The Chernobyl nuclear power plant has endured multiple attacks following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
AFP
A recent power outage at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine has disrupted the spent fuel cooling system, increasing the risk of overheating and the potential release of harmful radiation. Fortunately, the stored fuel is aged and expected to remain safe until power is restored.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Russian military actions have targeted multiple electrical substations in Ukraine, leading to the current power outage at Chernobyl. “The IAEA is closely monitoring these developments to ensure nuclear safety,” stated IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi in a recent update on X.
Spent nuclear fuel continues to emit radiation and generate heat for years after being removed from a reactor. Without proper cooling, the fuel can melt, resulting in dangerous radiation levels. Currently, Chernobyl’s old fuel is stored in large cooling ponds that are regularly replenished with cold water to maintain safe temperatures.
However, the IAEA reported that the site lacks a power supply, which halts cooling efforts, leading to increased water temperatures and evaporation rates.
“Once the fuel is out of the reactor, it remains hot due to the production of fission products and radiative materials. It’s essential to manage this heat effectively, or it may eventually lead to a meltdown,” explained Paul Cosgrove from Cambridge University. More information can be found on his profile here.
Fortunately, the risk associated with the stored fuel at Chernobyl is lower today compared to 2022 when similar power outages occurred, as the fuel has already cooled significantly over the years. New Scientist reported this decrease in risk.
“Power loss at nuclear facilities is concerning, but the perceived nuclear risks often far exceed the actual risks associated with comparable incidents,” noted Ian Farnan from Cambridge University. More details about his work can be found here.
The Chernobyl disaster involved a reactor explosion in 1986, with reactors 2, 1, and 3 being shut down in 1991, 1996, and 2000, respectively.
While details of the storage pool containing Chernobyl’s remaining fuel are classified, Cosgrove indicated that evaluations conducted in 2022 found minimal risk of overheating during power outages. “This fuel has been stored safely for over 20 years, leading to significant energy dissipation,” he emphasized.
Electricity delivery to Chernobyl, as well as much of Ukraine, has fluctuated since the commencement of the full-scale Russian invasion. Recently, heightened attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure by Russian forces have exacerbated the situation.
This power outage at Chernobyl represents yet another instance of Russian actions undermining nuclear safety, including the temporary occupation of Chernobyl, preventing necessary maintenance, the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and last February’s drone attack on the containment structures above the ruins of Chernobyl’s reactor 4.
When someone states they are “probably” having pasta for dinner but later opts for pizza, do you find it surprising or consider them dishonest? On a more critical note, what does it imply when the United Nations asserts it is “very likely” that global temperatures will rise by over 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next decade, as reported last year? The translation between the nuances of language and the intricacies of mathematical probability can often seem challenging, yet we can discover scientific clarity through careful analysis.
Two fundamental points about probability are widely accepted: Something labeled “impossible” has a 0% chance of occurrence, while a “certain” event carries a 100% likelihood. However, confusion arises in between these extremes. Ancient Greeks, including Aristotle, differentiated between terms such as Eikos, meaning the most likely, and Pitanon, which signifies plausible. This presents challenges: persuasive rhetoric may not always align with likelihood. Additionally, both terms were translated by Cicero into the modern term probability.
The concept of a measurable mathematical approach to probability emerged significantly later, primarily in the mid-17th century during the Enlightenment. Mathematicians began to address gambling dilemmas, such as equitable distribution of winnings during interruptions. Concurrently, philosophers probed whether it was feasible to quantify varying levels of belief.
For instance, in 1690, John Locke categorized degrees of probability on a spectrum from complete certainty to confidence based on personal experience, down to testimony affected by repetition. This classification remains vital in legal contexts, both historically and presently.
The interplay between law and probability persisted among philosophers. In his writings of the mid-19th century, Jeremy Bentham criticized the inadequacy of common language in expressing evidence strength. He proposed a numerical ranking system to gauge belief strength, but ultimately deemed its subjectivity as impractical for justice.
A century later, economist John Maynard Keynes rejected Bentham’s certainty measure in favor of relational approaches. He argued that it was more effective to discuss how one probability might exceed another, focusing on the knowledge base for these estimations, thus establishing a hierarchy without offering systematic communication methods for terms such as “may” or “likely.”
Interestingly, the first systematic resolution to this challenge did not arise from mathematicians or philosophers but from a CIA intelligence analyst named Sherman Kent. In 1964, he introduced the idea of estimating probability with specific terminology for National Intelligence Estimates designed to guide policymakers. He articulated the dilemma faced by “poets,” who articulate meaning through words, versus “mathematicians,” who advocate for exact figures. Kent initiated the idea that specific words correspond to precise probabilities, designating “virtually certain” as a 93% probability, but also allowing some leeway to accommodate differing interpretations.
This framework for understanding probability transitioned from the intelligence sector to scientific applications. A review of recent research dating back to 1989 explored how both patients and medical professionals interpret terms like “may” in medical scenarios. The findings showed some alignment with Kent’s framework, although with distinctions.
Returning to the original question about the meaning of “very likely” regarding climate change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) offers clarity with explicit definitions. According to their guidance, “very likely” signifies a 90% to 100% probability of an event’s occurrence. Alarmingly, many climate scientists now assert that temperatures have already surpassed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
However, situations are rarely straightforward. Logically, the statements “Event A is likely to occur” and “Event A is unlikely to be avoided” should correlate, albeit research published last year reveals that labeling a climate forecast as “unlikely” diminishes perceived evidence strength and consensus among scientists compared to stating it’s “likely.” This cognitive bias might stem from a preference for positive framing over negative alternatives. A classic example includes a community of 600 individuals facing a health crisis; when presented with two treatment options, most favor one that saves 200 lives over one that saves 400, even if both are statistically similar.
