Will we someday preserve our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions?
Thumbnail/Science Photo Library
Recent breakthroughs in brain preservation methods have enabled an entire mammalian brain to be successfully stored. This innovative technique will soon be accessible to terminally ill patients, aimed at gathering essential neural data to one day reconstruct the essence of the individual.
According to Boris Lobel of Nectome, a San Francisco-based company pioneering memory preservation, patients will need to donate their brains and bodies for scientific research. “Our vision is to preserve their bodies and brains indefinitely, with the hope that one day we can decode the information stored in their brains,” he stated.
Timing is critical for preserving the delicate structure of the brain; just minutes without blood flow can lead to irreversible damage as enzymes destroy neurons and cells begin self-digestion.
Typically, cryonics aims to preserve bodies at subzero temperatures post-mortem, allowing for the possibility of revival if future treatments are developed. However, rapid action is essential, as brain deterioration begins almost immediately following natural death.
To mitigate these challenges, Lobel and his team have created a physician-assisted protocol that allows terminally ill individuals to choose the timing of their passing. This ensures immediate intervention, enhancing the likelihood of maintaining the brain’s condition close to its living state.
Lobel’s team performed tests using pigs, which possess brain and cardiovascular systems similar to humans. The procedure involved inserting a cannula into the heart shortly after cardiac arrest, flushing out blood, and introducing a preservation solution. This concoction contains aldehyde chemicals that create molecular connections, effectively locking cellular activity.
A cryoprotectant is later introduced to replace water within the tissue, preventing ice crystal formation that could harm cells upon cooling. The treated brains are then cooled to approximately -32°C, allowing cryoprotectants to achieve a glass-like state for indefinite preservation.
To evaluate the technique’s success, researchers analyzed samples from the brain’s outer layer under a microscope. Initial trials commencing 18 minutes post-mortem indicated significant cellular damage, but when the delay was shortened to under 14 minutes, the tissue displayed excellent preservation of neurons and synapses.
Theoretically, Lobel suggested this protocol could aid in “reconstructing the three-dimensional map of neural connections,” referred to as the connectome, potentially illuminating how the brain generates thoughts, emotions, and cognitive functions. So far, scientists have achieved the mapping of only a fraction of the mouse brain, which took seven years to complete, as documented in this study.
Despite advancements in cryonics and computational technology, true “resuscitation” remains unfeasible. “Our method is akin to embalming, preserving the brain’s structural integrity without restoring biological viability,” explains João Pedro de Magalhães from the University of Birmingham. He further asserts that even a perfect mental replica would exist as a distinct entity.
Nonetheless, Lobel’s team is hopeful about the future, positing that human consciousness could eventually be recreated digitally or biologically. “We are open to various resurrection strategies, as we believe we can preserve all necessary information for this,” Wróbel asserts.
Nectome plans to invite terminally ill patients to Oregon, allowing them to spend time with family before undergoing the new preservation protocols. “They receive medications prescribed by an independent physician before we initiate the surgery,” Lobel notes.
This groundbreaking research brings forth profound philosophical inquiries regarding our understanding of death. “Declaring death based solely on the absence of blood circulation oversimplifies the complexities involved,” remarks Brian Wok, from 21st Century Medicine. “The ability to preserve the brain’s intricate structure and molecular makeup after circulation ceases raises essential questions about the nature of life and death.”
Abby Wines, the acting deputy superintendent of Death Valley National Park, noted that the park typically receives only about 2 inches of rainfall annually.
“From November to early January, we recorded around 2.5 inches of rain, surpassing the annual average in just two and a half months,” she stated.
Wines explained that while some wildflowers usually bloom each spring, superblooms (though not an official botanical term) arise only after particularly wet fall and winter seasons.
Even the most common wildflowers, typically found in low-lying areas throughout the park, require the right type of rain, Blacker emphasized.
“We need days of light drizzle and mist, along with soaking rains, but not heavy monsoon rains that wash out highways and damage roads,” he said. “Additionally, mild spring temperatures are crucial, as wind and heat pose significant threats to blooming flowers.”
One type of desert wildflower, known as an “ephemeral,” has a unique survival strategy. Unlike cacti, which retain water to thrive in hot, arid conditions, these flowers lie dormant as seeds in the soil for extended periods.
“You can think of it as a strategy for drought avoidance,” explained Eric Rakestraw, curator of botany at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. “In their seed form, they remain inactive, just resting in the soil.”
Given favorable conditions, the seeds will germinate, bloom, and once pollinated, revert back into seeds, continuing the cycle.
“If we don’t experience good rain next year or in subsequent years, these species have adapted to simply wait it out,” Rakestraw noted.
For those anticipating a superbloom this year, time is running out.
Wildflowers at lower elevations are projected to bloom until mid-to-late March, according to Wines. In higher altitude regions, blooming is expected from April to June. However, these timelines are heavily influenced by weather conditions, she added.
Individuals experiencing long-term grief disorder display increased brain activity in response to death-related images, indicating heightened emotional and memory processing.
Paul Mansfield/Getty Images
While grief is a natural response to loss, for approximately 5% of bereaved individuals, this grief becomes prolonged, evolving into prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Recent research has provided insights into the development of this challenging condition, potentially aiding healthcare professionals in identifying those who may require additional support following a loss.
Inclusion of PGD in the American Psychiatric Association‘s diagnostic manual in 2022 sparked significant discourse regarding its implications on the understanding of normal grief responses and the constraints of defining acceptable grieving timelines. Current studies analyzing brain activity suggest that PGD is indeed a distinct mental health condition.
Richard Bryant and researchers from the University of New South Wales in Sydney have compared brain activity patterns in individuals with PGD to those experiencing other grief-related conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Their findings indicate that while some overlap exists, PGD patients consistently demonstrate more significant alterations in brain circuits related to reward processing.
For instance, studies indicate that PGD patients may experience greater activation in the nucleus accumbens, the brain region responsible for processing rewards and motivations, in response to grief-related stimuli compared to those not suffering from PGD. The strength of this activation correlates strongly with the intensity of longing for the deceased.
Individuals with PGD also exhibit distinct responses to reminders of the deceased, showing a preference for avoiding such stimuli, unlike individuals with PTSD and anxiety, who generally demonstrate behaviors aimed at avoidance.
Moreover, research indicates that PGD patients experience heightened amygdala and right hippocampus activation when confronted with death-related imagery, in contrast to typical grievers, who might display increased deactivation in response to positive images, highlighting a disruption in emotional regulation and a diminished capacity for positive emotional experiences.
Bryant elucidates that in PGD, the brain’s reward system becomes inextricably linked to the deceased, leading to an overwhelming yearning for the lost loved one. “The principal distinction between PGD and normal grief lies in the duration, indicating that individuals become ‘stuck’ in their grief, unable to heal like the majority,” he explains.
While this review provides valuable insights, the complexity of PGD makes it difficult to implement standardized diagnostic approaches, as noted by Catherine Shear at Columbia University. Access to brain scans is often unavailable for grieving individuals, and the intricate nature of grief complicates one-time assessments.
Shear also suggests that “two-person neuroscience” can enhance our understanding of grief by monitoring brain activity during interpersonal interactions, further unraveling how grief is influenced by social contexts, cultural norms, and individual support levels.
This comprehensive review aids in predicting individuals at risk for PGD post-bereavement. In a significant study, bereaved adults underwent brain scans shortly after their loss and periodically over the next six months. Stronger connections between the amygdala and regions involved in behavior regulation and information filtration observed during initial scans may forecast worsening grief symptoms, implying that such patterns can indicate a higher likelihood of developing PGD in the future.
Despite the identification of psychosocial factors that may predispose certain individuals to PGD, conclusive predictions remain challenging, according to Joseph Govias from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Early identification may facilitate intervention, ranging from support groups to specialized treatments.
Advancements in understanding specific neurobiological mechanisms reinforce the need to acknowledge PGD as distinctly separable from general grief, guiding tailored treatment strategies for affected individuals.
“Recognizing both the shared and unique neurobiological underpinnings may prevent misdiagnosis and inadequate care,” Govias states. “For instance, PGD less commonly responds to antidepressants, whereas focused grief therapy proves effective. Conversely, in cases where PGD coincides with major depression, a combination of antidepressants and grief-targeted therapies may yield optimal results.”
Tragic Incident in California: Death from Death Cap Mushrooms
A California man tragically died last weekend after consuming death cap mushrooms, marking the state’s third fatality linked to these toxic fungi since November. This alarming trend highlights the dangers posed by foraged mushrooms.
Between November 18th and January 4th, California reported an ASTONISHING 35 cases of mushroom poisoning. In a typical year, you would find fewer than five such cases, indicating a significant spike in poisonings.
According to Sheri Cardo, a communications specialist with the state health department, “The numbers we’re dealing with this year are relatively insane.” This spike has prompted serious concerns about mushroom foraging in California.
Following these incidents, a warning was issued by the health department on December 5, advising residents against consuming foraged mushrooms. The advisory specifically noted poisonings concentrated in areas like Monterey and the San Francisco Bay.
The latest fatalities occurred in Sonoma County. The county health department confirmed this as the first death attributed to wild mushrooms this season.
Sonoma County Interim Health Officer, Dr. Michael Stacy, urged residents to only purchase mushrooms from trusted grocery stores, stressing that death cap mushrooms bear a close resemblance to various edible species.
Stacy noted, “Early rains and a mild fall have led to an outbreak of poisonous death cap mushrooms in Northern California,” as he elaborated in a press release issued last Thursday.
The California Poison Control System highlighted that some individuals affected by death cap poisoning spoke Spanish and may have applied foraging practices from their home countries. Heather Hallen-Adams, director of toxicology for the Mycological Society of North America, explained that death cap mushrooms closely resemble other Amanita species that are safe and commonly collected in Mexico.
Death cap mushrooms contain a dangerous toxin known as amatoxin. If ingested, this toxin can severely damage vital organs, including the kidneys and liver. Symptoms of poisoning often take up to 24 hours to manifest, appearing as mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. More severe consequences, such as liver failure, can occur within two to three days.
Hallen-Adams also stated that approximately 90% of fatal mushroom poisonings are linked to amatoxin poisoning, with even a small amount—equivalent to that of a standard sugar cube—being lethal.
Reports indicate that three individuals in California now require liver transplants due to severe wild mushroom poisoning.
The death cap mushroom, scientifically known as Amanita phalloides, is an invasive species that originated in Europe, making its way to California via imported seedlings in the 1930s. It typically thrives near oak trees and occasionally near pines, growing several inches tall, featuring white gills, a pale yellow or green cap, and a distinctive ring around its stem.
Typically, the U.S. Poison Center receives about 52 calls annually regarding amatoxin poisoning, although not all cases are reported to the center.
Mike McCurdy, president of the San Francisco Mycological Society, indicated that the risk for this season may be declining. As an avid mushroom collector, he shared that while he observed many death cap mushrooms during his outings earlier this winter, he has seen significantly fewer lately.
“I think we’re nearing the end,” McCurdy noted after spotting just one death cap mushroom on a recent trip near Lafayette, California.
A recent study suggests that volcanic eruptions from several years prior may have contributed to the devastating impact of the Black Death on medieval Europe’s population.
The researchers discovered that a period of abnormally cold summers in the mid-1340s, potentially linked to one significant volcanic eruption or several smaller ones, led to severe famines throughout the Mediterranean.
They argue that this chain reaction ultimately caused disease-carrying fleas to arrive at European ports, resulting in mortality rates of up to 60 percent.
“This is something I’ve wanted to understand for a long time,” stated Professor Wolf Bungen, a paleoclimatologist from the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge. “What were the origins and transmission factors of the Black Death, and how extraordinary were they?”
“Why did this event occur in this specific region, at this precise moment in European history? That is a fascinating question, yet one that requires collective insights to answer.”
Professor Ulf Bungen takes ring samples from trees in the Pyrenees – Credit: Ulf Bungen
Bungen noted that BBC Science Focus has provided clues through tree rings and ice cores—ancient ice layers that have preserved chemicals from historic volcanic eruptions—indicating that volcanic activity contributed to the extreme climatic conditions.
“If a particular year experiences unusual cold, heat, dryness, or wetness, we aim to uncover the reasons behind it,” Bungen remarked to BBC Science Focus.
“Volcanoes emit substantial amounts of sulfur into the upper atmosphere, prompting collaborations with ice core experts to gain insights on past eruptions.
“This can lead to subsequent cold summers, a phenomenon known as post-eruption cooling.”
This close-up image of tree rings shows the “blue rings” of 1345 and 1346, during the cold and wet summers – Credit: Ulf Büntgen
It was left to climate historian Dr. Martin Bauch from the Leibniz Institute for the History and Culture of Eastern Europe in Germany to correlate this climate data with historical events.
He found that the harsh cold resulted in significant famine across the Mediterranean, and the responses of the Italian republics of Venice, Genoa, and Pisa eventually facilitated the plague’s arrival in Europe.
“For over a century, these influential Italian city-states established extensive trade networks throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas, employing an effective system to stave off starvation,” Bauch explained. “However, this ultimately contributed to even greater disasters.”
The fleas carrying the plague bacterium Y. pestis likely reached Mediterranean ports aboard these grain ships, transferring to rats, cats, and humans, and quickly propagating the disease across Europe, decimating its population.
