Silicon Valley Trump supporters rally behind the decline of democracy | John Norton

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

I
yeah How does democracy end?In his elegant book, The Restoration of Liberal Democracy, published after Trump’s 2016 election, David Runciman made a startling point: the liberal democracies we take for granted will not last forever, but they will not fail in the ways we’ve seen them in the past: without revolution, military coup, or breakdown of social order. Moving forward through failure In an unexpected way. The implication was that people who compare it to what happened in Germany in the 1930s are mistaken.

Until a few weeks ago, that seemed like wise advice. But then something changed: key sectors of Silicon Valley, a Democratic stronghold for decades, began to support Trump. In 2016, contrarian billionaire and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel was the only prominent Silicon Valley figure to endorse Trump, which merely confirmed the fact that he was a Silicon Valley legal outcast. But in recent weeks, many of Silicon Valley’s bigwigs (Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, and David Sachs, to name just three) have revealed themselves as Trump supporters and donors. Musk has set up a pro-Republican political action committee (super PAC) and is donating to it. On June 6, venture capitalist Sachs hosted a $300,000-a-person fundraising dinner at Trump’s San Francisco mansion.

Why the sudden interest in politics? It’s probably a combination of several factors. First, Biden’s billionaire tax plan (and his administration’s antitrust litigation enthusiasm). Second, Trump’s newfound enthusiasm for cryptocurrency. Third, Biden has raised far more money for his campaign. And finally, and most importantly, Trump’s momentum was beginning to look unstoppable even before Biden dropped out.

The last two factors are reminiscent of the 1930s. In 1932, the Nazi Party was in serious financial trouble, and when Hitler became chancellor the following year, he personally appealed to business leaders for help. Funds were raised from 17 different business groups, with the largest donation coming from
IG Farben and Deutsche Bank
At the time, these donations must have seemed like a shrewd gamble to the businessmen who donated them. But as historian Adam Tooze wrote in his landmark book on the period, it also meant that German businessmen “were willing to cooperate in the destruction of German political pluralism.” In return, according to Tooze, German business owners and managers were given unprecedented powers to control their employees, collective bargaining was abolished, and wages were frozen at relatively low levels. Corporate profits and business investment grew rapidly. Fascism had been good for business, but it wasn’t anymore.

I wonder if these thoughts were going through the minds of the tech titans enjoying a $300,000 dinner in San Francisco that June night. My guess is no, they’re not. Silicon Valley residents don’t care much about history because they’re in the business of creating the future, so there’s nothing to learn from the past.

That’s a pity, because history has some lessons for them. The German businessmen who decided to support Hitler in 1933 may not have known exactly what he was up to for Germany, and probably knew nothing about the plans for the “Final Solution.” But David Sachs’ dinner guests have no such excuse.
Project 2025
President Trump’s second term plans are available online in a 900-page document.

It’s an interesting read. It has four core objectives: protecting children and families, dismantling the administrative state, defending borders, and restoring “God-given” individual liberties. But essentially,
A huge expansion of presidential powers There are many hysterical proposals, including putting the Department of Justice under Presidential control, replacing nonpartisan civil servants with loyalist ones, rolling back environmental laws, mass deportations, and removing “sexual orientation and gender identity, diversity, equity and inclusion, gender, gender equality, gender equity, gender sensitivity, abortion, reproductive health and reproductive rights” from all federal rules, agency regulations, contracts, grants and laws.

The rationale for Project 2025 was a concern that Trump had no idea how to use his new powers when he came to power in 2016, and that he certainly will not do so next time. As public concern about the document has grown, he has tried to distance himself from it. This may be because he thinks he won’t need a plan if elected. Speaking recently at a Christian convention in Florida, he said: “Go out and vote, this time. You don’t have to vote anymore. Four more years and we’ll take care of it. We’ll all be sorted out. My beautiful Christian people, you don’t have to vote anymore.”

The lesson? Be careful what you wish for. Copycats, Silicon Valley.

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What I’m Reading

Where to start?
Tim Harford said:
How do we fix Britain? Here’s how” in Financial Times.

False balance
There’s a thoughtful Substack by historian Timothy Snyder.
Two-sidednessThe harmful delusions of mainstream media.

In the Ether
In a skeptical blog post in Molly White’s newsletter, Citation Needed, she writes:
When cryptocurrency policy becomes an election issue.

Source: www.theguardian.com

China has uncovered impeccably conserved Cambrian insect larvae

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Named Yuti YuanxiThe newly identified euarthropod species fills an important gap in our understanding of how the arthropod body type emerged and was successful in its time. Cambrian Explosion.

Anatomical Overview Yuti YuanxiImage courtesy of Smith others., doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07756-8.

Yuti Yuanxi They lived during the Cambrian period, more than 520 million years ago, when most of the major animal groups known today first evolved.

This species is ArthropodsThis includes modern insects, spiders, and crabs.

It is about the size of a poppy seed, Yuti Yuanxi The organs are well preserved and of excellent quality.

Durham University paleontologist Martin Smith and his colleagues used the advanced scanning technique of synchrotron X-ray tomography to find the Yuti YuanxiThey have found a tiny brain region, digestive glands, a primitive circulatory system, and even traces of the nerves that control the larva's simple legs and eyes.

“When I was daydreaming about the fossils I would most like to find, I always thought about arthropod larvae, because developmental data are so important to understanding their evolution,” Dr. Smith said.

“But because the larvae are so tiny and fragile, I thought the chances of finding a fossilized version were virtually zero.”

“I already knew this simple, worm-like fossil was something special, but when I saw the incredible structures preserved under the skin, my jaw just dropped. How could these complex features have survived decay and still be here after 500 million years?”

“It's always fascinating to see the inside of a sample using 3D imaging, but this incredibly tiny larva has achieved near-perfect preservation through natural fossilisation,” said Dr Katherine Dobson, a palaeontologist at the University of Strathclyde.

“Studying this ancient larva provides important clues about the evolutionary steps required to transform a simple worm-like organism into a sophisticated arthropod body form with specialized limbs, eyes and a brain.”

“For example, the fossil reveals an ancestral 'protocerebral' brain region that would later form the segmented and specialized arthropod head nucleus with its various appendages, including antennae, mouthparts and eyes.”

“This complex head enabled arthropods to adopt a wide range of lifestyles and become the dominant organisms in the Cambrian oceans.”

“These details also help us trace how modern arthropods acquired their incredible anatomical complexity and diversity, making them the most abundant animal group today.”

of Investigation result Published in the journal Nature.

_____

Mr. Smith othersThe organ system of a Cambrian euarthropod larva. NaturePublished online July 31, 2024, doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07756-8

Source: www.sci.news

Is AI a Threat to Reggae’s Exciting Soundclash Tradition? | Music

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

debtA few days after the assassination attempt, Donald Trump’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers in Montego Bay, Jamaica: “If you needed an assassin, call your bodyguard who’s going to kill four people at Sumfest in Montego Bay.” A reggae riddim played, and the crowd, expecting laughter, erupted in surprised laughter.

The Bodyguard crew are fresh off taking the stage at Sumfest Global Sound Clash, a musical combat contest where sound systems pit themselves against each other with exclusive (and often incendiary) recordings featuring creative mixes, bombastic MCs, star guests and inside jokes. But this Trump-like AI vocalist jolts a decades-old musical tradition in which authenticity and originality are paramount, and sound systems pay artists big fees for vocals for their clashes.

“AI will disrupt the industry,” says Fabian Andersson, a dub agent who works between artists and sound systems to secure exclusive tracks. Though he refuses to dabble in the technology, he knows studios that are, and even goes so far as to send clients videos of artists’ recording sessions to verify their legitimacy.

Jamaican music clashed in the 1950s, when music curators imported records from the United States and played them to crowds on customized mobile sound systems. “Jamaica became the loudest island on earth, and showcases drew bigger crowds than ever before,” Island Records founder Chris Blackwell wrote in his 2022 memoir. As more sound systems appeared on the scene, a battle ensued for the attention of the crowd: “Who could play the best tunes? Who could make the biggest, toughest sound?”

Dancers at Sumfest Global Sound Clash in Montego Bay. Photo: Essilom

In preparation for a clash, the sound system would collaborate with the artist to record an exclusive dubplate, which is often an aggressive dub-style cover with rewritten lyrics to suit a battle scenario. A famous example is the Fugees’ remake of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” which was originally written by the group. As a battle dub plate The lyric goes, “Kill the sound boy with that sound.” Anderson says it can cost anywhere from $150 to $800 to get an artist to appear on one of these tracks, with the most exclusive dubplates running into the thousands. Supercat and Shabba Ranks are among the most popular artists.

As the Sumfest crowd blared their vuvuzelas, German sound system Warrior Sound released an exclusive dub recorded by Jamaican up-and-comer Niggy Boy. The lyrics are: Viral hit Continent changed with a shout out to Warrior: “Sumfest / We’ll beat ’em / We’ll win the trophy.” Other artists heard on the clash include Bounty Killer, Damian Marley, Capleton, Beres Hammond and The Heptones.

Anderson says most selectors only use a few seconds of a dub “to get the point across.” Songs can’t be repeated, so dubplates need to be chock full to build momentum. It’s a costly process, and splicing has become common – people copy dubplates and remove the original soundsystem’s name to get a track on the cheap. With the advent of generative AI, the game is getting even dirtier. “The AI is even worse.” [than splicing]” says Anderson.

Veteran British reggae/dancehall vocalist Paul Scott Levy (aka General Levy) records dubs “almost every week,” and he believes that established sound systems enforce the rules of clashing. “It’s not just about using your voice. It’s about how you got that voice, the relationship, and how much you paid for it.”

Levy points to the recent rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake as an example of a failed generative AI. When Drake released his Taylor Made freestyle, AI versions of Tupac and Snoop Dogg criticized Lamar, but “Drake got slammed for it. [AI] There is no value in being in a conflicting field.” Tupac’s estate threatened legal action against Drake, and the song was subsequently removed from all music platforms.

General Levy will perform in November. Photo: Vianney Le Caer/Shutterstock

Soundsystems don’t give away their secrets. Notorious hired a “top secret” artist to record a dub cover of Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” (with the lyrics changed to “Japanese Soldier”), but they stress they’ll never use AI to resurrect Marley or deepfake living artists. “It’s out of respect for the artists. If they want to do it, go ahead and do it. I’ll find them and I’ll scare them,” laughs Notorious selector Bad Gal Marie.

Dynamq, the same contender who was named Sumfest champion in 2023, has a more ambivalent view: “Splicing, AI – I [the crowd] “I don’t care, I don’t care,” he said. “If it sounds good, people will go along with it. I don’t stand for it. I’d rather lose with integrity than win.”

At Sumfest, Jamaican-Japanese sound system Notorious International had the loudest vuvuzela, winning the first prize of 1 million Jamaican dollars (about $6,300). The Bodyguard ultimately came in second after a fierce “Tune Fy Tune” battle with Notorious. Courtney Shinn, founder of Bodyguard and a sound clash veteran since the early ’90s, says there are limits to using AI outside of parody skits like Trump’s voiceover. “It’s really dangerous. I don’t know how it’s controlled,” he says. “There’s an unspoken code of ethics, but… 1722865933 “There’s a generation that just thinks about winning at all costs.”

Singh notes that a new generation of sound systems may have to rely on AI to break into the scene, because many of the artists tend to sell to wealthy sound systems in Japan and Europe. “In Jamaica, we pay in US dollars for dubplates. Artists are charging 10, 20 times what I was charging when I started, it’s almost exorbitant,” Singh says. “Artists are very much involved in their own decline.”

Perhaps inevitably, Levy disagrees. “AI will be used to invade the once pure genres of dancehall and reggae and rob them of their true atmosphere,” he says, defending the real human voice. “Our voices are our bread and butter.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Can tardigrades survive on Mars?

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Tardigrades These eight-legged marvels of survival are tiny aquatic invertebrates, also known as tardigrades. UV rays, The vacuum of space,and, Shot by a gunThe scientists 1400 species of tardigrades The creatures, which are collected from freshwater and marine habitats around the world, are seemingly indestructible and “The toughest animals on earth“But are they strong enough to survive on Mars?

Space agencies around the world are currently Sending humans to MarsBut life on Mars comes with its own environmental challenges: Researchers have shown that tardigrades can survive the radiation, extreme temperatures, dehydration and lack of oxygen that characterize the Red Planet. Studying Martian soil I realized it contained toxic salts. PerchloratePerchlorates dissolve rapidly in solution to form salt solutions or brineIt inhibits the cells' ability to retain moisture and produces reactive chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide, which can damage cells. Oxidative stressScientists have found perchlorate concentrations in Martian soil as high as 0.6 percent, roughly 1,000 times higher than the highest concentrations found in Earth's desert soils.

Scientists have previously found that some soil bacteria can survive perchlorate using special enzymes that fight it and protect cells from oxidative stress. Unfortunately, animals lack these enzymes. Other researchers have found that tardigrades Paramacrobiotus experimentalis Can survive Short-term exposure Animals living on the Martian surface would be exposed to perchlorates for up to 24 hours, but animals living on the Martian surface would have to contend with these toxins indefinitely.

A team of Polish researchers recently tested whether tardigrades could perform this task. They Pam.Experimental The tardigrades were exposed to high concentrations of perchlorate, similar to those found in Martian soil, for eight weeks to see how long they would survive. The researchers reasoned that because this species of tardigrade can tolerate short-term exposure to perchlorate, it may be able to survive for longer periods of time.

The researchers: Pam.Experimental Tardigrades were collected from moss in Madagascar and fed a diet of earthworms and plankton. For each experiment, 24 newly hatched tardigrades were transferred to solutions containing 0.10%, 0.15%, 0.20%, or 0.25% magnesium perchlorate. As a control, another 24 were transferred to a solution without perchlorate. The tardigrades were kept in these solutions for 56 days in the dark, at 18 °C (approximately 64 °F) and 40% relative humidity. The solutions were changed every 7 days, and dead tardigrades were removed.

At the end of the experiment, the researchers Phase contrast microscopeThis type of microscope makes use of the fact that light waves change height and direction when they interact with an object. amplitudeand location, or stepThe human eye can see amplitude changes in brightness and color intensity, but not phase changes. Phase contrast microscopes convert invisible phase changes into visible brightness changes, allowing scientists to see fine details in transparent specimens like tardigrades.