So, what lessons can we draw from this exploration? Firstly, quantifiable data effectively enhances communication of uncertainty. If numerical specificity isn’t available, stating, “75% of the time, I plan to have pasta for dinner,” may raise eyebrows. In such instances, ensure shared understanding of terminology, even in the absence of a formalized framework like Kent’s. Lastly, accentuating the positive tends to foster acceptance of predictions. How likely is that? Well, that’s hard to quantify.
Recent research shows that jellyfish share surprising similarities with humans, including a sleep pattern of approximately eight hours a day, complemented by short naps. Understanding the sleep behaviors of these marine creatures can shed light on the evolutionary significance of sleep.
“Interestingly, like humans, jellyfish spend about a third of their time sleeping,” states Lior Appelbaum from Bar-Ilan University in Israel.
In animals with brains, such as mammals, sleep is crucial for memory consolidation and the elimination of metabolic waste. However, it remains unclear why sleep evolved in jellyfish, which belong to the brainless cnidarian group and possess neurons arranged in simple networks.
Appelbaum and his team utilized high-resolution cameras to observe Cassiopeia Andromeda, an upside-down jellyfish, in a controlled aquarium environment. The jellyfish were subjected to cycles of light and darkness to replicate natural conditions.
During the simulated daytime, the jellyfish exhibited an average pulse rate of over 37 times per minute, demonstrating responsiveness to sudden stimuli. In contrast, their pulse rate decreased at night, and they became less reactive, indicating a sleep state. These pulsations are vital for nutrient distribution and oxygen supply within the jellyfish’s body, as explained by Appelbaum.
Overall, jellyfish typically sleep for about eight hours each night, interspersed with brief naps lasting one to two hours. Prior studies had confirmed nocturnal sleep in C. Andromeda, but the intricacies of their sleep cycles were previously unknown.
In another experiment, researchers simulated sleep disruption by pulsating water against the jellyfish, which led to even better sleep the following day. “It mirrors human behavior: when sleep-deprived at night, we tend to feel more fatigued during the day,” notes Appelbaum.
Crucially, further examination indicated that sleep in C. Andromeda is associated with reduced DNA damage. Sleep likely protects neurons from deterioration that might occur during wakefulness, as corroborated by the observation that exposing jellyfish to ultraviolet light—thereby increasing DNA damage—resulted in improved sleep patterns.
Future studies are required to determine whether similar sleep benefits apply to other jellyfish species or even mammals. The researchers also found comparable results with starlet sea anemones (Nematostella vectensis), marking a significant step in confirming sleep in these organisms, according to Appelbaum.
Primordial black holes likely formed shortly after the Big Bang.
Shutterstock/Mohd. Afuza
An exceptionally massive black hole from the early universe may represent a type of exotic starless black hole first theorized by Stephen Hawking.
In August, Boyuan Liu and his team from the University of Cambridge used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to uncover a peculiar galaxy named Abell 2744-QSO1. This ancient galaxy, dating back 13 billion years, harbored a black hole around 50 million times the mass of our Sun but hosted extremely few stars.
“This contradicts traditional theories which dictate that stars must form prior to or simultaneously with black holes,” Liu explained. Typically, black holes are believed to evolve when massive stars exhaust their fuel and undergo gravitational collapse.
Liu and his team conducted initial simulations suggesting that QSO1 might have originated as a primordial black hole—an exotic concept introduced by Stephen Hawking and Bernard Carr in 1974. Unlike conventional black holes, primordial black holes are thought to form from density fluctuations shortly after the Big Bang.
While most primordial black holes likely evaporated by the time of the JWST’s observations, some might have persisted, evolving into larger black holes like QSO1.
Although Liu and his team’s calculations align broadly with their observations, they remain relatively simple and do not factor in the intricate interactions among primordial black holes, gas clouds, and stars.
Now, the authors have employed advanced simulations to investigate how primordial black holes grew in the universe’s infancy. They analyzed how gas dynamics influenced the formation of early primordial black holes and how interactions with newly formed and dying stars affected them.
Their predictions about the black hole’s ultimate mass and the heavy elements present in it are congruent with the findings from QSO1.
“It’s not conclusive, but it represents a compelling possibility,” Liu stated. “These observations suggest that established black hole formation theories may not fully explain the phenomenon, making the notion of a significant primordial black hole in the early universe increasingly plausible.”
Simulations indicate that primordial black holes could be a feasible origin for QSO1, according to Roberto Maiorino, a team member involved in the discovery of black holes. “The alignment of their predicted properties with those of QSO1, in terms of black hole mass, stellar mass, and chemical composition, is both intriguing and promising.”
However, standard models of primordial black holes typically predict that their maximum mass should be around a million solar masses, while Maiorino pointed out that QSO1 is 50 times larger. “Nevertheless, it’s plausible that these primordial black holes are densely concentrated, allowing them to merge and grow rapidly,” he noted.
A further challenge arises from the requirement that for a primordial black hole to initially collapse, a burst of high-energy radiation, like that from a nearby supernova, is essential; however, no potential sources have been identified near QSO1, according to Maiorino.