The study concluded that volcanic activity initiated a sequence of events culminating in the plague throughout medieval Europe.
Bungen noted that this narrative continues to resonate in today’s world, over seven centuries later.
“While the coincidental convergence of factors leading to the Black Death may be rare, the probability of zoonotic disease outbreaks and pandemics amidst climate change is likely to escalate in our interconnected world,” he explained.
“This is particularly crucial in light of our recent experiences with COVID-19.”
LThat evening, I was scrolling through dating apps when a profile caught my eye: “Henry VIII, 34 years old, King of England, non-monogamous.” Before I knew it, I found myself in a candlelit bar sharing a martini with the most notorious dater of the 16th century.
But the night wasn’t finished yet. Next, we took turns DJing alongside Princess Diana. “The crowd is primed for the drop!” she shouted over the music as she placed her headphones on. As I chilled in the cold waiting for Black Friday deals, Karl Marx philosophized about why 60% off is so irresistible.
In Sora 2, if you can imagine it—even if you think you shouldn’t—you can likely see it. Launched in October as an invite-only app in the US and Canada, OpenAI’s video app hit 1 million downloads within just five days, surpassing the initial success of ChatGPT.
AI-generated deepfake video features portraits of Henry VIII and Kobe Bryant
While Sora isn’t the only AI tool producing videos from text, its popularity stems from two major factors. First, it simplifies the process for users to star in their own deepfake videos. After entering a prompt, a 10-second clip is generated in minutes, which can be shared on Sora’s TikTok-style platform or exported elsewhere. Unlike low-quality, mass-produced “AI slop” that clouds the internet, these videos exhibit unexpectedly high production quality.
The second reason for Sora’s popularity is its ability to generate portraits of celebrities, athletes, and politicians—provided they are deceased. Living individuals must give consent for their likenesses to be used, but “historical figures” seem to be defined as famous people who are no longer alive.
This is how most users have utilized the app since its launch. The main feed appears to be a bizarre mix of absurdity featuring historical figures. From Adolf Hitler in a shampoo commercial to Queen Elizabeth II stumbling off a pub table while cursing, the content is surreal. Abraham Lincoln beams at the TV exclaiming, “You’re not my father.” The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. expresses his dream of having all drinks be complimentary before abruptly grabbing a cold drink and cursing.
However, not everyone is amused.
“It’s profoundly disrespectful to see my father’s image—who devoted his life to truth—used in such an insensitive manner,” Malcolm told the Washington Post. She was just two when her dad was assassinated. Now, Sora’s clips show the civil rights leader engaged in crude humor.
Zelda Williams, the daughter of actor Robin Williams, urged people to “stop” sending AI videos of her father through an Instagram post. “It’s silly and a waste of energy. Trust me, that’s not what he would have wanted,” she noted. Before his passing in 2014, he took legal steps to prevent his likeness from being used in advertising or digitally inserted into films until 2039. “Seeing my father’s legacy turned into something grotesque by TikTok artists is infuriating,” she added.
The video featuring the likeness of the late comedian George Carlin has been described by his daughter Kelly Carlin as “overwhelming and depressing” in a Blue Sky post.
Recent fatalities are also being represented. The app is filled with clips depicting Stephen Hawking enduring a “#powerslap” that knocks his wheelchair over, Kobe Bryant dunking over an elderly woman while yelling about something stuck inside him, and Amy Winehouse wandering the streets of Manhattan with mascara streaming down her face.
Those who have passed in the last two years (Ozzy Osbourne, Matthew Perry, Liam Payne) seem to be missing, indicating they may fall into a different category.
Each time these “puppetmasters” revive the dead, they risk reshaping the narrative of history, according to AI expert Henry Ajdar. “People are worried that a world filled with this type of content could distort how these individuals are remembered,” he explains.
Sora’s algorithm favors content that shocks. One of the trending videos features Dr. King making monkey noises during his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Another depicts Kobe Bryant reenacting the tragic helicopter crash that claimed both his and his daughter’s lives.
While actors and comedians sometimes portray characters after death, legal protections are stricter. Film studios bear the responsibility for their content. OpenAI does not assume the same liability for what appears on Sora. In certain states, consent from the estate administrator is required to feature an individual for commercial usage.
“We couldn’t resurrect Christopher Lee for a horror movie, so why can OpenAI resurrect him for countless short films?” questions James Grimmelman, an internet law expert at Cornell University and Cornell Tech.
OpenAI’s decision to place deceased personas into the public sphere raises distressing questions about the rights of the departed in the era of generative AI.
Legal Issues
It may feel unsettling to have the likeness of a prominent figure persistently haunting Sora, but is it legal? Perspectives vary.
Major legal questions regarding the internet remain unanswered. Are AI firms protected under Section 230 and thus not liable for third-party content on their platforms? If OpenAI qualifies for Section 230 immunity, users cannot sue the company for content they create on Sora.
“However, without federal legislation on this front, uncertainties will linger until the Supreme Court takes up the issue, which might stretch over the next two to four years,” notes Ashken Kazarian, a specialist in First Amendment and technology policy.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks at Snowflake Summit 2025 on June 2 in San Francisco, California. He is one of the living individuals who permitted Sora to utilize his likeness. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
In the interim, OpenAI must circumvent legal challenges by obtaining consent from living individuals. US defamation laws protect living people from defamatory statements that could damage their reputation. Many states have right-of-publicity laws that prevent using someone’s voice, persona, or likeness for “commercial” or “misleading” reasons without their approval.
Allowing the deceased to be represented this way is a way for the company to “test the waters,” Kazarian suggests.
Though the deceased lack defamation protections, posthumous publicity rights exist in states like New York, California, and Tennessee. Navigating these laws in the context of AI remains a “gray area,” as there is no established case law, according to Grimmelman.
For a legal claim to succeed, estates will need to prove OpenAI’s responsibility, potentially by arguing that the platform encourages the creation of content involving deceased individuals.
Grimmelmann points out that Sora’s homepage features videos that actively promote this style of content. If the app utilizes large datasets of historical material, plaintiffs could argue it predisposes users to recreate such figures.
Conversely, OpenAI might argue that Sora is primarily for entertainment. Each video is marked with a watermark to prevent it from being misleading or classified as commercial content.
Generative AI researcher Bo Bergstedt emphasizes that most users are merely experimenting, not looking to profit.
“People engage with it as a form of entertainment, finding ridiculous content to collect likes,” he states. Even if this may distress families, it might abide by advertising regulations.
However, if a Sora user creates well-received clips featuring historical figures, builds a following, and begins monetizing, they could face legal repercussions. Alexios Mantsalis, director of Cornell Tech’s Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative, warns that the “financial implications of AI” may include indirect profit from these platforms. Sola’s rising “AI influencers” could encounter lawsuits from estates if they gain financially from the deceased.
“Whack-a-Mole” Approach
In response to the growing criticism, OpenAI recently announced that representatives of “recently deceased” celebrities can request their likenesses be removed from Sora’s videos.
“While there’s a significant interest in free expression depicting historical figures, we believe public figures and their families should control how their likenesses are represented,” a spokesperson for OpenAI stated.
The parameters for “recent” have yet to be clarified, and OpenAI hasn’t provided details on how these requests will be managed. The Guardian received no immediate comment from the company.
The copyright-free-for-all strategy faced challenges after controversial content, such as “Nazi SpongeBob SquarePants,” circulated online and the Motion Picture Association of America accused OpenAI of copyright infringement. A week post-launch, the company transitioned to an opt-in model for rights holders.
Grimmelmann hopes for a similar adaptation in how depictions of the deceased are handled. “Expecting individuals to opt out may not be feasible; it’s a harsh expectation. If I think that way, so will others, including judges,” he remarks.
Bergstedt likens this to a “whack-a-mole” methodology for safeguards, likely to persist until federal courts establish AI liability standards.
According to Ajdel, the Sola debate hints at a broader question we will all confront: Who will control our likenesses in this age of composition?
“It’s a troubling scenario if people accept they can be used and exploited in AI-generated hyper-realistic content.”
Experiencing bereavement is one of life’s toughest challenges. Offering love and support can truly make a significant impact, and it’s admirable to want to help those who are grieving.
Everyone’s sadness is unique, which complicates knowing what to say. In those raw moments, simply being present and offering your love and time may be the most valuable support you can provide.
Research indicates that empathizing with others can be more challenging than we realize. Avoid making assumptions about their feelings; instead, gently ask what they are experiencing.
If you’re uncertain whether they prefer solitude, give them an option. You might say, “Would you like me to come by later?” rather than simply texting, “Let me know how I can help.”
Since close relationships may benefit from practical support, offering to help with meals or tasks can be greatly appreciated. However, always provide an opt-out option, such as leaving food at the door instead of entering.
Additionally, prioritize emotional support over giving advice or trying to reframe the situation positively. Listen attentively to their feelings and what they need at that moment.
If appropriate, consider employing techniques related to “active listening.” For instance, paraphrasing or echoing their words can show that you genuinely understand their emotional state.
As time passes and if their emotional pain decreases, it might be suitable to transition to what psychologists refer to as “cognitive advice.”
This could involve helping them find constructive ways to express their sadness and discover hope, such as making positive changes to their routines.
We often think we understand someone else’s sadness, but research shows that isn’t always the case. Instead, it’s crucial to be curious, ask how they feel, and really listen – Credit: via Klaus Vedfelt
If the grieving person indicates they prefer solitude, don’t take that as a permanent preference. Make sure to check in regularly in a non-judgmental manner.
Reaching out occasionally can be incredibly meaningful, especially since it can be hard for them to re-engage.
Psychologists recommend expressing sadness as a helpful coping strategy, often best done with the support of others.
For instance, you might plan a memorial activity, reminisce about the loved one they’ve lost, commemorate a significant anniversary, or visit places that hold special memories.
So, when the time feels right, consider joining your friends and loved ones in commemorating and celebrating the lives of those they’ve lost.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Each person’s timeline for healing is unique.
However, if your loved one continues to struggle with their grief more than six months later, they may benefit from seeking professional help.
This article responds to the inquiry (Neil Myers, asked by Lincoln): “How should I talk to someone who just lost a loved one?”
Please email us to submit your questionsQuestion @sciencefocus.com or MessageFacebook,xorInstagramPage (don’t forget to include your name and location).
Check out our ultimateFun fact More amazing science pages
The creators of ChatGPT are shifting their approach to users exhibiting mental and emotional distress following legal action from the family of 16-year-old Adam Lane, who tragically took his own life after months of interactions with the chatbot.
OpenAI recognized that its system could pose “potential risks” and stated it would “implement robust safeguards around sensitive content and perilous behavior” for users under 18.
The $500 million (£37.2 billion) San Francisco-based AI company has also rolled out parental controls, giving parents “the ability to gain insights and influence how teens engage with ChatGPT,” but specifics on the functionality are still pending.
Adam, a California resident, sadly committed suicide in April after what his family’s attorneys described as “a month of encouragement from ChatGPT.” His family is suing OpenAI and its CEO and co-founder, Sam Altman. Altman contends that the version of ChatGPT in use at the time, known as 4O, was “released to the market despite evident safety concerns.”
The teenager had multiple discussions with ChatGPT about suicide methods, including just prior to his death. According to filings in California’s Superior Court for San Francisco County, ChatGPT advised him on the likelihood that his method would be effective.
It also offered assistance in composing suicide notes to his parents.
An OpenAI spokesperson expressed that the company is “deeply saddened by Adam’s passing,” and extended its “deepest condolences to the Lane family during this challenging time,” while reviewing court documents.
Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft’s AI division, expressed growing concern last week about the “psychological risks” posed by AI to users. Microsoft defines this as “delusions that emerge or worsen through engaging experiences, delusional thoughts, or immersive dialogues with AI chatbots.”
In a blog post, OpenAI acknowledged that “some safety training in the model may degrade” over lengthy conversations. Allegedly, Adam and ChatGPT exchanged as many as 650 messages daily.
Family attorney Jay Edelson stated on X: “The claims from the Lane family indicate that tragedies like Adam’s are unavoidable. They hope that the safety team at OpenAI will challenge the release of version 4O and that one of the company’s leading safety researchers can provide evidence in the case.” Ilya Sutskever has ceased such practices. The lawsuit alleges that the company prioritized a competitive edge with a new model, boosting its valuation from $86 billion to $300 billion.
OpenAI affirmed that it will “strengthen safety measures for long conversations.”
“As interactions progress, some safety training in the model could degrade,” it stated. “For instance, while ChatGPT might initially direct users to a suicide hotline when their intentions are first mentioned, lengthy exchanges could lead to responses that contradict our safeguards.”
OpenAI provided examples of someone enthusiastically communicating with a model, believing it could function 24 hours a day, as they felt invincible after not sleeping for two nights.
“Today, we may not recognize this as a dangerous or reckless notion, and by exploring it in-depth, we can inadvertently reinforce it. We are working on an update to GPT-5, where ChatGPT will actively ground users in reality. In this context, we clarify that lack of sleep can be harmful and recommend rest before taking action.”
The tragic demise of a man in France, which was live-streamed on the online platform Kick, has prompted a police investigation. Authorities are urging regulators to examine the events of the broadcast and the implications of live streaming on the internet. What is Kick, what transpired, and what are the next steps?
What Happened?
Rafael Graven, 46, from southern France, was known online as Jean Pawmanbe.
