Utilizing advanced X-ray technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence, entomologists have successfully developed interactive digital imagery for 792 ant species across 212 genera.
A detailed Antscan specimen rendering: Eciton Hamatum. Image credit: Katzke et al., doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0.
To create this extensive digital library, researchers at the Okinawa University of Science and Technology, led by Julian Katzke, gathered ethanol-preserved ant specimens from museums, partner institutions, and global experts.
The team organized the specimens by species and category and transported them to the lab. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany provided cutting-edge X-ray micro-CT scanning, similar to medical CT scans but with significantly higher magnification.
A synchrotron particle accelerator generated a powerful X-ray beam, enabling rapid scanning of a vast array of samples, while a robotic sample changer seamlessly rotated images every 30 seconds.
This sophisticated process facilitated the production of 2D image stacks, essential for constructing 3D models.
Despite the utility of raw image files, initial depictions of the ant specimens were often distorted, falling short of achieving the realistic models scientists envisioned.
3D imaging allows for the visualization of internal structures, including muscles, nervous systems, and digestive systems, at a micrometer level of resolution.
These models can easily be animated or integrated into virtual reality environments for purposes spanning research, education, and entertainment.
“If we had conducted this project using a standard lab-based CT scanner, it would have taken six years of continuous operation,” Dr. Katzke explained.
“With the KIT setup, we scanned 2,000 specimens in just one week.”
Professor Evan Economo, a researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Maryland, remarked, “Without these computational tools, completing this project manually would have been nearly impossible.”
Dubbed the Antscan, this initiative could pave the way for future digitization efforts across various species beyond ants.
“The significance of this research extends far beyond ants,” Professor Economo stated. “Once specimens are digitized, we can create libraries that enhance the utilization of biological materials across science labs, classrooms, and even Hollywood studios.”
The team’s study was published in the prestigious journal Nature Methods.
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J. Katzke et al. High-throughput phenomics of global ant biodiversity. Nat Methods published online March 5, 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41592-026-03005-0
Research utilizing ancient DNA has shed light on the complex evolutionary ties and ecological responses of elephants and their relatives. In a recent study, scientists sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of various mastodons, including five specimens from Nova Scotia and the East Coast—one dating back approximately 500,000 years—as well as a unique specimen of Pacific Mastodon from Chulatin, Oregon, and a partial mitochondrial genome from North Ontario. Their findings indicate that Pacific mastodons belong to distinct and deep mitochondrial lineages, indicating this species’ range extended into western Canada and potentially even Mexico. Additionally, the authors discovered evidence of at least three separate expansions into the northeastern coastal region and identified two new groups of mastodons with clear, geographically coinciding specimens.
Adult Mastodon (Mammuthus sp.) consumes spruce branches, set against a backdrop that suggests periodic continental migrations related to climate change. During the Middle and Late Pleistocene, at least two types of mastodons roamed North America: the American mastodon, spanning from the East Coast to central regions, and the Pacific mastodon, found from central Alberta to central California. Image credit: Kathryn Kilukki.
Recent classifications have been updated to potentially recognize at least two distinct species: American mastodon and Pacific mastodon (Mammut pacificus), with ongoing debates regarding their division.
Genetic analyses confirmed that Pacific mastodons are ancient and belong to separate genetic lineages that extend further than previously thought.
Notably, Alberta emerged as a “hotspot” where Pacific and American mastodons may have gathered, expanding northward and hybridizing.
Samples collected from the East Coast and northern Ontario revealed two genetically distinct groups, referred to as mastodon clades, cohabiting the same geographic area.
Surprisingly, the eastern species exhibit significant diversity, reflecting at least three distinct waves of migration. This pattern is driven by repeated climatic warming events that opened new areas for glacial retreat and northward movement.
As temperatures decreased and glaciers expanded, mastodons were either forced southward or faced local extinction.
“The data reframes our understanding of the modern regions known as Alberta and the North, highlighting their role as migratory corridors for surrounding fauna,” the researchers noted.
Moreover, a unique and genetically distinct lineage of Mexican mastodon was identified, possibly representing a deeper evolutionary branch of the Pacific mastodon or even a brand-new third species.
During the Ice Age, the mastodon was among the largest terrestrial animals on the planet, traversing a range from Beringia (now Alaska and Yukon) through Nova Scotia and south to Central Mexico.
These creatures primarily foraged in wetlands, consuming shrubs and branches, and inhabited environments quite different from those of their well-known distant relatives, the woolly mammoths.
“This study marks significant milestones, including advancements in our understanding of the Pacific Mastodon,” stated Emil Kalpinski, a researcher at Harvard Medical School.
“It also raises numerous intriguing questions: How did these distant mastodon species interact within Alberta?”
“Did they compete for resources or, as our lab’s earlier research indicated for mammoths, engage in breeding?”
