Recent research highlights that sunscreens enhanced with lignin, a natural polymer found in wood, can achieve an impressive sun protection factor (SPF) exceeding 180. This innovative ingredient also promises longer-lasting effects and lower skin penetration compared to conventional sunscreens, potentially offering a safer alternative.
While sunscreen is crucial for skin cancer prevention, there is growing concern about its safety. A recent survey revealed that 14% of young adults mistakenly believe daily sunscreen use poses more risks than direct sun exposure.
This confusion stems from findings by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which confirmed that some common sunscreen ingredients can enter the bloodstream. However, long-term studies have shown no significant health risks associated with regular sunscreen use, prompting the FDA to call for further investigation.
In response, researchers are actively seeking natural alternatives to traditional sunscreen chemicals that are not only safer for human health but also less harmful to coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
Among the most promising natural ingredients is lignin, known for reinforcing plant cell walls and shielding them from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
One major challenge lies in extracting lignin from wood without altering its color. Conventional methods often use harsh chemicals, turning it from a light hue to dark brown, rendering it unsuitable for sunscreen applications.
Researchers from South China University of Science and Technology have successfully developed a milder extraction technique. Led by Jun Lee, the team extracted pale yellow lignin from poplar trees using crushing and sieving methods, followed by ultrasound treatment. Another group, led by Yong Qian, utilized a similar approach to harvest pale pink lignin from birch trees.
The extracted lignin was then transformed into nanoparticles and blended with standard white creams to formulate sunscreen products.
Tests indicated that the pale yellow lignin sunscreen achieved an SPF of 20, while the pale pink version reached an SPF of 19, providing moderate protection against harmful UV rays and blending seamlessly with various skin tones for a smooth application.
While these lignin-based sunscreens do not match the high protection levels of many commercial products (often SPF 50 or higher), the research team experimented by encapsulating popular sunscreen agents, avobenzone and octinoxate, within lignin nanoparticles. This innovative combination produced an astounding SPF of over 180. However, it’s essential to note that sunscreen labels cannot exceed SPF 50 due to regulatory guidelines.
Encapsulating these ingredients in lignin nanoparticles not only enhances their stability under sunlight but also minimizes skin penetration, thus potentially increasing safety.
Qian has reported that ongoing trials of one lignin-based sunscreen formulation indicate it is safe and effective, contributing to the search for healthier sunscreen options.
In addition to lignin, other naturally sourced ingredients like those derived from seaweed, ferns, squid, and even human hair are being investigated for sunscreen applications.
If you’re considering running a marathon or starting an intense exercise program this January, why not opt for a simpler goal to enhance your well-being in 2026?
Setting an objective to calm your mind may not sound ambitious, but it offers significant health benefits. A growing body of research highlights the negative impact of stress on overall health, particularly on heart health. Techniques to achieve a calm state can elevate self-reported happiness, enhance emotional regulation, and improve sleep quality research suggests.
This calmness counteracts “allostatic load,” a term used by Sula Windgassen, a health psychologist and author of the upcoming book Everything is Inside Your Body. Chronic stress contributes to wear and tear on the body, overburdening key regulatory systems like metabolic, neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune functions, which can eventually lead to disease.
When discussing stress relief, you’ve likely come across traditional advice such as exercise and deep breathing techniques. While these methods are scientifically validated, there’s emerging evidence pointing to additional calming strategies beyond a digital detox or time spent in nature.
Develop a Sense of Control
Research shows that enhancing your perception of control over stressors can aid in managing them. For example, in a study, participants who completed daily questionnaires about their stressors reported that feeling in control correlated with resolving stress more effectively.
“It’s not that the stressor goes away; rather, individuals feel empowered to address it, letting it go or resolving it,” says David M. Almeida from Pennsylvania State University, a key researcher in the study.
Achieving this sense of control involves small, manageable changes. “Feeling in control doesn’t imply you have everything figured out; it means being aware of factors you can influence during stressful situations.” This might look like deciding your response, determining when to engage, or finding a resolution path.
Interestingly, your age may influence how easily you feel in control. “Longitudinal studies indicate that while older adults may feel less control over work demands and family matters, they often maintain a strong sense of control in interpersonal conflicts,” Almeida explains. “This allows individuals to focus on what truly matters.”
Practice Self-Compassion
Research increasingly supports the idea that self-kindness can mitigate stress’s adverse effects on mental health, as indicated in a 2024 study. This research assessed self-compassion levels and participants rated statements such as, “I strive to understand and be patient with parts of my personality I dislike.” Researchers later investigated how these feelings affected coping mechanisms.
Data revealed that increased self-compassion fostered healthier coping strategies, enhancing psychological well-being while reducing anxiety, depression, and stress during a six-week study period.
Using Various Self-Care Techniques for Inner Calm
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
These findings support earlier research, which suggests that self-compassion can buffer against the harsh realities of stress. Psychologist Kristin Neff, a pioneer in self-compassion research, emphasizes three components: self-kindness, recognizing our shared humanity, and mindfulness, which allows us to separate ourselves from painful emotions.
Self-compassion works by reducing self-criticism and rumination, according to William Van Gordon, a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Professor of Contemplative Psychology at the University of Derby. However, he advises moderation to avoid self-obsession, which can lead to heightened stress levels.
A balanced approach includes practicing compassion for both yourself and others. Van Gordon recommends active listening when someone shares their struggles with you, making eye contact, putting away your phone, and fully engaging with them (“That sounds really challenging, I’m sorry to hear that.”). Additionally, loving-kindness meditation can be beneficial; spend 10-15 minutes daily sending well wishes to others using phrases like “May you be happy” and “May you be peaceful.”
Revamp Your Self-Care Practices
Self-care strategies play a significant role in stress management, as extensively documented in the literature. Recent studies indicate that integrating diverse self-care methods into your routine yields the best results. For instance, a study published in August explored how individuals coped with stresses during the coronavirus pandemic, analyzing participants’ journaling about their anxiety levels and the coping techniques employed.
I’ve discovered that a blend of strategies such as journaling, exercise, social interaction, and cognitive reframing—like focusing on the positive aspects of not receiving a promotion—has proven most effective.
“Different combinations of tools worked for different individuals on different days,” explains Ethan Cross, an experimental psychologist from the University of Michigan involved in the research. “Those adept at managing emotions benefited from having a wide array of emotional regulation strategies.”
AI researchers can work autonomously for extended periods, completing studies in hours that would take humans months. While developers assert that they have made several “new contributions” to science, skepticism remains among some experts.
The platform, referred to as Kosmos, consists of multiple AI agents adept at data analysis and literature review, aiming to generate groundbreaking scientific insights.
“We have dedicated nearly two years to training AI scientists,” states Sam Rodricks, from Edison Scientific, the company behind Kosmos. “The limitation of previous AI scientists has always been the complexity of the concepts they produce.”
Kosmos endeavors to overcome this challenge. Typically, a session can last up to 12 hours; during this time, when a user inputs a scientific dataset, Kosmos examines roughly 1,500 pertinent academic papers while generating and executing 42,000 lines of code to analyze the data. At the end, the AI compiles a summary of the findings and relevant citations, along with a proposal for further analysis that can initiate the next cycle.
After a predetermined number of cycles, the system produces a report featuring scientific conclusions supported by relevant citations, akin to an academic publication. An assessment from a collective of scholars found that 20 of these cycles corresponded to about six months of their research efforts.
Rodriques remarked that the conclusions drawn by the system tend to be fairly accurate. Edison asked individuals with doctoral-level knowledge in biology to evaluate 102 claims made by Kosmos. The research team discovered that 79.4% of these claims were overall substantiated, including 85.5% concerning data analysis and 82.1% of claims referenced in existing literature. Nevertheless, Kosmos struggles to synthesize this information and generate new claims, achieving an accuracy rate of just 57.9% in this area.
Edison asserts that Kosmos has made seven verifiable scientific discoveries, all of which have been confirmed and replicated by independent specialists in the field using external datasets and diverse methodologies. According to the Kosmos team, four of these discoveries are genuinely novel, while the remaining three were previously documented, though in preprints or unpublished studies.
