As former FTX CEO Sam Bankman Fried's sentencing date approaches, an unexpected source has emerged: a plea for clemency from his own family. In a recent filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, SBF's attorneys submitted 29 letters of support, including heartfelt nominations from his mother, father, and siblings.
Barbara Freed, Joseph Bankman, and Gabriel Bankman Freed, the 31-year-old former CEO's mother, father, and brother, all wrote a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan, expressing SBF's background, personality, and Shedding light on contributions to society. FTX. SBF was convicted of seven felonies, but his family has fervently asked for a lenient sentence, stressing that his life behind bars could have been wasted.
In the letter, Gabriel Bankman Freed said, “Sam made a mistake, but his life will be wasted if he goes to prison. He has a great gift to offer the world.” The family's petition is based on the belief that SBF's talents and abilities could be better utilized outside of prison.
Unlike a trial, the sentencing stage allows personal appeals by friends and family. Judge Lewis Kaplan is scheduled to decide Bankman-Fried's prison term on March 28. Speculation about the possible sentence varies, with experts suggesting a range of 15 to 25 years. However, unless there are special circumstances, it is unlikely that he will be sentenced to a maximum of around 110 years in prison.
SBF's father, Joseph Bankman, expressed concern about the physical danger his son could face in prison and warned of a “draconian sentence”. He highlighted the difficulty of SBF in responding to societal demands and urged courts to consider alternative sentencing options. Joseph Bankman said SBF prioritized repaying investors and minimizing allegations of lavish spending before his arrest.
In a comprehensive letter, Barbara Freed detailed SBF's desire to help others from her childhood to her time in prison. She highlighted his commitment to coaching his fellow inmates for the GED exam. Fried urged Judge Kaplan to consider his son's poor response to social cues and expressed that his son has been “stricken with remorse” since the incident. The collapse of FTX In November 2022.
Reactions regarding Bankman Freed's family seeking pardon
The letter written by Bankman's family downplays the impact of FTX's collapse on investors and Bankman Freed's role in the fraud. Reaction on social media was mixed, with some users criticizing the plea for leniency and comparing it to other lawsuits, including: billy mcfarland A scene from the fire festival.
One user, Kyle Gibson, said: “Those who are writing letters asking for leniency in the SBF sentence are wondering what Fyre Festival's Billy McFarland is doing now and how he is in prison. You should look at how much rehabilitation he has undergone.” Mr Gibson expressed skepticism about SBF's rehabilitation potential and suggested he would return to his previous activities upon release.
Bankman Fried's defense team has recommended a sentence of 63 to 78 months, and prosecutors are scheduled to present their recommendation on March 15. Bankman Freed will celebrate his 32nd birthday on March 6, which will be his first birthday in prison since he was released on bail. The impending sentencing remains a pivotal moment for the former FTX CEO and those following the case closely.
The UK government has declined an offer to rejoin the ITER fusion experiment as a full member, following its exclusion from the project after leaving the EU. Instead, the UK will concentrate on domestic fusion initiatives in both the public and private sectors.
ITER, the world’s largest nuclear fusion experiment, is currently being built in France and is expected to be finished by 2025 after facing significant delays. It is funded by an extensive international collaboration involving countries such as China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the United States, and the European Union.
Previously, the UK had access to ITER through its EU membership. However, post-Brexit, the UK is no longer part of the EU. Negotiations with the EU have disclosed that the UK will rejoin Horizon Europe, a joint scientific research effort, but not Euratom, which is focused on nuclear energy.
The Head of Euratom Research, Elena Righi, has advocated for the UK’s formal return to the ITER experiment. However, the UK government supports its decision to opt-out, believing that private sector investment in fusion research is a more efficient and cost-effective approach than utilizing commercial reactors.
Righi made these remarks during an event in Oxfordshire, England, celebrating the accomplishments of the JET fusion reactor, which was permanently shut down last year and is now slated for decommissioning.
“The European Commission and the Council of the EU express regret in their joint statement over the UK’s decision not to participate in the Euratom project and the Fusion for Energy joint venture,” stated Righi. “The EU institutions have strongly advocated for the UK’s participation in all four programs starting in 2028, including ITER and the European Commission’s three other large-scale fusion research projects,” he added.
“This move will facilitate a unified European fusion community to continue its collaborative efforts and resolve the existing disconnection between UKAEA participation and eurofusion [the European fusion research group], ultimately enabling more substantial UK integration in ITER’s construction and operation. “
New Scientist reached out to the European Commission for clarification on Righi’s comments, but did not receive a response.
During the same event, Andrew Bowie, the British Atomic Energy Minister, highlighted the UK’s support for refraining from rejoining the ITER project and reiterated the allocation of £650m for UK alternatives to Euratom. This funding will be utilized for a blend of private and public research endeavors.
“The ultimate goal of all the experiments, all the research, and the significant work at JET is to integrate into the power grid and supply electricity to homes and businesses,” Bowie emphasized. “Substantial private sector involvement will also be crucial to make fusion power commercially viable and introduce solar energy into households.”
“The decision not to rejoin was the right one. We believe that the UK has progressed to a stage where rejoining would divert resources, time, and funds away from advancing the fusion project. It wasn’t an ideological choice but a pragmatic one,” he stated.
Mr. Bowie mentioned that the UK is open to exploring new collaboration methods with ITER, including personnel exchanges, but explicitly ruled out re-entering the project officially, affirming the government’s support for this decision.
The UK is also developing plans for a fusion power plant, known as the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), which is projected to generate net energy gain by 2035, surpassing input electricity production within five years.
Juan Matthews, a researcher at Britain’s Dalton Institute for Nuclear Research at the University of Manchester, has expressed optimism over the potential of spherical reactors like STEP to offer smaller and more cost-effective fusion power compared to larger designs like ITER.
“We’ve faced ongoing delays. We seem stuck in the ‘big project syndrome,’ where plans go awry and costs escalate. Improved communication between the STEP initiative and ITER could pave the way for power generation achievements ahead of Europe. I am very hopeful about the utilization of spherical tokamaks,” Matthews elaborated.
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman for prioritizing profit over humanity’s interests, contrary to its core mission.
As the wealthiest individual globally and a founding director of the AI company behind ChatGPT, Musk alleges that Altman violated OpenAI’s founding covenant by striking an investment deal with Microsoft.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco, accuses OpenAI of prioritizing profit over human well-being by shifting its focus to developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for commercial gain rather than humanitarian purposes.
Musk claims that OpenAI has essentially become a subsidiary of Microsoft, the world’s largest tech company, under new leadership, diverting from its original principles outlined in the founding agreement.
The lawsuit raises concerns about AGI posing a significant threat to humanity, particularly if it falls into profit-driven companies’ hands, like Google.
Originally founded to be a nonprofit, open-source organization working for the greater good, OpenAI’s alleged transition to a profit-centric entity under Microsoft’s influence has prompted Musk to take legal action.
The lawsuit contends that the development of OpenAI’s GPT-4 model, shrouded in secrecy, deviates from their initial mission and breaches contractual obligations.
Musk, who played a significant role in establishing OpenAI but exited in 2018, claims that the company’s recent actions concerning AGI technology are in direct conflict with its intended purpose.
The lawsuit aims to compel OpenAI to adhere to its original mission of developing AGI for humanity’s benefit, not for personal gain or for tech giants like Microsoft.
The deal between OpenAI and Microsoft is now facing scrutiny from competition authorities in various regions, including the US, EU, and UK.
Elon Musk is concerned about the pace of AI development
Chesnot/Getty Images
Elon Musk asked the court to resolve the issue of whether GPT-4 is artificial general intelligence (AGI). Lawsuit against OpenAI. The development of his AGI, which can perform a variety of tasks just like humans, is one of the field’s main goals, but experts say it will be up to judges to decide whether it qualifies for GPT-4. The idea is “unrealistic,” he said.
Musk was one of the founders of OpenAI in 2015, but left the company in February 2018 due to controversy over the company’s change from a nonprofit model to a profit-restricted model. Despite this, he continues to support OpenAI financially, with the legal complaint alleging that he donated more than $44 million to OpenAI between 2016 and 2020.
Since OpenAI’s flagship ChatGPT launched in November 2022 and the company partnered with Microsoft, Musk has warned that AI development is moving too fast, but with the latest AI model to power ChatGPT, Musk has warned that AI development is moving too fast. The release of GPT-4 made that view even worse. In July 2023, he founded xAI, a competitor of OpenAI.
In a lawsuit filed in a California court on March 1st, Musk said through his lawyer, “A judicial determination that GPT-4 constitutes artificial general intelligence and is therefore outside the scope of OpenAI’s license to Microsoft.” I asked for This is because OpenAI is committed to only licensing “pre-AGI” technology. Musk has a number of other demands, including financial compensation for his role in helping found OpenAI.
However, it is unlikely that Mr. Musk will prevail. Not only because of the merits of litigation, but also because of the complexity in determining when AGI is achieved. “AGI doesn’t have an accepted definition, it’s kind of a coined term, so I think it’s unrealistic in a general sense,” he says. mike cook At King’s College London.
“Whether OpenAI has achieved AGI is hotly debated among those who base their decisions on scientific facts.” Elke Beuten De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. “It seems unusual to me that a court can establish scientific truth.”
However, such a judgment is not legally impossible. “We’ve seen all sorts of ridiculous definitions come out of US court decisions. How can anyone but the most outlandish of her AGI supporters be persuaded? Not at all.” Staffordshire, England says Katherine Frick of the university.
It’s unclear what Musk hopes to achieve with the lawsuit – new scientist has reached out to both him and OpenAI for comment, but has not yet received a response from either.
“It’s in OpenAI’s interest to constantly hint that their tools are improving and getting closer to this, because it keeps the attention and the headlines flowing,” Cook says. But now they may need to make the opposite argument.
Even if the court were to rely on expert viewpoints, any judge would have a hard time ruling in Musk’s favor at best, or uncovering differing views on the hotly debated topic. will have a hard time. “Most of the scientific community would now say that AGI has not been achieved if the concept was considered sufficiently meaningful or sufficiently accurate,” says Beuten.
The ancient relationship between Mexico City and water dates back to the city’s origins. Situated on a former lakebed that was drained after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, the city now relies on underground aquifers and a network of canals, dams, and reservoirs from the Kutsamara water system for its main water supply.
Approximately 70% of the city’s water comes from underground sources, with the remaining 30% supplied by the Cuzamara system to the Mexico City metropolitan area and the Toluca Valley. However, increasing urbanization and overuse of aquifers have led to land subsidence, causing the city to sink at a rate of about 20 inches per year since 1950 due to continued groundwater extraction.
Despite efforts to repair and upgrade aging infrastructure, Mexico City’s water system struggles to keep pace with the demands of a rapidly growing population. Climate change further exacerbates the water crisis, with persistent drought and rising temperatures leading to decreased precipitation and limited water replenishment for aquifers and dams.
This water scarcity crisis has sparked protests and unrest among residents, with many areas facing severe water shortages. Efforts to conserve water and prioritize its usage have been urged by local authorities, as communities like Iztapalapa struggle to cope with limited water access.
For residents like Hernández Villa, conserving water has become a daily challenge, with measures like reducing laundry frequency and bathing in containers to stretch their limited water supply. The urgent need for sustainable water management and infrastructure upgrades is evident, as Mexico City grapples with a worsening water crisis.
Dennis Chou reported from New York City and Alvinson Linares from Mexico City.