This week, he tragically passed away during an extended live stream on the platform. Reports suggest that, prior to his death, he was subjected to physical assaults and humiliation by his associates. A disturbing excerpt from the stream viewed by the Guardian indicates that Graven was struck, humiliated, strangled, and shot with a paintball gun.
His channel has since been removed, and the involved parties are banned pending the investigation by Kick.
One of the collaborators informed local media that Graven had pre-existing cardiovascular issues and claimed, “the scene was just staged and followed a script.”
An autopsy has been ordered, and a police investigation is underway regarding Graven’s death.
What is Kick?
Kick is a live streaming platform akin to Twitch, where users often watch gaming sessions and various live activities.
Founded in Melbourne in 2022 by billionaires Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, Craven previously established Stake.com, the world’s largest cryptocurrency casino. Kick expanded its user base by attracting Twitch streamers who supported Stake before Twitch’s ban on gambling advertisements.
Kick claims that content creators retain 95% of their streaming revenue.
The platform is known for a more lenient approach to content moderation compared to Twitch, although it does have community guidelines prohibiting “content that depicts or incites heinous violence, including serious harm, suffering, and death.”
Additionally, Kick asserts that it will not allow content featuring severe self-harm.
Earlier this year, the company announced new rules permitting gambling streams only from verified sites to protect minors from such content.
Why Wasn’t the Channel Banned?
A spokesperson for Kick did not provide an explanation as to why the Jean Pawmanbe channel remained active before Graven’s death.
“We are urgently reviewing the situation, engaging with relevant stakeholders, and investigating the matter,” the spokesperson stated. “Kick’s Community Guidelines are established to protect creators, and we are committed to maintaining these standards across the platform.”
What Did Kick Say About the Death?
The company expressed its support for the ongoing investigation and shared its grief over Graven’s passing.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jean Pawmanbe and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and community.”
Will Kick Face Any Repercussions?
In France, Clara Chappaz, Deputy Minister of AI and Digital Technology, characterized the incident as “absolutely horrifying,” announcing an ongoing judicial investigation. The matter has been escalated to the French portal for reporting internet content concerns, as well as the digital regulator ARCOM.
Being an Australian company, Kick could also face local scrutiny.
A spokesperson for the Esafety Commissioner referred to the case as “tragic,” emphasizing that it highlights the potentially devastating real-world consequences of extreme content creation.
The spokesperson remarked, “Platforms like Kick must do more to enforce their terms and conditions to minimize harmful content and behavior during streams, ensuring protection for all users.”
Given Kick’s chat features, there may be implications for the Australian government’s planned social media age restrictions for users under 16, starting in December.
Furthermore, new industry codes and standards now require Kick and similar platforms to have systems to shield Australians from inappropriate content, including depictions of crime and violence without justification.
“This encompasses mandates to uphold terms and conditions that prohibit such material and to address user reports swiftly and appropriately,” the spokesperson added. “ESAFETY may seek penalties of up to $49.5 million for compliance violations if warranted.”
Additional codes are under consideration to specifically target children’s exposure to violent content.
A digital depiction of a man, illuminated by blue light, comforting a grieving individual at a funeral. Illustration: Guardian Design/Guardian Design/Getty
Rod Stewart surprised concert-goers in Charlotte, North Carolina, with notable guests. His longtime friend, Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away last month, appeared as if reuniting with other stars who have departed, such as Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, and Bob Marley.
The AI-generated images stirred mixed reactions among Stewart’s fans, with some finding them disrespectful while others deemed them beautiful.
In a related incident, Jim Acosta, former CNN White House correspondent, interviewed a digital version of Joaquin Oliver, a victim of a 2018 school shooting in Florida. Avatars of the deceased teenagers, created by their parents, offered him a unique comfort.
Recently, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian shared an emotional experience on X, describing an animation of his late mother holding him as a child, admitting, “Damn, I wasn’t ready for how this would feel.” He reflected on the pain of not having video footage of their time together and the impact of re-watching the animation.
AI-generated images of Ozzy Osbourne and Tina Turner were showcased during Rod Stewart’s recent concert in North Carolina. Illustration: Iamsloanesteel Instagram
These instances exemplify the rising trend of ‘digital revival,’ where photos, videos, and various media create representations of deceased individuals. Numerous companies now market “grief bots” or “death bots,” raising critical concerns regarding exploitation, privacy, and the grieving process.
Elaine Kasket, a cybermedicist based in London, stated, “It’s now very technically possible because large-scale language models such as ChatGPT are now easily accessible to the general public.” These models can generate credible representations, using texts, emails, voice memos, images, and other digital remnants to create something that resonates deeply with those left behind.
Just a few years ago, the notion of “virtual immortality” felt like a distant dream; now, creating interactive avatars is not only feasible but becoming increasingly sought after.
Former CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta “interviews” the AI recreation of Joaquin Oliver, a victim of a 2018 Florida school shooting. Illustration: YouTube
The instinct to maintain bonds with deceased loved ones is not new. Families have traditionally cherished personal belongings that connect them to those they have lost—be it photographs, videos, audio messages, or songs that evoke memories. Dreams of the departed or perceived sightings in familiar places are also common. Some have even turned to seances for communication.
Michael Cholbi, a philosophy professor at the University of Edinburgh and author of *Grief,* noted, “We’ve built monuments, preserved hair, and kept letters. The question now is: does AI add anything to this?”
Louise Richardson, from York University’s Philosophy Department, emphasized that by visiting graves and interacting with personal items, individuals retain a sense of connection with their departed loved ones. “Deathbots can fulfill a similar role but may hinder the natural grieving process,” she cautioned, explaining that continuous engagement with a deathbot could obstruct acknowledgment and acceptance of loss.
People often ponder what a deceased relative would say or do in specific situations; “Now it feels like you can just ask them.”
However, there’s a concern that deathbots may present overly sanitized versions of individuals, as families might exclude less flattering traits when providing information for the AI generator.
There’s also a risk of dependency on technology. A report from Theos highlights that “digital necromancy can be misleading. You might think you’re interacting with a person, but you’re actually communicating with a machine.”
The emergence of virtual avatars has gained traction in Asia, particularly in China, where creating a digital avatar for a loved one costs as little as 20 yuan (£2.20). Estimates indicate that this market was valued at 12 billion yuan (£1.2 billion) in 2022, with projections quadrupling by 2025.
For a more advanced interactive avatar that moves and speaks with clients, costs can reach thousands of pounds. One prominent funeral service provider, Fu Shou Yuan International Group, suggests that the deceased can “come back to life” in a virtual setting. According to the Chinese Funeral Association, the total cost for creating such avatars can amount to about 50,000 yuan.
Cholbi pointed out that while the commercialization of grief raises ethical concerns, the funeral industry has a long history of upselling and deceptive practices.
Kasket warns about issues of privacy and the rights to one’s digital remnants. “The deceased have no say or control over how their materials are used,” she stated, noting the ethical ramifications of utilizing digital content to create profitable avatars without consent.
Some individuals are beginning to specify in their wills a desire for their digital materials to not be used posthumously.
Interactive avatars aren’t only for the deceased; the successful Abba Voyage show features digital replicas of the iconic Swedish pop group performing as they did in their prime, earning an estimated £1.6 million weekly. Audiences revel in singing along with the avatars while the actual band members, now in their 70s and 80s, look on from home.
Abba’s avatar, dressed in Dolce & Gabbana, as featured in Abba Voyage. Illustration: Abba Voyage
In a groundbreaking initiative, the UK’s National Holocaust Centre and Museum embarked on a project in 2016 to develop interactive avatars that can capture the voices and images of Holocaust survivors, enabling them to answer questions about their past in a future setting.
Cholbi noted that there’s an element of “AI hype” surrounding deathbots. “While some people may find this interesting, I anticipate that many will seek to maintain connections with the deceased through this technology for a considerable duration.”
He added, “This doesn’t imply that there won’t be enthusiastic participants; however, the prospects may not be as hopeful as commercial investors hope.”
Murazin highlighted that the rise of the deathbot industry prompts relevant discussions among ethicists and theologians. He suggested that the allure of digital revival could stem from a decline in traditional spiritual beliefs, leading to technological solutions that address the human desire for permanence and transcendence.”
“This reflects our modern era’s inclination to believe that technology can conquer death and offer eternity—a symptom of our contemporary culture,” he concluded.
Kasket remarked, “I have no doubt that these trends will continue to emerge and be utilized in beneficial ways.”
“When we lose our ability to navigate grief or convince ourselves that we cannot manage it, we risk becoming psychologically vulnerable. Grief and loss are fundamental aspects of the human experience, not merely technological challenges.”
Two concentric rings surrounding the supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5 indicate it underwent two explosions.
ESO/p. Das et al. Background stars (Hubble): K. Noll et al.
A white dwarf star located approximately 160,000 light years away has been observed to have exploded not once, but twice. Astronomers have discovered the first proof of a supernova being linked to dual explosions.
The White Dwarf Star represents a dead stellar body, much like our Sun, which has exhausted its nuclear fuel, leaving an Earth-sized core. When a white dwarf siphons material from a companion star, it can accumulate enough mass to trigger an explosion as a Type IA supernova.
The process by which a white dwarf becomes a supernova remains largely unclear. Some astronomers have theorized that two separate explosions might occur, but until now, there has been no concrete evidence supporting this.
Priyam Das, from the University of New South Wales in Canberra, along with colleagues, examined spectra acquired by a large telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile. Their studies of the supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud reveal two distinct concentric shells resulting from the explosions.
Das theorizes that the white dwarf must have amassed helium on its surface, potentially from a nearby helium-rich white dwarf or a giant helium-rich star, leading to its eventual explosion.
“We witness the initial helium explosion occurring very quickly, within a mere few dozen seconds; it all happens in an instant,” states Das.
The material ejected during the first explosion was recorded to be traveling at 25,000 kilometers per second. Hence, despite the second explosion taking place only seconds later, the two events are still separated by a significant distance.
The light from this cosmic explosion is believed to have reached Earth somewhere between 310 and 350 years ago. It would have shone brightly in the southern hemisphere’s night sky, but human records indicate there was no sighting, likely due to it being obscured by the Sun.
According to an independent survey derived from household interviews, about 75,000 individuals (3.6% of the population) in the Gaza Strip lost their lives due to violence between October 7, 2023, and January 5, 2025. This figure exceeds the Gaza Health Ministry’s estimate of 46,000 violent deaths in the same timeframe.
The research also indicated that approximately 9,000 additional non-violent deaths occurred during this period compared to expected norms in the Gaza Strip. This marks the first estimate of indirect deaths stemming from the conflict that began in October 2023.
The survey involved interviews with 2,000 randomly selected households, which detailed the current and prewar conditions for all household members. “We were present on-site and gathered data directly from the population,” says Debarati Guha-Sapir at Louban Catholic University in Belgium.
The research team encountered restrictions in several locations due to ongoing combat and Israeli evacuation orders, but they believe these limitations likely understate the actual figures rather than exaggerate them.
Guha-Sapir notes that Gaza’s Ministry of Health maintains strict death counting standards. For instance, deaths of unidentified bodies, such as those buried in tunnels, are excluded from the counts. This leads her to conclude that their estimates may closely reflect the true numbers.
Another independent study published in February determined that the death toll up to June 24, 2024, surpassed the official count. However, this study relied on online research and social media obituaries, making Guha-Sapir regard the current research approach as more credible.
Francesco Checchi from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, which conducted the February research, disagrees, stating, “The findings aren’t necessarily more accurate than ours.” Nonetheless, he acknowledges that Guha-Sapir’s research is more recent and includes indirect deaths, providing a more comprehensive mortality picture.
The estimated 9,000 indirect deaths from the conflict is lower than previous estimates. For example, a letter in The Lancet in 2024 suggested that for every direct death, there could be four indirect deaths in Gaza, projecting a death toll of around 186,000.
However, Guha-Sapir points out that the direct death rates observed in countries like Sudan, where extreme poverty and inadequate healthcare predate the conflict, do not apply to Gaza’s context prior to the war. This distinction is crucial in interpreting the current situation.
Nevertheless, changes may occur if conditions continue to deteriorate. “As the situation worsens, the rate of non-violent deaths could escalate quickly,” warns team member Michael Spagat from Royal Holloway University in London.
Training in Bystander CPR may have played a key role in decreasing heart attack fatalities over the last 50 years
Piyamas Dulmunsumphun / Alamy stock photos
Heart attack fatalities in the US have dramatically decreased over the last five decades, while deaths from chronic heart diseases have surged, potentially due to increased longevity.
“Significant strides have been made in reducing cardiac mortality, and we’re witnessing this transformation,” says Sarah King from Stanford University in California.
She and her team analyzed heart disease mortality data from 1970 to 2022, utilizing the American disease control and prevention database to monitor all recorded deaths nationwide.
In 2022, they discovered that heart disease constituted 24% of all US deaths, a decrease from 41% in 1970, significantly aided by nearly a 90% drop in heart attack fatalities, previously the deadliest form of heart disease.
“We’ve made remarkable progress in reducing heart attack deaths over the past half-century,” remarks King. This includes innovations such as cardiac stents, coronary artery bypass surgery, and cholesterol-lowering therapies. King also believes that public health initiatives, including Bystander CPR training and efforts to decrease smoking rates, have contributed to these improvements.