“These revelations, in conjunction with findings from our 2020 study, enrich our understanding of how mastodons migrated and diversified across North America, aiding contemporary conservation efforts in preparing for ongoing climate change and migratory species in the North,” the researchers concluded.
Their paper was published on September 12, 2025, in the journal Advances in Science.
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Emil Kalpinski et al. 2025. Repeated climate-driven dispersion and speciation in peripheral populations of Pleistocene mastodon. Advances in Science 11 (37); doi:10.1126/sciadv.adw2240
Paranthropus robustus is a well-documented species within the Hominin group that has yet to be associated with genetic evidence. This species thrived in what is now South Africa between 2 million and 1.2 million years ago. In a recent study, paleontologists extracted enamel protein sequences from a dental specimen, believed to be 2 million years old, discovered at the Swartkrans site in South Africa. The results indicate a greater diversity than previously recognized for Paranthropus robustus and support the potential existence of multiple species within the genus.
Advancements in ancient DNA (aDNA) sequencing have provided essential insights into the evolutionary connections among mid- to late Pleistocene hominins. However, our understanding of the earlier Pliocene-Pleistocene species, including Paranthropus robustus, remains limited.
This limitation is primarily due to the poor preservation of aDNA in African hominin fossils older than 20,000 years.
Paranthropus robustus has traditionally been regarded as a singular evolutionary line.
Yet, morphological overlaps between Paranthropus robustus and Australopithecus raise questions about their possible evolutionary links.
Moreover, variations in dental morphology suggest either an undiscovered diversity within Paranthropus robustus or the existence of multiple distinct species.
In this study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, the University of Cape Town, and Dr. Paresa Madupe employed more durable ancient proteins to explore the variation within this ancient human species.
Four tooth enamel proteins were analyzed using high-resolution mass spectrometry and paleontological techniques, focusing on Paranthropus robustus fossils from the Swartkrans cave.
These specimens, dating from 2.2 to 1.8 million years ago, are among the earliest known hominins.
Molecular analysis of the protein sequences revealed significant variation at the molecular level among Paranthropus robustus individuals, including evidence from both male and female fossils, challenging the reliability of tooth size as a sole indicator of sexual dimorphism and suggesting that this variance cannot be attributed exclusively to sexual differences.
Notably, one individual appears to be genetically distinct from the others, highlighting considerable intraspecies variability within Paranthropus robustus.
The results align with recent morphological evidence, indicating previously unrecognized taxonomic diversity within the genus, including the proposed species Paranthropus capensis.
“Our study illustrates how paleobiological traits can assist in distinguishing sexual dimorphism from other forms of variation in the early Pleistocene human lineage in Africa,” the authors concluded.
Paresa P. Madupe et al. 2025. Enamel proteins reveal biological and genetic variation in southern Africa Paranthropus robustus. Science 388 (6750): 969-973; doi: 10.1126/science.adt953
Malus is a genus comprising over 35 species that thrive in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, spanning regions from East Asia to Europe and North America. This genus includes the cultivated apple, Malus domestica, along with its wild relatives. Recent research has unveiled the evolutionary connections among Malus species and traced their genetic development over the past 60 million years.
Malus evolutionary landscape informed by phylogenetics. Image credits: Li et al., doi: 10.1038/s41588-025-02166-6.
“There are around 35 species within the Malus genus; however, despite the significance of apples as a fruit crop, comprehensive research on the evolution of this group’s genome has been lacking.”
“This study provided insights into the Malus genome, established the apple family tree, documented genomic events including whole-genome overlap and hybridization among species, and identified genomic regions linked to specific traits, such as resistance to apple scab disease.”
Professor Ma and his team compiled the genomes of 30 species by sequencing their DNA, focusing on the Malus genus known for its delicious golden apple varieties.
Among the 30 species, 20 are diploid, meaning they possess two chromosome copies per set, similar to humans, while 10 are polyploid, indicating they have three or four chromosome copies, likely resulting from recent hybridization with diploid relatives of Malus.
By scrutinizing nearly 1,000 gene sequences across these species, researchers constructed a phylogenetic tree for the genus and employed biogeographical analysis to trace its origins back to Asia approximately 56 million years ago.
“The evolutionary narrative of the genus is intricate, showcasing numerous instances of hybridization among species and shared whole-genome events that complicate comparisons,” stated Professor Ma.
“Access to high-quality genomes for a large number of species within the genus has enabled us to explore how Malus evolved and the interrelationships among these species.”
Further research into the evolutionary history of Malus genomes utilized analytical techniques called pan-genomics.
This methodology encompasses a thorough comparison of conserved genes and so-called ‘jumping genes’ that can move within the genome across the 30 species, along with genes found only in a subset of the genomes.
The analysis of pan-gene dynamics benefited greatly from the use of a pangenome graph tool, which amalgamates genomic data from closely related groups to elucidate evolutionary conservation and divergence.
