The Mid-Lestic Age is considered a dynamic period in European and African history, but is generally considered a static period in East Asia. The discovery of a series of refined stone tools at Long Tang Sight in southwestern China, 50,000-60,000 years ago, challenges that recognition.
A product from the Quina system located at Longtan Site, China. Image credits: Luan et al. , doi: 10.1073/pnas.2418029122.
The Paleolithic period in the Central era occurred about 300,000-40,000 years ago and is considered an important time in human evolution.
This period is related to the origins and evolution of modern African people.
In Eurasia, it is associated with the development of several archaic human groups, such as the Neanderthals and Denisovan.
However, there is a widely believed belief that in most of the Paleostemic period, China’s development had slowed.
“Our discoveries challenge our current understanding of human history and technological development in East Asia,” said Professor Beau Lee of the University of Wollongong.
“This finding challenges a long-established general theory among archaeologists that China-China tools are relatively simple and unchanged.”
Professor Li and colleagues unearthed a rich collection of stone tools at the Longtan archaeological site in Yunnan, China.
This tool revealed a complete kina technology system that includes the cores used to generate large and thick flakes.
The Kina Industry is one of the most representative tool creation strategies developed in the Mid Paleolithic period around 300,000-40,000 years ago.
It is characterized by a steeply scaled retouch of thick flakes, which often produces robust scrapers with heavy edge modifications associated with neanderthals, representing strategies developed during marine isotope stage 4 as a response to open forest grassland environments and cool/dry climates.
The Kina Technical System was discovered in Western and Southern Europe during this period, but was not thought to have existed in East Asia.
The wear traces of Longtanquina scrape suggest that they are used in a variety of materials, including bones, horns, wood, meat, skin, and non-slow plants.
“Evidence has shown that the discoveries at Longtan significantly broadened the geographical distribution of human species, the tools used, and the adaptability to adapt to a variety of climates and environments,” Professor Li said.
“The discovery of Longtan also provides a perspective to understand how the human-leeze species evolved and evolved in East Asia prior to the massive arrival of early modern people 45,000 years ago.”
“Understanding rather old artifacts forces us to rethink models of human migration patterns and technology evolution in this part of the world.”
“This opens an exciting new avenue for research and, as we know, can rewrite East Asia’s prehistoric period.”
a paper The survey results were published this week Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Qi-Jun Ruan et al. 2025. Kinarithic technology demonstrates the diverse late Pleistocene human dynamics of East Asia. pnas 122 (14): E2418029122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2418029122
Donald Trump is getting ready to review a final proposal that will determine the fate of TikTok before the app either gets acquired by non-Chinese buyers or faces a ban in the US.
US Vice President J.D. Vance, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and National Intelligence Director Tarsi Gabbard will convene in the oval office on Wednesday to discuss the matter, as reported by Reuters.
In the closely watched sale of TikTok, the White House is acting as an investment bank with Vance leading an auction.
Private equity firm Blackstone is in talks regarding the involvement of current non-Chinese shareholders of Baitedan, spearheaded by Susquehanna International Group and Atlantic General.
Trump stated that a deal with ByteDance to sell the video-sharing app used by 170 million Americans will be finalized before the deadline on Saturday.
Trump is gearing up to announce global tariffs on what he’s calling “liberation day” on Wednesday. He expressed willingness to reduce China’s tariffs to seal the TikTok deal last week.
Trump had set a deadline for TikTok to secure non-Chinese buyers by January or face a US ban on national security grounds, as per the law enacted in 2024.
US venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is reportedly discussing an investment in TikTok as part of an effort led by Trump to gain control of the app, according to the Financial Times.
Mark Andreessen, a Silicon Valley luminary and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, is in talks to bring in new external investments to acquire TikTok’s Chinese investors alongside Oracle and other American investors in a bid to separate it from its parent company, as per the FT report.
Blackstone is said to value TikTok’s US business as a small minority investment.
Discussions about TikTok’s future involve plans to raise stakes and acquire clauses to outbid the major Chinese investors to secure the US business for short video apps, as reported by Reuters.
Last month, Trump mentioned that his administration is in talks with four different groups regarding potential deals with TikTok in the future.
TikTok and Andreessen Horowitz have yet to respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Separated by more than 600 miles of land, the epicenter of Friday’s earthquake in Myanmar was far from the skyscrapers of Bangkok. The collapse of a 33-storey building under construction raises questions about how the shaking in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, compares to past earthquakes.
One of the answers lies in low-frequency seismic waves that can travel long distances and impact high-rise buildings.
During a significant earthquake event, different frequencies of shaking are emitted simultaneously. Some produce rapid vibrations, while others generate low-frequency shaking.
This was evident during the Myanmar earthquake when violent, high-frequency seismic waves caused destruction near the epicenter, taking down low-rise buildings and structures made of brittle materials.
High-frequency seismic waves released during an earthquake dissipate within the Earth, while low-frequency waves can travel further along the Earth’s crust.
Low-frequency waves were observed during the 2002 Denali earthquake in Alaska, causing vibrations as far as Texas and Louisiana.
These seismic waves resonate with tall buildings, affecting them differently based on their design and height.
Similar to tuning forks producing varied sounds, buildings react uniquely to earthquakes depending on their characteristics.
Low-frequency seismic waves played a crucial role in the 1985 earthquake that caused extensive damage in Mexico City.
Seismic waves resonated through the soft soils of the Chao Phraya River Delta in Bangkok during the recent earthquake event.
Engineers have realized the underestimated risks posed by soft soils amplifying earthquake effects in recent years.
Cities like Bangkok, Mexico City, Los Angeles, and others are subject to basin effects, increasing earthquake forces, especially at low frequencies.
In 1985, the frequency of seismic waves was critical in understanding earthquake damage in Mexico City, particularly affecting buildings between 7-18 stories tall.
Old low-rise masonry buildings performed better during earthquakes in comparison to taller structures, highlighting vulnerability despite seeming stability.
Engineers shifted to building more flexible skyscrapers in earthquake-prone regions starting from the 1950s.
Concerns persist about the vulnerability of tall buildings to less frequent but more destructive earthquakes.
The fault destruction under modern cities during a major earthquake event can have devastating effects on tall buildings, despite engineering precautions.
Dr. Heaton warns about the rapid and violent movement caused by fault slip during earthquakes, potentially leaving tall buildings unsupported.
Buildings’ bases in earthquake-prone regions must be engineered to withstand such movements to prevent catastrophic collapses.
According to Tony Blair’s ThinkTank, the UK should consider relaxing copyright laws to allow artificial intelligence companies to create innovative products.
The Tony Blair Institute, with ties to the US, is set to introduce copyright measures that could lead to tariffs on UK goods. Despite geopolitical concerns, TBI states that caution is necessary.
The ThinkTank warns that requiring licenses for UK content used in AI models may drive development to regions with less stringent copyright laws. Implementing strict licensing models could also involve restricting access to models trained with such content, including US-owned AI systems.
In a newly released report, TBI expresses support for the government’s proposal to allow AI companies to train models with copyrighted materials, unless creatives choose to opt out. TBI suggests that overly strict AI regulations, as suggested by the Trump administration, could hinder economic and national security interests in the AI race.
The report emphasizes the need for collaboration between rights holders, policymakers, and AI developers to balance creativity and innovation in the AI space.
A more stringent copyright approach than that of the EU, Singapore, or Japan could drive AI developers away from the UK, according to TBI.
The report also advocates for the establishment of an AI and creative industries center to foster collaboration between technology and creative sectors.
Beeban Kidron, a vocal opponent of the government’s AI proposal, criticizes the notion that the UK should become an AI hub for Silicon Valley, calling it a bleak vision for Britain.
Kidron raises concerns about potential conflict of interest due to TBI receiving donations from US tech billionaire Larry Ellison. TBI asserts its intellectual independence over policy work despite the funding.
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican; On Monday, he said he decided to support him. Dr. Oz’s appointment to lead Medicare and Medicaid because Dr. Oz said he didn’t support transgender care for minors and was “clearly pro-life.”
The Senate plans to vote for Dr. Oz’s appointment later this month to become the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Holy had spoken out about withholding support for Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon who has become a daytime television celebrity, concerns about his previous position in transgender care and abortion laws in certain states. Dr. Oz featured the segment on a television program on transgender care, raising the possibility of dissenting previously proposed state law banning abortions based on fetal heartbeat.
In response to Mr. Holly’s written questions, Dr. Oz assured the Senator that he “denies previous support for trans-snary and drugs for minor children.” Posted on x, Social media site. He added, “We’ve come back after overcoming criticism of the state’s pro-life law.” Dr. Oz “works to end funding for abortion providers,” Holly said.
Mr Holy’s opposition may have put Dr. Oz’s confirmation at stake given that Democrats appear likely to vote against him along the party line. CMS is a $1.5 trillion institution responsible for providing healthcare coverage to almost half of Americans.
Last month, Holly managed to expel new Food and Drug Administration chief counsel, Hilary Perkins, for his job as a Biden administration lawyer who claimed to be defending the availability of abortion drugs. She is an anti-abortion conservative.
A spokesman for Dr. Oz did not reply to requests for comment.
The high cost of living in America not only drives up egg prices and housing costs but also contributes to the unhappiness of its citizens. The affordability of healthcare remains a major concern for millions of people. A recent investigation published on Wednesday sheds light on the challenges many individuals face in affording doctor visits and prescription medications, even before discussions about reducing government aid.
According to the survey, 11% of respondents reported being unable to afford necessary medication and care in the past three months, marking the highest level in the four years of the survey. More than a third of those surveyed, approximately 91 million adults, stated they would be unable to pay for medical care if needed.
The survey, conducted by Western Health and Gallup from mid-November to late December 2024, revealed a widening disparity between black and Hispanic adults and individuals with lower incomes. A quarter of respondents earning annual household incomes under $24,000 expressed inability to afford care in the past three months.
“The extent to which this issue is magnified highlights the vulnerability of these particular groups,” noted Dan Witters, a senior researcher at Gallup.
While white adults and high-income earners reported no significant change in their ability to afford care, the rising premiums, additional physician costs, and recent reductions in Medicaid coverage all contribute to the financial burden on individuals. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers’ arguments about repealing Medicaid cuts and tax reductions under the Obamacare plan could further exacerbate the issue, experts warn.
“This puts additional strain on already burdened systems and leads to financial toxicity,” stated Tim Rush, president of the West Health Policy Center. Many families are already grappling with medical debt. Rush emphasized that avoiding necessary care due to financial constraints could result in severe health consequences or even death.
Sarah R. Collins, vice president of healthcare coverage and access at the Nonprofit Commonwealth Fund, pointed out that even with insurance, many individuals lack sufficient coverage to meet their healthcare expenses. She warned that proposed cuts by Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration could lead to a rise in the number of people unable to afford care.
Collins remarked, “We’re regressing to pre-Affordable Care Act levels.”
Recently, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines by defending his decision to terminate thousands of employees in his department.
Last week, he announced plans to eliminate 10,000 jobs, in addition to the 10,000 positions cut during the early days of the Trump administration.
Kennedy referred to the Department of Health and Human Services as “the largest agency in the government, twice the size of the Pentagon, with a budget of $1.9 trillion.” News Nation. He suggested that the department does little to enhance the health of Americans.
Despite having a discretionary budget of around $850 billion, HHS spends more than the Department of Defense. However, experts argue that the majority of the HHS budget is not allocated to staff expenses.
According to three budget experts, a small fraction of the federal health agency budget goes towards officials’ salaries. This includes FDA staff, CDC, and NIH.
The majority of funds are spent on Medicare and Medicaid for elderly and low-income individuals, respectively. These funds support private insurance plans, hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, and more.
Melinda Bunting, a health policy professor, stated that HHS staff costs represent less than 1% of the department’s budget, despite overall spending increases.
Bobby Cogan, from the Center for Progress in America, criticized Kennedy’s depiction of HHS budgeting as “misleading.”
Kogan argued that the focus should be on the aging population, not misleading budget claims. HHS seeks to reduce federal spending by $1.8 billion annually through workforce cuts.
Another HHS institution, the administration for children and families, allocates billions to programs like Head Start and welfare support.
Christounner, from the Responsible Federal Budget Committee, estimated HHS staff costs to be less than 1% of spending, accounting for highly qualified health professionals.
While the Trump administration has focused on Medicare fraud, Congress is exploring potential fraud within Medicare Advantage Plans, involving hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Hundreds of Billions Annual dollars.
The entire forest explodes as lightning hits a tree in the tropical region.
“To the most extreme, the bombs look like they’ve disappeared,” said Evan Gola, a forest ecologist at the Carrie Ecosystem Institute in Millbrook, New York, who is a forest ecologist with dozens of trees around what was touched. Within a few months, a considerable forest ring will die.
For some reason, there is one survivor standing there who looks healthier than ever. New research Dr. Gora was published last week in the New Phytologist journal, revealing that some of the rainforest’s biggest trees will not survive the lightning attack. They thrive.
