Tag Archives: individual

Elon Musk Poised to Become the First Individual with a $500 Billion Net Worth

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Elon Musk was the first individual to achieve a net worth of $500 billion, placing Tesla’s CEO halfway in the wealth rankings.

Musk’s fortune dipped to $49.9 billion after briefly exceeding the $50 trillion mark on Wednesday. Forbes Billionaire List.

Owning 12% of Tesla, which is valued at over $1.5 trillion, Musk’s wealth has been positively impacted this year by a significant increase in the electric vehicle maker’s stock price.

Besides Tesla, the 54-year-old is also involved with SpaceX, the rocket company, where he holds a 42% ownership according to Pitchbook data.

Earlier this year, Tesla’s stock experienced a decline, affected by concerns regarding Musk’s focus amidst rising competition from Chinese manufacturers, falling sales, distractions from his other ventures, and a tumultuous relationship with Donald Trump. Analysts noted that Musk’s vocal support for Trump on X (the social media platform he owns) resonated with right-wing political sentiments.

However, Tesla’s stock has surged by 70% over the past six months as investor confidence improved and Musk redirected his attention back to the company. Since its inception in 2025, it has soared by 13%.

Last month, Tesla’s board president, Robin Denholm, remarked that Musk had returned to a “front and center” role in the company after months of distractions.

Shortly thereafter, Musk revealed he had acquired approximately $1 billion in shares, showcasing a strong belief in Tesla’s future as it transitions from a traditional automaker to a leader in AI and robotics.

The Tesla Board also proposed a $10 billion compensation plan for Musk last month, addressing his request for a larger stake while setting high financial and operational goals for the CEO.

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Despite this, Musk’s standing in the wealth rankings has been fluctuating. In September, Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, briefly surpassed Musk as the world’s richest person, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index.

Currently, Bloomberg lists Musk ahead of Ellison but estimates Musk’s wealth at $470 billion compared to Ellison’s $349 billion.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meet the Individual Linked to Four Deaths from Carnivorous Bacteria in Florida

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This year, four individuals in Florida have succumbed to a bacterial infection that can lead to “carnivorous” wounds, as reported by the State Health Department this month.

The culprit is the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus, which flourishes in warm seawater. The fatalities occurred in counties along the Gulf Coast, stretching from Bay County to Hillsboro County, encompassing much of Florida’s coastline.

According to the state health department, Florida has recorded 11 instances of Vibrio vulnificus this year. The bacteria can infiltrate the body through open skin wounds, leading to tissue death, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, consumption of contaminated food, especially raw oysters, can also result in infection. The exact means of infection for those affected in Florida remain unclear.

The CDC indicates that approximately one in five individuals infected with Vibrio vulnificus will die.

Antacarit Jutra, an engineering professor at the University of Florida, is investigating Vibrio bacteria and mentions that while infections are relatively uncommon, instances tend to rise following hurricanes. Last year, Florida reported a total of 82 cases, likely exacerbated by a “very active” hurricane season.

What is Vibrio vulnificus?

Rita Colwell, a microbiology professor at the University of Maryland, states that Vibrio vulnificus is among over 200 species of Vibrio bacteria.

Most Vibrio infections do not pose a threat to humans, Jutra notes. Some may only affect other animals.

Vibrio bacteria result in roughly 80,000 infections annually, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Most cases are gastrointestinal, with only 100-200 attributed to Vibrio vulnificus. Other Vibrio species, like Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus, usually cause gastrointestinal diseases, while Vibrio cholerae is responsible for cholera-related diarrhea.

Vibrio bacteria typically inhabit the southeastern coast of the United States where warm waters are prevalent, but they are also found along the west coast. As ocean temperatures rise, more cases have emerged further north in recent years, including areas like New York, Connecticut, and parts of Maryland, according to Jutla.

Who is at risk?

Dr. Norman Beatty, an infectious disease physician at the University of Florida Health, points out that Vibrio bacteria can enter through open wounds after exposure to salty or brackish water. While most cases he has encountered are linked to prolonged exposure, even short bouts can be sufficient.

Symptoms of infection may appear within just a few hours, including redness, swelling, and “bull” blisters at the site, which can be quite painful. If left untreated, the infection may spread into the bloodstream and lead to sepsis, which can be fatal. Symptoms of sepsis encompass fever, chills, and severe hypotension, as per the CDC.