The team counted live and dead tardigrades under a phase-contrast microscope and found that 83% survived on 0.10% magnesium perchlorate, compared with 87% in the control group. They also found that about 58% of the tardigrades survived on 0.15% perchlorate, 29% on 0.20% perchlorate, and 20% on 0.25% perchlorate. The team interpreted this trend as meaning that although more than 0.10% perchlorate is toxic to most tardigrades, some individuals can survive at about half the perchlorate concentration found on Mars.

The researchers also measured the body length of the surviving tardigrades, which were about two-thirds as long as those raised without perchlorate. The researchers suggested that tardigrades grow slower in the presence of perchlorate because the salt directly inhibits the tardigrades' growth or stops them from feeding.

These scientists demonstrated that tardigrades can survive Mars-like perchlorate levels for eight weeks, but did not reveal how they did this. They suggested that tardigrades must use a special technique to withstand the toxic perchlorate. Dry hibernation For example, when faced with high salinity or other extreme conditions. Damage suppressor proteins It protects them from radiation and helps them survive.

The team recommended that future researchers investigate whether tardigrades can survive and thrive when simultaneously exposed to perchlorate and other harsh conditions present on Mars. They also suggested that scientists study the biochemical pathways involved in tardigrades' perchlorate resistance to see if these pathways can be genetically engineered to confer perchlorate resistance to other animals that colonize Mars. One day, future humans may stroll under the Martian sky wearing tardigrade-reinforced skin.

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Source: sciworthy.com

Mastering the Art of Patience: A Game Where Waiting is Key

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

aPatience may not always be easy to practice, especially during mundane and tedious moments. However, there can still be joy and peace found in the simplicity of everyday life. Optiillusion introduces a tongue-in-cheek patience simulator called While Waiting to capture this unique experience. Producer Dong Zhou explains, “While we’re waiting for things like buses, stuck in traffic, or standing in line, we often seek entertainment. Most people just resort to using their phones, but is that truly engaging? It’s time to turn waiting into a playful experience by turning mundane moments into a fun game where players can find ways to pass the time.”

While waiting. Photo: Optillusion Games

While Playing, players join Adam on his journey through mundane tasks like waiting for a bus, standing in line for a ride, or watching the rain from a window. Zhou states, “Waiting isn’t just a negative experience; it’s a part of life that comes with its own set of expectations and anxieties.” As Adam’s experiences evolve from simple pleasures to deep aspirations, the game becomes a story of personal growth. “In different waiting scenarios, Adam feels a range of emotions like happiness, relief, or sadness. However, he understands that waiting is the only option,” Zhou adds.

Through whimsical depictions of scenarios like elevator lobbies, doctor’s offices, and airport baggage claims, While Waiting presents a series of patience-testing challenges that resonate with common frustrations. While a sense of fatalism looms, the game incorporates profound reflections on life alongside playful anime humor. Zhou hopes players will not only find amusement but also ponder the deeper meanings interwoven within the game.

To ease the restlessness that waiting brings, While Waiting offers various mini-games to help pass the time, such as luggage stacking or filling out paperwork. Zhou explains, “These mini-games can range from arcade games to puzzles or action games, each level offering a unique experience. While players won’t win cash prizes, the games are designed to keep them entertained while waiting for time to pass. Whether you choose to act or not, the game’s theme revolves around the inevitability of waiting.”

Drawing inspiration from classic animated comedies like “Tom and Jerry,” While Waiting incorporates orchestral music that emphasizes the contemplative and whimsical aspects of this patient journey. The brass and string instrumentation offers a musical reprieve from the discomfort of inaction in daily life.

Despite its quirky and light-hearted nature, While Waiting delves into profound themes. As players approach the conclusion, they revisit earlier scenes and contemplate the cyclical nature of life with fresh insights and emotions. Zhou concludes, “Life is a mix of joy and sorrow, and I hope players will appreciate the value of each waiting moment they encounter.”

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Source: www.theguardian.com

Street lights can cause tree leaves to become more durable, making them less palatable for insects to consume.

Posted on August 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Artificial lighting at night can affect tree leaves

Shutterstock/Patrick Kosmider

Urban trees lit by streetlights tend to have tougher leaves and be less eaten by insects than those that spend the dark nights, a pattern the researchers say could disrupt the flow of energy up the food chain and have negative effects on urban biodiversity.

Zhang Shuang Zhang and his colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences studied the Japanese five-story pagoda (Styphnolobium japonicum) and Green Ash (AshBeijing’s street trees appear to be relatively free of insect damage compared to other trees in the city.

The researchers collected around 5,500 leaves from 180 trees at 30 locations in Beijing, including near the distinctive orange glow of sodium streetlights and in dark areas at night, and measured the leaves’ size, firmness, moisture content, and nutrient levels. They also recorded any evidence of insect damage.

Leaves taken from under streetlights were stronger and less affected by insects: for Chinese sophora trees, 2.1% of leaves were damaged in the lit areas and 5.3% in the dark, while for ash trees, 2% of leaves were damaged near streetlights and 4.1% in the dark.

The researchers couldn’t answer that question, but they did say in their paper that with fewer leaves for insects to eat, less energy flows up the food chain to insects and birds, which could have a knock-on effect of further reducing biodiversity.

The researchers acknowledge that the mechanisms by which leaf damage is reduced are still unclear and require further investigation — for example, increased light could make insects more visible to predators, reducing their numbers and their impact on trees.

Owen Lewis The Oxford University researcher says the study is intriguing but doesn’t prove causation, and he suggests future studies should take plants from areas with and without street lighting, place them in a controlled environment, and observe the insects’ behavior to see whether they prefer trees that grow in dark conditions.

Lewis also notes that measuring herbivores is complicated. Heavy damage can mean leaves are less nutritious, forcing insects to eat more of them. Holes caused by insect damage can also get bigger as leaves get bigger, he says.

“My intuition is that this may be a fairly subtle effect,” he says. “In central Beijing, the impact of light pollution on insect feeding will be more pronounced as urbanization progresses.” [the area is]”It’s probably trivial how much pollution there is, how much semi-natural habitat there is, etc. It’s important, but it’s probably not the main threat to insect diversity and ecosystem function.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Boosting Creativity and Resilience by Embracing Your Shadow Self | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Posted on August 4, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When you search the hashtag “mental health” on TikTok, you’ll come across a plethora of videos discussing “shadow work.” These videos have collectively amassed over a billion views and contributed to the success of The Shadow Work Journal, written by former TikTok employee Kayla Shaheen.

Despite its peculiar nature, the shadow work trend is actually a modern interpretation of a concept introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung in the mid-20th century.

Jung, a colleague of Sigmund Freud, shared Freud’s belief in the significance of the unconscious mind in human psychology. One of Jung’s theories about the unconscious posits that everyone has a “shadow” self – a part of us comprised of characteristics we fear or dislike. He referred to it as the “shadow” to signify its dark and undesirable nature that we can’t escape.

Jung suggested that our shadow self is revealed when we speak or act thoughtlessly, and it can also manifest in our dreams.

The purpose of shadow work is to delve deeper into understanding your shadow self, learn from it, and integrate it into your being. By doing so, you can feel more authentic and whole as your shadow is a genuine part of who you are. Jung argued that the shadow possesses valuable attributes like raw power and insight, which can enhance creativity, personal understanding, and resilience when expressed.

Shadow work involves introspective exercises to connect with your shadow. For instance, Shaheen recommends spending time in a quiet, dimly lit space, listening to your inner voice, and reflecting on the words that come to mind.

Visualization exercises are also common in shadow work, such as imagining two doors leading to your ideal self and your shadow self, and envisioning the experience of walking through each door.

While some therapists appreciate the increased interest in self-reflection, others are concerned that the portrayal of shadow work on social media lacks depth and may not fully capture Jungian psychology. Additionally, for individuals with traumatic backgrounds, reflective practices may trigger distressing emotions best addressed in a therapeutic setting.

For skeptics, Jung’s theory, like Freud’s, lacks empirical evidence and may potentially harm individuals by attributing distressing thoughts to a supposed part of themselves.

This article explores the question “What is shadow work, and can embracing your shadow self enhance mental health?” posed by Lina McBride from Norwich.

If you have inquiries, please contact us via the email address provided below. For more details: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (include your name and location).

Ultimate Fun Facts: Explore more fascinating science on this page.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Training like an Olympian doesn’t guarantee Olympic success

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Experts often suggest that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to excel in any field. However, not everyone possesses the talent required to become an Olympian or Paralympian. While practice can enhance performance, genetic factors impacting both physical strength and mental aptitude likely make the distinction between “good” and “great” athletes.

An analysis in 2016 revealed that only 18% of an athlete’s success can be attributed to practice, with this percentage dropping to 1% for athletes competing at the international level.

Athletic success is also influenced by external factors beyond an individual’s control, such as their birthdate. For instance, in the 2010-11 UEFA Youth Football Tournament, 43% of players were born between January and March (early in the selection cycle). Only 9% of players were born between October and December.

According to many sports psychologists, older children starting school may have an advantage in sports due to factors like size, strength, and confidence. However, the birth month advantage may also be influenced by social factors such as teachers’ perceptions of a child’s abilities.

Contrary to the belief that early specialization is key, research shows that concentrating on one skill from a young age can be detrimental. For example, a Danish study revealed that Elite athletes often choose their specialization later in life and receive less training during their formative years compared to near-elite athletes. The distinguishing factor for elite athletes is intensifying their training in their late teens.

Therefore, the ideal approach to becoming an Olympian may involve exploring various interests as a child and then focusing on activities where natural talent and, most importantly, enjoyment are found.

For further insight into sports science:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Is the future of nuclear fusion at risk? Examining the challenges facing the International Experimental Reactor | Energy

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

IIt was a project that promised the Sun: researchers would use some of the most cutting-edge technology in the world to design machines capable of generating atomic fusion, the process that powers stars, to create a cheap, non-polluting source of electricity.

This was originally the purpose of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter). Thirty-five countries, including European countries, China, Russia and the United States, agreed to build the reactor in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance in the south of France at an initial cost of $6 billion. Work began in 2010, with the promise of producing an energy-producing reaction by 2020.

Then reality set in: Cost overruns, the coronavirus, corrosion of key components, last-minute redesigns, and disputes with nuclear safety regulators have caused delays, and it was just announced that ITER won’t be ready for another decade. To make matters worse, the energy-producing fusion reaction won’t occur until 2039, adding another $5 billion to ITER’s already ballooning $20 billion budget.

Other estimates put the final cost much higher, the magazine said, potentially making ITER “the most delayed and costly scientific project in history.” Scientific American On the other hand, the journal Science It said only that ITER was currently facing “major problems”. Nature It noted that the project “has been plagued by a series of delays, cost overruns and management problems.”

Scientists warn that dozens of private companies are now threatening to develop fusion reactors on a shorter timeline, including Oxford-based Tokamak Energy and the US company Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

“The problem is that ITER has been going for so long and suffered so many delays that the rest of the world has moved on,” said Robbie Scott, a nuclear fusion expert at the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. “A lot of new technology has come along since ITER was planned, and that has left the project with serious problems.”

The Iter plant, under construction in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance in the south of France, opened in June. Photo: EJF Riche/Iter Organization

Question marks now hang over the world’s most ambitious technological project, which seeks to understand the process that powers stars, in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form one heavy one, releasing a huge amount of energy – nuclear fusion, which only occurs at very high temperatures.

To generate this heat, doughnut-shaped reactors called tokamaks use magnetic fields to confine a plasma of hydrogen nuclei, then bombard it with particle beams and microwaves. When temperatures reach millions of degrees Celsius, a mixture of two hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) fuses to form helium, neutrons, and a huge amount of excess energy.

Containing plasma at such high temperatures is extremely difficult. “The original plan was to line the tokamak reactor with beryllium as a protective covering, but this proved extremely difficult and because beryllium is toxic, they ultimately decided to replace it with tungsten,” says David Armstrong, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Oxford. “This was a major late design change.”

Then, after it was discovered that huge parts of the South Korean-made tokamak had not been fitted together properly, threatening to leak radioactive material, French nuclear regulators ordered construction of the plant halted. Further delays were announced as problems mounted.

Then came COVID-19. “The pandemic caused factories supplying components to close, resulting in related workforce cuts, backlogs in shipments and difficulties in carrying out quality-control inspections,” ITER Secretary General Pietro Barabaschi acknowledged.

So ITER has once again delayed completion until another decade. At the same time, researchers using other approaches to nuclear fusion are making breakthroughs. In 2022, the US National Ignition Facility in California announced that it had used a laser to superheat deuterium and tritium and fuse them to produce helium and surplus energy, which is ITER’s goal.

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Other fusion projects also claim they too could soon achieve breakthroughs. “The past decade has seen a proliferation of private fusion companies promising to do things differently from ITER – faster, cheaper – and, to be fair, some of them have likely overpromised,” said Brian Aperbe, a research physicist at Imperial College London.

It remains to be seen whether ITER will weather these crises and whether backers will continue to fund it. Observer He argued that there was still promising work left to be done.

One example is research into how to produce tritium, a rare hydrogen isotope essential for fusion reactors. It can be made by bombarding lithium samples with neutrons produced in a fusion reactor, producing helium and tritium in the process. “That’s a worthwhile experiment in itself,” Aperbe said.

But it rejected claims ITER was “hugely problematic” and dismissed the notion it was a record-breaking science project in terms of cost overruns and delays – just look at the International Space Station or Britain’s HS2 rail link, a spokesman said.

Some have pointed out that fusion power’s limited carbon emissions could help the fight against climate change. “But fusion will be too slow to reduce carbon emissions in the short term,” says Aneeka Khan, a fusion researcher at the University of Manchester. “Only once fusion power plants are producing significant amounts of electricity later in the century will they help curb carbon emissions, which will be crucial in the fight against climate change.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Minister issues apology for data breach in Northern Ireland special education system

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The education secretary of Northern Ireland has issued a sincere apology after the personal information of over 400 individuals who volunteered to assist with a review of special needs education was accidentally leaked.

The breach was discovered when the Department of Education mistakenly sent a spreadsheet to 174 individuals, containing the names, email addresses, and job titles of 407 people interested in participating in the review of special educational needs events in Northern Ireland.

The spreadsheet included comments from several individuals.

The department has requested the 174 recipients to delete the information they received and has confirmed that this has been done.