The tropical rainforest at the Baro Colorado Nature Monument in Panama is a great place to study whether some trees are immune to lightning. It is home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and is one of the world’s most studied tropical forests. Dr. Gola tried to study whether individual trees in the forest would benefit from being hit by lightning. And if so, does that help species populations survive on a large scale?
Early on, he spent a lot of time climbing trees, searching for signs of lightning damage. However, making critical observations is painful and inefficient. Dr. Gola began climbing one tree, convinced that it was the trunk struck, and went up 50 feet and wanted him to actually be the tree next to him. The bees also crowd Dr. Gora’s eyes and ears.
“Your whole life is just bustling,” he said. “That’s scary.”
Dr. Gola needed a more efficient way to find the trees he attacked, so he and his collaborators developed a method to monitor lightning strikes and triangulate electromagnetic signals. This technique led him to the correct tree more quickly and could be evaluated using a drone.
From 2014 to 2019, the system captured 94 lightning strikes on trees. Dr. Gola and his team visited the site to see which species were hit. They were looking for dead trees and “flashover points.” There, the leaves are sung as lightning jumps between the trees. From there, the canopy dies and the tree eventually dies.
Eighty-five species were hit, seven survived, while one literally stood out figically. The DipteryxOleifera is a towering species hit nine times, including one tree that has hit twice and appears to be more active. D. oleifera has a crown about 30% higher than the remaining trees and about 50% larger than the other trees.
“It appears there is an architecture that can be attacked more frequently,” Dr. Gola said.
All D. oleifera trees struck survived the lightning attack, but 64% of the other species died within two years. The trees surrounding D. oleifera could be 48% higher than those around other species. In one notable break, one strike killed 57 trees around D. oleifera. Lightning also D. Blowing out parasite trees from the oleifera tree.
Cleaning adjacent trees and choking grapes, D. This meant that the oleifera tree would have less competition from the light and make it easier to produce more seeds. A computer model is a D when it is hit multiple times. We estimated that the lifespan of oleifera trees could be extended by almost 300 years.
“It seemed impossible for lightning to be good for trees,” Dr. Gola said before the study. However, the evidence is D. It suggests that oleifera will benefit from each impact.
“Trees are constantly competing with each other, so you need an edge compared to what surrounds you,” said Gabriel Arellano, a forest ecologist at the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the research.
The physical mechanisms that help trees survive the intense lightning strike remain unknown. Dr. Gora suggested that different trees may be more conductive and conductive, or that there may be an architecture that will escape damage.
This study was only in Panama, but similar patterns have been observed in other tropical forests. “It’s very common,” said Adrian Esquibel Muerbert, a forest ecologist at the University of Birmingham in the UK who worked with Dr. Gola but was not involved in the research. “It’s very clear when that will happen.”
Climate change is set to increase the frequency and severity of tropical thunderstorms. It appears that some trees may be more suited to the future of storms than others.
President Trump is set to meet with top White House officials on Wednesday to discuss proposals aimed at securing the future of Tiktok in the United States, according to two sources familiar with the plan.
Trump will be considering suggesting a new ownership structure for the popular video app, which is owned by the Chinese internet giant ByteDance. Lawmakers and other US officials have raised concerns about the app’s ties to China, citing national security issues. A federal law passed last year requires Tiktok to change its ownership or face a ban in the US. The most recent deadline for this ban is Saturday.
The meeting will be attended by Vice President JD Vance, who was appointed by Trump in early February to find a solution to save popular apps, along with two other individuals who requested anonymity. They mentioned that the new ownership structure could involve private equity firm Blackstone and tech company Oracle.
This meeting is just the latest development in Tiktok’s ongoing national saga, as the app has gained immense popularity in the US despite facing intense scrutiny in Washington. Trump has expressed his desire to save the app and previously extended the deadline for a potential transaction in January. He has hinted that he may do so again if a suitable plan is not reached by the beginning of this month.
Tiktok has not responded immediately to a request for comment.
It remains to be seen whether the potential deal being discussed will adhere to the law. The law stipulates that less than 20% of Tiktok or its parent company can be owned by individuals or entities from countries considered “foreign enemies,” including China.
Furthermore, the law prohibits new entities from collaborating with ByteDance to operate video recommendation technologies or establish data sharing agreements.
Last week, Trump suggested that he could potentially ease tariffs on China in exchange for support for the deal.
Tiktok has stated that it is not up for sale, as the Chinese government is blocking any potential deal.
NASA’s funding cuts have already impacted US research and education programs
dcstockphotography/shutterstock
NASA has cancelled contracts and grants worth up to $420 million, following guidance from the Trump administration’s government efficiency (DOGE). The reductions will impact research projects and education programs in the United States, but NASA says it’s perfect for checking exactly which organizations are affected.
After Doge, an independent task force led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, NASA confirmed the amount but refused to specify which programs were cancelled. Casey Drier The Planetary Association, a California-based nonprofit organization, list of a program that has recently lost funds using the agency’s public grant database. NASA has since deleted the database and did not respond to questions about the accuracy of the list.
Much of the cuts on Dreyer’s list coincides with President Donald Trump’s skepticism about climate science and his administration’s active targets regarding his interpretation of the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) program.
Climate-related cancellations include a Massachusetts Institute of Technology project that uses satellite sensors to map the impacts of extreme heat, air pollution and flooding. Another target was a University of Oklahoma study to develop digital twin simulations that predict the impact of flooding on tribal lands.
However, it is unclear why NASA has ended support for other research, such as using bioengineering cells to investigate how spaceflight affects the human body and modelling how lunar dust can contaminate future lunar missions.
NASA spokesman Bethany Stevens said New Scientist The agency is “to work with the Ministry of Government Efficiency initiative to optimize the workforce and resources.” Doge urged agencies across the US government to cut funding or shut down altogether.
But it says that ongoing grants and contract cancellations will fly in the face of a “strict” review process that selected them in the first place as “the most scientifically appropriate proposal.” Michael Batario At Yale University. “Politics cannot and should not define what is scientifically worth studying at the level of individual grants,” says Batario, who is studying the atmosphere of Mars and Titan in preparation for future missions.
“DEI related cuts get me the most out of the way.” Bruce Jacoski He was the lead scientist at NASA’s Maven Mission to Mars at the University of Colorado, Boulder. “These grants are about reaching out to underrepresented groups and making people accessible to training and education. None of them appears to promote people who are less qualified than more qualified.”
For example, NASA cut funding for a conference hosted by the National Association of Black Physicists, a longtime nonprofit that promotes the professional well-being of African-American physicists and physics students. “We were told that the reason for cancelling the contract is to comply with the president’s executive order regarding the DEI,” he said. Stephen Robersonpresident of the National Association of Black Physics. “We would like to appeal this decision and explain further why an annual conference, in which people of all races and academic levels present scientific research, is considered a DEI.”
New Scientist They reached out to researchers and organizations that they thought were affected, but few responded to the National Association of Black Physicists. The San Diego Aerospace Museum, featured on Drayer’s list, said NASA’s funding for educational events appears to be still intact, despite the NASA database indicating changes to the grant’s end date. NASA did not respond to requests to verify the status of this fund.
The auto industry flocked to dealers last month to lock deals before Trump’s car fares increased by thousands of dollars, witnessing a different kind of March madness, several automakers said.
“This past weekend was the best weekend I’ve seen in a very long time,” Randy Parker, CEO of Hyundai Motor North America, told reporters Tuesday. The company reported a 13% increase in sales in March on Monday compared to the previous year.
Ford Motor said on Monday that sales at dealers rose 19% in March. However, the company said Ford’s sales throughout the quarter reduced 1% to around 500,000 vehicles as sales to fleet customers fell.
General Motors did not provide another figure in March, but reported first quarter sales rose 17% from the previous year to 693,000 vehicles.
Last week, Trump said Thursday he would impose a 25% tariff on imported vehicles. Customs duties will be extended to imported auto parts on May 3rd. Many cars made in US factories contain parts made overseas, frequently exceeding 50% of the vehicle’s value. Analysts estimate that automakers will have to raise prices on some models by more than $10,000 to compensate for new taxes.
GM, Ford and Hyundai reported increased sales of electric vehicles and hybrids. GM said that the electric version of the Equinox Sport Utility Vehicle has become widely available, almost doubled for vehicles with only batteries to 32,000 units. The starting price is around $35,000, and the Equinox is one of the most affordable electric vehicles available in the US.
Ford said sales of hybrid vehicles increased by 33%, while sales of electric vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E rose by 12%. Sales of cars with internal combustion engines fell 5% during the quarter.
Hyundai said sales of the hybrid skyrocketed 68%, while sales of pure electric vehicles rose 3%.
Parker of Hyundai said he could not estimate the impact it would have on its involvement in the company’s price. Hyundai and its sister company Kia have factories in Georgia and Alabama, but import a considerable number of vehicles from South Korea.
“We haven’t made a solid decision yet,” Parker said. But he added, “Don’t wait for tomorrow to buy what you can buy today.”
It is called an unexpected phenomenon Convection It helps to explain many of the other features of the volcano and Venus landscape.
The artist’s impression is that a volcano erupts on Venus. Image credit: ESA/AOES Mediaab.
The University of Washington, Professor Slava Solomatov of St. Louis, said:
“Our calculations suggest that convection is possible and likely is likely. If so, it gives us new insight into the evolution of the planet.”
Convection occurs when the heated material rises towards the surface of the planet, and the cold material sinks, creating a constant conveyor belt.
On Earth, convection deep in the mantle provides the energy that drives plate tectonics.
The Earth’s crust, about 40 km thick on the continent and 6 km in the sea basin, is too thin to cool and cannot support convection.
However, Professor Solomatov and his colleague Dr. Chabi Jain of St. Louis suspected that Venus’ crust had a proper thickness (probably 30-90 km, and in some places 30-90 km), temperature and rock composition.
To confirm this possibility, researchers applied a new theory of fluid dynamics developed in the lab.
Their calculations suggested that Venus’ crust could indeed support convection. This is a whole new way of thinking about the geology of planetary surfaces.
In 2024, scientists used a similar approach to determine that convection would likely not occur in the mercury mantle. Because the planet is too small and has been cooled quite a bit since it formed 4.5 billion years ago.
Venus, on the other hand, is a hot planet both inside and outside. The surface temperature reaches 465 degrees Celsius (870 degrees Fahrenheit), and its volcano and other surface features show clear signs of melting.
Scientists have been wondering how heat from the interior of the earth is transferred to the surface.
“Crustal convection can be an important missing mechanism,” Professor Solomatov said.
“Convection near the surface can also affect the type and placement of volcanoes on Venus’ surface.”
The author hopes that future missions to Venus can provide more detailed data on crust density and temperature.
If convection occurs as expected, some areas of the crust must be warmer and less dense than others. This is a difference that can be detected using high-resolution gravity measurements.
But perhaps an even more interesting target is Plput, a frozen dwarf planet outside the solar system.
Images from NASA’s New Horizons mission revealed a prominent polygonal pattern in the Sputnik Planitia region of Pltune, which resembles the plate boundary on Earth.
These polygons are formed by the slow convection current in a 4-km thick layer of solid nitrogen ice.
“Pluto is probably the second planetary body in the non-Earth solar system, and the convection driving tectonics is clearly visible on the surface,” Professor Solomatov said.
“It’s an attractive system that we still need to understand.”
result Published in the journal Physics of the interior of Earth and Planets.
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Viatcheslav S. Solomatov & Chhavi Jain. 2025. The possibility of convection in the Venus crust. Earth and Planet Physics 361:107332; doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2025.107332
The 20-year Hubble study of Uranus provides valuable data to help you understand the atmospheric dynamics of this distant ice giant. This serves as a proxy for studying the deformation of similar sizes and compositions.
The image sequence shows changes in Uranus over the past four years when Hubble’s STIS instrument observed Uranus over 20 years. Over that period, astronomers saw Uranus season as the Antarctic region (left) entered winter shadows, and the Arctic region (right) brightened, and began to become more direct view as summer approached the north. The top row of visible light shows how Uranus’ colours look to the human eye, as can be seen by even amateur telescopes. In the second line, false-colored images of the planet are assembled from visible and near-infrared light observations. The color and brightness correspond to the amount of methane and aerosol. Both of these quantities were indistinguishable before STI first targeted Uranus in 2002. Generally, the green area has less methane than the blue area, and the red area does not show methane. The red area is in the limbs, where the stratosphere of Uranus is almost completely free of methane. The two bottom rows show the latitudinal structures of aerosols and methane, inferred from those visible from 1,000 different wavelengths (colors) to near-infrared. In the third row, bright areas show cloudy conditions, while dark areas show clearer conditions. In the fourth row, the bright areas show depleted methane, and the dark areas show the total amount of methane. At mid- and low-latitude latitudes, aerosol and methane depletion has a unique latitude structure that has changed little over 20 years of observation. However, in polar regions, aerosol and methane depletion behave very differently. In the third row, aerosols near the Arctic show a dramatic increase, becoming very dark in the early days of the Northern Spring and very bright in recent years. It appears that aerosols also disappear in their left limbs when solar radiation disappears. This is evidence that solar radiation alters aerosol haze in Uranus’s atmosphere. On the other hand, methane depletion appears to remain very high in both polar regions throughout the observation period. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Erich Karkoschka, LPL.
