direct observation,” remarked Dr. Ryan Challenor, an astronomer at Cornell University and the University of Maryland.

“Thanks to this telescope and groundbreaking technology, we can start to understand exoplanets similarly to the neighboring worlds in our solar system.”

Detecting exoplanets is quite challenging as they typically emit less than 1% of the brightness of their host star.

Mapping a solar eclipse involves measuring a small fraction of the total brightness as the planet orbits behind the star, obscuring and revealing areas of the star in the process.

Scientists can link minute changes in light to specific regions, creating brightness maps. These maps can be rendered in various colors and translated into three-dimensional temperature readings based on latitude, longitude, and altitude.

“It’s quite difficult because you’re looking for changes where small sections of the Earth become obscured and then revealed,” Challenor explained.

WASP-18b has a mass approximately 10 times that of Jupiter, completes its orbit in just 23 hours, and achieves temperatures around 2,760 degrees Celsius (5,000 degrees Fahrenheit). Its strong signal makes it an excellent candidate for testing new mapping techniques.

While previous 2D maps relied on a single wavelength or color of light, the 3D map re-evaluated the same observations using Webb’s Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrometer (NIRISS) across multiple wavelengths.

“Each color corresponds to different temperatures and altitudes within WASP-18b’s gaseous atmosphere, allowing them to be combined into a 3D map,” Dr. Challenor noted.

“Mapping at wavelengths that water absorbs can indicate the layers of water in the atmosphere, while wavelengths that water doesn’t absorb facilitate deeper probing.”

“When combined, these provide a three-dimensional temperature map of the atmosphere.”

The new perspective uncovered spectroscopically distinct zones (with varying temperatures and potentially different chemical compositions) on the visible dayside of WASP-18b (the side that perpetually faces its star due to its tidally locked orbit).

The planet exhibits a circular “hotspot” that receives the most direct stellar light, with winds insufficient to redistribute the heat.

Surrounding the hotspot is a cooler “ring” located closer to the planet’s visible outer edge.

Interestingly, the measurements indicated that water vapor levels within the hotspot were lower than the average for WASP-18b.

“We believe this suggests that the heat in this area is so intense that water is beginning to decompose,” explained Challenor.

“This was anticipated by theory, but it’s exhilarating to confirm it through actual observations.”

“Further observations from Webb could enhance the spatial resolution of this pioneering 3D eclipse map.”

“Already, this technique will aid in refining temperature maps of other hot Jupiters, which comprise hundreds of the more than 6,000 exoplanets discovered to date.”

Dr. Mansfield expressed: “It’s thrilling that we now possess the tools to visualize and map the temperature of another planet in such intricate detail.”

“We can apply this technique to other exoplanet types. For instance, even if a planet lacks an atmosphere, we might be able to use this method to map surface temperatures and discern its composition.”

“While WASP-18b was more predictable, we believe there’s potential to observe phenomena we never anticipated before.”

The map of WASP-18b is detailed in a paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

_____

RC Challenor et al.. Horizontal and vertical exoplanet thermal structures from JWST spectroscopic eclipse maps. Nat Astron published online October 28, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02666-9

Source: www.sci.news

Hurricane Melissa: One of the Most Powerful Atlantic Storms Ever Recorded

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Satellite image capturing Hurricane Melissa on October 28th

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

Jamaica is experiencing severe impacts from Hurricane Melissa, which is forecasted to be the most powerful hurricane to strike the Atlantic Ocean, bringing up to 1 meter (40 inches) of rainfall. It is virtually certain that global warming has intensified Hurricane Melissa.

According to studies, the warm waters that fueled the storm’s rapid intensification are 500 to 700 times more likely to be influenced by climate change. This was highlighted by Daniel Guilford and his team at Climate Central, a non-profit based in the US.

“The figure of ‘500 to 700 times more likely’ is substantial,” Guilford noted. “This clearly indicates that the extreme temperatures witnessed around Melissa wouldn’t be possible without human-induced climate change.”

Tropical cyclones like Melissa derive their energy from warm ocean waters. When storms pass over warmer surfaces, more water vapor is generated. As this moist, warm air rises and cools, condensation occurs, releasing latent heat. This process generates energy that fuels tropical cyclones.

In the central Caribbean, where Melissa rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, sea surface temperatures were recorded at 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than typical for October. These elevated temperatures extend to significant depths, resulting in an abundance of thermal energy within the oceans.


As Melissa stirs the ocean, sea surface temperatures remain elevated, bringing deeper, warmer water to the surface. Conversely, if only a shallow warm layer exists, colder water rises, depleting the storm’s energy.

“Hurricane Melissa is shaping up to be a perfect storm. The warm ocean has been rapidly escalating in intensity recently, while its slow movement could lead to extensive rainfall as it makes landfall,” said Lianne Archer, a researcher at the University of Bristol in the UK. “These conditions are largely intensified by the additional heat present in the oceans and atmosphere driven by climate change.”

The combination of strong winds and heavy rainfall poses a severe threat to Jamaica. Reports indicate that three individuals have already lost their lives as preparations continue for the storm, anticipated to make landfall around 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. local time.

“This presents one of the most alarming scenarios,” commented Hannah Cloke, a researcher from the University of Reading in the UK. “The nation will bear deep and lasting scars from this storm, making recovery a challenging endeavor for impacted regions.”

Historical studies of past disasters indicate that such events can stifle economic growth for years. Though some economists speculate a quick recovery could spur growth, this notion has often proven to be unfounded.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

US Public Health System Progresses Blindly Amid Significant Budget Cuts

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The Trump administration has significantly reduced essential U.S. health research

Ken Cedeno/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Essential public health research in the United States is experiencing severe cutbacks following extensive layoffs among government employees responsible for key national data systems. These datasets, which track a wide variety of factors from births to substance use, have informed health policy for many years. Without this data, effectively identifying and responding to health challenges will become nearly impossible.

“It’s akin to boarding a plane without a speedometer or altimeter; you have no idea of your altitude or distance to the nearest airport,” remarks Susan Mayne, the former Director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

During his second term, President Donald Trump has actively sought to shrink government size, with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) becoming a primary target. The agency’s workforce was slashed in March, reducing from 82,000 employees to 62,000. In October, an additional 1,100 layoffs were announced, though a court order temporarily halted them due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Most layoffs have affected human resources, IT, and communication departments; however, some critical public health research staff have also been impacted. HHS has not responded to inquiries from New Scientist. The full extent of the layoffs affecting public health surveys remains unknown, though at least five cases have been identified thus far.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) was one of the first to feel these impacts. In April, HHS terminated all 17 people working on this vital study, disrupting the only national survey on drug use, addiction, and mental health. For over fifty years, the NSDUH has guided policymakers in directing funds to regions most affected by these issues. Although the latest report was released in July with the help of contractors from RTI International, the future of the survey remains uncertain. “All our planning will ultimately be for naught. Who at HHS will now steer the investigation?” asked former NSDUH director Jennifer Honig on social media, in a post.


In September, the government also terminated the Household Food Security Report, which tracks food insecurity nationwide, claiming: in a statement, “These redundant, expensive, politicized, and irrelevant studies only stoke fear.”

Yet, this report has enjoyed bipartisan backing for decades. Georgia Machel from the National WIC Association, a nonprofit that supports the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), remarked, “Programs like WIC depend on this national data to comprehend the full scope of hunger and food insecurity, allowing us to allocate resources effectively,” Machel added in her statement.

Recently, HHS is reported to have disbanded the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and laid off about 100 staff members. As noted by a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit advocating for open data and evidence-based policy, data infrastructure includes many employees from the National Vital Statistics System, which monitors births, deaths, and the leading causes of mortality and maternal issues across the United States.

Furthermore, the entire team administering the National Death Index has also faced these layoffs, according to former NCHS director Charles Rothwell. This database contains essential identifying information about every death in the U.S., including individual names, addresses, causes of death, and often Social Security numbers, enabling comprehensive tracking. “This is the only dataset like this accessible,” states Rothwell.

Because it contains sensitive information, the report will not be published but will assist other researchers and institutions with long-term studies. For instance, the Department of Veterans Affairs collaborates with officials to analyze mortality among veterans versus non-veterans. Researchers also utilize the data to ascertain whether participants have died or simply relocated, which is vital for aging studies like the Health and Retirement Study that evaluates the wellbeing of older Americans. As Rothwell highlighted, disruptions to the National Death Index could have ripple effects on various public health studies.

According to New Scientist, citing a recent court ruling, NCHS stated it is “not currently taking steps to implement or manage” staffing cuts. However, there was no reply regarding whether action would be taken once the government shutdown concludes, or how existing databases would be maintained.

In October, an employee responsible for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was also dismissed. This research initiative is one of the most thorough evaluations of health, nutrition, and disease in the nation, facilitating mobile clinics that conduct blood tests, urine assessments, bone density evaluations, and oral health examinations to oversee diet, environmental exposures, and disease spread. “This truly lays the groundwork for nutrition and public health policy,” says Mayne. Moreover, it informs national dietary guidelines, environmental regulations, and food label developments. “Lacking accurate data about our population’s health and nutrition means we cannot properly prioritize public health initiatives,” she asserts.

The Data Foundation reports that HHS appears to have reversed its decision regarding layoffs for NHANES staff. However, the initial elimination of these roles remains alarming, as does the fate of personnel involved in other significant public health inquiries. These data sets fundamentally shape U.S. public health policy; any weakening or elimination of them could lead to systemic failures.

Topic:

  • US/
  • Public Health

Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers Observe Coronal Mass Ejection from Young Sun-Like Star

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On Earth, we may not often realize it, but the sun regularly ejects massive clumps of plasma into space known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Astronomers, utilizing the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope along with ground-based telescopes in Japan and South Korea, have begun to detect signs of multi-temperature CMEs. EK Draconis, a young G-type main sequence star, is located 112 light-years away in the northern constellation Draco.

Artist’s depiction of the coronal mass ejection from EK Draconis. Image provided by: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

“Researchers believe that CMEs may have significantly impacted the development of life on Earth, given that the Sun was quite active in its early days,” stated Kosuke Namegata, an astronomer at Kyoto University, along with his colleagues.

“Historically, studies have indicated that young stars similar to our Sun often produce intense flares that surpass the largest solar flares recorded in contemporary times.”

“The massive CMEs from the early Sun could have drastically influenced the primordial conditions on Earth, Mars, and Venus.”

“Nevertheless, the extent to which these youthful stellar explosions produce solar-like CMEs remains uncertain.”

“Recent years have seen the detection of cold plasma in CMEs via ground-based optical methods.”

“However, the high speeds and frequent occurrences of significant CMEs predicted in earlier studies have yet to be confirmed.”

In their investigation, the authors concentrated on EK Draconis, a youthful solar analog estimated to be between 50 million and 125 million years old.

Commonly referred to as EK Dra and HD 129333, the star shares effective temperature, radius, and mass characteristics that make it an excellent analog for the early Sun.

“Hubble captured far-ultraviolet emission lines sensitive to high-temperature plasma, while three ground-based telescopes simultaneously recorded hydrogen alpha lines tracking cooler gas,” the astronomers explained.