In Sierra Greer’s novel Annie Bot, a female robot is created to be the perfect girlfriend for her owner.
alamy stock photo
From Adrian Tchaikovsky to Hao Jingfan to Natasha Pulley, many of the biggest names in science fiction are releasing new releases this month. We, the readers, can choose whether we want to peer into the ruins of an alien civilization, follow the possibility of the coming singularity and its aftermath, or enter the world of sex robots. To each of them, I would say, yes, please come join us. But I think it’s Stuart Turton’s new high-concept thriller that I’m most excited about. This thriller depicts crime and science fiction, with a murder taking place on an island surrounded by the fog that has destroyed the rest of the planet, and is one of my favorites. Blend.
If all these new titles aren’t enough to keep you busy this March, you might want to revisit Cixin Liu’s epic. three body problem, in anticipation of Netflix’s upcoming adaptation. Or please join us. new sciencet Book Club, I just started reading Martin McInnes’ novels Ascension in progress. The story from a mysterious trench at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to deep space has just been published in paperback and is an amazing read.
Is Tchaikovsky single-handedly supporting the science fiction industry? I think he might be, since he’s really prolific and definitely brilliant. alien clay This novel, the first of two new novels to be published over the coming months, is set on the faraway world of Kiln, where the ruins of an alien civilization have been discovered. Professor Arton Dagdev, who has always wanted to study extraterrestrial life, is exiled to the Kiln for his political activities and has to work in a concentration camp. Can he uncover the world’s secrets before he is killed?
I’m a big Turton fan. I’ve loved his smart, high-concept murder mysteries ever since his debut. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle From his latest historical crime novel. devil and dark water. His latest outings have a decidedly sci-fi tinge. The setting is a world destroyed by a murderous fog that has attacked the planet. The only thing that survives is the island, where 122 villagers and 3 scientists live happily together, until one of the scientists is found stabbed to death, when the island’s security system is degraded and the fog disappears. Everyone on the island will die as a result. It will take 107 hours if the murder case is not solved. That’s already a lot to accept, but everyone’s memories have also been wiped by the security system. Sounds complicated, but I believe Turton is great, so I’ll put it next on my list.
Mars is the setting for Natasha Pooley’s new novel
Pulley is a relatively recent discovery for me, ever since my mother finally convinced me to find time to read her historical and fantasy novels. Filigree Street Clockmaker (That made me happy). This latest installment is set after an environmental catastrophe. January, a refugee from Earth who is now a second-class citizen on Mars because her body has not yet adapted to low gravity, enters into a marriage of convenience with xenophobic Martian politician Aubrey Gale. However, Aubrey Gale turns out to be very different from their methods. Featured in Mars news. I love a good romance combined with his sci-fi setting, so this is a must-read for me.
2054: Novel Written by Elliot Ackerman and James Stavridis
Mr. Stavridis is not just a novelist, but also former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis.He and Ackerman are bestselling authors 2034. In this follow-up study, 20 years after the U.S. Nuclear War, the president of the United States collapsed and died while addressing the nation. Conspiracy theories spread and civil war breaks out. Meanwhile, computer scientists and intelligence experts believe they know what’s behind the assassination: a major advance in AI. This sounds thrilling and provocative, and is something you should devote a fair amount of your time to reading.
Hugo Award-winning Jing Fan’s new sci-fi thriller is set in a future where a mysterious, highly intelligent alien race comes into contact. His three scientists, unconvinced that aliens are a threat, join forces to thwart a potentially disastrous military response.
Our science fiction columnist Emily Wilson gives this novel very high praise.It is said to be perfect for fans of never let me go and my dark vanessa, which I definitely count among them, is the story of Anniebot, a female robot created to be the perfect girlfriend for her owner, Doug. The problem is that she’s starting to think about what she really wants from her life.
high voltage Written by Chris Sugden and Jen Sugden
By the author of the podcast drama series victorio city, this novel is described as perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams – Hello, it’s me. The setting is 1887 “Even Greater London,” an “urban plane” that covers the entire lower half of England, where Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s “Legion of Engineers” builds and destroys anything they deem necessary. There is. Meanwhile, Archibald Fleet and Clara Entwistle establish the country’s first private detective agency and take on a series of impossible bank robberies that keep the police busy and one kidnapping case after another.
This first contact novel is a sequel to Johnston’s novel. space between us Then we see the alien Enceladon disappearing into the water off the west coast of Scotland. I would like to start with the first one in this series.I highly value Johnston as a crime writer (his Skefus The series is peppered with morbid black humor, so I’d love to try out some of his science fiction work as well.
This cyberpunk satire sounds like fun. Following on from the TV sensation whose title is the novel, the next season will take place in the neo-medieval state organization “Inner Azure”, where the country has been (by its own choice) separated from the rest of the world for almost a century. It has been blocked off…until now. To entertain viewers around the world, the show’s producers must assemble a group of misfits who try to run the country.
Adam Malek’s third collection of short stories explores plant-based skyscrapers, a zombie apocalypse, how time dilation affects marriages, as well as reluctant sex robots and the terrible parenting skills of a billionaire space industrialist. is promised to us.
Cat Janis, the singer who gained fame on TikTok for dedicating her final song to her son, has passed away from cancer, as announced by her family on Wednesday.
Her family announced The news was shared on her Instagram account: “This morning, from her childhood home, surrounded by her loving family, Katherine peacefully entered the light and love of her Heavenly Creator.
“We are forever grateful for the outpouring of love that Duchess Kate and our family have received over the past few months. Kat has seen her music go places she never expected. I am resting with the peace of mind that I will continue to provide for my son through music. None of this would have been possible without your support.”
Janice had sarcoma cancer, a rare type that affects bones and soft tissues. She passed away at the age of 31.
Janice documented her cancer journey on TikTok, revealing that she discovered a lump on her neck in November 2021, which later turned out to be cancer. Despite announcing she was cancer-free in July 2022, it returned in her lungs, leading her to hospice care last month.
Proceeds from Janice’s viral song were dedicated to her son after she learned about her impending death.
Her song “Dance You Outta My Head,” released on January 19th and dedicated to her youth, topped the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart and made it into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. The song garnered over 12 million streams worldwide on Spotify.
“I transferred all the rights to my songs to my son so that I could leave him something. I don’t have much,” the singer wrote in a video Posted on TikTok on January 15th, urging fans to save this song for the future.
In her final TikTok video, Janice expressed her strength and mentioned feeling trapped due to her health, looking forward to dancing with God in heaven.
NSO Group, a maker of advanced cyberweapons, has been instructed by a US court to provide WhatsApp with the code for its Pegasus and other spyware products as part of an ongoing legal battle.
The ruling, issued by Judge Phyllis Hamilton, deals a significant blow to WhatsApp, owned by Mehta, who has been in a legal dispute with NSO since 2019 over allegations that the Israeli company’s spyware targeted 1,400 WhatsApp users over a two-year period, marking a major legal victory that lasted weeks.
NSO’s Pegasus code and other surveillance product codes sold by the company are considered highly classified national secrets. NSO is overseen by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, which must authorize all sales of licenses to foreign governments.
Despite NSO’s request to be exempt from the case’s discovery obligations due to US and Israeli restrictions, Judge Hamilton sided with WhatsApp. She ordered NSO to produce the spyware code and provide information on relevant spyware features used during a specified period.
However, on another issue, Hamilton ruled in favor of NSO, exempting the company from disclosing client names or server architecture details at this time.
A spokesperson for WhatsApp celebrated the court’s decision, stating that it marks a significant step in protecting users from illegal attacks by spyware companies. NSO declined to comment, and the legal battle continues.
NSO’s Pegasus software, once deployed against a target, grants unauthorized access to calls, emails, photos, location, and encrypted messages on mobile phones. The Biden administration blacklisted NSO in 2021, citing actions contrary to US foreign policy and national security interests.
NSO sells spyware to governments worldwide, claiming that the deploying agency is responsible for its use. Investigations have revealed countries like Poland, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, India, Hungary, and the UAE using NSO technology against dissidents, journalists, activists, and civil society members.
NSO argues that Pegasus aids law enforcement and intelligence agencies in combating crime, protecting national security, and apprehending terrorists, child abusers, and violent criminals.
Concerned about the proliferation and misuse of products like Pegasus, the Biden administration announced a new policy imposing global visa restrictions on individuals involved in exploiting commercial spyware, extending to EU member states and Israel.
Environmentally friendly virtual currency project green bitcoin More than $1 million was raised during the limited-time presale phase.
With an innovative gamified staking model and energy-efficient foundation, Green Bitcoin offers token holders a way to stake their tokens and generate revenue.
Gamified staking model offers a unique way to earn money
Green Bitcoin’s gamified staking model has a unique twist that allows token holders to attempt to predict Bitcoin’s daily price movements, and if successful, they receive a reward based on their accuracy and staking size. You can earn different rewards.
This system resets daily, ensuring continuous engagement.
Unlike common staking protocols with fixed yields, Green Bitcoin’s model offers dynamic yields.
As outlined in green bitcoin white paper the project has allocated over 27% of its total token supply to staking rewards, ensuring a huge amount of incentives for accurate BTC price prediction.
This pool of funds will be distributed over two years.
Green Bitcoin raises over $1 million as crypto market rapidly grows
Based on the revival of the cryptocurrency market, green bitcoin presale has crossed the $1 million mark and is offering discounted tokens to potential investors.
Unlike typical pre-sale setups, the team at Green Bitcoin encourages long-term holding by allowing users to immediately stake their purchased tokens.
Coinsult, a reputable blockchain security company, audited Token smart contract.
According to the company, there is growing interest in the project on Green Bitcoin’s social channels. of the project telegram groups I have seen growth over the past week. green bitcoin twitter account The number of followers has increased to 3,400.
Green Bitcoin is also featured in YouTube videos named: crypto boy praised its “Predict-to-Earn” model.
About Green Bitcoin
Green Bitcoin is a new crypto project on the Ethereum chain that offers a greener and more sustainable alternative to Bitcoin, as well as innovative “earn predictions” including staking rewards and weekly challenges for holders provide the element.
The Green Bitcoin Project was launched in late 2023 with a pre-sale hard cap goal of $7 million and has raised over $1 million to date. Smart contracts are audited by Coinsult.
Green Bitcoin is the source of this content. This press release is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute investment advice or investment recommendations.
Within the vast expanse of space, the Holtzmann Shield serves as a mobile force field capable of shielding individual soldiers in combat. This shield, generated by a device attached to a belt, can divert fast-moving projectiles away from the wearer, although slow-moving objects like combat knives can breach the barrier.
Creating such force fields presents a significant challenge in reality. Gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces are the four fundamental forces in nature. While gravity is too feeble to function as a local force field, the nuclear force is robust but limited to the atomic nucleus.
Physicist Professor Jim Al Khaliliand researchers at the University of Surrey are exploring the possibilities of constructing force fields based on electromagnetism, a force more potent than gravity and with a longer reach compared to the nuclear force. However, this force only affects charged objects, necessitating the charging of detected flying objects.
One proposed method involves bombarding objects with positron beams, which are antimatter particles with the same mass as electrons but opposite charge. The annihilation of positrons and electrons can potentially charge and deflect incoming projectiles, offering a route to building force fields.
Though theoretically possible, this technology is likely a distant prospect, possibly not materializing for another 20,000 years. In the meantime, research is underway on electric armor for tanks, which replaces heavy steel plates with energized thin metal plates separated by insulation to store a significant charge. This innovative armor system improves efficiency and reduces weight, enhancing the agility of armored vehicles.
In the science fiction universe of Dune, the spice melange is commonly referred to as “spice” and is a valuable narcotic substance. It is produced from the excrement of young sandworms found only in the deserts of the planet Arrakis.