Individuals with cirrhosis, weakened immune systems, and those over 65 years old are at the highest risk of infection, according to Jutla.

Antibiotics can effectively treat Vibrio vulnificus infections.

How to prevent vibrio infection

Beatty advises covering any open wounds before entering the ocean, noting that even waterproof band-aids can be effective.

If anyone suspects they have an infection, they should seek medical attention immediately, as delays can lead to severe complications.

“Late presentations to healthcare are often the reason some individuals experience more serious consequences than others,” he explains. “Those who present early with signs and symptoms of infection and receive antibiotics on the same day tend to fare better and avoid severe complications.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Elon Musk’s Feud with Trump Reveals the Risks of Concentrating Power in One Individual

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After a year of mutual admiration and affection, Elon Musk and Donald Trump dramatically severed their political ties this week. This notable split featured the world’s wealthiest individual accusing the President of the United States of having connections with notorious sex offenders. Trump remarked that Musk had “lost his heart.”

The fallout from their disagreement poses real threats, with both Musk and Trump publicly shaming each other on their respective social platforms. Trump hinted that all of Musk’s government contracts and subsidies could be scrapped – labeling it “The Best Way to Save Money,” a move that could have disastrous implications not just for tech billionaires, but also for federal agencies relying on them. In response, Musk announced that NASA would start withdrawing the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft from transport missions, though he later backtracked on this decision.

While their feud plays out like a sensational reality show, the confrontation between Trump and Musk highlights the dangers of entrusting vital public services to private companies led by unpredictable billionaires. It showcases how something once seen as a proud national endeavor, like space travel, can become jeopardized by the emotional whims of a single individual.

The previously cordial relationship sparked months of concerns about potential corruption and calls for investigations into how Tesla’s CEO could leverage his government ties for personal gain. This division illustrates the hazards of Musk’s deep entanglements with the government, where his services could become collateral damage in personal conflicts. Millions of dollars hang in the balance as their rivalry unfolds.

The chaotic manner in which this dispute is transpiring reminds us of the unpredictability of their actions. Musk’s SpaceX spacecraft and its commitments, if disrupted, could prevent the United States from promptly reaching the International Space Station.

“In response to the President’s statement about canceling my government contract, @Spacex will soon begin to abolish the Dragon Spacecraft,” Musk tweeted unexpectedly on Thursday.

“Good advice. Ok, we won’t abolish the Dragon,” Musk replied the next day, responding to an anonymous user with approximately 5,000 followers who suggested “we’ll calm down for a few days and take a step back.”

Had the Musk-Trump feud disrupted governmental operations or used them as political leverage, it wouldn’t have been unforeseen. Since Musk declined in 2023 to allow Ukraine to utilize Starlink in Crimea, the government has faced the harsher reality of relying on Musk’s global infrastructure, a precarious position in case of an unexpected attack on Russian forces. Musk’s assertion that he could disable Starlink almost led to a diplomatic incident earlier this year. Meanwhile, European authorities have recently rushed to seek alternatives to Starlink amid concerns over Musk’s erratic behavior.

Musk has positioned himself as an unpredictable global power broker, yet the U.S. continues to grant him contracts, further entrenching his corporate influence. Specifically, space operations have become synonymous with Musk.

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Since winning its first NASA contract in 2006, SpaceX has been awarded approximately $15 billion in government contracts, tasked with transporting astronauts and cargo into orbit. NASA has also contracted SpaceX for a mission to explore one of Saturn’s moons with a planned crewed endeavor. Last year, SpaceX was called upon to rescue two astronauts stranded on the ISS.

The government’s dependence on Musk extends beyond NASA. The Department of Defense maintains extensive contracts with Musk for launching intelligence satellites through SpaceX. The company has also emerged as the front runner in the Trump administration’s initiative to establish a “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, a priority for U.S. defense. Musk’s Starlink communications system has become integral to government operations, reaching the White House this year.

Musk remains a powerful figure in the market and among investors, as illustrated by the nearly 14% drop in Tesla’s share price during his fallout with Trump. Musk has indicated readiness to incur losses for his principles, and his immense wealth provides a buffer against major downturns in his business. The decline in Tesla’s shares on Thursday erased about $34 billion from his net worth in a single day, yet he remains the world’s richest person, with a margin exceeding $90 billion.