Mysteries of the Universe: Cheshire, England
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Visualize your body as a large sugar container. At birth, this container is empty. As the years progress, you consume sugar and refined carbohydrates, gradually filling the container. Each time you eat again, if the container is already full, the sugar spills over the edges.
This scenario mirrors what happens in your body. When you consume sugar, your body releases the hormone insulin, allowing sugar to enter the cells for energy. If you don’t adequately burn off this sugar, your cells become saturated over time, and they can no longer effectively utilize it.
Upon consuming sugar again, there is so much present that insulin cannot transport any more, resulting in excess sugar entering the bloodstream. This sugar travels in the form of glucose, and an overload – known as hyperglycemia – is a primary indicator of type 2 diabetes.
When excess glucose exists in the bloodstream, insulin’s ability to facilitate the transfer of sugar to the cells diminishes. Many refer to this as insulin resistance, but the root issue is not with insulin itself; it’s that the cells are overflowing with glucose.
High blood sugar represents just one facet of the problem. Not only is there an excess of glucose in the blood, but there’s also too much in all the cells. Type 2 diabetes manifests as an overflow of glucose throughout the body.
In response to this excess, the body produces more insulin to combat resistance, pushing more glucose into the already overcrowded cells to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
This approach is temporary, as it fails to address the root cause: the surplus sugar. Continuously transferring excess sugar from the bloodstream to the cells only worsens insulin resistance. Eventually, regardless of increased insulin levels, the body cannot force more glucose into the cells.
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So what happens if you don’t eliminate excess glucose? Initially, the body increases insulin production in an effort to drive more glucose into the cells, perpetuating a cycle of resistance.
Glycemic spikes occur when insulin levels cannot keep up with growing tolerance; that’s typically when a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is made.
Doctors may recommend medications like insulin injections or the drug metformin, but these just continuously clear glucose from the blood, redirecting it into other organs like the kidneys, nerves, eyes, and heart, creating further issues without resolving the underlying problem.
Remember the container filled with sugar? Insulin has moved sugar from the blood into a body that cannot handle it. So once you eat again, more sugar spills into the bloodstream, prompting insulin to push it back into the body.
The more glucose your body accepts, the more insulin it needs to combat this resistance. Yet, this insulin will lead to increased resistance as cells expand.
Eventually, if your body surpasses its natural insulin production, you may need medication. Initially, one drug is sufficient, but this can escalate to multiple drugs at higher doses.
The concerning truth is: if you require increasingly larger doses of medication to maintain stable blood sugar, your diabetes is actually worsening.
Type 2 diabetes is reversible and preventable…without medications
Recognizing that type 2 diabetes stems from excess sugar in the body points to the solution: eliminate the sugar. Don’t just hide it—remove it altogether. There are essentially two ways to achieve this.
Reduce sugar intake.
Burn off the remaining sugar.
That’s all there is to it. The best part? It’s natural and completely free—no medications, no surgeries, and no costs involved.
Step 1: Reduce sugar
The initial step is to completely eliminate all sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet. Added sugars lack nutritional value and can be safely omitted. Complex carbohydrates, which are essentially long chains of sugar, and highly refined carbs like wheat flour, digest rapidly into glucose.
The best approach is to minimize or eliminate bread and pasta made from white rice and potatoes, as well as those crafted from white flour.
It’s important to maintain a moderate, rather than high, protein intake. Once ingested, dietary proteins such as meat break down into amino acids. While protein is essential for health, excess amino acids cannot be stored in the body, leading the liver to convert them into glucose. Thus, consuming too much protein can also increase sugar levels, making it advisable to avoid highly processed protein sources like protein shakes, bars, and powders.
What about dietary fats? Natural fats found in avocados, nuts, and olive oil—key components of the Mediterranean diet—are known to minimally affect blood sugar or insulin and have beneficial effects on heart disease and diabetes. Eggs and butter also serve as excellent sources of natural fats.
Dietary cholesterol associated with these foods has proven harmless to human health. Consuming nutritional fats doesn’t contribute to type 2 diabetes or heart disease; rather, it fosters feelings of fullness without introducing sugar into the body.
To limit sugar intake, focus on consuming whole, natural foods. Aim for a diet low in refined carbohydrates, moderate in protein, and high in natural fats.
Step 2: Burn remaining sugar
Exercise—both tolerance training and aerobic activity—can positively impact type 2 diabetes, although dietary adjustments are typically more effective. Fasting is one of the easiest and most reliable methods for burning sugar in the body.
Fasting is essentially the absence of eating. When you eat, your body stores the energy from food. In contrast, when you fast, your body needs to burn stored energy, with glucose being the most accessible energy source. Longer fasting durations can burn away stored sugar.
This may sound drastic, but fasting is the oldest known dietary practice and has been embraced throughout human history without issues. Those on prescription medications should consult their healthcare providers before making changes.
The bottom line? If you don’t eat, your blood sugar will drop. If you refrain from eating, you will lose weight. So, what’s the problem? Largely, it’s unfounded.
A popular fasting strategy includes fasting for 24 hours, 2-3 times a week, or doing 16-hour fasts 5-6 times weekly. The key to reversing type 2 diabetes lies within our reach.
What is essential is an open mind and the courage to challenge conventional beliefs and paradigms.