This spice has various health benefits, such as increasing lifespan. Due to its highly addictive nature, there is a high demand for it, making it a valuable commodity. The control of Spice leads to control over all other factions in the Dune universe.
This phenomenon may have historical parallels in the real world. In her 2008 book chapter on melange, science writer Dr. Carol Hart mentions how coca leaves in pre-Columbian America were similar to melange and were mostly used by the ancient Inca nobility and priestly class to maintain power through a monopoly on coca leaves.
The spice also possesses mind-altering properties, allowing the post-human species known as Guild Navigators to see across vast distances of space to navigate spaceships on long interstellar journeys. The Navigators reside in tanks where they constantly inhale orange spice gas that mutates their bodies significantly.
Even minimal exposure to the spice causes the user’s eyes to turn a deep navy blue, a characteristic seen among the Fremen of Arrakis due to constant spice exposure. This effect is akin to the persistent pupil dilation associated with recreational drug use globally.
The Bene Gesserit also use spices, which grant them the ability to see the future and enhance their mental abilities. This mirrors the rise of nootropics, or “smart pills,” used by individuals seeking a cognitive edge. While these drugs claim to improve memory, attention, creativity, and motivation, they are sometimes prescribed for conditions like ADHD and dementia.
However, there are concerns about using nootropics without a prescription. A 2020 study by Harvard Medical School revealed that these supplements may contain unapproved pharmaceutical drugs, posing serious health risks, as noted by study author Dr. Peter Cohen.
More than 1 billion people around the world, or approximately 1 in 8 people, are obese, making it the most common form of malnutrition in nearly every country.
Francesco Branca Researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) compiled data from more than 3,600 studies published over the past 35 years to understand how obesity rates have changed between 1990 and 2022. The study included approximately 230 million people in 197 countries. The researchers then calculated participants’ BMI (a score based on height and weight) to estimate how obesity rates changed over time.
During the study period, global obesity prevalence more than doubled in adults aged 20 years and older and quadrupled in children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years. By 2022, obesity rates among women and girls have increased in approximately 93% of countries. The same was true for boys in all but five countries. France was the only country where obesity rates among men did not increase.
Adult obesity rates rose the most in countries in the Caribbean, the Middle East, and North Africa. Meanwhile, the biggest increases in child and adolescent obesity were in Brunei, Chile, Polynesia, Micronesia, and Caribbean island states.
Obesity increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and a variety of other health problems. “It is very worrying that the obesity epidemic that was evident among adults in many parts of the world in 1990 is now being reflected in school-age children and adolescents,” he said. Majid Ezati researchers from Imperial College London, one of the study’s senior authors, said in a press release.
Researchers believe that calorie- and sugar-rich processed foods, which have become more widely available around the world in recent decades, are partly to blame for the skyrocketing obesity rates. However, researchers note that focusing on individual behaviors such as diet and exercise has had, and will continue to have, little impact on the prevalence of obesity. To truly prevent and manage obesity, governments around the world need to implement policies that make healthy food and physical activity more accessible and affordable, Branca said in a press release.
Reionization of the universe happened about 500 million to 900 million years after the Big Bang. This represents the transformation of neutral hydrogen into an ionized gas and marks the end of the “Dark Ages” in the history of the universe. Currently, astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have obtained spectra of eight ultrafaint dwarf galaxies that existed less than a billion years after the Big Bang. Their observations could help settle long-standing scientific debates about the driving force of reionization and could also be essential to understanding the formation of the first galaxies.
Astronomers estimate that 50,000 near-infrared sources are represented in the Webb image of galaxy cluster Abel 2744. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / I. Labbe, Swinburne Institute of Technology / R. Bezanson, University of Pittsburgh / A. Pagan, STScI.
There is still much we don’t understand about the period in the early history of the universe known as the Era of Reionization.
It was a time of darkness, without stars or galaxies, and filled with a thick fog of hydrogen gas, until the first stars ionized the surrounding gas and light began to pass through.
Astronomers have spent decades trying to identify sources that emit radiation powerful enough to gradually remove this hydrogen fog that blanketed the early universe.
“Our discovery reveals the important role played by ultrafaint galaxies in the evolution of the early universe,” said astronomer Dr. Irina Chemelinska from the Paris Institute of Astrophysics.
“They produce ionizing photons that convert neutral hydrogen into ionized plasma during the reionization of the universe.”
“This highlights the importance of understanding low-mass galaxies in shaping the history of the universe.”
“These cosmic power plants collectively emit more than enough energy to accomplish their work,” said Dr. Hakim Atek, also of the Paris Institute of Astrophysics.
“Despite their small size, these low-mass galaxies produce large amounts of energetic radiation, and their abundance during this period is so great that their collective impact alters the state of the entire universe can do.”
In the study, astronomers captured and analyzed the spectra of eight very faint galaxies magnified by the lensing star cluster Abel 2744.
They found that these galaxies emit large amounts of ultraviolet light, at levels four times higher than previously thought.
This means that most of the photons that reionized the Universe likely came from these dwarf galaxies.
“With the web, we have stepped into uncharted territory,” said Dr. Themiya Nanayakkara, an astronomer at Swinburne University of Technology.
“Our study reveals more provocative questions that must be answered in efforts to chart the evolutionary history of our beginnings.”
of result It was published in the magazine Nature.
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H. Atek other. 2024. Most of the photons that reionized the universe came from dwarf galaxies. Nature 626, 975-978; doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07043-6
Astronomers have known for decades that the powerful light emitted by massive stars can disrupt planetary disks of dust and gas that swirl around young stars, the cradles of planetary birth. However, important questions remained unanswered. How fast does this process occur and will there be enough material left to form a planet?
NASA/ESA/CSA Using the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers are now discovering the Orion Nebula, a nursery for stars, and specifically the protoplanetary disk named d203-506. I’m researching. Although it was confined to a small area, it exploded to an abnormally large size. This makes it possible to measure material loss rates with unprecedented precision.
bernet other. We observed the protoplanetary disk d203-506 illuminated by the far-ultraviolet rays of the Orion Nebula.Image credit: Berne other., doi: 10.1126/science.adh2861.
Young, low-mass stars are often surrounded by relatively short-lived protoplanetary disks of dust and gas, which are the raw materials for planet formation.
Therefore, the formation of gas giant planets is limited by processes that remove mass from the protoplanetary disk, such as photoevaporation.
Photoevaporation occurs when the upper layers of a protoplanetary disk are heated by X-rays or ultraviolet protons, raising the temperature of the gas and ejecting it from the system.
Because most low-mass stars form in clusters that also include high-mass stars, protoplanetary disks are expected to be exposed to external radiation and experience photoevaporation due to ultraviolet radiation.
Theoretical models predict that deep ultraviolet light creates a region of photodissociation, a region where ultraviolet photons projected from nearby massive stars strongly influence the gas chemistry on the surface of the protoplanetary disk. However, it has been difficult to observe these processes directly.
Dr. Thomas Howarth of Queen Mary University of London and his colleagues investigated the effects of ultraviolet irradiation using a combination of infrared, submillimeter wave, and optical observations of the protoplanetary disk d203-506 in the Orion Nebula using the Webb and ALMA telescopes.
By modeling the kinematics and excitation of the emission lines detected within the photodissociation region, they found that d203-506 loses mass rapidly due to heating and ionization by deep ultraviolet light.
According to the research team, the rate at which this mass is lost from d203-506 indicates that gas could be removed from the disk within a million years, suppressing the ability of gas giants to form within the system. It is said that there is.
“This is a truly exceptional case study,” said Dr Howarth, co-author of the paper. paper It was published in the magazine science.
“The results are clear: this young star is losing a staggering 20 Earth masses of material per year, suggesting that Jupiter-like planets are unlikely to form in this system.” .”
“The velocities we measured are in perfect agreement with theoretical models and give us confidence in understanding how different environments shape planet formation across the universe.”
“Unlike other known cases, this young star is exposed to only one type of ultraviolet light from a nearby massive star.”
“Because there is no 'hot cocoon' created by higher-energy ultraviolet light, the planet-forming material is larger and easier to study.”
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Olivier Verne other. 2024. Photoevaporation flow caused by far ultraviolet rays observed in a protoplanetary disk. science 383 (6686): 988-992; doi: 10.1126/science.adh2861
WASHINGTON — Tails were once a feature of our ancient animal ancestors. Why did they disappear?
Around 20 to 25 million years ago, during the split between apes and monkeys, the evolutionary branches of our family tree shed their tails. Scientists have been puzzled about the reasons behind this change since the time of Darwin.
Now, a group of researchers has pinpointed at least one crucial genetic mutation that played a role in this transformation.
“We identified a single mutation in a highly important gene,” explained Beau Xia, a geneticist at the Broad Institute and one of the authors of the study that was recently published in Nature magazine.
By comparing the genetic makeup of six types of great apes, including humans, and 15 species of tailed monkeys, researchers found significant genetic differences between the two groups. To test their hypothesis, they used the gene-editing tool CRISPR to alter the same genetic spot in mouse embryos, leading to the birth of tailless mice.
Xia cautioned that there may be other genetic factors contributing to the loss of tails.
An intriguing aspect of this evolutionary change is whether the absence of tails conferred an advantage to our ape ancestors and ultimately to humans. Was it a random mutation or did it serve a purpose in survival?
“It could have been purely coincidental, but it may have provided a significant evolutionary benefit,” suggested Miriam Konkel, an evolutionary geneticist at Clemson University who was not part of the study.
Various theories speculate on the advantages of being tailless. Some suggest that it may be linked to the development of upright walking in humans.
Rick Potts, who leads the Human Origins Project at the Smithsonian Institution and was not involved in this study, believes that the absence of tails in some apes could be due to their vertical posture even when still in trees. This transition might have been the initial step.
Although not all great apes are land dwellers, orangutans and gibbons are examples of tailless apes that continue to live in trees. Their movements differ significantly from monkeys, as they do not need tails for balance while moving among branches.
Study co-author Itai Yanai, a biologist at New York University, acknowledges that losing the tail was a major change. However, the true reasons behind it remain a mystery that can only be unraveled with a time machine.
Charlotte, a stingray residing in an aquarium with no male rays, surprised people worldwide with her sudden pregnancy, sparking interest in parthenogenesis, which refers to virgin conception in scientific terms.
While virgin births may seem rare, experts point out that many species, like zebra sharks, California condors, and Komodo dragons, can reproduce asexually through parthenogenesis. Understanding this process could aid in conservation efforts.
Mercedes Burns, a biologist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, stated, “There’s nothing unnatural about asexual reproduction,” emphasizing the remarkable strategies animals employ for successful reproduction.
The buzz surrounding Charlotte’s pregnancy arose when the Aquarium and Shark Research Institute announced her condition. Speculation on social media suggested she was impregnated by a neighboring shark or through parthenogenesis.
Kevin Feldheim, a researcher at Chicago’s Field Museum, debunked the shark theory, emphasizing the genetic differences between sharks and stingrays. Genetic testing post-birth will confirm if the offspring resulted from parthenogenesis.
Researchers are just beginning to explore parthenogenesis in various species. This phenomenon has been observed in 15 elasmobranch species since 2007.
Although common in animals, parthenogenesis is rare in mammals due to genetic mechanisms preventing it. Meiosis and fusion with polar bodies are key in spontaneous parthenogenesis.
The prevalence of parthenogenesis in the wild remains unknown, but it is easier to detect in captive environments. Vertebrates’ ability to reproduce asexually remains a mystery.