Among the claimed discoveries is a novel method for identifying when cellular pathways falter as Alzheimer’s disease advances. Another finding suggests that individuals with higher levels of a natural antioxidant enzyme known as superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in their blood may experience less heart scarring.
However, reactions to these claims from the scientific community have varied. The “discovery” related to SOD2 is deemed unremarkable by Fergus Hamilton of the University of Bristol, UK. “That specific causal assertion probably won’t withstand scrutiny as a new finding, and there are methodological flaws inherent in the analysis,” he comments. Professor Rodriques acknowledged that the SOD2 finding had been previously established in mice, but claimed this is the first time it has been recognized at the population level in humans through genomics.
Hamilton pointed out that the data analysis code which the agent attempted to execute malfunctioned, causing Kosmos to overlook potentially essential data while arriving at the same conclusions as existing studies.
“Several critical assumptions were made that were imperative for achieving accurate analysis,” he notes. “The software package fails entirely, yet key elements were ignored.” Additionally, in this instance, the data was so processed beforehand that Kosmos “only managed to accomplish around 10 percent of the task,” he suggests.
Hamilton commends the team behind Kosmos for addressing his queries and concerns raised on social media. “While this presents a substantial step forward conceptually, specific technical critiques of this study remain: [the] work is still far from zero,” he states.
“We’re entirely open to the possibility that some of the findings we present could be incorrect or flawed. This is part and parcel of scientific inquiry,” says Rodricks. “Nevertheless, the fact that it has garnered such intricate criticism highlights the system’s potential.”
Others express admiration for Kosmos’ performance overall. “This highlights the immense potential for AI to aid scientific research, but we must remain cautious about the independent use of AI scientists,” states Ben Glocker from Imperial College London. “Even though this study showcases some remarkable achievements, we still lack understanding of the failure modes.”
“We believe embracing tools like Kosmos and developing others is essential. However, we should not lose sight of the fact that science encompasses more than just a data-centric approach,” mentions Noah Jansiracusa from Bentley University, Massachusetts. “There is profound thought and creativity involved, and it would be unwise to disregard scientific pursuits that are amenable to automation solely because they are suitable for AI.”
Rodricks himself concedes that Kosmos is best utilized as a collaborator, rather than a replacement for researchers. “It is capable of performing many impressive tasks,” he asserts. “It requires thorough review and validation, and it may not always be entirely accurate.”
As soon as you exit the school environment, physical activities like sports and exercise cease to be mandatory. If you’ve allowed your kids a long hiatus since then, you’re overlooking the numerous advantages that consistent exercise can offer.
If you’re over 40, you might have fallen into the mindset that the benefits of fitness are a lost cause. Physical wellness was dismissed long ago, and the thought of reclaiming it seems futile.
However, this belief is misguided.
Even if you’ve adopted a sedentary lifestyle, increasing your movement can lead to substantial health improvements.
In recent studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers discovered that adults who exercised regularly had a 30 to 40 percent reduced risk of dying from any cause later in life.
Moreover, individuals who transitioned from inactivity to activity were 22 percent less likely to die compared to those who remained sedentary.
Earlier studies featured in JAMA Cardiologyrevealed that over 300,000 participants showed that those who became active after 40 enjoyed the same health advantages as lifelong active individuals.
Science confirms: it’s never too late to embark on a transformative journey.
However, if exercise has been a lower priority for the past 10-20 years, consider starting gradually, rather than preparing for a marathon.
If you’re a heavy smoker, drinker, or significantly overweight, consulting your doctor before initiating a new regimen may be wise.
How can I get started?
Walking is often regarded as one of the finest forms of exercise, according to Stacey Clemes, a Professor of Active Living and Public Health at Loughborough University, UK.
“It has minimal impact on your body, thus lowering the risk of injury. It’s free, and you don’t require special equipment. As long as you have comfortable shoes, you’re good to go.”
Through her research, she has collaborated notably with sedentary populations, such as truck drivers, aiding them to boost their activity levels.
She discovered that fitness trackers and pedometers are invaluable tools for individuals monitoring their exercise.
“It’s quite beneficial to visualize your progress, be it through step count or daily walking hours.” [data] “Using data to establish goals is also an effective strategy,” she adds.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, Clemes encourages building your activity incrementally.
“If you averaged 4,000 steps daily last week, aim for 4,500 this week. There’s robust evidence that even slight increases can lead to health improvements. The key message is to gradually do a bit more and maintain that progression.”
Now, regarding the often-cited goal of 10,000 steps daily—sounds daunting, right?
You may find relief knowing that recent research published in The Lancet indicates that merely 4,000 steps per day correlate with notable health improvements compared to 2,000 steps.
Health benefits continued to increase until reaching 7,000 steps.
Professor Stephen Harridge, the director of the Center for Human and Applied Physiology at King’s College, London, advises starting with attainable goals.
“If you’re completely inactive, begin with something small. Walk to the next bus stop instead of waiting at the nearest one. Opt for the stairs over the elevator.”
“Simple yet effective actions that elevate your overall activity can significantly benefit your muscles, metabolism, and heart health.”
Read more:
How can I avoid injury?
Rather than leaping into an intense training program, it’s wise to gradually lift your activity level to lower your chance of injury.
Injuries not only inflict pain but also demoralize you, making it harder to stay committed to a new exercise routine.
Resuming exercise can be especially tricky for those who were once active in their 20s but paused for life’s demands, says Miho Tanaka Sensei, Director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Orthopedics at Harvard Medical School.
“Many feel they can return to their previous training regimen from their 20s,” she explains.
“The challenge lies in the fact that your 40s body responds differently compared to your 20s body; it won’t adjust in the same way to the training methods that may have worked two decades ago.”
This variation occurs as muscle mass begins to decline after 30, decreasing by 3 to 8 percent every decade and accelerating after 60.
Additionally, collagen found in muscles, joints, and tendons begins changing after 30, leading to decreased elasticity.
Thus, it’s crucial to set aside your ego. Attempting to hit previous records may lead to injury—be kind to yourself.
“The margin for injury is smaller, and recovery takes longer,” Tanaka states. “It merely slows your recovery from inflammation.”
Stretching is crucial to counteract the natural flexibility loss associated with aging – Image courtesy of Getty Images
For those new to exercise, Tanaka recommends low-impact activities such as swimming and cycling. These pursuits provide cardiovascular benefits while minimizing joint strain.
From there, you can gradually progress to activities like hiking before attempting high-impact exercises that exert stress on your joints, like running or CrossFit.
Aiming for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise weekly maximizes benefits, enhancing cardiovascular health while reducing the risk of diabetes and certain cancers.
What types of exercises should I include?
To promote comprehensive health, incorporating resistance training several times a week is essential to combat the natural decline of muscle and bone mass that accompanies age. It’s about more than just bicep curls!
Strengthening your core and back muscles is also crucial.
The good news is that you don’t need to purchase extravagant gym memberships or trendy workout gear to perform these exercises.
Bodyweight exercises like planks, squats, and push-ups are highly effective and can be done at home. The NHS offers some excellent examples on their website.
Tanaka emphasizes that individuals over 40 shouldn’t overlook stretching. “Flexibility and range of motion can diminish,” she points out.
“To function well, whether playing tennis or running efficiently, your joints require adequate range of motion. As you age, this tends to decrease, and stretching can help.”
How can I fit exercise into my routine?
If this all feels overwhelming, considering that many people in their 40s juggle demanding careers, long commutes, childcare, and elder care, here’s a supportive note: studies have shown that consolidating exercise into weekends yields similar benefits as spreading it throughout the week.
This is based on a study involving 64,000 participants aged 40 and above tracked for 18 years.
Researchers found that “weekend warriors” who exercised once or twice weekly were able to lower their cardiovascular disease risk by 41 percent and cancer mortality risk by 18 percent compared to non-exercisers.
In comparison, regularly active people (three or more days a week) experienced a similar reduction in risks—41 percent for cardiovascular disease and 21 percent for cancer.
Still skeptical? All experts agree: the most crucial factor is finding an exercise you genuinely enjoy, ensuring sustained participation.