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This text has been extracted from Diabetes Code: Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally by Dr. Jason Fung—Out Now (£14.99, Greystone Books).
O Over the last ten years, Dean has built a robust collection of video games, ranging from mainstream blockbusters to niche favorites. His digital library is akin to a cinematic treasure trove, allowing instant access with a simple click. Yet, his son, Sam, has set his sights on just one game: Roblox. This expansive virtual universe and video game, Roblox is the leading title worldwide.
The company reports over 97 million daily active users on Roblox, with around 40% of them, like Sam, aged under 13. In 2024, Roblox generated approximately $5.6 billion (US$3.6 billion) in revenue, mainly from purchases of “Robux,” a form of in-game currency, with the average user spending about $25 a month.
Amid concerns about children’s exposure to bullying and inappropriate content, a recent report highlights the impacts of game monetization on young users.
Experts argue that Australia’s current classification system does not adequately assist child gamers and their parents in navigating the tricky monetization landscape.
New reports from Australian researchers scrutinize the manipulative “dark design patterns” in gaming that encourage spending and confuse children with unclear cryptocurrency transactions.
One recent report from Monash University and the Center for Consumer Policy Research (CPRC) focused on players aged 18 and older, revealing that games designed with dark patterns are almost unavoidable. Of the 800 surveyed, 83% reported “negative effects” from these designs, and 46% faced economic disadvantages, feeling pressured to purchase items and overspending.
Another recent study from University of Sydney researchers sought to understand how children, who represent one-fifth of the gaming population, recognize these mechanisms and perceive the design of video games.
“Concerns about children’s interaction with digital media often lead to panic and policy decisions that overlook the actual experiences of children,” states Taylor Hardwick, lead author of the study.
Hardwick and her team interviewed 22 children aged 7 to 14 and their parents. Each child received a $20 debit card and was instructed to explain their purchases.
Among the 22 children, 18 played Roblox, with 12 spending their entire $20 on Robux. The remaining five used the funds on other games like Call of Duty, Fallout 76, and Minecraft.
Participants expressed concerns about being misunderstood and frustrated by their purchases, especially if they suddenly lost access to their accounts or items.
Sam’s father shared that Sam has spent around $400 a year on Roblox over the past four years, with a recent purchase leaving him disheartened.
Sam had used some of his Robux to buy Godzilla “skins” (digital costumes) in a popular Roblox game called Monster Universe. However, upon logging in, he found his skin had vanished unexpectedly after the game was shut down by Toho, the copyright holder. He did not receive a refund from Roblox.
One major concern raised by Sydney researchers is the impact of “random reward mechanisms” (RRMs) on children. RRMs, like loot boxes, offer players mystery items through lottery-style draws.
While children in this study accepted RRMs as part of gaming, many expressed dissatisfaction with them.
“Even if children talk about game percentages in slang, they don’t entirely grasp the risks of navigating these digital experiences,” the authors note. “Gambling-like mechanisms such as RRMs are harmful and inappropriate for children’s games.”
Recommendations include eliminating RRMs, simplifying refund processes, enhancing account protections for children, and improving transparency regarding cryptocurrency.
Christopher Ferguson, a psychologist at Stetson University, found the study interesting but highlighted the small sample size and questioned the researchers’ definition of “harm.” He argued that while children may feel deceived, the monetization aspects could be more annoying than harmful.
“It’s encouraging that researchers are inquiring about children’s perspectives on their experiences,” he said.
A USTRALIA has attempted to shield children from monetized RRMs by introducing a new classification system that was implemented in September 2024. Currently, games containing RRMs or loot boxes are not recommended for those under 15.
However, these new regulations apply only to newly classified games, and pre-existing games are not required to update their classifications.
Leon Xiao, a researcher from City University of Hong Kong studying loot box regulation, states that Australia faces implementation issues rather than legal ones. He argues that several video games were misrated after the new law came into effect, indicating flaws in consumer education.
A preliminary study by Marcus Carter, co-author of the University of Sydney research, suggests that about 20% of the top 100 grossing mobile games on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store do not comply with Australian regulations. Hardwick and Carter recently noted that Australia’s guidelines “do not fulfill their intended purpose.”
Roblox, with its extensive user-generated content, exemplifies the confusion surrounding ratings. Xiao argues, “Roblox should either be rated or not recommended for players under 15.” However, the game is rated PG on the Google Play Store.
In contrast, Apple’s App Store lists a regional age rating of over 15 years, which aligns with global ratings from Apple that set the limit at 12.
A Roblox spokesperson informed Guardian Australia that developers must use the PolicyService API to comply with jurisdictional requirements, ensuring access only for eligible users with paid random items. Due to an update rolled out to developers in September 2024, paid random items are currently unavailable to users in Australia.
“As a platform for user-generated content, we provide developers with tools, information, and guidelines applicable to various gameplay aspects within games and experiences.
“We are committed to addressing reported content that fails to adhere to guidelines or does not effectively use tools necessary to meet Australia’s local compliance requirements.”
The company strives to inform parents about their children’s purchasing habits, does not store billing information as defaults, and fails to give warnings that real money is being spent during initial transactions. Parents are also alerted via emails regarding high spending activity.
“Our parental controls enable parents and caregivers to receive notifications about their child’s spending on Roblox and set monthly spending limits for their accounts,” said the spokesperson.
Hardwick believes navigating monetization is challenging for parents, who are often busy, informed, and lack resources. She feels they aren’t equipped to manage children’s in-game spending effectively.
