The skeletal remains of the individual known as ‘Beachy Head Woman’ were rediscovered in 2012 within the collection of Eastbourne Town Hall. Since then, her story has garnered significant public interest. Radiocarbon dating reveals that she lived between 129 and 311 AD during the Roman occupation of Britain. Over the last decade, researchers have sought to uncover her geographic origins and ancestry. Initially believed to originate from sub-Saharan Africa or the Mediterranean, groundbreaking DNA research now indicates she shares strong genetic connections with the local population of Roman-occupied Britain and modern-day Britons.
A depiction of Beachy Head Woman’s face. Image credit: Face Lab, Liverpool John Moores University.
The journey of Beachy Head Woman began with her rediscovery in 2012, although uncertainty still surrounds her life. Radiocarbon dating placed her death between 129 and 311 AD, during the Roman occupation of Britain.
Analysis of her remains suggests she was aged between 18 and 25 at the time of death and stood just over 1.5 meters tall. A healed leg wound implies she endured a serious but non-fatal injury during her life.
Dietary analysis of her bones indicates a high seafood diet, revealing insights into her lifestyle.
“Using advanced DNA technology, we have made significant strides in uncovering the origins of this individual,” stated researcher Dr. William Marsh from the Natural History Museum in London.
“Our findings show that her genetic ancestry is most closely aligned with other individuals from the local population of Roman Britain,” he added.
The Beachy Head Woman’s remains were unearthed from a collection at Eastbourne Town Hall. Initial findings indicated that her skeleton was discovered at Beachy Head, a nearby geographic landmark, during the 1950s, though details of the excavation remain elusive.
Interest in Beachy Head Woman intensified when initial morphometric analyses suggested potential sub-Saharan African origins. This captivating narrative was exhibited at Eastbourne Museum, capturing widespread media attention.
In 2017, unpublished DNA findings implied a Mediterranean origin, possibly from Cyprus, rather than Africa. However, these conclusions are drawn from limited data, leaving many questions about Beachy Head Woman’s life unanswered.
“As our scientific knowledge continues to expand, it is our mission as researchers to seek further answers,” commented Dr. Selina Brace, also from the Natural History Museum in London.
“Thanks to technological advancements over the past decade since Beachy Head Woman’s reemergence, we are thrilled to share new comprehensive data and insights into her life,” she concluded.
For more details, you can refer to the team’s paper published this month in the Archaeology Journal.
_____
Andy Walton et al. Beachy Head Woman: Uncovering her origins using multi-proxy anthropological and biomolecular approaches. Archaeology Journal, published online on December 17, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106445
Scientists utilized the WISPR (Wide Field Imager for Solar Exploration) instrument on NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to capture stunning images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS between October 18 and November 5, 2025.
WISPR captures the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: NRL / NASA / JHUAPL / Guillermo Stenborg, JHUAPL.
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, 3I/ATLAS, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and A11pl3Z, originated from the constellation Sagittarius.
This remarkable interstellar comet approached Mars on October 3 at a distance of just 0.194 AU and reached its perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, on October 30.
On December 19, 3I/ATLAS made its nearest pass to Earth, coming within 270 million kilometers (168 million miles) of our planet.
The spectacular images of 3I/ATLAS were obtained by the WISPR instrument aboard NASA’s Parker Solar Probe during a critical observation window from October 18 to November 5.
“The Parker Solar Probe captured around 10 images of the comet daily,” stated WISPR team members.
“During this observation period, the spacecraft accelerated away from the Sun following its 25th solar flyby on September 15.”
“These initial images are currently undergoing calibration and processing, revealing the comet’s movement behind the Sun from Parker’s vantage point.”
“At that time, the comet was located about 209 million kilometers (130 million miles) from the Sun, just beyond Mars’ orbit.”
“These images offer a rare opportunity to study the comet when it was too close to the Sun for ground-based observations.”
The WISPR team is diligently working to finalize the data by eliminating stray light and adjusting for varying exposure times between images, enhancing the comet’s visibility.
“The final images will significantly advance our understanding of this intriguing interstellar visitor,” researchers concluded.
Sure! Here’s a rewritten version of the content while preserving the HTML tags:
DGDImages / Alamy Stock Photos
As I embarked on this story, I pondered whether my subject should be included in my research. I envisioned a striking introduction: “Meet the longest-living animal on Earth. And yes, it’s edible.”
The creature in question is a type of shellfish, namely the ocean quahog, best known for its role in dishes like spaghetti alle vongole. While they are quite tasty, considering the moral implications of harvesting and consuming our fellow beings, as well as the harmful impact on marine ecosystems, I came to realize it raises deeper issues. This extraordinary mollusk can live for over 500 years. Killing it for food seems unjust. Thus, I must alter my introduction: This is the world’s longest-living animal, and my objective is to unravel its mysteries.
If the ocean quahog, also referred to as the Icelandic cyprin, is unfamiliar to you, don’t fret; it isn’t exactly a household name. This sizable bivalve is found buried in sandy beaches all around the North Atlantic, from the warm coasts of Florida and Cadiz, Spain, to the frigid waters of Canada and Norway. If you’ve ever tasted clam chowder in the USA, you’ve likely encountered this species. Its shell showcases fine lines akin to a tree’s annual growth rings, allowing one to determine its age by counting them.
The oldest known specimen, named Hafrun—an Icelandic term that translates to “mystery of the sea”—was born in 1499. It led an unremarkable life, living modestly on a diet scavenged from the shores of Iceland, just as its ancestors had done for generations. Its long life, however, was anything but ordinary. Sadly, Hafrun’s existence came to an abrupt end in 2006 when a team from the University of Exeter, UK, retrieved it from the ocean for research on aging by chronologist Paul Butler. The study aimed to analyze bivalve shells to devise a timeline of the surrounding environment.
“Initially, we estimated its age to be slightly over 400 years. But after a more meticulous examination of its growth lines and comparisons with other shells, we realized it was actually 507 years old,” Butler revealed. It’s possible that even older specimens exist, especially in the colder waters around Iceland, where they tend to grow more slowly and live exceedingly longer. Is there a maximum age limit? “It’s astounding that they can survive for such an extended period,” Butler noted, embodying the enthusiasm of a true mathematician.
The longevity of the quahog seems to stem from its mitochondria—the tiny structures within our cells that convert food into energy. This applies to all eukaryotes, from yew trees and beetles to jellyfish and rabbits.
“Strong mitochondria, which Arctica islandica possesses, are vital for healthy aging across various model species,” comments Enrique Rodriguez, who studies mitochondria at University College London.
The mitochondria of quahogs exhibit enhanced resilience. Their membranes are sturdier than those of other species. These membranes house a protein apparatus that handles electrons and protons to produce ATP, the body’s universal energy currency. The quahog’s mitochondria are larger and more organized, making them even more durable. “Their proteins possess greater molecular weights and intricate structures,” Rodriguez adds. “They are interconnected more efficiently.”
This specialized structure allows the quahog to mitigate mitochondrial damage. It carefully orchestrates the countless protons and electrons that traverse these membranes every second. When electrons leak, they can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide, causing cellular harm. Rodriguez likens this process to cars stuck in traffic: in regular mitochondria, a red light up front triggers a back-up, resulting in exhaust emissions that harm the environment. Yet in quahog mitochondria, protein complexes (the traffic lights) facilitate smoother flow, resulting in diminished exhaust.
However, robust membranes are just part of what allows quahogs to enjoy lengthy lifespans. They also excel in eliminating the ROS they produce. Using Rodriguez’s analogy, this equates to cleaning a car’s exhaust.
A woman hunts quahogs on the Massachusetts coastline.
Boston Globe (via Getty Images)
Rodriguez compared the antioxidant abilities of the quahog to several of its short-lived relatives and found it had a notably superior capacity to eliminate ROS—3-14 times more effective. This finding aligns with the Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Theory of Aging, also seen in the extraordinary lifespans of other species like naked mole rats, which can live up to 40 years—over six times longer than rodents of comparable size.
Pierre Blier, a researcher focused on animal metabolism and aquaculture genetics at the University of Quebec, raises quahogs in labs to investigate longevity mechanisms. He adds that the ocean quahog showcases a remarkable capacity to buffer oxidants. “Their mitochondria are incredibly durable and resistant to ROS,” he states, supporting the MOSTA theory.
While this provides insights into how these creatures achieve such extended lifespans, it also raises questions about the “why.” In other words, what evolutionary pressures contributed to the development of such robust mitochondria?
A possible explanation lies in the low levels of oxygen in the environments where these clams thrive. “Naked mole rats can remain confined in their burrows for about a week without needing gills for oxygen,” Rodriguez observes. Mitochondria have adapted to endure low oxygen conditions (known as anoxia) for extended periods, subsequently requiring robustness to handle sudden oxygen influxes and the correlative spike in oxidative stress. This similar adaptability is evident in naked mole rats, as their subterranean habitats often have diminished oxygen levels. Rodriguez notes a like pattern in their mitochondrial resilience under both oxygen deprivation and subsequent reoxygenation stress, suggesting that selection pressure related to low oxygen could lead to increased longevity almost inadvertently.
“
My advice to live longer is to exercise, eat well, and take cold showers. “
The pressing question is whether we can bolster our own mitochondria. Back in 2005, a team at the University of California, Irvine, created transgenic mice with enhanced production of the “scavenging” antioxidant enzyme catalase in their mitochondria, extending their lifespans by around five months—a notable increase considering their average lifespan of two years. Although gene editing in human mitochondria is now feasible, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of how to safely extend lifespan, prompting the necessity for alternative methods.
Regular exercise is known to improve mitochondrial function. Interestingly, Tibetan Sherpas, who dwell at high altitudes, exhibit distinct mitochondrial characteristics compared to lowland dwellers. A 2017 study examining indigenous lowlanders and Sherpas attempting to climb Mount Everest Base Camp, situated roughly 5,300 meters above sea level, found that Sherpas demonstrated superior oxygen utilization and greater defenses against oxidative stress—attributed to their stronger mitochondria, with genetic foundations for these traits.
Blier argues that Arctica islandica offers valuable insights into longevity. “To enhance your lifespan, focus on your mitochondria: engage in regular exercise, maintain a balanced diet, and incorporate cold showers… Cold showers seem to invoke mitochondrial quality control mechanisms.”
If it works for quahogs…
topic:
This maintains the structure and HTML formatting while rephrasing the content to convey the same ideas in different words.