Uranus is a giant ice planet about four times the diameter of Earth.
It has a hydrogen and helium feel and has a bit of methane that gives it a blue tint.
Uranus lies to its side and rotates, its magnetic field is biased – it tilts at the center 60 degrees from its axis.
When Voyager 2 passed Uranus in 1986, it provided a close-up snapshot of the planet facing sideways. What it saw resembled a bland blue-green billiard ball.
In comparison, Hubble recorded the story of 20 years of seasonal changes from 2002 to 2022.
During that period, it was used by a team of astronomers led by Dr. Erich Karkoschka of the University of Arizona and Dr. Larry Slomovsky and Dr. Pat Free of the University of Wisconsin. Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrometer (stis) Draw an accurate picture of Uranus’ atmosphere structure.
Researchers observed Uranus four times in 20 years: 2002, 2012, 2015, and 2022.
They found that unlike gas giants Saturn and Jupiter, methane was not evenly distributed on Uranus.
Instead, it is heavily depleted near the pole. This depletion remained relatively constant for 20 years.
However, the structure of aerosols and hazes changes dramatically, and brightens significantly in the Arctic region as the planet approaches the northern summer solstice in 2030.
Uranus takes Earth age just over 84 years to complete the single orbit of the Sun.
Therefore, for over 20 years, the team has seen the spring almost north to make the Northern Pole shine directly in 2030, before shining the equator of Uranus.
“Hubble’s observations suggest a complex atmospheric circulation pattern for Uranus during this period,” the scientists said.
“The data most sensitive to methane distribution shows polar inundation and upwelling in other regions.”
The US has ended financial support for family planning programs in developing countries, separating nearly 50 million women from access to birth control.
This policy change has attracted little attention in the wholesale demolition of US foreign aid, but it has great significance, including mother deaths and an overall increase in poverty. It derails the efforts that have in recent years brought long-acting birth control pills to some of the world’s poorest and most isolated regions.
The US contributed to family planning programs in 31 developing countries last year, providing about $600 million in 2023, according to the health research institute KFF.
According to an analysis by the sexual health research institute, the US funding provides birth control pills and medical services to deliver them to more than 47 million women and couples, reaching over 47 million women and couples. Without this annual contribution, 34,000 women could die from preventable mother deaths each year, Guttmacher’s calculation concluded.
“The magnitude of the impact is daunting,” said Mariva, who leads the coordination team for the Ouagadougou Partnership, an initiative to accelerate access to investment and family planning in nine West African countries.
The funding ended as part of the Trump administration’s breakdown of the US International Development Agency. The State Department, whose USAID skeletal remains were absorbed on Friday, did not reply to a request for comment on its decision to cease funding for family planning. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explains that he wasted the fired aid project and is not in line with America’s strategic interests.
Supporting family planning in the world’s poorest and most populous countries has been a consistent policy priority for both Democrats and Republican administrations for decades, considered a breakwater against political instability. It also reduced the number of women seeking abortions.
Among the countries that will be heavily affected by the decision are Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Funds to support the International Family Planning Program have been allocated by Congress and have been extended to the latest expenditure bill, which the government is operating until September. Moves by the State Department to cut these and other aid programs are now the subject of multiple lawsuits before federal courts.
The Trump administration has also fired US funding for UNFPA, the UN’s sexual reproductive health organization, the world’s largest procurement of birth control pills. The United States was the organization’s largest donor.
The US was not the sole supplier of birth control in any country, but the sudden termination of US fundraising has created disruption to the system and has already run out of products in clinics.
The estimated $27 million worth of family planning products already raised by USAID are stuck at various points in boats, ports and warehouses. Programs and employees have no programs or employees left to take them down or hand them over to the government. One plan proposed by Washington’s new USAID leadership is for the rest of the employees to destroy them.
Supply chain management is a major focus for USAID in all areas of health, with the US paying for transporting contraceptive products such as hormone implants, for example, from Thai manufacturers to ports in Mombasa, Kenya.
“It will be extremely difficult to put your work back on,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA.
The US has also paid for data and information systems that help the government track what is in stock and what needs to be ordered. None of these systems have been working since the Trump administration sent halt work orders to all programs that received the USAID grant.
Bellington Wwalika, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Zambia, said contraceptives have already begun running in some parts of the country, with the US supplying a quarter of the national family planning budget.
“Wealthy people can buy the products they want. It is the poor who have to think, ‘What should I get between food and birth control?'” he said.
Even before the US retracted its family planning program, the survey found that globally, 1 billion women of reproductive age wanted to avoid pregnancy, but modern methods of birth control were inaccessible.
At the same time, there have been great progress. Demand for contraception is steadily increasing in Africa, a region of the world with lowest coverage, in long-acting ways that provide women with greater privacy and safe protection. Supply has been improved with better infrastructure and helped deliver products to rural areas. And the “Demand Creation” project, which is the main funder in the US, used ads and social media to inform people of the various options available and the benefits of pregnancy intervals or delays. The rise in education levels among women has also increased demand.
Two weeks ago, Thermasibanda, a 27-year-old engineering graduate who lives in a low-income community on the edge of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, received a hormone implant that prevents pregnancy for five years.
Shibanda has a two-year-old son and says he can’t afford more children. She can’t find a job in Zimbabwe’s broken economy and her husband can’t. They follow the $150 presence he earns from the vegetable stand every month. She relied on “hope, faith and natural methods” to prevent another pregnancy from happening after her son was born, Shibanda said, hoping for something more reliable, but that was simply impossible on her family’s budget – until a free clinic came to her neighborhood.
With USAID funding, the Zimbabwean organization that provided implants last year has been able to purchase six robust Toyota vehicles and camping equipment so that outreach teams can travel to the country’s most remote parts and provide vascular removal and IUD at pop-up clinics. Since Trump’s executive order, they have had to stop using all of that equipment.
International nonprofit MSI reproductive options intervened with temporary funds to ensure that they could continue to provide free care to women they could reach, such as Shibanda.
Shibanda said her priorities are to provide her son with the best possible education and that there are no more children as tuition costs. However, many African women have no way of making this choice. In Uganda, the national fertility rate is 4.5 children per woman, but it is not uncommon to meet women in rural areas with limited education with eight or 10 children, said Dr Justin Bukenya, lecturer in community health and behavioral sciences at Makerele University in Kampala. These women become pregnant for the first time as teenagers, with little space between pregnancy.
“By the time they were 30, they were able to get their 10th pregnancy. These are the women affected,” she said. “We’re missing the opportunity to make progress with them. The United States was doing a very strong job of creating the demands of birth control with these women here and mobilizing young men and women to go to family planning.”
Some women who rely on free or low-cost services through the public health system may now seek to buy birth control pills in the private market. However, the prices of tablets, IUDs and other devices are likely to rise significantly without guaranteed to buy large quantities from the US.
“As a result, women who relied on free or affordable options through the public health system could now be forced to rely on private sector sources.
The next biggest donor to post-US family planning is the Netherlands, which provided about 17% of donor government funding in 2023, and the UK provided 13%. The two countries recently announced plans to cut their aid budget by more than a third.
BA said the focus of the West African countries she works for is to mobilize domestic resources and come up with ways for governments to try and relocate money to cover what the US supplies. Charities such as the Gates Foundation and financial institutions, including the World Bank, which are already important contributors to family planning, could provide additional funding to try to move products into the country.
“We were very optimistic. Even with all the political instability in our area, we’ve been using modern methods to add millions of women over the last few years,” BA said. “And now, it’s all, US support, policy, it’s all gone completely. The gap is too big to fill.”
Protesters gathered at Tesla showrooms in cities worldwide over the weekend to demonstrate against Elon Musk’s alliance with Donald Trump within the US government. Their main focus was to denounce Tesla’s vehicles. A sign in Manhattan declared, “Burning Tesla and saving democracy.” Demonstrators are leveraging consumer products as a means to impact American political democracy.
Reports from colleagues Dara Kerr and Edward Helmore revealed:
Hundreds of anti-Tesla protesters convened outside the EV Manhattan showroom on Saturday. Sophie Shepherd, 23, an organizer at Planet over Profit, clarified that the protest was not about electric vehicles per se.
“We’re here to protest the ties that essentially linked Tesla’s car show to the White House lawn,” she stated. “Our aim is to disrupt his business in every way possible, including not just CyberTruck but all Tesla models.”
Although the demonstration didn’t draw a large crowd, Musk’s fortune has decreased by over $100 billion as Tesla’s stock plummeted by nearly half from its peak in December 2024.
The political involvement of Musk forces many Tesla owners to take a stand for or against the company.
Musk is closely associated with Tesla. The company disclosed in its annual report that it heavily relies on Tesla and Musk’s technology services. Tesla’s technology is a significant factor in this contentious connection.
Moreover, the public perception of Musk’s political affiliations is intertwined with Tesla. Initially revered as a tech genius, Musk’s inspiration from Iron Man elevated Tesla’s brand, fueling the growth of his rocket enterprise.
However, with Musk’s polarizing public image, Tesla’s success hinges on maintaining public trust and confidence. The company’s disclosure emphasizes its aim to appeal to a diverse range of potential customers globally.
Musk’s political endeavors place Tesla owners in the spotlight, forcing them to either endorse or disavow the company. Owners often feel compelled to justify their purchase or publicly distance themselves from the company’s political stance. This dichotomy raises concerns about the public’s perception of Tesla as a mere political symbol.
Meanwhile, Musk’s narrow target audience was highlighted by hosting a Tesla sales event on the White House grounds, aligning with a controversial presidency. The outcome for Tesla remains uncertain, but its social relevance appears to impact its financial standing.
For more details on Saturday’s protest, read the full story here.
Amazing new genera and species of Gnathosaurine Pterosaur Garudapterus buffetauti It has been identified from the upper jaw of fossils found in eastern Thailand.
“Pterosaulia is the order of extinct flying reptiles that once lived among dinosaurs during the Mesozoic era, with fossil records from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period.”
“Traditionally, Pterosaurs had two major groups.”
“The first branches generally have a long tail and a long fifth toe (traditionally known as the vacuum subsystem Rhamphorhynchoidea, now abolished).”
“The second one is Pterodactyloidea a large group with a high tail shrinking, relatively long metacarpal, short or non-existent fifth toe. ”
Garudapterus buffetauti It belongs to Gnathosaurinae a subfamily of pterodas within the Pterodactyloidea group.
The new species lived in what is now Thailand 130 million years ago, 130 million years ago, during the early Cretaceous period.
Fossilized sites of flying reptiles were found in the Pra Prong area in the southern region of the Phanom Dong Lac Mountains in Sa Keo province, Thailand.
Holotype of Garudapterus buffetauti – The first pterocortic skull material in Thailand – consists of a partial stud and five incomplete teeth from one individual.
“The anterior of the platoon is flattened dorsoventral and laterally expanded (spoon-shaped) shows an affinity for Gunasosaurnae,” the paleontologist said.
“The alveolar boundaries are severely scalloped and are like a collar, and the surface of the palate shows a pair of sine wave grooves.”
“These features have strong similarities to Gunasosaurin from the late Jurassic period. Gnathosaurus suburatus, Tacuadactylus luciae and Lucegnatos Almadrava. ”
Team phylogenetic analysis shows this Garudapterus buffetauti It is closely related to these Gnathosaurines.
“Even so, Thai gunasosaurin is unique and recognized as a new species for displaying the kite-shaped podium expansion,” the researchers said.
“This new specimen provides important information about Pterosaurs, including updated data to help us better understand diversity and distribution across Southeast Asia.”
Team’s paper It was published in the journal this month Cretaceous Research.
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Shitamanitokoon et al. The first ganaurin (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) in the early Cretaceous period in eastern Thailand. Cretaceous Research Published online on March 28th, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106135
Openai announced a $400 billion funding round that valued ChatGpt makers at $300 million. Partnering with SoftBank, Openai aims to push the boundaries of AI research towards AGI (artificial general information) with significant computing power.
SoftBank believes in achieving “artificial super intelligence” (ASI) surpassing human intelligence, praising Openai as the best partner to reach this goal. SoftBank plans to invest $10 billion initially and $300 billion by 2025, subject to meeting certain conditions.
Facing competition from Deepseek and Meta in the open source AI space, Openai announced plans to develop a more open, generative AI model. Additionally, Openai is expanding its user base rapidly with the latest image generation features in ChatGpt.
Openai, led by CEO Sam Altman, previously favored a closed model for AI development. However, with evolving priorities, Openai is now embracing open source to allow developers more flexibility in adapting AI technologies.