Nonetheless, the rise in mortality from other types of cardiac ailments has surged by 81%, indicating that many chronic conditions are leading to increased deaths. For instance, fatalities from heart failure, arrhythmias, and hypertensive heart disease have surged by 146%, 106%, and 450%, respectively.
“Many of these issues are related to aging,” explains King. “Those who survive heart attacks seem to live longer, giving them more time to develop these chronic heart conditions.”
However, the statistics might overstate changes in cardiac mortality. “Various factors can lead to a person’s death, resulting in potential misclassification and oversimplification,” King warns. For instance, many patients succumb to heart failure following a heart attack. “It’s not a straightforward issue because the underlying reason for that heart failure is often a blockage in the coronary arteries,” she adds.
Still, the majority of heart disease fatalities aren’t directly caused by heart attacks. “Addressing these other causes of increased mortality will be crucial,” King states. “Discovering healthier aging methods will be the next frontier for heart disease.”
wIs the hat on a path to oblivion? This is a question that often crosses my mind while experiencing the second installment of Kojima Hideo’s hypnotic, enigmatic, and patiently paced cargo management simulator series. It’s due, in part, to the lengthy, tranquil treks that transcend the surreal landscape of Mexico and Australia, granting ample time for reflection on that small yet significant detail and to ponder the intricacies of what you just witnessed. Additionally, such questions often illuminate deeper truths.
The ability to engage in prolonged contemplation is a hallmark of the artistry embedded in this game. No one is scribbling notes to uncover Doom. The Middle Ages scrutinizes the cutscenes of Marvel’s counterparts for insights. It’s uncommon for any game to invite this level of examination. However, Death Stranding 2 diverges from convention, excelling in both atmosphere and narrative delivery, while maintaining a tactile storytelling quality that enriches its extensive gameplay system. The tension between these elements renders it compelling. Initially, each aspect demands courage, but over time, you’ll savor both experiences.
For those who missed the inaugural Stranding, yes, this is indeed the sequel in a series that revolves around transporting cargo between waypoints, whether on foot or via vehicles. Like a post-apocalyptic Amazon delivery driver, it provides essentials, technology, and luxurious packages. The first game introduced a mystical shift that allowed the deceased to return as spectral entities known as Beach Things (BTS). When a BT claims a human life, it results in a tragic event termed a “void-out.”
Screenshot from Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
With humanity divided and isolated in subterranean bunkers, the protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), is tasked with connecting the remaining enclaves of American civilization to a global technological network known as the “chiral network,” thereby restoring hope for a brighter future. He accomplishes this by traveling across the continent with Lou, a supernatural infant carried in an artificial womb. At the start of this sequel, he enjoys a secluded existence in Mexico with Lou, who has now grown into a toddler.
And believe me, these are significant cliff notes. Death Stranding 2 opens with an impressive six-minute cutscene aimed at immersing players in the peculiar sci-fi universe and poetic metaphors crafted by the Isle. Unraveling this mystery constitutes half the enjoyment (the other half is cargo shifting), but even if you’re not fully invested in the world, it operates on a dreamlike logic that feels intuitive. It’s uncertain whether this environment resembles something we recognize or if it has always been a blend of Icelandic tundra, snow-capped mountains, and colorful deserts, or perhaps it once resembled the Australian landscapes of Death Stranding 2. The crucial point is that it feels coherent throughout.
While it is contemplative, this is not a game about watching Sam retire for 50 hours and revel in fatherhood. He is inevitably drawn back into action, reconnecting Mexican and Australian populations to the Chiral Network for a venture named Ngubridge, a logistics company backed by an enigmatic benefactor and featuring returning character vulnerabilities (Rare Saidoo). If that sounds rather dull, consider it a quirky scenario with fragile Greta Garbo gloves around her neck!
Elle Fanning in Death Stranding 2. Photo: Sony Interactive Entertainment
A colorful cast surrounds DHV Magellan, a ship featuring more A-listers than the Cannes red carpet, aiding Sam in his missions. Seydoux, George Miller, Guillermo Del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn, Elle Fanning, and Shioli Kutsuna deliver equally stellar performances alongside veteran voice actor Troy Baker as Chief Villain Higgs. The principal characters function mainly as poetic devices and unique metaphors. Rain (Kutsuna) is an optimistic outcast who summons rain each time he steps outdoors. Tarman (Miller) sacrificed his hand to supernatural tar and now guides the boat through its mysterious waters. Hartman (Darren Jacobs) faces death and rebirth every few minutes. Though they ought to be too peculiar to elicit sympathy, rare moments link their stories with human emotions in a poignant manner. If you don’t feel a lump in your throat watching Rain and Tomorrow (Fanning) sing together, then it’s not only Deadman who’s lost their humanity.
Interestingly, package delivery is showcased at the pinnacle of gameplay standards. It may sound mundane, but the intricate workings of these detailed systems easily draw you in. In the previous installment, combat felt secondary, but this time, missions clash not only with BTS but also other humans, benefitting from a fluid mechanic that fires hand-held bullets and executes neck snaps. You can craft ladders, climbing ropes, and other gear when the risk of attack is heightened. The joy resonates as much in preparation as in action. It feels rewarding to impose order on a chaotic world that might otherwise seem disordered. It’s likely why many of us baked countless loaves of banana bread during the lockdown.
The Isle originally drafted a story for Death Stranding 2 before the Covid-19 crisis but restructured it entirely after enduring lockdown alongside the rest of the world. The effects are evident. We promise to shield you from the profound loneliness embodied in Sam’s role as a porter who traverses desolate landscapes.
Effectively, you can interact with other players, albeit at a distance, sharing equipment, constructing structures, and leaving holographic signs and commendations for others in your game. This feature serves as a satirical commentary on entrapment. Over time, the world becomes cluttered with flickering icons and increasing structures, leading to a constant bombardment of “like” symbols. It feels akin to the attention spans dulled by social media, but it’s likely no coincidence.
The first game presented a surprising advantage. The two sequels do not. Many of the thrilling and tedious elements that defined the first are also present here, yet they have been refined, rendering the gameplay mechanically rich and meaningful. Combat feels more impactful, the world maps exhibit greater craftsmanship, and the missions offer enhanced variety. Tasking them with recreating the same gameplay in an entirely new narrative could feel like a jest, but it presents layers of mechanical depth that are anything but trivial.
Among the many themes Death Stranding 2 seeks to convey, the most prominent is that you are never truly alone. Global calamities, vast technologies, and even the specter of death may abstract the ways we connect, yet they can never fully sever our bonds. Not bad for a game centered on delivering packages.
HIDEO KOJIMA – The celebrated video game director who established his own studio before heading the stealth action Metal Gear series for decades and founded Death’s Random, a supernatural apocalyptic streaming game touted as “2019’s most intriguing blockbuster,” remains a captivating figure, often evoking awe. “George [Miller] is my mentor, my deity,” he joyfully proclaims.
Kojima is in Australia for a sold-out discussion with Miller, the mastermind behind the Mad Max film franchise, at the Sydney Film Festival. The duo forged an unexpected yet profound friendship nearly a decade ago. As a youth, Kojima shares that the first two Mad Max films inspired his direction in film, ultimately steering him toward video game development. During later panels, Miller reciprocates the sentiment, affectionately calling Kojima “almost like a brother.” The Australian even lends his likeness to a significant character in Kojima’s latest title, Death Stranding 2.
Much of the new game world is influenced by Miller, representing a whimsical interpretation of Australia. Death Stranding focuses on delivering narratives between isolated bunkers, set against expansive, perilous yet opulent landscapes that resonate with Australia’s rich biodiversity. Though the game’s geography is fictionalized, its allure and trepidation are palpable.
A devoted friendship… George Miller and Hideo Kojima at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2025. Photo: Tim Levy/Sydney Film Festival
In addition to the atmospheric outback scenery, DS2 also features some of the most intricately detailed (and likely costly) portrayals of Australian wildlife seen in gaming. It was a poignantly moving moment for Australians in this distinctly urban environment to witness the unique bounding of kangaroos on the sunlit horizon.
“I adore animals, and they’re unique here,” says Kojima. “Many on the team share a love for animals… They might decline to design new mechs but passionately advocate for creating more animal representations.”
The film enthusiast Kojima also drops nods to Australian cinema – he admires the 1971 classic *Walkabout* and acknowledges the DS2 subtitle’s inspiration from beach scenes. He had visited before but aimed to delve deeper “into the heart of the land, reaching the desert.”
Unfortunately, the pandemic necessitated that Kojima’s team rely on remote scouts for data collection. “It’s unfortunate I couldn’t be there in person,” he reflects. “Viewing photos doesn’t compare to the reality of experiencing a place.”
The transition to remote work during the pandemic posed considerable challenges for the game. “The most daunting aspect was performance capture,” he recalls. “Directing actors like Norman Reedus and Léa Seydoux from Japan was incredibly daunting. Communicating direction through a Zoom call was nearly impossible.” With restrictions in place early in the development, the team prioritized scenes not involving main actors, which wasn’t always feasible.
“That was extremely challenging, particularly for new cast members,” he states.
A uniquely poignant view… Scene from Death Stranding 2: At the Beach. Photo: Kojima Productions/Sony
By 2022, the situation had improved, allowing him to fly to LA for direct interactions. “People involved in remarkable films had undergone performance captures against a green screen,” he explains. (In many game adaptations, real-life performances are translated into digital formats through motion capture, which can be challenging for actors on set.) “There’s actually a tool; looking at the monitor, you can witness [in-game] a world manifested in real-time.”
Kojima emphasizes the importance of keeping actors closely connected whenever possible, especially given the separations caused by Covid. Some issues unique to gaming arose too. For instance, repetitive in-game actions, like characters grunting in pain or eating apples, required specific recordings. “Sometimes we receive queries from Norman, where he says, ‘Eat an apple, it’s good,’ or ‘What’s the apple like?'” He notes, “We aim for those variations!”
Kojima at the Sydney Film Festival Photo: Jessica Fromomas/Guardian
The central theme of Death Stranding revolves around “connection.” Although players can’t see each other in-game, they can share resources and construct structures that benefit all, forming intricate service networks that complicate long deliveries. Thus, the sequel’s tagline poses a haunting question: “Should we have connected?”
“During the pandemic, I felt unwell and entirely isolated,” Kojima shares. To exacerbate matters, recent optical muscle damage from surgery hindered his ability to enjoy films or television. The world evolved around him, with everyone retreating, working online, and connecting through video calls while deliveries continued to dominate. His game, his vision, began to materialize.
“Indeed, we all appeared connected, but it wasn’t the connection I envisioned,” he reflects. His company, Kojima Productions, had been staffed. He would meet new hires on the first day but would not see them again for three years due to pandemic protocols.
Recently, he discussed legacy (evidenced by a USB drive containing game concepts left for his team), hinting at his readiness to leave a part of himself behind. Kojima believes in the necessity of direct collaboration to nurture new talent. “New hires are often drawn to work with us because they want to learn from their mentors or improve by teaming with others,” he states, emphasizing that growth stems from communication and exposure to diverse ideas.
He likens remote work to “fast food,” focused narrowly on singular tasks rather than holistic project development. “When people are silent, interactions are stifled,” he explains. Mistakes are later identified, but opportunities for serendipitous creativity and fresh perspectives may be lost.
Moreover, he notes that it limits his ability to connect with team members and understand their feelings or interest in personal hobbies. “Only 1% of my true self is displayed during online meetings,” he asserts. “This isn’t team-building akin to sports. When you recruit someone, they join your team, but if you can’t physically collaborate, they don’t evolve in their play style. They remain unchanged,” he adds.
Nevertheless, he acknowledges, “You cannot compel people back to the office; you can only encourage them.” “As a result, not all have returned. Yet, core members did, facilitating collaboration.”
“I aimed to visit Australia”… Scene from Death Stranding 2: At the Beach.
Despite this somewhat melancholic tone, the message remains fundamentally optimistic. Death Stranding is a profoundly solitary experience, which Kojima animatedly conveys during a subsequent group presentation. “Yet… you discover other players worldwide. You connect indirectly… and when you venture out, [the game] invites you outside… Much like the Sydney Bridge, you can observe the construct of life. Someone created it! They might have passed away years ago, but you remain linked to them. Even without meeting others, you are not alone in this world.”
There’s always room for new ambitions. Kojima harbors a longstanding dream of venturing into outer space. It’s not merely a fleeting billionaire space hop; it’s more profound. “It’s not just about space,” he asserts. “I want to train effectively, dock and learn how to reach the International Space Station and remain there for several months. I’m no scientist, but I believe I could create games in space. I desire to be the first. I have an astronaut aged over 60. There’s no gravity to aggravate their back issues!” He chuckles at the thought.
As our conversation concludes, he pauses thoughtfully before sharing one last ambition. “It’s ‘Tom Cruise’ syndrome,” Kojima elaborates. “Tom Cruise finds his purpose when he takes risks with his life.”
Deserts like Death Valley can be an extraordinary source of drinking water
Mimi Ditchie Photography/Getty Images
The compact panels managed to extract a glass of clean water from the arid air of Death Valley, California.
Although the atmosphere over extremely dry regions can retain a significant amount of water, extracting it into usable supplies has proven challenging. Previous methods, including simple mesh fabrics and mist-capturing nets crafted from synthetic spider silk, have struggled to function effectively in real-world conditions.