<p>Meet our central figure: a female polar bear. Driven southward by retreating Arctic ice, she journeyed deep into Canada's Northwest Territories. There, she encountered a pair of striking grizzly bears, and fell in love with both. From these unions, she gave birth to three daughters known as "growler bears" and a son, marking the inception of an extraordinary lineage echoing Shakespearean drama.</p>
<p>The next chapter took an unexpected turn. When one of her daughters matured, she mated with her biological father and another grizzly, her stepfather, resulting in a litter of four—siblings, children, and cousins all at once.</p>
<p>In 2006, a hunter in the Canadian Arctic produced a hybrid specimen with both polar and grizzly traits. Later genetic evaluation confirmed this was a growler, part of this emerging hybrid family. A decade later, scientists were intrigued to observe unusual behaviors among these creatures. Typically, hybrids are not fertile, yet these were. Researchers began to ponder whether this heralded a new apex predator for the Arctic. Could these hybrids exemplify resilience in the face of climate change, or signal impending ecological crises? Current studies promise further insights.</p>
<p>As global temperatures increase, the Arctic warms four times quicker than the rest of the globe, pushing polar bears (<em>Ursus maritimus</em>) south in search of sustenance. Their primary diet of fatty seals hinges on sea ice, which is disappearing rapidly, forcing them inland. They frequently encounter their brown bear relatives, the grizzly bear (<em>Ursus arctos horribilis</em>), which is edging northward. Warmer Arctic conditions enhance hunting and breeding opportunities, boosting hybrid occurrences, including growlers and "pizzly bears" (polar bear fathers and grizzly mothers). Some researchers express concern that polar genes may infiltrate grizzly populations, jeopardizing polar bear survival.</p>
<p>Yet, the discovery of the Grolar lineage hints at a more optimistic scenario: polar bears might be adapting to a rapidly changing environment. Recorded growlers exhibit traits of gray-brown polar bears, with slightly larger limbs and skulls reminiscent of grizzlies. These hybrids might exploit a broader diet on land, potentially allowing them to forage without relying on diminishing sea ice. Larissa DeSantis, a paleontologist at Vanderbilt University, notes that these adaptations could be a bittersweet necessity amid rising temperatures, as discussed in a <a href="https://www.livescience.com/pizzly-bear-hybrids-created-by-climate-crisis.html">2021 interview.</a></p>
<section></section>
<h2>One Happy Family</h2>
<p>However, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12686-024-01359-1">extensive genomic research</a> presented in a recent book reveals alternative insights. In a study led by <a href="https://www.macewan.ca/academics/academic-departments/biological-sciences/our-people/profile/?profileid=millerj253">Joshua Miller</a> at MacEwan University, researchers uncovered that genetic sequences of 371 polar bears, 440 grizzlies, and the Grolar clan showed no other hybrids in nature apart from the known Grolars. The rarity of this mating pattern has led experts to conclude that hybrids may lack the essential skills required for survival in either parent's ecosystem. Recent studies corroborate that hybrids may be unfit for Arctic life, lacking polar bears' specialized "non-slip" foot structure and not fully inheriting grizzlies’ powerful forelimbs and shoulders. Essentially, Growlers and Pizzlies are suboptimal versions of both bears rather than well-adapted hybrids.</p>
<p><figure class="ArticleImage"><div class="Image__Wrapper"><img class="Image" alt="Two pizzly bears in a stream at the zoo" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=400 400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=500 500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=600 600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=700 700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=800 800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=837 837w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=900 900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1003 1003w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1100 1100w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1300 1300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1400 1400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1500 1500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1600 1600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1674 1674w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1700 1700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1800 1800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=1900 1900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152243/SEI_273018522.jpg?width=2006 2006w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2503195" data-caption="Pizzly bears in a German zoo, born from a polar bear father and grizzly mother in the same enclosure." data-credit="Molly Merrow"/></div><figcaption class="ArticleImageCaption" wp_automatic_readability="27"><div class="ArticleImageCaption__CaptionWrapper" wp_automatic_readability="34"><p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Pizzly Bear Born from a Polar Bear Father and Grizzly Mother</p><p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Molly Merrow</p></div></figcaption></figure></p>
<p>Short-term, such hybrids may remain uncommon, with new species unlikely. However, what about the long-term evolutionary prospects for polar bears? Insights from the past might illuminate the future. The habitats of polar and brown bears once coexisted during the Pleistocene epoch, defined by recurring glaciation over the last 2.6 million years. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz discovered that brown bears currently inhabit three Alaskan islands. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23516372/">During that time, gradual male brown bear mating with local polar bear populations resulted in hybridization.</a> If this pattern recurs, the polar bear species could face extinction, leaving only grizzly bears.</p>
<p>However, the Pleistocene was characterized by gradual environmental changes and slow adaptation. Today’s climate change, driven by human activity, is happening at an unprecedented pace, potentially leading us down an alternate path. “The far more significant threat to polar bears today is the loss of ice habitat due to climate change, occurring much more swiftly than any concerns related to hybridization,” states Fiona Galbraith, a geneticist and climate change consultant currently leading a natural habitat expedition into the Canadian Arctic.</p>
<p><figure class="ArticleImage"><div class="Image__Wrapper"><img class="Image" alt="Icebergs are melting at the North Pole" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=400 400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=500 500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=600 600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=700 700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=800 800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=837 837w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=900 900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1003 1003w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1100 1100w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1300 1300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1400 1400w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1500 1500w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1600 1600w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1674 1674w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1700 1700w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1800 1800w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=1900 1900w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/05152237/SEI_273019037.jpg?width=2006 2006w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2503193" data-caption="The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet" data-credit="Adisha Pramod/Alamy"/></div><figcaption class="ArticleImageCaption" wp_automatic_readability="26"><div class="ArticleImageCaption__CaptionWrapper" wp_automatic_readability="32"><p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">The Arctic is Warming Four Times Faster Than the Rest of the Planet</p><p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Adisha Pramod / Alamy</p></div></figcaption></figure></p>
<p>In conclusion, while the Grolar dynasty is fascinating, it serves as a harbinger of ecological distress on Earth. Similar <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10674025/">climate-induced mating</a> has been documented elsewhere, including a **bobcat-lynx hybrid** in North America and the emergence of the **coywolf**, resulting from interbreeding between coyotes and eastern wolves. Like Arctic bears, these hybrids are born from habitat disruption caused by rapidly changing environments. Their ability to adapt is situation-dependent; many hybrids struggle to thrive in new areas, often leading to biodiversity loss and eventual ecosystem collapse. "When both species fulfil similar roles in their ecosystems, increased contact and interbreeding can occur without significantly affecting ecological functions," shares <a href="https://polarbearsinternational.org/what-we-do/our-team/">John Whiteman</a> from Polar Bears International. Neglecting this could lead to dire consequences. For instance, while grizzly bears frequently leave carrion for scavengers, polar bears do not, posing hazards to food webs and disease dynamics.</p>
<p>Reflecting on our initial question about the Grolar dynasty as the next chapter in polar bear evolution, the resounding answer is a grim "no." This phenomenon showcases not adaptation but the tragic decline of a species amid drastic environmental fluctuations. However, this festive season, let’s contemplate the potential for a different outcome, where polar bear tracks continue to mark the Northern landscapes for winters yet to come. It hinges on our actions.</p>
<section class="ArticleTopics" data-component-name="article-topics"><p class="ArticleTopics__Heading">Topic:</p></section>
The Hubble team has unveiled breathtaking new images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This marks only the third instance of such a comet being observed.
This image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was captured by Hubble on November 30, 2025. At that time, the comet was around 286 million kilometers (178 million miles) from Earth. Image credits: NASA / ESA / STScI / D. Jewitt, UCLA / M.-T. Hui, Shanghai Observatory / J. DePasquale, STScI.
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, 3I/ATLAS is a remarkable interstellar comet.
At the time of its discovery, the comet had a heliocentric distance of 4.51 astronomical units (AU) and an eccentricity of 6.13.
This object, also referred to as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and A11pl3Z, approaches from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, traveling at an impressive radial velocity of about 58 km (36 miles) per second.
3I/ATLAS passed near Mars at a distance of 0.194 AU on October 3 and reached its closest encounter with the Sun, known as perihelion, on October 30.
On March 16, 2026, this interstellar visitor will approach Jupiter at a distance of 0.357 astronomical units.
“Hubble tracked a comet across the sky,” they stated.
“As a result, the background stars appear as streaks of light.”
“Hubble had previously observed 3I/ATLAS in July, shortly after its discovery, and several NASA missions have also studied the comet since then.”
“Observations are expected to persist for several more months as 3I/ATLAS journeys out of the solar system.”
“This image displays a teardrop-shaped glowing halo extending toward the sun,” stated Harvard University Professor Avi Loeb about the new Hubble images.
“This extension of the tail toward the sun was also noticeable in the pre-perihelion Hubble images taken on July 21, where 3I/ATLAS was approaching the Sun from a distance 56% greater than that of Earth.”
“The new radius of the glow is estimated to be around 40,000 km (24,855 miles), with its retro tail extension reaching approximately 60,000 km (37,282 miles).”
“In recent papers, I suggested that the coma teardrops in the 3I/ATLAS post-perihelion images are linked to numerous macroscopic non-volatile objects that have separated from the Sun due to measurements of non-gravitational accelerations moving away from the Sun,” he elaborated.
“I predicted that if the object overlapped with 3I/ATLAS at perihelion, by November 30th, the swarm would be about 60,000 km closer to the Sun than 3I/ATLAS.”
“This separation aligns perfectly with the teardrop-shaped anti-caudal extension visible in the new Hubble image.”
If you’ve been active on TikTok lately, you might be familiar with the concept of bird inspection. In this test, one partner casually mentions something, like observing a bird outside, to gauge if the other is engaged. An enthusiastic response signals a positive connection; lack of interest might indicate underlying issues. It’s amusing, relatable, and resonates with many. This viral phenomenon reflects something intrinsic to relationships, as psychologists recognize the significance behind it.
For years, relationship scholars have maintained that love is found in these small interactions. We refer to these daily connections as “bids”: sharing a laugh, narrating a story, or simply saying, “Look at that!” Psychologist John Gottman conducted classic studies with newlyweds, revealing that partners strive for the low bid for connection. Other longitudinal research indicates that couples with more assertive responses during disagreements are more likely to remain stable and satisfied in the long term.
Additional studies highlight that responses in everyday moments significantly affect relationship health. For instance, research on newlyweds has shown that couples exhibit heightened playfulness and enthusiasm during brief dinner interactions, showcasing more humor and affection during discussions of conflicts. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that partners perceived as sensitive and affirming tend to become more physically affectionate over time, fostering intimacy through minor everyday gestures.
Ultimately, these small expressions of gratitude function as the adhesive in relationships. The bird test cleverly encapsulates a fundamental truth: small gestures of acknowledgment are significant. While each may feel inconsequential in isolation, their cumulative effect builds positive momentum, sustaining satisfaction and resilience in relationships.
However, isolating specific moments, especially those showcased on social media, can oversimplify relationship evaluations. The bird test transforms intricate dynamics into simple pass/fail moments, potentially leading to unnecessary worries and misplaced confidence. Partners might miss bids for reasons unrelated to commitment—perhaps they are fatigued, under stress, or simply disengaged. Misinterpreting fleeting moments as definitive judgments can lead to harmful conclusions: “They ignored the bird! Do they even love me?” Even worse, it can become a manipulation tool: “You didn’t respond. You aren’t attentive to me.” One-off reactions on an arbitrary day should not define the essence of a relationship.
The pressing question is why such “testing” has gained traction. In addition to bird inspections, we’ve witnessed a rise in activities like the orange peel theory—”Will your partner peel an orange without prompting?”—and the moon phase test, which claims to measure romantic compatibility based on birthdays and lunar cycles.
One reason for this trend may stem from the fluctuating landscape of dating. Dating apps provide an overwhelming array of potential partners, but research indicates that excessive options can make commitment feel riskier and less secure. This uncertainty impacts the formation of relationships, introducing ambiguity in expectations and leaving partners guessing about their feelings. A quick bird test offers immediate feedback—a fleeting visual cue followed by a simple answer.