Critics of closed AI models, like Google, argue that open models pose higher risks and are more susceptible to misuse. Former Openai investor Elon Musk urges Openai to prioritize open source safety.
Companies and governments prefer AI models they can control for data security reasons. Meta and Deepseek offer customizable models, enabling users to download and modify them to suit their needs.
Commenting on the success of new features in ChatGpt, Altman mentioned a surge in users overwhelming Openai’s resources. This advancement underscores the growing interest and demand for AI advancements.
Approximately 1,900 leading researchers have denounced the Trump administration Open Letter On Monday, it conducted a “wholesale assault on National Science” that could backtrack research for decades, threatening the health and safety of Americans.
All signatories of the letter were warned by the damages caused by layoffs in health and science institutions, all elected members of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, and by the cuts and delays in funding that have historically supported research within government and across American universities.
“For over 80 years, wise investments by the US government have built up national research companies and are a global hope,” the letter states. “Amazingly, the Trump administration is destabilizing the company by stripping funds for research, firing thousands of scientists, removing public access to scientific data, and pressures researchers to change or abandon their work on ideological basis.”
The letter stated that many universities and research institutes have so far “became antagonistic to the administration and remained silent in order to put their funds at risk.” However, he said, “The country’s scientific enterprises are undoubtedly undoubtedly.”
The signatories urged Americans to appeal to Congress to protect scientific funds.
With Elon Musk’s efforts to cut spending on institutions he considers as ideological enemies and President Trump’s crackdown, the administration has sought to dismantle some of the federal government’s scientific fundraising equipment.
Funding from the National Institutes of Health, which supports jobs by more than 300,000 scientists across the country, has down billions of dollars from typical levels in the early months of the Trump administration.
The White House has also moved to cancel research in certain areas, including transgender health and climate science.
The Trump administration announced last week that it had fired 10,000 Health and Human Services Department employees as part of a broader restructuring that reflects the priorities of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The department hired unreliable vaccine skeptics to study the links that have been exposed by scientists for a long time between vaccines and autism. On Friday, the country’s top vaccine regulator resigned, citing Kennedy’s “misinformation and lies.”
Over the past few weeks, members of the National Academy of Medicine, a nonprofit that provides independent health policy advice, have begun discussing concerns with members of the National Academy of Science and Engineering.
Dr. Stephen Wolf, the organizer of the letter studying health policy at the Federal University of Virginia, said the conversations produced open letters.
The letter was drafted by a group of 13 scientists representing fields such as medicine, climate science, sociology and economics.
“We know what this does to the US life expectancy, mortality rates and the mental health crisis we have,” Dr. Wolf said. “These changes in research companies are going to lead to harm to everyday Americans.”
Dr. Wolf cited the planned reorganization of the Agency for Medical Research and Quality, a small institution responsible for protecting patient safety and ensuring Americans’ access to free preventive services like mammograms.
“The person responsible for protecting the quality of healthcare in the United States has just been demolished,” Dr. Wolf said.
The letter outlines the results of funding cuts, including a pause in research studies, faculty layoffs, and reduced enrollment of graduate students.
It also condemns the management of “censorship involvement” among other things by “blocking research on topics that appear undesirable, such as climate change, or topics that have unfavorable outcomes on topics from vaccine safety to economic trends.”
The concern about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing numerous jobs is widespread. However, in today’s competitive job market, not leveraging AI effectively as part of your search could mean missing out. Balancing the power of technology with the human touch is a tricky task.
You can utilize AI models like this chatgpt and Confused to apply for jobs while also researching employers, competitors, and industry trends.
Career Coach Hannah Salton mentions that some of her clients use AI to gather insights about companies, culture, competitors, and market positioning before applying or networking with small and medium-sized enterprises.
She explains, “For instance, if targeting ChatGpt, you can ask for recommendations on city-based marketing teams and small businesses. However, AI models may not always be completely accurate, so it’s advisable to cross-check results with other sources.”
AI can also help identify necessary skills to adapt to industry changes and build a future-proof career.
For example, jobsgpt from Smarterx’s tools can analyze how roles in your industry are evolving, assess tasks vulnerable to automation, and guide you on acquiring new skills or transitioning to a more demanding field.
Career Coach Eloise Skinner also suggests using AI to help clients find roles and industries that align with their skills, values, and explore beyond their usual choices. Job seekers can seek recommendations for roles matching specific skills, passions, and experiences using platforms like ChatGpt and Confused.
She adds, “AI can suggest roles based on past experiences, values, ambitions, and key skill sets. It can also summarize industry and job insights, such as career prospects, work-life balance, and salary expectations, aiding candidates in deciding where to apply.”
As a human
Hang Lee, founder of Brainfood adoption, notes that applicants often rush their applications out of fear of missing opportunities, leading them to use AI to speed up processes. This trend has resulted in recruiters receiving an overwhelming number of applications generated by common AI tools.
“I’m looking for candidates who sound human and show off their unique voice,” said one recruiter. Photo: Jakub Porzycki/Nurphoto/Rex
Marsab Look, who runs her own stationery brand, recounts receiving over 2,000 AI-generated applications that lacked personal touch, leading to instant rejection most of the time.
She points out, “Apart from the apparent copy-and-paste job descriptions from AI, many applications sound generic. Among thousands of applications, those that stand out are the ones with a human touch, showcasing their unique voice and genuine effort instead of solely relying on AI for research.”
Make sure to personalize your applications by citing specific reasons for your interest in the role, such as using the company’s products or aligning with their mission. Tools like ChatGpt, Grammarly, and Hemingway can enhance grammar and clarity in your writing, but remember to prioritize showcasing your personality and genuine enthusiasm over relying solely on AI.
Defeat the screening system
Today, many large companies utilize AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter CVs before human review. These systems scan applications for specific keywords and phrases to rank them based on job description matches.
“One of my clients struggled with their verbal resume,” Salton explains. “They used ChatGpt to highlight key skills concisely while maintaining their authentic voice. It’s essential to maintain a genuine tone.” For instance, you can ask ChatGpt to “enhance my resume, emphasize essential skills and experiences concisely and engagingly while preserving my voice.”
By signing up for LinkedIn Premium Career (£29.99/month after the free trial), you gain access to various AI-powered job search tools.
These include profile writing assistants that serve as CV enhancers, improving headings and summaries to stand out. You can also prioritize three job applications per month as top choices and make your profile more appealing to recruiters with validated badges and personalized messages when applying.
Additionally, you can directly message recruiters even without a connection and use job hunting features on LinkedIn to align your skills and experience with specific job requirements.
Sharpen your interview skills
To improve interview skills, combine AI interview tools with practice sessions with real people. Photo: Luminola/Getty
AI can serve as a valuable tool for practicing interviews. Skinner suggests, “Speaking your answers aloud provides a more authentic practice experience, helping you hear your own voice and identify areas for improvement. It’s crucial to use AI in conjunction with real practice sessions.”
For instance, ChatGpt’s Advanced Voice mode can offer feedback on delivery, pinpointing weaknesses that need addressing and boosting confidence for the actual interview. Activate the audio mode in ChatGpt’s search bar, provide job details, and request mock interview sessions tailored to specific roles for feedback on your responses.
Platforms like Google’s Digital Skills Training provide AI-powered career coaching to improve articulation of your accomplishments.
While AI plays a role in the application process, make sure to prepare adequately for real interviews. Being transparent about using AI for preparation demonstrates adaptability and a practical approach to technology.
Similarly to your resume, Julia Morgon, director of Recruitment Agency Brook Street, advises, “Don’t forget to infuse your personality into the interview; what makes you unique from your peers is what potential employers see most.”
Know your value
Utilize AI-powered platforms like Glassdoor and Payscale to research potential salaries and enhance your negotiation position. These tools can reveal companies that consistently offer above-market pay rates and highlight regional salary discrepancies and variations in remote work.
As roles evolve, so does compensation. Understanding these trends is crucial for negotiating offers, especially considering the average British worker changes jobs every five years, according to a survey by LV =. Platforms like TotalJobs and Reed provide detailed salary insights based on industry, location, and experience level to better benchmark your value.
Tom Buckell, director of Recruitment Company ManPower UK, recommends leveraging research insights in negotiations, such as being flexible with shifts, requesting examples, or training opportunities. “This approach provides more options to enhance non-monetary benefits if a potential employer cannot meet your salary expectations,” he adds.
President Trump’s tariffs can increase prices, and efforts to reduce the federal workforce may lead to higher unemployment. Many economists are concerned about administration policies that will cut federal support for scientific research.
The Trump administration has recently canceled or frozen billions of dollars in federal grants for researchers, resulting in significant cuts to funding for academic medical centers and other institutions. It has also attempted to dismiss hundreds of workers at the National Science Foundation and has revoked visas for numerous foreign-born students.
These policies could jeopardize the US’s competitiveness in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, affecting the nation’s health and productivity in the long run.
“Universities play a crucial role in innovation,” says Sabrina Howell, a professor at New York University. “These policies are detrimental to our ability to innovate and grow.”
Scientists warn that the US risks losing its position as a leading research hub and a top destination for scientific talent globally.
Laboratories across the country are already laying off workers and halting projects, potentially affecting ongoing clinical trials. Top universities like Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania have announced employment freezes. Other countries are actively recruiting American scientists, offering a more welcoming environment.
Economists argue that taxpayer-funded research is crucial for early-stage studies that may not attract private investors. Research has shown that every dollar invested in research and development yields about $5 in economic returns, including intangible benefits like increased longevity and leisure time.
“Research is a high-return activity that benefits society in many ways,” said economist Benjamin F. Jones from Northwestern University. “We need to invest more in research to stay competitive.”
Unexpected discovery
Hudson Freeze’s groundbreaking research in microorganisms in the 1960s led to important discoveries in DNA replication and genetic sciences. His work showcases the vital role of government funding in scientific research.
Dr. Freeze’s discoveries underscore the importance of government support for scientific breakthroughs. While private investors may overlook research on rare disorders, government funding has led to significant advancements in medical science.
The US research and development system, established during World War II, has been instrumental in driving economic growth and innovation. Federal investments in research have led to key technologies like the Internet and modern medicine.
…
Immigration plays a crucial role in driving scientific and technological advancements in the US. Despite accounting for a small percentage of the population, immigrants have contributed significantly to innovation, patents, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Changes in immigration policy and the perception of the US as unwelcoming could deter foreign students and scientists from choosing the US for education and research. Research has shown that restrictions on immigration during the Trump administration led to a decline in Chinese students studying in the US.
“International students and scientists are responsive to the environment in the US,” said economist Britta Glennon from the University of Pennsylvania. “A welcoming atmosphere is crucial for attracting global talent.”
The Stentor, a giant in the world of single-celled creatures, is a trumpet-shaped organism that ranks among the largest of its kind, stretching to the size of a sharp pencil tip. Despite its impressive size, the Stentor sometimes struggles to capture the swimming bacteria and microscopic algae it feeds on.
A recent study reveals that Stentors, part of the Protist group, have found a way to overcome this challenge by adopting a “family style” approach to feeding. In a paper published in the journal Natural Physics on Monday, scientists shared their discovery that Stentor colonies can create currents to draw in prey more efficiently.
These new findings suggest that Stentors are capable of cooperation despite lacking neurons and brains.
“These single-cell organisms exhibit behaviors that we typically associate with more complex life forms,” said Shashank Shekhar, a biophysicist at Emory University and lead author of the study. “They form these higher structures, much like we do as humans.”
Scientists believe that the ability of single-cell organisms to form groups is a critical step in the evolution towards multicellular life on Earth. Recent discoveries emphasize the role of physical states and predator-prey interactions in these cellular collaborations.
In their natural habitat, Stentors are commonly found near the surface of ponds. They have cilia at the wider ends of their bodies that wave in patterns, creating water streams to capture prey.
To observe these currents in a laboratory setting, Dr. Shekhar placed a drop of milk in a Petri dish with a Stentor and watched the fluid movements under a microscope. “You can see them creating swirls around their mouths,” he described, likening it to the swirling cosmos in Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”
When food is abundant, Stentors often come together in clusters, but little research has been done to explore the reasons for this colony formation.
Dr. Shekhar and his team observed the interactions between pairs of Stentors by analyzing microscope video footage of the organisms in a Petri dish capturing food particles to measure liquid dynamics.
The video unveiled intriguing patterns as the Stentors were drawn towards each other before moving apart, resembling a magnetic repulsion. “They seem to oscillate between ‘I like you’ and ‘I don’t like you,'” explained Dr. Shekhar.
Further analysis revealed that Stentor pairs often had unequal connections, with one organism producing stronger currents. When they gathered, the combined streams benefited both creatures, allowing weaker Stentors to benefit from the stronger ones.
These dynamics among Stentors lead to what Dr. Shekhar terms “indiscriminate behavior.” By forming colonies and choosing stronger partners, Stentors enhance their feeding efficiency, increasing the overall flow rate and enabling them to capture prey faster and from greater distances, ultimately boosting nutrient intake for the group.