Dean is making every effort to guide Sam through these trends, discussing what Sam spends Robux on and why. While Dean acknowledges Sam’s disappointment over the Godzilla skin, he has encouraged Sam to explore a gardening game where he can utilize Robux to purchase new species.
Menopause marks a pivotal moment in a woman’s life when the ovaries cease hormone production, but the transition leading up to this significant event can span several years, known as perimenopause.
On average, women experience menopause around age 51, resulting in most women starting to notice perimenopause symptoms in their mid-40s. These symptoms can differ greatly among women, with hot flashes and irregular heavy periods often recognized as indicators, although not everyone experiences the same symptoms.
Additionally, even within the same individual, symptoms can vary in type, frequency, and intensity.
Over 75% of women report experiencing a range of symptoms, with about 25% stating that their symptoms significantly impact their quality of life. Symptoms can include sleep disturbances, anxiety, and weight gain.
It’s worth noting that these symptoms have historically been overlooked and often attributed to other health conditions by experts.
Symptoms and Treatment
Insomnia is frequently one of the first symptoms, which can begin in a woman’s late 30s or early 40s. Research indicates that as many as 60% of women over 40 experience insomnia.
Other symptoms may encompass mood swings, with women often feeling persistent anger, irritability, sadness, and depression.
In addition, symptoms may include cognitive issues like brain fog, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, joint and muscle pain, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, gender dyscomfort, and pain.
Despite this, many women delay seeking medical attention due to feelings of embarrassment or a desire not to “make a fuss.” While it’s crucial to obtain medical guidance, there are currently no specific menopause tests for women over 45.
This underscores the importance of tracking and documenting symptoms to share with healthcare providers, aiding in the determination of the best treatment options.
For instance, there is substantial evidence supporting the benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in accordance with the guidelines from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, particularly for alleviating hot flashes and night sweats.
HRT has also been shown to assist some women in achieving better sleep and can sometimes ease negative cognitive symptoms. Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help manage blood flow issues, stabilizing mood and sleep patterns.
It is now considered outdated to use medications like clonidine and antidepressants as first-line treatments.
Other studies suggest that HRT can also be beneficial in maintaining bone mineral density and reducing the risk of osteoporotic fractures later in life.
HRT encompasses various types of medications, including estrogen, combinations of estrogen and progestogen, and testosterone, which can be administered through patches or gels.
The appropriate type and dosage of HRT depend on the specific condition being treated, individual risk factors, and personal preferences. There is no strict age cut-off for starting HRT; rather, it should be guided by the benefits outweighing perceived risks.
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New Research
Women undergoing HRT may also benefit from a decreased risk of colorectal cancer and type 2 diabetes. Research indicates that initiating estrogens as part of HRT early in the perimenopausal phase could further lower the risk of coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Notably, the cardiovascular disease prevention benefits are most pronounced among women who commence HRT in their 50s, compared to those who start after 60.
However, HRT is not recommended solely for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and dementia due to known risks associated with certain HRT treatments, including the possibility of uterine cancer when estrogen-only HRT is used without protective progestogens, which does not elevate blood clot risks.
Osteoporosis generally affects older adults and postmenopausal women. HRT can help treat it. – Image credits: Science Photo Library
The primary concern remains breast cancer prevalence, a complex issue influenced by varying risks outlined in clinical trial data, individual and family history, as well as lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and obesity.
This directly impacts the clinical relevance of the data for individual patients.
Current evidence suggests that estrogen-only HRTs have little to no association with increased breast cancer risk, while combined HRTs may correlate with an increased risk of 3-4 additional cases per 1,000 women.
Alternative Treatments
Topical local estrogen HRT has proven highly effective in managing and preventing significant vulvar and vaginal pain and dryness, as well as recurrent urinary tract infections.
Moreover, testosterone treatments alongside estrogens may assist women experiencing low sexual desire.
Nonetheless, HRT cannot serve as a one-size-fits-all solution. A review of current clinical trials reveals no significant enhancements in cognitive function, bone density, body composition, strength, or psychological health among women undergoing treatment.
Additionally, many women may prefer to avoid HRT, particularly those with a history of breast cancer.
Previously, alternative treatments were sparse, primarily revolving around antidepressants and clonidine, both of which have demonstrated limited effectiveness and notable side effects. However, a new non-hormonal medication, Fezolinetant, has recently been approved to manage blood flow issues.
Natural Relief
In addition to medication, lifestyle and behavioral modifications—such as sleep, physical activity, and nutrition—carry no associated risks and can yield significant benefits.
Improving sleep is often an excellent starting point, as restorative sleep makes it easier to enhance activity levels and diet.
Establishing good sleep hygiene, avoiding screens before bedtime, maintaining a consistent sleep routine, and practicing CBT have been shown effective in addressing insomnia and other sleep disorders affecting women in the menopause transition.
Elevating physical activity levels can also be tremendously beneficial. Engaging in strength training exercises helps build and maintain muscle and bone density, aiding in the prevention of osteoporosis, while promoting flexibility and reducing insulin resistance.
Aerobic exercises such as running, swimming, and cycling can further enhance heart and brain health. At any stage in life, adhering to a balanced diet rich in fresh foods while limiting ultra-processed products is advantageous.
Although menopause can be challenging, a range of effective interventions can ease this transitional period.