“These synergistic multi-wavelength spectroscopic observations enabled us to observe both the hot and cold components of the eruption instantaneously.”

This research presents the first evidence of a multitemperature CME originating from EK Draconis.

“Our findings indicate that high-temperature plasma at around 100,000 K was ejected at speeds ranging from 300 to 550 km/s, followed approximately 10 minutes later by a lower-temperature gas around 10,000 K ejected at a speed of 70 km/s,” the astronomers reported.

“The hotter plasma contained significantly more energy than the cooler plasma. This implies that frequent intense CMEs in the past may have sparked strong shocks and high-energy particles capable of eroding or chemically altering the early atmospheres of planets.”

“Theoretical and experimental research suggests that robust CMEs and high-energy particles could play a key role in generating biomolecules and greenhouse gases vital for the emergence and sustainability of life on early planets.”

“Consequently, this discovery carries substantial implications for understanding the habitability of planets and the conditions under which life may have arisen on Earth—and potentially elsewhere.”

The team’s study was published in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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Namekata K. et al. Signs of multi-temperature coronal mass ejections identified in a young solar analog. Nat Astron published online on October 27, 2025. doi: 10.1038/s41550-025-02691-8

Source: www.sci.news

NOvA and T2K Experiments Reveal Unexpected Characteristics of Neutrinos

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Both the NOvA (NuMI Off-Axis νe Emergence Experiment) and T2K experiments involve launching neutrinos from a particle accelerator and detecting them after they traverse extensive underground distances. The challenges are significant: out of trillions of particles, only a few leave a trace that can be detected. Advanced detectors and software are then employed to reconstruct these rare events, offering insights into how the “flavor” of neutrinos alters as they travel.

The world’s first neutrino observation inside a hydrogen bubble chamber, captured on November 13, 1970, in a 12-foot bubble chamber at a zero-gradient synchrotron. Here, an invisible neutrino collides with a proton, resulting in three particle tracks (bottom right). The neutrino changes into a muon, marked by a lengthy orbit extending up and to the left. The shorter track represents the proton, while the third track extending down and to the left is the pion formed by the collision. Image credit: Argonne National Laboratory.

Neutrinos are among the most prevalent particles in the universe.

With no charge and minimal mass, they are notoriously difficult to detect. Yet, this very elusiveness contributes to their scientific significance.

Understanding neutrinos may shed light on one of the greatest mysteries in cosmology: the reason the universe consists of matter.

Theoretically, the Big Bang should have resulted in equal parts matter and antimatter, which would have completely annihilated each other upon meeting, releasing energy in the process.

However, during the Big Bang, an imbalance occurred, producing a greater abundance of matter, which eventually led to the formation of stars, galaxies, and life as we know it.

Physicists theorize that neutrinos hold the key to this conundrum.

There are three types, or “flavors,” of neutrinos: electron, muon, and tau, which are different versions of the same fundamental particle.

They possess a unique ability to oscillate, changing from one flavor to another as they traverse space. Studying these oscillations and examining any differences between neutrinos and their antimatter counterparts could provide insights into why matter triumphed over antimatter in the nascent universe.

“Understanding these various identities could help scientists gain insight into neutrino masses and address significant questions regarding the universe’s evolution, including why matter became dominant over antimatter,” stated Dr. Zoya Valari, a physicist at Ohio State University.

“What makes neutrinos particularly intriguing is their ability to change their ‘taste.’”

“Consider this: you buy chocolate ice cream, stroll down the street, and suddenly it turns mint, only to change again with every step you take.”

To delve deeper into this shape-shifting behavior, the NOvA and T2K experiments partnered to direct neutrino particle beams over hundreds of kilometers.

NOvA projects a beam of neutrinos from a source at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago, traveling 500 miles to a 14,000-ton detector in Ash River, Minnesota.

On the other hand, Japan’s T2K sends a neutrino beam 295 km from the J-PARC accelerator in Tokai to the enormous Super-Kamiokande detector situated beneath Mt. Ikenoyama.

“While our objectives are aligned, the distinct experimental designs mean that synthesizing the data yields more comprehensive insights, making the whole greater than the sum of its parts,” Dr. Valari remarked.

This study builds upon earlier findings that noted minor yet significant variations in the masses of different types of neutrinos. Researchers sought deeper clues indicating that neutrinos might operate beyond the conventional laws of physics.

One such inquiry involves whether neutrinos and their antimatter counterparts exhibit different behaviors—a phenomenon referred to as charge parity violation.

“Our results indicate that additional data are needed to adequately address these fundamental questions,” Dr. Valari said.

“This underscores the importance of developing the next generation of experiments.”

Research indicates that employing two experiments with varying baselines and energies is more likely to yield answers than relying solely on a single experiment. Consequently, consolidating results from both experiments allowed scientists to explore these urgent physics questions from diverse perspectives.

“This research is extremely complex, involving hundreds of contributors in each collaborative effort,” said John Beacom, a professor at Ohio State University.

“Collaboration in science is typically competitive, but our work together here highlights the high stakes involved.”

For further details, see the new discovery published in the journal Nature.

_____

NOvA collaboration and T2K collaboration. 2025. Joint neutrino oscillation analysis using T2K and NOvA experiments. Nature 646, 818-824; doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09599-3

Source: www.sci.news

OpenAI Finalizes Transition to Commercial Enterprise Following Extended Legal Proceedings

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OpenAI declared on Tuesday that it has officially transformed its core business into a for-profit entity, concluding a lengthy and challenging legal dispute.

Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, an essential regulatory figure, announced her approval of a plan for the startup, initially established as a nonprofit in 2015, to transition into a public benefit corporation. This type of for-profit organization highlights a commitment to societal betterment.

The company also revealed that it has restructured its ownership and inked a new agreement with its long-time supporter, Microsoft. The arrangement will provide the tech giant with about a 27% stake in OpenAI’s new commercial venture, altering some specifics of their close partnership. According to the deal, OpenAI is valued at $500 billion, making Microsoft’s stake worth over $100 billion.


This restructuring allows the creators of ChatGPT to raise funds more easily and profit from AI technology while remaining under the nominal oversight of the original nonprofit.

Jennings stated in a release that she does not oppose the proposal, marking the end of over a year of discussions and announcements regarding the oversight of OpenAI’s governance and the influence commercial investors and their nonprofit board will exert over the organization’s technology. The attorney generals of Delaware, where OpenAI is incorporated, and California, where its headquarters are located, both indicated they were investigating the proposed alterations.

OpenAI confirmed it completed the reorganization “after almost a year of productive discussions” with authorities in both states.

“OpenAI has finalized a recapitalization and streamlined its corporate framework,” Brett Taylor, chairman of the OpenAI board, stated in a blog post on Tuesday.

Elon Musk, one of the co-founders of OpenAI and a former ally of Mr. Altman, had contested the transition through a lawsuit, which he later dropped, then refiled, and made an unexpected bid of nearly $100 billion to take control of the startup.

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“Nonprofits will continue to oversee for-profit corporations and now have direct access to essential resources before AGI arrives,” Taylor noted.

AGI, or artificial general intelligence, is defined by OpenAI as “a highly autonomous system that surpasses humans at the most economically significant tasks.” OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit in 2015 with the goal of safely creating AGI for the betterment of humanity.

Previously, OpenAI stated that its own board would determine when AGI would be achieved, effectively ending its partnership with Microsoft. However, now “Once AGI is announced by OpenAI, this declaration will be confirmed by an independent panel of experts,” and Microsoft’s rights to OpenAI’s proprietary research methodologies will “persist until the panel of experts confirms the AGI or until 2030, whichever occurs first.” Microsoft also retains commercial rights to certain “post-AGI” products from OpenAI.

Microsoft also released a related statement on Tuesday regarding the revised partnership, but opted not to provide additional comments.

The nonprofit will be rebranded as the OpenAI Foundation, and Taylor mentioned it will allocate $25 billion in grants for health and disease treatment and to safeguard against AI-related cybersecurity threats. He did not specify the timeline for disbursing these funds.

Robert Wiseman, co-director of the nonprofit organization Public Citizen, remarked that this setup does not ensure autonomy for nonprofits, comparing them to corporate foundations that cater to the interests of for-profit entities.

Wiseman stated that while a nonprofit’s board may formally retain oversight, “control is illusory because there is no evidence that the nonprofit has enforced its values on the for-profit.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Why Hurricane Melissa Ranks Among the Most Powerful Atlantic Storms in History

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Satellite image of Hurricane Melissa captured on October 28

Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo

Jamaica is facing severe impacts from what is possibly the strongest hurricane to hit the Atlantic Ocean. Current forecasts predict up to 1 meter (40 inches) of rainfall. There’s little doubt that global warming has intensified Hurricane Melissa.

According to the authors, the warm waters that sped up Melissa’s intensification are 500 to 700 times more likely due to climate change. Initial assessments by Daniel Guilford and his colleagues at Climate Central, a U.S. non-profit organization, reveal this.

“‘500 to 700 times more likely’ is an astonishing figure,” Guilford stated. “This clearly indicates that the extreme temperatures observed around Melissa would not be feasible without human-induced climate change.”

Tropical storms like Melissa draw their energy from warm ocean waters. The hotter the sea surface, the more water vapor is generated when a storm passes above it. As the warm, moist air rises, the vapor condenses and releases latent heat, warming the air and encouraging further condensation. This process fuels tropical cyclones.

In the central Caribbean, where Melissa rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, sea surface temperatures were 1.4 degrees Celsius (2.5 degrees Fahrenheit) above the October average. Since these extreme temperatures penetrate to significant depths, there is abundant excess thermal energy available in the ocean.

This indicates that sea surface temperatures remain elevated as Melissa churns the ocean and draws up cooler, deeper water. Conversely, if only a thin layer of warm water exists, the storm brings up cold water, cutting off its energy supply.

“A perfect storm continues to build for Hurricane Melissa. The warm ocean has been rapidly strengthening over recent days, and its slow movement may bring additional rainfall as it makes landfall,” stated Lian Archer, a researcher at the University of Bristol in the UK. “Many of these conditions are being exacerbated by heightened heat in the oceans and atmosphere attributable to climate change.”

The combination of powerful winds and extreme rainfall poses a significant risk of severe damage to Jamaica. So far, three lives have been lost as preparations for the storm continue, which is expected to make landfall around 11 a.m. or noon local time.

“This is one of the most troubling scenarios,” remarked Hannah Cloke, a researcher at the University of Reading in the UK. “The entire nation will suffer long-term and potentially permanent damage from this storm, and recovery will require significant effort for those affected.”

Research into past disasters suggests that such events can depress economic growth for decades. While economists propose that quicker recovery or even growth driven by recovery efforts is possible, these notions have generally proven to be overly optimistic.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Apple Achieves $4 Trillion Market Capitalization with Surge in New iPhone Sales

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Apple reached a market capitalization of $4 trillion for the first time on Tuesday, becoming the third tech giant to achieve this milestone. Strong demand for its latest iPhones has mitigated fears regarding the company’s slow progress in the AI sector. On the same day, the U.S. stock market soared to an all-time high, with Microsoft also achieving a $4 trillion market cap for the second time.