If running isn’t your thing, perhaps dancing piques your interest? Did you enjoy kickabouts during school? Why not consider walking soccer?
To conclude, Harridge reassures us that it’s entirely feasible to be more physically fit in your 40s than you were in your 20s or 30s.
But he emphasizes that it’s not about reversing aging; it’s about eliminating the detriment that comes from inactivity and getting back on track.
“It’s never too late,” he affirms. “If you’re 40, there’s ample time for life-changing transformations!”
“My secret is that I’ll never get off the couch,” said no centenarian ever. In fact, the oldest individuals globally seldom neglect their fitness regimes. Research indicates that those reaching 100 tend to endorse activities like regular walks, agriculture, and gardening.
While this approach may not blend seamlessly with contemporary lifestyles, it hasn’t deterred scientists from seeking the ideal types and amounts of exercise that promote longevity and health.
This article features in a special issue dedicated to strategies for achieving a healthier and happier year. Click here for further information.
It’s clear that inactivity is not an option. Insufficient physical activity is responsible for at least 3.9 million premature deaths each year worldwide and significantly heightens the risk of chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and various cancers. On the flip side, engaging in regular exercise can extend your life by up to 7 years while enhancing your health span.
The Evolution of Movement
A rough estimate of how our physical activity is rooted in our evolutionary past suggests that modern hunter-gatherers, whose lifestyles closely mirror those of our ancestors, engage in about 11,000-20,000 steps daily through hunting, climbing, digging, and transporting resources.
They exhibit significantly lower rates of chronic diseases compared to those in Western societies, likely due to their high physical activity levels, which stimulate the body’s internal repair and maintenance systems. Evolutionary anthropologist from Harvard, Daniel Lieberman, posits that exercise is linked to essential physiological maintenance because evolution connects the two; the genes responsible for bodily repair and upkeep activate predominantly during movement, conserving energy when one is inactive.
Given the “use it or lose it” concept, increasing numbers of researchers are beginning to view exercise not merely as an “anti-aging” tactic but as a means to reverse the detrimental effects of ongoing physical inactivity, potentially adding years to our lives. “Movement is one strategy we can adopt to optimize our rate of decline,” asserts Norman Lazaro, a Professor of Exercise Physiology at King’s College, London.
How Much?
So, how much exercise should we aim for? Lazaro recommends referencing the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines, which suggest that adults engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 150-300 minutes a week (think brisk walking—not singing) or 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise (like running or fast cycling). Those aged over 65 should also incorporate resistance training and balance-focused exercises into their routines.
Importantly, these activities don’t need to be pre-arranged workouts. Any activity that utilizes your muscles or elevates your heart rate can be effective (see Longevity Hack). In addition to this advice, there are lesser-known strategies you can explore. In-depth insights are available here.
“
From middle age onwards, everyone should prioritize muscle strength. “
Mikel Izquierdo, an author at Navarra Public University and contributor to the “Global Consensus” on healthy longevity published in January, concurs that WHO guidelines are a solid foundation for reducing disease risks and extending lifespan, though he cautions they may not guarantee a fulfilling older age. “Many studies supporting these guidelines focus on disease risk and mortality, rather than functional independence,” he notes. “Simply adhering to basic recommendations won’t automatically ensure sustained independence, especially in those over 65.”
Building Strength
According to Izquierdo, those from middle age onward must take strengthening their muscles seriously. Beginning in their 30s, individuals start losing muscle mass. This decline can impact the fast-twitch muscle fibers necessary for actions like standing from a seated position. If this trend is left unaddressed, the loss of strength and endurance can elevate the risks of falls and mobility issues, as well as raise mortality rates among older adults.
Strength, balance, and mobility exercises are essential for individuals aged 65 and older.
Andrii Iemelianenko/Alamy
Numerous studies have established connections between weak grip strength and shorter lifespans. However, it doesn’t mean you need to focus solely on improving hand strength. Grip strength serves as a reliable indicator of overall strength since it correlates well with the strength of major muscle groups, including the legs.
A Balancing Act
Maintaining balance is also crucial from middle age onward. A 2022 study revealed that individuals between 51 and 75 were twice as likely to face a ten-year mortality risk if they couldn’t balance on one foot for ten seconds.
Exercises like squats and planks are excellent starting points, notes Izquierdo, but as muscle loss accelerates, it’s vital to intensify your workouts by adding weights or resistance bands.
Geriatrician Maria Fiataron Singh from the University of Sydney also recommends power training. More agile individuals might benefit from jumping over stairs or performing fast leg presses at 80% of their maximum lifting weight, as explosive strength training engages the fast-twitch “Type II” muscle fibers that tend to diminish with age.
It’s never too late to begin. Research indicates that even frail individuals in their 90s can increase muscle mass, improving their ability to stand and walk independently. Interestingly, even the intent to increase strength can yield some advantages, according to Fiataron Singh. Although you might not see significant initial weight changes, the intention to “move faster” stimulates the recruitment of Type II fibers, enhancing overall strength.
Starting to exercise at any age can bring health advantages.
Panther Media Global/Alamy
Overall, there are numerous strategies to mitigate the physical decline associated with aging. However, we must be realistic, advises Lazarus, an enthusiastic cyclist nearing his 90th year.
Many factors influencing our health are beyond our control. For instance, the maximum heart rate—what you can achieve during exercise—tends to decrease with age, determined by the formula 220 minus your age. “You can’t reverse this aging process with any amount of exercise,” says Lazarus, noting that even elite athletes will see reductions in muscle mass, strength, and cardiovascular capacity as they age, no matter their training regimen.
“We will all face mortality,” Lazarus states. “The aim is to maintain functionality for as long as possible and to pass away in your later years, not earlier.”
As Izquierdo aptly summarizes, we should strive to “live fully and delay aging as much as we can.”
Here are five straightforward yet lesser-known practices that can contribute to a healthier aging process:
1. Sit on the floor
Sitting on the ground isn’t just for kids. Standing up from the floor strengthens leg and core muscles while enhancing joint flexibility. Moreover, being able to perform this action as an adult is associated with increased longevity. Attempt to rise without using your hands for an extra challenge.
2. Floss your teeth
Maintaining your oral hygiene by flossing can help eliminate harmful microorganisms from the mouth, which could contribute to diseases ranging from cardiovascular issues to Alzheimer’s. Keeping the oral microbiome balanced is essential.
3. Train your sense of smell
A diminished sense of smell is often linked to conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Resuming training in this neglected sense can not only help mitigate cognitive decline but may even reverse it, as olfactory capabilities can be improved with practice.
4. Maintain a fulfilling sex life
Research concludes that “a satisfying sexual life is integral to subjective well-being,” particularly for individuals aged 40 and over. Explore this research further.
5. Engage with younger people
Beyond the psychological benefits, interacting with younger people also enhances your gut microbiome. Our gut health is shaped by those around us, and adapting to a more youthful microbiome profile is associated with better health outcomes.
Items like cereal bars and protein bars can be either homemade or bought, potentially containing ultra-processed components.
Drong/Shutterstock
Following a super processed homemade diet may result in losing double the weight compared to an ultra-processed diet or snack.
Foods are generally classified as highly processed when they contain ingredients that aren’t typically found in home cooking, such as high fructose corn syrup or additives designed to enhance flavor and appearance, like flavorings and stabilizers.
Numerous studies have associated the consumption of ultra-processed foods with negative health impacts, including cardiovascular issues, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain. These studies have consistently noted that ultra-processed foods often contain high levels of sugar, salt, and fat, found in snacks like cookies and microwave dinners, raising questions about whether it’s just the ingredients that make them unhealthy, or if there’s something inherently harmful about the processing itself.
To explore this in relation to weight loss, Samuel Dicken and his colleagues at University College London conducted randomized trials where participants consumed either an ultra-processed or minimally processed diet. The study involved 55 overweight or obese individuals randomly assigned to one of the two diets.
“People often picture pizza and chips, but the researchers indicate that both diets align with the UK Eatwell Guide, which emphasizes a protein-rich diet including beans, fish, eggs, and meat, and encourages intake of at least five portions of fruits and vegetables. Both diets were matched to have similar levels of fat, sugar, salt, and carbohydrates,” Dicken explains.