Amelia Earhart, one of aviation’s most famous pioneers, is renowned for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. However, her story tragically ended in 1937 when her Lockheed 10-E Electra plane vanished during an ambitious round-the-world flight.
Earhart’s goal was to circumnavigate the equator and the globe, planning a 46,670 km (29,000 mile) journey that spanned California, Central and South America, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean.
After six weeks of traveling, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan departed from New Guinea towards Howland Island, approximately 2,735 km (1,700 miles) southwest of Honolulu.
The challenging 20-hour flight was the longest leg of their journey, pushing the plane to its limits. Despite support from the US Coast Guard, they were unable to locate the 6.5 km² (2.5 square mile) Howland Island in the vast Pacific Ocean, and it vanished without a trace.
An official US government investigation concluded that Earhart’s plane ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean after failing to find Howland Island. However, with no concrete evidence, various theories abound regarding the disappearance.
In 1929, Amelia Earhart boarded a plane carrying a box full of homing pigeons as part of a scientific experiment. – Photo credit: Getty
Most famously, it is speculated that Earhart and Noonan landed on a reef near Gardner Island, resulting in their tragic demise.
The failure to reach Howland Island may have been due to navigation errors. One theory, the International Date Line Theory, suggests Noonan’s calculations did not account for crossing the International Date Line.
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Noonan utilized celestial navigation based on celestial bodies’ positions. However, the Earth’s rotation and revolution around the Sun cause these positions to shift daily, necessitating precise date and time knowledge for accurate navigation.
Given the flight’s timing as it passed midnight and crossed the International Date Line, Noonan faced complex calculations that may have led them off course.
If Noonan missed the second date change as they crossed the Date Line again, the plane could have veered 110 km (70 miles) east of Howland Island.
In January 2024, the US ocean exploration team “Deep Sea Vision” discovered potential wreckage of Earhart’s plane on the ocean floor. They used underwater drones to scan over 12,950 km² (5,000 square miles) of the Pacific Ocean.
The images indicate an object resembling a Lockheed Electra in a position predicted by the Date Line Theory, prompting further investigation by the team.
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This article addresses the question raised by George Grainger of London: “Was Amelia Earhart or her plane ever discovered?”
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SpaceX is gearing up for its next private mission scheduled for August 26, which will mark the company’s inaugural spacewalk endeavor.
The crew of four includes billionaire Shift4 founder Jared Isaacman, his colleague Scott Poteat, and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sara Gillis.
The Polaris Dawn mission is the first of three flights purchased by Isaacman from SpaceX.
SpaceX is getting ready to launch its next private mission by the end of this month, which will be its first attempt to send astronauts into space.
Polaris Dawn Mission — Billionaires and Shift 4 Founder Jared Isaacman Purchased from SpaceX in 2022 The spacecraft, the final mission of the human spaceflight program known as Project Polaris, is scheduled to lift off from Florida in the early hours of August 26th.
“We don’t have the freedom to launch whenever we want,” Isaacman said. “It was pretty close to dawn, which is very appropriate given the mission.” CNBC’s Space Investments In an interview last month.
Isaacman said, Historic Inspiration 4 Flights in 2021 He will again lead a four-person crew, with longtime colleague Scott Poteat joining as pilot, and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sara Gillis serving as the flight’s medical director and mission specialist, respectively.
The multi-day journey won’t be a destination-specific one, but rather a free-flight mission on an orbit that will hopefully take the crew far from Earth.
“We will be reaching much higher altitudes than any human has reached in over 50 years,” Isaacman said.
But the highlight of Polaris Dawn will be its planned spacewalks.
Extravehicular activities (EVAs) have been a routine part of NASA astronaut missions for years, such as when the space agency needs to perform maintenance outside the International Space Station, but no private company has ever attempted an EVA until now.
Isaacman said he understood that the spacewalk would mean he and his crew would be “surrounded by death,” and he was ready to embrace the moment. I have been thoroughly trained.
“The only thing that comes close to that is a vacuum chamber. It almost feels like being in a vacuum or in space. … You can actually feel the pressure changes, the temperature changes and the psychological stress of being in a very hostile environment,” Isaacman said.
Five-day mission planning
Isaacman also detailed Polaris Dawn’s daily schedule, which will remain in space for up to five days.
The first day will be all about finding the time when the risk from micrometeorite orbital debris is minimal, which will determine the exact time for Polaris Dawn to launch. After reaching the 190-kilometer by 1,200-kilometer orbit, the crew will conduct a thorough checkout of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft Resilience, Isaacman said.
“It’s really important to make sure there are no defects in the aircraft before we go up to an altitude of 1,400 kilometers,” Isaacman said.
The spacecraft also traveled through what are known as high radiation zones. South Atlantic Anomaly.
“Ideally we want to get as low as possible because even at 200 kilometres the radiation levels are quite high,” Isaacman said. “Two or three high-altitude passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly will account for nearly the entire radiation load of the mission, equivalent to three months on the International Space Station.”
The second day will focus on some of the scientific research Polaris Dawn plans to accomplish, with a total of about 40 experiments. The crew will also prepare for the spacewalk and test their spacewalk suits.
“That way we can make sure there’s nothing unexpected happening in microgravity compared to what we could test on Earth,” Isaacman said.
Day 3 is the big day – spacewalk.
Spacewalk
So who on the crew will be doing the spacewalk?