Another factor is that, despite relationship science gaining popularity, its complexity has been lost. Nuanced insights from extensive observational studies are reduced to simple TikTok phrases: “Did they notice the bird?” At the same time, social media prioritizes highly emotional content, whether heartwarming or heart-wrenching snippets caught on camera. This attention economy encourages individuals to transform genuine relationships into public trials. In this context, viral tests flourish, providing dramatic, recordable moments of validation that can be shared and scrutinized.
So, what should couples take away from this trend? Bird testing, while playful, underscores the importance of responsiveness when a partner reaches out, even in minor ways, as the backbone of a healthy relationship. If this phenomenon inspires more curiosity, attention, and appreciation, then it can be viewed as a positive development. However, instead of asking, “Did my partner succeed in this test?” a more beneficial inquiry would be, “What patterns have emerged in our relationship? Are they consistently present? Do they feel acknowledged and valued?” Love is not defined by one solitary act, bird, or orange, but by the countless small moments when partners choose to be there for each other behind the scenes.
Despite everything, I must admit that for the sake of research, I may just have my husband partake in the bird test tonight. Wishing him the best of luck!
Emily Impett is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and director of the Institute for Human Relations and Happiness at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Her research explores sacrifice, sexuality in long-term relationships, and changes within relationships.
Exercise reduces cancer cell size in mice—possibly applicable to humans
Alfredas Pliadis/Xinhua News Agency/Alamy
Exercise has the potential to slow tumor development in mice by altering metabolic pathways, enabling muscle cells to absorb glucose instead of cancer cells for growth. This may also occur in humans.
While it’s established that exercise lowers cancer risk and healthier individuals generally have better cancer survival rates, the underlying mechanisms are still being explored. Notably, some benefits of exercise appear linked to changes in gut microbiota and the immune system.
To examine another possible pathway, Rachel Perry and her colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine conducted an experiment on 18 mice injected with breast cancer cells. Twelve of these mice were given an obesity-inducing diet, known to accelerate various cancers. Half of the group was also equipped with a running wheel to exercise as desired.
After four weeks, tumors in the exercising obese mice were found to be 60% smaller compared to their non-exercising counterparts, and were slightly smaller than tumors in sedentary mice fed a standard diet. The study revealed that just 30 minutes of exercise led to an increase in oxygen and glucose uptake in skeletal and cardiac muscles, with a corresponding decrease in glucose assimilation by tumors.
“This research demonstrates that aerobic fitness significantly alters the metabolic rivalry between muscle and tumor,” states Perry. “Crucially, the exercise was voluntary—these mice weren’t being forced to run like marathon athletes; they exercised as per their preference.”
The scientists evaluated gene expression and identified changes in 417 genes associated with vital metabolic pathways in mice due to exercise. This indicates that muscle tissue utilizes more glucose while tumor tissue absorbs less.
Specifically, a reduction in mTOR, a protein pivotal for cancer cell proliferation, shows potential for limiting tumor expansion, according to the researchers.
Perry anticipates that these metabolic patterns, which are similar across mammals, may extend to humans, even those without obesity. In fact, analogous gene activity shifts during exercise have been documented in cancer patients.
“This points to another mechanism illustrating how exercise fosters a cancer-suppressive environment,” mentions Rob Newton from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia. “We need to conduct clinical trials in humans, as there’s no clear reason to suspect it wouldn’t produce similar outcomes.”
Perry emphasizes that metabolism encompasses all tissues and is influenced by both the microbiome and immune responses. “These metabolic adaptations may bridge the connections between exercise, the microbiome, the immune system, and tumor progression,” she explains. “However, I’d be surprised if the positive implications of exercise stemmed from a single mechanism.”
This discussion also sheds light on why lower muscle mass heightens cancer mortality risk, as observed by Newton. “If your muscles preferentially absorb glucose, increasing muscle mass and regularly activating your muscles could yield significant advantages.”
He believes it’s crucial to view exercise not just as a lifestyle change but as an adjunctive anti-cancer intervention alongside other treatments. “Identifying primary environmental contributors to cancer is key, and we must formulate specific strategies to address them,” Newton concludes. “While enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness is beneficial, if a patient presents with notably low muscle mass, that should be prioritized with strength training.”
Domestic cats trace their lineage back to North African wildcats
Maria Boyko/Alamy
Research indicates that domestic cats originated in North Africa, subsequently dispersing to Europe and East Asia over the last 2000 years, a timeline earlier estimates had not suggested.
The domestic cat (Felis catus) has its roots in the African wildcat (Felis lybica lybica) and is now present on every continent apart from Antarctica.
Prior studies proposed that domestic cats might have first appeared in the Levant, potentially arriving in Europe around 9600 BC.
Claudio Ottoni, a professor at Tor Vergata University in Rome, along with his team, examined 225 ancient cat remains from around 100 archaeological sites across Europe and present-day Turkey. This research yielded 70 ancient genomes that spanned over 10,000 years, dating from the 9th millennium BC to the 19th century AD. They also investigated museum specimens and 17 modern ocelot genomes from Italy, Bulgaria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
The oldest genetically identified cat from this research was sourced from Sardinia and dated to the second century AD, categorized as an African wildcat or domestic cat. All early European specimens were genetically determined to be European wildcats (Felis silvestris).
This research implies that the spread of domestic cats occurred significantly later than previously believed.
Ottoni emphasized that Mediterranean civilizations during the first millennium BC played a crucial role in the relocation of African wildcats, involving at least two genetically distinct populations. One group likely consisted of wildcats introduced to Sardinia from northwest Africa, establishing the current wildcat population on the island, while the other formed the genetic basis of modern domestic cats.
“Initially, during the domestication phase, cats likely adapted well to human surroundings,” he explains. “Their ecological flexibility enabled them to thrive. They have coexisted with humans in various urban and suburban areas and even traveled with them over great distances, showcasing their evolutionary success.”
Leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) cohabited with humans in ancient China
Tuchart Duando/Getty Images
In a related study, Luo Shujing and her team from Peking University investigated 22 sets of feline remains from China, dating back over 5,000 years, while analyzing genomes from 130 modern and ancient Eurasian cat specimens. They identified a different wildcat species, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), which is native to East Asia.
“These cats were likely drawn to human settlements due to the abundance of rodents, but they were never genuinely domesticated,” states Luo.
The findings show that true domestic cats made their way to China significantly later, around 1,300 years ago during the Tang Dynasty. Genomic data connects these cats to those originating from the Middle East and Central Asia, suggesting they arrived in China via the Silk Road through traders.
Despite a relationship that lasted over 3,500 years, leopard cats were ultimately never domesticated and reverted to their natural habitats, according to Luo.
“We often get inquiries from the public about whether it’s feasible to keep these adorable ocelots as pets, particularly if raised from youth,” she remarks. “My straightforward response is: Forget it. Our ancestors tried for over 3,000 years and didn’t succeed.”
Cairo and Alexandria, the forerunners of ancient science: Egypt
Set off on an extraordinary journey through Cairo and Alexandria, two of Egypt’s hallmark cities, where the allure of ancient history intertwines with modern vibrancy.
Thanks to data gathered by the Color Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on board ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft orbiting Mars, scientists have enhanced the predicted location of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by a factor of 10.
This image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was captured on October 3, 2025, by the CaSSIS instrument aboard ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter. Image credit: ESA/TGO/CaSSIS.
3I/ATLAS was discovered on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System) telescope located in Rio Hurtado, Chile.
Prior to September, researchers depended on Earth-based telescopes to track the positions and orbits of interstellar comets.
From October 1 to 7, TGO concentrated on 3I/ATLAS from its orbit around Mars.
The comet came relatively close to Mars, achieving a distance of roughly 29 million km at its closest approach on October 3.
The Mars rover observed 3I/ATLAS from approximately 10 times closer than Earth telescopes and from a fresh vantage point.
By triangulating data from TGO/CaSSIS and Earth-based observations, scientists significantly improved the accuracy of the comet’s predicted trajectory.
Initial expectations were for a modest improvement, but the findings revealed an impressive tenfold increase in precision.
“Utilizing data from the Mars rover made it challenging to refine the interstellar comet’s path through space,” stated TGO team members.
“The CaSSIS instrument is crafted to provide high-resolution observations of the nearby Martian surface.”
“This time, the camera was directed high above Mars, capturing the minute, distant 3I/ATLAS streaking across the star-filled sky.”
Planetary Defense Team Astronomer from ESA’s Near Earth Object Coordination Center was already adept at determining asteroid and comet orbits, necessitating consideration of the spacecraft’s unique position.
“Generally, orbital observations are conducted from fixed terrestrial observatories, but occasionally from spacecraft in near-Earth orbit, such as the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope or the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope,” the researchers noted.
“Astronomers excel at factoring in the positions of celestial bodies to ascertain their future positions, known as ephemerides.”
“In this instance, the accuracy of the 3I/ATLAS ephemeris—especially its predictions—relied on accounting for the precise location of TGO, including Mars and its rapid orbit around it.”
“Achieving this required a collaborative effort from various ESA teams and partners, ranging from flight mechanics to science and instrumentation.”
To attain the highest possible accuracy, we needed to address challenges and nuances typically overlooked and minimize margins as much as we could.
Research led by scientist Hannah Long at the University of Edinburgh has found that specific regions of Neanderthal DNA are more effective at activating genes responsible for jaw development than those in humans, potentially explaining why Neanderthals had larger lower jaws.
Neanderthal. Image credit: Natural History Museum Trustees.
“With the Neanderthal genome being 99.7% identical to that of modern humans, the variations between species are likely to account for differences in appearance,” Dr. Hanna stated.
“Both human and Neanderthal genomes consist of roughly 3 billion characters that code for proteins and regulate gene expression in cells. Identifying the regions that influence appearance is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.”
Dr. Long and her team had a targeted approach, focusing on a genomic area linked to the Pierre Robin sequence, a condition marked by an unusually small mandible.
“Individuals with the Pierre Robin sequence often have significant deletions or rearrangements in this portion of the genome that affect facial development and restrict jaw formation,” Dr. Hanna explained.
“We hypothesized that minor differences in DNA could produce more nuanced effects on facial structure.”
Upon comparing human and Neanderthal genomes, researchers discovered that in this segment, approximately 3,000 letters long, there are only three one-letter variations between the species.
This DNA region doesn’t code for genes but regulates when and how certain genes, particularly SOX9, which plays a crucial role in facial development, are activated.
To confirm that these Neanderthal-specific differences were significant for facial development, scientists needed to demonstrate that the Neanderthal version could activate genes in the appropriate cells at the right developmental stage.
They introduced both Neanderthal and human versions of this region into zebrafish DNA and programmed the cells to emit different colors of fluorescent protein based on the activation of either region.
By monitoring zebrafish embryo development, researchers observed that cells responsible for forming the lower jaw were active in both human and Neanderthal regions, with the Neanderthal regions showing greater activity.
“It was thrilling when we first noticed the activity of specific cell populations in the developing zebrafish face, particularly near the forming jaw, and even more exhilarating to see how Neanderthal-specific variations could influence activity during development,” said Dr. Long.