“Utilizing 30 pangenomes significantly aided in identifying structural variations, gene duplications, and rearrangements among species that could have been missed with fewer genome comparisons,” remarked Professor Ma.
“Notably, one structural variant uncovered allowed us to pinpoint genomic segments related to apple scab resistance, a fungal disease impacting apples globally.”
The researchers also developed a pangenome analysis tool designed to detect evidence of selective sweeps, a process whereby advantageous traits rapidly increase in frequency within a population.
With this approach, they pinpointed genomic regions linked to cold and disease resistance in wild Malus species, which might also correlate with undesirable fruit taste.
“Attempts to cultivate the best flavor in fruit may have inadvertently diminished the hardiness of cultivated apple varieties,” noted Professor Ma.
Understanding structural variations in Malus, including hybridization histories, interspecies relationships, and pangenomic insights can inform future breeding strategies aimed at retaining both flavor and disease-resistant traits in apples.
W. Li et al. Pangenome analysis reveals evolution and diversity in Malus. Nat Genet. Published online on April 16th, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41588-025-02166-6
From a global perspective, the early Jurassic was characterized by the steady division of the Supercontinent Pangaea and associated climate change that produced alternating greenhouses and ice house conditions.
These paleoenvironmental changes coincided with radiation in various reptile groups. Plesiosauria.
The early Jurassic fossil records of the Plesiosaurus are particularly diverse, with members of Plesiosauroidea, Pliosauridae and Rhomaleosauridae being represented by numerous species in Europe, particularly in Germany and the UK.
3 m long skeleton Plesioptery Wildi It provides new clues about the evolution and geographical distribution of early Jurassic Precio Sources.
Fossils that were 180 million years ago posidonienschiefer layer Near Holtzmadden in southern Germany.
The specimen, called MH 7, is one of the most complete and distinct plesioaurus skeletons found in the region.
“Unlike the fishy scallions and marine crocodile parents who dominate the fossil record of this formation, Pleciosaurus is relatively rare,” said Miguel Marx, a paleontologist at Lund University and his colleagues.
“Therefore, new discoveries offer rare glimpses into the biodiversity of these long-necked marine reptiles.”
“MH 7 represents someone who refines this type of known trait and refines its validity as a clear taxa.”
Phylogenetic analysis shows that Plesioptery Wildi It is a close-related early potential plesiosaualoid Franconiasaurus Brevispinus.
“This finding suggests a progressive evolutionary transition to more derived cryptocrizids in the late Jurassic period,” the paleontologist said.
“It supports the idea that Prisiosaurus species may have been regionally different in the Epicontoninent Seas of early Jurassic Europe, reinforcing the pattern of paleobiogeographic segregation.”
“The Holtzmadden specimen gives us an unprecedented view Plesioptery Wildi At a more mature stage of development, we can refine our understanding of this species and its place in the evolution of plesiosaurus,” said Dr. Marx.
“It also suggests that different plesiosaurus communities may have evolved in different regions of the European sea during the early Jurassic region.”
“Our research reinforces the Pleciosoaurus already evolves specialized adaptations and distinct regional lineages much faster than we believed,” added Dr. Sven Sachs, a researcher at the Naturkunde Museum Bielefeld.
“This has important implications for understanding how marine reptiles responded to changes in the Jurassic ocean environment.”
M. Marx et al. 2025. New specimen of Plesioptery Wildi We reveal the diversification and possible uniqueness of Cryptocrizia precursors in the early European Jurassic Plecioaurauro assembly. Peerj 13:E18960; doi:10.7717/peerj.18960
The Federal Communications Commission chair said Friday that he has launched an investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion program in his latest attempt under the Trump administration to stop such efforts.
In a letter to Disney’s CEO Robert Iger, chairman Brendan Kerr said the company’s program to increase job diversity and promote racial-based affinity groups appears to violate equal employment opportunities regulations.
“Disney wants to ensure that virtually all discriminatory initiatives will be completed, not just the name,” Kerr said in a letter sent Thursday. “In another case, Disney’s actions – whether they’re ongoing or recently terminated, we want to determine whether they’re always in compliance with applicable FCC rules.”
A Disney spokesman said the company is reviewing the FCC letter. “We look forward to being involved with the committee to answer that question.”
Veteran Republican regulator Kerr began his tenure as FCC chair in January by launching a drastic campaign to scrutinize the media, sought to eradicate left-leaning bias and policy allegations that were corned by the president.
Last month he began a similar diversity and inclusion investigation into Comcast, the parent company of NBCuniversal. Kerr also said the agency’s merger reviews will include a survey of the company’s DEI program.
The investigation continues Presidential Order Trump was banned from “illegal and immoral” DEI programs in the federal government on his first day. A day later, Kerr announced that he would be closing his promotion of diversity and equity in the FCC’s strategic planning, budget and economic reporting.