Since the announcement of its new product on September 9, Apple’s stock price has increased approximately 13%, marking a significant rebound that has pushed the stock into positive territory for the first time this year.

“The iPhone constitutes over half of Apple’s profits and revenue, and the more devices we can distribute, the more users we can integrate into our ecosystem,” noted Chris Zaccarelli, Chief Investment Officer at Northlight Asset Management, prior to the milestone.


Earlier this year, Apple’s shares faced challenges from intense competition in China and uncertainty surrounding the impact of high U.S. tariffs on Asian markets, where the company relies heavily on manufacturing.

The newly launched iPhone 17 has attracted customers from Beijing to Moscow within weeks of its release, with Apple absorbing high tariffs rather than transferring costs to consumers. Analysts believe the sleek design of the iPhone Air could help it compete against rivals like Samsung Electronics Co., with early sales of the iPhone 17 exceeding its predecessor in both the U.S. and China by 14%, according to research firm Counterpoint. Some analysts suggest that the demand forecast for the iPhone Air may not be met, while other companies have disputed these claims.

Following Nvidia and Microsoft, Apple becomes the third company to breach the $4 trillion mark, with Nvidia currently leading the group at over $4.5 trillion.

Microsoft achieved its initial stock market milestone in July. Following a minor dip in stock prices, the company re-entered the exclusive club as shares climbed after the ChatGPT creator announced a partnership with OpenAI on Tuesday, allowing it to transition into a public benefit corporation. OpenAI boasts a valuation of $500 billion, making Microsoft’s 27% stake in the company worth over $100 billion.

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Unlike Microsoft’s aggressive AI strategy, Apple’s cautious stance has raised concerns about its position in what could become the industry’s most significant growth opportunity in years. Recent reports have also highlighted the departure of several senior AI executives to Meta.

Rollout delays for Apple’s Intelligence suite, which includes ChatGPT integration, and a postponed AI upgrade for its voice assistant Siri until next year have disappointed some consumers, as these products currently lack features found in competing AI software.

Apple recently reported its best quarterly results in years for the April-June period, achieving double-digit growth in key segments and exceeding analysts’ expectations. The company is set to announce its fourth-quarter results on October 30th.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Alan Turing Institute Unveils Initiative to Safeguard Britain Against Cyber Attacks

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The foremost AI institute in Britain has declared a new initiative to safeguard the nation from cyber assaults targeting essential services such as energy, transportation, and utilities. This announcement follows the resignation of its chief executive, who stepped down amid pressure from government officials over allegations of a detrimental workplace environment.

On Tuesday, the Alan Turing Institute revealed that it will “launch a program of science and innovation focused on shielding the UK from hostile threats.” This initiative is part of a broader reorganization following the resignation of CEO Jean Innes last month, which came after staff discontent and the government’s directive for a state-sponsored strategic review of the institution.

This mission arises from escalating worries about online disruptions and the UK’s susceptibility to cyberattacks, particularly in light of recent incidents that impacted Amazon’s cloud operations globally, along with cyberattacks that disrupted production at Jaguar Land Rover’s facility and influenced the supply chains of Marks & Spencer and Co-op.

Bryce Crawford, the former leader of the UK Air and Space Warfare Center, is expected to deliver a report next month addressing how government-supported research institutes can “enhance the scale of the government’s AI goals in defense, national security, and intelligence.”


Chairman Doug Garr, a former president of Amazon UK, disclosed that 78 different research initiatives at the 440-member institute have been shut down, transferred, or completed due to misalignment with the new trajectory.

The institute has experienced significant internal conflict since last year as staff opposed the proposed changes, leading to a group of employees submitting a whistleblower complaint to the Charity Commission.

In a BBC interview, Garr stated that the allegations from the whistleblower were “independently investigated” by an external entity and deemed “without merit.”

Named after the mathematical pioneer who played a crucial role in decoding the Enigma machine during World War II, the institute is associated with key concepts of AI and is also known for the Turing Test, which evaluates whether computers can demonstrate human-like intelligence.

The institute will additionally emphasize applying AI to environmental and health challenges. Leveraging rapidly evolving technology, it aims to create faster and more precise methods to forecast shifts in weather, oceans, and sea ice, aiding UK government endeavors to enhance the readiness of emergency responders. Furthermore, it seeks “measurable reductions in emissions across transportation networks, manufacturing processes, and critical infrastructure.”

In the health sector, it will prioritize the creation of a digital twin of the human heart, pushing forward in AI-enabled personalized medicine to potentially enhance medical interventions and improve outcomes for patients with severe heart conditions.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Exploring the Virtual Halloween Festival: Surprised by What I Discovered | Games

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IAfter five consecutive years attempting to steer clear of spending £80 for a stroll around the local park to admire the extravagant Halloween decorations or securing tickets for a wet day at a pumpkin farm in Scotland, I resolved to do something different this Halloween with the kids. We opted for a virtual pumpkin festival.

ghost town pumpkin festival. This game was born during the 2020 pandemic when developer Adam Robinson Yu’s local pumpkin festival was canceled. (Yu also crafted the charming “A Short Hike.”) Each year, the event has returned briefly, letting players take the form of cute ghosts to explore a whimsical micro-world brimming with player-made pumpkins. Each iteration has brought little enhancements, with the 2024 updates featuring a haunted house escape room that took my kids and me quite some time to solve. This year also introduced a movie theater showcasing spooky silent films in vacant rooms.

As you traverse the festival, you’ll encounter other players floating around as traditional sheet ghosts, often adorned with charming hats. Pumpkins populate every corner, from the benches outside a skeleton-themed barn to the corridors of the haunted house. True to form, many designs reflect game themes. Among smiling faces and cat silhouettes against a lunar backdrop created by children, we noticed tributes to Hollow Knight and a meticulous recreation of Majora’s Mask from the spookiest installment of the Zelda franchise.

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/dROr2wZ6FDA?wmode=opaque&feature=oembed" title="Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival 2024" height="480" width="854" allowfullscreen="

The advantages of a virtual Halloween festival are numerous. You won’t fall prey to overpriced £8 watery hot chocolate or subpar food van fries. You have the freedom to carve as many virtual pumpkins as your heart desires, and if you make a mistake, you can simply erase it. Plus, it’s no problem if your 6-year-old refuses to don a coat. We were pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable the Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival turned out to be. In addition to the obvious allure of a nerve-wracking hedge maze and a tractor ride through a barn decorated with both cute and cheesy creepy elements, there are countless hidden gems (and collectible pin badges) I stumbled upon during an hour of solo exploration.

Take, for instance, the movie theater. When exiting, I attempted to open the bathroom door only to find it locked. A key was hidden behind the popcorn counter. There was an intriguing code posted on a bulletin board by the bathroom door. Once we cracked that, we discovered another key in one of the stalls and a “restricted access” door beside the theater screen. The compelling little horror game hiding behind that door was too intense for the kids and, honestly, even for me. (Luckily, you can disable all the frightening elements through a menu featuring options like turning off fake blood splatters and swapping out scary images for pictures of dogs.)

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The Ghost Town Pumpkin Festival runs until a week after Halloween and can be downloaded below. itch.io Pay as you wish. We highly recommend lingering after your pumpkin carving to explore more.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Amazon Confirms Workforce Reduction Plans, Laying Off 14,000 Employees

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Amazon has announced its intention to lay off 14,000 employees as part of a broader initiative expected to impact tens of thousands of roles.

The Seattle-based retail leader is facing challenges in reversing the extensive hiring surge prompted by the pandemic, working on cost reduction and streamlining its vast operations. This summer, the company’s CEO cautioned white-collar employees about the potential for artificial intelligence to take over their jobs.

Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president, communicated in a memo to employees on Tuesday: “The reductions we are announcing today…are part of our ongoing efforts to further diminish bureaucracy, eliminate layers, and reallocate resources to prioritize investments in our key initiatives and better meet our customers’ current and future needs.”

On Monday, Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is poised to eliminate up to 30,000 corporate positions, according to anonymous sources familiar with the situation, as it attempts to unwind an unprecedented hiring spree triggered by a temporary surge in online shopping during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. CNBC indicates this could mark the largest layoff event in the company’s history.

These layoffs constitute a minor fraction of Amazon’s total 1.55 million global employees, but they significantly impact the company’s roughly 350,000 corporate workforce.

On Monday, Amazon refrained from commenting on the extensive layoffs until Galetti revealed the 14,000 job cuts the following day. He also informed employees that the company will strive to pinpoint “further areas where we can streamline structures, enhance accountability, and achieve efficiency improvements” throughout 2026.

“Some may question why roles would be reduced if the company is performing well,” Galetti expressed. “Across our divisions, we consistently provide excellent customer experiences, innovate swiftly, and deliver outstanding business results. We must acknowledge that the world is evolving rapidly.”

“This wave of AI is the most groundbreaking technology since the Internet, allowing companies to innovate more rapidly than ever throughout existing and completely new market segments.”

Following the initial reports of layoffs, Amazon’s shares, which are set to announce quarterly results later this week, increased by 1.2% on Monday.

Other tech giants have similarly rolled back extensive hiring campaigns initiated during the pandemic. Microsoft; Meta’s parent company, which includes WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook; as well as Google’s parent company, Alphabet, have collectively laid off tens of thousands of workers in recent years.

Back in June, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy informed employees that generative AI technologies, such as autonomous AI agents and chatbots, would reduce staffing requirements in certain roles.

“While it’s challenging to predict the exact impact over time, we anticipate this will lead to workforce reductions in the upcoming years,” Jassy stated in a memo to staff.

In recent times, Amazon has implemented job cuts across various divisions, including devices, communications, podcasting, and more.

This week’s layoffs are projected to influence a broad spectrum of departments within Amazon, including human resources (referred to as people experience), technology, devices and services, and operations, among others. Luck reported that as much as 15% of Amazon’s human resources sector could be affected, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans.

According to Reuters, citing unnamed insiders, managers from impacted teams were informed on Monday that they would receive notifications via email starting the next morning and would be required to undergo training on how to communicate changes with their teams.

Mr. Jassy has previously stated that the company aims to minimize what he refers to as excessive bureaucracy within Amazon, including reducing managerial positions. He also introduced an anonymous complaint line for addressing inefficiencies, which has generated roughly 1,500 responses and led to over 450 process modifications.

Report contributed by Reuters

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ex-Intel CEO’s Quest to Create Christian AI: ‘Accelerate the Second Coming of Christ’ | Tech Insights

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In March, Patrick Gelsinger joined Intel’s executive team, just three months after being removed as the company’s CEO and facing litigation from shareholders. Gloo is a technology firm dedicated to what he describes as the “faith ecosystem,” providing Salesforce and chatbots for churches, along with an AI assistant designed to automate pastoral and ministry support.

Gelsinger’s transition comes at a time when the U.S. tech sector is re-engaging with political activities, as the second Trump administration revives religious conservatism in Washington, D.C. Some notable figures are funding Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and actively pursuing government contracts.

As the Executive Chairman and Head of Technology at Gloo (now free from shareholder lawsuits), Gelsinger aims to promote Christian values within the company’s initiatives. Silicon Valley, the state capital, and beyond have become focal points. He has attracted $110 million in strategic investments. His campaign encompasses a call for AI technologies that reflect Christian ethics, with high-tech products developed by Gloo designed around prevalent large-scale language models, customized to align with users’ theological beliefs.