“This led us to contemplate the implications of these differences and explore them through experimental means.”
Recognizing that Neanderthal sequences were more effective at activating genes, the authors questioned whether this would lead to enhanced target activity affecting the shape and function of the adult jaw, mediated by SOX9.
To validate this idea, they augmented zebrafish embryos with additional samples of SOX9 and discovered that cells involved in jaw formation occupied a larger area.
“Our lab aims to further investigate the effects of genetic differences using methods that simulate various aspects of facial development,” Dr. Long remarked.
“We aspire to deepen our understanding of genetic variations in individuals with facial disorders and improve diagnostic processes.”
“This study demonstrates how examining extinct species can enhance our knowledge of how our own DNA contributes to facial diversity, development, and evolution.”
The findings are published in the journal Development.
_____
Kirsty Utley et al. 2025: Neanderthal-derived variants enhance SOX9 enhancer activity in craniofacial progenitor cells, influencing jaw development. Development 152 (21): dev204779; doi: 10.1242/dev.204779
Scientist Hannah Long and her team at the University of Edinburgh have discovered that specific regions of Neanderthal DNA are more effective at activating genes related to jaw formation compared to human DNA, which might explain why Neanderthals had larger lower jaws.
Neanderthal. Image credit: Natural History Museum Trustees.
“The Neanderthal genome shows a 99.7% similarity to the human genome, suggesting that the differences between the species contribute to variations in appearance,” explained Dr. Hanna.
“Both the human and Neanderthal genomes comprise around 3 billion characters that code for proteins and regulate gene usage in cells. Therefore, pinpointing regions that affect appearance is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.”
Dr. Long and her collaborators had a targeted hypothesis regarding where to initiate their search. They focused on a genomic area linked to the Pierre Robin sequence, a condition characterized by a notably small jaw.
“Some individuals with Pierre Robin sequence exhibit significant deletions or rearrangements in this genomic region that disrupt facial development and impede jaw formation,” stated Dr. Hanna.
“We speculated that minor variations in DNA could subtly influence facial shape.”
Through the comparison of human and Neanderthal genomes, researchers identified that in a segment approximately 3,000 letters long, there are just three one-letter differences between the two species.
This DNA segment lacks any specific genes but regulates the timing and manner in which genes, particularly SOX9, a crucial factor in facial development processes, are activated.
To demonstrate the significance of these Neanderthal-specific differences for facial development, researchers needed to confirm that the Neanderthal region could activate genes in the correct cells at the appropriate developmental stage.
They introduced both Neanderthal and human variants of this region into zebrafish DNA concurrently and programmed the cells to emit different colors of fluorescent protein based on whether the human or Neanderthal region was active.
By monitoring zebrafish embryo development, researchers observed that the cells crucial for lower jaw formation were active in both regions, with the Neanderthal regions showing greater activity than those of humans.
“We were thrilled when we first detected the activity in a specific group of cells within the developing zebrafish face, near the jaw, and even more so when we realized that Neanderthal-specific differences could modify this activity during development,” Dr. Long noted.
“This led us to ponder the potential implications of these differences and how we may explore them experimentally.”
Recognizing that Neanderthal sequences were more adept at activating genes, the authors inquired whether this would correlate with heightened activity in target cells, influencing the shape and function of the adult jaw as governed by SOX9.
To test this hypothesis, they administered additional samples to zebrafish embryos. They found that the cells involved in jaw formation occupied a larger area.
“In our lab, we aim to investigate the effects of additional DNA sequence differences using methods that replicate aspects of facial development,” Dr. Long said.
“We aspire to enhance our understanding of sequence alterations in individuals with facial disorders and assist with diagnostic efforts.”
“This research illustrates that by examining extinct species, we can gain insights into how our own DNA contributes to facial variation, development, and evolution.”
Findings are detailed in the journal Developmenthere.
_____
Kirsty Utley et al. 2025: Variants derived from Neanderthals enhance SOX9 enhancer activity in craniofacial progenitor cells that shape jaw development. Development 152 (21): dev204779; doi: 10.1242/dev.204779
Karo people overlooking the Omo River Valley in Ethiopia
Michael Honegger/Alamy
Here’s a snippet from Our Human Story, a newsletter focusing on advancements in archaeology. Subscribe to receive it monthly in your inbox.
On the eastern shores of Lake Turkana in Kenya lies Namorotuknan Hill, where a river once flowed but has since dried up. The area features a dry landscape with sparse shrubbery.
Between 2013 and 2022, a team of researchers led by David Brown from George Washington University excavated clay layers adjacent to the river. Their findings included 1,290 stone tools crafted by ancient humans, dating back between 2.44 and 2.75 million years. They reported their discoveries in Nature Communications last week.
The tools belong to the Oldowan type, which are prevalent in various regions of Africa and Eurasia. These items are among the oldest Oldowan tools ever found.
Brown and his team noted a remarkable consistency in the tools’ design. Despite spanning 300,000 years, the creators displayed a preference for specific rock types, indicating a reliable and habitual approach to tool-making rather than isolated incidents.
The tools from Namorotuknan represent yet another significant discovery from the Omo Turkana Basin, a key site for understanding human origins.
Basins, Cradles, and Rifts
Since the 1960s, the Omo Turkana Basin has served as a focal point for human evolution research.
It stretches from the sandy beaches of southern Ethiopia, where the Omo River flows southward into Lake Turkana—one of the world’s longest lakes, extending deep into Kenya. The Türkwel and Kerio rivers also flow into its southern reaches.
Various fossil-rich locations pepper the basin. On the lake’s western side is the Nachukui Formation, while the Kobi Fora is situated on the east. Additional archaeological sites include the Usno Formation near Omo in the north and Kanapoi near Kerio in the south.
Map of fossil and tool sites in the Omo Turkana Basin
François Marchal et al. 2025
Led by François Marchal, a team from France’s Aix-Marseille University has compiled all known human fossil findings from the Omo Turkana Basin into a database. They detailed these patterns in the Human Evolution Journal, offering a snapshot of historical paleoanthropological research and a wealth of knowledge about human evolution.
Research in the Omo Turkana Basin began with early expeditions led by a collaborative French, American, and Kenyan team, including notable figures such as Camille Aramboul, Yves Coppens, F. Clark Howell, and Richard Leakey. Leakey also spearheaded explorations in the eastern Koobi Fora and western sites like Nachukwi.
Richard Leakey was a pivotal figure in the study of human evolution during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. He is part of a family legacy in paleoanthropology, being the son of Louis and Mary Leakey, renowned for their groundbreaking work in the Oldupai Valley, Tanzania; his daughter Louise continues the exploration of human evolution.
Research on the Omo Turkana Basin transcends individual contributions. Marchal’s team collected a substantial 1,231 hominin specimens from around 658 individuals, accounting for about one-third of all known hominin remains across Africa.
Alongside the Great Rift Valley of East Africa—encompassing places like the Oldupai Gorge and the Cradle of Humanity in South Africa—the Omo Turkana Basin ranks as one of Africa’s richest hominid fossil sites.
Discovery
To the north, near the Omo River, researchers have uncovered some of the earliest Homo sapiens remains on record. At Omo Kibishu, two skull fragments and several bones were found, along with numerous teeth. Ongoing studies reveal these remains date back significantly further than initially believed, once estimated at 130,000 years, later revised to 195,000 years ago, and a subsequent analysis in 2022 indicated they could be at least 233,000 years old. Of all discovered, only the fossils from Morocco’s Jebel Irhoud are older, dating back to about 300,000 years.
The fossils from Omo Kibishu and Jebel Irhoud significantly deepen our understanding, suggesting that our species may have been evolving far earlier than the previously accepted timeline of around 200,000 years.
This trend also extends to the Homo genus, encompassing various groups like Homo erectus and Neanderthals. Determining which branch of Homo originated first remains complex—although records regarding Homo are sparse before 2 million years ago, they become increasingly elusive as one goes further back.
By meticulously analyzing fossils from the Omo Turkana Basin, Marchal and his team determined that Homo thrived in the region between 2.7 and 2 million years ago.
The earliest known Homo specimens in this basin are from the Shungra Formation, estimated to be between 2.74 and 2.58 million years old. Despite being announced in 2008, detailed examinations have yet to be conducted.
Faced with this gap, Marchal’s team posits that an influx of unexamined material could bring the number of known early Homo individuals to 75, creating a substantial and informative dataset, suggesting that there is “much more than just a handful of fossils.”
Notably, the Homo genus became well-established in the Omo Turkana Basin between 2.7 and 2 million years ago. While they were not the dominant species, another genus, Paranthropus, featuring smaller brains and larger teeth, was twice as prevalent. Numerous species from the Australopithecus genus also existed, indicating a period of cohabitation among different hominins. Importantly, some Homo individuals likely produced the Oldowan tools found.
This type of discovery is made possible by decades of dedicated research, and it is anticipated that the Omo Turkana Basin will continue to illuminate our origins for years to come.
Neanderthals, ancient humans, and cave art: France
Accompany New Scientist’s Kate Douglas on an intriguing journey through time, exploring significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites across southern France, from Bordeaux to Montpellier.
HHow often do you find yourself reaching for your phone? Are you quick to respond to notifications, getting lost in that small black screen during your commutes? What about while eating or as soon as you wake up? Does it give you a sense of richness and vitality? I’m equally guilty of the same habits. We swipe, like, and scroll in a world designed to capture our attention. But how can we dedicate just five or ten minutes to enrich our lives instead?
I enjoy seeking insights from artists. They encourage us to pause and consider different viewpoints and to appreciate the beauty of nature. The world is evolving right before our eyes, and artists remind us of the joy of creating and discovering within a landscape where AI might supplant our creativity. They help us see potential everywhere—whether it’s arranging words into sentences, crafting paragraphs into books, or using paint to conjure visuals. Their work can shift our perspectives, impart knowledge, and even instill a sense of calm.
It’s backed by science: 2024 survey commissioned by the British government highlights that engaging with art not only boosts physical and mental health but, as Sarah Carlsberg notes, “reduces healthcare costs and increases national productivity.” Recently, King’s College London reported that out of 50 participants aged 18 to 40 who viewed paintings, there was a 22% decrease in stress hormones. (In contrast, those who viewed digitally exhibited only an 8% reduction.)
No matter our situation, art and artists will always guide us. I’ve embraced the wisdom of creatives—whether for inspiration, reflection, relationship insights, or daily organization. This has led me to compile 366 short passages of daily wisdom into a new book titled how to live an artistic life.
Featuring insights from artists like Tracey Emin and Marina Abramovic, alongside writers like Ali Smith and Iris Murdoch, each entry includes reflections, rituals, encouragement, and creative exercises. The book follows the seasons (with January focusing on Beginnings, February on Love, August on Beauty, and November on Memory), allowing me to respond creatively to the artists’ words and engage everyone in the act of creation.
I wrote this book during a time of feeling uninspired and distracted. The words of these artists helped me rise above that fog. Did you catch writer Patricia Highsmith’s habit of making her workspace “as enjoyable as possible” by lounging in bed surrounded by cigarettes, coffee, and donuts? Or art critic Jerry Saltz’s advice to engage with those next to you in a museum by asking, “What do you think about that?” Dialogue sparks ideas. Museums have always served as spaces for conversation, community building, and direct connections—many of which are free to access in the UK.