It is unclear whether the FCC, which normally serves as a cable television watchdog, distributing licenses to broadcast television and radio stations, has the power to punish media companies for its diversity initiative. Kerr argues that a wide range of “public interest” standards can be applied to scrutiny companies such as Disney, which owns ABC and ESPN, and Disney, such as television stations around the country.
FCC experts said Kerr’s investigation could be challenged in court.
“It’s about bullying and threats,” said Andrew Schwartzman, a senior advisor to the Benton Institute for Broadband Society. Kerr’s most powerful tool is his vote on the committee to approve mergers and acquisitions, he said.
Trump nominated Kerr has launched an investigation since he chaired several news outlets, including PBS and NPR, accused him of left-leaning political bias. He investigated an interview that CBS’s “60 minutes” was conducted with former vice president Kamala Harris and released an investigation by San Francisco radio station KCBS regarding reports of immigration enforcement measures.
Kerr publicly agreed to the administration’s promise to cut regulations significantly, chase big technology, and punish television networks for political bias. Kerr is restructuring independent bodies, expanding its duties and using it as a political weapon of rights, Telecommunications lawyers and analysts said.
Brooks Burns Contributed with a report from Los Angeles.
The American Psychological Association, which sets the standards for professional mental health training, voted to suspend the requirement that graduate programs demonstrate commitment to recruitment and employment diversity.
This decision was made by accrediting bodies across higher education. Presidential Order President Trump signed by attacking diversity, equity, and comprehensive policies. It pauses the willingness to broaden the profession of psychology, disproportionately white and women, at a time of growing distress among young Americans.
The APA is the leading accreditation body for professional training in psychology and the only body recognized by the US Department of Education. It offers accreditation to approximately 1,300 training programs, including doctoral internships and postdoc residences.
Trump has made accredited bodies a specific target for his crusades against the DEI program; 1 Campaign Video “We will fire the radical left accreditor who allowed our university to be controlled by Marxist maniacs and madmen” and “accept applications for new accreditors.”
Justice Department officials have put pressure on accreditation agencies in recent weeks and warn the American Bar Association With a letter That they may lose their status unless they abolish the diversity order. ABA Voting in late February In Hang Law school diversity and inclusion criteria.
Concessions by the APA, a fortress of support for diversity programming, are specific landmarks. The association has been a central focus of its work in recent years, with the aim of fighting racism in 2021. Solved In particular, I apologize for its role in perpetuating racism by promulgating eugenic theory.
Aaron Joyce, accredited senior director at the APA, said the decision to suspend diversity requirements was driven by a “large influx of concerns and inquiries” from programs that are concerned they could withstand the president’s orders.
He said he was worried that institutions were often instructed by their legal advice to stop diversity-related activities, which would put their acquiescence at risk.
“The committee does not want to list the program in the danger of not being present due to a dispute between institutional guidelines and standards of recognition,” Dr. Joyce said.
He did not explain the tally of the March 13th vote. “It was an easy decision and not taken lightly,” he said. “Understanding personal and cultural diversity is a central aspect of psychological practice.”
The committee chose to maintain another diversity-related standard. Programs should teach trainees to respect cultural and individual differences in order to effectively treat patients. In reviewing each standard, the committee measured weights “those that put the program in a compromised position” against “something essential to psychological practices that cannot be changed.”
Kevin Cochley, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, said this week he was “absolutely devastated” to learn about the APA’s decision on psychology listserves.
“Frankly, I think this decision is truly ruthless given that we know the importance of having a diverse mental health provider,” Dr. Cochley said. “We don’t know how the APA can make these kinds of decisions, but we still think we are maintaining the highest standards of training.”
He said he believed the APA had acted prematurely and could wait until he faced a direct challenge from the administration.
“I think there’s always a choice,” he said. “I think this is a classic example of APA engaged in predictive compliance. They started moving out for fear of what would happen to them.”
According to APA data, the psychology workforce is disproportionately white. In 2023, over 78% of active psychologists were white, 5.5% were black, 4.4% were Asian, and 7.8% were Latinos. (The general population is about 58%, with 13.7% black people, 6.4% Asians, and 19.5% Latinos.)
In contrast to demographic collapse for doctoral graduate students, the programme is nationally aligned. According to APA’s 2022 data, 54% of doctoral students were white, 10% black, 10% Asian, and 11% Latinos.
John Dovidio, Yale’s professor emeritus in psychology and author of Unequal Health: Anti-Black Racism and the Threat to American Health, said the APA focuses on diversity in recruitment.
“It’s really something the department takes very, very seriously,” he said. “I’ve personally seen the impact.”
The memorandum of understanding announcing the decision is described as “a temporary lawsuit while awaiting further court guidance” regarding Trump’s executive order, upheld by the federal court of appeals on March 13. The order says, “litigation is currently law.”
Cynthia Jackson Hammond, chairman of the Council on Higher Education, which coordinates more than 70 accredited groups, said receiving direct orders from the government was “unprecedented.”