The significant reliance on Musk and the privatization of government functions have long drawn scrutiny from ethical watchdogs and industry specialists, but the current climate seems particularly precarious now that Musk has hinted at holding certain services hostage. This situation also highlights the consequences of the privatization initiatives that Musk supported during his tenure in the Trump administration. While Musk has firmly criticized bureaucracy, courts, and regulators as barriers to progress, they also serve as safeguards against the type of personal power and instability displayed by both him and Trump amid their escalating conflict.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists discover precise form of individual photon

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New research from the University of Birmingham examines the properties of photons (individual particles of light) in more detail than ever before.

Ben Yuen and Angela Demetriadou define the precise shape of a single photon. Image credit: Ben Yuen and Angela Demetriadou.

Professor Angela Demetriadou from the University of Birmingham said: “The geometry and optical properties of the environment have a significant impact on how photons are emitted, including defining their shape, color, and even the likelihood of their existence.” said.

The team's new research shows how photons are emitted by atoms and molecules and how they are shaped by their environment.

The nature of this interaction creates endless possibilities for light to exist and propagate, or travel, through the surrounding environment.

However, this infinite possibility makes modeling interactions extremely difficult, a challenge that quantum physicists have been grappling with for decades.

By grouping these possibilities into distinct sets, the authors explain not only the interaction between the photon and the emitter, but also how the energy from that interaction is transmitted far into the far field. I was able to create a model.

At the same time, they were able to use calculations to visualize the photons themselves.

“Our calculations have enabled us to transform a seemingly unsolvable problem into a computable problem,” said Dr. Benjamin Yuen from the University of Birmingham.

“And almost as a byproduct of the model, we were able to generate this image of a photon that physics had never seen before.”

This research is important because it opens new research avenues for quantum physicists and materials scientists.

Being able to precisely define how photons interact with matter and other elements of its environment allows scientists to discover ways to communicate securely, detect pathogens, control chemical reactions at the molecular level, and more. We can design new nanophotonics technologies that have the potential to change the world.

“This research will help us better understand the energy exchange between light and matter, which in turn will help us better understand how light radiates into nearby and distant environments,” Yuen said. Ta.

“A lot of this information used to be thought of as just noise, but there is so much information in it that we can now understand and use. .”

“By understanding this, we have established a foundation from which we can engineer light-matter interactions for future applications such as better sensors, improved photovoltaic cells, and quantum computing.”

of work Published in a magazine physical review letter.

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Ben Yuen and Angela Demetriadou. 2024. Precise quantum electrodynamics of synchrotron radiation environments. Physics. pastor rhett 133, 203604; doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.203604

Source: www.sci.news

A diminutive individual from Germany

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The newly discovered species, estimated to weigh about 10 kg, Bronius Manfredschmidyis the smallest known hominid.

Danubius GuggenmosThis ape lived in what is now Germany about 12 million years ago (Miocene epoch). Image courtesy of Velizar Simeonovski.

Bronius Manfredschmidy It lived 11.6 million years ago during the Late Miocene in what is now Bavaria, Germany.

This primate fossil is Hammerschmiedewhich is best known for the exceptional fossils of a previously known species, the hominidae. Danubius Guggenmos.

“Miocene hominoid remains became increasingly common in Europe from the Late Miocene onwards, shortly after becoming rare in Africa,” said Dr Madeleine Boehme from the University of Tübingen and her colleagues.

“Despite their frequency, abundance and, in three cases (Can Lobatelles, Hammerschmiede and Rudabánya), the exceptional abundance of well-preserved hominoid fossils, no European site has ever yielded more than one hominoid taxon.”

Bronius Manfredschmidy It is represented by the partial remains of two teeth and a patella, which differ from the others in size and shape. Danubius Guggenmos and all other known apes.

“The teeth and patella Bronius Manfredschmidy “Its size is close to that of a thylacine, so its weight is estimated to be around 10 kilograms,” the paleontologist said.

“in contrast, Danubius Guggemossi Regression analysis from multiple measurements of the femur and tibia allows for a calculated weight range of 17-31 kg, and using alternative reconstruction methods, 14.5-46.3 kg.”

Based on the fossil structure, the researchers speculate: Bronius Manfredschmidy They fed on soft foods such as leaves and were expert climbers.

These characteristics suggest that the new species had a lifestyle distinct from other species. Danubius Guggenmosare larger bodied species that feed on tougher foods.

“Enamel is Bronius Manfredschmidy “It is thinner than other European apes and more comparable to gorillas,” Dr Boehme said.