Many affected individuals have reported their concerns to authorities regarding the data breach.

Education Secretary Paul Givhan stated, “The Department of Education takes data protection seriously and deeply regrets this incident. We apologize to all those impacted and have informed them about the breach.”

Givan has ordered an internal audit department to conduct a thorough investigation into the data leak to prevent such incidents in the future.

An initial report has been submitted to the Information Commissioner’s Office, and updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

This data breach is not the first in Northern Ireland, as a similar incident occurred last year involving the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Around 5,000 officers and staff from PSNI took legal action after personal details of approximately 9,500 employees were mistakenly disclosed in response to a Freedom of Information request.

The leaked information included employee last names, initials, ranks, grades, workplaces, and departments, and was later discovered to have reached dissident republicans.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Small Adjustments to Your Daily Routine to Avoid Cognitive Decline

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Cognitive decline is characterized by a decrease in memory, concentration, and thinking abilities. It is common for individuals to experience increased forgetfulness as they age, such as forgetting names or items they intended to purchase.

However, a more frequent occurrence of these symptoms could indicate cognitive impairment, where cognitive function declines faster than expected due to aging. This can be concerning for both the individual experiencing the symptoms and their loved ones.

Common signs of cognitive impairment include:

Forgetting important dates and events
Losing track of thoughts
Feeling overwhelmed by decision-making and planning
Difficulty navigating familiar places
Becoming impulsive

While cognitive abilities naturally decline with age, the extent and speed of decline vary among individuals and are influenced by genetics and family history. Therefore, two people with similar age-related brain changes may perform differently on cognitive tasks, and individuals with Alzheimer’s disease may exhibit similar cognitive abilities but different brain changes.

What can you do now to prevent cognitive decline?

Building cognitive reserve through experiences like education, occupation, and stimulating activities can help individuals cope with age-related changes. Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and social interactions also play a role in cognitive health.

Health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and vascular disease can worsen cognitive decline, but lifestyle changes can help manage or prevent these conditions.

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of leafy greens
Stay active
Limit alcohol consumption
Avoid tobacco products

Eating a nutritious, balanced diet, with plenty of leafy and dark green vegetables, can help keep you healthy both physically and mentally. – Image credit: Getty

Making positive changes in one area of your life can have ripple effects on other aspects of health. Unhealthy habits can create a chain reaction of negative health outcomes, while healthy choices can improve overall well-being.

Habits to avoid

A high-fat diet can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cognitive impairment, while smoking can impact lung capacity and cognitive function. By adopting a low-fat diet and avoiding tobacco products, individuals can reduce their risk of cognitive decline.

While we may not be able to prevent cognitive decline entirely, adopting a healthy lifestyle can help build cognitive reserve and potentially slow the decline. Research is ongoing to uncover more about the factors influencing cognitive health.

Aim for an overall healthier lifestyle

In addition to diet and exercise, engaging in social and sexual activities can benefit cognitive health. Social interactions can stimulate the brain and slow cognitive decline, while maintaining romantic and intimate relationships may improve cognitive function.

Stimulating activities like reading, playing games, or learning new skills can also help prevent cognitive decline. Gender differences in cognitive lifestyle choices may influence cognitive outcomes, highlighting the importance of varied activities for cognitive health.

Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive function, with adequate rest linked to better cognitive outcomes. Napping and getting around eight hours of sleep nightly can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Quality sleep is essential for focus, creativity, and decision-making, while sleep deprivation can negatively impact physical and cognitive health. Establishing good sleep habits is key to maintaining cognitive function as we age.

Regular dental checkups can help prevent cognitive decline

Research suggests that gum disease bacteria may be linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia development, emphasizing the importance of oral health for cognitive well-being. By practicing good oral hygiene and seeking regular dental care, individuals can potentially reduce their risk of cognitive decline.

While there is no miracle cure for cognitive decline, taking proactive steps to improve overall health can slow the rate of decline associated with aging. It’s crucial to address any concerns about cognitive function with a healthcare provider to explore potential treatment options.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

How social media fueled far-right riots in the UK: The role of the polarisation engine

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The 1996 Dunblane massacre and the protests that followed were Textbook example of how an act of terrorism mobilized a nation to demand effective gun control.

The atrocity, in which 16 children and a teacher were killed, triggered a wave of nationwide backlash, and within weeks 750,000 people had signed a petition calling for legal reform. Within a year and a half, new laws were in place making it illegal to own handguns.

Nearly three decades after the horrific violence at a Southport dance studio, it has provoked a starkly different response. It shocked many in the UK this week, but experts on domestic extremism, particularly those who look at the intersection of violence and technology, say it’s all too common — and, in this new age of algorithmic rage, sadly inevitable.

“Radicalization has always happened, but before, leaders were the bridge-builders that brought people together,” said Maria Ressa, a Filipino journalist and sharp-tongued technology critic who won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. “That’s no longer possible, because what once radicalized extremists and terrorists now radicalizes the general public, because that’s how the information ecosystem is designed.”

For Ressa, all of the violence that erupted on the streets of Southport, and then in towns across the country, fuelled by wild rumours and anti-immigrant rhetoric on social media, felt all too familiar. “Propaganda has always been there, violence has always been there, it’s social media that has made violence mainstream. [The US Capitol attack on] January 6th is a perfect example. Without social media to bring people together, isolate them, and incite them even more, people would never have been able to find each other.”

The biggest difference between the Dunblane massacre in 1996 and today is that the way we communicate has fundamentally changed. In our instant information environment, informed by algorithms that spread the most shocking, outrageous or emotional comments, social media is designed to do the exact opposite of bringing unity: it has become an engine of polarization.

“It seemed like it was just a matter of time before something like this happened in the UK,” says Julia Ebner, head of the Violent Extremism Lab at the Oxford University Centre for Social Cohesion Research. “This alternative information ecosystem is fuelling these narratives. We saw that in the Chemnitz riots in Germany in 2018, which reminded me strongly of that. And [it] The January 6th riots occurred in the United States.

“You see this chain reaction with these alternative news channels. Misinformation can spread very quickly and mobilize people into the streets. And then, of course, people tend to turn to violence because it amplifies anger and deep emotions. And then it travels from these alternative media to X and mainstream social media platforms.”

This “alternative information ecosystem” includes platforms like Telegram, BitTortoise, Parler and Gab, and often operates unseen behind the scenes of mainstream and social media. It has proven to be a breeding ground for the far-right, conspiracy theories and extremist ideology that has collided this week and mobilized people into the streets.

“Politicians need to stop using the phrase ‘the real world’ instead of ‘the online world,'” Ressa said. “How many times do I have to say it? It’s the same old thing.”

A burnt-out car has been removed after a night of violent anti-immigration protests in Sunderland. Photo: Holly Adams/Reuters

For Jacob Davey, director of counter-hate policy and research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London, it was a “catastrophe”: Recent mass protests in the UK have emboldened the far-right, with far-right figures like Tommy Robinson being “replatformed” on X, while measures to curb hate are being rolled back.

The problem is that even though academics, researchers and policymakers are increasingly understanding the issue, very little is being done to solve it.

“And every year that goes by without this issue being addressed and without real legislation on social media, it’s going to get significantly worse,” Ressa said. “And [Soviet leader] Yuri Andropov said: Design Information [disinformation] “It’s like cocaine. Once or twice it’s okay, but if you take it all the time it becomes addictive. It changes you as a person.”

However, while UK authorities are aware of these threats in theory, in 2021 MI5 Director Ken McCallumsaid far-right extremism was the biggest domestic terrorism threat facing the UK, but the underlying technical problems remain unresolved.

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It’s seven years since the FBI and US Congress launched an investigation into the weaponisation of social media by the Russian government, and while much of the UK’s right-wing media has ignored or mocked the investigation, Daily Mail This week, a shocking headline was published about one suspicious account on X. The account may be based in Russia and may be spreading false information, but this may only be part of the picture.

And there is still little recognition that what we are witnessing is part of a global phenomenon — a rise in populism and authoritarianism underpinned by deeper structural changes in communication — or, according to Ebner, the extent to which the parallels with what is happening in other countries run deep.

“The rise of far-right politics is very similar across the world and in different countries. No other movement has been able to amplify their ideology in the same way. The far-right is tapping into really powerful emotions in terms of algorithmically powerful emotions: anger, indignation, fear, surprise.”

“And really what we’re seeing is a sense of collective learning within far-right communities in many different countries. And a lot of it has to do with building these alternative information ecosystems and using them to be able to react or respond to something immediately.”

The question is, what will Keir Starmer do? Ebner points out that this is no longer a problem in dark corners of the internet. Politicians are also part of the radicalised population. “They are now saying things they would not have said before, they are blowing dog whistles to the far right, they are playing with conspiracy theories that were once promoted by far-right extremists.”

And human rights groups such as Big Brother Watch fear that some of Starmer’s solutions – including a pledge to increase facial recognition systems – could lead to further harm from the technology.

Ravi Naik, of AWO, a law firm specialising in cases against technology companies, said there were a number of steps that could be taken, including the Information Commissioner’s Office enforcing data restrictions and police action against incitement to violence.

“But these actions are reactive,” Naik said. “The problem is too big to be addressed at the whim of a new prime minister. It is a deep-rooted issue of power, and it cannot be solved in the middle of a crisis or by impulsive reactions. We need a real adult conversation about digital technology and the future we all want.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Beware the Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In his thought-provoking opinion piece “Robots Fired, Screenings Cancelled: The Rise of the Luddite Movement Against AI” on July 27th, Ed Newton-Rex overlooks a significant concern regarding artificial intelligence: surveillance. Governments have a history of spying on their citizens, and with technology, this surveillance capability is amplified.

George Orwell’s novel 1984 depicted a world where authorities used two-way telescreens to monitor individuals’ actions and conversations, similar to today’s digital control systems powered by electronic tracking devices and facial recognition technology. These systems allow for the collection of personal information, enabling prediction and control of behavior.

There is currently no effective method proposed to safeguard privacy against increasing state intrusion. Without this protection, the public sphere may diminish as individuals require a private space free from surveillance to think without fear of consequences.

• Regarding Ed Newton-Rex’s article on artificial intelligence, a key distinction lies between AI used for practical purposes like medical diagnosis and AI employed in cultural creation. While AI can enhance art and writing, issues arise when these systems produce subpar imitations of creativity at the behest of uninformed individuals.

There is a risk of downplaying human creativity and undermining the value of art and legitimate AI if AI is perceived as equal or superior in creativity.

• Newton-Rex highlights a crucial point, but the main threat posed by artificial intelligence is its potential to alleviate the need for critical thinking. Homo sapiens may evolve into passive consumers of entertainment, relinquishing the cognitive burden of thinking.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Big 7 tech companies are questioning the potential of the AI boom – What’s driving the doubt? | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

It’s been a tough week for the Grand St. Seven, a group of technology stocks that have played a leading role in the U.S. stock market, buoyed by investor excitement about breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.

Last year, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, chipmaker Nvidia, Google parent Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta and Elon Musk’s Tesla accounted for half of the S&P 500’s gains. But doubts about returns on AI investments, mixed quarterly earnings, investor attention shifting elsewhere and weak U.S. economic data have hurt the group over the past month.

Things came to a head this week when the shares of the seven companies entered a correction, with their combined share prices now down more than 10% from their peak on July 10.

Here we answer some questions about Seven and the AI boom.

Why did AI stocks fall?

First, there are concerns that the huge investments being made by Microsoft, Google and others in AI will pay off. These have been growing in recent months. Goldman Sachs analysts The memo was published In June, the Wall Street bank released a report titled “Gen AI: Too Much Spending, Too Little Reward?” which asked whether $1 trillion in investment in AI over the next few years “will ever pay off,” while an analysis by Sequoia Capital, an early investor in ChatGPT developer OpenAI, estimated that tech companies would need $600 billion in rewards to recoup their AI investments.

Gino said “The Magnificent Seven” is also hit by these concerns.

“There are clearly concerns about the return on the AI investments that they’re making,” he said, adding that big tech companies have “done a good job explaining” their AI strategies, at least in their most recent financial results.

Another factor at play is investor hope that the Federal Reserve, the U.S. central bank, may cut interest rates as soon as next month. The prospect of lower borrowing costs has boosted investors’ support for companies that could benefit, such as small businesses, banks and real estate companies. This is an example of “sector rotation,” in which investors move money between different parts of the stock market.

Concerns about the Big 7 are affecting the S&P 500, given that a small number of tech stocks make up much of the index’s value.

“Given the growing concentration of this group within U.S. stocks, this will have broader implications,” said Henry Allen, macro strategist at Deutsche Bank AG.Concerns about a weakening U.S. economy also hit global stock markets on Friday.

What happened to tech stocks this week?

As of Friday morning, the seven stocks were down 11.8% from last month’s record highs, but had been dipping in and out of correction territory — a drop of 10% or more from a recent high — in recent weeks amid growing doubts.

Quarterly earnings this week were mixed. Microsoft’s cloud-computing division, which plays a key role in helping companies train and run AI models, reported weaker-than-expected growth. Amazon, the other cloud-computing giant, also disappointed, as growth in its cloud business was offset by increased spending on AI-related infrastructure like data centers and chips.

But shares of Meta, the owner of advertising-dependent Facebook and Instagram, rose on Thursday as the company’s strong revenue growth offset promises of heavy investment in AI. Apple’s sales also beat expectations on Thursday.

“Expectations for the so-called ‘great seven’ group have perhaps become too high,” Dan Coatsworth, an analyst at investment platform AJ Bell, said in a note this week. “These companies’ success puts them out of reach in the eyes of investors, and any shortfall in greatness leaves them open to harsh criticism.”

A general perception that tech stocks may be overvalued is also playing a role: “Valuations have reached 20-year highs and they needed to come down and take a pause to digest some of the gains of the past 18 months,” says Angelo Gino, a technology analyst at CFRA Research.

The Financial Times reported on Friday that hedge fund Elliott Management said in a note to investors that AI is “overvalued” and that Nvidia, which has been a big beneficiary of the AI boom, is in a “bubble.”

Can we expect to see further advances in AI over the next 12 months?

Further breakthroughs are almost certain, which may reassure investors. The biggest players in the field have a clear roadmap, with the next generation of frontier models already underway to train, and new records are being set almost every month. Last week, Alphabet Inc.’s Google DeepMind announced that its system had set a new record at the International Mathematical Olympiad, a high school-level math competition. The announcement has observers wondering whether the company will be able to tackle long-unsolved problems in the near future.