“The government and higher education have always worked independently and have worked sincerely with each other,” she said. “All we’ve had throughout the decades is healthy separation up until now.”
The federal government began to play a role in post-World War II accreditation as veterans flooded universities under the GI bill. The accreditation bodies are regularly reviewed by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity and advise the Secretary of Education whether they will continue to recognize them.
But government officials have never used the leverage to impose ideological orientation on higher education, Jackson Hammond said. She said recruitment diversity remains a serious challenge for higher education, so the standards are still very commonly used.
“Given what our institutions look like before, it could be a barometer that we see when we’re not paying attention,” she said.
aSelon Musk laughed at Oval Office, one of the UK's most influential technology investors. “He's absolutely horrible. I've said that many times: I think it's horrible what's going on,” says Martha Lane Fox.
For British peers and former Twitter board members, the musk view from Donald Trump's White House bully's pulpit shows that Silicon Valley's dreams have turned sour.
“The wealthiest man in the world who can stand there with the president, and Cult Blanche Please joke about how he carves out people's work in government. He can then be there with a chainsaw laughing on stage…
“It's really, really unsettling and I find it very uncomfortable on a value-based level. It makes me very worried. I think it's gross.”
In an interview with observer To mark International Women's Day, the UK Chamber of Commerce (BCC) president warned against a pushback of diversity that Trump and his technological peers not only hurt society, but also the economy as a whole.
Since he returned to the White House, the US President has shut down all federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, but Musk's “Doctors of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) is torn apart the funding scheme.
Some of the world's largest companies have followed suit. Of the broad pushback to everything from environmental goals to sustainable development, among the most notable participants are US finance companies and high-tech companies, including Goldman Sachs, Accenture and Amazon, but also UK companies such as GSK.
“He needs to be locked up,” Lady Lane Fox said of Mask's role in the rollback. “I think it's extraordinary that the wealthiest guys in the world are trampling on these things, and that we still have fanboys from the tech sector. It's already corrosive to society and I'd argue that it's going to last.”
For businesses, she says it's better for diversity to ultimately appeal to the widest talent pool of employees and target the widest range of customers. This is just as much about profit as social justice, she adds. However, she has broader concerns about the future.
“First, it's financial. But secondly, it's about power and money – like everything, is it?
“If you're looking at a sector like the digital sector where employment growth, opportunities growth, it's the growth sector of the economy. But you don't include a lot of people in it. Then you'll create inequality. Full stop. It's financial and a social justice issue.”
Given the close relationship between the UK and the US, there is an opinion that the UK continues naturally in the places it stepped in America. But there are indications that some UK businesses, and even US companies, are ready to go away.
Accounting firm Deloitte has directed staff working on a contract to remove pronouns from emails to announce the end of the DEI program. However, the British boss told the staff that the UK business was ” [its] The goal of diversity.”
“I feel like a global company rooted in the US is emphasizing the slight politically motivated change until it all rows out, and I feel it's been a little more tempered here,” says Lane Fox.
She says that UK businesses have the opportunity to do something different. “I think we have a better shot at building a more robust company, attracting talent and building the most resilient company of the future.”
For almost 30 years, LaneFox has built a career and millions of pounds of fortune in technology. She created the first Big Money Floating LastMinute.com on LastMinute.com, an online travel site co-founded with Oxford alumnus Brent Hoberman in 1998.
Elon Musk will be holding a courthouse with Son X in the White House oval office in February. Photo: Abaca/Rex/Shutterstock
She joined Twitter's board of directors (now X) in 2016 and after landing a major payday in 2022 with a $44 billion hostile takeover of Musk, he dissolved the board and appointed its sole director.
He saw musk in his oval office, paraded his Son X over his shoulder, raising doubts about gender division. “Can you imagine it if it was a woman? Can you imagine what it would look like? I mean, I just think the whole thing is really awful.”
But, in personal abilities, the BCC president has not suggested that this approach is not for everyone. “It's really hard to navigate. It's a responsibility to our customers and employees that may differ from our personal views.”
Government regulations enshring diversity targets are also a bad idea, she says. Instead, businesses prefer to report their progress. “It's important to keep that in the light and keep reporting. Keeping good investors, looking at the right metrics, investing in the right companies all helps.”
However, there has not been enough progress. This week's analysis showed that women's unemployment and worsening participation in the workforce have pushed the UK behind Canada to the lowest global ranking for workplace equality in a large economy in a decade.
Gender wage gaps slowly decrease over time, The average salary is still 7% less For women rather than men. That's a challenge that Lane Fox knows too much. “Look at the data. It's really loud. It's not moving,” she says.
“What I'm worried about is that it's too easy to find the numbers we thought were moving forward.
“This week on International Women's Day, we see that representatives at the executive level have returned. I think the board progress is still good at the FTSE 100 level, but it's bad at the FTSE 250 and 350 levels.