“My life’s mission is to develop technologies that enhance the quality of life for every individual globally and accelerate the return of Christ,” he stated.

Speakers discuss trust conditioning in AI at the Gloo hackathon. Photo: Mike Mauser

Gloo claims to support “over 140,000 faith, ministry, and nonprofit leaders.” Although Gloo’s client base is smaller compared to major AI industry players, it’s worth noting that approximately 800 million users engage with ChatGPT weekly.

Gelsinger, a committed Christian, has described his “mission field” as influencing the culture of Silicon Valley. He observes a “very loud, very visible, very specifically Christian tech culture” emerging in the area. Scholars like Damian Williams from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte explore how religious beliefs shape technology, drawing parallels with figures like Peter Thiel and Andreessen Horowitz, who caution about the Antichrist’s looming presence without adherence to a particular technological framework. Katherine Boyle, closely connected with Vice President JD Vance, recognizes Gelsinger’s longstanding advocacy for Christian principles. In 2013, he founded Transforming the Bay with Christ, aimed at revitalizing the Christian spiritual movement in the region.

During a seminar co-hosted by a conservative university and the Christian Post on October 7, Gelsinger described AI’s development as “another Gutenberg moment,” a significant transformative change that parallels the Reformation. Just as Martin Luther used the printing press to ignite “the greatest age of human invention,” he perceives a similar faith-driven potential to alter history through AI today.

“The church adopted the great invention of its time to fundamentally change humanity,” Gelsinger remarked regarding the printing press. “So my inquiry today is whether we will embrace this? Can AI be molded into a technology that powerfully embodies the Church and its mission?”

Jesus Hackathon

Gloo aims to influence AI, Christianity, and faith technology beyond just Silicon Valley. The company also supports the Christian tech ecosystem through funding and events like a three-day hackathon that followed the seminar at Colorado Christian University. The event attracted over 600 participants vying for more than $250,000 in prizes, with participant numbers projected to triple by 2024.

Despite its growth, the hackathon faced challenges. Ryan Siebert, an AI product developer, discovered a vulnerability in Gloo’s latest LLM, which is not publicly available, and it provided him with a methamphetamine recipe due to prompt injection. He informed the president of Gloo AI about the issue. A spokesperson from Gloo mentioned that as the product is still in “pre-beta” development, participants were encouraged to test the new LLM and offer feedback.

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Audience at the Gloo hackathon. Photo: Mike Mauser

Meanwhile, Gelsinger indicated that his message regarding Christian AI is resonating well in Washington, D.C. In a conversation with the Guardian, he mentioned introducing Gloo’s efforts to various legal advocacy groups and Congressional members. Although he didn’t specify the organizations or politicians, he noted that some Congress members have shown interest in integrating Gloo products into church activities.

Goo’s influence also spans conservative political circles. Brandon Showalter, a journalist for the Christian Post and co-host of the seminar with Gloo, expressed hope that society would view care for transgender youth as “unthinkable as an ice pick lobotomy.” An analyst at the Heritage Foundation, which is behind Project 2025, participated in a panel moderated by Showalter, providing insights on AI regulation. On October 17th, Gelsinger delivered his “Gutenberg Moment” speech at Liberty University’s CEO Summit, alongside keynote speeches from figures like Liz Truss, Michael Flynn, and Chick-fil-A’s Chairman, Dan T. Cathy.

Gelsinger appears just as at ease in these settings as he was as an honored guest at Joe Biden’s 2022 State of the Union address. Like a pragmatic industry leader, he also engages in public records and has supported political movements across party lines.

Gloo itself maintains an ecumenical tone in its messaging. The hackathon avoided political discussions and sectarian divides. In a Discord chat, participants shared plans to create an AI bot for a “biblical response” to the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, where organizers advised keeping conversations focused on Jesus, despite recognizing the relevance of politics. The hackathon team, comprised of Leah and Wes Brooks, produced open-source AI tools aimed at interoperability among faith-based and other applications, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of participants, including a female pastor. “I wasn’t even required to sign a faith declaration,” Leah Brooks remarked. Gloo also asserts it does not “prohibit” Islamic organizations from utilizing its technology.

Patrick Gelsinger. Photo: Mike Mauser

“We’re not aiming to take a theological stance. Our goal is to create a technology platform versatile enough for Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Catholics to effectively utilize it,” Gelsinger informed the Guardian. “We want to represent a broad spectrum of faith while also accommodating organizations that maintain a non-sectarian view,” such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Gelsinger’s ambition is to integrate faith into AI technology. He leads Gloo’s Flourishing AI initiative, which assesses large-scale language models’ effects on human well-being across seven dimensions. Essentially, it evaluates whether a language model contributes positively to the religious lives of its users. This initiative draws from a research program at Harvard University’s human flourishing program. Models such as Grok 3, DeepSeek-R1, and GPT-4.1 score well on average for supporting users with financial inquiries, achieving around 81 points out of 100, but fare poorly in enhancing users’ spiritual growth, with an average score of just 35 points out of 100 according to Gloo’s metrics.

Gloo’s endeavors have yet to gain significant traction within Silicon Valley. A spokesperson stated that the IT department is “beginning to reach out” to leading AI firms.

“I want people to care,” Gelsinger remarked.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Wikipedia’s Founder Responds to Elon Musk’s Criticism, Denying ‘Left-Wing Activist’ Claims

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Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has dismissed Elon Musk‘s assertions that the online encyclopedia possesses a left-wing bias, labeling the Tesla and X owner’s comments as “factually incorrect.”

In December 2024, Musk urged his over 200 million followers on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to cease donations to Wikipedia, referring to the site as “Walkpedia.

In September, he announced plans to launch his own version, Grokipedia, through his AI company xAI, claiming it would represent “a vast improvement on Wikipedia.”

Speaking on the BBC Science Focus podcast, Wales stated that Musk’s accusations “make absolutely no sense,” though he acknowledged that Wikipedia’s volunteer community is not entirely free of bias. “The notion that we’ve turned into some kind of crazy left-wing activist platform is simply incorrect,” he explained. “This doesn’t mean there aren’t areas where we can improve.”

Wales continued, “The right solution is to involve more people. I want kinder, more thoughtful individuals who notice bias in Wikipedia entries to realize it’s not the product of some overzealous activist who will block you for disagreeing. People are just relying on sources, which may not take all perspectives into account.”

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales welcomes “kind and thoughtful” conservatives into the Wikipedia community – Credit: Getty

Musk’s criticism of Wikipedia escalated in January following the circulation of a video from a rally celebrating President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Several users on X suggested that Musk’s gesture appeared akin to a Nazi salute. Musk rejected this interpretation and criticized a Wikipedia entry about the incident, which some claimed drew parallels to the gesture. He reposted an article from X, accusing Wikipedia of perpetuating “legacy media propaganda.”

Wales responded on X, stating that the article accurately reflected verifiable facts: “It’s true that you made that gesture (twice), it’s true that people compared it to a Nazi salute (many), and it’s true that you denied any intention behind it. That’s a fact—all elements of it.”

Musk later tweeted:

Legacy media propaganda is considered a “valid” source by Wikipedia, so of course it is simply an extension of legacy media propaganda. https://t.co/lwQlM51FRX

Wikipedia’s editing guidelines mandate that all entries are written from a neutral perspective, meaning that “all significant views published by reliable sources on a topic must be represented fairly and without editorial bias.” Wales emphasized in the BBC interview that Wikipedia welcomes contributors from all political perspectives as long as they adhere to neutrality rules. “If someone is a kind, thoughtful conservative intellectual, we would love for them to join Wikipedia,” he remarked. “But if someone is a zealous activist with an agenda, I would consider them ‘boring and annoying.’

“Don’t assume just because Elon calls us Walkpedia that we’ve found a new home in Woke,” he added.

Grokipedia was initially slated for launch on October 20, but Musk claimed it was delayed “to clear out propaganda.” He asserted that the site would be live by the end of the week; however, it remains offline as of this writing.

BBC Science Focus reports that Musk’s team did not respond to requests for comment.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Hubble Space Telescope Reveals an Unexpected New Perspective of NGC 4571

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This image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope offers a fresh and detailed view of the star-filled spiral galaxy NGC 4571.

This Hubble image highlights NGC 4571, a spiral galaxy located about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Coma. Image credits: NASA / ESA / Hubble / F. Belfiore / J. Lee / PHANGS-HST team.

NGC 4571 is positioned 60 million light-years away in the constellation Taurus.

This galaxy was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on January 14, 1787.

Also referred to as IC 3588, LEDA 42100, and UGC 7788, NGC 4571 is classified as a spiral galaxy with low surface brightness.

It belongs to the Virgo Cluster, which comprises over 1,000 galaxies.

This cluster is part of the more extensive Virgo supercluster, which encompasses a local group that includes our very own Milky Way galaxy.

“NGC 4571 captivates with its feather-like spiral structure and vibrant star clusters,” remarked Hubble astronomers regarding this new image.

“The galaxy’s dusty spiral arms are sprinkled with bright pink nebulae that contain massive young stars.”

“The star-forming clouds in this image are heated to about 10,000 K due to intense ultraviolet light from young stars at their centers, although stars form in much cooler conditions.”

“Stars emerge from giant molecular clouds that can span tens to hundreds of light-years, with temperatures only slightly above absolute zero.”

“The remarkable change from a frigid gas cloud to a blazing young star is driven by the immense gravitational force that compacts the gas into dense clumps within star-forming clouds.”

“As these clumps yield to gravity and collapse inward, they eventually reach sufficient heat and density to initiate nuclear fusion at their cores and begin to shine.”

“The luminous clouds depicted in this image enclose particularly massive stars that are hot enough to ionize the gas within their stellar nurseries.”

In 2022, the Hubble team captured intricate images of NGC 4571 as part of an observational initiative incorporating data from major observatories, including Hubble, NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array.

“The newly released images today add data from a program aimed at understanding the impact of dust on observations of young stars obscured within their natal clouds,” the astronomers noted.

Source: www.sci.news

Fossil of 80-Million-Year-Old Long-Nosed Crocodile Discovered in Egypt

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Paleontologists have unearthed two partial skulls and three partial jaws from an early diverging crocodile dinosaur in the Quseir Formation of Egypt.

Artist’s impression of Wasdiskus Kassabi. Image credit: Nathan Dehaut / MUVP.

This newfound species of crocodile existed in what is now Egypt roughly 80 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period.

Dubbed Wasdiskus Kassabi, it belongs to the Dirosauridae family. This group of crocodilians is known for its diverse skull morphology and broad distribution from the Late Cretaceous to the Paleogene.

“In contrast to modern crocodiles, dirosaurs flourished in coastal and marine habitats, characterized by elongated snouts and thin, needle-like teeth optimal for capturing slippery prey like fish and turtles,” stated paleontologist Sara Saber from Assiut University and her colleagues.

“Their notable survival and dispersal following the extinction of the dinosaurs is vital for understanding how reptiles adapted and diversified during the collapse of global ecosystems.”