“Cigarettes, mugs of coffee, donuts”… Author Patricia Highsmith discusses ways to enhance work life. Photo: Dino Fracchia/Alamy
When feeling overwhelmed, author Hisham Matar and broadcaster Claudia Winkleman suggest focusing on just one artwork at a time. Return to it later and take note of how your perception shifts with your circumstances. As you change, so does the artwork. If visiting a museum isn’t an option, consider exploring art online or in books, share it with someone, and inquire about their thoughts. As Smith remarked, “Whenever you stand in front of art, you participate in it and awaken something within you.”
Why do we engage with art? Perhaps it resonates with Paula Rego’s thought expressed to her son, director Nick Willing: “An artist travels to places unseen and returns with something both novel and instantly familiar.”
Living an “artistic life” doesn’t necessitate becoming an artist. It’s about enhancing what you already possess. As Laurie Anderson reminds us in her December entry (focusing on joy), prioritize “the things that make you feel free and truly good.” While many wellness programs come at a cost, artists like Abramovic emphasize the value of stillness: “Doing nothing is the genesis of something.”
Be present in the world. Engage with people. Visit places, big or small. Look up at the sky, rather than yourself mediated through technology. Let’s reclaim our focus and turn it towards one another. The new year is a gift. Go forth, seize it, and live artistically.
France’s equality regulator has determined that Facebook’s job advertising algorithm is discriminatory towards women, following an investigation that revealed a bias in job ads for mechanics favoring men, while ads for kindergarten teaching positions were predominantly shown to women.
The watchdog group, Défenseur des Droits, contended that Facebook’s targeted job ad system discriminates based on gender, which constitutes indirect discrimination. The regulator advised Facebook and its parent company, Meta, to implement measures to eliminate discriminatory practices in advertising and granted the company three months to inform French authorities of its actions.
According to the regulator’s ruling, “The system implemented for distributing job listings treats Facebook users differently based on their gender, thereby resulting in indirect gender discrimination.”
This ruling followed an initiative from Global Witness, a campaign organization focused on examining the influence of major tech firms on human rights, which posted advertisements on Facebook that included links to various job opportunities across countries like France, the UK, Ireland, and South Africa.
The findings revealed that, notably in France, 90% of individuals seeing ads for mechanic positions were men, whereas the same percentage of those encountering kindergarten teacher ads were women. Additionally, 80% of viewers for psychologist job ads were women, while 70% of those seeing pilot job ads were men.
Global Witness, along with French women’s rights organizations La Fondation des Femmes and Femme Ingénue, which had reached out to the rights group, praised the ruling.
In a joint statement, they remarked, “This seems to be the first instance where a European regulator has ruled that a social media platform’s algorithms exhibit gender discrimination, marking significant progress in holding these platforms accountable under existing legislation.”
“This decision conveys a powerful message to all digital platforms that they will be held responsible for such biases,” stated attorney Josephine Sheffet, representing the plaintiffs. “This legal principle establishes a crucial precedent for future legal actions.”
Mr. Mehta disputed the ruling, with a spokesperson stating: “We disagree with this decision and are exploring our options.”
Meta had agreed to modify Facebook’s algorithms in 2022 after allegations from the U.S. Department of Justice suggested that the platform’s housing advertising system discriminated against users based on criteria like race, religion, and gender.
Gaatha Sarvaiya enjoys sharing her artistic endeavors on social media. As a law graduate from India in her early 20s, she is at the outset of her professional journey, striving to attract public interest. However, the emergence of AI-driven deepfakes poses a significant threat, making it uncertain whether the images she shares will be transformed into something inappropriate or unsettling.
“I immediately considered, ‘Okay, maybe this isn’t safe. People could take our pictures and manipulate them,'” Sarvaiya, who resides in Mumbai, expresses.
“There is certainly a chilling effect,” notes Rohini Lakshane, a gender rights and digital policy researcher based in Mysore. He too refrains from posting photos of himself online. “Given how easily it can be exploited, I remain particularly cautious.”
However, a report released recently reveals that the growing usage of AI is generating formidable new avenues for harassment directed at women, according to data compiled by the Rati Foundation, which operates a national helpline for online abuse victims.
“Over the past three years, we’ve identified that a significant majority of AI-generated content is utilized to target women and sexual minorities,” the report, prepared by Tuttle, a company focused on curbing misinformation on social media in India, asserts.
The report highlights the increasing use of AI tools for digitally altering images and videos of women, including nudes and culturally sensitive content. While these images may be accepted in Western cultures, they are often rebuked in numerous Indian communities for their portrayal of public affection.
Indian singer Asha Bhosle (left) and journalist Rana Ayyub are victims of deepfake manipulations on social media. Photo: Getty
The findings indicated that approximately 10% of the numerous cases documented by the helpline involve such altered images. “AI significantly simplifies the creation of realistic-looking content,” the report notes.
There was a notable case where an Indian woman’s likeness was manipulated by an AI tool in a public location. Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle‘s image and voice were replicated using AI and distributed on YouTube. Journalist Rana Ayyub faced a campaign targeting her personal information last year, with deepfake sexual images appearing of her on social media.
These instances sparked widespread societal discussions, with some public figures like Bhosle asserting that they have successfully claimed legal rights concerning their voice and image. However, the broader implications for everyday women like Sarvaiya, who increasingly fear engaging online, are less frequently discussed.
“When individuals encounter online harassment, they often self-censor or become less active online as a direct consequence,” explains Tarunima Prabhakar, co-founder of Tattle. Her organization conducted focus group research for two years across India to gauge the societal impacts of digital abuse.
“The predominant emotion we identified is one of fatigue,” she remarks. “This fatigue often leads them to withdraw entirely from online platforms.”
In recent years, Sarvaiya and her peers have monitored high-profile deepfake abuse cases, including those of Ayyub and Bollywood actress Rashmika Mandanna. “It’s a bit frightening for women here,” she admits.
Currently, Sarvaiya is reluctant to share anything on social media and has opted to keep her Instagram account private. She fears this measure may not suffice to safeguard her. Women are sometimes captured in public places, such as subways, with their photos potentially surfacing online later.
“It’s not as prevalent as some might believe, but luck can be unpredictable,” she observes. “A friend of a friend is actually facing threats online.”
Lakshane mentions that she often requests not to be photographed at events where she speaks. Despite her precautions, she is mentally preparing for the possibility that a deepfake image or video of her could emerge. In the app, her profile image is an illustration of herself, rather than a photo.
“Women with a public platform, an online presence, and those who express political opinions face a significant risk of image misuse,” she highlights.
Rati’s report details how AI applications, such as “nudification” and nudity apps designed to remove clothing from images, have normalized behaviors that were once seen as extreme. In one reported case, a woman approached the helpline after her photo, originally submitted for a loan application, was misused for extortion.
“When she declined to continue payments, her uploaded photo was digitally altered with the nudify app and superimposed onto a pornographic image,” the report details.
This altered image, accompanied by her phone number, was circulated on WhatsApp, resulting in a flood of sexually explicit calls and messages from strangers. The woman expressed to the helpline that she felt “humiliated and socially stigmatized, as though I had ‘become involved in something sordid’.”
A fake video allegedly featuring Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman promoting a financial scheme. Photo: DAU Secretariat
In India, similar to many regions globally, deepfakes exist within a legal gray area. Although certain statutes may prohibit them, Rati’s report highlights existing laws in India that could apply to online harassment and intimidation, enabling women to report AI deepfakes as well.
“However, the process is often lengthy,” Sarvaiya shares, emphasizing that India’s legal framework is not adequately prepared to address issues surrounding AI deepfakes. “There is a significant amount of bureaucracy involved in seeking justice for what has occurred.”
A significant part of the problem lies with the platforms through which such images are disseminated, including YouTube, Meta, X, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Indian law enforcement agencies describe the process of compelling these companies to eliminate abusive content as “often opaque, resource-draining, inconsistent, and ineffective,” according to a report published by Equality Now, an organization advocating for women’s rights.
Meanwhile, Apple and Meta have recently responded accordingly. Rati’s report uncovers multiple instances where these platforms inadequately addressed online abuse, thereby exacerbating the spread of the nudify app.
Although WhatsApp did respond in the extortion scenario, the action was deemed “insufficient” since the altered images had already proliferated across the internet, Rati indicated. In another instance, an Instagram creator in India was targeted by a troll who shared nude clips, yet Instagram only reacted after “persistent efforts” and with a “delayed and inadequate” response.
The report indicates that victims reporting harassment on these platforms often go unheard, prompting them to reach out to helplines. Furthermore, even when accounts disseminating abusive material are removed, such content tends to resurface, a phenomenon Rati describes as “content recidivism.”
“One persistent characteristic of AI abuse is its tendency to proliferate: it is easily produced, broadly shared, and repeated multiple times,” Rati states. Confronting this issue “will necessitate much greater transparency and data accessibility from the platforms themselves.”
Few websites are as essential to the internet as Wikipedia.
This digital encyclopedia was established by Jimmy Wales roughly 25 years ago while he was involved with the expert-driven initiative “Nupedia.”
Although Nupedia didn’t gain traction, its successor evolved into one of the most significant platforms online. Currently, there are over 7 million articles available in English alone.
So, where does Wikipedia stand as distinguishing fact from fiction becomes increasingly challenging and artificial intelligence (AI) transforms how we generate and access knowledge?
To explore this, BBC Science Focus held a discussion with Wales. He shared insights on the evolution of platforms over the last two decades, the challenge of sustaining trust and neutrality amidst misinformation, and how AI might shape the future.
SF: You’ve mentioned that social media contributes to a decline in trust. Can Wikipedia still thrive in such an environment?
JW: I believe we can certainly hold our own. I don’t necessarily view it as a competition, akin to business rivalries or transportation competition.
There’s a growing sentiment advocating for a shift from cultural conflicts to more thoughtful and respectful interactions, embracing differences, and promoting dialogue across divides.
Yet, division is an inherent aspect of human nature. For instance, when people discuss today’s youth, they often claim they lack attention spans and are perpetually glued to their phones. However, it’s evident that while they enjoy captivating short-form content, they can also binge-watch intricate TV series for extended hours.
Both represent facets of the human experience and can exist simultaneously—light-hearted social media and serious inquiry. Much like our dietary habits, we should ensure a balance, avoiding just junk food while incorporating nutritious options.
SF: How has Wikipedia managed to foster a relatively constructive culture while the rest of the internet seems to decline?
JW: I appreciate your use of “relatively constructive,” which recognizes that we face internal disputes and occasional anger—it’s part of being human.
It’s fundamentally about design—both in terms of software and what I term community design. It’s a blend of various factors.
When a business model relies heavily on ad revenue and user engagement, it becomes tempting to promote content that elicits longer viewing times, anger, or arguments, rather than happiness. This approach can be unhealthy in the long term.
Conversely, Wikipedia operates without ads and is funded by public donations. Thus, our model positions us as a charity, which means we aim to minimize clicks and keep users engaged without overwhelming them.
This necessitates a divergent approach to site design and community guidelines.
Civilized discussion is crucial. Without it, Wikipedia could become rampant with misinformation. I believe numerous foundational elements contribute to our success.