Now, Xuanhe Zhao from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his team have created a unique water collector, about 0.5 meters tall and 0.1 meters wide. It features a glass panel embedded with absorbent hydrogels—gel-like substances formed from long polymer chains and lithium salts, enabling it to gather water molecules.
The hydrogel is designed to fold into an origami-like configuration, enhancing surface area to capture moisture during the night. The absorbed water evaporates when sunlight hits the glass panel the next day. The interior of the device is coated with a specialized cooling material, which collects the evaporated water as it condenses and drips into a storage compartment below.
Zhao and his team conducted a week-long test of the apparatus in Death Valley, where humidity can plummet to as low as 5%. In comparison, the annual average in London hovers around 70%. They discovered the device can harvest up to 160 milliliters of water each day, enough to fill a small glass.
It’s estimated that eight of these panels could meet the daily drinking water requirements of an average adult, making them especially beneficial in arid regions. “Given the compact design of the device, we believe larger arrays could provide drinking water to households for consumption,” says Zhao.
Zhao and his colleagues assert that while the device shows promise in real-world conditions, Daryl Williams from Imperial College London cautions that extended testing—beyond a week—could present challenges. “Outdoor environments are generally hostile. We want to observe how the device performs under such stress after three, six, or even nine months.”
a
Dele Zeynep Walton sensed something was off when she emerged from a caravan in New Forest at 8 am, camping with her boyfriend. Initially frustrated by the early start, she quickly realized the car was off course, and upon approaching, found her mother appeared “hysterical.” “Right away,” she recalls, “I thought, ‘That’s Amy.'”
Amy, Walton’s younger sister, was 21 and had been struggling with mental health issues for several months. She had a passion for music technology and art, with her stunning self-portraits adorning their family home in Southampton. A big fan of Pharrell Williams, she once received five calls to join him on stage at a concert. However, as her mental health declined, she became increasingly unreachable. “For two months, I had no idea where she was or what she was doing,” Walton says.
That October morning in 2022, Walton uncovered a devastating truth. Amy was found dead in a hotel room in Slough, Berkshire, presumed to have taken her own life. In the following days, Walton and her family would begin to understand Amy’s path—a journey facilitated by a complex web of online connections.
She loved music and art… some of Amy’s self-portraits in her family home. Photo: Peter Fluid/Guardian
Walton, a 25-year-old journalist, pieced together that Amy had engaged with a suicidal promotion forum that the Guardian opted not to name. This site is linked to at least 50 deaths
in the UK and is currently under investigation by Ofcom, a regulator under the online safety law. Police investigating Amy’s death revealed that at this forum, Amy learned how to obtain the substance that ended her life and met the man who flew to Heathrow to accompany her at the end. (He was initially charged with assisting suicide, but no further action was taken.)
Sitting in the garden of her parents’ house in Southampton, Walton describes how she came to write about the events that transpired. Her book, Logoff: Human costs in the digital world
is partly a tribute to her sister and partly an exploration of the implications of everyday web browsing, fate, and the digital world that can perpetuate harm.
“I thought: I need to dedicate myself to uncovering this. Why is the public unaware of these ongoing harms? Because they are constant.” She references Vlad Nikolin-Caisley from Southampton, saying that earlier this month, a woman was arrested
on suspicion of aiding his suicide.
With a review of Aimee’s death in June, Walton hopes that online factors will be included in the investigation and that “online harm” will be acknowledged as a cause or contributing factor in her sister’s death.
This phrase has become familiar to her. “Until I lost Amy, I didn’t understand what ‘online harm’ meant,” she reflects. She first heard the term from Ian Russell, Molly’s father and a campaigner for online safety. Molly Russell was 14 when she took her life after being exposed to images and videos of self-harm. Uniquely, the coroner stated that online activity “had contributed to her death in a minimal way.” Walton hopes a similar perspective will be taken in her sister’s case, believing that calling it “suicide” alone fails to account for the impact of the digital world and places unfair blame on Amy while leaving it unregulated.
“We can become vulnerable at any time in our lives”… Amy’s photo. Photo: Peter Fluid/Guardian
Initially labeling her sister’s death a “suicide,” Walton now feels this term no longer adequately reflects Amy’s situation. When suicide is seen as a voluntary action, how much choice does a person really have when influenced by an intentional online community? And if individuals are genuinely free to choose, Walton questions, how does the algorithm continuously presenting Amy with self-harm content shape her experience? “That’s where it becomes hard for me to label it a suicide,” Walton asserts. “My intuition tells me Amy was groomed and that her decision was not entirely hers.”
Her deep dive into these issues has transformed Walton into an activist. She collaborates with Bereaved Families for Online Safety
and serves as a young people’s ambassador for People vs Big Technology. “We must address these issues head-on,” she emphasizes. “If we don’t, it fosters the belief that online safety is solely a personal responsibility.”
Walton recounts how police indicated that the man who accompanied Amy at the hotel had shared the room for 11 days prior to her passing. The room contained Amy’s notes, but Walton mentioned they were so filled with pain that they were unreadable. He later told police that he was “working.” She reveals that the man called 999 after Amy ingested the toxic substance but declined to administer CPR. Amy has since been linked to 88 deaths in the UK and the toxic substances are purportedly sourced from Kenneth Law, a Canadian under investigation by the National Crime Agency.
A New York Times investigation revealed the forum was established by two men. Walton visited the forum herself, wanting to trace her sister’s final interactions. “Many posts essentially say, ‘Your family doesn’t care about you; you should do this.’ They phrase it, ‘When are you getting on the bus?'”
Walton views this forum as a form of radicalization towards extreme behaviors that individuals may never have contemplated. She is alarmed by the thought that the man with Amy may have been “living a twisted fantasy as an incel, where a vulnerable young woman seeks to end her life.”
Prior to Amy’s death, Walton held a neutral stance on technology. Now, she describes, “The digital world is a distorted reflection of our offline world, amplifying its dangers.” In her book, her consideration of online harm victims spans a range of experiences, from Archie Batasby, who visited TikTok on the day he suffered a life-changing brain injury, to Meareg Amare Abrha, a university professor in Ethiopia who was killed after posting provocatively on Facebook. She also contemplates Amazon workers striving for better pay and conditions, alongside “Tony,” a 90-year-old neighbor who faced digital exclusion yet taught Walton how to use smartphones.
“For too long, the facade of technology has been equated with progress and innovation, which is a notion I challenge in my book,” she asserts. She recalls infamous public figures like Zuckerberg, Cook, Pichai, Bezos, and Musk, questioning, “Where are the engineers?” and stressing the interconnectedness of these power networks.
“The campaign allows survivors to regain control”… Amy’s bedroom in her family home. Photo: Peter Fluid/Guardian
Yet, Walton sometimes describes her experience as akin to being the digital equivalent of climate scientists from the 1970s. She acknowledges that her relationship with technology is complex, much like Amy’s. Her cherished memories of playing together revolve around their family computer in their parents’ bedroom.
“Chadwick and the Despicable Egg Thief – there’s video of us playing at 3 years old. We’ve played Color Games repeatedly. I’ve been taking photos with a ‘Digicam’ since I was 8, not to mention Xbox, Nintendo, computers—all just for fun!”
In a way, Walton describes her existence as a “double life.” Her book critically examines her own habits. While writing it, she lived in tracksuits, yet none of her Instagram
posts reveal this journey. She uses the app to limit her screen time and shares TikToks about “logoff.” Video calls have also allowed her family to “grieve together” after her sister’s passing, many of whom reside in Türkiye.
Promoting her book has made it tough to detach from screens. “I feel like a hypocrite!” she admits. “My screen time this week is nine and a half hours.” A day? “I don’t like it,” she replies, “I typically average six hours.”
Ultimately, she doesn’t aim for perfection, stating, “I’m in control of it all, guys.”
In her book, Walton notes, “The campaign allows survivors to reclaim the control that was taken from them,” a sentiment that resonates with her as the process seems exhausting. “Did I say that?” she questions, surprised. “But if I hadn’t engaged in this, where would that anger go? It would consume me and make me unwell.”
She has also engaged local MPs (first Royston Smith, then Darren Puffy), and Secretary of State Peter Kyle to seek answers about what occurred with Amy. “When we discuss online safety, it’s often framed in terms of protecting children. While that’s crucial, I also represent Amy; it’s about all of us. We can become vulnerable at any stage in our lives. If we focus solely on children’s safety, we become 18 and still don’t know how to navigate a healthy digital life,” she explains.
“I feel it’s my duty to Amy since I wish I could have shielded her.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Balancing her grief with activism has proven challenging. “Some days I genuinely can’t handle it, or I just need a day in bed, as my body struggles to keep pace with all the emotional weight.”
“But this is my mission. Those in power only act if they feel the weight of this pain. If Mark Zuckerberg experienced the loss of a child due to online harm, perhaps he would finally understand, ‘Oh my God, I need to pay attention.'”
In the UK and Ireland, contact Samaritans at Freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, call or text National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, chat at 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to reach a crisis counselor at 741741. Crisis Support Services in Australia can be reached at Lifeline at 13 1114. Additional international helplines are available at befrienders.org.
All living beings, including you, emit subtle, etheric, semi-visible light that continues until death. Recent research supports this idea.
This mysterious luminescence might lead one to believe it is an indication of an aura or something similar.
However, Dr. Daniel Oblak, a physicist from the University of Calgary and the study’s lead author, explained to BBC Science Focus that while the concept of an aura is metaphysical and unscientific, the emitted light is not. Known as Ultraweak Photon Emission (UPE), it is a natural byproduct of metabolism.
“I would like to emphasize that UPE usually results from biochemical processes and is thus akin to what occurs with glow sticks.”
“UPE is so faint that it is imperceptible to the human eye and can be completely obscured by other light sources unless in total darkness.”
Don’t think that you can observe your own sparkle simply by closing the curtains and turning off the lights; this light is 1,000 to 1,000,000 times dimmer than what the human eye can detect.
These four mice emitted significantly more ultrweak photon emissions (UPEs) while alive (top) compared to after death (bottom). – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025
UPE arises when a chemical within a cell creates an unstable molecule, known as a reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is essentially a byproduct of metabolic activity.
As ROS levels increase, other molecules become “excited,” meaning they carry excess energy, and it is this energy that emits light.
The primary factor driving this phenomenon is oxidative stress, a kind of cellular damage caused by aging and disease. The greater the oxidative stress experienced by the body, the more ROS—and consequently, more light—is produced.
“When an organism ceases to live, it halts metabolism, thereby stopping the emission of ultrawave photons,” he remarked.
To investigate UPE, scientists in Calgary measured the UPE generated by immobilized and deceased mice and damaged leaves.
Using specialized cameras, they found that living mice emitted significantly more light than their deceased counterparts. Conversely, the leaves released more light in areas that were damaged compared to intact regions.
This is due to increased oxidative stress in the scratched areas. However, the dead mice did not emit light as their bodies no longer underwent metabolic processes.
The leaves of St. Stwhere were illuminated by scratches and chemical damage. – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025
Dr. Oblak highlighted that the significance of UPE lies in its ability to provide a non-invasive method to assess the health of living organisms.
“This technology could be utilized to monitor tissue status, such as in transplants, or to gauge crop and forest health, especially regarding the stress levels in organisms,” he explained.
Nonetheless, this field remains rife with uncertainties. For instance, Oblak pondered: “Perhaps UPE is not merely a byproduct of metabolic processes; it may also serve a purpose,” although scientists have yet to reach a consensus.
Read more:
About our experts
Dr. Daniel Oblak is an associate professor in the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary. He earned his PhD in Quantum Optics from the University of Copenhagen in 2010, having previously completed his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees at Aarhus University. Currently, his research interests encompass quantum information science, long-range encryption, quantum networks, and quantum light interfaces.
Sea dolphins around the UK are almost dying from a combination of water temperature and toxic chemicals that the UK banned in the 1980s.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are long-lasting chemical contaminants that were once widely used in industrial manufacturing. They interfere with the breeding and immune response of animals and cause them cancer With humanity.
In a new study, researchers showed that higher levels of PCBs in the body and increased sea surface temperatures are at a higher risk of death from a common shunting dolphin infection (Delphines Delphis), the first of marine mammals.
The ocean is facing a “triple planetary crisis” – the “climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss,” but we often see the threat alone, says, Rosie Williams At the Zoological Society in London.
Williams and her colleagues analyzed postmortem data from 836 common dolphins marginalized in the UK between 1990 and 2020 and assessed the impact of these interlinked threats.
They found that a rise in PCB of 1 milligram per kilogram of fat has become fatal, with a 1.6% increase in the likelihood of infections such as gastritis, enteritis, bacterial infections, encephalitis, and pneumonia. Every 1°C increase in sea surface temperature corresponded to a 14% increase in the risk of death.
According to this study, the threshold for PCB fat concentrations to significantly affect the risk of dolphin disease was 22 mg/kg, while the average sample concentration was high at 32.15 mg/kg.
Dolphins have a long lifespan, are widely distributed around the UK and are widely distributed in the food chain, making them a good indicator species that shows how threats affect other animals.
“The location at the top of the food web means that toxins from prey accumulate in the enlargement, providing an intensive snapshot of chemical contaminants at the expense of health,” says Thea Taylor. Sussex Dolphin Project.
It was banned in the UK in 1981 and internationally in 2001, but the PCB is still washed down into the ocean. “They are probably still entering the environment through stockpiling, and often are side products or by-products of other manufacturing processes,” Williams says.