Meals were provided to participants, marking the first study to compare such diets in a real-world setting rather than in controlled environments like hospitals or laboratories. The ultra-processed group consumed foods with lower fat and salt content, including breakfast cereals, protein bars, chicken sandwiches, and frozen lasagna, which are typically marketed with “healthy” nutritional claims in supermarkets,” Dicken notes.
The minimally processed group enjoyed homemade foods like overnight oats, chicken salad, homemade bread, and spaghetti bolognese. Both groups were given ample food, approximately 4000 calories per day, and instructed to eat to their satisfaction. Participants followed one diet for eight weeks, switched to the other after a four-week break, and alternated between both.
While the study aimed to examine the health impacts of balanced diets made in various ways rather than to focus solely on weight loss, both diets led to reductions in weight. The minimally processed food group lost 2% of their weight, while the ultra-processed group saw a 1% decrease.
“We observed greater weight loss with minimally processed diets, along with more significant fat reduction and lowered cravings,” Dicken says.
The research team also investigated other health metrics and discovered that the minimally processed diets decreased body fat volume and blood lipid levels. Interestingly, the ultra-processed diet was linked to lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as “bad” cholesterol.
However, Ciarán Forde from Wageningen University in the Netherlands points out that ultra-processed meals tend to be more calorie-dense than their minimally processed counterparts. “Fundamental questions remain regarding which types of processing or ingredients contribute to the effects observed,” he adds.
Forde suggests that it is unsurprising participants lost weight considering their starting point of being overweight and obese while transitioning to healthier diets. This may indicate that the weight loss results are not applicable to the general population.
Cereal bars and protein bars can either be store-bought or homemade, often containing ultra-processed components.
Drong/Shutterstock
Research suggests that while it’s possible to shed weight consuming highly processed foods, the results may not be as significant as when they are eliminated from the diet.
Foods are categorized as extremely processed when they include ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup or additives meant to enhance flavor and presentation, such as flavoring agents and preservatives.
Numerous studies have connected the consumption of ultra-processed foods to adverse health effects, including cardiovascular issues, type 2 diabetes, and weight gain. However, it’s debated whether the unhealthy aspect is solely due to certain ingredients or if the processing itself is inherently damaging.
To explore this in relation to weight loss, Samuel Dicken from University College London and his team conducted randomized trials, assigning 55 overweight or obese individuals to either an ultra-processed or minimally processed diet.
“People often think of pizza and chips, yet the study incorporated meals from the UK Eatwell Guide, featuring protein sources like beans, fish, and meat, while encouraging a balanced diet with at least five portions of fruits and vegetables. The meals were matched in terms of fats, sugars, salt, and carbohydrates,” explained Dicken.
Participants received the meals, marking the first study to assess these diets under real-world conditions instead of clinical environments. The ultra-processed options included lower-fat and lower-salt items like breakfast cereals, protein bars, chicken sandwiches, and ready-made lasagna. “These are the types of foods that carry health claims in supermarkets,” says Dicken.
Meanwhile, the minimally processed meals encompassed homemade options such as overnight oats, chicken salad, freshly baked bread, and spaghetti bolognese. Both groups were provided around 4,000 calories daily, with the instruction to eat to their satisfaction. Participants switched between the diets after eight weeks, taking a four-week break before transitioning again.
Although the study’s primary aim focused on the health effects of balanced diets prepared in various ways rather than directly targeting weight loss, both diets resulted in weight reductions. The minimally processed diet led to a 2% weight loss, while those on the ultra-processed diet saw a 1% decrease.
“We observed greater weight loss from the minimally processed diets, as well as increased fat loss and a notable reduction in cravings,” stated Dicken.
Further evaluations revealed that minimally processed diets contributed to lower body fat volumes and improved blood markers. Interestingly, participants on the ultra-processed diet exhibited decreased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as “bad” cholesterol.
However, Ciarán Forde from Wageningen University in the Netherlands pointed out that ultra-processed meals are typically more calorie-dense compared to minimally processed alternatives. “Fundamental questions remain regarding which specific treatments or ingredients drive the observed outcomes,” he noted.
Forde also emphasized that the weight loss observed might not be applicable to the general population since participants started as overweight or obese and transitioned to healthier eating habits.
AIs are improving at solving mathematics challenges
Andresr/ Getty Images
AI models developed by Google DeepMind and OpenAI have achieved exceptional performance at the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO).
While companies herald this as a significant advancement for AIs that might one day tackle complex scientific or mathematical challenges, mathematicians urge caution, as the specifics of the models and their methodologies remain confidential.
The IMO is one of the most respected contests for young mathematicians, often viewed by AI researchers as a critical test of mathematical reasoning, an area where AI traditionally struggles.
Following last year’s competition in Bath, UK, Google investigated how its AI systems, Alpha Proof and Alpha Jometry, achieved silver-level performance, though their submissions were not evaluated by the official competition judges.
Various companies, including Google, Huawei, and TikTok’s parent company, approached the IMO organizers requesting formal evaluation of their AI models during this year’s contest, as stated by Gregor Drinner, the President of IMO. The IMO consented, stipulating that results should be revealed only after the full closing ceremony on July 28th.
OpenAI also expressed interest in participating in the competition but did not respond or register upon being informed of the official procedures, according to Dolinar.
On July 19th, OpenAI announced the development of a new AI that achieved a gold medal score alongside three former IMO medalists, separately from the official competition. OpenAI stated the AI correctly answered five out of six questions within the same 4.5-hour time limit as human competitors.
Two days later, Google DeepMind revealed that its AI system, Gemini Deep Think, had also achieved gold-level performance within the same constraints. Dolinar confirmed that this result was validated by the official IMO judges.
Unlike Google’s Alpha Proof and Alpha Jometry, which were designed for competition, Gemini Deep Think was specifically crafted to tackle questions posed in a programming language used by both Google and OpenAI.
Utilizing LEAN, the AI was capable of quickly verifying correctness, although the output is challenging for non-experts to interpret. Thang Luong from Google indicated that a natural language approach can yield more comprehensible results while remaining applicable to broadly useful AI frameworks.
Luong noted that advancements in reinforcement learning—a training technique designed to guide AI through success and failure—have enabled large language models to validate solutions efficiently, a method essential to Google’s earlier achievements with gameplay AIs, such as AlphaZero.
Google’s model employs a technique known as parallel thinking, considering multiple solutions simultaneously. The training data comprises mathematical problems particularly relevant to the IMO.
OpenAI has disclosed few specifics regarding their system, only mentioning that it incorporates augmented learning and “experimental research methods.”
“While progress appears promising, it lacks rigorous scientific validation, making it difficult to assess at this point,” remarked Terence Tao from UCLA. “We anticipate that the participating companies will publish papers featuring more comprehensive data, allowing others to access the model and replicate its findings. However, for now, we must rely on the companies’ claims regarding their results.”
Geordy Williamson from the University of Sydney shared this sentiment, stating, “It’s remarkable to see advancements in this area, yet it’s frustrating how little in-depth information is available from inside these companies.”
Natural language systems might be beneficial for individuals without a mathematical background, but they also risk presenting complications if models produce lengthy proofs that are hard to verify, warned Joseph Myers, a co-organizer of this year’s IMO. “If AIs generate solutions to significant unsolved questions that seem plausible yet contain subtle, critical errors, we must be cautious before putting confidence in lengthy AI outputs.”
The companies plan to initially provide these systems for testing by mathematicians in the forthcoming months before making broader public releases. The models claim they could potentially offer rapid solutions for challenging problems in scientific research, as stated by June Hyuk Jeong from Google, who contributed to Gemini Deep Think. “There are numerous unresolved challenges within reach,” he noted.
Nvidia, the leading chipmaker, made history on Wednesday by becoming the first publicly traded company to achieve a market valuation of $40 billion, as its stock price continues its remarkable ascent.
The shares of this top chip designer surged approximately 2.4% to reach $164, fueled by an increasing demand for artificial intelligence technology. Nvidia’s chips and related software are recognized globally as the benchmark for developing AI products.