Research suggests parthenogenesis could be an environmental response or a chance occurrence in cell division.
Experts have revealed that this is the first time a humpback whale of this species has been documented engaging in any form of sexual activity.
The social behavior of humpback whales has been extensively observed and documented for many years. However, in a recent study published in Marine Mammal Science, researchers shared the first photographs of this species engaging in sexual intercourse.
The report was authored by marine biologist Stephanie Stack and two photographers, Lyle Kranichfeld and Brandi Romano, who captured the interaction in January 2022 in the waters off the coast of Maui, Hawaii.
Kranichfeld, 44, remarked, “We recognized the scientific importance of this event. Even if our findings were not published or did not lead to any significant outcomes, we understood that this unique behavior was significant for the scientific community and those studying whales.”
The encounter involved a male whale that seemed to be unhealthy or injured and a healthy male whale. The report mentioned that the ailing whale appeared weakened and infested with lice, which are known to thrive on debilitated humpback whales.
The researchers suggested that the weakened whale may have sought refuge near the photographer’s boat to protect itself from other whales. Kranichfeld emphasized that they never approached the whales in the water or attempted to swim with them, as both actions are illegal.
Tragically, the emaciated whale eventually succumbed after circling the boat and trying to swim away from the healthier whale. The healthy whale then used its pectoral fins to hold the other whale in place and engaged in sexual activity.
The newly described plant Relictithismia kimotsukiensis is only above ground for a few days a year.
Shuichiro Tagane
This small plant, which feeds mainly on fungi and has no pigments, was named as the first new genus of plant in Japan since 1930.
It was discovered in June 2022 by an amateur botanist in Kyushu’s Kimogen Mountains, but it has taken some time to confirm its uniqueness. So far, researchers have found only five individuals in a single location, and estimate that the total population may reach as few as 50.
This plant grows up to 3 cm in height and 2 cm in width and emerges from the ground in just one week each year. It belongs to a group of plants known as fairy lanterns, which gives it its scientific name. Relictithismia kimotsukiensis.
Unlike most other plants, fairy lanterns do not produce the green pigment chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis. Instead, they get their energy from fungi. “This adaptation gives them an alien-looking appearance when compared to more familiar photosynthetic plants,” he says. Kenji Suetsugu from Kobe University in Japan, and was one of the scientists who described the new species.
“The unique appearance of this new plant species certainly evokes images of squid or extraterrestrial life forms, making it a truly unusual and fascinating addition to the plant world.”
Mr. Suetsugu proposed a Japanese name for this plant. Mujina’s tabletranslated as “raccoon candlestick.”
After Suetsugu first learned about the existence of the plant, it took nearly a year for him to realize that the plant was growing there. It was a moment of “joy and relief,” he says. Because he feared it might take 10 years to collect the specimens he needed to adequately describe it.
He hopes the Japanese government will protect the plant as an endangered species and take steps to protect its population because of its proximity to roads.
“[The discovery] This challenges the notion that new species can only be found in remote or unexplored areas, and suggests that even well-studied areas may hold undiscovered botanical treasures.” says Mr. Suetsugu.
A map showing the expected surface temperature anomalies in 2024 if a strong El Niño event occurs.Blue dots indicate areas where record heat is expected
Ning Jiang et al., Scientific Reports
Climate models predict this year will be the hottest 12 months on record as El Niño conditions persist in the Caribbean, Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, Alaska and parts of the Amazon.
“These are places where the risk of extreme events is increased, and these extreme events are really harmful,” team members say. michael mcfaden NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, Washington.
“They negatively impact human health and increase the risk of wildfires. And in the ocean, they increase the risk of marine heatwaves, damaging marine ecosystems, fisheries and corals,” he said. Masu.
Earth’s surface temperatures are currently at record highs in many parts of the world. The main reason is global warming caused by carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels. However, in addition to this, the strong El Niño phenomenon that started in mid-2023 is causing temperatures to rise further.
When an El Niño event occurs, warm water spreads across the surface of the Pacific Ocean toward South America. This vast area of warm water transfers large amounts of ocean heat to the atmosphere, causing an increase in surface temperature.
The reverse phase, known as La Niña, reverses this process. Cold water spreads over the surface of the Pacific Ocean away from South America, absorbing heat from the atmosphere and lowering the surface temperature.
This means that the Earth’s average surface temperature typically reaches record levels during El Niño periods and then drops during La Niña periods.
McFadden and his colleagues used a computer model that took into account aerosol pollution and volcanic eruptions in addition to El Niño to try to predict where in the world record heat would occur. Their regional forecast is the average surface temperature for the period from July 2023 to June 2024.
“Even if it’s not exactly timed to a specific season, there’s real value in having this kind of warning,” McFayden says. “It gives us a grace period to prepare how best to protect life, property, marine resources and economic development.”
The research team considered two scenarios: a strong El Niño and a milder El Niño. It’s now clear that a strong El Niño is occurring, and in fact, it’s likely to be in the top five strongest El Niños since 1950, McFadden said.
In this strong El Niño scenario, the research team predicts that the global average surface temperature from July 2023 to June 2024 would be 1.1°C to 1.2°C warmer than the 1951-1980 average. Masu.
this is Equivalent to a temperature above 1.4-1.5 °C average from 1850 to 1900, new scientist This is considered a pre-industrial benchmark. This suggests that the model is underestimating the temperature since it is already above this level. From January 2023 to January 2024, the Earth’s average surface temperature was more than 1.5 °C above the 1850-1900 average, and in January 2024 it was 1.7 °C above this level.
Temperature records have already been broken during El Niño, especially in the tropics, he said. maximiliano herrera, an independent climatologist who tracks extreme temperatures. “This is amazing,” he says. “We are experiencing record heat and it is inevitable.”
Water molecules are key components in the formation of planetary systems. Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) have detected water vapor in the disk around the young star HL Taurus, where planets may be forming. Their analysis suggests that the hard lower limit for water vapor availability within the interior 17 astronomical units of the Taurus HL system is 3.7 Earth Oceans.
This ALMA image shows water vapor (blue tints) in the protoplanetary disk around HL Taurus. Near the center of the disk, where young stars live, the environment is hotter and the gas brighter. The red ring is a previous ALMA observation showing the distribution of dust around the star.Image credits: ALMA / ESO / National Astronomical Observatory of Japan / NRAO / Facchini other.
Water molecules are undoubtedly one of the most important molecular species in the entire universe.
Water is a highly efficient solvent, so it played a key role in the emergence of life as we know it on Earth.
For this reason, chemical characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres often focuses on detecting this specific molecule.
Water, formed from common hydrogen and oxygen atoms, is so abundant in both gas and ice form that it plays a fundamental role in the physics of planetary system formation.
Dr Stefano Facchini, an astronomer at the University of Milan, said: “We never imagined that we would be able to image oceans of water vapor in areas where planets are likely to form.”
The HL Taurus system is believed to be less than 100,000 years old and has a radius of about 17.9 billion km. It is located 450 light years away in the direction of the constellation Taurus.
The protoplanetary disk of HL Taurus is unusually large and bright, making it a perfect place to look for signs of planet formation.
New ALMA observations reveal that there is at least three times more water inside the disk than in Earth's entire ocean.
Dr Leonardo Testi, an astronomer at the University of Bologna, said: “It is truly amazing that we can not only detect water vapor 450 light-years from us, but also obtain detailed images and spatially resolve it.” said.
Spatially resolved observations with ALMA allow astronomers to determine the distribution of water in different regions of the disk.
“Participating in such an important discovery of the iconic HL Taurus disk was beyond my expectations given my first research experience in astronomy,'' said Dr. Mathieu Vander Donk, an astronomer at the University of Liege. he said.
Dr Facchini said: “Our recent images reveal that significant amounts of water vapor are present at distances from the star that include gaps where planets may now be forming.” said.
“This suggests that this water vapor could influence the chemical composition of planets that form in those regions.”
“To date, ALMA is the only facility capable of spatially resolving water in cold planet-forming disks,” said Professor Wouter Bremings, an astronomer at Chalmers University of Technology.
ESO astronomer Dr Elizabeth Humphreys said: “It's really exciting to be able to witness first-hand in photographs the ejection of water molecules from icy dust particles.”
“The dust particles that make up the disk are the seeds for planet formation, colliding and clumping together to form even larger bodies orbiting the star.”
“Our findings show how the presence of water influences the development of planetary systems, similar to our own solar system about 4.5 billion years ago,” Dr. Facchini said.
of findings It was published in the magazine natural astronomy.
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S. Facchini other. HL Resolved ALMA observations of water in the inner astronomical unit of the Tau disk. Nat Astron, published online on February 29, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02207-w
IIt’s a strange feeling to have childhood memories constantly shot out of a game cartridge the size of a matchbox. That’s certainly been my experience with C64 Collection 3, the latest in a series of vintage game compilations put together by Blaze Entertainment for their Evercade retro console. Each of these little carts contains a dozen or so classic titles from various arcade manufacturers and home computers, all emulated to a fairly high standard. This is a must-see for me and probably many other C64 veterans as well. There are several reasons for this.
For one, it includes Paradroid, which I think is one of the best home computer games ever made. This is Hewson’s top-down, multi-directional sci-fi blaster with beautiful style and terrifying difficulty, one of the earliest examples of the now ubiquitous hacking mini-games.
Playing in 2024, nearly 40 years after its original release, I’m amazed at how well the game has held up in terms of visuals and gameplay when viewed on my LED TV via an Evercade VS console. It looks vivid. Exploring this game’s vast spaceship again on a big TV in your living room, rather than just a dodgy PC emulator, was a far more emotional experience than you’d expect from a very old game about shooting robots.
There are also two more true classics here. The cave exploration puzzle game Boulder Dash and the multiplayer sports sim Summer Games II. Like Paradroid, these hold up well to 21st-century scrutiny, but the latter is nothing like the visual delight I remember from my school days. It’s nice to be able to go to the pause menu and change the aspect ratio or add the traditional CRT effect scanlines. And, I won’t lie, the built-in save feature is nice too.
Elsewhere, the selection of compilations is a bit more vague, but that’s a nice thing about Evercade’s compilations. Even fans like me can find something new to discover. There are a lot of titles by Hewson (one of the great British developers of the time) that I’ve never played before. Among them is Netherworld, another multi-directional scrolling game. Golden Ax style side-scroller Deliverance: Stormlord II. And Cybernoid II combines Contra and R-Type with a great SID chip soundtrack.
But the most unexpected treat is still the inclusion of Epyx’s breakdancing. It’s a street dance game (a forerunner of the rhythm-action genre) in which you have to imitate the movements of computer-controlled performers. It’s very kitschy and totally awful, but I remember buying it because I was into hip-hop. I played it a lot while repeatedly renting Breakdance: The Movie from my local video haven. It was so strange to encounter it again so many years later.
C64 Collection 3 is a strange, endearing, and scattered compilation that not only fills in the gaps left by its two predecessors but also mines strange nostalgic seams. Even if you never owned a computer in the ’80s, these games are worth checking out as museum exhibits. These games show how much the original home computer contributed to arcade culture but also how far it was moving away in the mid-1980s. Based on these prototypes, we are experimenting with new ideas. Yes, you can find most of these games online for free if you know how to download and use emulators and find ROMs. But I like the ease and convenience of the Evercade. I appreciate the save feature, and I love that the game looks fine even on my stupid TV. These games hold special memories for me and probably many others as well. If I’m going to go back anyway, I want to do it in style.
Type 2 diabetics who have stopped taking weight loss drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy can avoid regaining lost weight by adopting a ketogenic diet. This finding from a small study challenges the concept that people must take these drugs indefinitely to prevent unwanted weight gain.
Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which reduce appetite and stimulate the release of insulin. These are commonly prescribed to help people with type 2 diabetes regulate their blood sugar and lose weight. However, the assumption was that people would have to continue taking the drug over a long period of time or they would regain the weight they had lost.
Shaminy Athinarayanan The woman and her colleagues at Virta Health, a US telemedicine company that treats type 2 diabetes, decided to test that assumption. Their inspiration to do so came from previous research showing that low-carbohydrate diets like the ketogenic diet help people with type 2 diabetes manage blood sugar levels and weight.
Researchers tracked the weight and blood sugar levels of 308 adults with type 2 diabetes living in the United States who received nutritional therapy at Virta Health. They were all using GLP-1 agonists at enrollment. Participants were advised to follow a ketogenic diet. They were instructed to eat less than 30 grams of carbohydrates each day, or less than 50 grams if vegan, and about 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. They were encouraged to eat until they were full, regardless of calories. Health coaches and qualified medical professionals communicated virtually with participants as needed.
After 3 to 9 months, half of the participants stopped using the GLP-1 agonist. All participants continued on the ketogenic diet for an additional year. At this point, the researchers found no significant differences in body weight or blood sugar levels between the two groups. On average, participants who stopped taking GLP-1 agonists gained only about 1 kg. In contrast, those who continued taking the drug gained about 2 kg. Most participants in both groups had blood sugar levels below the diagnostic criteria for diabetes.
“This study suggests that continued use of GLP-1 agonists is not necessary for many people if: [they] Appropriate intervention is required,” says Athinarayanan. “You can stop. [these medications] Maintain weight and blood sugar levels safely and effectively. ”
It says this could be helpful for people who can’t take the drug due to shortages or side effects. priya jaisinghani At New York University Langone Health. But she says people should talk to their doctor before starting a low-carb diet, as there can be risks, especially for people with underlying health conditions like kidney disease or eating disorders. He also noted that the study was sponsored by Virta Health and had a small number of participants. So “this is not the be all and end all,” Jaisinghani said. “But it shows the difference that diet makes.”
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is facing a 2.1 billion euros ($2.3 billion) lawsuit from 32 media groups, such as Axel Springer and Schibsted. The media groups are alleging losses due to Google’s practices in digital advertising.
The lawsuit comes as antitrust regulators are tightening the grip on Google’s advertising practices. It was initiated by publishers from various European countries like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and more, accusing Google of creating a less competitive market due to its illegal conduct.
The media companies’ lawyers, Geradin Partners and Steck, stated that the losses incurred by the publishers could have been avoided if Google hadn’t abused its dominant position. This could have led to higher advertising revenues for the media companies and lower fees for ad tech services, ultimately benefiting Europe’s media landscape.
The lawsuit is supported by previous actions taken against Google, such as the French competition authority’s fine in 2021 and the European Commission’s complaint last year. Analysts predict that Google may need to adjust its practices and pricing due to increased regulatory scrutiny.
A spokesperson for Google dismissed the lawsuit as “speculative and opportunistic,” emphasizing the company’s collaboration with European publishers to enhance their advertising tools.
Despite Google’s disagreements with antitrust violations, publishers worldwide have expressed concerns about Big Tech’s dominance in advertising and the subsequent decline in their revenue share. Google remains the leading digital advertising platform globally.
The group of media companies chose to file the lawsuit in Dutch courts, citing the country’s reputation for handling antitrust claims effectively in Europe. Companies like Krone, DPG Media, TV2 Danmark A/S, and others are part of the collective seeking legal action against Google.
Will cats continue to adopt their famously adorable, overbearing “cat-like” demeanor when forced to endure tons of attention from an enthusiastic public? Simona Cannas and colleagues at the University of Milan in Italy have produced some data that may draw attention to this question.
Their research, “Evaluation of cat behavior during cat shows” was published in the Veterinary Behavior Journal, focusing on the 82 cats at the cat show. (Researchers use technical terminology to describe the event as a “feline exposition.”)
They collected the data with great care. “An observer stood in front of the cage once every hour from 10:00 to 17:00, a total of 8 times for each cat.”
“An analysis of the behavior exhibited by cats on the day of the fair revealed that most of the cats were sleeping (93.9%), resting (62.2%), and looking at their surroundings (92.7%).”
The researchers’ conclusions are still up for debate as to what these cats had in mind. The study concluded that “the cat show environment represents a stressful and stimulating situation for cats. Nevertheless, our results identified few behaviors that cause discomfort or stress. Hmm…further research is needed to confirm and deepen our results.”
What a thread
Very long and thin things make a huge difference in what is possible depending on the length-to-thin ratio that catches the eye of mathematicians.
According to a press release, Researchers at North Carolina State University welcome the development of a “filamentary supercapacitor.” The name comes from the fact that the device is thread-like and can act as a capacitor, storing and releasing electrical charge in a controlled manner. The press release quotes Wei Gao, co-inventor of the technology.
She said: “Imagine being able to make a thread, a regular textile thread, that also becomes a battery. You can basically hide it in your clothes. You will be able to add additional functionality.”
We may be entering an era of thin technology.
As Feedback pointed out (October 1, 2022), the new city planned as part of Saudi Arabia’s Neom project is designed to be 170,000 meters long and 200 meters wide. Could North Carolina’s filamentous supercapacitor technology be integrated into the exoskeletons of Saudi Arabia’s cities? It would be a dramatic leap into the future for a country that claims to want to break away from its current economic dependence on oil.
This suddenly almost plausible possibility is indicative of the foresight of former Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson, who wrote almost a century ago that “one can never be too rich or too thin.” He is said to have said.
Measuring addiction
The old saying “If it can be measured, it must be important” has haunted many research efforts to explain why it is important to measure two out of five fingers on a person’s hand. Specifically, the second and fourth fingers. The two-finger quest is similar to addiction in a way. In some cases, this exploration considers addiction itself, perhaps better understood by measuring fingers.
Typically, explanations for finger proportions have spread in vague form, with the idea that hormone levels in the womb before birth somehow explain the relative length of a person’s fingers years later.
There are many and imaginative studies focusing on finger ratios. The types of important mysteries that researchers are trying to explain vary widely.
How diverse is it? Here we introduce some of the themes that have been addressed in numerical ratio research published in recent years. “Hunting success among Hadza hunters.” University students’ religious beliefs. “Parental income disparity and children’s digit ratio.” Artistic ability. “Age at first marriage among semi-nomadic people in Namibia.” “Psychological characteristics in a sample of cave explorers.” A bite wound caused during a fight. “Management Skills of Managers Employed in Public and Private Organizations in Udaipur City”; and “Number of Sex Partners”.
And addiction. Mehmet Gülcan Gülok and his colleagues from various institutions in Turkey recently published “Second to fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio for heroin and cannabis addicts” in the Journal of Ethnicity in Drug Abuse. Like most digit ratio studies, this one was done with great care. “We took the subject’s 2D and 4D lengths using a sensitive caliper and calculated 2D:4D.” And as always, it’s full of promise. “Our findings seem promising regarding whether prenatal hormonal factors are important in the pathogenesis of addiction.”
Did that title have a solemn meaning? Is it really interesting? Both? No matter what the intent, Feedback is a tribute to the creator. Their language appealed to Mason Porter’s olfactory and linguistic sensibilities and alerted us.
Mark Abrahams hosted the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founded the magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Previously, he was working on unusual uses of computers. His website is impossible.com.
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Lawsuits have been brought against OpenAI and Microsoft by news publishers, alleging that their generative artificial intelligence products violate copyright laws by illegally using journalists’ copyrighted works. The Intercept, Raw Story, and Alternet filed suit in federal court in Manhattan, seeking compensation for the infringement.
Media outlets claim that OpenAI and Microsoft plagiarized copyrighted articles to develop ChatGPT, a prominent generative AI tool. They argue that ChatGPT ignores copyright, lacks proper attribution, and fails to alert users when using journalists’ copyrighted work to generate responses.
Raw Story and AlterNet CEO John Byrne stated, “Raw Story believes that news organizations must challenge OpenAI for breaking copyright laws and profiting from journalists’ hard work.” They emphasized the importance of diverse news outlets and the negative impact of unchecked violations on the industry.
The Intercept’s lawsuit names OpenAI and Microsoft as defendants, while the joint lawsuit by Raw Story and AlterNet focuses solely on OpenAI. The complaints are similar, with all three media outlets represented by the law firm Loevy & Loevy.
Byrne clarified that the lawsuits from Raw Story and AlterNet do not involve Microsoft directly but stem from a partnership with MSN. Both OpenAI and Microsoft have yet to comment on the allegations.
The lawsuits accuse the defendants of using copyrighted material to train ChatGPT without proper attribution, violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The legal action is part of a series of lawsuits against OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement.
Concerns in the media industry about generative AI competing with traditional publishers have led to a wave of legal battles. The fear is that AI-generated content will erode advertising revenue and undermine the quality of online news.
While some news organizations have sued OpenAI, others like Axel Springer have opted to collaborate by providing access to copyrighted material in exchange for financial rewards. The lawsuits seek damages and profits, with the New York Times lawsuit aiming for significant monetary compensation.
Singapore, Singapore, February 29, 2024, Chainwire
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A former director of Blockchain Global, an Australian cryptocurrency company that went bankrupt and owed creditors $58 million, has been banned from leaving the country.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission secured an interim travel ban in the Federal Court on February 20, claiming director Liang “Alan” Guo was a flight risk.
Mr. Guo, a Chinese national, was ordered to hand over his passport to the court.
The hearing was held in Guo’s absence, so he did not have an opportunity to respond immediately to the verdict.
Mr Guo, along with fellow directors Sam Lee and Ryan Hsu, were referred to ASIC by the liquidator for alleged breaches of company law. ASIC is investigating the allegations.
Mr Lee and Mr Xu were also involved in a cryptocurrency investment scheme known as HyperVerse, which was the subject of a Guardian Australia investigation and which defrauded investors around the world of US$1.89 billion. It is said that Guo is not believed to be involved in the HyperVerse project.
Mr Lee, who currently lives in Dubai, is facing charges in the US for his involvement in the Hyperverse scheme, which the US Securities and Exchange Commission has described as a “pyramid scheme and pyramid scheme”. He has not responded to the charges.
In a Federal Court judgment released on Wednesday, Mr Justice Button said the charges against Mr Guo were “very serious” and agreed to ban him from leaving Australia until August 20.
These included allegations of transferring investor funds for personal gain.
“ASIC also revealed that while Mr. Guo was a director, he transferred $2.6 million from the bank account where investor funds were held, with some of the money being applied to his personal mortgage account and personal bank account. “It was also pointed out,” the judgment said.
“ASIC also revealed that Mr. Guo held 23.11 Bitcoins, said to be worth approximately $1.8 million, owned by Blockchain Global and transferred them to a virtual currency wallet controlled by Mr. Guo on December 8, 2019. He also mentioned that he had done so.”
ASIC said Mr Guo was “the only person left in Australia closely involved in Blockchain Global’s operations” given that Blockchain Global’s other directors left Australia shortly after the bankruptcy. He claimed that there was.
“ASIC anticipates that the interviews and interrogations of Mr. Guo will be critical to the progress of the investigation, and as a result, we anticipate that brief evidence may be forwarded to the Director of Federal Public Prosecutions.'' the judgment stated.
According to the ruling, ASIC expects it will take 12 months to investigate and submit a summary of the evidence to the DPP.