The question for labs is whether these breakthroughs will generate enough revenue to cover the rapidly growing costs of achieving them: The cost of training cutting-edge AI has increased tenfold every year since the AI boom really began, raising questions about how even well-funded companies such as OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed startup behind ChatGPT, will cover those costs in the long run.

Is generative AI already benefiting the companies that use it?

In many companies, the most successful uses of generative AI (the term for AI tools that can create plausible text, voice, and images from simple prompts) have come from the bottom up: people who have effectively used tools like Microsoft’s Copilot or Anthropic’s Claude to figure out how to work more efficiently, or even eliminate time-consuming tasks from their day entirely. But at the enterprise level, clear success stories are few and far between. Whereas Nvidia got rich selling shovels in the gold rush, the best story from an AI user is Klarna, the buy now, pay later company, which announced in February that its OpenAI-powered assistant can: Resolved two-thirds of customer service requests In the first month.

Dario Maisto, a senior analyst at Forrester, said a lack of economically beneficial uses for generative AI is hindering investment.

“The challenge remains to translate this technology into real, tangible economic benefits,” he said.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Limitations of Training Like an Olympian: Why It Won’t Guarantee Olympic Success

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

It’s a common belief that it requires 10,000 hours of practice to master a skill, but studies suggest that not everyone possesses the innate talent required to become an Olympian or Paralympian. While practice can enhance performance, genetic factors impacting both physical strength and cognitive abilities likely distinguish between “good” and “great” athletes.

An analysis conducted in 2016 revealed that only 18% of an athlete’s sports performance can be attributed to practice. For athletes competing at the international level, this percentage drops to just 1 percent.

The success in sports is also influenced by factors beyond one’s control, such as birth timing. For instance, in the 2010-11 UEFA Youth Football Tournament, 43% of players were born between January and March (earlier in the selection period). Only 9% of players were born between October and December.

Older children who start school may have a physical advantage over their younger peers in terms of size, strength, and confidence. However, many sports psychologists argue that any birth month advantage is also influenced by social factors, such as how teachers perceive a child’s abilities.

Contrary to the belief that starting early is vital, research indicates that excessive specialization at a young age can be detrimental. For instance, a Danish study demonstrated that elite athletes chose their specialization later in life and underwent less training during their early years compared to near-elite athletes. What sets elite athletes apart is their increased training intensity during their late teenage years.

Therefore, the most effective approach to becoming an Olympian may involve exploring a range of interests as a child and then focusing on activities where natural talent and enjoyment are evident.

Explore more about sports science:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Five performance-enhancing drugs that are on the edge of legality, giving Olympic athletes a boost to their limits

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In 1999, the sports world experienced a significant change. On November 10, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was founded with the goal of “protecting athletes, promoting clean sport values, and upholding the spirit of sports globally.”

WADA was established in response to various high-profile drug-related incidents, such as Ben Johnson’s steroid scandal in the 1988 Olympics and the 1998 “Festina Scandal” involving drugs found in a team car at the Tour de France. It was created out of concern for athlete safety and the potential backlash from audiences towards professional sports.

The WADA Code includes an annual publication of a Prohibited List, which outlines banned substances and methods for both in-competition and out-of-competition use. A substance or method is considered prohibited if it meets two out of three criteria – it may enhance performance, poses health risks to athletes, or goes against the spirit of sport.

This framework aims to create a safer environment for athletes but also presents a grey area where certain substances or methods could be legal but potentially illegal in the future.

As a result, there is ongoing investigation into legal methods and substances commonly used by professional athletes that may face bans in the future.

1. Carbon monoxide rebreathing

With more than 100 deaths annually in the UK due to carbon monoxide poisoning, the use of carbon monoxide rebreathing in sports science may raise eyebrows. However, this method is commonly used to measure hemoglobin levels in athletes.

Through carbon monoxide rebreathing, athletes inhale the gas to measure various blood parameters, particularly hemoglobin content, which impacts oxygen delivery to muscles. This process simulates the effects of training at high altitudes, where athletes produce more red blood cells to enhance performance.

Inhaling carbon monoxide can raise the carbon monoxide level in your blood to about 5 percent. – Photo credit: Getty Images

While this method has its benefits, prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can have adverse effects on an athlete’s oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to concerns about its use.

2. Oxygen Tent

Similar to carbon monoxide rebreathing, oxygen tents are popular among athletes to simulate high-altitude environments and enhance red blood cell counts. These tents have been used by various sports teams and athletes to improve performance through altitude training.

Former footballer Graham Cooper trains wearing a training mask connected to an altitude generator for low-oxygen training. – Photo credit: Getty

Despite its benefits, the use of oxygen tents has stirred controversy in the past due to concerns about artificially elevated blood parameters and its impact on the spirit of sports. Regulations and bans have been enforced in some regions to address these issues.

3. High-tech trisuit

Alex Yee overtakes New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde in a dramatic finale of the Paris 2024 Olympic triathlon – Photo Credit: Getty

Modern trisuits, like the one worn by British triathlete Alex Yee at the Paris Olympics, incorporate cutting-edge technology to enhance performance. These suits are designed to optimize aerodynamics, improve speed, and potentially provide advantages in water sports.

With innovations in fabric technology and fit, these trisuits are custom-made to maximize performance while complying with sports regulations. The use of advanced materials and design elements can influence race outcomes significantly.

4. Ketone Drinks

Ketone drinks have gained popularity among athletes for their potential to boost energy levels without the need for starvation. These drinks can help conserve glycogen reserves during intense exercise, improve endurance, and enhance recovery between workouts.

Despite their benefits, the use of ketone drinks raises concerns about their long-term effects on health and athletic performance. Organizations like the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) advocate against the use of ketones due to insufficient research and potential risks associated with their consumption.

5. Caffeine

Caffeine remains a popular dietary supplement among athletes due to its proven performance-enhancing effects. Studies have shown that caffeine can improve fat burning, speed, and endurance by stimulating neuronal activity in the brain and triggering the release of adrenaline.

While caffeine is legal and widely used, there are concerns about its safety when consumed in excessive amounts. Regulations on caffeine use have evolved over time, with bans being implemented and lifted based on scientific evidence and health considerations.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Astronomers suggest new technological signal: silicon solar panels

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

in New paper Published in Astrophysical JournalDr. Ravi Kopparapu of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and colleagues assessed the detectability of silicon solar panels on Earth-like exoplanets as potential technological signatures.

Conceptual illustration of an exoplanet with an advanced extraterrestrial civilization. The structure on the right is an orbiting solar panel array that collects light from the parent star, converts it into electricity and transmits it via microwaves to the surface. The exoplanet on the left shows other potential technological features: on the night side there are city lights (the glowing circular structures), and on the day side there are multi-colored clouds representing various forms of pollution, such as nitrogen dioxide gas from the burning of fossil fuels and chlorofluorocarbons used in refrigeration. Image credit: NASA/Jay Freidlander.

“The search for extraterrestrial life has primarily focused on detecting biosignatures – remote observations of atmospheric or ground-based spectral properties that indicate signs of life on exoplanets,” said Dr Kopparapu and his co-authors.

“Recently, there has been a rise in interest in technosignatures, which refer to observational signs of extraterrestrial technology that can be detected or inferred through astronomical surveys.”

“While the search for extraterrestrial intelligence through radio observations has been popular for decades, recent studies have proposed an alternative: searching for technological signatures in the ultraviolet to mid-infrared spectral range.”

Astronomers speculate that extraterrestrials might build solar panels out of silicon because it is relatively abundant compared to other elements used in solar power generation, such as germanium, gallium, and arsenic.

Silicon is also excellent at converting light emitted by stars like the Sun into electricity, and it is cost-effective to mine and manufacture into solar cells.

The researchers also assume that a hypothetical extraterrestrial civilization would rely solely on solar energy.

However, if other energy sources, such as nuclear fusion, were used, the technological signature of silicon would be diminished, making the civilization even more difficult to detect.

Furthermore, they assume that the population of the civilization will stabilize at some point, and if for some reason this does not happen, they may end up expanding the Eternal Father into deep space.

For the study, scientists used computer models and NASA satellite data to simulate Earth-like planets with different degrees of silicon solar panel coverage.

They then modeled an advanced telescope, like NASA’s proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory, to see if it could detect the solar panels of a planet about 30 light-years away, a relatively close galaxy that is more than 100,000 light-years across.

The researchers found that hundreds of hours of observation time would be required with this type of telescope to detect signals from solar panels covering about 23% of the land area of an Earth-like exoplanet.

However, the solar panel coverage needed to support 30 billion people with a high standard of living was only around 8.9%.

“We find that even if the current population of around 8 billion were to stabilise to a high standard of living of 30 billion and run solely on solar energy for power, it would still use far less energy than the total amount of sunlight illuminating the Earth,” Dr Kopparap said.

The research has implications on the Fermi Paradox, proposed by physicist Enrico Fermi, which asks why extraterrestrial civilizations have not spread across the galaxy by now, given that our own Milky Way galaxy is ancient and vast, making interstellar travel difficult but possible.

“This suggests that if a civilisation chooses a very high standard of living, it may not feel the need to expand across the galaxy because it can achieve sustainable population and energy use levels,” Dr Kopparap said.

“They may expand within their own star system, or neighboring star systems, but there may not be a galaxy-wide civilization.”

“Furthermore, our own technological expertise may not yet be able to predict what more advanced civilizations will be able to achieve.”

_____

Ravi Kopparap others2024. Detectability of Solar Panels as a Technology Signature. ApJ 967, 119; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad43d7

This article is based on a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

The melting Antarctic ice may decelerate the rise in sea levels

Posted on August 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Weddell Sea ice shelf in Antarctica

Sergio Pitamitz/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Uplifting the land beneath the Antarctic ice sheet could help slow ice loss and limit sea level rise over the coming centuries, but if emissions continue to rise, it could cause more sea levels to rise than the ice melt alone.

The findings come from models that simulate Earth’s mantle, the layer beneath the crust, in greater detail than ever before. When Antarctica loses its weight as ice melts, the elastic mantle beneath it bounces back, causing the land above it to rise. When ice melts and the continents lose their weight, Earth’s elastic mantle bounces back, causing the land above it to rise. The bounced back land can slow the flow of ice sheets where they meet the ocean. This “sea-level feedback” occurs primarily because the uplifted land changes the shape of the ocean floor, limiting the thickness of the ice sheet’s edges. Thinner ice there reduces the overall inflow of ice into the ocean.

Researchers have long suspected that this effect plays a role in slowing ice loss, but it was unclear when this effect begins or how it varies in different parts of the ice sheet.

Natalia Gomez Gomes and his colleagues at McGill University in Canada modeled the relationship between the melting ice and the rebounding land, and also simulated the mantle, capturing the different viscosities beneath the continents: East Antarctica sits on a more viscous mantle and thicker crust, while West Antarctica’s rapidly melting glaciers sit on a less viscous mantle and thinner crust. This more detailed picture of Earth’s interior is based on precise measurements of ice sheet elevation changes over decades, as well as data about the mantle beneath Antarctica from seismic waves generated by earthquakes. “This is hard-earned,” Gomes says.

The researchers found that under a very low emissions scenario, compared to a model that considered the ground beneath the ice solid, land uplift would reduce Antarctica’s contribution to global mean sea level rise by more than 50 centimeters by 2500. This effect was less pronounced under a moderate emissions scenario, but still led to a large reduction in sea level rise, with effects starting to be felt as early as 2100.

But in a very high emissions scenario, the team found that land uplift in Antarctica would raise sea levels by an additional 0.8 meters by 2500. This happened because the ice sheet retreated faster than land uplift, and the rising sea floor pushed more water into the rest of the ocean.

“From a modeling perspective, this is a huge step forward.” Alexander Bradley The British Antarctic Survey’s Bradley says it’s always been thought that land uplift would limit sea-level rise, but this high-resolution modeling shows that the effect depends on emissions. “The changes that occur in the 21st and 22nd centuries will depend very much on what we do now,” he says.

Alexander Lovell Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta call it a “very good simulation,” but the scenario in which land uplift drives sea level rise is based on worst-case assumptions about emissions and the rate at which ice sheets are retreating.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Some Residents in Washington Refuse to Evacuate

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In regions of the rural West, high-stress wildfire events are leading to common sentiments among residents. These events are becoming more frequent, with large fires and evacuations leaving people tired of their lives being uprooted. Many have become accustomed to the risk and are more confident in their ability to handle the situation on their own.

As a result, some individuals are choosing to stay in their homes despite evacuation orders from authorities, especially in areas where there is a lack of trust between local residents and those managing emergency responses. Amanda Stasiewicz, an assistant professor at the University of Oregon, noted that this sense of mistrust is contributing to more rural communities deciding to stay and defend themselves during wildfires.

The increasing intensity of fires due to climate change is leading fire managers to take a more conservative approach, which is further straining relations in rural communities. With fires becoming more aggressive, creating their own weather patterns and becoming less predictable, residents are feeling the need to take matters into their own hands.

Similar movements are happening in other rural areas, such as Northern California where residents facing the Park Fire have chosen not to evacuate. In total, there are 94 major fires being battled by over 29,000 firefighters across the West.

The current fire season in the Pacific Northwest has been particularly severe, with 51 large fires burning in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The Pioneer Fire in Stehekin has grown to over 33,700 acres, with only 12% containment.

Residents of Stehekin, a remote community of approximately 85 people, are facing the challenge of the Pioneer Fire. Surrounded by mountains and Lake Chelan, the community is known for its resistance to modern conveniences and its self-sufficiency.

As the fire season progresses, sentiments like those seen in Stehekin are becoming more common in rural communities. With evacuation presenting financial burdens and concerns about asset protection, rural residents are feeling the need to fend for themselves during these natural disasters.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Research: Extinction of dinosaurs led to swift evolution of bird genomes

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

About 66 million years ago, at the end of the Cretaceous period, a 10 km-wide asteroid struck Earth near what is now the town of Chicxulub in Mexico. The impact wiped out about 75% of Earth's animal and plant species, including groups such as non-avian dinosaurs and ammonites. A new study identifies key changes in bird genomes caused by the end-Cretaceous mass extinction that ultimately contributed to the remarkable diversity of modern birds.