SF: Recently, Wikipedia has encountered increased criticism—Elon Musk even referred to it as “Walkpedia.” How do you feel about that?
JW: That’s unfortunate. When Elon labels us “Walkpedia,” he’s mistaken and misinformed. That assertion is baseless.
For instance, regarding transgender topics, there’s a common “gotcha” question: “What is a woman?” Wikipedia’s entry for “female” defines it as “an adult female human being.” This is indisputable, isn’t it?
Furthermore, the entry also addresses more nuanced discussions surrounding gender in society, which add depth.
Elon Musk recently introduced Grokipedia, an AI-powered competitor to Wikipedia – Credit: Getty
Claiming that we’ve turned into some sort of radical leftist organization is simply misguided. Of course, there are areas worthy of refinement. At times, you may examine an article and feel it’s unjust towards one party, and these instances require critical reflection and effort.
The solution lies in engaging more individuals. I would welcome more compassionate and thoughtful individuals who recognize bias in Wikipedia articles to realize that contributions stem from source material, rather than assuming it’s the work of some radical activist ready to block dissenters.
While certain perspectives may lack representation, we can incorporate them and work toward a more balanced viewpoint.
read more:
SF: As reliance on AI for information grows, could Wikipedia face obsolescence?
JW: I hesitate to say “never,” as the future of technology is unpredictable. However, at present, we don’t foresee a significant impact in that regard.
A Pew Research study indicates that Wikipedia appears in about 3% of the top 10 results in standard Google searches, whereas Google’s AI summaries link to Wikipedia approximately 6% of the time.
This dynamic means Wikipedia is frequently referenced in Google AI summaries, although fewer users are inclined to click those links. We’re not overly concerned about clicks, but it remains a trend to monitor.
Personally, I utilize AI extensively and have discovered that its strengths lie in scenarios that wouldn’t typically generate interest on Wikipedia.
Forty years ago, I would have assumed that the first AI able to write in English would be dull and purely factual, merely regurgitating information. Surprisingly, I find that AI excels in creative brainstorming. It’s impressively effective.
Jimmy Wales was the first individual to edit Wikipedia, writing “Hello, World!” right after its launch in 2001. – Credit: Getty
SF: Are you concerned that Wikipedia’s biases could influence the AI models trained on its extensive content?
JW: Absolutely. This is a crucial focus, particularly for those developing AI models.
From what I’ve observed, the largest data sources for most advanced language models (LLMs) are Wikipedia and Reddit. While both are valuable, they have inherent limitations, particularly since both are predominantly male-dominated.
We are striving for awareness, as Wikipedia prioritizes neutrality. Yet, if we’re not vigilant, we risk unintentionally reinforcing existing biases.
At the same time, LLMs can be trained and directed, making it feasible to envision an AI continuously navigating through Wikipedia, identifying biases, and flagging articles in need of revision.
If utilized appropriately, this process could highlight instances where, for example, articles about male Nobel Prize-winning economists mention their families, while articles about female winners do not. Such insights are intriguing and may go unnoticed.
This conversation has been condensed for brevity and clarity.
Visual representation of polycystic ovary syndrome showing enlarged ovaries
Science Photo Library / Alamy
Recent research has begun to shed light on the genetics behind polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), paving the way for potential new therapies.
PCOS affects up to 20% of women, leading to disrupted ovarian function characterized by at least two of the following: irregular or absent periods, elevated male hormones like testosterone, and the accumulation of immature eggs within cyst-like ovaries. Consequently, it can result in fertility challenges.
While the exact causes remain unclear, PCOS is believed to correlate with changes in the gut microbiome and hormonal imbalances during prenatal development. The condition also appears to have a hereditary component, with studies indicating that 70% of the risk is genetic. However, researchers have only pinpointed about 25 genetic mutations impacting sex hormone production and ovarian function, explaining roughly 10% of an individual’s risk.
To address this knowledge gap, Qiao Shigang and colleagues at Shandong University in Jinan, China, conducted a genomic study involving over 440,000 women from China and Europe, out of which 25,000 were diagnosed with PCOS, marking the largest gene analysis related to the condition to date.
The researchers discovered 94 genetic variants that appear to contribute to PCOS risk, with 73 being previously unrecognized. Notably, one mutation affects the gene responsible for the mitochondrial ribosomal protein S22, essential for mitochondrial function, an area that Zhao points out has connections in earlier studies discussing the link between PCOS and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Another newly identified variant impacts sex hormone-binding globulin, a protein that moderates the activity of sex hormones and is often found at reduced levels in women with PCOS.
Several of the remaining variants influence the function of granulosa cells in the ovaries, responsible for producing estrogen and progesterone and aiding in egg development during the menstrual cycle. This supports the hypothesis that PCOS is genetically influenced by fluctuations in sex hormone levels, according to Zhao.
In summary, the research indicated that these 94 mutations account for around 27% of the risk variation in PCOS among European participants and about 34% in the Chinese cohort.
“This study is significant because it enhances our understanding of the genetic factors associated with this condition,” remarks Elisabeth Stenner-Victorin from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Furthermore, it underscores the necessity of including diverse ancestral backgrounds in PCOS genetic research, according to Zhao.
Ultimately, the team identified medications that could modify the pathways affected by the recognized mutations. Some of these, like clomiphene, are already used for PCOS treatment; they stimulate ovulation which is often hampered by the syndrome. Additionally, the team discovered that betaine—sometimes utilized for homocystinuria treatment—might also benefit PCOS patients. Future studies using mice exhibiting PCOS-like symptoms could explore this treatment potential.
“Current treatments focus on alleviating symptoms, as there aren’t any medications that can cure PCOS,” states Stenner-Victorin. Typical interventions include clomiphene, contraceptive pills to manage periods, and metformin, a type 2 diabetes medication that may enhance fertility. However, effectiveness varies among individuals. “Identifying genetic clusters that affect PCOS risk will be essential for developing more targeted treatment strategies for these women,” she adds.
Greetings! Welcome to TechScape. I’m your host, Blake Montgomery. If you wish to subscribe to our newsletter, please share this email with 5 friends and encourage them to sign up, much like a chain letter promising 5 years of bad luck. This week in news, AI companies have reached astonishing financial highs, with valuations soaring to $5 trillion, a record $100 billion quarterly earnings, and a series of agreements totaling close to $600 billion.
The staggering numbers of the AI boom make criticism challenging.
Last week, Nvidia’s market valuation hit the $5 trillion mark. Just three months earlier, it had become the first company ever to reach a $4 trillion valuation. Similarly, Microsoft joined Apple in hitting the $4 trillion valuation last week. In addition, companies like Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet reported massive quarterly earnings. Notably, Google’s parent company generated $100 billion in its first quarter. Amazon experienced remarkable expansion in its cloud computing sector, leading to a 13% increase in its stock price. However, Meta faced an unexpected tax bill of $16 billion. All major tech firms except Apple have increased their capital spending forecasts, indicating plans to invest billions more in the essential infrastructure that backs AI. These revisions alone add tens of billions to an already staggering total in the hundreds of billions. For instance, Alphabet has projected capital expenditures of $91 billion to $93 billion for next year, an increase from the $75 billion initially stated in February and the revised $85 billion announced in July.
Not to be outdone by its publicly traded competitor, OpenAI has transitioned to a for-profit model and is contemplating an initial public offering with a potential valuation of $1 trillion. The world’s highest-valued startups are actively making deals, including a partnership with Nvidia that involves an investment of $100 billion in OpenAI as of September. Furthermore, Microsoft recently entered a contract with OpenAI for $250 billion in Azure cloud services. Oracle, another cloud services giant, also struck a $300 billion investment agreement with OpenAI in September. On Monday, the creator of ChatGPT announced a $38 billion deal with Amazon Web Services, as OpenAI commits to a staggering total of $588 billion in expenditures over the coming years.
Nvidia is now valued higher than Germany’s total annual economic output projected for 2025, estimated at $4.66 billion. To put this into perspective, Nvidia’s market capitalization surpasses the collective valuation of all German companies, which is expected to be approximately $2.4 trillion in 2024, according to the World Bank. No single company should eclipse the world’s third-largest economy, a nation with 83.5 million residents whose economic landscape supports an entire continent.
read more: Boom or bubble? Inside $3 trillion in AI data center spending | Artificial Intelligence (AI) | Guardian
Understanding the economics surrounding the AI boom poses significant challenges, hindering straightforward criticism. How should one respond to such overwhelming data? Even the keenest analyses can feel dwarfed by the magnitude of a billion-dollar data center. The scale of these figures defies comprehension; there’s hardly a personal context with which to relate. How do we consider a spending plan of $91 billion? What does it mean to make choices in the realm of hundreds of billions? It’s bewildering. Describing Meta’s earnings as “mixed” feels odd, yet that’s the assessment from Wall Street experts.
The boom has seen billions circulating in transactions between these corporations, raising red flags regarding inflated valuations and financial risk. If one entity stumbles, a domino effect could ensue, potentially dragging the U.S. economy down with it. Nonetheless, these companies show no signs of diminishing their collective enthusiasm.
File photo: COMPUTEX in Taipei File photo: Nvidia Blackwell GPUs on display at COMPUTEX in Taipei, Taiwan, June 4, 2024. Reuters/Ann Wang/File photo
Photo: Anne Wang/Reuters
On the populist front, critics argue that AI has failed to establish any significant use cases beyond something as trivial as assisting with homework. Regardless of how many jobs a CEO might eliminate, replacements will remain inadequate. Approximately 95% of AI pilots that companies have undertaken have faltered, as MIT researchers discovered in August.
The economic magnitude of the AI boom is unfathomably vast, corresponding with its digital scale. Large language models like ChatGPT and Claude Sonnet operate partially through parameters—variables that help the model predict subsequent words. These invisible adjusters can modulate responses by the hundreds of billions, with projections indicating that GPT-5 could reach into trillions.
The physical ramifications of AI mirror the considerable economic scale of this technology. Dara Kerr, a technology reporter for the Guardian, recently reported from the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, which houses the largest data center in the nation along with several smaller establishments. She detailed its extraordinary scale:
The Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center stretches from Interstate 80 to the mountains of the arid Nevada desert. This vast complex encompasses tens of thousands of acres and houses roughly 200 companies involved in logistics, fulfillment, and data center technology, including Google, Microsoft, and Tesla. Some firms maintain multiple data centers spanning several times the length of a football field throughout desert valleys. This industrial area occupies 65% of the county’s land, creating a scale that’s nearly incomprehensible.
You can now wager on American elections by contributing to the President of the United States
US President Donald Trump
Photo: President Donald Trump via Truth Social and Reuters
Donald Trump’s Truth Social is collaborating with Crypto.com to facilitate betting on election outcomes, as announced by its parent company last week. Trump Media and Technology Group is set to launch a “Truth Prediction” feature allowing users to “trade predictive contracts on major events and milestones, ranging from political elections to changes in interest rates, inflation, commodity prices, and significant sports events,” although a launch date remains uncertain.
TMTG Director Devin Nunes stated regarding the feature, “For too long, elites have strictly controlled these markets. With Truth Prediction, we’re democratizing information, enabling regular Americans to harness collective wisdom and converting free speech into actionable foresight.” Ironically, Nunes criticizes the “global elite” from a position of notable power within the government.