Among his reasons, Mr Button commented on apparent delays in the investigation into ASIC, which was launched on January 16 following Guardian Australia’s investigation into HyperVerse.
“It is not clear why an investigation was initiated when Blockchain Global failed. Nevertheless, the investigation, although in its early stages, is progressing steadily.”
ASIC said in a statement that it applied for the travel restriction order “out of concern that Mr. Guo may leave the country while the investigation continues.”
“As the hearing took place in Mr. Guo’s absence, Mr. Guo has not yet had the opportunity to respond to ASIC’s application or the basis on which ASIC asserts that the order is necessary.”
Mr Guo has so far not responded to Guardian Australia’s questions about the allegations against him in the liquidator’s report submitted to ASIC.
Unusually warm temperatures, dry grass, and a sudden strong wind cold front combined to create the conditions for the devastating wildfires that raged through parts of Texas this week.
The winds that sparked wildfires in the Texas Panhandle came at the perfect time for destruction, “like a hurricane hitting land at high tide,” said Texas climatologist John Nielson Gammon. Ta. He added that hot, dry temperatures, which may be promoted by climate change, helped create the conditions for these fires to start.
On Monday, temperatures reached the mid-80s in some parts of the state's arid region and several wildfires began burning.
The next day, arctic air swept in from the north on a severe cold front. Winds on either side of that front could exceed 50 miles per hour, causing flames to roar through the dormant grass, Nielsen-Gammon said. The cold front arrived in the late afternoon when wind speeds were highest and changed direction as it passed, maximizing the rate of fire spread.
It is not clear how the fire started.
Firefighters work at the scene of the Smokehouse Creek Fire near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle on Tuesday. Hanazuka Fire Department
“The timing of the weather during the day was probably the worst,” Nielsen-Gammon said. “If wildfires were to occur, these weather patterns would occur.”
The fire spread through the area so quickly that firefighters had little chance to extinguish it.
“Those fires were, all things considered, very fast-moving for a wildfire. We've seen speeds in the 5 to 10 mph range,” said National Weather Service meteorologist in Amarillo. Christian Rangel said. “The strong winds really helped push them around and get them out of control.”
The region's topography also plays a role, with open land facilitating fire establishment and rapid spread, while making firefighting difficult.
Although the area is mostly flat, it is characterized by “broken terrain” with sand and grass that makes it difficult to access, said Luke Canclairs, chief of forecasting services for the Texas A&M Forest Service. It can be difficult to do so. As a result, once a fire hit the plains, it was difficult to extinguish it quickly.
“A fire moving at about 8 miles per hour may not sound that fast, but when you have a large fire front and you're trying to contain a large area, it can far outpace the firefighting effort,” Kankleerts said. .
The Texas Panhandle is used to in-the-face winds and roller-coaster temperatures. But the fires would not have been as likely to occur if it weren't for unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions made more likely by climate change.
“This particular event would not have been as devastating had it happened at the same time several decades ago,” Nielsen-Gammon said. “These high temperatures can occur early in the season and usually occur when the grass is dormant, so there is a lot of dry fuel available.”
John Abatzoglou, a climatologist at the University of California, Merced, said wind was the biggest factor in the size of the nearly 1 million-acre fire, according to the federal government's wildfire tracking website Inchweb.
“This is primarily a wind-driven fire,” Abatzoglou said, adding that the role of climate change is “more subtle than we generally think.”
Abatzoglou said winds initially blew from the west, spreading the fire in the shape of an oval on the map, but then turned about 90 degrees and began pushing that line southward.
Abatzoglou said there is little hard evidence about how climate change is changing wind speeds.
Temperatures in the Borger area near where the fire started reached 85 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, the news agency said. National Weather Service data.
Rangel said the Amarillo forecast area “has set records at many weather stations,” with relative humidity readings below 20 percent in many parts of the state and the landscape on the verge of flaming. added.
That’s the joke Hanna Einbinder’s Gen Z character Ava plays to her baby boomer employer Deborah Vance in the first season of the HBO show Hux. “I had horrible nightmares about getting voicemails,” she says. Ha – Gen Z hates voicemail. Baby boomers can’t understand jokes without a punch line. “What?” Jean Smart’s Vance screeches. Ha, everyone gets fed up with it, and each generation refuses to give an inch to the other.
Sorry to mix up Gen X, but in the context of this particular Flashpoint, we need to talk about voice memos. (Or audio message, or voice text. Not to be confused with voice-to-text conversion, which is something else entirely. Okay, Grandma?)
For me, it started a few years ago when a friend left me a voice memo because she was driving and couldn’t respond to a text in the traditional way. This was a hassle, but it was done with safety in mind, so it wasn’t a problem. Over time, the goalposts shifted. Voice messages are now appearing in other contexts as well, often starting with a half-apology, “I can’t type,” or a coy plea for understanding because someone has their hands full. The pretext was efficiency, allowing the sender to communicate while walking down the street or unloading a stack of dishwashers, and if the tone was self-conscious, it was because of my generation. This is because voice memos are not native and could not be safely predicted. How the message medium is delivered.
Anyway, that was the beginning. Since then, of course, people have been seduced by the prospect of a bottomless bucket into which to throw their meager ideas and have quickly lost their minds. (I just looked it up and it turns out that when it comes to voice memos, the only limit is the amount of internal storage on your iPhone. And your imagination!)
I remember the moment several years ago when the first communication that followed what would become the standard voice memo protocol took place. The friend I hung up with left me 3 consecutive messages, each lasting over 3 minutes, and sent me more messages. Lost in her thoughts, she hung up and left another message, which she deleted, before launching into a three-minute finale. Then I stared at my phone in horror. This wasn’t a message; it was an audience for a one-woman show, a podcast I didn’t subscribe to. Sure, she was my friend, but this wasn’t even a friendship. This was a hostage-taking.
Given the similarities, it’s still strange that voice messages are embraced in places where voicemail has been phased out. Voice Memos’ interface and access points are more appealing than voicemail because they are embedded within the flow of an existing text conversation. And perhaps voice memos benefit from being a channel associated only with friendship. The bank won’t leave me a voice WhatsApp. And as far as I know, there’s no spam or robo voice memos either. And as, recent polls In the United States, more than 60% of Americans say they have sent a voice message, and the majority of users are under 30 years old. The number is huge. In 2022, WhatsApp will be approx. 7 billion voice messages Sent on the app daily.
It’s hard not to see all of this as a small expression of rising levels of narcissism in general. Aside from the completely uninvited invasion of time, the solipsism of one-sided conversations, and the fact that you have to wait for minutes at a time to get to the point of your message, the main problems with voice memos are quite large. The gap between the message sender’s idea of how interesting the message is and the reality of the person experiencing the 90-second set. Your whimsical flights are not as fancy or whimsical as you think. Also, other people don’t need to know your raw reactions to what’s happening in the city while you’re talking.
Anyway, this was all just my opinion, last week a dear friend left me three voice memos in a row and I decided to retaliate with one of my own late in the game. I’m not an early adopter. I’ve never left a voice memo before, and my first note was something like, “Is this on?”
Ha! I thought. How fascinating this looks! And then I left. my god. Have you ever done one of these? I started on point, but something in my kitchen caught my eye and I did it for 15 seconds. I got sidetracked by thoughts about mutual friends. Then my kids came in the door and started yelling at me about something – oh she’s going to love this I thought! That’s practically the audio truth! I ended with a joke. What a wonderful gift for the recipient! What a moment for me. What a performance!
WWho is behind the most notorious ‘deepfake’ apps on the internet? The Guardian’s new podcast series ‘Black Box’ has been trying to answer that question for months now, as we explore a hall of mirrors. It was like wandering.
The app, ClothOff, has hundreds of thousands of followers and has already been used to generate dozens of images of underage girls in at least two cases. The photos have traumatized the girls, outraged their parents and left police at a loss as to how to stop it.
Producers Josh Kelly, Alex Atack and I followed Cross-Off’s footsteps to a nondescript, seemingly vacant address in central London. We’ve encountered fake businesses, distorted voices, and fake employee photos.
This was a frightening insight into the future we’re all heading into in our careers. In the age of artificial intelligence, is everything you see and hear on your screen real?
The search for ClothOff is just one story to tell about the times we live in. We’re in the first few years of AI infiltrating our lives, but it’s not yet deep enough that we can’t remember what life used to be.
We wanted to take a snapshot of this moment in time to explore the impact AI is already having on the world and look for clues about what’s to come. We met the scientists who pioneered AI software until they dramatically turned against it last year. We’ve heard stories of people reminiscing about their first dates with their boyfriends (smartphone chatbots), and stories of heartbreaks when the same lover turned cold due to system girlfriend updates. Ta.
We’ve been hearing about the prospect of AI systems that can detect cancer years before doctors and machines could offer desperate people what no one else has: humanity.
Everywhere we go, we encounter an even bigger mystery: people using AI. What has fascinated us again and again is the way in which we are already reshaping what it means to be human in a series about artificial intelligence that is not just about technology, but actually about us.
michael safi Presenters, today’s highlights
This week’s picks
Ash Sarkar, one of the hosts of If I Speak. Photo: Antonio Olmos/Observer
Hear Me Out Wide range of weekly episodes available Get to know some of the dramatic talents of multiple stars in this chatty theater podcast from actor Lucy Eaton. They each choose their favorite speech and act it out in a private chat, giving it a Desert Island Disc feel for the stage. In the first episode of the new series, hear Mark Gatiss perform Hamlet’s “Longing” and “Rage” “Speech the Speech” soliloquy from Jack Thorne’s Motives and Clues. Alexi Duggins
dead river Wide range of weekly episodes available This alarming story focuses on one of the most devastating environmental catastrophes in history: the 2015 Mariana Dam disaster in Brazil. The disaster led to the largest class action lawsuit in British history involving 700,000 claimants. It’s an emotional and worrying listen, packed with music that tugs at your heartstrings as you hear locals talk about their fears that the dam is sick. advertisement
The Blame of Fame: Milli Vanilli Wide range of weekly episodes available You may already know the story of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvern, but Insecure’s Amanda Seales brings you the inside story in this fun podcast. When German producer Frank Farian asks the tight-trousered pop duo to make a deal with the devil, they are exposed as impostors, leading to exploitation and tragedy. Hannah Verdier
Time Capsule: Silver Chain Wide range of weekly episodes available The 1970s swing scene is the stuff of myth and legend, so when Paul Ditty heard that the secret club Silver Chain had kept a stash of newsletters in a safe deposit box, he couldn’t resist investigating. His brilliant unraveling of the mysterious Minnesota club begins with a simple question. How did they find the time to swap partners? HV
if i speak Wide range of weekly episodes available Novara Media journalists Ash Sarkar (above) and Moya Lothian-McLean have questions on their minds, including “Can I really be friends with my boss?” and “Are dating apps dead?” By grappling with questions, he swaps politics with personal (of sorts) issues. “Should I give my mom some money?” As Sarkar says, this is “the place where we can reveal our most free and nosy selves without judgment.” Holly Richardson
There’s a podcast for that
Comedian Paul Sinha hosts new podcast Pub Quiz. Photo: Martin Godwin/The Guardian
this week, robin winter choose the best five Comedy podcasts that actually teach you somethingfrom comedy quizzes with Chase star Paul Sinha to investigating urban legends in black culture.
Do Go On It’s surprising how little-known this Australian podcast is despite its longevity. Hosted by incredibly likeable Melbourne comedians Matt Stewart, Jess Perkins and Dave Warneke, each week one of them chooses a topic to report on. Recent episodes include History of Monopoly, Pirate Queen of Ireland, Eurovision, and more. Unlike many other long-running podcasts (Do Go On is entering its ninth year), the inside jokes are easy to follow and there’s a genuine, contagious enthusiasm from the trio.Rare podcasts that will make you laugh out loud and Full of fascinating stories.