Cleaning up your PCB is extremely difficult. “They are nightmares to get rid of because they are so permanent,” she says. “There’s definitely no easy fix.”
While some researchers have explored edging as a cleanup technique, others have focused on improving the effectiveness of water treatment plants in the removal of sustainable chemicals.
These findings show what happens if not taken to ban Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), another broad group of so-called eternal chemicals.
“We cannot reverse any already-occurring pollution, but it’s important to prevent further chemical input into the environment,” Taylor says.
Another child has tragically lost their life to the West Texas measles crisis, marking the second death in an outbreak that has devastated the area and affected numerous residents along the border.
The 8-year-old girl passed away early Thursday morning due to “measles and lung disorder,” as per records obtained by the New York Times. This marks the second confirmed measles-related death in the United States in the past decade.
The first death was that of an unvaccinated child in West Texas in February. Another unvaccinated individual in New Mexico has also died after testing positive for measles, though authorities have yet to confirm measles as the cause of death.
Officials from the Trump administration stated on Saturday night that the cause of the girl’s death is still under investigation.
Since the outbreak began in late January, West Texas has reported a total of 480 measles cases and 56 hospitalizations. The outbreak has also spread to neighboring states, with 54 cases in New Mexico and 10 in Oklahoma.
If the virus continues to spread at its current pace, the country risks losing its measles elimination status, a hard-fought victory achieved in 2000. Officials in West Texas anticipate that the outbreak could persist for a year.
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy has come under heavy criticism for his management of the outbreak. A vocal vaccine skeptic, he has advocated for alternative treatments for measles, such as cod liver oil, which are unproven.
Kennedy’s promotion of alternative remedies has hindered critical care efforts and led patients to consume dangerous levels of vitamin A, according to a doctor in Texas.
Experts are concerned that dismantling international public health protections and withdrawing funding from the local health sector, as decided by the Trump administration, increases the likelihood of a widespread, multi-stage pandemic.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can linger in the air for up to two hours when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically appear within a week or two of exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic rash.
While most cases resolve within a few weeks, measles can lead to complications like pneumonia, especially in children, making breathing difficult. In rare instances, the virus can cause brain swelling, resulting in permanent issues such as blindness, deafness, and cognitive impairment.
For every 1,000 children infected with measles, one to two may die, and the virus compromises the body’s immune system, leaving individuals susceptible to other infections.
Blackbird numbers have decreased in the UK as the USUTU virus has taken hold
ytje veenstra/shutterstock
The deadly virus is killing Blackbirds all over the UK. Beyond the risks for birds, its spread indicates that mosquito-borne viruses are currently pose a threat to humans and animals in the country as a result of climate change.
The virus in question, USUTU, occurred in South Africa in 1959, but is now spreading in Europe. It caused fatal diseases in certain birds, especially black swans, and was first detected in the UK in 2020. In some parts of the country, the Blackbird population, the most notable London, has fallen by more than 40% since 2018. “I first noticed a decline when USUTU popped up,” he says. Hugh Hammer With British trust for ornithology.
Though catastrophic to bird life, USUTU poses low risks to humans and mammals. Human infectious diseases are rare and generally cause mild fever, but the arrival of the virus in the UK marked the first time by mosquito-borne viral zoonotic diseases (a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans) that have appeared in domestic animal hosts. Virus experts are closely monitoring how well and fast the disease is spreading, as it could be a template for the future spread of other mosquito-borne diseases.
For example, the West Nile virus spreads just like USUTU and requires the same environmental conditions. “The same mosquitoes that can send USUTUs can usually send West Nile. [for Usutu] It can also serve as a host for West Nile.” Alanfolly at the British Animal and Plant Health Organization (APHA).
Humans can also contract the West Nile virus when bitten by mosquitoes, but the symptoms can be more severe than those of USUTU. Approximately 20% of infected people experience symptoms including fever, headache, body pain, vomiting and diarrhea. In rare cases, this virus can cause serious inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which is fatal. There are no known human vaccines.
Climate change has helped accelerate the spreading of the West Nile virus through Northern and Eastern Europe. Research Showas the virus thrives in warm summer temperatures. In the Netherlands, USUTU was first detected in 2016, and the West Nile virus continued in 2020.British officials fear a similar pattern will unfold in their country. Demonstrating research The climate there is becoming more and more kind to mosquito-borne viruses. “The idea is if there's usutu here, West Nile is likely to come at some point and last, given the right conditions,” Folly says.
In response to the threat, APHA launched a project in 2023 to track the emergence and transmission routes of USUTU and other mosquito-borne viruses in wild birds. Infrastructure to track this virus It is essential for the country to respond quickly to West Nile's arrival, Foley says. “Our real goal, or willingness from a government perspective, is to be able to detect these. [new viruses] We circulate animal populations before they can be transmitted to humans. ”
Reina Sikkema The University of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam is studying the emergence of the Netherlands Ustus and the West Nile virus. The West Nile has not been detected since 2022,He believes the virus is circulating at low levels and is now being controlled by a relatively cool climate. “I believe it exists, but it takes the right situation to burn,” she says. Sikkema said detection of the West Nile in the UK is now inevitable, but he believes similar climatic factors can prevent the virus from spreading too widely.
However, the temperature rise in summer including Increased frequency of tropical nights – The UK's Met Office Weather Agency defines Sikkema that if the minimum temperature is not below 20°C, it could change photos of the UK, the Netherlands and other Northern European countries. “Mosquito-borne is not [just] On your Spanish holiday, or when you go to South America,” says Folly.
Like the potential risk of the West Nile virus to people, Folly says we shouldDon't forget what USUTU is doing to Blackbirds in the UK: “If 40% of humans die in Greater London, you'll know about it very quickly.”
Four British parents who are suing Tiktok for the alleged unlawful deaths of their children express concerns about the suspected deletion of their child’s data from social media platforms.
These parents have filed a lawsuit in the US claiming that four children died in 2022 after participating in the “Blackout Challenge,” a viral trend that emerged on social media in 2021.
A week after the lawsuit was filed, Tiktok executives mentioned that certain data had been deleted due to legal requirements. UK GDPR regulations mandate that platforms do not retain excessive personal data.
The parents were surprised by how quickly their child’s data was removed.
Isaac and Lisa Kennevan. Lisa expressed doubts on Tiktok’s claim of removing her son’s data.
“My initial reaction was that it’s a complete lie,” said Lisa Kennevan, whose son Isaac passed away at 13.
Liam Walsh remains skeptical about Tiktok deleting data on her daughter Maia, who passed away at 14, as the investigation is ongoing. He has issued a statement.
Ellen Room is advocating in Congress for the introduction of “Jules’ Law” in memory of her 12-year-old son Julian.
“If you have a physical diary in [your children’s] bedroom, I’m sure you’d read it to understand. Nowadays, they’ve moved online, and social media serves as a diary for kids. So why not examine their online diaries for potential answers?” she remarked.
Archie Battersbee and her mother, Hollie Dance. Dance has struggled to obtain access to Archie’s data despite him being under 13 when he passed away. Photo: Distribution materials
Hollie Dance should have automatic rights to the data, as her son Archie Battersbee was 12 years old, but she faces challenges in accessing it. “There are still three [of his] active accounts. I can see them myself,” she noted.
Tiktok has stated that searches related to dangerous challenges have been blocked since 2020. The platform aims to remove harmful content preemptively and direct users to safety resources.
Dance mentioned that she has screenshots of dangerous challenges that were easily accessible.
The parents expressed their wish to restrict their children’s access to social media and were unaware of the limited rights they have to their children’s data.
“Essentially, we’re handing the kids loaded guns,” Kennevan remarked. “A child’s brain isn’t fully developed until around 25. The amount of exposure to content isn’t healthy. They’ve witnessed harmful content, such as porn, at ages 10 and 11. They don’t need social media.”
Isaac Kennevan passed away at 13.
This year, the Online Safety Act was enforced, obliging platforms to take action against illegal or harmful content. Walsh expressed skepticism towards Ofcom.
Dance suggested that the organization should screen all videos before they are uploaded to the platform.
Walsh revealed that a US court exposed a video of her child, leading to a damaging impact on her mental state. She intends to press manslaughter charges against the company in UK courts.
Room explained that the family resorted to a US lawsuit after being unable to file a case in the UK due to legal constraints.
Ellen Room and her son Julian; Ellen highlighted how social media is akin to a child’s diary. Photo: Distribution materials
She emphasized on making a difference for other families and parents. “It’s challenging and emotionally draining, but we’re going to make an impact here,” she mentioned.
The parents of four teenagers in England have filed a lawsuit against Tiktok following the tragic death of their children.
Isaac Kennevan (13), Archie Buttersby (12), Julian “Juls” Sweeney (14), and 13-year-old Maia Walsh, who rose to fame on social media in 2021, tragically lost their lives in 2022 while attempting a dangerous “challenge,” as stated in the lawsuit.
The Social Media Victims Law Center based in the US lodged a wrongful death lawsuit against Tiktok and its parent company Baitedan on behalf of the grieving parents.
Matthew Bergman, the founding attorney for the Social Media Victims Law Center, revealed, “Three of the four children succumbed to self-stable after being exposed to the hazardous Tiktok Blackout Challenge, all from a similar city and demographic. This does not seem coincidental.”
Bergman further claimed, “Tiktok deliberately targets these vulnerable children with perilous content to boost engagement and profit. The deliberate business decision by Tiktok cost the lives of these four children.”
Tiktok has asserted that searches related to the challenge have been restricted since 2020 and they strive to ban and eliminate harmful content promptly. They also direct users to their safety center if they search for related keywords or videos.
The lawsuit, on behalf of Archie’s mother Holly Dance, Isaac’s mother Lisa Kennevan, Juls’ mother Ellenroom, and Maia’s father Liam Walsh, was filed in the Superior Court of Delaware.
The lawsuit accused Tiktok of marketing itself as a safe and fun platform for children while promoting dangerous and addictive content. Tiktok allegedly engaged children with risky challenges to increase revenue.
Tiktok dismissed claims that they allowed the Blackout Challenge on their platform, asserting that they are actively working to address such issues. However, other perilous challenges involving drugs, hot water, and fire have emerged on Tiktok.
The lawsuit also highlighted that parents believed Tiktok was harmless, catering to children’s entertainment, without anticipating mental health repercussions.
The Social Media Victims Law Center represents families affected by harmful social media content, aiming to prevent the promotion of harmful videos, including those depicting suicide or self-harm, especially among children.
One of the cases involved Tawainna Anderson suing Tiktok in 2022 after her daughter Naira, aged 10, participated in the Blackout Challenge. The appeals court reinstated her case in August 2024.
Archie’s cause of death was determined to be accidental experimentation at his home, with the Blackout Challenge cited as a potential factor among many others.
Juls’ mother is advocating for parents to have legal rights to access their children’s social media accounts following the tragic loss of her son in 2022.
Amendments to the Online Safety Law in the UK aim to compel social media platforms to shield children from dangerous challenges and stunt content while actively eradicating risky material.
Nima Momeni’s lawyer asserted in his opening statement that the technology consultant accused of stabbing Cash App founder Bob Lee had no motive to kill him and was actually defensive during a multi-day drug raid, claiming he needed to defend himself from Mr. Lee on Monday.
Prosecutors claim that Momeni, 40, orchestrated the April 4, 2023 attack following an altercation over his sister, Hazard, who was acquainted with Lee. Allegedly, Momeni retrieved a knife from a special kit in his sister’s apartment, pursued Lee to a secluded area, stabbed him three times, and fled.
“He was stabbed in the heart and left for dead,” Assistant District Attorney Omid Tarai stated. “The victim sustained multiple stab wounds, including one to the chest, one to the lower back, and crucially one to the heart.”
Lee’s untimely death at 43, after seeking aid on a vacant street in downtown San Francisco, deeply impacted the tech sector, with colleagues remembering the charismatic entrepreneur’s benevolence and skill. At the time of his demise, Lee held the position of chief product officer at the cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin and was a father of two.
Judge Alexandra Gordon informed the jury that the highly anticipated trial, commencing Monday at the San Francisco Superior Court, is anticipated to span two months. Momeni, a resident near Emeryville, California, has been detained since his apprehension shortly after Lee’s passing in a San Francisco medical facility.
Momeni has pleaded not guilty, and if convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 26 years to life imprisonment.
Attorney Saam Zangeneh told the jury that Mr. Momeni harbored no animosity towards Mr. Lee and that the circumstances compelled him to safeguard himself after brandishing a knife while under the influence of drugs and sleep-deprived. Zangeneh indicated that the defense would substantiate his claims that Momeni had indulged in an extended narcotics binge.
“We believe that once the evidence is presented and any ambiguities resolved, the only justifiable verdict in this case is one of innocence,” Zangeneh declared. “A life has been lost. No one condones that, but the right to self-defense must be recognized.”
Throughout prior court appearances, Momeni, dressed in an orange prison garment, attended with his lawyer donned in a formal ensemble. His mother, a constant presence at hearings, was also in attendance.
Seated on the opposite side of the courtroom were Mr. Lee’s relatives, including his ex-wife, father, and brother. As a recording of Lee’s distress call played in court, Lee’s brother comforted their father. In the call, Lee implored for assistance while unable to provide his location or identity, conveying that he had been attacked.