Wasdiskus Kassabi was estimated to be 3.5 to 4 meters in length, featuring a lengthy snout and sharp, tall teeth.

“What sets it apart from other dirosaurids is its four teeth at the front of the snout versus the primitive five, nostrils placed at the top of the snout for surface breathing, and a notable notch at the snout’s tip where the jaws converge,” Saber added.

“These characteristics suggest that the dirosaurids’ bite was a gradual adaptation, representing a significant milestone in their evolutionary journey.”

Two partial skulls and three partial jaws of Wasdiskus Kassabi were discovered in the Kharga and Baris oases within Egypt’s Western Desert.

“Apart from its unique features, Wasdiskus Kassabi significantly contributes to our understanding of the origins of the dyrosaurid family,” Dr. Saber remarked.

“This new species extends the timeline for the African origin of dirosaurids and suggests their diversification may have begun earlier than previously thought, potentially during the early Coniacian-Santonian period (approximately 87 to 83 million years ago) rather than the Maastrichtian period (around 72 to 66 million years ago) as had been traditionally assumed.”

“This discovery highlights Africa as the evolutionary cradle of dirosaurids, from which subsequent lineages spread worldwide and have consistently been positioned in our phylogenetic analyses.” Wasdiskus Kassabi “is the ancestor of the dirosaurid lineage,” noted Belal Salem, a researcher affiliated with Mansoura University, Ohio University, and Benha University.

“The significance of Wasdiskus Kassabi lies not only in its revelations about the evolutionary history of this remarkable crocodilian group but also in the reminder that Egypt’s Western Desert still holds treasures that guard the mysteries of Earth’s ancient past.”

The findings are detailed in a study published today in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.

_____

Sarah Saber et al. 2025. Early dirosaurids (Wasdiskus Kassabi) discoveries from the Campanian of Egypt illuminate the origin and biogeography of dirosaurids. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 205 (2): zlaf134; doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf134

Source: www.sci.news

Paleontologists Uncover New Early Triassic Coelacanth Species

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Chinese paleontologists have identified a new species of Coelacanth, Whiteia anniae, based on two fossil specimens. This breakthrough expands the geographic presence of the genus Whiteia, marking the oldest record of this genus in Asia, which predates the earliest known pyloid coelacanth in this continent by 9 million years.

Whiteia anniae Right side view, holotype. Image credit: Dai et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-20229-w.

“Coelacanths are a fascinating group of sarcopterygian fishes, with two extant marine species from the genus Latimeria,” stated lead author Dr. Guan Hui Shu, a paleontologist at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues.

“This group first appeared in the Early Devonian, peaked in taxonomic diversity during the Early Triassic, but saw a decline starting in the Middle Cretaceous.”

“Coelacanths play a crucial role in evolutionary biology due to their distinctive physiological and anatomical characteristics, as well as their resilience through four major extinction events over hundreds of millions of years.”

The discovery of Latimeria previously ignited discussions on how this unusual lobe-finned fish relates to the evolution of terrestrial animals.

“Given their evolutionary stability, coelacanths have long been viewed as one of the most morphologically conservative vertebrate groups.”

“However, some research, particularly those focusing on Triassic fossils, indicate that coelacanth body shapes exhibit greater diversity than previously recognized.”

“Recent discoveries of new species around the globe continue to yield significant insights into the evolution of coelacanths.”

The newly identified species, Whiteia anniae, lived during the Smithian stage of the Early Triassic, approximately 249 million years ago.

This fish belongs to the genus Whiteia, an extinct group of coelacanths that were previously known from Madagascar, South Africa, Canada, and Greenland, but not from Asia.

“As the first record in Asia, this new finding from the Early Triassic dramatically broadens the geographic distribution of the genus Whiteia and is a significant addition to our understanding of the evolution of this major Triassic coelacanth lineage,” stated the paleontologists.

Two specimens of Whiteia anniae were discovered in Late Triassic marine deposits at Maoshankou in Anhui Province, China.

Fossil evidence suggests that this coelacanth measured between 41 and 46 centimeters in length, making it notably larger than other named species within its genus.

“Previously reported Whiteia species from the Early Triassic were typically small, ranging from 11.5 to 27 cm in length, and a slender body shape was once believed to be a defining characteristic of the genus,” the researchers explained.

“While there has been a recent trend of recovery, the Whiteia giganteus (estimated to exceed 100 cm in length) from Texas illustrates a period in which the genus achieved larger body sizes during the Late Triassic in North America.”

“The recovery of Whiteia anniae provides an intriguing example of a smaller species, in contrast to larger relatives in Europe, Africa, and North America.”

The team’s study was published on October 17th in the journal Scientific Reports.

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QH.Large et al. 2025. A new species of coelacanth (Actinistia, Sarcopterygii) from the Early Triassic period of Anhui Province, China. Scientific Reports 15, 36320; doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-20229-w

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Identify Three Earth-Sized Exoplanets in a Close Binary Star System

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A researcher suggests that the binary star system TOI-2267 is likely home to two warm Earth-sized exoplanets and an additional candidate. A new paper published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics discusses these findings.

Artist’s impression of the binary star system TOI-2267. Image credit: Mario Sucerquia, Grenoble-Alpes University.

The system, known as G 222-3 or TIC 459837008, consists of the M5 type star TOI-2267A and the M6 type star TOI-2267B, which are separated by approximately 8 astronomical units.

Located about 22 parsecs (73.5 light-years) from the Sun in the constellation Cepheus, TOI-2267 presents a fascinating planetary arrangement.

Dr. Sebastian Zuniga Fernández, an astronomer at the University of Liege, stated, “Our analysis shows a distinct planetary configuration: two planets orbiting one star and a third planet orbiting its companion star.”

This discovery makes TOI-2267 the first known binary star system to host planets that transit around both stars.

Dr. Francisco Pozuelos from the Andalucía Astronomical Institute remarked, “Our findings set several records, making this star system the most compact and coolest known planet-planet pair, and it is the first observed instance of a planet transiting both components.”

Astronomers utilized the SPECULOOS and TRAPPIST telescopes along with their proprietary detection software, SHERLOCK, to identify the three planetary signals.

“Uncovering three Earth-sized planets within such a compact binary star system is an exceptional opportunity,” Dr. Zuniga-Fernández noted.

“This will enable us to scrutinize the limits of planet formation models in complex environments and deepen our understanding of the variety of planetary structures in our galaxy.”

The two confirmed planets, TOI-2267b and TOI-2267c, have orbital periods of 2.28 days and 3.49 days, respectively.

The authors currently cannot determine which star in the binary system the planets orbit.

When orbiting TOI-2267A, TOI-2267b and TOI-2267c exhibit radii of 1 and 1.14 Earth sizes, while their radii become 1.22 and 1.36 Earth radii when orbiting TOI-2267B.

Furthermore, researchers detected a third strong signal with a period of 2.03 days, which is still classified as a planetary candidate, having sizes of 0.95 or 1.13 Earth radii depending on whether it orbits TOI-2267A or TOI-2267B.

Dr. Pozuelos added, “This system serves as a genuine natural laboratory for exploring how rocky planets can form and persist under extreme mechanical conditions that were previously thought to endanger their stability.”

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S. Zuniga-Fernandez et al. 2025. Two warm Earth-sized exoplanets and an Earth-sized candidate planet in the M5V-M6V binary star system TOI-2267. A&A 702, A85; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202554419

Source: www.sci.news

Men Might Need to Exercise More than Women for Comparable Heart Health Benefits

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Exercise offers substantial advantages for heart health

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For men over 50, engaging in more than twice the exercise as women may be necessary to achieve equivalent heart health benefits. Data analysis from activity trackers indicated that this demographic requires almost nine hours of moderate-to-vigorous activities, such as brisk walking or cycling, each week to lower their risk of coronary heart disease by 30%.

In comparison, women only need around four hours to achieve the same reduction.

Researchers had long speculated that women might experience greater heart benefits from exercise than men, based on self-reported data, although such figures can be misleading.

To address this issue, Chen Jiajing and colleagues at Xiamen University in China utilized data from wrist-worn activity monitors sourced from the British Biobank study, correlated with participants’ health records over an eight-year span.

The team first evaluated data from 80,243 adults, averaging 61 years in age and with no previous history of coronary heart disease. Women achieving at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise weekly had a 22% reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease, while men saw only a 17% reduction with the same exercise commitment.

To reach a 30% risk reduction, even greater physical activity was required. There was a notable gender disparity in this regard, with women needing to exercise 250 minutes and men needing 530 minutes.

The team next examined 5,169 participants already diagnosed with coronary heart disease, with an average age of 67, and two-thirds being male. Women who engaged in 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week were 70% less likely to die from any cause in the subsequent eight years compared to less active women. Conversely, men who completed the same amount of exercise only experienced a 20% lower likelihood of death than their less active counterparts.

“This isn’t bad news for men, but it’s important to recognize,” says Nir Einon from Monash University, Australia. “With this knowledge, men can strive to improve and exercise more. It’s encouraging for busy women, yet we must not forget that women also need to remain active.”

Chen and his team could not be reached for immediate comments, but the study suggests the discrepancy may be linked to hormonal factors, as higher estrogen levels can enhance fat metabolism during exercise. Eynon posited that biological differences could mean women utilize more breathing capacity, metabolic energy, and muscle strength to achieve comparable physical tasks as men.

The research is “robust”; Guidelines based on gender according to Ercilia DeFilippis at Columbia University in New York City, yet it primarily encompasses individuals who are about 93% white, affluent, and educated. DeFilippis highlighted that Black women typically experience poorer cardiovascular outcomes than their white counterparts, and social factors significantly impact their health and treatment adherence.

“It’s crucial to understand how these findings relate to more racially diverse and socio-economically disadvantaged groups in the future, given the severe impact of cardiovascular disease,” she emphasized.

Nonetheless, these findings for the older demographic indicate that remaining active in later years can offer considerable benefits, but exercise regimens should be customized according to age and physical capabilities, she reiterated. “It’s never too late to become active and move your body.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

White House Effectiveness Review: An Eye-Opening Documentary on President Bush’s Inaction Against Climate Change

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President George H.W. Bush (left) and environmental protection advisor Bill Riley

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white house effect
Directed by Boni Cohen, Pedro Cos, and John Schenck, available on Netflix starting October 31st

The opening scene of white house effect transports viewers to the devastating Great Drought of 1988. The backdrop is a scorching summer in North America, presenting the USA with its worst drought since the Dust Bowl. Relief is nowhere in sight; the heat is relentless.

This climate crisis defined the presidential election that year, pitting Democrat Michael Dukakis against Republican George H.W. Bush, who triumphed with a landslide victory on a pledge for enhanced environmental protection.

“Some may argue these challenges are insurmountable,” President Bush remarked during a campaign stop in Michigan, addressing climate change. “My belief is clear: it is achievable, and we must act. These matters transcend ideology and politics.” Such a sentiment from a prominent Republican seems unimaginable today.

In 1988, the U.S. was a nation where addressing environmental issues garnered votes, and where the connection between fossil fuels and climate change was discussed with a mix of urgency and skepticism.

Predominantly narrated through archival footage, white house effect serves as a window into a hopeful future that never came to fruition. It tells the tale of a populace ready to acknowledge climate change as a bipartisan issue, only to be steered away from that consensus.