Nvidia initially reached a market value of $10 billion in June 2023, and since then, its market valuation has more than tripled in under a year, outpacing giants like Apple and Microsoft, and ranking alongside US companies with market valuations over $30 billion. Apple was the first to hit a $3 trillion valuation in 2022.
Microsoft stands as the second-largest US company with a market value estimated around $3.75 trillion. Nvidia’s valuation represents about 7.3% of the S&P 500, a widely regarded index on Wall Street. Meanwhile, Apple and Microsoft contribute roughly 7% and 6% respectively.
Nvidia has rebounded nearly 74% from its low in April, a period when the global markets faced turbulence caused by tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. The company has also retaliated against US export controls by restricting the sale of its most advanced chips to China.
However, positive outlooks regarding trade agreements have propelled the S&P 500 to unprecedented heights recently.
Daniel Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush, forecasts that other major tech players will join Nvidia in surpassing the $4 trillion market cap. “The leading figures in the AI Revolution are Nvidia and Microsoft, as both embody the most significant tech trends we’ve witnessed in 25 years,” he stated.
Microsoft also reached a market value of $40 trillion this summer and aims to reach $5 trillion within the next 18 months.
As stated by the new Minister of Industry and Science, Tim Ayles, Australia must either “aggressively pursue” the advantages of artificial intelligence or risk becoming “dependent on someone else’s supply chain.” The Labor government intends to impose further regulations on these rapidly advancing technologies.
Ayles, previously associated with a manufacturing union, recognized that there is significant skepticism surrounding AI in Australia. He emphasized the need for dialogue between employers and employees regarding the implications of automation in the workplace.
The minister insisted that Australia has “no alternative,” stating that the country is embracing new technologies while striving to become a global frontrunner in regulating and utilizing AI.
Ayers remarked to Guardian Australia, “The government’s responsibility is to ensure that we not only lean towards the opportunities for businesses and workers but also to be assured of our capacity to tackle potential challenges.”
“Australia’s strategy must prioritize regulation and strategy for the advantage of its people,” he added.
Ayers, who was elevated to Cabinet last month after serving in a junior role within manufacturing and trade, now leads the direction of the Labor Government’s flagship initiative. This comprehensive plan connects manufacturing, energy transition, research, and business policies.
Ayers faces immediate challenges regarding AI policy. His predecessor, Ed Husic, established critical frameworks focused on developing the local industry and setting essential guidelines for AI usage, which included discussions around new independent AI regulations.
Less than a month into his new role, Ayers stated that the government is still defining its actions, considering the rapid advancements in technology from similarly-minded countries. He indicated that the response would involve laws and regulations that have yet to be finalized, emphasizing the importance of swift action for Australia.
“There is no alternative but to adopt an Australian approach,” he asserted. “This approach dictates how we shape Australia’s digital future and how we ensure that we gain agency in technology development alongside global partners in these matters.
“The alternative is to remain passive and find ourselves at the mercy of someone else’s supply chain.”
The minister highlighted that Australia stands to “reap significant benefits” from AI adoption, particularly emphasizing increased productivity and economic growth. Ayers, who grew up on a cattle farm near Lismore, noted that both white-collar and blue-collar jobs have much to gain from automation and new technologies.
Drawing from his experience with manufacturing unions, he acknowledged the harsh reality that many workers have internalized the belief that the only more detrimental alternative would be for Australia to become a technological dead-end.
“However, I want to encourage companies and employers to consider the impact of AI adoption on enhancing job quality,” Ayers stated.
“Our industrial relations framework allows for adequate consultation and engagement at the corporate level, fostering discussions about these issues on an individual workplace basis.”
Recently, Australia’s Business Council released significant reports detailing Australia’s potential to emerge as a global leader in AI, enhancing productivity and boosting living standards through economic expansion.
“A recently published BCA document highlighted a significant level of skepticism among Australians regarding this new wave of technology, which is not unusual for our country,” Ayles remarked.
“Every wave of technological transformation shapes the labor market. This is a fact. The adverse consequences of technological evolution in employment have historically been outweighed by new investments and developments within employment and technology.”
Ayers also affirmed that the Labor party would sustain its forward agenda for Australia, emphasizing an “active” focus on boosting the production of key minerals, iron, and steel as part of the renewable energy transition.
“I am committed to doing everything in my power to establish new factories and enhance industrial capacities,” he stated.
“Specifically, areas like Central Queensland and Hunter and Latrobe have the opportunity to intersect with future energy benefits and industrial capabilities, permitting Australia to better support these communities as well.”
A group of physicists from Oxford University has accomplished the lowest error rate (just 0.000015%, or one error in 6.7 million operations) in quantum logic operations.
Ion trap chip rendering. Image credit: Jocchen Wolf and Tom Harty of Oxford University.
“As far as we know, this is the most accurate qubit manipulation ever reported globally,” stated Professor David Lucas from Oxford University.
“This represents a crucial milestone in constructing a practical quantum computer capable of solving real-world problems.”
To conduct meaningful calculations on quantum computers, millions of operations must engage numerous qubits.
Consequently, if the error rate is excessively high, the end result of the computation becomes useless.
Error correction techniques can address mistakes, but they require additional qubits, which come at a cost.
By minimizing errors, new methodologies decrease the number of qubits needed, leading to a reduction in both the cost and size of the quantum computer itself.
“By significantly decreasing the chances of errors, this advancement will greatly lessen the infrastructure necessary for error correction, paving the way for future quantum computers to be smaller, faster, and more efficient,” said Molly Smith, a graduate student at Oxford University.
“Kitz’s precise control is beneficial for other quantum technologies, including timepieces and quantum sensors.”
This groundbreaking accuracy was attained using trapped calcium ions as qubits.
These ions are ideal candidates for storing quantum information due to their longevity and resilience.
Researchers adopted an alternative method, using electron (microwave) signals to manage the quantum states of calcium ions instead of traditional lasers.
This technique is more stable than laser control and offers several advantages for constructing practical quantum computers.
For instance, electronic control is less expensive and more robust than lasers, facilitating easier integration into ion trap chips.
Moreover, the experiment was conducted at room temperature and without magnetic shielding, simplifying the technical necessities of operating quantum computers.
“This record-setting achievement signifies a significant milestone, but it is part of a larger challenge,” the author remarked.
“In quantum computing, both single and two-qubit gates must function together.”
“Currently, the gates of the two-qubit systems still experience a very high error rate, approximately 1 in 2,000 even in the best demonstration to date.
Their paper has been published online in the journal Physical Review Letters.
____
MC Smith et al. 2025. Single qubit gate with errors at the 10-7 level. Phys. Rev. Lett, in press; doi: 10.1103/42w2-6ccy
Researchers from the Muon G-2 Experiment have unveiled their third measurement of the Muon magnetic anomaly. The conclusive results align with findings published in 2021 and 2023 but boast significantly improved precision at 127 parts per billion, surpassing the experimental goal for 140 people.
Muon particles traveling through lead in the cloud chamber. Image credit: Jino John 1996 / cc by-sa 4.0.
The Muon G-2 experiment investigates the wobble of a fundamental particle known as the Muon.
Muons resemble electrons but are roughly 200 times more massive. Like electrons, they exhibit quantum mechanical properties called spins, which can be interpreted as tiny internal magnets.
When subjected to an external magnetic field, these internal magnets wobble akin to the axis of a spinning top.
The precession speed of a magnetic field is influenced by the muon’s characteristics, captured numerically as the G-factor.
Theoretical physicists derive G-factors based on our current understanding of the universe’s fundamental mechanics, as outlined in the standard model of particle physics.
Nearly a century ago, G was anticipated to be 2; however, experimental measurements revealed minor deviations from this value, quantified as the Muon magnetic anomaly, Aμ, based on the formula (G-2)/2, giving the Muon G-2 experiment its name.
Muon magnetic anomalies encapsulate the effects of all standard model particles, enabling theoretical physicists to compute these contributions with remarkable precision.
Earlier measurements conducted at the Brookhaven National Laboratory during the 1990s and 2000s indicated potential discrepancies with the theoretical calculations of that era.