“Enamel is Danubius GuggenmosOn the other hand, the teeth are thicker than those of all related extinct species, nearly reaching the thickness of human enamel.”

“Variations in enamel thickness correspond to the shape of the chewing surface.”

” Bronius Manfredschmidy The enamel is smoother and has a stronger cutting edge. Danubius Guggenmos The teeth are jagged and have blunt tips.”

“this is, Bronius Manfredschmidy Eat the leaves Danubius Guggenmos He was an omnivore.”

These differences may have allowed the two species to share habitat without competing for resources, similar to modern gibbons and orangutans that share the same habitat in Borneo and Sumatra.

This is the first known example of a Miocene fossil site in Europe containing multiple ancient ape species, but the scientists suggest that further examples of this coexistence behaviour may be discovered by re-examining other similar sites.

“A new great ape from Hammerschmiede, Bronius Manfredschmidy“Weighting approximately 10 kg, this dinosaur is not only the smallest known crowned ape but also provides the first example of human symbiosis in Europe,” the authors say.

“Eat the leaves Bronius Manfredschmidy They shared their habitat with omnivorous, bipedal apes Danubius Guggenmos. “

Discovery Bronius Manfredschmidy It has been reported paper In the journal PLoS One.

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M. Boehme others. 2024. Bronius Manfredschmidy – A new miniature hominoid discovered from the early Late Miocene of Hammerschmiede (Bavaria, Germany). PLoS One 19(6):e0301002; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0301002

Source: www.sci.news

Physicists showcase novel technique for pinpointing 3D location of individual atoms

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Developed by a team of physicists from the University of Bonn and the University of Bristol, this new method makes it possible to precisely determine the position of atoms in 3D in a single image and is based on an original physical principle.

The different directions of rotation of the various “dumbbells” indicate that the atoms are in different planes. Image credit: Institute of Applied Physics, University of Bonn.

“If you have ever used a microscope to study plant cells in your biology class, you can probably recall a similar situation,” said Tanguy Legrand and colleagues at the University of Bonn.

“It's easy to see that a particular chloroplast is located above and to the right of the nucleus. But are they both on the same plane?”

“However, when we adjust the focus of the microscope, we find that the images of the nuclei become clearer, while the images of the chloroplasts become blurred.”

“One of them has to be a little higher than the other, and the other a little lower than the other. However, this method doesn't give you exact details about the vertical position.”

“The principle is very similar if you want to observe individual atoms rather than cells. So-called quantum gas microscopes can be used for this purpose.”

“This allows us to directly determine the x and y coordinates of atoms.”

“However, it is much more difficult to measure its z-coordinate, and thus its distance to the objective lens. To find out in which plane an atom lies, we need to take multiple images by moving the focus to various different planes. I need to take a picture of a plane. This is a complex and time-consuming process. ”

“We have developed a method that completes this process in one step,” Dr. Legrand said.

“To achieve this, we use an effect that was already known in theory since the 1990s but had not yet been used in quantum gas microscopy.”

To experiment with atoms, you must first cool them down significantly until they barely move.

It is then possible to confine them to a standing wave of laser light, for example.

The egg then slides into the trough of the waves so that it fits inside the egg box.

After being captured, it is exposed to an additional laser beam and stimulated to emit light to reveal its location.

The resulting fluorescence appears as slightly blurred round spots in quantum gas microscopy.

“We have now developed a special method to transform the wavefront of light emitted by atoms,” said Dr. Andrea Alberti, also from the University of Bonn.

“Instead of a typical round spot, the deformed wavefront produces a dumbbell shape on the camera, which rotates itself.”

“The direction this dumbbell points is determined by the distance light travels from the atom to the camera.”

Professor Dieter Meschede from the University of Bonn said: “The dumbbell acts like a compass needle, and depending on its direction we can read the Z coordinate.”

This new method could be used to develop new quantum materials with special properties.

“For example, we can find out what quantum mechanical effects occur when atoms are arranged in a particular order,” said physicist Dr Carrie Widener from the University of Bristol.

“This allows us to simulate the properties of three-dimensional materials to some extent without having to synthesize them.”

team's work It was published in the magazine Physical review A.

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Tanguy Legrand other. 2024. His three-dimensional imaging of single atoms in optical lattices by helical point spread function engineering. Physics. Rev.A 109 (3): 033304; doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.109.033304

Source: www.sci.news