“I know there are people in the sector who are thinking, 'Oh, here she's going again.' That applies to many women [that people think that]. But it is very important to continue these discussions. ”
It's the most celebratory time of the year, as some of the brightest minds in science win Nobel Prizes. Recent winners have a few things in common. They definitely have a great body of work. And they're all men, they live in high-income countries, and none of them are black.
Gary Lubukun and Victor Ambrose received the Physiology or Medicine Prize for their discovery of microRNAs and their role in gene regulation to help treat cancer. A series of papers led to this discovery, many of which listed Ambrose's wife, Rosalind Lee, as the author. The Nobel Committee for Physiology and Medicine We would like to recognize Ms. Lee on social media.but did not go as far as awarding a medal. They may think that one device per family is enough.
Lee's omission may seem familiar. In 1962, James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins received the award for their discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. This was the opposite Of the three papers published in the same issue nature. One was co-authored by Wilkins, another was co-authored by Watson and Crick, and the third was an image captured by Rosalind Franklin of DNA with two strands. Prior to publishing the image, It ended up in the hands of Watson and Crick.I then told them that their DNA model was a double helix. Franklin was removed from the Nobel Prize trophy.
Perhaps the committee dislikes the name Rosalind. but 972 people won the Nobel Prize Since our founding in 1901, 64 were women. This year's physics prize, awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for discoveries related to machine learning, had a particularly poor hit rate, with only five women winning the award so far.
At least women in science are getting some recognition. No black person has ever won a science Nobel Prize, and only 17 black people have won the peace, literature, and economics prizes combined. Many people argue that Charles Drew says: African American man discovers a way to store plasma long-termmedicine was supposed to win, but Percy Julian figured it out. How to synthesize medicines from plantsneglected because of chemistry.
Geography also appears to play an important role in determining the winner. More than half of the prizes I went to the people of North America.and the few winners from low-income countries, most of whom had immigrated to North America or Europe by the time they won the award.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which administers the prizes in physics and chemistry, at least recognizes that this lack of diversity is a problem. Starting in 2019, recommenders are required to: When choosing candidates, pay attention to gender, ethnicity, and geographypeople who can't put themselves forward. Sounds good in theory, but since then, only six women and none of them have won in science, and none have been black.
You may be wondering why this is important. Awards are great honors, but they shouldn’t drive scientists. However, being a Nobel Prize winner opens doors for researchers and brings their work into the public consciousness. For many people, the annual Nobel Prize may be the only time they see a scientist's name in the news headlines, but this award plays a huge role in shaping our perception of science.
Part of the problem is that the prize structure, dictated by Alfred Nobel's will, tends to enforce a “great man of history” approach to science that does not reflect the realities of modern research. The rules state that no more than three people can share the award, but this does not explain why Lee was left out of the winning duo of Lubukun and Ambros. Additionally, donations cannot be received after death. Otherwise, Ms. Franklin, who died of ovarian cancer in 1958 at the age of 37, might have received the donations by now.
Of course, such issues are not new, and it seems unlikely that the Nobel Prize committee will deviate from the wishes of its sponsors, but that is no reason to ignore diversity. The committee needs to cast a wider net, not just for the sake of fairness, but if it wants to ensure that the awards continue to be taken seriously.
Alexandra Thompson is assistant news editor at New Scientist.
Euchericherata A large group of arthropods that includes horseshoe crabs, scorpions, spiders, mites, ticks, and the extinct sea scorpions and snails. Abundant cetapedites The new species of Euchelycerate, which lived in what is now Morocco during the Early Ordovician period 478 million years ago, bridges the gap between modern and Cambrian species.
rebuilding the life of Abundant cetapedites. Image credit: Elissa Sorojsrisom.
“Modern scorpions, spiders, and horseshoe crabs belong to a vast lineage of arthropods that appeared on Earth about 540 million years ago,'' said Lorenzo Lustri, a paleontologist at the University of Lausanne. Ta.
“More precisely, they belong to the subphylum, chelicerates, which includes organisms equipped with pincers used specifically for biting, grasping prey, and injecting venom, and therefore chelicerates ( Euchelicerata+Pycnogonida). But what is the ancestor of this very special group?
“This question has puzzled paleontologists ever since the study of ancient fossils began.”
“Among early arthropods, it has been impossible to identify with certainty which forms share enough similarities with modern species to be considered ancestral.”
“The mystery is further complicated by the dearth of available fossils from the critical period between 505 million and 430 million years ago. This has made genealogical research easier. must.”
Dr. Rustri and his co-authors collected fossils of euchelicerate from the 478-million-year-old Fezouata Shale in Morocco, and found that the modern-day euchelicerate and the Cambrian (505 million-year-old) We identified a new species that binds the eucheris cerate.
with scientific name Abundant cetapeditesthe body length of this species was 0.5-1 cm.