Paul Sinha’s Perfect Pub Quiz The Chase’s Paul Sinha is also a popular touring comedian and combines these pursuits in this clever BBC Radio 4 podcast. If you can imagine him doing his set of tight 20-minute stand-up encyclopedias, you’ll be able to get pretty close to this vibrant show. In series two, Sinha takes his trivia skills to different parts of the country, testing Ipswich residents on their most famous politicians and Manchester’s tallest buildings. However, there is not much time to think, so the listener needs to respond quickly.
mom taught me Comedians Langston Carman and David Goboly explore black conspiracy theories, superstitions, urban legends, and, in their words, “the old lady’s story that your uncle told you about who wore jeans to the beach.” Dive deep into the world of “public pool. They often have hilarious guests to discuss reader suggestions. After almost 300 episodes, there’s no sign of running out of material.
big flop With only a handful of episodes to date, The Big Flop explores everything from the laughably bad movie Cats to the banned Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink invented by a bunch of frazzled boys. It’s a show that focuses on events that didn’t go well. Hosted by actor, singer, and TikTok star Misha Brown, it was produced by pod giant Wonderly. Two weekly guests (mostly American stand-ups and performers) bring freshness to each episode, and thanks to an experienced behind-the-scenes team, it’s well-researched and well-produced.
That’s not true fish If you love comedy podcasts, you’ll be spoiled for choice with No Such Thing As a Fish, created by the writers of the long-running BBC quiz show QI. The authors started the podcast in 2014 after discovering interesting facts that weren’t aired during their research. Now his 500-episode podcast is the granddaddy of the genre, unapologetically nerdy but beautifully accessible even for non-Oxbridge fans. Winner of many well-deserved awards and published as a book, No Such Thing As a Fish is a must-listen for anyone looking for quirky facts to share at the pub table.
Why not try it…
In an 8-part series show on the streetcelebrities are taken out of the studio and presenter and veteran podcaster Alex Lugui takes the driver’s seat as they embark on a personal road trip through the places that shaped them.
just jack and will is the ultimate Will & Grace rewatch podcast with Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack.
Who is a good person? So who is the bad guy? alphabet boys Revealing secret investigations by the FBI, DEA, ATF, and other three-letter agencies in the United States.
The history of science is filled with moments of discovery, those “Eureka” moments when a theory is proven or a breakthrough is achieved. The latest image competition at Great Ormond Street Hospital, titled ‘A Moment of Discovery’, celebrates these breakthroughs.
Staff from Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH) and its partners have submitted images capturing significant milestones in research. The public voted on the three most popular images shortlisted by a panel of experts via social media.
The shortlisted images range from colorful micrographs to cartoon illustrations, offering a glimpse into the research conducted at GOSH. It is hoped that this research will lead to new treatments for rare and complex conditions, transforming the lives of children and young people with serious illnesses.
The winning image, taken by PhD student Giada Benedetti at the Zayed Pediatric Rare Disease Research Center (ZCR), shows exploding intestinal organoids revealing their inner workings.
Organoids are small three-dimensional tissue cultures derived from stem cells that can mimic different organs like the heart and liver in the human body.
In honor of Rare Disease Day on February 29, all winning and shortlisted images will be displayed at an event at the Zayed Pediatric Rare Disease Research Center.
Selected as a finalist – my lungs are on fire
These lung “mini-organs,” or organoids, were grown from stem cells to replicate the complexity of lungs. The image showcases cell nuclei in blue, cell membranes in red, and moving hair-like structures called cilia in yellow/orange. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Cala at GOSH.
Shortlist – Active Glial Cells
The image showcases nerve helper cells, known as glial cells, with long fibrous structures that transport nutrients and oxygen to surrounding nerve cells. Photo courtesy of Lucien Bonfante at GOSH.
Finalist – Light of Life
The image shows the spinal cord of a zebrafish embryo with different neurons generated through asymmetric division. Photo courtesy of Atachapon Theppichaiyanond at GOSH.
It may surprise you, but the universe isn’t perfect, at least not from a human perspective. One clear example of this imperfection is the existence of leap years like 2024.
What is a leap year?
By definition, a leap year occurs every four years, adding an extra day to make the year 366 days long instead of the usual 365. This extra day falls on February 29th rather than the typical February 28th.
Why do leap years occur?
The discrepancy between a year (Earth’s orbit around the sun) and a day (Earth’s rotation) drives the need for leap years to align our calendar with the Earth’s journey around the sun. This misalignment accumulates over time, necessitating the addition of leap years to keep our calendar in sync with the seasons.
“Leap years play a crucial role in aligning our calendar with the Earth’s orbit around the sun,” explains Dr. Minjae Kim, a Research Fellow in Astrophysics at the University of Warwick.
The Julian calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC added a day every four years, but it slightly overcorrected the discrepancy between the solar year and the calendar year. Reforms led to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which provides rules for determining leap years, reducing the error rate to about one day every 3000 years.
Celebrities with leap year birthdays
Jack Rousma: NASA astronaut born on February 29, 1936.
Ja Rule: American rap legend born on February 29, 1976.
Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castechon: Prime Minister of Spain born on February 29, 1972.
Karen Jones: American competitive swimmer born on February 29, 1984.
Is it possible to create the perfect calendar?
Despite efforts to improve calendars, there is no perfect solution due to the dynamic nature of space. The concept of time harmonizing with natural rhythms is temporary, as our days get longer and Earth’s orbit changes over long timescales. For now, the Gregorian calendar remains adequate.
About our experts
Dr. Minjae Kim: Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, focusing on planetary science and dust signatures in debris disks around stars.
Dr. James McCormack: Assistant Professor in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Group at the University of Warwick, specializing in transiting exoplanets and the European Space Agency’s PLATO mission.
NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured new images of barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559.
This Webb image shows barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559, located approximately 32 million light-years away in the constellation Reticulata. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / A. Leroy / J. Lee / PHANGS Team.
NGC 1559 is situated about 32 million light-years away in the southern constellation Rechi.
Also known as LEDA 14814, ESO 84-10, and IRAS 04170-6253, this galaxy was first observed in 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop.
NGC 1559 features extensive spiral arms filled with star formation and is receding from us at a speed of approximately 1,300 km/s.
It has a mass of around 10 billion solar masses, which may seem substantial, but it’s almost 100 times less than the mass of our Milky Way galaxy.
“NGC 1559 exhibits a massive spiral arm of active star formation moving away from us at 1,300 kilometers per second,” explained the Webb astronomers.
“Although NGC 1559 appears to be close to the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of the nearest clouds in the sky, this is merely a perspective illusion.”
“In reality, NGC 1559 is not physically near the Large Magellanic Cloud in space. It is actually isolated, lacking any nearby galactic companions or members of galaxy clusters.”
“MIRI captures the glow of interstellar dust particles that trace the interstellar medium fueling future star formation,” the astronomers elaborated.
“NIRCam reflects starlight and reveals young stars hidden behind vast amounts of dust.”
“This instrument also detects emission from ionizing nebulae around young stars.”
The image of NGC 1559 was taken by the PHANGS team as part of Webb’s observation of 55 galaxies using instruments such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
“By combining Webb’s unique view of dust and stars with data from these other facilities, we can delve into the detailed processes of star birth, life, and death in galaxies across the universe. Our goal is to gain new insights into this phenomenon,” stated the researchers.
“This program is also part of a Treasury Department initiative, allowing immediate access to the data for the scientific community and the general public,” they added.
“This enables us to conduct more research at a faster pace.”
On September 26, 2022, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully impacted Dimorphos, the natural satellite of the near-Earth binary asteroid Didymos. New numerical simulations show that the DART impact triggered global deformation and resurfacing of Dimorphos.
The asteroid moon Dimorphos was seen by NASA’s DART spacecraft 11 seconds before impact. His DRACO imager aboard DART captured this image from a distance of 68 km (42 miles). This image was the last one to include all dimorphos in the field of view. Image credit: NASA/Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
DART was a planetary defense mission that demonstrated the possibility of using kinetic impactors to alter the orbits of asteroids.
The collision was successful and highly effective, resulting in Dimorphos’ orbital period around Didymus being shortened from its original 11 hours and 55 minutes to 33 minutes.
The LICIACube Unit Key Explorer (LUKE) instrument aboard the cubesat took images of the system between 29 seconds and 320 seconds after impact, showing the ejecta stream and other debris that spread for several kilometers from the impact site. revealed a complex pattern.
Furthermore, the dramatic brightening of the Didymos system due to solar illumination of the ejected impact ejecta was observed by ground-based and space-based telescopes for many weeks after the impact.
These three Hubble images capture the breakup of Dimorphos when it was intentionally collided by DART on September 26, 2022. The top panel, taken two hours after impact, shows the ejecta cone (estimated at 1,000 tons of dust). The center frame shows dynamic interactions within the Didymos-Dimorphos binary system that begin to distort the cone of ejecta patterns approximately 17 hours after impact. The most notable structure is a rotating windmill-shaped feature. The windmill is connected to Didymus’s gravitational pull. In the bottom frame, Hubble captures debris being pushed back into the comet-like tail by the pressure of sunlight on tiny dust particles. This spreads out into a column of debris, with the lightest particles traveling fastest and furthest away from the asteroid. The mystery deepens after Hubble recorded the tail splitting into two for several days. Image credit: NASA/ESA/STScI/Jian-Yang Li, PSI/Joseph DePasquale, STScI.
In a new study, University of Bern scientist Sabina Raducan and colleagues use realistic constraints on the mechanical and compositional properties of dimorphos, informed by DART’s initial results, to create a state-of-the-art impact The DART impact was modeled using physical code.
The simulations that best match observations of the impact suggest that Dimorphos is weakly cohesive, similar to asteroids Bennu and Ryugu, and lacks large rocks on its surface.
The researchers suggest that Dimorphos may be a pile of debris formed by the rotational shedding and re-accumulation of material ejected from Didymos.
Their model also suggests that DART’s impact may not have created an impact crater, but instead may have changed the shape of the moon as a whole, a process known as global deformation, which could have been caused by material from within. It also indicates that it may have caused the resurfacing of Dimorphos.
The discovery provides further insight into the formation and characteristics of binary asteroids and could have implications for future exploration, including ESA’s Hera mission and asteroid deflection efforts.
“ESA’s future Hera mission may discover reformed asteroids rather than well-defined craters,” the authors concluded.
their paper It was published in the magazine natural astronomy.
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SD Raducan other. Physical properties of the asteroid Dimorphos obtained from the DART impact. Nat Astron, published online on February 26, 2024. doi: 10.1038/s41550-024-02200-3
New technology allows water droplets to be guided precisely around obstacle courses to trigger chemical reactions
Jonathan Knowles/Getty Images
By placing tiny magnetic particles inside ordinary water droplets, you can turn them into liquid acrobats. Droplets can climb steps, jump over obstacles, and initiate chemical reactions. This level of control could be useful for drug delivery and the creation of more complex lab-on-a-chip technologies.
Fan Shilin He and his colleagues at Sun Yat-sen University in China created a surface with tiny grooves and covered it with a superhydrophobic, or wet-resistant, varnish. They know that a water droplet resting on such a groove can spontaneously jump up due to the pressure difference between the bottom of the droplet, which is deformed by the small groove, and the rounded and less constrained top part. I did.