The grouping behavior of single-cell organisms like Stentors to enhance survival represents a crucial stage in the evolution towards multicellularity. Uniting against single-cell prey makes them more formidable as predators, prompting vulnerable prey to band together for survival.
According to evolutionary biologist William Ratcliffe from Georgia Tech, who was not involved in the study, the improved feeding efficiency of group predators like Stentors can drive the evolution of multicellularity in prey organisms. “As a single cell, you’re vulnerable to being consumed. But as part of a larger group of cells, you become a less appealing target for predators,” Dr. Ratcliffe explained.
These new discoveries underscore the significance of physical forces in shaping biological evolution.
“While we often focus on genes and chemicals, the role of physics in the development of multicellular life is equally important,” noted Dr. Shekhar. “Even simple factors like water flow can influence evolutionary pathways.”
Daisy Greenwell has long felt that the idea of letting her eldest son do something inevitable. But until early last year, when her daughter was eight, it filled her with fear. When she spoke to other parents, “Everyone said, ‘Yes, that’s a nightmare, but there’s no choice,'” recalls Greenwell, 41.
She decided to test it. My friend Claire Fergnou shared concerns about the impact of social media on the addictive quality of smartphones and mental health, so I created a WhatsApp group to help develop a strategy. Then Greenwell lives in Suffolk, a countryside in eastern England; I posted her thoughts on Instagram.
“If we could switch social norms like giving your child a smartphone at 11am in our school, our town, our country, we could do it, like giving your child a smartphone at 11am,” she wrote. “What if they could hold off until they were 14 or 16?” she added a link to the WhatsApp group.
The post has gone viral. Within 24 hours, the group was oversubscribed for parents to participate. Today, more than 124,000 parents of children in UK schools have signature A pact created by the free childhood of smartphones, a charity founded by Greenwell, her husband Joe Riley and Ferniev. “I will act in the best interests of my kids and our community and wait until I get my smartphone until the end of my ninth year.” (The ninth year is equivalent to the eighth graders in America.)
Movement aligns with a A broader change in British attitudesmounts of harm caused by smartphone addiction and algorithm-driven social media as evidence. 1 investigation Last year, the majority of respondents (69%) felt that social media had negatively affected children under the age of 15.
Meanwhile, with the police Intelligence Services We warned about extreme and violent content torrents reaching children online. This is a trend that was examined during adolescence of hit television shows, where school men are accused of murder after being exposed to online misogyny. It’s become British Most of them were seen Show, and on Monday, Prime Minister Kiel Starmer met. The creator and I told her I had seen it on Downing Street with my son and daughter. But he also said, “This is not a challenge politicians can simply legislate.”
Following an unexpected extended stay at the International Space Station lasting nine and a half months, NASA astronaut Suni Williams is back on Earth, enjoying herself once more.
“I actually went out and ran three miles yesterday,” Williams mentioned during a press conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. “So I’ll give myself a little pat on the back.”
Williams, along with her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, expressed their gratitude multiple times. Williams thanked the two astronauts who shared the Dragon Capsules of the SpaceX Crew, NASA, SpaceX, Boeing, and the medical team for helping them readjust to gravity.
These expressions of gratitude, much like many federal workers, were likely well received by individuals in the space agency who have faced uncertainty about their mission, direction, and ongoing employment since President Trump’s inauguration.
Williams and Wilmore embarked on a test flight of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft last June, initially planned as a brief visit to the International Space Station. However, due to issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system, NASA officials decided to bring the Starliner back to Earth, extending Williams and Wilmore’s stay until February.
Upon their return to Earth, they returned to a transitioning NASA, the trajectory of which remains uncertain.
Elon Musk and his government’s focus on efficiency aim to disrupt traditional bureaucratic structures. Meanwhile, SpaceX CEO Musk envisions sending settlers to Mars, sparking speculation about NASA’s current primary focus, the Artemis program, aimed at sending astronauts back to the moon.
In January, Williams and Wilmore found themselves caught in a political quarrel, as Trump and Musk insinuated they were left stranded in space to undermine favorable publicity for Musk, a Trump supporter during the presidential campaign, without providing any concrete details or evidence.
Both astronauts have publicly maintained that they were not abandoned in space for political reasons.
During a press conference at the Johnson Space Center, Williams, Wilmore, and Nick Haag, commanders of the SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that brought them back home, steered clear of political controversy and emphasized the cooperation and shared purpose essential for their astronaut mission.
“When you link with a nation that stands by, cares about human spaceflight programs, and supports us and our endeavors,” Wilmore stated.
Haag noted that much of the turmoil on Earth remains distant:
“When we are working in space, politics fade away,” he remarked. “It’s solely focused on the mission.”
He highlighted Williams’ nearly six-month tenure as commander of the space station.
“The magic of human spaceflight lies in our ability to concentrate on positive elements that unite people together,” Haag concluded.
Wilmore, who led the Starliner Mission, refused to place blame solely on Boeing for the issues with the Starliner capsule that led to their prolonged stay. “I dislike that term,” he commented.
Wilmore stated that both Boeing and NASA share responsibility for the malfunctioning system.
“I won’t point fingers and place blame,” Wilmore mentioned. “I might have posed some questions, and the responses could have altered the outcome.”
NASA officials anticipate the next Starliner flight could take place later this year or the following year. When asked if they would be willing to embark on another such flight, both Williams and Wilmore quickly responded affirmatively.
“Because we will address all the challenges we encountered,” Wilmore affirmed. “We will resolve them. We will make it work. Boeing and NASA are fully committed to this endeavor.
“I concur,” added Williams. “Spacecraft are incredibly capable.”
The International Space Station’s operations are scheduled until 2030, at which point a specially designed SpaceX spacecraft will guide the station out of orbit into the Pacific Ocean. Recently, Musk has suggested that space stations should increase their utility and be discarded sooner, within a few years. However, the astronauts spoke enthusiastically about the research they conducted aboard.
Haag remarked on the significant advancements in complexity of experiments compared to his prior mission six years ago.
“It gives you the sense that we are currently in the golden age of space stations in terms of the return on investment,” Haag concluded.
A device has been created by scientists that can translate speech ideas into spoken words in real time.
Although still in the experimental stage, the goal is to develop a Brain Computer Interface that can give voice to individuals unable to speak.
In a recent study, the device was tested on a 47-year-old woman with quadriplegia who had been speech-impaired for 18 years since experiencing a stroke. The device was implanted in her brain during surgery as part of a clinical trial.
According to Gopala Anumanchipalli, co-author of the study published in Nature Neuroscience, the device “translates the intent to speak into fluent text.”
Most brain computer interfaces for speech experience a delay between thought and speech, which can disrupt conversations and cause misunderstandings. However, this new device is considered a significant advancement in the field.
The device works by recording brain activity using electrodes and generating speech based on this activity. An AI model is then trained to translate this neural activity into spoken words.
The UCSF Clinical Research Coordinator will connect a neural data port to the head of the ANN, a participant in El Cerrito, California, on May 22, 2023.Noah Berger/UCSF, via AP files via UC Berkeley
Anumanchipalli of the University of California, Berkeley, explains that the device operates similarly to existing systems used for transcribing meetings and phone calls in real time.
Located in the brain’s speech center, the implant translates signals into spoken sentences as they are heard. This “streaming approach” ensures a constant flow of audio to the recorder without waiting for the sentence to finish.
Rapid speech decoding enables the device to keep up with natural speech pace, enhancing language naturalness according to Brumberg.
Funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, further research is necessary before the technology can be widely available. Anumanchipalli suggests that with sustained investment, the device could potentially be accessible to patients within the next decade.
Openai announced on Monday that it had finalized a $40 billion funding agreement, doubling the valuation of the company from six months ago.
Led by SoftBank, the new funding round valued Openai at $300 billion and positioned it as one of the most valuable private companies alongside Rocket Company SpaceX and bytedance, the parent company of Tiktok.
The investment round follows the launch of the AI chatbot ChatGpt in late 2022, demonstrating the continued excitement in the high-tech industry for AI advancements.
Openai CEO Sam Altman expressed that the investment will drive innovations and make AI more beneficial in everyday life.
Openai also revealed that 500 million people are actively using ChatGpt weekly, with 20 million paying for the advanced version of the chatbot.
According to sources, the $40 billion investment will be split into two parts, with Softbank Group contributing 75% of the total amount.
Altman founded Openai as a nonprofit in 2015 with Elon Musk, transitioning it to a commercial enterprise in 2018 to attract the necessary funding for AI development.
Plans are in motion to shift the management of the company to a for-profit entity known as public benefit companies.
Musk filed a lawsuit against Openai and Altman, accusing them of prioritizing commercial interests over public good.
Openai aims to transition to public benefit companies by the end of the year, or risk a reduction in SoftBank’s contribution.
A bid from Musk and investors to acquire assets from Openai was rejected by the board of directors.
Altman’s efforts to separate the company from the nonprofit may face challenges due to the ongoing legal issues.
(Openai and Microsoft are facing a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement related to AI news content, which they have denied.)
Freshwater essential for lithium mining is found in parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, situated in the world’s “lithium triangle” on the Andean plateau, boasting half of all global lithium reserves.
A recent study in Communications Earth and the Environment revealed that available freshwater for lithium extraction in these regions is significantly lower than previously believed. With global demand for lithium expected to surge by 2040, this poses a challenge as it surpasses the limited annual rainfall supplying water to the dry lithium triangle.
Minimizing freshwater usage in the lithium industry is crucial to prevent disruption in mining activities. Extracting one ton of lithium requires approximately 500,000 gallons of water, which also sustains small indigenous communities and unique wildlife habitats in the region.
Water scarcity affects both the ecosystem and the industry in the lithium triangle, as lithium is a key component in batteries driving the global shift towards clean energy technologies. Despite the projected quadrupling demand for lithium batteries by 2030, delays in mining operations due to resource availability raise concerns about meeting this growing demand.
Freshwater plays a vital role in determining the supply of lithium available for mining in the lithium triangle. Rainfall washes lithium-rich minerals out of rocks, creating lagoons filled with lithium-rich water where mining companies extract the mineral. However, limited weather data and overestimation of freshwater supply in the region pose challenges to sustainable mining.
Research into water and resource availability for lithium mining operations is ongoing, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of the entire lithium supply chain. Studies in lithium-rich regions worldwide are essential to grasp the environmental and social impacts of lithium extraction.
Two of President Trump’s sons made an announcement on Monday that they were investing in a new Bitcoin mining venture, further expanding the family’s business interests in the crypto industry.
Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. revealed their partnership with Bitcoin mining company HUT 8 to establish a new company called American Bitcoin. Bitcoin mining is a lucrative sector within the crypto industry, involving large companies that operate energy-intensive machines to process Bitcoin transactions.
“From the beginning, we have expressed our belief in Bitcoin both personally and through our businesses,” stated Donald Trump Jr. “But merely purchasing Bitcoin is only part of the equation; mining it with favorable economics opens up even greater opportunities.”
HUT 8 will oversee 80% of the new venture, with the remaining 20% held by a business entity named American Data Centers Inc., which includes investments from the two Trump sons. The announcement on Monday by HUT 8 named Eric Trump as the co-founder of the mining venture, where he will serve as the chief strategy officer.
This mining project marks the third major crypto venture launched by the Trump family in the past year. During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump and his sons introduced World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company offering various digital currencies, including the recently announced “stubcoin.”
Subsequently, just before Trump’s inauguration, he and Melania Trump launched Memocoin, a cryptocurrency inspired by online jokes and mascots.
These business endeavors have raised concerns among government ethics experts due to potential conflicts of interest. Since taking office, Trump has relaxed regulations in the crypto industry and proposed the establishment of government reserves for Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
Four years ago, Trump was critical of Bitcoin and dismissed it as a “scam.” Now, he frequently touts plans to make the United States the “crypto capital of the world.”
Bitcoin mining has drawn significant criticism within the crypto industry. While Bitcoin initially attracted amateur investors, the process now requires substantial computing power, leading to the operation of large data centers by companies like Hut 8 to facilitate Bitcoin transactions.
The Trump family’s mining venture traces back to February when investment firm Dominali Holdings announced the creation of American Data Centers Inc. At that time, Eric Trump, a member of Dominari’s advisory board, stated that the venture aimed to develop computing infrastructure for the artificial intelligence industry.
However, the immediate focus has shifted to Bitcoin mining. The Trump family’s venture will concentrate on operating Bitcoin mining machines and amassing a significant cryptocurrency reserve, as disclosed in the announcement. In a recent post on the X platform, Eric Trump mentioned plans to present a “vision and strategy” for American Bitcoin in a live stream.
Over the past 12 months, Google’s efforts to accelerate drug design using artificial intelligence have achieved a breakthrough in mimicking human biology, with its top scientist receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Now, within the software giant, Isomorphic Labs is taking another major step towards raising money from outside investors, with the aim of developing and commercializing technology.