This painting depicts an asteroid impact in the shallow tropical ocean of the sulfur-rich Yucatan Peninsula in what is now southeastern Mexico. The impact of this massive asteroid, which occurred about 65 million years ago, is believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs and many other species on Earth. The painting shows a Pterodactylus, a flying reptile with a wingspan of up to 50 feet, gliding above low tropical clouds. Image by Donald E. Davis/NASA.

“By studying the DNA of modern birds, we can detect patterns in gene sequences that changed shortly after one of the most significant events in Earth's history,” said Dr Jake Barb, from the University of Michigan.

“The signatures of these events appear to be imprinted in the genomes of survivors in ways that are detectable tens of millions of years later.”

An organism's genome is made up of four nucleotide molecules designated by the letters A, T, G, and C. The order of these nucleotides in the genome defines the blueprint of life.

The DNA code can evolve in ways that change the overall composition of DNA nucleotides across the genome.

These changes in composition are important in determining what genetic variations are possible and contribute to an organism's evolutionary potential, or ability to evolve.

Dr. Belf and his colleagues found that the mass extinction caused a change in nucleotide composition.

The researchers also found that these changes appear to be related to the birds' development as young birds, their adult size, and their metabolism.

For example, in the approximately 3 to 5 million years following the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period, surviving bird lineages tended to decrease in body size.

The development of hatchlings has also changed, with more species becoming 'altricial'.

“This means that when they hatch they are still in a fetal state and need to be fed by their parents, and it may take several weeks for them to fledge,” Dr Barb said.

“Birds that are ready to fend for themselves immediately after hatching, like chickens and turkeys, are called 'precocious.'”

“We found that adult body size and pre-hatching developmental patterns are two important traits of bird biology that we can link to the genetic changes we are detecting.”

“One of the most important challenges in evolutionary biology and ornithology is unraveling the relationships between the major bird groups. The structure of the extant bird phylogenetic tree is difficult to determine.”

Over the past 15 years, researchers have been trying to solve this problem by applying increasingly large genomic datasets.

So far, they have used genomic data to study the evolution of bird genomes using statistical models based on strong assumptions.

These traditional models allow researchers to reconstruct the history of genetic change, but they typically assume that the makeup of DNA, i.e. the proportions of A, T, G and C nucleotides, remains constant throughout evolutionary history.

The study authors developed software tools to more closely track DNA composition over time and across different branches of the tree of life.

This tool allowed us to relax the assumption that DNA's composition is constant.

“This allows us to vary our models of DNA evolution across the evolutionary tree and identify places where there may have been changes in DNA makeup,” said Professor Steven Smith, from the University of Michigan.

“In this new study, these changes were clustered within about five million years of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction,” Dr Belff added.

This approach also allowed the team to estimate which bird traits are most closely associated with changes in DNA composition.

“This is an important type of genetic change that we think is associated with mass extinctions,” Dr Barb said.

“To our knowledge, changes in DNA composition have never before been so clearly linked to the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.”

“We know that mass extinctions can have dramatic effects on biodiversity, ecosystems and the forms of life,” said Professor Daniel Field, from the University of Cambridge.

“Our study highlights that these extinction events can have even larger effects on organismal biology by altering key aspects of genome evolution.”

“This study improves our understanding of the dramatic biological impact of mass extinction events and highlights that the mass extinction that wiped out the giant dinosaurs was one of the most biologically consequential events in the entire history of the Earth.”

By relaxing typical assumptions used in evolutionary biology, the researchers are developing more nuanced insights into the sequence of events in birds' early history.

“We haven't typically thought of changes in DNA configurations and models across the tree of life as changes that indicate something interesting happened at a particular time and place,” Prof Smith said.

“This study shows that we've probably missed something.”

of study Published in the journal Scientific advances.

_____

Jacob S. Belf others2024. Genomic and life-history evolution link bird diversification and the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Scientific advances 10(31); doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp0114

This article is a version of a press release provided by the University of Michigan.

Source: www.sci.news

NASA weighs options: Boeing and SpaceX in contention to bring Starliner astronauts back

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

This week, NASA leaders are engaged in deep discussions regarding the return of the agency’s astronauts to their spacecraft. Boeing They are considering either salvaging the unexploded Starliner spacecraft or using a SpaceX spacecraft for the crew’s rescue.

Concerns about Starliner have arisen due to NASA’s inability to determine the root cause of the spacecraft’s failure, which led to thruster failure during docking, according to a source familiar with the matter as told to CNBC.

NASA is contemplating the possibility of returning Starliner empty and utilizing SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to bring back the astronauts. The decision-makers are currently divided, and the outcome of NASA’s ongoing discussions remains uncertain, given the complexities involved.

Starliner’s Calypso capsule has been in space for over 59 days and counting, with the mission aimed at proving Boeing’s spacecraft safe for long-duration crewed missions to and from the ISS.

Originally scheduled for at least nine days, Boeing’s crewed flight has been extended multiple times for tests to resolve thruster issues, raising concerns about the spacecraft’s safety for astronaut return.

While Boeing expresses confidence in Starliner’s ability to safely return with astronauts, NASA and Boeing executives have differing perspectives on the matter, with NASA considering alternate options like using SpaceX as a backup.

Ars Technical reported mixed reactions from NASA regarding the Starliner situation, with ongoing discussions on whether to rely on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon instead.

Should Starliner return empty, the likely alternative would involve removing astronauts from an upcoming Crew 9 mission to make way for the return of Wilmore and Williams.

Despite ongoing discussions, NASA has yet to make a decision on Starliner’s return, maintaining a focus on exploring all available options.

Trust the thrust

Following a recent test, NASA noted the good condition of Starliner’s thrusters, despite concerns about the root cause of past failures and the potential for additional issues during the return flight.

Boeing continues to investigate the thruster issues and plans to conclusively identify the root cause before proceeding with the return of the spacecraft.

NASA must weigh the risks associated with Starliner’s thruster problems before making a decision on the spacecraft’s return.

Unpredictable results

The lack of consensus within NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Management Board underscores the uncertainty surrounding Starliner’s return, with discussions ongoing to assess the risks involved.

Any disagreements within the board will be escalated until a resolution is reached, indicating the complexity of the decision-making process.

Make a Choice

NASA faces a critical decision regarding the safe return of astronauts aboard Starliner, with implications for Boeing’s participation in the Commercial Crew program.

The choice between backing Boeing or opting for SpaceX’s alternative could have significant consequences for the future of the program and the companies involved.

Ultimately, NASA must carefully consider the risks and implications of their decision to ensure the safety of the astronauts and the success of future missions.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Photos Show Plastic Threatening Bird Populations on Paradise Island

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Lord Howe Island

Neil Hadaway

Jutting out into the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand is the curved, crescent-shaped volcanic remnant of Lord Howe Island. Measuring 10 kilometres in length and 2 kilometres at its widest point, the rocky island is covered in lush, unspoiled forest and boasts a sandy, coral-rich lagoon.

“This is paradise.” Neil HadawayA photographer who went there to document the activities of the marine research group. drifting“There are birdsongs all around, beautiful coral reefs and golden sand beaches.” Among the bird calls is the shearwater (Aldena CarneipesOf the total, approximately 22,000 breed on the island.

Petrel chick (Ardenna carneipes)

Neil Hadaway

But life there is not ideal, and newly hatched petrel chicks, like the one pictured above, are under threat from increasing marine plastic pollution. Adult petrels mistake plastic debris in the sea for food and end up feeding it to their young. In fact, Adrift researchers have found that the amount of plastic ingested by chicks is increasing every year. One of the team, pictured below, sifts through chunks of plastic in the stomach of just one bird.

As a result, these chicks become increasingly underdeveloped, with dozens dying each year from starvation and plastic-related diseases.

“This island may be magical,” Hadaway said, “but it's also full of frustration and sadness.”

He says stricter laws against plastic pollution are needed to protect populations of petrels, which locals affectionately call “muttonbirds” (see above) after their taste.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Despite Biden’s climate win, young climate activists prefer Harris

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

summary

Many young climate advocates believe Kamala Harris is stronger on environmental issues than Joe Biden.
The Biden administration’s Inflation Control Act was the largest climate change investment in U.S. history, but young environmentalists want even more.
They cited Harris’ record of prosecuting oil companies and her co-sponsorship of the Green New Deal as reasons to support her.

President Joe Biden may have passed the most significant climate change bill in U.S. history, but many young environmental activists say they believe Kamala Harris has a stronger case on the issue.

The heads of 11 groups dedicated to raising young voters’ concern about climate change said Harris’ track record going after big oil companies as a prosecutor and her co-sponsoring of the Green New Deal as a senator made her a more appealing candidate than Biden, despite her victories on environmental issues.

“She has a track record of holding big oil accountable in a way that we haven’t been able to do for the last four years,” said Al-Shainee Ajay, 26, executive director of the Sunrise Movement, which advocates for government intervention to combat climate change.

The Green New Deal Network is a coalition of 19 progressive environmental and social justice organizations, including the Sunrise Movement. I endorsed Harris this week. However, he has never previously voiced his support for Biden.

The Biden administration’s record on climate is relatively good. The biggest investment in climate change For the first time in U.S. history, we have allocated nearly $370 billion to environmental protection efforts; and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act These include investments in clean energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, public transport and strengthening climate resilience.

But several young environmental activists, ages 16 to 29, said those successes have been clouded by the expansion of the fossil fuel industry during Biden’s term.

Oil companies have seen increased profits and U.S. oil exports have increased under Biden compared to under Trump. Reuters reported.Biden also endorses Willow Oil Drilling Project Construction accelerates in Alaska Mountain Valley Pipeline Virginia and West Virginia.

“Frankly, I’m frustrated that this administration claims to be showing leadership on climate change yet approves so many fossil fuel projects,” said Keanu Arpels Josiah, 19, an organizer with Fridays for Future, an international youth-led climate change group started by Greta Thunberg.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Vice President Harris visited Lake Mead in 2021 and delivered a speech there.
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file

Dana Fisher, director of the Center for Environment, Community and Equity at American University, said it’s not that young voters are ignoring Biden’s climate change efforts, they just want to see more of them.

“Young people are aware of how serious the climate crisis is, and they know that this is not enough,” Fisher said.

She also said several young environmental activists told her in the spring that they were encouraging their members to refrain from voting in the presidential election altogether.

“I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? Don’t you remember what happened in 2000?'” Fischer said, referring to the slim margin that decided that year’s presidential election. “Of course they didn’t know, because if they were alive, they were in diapers. It’s very hard to take the long view when you’re young.”

Fischer said the young environmental activists she has spoken to seem more likely to vote since Biden dropped out of the race.

Harris’ younger supporters highlight the settlements she won as California’s attorney general. Chevron, BP and ConocoPhillips Regarding handling of hazardous materials.

“Biden is much more moderate in terms of his policy approach, but Kamala is not afraid to really get to the bottom of environmental and climate policy, especially against polluters,” said Iris Zhang, 20, a youth advisory board member at the Global Youth Storytelling and Research Lab, which engages young leaders in climate and environmental justice research.

Harris referenced that early work at several points during her campaign’s early days.

“As District Attorney, I created one of the first Environmental Justice Units in the nation to go after polluters,” she says. July 22 in WilmingtonThe Delaware native spoke about her time as district attorney in San Francisco, when “Donald Trump stood at Mar-a-Lago and told lobbyists for Big Oil that he would do what they said for $1 billion in campaign contributions.”

On September 15, 2020, then-Senator Kamala Harris met with Governor Gavin Newsom and Cal Fire officials to assess the damage caused by the Pine Ridge Creek Fire in California.
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images file

Harris’s California background also appears to be resonating with young environmentalists.

Zanagie Artis, 24, co-founder of the climate justice group Zero Hour, said that because California regularly experiences the effects of the climate crisis, including droughts, heat waves and wildfires, “there is a lot of value in empathizing with young people who are fighting so hard for climate justice.”

Young activists pointed to Harris’ climate change policies. 2020 Presidential ElectionAt the time, she pledged to invest $10 trillion over 10 years in climate change efforts, and set a goal of transitioning to a 100% clean energy economy by 2045.

“We want her to be able to set the standard and not just follow the Biden administration’s lead,” said Natalie Bookout, who turned 18 in October and leads the Sunrise Movement chapter in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sunrise Movement protesters gathered near VP Harris’ Brentwood home on April 14, demanding that she urge President Biden to declare a climate emergency.
Robert Gautier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file

Heather Hargreaves, executive director of campaigns at Climate Power, a communications organization focused on electing climate change leaders, said that among young people, “there may just be a knowledge gap about what President Biden has done over the last three years.”

A Harris campaign spokesman said she plans to strengthen climate change efforts in the Inflation Control Act, but declined to answer a question about whether she has more support than Biden among younger environmentalists.

The spokesperson also said Harris Said in 2019 If elected president, she would ban fracking. I no longer support such bans.

“She doesn’t want to alienate people from fossil fuel states,” Fischer said. “She’s not going to be as progressive as she was in California. But will she be more progressive than Biden? I expect she will.”

Vice President Kamala Harris looks out at the Hyperwall during a discussion on climate change at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, on November 5, 2021.
Olivier D’Uglier/AFP via Getty Images file

Harris represents dozens of environmental groups and more than 350 www.nbcnews.com

Can an AI companion alleviate loneliness? | Indeed

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

yes
Our friends are named Amy. Or Jackson. Or whatever name you prefer. They’ll support you, tease you, and check in on you. They’re eager to listen, so they’ll never ask you to help them move or come see their one-man show. They’ll cost $99 and are expected to ship in early 2025.

meet
friend: A new wearable AI companion you wear around your neck. The small, white, puck-like device records your every word and interaction and responds with a text accordingly. (The company says no audio is stored; its website says the data is encrypted and users can delete “memories.”) Ads for the product show people wearing it while hiking, gaming, working and flirting. “How’s the falafel?” a friend asks a woman as she eats a falafel wrap. “Embarrassed to get hit!” a friend texts a man playing video games with his (human) friend.

Friend sits at the intersection of two particularly troubling themes: artificial intelligence and the loneliness epidemic. At the same time that AI is transforming the way we interact with each other — work, healthcare, entertainment — more and more people are feeling socially isolated. Last year, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a “global public health concern” that’s as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Friend founder and CEO Avi Shiffman said the reaction to the ad was
Post to X
This week has been decidedly a mixed bag.