There’s something unsettling about this arrangement, as if the contender in a match is simultaneously the bookmaker. Mr. Trump, as President, invites voters to invest in his campaign while implementing policies that directly impact the interest rates users can wager on. As he flirts with the notion of an unprecedented third term, does the American public want to take bets on his potential to achieve it?
Even creating the truth prediction feature seems like a dubious endeavor. Crypto.com has contributed $11 million to Trump’s initiatives, as reported by the Financial Times. Additionally, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission closed its investigation during Trump’s administration while the company sought banking authorization from regulators. Trump Media and Technology Group signed a substantial deal to acquire billions of dollars’ worth of Kronos, the token associated with Crypto.com.
Gambling has become increasingly ingrained in American culture, with trading on election outcomes only legalized last year. A recent analysis by the Financial Times observed that the betting volume on prediction markets like Karshi averages $1 billion each week. This trend initiated with sports betting, which has reached unprecedented levels. My colleague Brian Armen Graham discussed the fallout from a scandal that shook the professional basketball world before Halloween, dubbed Operation No Bet, leading to the arrest of NBA players, coaches, and dozens of others.
The NBA gambling scandal marks the peak of a lengthy relationship between professional leagues and the massive gambling industry, which has transitioned from partnership to controversy. This represents the most significant corruption crisis in Major League Baseball following the legalization of gambling in numerous U.S. states and serves as a clear reflection of how embedded gambling has become within professional sports.
When will politics face its own “no-bets strategy”?
Neanderthals may have used ocher crayons to draw on cave walls
Golodenkov/Getty Images
A fascinating yellow crayon discovered in Crimea remains sharp after over 40,000 years, indicating that marking objects was a component of Neanderthal culture. This finding serves as the most compelling evidence so far that certain Neanderthal groups utilized colored pigments symbolically, a behavior previously believed to be exclusive to humans.
“It’s truly remarkable. It expands our understanding of the symbolic application of color,” states Emma Pomeroy from the University of Cambridge, who was not part of the study.
The use of ocher, an iron-rich mineral displaying red, yellow, and orange shades, has deep roots in Europe and Africa, reaching back at least 400,000 years. Ocher fragments have been found in numerous Neanderthal sites and seem to have been utilized for practical activities like tanning skins and igniting fires, sometimes being applied to seashell beads.
Neanderthals might have also decorated their bodies, clothing, and surfaces with ocher, although such marks have long since vanished. To delve deeper, Francesco d’Errico and fellow researchers from the University of Bordeaux in France undertook a thorough examination of ocher fragments from Neanderthal sites in Crimea, Ukraine. By analyzing how Neanderthals modified these fragments and examining their wear using a microscope, they gained insights into their usage.
The most intriguing of these ocher artifacts, dating back at least 42,000 years, was yellow and shaped like a crayon, measuring about 5 to 6 centimeters long. In-depth analysis revealed that the tip had been worn down through use and then resharpened, suggesting that it was regularly reused as a marking implement.
“This is a tool that has been refined and reshaped multiple times, making it quite unique,” remarks D’Errico. “It’s not merely a standard crayon; it exists as a crayon because of its use as such. It may have been utilized for drawing lines on skin or stone, reflecting artistic endeavors.”
Ocher fragment tip utilized as a crayon and subsequently sharpened
D’Errico et al., Sci. Advances 11, eadx4722
April Nowell, a professor at Victoria University in Canada who was not part of the study, concurs. “I only retain the dot on the crayon when I aim to create precise lines or designs,” she comments.
The research team also uncovered an even older broken crayon made from red ocher, potentially as old as 70,000 years.
“A small piece of ocher can convey a wealth of information,” says Pomeroy. “It connects with our shared humanity in a deeply emotional way.”
This Crimean crayon discovery contributes to a growing array of evidence of Neanderthal artistic capacity, which includes a 57,000-year-old finger carving found on a cave wall in France, and a mysterious circle created from stalagmites 175,000 years ago in another French cave.
These findings support the notion that symbolic behavior is not merely a recent development but has deep-seated roots in our evolutionary trajectory. “The cognitive capabilities associated with symbolic actions were likely present in our last common ancestor, encompassing Homo sapiens, Denisovans, and Neanderthals over 700,000 years ago,” notes Nowell.
Ancient caves, the origins of humanity: Northern Spain
Explore some of the oldest cave paintings in this picturesque area of northern Spain. Journey back 40,000 years to discover how our ancestors lived, created, and built their lives. From ancient Paleolithic art to stunning geological formations, every cave tells a distinctive and timeless narrative.
In March, Patrick Gelsinger joined Intel’s executive team, just three months after being removed as the company’s CEO and facing litigation from shareholders. Gloo is a technology firm dedicated to what he describes as the “faith ecosystem,” providing Salesforce and chatbots for churches, along with an AI assistant designed to automate pastoral and ministry support.
Gelsinger’s transition comes at a time when the U.S. tech sector is re-engaging with political activities, as the second Trump administration revives religious conservatism in Washington, D.C. Some notable figures are funding Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and actively pursuing government contracts.
As the Executive Chairman and Head of Technology at Gloo (now free from shareholder lawsuits), Gelsinger aims to promote Christian values within the company’s initiatives. Silicon Valley, the state capital, and beyond have become focal points. He has attracted $110 million in strategic investments. His campaign encompasses a call for AI technologies that reflect Christian ethics, with high-tech products developed by Gloo designed around prevalent large-scale language models, customized to align with users’ theological beliefs.
“My life’s mission is to develop technologies that enhance the quality of life for every individual globally and accelerate the return of Christ,” he stated.
Speakers discuss trust conditioning in AI at the Gloo hackathon. Photo: Mike Mauser
Gloo claims to support “over 140,000 faith, ministry, and nonprofit leaders.” Although Gloo’s client base is smaller compared to major AI industry players, it’s worth noting that approximately 800 million users engage with ChatGPT weekly.
Gelsinger, a committed Christian, has described his “mission field” as influencing the culture of Silicon Valley. He observes a “very loud, very visible, very specifically Christian tech culture” emerging in the area. Scholars like Damian Williams from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte explore how religious beliefs shape technology, drawing parallels with figures like Peter Thiel and Andreessen Horowitz, who caution about the Antichrist’s looming presence without adherence to a particular technological framework. Katherine Boyle, closely connected with Vice President JD Vance, recognizes Gelsinger’s longstanding advocacy for Christian principles. In 2013, he founded Transforming the Bay with Christ, aimed at revitalizing the Christian spiritual movement in the region.
During a seminar co-hosted by a conservative university and the Christian Post on October 7, Gelsinger described AI’s development as “another Gutenberg moment,” a significant transformative change that parallels the Reformation. Just as Martin Luther used the printing press to ignite “the greatest age of human invention,” he perceives a similar faith-driven potential to alter history through AI today.
“The church adopted the great invention of its time to fundamentally change humanity,” Gelsinger remarked regarding the printing press. “So my inquiry today is whether we will embrace this? Can AI be molded into a technology that powerfully embodies the Church and its mission?”
Jesus Hackathon
Gloo aims to influence AI, Christianity, and faith technology beyond just Silicon Valley. The company also supports the Christian tech ecosystem through funding and events like a three-day hackathon that followed the seminar at Colorado Christian University. The event attracted over 600 participants vying for more than $250,000 in prizes, with participant numbers projected to triple by 2024.
Despite its growth, the hackathon faced challenges. Ryan Siebert, an AI product developer, discovered a vulnerability in Gloo’s latest LLM, which is not publicly available, and it provided him with a methamphetamine recipe due to prompt injection. He informed the president of Gloo AI about the issue. A spokesperson from Gloo mentioned that as the product is still in “pre-beta” development, participants were encouraged to test the new LLM and offer feedback.
Audience at the Gloo hackathon. Photo: Mike Mauser
Meanwhile, Gelsinger indicated that his message regarding Christian AI is resonating well in Washington, D.C. In a conversation with the Guardian, he mentioned introducing Gloo’s efforts to various legal advocacy groups and Congressional members. Although he didn’t specify the organizations or politicians, he noted that some Congress members have shown interest in integrating Gloo products into church activities.
Goo’s influence also spans conservative political circles. Brandon Showalter, a journalist for the Christian Post and co-host of the seminar with Gloo, expressed hope that society would view care for transgender youth as “unthinkable as an ice pick lobotomy.” An analyst at the Heritage Foundation, which is behind Project 2025, participated in a panel moderated by Showalter, providing insights on AI regulation. On October 17th, Gelsinger delivered his “Gutenberg Moment” speech at Liberty University’s CEO Summit, alongside keynote speeches from figures like Liz Truss, Michael Flynn, and Chick-fil-A’s Chairman, Dan T. Cathy.
Gelsinger appears just as at ease in these settings as he was as an honored guest at Joe Biden’s 2022 State of the Union address. Like a pragmatic industry leader, he also engages in public records and has supported political movements across party lines.
Gloo itself maintains an ecumenical tone in its messaging. The hackathon avoided political discussions and sectarian divides. In a Discord chat, participants shared plans to create an AI bot for a “biblical response” to the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, where organizers advised keeping conversations focused on Jesus, despite recognizing the relevance of politics. The hackathon team, comprised of Leah and Wes Brooks, produced open-source AI tools aimed at interoperability among faith-based and other applications, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of participants, including a female pastor. “I wasn’t even required to sign a faith declaration,” Leah Brooks remarked. Gloo also asserts it does not “prohibit” Islamic organizations from utilizing its technology.
Patrick Gelsinger. Photo: Mike Mauser
“We’re not aiming to take a theological stance. Our goal is to create a technology platform versatile enough for Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Catholics to effectively utilize it,” Gelsinger informed the Guardian. “We want to represent a broad spectrum of faith while also accommodating organizations that maintain a non-sectarian view,” such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
Gelsinger’s ambition is to integrate faith into AI technology. He leads Gloo’s Flourishing AI initiative, which assesses large-scale language models’ effects on human well-being across seven dimensions. Essentially, it evaluates whether a language model contributes positively to the religious lives of its users. This initiative draws from a research program at Harvard University’s human flourishing program. Models such as Grok 3, DeepSeek-R1, and GPT-4.1 score well on average for supporting users with financial inquiries, achieving around 81 points out of 100, but fare poorly in enhancing users’ spiritual growth, with an average score of just 35 points out of 100 according to Gloo’s metrics.
Gloo’s endeavors have yet to gain significant traction within Silicon Valley. A spokesperson stated that the IT department is “beginning to reach out” to leading AI firms.
Individuals with fibromyalgia exhibit different genetic mutations compared to those who do not have fibromyalgia.
Katerina Conn/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
Recent advances in our understanding of the genetics behind fibromyalgia, a poorly understood disorder characterized by widespread chronic pain, are emerging. Two large-scale studies have reinforced the notion that dysfunctions within the central nervous system significantly contribute to fibromyalgia. Nonetheless, other studies have indicated the involvement of alternative mechanisms such as autoimmunity, highlighting the complex, multi-faceted nature of this ailment.
Fibromyalgia is believed to impact 2-3% of the population. While the exact cause remains a mystery, treatment is challenging. A prevailing hypothesis suggests that individuals with fibromyalgia may experience alterations in how their central nervous system interprets pain signals, potentially triggered by infections or changes in gut microbiota.