Isomorphic is set to announce on Monday that it has raised $600 million, led by Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm that has placed a big bet on AI companies, including OpenAI. GV’s Venture Capital Arm and Google’s parent company Alphabet have also invested.
The announcement highlights Google’s ambitions for Isomorphic. This was spun from the company’s DeepMind Lab to focus on drug discovery. It is based on software developed by DeepMind, a central intelligence lab in London. This includes Alphafold, which can predict structures such as millions of proteins.
In its third iteration, Alphafold, which can predict complex behaviors of DNA and RNA, promises to reduce development time for new drugs. That’s how I shared with Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Isomorphic and DeepMind, John M. Jumper, who last year shared half of the Nobel in Chemistry.
Hassabis said the goal is to carry out most of the drug discovery process ultimately via computers rather than traditional labs that require biological materials, strict safety requirements and a lot of time.
“This is the most useful and number one application for AI,” Hassabis said in an interview. He added, “One day our mission is to solve all diseases.”
Allogeneity is studying potential treatments, including those focusing on cancer and immune disorders. Last year, they signed a research partnership with two major drug makers Elilily and Novartis, potentially bringing billions of payments through promising drug breakthroughs.
But like many things related to AI, the job, hiring top research talent to do it, is expensive. Hassabis said Isomorphic didn’t need capital — its parent company reported profits of more than $100 billion last year, but bringing in external partners makes sense.
Hassabis’s idea made it possible for a long time. However, he added that he wanted to pin the supporters over the long term, which also had a deep focus on life sciences.
Additional money will help Isomorphic expand its stable research model like Alphafold, recruiting the best talent across the science field.
“The company’s ambition is to become a fully stacked life sciences company, so it will require more capital to create more drugs and invest in technology platforms,” said Vince Hankes, a thriving partner who has led many of the company’s AI investments.
Hassabis added that he wants to be selective with a partner of the same type. Formal consultations with Thrive took place over several months.
Funding is another big bet by 15-year-old Thrive, who put together money to invest in companies like Instagram and Payments Processor Stripe. He recently focused on AI companies, leading the recent round at OpenAI, which nearly doubled its valuation to $157 billion, winning Analytics Provider Databricks and programming startup Anysphere.
“Our hope is for AI to fundamentally change the way drugs are created and discovered,” said Joshua Kushner, founder and managing partner of Thrive. “Isomorphisms push the boundaries of what small molecule drug discovery is possible.”
Over the next year or so, the isomorphism hopes to create more breakthroughs with computational models like Alphafold, perhaps bringing drug candidates closer to preclinical trials, Hassabis said.
Isomorphic will likely raise money from more outside investors, he added. The goal is for the company to become an independent business.
“This will be one of the most consequential companies,” he said. “We want it to be a real powerhouse in the industry.”
oThe NA shelf between the Alexander McQueen shoes, Louis Vuitton handbags and Versace heels in the police evidence room is an 18-inch machete and a serrated zombie knife. According to DCI Paul Curtis, the tools needed to achieve that are in addition to expensive fashion purchased along with serious fraud revenue.
“These are serious criminals, and for some reason they felt the need to have these to protect themselves,” he says. Another tool is “Sim Farms” purchased from Dark Web. This is used by scammers to send many text messages at once. Laptop stack. Mobile phone and payment card reader.
The corruption of tools and crime comes from raids led by dedicated card and payment crime unit (DCPCU). observer I visited this month. Taking responsibility for revealing payment fraud across the country and charging the perpetrators, London and a group of police officers from the metropolitan police are at the forefront of the fight against fraud.
DCI Paul Curtis says fraud is “underreported and causes great harm.”
The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates that 40% of crimes are fraud-related. It places the amount lost to billions of people each year. Revealing the criminals behind payment fraud is a difficult struggle.
There are many problems. Criminals are often based overseas and take advantage of the constant advancement in technology that dupes victims. But one difficulty is simple and common. This means that people are so embarrassed that they fell for fraud that they can’t mention it to those around them. “It’s underreported and causes great harm,” Curtis says. “And the harm is not just financial.” Victims can lose their sense of self-confidence and create mental health issues, which can even lead to suicide.
“It’s really challenging to overcome people’s own embarrassment and shame,” he says. “It’s about getting comfort and communicating to people from that network around you, like from your family. [and] From your social network. And if people have that support, it can be very empowering to them [they can] They then report and engage with law enforcement. ”
Guardian Recently, we have revealed details of sophisticated mercenary tactics used by scammers in an elaborate business based in Tblisi, Georgia. Many were called again and again by criminals, and more and more persuaded to hand over money.
Curtis says criminals in fraud cases use similar methods to criminals who are sexual predators when grooming victims. “It works exactly the same as a scammer. They have to build confidence with the victim. They have to build that trust. So this may not be a quick process to become a victim of a scam,” he says.
Louis Vuitton’s bag was seized in the assault
Technological advances present a continuing problem with the DCPCU. Money can now travel across borders at a much faster rate than before, leaving it out of reach of law enforcement, and ads for fake investment vehicles are often praised for being supported by celebrities like those that happened in MoneySavingexpert’s Martin Lewis.
According to Bendaldson, managing director of economic crime for the UK Finance Association, a banking organization that funds the DCPCU, artificial intelligence can use patterns to create text, images or videos on existing data – the development of a generation AI that gives criminals new opportunities.
“I think it gives [criminals] There are a variety of features they didn’t have before, and… some of this technology is easy to use and easy to use.
“It’s much easier to do that [fraud] In a very convincing way [as] There are now a variety of capabilities available to criminals, changing the nature of the threat. Admission bar [with] That type of technology is always low,” Donaldson says.
Which of the UK’s finances and consumer groups this month? I wrote a joint letter to the British government They ask technology companies to “robust action” to offset the increased costs of fraud.
Donaldson says the majority of approved push payments (APP) scams involve training someone to voluntarily send money from a bank account. The decision announced in January to remove fact checkers and reduce censorship by Facebook raises concerns that it will make it even easier for criminals to exploit people, he says.
Police are seeking more effective user verification to prevent criminals from operating anonymously, and to share more information that can identify them.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, says it has begun mutual exchanges of fraudulent information. This allows banks to share information about fraud. This has deleted 20,000 accounts. Tiktok says each request for data from police will be investigated and evaluated before data is disclosed.
So, when scams swell and come to people through emails, texts, WhatsApp messages, and many social media channels, what can people do to stay safe?
Donaldson handles your personal information the same way you handle keys in your home. “Please do not hand over any aspect of your personal information unless you trust someone with the door key.”
One in five people (an estimated 64 million people in the US) has increased levels of small particles in their blood. It can significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
But few people knew about it and there was not much to do, so little doctors would have checked it. Dieting is useless. I don’t even exercise. There were no medicines.
But that may change in the near future.
On Sunday, the cardiologist announced that the experimental drug created by Eli Lily of Repodisilan can lower particle levels by 94% with a single injection. The effect lasted for 6 months and there were no serious side effects.
However, it has not yet been confirmed that lowering LP(a) levels reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It awaits a massive clinical trial currently underway.
Lily’s research was presented on Sunday at the American Society of Cardiology’s Annual Meeting and was presented simultaneously Published New England Journal of Medicine. At least four companies are also testing innovative drugs that block the production of the body of LP(A) and the mixing of lipids and proteins.
Dr. David Maron, a preventive cardiologist at Stanford University who is not involved in Lily’s research, said evidence of a severe and long-term reduction in lipoprotein levels by repodisilans is “thrilling.”
Dr. Martha Gulati, a preventive psychologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, was also not involved in the exam, saying the study was “really elegant.”
Eli Lilly is currently conducting large clinical trials asking whether the drug can prevent heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular death. It will end in 2029. Clinical trials of other drugs targeting LP(a) end more quickly. The first is a study of Novartis drugs that are injected monthly, with results expected in 2026.
However, cardiologists warn that there is no guarantee that medicine will protect people. They remember too well the lessons they learned, assuming that changing risk factors could change risk. Cardiologists were once keen on drugs that raise HDL levels known as “good cholesterol.” People with naturally higher HDL levels had a lower incidence of heart disease. These HDL raming drugs did not help.
Dr. Daniel Rader, a preventive psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, says LP(A)-lowering “is a huge new frontier in cardiovascular medicine.” Dr. Radar is a member of Novartis’ Scientific Advisory Committee and has written editorials to accompany new papers.
Treatments targeting LP(a) took a long time.
Lipoprotein was identified as a in 1974 Risk factors for heart disease This is controlled by genes rather than lifestyle or environment.
People with slightly higher than normal LP(a) levels have an approximately 25% increase in their risk of heart attacks and stroke. And very high levels can double the risk, as seen in 10% of the population.
Cardiologists say patients with no obvious reason for heart attacks or stroke (with normal cholesterol levels and blood pressure and not smoking) often know that their LP levels are high. Usually, it is found that they have a family history of heart disease of unknown cause.
The same applies to people who are experiencing heart attacks at a young age, says Dr. Stephen Nissen, a preventive psychologist at Cleveland Clinic, is an academic leader in the Lilly drug trials, and for clinical trials of three other new drugs.
“If you go to the coronary care unit and see a 40-year-old with an acute myocardial infarction, you need to know your LP(a) level,” he said, referring to a heart attack. Often they said their levels were 250 nanomoles or even higher per liter. The normal limit is 75.
Dr. Maron said his clinic is full of people who don’t know why they developed heart disease until they learn that they have high levels of LP.
One is Montewood, a 71-year-old retired firefighter who lives in Reading, California. His LDL cholesterol levels rose to moderately. His blood pressure was normal. He didn’t smoke. However, he had his first heart attack in 2006 while taking cholesterol-lowering statins.
It appeared that almost all of Mr. Kisae’s family had died of heart disease.
His paternal grandmother had her first heart attack when she was in her 40s. She died of a heart attack at the age of 63. His father and his father’s brother died of heart disease. Mr. Kisae’s brother died of a heart attack.
When Dr. Maron tested Wood’s LP level, it was above 400.
Dr. Maron and other preventive psychologists say they regularly test LP(a) levels in all patients, like Dr. Grati, Dr. Nissen and Dr. Radar. Because LP(a) levels are gene-controlled, patients should only test once.
Dr. Nissen is dull with LP(a) patients.
“We say: You have a disability that has serious meaning. I want to take all the risk factors you’ve been off the table,” he said.
But Dr. Grati said that a study found it. 0.3% The US population is receiving insurance-paid LP(a) tests, with only 3% of heart disease patients being tested.
She and other preventive cardiologists say that all adults should take the LP(a) test. If the level is high, your doctor should actively treat all other risk factors.
For Kisei, it meant taking Repatha, a powerful cholesterol-lowering drug that lowered his LDL cholesterol levels to 30.
However, Mr. Kisae’s case did not end there. Dr. Maron led one of the new drugs that lower LP(a) levels to clinical trial testing.
During the exam, Kisae had no symptoms of heart disease. I had no chest pain or shortness of breath. When the exam was finished, his symptoms returned, leading to a square bypass operation.
“It’s anecdotal,” Dr. Maron said. “But these drugs can prevent heart attacks.”
E-cigarettes have been credited with helping millions of people in the UK quit smoking, but that doesn’t mean they are without risks.
Vaping may contain fewer harmful substances like nicotine, TAR, and other toxins compared to traditional tobacco, but it is still linked to long-term health issues and can be addictive. Your body may need time to adjust and overcome the addiction completely.
If you are heavily reliant on vaping and nicotine, quitting cold turkey can lead to withdrawal symptoms, including cravings, anxiety, irritability, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and changes in appetite. These symptoms usually peak around 72 hours after you stop vaping as nicotine leaves your system entirely.
As you approach this 72-hour mark, you may start noticing improvements in taste and smell, clearer breathing, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and reduced chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Currently, an estimated 5.6 million British people are vaping
A survey by the non-smoking charity Truth Initiative found that 90% of people who quit vaping reported reduced stress, anxiety, and depression.
The lungs have the ability to repair themselves, and within a year of quitting nicotine altogether, lung capacity and immune function improve significantly, especially for former smokers.
While long-term effects of quitting vaping are still unknown due to its recent emergence, experts generally agree that the risk of cancer and heart disease is likely to decrease after quitting e-cigarettes.
This article addresses the question (from an email by Antonia Fletcher), “What happens if you stop vaping?”
Submit your questions via email toQuestion @sciencefocus.com or message us onFacebook,Twitter, or Instagram(don’t forget to include your name and location).
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tHis AI influence has been felt throughout the industry, from Hollywood to publishing, but now it’s venturing into modeling. H&M announced that it had permission from a model last week to create 30 AI “twins” for use in social media posts and marketing images.
Jorgen Anderson, chief creative officer at H&M, described the idea as a way to enhance creative processes and marketing without changing the human-centric approach. The retail giant has collaborated with successful models like Vilma Sjöberg and Mathilda Gvarliani, known for working with brands such as Vogue and Chanel, allowing each model to reserve twins for other brand projects.