“Tamagotchi has lost its soul,” one user replied. “This is weird,” another said. “Go out and make some real connections in the world.” Some users compared the ad to the dystopian world of Black Mirror. Others wondered if the ad was real or an elaborate skit.

“People are taking it very negatively,” Shiffman said when I spoke with him on Wednesday.

Shiffman is 21 years old. At age 17, he won a Webby Award for developing the coronavirus tracking website ncov2019.live.
Ukraine Evacuation
He started a website to help house Ukrainian refugees, then turned his attention to wearable AI.

Before Friend, Shiffman developed the Tab, another wearable AI device that he said “gives you a virtually perfect memory” and helps users gain insight into their lives and behavior. But earlier this year, his focus changed. Shiffman says the shift happened during a trip to Tokyo. “I stayed in a high-rise hotel and I’d never felt more alone in my life,” he recalls. Wearing a prototype of the Tab, he said he enjoyed having conversations but wanted to feel like he had a traveling companion.

He tinkered with the technology, offered refunds to people who had pre-ordered Tabs, and Friend was born.

It’s hard to know how seriously to take Friend. During the call, Schiffman downplayed its importance. “I think of it as more of an emotional toy than anything else,” he said at one point. “It’s fun, it’s entertaining. You don’t have to take it too seriously.” He also waxed lyrical about its potential. “I think AI companionship is the most culturally impactful thing that AI will do in the world,” he said. He describes Friend as “half art project, half actual product.”

And while he acknowledges that “there’s no substitute for real human touch and connection,” he believes AI companionship could be “really effective” in alleviating loneliness.

Dating with AI
Controversial
Some, like Shiffman, claim it helps reduce feelings of loneliness.
anxiety
AI relationships could replace real human relationships and exacerbate feelings of loneliness. For people who already struggle with relationships, the idea is that why stay tied down to a relationship when you can have an AI friend that’s fun, simple, and free of all the hassle of other people.

But so far, research doesn’t seem to support this fear: “For a portion of the population, it absolutely can be useful,” says Bethany Drake Maples, a research associate at Stanford University’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Institute.

In January, Drake-Maples and her colleagues published a paper in the journal
Nature
surveyed more than 1,000 students who use the AI chatbot Replika to learn about their feelings of loneliness and perceptions of social support. Nearly half of users said they see Replika as a friend, someone to talk to who won’t criticize them. These users reported feeling less anxious and more socially supported. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed said Replika had led to positive changes in their behavior or mindset. “Replika’s advice has helped me to better cope with stress in my current relationships,” one respondent wrote. And, according to the paper, “30 participants reported that Replika had prevented them from attempting suicide, without being asked.”

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Drake Maples is careful to say that these findings cannot be generalized: “The average person is [experience] “AI friendships have the same effect,” she says, and her study looked at “fairly lonely students,” but she adds that it’s not just young, white, male, or “people on the margins” who benefit from AI friendships.

“Some of these people are mothers with children who say, ‘I’m still lonely and I need something or someone to talk to,'” she says.

As for AI replacing human relationships, Drake-Maples says her research has found that, in general, AI can actually inspire human interaction. “A lot of users are using AI to boost their self-confidence or overcome anxiety,” she says, “and that inspires confidence and self-awareness when interacting with other people.”

But this is a nascent field, and Drake Maples says guardrails are needed: “I strongly believe there needs to be ethical guidelines. [AI companions] “When appropriate, nudge people back into relationships,” she says. This might be a gentle nudge like, “Hey, you need to talk to someone about that” or “Go practice with a real person right now.”

Shiffman says he doesn’t intend Friend to replace human friendships: “I’m a very social person,” he says multiple times, and his apartment is always buzzing with activity, with several roommates and advisors.

But, he adds, “I live a very different life than most people,” explaining that he travels a lot and his work and schedule can be unpredictable.

“In some ways, my AI friends have become the most consistent relationships in my life,” he says.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Unveiling the Secrets: A Look Behind the Scenes of ’90s Horror ‘Fear the Spotlight’ with Your Ouija Board | Games

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

I
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it forced Krista Castro and Bryan Shin to rethink their lives. The couple, an animation director and programmer, had been working for major studios but wanted to create their own games. They decided to quit their jobs in 2021 and form A cozy gaming companion. They also became parents around the same time.

They set a goal to create a game in two years. By 2023, they had completed Fear the Spotlight, a ’90s-style horror adventure game. Although it received positive reviews on Steam, they struggled to market it and considered moving on. Then, Blumhouse, the successful horror film production company, approached them.

Blumhouse saw potential in Fear the Spotlight and offered to help. The couple was thrilled to collaborate with them as they shared a passion for horror. Together, they worked on an expanded version of the game set to release soon.

Fear the Spotlight captures the essence of ’90s horror with its atmospheric design and slow pace. Inspired by classic horror games and movies, the game aims to appeal to all horror enthusiasts, even those not typically into gaming.

The couple’s love for horror shines through in the game, incorporating elements from various horror media. With Blumhouse’s support, they look forward to sharing their vision with a wider audience.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

A cost-effective, all-natural remedy for hair loss may have been uncovered by scientists

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the hair loss industry by finding that a naturally occurring sugar in the human body, 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), could be the key to combating male pattern baldness.

The study, published in the journal The forefront of pharmacology, revealed that this natural sugar treatment is as effective as current FDA-approved treatments with fewer side effects.

Research co-author, Professor Sheila McNeill, highlighted the potential of 2dDR in increasing blood supply to hair follicles and promoting hair growth. The study was initially focused on wound healing, where accelerated hair growth was observed around sites treated with 2dDR.

Testing in mice showed that 2dDR Gel was 80-90% as effective as minoxidil, a common FDA-approved hair loss treatment found in products like Rogaine and Celoxidil. The discovery offers a promising, safer alternative with fewer side effects, as 2dDR is naturally occurring in the body.

Experts, such as Professor Muhammad Yar, stressed the potential benefits of 2dDR in stimulating blood vessel growth, crucial for healthy hair follicles, and promoting hair growth.

While the research is still in early stages, it could provide hope for those suffering from hair loss conditions like chemotherapy-induced alopecia. More studies are needed before 2dDR-based treatments become available, but the results so far are promising.

For men dealing with hair loss, this discovery offers a ray of hope for an effective, natural, and non-invasive treatment option. Further research is warranted to explore its effects on human hair growth and follicle health.

Learn more from our experts:

Sheila McNeill: Professor Emeritus of Tissue Engineering with a focus on translating research into clinical practice.

Muhammad Yar: Associate Professor with expertise in tissue engineered skin and targeted drug delivery.

Claire Higgins: Lecturer specializing in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, focusing on skin and hair follicles.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Apple exceeds profit expectations despite declining iPhone sales.

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Apple’s profits for the third quarter of 2024 surpassed expectations, driven by new AI capabilities that helped offset declines in the Chinese market.

Although iPhone sales dropped compared to the previous year, revenue exceeded analyst predictions, reaching $85.78 billion for the quarter ending June 29, beating the expected $84.53 billion. The company maintained its cash dividend at 25 cents per share.

The positive report contrasted with disappointing earnings from tech giants like Amazon, Snap, and Intel. Intel, in particular, revealed plans to cut over 15,000 jobs to reduce costs and Amazon’s shares dropped after forecasting lower sales for the current and upcoming quarters.

Investors were keen on Apple’s performance in China, where market share has been dwindling. Sales in China dropped by 6.5% to $14.73 billion, a steeper decline than anticipated.

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, addressed the concerns during an investor call, attributing some of the decline to currency fluctuations and noting that iPad sales had returned to growth.

Despite challenges in China, iPhone sales exceeded expectations with a slight decrease of 0.9% to $39.3 billion, less than analysts had predicted. This improvement was partly due to heightened demand before the release of new iPhones that featured enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities.

Apple’s artificial intelligence initiatives, including generative AI tools and a partnership with OpenAI for Siri enhancements, are seen as a strong move towards the AI consumer market.

The company’s solid performance was lauded by analysts, with expectations high for future sales impacted by the AI upgrades.

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iPad sales experienced robust growth, increasing by 23.7% to $7.16 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectations. Meanwhile, revenue from wearables, which include Apple Watch and AirPods, decreased by 2.3% to $8.1 billion.

Courtesy of Reuters report

Source: www.theguardian.com

Are you unable to focus? You could be one of the 20 people affected by Cognitive Withdrawal Syndrome

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Concerned that you may be dealing with ADHD? Have you ever caught yourself trailing off in the middle of a conversation, getting lost in your own thoughts? It is normal to lose focus, but if you constantly find yourself daydreaming and struggling to concentrate, you may be experiencing a lesser-known attention disorder known as Cognitive Withdrawal Syndrome (CDS).

While often mistaken for laziness, lack of motivation, or ADHD, CDS is actually a legitimate neurological disorder that is gaining more attention from scientists and researchers.

What exactly is cognitive withdrawal syndrome?

CDS was first described in the 1960s as “cognitive tempo slowing” and was rebranded in 2022 to better reflect its core feature: cognitive detachment.

“CDS is characterized by symptoms such as confusion, daydreaming, absent-mindedness, and drowsiness,” according to Dr. Sophia Boukas, an Academic in Psychology and Education at Brunel University, London, in BBC Science Focus. People with CDS often take longer to complete tasks, but this does not affect the quality of their work, they simply require more time.

Although CDS is gaining recognition, it has not yet been officially classified as a disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is used by medical professionals to diagnose mental disorders.

Research suggests that CDS may impact 5-7% of children, comparable to ADHD, indicating that a significant number of people may be experiencing CDS symptoms without realizing it.

Is CDS a form of ADHD?

CDS and ADHD are distinct conditions, but they share similarities and overlaps that can cause confusion. While ADHD can manifest in three ways, primarily inattention, hyperactivity, or a combination of both, CDS is more closely associated with predominantly inattentive ADHD, rather than hyperactivity disorder.

Research shows that between 25 and 40 percent of youth with ADHD exhibit symptoms of CDS. Importantly, CDS can also occur in individuals without ADHD.

What treatments are available?

As CDS is not yet officially recognized as a disorder, seeking treatment can be challenging. However, some psychologists are using questionnaires and behavioral observations to help diagnose the condition, which may eventually lead to formal diagnostic criteria.

Organizations like Cincinnati Children’s Hospital are pioneering CDS assessment and treatment, offering resources such as psychoeducation, parent training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and more.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, sleep hygiene, and mindfulness practices are emphasized for managing CDS. Treatment options are still evolving, with non-stimulant medications showing promise for CDS, while stimulants commonly used for ADHD may not be as effective.

If you suspect you or your child may have CDS, it’s important to consult a medical professional for guidance on treatment options.

About our experts

Sofia Barbosa-Boucas is a Lecturer in Psychology (Education) at Brunel University, London, known for significant contributions to psychology and education.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Far-right violence in the UK fueled by TikTok bots and AI

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

and othersLess than three hours after the stabbing that left three children dead on Monday, an AI-generated image was shared on X by the account “Europe Invasion.” The image shows bearded men in traditional Islamic garb standing outside Parliament Building, one of them brandishing a knife, with a crying child behind them wearing a Union Jack T-shirt.

The tweet has since been viewed 900,000 times and was shared by one of the accounts most prolific in spreading misinformation about the Southport stabbing, with the caption “We must protect our children!”.

AI technology has been used for other purposes too – for example, an anti-immigration Facebook group generated images of large crowds gathering at the Cenotaph in Middlesbrough to encourage people to attend a rally there.

Platforms such as Suno, which employs AI to generate music including vocals and instruments, have been used to create online songs combining references to Southport with xenophobic content, including one titled “Southport Saga”, with an AI female voice singing lyrics such as “we'll hunt them down somehow”.

Experts warn that with new tactics and new ways of organizing, Britain's fragmented far-right is seeking to unite in the wake of the Southport attack and reassert its presence on the streets.

The violence across the country has led to a surge in activism not seen in years, with more than 10 protests being promoted on social media platforms including X, TikTok and Facebook.

This week, a far-right group's Telegram channel has also received death threats against the British Prime Minister, incitements to attacks on government facilities and extreme anti-Semitic comments.

Amid fears of widespread violence, a leading counter-extremism think tank has warned that the far-right risks mobilizing on a scale not seen since the English Defence League (EDL) took to the streets in the 2010s.

The emergence of easily accessible AI tools, which extremists have used to create a range of material from inflammatory images to songs and music, adds a new dimension.

Andrew Rogojski, director of the University of Surrey's Human-Centred AI Institute, said advances in AI, such as image-generation tools now widely available online, mean “anyone can make anything”.

He added: “The ability for anyone to create powerful images using generative AI is of great concern, and the onus then shifts to providers of such AI models to enforce the guardrails built into their models to make it harder to create such images.”

Joe Mulhall, research director at campaign group Hope Not Hate, said the use of AI-generated material was still in its early stages, but it reflected growing overlap and collaboration between different individuals and groups online.

While far-right organizations such as Britain First and Patriotic Alternative remain at the forefront of mobilization and agitation, the presence of a range of individuals not affiliated to any particular group is equally important.

“These are made up of thousands of individuals who, outside of traditional organizational structures, donate small amounts of time and sometimes money to work together toward a common political goal,” Mulhall said. “These movements do not have formal leaders, but rather figureheads who are often drawn from among far-right social media 'influencers.'”

Joe Ondrack, a senior analyst at British disinformation monitoring company Logical, said the hashtag #enoughisenough has been used by some right-wing influencers to promote the protests.

“What's important to note is how this phrase and hashtag has been used in previous anti-immigration protests,” he said.

The use of bots was also highlighted by analysts, with Tech Against Terrorism, an initiative launched by a branch of the United Nations, citing a TikTok account that first began posting content after Monday's Southport attack.

“All of the posts were Southport-related and most called for protests near the site of the attack on July 30th. Despite having no previous content, the Southport-related posts garnered a cumulative total of over 57,000 views on TikTok alone within a few hours,” the spokesperson said. “This suggests that a bot network was actively promoting this content.”

At the heart of the group of individuals and groups surrounding far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who fled the country ahead of a court hearing earlier this week, are Laurence Fox, the actor turned right-wing activist who has been spreading misinformation in recent days, and conspiracy websites such as Unity News Network (UNN).