Disparities between experimental results and theoretical predictions could signal the existence of new physics.
In particular, physicists contemplated whether these discrepancies could stem from an undetected particle influencing the muon’s precession.
Consequently, physicists opted to enhance the Muon G-2 experiments to obtain more accurate measurements.
In 2013, Brookhaven’s magnetic storage ring was relocated from Long Island, New York, to Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois.
Following extensive upgrades and enhancements, the Fermilab Muon G-2 experiment launched on May 31, 2017.
Simultaneously, an international collaboration among theorists established the Muon G-2 theory initiative aimed at refining theoretical calculations.
In 2020, the Theoretical Initiative released updated and more precise standard model values informed by data from other experiments.
The differences between the experimental results continued to widen in 2021 as Fermilab announced the initial experimental results, corroborating Brookhaven’s findings with improved accuracy.
Simultaneously, new theoretical predictions emerged, relying significantly on computational capabilities.
This information closely aligned with experimental measurements and narrowed the existing discrepancies.
Recently, the Theoretical Initiative published a new set of predictions integrating results from various groups using novel calculation techniques.
This result remains in close agreement with experimental findings and diminishes the likelihood of new physics.
Nevertheless, theoretical endeavors will persist in addressing the disparities between data-driven and computational approaches.
The latest experimental values for the muon magnetic moment from Fermilab’s experiments are:
aμ =(g-2)/2 (Muon experiment) = 0.001 165 920 705
This final measurement is based on an analysis of data collected over the past three years, spanning 2021 to 2023, and is integrated with previously published datasets.
This has more than tripled the dataset size utilized in the second results from 2023, achieving the precision target set in 2012.
Moreover, it signifies the analysis of the highest quality data from the experiment.
As the second data collection run concluded, the Muon G-2 collaboration finalized adjustments and enhancements to the experiment, boosting muon beam quality and minimizing uncertainties.
“The extraordinary magnetic moment of the muon (G-2) is pivotal as it provides a sensitive test of the standard model of particle physics,” remarked Regina Lameika, associate director of high energy physics at the U.S. Department of Energy.
“This is an exhilarating result, and it’s fantastic to witness the experiment reach a definitive conclusion with precise measurements.”
“This highly anticipated outcome represents a remarkable achievement in accuracy and will hold the title of the most precise measurement of muon magnetic anomalies for the foreseeable future.”
“Despite recent theoretical challenges that have lessened the evidence for new physics in Muon G-2, this finding presents a robust benchmark for proposed extensions to the standard model of particle physics.”
“This is an incredibly exciting moment; not only did we meet our objectives, but we surpassed them, indicating that such precision measurements are challenging.”
“Thanks to Fermilab, the funding agencies, and the host lab, we accomplished our goals successfully.”
“For over a century, the G-2 has imparted crucial insights into the nature of reality,” stated Lawrence Gibbons, a professor at Cornell University.
“It’s thrilling to contribute accurate measurements that are likely to endure for a long time.”
“For decades, muon magnetic moments have served as a significant benchmark for the standard models,” noted Dr. Simon Kolody, a physicist at Argonne National Laboratory.
“The new experimental results illuminate this fundamental theory and establish a benchmark to guide new theoretical calculations.”
The rotation period for Uranus was estimated at 17.24 hours from radio auroral measurements by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986. Using long-term tracking of Uranus’ poles between 2011 and 2022 from Hubble images of UV light, astronomers now have an updated independent, highly accurate rotation period of 17.247864 hours, or 28 seconds longer than the estimated Voyager 2.
This image of the Uranus aurora was photographed by Hubble on October 10th, 2022. Image credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble/L. Ramie/L. Slomovsky.
“Our measurements not only provide essential references to the planetary science community, they solve long-standing problems. Previous coordinate systems based on outdated rotation periods quickly become inaccurate, making it impossible to track Uranus’ magnetic poles.
“With this new longitude system, we can compare nearly 40 years of observations of the Aurora and even plan future Uranus missions.”
This breakthrough was possible thanks to long-term surveillance of Hubble’s Uranus.
For over a decade, telescopes have regularly observed their ultraviolet emissions, allowing astronomers to generate magnetic field models that match changes in the position of magnetic poles with time.
“The continuous observation from Hubble was extremely important,” Dr. Lammy said.
“Without this rich data, it would not have been possible to detect periodic signals at the level of accuracy achieved.”
Unlike Earth, Jupiter, or Saturn’s aurora, Uranus’ aurora behaves in a unique and unpredictable way.
This is due to the highly tilted magnetic field of the planet, which is significantly offset from the axis of rotation.
The findings not only help astronomers understand Uranus’ magnetosphere, but also help to provide important information for future missions.
“These discoveries set a stage for further research that will deepen our understanding of one of the most mystical planets in the solar system,” the author said in a statement.
“The ability to monitor objects for decades has allowed Hubble to remain an essential tool for planetary science, paving the way for the next era of exploration on Uranus.”
result It was published in the journal this week Natural Astronomy.
____
L. Ramie et al. A new rotation period and longitude system for Uranus. Nut AthlonPublished online on April 7th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02492-z
Cancer therapy using genetically modified immune cells called CAR T cells has maintained people without potentially fatal neurotumors for a record 18 years.
“This is, to my knowledge, the longest lasting complete remission among patients who have received T-cell therapy in their car,” he says. Karin Stratoff At University College London, where he was not involved in treatment. “This patient will be cured,” she says.
Doctors use CAR T-cell therapy to treat certain blood cancers, such as leukemia. To do this, they collect samples of T cells that form part of the immune system from the patient's blood and genetically manipulate them to target and kill cancer cells. The modified cells are then returned to the body. In 2022, a follow-up study found that this approach was in remission for two people with leukemia for about 11 years.
However, CAR T-cell therapy usually fails against solid tumors such as neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma occurs when developing neurons in children and usually becomes cancerous before the age of five. Such tumors often resist being attacked by the immune system, reducing the effectiveness of the modified T-cell.
This is the reason Cliona Rooney At Baylor School of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and her colleagues were surprised that people with neuroblastoma in childhood treated with CAR T cell therapy as part of their 2005 trial remained in control of cancer. . 18 years later. “These results were amazing. It's very rare to get a complete response from neuroblastoma with this approach,” says Rooney.
The person was treated at age 4 after several chemotherapy and radiation therapy failed to completely eradicate the cancer. At the time, the team also treated 10 other people who were in the same condition that the cancer had recurred after standard treatment, and they all had virtually no side effects, says Rooney. One of these participants showed no signs of cancer before dropping out of the study nearly nine years later, making follow-up impossible. The remaining nine participants eventually died from cancer. This was mainly killed within a few years of receiving treatment.
It is unclear why some people responded much better than others. “That's a million dollar question. I really don't know why,” Rooney says.
One reason is that each individual's T-cell behaves slightly differently depending on a variety of lifestyle factors, such as their genetics, prior exposure to infections, and diet, Rooney says. In fact, the team found that CAR T cells last longer in the blood among longer surviving participants.
Another explanation is that some participants' tumors were more immunosuppressive and strongly resisted T cells in the car, Rooney says.
The Rooney team is now looking for new ways to design cells so that it can benefit more people. “We have to improve them and make them stronger without increasing toxicity,” she says.
Such efforts are likely to lead to even greater success, Straathof says. “Now we have a glimpse of what is possible.”
Strategic naps can help you recover from sleep deprivation
Jean Gaumi/Magnum Photo
Sleep researchers devote their careers to understanding how and why we sleep. So what do they do to get a better night’s rest?
It may be comforting to know that even experts don’t always practice what they preach. “I think you’ll find that a lot of sleep researchers are terrible at sleep,” he says. Malcolm von Schantz At Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
This article is part of a special series exploring important questions about sleep. Click here for details.
But what many of them agree on is that consistency is key. Here’s what else they had to say:
make a plan
“It’s all about prioritization and planning. For example, I’m a night owl and like to go to bed late and wake up late, so I try not to have meetings before 10am. I’m thinking ahead about the timing of my daily rhythm in terms of what works best for me and how I can adjust my schedule to support that.”