The film centers on a struggle between two advisors to President Bush. In the blue corner, Bill Riley, former president of the World Wildlife Fund and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator starting in 1989. In the red corner stands John H. Sununu, the chief of staff known for his climate skepticism. These two figures will shape the environmental policies of the Bush administration and face off for years, with dire consequences for our planet.

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George H.W. Bush stated that climate change knows no political boundaries.
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With hindsight, one could easily predict the outcome. Yet, what’s intriguing about white house effect is that it refrains from presenting this as inevitable. It explores a gradual march towards a destiny. The archival footage is always engaging, often shifting timelines to reinforce the film’s message, keeping the audience aware and engaged despite the grim reality on display.

Consider the 1979 energy crisis, during which Exxon experienced a staggering 119% profit increase while countless drivers waited hours to refuel due to plummeting oil production. One driver at a gas station remarked that everyone should just return home and await the gas shortage. When asked why he wasn’t turning back, he responded: “I’m not going back because no one else is.”

This documentary features numerous climate scientists, but none resonate more than Steven Schneider, a pioneer advocating for climate action. His journey forms the film’s emotional core, from his Senate testimony in 1988 to his final interview before his passing in 2010.

“Looking back at our early efforts, many of our immediate goals fell short. But here we are, making gradual progress,” he reflects. “The problem of global warming has been recognized, and we’re pushing for a cultural shift—something that will take a generation.”

It’s heart-wrenching to ponder how Mr. Schneider would view the last 15 years of fruitless attempts and the current direction of America.

Viewing white house effect can feel suffocating. It stirs frustration, particularly for those, like me, born too late to witness these events firsthand. While the film is polemical, it serves a vital purpose—shaking us out of apathy and urging action, no matter the cost.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Billionaires Should Be Prohibited from Geoengineering the Planet

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Shutterstock/John D. Sahlin

Addressing climate change is a fundamentally collective effort. We share a single planet and atmosphere, meaning every emission of greenhouse gases impacts us all.

Notably, a small percentage of individuals have a disproportionate impact. The wealthiest 1% globally account for one-fifth of total emissions since 1990. A voluntary reduction in carbon footprints by the affluent could yield significant global benefits.

However, given our understanding of human behavior, such an outcome seems unlikely. But what if the affluent sought to balance carbon outputs through financing geoengineering projects designed to cool the planet? As explored in an exclusive survey of climate scientists (see “Exclusive: Climate scientists expect attempts to dim the sun by 2100”), there are unpredictable risks associated with such initiatives, potentially leading to adverse effects like droughts or ozone depletion.

Thus, if we are to engage in atmospheric modification, it must be pursued collectively. At present, there are no barriers preventing individuals or factions from attempting to unilaterally cool the Earth. This is why over 80% of respondents in our survey advocate for a global treaty to regulate potential climate interventions.

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The wealthiest 1% globally account for one-fifth of total emissions.
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Such a treaty would be among the many necessary updates to global governance in our era. Another domain where affluent individuals can exert significant influence is the night sky, which is increasingly cluttered with satellites that negatively affect the atmosphere (see How worried should we be about toxic chemicals from dead satellites?). With no global restrictions on satellite launches, the number has surged into the thousands, primarily driven by Elon Musk’s Starlink initiative.

International agreements lack the allure of dramatic, high-tech solutions often envisioned in science fiction, making it challenging to win support from billionaires. However, if they wish to contribute positively, endorsing international law would be a constructive starting point.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Review: The Ultimate Smartwatch for iPhone Users

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The most powerful and impressive Apple Watch returns for its third generation. Now featuring a larger display, extended battery life, and satellite messaging capabilities to help you stay connected, even in remote areas.

The Ultra 3 is Apple’s response to adventure watches such as Garmin’s Fenix ​​8 Pro, but it doubles as a comprehensive smartwatch for your iPhone, complete with all essential features. Priced at £749 (€899/$799/AU$1,399), it’s £50 less than the 2023 variant, yet pricier than the Series 11 starting at £369 and the Watch SE 3 at £219.

At first glance, the Ultra 3 doesn’t appear markedly different from its predecessor released two years ago. Available in natural or black titanium, it maintains the same dimensions but now boasts a slightly larger display with reduced bezels, affirming its status as the largest Apple Watch yet.

The screen presents greater brightness at various angles, enhancing visibility at a glance, and displays a ticking seconds feature when idle, much like the Series 10 and 11. It’s exceptionally bright, shielded by ultra-durable sapphire glass, and ranks among the finest screens available on a wearable.

The robust crown and reinforced side buttons minimize accidental touches during workouts and are user-friendly even with gloves on. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Equipped with the same S10 chip as the Series 11, the Ultra 3 incorporates excellent touch-free gestures. A double-tap of your thumb and index finger can activate buttons or scroll, while swiftly releasing your wrist and returning it dismisses an alarm or notification or goes back to the watch face.

Apple has successfully integrated a 6% larger battery into the Ultra 3, allowing over three days of usage in typical conditions, including overnight sleep monitoring. Most users will find a recharge necessary every three nights. This represents a full day longer than other Apple Watch variants, though it still lags behind adventure-watch competitors like Garmin that offer week-long battery life.

A full charge is achievable in about two hours, and it reaches 50% within 30 minutes using the included USB-C magnetic charging cable.

Satellite and 5G

If you subscribe to a compatible phone plan, your watch can leverage 5G, greatly enhancing mobile connectivity in areas with weak 4G signals. Apple has also introduced complimentary satellite SOS messaging from your iPhone to the Ultra 3, enabling emergency text communications via satellite, even without cellular service. Satellite usage is also available for “Find My location” tracking and messaging to friends, although this feature is limited to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and both require an eligible cellular data plan.

The Ultra 3 operates on the latest watchOS 26 software like the Series 11 and other Apple Watches, featuring a refreshed design with new watch faces. Moreover, the Ultra 3 showcases a captivating new Waypoint watch face that includes a live compass displaying surrounding points of interest. This face adds to several other information-rich Ultra-exclusive designs, including Wayfinder and Modular Ultra.

A collection of Ultra 3 watch faces, including the new Exactograph (top left), Waypoint (top-center), Flux (top right), and an always-on off-angle display. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Specifications

  • Case Size: 49×44mm

  • Case Thickness: 12mm

  • Weight: 61.8g

  • Processor: S10

  • Storage: 64GB

  • Operating System: watchOS 26

  • Water Resistance: 100 meters (10ATM)

  • Sensors: HR, ECG, SpO2, temperature, depth, dual-band GPS, compass, altimeter

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, NFC, UWB, satellite, optional 5G/eSIM

Top-Notch Sports and Health Tracking

A domed sapphire glass sensor array on the back captures most health metrics and fits snugly on your wrist. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Ultra encompasses the same extensive health and fitness tracking capabilities found in standard Apple Watches, including rich heart monitoring features, ECG, abnormal rhythm alerts, blood oxygen tracking, and a new high blood pressure warning that assesses readings over 30 days.

It introduces Apple’s innovative Sleep Score metric for easily interpreting your tracked sleep, wrist temperature monitoring, cycle tracking with ovulation prediction, and more functionalities.

Ultra enhances typical Apple Watch workout tracking in several notable ways. An extra action button allows immediate workout initiation, and unlike other Apple models, you can delay until GPS has locked before pressing it a second time to begin your workout.

The Precision Start feature, exclusive to the Ultra, is anticipated to also be integrated into standard Apple Watches. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Notably, its dual-band GPS system enhances tracking precision in challenging environments, such as urban areas with tall buildings or dense forests. This feature, found in premium running watches, has shown marked improvement since the first Ultra, establishing it as one of the most accurate timepieces available, often matching or surpassing the best performers in urban GPS assessments.

It tracks an array of metrics including running power and dynamics, training load, heart rate zones, and more, alongside conventional stats like distance, pace, and cadence. The Ultra can store structured workouts such as interval training and features an excellent track detection mode for laps. It’s equally effective in cycling, swimming, triathlons, and supports diving up to 40 meters along with more than 22 other activity types.

Brilliant orange action buttons can be customized for various functions, including workouts, torches, stopwatches, voice memos, and more. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Combined with a large, bright display, it offers a commendable 11-14 hour battery life during high-accuracy run tracking, making the Ultra 3 a surprisingly effective sports watch.

Ultra also offers new features like Apple’s Workout Buddy AI Coach for walking, running, hiking, cycling, and various training workouts, providing both pre- and post-activity encouragement through Bluetooth headphones. However, you will need to carry an iPhone 15 Pro or later model for this functionality.

Sustainability

Apple states that the battery can endure over 1,000 full charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of its original capacity and is replaceable for £95. Repair costs for damage amount to £489.

This watch incorporates over 40% recycled materials, including cobalt, copper, gold, lithium, rare earth elements, steel, titanium, and tungsten. Apple provides device trade-ins and free recycling services, along with a report detailing the environmental impact of its watches.

Price

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available in two colors and various bands, starting at £749 (€899/$799/AU$1,399).

Verdict

The Ultra 3 is the largest and most potent Apple Watch available, but enhancements over previous variants are minimal.

Aside from the satellite SOS messaging, which may truly prove vital in emergencies, the rest of the features chiefly improve upon the Ultra 2.

Nonetheless, the longer battery life is a much-appreciated upgrade, and the increase in screen size and brightness on the same watch frame is fantastic. The new software capabilities are impressive, particularly the flick-through-list gesture for clearing notifications, representing one of the best recent upgrades to the Apple Watch.

The Ultra remains a unique option compared to other models; if you desire a less common Apple Watch, this is the right choice for you. However, those in search of a high-end, specialist sports watch might prefer alternatives like Garmin. Yet, the Ultra 3 boasts all the qualities of an excellent smartwatch compatible with your iPhone while serving effectively as a training companion, provided it is charged frequently.

The Ultra 3 stands tall as the premier Apple Watch, though significant upgrades from earlier Ultra models are generally absent.

Pros: Exceptional display, durable yet elegant design, double-tap and wrist-flick gestures, three-day battery life, 5G and satellite SOS/messaging capabilities, top-tier health monitoring, excellent activity tracking with dual-band GPS, customizable action buttons, 100m water resistance, 40m dive support, and sustained software updates.

Cons: Quite costly, only compatible with iPhones, and lacks the ability to support third-party watch faces. The previous Ultra model offers no major enhancements and does not match the battery longevity of rival adventure watches.

The Ultra 3 is a sizable Apple Watch, yet remains more compact than competing adventure watches, making it easier to fit beneath your cuff. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Advantages of Group Exercise Over Solo Workouts

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“Exercising with peers significantly boosts workout attendance.”

Rich Bowen Photography/Alamy

As a child, I steered clear of team sports; my hand-eye coordination was lacking, and my competitive nature led to more frustration than fun. However, new studies are challenging my perspective. Research indicates that group exercise, particularly in team sports, may provide greater health benefits than going solo.

A 2023 analysis showed that participating in sports—be it for fun or competition—boosts mental well-being, decreasing stress and anxiety levels, and enhancing self-esteem. These outcomes are notably stronger in team sports, suggesting they have a greater positive impact on mental health than other exercise forms, independent of physical activity levels.