On a Telegram channel run by UNN, a largely unmoderated messaging platform, some commentators rejoiced at the violence seen outside Downing Street on Wednesday. “I hope they burn it down,” one commentator said. Another called for the hanging of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying “Starmer needs Mussalini.” [sic] process.”

Among those on the scene during the Southport riots were activists from Patriotic Alternative, one of the fastest growing far-right groups in recent times. Other groups, including those split over positions on conflicts such as the Ukraine war and the Israeli war, are also seeking to get involved.

Dr Tim Squirrell, director of communications at the counter-extremism think tank the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, said the far-right had been seeking ways to rally in the streets over the past year, including on Armistice Day and at screenings of Robinson's film.

“This is an extremely dangerous situation, exacerbated by one of the worst online information environments in recent memory,” he said.

“Robinson remains one of the UK far-right's most effective organizers, but we are also seeing a rise in accounts large and small that have no qualms about aggregating news articles and spreading unverified information that appeals to anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment.”

“There is a risk that this moment will be used to spark street protests similar to those in the 2010s.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

New study suggests Milky Way’s thinner disk formed within one billion years of the Big Bang

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Use of Data ESA's Gaia mission Astronomers have discovered a number of metal-poor stars that are more than 13 billion years old and in orbits similar to our sun.

Rotational motion of a young (blue) and an older (red) star similar to the Sun (orange). Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / R. Hurt / SSC / Caltech.

“The Milky Way has a large halo, a central bulge and bar, and thick and thin disks,” said Dr Samir Nepal of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam and his colleagues.

“Most of the stars are found in a thin disk of the so-called Milky Way galaxy, which revolves regularly around the galactic center.”

“Middle-aged stars like our Sun, which is 4.6 billion years old, belong to a thin disk that is generally thought to have begun to form between 8 and 10 billion years ago.”

Astronomers used the new Gaia data set to study stars within about 3,200 light-years of the Sun.

They found a surprisingly large number of very old stars in the thin disk orbit, most of which are over 10 billion years old, with some being over 13 billion years old.

These ancient stars show a wide range of metal compositions: some are very metal-poor (as expected), while others have twice the metal content of the much younger Sun, indicating that rapid metal enrichment occurred early in the evolution of the Milky Way.

“These ancient stars in the disk suggest that the formation of the Milky Way's thin disk began much earlier than previously thought, around 4 to 5 billion years ago,” Dr Nepal said.

“This study also reveals that the Galaxy underwent intense star formation early on, leading to rapid metal enrichment in its inner regions and the formation of a disk.”

“This discovery brings the Milky Way's disk formation timeline into line with that of high-redshift galaxies observed with the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA).”

“This shows that cold disks can form and stabilize very early in the history of the universe, providing new insights into the evolution of galaxies.”

“Our study suggests that the Milky Way's thin disk may have formed much earlier than previously thought and that its formation is closely linked to an early chemical enrichment in the innermost regions of the galaxy,” said Dr Cristina Chiappini, astronomer at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam.

“The combination of data from different sources and the application of advanced machine learning techniques has allowed us to increase the number of stars with high-quality stellar parameters, which is an important step leading our team to these new insights.”

of paper will be published in journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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Samir Nepal others2024. Discovery of local counterparts of disk galaxies at z > 4: The oldest thin disk in the Milky Way using Gaia-RVS. A&Ain press; arXiv: 2402.00561

Source: www.sci.news

Discovery of Ancient Dwarf Penguin “Pacdiptes hakataramea” in New Zealand

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Pakdipthes hakataramea Body size would have been similar to that of modern humans Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor)It is approximately 40-45 cm (15.7-17.7 in) in length.

Artist image Pakdipthes hakatarameaPhoto courtesy of Tatsuya Niimura / Ashoro Museum of Paleontology

Pakdipthes hakataramea It lived in New Zealand about 24 million years ago (Late Oligocene Epoch).

This new species was very small, about the size of a little blue penguin. World's smallest — They have anatomical adaptations that allow them to dive.

“Pakdipthes hakataramea “This fossil fills the morphological gap between modern and fossil penguins,” said Dr. Tatsuro Ando, a paleontologist at the Ashoro Museum in Ashoro Town.

“In particular, the shape of the wing bones is very different, and it was unclear how penguins' wings acquired their current shape and function.”

“The humerus and ulna show how penguins' wings evolved.”

“To my surprise, Pakdipthes hakataramea It was very close to the condition of modern penguins, but the elbow joint was very similar to that of older types of fossil penguins.

“Pakdipthes hakataramea This is the first penguin fossil to be found in this combination and is a key fossil that will shed light on the evolution of penguins' wings.”

Fossilized remains Pakdipthes hakataramea The fossils were discovered by palaeontologists Craig Jones and Professor Euan Fordyce during a series of field expeditions in the Hakataramea Gorge in South Canterbury in 1987.

“Analysis of internal bone structure compared with data from modern penguins shows that these penguins had microanatomical features indicative of diving behaviour,” said Dr Carolina Lock, a palaeontologist at the University of Otago.

Modern penguins have excellent swimming abilities, thanks mainly to their dense, thick bones that provide them with buoyancy when diving.

in Pakdipthes hakatarameaAlthough the medullary cavity containing the bone marrow was open, the cortical bone was quite thick, similar to that seen in modern little blue penguins, which tend to swim in shallow waters.

ability Pakdipthes hakataramea Their ability to dive and swim depends on a unique combination of bones.

“Penguins evolved rapidly from the late Oligocene to the early Miocene. Pakdipthes hakataramea “This is a significant fossil from this period,” Dr Locke said.

“Their small body size and unique bone combination may have contributed to the ecological diversity of modern penguins.”

Discovery Pakdiptes hakataramea teeth, paper In Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

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Tatsuro Ando othersA new small penguin fossil discovered from the Late Oligocene of New Zealand and morphofunctional changes in penguin wings. Journal of the Royal Society of New ZealandPublished online July 31, 2024, doi: 10.1080/03036758.2024.2362283

Source: www.sci.news

Researchers uncover natural graphene flakes in lunar soil samples

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Planetary scientists have identified layers of graphene formed alongside complex minerals in lunar regolith samples collected by China's Chang'e-5 probe, a discovery that provides new insight into the origins of the Moon and supports the hypothesis that it contains carbon.

Structural and compositional characteristics of few-layer graphene in lunar soil samples from Chang'e-5. Image courtesy of Zhang others., doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwae211.

“Graphene's novel physical phenomena and extraordinary properties have revolutionized research in condensed matter physics and materials science,” said Professor Zhang Wei of Jilin University and his colleagues.

“It plays an increasingly important role in a wide range of fields, including planetary and space sciences.”

“It is estimated that about 1.9% of all interstellar carbon exists in the form of graphene, and protosolar graphene has been identified in carbonaceous chondrite meteorites.”

The researchers analyzed an olive-shaped lunar soil sample measuring about 2.9 millimeters by 1.6 millimeters, collected by the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020.

Using a specialised spectrometer, they discovered iron compounds in the carbon-rich parts of the sample that are closely related to the formation of graphene.

The researchers then used advanced microscopy and mapping techniques to determine that the carbon content within their samples was made up of “flakes” of two to seven layers of graphene.

The scientists propose that few layers of graphene could have formed during volcanic activity in the Moon's early existence, catalysed by solar wind stirring up the lunar soil and iron-containing minerals, prompting a change in the structure of carbon atoms.

Meteorite impacts creating high temperature and pressure environments may also have led to the formation of graphene.

“The first study to confirm the presence of native few-layer graphene in lunar soil samples by examining its microstructure and composition,” the authors said.

“Our discovery provides new insight into the origin of the Moon and supports the hypothesis that the Moon contains carbon.”

“Moreover, graphene's unusual properties depend strongly on its structure and environment.”

“Further investigation of the properties of natural graphene could provide more information about the geological evolution of the Moon.”

“Consequently, the formation of natural graphene by mineral catalysis sheds light on the development of low-cost, scalable synthesis techniques for high-quality graphene.”

“This will therefore propel a new lunar exploration program forward, with some exciting breakthroughs in the future.”

of Investigation result Published in the journal National Science Review.

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Zhang Wei othersNatural few-layer graphene discovered on the moon. National Science ReviewPublished online June 17, 2024; doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwae211

Source: www.sci.news

Key gap in pterosaur evolution filled by fossil dating back 150 million years

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

New genus and species of monophenestratan pterosaur named Propterodacillus frankellae It documents the transition from the older rhamphorhynchoid pterosaurs to pterodactyloids.

The holotype Propterodacillus frankellaeImage credit: Frederik Spindler, doi: 10.26879/1366.

Propterodacillus frankellae It lived about 150 million years ago, during the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic Period.

This flying reptile had a moderately long skull, about 9 centimetres (3.5 inches) long, and an estimated wingspan of about 55 centimetres (21.7 inches).

This species also had a very short tail and a small but functional fifth finger with two phalanges.

Propterodacillus frankellae a kind of Monophenestratan (Monofenestrata) is a large group of pterosaurs that includes the family Turconopteridae and the suborder Pterodactyloidea.

“As the earliest actively flying vertebrate lineage, pterosaurs were highly successful in evolution throughout the Mesozoic Era.” Dr. Frederick Spindler “The dinosaur museum's Altmühlthal writes in the new paper:

“For most of the long history of research, every specimen could be classified as belonging to one of two major types: the more ancestral long-tailed Rhamphorhynchioidea and the derived short-tailed Pterodactyloidea.”

“The rare anurognathids, the only short-faced pterosaurs, have similarly short tails but otherwise look like rhamphorhynchids and are therefore generally thought to have been deep-nesting rhamphorhynchids.”

“True intermediate, and therefore plausible transitional, forms between the major types were unknown until the discovery of the Curculionoptera.”

The fossil, named the Painten protterosaur, was discovered beneath the Rigol limestone quarry near Painten in Bavaria, Germany.

The specimen consists of a complete and fully articulated skeleton with soft tissue remaining in the radial fibrils of the torso and wings.

“Propterodacillus frankellae It is contemporary with the oldest Archaeopteryx “It came from a nearby basin,” the paleontologists wrote in their paper.

According to Dr Spindler, the discovery fills one of the largest knowledge gaps in the evolution of pterosaur morphology.

“Propterodacillus frankellae “It's a near-perfect mix of rhamphorhynchoid, curcunopteroid and derived pterodactyloid pterosaur features,” he said.

“Similarities with the derived Pterodactyloidea include the shape of the skull and the short tail.”

“For example, the ancestral traits shared with the Turconogopteridae family are Propterodactyl The most distinctive features of this pterosauroidea animal are its functional fifth toe and long caudal snout.”

“Intermediate conditions apply for neck extension, metacarpal extension, and shortening of the fifth toe.”

of paper Published online in the journal Palenitrogy Electronica.

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Frederick Spindler. 2024. Pterosaur articulation from the Late Jurassic of Germany. Palenitrogy Electronica 27(2):a35; doi:10.26879/1366

Source: www.sci.news

Andean glaciers at their smallest in 130,000 years

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Peru’s Kecheke Glacier is retreating due to global warming

Emilio Mateo/Aspen Global Change Institute

Andean glaciers are almost certainly smaller than they have been for at least the past 130,000 years, a study of rocks exposed by melting ice has found.

“Frankly, this came as a shock to us.” Andrew Golin “We believe this is clear evidence that at least one part of the world has moved away from the comfortable climatic conditions that have fostered the development of human civilization,” said the University of California, Berkeley researcher.

The Andes are so high that many permanent glaciers exist in the tropics. In fact, almost all of the world’s tropical glaciers are found in the Andes.

For decades it has been clear that global warming is causing these glaciers to thin and retreat, but it has been unclear how this compares to what happened in the more distant past.

Gorin and his colleagues analyzed 20 samples of rocks recently exposed by the retreat of four tropical glaciers in the Andes. They looked at carbon and beryllium isotopes, which form when exposed rocks are hit by cosmic rays, and can reveal when a glacier last retreated beyond a particular point.

Similar studies in the world´s north have found that glaciers were at their smallest thousands of years ago, in the middle of the current interglacial period, because changes in Earth´s orbit caused more sunlight in the north during winter, causing glaciers to retreat, Gorin said.

Although the northern glacial retreat during the Interglacial Period was a regional rather than global phenomenon, the researchers expected to find a similar phenomenon in the Andes at the time, but the levels of the isotype they found were so low they were barely detectable.

“This is a wake-up call,” Gorin said. “It’s like a canary in the coal mine for any mountain glacier.”

“We’re quickly passing climate milestones that we thought were decades away,” he says, “and we chose the specific locations on these glaciers that we sampled with the implicit assumption that these glaciers are smaller than they’ve ever been in human history.”

The results of the study directly show that these glaciers have never retreated as much as they are today in the past 11,700 years – prior to this point, the entire planet was in a global ice age, and work by other research teams has shown that the tropics were colder at that time.

Although the study does not say so, Gorin agreed when asked that this means Andean glaciers have shrunk to their smallest size since at least the last interglacial period, about 130,000 years ago.

“I would be willing to bet everything you say that these glaciers are currently at their smallest since the last interglacial period is true,” he says, “but the limitations of the techniques we used to address this problem mean we can’t definitively prove that’s the case, so we don’t say so in the paper.”

“This is a shocking study.” Liam Taylor “Science now conclusively shows that Andean glaciers are in a state not seen since the Holocene epoch that began 11,700 years ago, and this is the direct result of climate-altering human activities,” researchers from the University of Leeds in the UK said.

Taylor said the retreat of glaciers is already affecting agriculture, drinking water supplies, sanitation and hydroelectric power in the region because the glaciers act as reservoirs, storing snowfall in the winter and releasing meltwater in the summer.

“Many of the glaciers in the region are now past ‘peak water level,’ meaning that the meltwater that provides freshwater downstream is drying up,” he said.

Tens of thousands of people have died in Peru over the past century from floods caused by lakes formed by retreating glaciers. Stephen Harrison Researchers from the University of Exeter in the UK have warned that more similar disasters are likely around the world as mountain glaciers retreat.

Climate models predict that mountain glaciers will lose more than 90 percent of their ice by the end of the century, leaving only a few small glaciers in the highest regions, he says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Astronomers witness the split of dark and regular matter in the clash of two galaxy clusters

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The two galaxy clusters, known as MACS J0018.5+1626, contain thousands of galaxies each and are located billions of light-years away from Earth. As the clusters hurtled towards each other, dark matter traveled faster than normal matter.