“We keep the lights in our house pretty dim when the sun goes down, turn on as many indoor lights as possible in the morning, and make sure to open the blinds to let some sunlight into the house as soon as the sun goes down. I think it’s really important to minimize night light and maximize morning light.
Researchers at Northwestern University have successfully achieved quantum state transfer over a 30.2 km fiber carrying 400 Gbps C-band classical traffic. The ability for quantum and conventional networks to operate within the same optical fiber will aid in the large-scale deployment of quantum network technology.
thomas others. Demonstrated quantum state teleportation over 30.2 km of fiber with conventional high-power 400 Gbps data traffic. By employing different methods to suppress SpRS noise, we have increased the classical power that can transmit many Tbps aggregate data rates while maintaining sufficient teleportation fidelity. Image credit: Thomas others., doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.540362.
The fiber optic infrastructure and telecommunications technologies that underpin the Internet have been widely adopted by researchers aiming to develop quantum networks capable of applications such as quantum-enhanced cryptography, sensing, and networked quantum computing.
However, the feasibility of quantum networking at scale remains uncertain, as much of the existing fiber infrastructure still carries traditional communications traffic, and new fiber is expensive to lease and install. It depends on its ability to propagate within the network. Uses the same fiber as high-power classical signals.
“In optical communications, all signals are converted to light,” said Prem Kumar, a professor at Northwestern University.
“Conventional signals in classical communications are typically made up of millions of particles of light, whereas quantum information uses a single photon.”
Professor Kumar and his colleagues have discovered a way to allow delicate photons to avoid crowded traffic.
“This is incredibly exciting because no one thought it was possible,” Professor Kumar said.
“Our research points the way to next-generation quantum and classical networks that share a unified fiber optic infrastructure.”
“Essentially, this opens the door to taking quantum communications to the next level.”
After studying in detail how light is scattered in fiber optic cables, researchers have discovered a less crowded wavelength of light at which to place photons.
Next, we added a special filter to reduce noise from normal internet traffic.
“We carefully studied how light scatters and placed photons at decision points where that scattering mechanism is minimized,” Professor Kumar said.
“We found that quantum communication can be performed without interference from simultaneously existing classical channels.”
To test the new method, the scientists installed a 20-mile-long fiber optic cable with photons at each end.
They then transmitted quantum information and regular internet traffic simultaneously.
Finally, we measured the quality of the quantum information at the receiving end by taking quantum measurements at intermediate points while running the teleportation protocol.
They discovered that quantum information was successfully transmitted even in the midst of busy Internet traffic.
Next, the authors plan to extend the experiment to even longer distances.
They also plan to use two pairs of entangled photons to demonstrate entanglement swapping, another important milestone leading to distributed quantum applications.
Finally, we are exploring the possibility of running experiments via underground optical cables in the real world rather than on spools in the lab.
“Quantum teleportation has the ability to securely provide quantum connectivity between geographically separated nodes,” Professor Kumar said.
“But many people have long thought that no one would build the specialized infrastructure to transmit particles of light.”
“If you choose the wavelength properly, you don't need to build new infrastructure. Classical and quantum communications can coexist.”
of the team paper Published in this month's magazine optica.
_____
Jordan M. Thomas others. 2024. Quantum teleportation coexists with classical communication using optical fibers. optica 11 (12): 1700-1707;doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.540362
This article is adapted from the original release by Northwestern University.
Astronomers using the MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array, an international experiment using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope, have discovered further evidence of gravitational wave signals originating from supermassive black hole mergers.
miles others. Created the most detailed map of gravitational waves throughout the universe to date. Image credit: Carl Knox / OzGrav / Swinburne University of Technology / South African Radio Astronomical Observatory.
“Our research opens up new avenues for understanding the universe we live in,” said astronomer Dr Matt Miles from the ARC Gravitational Wave Discovery Center (OzGRav) and Swinburne University of Technology. .
“By studying the background, we can listen to the echoes of cosmic events over billions of years. It reveals how galaxies and the universe itself have evolved over time.”
The MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array observes and times pulsars (fast-spinning neutron stars) with nanosecond precision.
Pulsars act as natural clocks, and their steady pulses allow scientists to detect minute changes caused by passing gravitational waves.
This galaxy-scale detector provides the opportunity to map gravitational waves across the sky, revealing patterns and intensities that defy previous assumptions.
“The gravitational wave background is often thought to be uniformly distributed across the sky,” says Rowena Nathan, an astronomer at Ozgrab University and Monash University.
“The galaxy-sized telescope formed by the MeerKAT pulsar timing array allows us to map the structure of this signal with unprecedented precision, potentially revealing insights into its source.”
Astronomers have found further evidence of gravitational wave signals originating from merging supermassive black holes, capturing a signal more powerful than a similar global experiment in just one-third of the time.
“What we’re seeing suggests a much more dynamic and active Universe than we expected,” Dr. Miles said.
“We know that supermassive black holes are merging off Earth, but now we’re starting to know where they are and how many there are.”
Researchers used pulsar timing arrays to improve existing methods to build highly detailed gravitational wave maps.
This map revealed an interesting anomaly: an unexpected hotspot in the signal, suggesting a possible directional bias.
“The presence of a hotspot could point to a distinct source of gravitational waves, such as a pair of black holes billions of times more massive than the sun,” Nathan said.
“Looking at the arrangement and pattern of gravitational waves tells us how our universe exists today and contains signals from around the time of the Big Bang.”
“While there is still more work to be done to determine the significance of the hotspots we discovered, this is an exciting step forward for our field.”
“These discoveries raise exciting questions about the formation of supermassive black holes and the early history of the universe.”
“Further monitoring by the MeerKAT array could improve these gravitational wave maps and reveal new cosmic phenomena.”
“The research also has broader implications, with data that could help international scientists explore the origin and evolution of supermassive black holes, the formation of galactic structures, and even hints at early cosmic events. provided.”
Matthew Miles others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: 4.5 Years of Data Release and Noise and Stochastic Signals in the Millisecond Pulsar Population. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2572
Matthew Miles others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: The first search for gravitational waves with the MeerKAT radio telescope. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2571
Kathryn Grandthal others. 2024. MeerKAT Pulsar Timing Array: Map of the gravitational wave sky with 4.5 years of data released. MNRASin press. doi: 10.1093/mnras/stae2573
Vehicles equipped with technology to collect data on building conditions
Madeleine Cuff
British city dwellers may have spotted a strange-looking vehicle driving around their neighborhood earlier this year. It looked just like a Google Street View vehicle, with a camera setup sticking out of the back to scan its surroundings. And like the Google car, it scanned city streets and took photos.
But these modified Teslas do more than just take pictures: they’re equipped with cutting-edge sensors and scanners that can report back the exact dimensions, heat loss, materials, age and state of disrepair of every building they drive over.
The car, equipped with what’s called the Built Environment Scanning System (BESS), has been on a spree to find out just how leaky and dilapidated Britain’s buildings really are. Between March and May, the car scanned thousands of roads and millions of buildings across London, Liverpool, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and South Yorkshire.
Data from BESS vehicles will be combined with thermal images taken by drones and planes in a £4 million government-funded project to build a huge digital database detailing the condition of buildings across the U.K. The aim is to help housing associations, local authorities and other property owners quickly plan renovation projects for hundreds of properties at once, says Ahsan Khan of xRI, the British nonprofit behind the project.
Decarbonising UK buildings is one of the toughest challenges on the journey to net-zero emissions. The UK’s 30 million buildings account for around a third of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with most of the pollution coming from the use of gas for heating and hot water.
Another problem is that many of the UK’s homes are old and drafty. Retrofitting these homes to make them more energy efficient is crucial, but knowing where to start is a huge challenge, as the age and condition of the buildings varies greatly. “We’re held back as a nation because we don’t really know what we have, where it is in terms of the built environment, and what we can do about it,” says Khan.
Currently, the only means of judging a building’s sustainability is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), a mandatory document that rates every building on a scale of A to G and gives owners advice on how to improve the rating. But EPCs, which rely on the judgement of in-person assessors, are “expensive, time-consuming and inaccurate”, says Dr. Mike Pitts The project is part-funded by the government body Innovate UK, with other funding coming from the UK Space Agency and the Welsh Government.