“This animal makes it possible for the first time to trace the entire lineage of Euchelicerates, from the appearance of early arthropods to modern spiders, scorpions and horseshoe crabs,” Dr Rustri said.
“Initially, we just wanted to describe this fossil and give it a name.”
“I had no idea it would hold so many secrets.”
“It was therefore an exciting surprise to discover, after careful observation and analysis, that it also fills an important gap in the evolutionary tree of life.”
“Yet, this fossil has not yet revealed all its secrets,” he added.
“Indeed, some of its anatomical features allow for a deeper understanding of the early evolution of the eucherycerate group and perhaps link other fossil forms to this group, the similarities of which are still hotly debated. It is even possible.”
of result appear in the diary nature communications.
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L. Rustri other. 2024. Late Ordovician syndiphosrines reveal the diversity and evolution of early euchelicerates. Nat Commune 15, 3808; doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-48013-w
Elon Musk defended his stance on diversity and free speech in a tense interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
Tesla’s chief executive was openly irritated by Lemon’s line of questioning during an hour-long video interview. published on Monday.
Asked about prescribing ketamine, Musk said, “It’s a pretty private thing to ask someone about a medical prescription.” He said he took the drug to deal with “negative chemical conditions in the brain, such as depression.”
Asked if he had abused drugs commonly used as anesthetics, he said: If you use too much ketamine, you won’t be able to actually do any work. There’s a lot of work.”
Musk, who canceled his X platform’s contract with Lemon after the interview was taped earlier this month, has spoken out about diversity, equity and inclusion, including his support for conservative Ben Shapiro’s thread on X. (DEI) asked about criticism of the system. Experts argued that DEI was putting patients at risk.
Lemon told Musk there was “no evidence” that the DEI system was lowering standards of medical practice, and the billionaire said his responses to the X User interview “will be his own decision” on the issue. He said it would be helpful.
Asked if he believes in DEI, Musk said, “I think we should… treat people according to their skills and integrity.”
Musk also defended X’s content moderation standards after Lemon highlighted anti-Semitic and racist posts that still remain on the platform, which the Tesla CEO acquired in 2022.
When asked why it wasn’t removed, Musk said the post wasn’t illegal, saying, “I mean, Don, you love censorship.” Lemon said he believed in moderation, to which Musk replied, “Moderation is a propaganda word that means censorship.”
If a post is illegal, “we’re going to take it down,” Musk said, adding that if it doesn’t violate the law, “we either deserve the censorship or we’re the censors.”
Musk made his frustration with Lemon clear on several points. When the moderator asked if he was upset, the entrepreneur replied, “You’re upset because the way you phrased your question was not very convincing.”
Musk told Lemon that the next Tesla Roadster model will be a collaboration with the SpaceX business and “will incorporate rocket technology.”
He added, “I think the only way to make something cooler than the Cybertruck is to combine SpaceX and Tesla technology to make something that isn’t actually even a car.” Asked if it was a flying car, Musk replied, “Maybe.”
Musk also acknowledged that he had recently met Donald Trump, but said he had not donated to Joe Biden’s campaign, although he had “stepped back” from supporting him. Asked if he would support a presidential candidate, he said, “I may end up supporting a candidate, but I don’t know yet.”
In biomedical research, understanding causes and physical characteristics, known as phenotypes, is crucial for correcting abnormalities like diseases. Scientists use genetic techniques to identify disease-associated locations within the human genome, a process known as Genome-wide association research (GWAS). This research helps predict disease risk and develop prevention or treatment strategies.
However, a significant issue with GWAS is the lack of diversity in the data, primarily comprising individuals of European descent. This limits the application of results to other ancestries like Asia or Africa. Previous studies on rheumatoid arthritis have highlighted this limitation.
Using GWAS analysis, scientists generate statistics to predict an individual’s likelihood of developing traits or diseases based on their genetics, resembling a polygenic score report card. This analysis also shows how genes are inherited and their impact on traits like height, weight, and blood pressure.
To address this diversity gap, researchers from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea integrated European polygenic scores into genetic studies of various ancestries.
They utilized data from biobanks like UK Biobank, Biobank Japan, Taiwan Biobank, and Korea Genome Epidemiology Study, analyzing traits such as height, BMI, blood pressure, and diabetes. Statistical models helped calculate polygenic scores and evaluate GWAS results alongside European scores.
Their method aimed to enhance medical discoveries for underrepresented populations by analyzing genome segments unique to certain traits. They found that adjusting GWAS with polygenic scores improved the detection of rare genetic differences and trait relationships.
While primarily focusing on East Asian data, the authors suggested applying this method to other ancestries using polygenic scores. Although computationally intensive, this method shows promise in improving genetic data analysis for future GWAS studies.
In conclusion, the authors believe that their method will enhance genetic data exploration and can be easily integrated with existing GWAS software tools. They encourage researchers to utilize this method, particularly with underrepresented population data, to study genetic interactions and their effects on traits and diseases.