The social elements of sports can amplify these physical advantages. Exercising with others increases the likelihood of attending workouts. In a 2024 study, over 770 participants received cash incentives for gym visits, with some required to bring friends. Those with workout partners attended about 35% more often than individuals who could go alone. Follow-up studies suggested this was due to greater accountability and enhanced enjoyment from exercising together.

Other research reveals that this enjoyment can even enhance performance. In one study, participants in a free community run reported feeling more energized when joined by friends or family, resulting in faster paces. Additionally, research on competitive rowers revealed that viewing pictures of loved ones while rowing allowed participants to endure about 20% longer compared to those who looked at images of strangers.

The exact reason remains unclear, but it likely relates to how we process fatigue. Ultimately, our brain governs our muscles, and fatigue serves as a protective mechanism, preventing us from overextending ourselves and risking injuries. Exercising alongside friends (or even just seeing their photos) signals safety to our brains, potentially delaying fatigue.

This concept aligns with a significant shift in exercise psychology, previously emphasizing competition as a performance enhancer. Increasingly, research is exploring the impact of cooperation. After all, our innate ability to run long distances likely developed through collective hunting, suggesting we may be inherently designed to exercise in groups.

This revelation brings me comfort, prompting a shift in focus from competition to collaboration in sports. I’m planning to run a half marathon with my best friend soon, and her suggestion to train together feels like the key to reaching the finish line.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Why Zero is the Most Essential Number in Mathematics

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Bakhshali manuscripts contain the first example of zero in written records

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What’s the most significant number in mathematics? It seems like an absurd question—how do you choose from an infinite range? While prominent candidates like 2 or 10 might stand a better chance than a random option among trillions, the choice is still somewhat arbitrary. However, I contend that the most critical number is zero. Allow me to explain.

The rise of zero to the pinnacle of the math hierarchy resembles a classic hero’s narrative, originating from modest beginnings. When it emerged around 5000 years ago, it wasn’t even considered a number. Ancient Babylonians utilized cuneiform, a system crafted from lines and wedges, to represent numbers. These were akin to tally marks, where one type denoted values from 1 to 9 and another signified 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.

Babylonian numerals

Sugarfish

Counting could extend to 59 with these symbols, but what came after 60? The Babylonians simply restarted, using the same symbol for both 1 and 60. This base-60 system was advantageous because 60 could be divided by many other numbers, simplifying calculations. This is partly why we still use this system for time today. Yet, the inability to differentiate between 1 and 60 represented a significant limitation.

Thus emerged zero—or something like it. The Babylonians, similar to us today, utilized two diagonal wedges to signify the absence of a number, allowing other numbers to maintain their correct placements.

For instance, in the modern numbering format, 3601 represents 3,000, 600, 10 of 0, and 1. The Babylonians would write it as 60 60, 0 10, 1. Without the zero marking its position, that symbol would look identical to 1 60 and 1. Notably, though, the Babylonians didn’t utilize zeros for counting positions; they functioned more like punctuation marks to indicate where to skip to the next number.

This placeholder concept has been utilized by various ancient cultures for millennia, although not all incorporated it. Roman numerals, for instance, lack a zero due to their non-positional nature; X consistently signifies 10 regardless of its placement. Zero’s evolution continued until the 3rd century AD, as evidenced by documents from present-day Pakistan. These texts featured numerous dot symbols indicating a position of zero, which eventually developed into the numerical 0 we recognize today.

Yet, we had to wait a few more centuries before zero was regarded as a number on its own, as opposed to merely a placeholder. Its first documented appearance occurred in the Brahmaspukhtasiddhanta, authored by Indian mathematician Brahmagupta around 628 AD. While many had previously recognized the oddity of computations like subtracting 3 from 2, such explorations were frequently considered nonsensical. Brahmagupta was the first to treat this concept with due seriousness and articulated arithmetic involving both negative numbers and zero. His definition of zero’s functionality closely resembles our contemporary understanding, with one key exception: dividing by zero. While Brahmagupta posited that 0/0 = 0, he was ambiguous regarding other instances involving division by zero.

The dot in Bakshali manuscript means zero

Zoom History / Alamy

We would have to wait another millennium before arriving at a satisfactory resolution to this issue. This period ushered in one of the most potent tools in mathematics: calculus. Independently formulated by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the 17th century, calculus engages with infinitesimals—numbers that aren’t precisely zero but approach it closely. Infinitesimals allow us to navigate the concept of division by zero without crossing that threshold, proving exceptionally practical.

For a clearer illustration, consider a hypothetical scenario where you’re accelerating your car rapidly. The equation v = t² describes this speed change, where t denotes time. For instance, after 4 seconds, the velocity shifts from 0 to 16 meters/second. But how far did the car travel during this interval?

Distance, determined by speed multiplied by time, would suggest 16 multiplied by 4 equals 64 meters—a misrepresentation, as the car only reached its maximum speed at the end of that period. To improve accuracy, we might assess the journey in segments, generating an overestimated distance as we rely on maximum speed.

To refine this estimation, we should truncate the time windows, focusing on the speed at a specific moment multiplied by the duration spent in that state. Here’s where zero becomes significant. Graphing v = t² reveals that our earlier estimates diverged from reality, with subsequent adjustments closing the gap. For the utmost precision, one must envision splitting the journey into intervals of 0 seconds and summing them. However, achieving this would necessitate division by zero—an impossibility until the advent of calculus.

Newton and Leibniz devised methods that facilitate an approach to division by zero without actually performing it. While a comprehensive explanation of calculus exceeds the scope of this article (consider exploring our online course for more details), their strategies unveil the genuine solution, derived from the integral of t², or t³/3, leading to a distance of 21 1/3 meters. This concept is often illustrated graphically as the area beneath a curve:

Calculus serves purposes beyond simply calculating a car’s distance. In fact, it’s utilized across numerous disciplines that require comprehension of shifting quantities, from physics to chemistry to economics. None of these advancements would have been possible without zero and our understanding of its profound capabilities.

However, for me, the true legacy of zero shines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For centuries, mathematics faced a crisis of identity. Mathematicians and logicians rigorously examined the foundations of their fields, uncovering alarming inconsistencies. In a bid to reinforce their disciplines, they began to define mathematical objects—numbers included—more explicitly than ever before.

What exactly constitutes a number? It can’t simply be a term like “3” or a symbol like “3,” as these are mere arbitrary labels we assign to the concept of three objects. We might point to a collection of fruits—apples, pears, and bananas—and express, “There are three pieces of fruit in this bowl,” yet we haven’t captured their intrinsic properties. What’s essential is establishing an abstract collection we can identify as “3.” Modern mathematics achieves this through zero.

Mathematicians operate with sets, rather than loose collections. For instance, a fruit collection would be represented as {apple, pear, banana}, with curly braces indicating a set. Set theory forms the bedrock of contemporary mathematics, akin to “computer code” for this discipline. To guarantee logical consistency and prevent the fundamental gaps discovered by mathematicians, every mathematical object must ultimately be articulated in terms of sets.

To define numbers, mathematicians commence with an “empty set,” a collection of zero elements. This can be represented as {}, but for clarity’s sake, it is often denoted as ∅. With this empty set established, the remaining numbers can be defined. The numeral one corresponds to a set containing one object—thus, {{}} or {∅} is visually clearer. The next number, 2, necessitates two objects; the first can again be an empty set. But what about the second? Defining this object inherently creates another—a set that contains the empty set, yielding {∅, {∅}} for two. Proceeding to three, it becomes {∅, {∅}, {∅, {∅}}}, and so forth indefinitely.

In summary, zero is not merely the most vital number; it can be regarded as the only number in a certain light. Within any given number, zero is always present at its core. Quite an accomplishment for something once dismissed as a mere placeholder.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Review of The Séance at Blake Manor: An Engaging Gothic Detective Game Brimming with Mystery and Intrigue

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A A quirky group of misfits and a sharp-dressed investigator harboring their own secrets reside in an isolated mansion on Ireland’s west coast. A seance at Blake Manor may seem like the perfect setting for a cozy evening, but this folk horror drama delivers far more than mere entertainment for Agatha Christie enthusiasts.

Set in October 1897, you step into the shoes of private detective Declan Ward. Tasked with uncovering the fate of Evelyn Dean, a guest who has mysteriously vanished, you find yourself in a once-grand mansion turned into a luxurious hotel. Inside, a host of eccentric characters await: from a camera-wielding medium to a voodoo practitioner named Ungan, and a Brazilian woman searching for her family’s history. They’ve gathered for a grand seance on the eve of All Hallows’ Eve, when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. As you explore the intricately designed rooms and gardens from a first-person perspective, you soon realize that every attendee harbors dark or tragic secrets and knows more about young Miss Dean than they let on.

A captivating experience…the séance at Blake Manor. Photo: Spooky Doorway/Raw Fury

What ensues resembles a classic detective adventure, presented in a graphic novel style, with art that draws inspiration from the likes of Mike Mignola (Hellboy) and Eduardo Risso (The Hundred Bullets). Engage in conversations with suspects, rummage through rooms for hidden clues and valuable items, and gradually compile a list of potential culprits. The game features a real-time clock and a schedule of events that must align with your investigation. Time only advances when you are actively exploring or interrogating guests, compelling you to apply your detective skills judiciously. Being at the right place at the right time to overhear clandestine conversations about spiritualism, mythology, and the mansion’s history in the Great Drawing Room is crucial.

All your findings can be meticulously organized through a set of graphical inventory screens, including a dynamic mind map of clues and actions. Though initially overwhelming, as you gather letters, keys, and hints, you quickly adapt and realize that taking notes is essential. While it may not exhibit the structural freshness of Blueprint, the game creatively guides you in certain directions, featuring a word game deduction mechanism that allows you to formulate theories regarding motives and backgrounds when approaching suspects.

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As you delve deeper into the investigation, it becomes apparent that this is more than just a quaint mystery. The mansion, steeped in historical and religious significance, serves as a poignant reminder of colonialism, highlighting the stark contrast between the guests’ wealth and the struggles of the hotel staff. The narrative weaves themes of appropriation and cultural destruction alongside the enigma of a missing person, revealing the true implications of the mansion and its affluent owners, the troubled Blake family. Guests arriving from colonized regions, seeking answers to intricate family histories, enhance this diaspora narrative, while stories of addiction, trauma, and sorrow are thoughtfully interlaced throughout. There are chilling moments, where ghosts flicker just out of sight or unsettling events transpire during the night.

The outcome is a spellbinding detective tale—a well-researched interactive folk horror experience that stands alongside notable titles like Strange Antiquities and Wadjet Eye’s landmark The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow. Immersed in a world of cultural conflict and supernatural vengeance, it tackles profound themes of colonial trauma, identity, and spirituality all within the context of a singular location and event. For those eager to explore spiritualism, folklore, and ancient Irish history further, diving into a bookstore or library is essential.

Undoubtedly, The Séance at Blake Manor is a seasonal delight filled with eerie moments, but it is also an enlightening journey. Overall, it’s a game that challenges, engages, excites, and educates harmoniously.