“It’s fair to say that all four of us are working together. There’s no airlock, there’s a vacuum inside the spacecraft,” Isaacman said.
Two of the crew members (Isaacman and Gillis) will travel outside of Dragon, while Poteet and Menon will remain on board as support.
The spacewalk is expected to take two hours from start to finish, and Isaacman stressed that it is “really a test and development” process.
“We want to learn as much as we can about the spacesuit and its operation, but there is a finite amount of oxygen and nitrogen available,” Isaacman said.
Polaris Dawn will livestream the spacewalk, and mission commanders stressed that there will be “multiple cameras” inside and outside the capsule.
From left: Anna Menon, Scott Poteat, Jared Isaacman and Sara Gillis. SpaceX
Brand new space suit
A key piece of equipment that makes EVA possible is SpaceX’s spacesuit.
For the past few years, the company has been using its minimalist, black-and-white IVA suits (Internal Vehicle Activity suits, or IVA suits worn by astronauts in emergencies) to develop its EVA suits, which Isaacman said are the result of hundreds of hours of testing different materials over the years.
“So our main goal is to learn as much as we can about the suit,” Isaacman said.
“It’s all about building the next generation of spacesuits. We continue to refine the design of this suit so that SpaceX can manufacture hundreds and thousands of suits in the future for operations on the Moon, Mars and in space. [low Earth orbit]”, and many other things. Building a new spacewalk suit is no easy task,” he added.
Polaris Dawn aims to push the boundaries of private spaceflight, and Isaacman hopes the mission will be inspiring, just like his first orbital flight.
“That’s the inspiration aspect. Anything that’s different from what we’ve seen in the last 20 or 30 years excites people and makes them think, ‘If this is what I’m seeing today, what will it be like tomorrow or a year from now?'”
New Research has introduced an innovative and cost-effective method for diagnosing autism, potentially simplifying and speeding up the diagnostic process. Surprisingly, the new diagnostic test might involve analyzing stool samples rather than brain scans or psychiatric evaluations. Researchers have discovered consistent differences in the gut microbiome – the population of microorganisms in the intestine – between individuals with autism and those without.
Regularly collecting and analyzing stool samples could potentially enable doctors to identify autism at an earlier stage than current methods allow. This new approach is especially important given the diverse range of symptoms associated with autism, making diagnosis challenging.
“There is a pressing need to delay the diagnosis of autism in children, as the symptoms can vary widely,” according to the co-authors of the study. Professor Shu Qian Ng told BBC Science Focus.
Autism is a common condition, affecting approximately 1 in 100 individuals worldwide. While genetics is thought to play a significant role in autism, other factors such as birth complications, exposure to air pollution, and gender differences may also contribute.
Diagnosing autism currently relies on subjective behavioral assessments and developmental screenings, which can be time-consuming and depend on the availability of trained professionals. The average age of diagnosis in the United States is around 5 years old, resulting in delays in essential care and support for children with autism during crucial developmental stages.
The study, published in Nature Microbiology, analyzed stool samples from 1,627 children between 1 and 13 years of age, some of whom had autism. The researchers identified significant differences in gut bacteria between children with autism and those without, resulting in the identification of specific biomarkers for autism.
Utilizing machine learning algorithms, scientists could determine autism in children with up to 82% accuracy based on the biological function of several microorganisms in the digestive system. This innovative approach offers hope for a non-invasive and efficient diagnostic test for autism, expected to be available by the end of the year.
Read more:
How is the gut microbiome linked to autism?
Dr. Ng explains two primary differences in the gut microbiome of individuals with autism compared to neurotypical individuals. Firstly, individuals with autism tend to have reduced diversity in their gut microbiome, with fewer types of bacteria and viruses. Secondly, children with autism often have an abundance of pathogens in their gut, potentially contributing to their condition.
The ongoing research aims to determine whether interventions such as dietary modifications or probiotics can help improve gut diversity and health, potentially influencing autism symptoms. Early indications suggest that adjusting the microbiome can lead to symptom improvements in children with autism.
While promising, the research does not establish causation between gut biomarkers and autism. Clinical trials are underway to explore the potential of using stool samples as a diagnostic tool for autism in young children.
The study participants were predominantly Chinese, highlighting the need for further global studies to enhance diagnostic accuracy across diverse populations. Despite potential dietary influences, preliminary findings suggest consistent diagnostic performance regardless of dietary habits.
About our experts
Dr. Shu N, a Professor and Associate Dean at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, specializes in investigating the potential of gut microbiota for diagnosing and treating various diseases, including autism. Her research focuses on using microbial markers to predict disease risks and develop personalized interventions for improving health outcomes.
Elton John to perform at Glastonbury Festival in June 2023
Matt Crossic/Alamy
Hearing live music can be more moving than listening to a recording of the same song. This is because the parts of the brain associated with emotional processing become more active.
Sasha Frewholz from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, composed 12 pieces of music, each 30 seconds long. Half were written with the purpose of conveying negative emotions such as sadness or anger. These are slower than the rest of the songs, are less harmonious, contain more minor chords, and were written to evoke positive emotions.
They then recruited 27 people with no musical training and asked them to listen to these 12 songs twice. The first performance was performed by a live pianist, and the second performance was played to the participants as a recording.
The order of hearing was randomly assigned, with 30 seconds of silence in between. Participants did not know when they were listening to a recording or a live performance.