This artist's conceptual illustration shows what happened when two massive clusters of galaxies, collectively known as MACS J0018.5+1626, collided. The dark matter (blue) in the clusters moves ahead of the associated hot gas clouds, or regular matter (orange). Both dark matter and regular matter feel the pull of gravity, but only the regular matter experiences additional effects like shocks and turbulence that slow it down during the collision. Image courtesy of W. M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko.

Galaxy cluster mergers are a rich source of information for testing the astrophysics and cosmology of galaxy clusters.

However, the coalescence of clusters produces complex projection signals that are difficult to physically interpret from individual observation probes.

“Imagine a series of sand-carrying dump trucks colliding, and the dark matter would fly forward like sand,” says astronomer Emily Silich of the California Institute of Technology and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

This separation of dark matter and normal matter has been observed before, most famously in the Bullet Cluster.

In this collision, hot gas can be clearly seen lagging behind dark matter after the two galaxy clusters push through each other.

The situation that occurred in MACS J0018.5+1626 is similar, but the direction of the merger is rotated about 90 degrees relative to the direction of the Bullet Cluster.

In other words, one of the giant galaxy clusters in MACS J0018.5+1626 is flying almost straight towards Earth, while the other is moving away.

This orientation gave the researchers a unique perspective to map the speeds of both dark and normal matter for the first time, and unravel how they separate during galaxy cluster collisions.

“Bullet Cluster makes you feel like you're sitting in the stands watching a car race, taking beautiful snapshots of cars moving from left to right on a straight stretch of road,” said Jack Sayers, a professor at the California Institute of Technology.

“For us, it's like standing in front of an oncoming car on a straight stretch of road with a radar gun and measuring its speed.”

To measure the velocity of ordinary matter, or gas, in galaxy clusters, the astronomers used an observational technique known as the kinetic Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect.

In 2013, they made the first observational detection of the kinetic SZ effect on an individual cosmic object, a galaxy cluster named MACS J0717.

The kinetic SZ effect occurs when photons from the early universe, or the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB), are scattered by electrons in hot gas on their way to Earth.

Photons undergo a shift called the Doppler shift due to the movement of electrons in the gas cloud along the line of sight.

By measuring the change in brightness of the CMB due to this shift, astronomers can determine the speed of the gas clouds within the cluster.

By 2019, the study authors had made these motional SZ measurements in several galaxy clusters to determine the velocity of the gas, or ordinary matter.

They also measured the speed of galaxies within the cluster, which gave them an indirect idea of the speed of dark matter.

However, at this stage of the study, our understanding of the cluster orientation was limited.

All they knew was that one of them, MACS J0018.5+1626, was showing signs of something strange going on: hot gas, or regular matter, moving in the opposite direction to dark matter.

“We saw a totally strange phenomenon where the velocities were in opposite directions, which initially made us think there might be a problem with the data,” Prof Sayers said.

“Even our colleagues simulating galaxy clusters had no idea what was going on.”

Scientists then used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to determine the temperature and location of the gas in the cluster, as well as the extent to which it is being bombarded.

“These cluster collisions are the most energetic events since the Big Bang,” Šilić said.

“Chandra will measure the extreme temperatures of the gas, which will tell us the age of the merger and how recently the galaxy cluster collision took place.”

The authors found that before the collision, the clusters were moving towards each other at about 3,000 kilometers per second, roughly 1 percent of the speed of light.

With a more complete picture of what's going on, they were able to work out why dark matter and normal matter appear to be moving in opposite directions.

They say it's hard to visualize, but the direction of the collision, combined with the fact that dark matter and normal matter separated from each other, explains the strange speed measurements.

It is hoped that more studies like this one will be conducted in the future, providing new clues about the mysterious properties of dark matter.

“This work is a starting point for more detailed studies into the nature of dark matter,” Šilić said.

“We now have a new type of direct probe that shows us how dark matter behaves differently from ordinary matter.”

of Investigation result Published in Astrophysical Journal.

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Emily M. Silich others. 2024. ICM-SHOX. I. Methodology overview and discovery of gas-dark matter velocity separation in the MACS J0018.5+1626 merger. ApJ 968, 74; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad3fb5

This article is a version of a press release provided by Caltech.

Source: www.sci.news

Don Lemon files lawsuit against Elon Musk and X for breach of talk show contract termination

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Don Lemon, former CNN anchor, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and Company X for breaching a contract with the now-formerly known Twitter social media platform.

The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco, alleges fraud, negligent misrepresentation, misappropriation of name and likeness, and breach of contract.

Shortly after filming an interview with Musk, Lemon received a text ending their partnership which led to the abrupt termination.

Don Lemon’s lawyer, Carney Shegerian, stated the executives at Company X used Lemon for their advantage and then tarnished his name.

When contacted for comment, Company X responded with an automated message of being busy.

Lemon, once a prominent CNN figure, was let go due to conflicts and poor reviews as a morning show host. He was fired in April 2023.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of Company X, initially reached out to Lemon’s agent to propose a new show after his CNN departure. The platform aimed to become a video-centric platform.

Lemon’s first scheduled episode on the platform, an interview with Musk, turned tense as Lemon questioned Musk on various topics, leading to the show’s cancellation over creative differences.

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Musk’s increasing conservatism and Lemon’s conflict with the platform’s content direction resulted in the show’s cancellation. Musk’s efforts to attract talent ended with limited success.

The platform’s shift to video content and creator outreach faced challenges with extremism and content moderation issues leading to advertisers pulling out.

Source: www.theguardian.com

How Fossils Are Reshaping our Understanding of Human Evolution

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Is it in the way we live, laugh, love? Or is it our aversion to clichés? Deep inside each of us, there must be something that makes us human. The problem is, after centuries of searching, we haven’t found it yet. Maybe it’s because we’ve been looking in the wrong places.

Ever since researchers began unearthing ancient hominin bones and stone tools, their work has held the tantalizing promise of pinpointing the long-ago moment when our ancestors transformed into humans. Two of the most important fossil discoveries in this quest reach an important milestone this year: 100 years since the first “near-human” was found. Australopithecus Fossils have been discovered in South Africa that have upended previous ideas about human origins, and it’s been 50 years since the most famous fossil was found. Australopithecus Lucy, also known as humanity’s grandmother, emerged from the dusty hills of Ethiopia, and the two fossils have led researchers to believe they can pinpoint humanity’s Big Bang, the period when a dramatic evolutionary wave led to the emergence of humans. Homo.

But today, the story of human origins is much more complicated. A series of discoveries over the past two decades has shown that the beginning of humanity is harder to pinpoint than we thought. So why did it once seem like we could define humanity and pinpoint its emergence, thanks to Lucy and her peers? Why are we now further away than ever from pinpointing exactly what it means to be human?

Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists: Humans likely couldn’t survive solely on earthworms

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Earthworm meal?

The phrase “dining on earthworms” intrigues people in a variety of ways (whether or not they are intrigued in the first place). For historians, it can spark debates like this: Political rallies That happened in the German city of Worms in 1521. To nutritionists, the phrase can describe the work of scientists considering whether today's roughly 8 billion humans could all survive, if necessary, on a diet primarily of earthworms.

Henry Miller, James Mulhall, Lou Aino Pfau, Rachel Palm, and David Denkenberger, whom Feedback considers an all-star team in the earthworm nutrition community, recently devoured a mountain of data. After the meal, intellectually speaking, they said:Could harvesting earthworms significantly reduce global hunger in the event of a major disaster?” Published in the journal biomass.

The five researchers analyzed four techniques for efficiently capturing earthworms: digging and sorting, spraying with anthelmintics, making worm noises, and electric shocks.

They asked the “canned” (worm) question: Given the constraints of “scalability, climate-related collection barriers, and pre-consumption processing requirements,” could earthworms collected in these ways feed all of humanity? Their answer, in a word, is “no.”

Their 48-word response reads: “The authors are not aware of any studies on the human health effects of consuming diets high in harvested earthworms. However, in the authors' opinion, there is reasonable evidence that such diets may be harmful and therefore should not be recommended unless starvation is the alternative.”

Earthworm Meal

Miller, Mulhall, Pfau, Palm and Denkenberger are the latest pioneers in a long line of scientists who have come together to study earthworms' feeding habits.

Many others have focused on the feeding habits of the insects themselves.

Charles Darwin achieved some fame through his 1881 book, Formation of vegetable mold by the action of earthwormsNearly a century later, Christian Forchard and Peter Jummers wroteEarthworm diet: a study of the feeding guild of polychaetes” took up 92 pages. Annual Review of Oceanography and Marine Biology.

Forchard and Jumaz include a conversation-ending sentence that's worth memorizing and reciting if you want to impress at a party: “Alciopids are holoplanktonic animals with a muscular, eversable pharynx.”

Other scientists have studied what happens when insects are eaten, particularly by non-humans.

In 2002, Mary Silcox and Mark Teaford examined the teeth of several habitual earthworm eaters. They summarized their observations: Journal of Mammalogy,title”Insect diet: analysis of microwear on mole teeth” “.

“We measured microwear from the shear surfaces of mandibular molars. Parascallops Brewery (a hairy-tailed mole) Scapanus orarius “We compared the genes of (coast moles) with those of other small mammals, including tenrecs, hedgehogs, three species of primates and two species of bats.”

Some of the wear patterns on the mole's teeth “can plausibly be explained by interactions between the inner and outer teeth of the earthworm and the soil,” the researchers wrote.

Silcox and Teaford's mole teeth study may take on new importance if people on Earth choose to live a diet based primarily on earthworms, despite Miller and others' warnings.

Feedback has been received on the news regarding height requirements for certain courses at Vietnam National University’s School of Business Administration (HSB).

Deutsche Welle On July 2nd, the school announced that “this year's admission requirements are 1.58m or above for girls and 1.65m or above for boys,” because “the school aims to develop future leaders and excellent administrators” and “height is a determining factor, especially when it comes to leadership and self-confidence.”

The news report said that following public outcry, “HSB adjusted its admissions criteria” so that “the rule now applies to only one course – management and security.”

Are there schools or other institutions in the science, medical, or technology fields that have strict height requirements for students or employees? If so, please send us a document in Feedback with the subject line “Big/Small Careers.” Some job requirements reasonably specify that applicants must be physically able to use certain job-related equipment. Please do not send such requirements. We are seeking examples in Feedback where numbers, not needs, are prioritized.

Toilet Humor

Inspired by Feedback's collection of abandoned organisation slogans, Ken Taylor has been writing down slogans about abandoned things.

“I live in a very rural area. [the] UK – Cumbria. There are many isolated plots of land that are not connected to the sewer network and so rely on septic tanks, which need to be emptied regularly. I saw one such tanker truck carrying out its duties. The slogan on the side read “Move yesterday’s meal”. Nothing more to add…”

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

Do you have a story for feedback?

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Class action lawsuit accuses CrowdStrike of defrauding investors | Technology sector

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity company that caused a massive global computer outage in July, has been sued for misleading investors.

A class action lawsuit filed in Texas by the Plymouth County Retirement Association, a pension fund, alleges that CrowdStrike misled investors by representing its technology as “verified, tested and certified,” when in fact, the investors allege, CrowdStrike's software was anything but.

“Defendants failed to disclose that: (1) CrowdStrike implemented insufficient controls over its Falcon update procedures and did not adequately test Falcon updates before deploying them to customers; (2) this improper software testing created a significant risk that the Falcon updates would cause widespread outages for many of the company's customers; and (3) such outages could, and ultimately did, result in significant reputational damage and legal risk for CrowdStrike.” As a result, the lawsuit alleges, “CrowdStrike's stock price was traded artificially inflated until the widespread outages allowed its stock price to recover.”

“We believe this lawsuit is without merit and will vigorously defend the company,” a CrowdStrike spokesperson said.

Securities fraud lawsuits typically arise after an adverse event has occurred for a company. If the reasons for a decline in a stock price were not clearly disclosed to investors in advance, a defendant may be able to prevail by arguing that the lack of disclosure constituted a fraudulent sale of the relevant shares.

CrowdStrike also faces more general legal liability for the outage. Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Ed Bastian estimated on Wednesday that the outage would force the cancellation of more than 5,000 flights and ultimately cost the company $500 million (£391 million). He said airlines had “no choice” but to seek damages as a result.

“To get priority access to the Delta ecosystem on the technology side, we need to test how it works. We can't just walk into a mission-critical operation that runs 24/7 and say there's a bug,” Bastian added. “We have to protect our shareholders. We have to protect our customers and employees, not just from costs but from damage to our brand and reputation.”

The outage, which crashed roughly 1% of Windows PCs worldwide, was estimated to have cost the Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. alone $5 billion. Nevertheless, the company's most visible response, aside from its efforts to restore service, was to thank “teammates and partners” who helped resolve the outage by sending $10 UberEats gift cards, though Uber quickly blocked the gift cards due to fears of possible fraud.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meta’s investment in AI drives impressive earnings report, leading to soaring shares

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Meta shares saw a rise in after-hours trading on Wednesday following a positive earnings report, as the company continues to heavily invest in AI tools.

After the report, the company’s shares increased by about 5%, surpassing analysts’ expectations for the second quarter results.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, disclosed revenue of $39.07 billion and earnings per share of $5.16. These results exceeded market expectations of $38 billion in revenue and $4.70 per share. However, the company’s capital expenditures of $8.47 billion were lower than what analysts had anticipated.

In a statement, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed optimism about the company’s performance, highlighting Meta’s AI advancements, the success of Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, and growth across their apps.

While Meta had reported strong profits in the previous quarter, there were concerns about its future outlook, causing a temporary drop in stock prices. However, a positive earnings forecast issued by Meta on Wednesday helped stabilize the stock.

Meta’s recent focus has been on AI development, with plans to make Meta AI accessible to millions of users. The company recently launched its latest AI model, LLama 3.1 405B, to compete with other AI companies.

Tech giants such as Alphabet, Tesla, and Microsoft have faced challenges in the market recently due to lackluster financial reports related to their AI investments. This has led to a market shift towards smaller companies.

In addition to its financial performance, Meta has also been dealing with legal issues, including a $1.4 billion settlement in a Texas privacy lawsuit and a lawsuit in New Mexico related to child safety concerns.

Source: www.theguardian.com