The news was met with concern by the wider industry, reflecting similar worries in Hollywood in 2023 when AI was used in film and television productions. This isn’t the first time a major fashion company has explored AI models, as Levis and Hugo Boss have also delved into this technology.
Bectu, a union representing the creative industry, expressed concerns about the impact of AI on other fashion creatives and industry workers. Model advocates like Sara Ziff raised questions about fair compensation for digital twins, emphasizing the need for regulation.
The Model Alliance Fashion Workers Act, set to become law in June, will require consent from models for AI use in collaboration with state-based agencies. The EU will also introduce regulations for AI use in 2026, with H&M already implementing watermarks on images featuring AI.
While acknowledging the benefits of technology in fashion, concerns remain about the impact of AI on the industry. Models like Sjöberg and Gvarliani may see substantial compensation, but AI poses a threat to models primarily involved in e-commerce shoots. Critics argue that AI models could reduce costs and increase profits, potentially at the expense of human models.
Despite the potential benefits, worries persist about the implications of AI in the fashion industry. As the technology continues to advance, finding a balance between innovation and ethics will be crucial for ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future for modeling.
The light of Lyman Afa from Jades-GS-Z13-1 took us nearly 13.47 billion to contact us, as it dates back just 330 million years from the Big Bang.
This image shows the Jades-GS-Z13-1 (middle red dot) imaged with Webb’s near-infrared camera (Nircam) as part of the Jades program. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/WEBB/STSCI/JADES COLLABORATION/BRANT ROBERTSON, UC SANTA CRUZ/BEN JOHNSON, CFA/Sandro Tacchella, Cambridge/Phill Cargile, CFA/J. Witstok, P. Jakobsen & A. Pagan, Stsci/M. Zamani, Esa & Webb.
NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope’s key scientific goal was to see more than ever before the distant past of our universe, when the first galaxy formed after the Big Bang.
This search has already led to record-breaking galaxies when observing programs such as the JWST Advanced Deep Deep Alactic Survey (Jades).
Webb’s extraordinary sensitivity to infrared also opens up a whole new path for research into when and how such galaxies were formed, and their impact on the universe of the time known as Cosmic Dawn.
Astronomers studying one of these very early galaxies have been discovered in a spectrum of light that challenges our established understanding of the early history of the universe.
The Jades-GS-Z13-1 (GS-Z13-1 for short) was discovered in images taken by Webb’s Nircam (near-infrared camera) as part of the Jades program.
Dr. Roberto Maiolino and colleagues at the University of Cambridge and London used galaxy brightness with various infrared filters to estimate the redshift that measures the distance of a galaxy from Earth, based on how light stretches along the path of a space.
NIRCAM imaging resulted in an initial redshift estimate of 12.9. In an attempt to confirm that extreme redshift, astronomers observed the galaxy using Webb’s near-infrared spectrometer (NIRSPEC) instrument.
The resulting spectrum confirmed that the redshift was 13.0. This is the equivalent of a galaxy seen just 330 million years after the Big Bang, the current 13.8 billion-year-old minority in the universe.
However, unexpected features also stood out. One is the wavelength of light of a particular distinct bright wavelength, identified as Lyman alpha radiation emitted by hydrogen atoms.
This emission was far stronger than astronomers who thought they could be possible at this early stage of space development.
“The early universe was soaked in a thick mist of neutral hydrogen,” Dr. Maiolino said.
“Most of this haze was lifted in a process called reionization, which was completed about a billion years after the Big Bang.”
“The GS-Z13-1 shows the incredibly clear and Telltail signature of the Lyman Alpha radiation, which can only be seen after the surrounding mist has been fully lifted,” he said.
“This result was completely unexpected by early galaxy formation theories, which surprised astronomers.”
“Before and during the reionization, the enormous amount of neutral hydrogen mist surrounding the galaxy blocked the ultraviolet rays of released energy, like the filtration effect of colored glass.”
“Until sufficient stars were formed and the hydrogen gas could ionize, such light, including Lyman Alpha radiation, could not escape these fledgling galaxies and reach Earth.”
“According to Lyman Alpha radiation from this galaxy has therefore had great significance in our early understanding of the universe.”
“We’ve seen a lot of people who have had a lot of trouble with the world,” said Dr. Kevin Hayneline, an astronomer at the University of Arizona.
“We could have thought that early universes were covered in dense mists that would be very difficult to find even a powerful lighthouse peering through, but here, beams of light from this galaxy penetrate the veil.”
“This fascinating emission line has a major impact on how and when the universe has been reionized.”
The source of GS-Z13-1’s Lyman Alpha radiation from this galaxy is yet to be known, but it may contain the first light from the earliest generation of stars formed in the universe.
“The large bubbles of ionized hydrogen surrounding this galaxy may have been created by the star’s unique population, much larger, hotter and brighter than the stars formed at the later epoch, and perhaps representative of the first generation of stars, said Dr. Joris Wittok, an astronomer at Cambridge and Appenhagen University.
“The powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN) driven by one of the first super-large black holes is another possibility identified by our team.”
Team’s Survey results Published in the March 26th issue of the journal Nature.
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J. Wittstock et al. 2025. We witness the onset of reionization with Lyman-α ejection in the redshift13. Nature 639, 897-901; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08779-5
The engine trembled about half the local time on Sunday, with a brave roar, and the 92-foot-high spectral rocket slowly lifted from the launch tower, marking the first lift-off of its kind on the continent of Europe.
The rocket launched by ISAR aerospace from within the Arctic Circle on the space column of Andea Island, Norway, was the first orbital flight to leave Europe, a continent other than Russia. Approximately 30 seconds after the rocket cleared the launchpad, it pitched to the side and plunged back to Earth.
But Daniel Metzler, CEO of Isar Aerospace, was cheerful. He said in a statement that the test flight “meeted all our expectations and was a huge success” despite the crash.
“We had a clean lift-off, a 30-second flight and even validated the end-of-flight system,” Metzler said. The rocket fell directly into the sea, the launchpad was not damaged and no one could be hurt when the spacecraft crashed, he added.
Andøya Spaceport could not be immediately contacted for comment. Previously, they posted on social media that “crisis management” was activated after crash and was working with emergency services and ISAR Aerospace.
The test flight was seven years in 2018 for Isar Aerospace’s Making for Isar Aerospace, a German-based company with a mission to make satellite launches more accessible. There are European companies push Beyond space technology and research, we explore the possibilities of the space sector for defense, security and geopolitics.
“There are about a million things that could be wrong, and in reality, only one method can go well,” said Metzler, CEO of Isar Aerospace, in a video interview before its launch. The team had rescheduled several previous launch attempts, citing unfavourable weather conditions. “Frankly, if we only fly 30 seconds, I’d be happy,” he said at the time.
He said that time would provide the team with a lot of information to analyze and use. And that was the time that mostly had the flights on Sunday.
In the video, Metzler noted that SpaceX, the first private company to launch its own designed rocket into orbit before achieving that milestone in 2008, had failed three attempts.
There are several private companies in Europe design Spaceport for new waves of rockets. Sweden has revamped its old research foundation for its state-of-the-art satellite launch centre north of the Arctic, and the UK has also opened a space centre in Cornwall, far southwest of the UK. However, misfires can be costly. Virgin Orbit, a space company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, has finally collapsed after an unsuccessful attempt to launch the rocket into orbit in 2023.
“Space has become a very important component of geopolitics and global insights. Of course, it’s a huge economic opportunity,” Metzler said.
The company was initially supported by former senior Space X executive, Bulent Altan. It was raised Its website has raised more than $430 million in funding from international investors, including securing support from NATO innovation. Fund.
aT International Science Council has observed some intriguing trends recently. Certain American participants are opting to travel with a “Burner” phone or a minimalist laptop solely running a browser, reminiscent of security-conscious individuals from 15 years ago when traveling to China.
These scholars are keeping a close eye on the American political climate, particularly concerned about potential repercussions upon their return. They have been reading Robert Reich’s subsack, highlighting instances where scientists faced obstacles entering the US due to political opinions expressed in private messages.
Cases like Dr. Rasha Alawieh’s deportation despite having a valid visa and court order, and attempts to deport Columbia University alumni Mahmoud Khalil following a pro-Palestinian demonstration, are causing alarm among the academic community.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Gaza demonstrations and demands for the return of research funds from universities suggest a troubling trend of targeting academic institutions. This hostility towards universities, particularly elite ones, stems from a disdain for their wealth and independence.
The growing concerns among US researchers about potential crackdowns on certain fields of research, driven by political ideologies, resemble dark periods of history. Europe’s response, offering refuge to American researchers at universities like AIX-Marseille in France and VUB in Belgium, presents a glimmer of hope amid uncertainty.
As the academic landscape faces shifting political tides, the question arises: what proactive measures are UK institutions taking to navigate these challenges? The future remains uncertain as academia grapples with evolving geopolitical dynamics.
What I’ve read
How Trump’s Yemeni text was sent by mistake Jeffrey Goldberg Amazing story About the White House security leak Atlantic Ocean.
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sWith the introduction of ChatGpt in late 2022, generative artificial intelligence moved from adult users in office settings to college students in campus libraries and even teenagers in high school hallways. As the youngest among us start exploring AI technologies, parents and teachers are grappling with the responsibility of introducing children under 13 to these transformative tools. Though tools like Google’s Gemini and other AI models set age restrictions, many parents and teachers are taking it upon themselves to educate children about AI.
Inspired by stories of parents teaching their children AI skills to prepare them for success in school and beyond, we reached out to Guardian readers to learn how and why others are doing the same. While our original stories focused on parents, we also included responses from teachers, recognizing their role in preparing children for the future.
Some parents and teachers have embraced AI fully, integrating ChatGpt into everyday interactions with children, using it to explain concepts, answer questions, and share imaginative stories. Others approach AI cautiously, limiting its use to controlled settings due to the potential risks it may pose to young users.
On the other hand, some parents and teachers choose not to expose their children to AI at all, expressing concerns about potential harm and ethical implications that remain unresolved. While differing in their approaches, each perspective contributes valuable insights to the ongoing dialogue about AI education.
The responses below have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Parents Explain the World with AI’s Help
I’ve discovered that introducing AI to my children has been an unexpected joy of parenting. Instead of saying “Let’s google,” my 9 year old now asks, “Daddy, can you chat?” when he needs help with homework. He’s learning to seek guidance rather than just answers.
My 6 year old’s endless questions often test my patience. In those moments, AI comes to the rescue, keeping him engaged and imaginative with topics like dinosaurs and space. It’s a mental recharge for me.
With three daughters, we’ve moved from reading princess stories to creating our own imaginative adventures, thanks to AI.
– Matt, Consultant, 44, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
I use AI as an intellectual backup when I can’t answer my kids’ questions. We have AI voice assistants at home and in the car, helping us with random queries and homework tasks. It streamlines our discussions and keeps learning active. However, I caution my kids about the accuracy of AI responses, as they can sometimes be misleading.
– Graham, Writer, Lumberhurst Quarter
I incorporate AI tools into my daily interactions with my 3 year old, using them to explore nature and answer his questions about the world. I encourage his curiosity and engagement while limiting screen time and passive activities.
While AI is a part of our routine, it’s not the sole focus.
– Nate, Data Scientist, East Bay, California.
I’m introducing my eldest to Openai’s ChatGpt, portraying it as a creative assistant for generating ideas and resources. I teach her to approach AI skeptically and not to rely solely on its responses.
– Ben, 47, Entrepreneur, Germany
To showcase AI to my children, I use ChatGPT to generate stories and engage them in critical thinking by analyzing the authenticity of AI-generated content.
I also encourage them to question misleading information and develop a healthy skepticism towards online content.
– David, Software Developer, Ireland
For students struggling with writing, I recommend using AI for sentence-level feedback and grammar explanations, but caution against relying on AI to create complete essays.
– Jenny, English and Drama Teacher, Valencia, Spain
In my household, AI is used sparingly, with the children understanding it as a tool to enhance their learning and curiosity. We emphasize the importance of personal effort and creativity in achieving success.
– Anton, Fintech Director, Geneva
Rather than introducing AI directly, I stimulate my students’ imagination by using AI tools like Adobe Firefly to inspire descriptive writing and Character.ai to bring historical figures to life. I emphasize the creative potential of AI while also highlighting its limitations.
– Angie, Primary Teacher, Tunbridge Wells
I approach AI education as a generative tool, emphasizing its role as an aid rather than a replacement for imagination. By demonstrating AI’s creative capabilities, students learn to use it responsibly while appreciating its limitations.
– Adam, 28, High School Teacher, Christchurch, New Zealand
Postpartum recovery takes longer than the traditional six-week period commonly referred to as the “fourth stage.” Recent research conducted by biologists at the Wiseman Institute of Science and Helen Schneider Women’s Hospital in Israel, and Yale University School of Medicine in the United States, suggests that it may take more than a year for the body to settle into a new normal after giving birth.