While listening to music, they lay in an MRI scanner so the team could monitor their brain activity. The pianist was told to adjust the volume and speed of the piece according to this activity. For example, if participants showed little activity in response to positive music, they may have played louder.
“Recorded music does not adapt to the listener's response, but live pianists often adapt their music to the audience to get the best response from the audience,” says Frewholz.
The researchers found that live performances of both negative and positive pieces consistently caused brain activation in the left amygdala, an area of the brain strongly associated with assigning sensory stimuli such as sounds to specific emotions. was found to lead to an increase in
The recorded songs, on the other hand, activated activity in the left amygdala much less and more inconsistently. This matched how emotionally participants rated each piece of music after the experiment.
The findings show that live music enhances our emotional responses, perhaps because of its free-flowing, dynamic nature, Fruhholz says.
The researchers hope to repeat the experiment with a larger audience in a concert setting. “When you go to a live concert, you're not alone,” Fruhholz says. “This intense emotional experience is also a social experience.”
Bitcoin is a digital currency that operates freely from central control. Rather than an authority like a bank or government tracking who owns what, Bitcoin relies on encryption.
So-called miners collect information about transactions and record them on a ledger called a blockchain. These miners perform a huge number of calculations with the aim of completing cryptographic problems, 0.69% of the world's electricity in the process. The first miner to solve this problem adds a collection (block) of transaction data to the blockchain.
You will also be rewarded with a certain amount of newly created Bitcoins. Bitcoin is built into the source code that writes and runs the network. Every 210,000 blocks, an event called a halving occurs where the size of the reward is reduced by 50%. This is intended to avoid inflation due to too many coins being created.
The first block ever mined gave a reward of 50 coins, which is now down to 6.25 coins after three halvings. The last halving was in May 2020.
When is the next Bitcoin halving?
The next Bitcoin halving is expected to occur around April 19th, reducing miners' rewards to 3.125 coins. The reward continues to decrease and disappears completely around 2140 after 21 million coins have been created. At that point, there are no new coins.
Why is it important?
For those who use Bitcoin to purchase goods and services or hold Bitcoin as an investment, nothing changes. The current Bitcoin pool will remain. However, for miners, the value of the rewards they receive will be significantly reduced.
This could lead some miners to close up shop if they decide the effort isn't worth the reward. But the reality is that mining economics are constantly changing, and the industry is likely to adapt and continue as it has always done.
More powerful computers are being created all the time that can perform mining calculations faster, making it easier to mine blocks. However, the feedback mechanism within Bitcoin's code constantly adapts to this by increasing or decreasing the difficulty of calculations depending on the total computer power currently allocated to mining. The purpose of Bitcoin's source code is that a new block is created approximately every 10 minutes, and the network adjusts to speed up or slow down as needed.
When Bitcoin was first launched in 2009, it was possible to mine coins almost instantly with even a basic computer. Nowadays, you need a room filled with powerful equipment, often high-end graphics cards and computationally proficient custom hardware.
What will happen to the price of Bitcoin?
The recent emergence of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), regulated financial products offered by large banks that offer an easier way to invest in Bitcoin, has been long anticipated and was expected to drive up prices. .Some analysts are now estimate Approximately 704,400 coins are already in the hands of the ETF.
There are currently two schools of thought regarding the effect of half-life. Some think the halving will give Bitcoin more impetus, causing the price to rise further, while others think the impact is already priced in. Regulatory approval for Bitcoin ETFs is by no means certain, but the halving is a certainty, so its impact may already be reflected in the price. But it's almost certain that halving won't double the price.
The wild price fluctuations that Bitcoin has experienced over the past few years have become less frequent, and metrics that track volatility seems to be on a downward trend. But at the end of the day, any discussion about Bitcoin's price is just speculation.
Perhaps many of us have attempted to reduce our waistline by watching our calorie intake or hitting the gym, only to find little success. Should we be doing things differently?
According to Dr. Andrew Jenkinson, a consultant bariatric surgeon at University College London Hospital and the author of “Why do we eat (overeating)?” and “How to eat (and still lose weight)”, losing weight has more to do with eating foods that manage levels of leptin hormone rather than focusing on calorie counting or exercise.
So what exactly is leptin, and how does it work? Dr. Jenkinson shared insights in a recent discussion with us about leptin, food consumption, and strategies to reduce appetite.
When it comes to the problem of obesity, Dr. Jenkinson views it as a major health and economic issue that could lead to the collapse of healthcare systems. He highlighted the prevalence of obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint problems, and an increased risk for cancer.
Leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells, regulates body weight by signaling the hypothalamus, the weight control center of the brain. However, certain foods can block leptin signals, such as sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods, which increase insulin levels and block leptin.
Dr. Jenkinson emphasized that the concept of calories alone is not an effective approach to weight loss. Instead of focusing on calorie counting, he suggested avoiding foods that negatively impact insulin, which can shift the weight set point downward without significant effort.
In terms of exercise, Dr. Jenkinson explained that intense exercise can burn calories, but it can also lead to increased hunger and decreased metabolic rate if not balanced with calorie restriction. He recommended a combined approach of calorie restriction and intense exercise to achieve effective weight loss.
This interview with Dr. Andrew Jenkinson has been edited for clarity and length.
Dr. Andrew Jenkinson is a Consultant in Bariatric (Weight Loss) and General Surgery at University College London Hospital and the author of “Why do we eat (overeating)?” and “How to eat (and still lose weight).”
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