The CEO of Google expressed concern over some responses from the company’s Gemini artificial intelligence model, calling them “unlikely” and pointing out issues such as depicting German World War II soldiers as people of color. He described this bias as “totally unacceptable.”
In a memo to employees, Sundar Pichai acknowledged that images and text generated by modern AI tools were causing discomfort.
Social media users highlighted instances where Gemini image generators depicted historical figures of different ethnicities and genders, including the Pope, the Founding Fathers, and Vikings. Google suspended Gemini’s ability to create people images in response.
One example involved Gemini’s chatbot responding to a question about negative social impacts, leading to a discussion about Elon Musk and Hitler. Pichai addressed this issue, calling the responses upsetting and indicative of bigotry.
Viking AI image Photo: Google Gemini
Pichai stated that Google’s teams were working to improve these issues and have already made significant progress. AI systems often generate biased responses due to training data issues, reflecting larger societal problems.
Gemini’s competitors are also working on addressing bias in AI models. New versions of AI generators like Dall-E prioritize diverse representation and aim to mitigate technical issues.
Google is committed to making structural changes and enhancing product guidelines to address biases. Pichai emphasized the importance of providing accurate and unbiased information to users.
Elon Musk criticized Google’s AI programs, pointing out the bias in generated images. Technology commentator Ben Thompson called for a shift in decision-making at Google to prioritize good product development.
The emergence of generative AI platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT presents a competitive landscape in AI development. Google’s Gemini AI chatbot, formerly known as Bard, offers paid subscriptions for enhanced AI capabilities.
Google DeepMind continues to innovate in AI, with breakthroughs like the AlphaFold program for predicting protein structures. The CEO of DeepMind acknowledged the need to improve diversity in AI-generated images.
A former diversity program manager at Facebook has admitted to stealing over $4 million from the company through fraudulent business deals in exchange for kickbacks, as per the Justice Department.
Barbara Farlow Smiles, who served as Facebook’s chief strategist and global head of employee resource groups and diversity engagement, used the stolen funds to support a lavish lifestyle across multiple states, according to prosecutors.
From January 2017 to September 2021, Farlow Smiles oversaw the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program at Facebook and was entrusted with DEI initiatives and operations, as well as engagement programs, as per the Department of Justice.
Authorities disclosed that Farlow Smiles had access to company credit cards and had the authority to approve invoices, and used various individuals, including friends and relatives, to funnel kickbacks to her.
Barbara Farlow-Smiles has pleaded guilty to defrauding Facebook. Amazon
Individuals allegedly recruited by Farlow Smiles to participate in the kickback scheme included former interns, a college tutor, a hairstylist, babysitter, and a nanny, as per authorities.
It remains uncertain if anyone associated with Farlow Smiles has been charged in connection with the incident.
Farlow Smiles also misled Facebook into providing funds to an organization that did not deliver any kickbacks, including payments to an artist and an unnamed preschool.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles pictured at the 2018 Facebook DEI event. meta
To avoid scrutiny, Farlow Smiles submitted false expense reports, falsely claiming that individuals had provided marketing or merchandise at Facebook event vendors.
Farlow Smiles “abused her position at Facebook to defraud the company and undermine the importance of its DEI mission,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan after her guilty plea on Tuesday.
“Driven by greed, she orchestrated an elaborate criminal scheme, engaging fraudsters to pay kickbacks in cash, and involving her relatives, friends, and other associates in the crime, all to finance her lavish lifestyle through fraud rather than through hard, honest work,” Buchanan added.
“Farlow Smiles used lies and deception to defraud both vendors and Facebook employees,” said FBI Special Agent Kelly Farley.
The Justice Department said Mr. Mehta provided valuable assistance to the investigation. LinkedIn / Barbara Farlow Smiles
The Justice Department commended Mr. Mehta for providing valuable assistance and cooperation during the investigation.
“We are cooperating with law enforcement in the case involving this former program manager and will continue to do so,” Mehta said in a statement.
As part of a two-step fraud scheme, Farlow Smiles used apps such as Venmo and PayPal linked to her company credit card, and submitted false expense reports to cover her tracks.
Barbara Farlow-Smiles is scheduled to be sentenced in March next year. LinkedIn / Barbara Farlow SmilesBarbara Furlow-Smiles helped lead DEI initiatives at Facebook. Getty Images
Most employees were reportedly unaware that the funds were coming from Facebook and returned the funds to Farlow Smiles in cash or through direct deposit. Federal authorities disclosed that the cash was sometimes delivered to Farlow Smiles wrapped in t-shirts and other items.
In the second part of her plan, Farlow Smiles directed Facebook to use businesses owned by friends and then approved “fraudulent and inflated invoices” on behalf of the vendors in exchange for kickbacks.
Farlow Smiles is set to be sentenced on March 19, 2024.
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