For organisations such as housing associations and local authorities who want to renovate hundreds of properties at once, EPCs are of little use – instead they often have to send their own assessors to the properties and plan the works schedule, which is a costly and time-consuming undertaking.
Speeding up renovations
The new database is expected to digitise much of this process. If it works as planned, it will use machine learning to tell councils, for example, how many properties already have double glazing installed, or which homes need top-up cavity-wall insulation. In an instant, it will be able to pinpoint exactly which homes have the space and sunlight to install rooftop solar panels. Crucially, it will calculate projected savings on energy bills and provide return-on-investment information, helping organisations access green finance.
“The xRI project represents a major advance in our understanding of our existing stock,” says Mat Colmer of Innovate UK. “The validated data set will improve and automate the refurbishment process, speeding up the entire refurbishment process.”
About 7.5% of homes in England, Scotland, and Wales have already been scanned, and Khan says the framework is in place to build a beta version of the database, due to be released later this year. For now, xRI is focused on decarbonizing buildings, but the BESS vehicles are collecting data on everything they see, from tree cover to potholes, that could be put to use in the future. “The amount of data is just staggering,” Pitts says.
David Grew Researchers from Britain’s Leeds Beckett University call the project “exciting,” but warn that an in-home inspection is essential before any renovation work begins. “Homes have been tampered with many times, so the same home could be completely different,” he says. “This quick and agile method is great for accelerating progress and momentum, but it can’t and shouldn’t replace a really high-quality inspection before construction begins.”
Kate Simpson A researcher at Nottingham Trent University in the UK says neighbourhood data collected by BESS vehicles could help plan local power grid upgrades and climate resilience projects. But the data needs to be collected carefully, she says. “What’s the minimum amount of data we need to make the right decisions?” she says. “That way we can minimise the environmental impact of storing that data.”
Tatchapong “Art” Climbing Cone Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Amity. Art earned her MBA from Cambridge University, where she worked for five years at IBM.
have something in common A story that repeats itself in the tech industry. A fast-growing startup emerges with a breakthrough concept, succeeds in raising incredible VC funding, and rockets to unicorn status. The company then fails to achieve sustainable profits and falls from glory within a few years (or even months). Despite a relative slowdown in VC activity, that story has continued over the last year, and usually reaches the same conclusion. 90% of startups fail 10% of them die within a year.
The numbers paint a grim picture, but one thing we know as innovators is that every challenge has a unique solution. Often, what holds entrepreneurs back is not money, but rather rapid growth and an over-obsession with flashy technology. This leads to neglecting to solve core business challenges and ultimately leads to a lack of stability and long-term profitability. Before investing in an attractive technology product, it is important to change this approach and prioritize providing reproducible solutions to relevant problems.
Suppose your objective is to introduce an innovative solution to a new niche problem in a way never seen before in the market. In that case, you don’t have to be bold. You need to be bold enough to believe in the company’s clairvoyance, and know enough about your field to maintain that level of confidence even to your face. A strong headwind.
Here’s how to start your own category to solve a niche problem
Identify your unique value proposition
When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges or unexpected investments, the most important thing is to remain true to the company’s mission.
The most loved and valued companies have built categories that didn’t exist because they offer solutions that other companies can’t even imagine. There’s a reason Apple remains the most valuable company on the planet. The advent of iPhone happened when the user had to carry her iPod, mobile phone, laptop and planner separately. For the first time, a device has appeared that allows him to achieve all these items in one device.
Compare this to products like Threads. Threads is a simple modification of existing products. Unable to retain users. A sales pitch that says, “We’re offering the same product that’s already on the market, but with a few changes,” is much weaker than, “This is a solution that didn’t exist before.” In my career helping brands connect with their communities on platforms, I’ve seen this strategy yield greater benefits than copying existing solutions.
In 2018-2019, I began a journey to take on traditional social giants and provide an alternative way for brands to develop brand-centric communities online. At the time, Facebook had some notorious scandals regarding the misuse of personal data. Amity has set out on a mission to improve and democratize social networks, with the goal of building better social networks that foster active user interaction while respecting the privacy of user data.
What do iconic Valley investors Zachary Bogue and Chris Sacca have in common? They’re both trying to stop cows from burping methane. No, really. And Soccer Investments has just raised $20 million to do just that. What gives?
With the conclusion of COP28, the global conference on the climate crisis, methane is on the ClimateTech agenda for investors and startups.
Emissions from livestock are the main source of agricultural methane, accounting for about one-third of all methane. emissions, and most of them aren’t from the parts of the cow you’d expect. In fact, it is from cow burp.
When cows process their feed, they literally exhale methane gas as part of their rumination process, allowing them to digest grass and hay that other animals, including us, cannot.
And it’s these emissions that agritech and biotech companies are now starting to target. There is a lot of pressure to do so. In fact, six major companies in the dairy industry recently pledged The company plans to start disclosing its methane emissions, and other companies are expected to join the plan. And one of the bigger topics at his recent COP meeting was a promise to reduce methane emissions. is growing rapidly.
Methane gas is by far the worst of all greenhouse gases, and like methane it is much worse than CO2. trap more heat The amount per molecule in the atmosphere is greater than carbon dioxide.
This gas stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years, whereas carbon dioxide lasts for hundreds of years, but over 20 years it is about 80 times more heating than carbon dioxide, and over 100 years it is 27 times more heating. according to to the Expert Panel on Livestock Methane in 2023.
Its reduction is therefore considered key to fighting the climate crisis. In fact, there is even a satellite-based “Methane Alert and Response System” (MARS). announced by the United Nations last year.
And a major UN report says “urgent measures” are needed to reduce methane to keep global warming within limits. manageable limit.
British companies now think they can tackle this problem.
British biotech startup Mootral Raised $20 million in Series B funding round backed by Menlo Park-based climate investors king philanthropiesalongside existing investors Lowercarbon Capital (a climate VC started by Chris Sacca), Earthshot Ventures, Kindred Ventures, Third Derivative, Climactic, and Climate Capital.
In total, Mootral raised $48.9 million. This number corresponds to the $11.2 million seed round. Series A for $12.8 million (led by King Philanthropies, which invested $10 million). This Series B is worth $20 million. Family office investment by Thomas Hafner and Karin Boimer is $24.9 million.
Mootral said in a statement that it aims to scale up to feeding 300 million cows with its feed additives by 2033, with the potential to achieve up to 50 percent methane reductions by 2025. This is quite a claim.
“We aim to immediately and permanently reduce methane emissions, and this is happening on farms today,” Mootral founder and CEO Thomas Hafner said by phone. Ta.
“The next generation of products will need to be on the milligram scale. Our next generation will be even better. We aim to reduce it by up to 90%.”
Mootral also has a scheme called ‘CowCredits’ which allows farmers to access the carbon credit market when reducing their herd’s methane emissions. ClimatePartner, a company that funds climate change projects through carbon credits, has signed on to include his Mootral in its portfolio of options for Crent.
So how does it work? Dairy cows produce about 500 liters of methane every day. 3.7 tons of CO2 equivalent per year. Mootral says its current ruminant supplement can reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by up to 38 percent on commercial farms.
One of its competitors is CH4 Global It raised $29 million in its latest funding round. CH4 Global — backed by the aforementioned Zachary Bogue of DCVC — seaweed It is added to cattle feed to reduce methane emissions.
CH4 Global CEO Steve Mellor said in an email that the company is using “aquaculture” to address the problem. Global agricultural company to supply 9.5 million head of cattle is announced. Combining these two will result in approximately 80 million tons of CO2-e reductions. ”
He claims that CH4 Global’s line of feed additives (called Methane Tamer) contains Asparagopsis, which the company claims can reduce methane emissions from cows by as much as 90%. did.
The other player in that space is DSM, a Dutch multinational companyWhich recently It said it would monitor the environmental impact of foods containing animal protein.
In any case, it is clear that the climate tech sector is intersecting with agricultural technology in unexpected ways in the fight against the climate crisis.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