Assistant District Attorney Tarai mentioned that the jury would hear testimony from a friend present with Lee and Momeni’s sister a day before the altercation. Tarai alleged that Momeni verbally attacked Lee over the phone that evening, discussing his sister, drugs, and inappropriate subjects, with Lee exhibiting composure. Tarai insinuated that the friend would portray Momeni as a possessive individual striving to display toughness.
Mr. Zangeneh dismissed the credibility of the friend as a witness and contended that Momeni and Lee had exchanged amicable emails on that evening. Zangeneh suggested that Lee probably invited Momeni to the club.
CCTV footage from Lee’s final night depicted his entry into the opulent Millennium Tower where Momeni’s sister and her spouse, a prominent San Francisco plastic surgeon, resided. The footage captured Lee and Momeni departing the premises around 2 a.m. and driving off together in Momeni’s vehicle.
Tarai noted another video depicting two individuals exiting a car at a remote location along the Bay Bridge, with Momeni stabbing Lee thrice and discarding a knife from his sister’s kitchen set moments later, followed by his escape. Tarai revealed intentions of unveiling text messages sent by Momeni to his sister, alleging a harassment claim the subsequent morning when Momeni expressed uncertainty regarding Lee’s fate but accused Lee of assaulting Hazard.
The defense cited a video capturing Momeni being surveilled by San Francisco police detectives pre-arrest, purportedly reenacting the stabbing outside his former law firm thrice. However, the defense noted a lack of reenactment concerning the initial knife confrontation as claimed by Momeni’s attorney.
A knife with a 10cm blade was recovered at the remote location where Lee was assaulted. Prosecutors asserted that forensic tests exhibited Momeni’s DNA on the weapon handle and Lee’s DNA on the blood-stained blade.
Zangeneh indicated on Monday that the police should have screened the steering wheel for Lee’s fingerprints. He derided the notion that Momeni employed a trivial kitchen knife to perpetrate the assault, emphasizing Momeni’s perceived unawareness of Lee’s dire condition.
He expressed Momeni’s desire to elucidate his perspective yet remained undecided on Momeni’s potential testimony for the defense.
Momeni and Lee’s families opted not to comment on Monday.
circleWhen Aleksandar Matkovic initially received a life-threatening message, he believed it was a prank. The message, sent to his Telegram account just after midnight on August 14, stated, “We’re going to chase you until you disappear, you bastard,”.
“Initially, I brushed it off as a joke, but then the next morning I received another message: ‘How’s the fight against Rio Tinto going?’ It came from an unfamiliar profile, and the app indicated the sender was only 500 meters away,” recounted Matkovic, a prominent activist involved in protests against proposed lithium mines in Serbia. “Keep away,” he added.
While in Split visiting a friend, Matkovic, who resides in Belgrade, felt as though he was being followed, especially given the recent mass protests against Rio Tinto’s plan to construct a $2.4 billion lithium mine in Serbia’s Jadar Valley.
“I scanned the area and thought, ‘What is happening?’ It was unsettling, contemplating the possibility of someone tailing me, so I reached out to my lawyer. Soon thereafter, I received a third, more menacing message,” he shared.
The third message, written in German, stated: “We are aware of your ties to the leaders of the uprising. It all commenced with you. Even if you commit a heinous act and vanish, we will hunt you down. However, you won’t be able to turn to the authorities for help, because you know it’s futile. Rest assured, if you value your life and freedom, stay out of the public eye for some time. Conduct yourself impeccably on social media. Understand that you must fear for your safety and that of your sibling.”
Following this, Matkovic reported the threat to Belgrade police, who are presently investigating the matter based on the threat and related documents seen by the Guardian.
This rapidly evolving situation is intricate and carries repercussions beyond the Belgrade prosecutor’s office.
The opposition to the lithium mine in Serbia has evolved into a focal point for societal discontent, uniting ultranationalists, environmentalists, leftists, and individuals concerned about economic ties with the West and the domestic environment. Groundwater contamination is a pressing issue.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic recently issued a warning, accentuating the reported plotting of a “color revolution” by the opposition in the Balkans.
Serbia, a former Yugoslav republic, boasts substantial lithium reserves crucial for electric vehicle batteries. The EU has committed to banning a minimum of 10% of critical minerals, including lithium, from European mining operations by 2030.
Julia Poliscanova, director of vehicles and supply chains at the think tank Transport and Environment, emphasized the necessity of lithium for European transport electrification. She stressed the importance of sourcing lithium sustainably and responsibly to support Europe’s transition towards electric mobility.
In response to the threats against Matkovic, Rio Tinto denounced violence, affirming, “Rio Tinto vehemently condemns any direct or implicit threats of violence, whether online or in person, against individuals engaged in discussions regarding the Jadar project.”
Rio Tinto employees have faced online threats and intimidation during local protests, highlighted a company spokesperson.
To safeguard himself and his family following multiple distressing emails, Matkovic has taken precautions, including seeking refuge at various European embassies in Belgrade. Additionally, he intends to request intervention from the UN Special Rapporteur on environmental activists.
“Since August 14th, my life has been a precarious blend of normalcy and turmoil,” Matkovic reflected. “How does this fit into our strategy for combating climate change? What does the green transition we aspire to entail if it necessitates violence?”
A large number of Microsoft Windows computers around the world today were found to be unable to boot, instead displaying the so-called “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD), among the computers reportedly affected, with the UK’s Sky News ceasing live broadcasts just before 6am local time, as well as causing outages for a number of airline and banking services.
What’s happening on my Windows computer?
Some users have reported that their Windows devices are refusing to boot up, while others have witnessed their computers suddenly display a BSOD while in use.
Eddie Major of the University of Adelaide in Australia…
With the approach of a special day, we often find ourselves balancing the celebration of a new year’s wisdom and the apprehension of time passing by. However, the “birthday effect” adds an interesting twist to this traditional celebration.
The birthday effect is a statistical phenomenon, which unfortunately puts a damper on parties, indicating that people are more likely to pass away around their birthdays.
This somber discovery has been supported by various studies, such as the 2012 Swiss study, which revealed a 13.8 percent increase in the number of people aged 60 and above who died on their birthdays compared to other days.
Similarly, the 2015 Study from the United States showed a 6.7 percent higher risk of mortality on one’s birthday.
Various theories attempt to explain why this phenomenon occurs. Some suggest that excessive celebrations involving alcohol on birthdays can lead to risky behavior, accidents, and poor judgment. Others believe that for those battling terminal illnesses, birthdays serve as important milestones, giving them the strength to hold on until another year passes.
Birthdays can also trigger reflection, leading to feelings of sadness and depression known as “birthday blues.” Sadly, these emotions can increase the risk of suicide, as demonstrated by a Japanese study in 2016, which found a 50 percent higher risk of suicide on one’s birthday.
Another possibility is that errors in death registration records may inaccurately document some individuals’ birth and death dates as the same. However, these errors are unlikely to significantly impact the observed results.
The birthday effect remains a complex and not fully understood phenomenon, likely influenced by a combination of factors mentioned above and others. So, while blowing out the candles, perhaps hold off on that shot of tequila.
This article addresses the question from Alex Mercado in Manchester regarding the “birthday effect.”
For any inquiries, please email us at the address below. For more information: check out our Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram. Remember to include your name and location.
Ultimate Fun Facts: Explore this page for more fascinating science content.
IIn 2006, I was fired from my job at EB Games. Looking back, it was a justified decision. One Sunday, I recorded myself leaping over piles of boxes and making inappropriate gestures at strangers. This grainy video of an emo kid in dark clothes was uploaded to YouTube. Ahh, the foolishness of youth.
About eight months later, my manager came across the video and promptly terminated my employment (which today might just go viral on TikTok).
A decade later, I secured a job at the video game and culture website Kotaku Australia, along with its sister sites Lifehacker and Gizmodo, which kickstarted my career.
Now, these well-known brands are no more. Nine’s Pedestrian Group, which held the licensing rights for the three titles from their US counterparts, announced the closure of all three, in addition to Vice and Refinery29, resulting in 40 job losses.
Terrifying months continue for Australian journalismRecent cutbacks include 200 job losses at Nine, 150 at Seven West Media, and significant restructuring at News Corp. While any job losses are regrettable, the shuttering of Kotaku, Gizmodo, and Lifehacker marks a grim day for Australian tech journalism with lasting repercussions.
For video game journalism in Australia, this feels like the end of an era—a catastrophic event. Where once vibrant video game journalism thrived, there now exists a vast void.
Most mainstream Australian publications have journalists covering technology, arts, books, music, entertainment, and sports, but as far as I am aware, none have dedicated video game journalists on staff.
Despite this, there is a significant demand for video game content in Australia. According to Bond University’s Australian Games Report, 81% of Australians play games, with the average player age being 35. With a majority of players falling between 18 and 40 years old, and nearly half of them being female, Australians are projected to spend $4.4 billion on games in 2023.
Video games have also permeated other media forms, from successful movie adaptations to popular series on streaming platforms like Netflix and Apple. The cultural impact of video games is undeniable, yet journalism has struggled to keep pace due to a lack of support and funding.
Video game journalism extends beyond news and reviews, encompassing cultural and business aspects such as lifestyle articles, investigations into the impact of gaming on health, and coverage of the business side of game development studios.
Journalists have been dubbed the authors of history’s first draft, but little has been documented about video games in Australia due to insufficient support. While some independent websites and blogs valiantly cover this space, the closure of mainstream outlets like Kotaku leaves a significant void.
How can we reverse this trend?
The immediate solution lies in major Australian media outlets recognizing the untapped potential in video game journalism. The closure of Kotaku Australia could spell disaster for this field, but it also presents an opportunity for rebirth. Talented individuals are out there, waiting for a chance to shine. All it takes is someone to take that leap of faith.
Furthermore, government initiatives like the Australian Government’s Digital Games Tax Credit and state-based funding for game development can serve as pillars of support for both developers and journalists. These programs have nurtured successful titles in the past and could also aid in bolstering independent games journalism.
And then there’s you, the reader. Your direct support and engagement with journalist-owned websites, like aftermath—founded by a former Kotaku US reporter—show that there is a hunger for quality video game content. Establishing a direct relationship with readers could pave the way for sustainable journalism in Australia.
While I may have left Kotaku in 2017, the closures of these outlets hit close to home. Losing my job at EB Games in 2006 felt like the end of the world, but someone took a chance on me, and I want to see the same happen for video game journalism.
Studying corpses can provide valuable insights. Observing the decomposition process can enhance our knowledge of the nuances involved, aid in locating and identifying the deceased more accurately, and help determine the time of death.
Following death, the body undergoes a breakdown into simpler organic matter through biological and chemical processes. The duration of this process varies from weeks to years depending on several factors.
Chemical reactions in decomposition accelerate with rising temperatures. Conversely, bodies can remain relatively “fresh” for longer in cold conditions or during winter. Certain factors, like burial or placing the body in a coffin, can slow down decomposition. Insecticides near bodies may not deter insects but can delay their arrival, thus slowing decomposition indefinitely.
A study from Australia’s first ‘body farm’ revealed surprising movement in corpses during decay. Limbs, including arms, were seen to change positions even in advanced decomposition stages. Researchers suggest this movement is linked to the decomposition process as the body mummifies and ligaments dry out.
Stage 1: Rigor begins
The “fresh” phase lasts from days to a week. Pallor after death, where the body turns blue due to poor circulation, is the first visible change. Rigor mortis sets in approximately 2 to 6 hours after death, stiffening the body, then dissipates around 36 hours later.
If left unattended, insects arrive shortly after death, typically within 10 minutes.
Stage 2: Bloating
When gut bacteria multiply due to lack of control, they produce gas that causes bloating. In warm climates, bloating can occur within 2-3 days.
Stage 3: Skin falls off
Internal pressure causes fluid to push between skin layers, leading to skin sloughing off.
Stage 4: Marbling
Absence of oxygen leads hemoglobin to bind with sulfur, resulting in arteries and veins filled with a greenish-black substance – known as “marbling.”
Stage 5: Evacuation of liquefied organs
Increased pressure forces fluids and liquefied organs out of available openings, potentially causing eyeballs to protrude and even body explosions.
Stage 6: Insects multiply.
Chemicals released by the body attract flies, which lay eggs in and around openings, leading to maggot infestation feeding on flesh and organs.
Stage 7: Scavenger arrives
Other insects, beetles, birds, and carrion eaters are attracted to the body for consumption.
Stage 8: Skeletonization
Finally, bones undergo ossification with the complete loss of soft tissue. Bone bleaching and flaking typically begin about 9 months after exposure, with further separation over months and years due to environmental factors.
According to climate scientists, the impact of global warming on California’s interior is becoming more evident as desert droughts worsen and rainfall intensifies. Residents of Death Valley are witnessing these changes firsthand. The future of this resilient symbol lies in the ability of the desert’s plants, animals, and local economies to adapt to the evolving conditions in one of the Earth’s harshest environments.
“It’s fascinating to witness these changes up close,” remarked Donnelly. “It’s a clear indication of climate disruption.”
Two Unprecedented Storms
Susan Sorrels, who owns an ecotourism town near Death Valley National Park called Shoshone, described the weather in the area as always erratic. However, recent years have shown a distinct pattern. In early 2022, Death Valley, along with the rest of the American Southwest, experienced a historical drought lasting 22 years, leading to record-low soil moisture levels and the gradual demise of plants such as creosote bushes. The severity of these conditions was a testament to the extreme weather in the region.