Professor Uriaron, a systems biologist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, led the study and emphasized the importance of understanding the extended recovery period postpartum. Using data from over 300,000 Israeli births, the researchers analyzed how various health markers changed between four and a half months to a year and a half after giving birth.
The study revealed that only 47% of the health markers studied stabilized within a month of delivery, while 12% took 4-10 weeks, and the remaining 41% took more than 10 weeks to stabilize. Some markers, such as bone and liver health, took up to 56 weeks to stabilize after childbirth.
Although certain health measurements improved over time, they did not return to pre-pregnancy levels even after a year and a half postpartum. The study also highlighted potential risk factors for pregnancy disorders but did not analyze differences between breastfeeding.
The effects of breastfeeding on the postpartum body have not been analyzed in this study, but may provide useful insights in future studies. – Credit: Igor Alessander via Getty
Experts like Professor Rebecca Reynolds, Professor Uriaron, and Professor Dimitrios Siassakos have provided valuable insights into the study’s findings. This research offers a detailed understanding of how the body changes after childbirth, which can potentially improve postnatal care.
Read more:
About our experts:
Professor Uriaron: He is a system biologist at the Weizmann Institute of Science and the lead researcher at Uri Alon Lab.
Professor Rebecca Reynolds: She is a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Edinburgh, focusing on understanding the mechanisms linking intrauterine development to health and illness.
Professor Dimitrios Siassakos: He is an honorary consultant in obstetrics at University College London and University College Hospital, contributing to various clinical care groups and research initiatives.
Hyundai, a motor maker, is currently facing legal action due to allegations that one of its most popular electric vehicle models can be easily stolen in seconds. Digital security expert Elliot Ingram was shocked to see CCTV footage of a hooded burglar stealing his Hyundai Ioniq 5 in under 20 seconds from his home.
It is believed that the thief used devices available online to replicate the car’s electronic key. This incident is just one of many thefts involving this vehicle, with many owners now resorting to steering locks for added security. Ingram’s car was eventually recovered by the police, but he has decided to terminate the lease and is seeking compensation from the car company. He argues that the Korean automotive giant should have informed customers about the security vulnerabilities.
“The security system is completely compromised, making it susceptible to attacks by anyone,” he stated. “It’s no longer effective.”
Hyundai has been promoting the convenience of digital and smart keys, allowing drivers to lock/unlock the door and start the engine with just the key fob or digital key. While the new technology includes various security measures, criminal groups have found ways to bypass them.
Ingram discovered a key emulator device being sold online for 15,000 euros. This device resembles Nintendo’s Game Boy Game Console and can operate in English or Russian. It has the capability to record signals from the car and replicate them within seconds, allowing for easy unauthorized access. Last year, the automotive industry admitted to ignoring warnings over a decade ago regarding the risks associated with keyless technology and vehicle theft.
Hyundai has responded by stating that there is an industry-wide issue with organized criminal groups using electronic devices to bypass smart key lock systems. They are collaborating with law enforcement to better understand these devices and track stolen vehicles. The company is working on an update to reduce the risk of keyless theft for vehicles sold since February 2024 and is planning to provide retroactive action for earlier models.
Vehicle theft has been on the rise in the UK and Wales, with a significant increase in the use of remote devices by criminals. Legislation is being introduced to ban electronic devices used for keyless vehicle theft, with severe penalties for those found in possession of, manufacturing, importing, or distributing such devices.
In conclusion, Hyundai is focused on enhancing vehicle security to combat theft, but they do not plan to recall the vehicle. Despite the updates and measures being implemented, the company acknowledges the challenge posed by determined criminals who will stop at nothing to steal vehicles for various purposes.
Numerous individuals worldwide protested against the efforts of Donald Musk and Donald Trump on Saturday to dismantle the US federal government.
The protest organizers called on people to refrain from buying Tesla, selling Tesla stocks, or participating in the “Tesla Takedown” movement.
One of the group’s taglines read, “To hurt Tesla is to stop Musk. Stopping Musk helps save lives and our democracy.”
Over 200 events were scheduled globally on Saturday, starting in Australia and New Zealand in front of Tesla showrooms before spreading to Europe in countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Each rally had a unique theme organized locally. In Ireland, it was “destroying the fash,” while in Switzerland, it was “down with the Doge.” Photos were posted on Bluesky by Tesla Takedown from San Jose, California, close to Tesla’s former headquarters, and from Austin, Texas, where the headquarters is currently located.
The world’s wealthiest Musk leads the so-called “Ministry of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), tasked with cutting the US federal budget, which includes laying off thousands of workers. Musk and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.
Protested at a Tesla dealer in Austin, Texas on March 29, 2025. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
In San Francisco, around 200 people gathered in front of a Tesla showroom, urging others to disrupt busy streets and medians to oppose self-driving roads.
Many demonstrations included protests with signs and chants. Acts of disruption were seen, including impeding postal trucks, public buses, and fire engines. One group had signs with slogans like “Burn your sw before you burn,” and “doge bags no.” A massive American flag was also displayed upside down.
The Brocklong Tesla showroom had cleared out all cars with security guards inside and San Francisco police officers outside. A group wearing red maga hats and black dog shirts also passed through the crowd without incident.
Protester Myra Levy and friend Karen Heistler expressed their reasons for opposing the Tesla movement.
Protester Myra Levy at the San Francisco Tesla dealer held in San Francisco on Saturday. Photo: Dara Kerr/Guardian
Sales representatives in Berkeley, California, reported that Tesla showrooms were closed every Saturday due to weekly protests. A lively scene included spray-painting a cardboard cyber truck. The manager declined to comment on previous red paint incidents in the showroom.
Planet over Profit organizer Sophie Shepherd clarified that the London rally was not specifically against electric vehicles, but rather against the individuals associated with Tesla.
Marty, an 82-year-old protester, expressed concerns about the current state of the country and its leadership.
Protests occurred across the US, with numerous demonstrations planned across different states. London also saw dozens of demonstrators outside the Tesla showroom.
Organizers emphasized the importance of continued protest and peaceful demonstration against Musk, Trump, and Cruzi.
Organizers condemned violent acts against Tesla showrooms, affirming that they are a non-violent grassroots movement. They denounced vandalism and emphasized the importance of peaceful, lawful protests.
In In July 2022, Morgan Rose Hart, an aspiring veterinarian with a passion for wildlife, passed away after it was found unresponsive in the Essex mental health unit. She’s just turned 18. Diagnosed with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Hart’s mental health was affected by bullying, which forced her to move from school several times. She previously tried to take her life and was transferred to Harlow’s unit three weeks before her death.
Hart, from Chelmsford, Essex, passed away on July 12, 2022 after it was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor. The prevention report of future death reports issued after her questioning turned out to be overlooked, and it turns out that important checks were missed, observation records were forged, and risk assessments were not completed.
Investigation by observer And newsletter Democracy for Sale Her death has established that she is one of four, including a high-tech patient surveillance system called Oxevision, which is deployed in almost half of mental health struts across the UK.
Oxevision’s system allows you to measure the patient’s pulse rate and breathing, interfere with the patient at night, and also broadcast CCTV footage temporarily if necessary, without the need for a person to enter the room. The high-tech system can detect a patient’s breathing rate, even when the patient is covered with a futon.
Oxehealth, which was spin-out from the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering in 2012, has agreed to 25 NHS mental health trasts, according to its latest account, reporting revenue of around £4.7 million by December 31, 2023.
However, in some cases, it is argued that instead of doing physical checks, staff rely too heavily on infrared camera systems to monitor vulnerable patients.
There are also concerns that systems that can glow red from corners of the room could exacerbate the pain of patients in mental health crisis, which have increased their sensitivity to monitoring or control.
Sofina, who had experience being monitored by Oxevision among patients and who asked not to use her full name, stated:
“The first thing you see when you open your eyes, the last thing you do when you fall asleep. I was just in a visually impaired state. I was completely hurt.
Advocates argue that the technology can improve safety, but this weekend there will be a call to stop the deployment of Oxevision, raising concerns about patient safety, privacy rights and the conflict of interest in research supporting its use. The campaign group said Oxevision was often installed in patients’ bedrooms without proper consent, with surveillance technology likely causing distress.
In a prevention report of future deaths issued in December 2023 after Hart’s questioning, the coroner pointed out that if a person was in the bathroom for more than three minutes, a staff member would “have to complete a face-to-face check.” Instead, “Oxevision Red Alert has been reset” by staff and Hart was not observed for 50 minutes, and was discovered to be “not responding on the bathroom floor.”
The coroner expressed concern that “some staff may have used Oxevision in their place of instead of just an aid to face-to-face observation.” The conclusion of the judge’s investigation was death from misfortune, which contributed to the contributions of negligence.
Two days before Hart’s death, Michael Nolan, 63, a warehouse operator at risk for self-harm, passed away as a mental health patient at Basildon Hospital. The study said staff used Oxevision as an alternative to physical observations and failed to carry out effective observations. The story’s verdict by the judge included the findings of inadequate training on the Oxevision system.
The following month, 27-year-old Sophie Alderman, who had a history of self-harm, passed away in a patient at Rochford Hospital under the custody of the University of Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Her family says the Ooshivision system caused her pain and hurt her mental health. A few months before her death, she complained about the camera in her room, but she believed it was hacked by the government.
Tammy Smith, Alderman’s mother observer: “I don’t think Oxevision is effective in keeping patients safe. It’s a major invasion of patient privacy.
“Staff aren’t properly trained or used properly on it. People have died while Oxevision is in use, and questions have been raised about its use. That’s enough to pause deployment and actually consider whether this technology will keep patients safe.”
The Care Quality Committee also raised concerns. “A sad death was found in the safety room,” said the NHS Foundation Trust’s testing report, which was released last February. [St Charles hospital in west London] If staff were not fully involved and monitored patients, they were dependent. [Oxevision] It was turned off at the time. ”
The Trust said this weekend that a “tragic death” in March 2023 led to the firing of three individuals, with the use of technology never being designed to replace responsibility and care from staff.
The Lampard study, which examines the deaths of mental health hospitalized patients under the control of the NHS Trust in Essex between January 2000 and December 2023, is being asked to investigate Oxevision.
Sophina of a former patient monitored by Oxevision.
Bindmans, a law firm representing Alderman’s family and another patient’s family, spoke to Baroness Lampard about the concerns about consent and the safety and effectiveness of the system. He said there are concerns that staff may delegate the responsibility to monitor patients to “Digital Eye.”
A review by the National Institute of Health Therapy, published in November and commissioned by the NHS England, examined nine studies on Oxevision along with other studies, finding “inadequate evidence” suggesting that inpatient mental health unit surveillance techniques achieve intended results and achieve “improve safety, improved costs, etc.”
Only one of these papers was rated as “high quality” for their methodology and no conflicts of interest were reported. All eight other studies report all conflicts of interest, all related to Oxehealth. In some cases, OxeHealth employees were co-authors of the paper.
“There’s no independent research done. There’s almost always been involvement of the companies that create and market these devices,” said Alan Simpson, professor of mental health nursing who co-authored the review.
The Stop Oxevision campaigner said he was worried about the threat that technology poses to patients’ “safety, privacy and dignity.”
Lionel Tarassenko, professor of electrical engineering at Oxford University and founder of Oxehealth, said Oxevision only intermittently broadcast CCTV footage of patients. This is up to 15 seconds, and if clinical staff respond to alerts, they will only see blurry videos.
Tarassenko Lord said the paper reviewed by the National Institute team showed the benefits of Oxevision, including reduced self-harm, improved patient sleep and safety. He added that it was written by an independent clinician who maintains editorial control and in some cases, OxeHealth co-authors were included to reflect their contributions.
He said: “There is no evidence that proper use of Oxevision technology is a factor that contributes to inpatient deaths. The experience of Oxevision patients is very positive.”
In a statement, the company said the Oxevision platform was NHS England Principles Regarding mental health digital technology, the decision to use technology, announced last month for inpatient treatment and care, said it must be based on consent.
The company said: “Oxevision supports clinical teams to improve patient safety, reduce incidents such as falls and self-harm, and ensure staff can respond more effectively to clinical risks,” he said, adding that it welcomed the dialogue on responsible ethical deployment of technology.
Paul Scott, chief executive of the University of Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said that his patient’s death was devastating because he was in charge of caring for Hart, Nolan and Alderman, and that his sympathy was sympathetic to those who lost loved ones. He said: “We are constantly focused on providing the best possible care and use remote surveillance technology to enhance safety and complement the treatment care and observations our staff has implemented.”
A spokesperson for NHS England said: “Vision-based surveillance techniques must support a human-based rights approach to care, be used only within the scope of legal requirements, and ensure that patient and family consent is implemented.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health’s Social Care said: “These technologies should only be used in line with robust staff training and appropriate consent, with robust staff training and appropriate consent, and are transforming the care that people facing a mental health crisis receive by modernizing mental health law.
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