Séance of Blake Manor is available now for £16.75

Source: www.theguardian.com

How Did the First Galaxies Come to Be? – Cyworthy

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Light travels at a finite speed, meaning it takes time to cover vast distances. Astronomers leverage this to investigate ancient epochs in the universe’s history by examining distant celestial objects. Due to inherent geometric and physical constraints, objects become smaller and dimmer the farther away they are. Additionally, when trying to focus a telescope on a small, faint, and distant target, your view might be obstructed by something larger, closer, and more luminous.

In certain scenarios, scientists can circumvent this limitation and even turn it into an advantage. Like matter, light is influenced by gravity; its trajectory curves as it passes through a gravitational field. The larger an object, the stronger its gravitational pull, resulting in more pronounced bending of light.

When confronted by a massive entity like a galaxy cluster, the light from objects positioned behind it is significantly bent, leading to distorted and magnified images, akin to passing through a lens. This effect, where a distant object appears enlarged due to the gravity of a nearby massive object, is known as gravity lensing.

A group of astronomers recently studied an ancient galaxy, A1689-zD1, which is gravitationally lensed by the galaxy cluster Abel 1689. A1689-zD1 is currently about 25 billion light-years away from us, equivalent to 150 sextillion miles or 240 sextillion kilometers. The light we observe from it has traveled for approximately 13 billion years, around the same duration as the universe’s 14 billion-year lifespan.

By analyzing this light, astronomers can explore the characteristics of galaxies as they were 13 billion years ago. They hypothesize that galaxies at this distance are in the initial phases of their formation and evolution, a period they refer to as the dawn of the universe. Investigating galaxies from this era provides astronomers with valuable insights into the formation processes of galaxies.

To conduct their observations, the team gathered data from multiple sources, including a radio telescope situated in the Atacama Desert in Chile. They utilized the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) to analyze light emitted by oxygen and carbon ions in galaxies. They also employed the Green Bank Observatory VEGAS spectrometer, which searches for light emitted by carbon monoxide molecules in galaxies. The radiation from these ions and molecules aids astronomers in determining a galaxy’s structure and examining the motion and interaction of its various components. Finally, the team integrated archival images from A1689-zD1 from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope to create a composite image in ultraviolet and infrared light, allowing for comparison with their radio data.

While gravitational lenses are beneficial to astronomers by revealing hidden light sources and enhancing them, they often produce distorted representations of objects. To ascertain the galaxy’s true shape, the research team needed to account for these distortions, utilizing Abel 1689’s model of light’s gravitational bending effect. By employing the software Lenstool, the research team accurately characterized the dynamics of A1689-zD1 to within less than 1% of the Milky Way’s width, measuring 200 parsecs, or around 4 quintillion miles and 6 quintillion kilometers.

The team discovered that A1689-zD1 is substantially larger than what a previous study estimated, which suggested a mass between 2 to 4 billion times that of the Sun. The new findings indicate its total mass to be around 20 billion times that of the Sun. They also observed that this mass is divided into five distinct regions, each exhibiting different movements and locations. Moreover, these parts displayed no indications of forming a single rotating disk, unlike the familiar spirals of the Milky Way.

The researchers proposed three potential explanations for this observation. One possibility is that these regions represent components of a single extended galaxy, existing as large molecular clouds or star-forming clusters. Another conjecture is that A1689-zD1 resulted from the merger of at least two smaller galaxies, with the differing regions emerging from the collision and gravitational interactions of the merging galaxies. Lastly, they suggested that the first two hypotheses may not be mutually exclusive, but current data does not allow for determining the extent of either occurrence.

The researchers noted that much of this uncertainty could be clarified through follow-up investigations using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). They also highlighted that considerable aspects of A1689-zD1 remain obscured in the studied wavelength range, contributing to the ongoing discrepancy between mass estimates derived from starlight counting and those determined by analyzing stellar motion. Overall, they concluded that their findings suggest galaxies in the universe’s infancy present a diverse and intricate nature.


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Source: sciworthy.com

Scientists Say Ultra-HD TVs Offer Little Advantage for Average Viewers | TV

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In many contemporary living rooms, large TVs reign supreme; however, researchers suggest that investing in ultra-high-definition models may not be worthwhile.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, discovered that in an average-sized living space, 4K or 8K screens offer no notable benefits compared to a similarly sized 2K screen typically found on computers and laptops. Essentially, there is no visible difference in image sharpness to the human eye.

“At a specific viewing distance, adding more pixels makes little difference; the human eye isn’t capable of detecting them, so I consider it a waste,” stated Dr. Maliha Ashraf, the study’s lead author from the University of Cambridge.

In an article published in Nature Communications, Ashraf and colleagues elaborate on measuring the visual resolution limits of the human eye, indicating that 20/20 vision allows detection of 60 pixels per degree (PPD), although many individuals with normal or corrected vision can see better than this.

“Basing display resolution solely on 20/20 vision underestimates what individuals can actually perceive,” Ashraf asserts. “That’s why we conducted direct measurements of the pixels people can identify.”

The research team set up a 27-inch 4K monitor in a mobile cage, allowing it to be adjusted closer or further from viewers. Eighteen participants with normal or corrected vision were shown two images at varying distances in random order. One image featured 1-pixel-wide vertical lines in colors such as black and white, red and green, or yellow and purple, while the other was a plain gray block. Participants were tasked with identifying the image containing the lines.

“If the lines are too thin or the screen resolution is excessive, the pattern appears as merely a gray image,” Ashraf explains. “We measured the points where individuals can barely discern differences. We referred to this as the resolution limit.”

Through their findings, researchers concluded that the human eye can perceive more detail than previously assumed, with a straight-on grayscale image averaging 94 PPD, red and green patterns averaging 89 PPD, and yellow and purple patterns at 53 PPD.

In a separate experiment, 12 participants viewed white text on a black background, or the reverse, from various distances and indicated when the text matched the sharpness of a clearly defined reference version.

“The resolution at which participants ceased to detect differences in text aligned with our observed results in line patterns,” Ashraf noted.

The research team shared a table featuring various screen sizes and viewing distances, along with the nearest standard resolution meeting or slightly exceeding most people’s visual limits.

“This means that if your setup falls within one of these parameters, upgrading to a higher resolution will not yield measurable benefits,” Ashraf remarked.

The team also offers a free online calculator that allows users to input their viewing distance, screen size, and resolution to see if their settings are within or below the human eye’s resolution limit. This helps users assess whether a higher resolution screen would enhance what they can see.

“For instance, if someone owns a 44-inch 4K TV and views it from about 8 feet away, they’re already seeing more detail than they can actually perceive. Upgrading to an 8K version of the same size won’t provide any sharper images,” Ashraf concluded.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tiny Fossils Uncover New Lineage of New Zealand Songbirds

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Paleontologists have unearthed a 2.9-centimeter fossil foot bone believed to belong to a bowerbird at the Miocene site of St Bassans in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Recreating the life of the St. Bassin’s bowerbird (Aeviperditus gracilis). Image credit: Sasha Votyakova / Te Papa / CC BY 4.0.

The newly identified species existed in New Zealand during the Miocene epoch, approximately 19 to 14 million years ago, well away from its close relatives in Australia and New Guinea.

“This finding offers significant and unique insight into the biological history of Aotearoa’s avian life,” stated Dr. Nick Lawrence, director of the Otago Institute of Paleogenetics.

“For many around the globe, bowerbirds gained fame from Sir David Attenborough’s documentaries featuring their intricate courtship rituals. Males construct arched structures called bowers, adorned with colorful items such as sticks and occasionally fruit, leaves, or even plastic, to attract a mate.”

Known as Aeviperditus gracilis or St. Bassin’s bowerbird, this new bird species was considerably smaller than its modern counterparts.

“It weighs only 33g, much lighter than both existing and extinct bowerbird species, which typically range from 96 to 265g,” Dr. Lawrence explained.

“Its leg bones closely resemble those of Avenue Bower builders, including the brightly colored Flame Bowerbird and Satin Bowerbird.”

“If this bird is indeed a relative of bowerbirds, it could represent an entirely new lineage of songbirds for Aotearoa,” suggested Dr. Elizabeth Steele, a researcher at the University of Cambridge.

“This is particularly crucial given our limited understanding of the region’s ancient songbird fossil record.”

“St Bathan’s Bowerbird signifies the latest lineage of songbirds with a long evolutionary history in Aotearoa, with the earliest representatives of groups like the Uia, Koukako, Tieke, Piopio, and Mohua found here.”

“All these species likely evolved rapidly and dispersed from Australia to New Zealand.”

“Like many of St. Bathans’ unique species, this bird has no surviving descendants in Aotearoa.”

“The bowerbird seems to have been particularly vulnerable to the cooling temperatures preceding the Ice Age and the resulting shifts in forest composition and distribution, contributing to its extinction,” Dr. Lawrence noted.

An article detailing the discovery of Aeviperditus gracilis was published on October 7, 2025, in Historical Biology, International Journal of Paleontology.

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Elizabeth M. Steele et al. Possible early Miocene bowerbirds of New Zealand. Historical Biology, published online October 7, 2025. doi: 10.1080/08912963.2025.2568099

Source: www.sci.news

US and China Reach “Final Agreement” on TikTok Sale, Says Treasury Secretary

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Sunday that the details regarding the transfer of TikTok’s US operations to a new owner have been finalized between the US and China.

“We have reached a conclusive agreement regarding TikTok,” Bessent stated. said, during an appearance with Margaret Brennan on CBS’s Face the Nation. He referred to Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping, mentioning: “With discussions scheduled for Thursday in South Korea, the two leaders will convene in Madrid, and we believe all details have been finalized, which will complete the agreement.”

While Bessent did not share specifics of the transaction, he noted it is part of a larger trade deal framework that both nations will discuss when President Trump and President Xi Jinping meet in the coming days.

Bessent’s remarks followed President Trump’s signing of a presidential order on September 25th, which allowed for a new ownership agreement in the US involving a majority of US investors.

“I am not involved in the commercial details of this transaction,” Bessent remarked. “My focus was to secure approval from the Chinese side for the transaction, which I believe we have effectively achieved over the past two days.”


Barron Trump, President Trump’s 19-year-old son, proposed that the president nominate former social media producer Jack Advent as a director. President Trump has indicated that the new US investors include prominent conservative media figures like Rupert Murdoch and Larry Ellison.

During his first presidential term, Trump threatened to ban TikTok in 2020 in retaliation for China’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Congress enacted a ban on the app during Trump’s administration, which was signed into law by Joe Biden in April 2024. The agreement was set to take effect on January 20, 2025, but was extended four times by Trump while his administration negotiated the ownership transfer.

The estimated value of this contract is $14 billion, with US and international investors expected to hold about 65% of the company’s shares, while ByteDance and Chinese investors will maintain less than 20%.

Trump’s Executive Order grants new investors, including six of the seven board seats, oversight of the app’s algorithms.

Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit as part of a five-day tour of the region, and a direct meeting between Trump and Xi is planned for Thursday.

The two leaders are expected to discuss U.S. agricultural exports, the trade balance, and issues related to the fentanyl crisis, which were cited as reasons for Trump’s 20% tariffs on Chinese imports.

Source: www.theguardian.com