“Desert shrubs are incredibly resilient but eventually succumb,” explained Lynn Sweet, a research ecologist at the University of California, Riverside.
In August of the same year, the region was struck by an unprecedented flood, receiving 1.7 inches of rain within a few hours. This storm caused significant damage to park infrastructure and left a lasting impact on the area.
About a year later, the remnants of Hurricane Hillary caused another extraordinary event, dumping 2.2 inches of rain in a day, exceeding the typical annual rainfall. This extreme shift from drought to heavy rainfall exemplifies the unpredictability of the changing climate.
Road workers work along Highway 190, where much of the road was washed away by Tropical Storm Hillary the week before, in Death Valley, Aug. 31, 2023. Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images File
The aftermath of these storms led to challenges for Sorrels and her ecotourism business in Shoshone, with highway closures impacting accessibility during the peak tourist season.
Sorrels mentioned the local struggle to navigate through the economic impact of these weather fluctuations. She highlighted community efforts to expedite road repairs, ultimately reopening the park and highway for visitors.
In a surprising turn of events, Donnelly observed the growth of wildflowers in the region despite adverse conditions. The flowers, thriving in unusual ways, showcased a resilience that defied expectations.
Additionally, the presence of enough water led to the revival of Lake Manly, previously a dry lake bed filled with dust. This resurgence prompted the National Park Service to allow kayaking on the lake, a rare occurrence that highlighted the dramatic changes taking place in the region.
A recent comprehensive study of 20,000 adults suggests that time-restricted eating, a form of intermittent fasting, may significantly increase the risk of death. Moreover, healthy eating habits could challenge the established scientific consensus on this topic.
The latest research, published by the American Heart Association, reveals that restricting eating to less than eight hours a day is associated with a staggering 91 percent increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
After analyzing participants’ dietary habits and health over a period of up to 17 years, the study found no evidence to support the idea that limiting meals to an eight-hour window reduces the risk of death from any cause.
Lead author Professor Victor Wenze Zhong expressed surprise at the results, stating to BBC Science Focus that they had anticipated a decrease in cardiovascular disease risk and overall mortality with long-term adoption of an eight-hour time-restricted diet.
He further stated, “Despite the popularity of this dietary approach for its short-term benefits, our study indicates that while the typical eating window ranges from 12 to 16 hours per day, shorter meal times do not correlate with longer life.”
Although the precise reason why time-restricted eating may increase the risk of cardiovascular death is still unknown, one possible explanation suggested by Zhong is that it could lead to a loss of muscle mass.
Recent interest in time-restricted eating has been fueled by its potential health benefits. Prior studies have indicated that it could aid weight loss and improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Many practitioners follow a 16:8 schedule, whereby they consume all food within an eight-hour window and fast for the remaining 16 hours.
This eating pattern aligns more closely with natural circadian rhythms and is believed to support better sleep and metabolic function. However, the recent findings cast doubt on its long-term benefits.
Stanford University School of Medicine Professor Dr. Christopher Gardner cautioned that while time-restricted eating may offer short-term advantages, it could have adverse long-term effects, based on the study.
It is important to note that the study has not yet undergone peer review, and detailed dietary information of the participants is not available.
The research population, with an average age of 49, recorded 2797 deaths, of which 840 were due to cardiovascular disease.
As per Zhong, individuals, especially those with existing heart disease or cancer, should be cautious about adopting an eight-hour eating window due to its associated increased risk of cardiovascular death.
He emphasized the potential effectiveness of intermittent fasting for short periods, such as three to six months, for weight loss and cardiometabolic health improvement. However, long-term adherence to practices like eight-hour time-restricted eating warrants careful consideration.
Despite these cautionary findings, Zhong and Gardner noted that it is premature to draw definitive conclusions regarding time-restricted eating based on a single study.
Ultimately, the study suggests that the content of one’s diet may hold greater importance than the timing of meals for long-term health outcomes.
About our experts:
Dr. Victor Wenze Zhong is a professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He holds leadership roles in the American Academy of Nutrition and the American Heart Association.
Dr. Christopher Gardner is a professor of medicine at Stanford University, known for his research on dietary components and patterns. He has served on the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee and the Lifestyle & Metabolic Health Council.
Eating within eight hours, commonly known as the 16:8 diet, is a common form of fasting.
Christina Pedrazzini/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
Restricting eating time to eight hours a day (a common type of intermittent fasting) is associated with an increased risk of death from heart disease. However, some scientists believe that people with pre-existing health conditions may unconsciously eat intermittent meals if their symptoms or treatments affect their appetite and perhaps the quality of the meal is more important than the time of the meal. It claims that you may choose to fast.
You can learn more about Chong Wenze Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China and their colleagues surveyed about 20,000 adults (almost evenly split between men and women) who took part in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Their average age was 49 years, and just under three-quarters were non-Hispanic white.
Each year from 2003 to 2018, study participants self-reported their dietary information. The researchers then matched this with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention death records from 2003 to 2019. Participants were eligible if they were 20 years of age or older and had completed two dietary questionnaires within one year of the study.
Over an average 8-year follow-up period, the research team found that even though intermittent fasting is often praised, people who ate in an 8-hour window per day were less likely to eat on a 12-hour daily eating schedule. They discovered that they cannot live longer than humans for ~16 hours. For longevity benefits.
Researchers also found that people who followed an eight-hour eating schedule were 91 percent more likely to die from heart disease during the follow-up period than those who ate for 12 to 16 hours or more.
Among people diagnosed with heart disease before the study, those who ate for more than 8 to 10 hours had a 66% higher risk of dying from heart disease than those who ate for more than 12 to 16 hours. Among people diagnosed with cancer, eating for more than 16 hours had a lower risk of dying from cancer than those on a more restrictive eating schedule.
The study, presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Epidemiology and Prevention Conference in Chicago, does not prove that time-restricted eating caused these deaths, Zhong said. To tell.
They said it was important to consider why participants practiced time-restricted eating. benjamin horn at Intermountain Heart Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. Some people may have adopted this pattern intentionally, he says, while others may have limited eating windows due to health conditions or treatments that affect their appetite.
The authors acknowledge in their paper that their study relied on self-reported dietary information, which may be inaccurate. They plan to investigate whether this finding applies to a wider range of ethnic groups and how fasting may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes.
People who want to reduce their chances of dying prematurely “should aim for an overall heart-healthy eating pattern, regardless of mealtime,” Carson says. People who want to start intermittent fasting should talk to their doctor first, Horn says.
View from a kayak on Death Valley Temporary Lake, February 9, 2024
Michael Kohler/NPS
Heavy rain has fallen in California in recent weeks, resulting in the remarkable formation of a rare temporary lake in Death Valley, the driest place in the United States.
Record levels of rain have flooded California over the past month. Numerous atmospheric river storms (narrow bands of highly concentrated moisture in the air) worsen wet conditions, putting up to 37 million people at risk of flooding.
Heavy rainfall also hit Death Valley National Park along the California-Nevada border. In fact, it rained so much that the park's Badwater Basin, normally a dry salt flat, temporarily turned into a shallow lake.
At 86 meters below sea level, the basin is the lowest point in North America and was home to an ancient body of water that researchers named Lake Manly tens of thousands of years ago.
Over the past few decades, the lake has been backfilled several times. In August 2023, rains associated with Hurricane Hillary formed a lake 11.3 kilometers long and 0.6 meters deep, which shrank in the following months. Well, it has been replenished once again. The current maximum length of the lake is nearly 10 kilometers and the depth is approximately 0.3 meters.
Last year, Death Valley National Park Closed for several weeks after Hurricane Hillary This is because flooding damaged the road network and limited opportunities for visitors to explore the temporary lake. This time, the park opened and the re-emergence of Lake Manly attracted tourists, including swimmers and kayakers.
Following the recent historic heavy rains in California, an unusual event continues to unfold at the lakes of the famous Death Valley.
Officials from the park confirmed that a lake formed in the Badwater Basin in August, typically a salt flat, after heavy rains and flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Hillary in Death Valley National Park.
Thanks to atmospheric river events over the past two weeks, heavy rain across much of California has caused the lake to last longer than it would have under normal conditions. According to the park’s statement on Thursday, “Most of us thought the lake would be gone by October,” park ranger Abby Wines said in a statement. “We were shocked to see it still here after almost six months. Rain this week will extend the length of time the lake is here. It’s too shallow for kayaking, but It gives us great reflections of the mountains.”
People walk along Lake Manly, a temporary shallow lake in Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, California, on December 24.Abbey Wines/NPS Photo
Death Valley typically only receives about 2 inches of precipitation a year, but in the past six months it has seen just under 5 inches of rain, almost entirely due to Hillary and recent atmospheric river events. This was announced on Thursday.
During Hurricane Hillary, about 2.2 inches of rain fell per day, hitting California as a rare tropical storm, resulting in floods that damaged roads and other infrastructure.
The lake, which at one point was 11 miles long, 4 miles wide and 2 feet deep, spilled out following the heavy rainfall, as reported by the National Park Service.
Death Valley received 1.66 inches of rain earlier this week, according to the National Weather Service said earlier Wednesday. With a 72 hour precipitation report.
Park officials say temporary lakes in Badwater Basin are rare. Once an inland lake named Lake Manly, the basin has long since dried up. The park states that it has existed in the geologic past, and the most recent one dried out approximately 10,000 years ago.
Known for having some of the hottest, if not record-setting, scorching summer temperatures ever recorded on Earth, this week’s highs in Death Valley are in the 50s to 60s. The average high temperature in Furnace Creek usually begins to reach 90 degrees in April. According to the park.
The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, reaching 134 degrees, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization.
This is a matter of life and death – no doubt about it. bot it.
Most people aren’t in a huge hurry to know when the big bite is going to bite, but a newly developed AI death calculator can now predict when a person will die with eerily accurate accuracy.
“We use the technology behind ChatGPT (what we call the Transformer Model) to analyze human life by representing each person as a series of events that occur in their life,” December 2023. said Sune Lehmann, lead author of the study.Predicting human life using a sequence of life events” he told the Post.
In their report, the professor of networks and complex systems at the Technical University of Denmark and his co-authors describe a method known as “life2vec,” which uses selected details of an individual’s life, such as income, occupation, place of residence, and health history. Introducing the algorithm that can be used. Determines life expectancy with 78% accuracy.
Researchers in Denmark and the United States have developed an algorithm that can approximate when a person will die by looking at specific details of their life. Getty Images/iStockphoto
“We take advantage of the fact that human life in some ways shares similarities with language,” Lehman explained. “Just as words follow one another in a sentence, events follow one another in human life.”
It’s a little different than ChatGPT. It’s the ever-popular bot that tech wizards are employing to land their dream job or curate the perfect outfit. By closely examining a man or woman’s past, life2vec can calculate the outcome of that person’s life.
“This model can predict almost anything,” Lehman told the Post. He said his research team also uses this specialized program to predict people’s personalities and international movement decisions.
“We predicted death because that’s what people (insurance companies, for example) have been doing for years,” he added. “So we were very aware of what could happen.”
Researchers fed detailed facts about a person into an algorithm that determined whether that person would survive at least four years after January 1, 2016. adobe stock
From 2008 to 2020, Lehman’s team studied a heterogeneous population of 6 million Danes of different genders and ages. Analysts used life2vec to identify participants who were likely to survive at least four years after January 1, 2016.
“The scale of our dataset allows us to represent individual human life trajectories at the sequence level, providing a detailed representation of how each person moves over time,” the report said. is written. “We’re looking at how an individual’s life evolves across different types of events (information about heart attacks mixed with information about salary increases and moving from urban to rural areas). You can observe it.”
Researchers used plain language such as “In September 2012, Francisco received 20,000 Danish kroner as a guard at Elsinore Castle” and “Hermione followed in her third year at secondary boarding school.” was used to enter AI-specific information about each study participant. 5 elective classes. ”
We then assigned different digital tokens to each piece of data, all of which were categorized very specifically. For example, a forearm fracture is represented as S52. Working in a tobacco store is coded as IND4726 and income is represented by 100 different digital tokens. And “postpartum hemorrhage” is O72.
Life2vec accurately calculated mortality predictions for a study population of 6 million Danes. adobe stock
life2vec used the information provided to predict who would die by 2020 almost perfectly over three-quarters of the time.
Research shows that factors that can contribute to early death include being male, having a mental health diagnosis, and working in a skilled occupation. Earning a higher income or holding a leadership role were both associated with longevity.
However, Lehman stressed to the Post that study participants were not given a prediction of death.
“That would be extremely irresponsible,” he said, adding that he and his team ultimately hope to share details of the results in a way that protects the privacy of study participants.
Lehman said once the algorithm is released to the public, it will not be used to make judgments against individuals. adobe stock
“But we can still learn from it [life2vec] What are the factors that might help people live longer?” Lehman said. “We haven’t delved too deeply into this, but this is another important application of the model.”
Currently, this bot is not available to the general public or businesses. And even if it were to be deployed at scale, this AI would not be used to notify specific individuals in cases such as writing insurance policies or making hiring decisions. Probably not, says Prober.
“Forecasting is not used for anything,” Lehman argued. “The point of life2vec is to understand what is predictable and what is not.”
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.