The researchers wanted to create this pressure difference on demand. They added small magnetic particles to each droplet and placed an electromagnet beneath the groove. When the electromagnet was turned on, some of the particles, or droplets, were drawn into the groove. When I turned it off, the water droplet shape bounced and flew upwards as if from a slingshot.
Using this technique, the team was able to enable droplets to hop down millimeter-scale stairs and overcome small obstacles. The researchers were also able to direct a droplet into the narrow space between two wires and connect a circuit to light a light bulb.
Xiao Yan Researchers from China’s Chongqing University say this is a creative way to control pressure-based droplet jumps and could become a valuable tool for precisely transporting chemical droplets. It has said.
In one experiment, researchers plunged and mixed droplets into a liquid chemical sample under a microscope lens, allowing them to observe the resulting chemical reaction from start to finish. Another experiment involved mixing two droplets with a third in a closed box, which would have been ruined if the researchers had had to open the box to let air in. The reaction was initiated remotely.
Such precise chemical control can be applied to drug delivery. Huang hopes the technology will also advance “lab-on-a-chip” technology, an effort to miniaturize complex biochemical experiments that typically require a lot of space and glassware. He proposes a “lab-on-stacked chip” in which droplets jump vertically between levels to generate many reactions in parallel.
A solar eclipse is a surprising cosmic coincidence that causes the moon to appear as large as the sun.
Chance Bush/Albuquerque Journal (via AP)
People travel thousands of miles to see a solar eclipse. There’s nothing like darkness falling and the excitement ripple through the crowd. A total solar eclipse will soon grace the skies in parts of Central America and North America, and some places outside the total path will be able to see a partial solar eclipse. So now is the perfect time to ask what exactly a solar eclipse is.
When one celestial object is hidden from view by another celestial object moving between them, astronomers call the event an “occultation.” Strictly speaking, a total solar eclipse is the occultation of the sun by the moon.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon and sun line up perfectly, with the moon moving in front of the sun and blocking nearly all of the sun’s light. From the path of totality, or the area of the Earth where a total solar eclipse is visible, the sun almost disappears. This part of the eclipse can last up to 7.5 minutes. The solar eclipse on April 8th will last 4 minutes and 27 seconds.
What causes solar eclipses?
There are many different types of solar eclipses, but all occur when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking some or all of the light seen from certain parts of the Earth. By pure cosmic coincidence, the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but the sun is about 400 times farther away, so the moon and sun appear to be the same size in the sky. When the two line up perfectly during the new moon phase, when the moon is between the Earth and the sun, the moon can block all of the sun’s light. This is a total solar eclipse.
During a solar eclipse, the moon casts two shadows. The central part of the shadow where light does not reach is called the umbra. The outer partial shadow is known as the penumbra. Only light coming from part of the sun’s disk can reach here. During a total solar eclipse, the path of totality is land within the umbra. On April 8, the road will be 185 kilometers wide and will cross North America from Mexico through the United States and Canada. However, the total path can be as narrow as 150 kilometers. The penumbra covers a much larger area and a partial solar eclipse can be seen in those locations.
Conceptual Imagery Lab at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
What types of solar eclipses are there?
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks only part of the sun’s light. This occurs when the viewer is within the penumbra. Before and after totality, you can see the moon slowly eclipsing the sun in a partial solar eclipse. However, because the moon’s central shadow completely misses the Earth, only a partial solar eclipse may be visible from anywhere on Earth.
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s elliptical orbit moves it farther from Earth than normal, blocking most of the sun’s light but leaving behind a so-called ring of fire. A hybrid solar eclipse occurs when some parts of the world see a total solar eclipse, while other parts see an annular solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses, hybrid solar eclipses, and annular solar eclipses are all types of “central” solar eclipses, meaning that the umbra is projected somewhere on Earth.
Solar eclipse in 2024
On April 8th, a total solar eclipse will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Our special series covers everything you need to know, from how and when to see a solar eclipse to the strangest solar eclipse experience of all time.
How often do solar eclipses occur?
Every year, anywhere from two to five solar eclipses are visible somewhere around the world. A total solar eclipse occurs on average every 18 months. However, in certain locations on Earth, the portion of the Earth where a total solar eclipse is visible is so small that a total solar eclipse is only seen about once every 400 years.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves through the shadow that Earth casts in space. These events always occur during a full moon when the moon is on the opposite side of Earth’s sun. But they don’t happen every full moon because our moon’s orbit is tilted around the Earth compared to Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Do solar eclipses always occur in pairs?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Sun, and Moon line up (a so-called syzygation), so a solar eclipse is always accompanied by a lunar eclipse two weeks before and after it. This year, a lunar eclipse will occur on March 24th, two weeks before the solar eclipse on April 8th. However, it will be a penumbral lunar eclipse, meaning only the Earth’s outer shadow will hide the moon.
In winter, the backs of your hands can become dry, red, and cracked. Maybe you find yourself applying more moisturizer. Otherwise, itching and pain can be a big hindrance.
Cracked skin is annoying and uncomfortable, but it's not as serious as something like high blood pressure. However, that assumption may not hold, as with skin aging.
Growing evidence suggests that skin damage can have knock-on effects on other parts of the body, causing inflammation, muscle and bone loss, and even cognitive decline. The more your skin deteriorates, the faster the rest of your skin ages. This new perspective means that our skin not only reflects the signs of aging, but also contributes to it. There's even preliminary evidence that taking better care of your skin may slow down the negative effects of aging and improve your overall health.
Our skin is one of the first areas of our body to show signs of aging. Especially in active areas such as the outer corners of the eyes, wrinkles may increase and age spots may appear. Although these changes may seem to be literally skin deep, the importance of the skin to the rest of the body should not be underestimated. “The skin is the largest organ in the body,” he says. wendy borag At Augusta University in Georgia, USA.
And it's not just the size. Skin is essential for survival. The outer layer of the epidermis is impermeable to water, so body fluids, the source of life, are not lost to the air. If someone causes damage to a large area…
Chemical analysis revealed 26 compounds responsible for orange’s distinctive flavor. This discovery will help plant scientists create disease-resistant orange hybrids that are just as tasty as the original variety.
In recent decades, citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing, has devastated citrus production around the world. orange (Citrus sinensis) say they are particularly affected by this disease Anne Plott at the American Horticultural Research Institute in Florida.
Plotto and his colleagues wanted to see if it was possible to create a hybrid that was resistant to citrus greening disease while retaining the characteristic orange flavor.
To identify the chemicals responsible for this flavor, researchers analyzed 179 juice samples from a variety of citrus fruits, including oranges and mandarins.Citrus reticulata), three-leaf mandarin orange (Citrus trifoliata) and its hybrids. Trained citrus testers also tried each sample and rated how much it tasted like orange juice.
They found that the strongest orange-flavored juices all contained 26 specific compounds. Seven of these compounds are a type of chemical called esters, which seem to be the key to differentiating the taste of oranges from tangerines.
Plott and her team then conducted genetic analysis of the fruit and discovered genes involved in the synthesis of all seven esters they named. C. sinensis alcohol acyltransferase 1.
“This gene is expressed more in varieties that produce more esters,” team members say jen fan at the University of Florida.
The research could eventually help create disease-resistant hybrids with a rich orange flavor, Plott said. “This discovery may allow us to screen citrus hybrid seedlings early to get the desired orange flavor, rather than waiting 10 to 15 years for the trees to bear fruit,” she said. says.
Cross-section of a mouse brain highlighting neurons that appear to release molecules that increase toxin clearance
Tsai Laboratory/MIT Picower Laboratory
A new explanation has emerged for why an experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that involves flickering sounds and lights may help slow cognitive decline. This frequency appears to strengthen the brain’s waste processing network, helping to remove beta-amyloid and other toxic proteins that contribute to memory and concentration issues.
“Once we understand the mechanism, we can probably understand how to further optimize this whole concept and improve its effectiveness,” he says. Cai Li Hui at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The treatment involves exposure to light that flashes at a frequency of 40 times per second, or 40 hertz, and to a bass sound, also at 40 hertz. Typically, stimulation is given for one hour per day.
The key to this new approach is that large networks of brain cells naturally fire in sync with each other at different frequencies, known as brain waves. Brain waves around 40 Hz are common when people are concentrating and forming or accessing memories.
In 2016, Tsai’s team wondered if 40Hz stimulation could enhance cognitive performance in Alzheimer’s patients, since visual or auditory stimulation at a certain frequency is known to enhance brain waves at that same frequency. I decided to investigate.
Their group and other researchers have shown that this reduces amyloid accumulation in mice with Alzheimer’s disease and has cognitive benefits. Small trial in people with this condition, an even larger trial is underway. However, it is unclear how this treatment works, and another idea is that it boosts the function of immune cells in the brain.
Well, the special light and sound appears to work by enhancing the function of the brain’s drainage system, also known as the glymphatic system.
In the latest study, Tsai’s team conducted a series of experiments to study the mechanism of treatment in mice that were genetically modified to have amyloid buildup that normally occurs with age and to have worse memory than typical mice. carried out.
As expected, when the animals were exposed to light and sound, the amount of amyloid decreased. The new findings were that during treatment, the amount of cerebrospinal fluid entering the brain increased, and the amount of waste fluid leaving the brain through the glymphatic vessels increased.
This appears to occur because nearby blood vessels pulsate more, which may help glymph fluid flow through the blood vessels, allowing more water to flow into the glymph system.
The research team also found that the activity of a particular type of brain cell known as an interneuron appears to cause an increase in glymph flow by releasing a molecule called vasoactive intestinal peptide. When the research team chemically blocked the production of this molecule, the treatment no longer accelerated amyloid clearance.
Miken Nedergaard A professor at the University of Rochester in New York who helped discover the glymphatic system says the discovery is consistent with what we already know about it. “The brain, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid are all contained within the skull. When the blood volume expands, the brain tissue cannot be compressed, so the cerebrospinal fluid volume must also move.”
In the accompanying article natural medicineDr. Nedergaard says that a better understanding of the mechanisms of toxin removal in the brain “could be the key to unlocking that.” [their] Treatment Possibilities.”
Most microplastics in tap water can be removed by boiling.
Yuri Nedopekin/Alamy
Boiling tap water before use can remove at least 80 percent of the potentially harmful small plastic particles it contains.
Nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) are pieces of plastic such as polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene that range in diameter from 0.001 to 5 millimeters. Although the health effects are still being studied, researchers suspect they may be harmful to humans.
Eddie Zen and colleagues from China's Jinan University took samples of tap water and measured levels of NMP and found that the average concentration was 1 milligram per liter. The samples were then boiled for 5 min and then cooled. NMP levels were then remeasured and found to have decreased by more than 80%.
“NMP intake from boiled water consumption was estimated to be two to five times lower than the daily intake from tap water,” Zeng said. “This simple but effective boiling water strategy can 'decontaminate' NMPs from household tap water and potentially harmlessly reduce human exposure to NMPs through water consumption.”
Zeng said NMP was removed by being incorporated into the crystalline structure of limescale, which is formed from calcium in the water. Hard water, which contains more calcium, removed more particles than soft water, which contains less calcium.
Bringing water to its boiling point was a major contributing factor to how efficiently these crystal structures were created. “Boiling water has several other benefits, including killing bacteria and parasites and removing traces of heavy metals,” he says.
“The way they demonstrated how things are deposited through the boiling process was amazing,” he says. caroline goshott lindsay At the University of Glasgow, UK. But the world should seek to solve the problem of microplastics in drinking water long before they reach homes, she added. “We should consider modifying drinking water treatment plants to remove microplastics,” she says.
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