To investigate the genetics involved, two research teams undertook genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to pinpoint genetic variations prevalent in fibromyalgia patients. Their focus rested primarily on single-letter mutations rather than more extensive genomic alterations which might have more pronounced effects.
The first study, led by Michael Weinberg at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, encompassed participants from various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Finland. This team gathered data from 54,629 individuals with fibromyalgia, primarily of European descent, and compared it to 2,509,126 individuals without the condition. Their findings revealed 26 genetic mutations linked to a higher risk of fibromyalgia.
Meanwhile, Joel Gelernter from Yale School of Medicine directed a second study utilizing datasets from the U.S. and the U.K. Their research involved 85,139 patients with fibromyalgia and 1,642,433 controls of mixed European, Latin American, and African ancestries. They identified 10 mutations associated with fibromyalgia among the European group, one in the African group, and 12 across diverse ancestries.
Both Weinberg and Gelernter opted not to give interviews as their studies await peer review.
“Both studies are truly commendable in terms of their participant numbers,” remarked Cindy Bohr from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
In Weinberg’s study, the strongest association was linked to a variant of a gene called huntingtin, known for its role in causing Huntington’s disease. This condition results from repeating genetic sequences that prompt the production of faulty proteins. Conversely, the mutations associated with fibromyalgia are characterized by single-letter changes throughout the gene.
However, Bohr emphasizes that this mutation is unlikely to be the sole contributor to fibromyalgia. “It needs to be viewed alongside other risk factors and genetic elements.” There are likely thousands of contributing variants, along with external factors such as exposure to air pollution, she states. Larger studies are essential to uncover all contributing variants.
Despite certain limitations, the mutations identified by Weinberg’s team are found in genes linked to neuronal function, indicating that crucial mechanisms of fibromyalgia likely occur in the brain. Similarly, Gelernter’s research has highlighted variants previously connected to pain and neurologically related issues like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
These findings reaffirm a prevailing theory about fibromyalgia: “There’s a significant issue within the brain tissue,” said Bohr. Tracking these mutations may help identify key cell types, brain regions, and biochemical pathways that could become targets for future therapies. However, Bohr cautions that this is still years away unless existing drugs targeting known mechanisms prove relevant. Current treatments focus on approaches such as exercise, therapy, and antidepressants, though results are mixed.
Nevertheless, factors aside from genetics may also be influential. David Anderson and colleagues at King’s College London previously identified signs suggesting fibromyalgia may have autoimmune origins. In 2021, mice injected with antibodies from fibromyalgia patients exhibited symptoms like painful hypersensitivity and muscle weakness. Furthermore, research in September showed that these mice displayed atypical sensory responses, where nerves usually responsive to light touch began reacting to cold stimuli—mirroring the chronic pain experienced by fibromyalgia patients from non-painful stimuli, such as mildly lower temperatures.
“I firmly believe in the conclusions of our fibromyalgia research and anticipate that the findings will pivot the field’s focus toward autoantibodies [targeting the body’s tissues] and peripheral nerve cells [neurons outside of the brain and spinal cord], forming a new mechanism,” Anderson stated.
Bohr, however, points out that this recent research does not discount other theories. With rigorous statistical standards, while confident in the variants discovered and their implied mechanisms, they likely overlook many others. Gelernter and his team also detected several variants linked to autoimmune responses.
Professor Bohr characterizes this work as an essential “first step” towards understanding the roots of fibromyalgia. “What’s the pathway?” she inquires. “And is there something we can target?”
Zebra finches are commonly studied in captivity by biologists
Alamy
The morning chorus of birds has captivated poets and nature enthusiasts for centuries, yet the reasons behind this daily ritual remain unclear.
Recent experiments on zebra finches (Teniopygia guttata) indicate that even though darkness suppresses their songs, these birds experience a heightened inclination to sing at night, culminating in vocal bursts once night descends. Furthermore, the study implies that practicing their vocalization in daylight enhances their singing performance.
Satoshi Kojima and his team from the Korea Brain Research Institute in Daegu, South Korea, examined zebra finches raised in a lab with carefully controlled lighting to alter their light-dark schedules.
Initially, they postponed the bright light exposure for the finches by three hours from natural dawn. Under the fabricated darkness, the birds were awake yet silent, but once the light activated, they chirped more energetically than usual.
When the lights were turned on three hours prior to actual dawn, the finches resumed singing, although not as fervently as before.
Kojima explains that a longer delay between the birds waking and the onset of light results in a more intense dawn chorus.
“The birds remain awake in the dark before light arrives,” he notes. “Their natural inclination to sing is hindered by darkness, and this suppression amplifies their eagerness to sing, leading to a surge in singing immediately after the lights come on.”
The researchers subsequently trained the birds to pull a lever for 10 seconds of artificial light. When the simulated dawn was postponed by three hours, the birds engaged with the lever more often; conversely, when it was advanced, they used the lever less frequently.
The scientists administered Luzindole, a drug that counteracts melatonin, which is released at night and regulates awake cycles in numerous animals. Finches treated with the drug five hours before their normal light time awakened earlier and began to sing sooner than those given a saline solution.
Kojima and his colleagues also scrutinized the finches’ songs to observe alterations throughout the day. They discovered a notable shift in song structure between the first and second hours after dawn.
“Due to the lack of singing at night, the vocal motor system and song acoustic structure may experience slight degradation, but the dawn chorus rapidly restores or enhances them,” Kojima remarks.
While this research focused on a single species, Kojima believes that analogous factors could influence other birds. “Considering the simplicity of these mechanisms and their functional implications, we propose that they may underlie dawn choruses across various avian species.”
However, Diego Gil from the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid, Spain, advises caution. “There are numerous differences among species regarding the how, when, and what they sing during their dawn chorus,” he says. “This diversity accounts for the 11 different hypotheses put forth to explain the phenomenon.”
Gill commended the study, noting that it demonstrates an increased inclination for birds to sing during pre-dawn hours. “If zebra finches experience extended nights without singing, they become more motivated to vocalize,” he explains. “They also indicate that these prolonged nights exceed their sleep requirements, prompting them to sing when given the chance.”
However, the study does not conclusively show that the purpose of the dawn chorus is to refine the birds’ songs, Gill adds. “Although these song structure alterations are believed to enhance the vocalization, there is no data to confirm that females favor these changes,” he notes. “The study merely suggests that songs evolve gradually over time.”
Workers were sent home, examinations were postponed, coffee machines required manual activation, and users of language apps feared that their hard-earned progress might be lost due to Monday’s global outage of Amazon Web Services. Meanwhile, some brushed off their temporary technological difficulties.
A malfunction in the AWS cloud service disrupted apps and websites for millions worldwide, impacting over 2,000 companies, including Snapchat, Roblox, Signal, the language app Duolingo, and various Amazon-owned businesses.
While many sites were operational again within a few hours, several continued to experience problems throughout the day. By Monday evening, Amazon reported that all cloud services had “returned to normal operations.”
However, amid the chaos disrupting essential services globally, there was an unexpected twist.
Amazon employees shared videos on TikTok enjoying a slow workday. Some were dancing in quiet warehouses, while others informed CNN that they had been dismissed.
“Those of us working at Amazon Flex have been sent home because the system can’t check us in or release us for pay. Due to this outage, we are uncertain if the 80 of us here will receive compensation,” James, a Texas resident, shared with the network.
Tiffini from Florida mentioned she had planned to start her Amazon delivery shift at 3:30 a.m., but the system was down. “I submitted a ticket, but due to issues with Amazon’s system this morning, I still don’t know if I’ll be paid for the missed block.”
Other social media users reported delays in medical and veterinary appointments, while some customers using Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa encountered smart home disruptions.
“I use an Alexa-enabled smart plug to control my room lamps,” Christina, who requires crutches, told CNN. “During the outage, my smart plugs stopped responding. Before I could figure out the problem, I tried to reset one and ended up failing. Now they don’t work at all.”
Nonetheless, some Alexa users downplayed the incident.
“Because of the Amazon outage, Alexa wasn’t functional this morning, so I had to stumble out of bed in the dark, head to the kitchen, and manually turn on the coffee maker. I can’t live like this. You all can do without me,” one user shared. Posted by user X.
“I had to turn the lights on manually without Alexa’s assistance. It was a rough beginning to the day,” another user remarked on Reddit.
Many devoted Duolingo users, who track their consecutive practice days, were anxious about their progress being affected.
Some threatened to “riot” if their practice streaks were interrupted, others lamented that streaks exceeding 900 days had reset to zero, while one user on X targeted Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, saying, “What if I lost my 1,300-day Duolingo streak due to AWS? [Amazon Web Services] If the power goes out, I’ll personally throw an egg at Bezos’ bald head.”
A recent study reveals that certain optical illusions can deceive some animals, though not all. This emerging research may offer fresh insights into how perception influences survival and evolution in different species.
The optical illusion examined in this research is known as the Ebbinghaus illusion, where two identical circles appear different in size because one is encircled by a larger circle, while the other is surrounded by a smaller one.
When observing the illusion overall, the outer circle misleads our brain into perceiving the inner circle as a different size. However, focusing solely on the inner circles reveals that they are indeed the same.
Our susceptibility to this illusion hinges on how our brains interpret visual information, whether as a cohesive whole or detailed parts.
To investigate how various animals perceive their surroundings, scientists at the University of Vienna in Austria recreated the Ebbinghaus illusion using bait, arranging circles of differing sizes around a central bait area.
The two orange circles are identical, yet the left one seems smaller due to the larger circle surrounding it. Conversely, the right circle appears larger – Credit: Getty Images
Next, they observed the responses of two fish species: guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and ring doves (Streptopelia risoria).
The findings indicated that guppies are reliably deceived by optical illusions, similar to humans; they often preferred to consume fish flakes within a smaller circle, perceiving them as larger food items.
In contrast, ring doves exhibited varying responses; some birds chose millet seeds surrounded by a smaller circle, while others opted for those within a larger circle.
The researchers concluded that these choices highlight how each species is uniquely equipped to interact with its environment and tackle its challenges.
For instance, guppies inhabit shallow tropical rivers, where they encounter flickering lights, thick vegetation, swift predators, and numerous other guppies.
Guppies might be influenced by an illusion, suggesting they perceive their environment contextually rather than focusing on minute details – Credit: Getty Images
Researchers believe that for guppies, quick judgment of which fish are safe in a visually cluttered environment is crucial for survival. Thus, making rapid decisions could be advantageous.
Conversely, wood pigeons spend their lives on the ground, foraging for seeds. For them, noticing fine details could be more beneficial than analyzing the broader scene.
Nevertheless, scientists have observed that some pigeons react as if they are misled by a hallucination, indicating variability within species, much like humans.
Overall, the team concluded that optical illusions can provide a valuable lens through which to explore the diverse perceptions across species.
This was the day SolarWinds, a software company, learned it had been hacked by Russia.
As the chief information security officer, Brown quickly grasped the impact. The hack could potentially affect any of the company’s more than 300,000 customers globally.
The breach enabled hackers to remotely access systems of customers using SolarWinds’ Orion networking software, which included the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and numerous businesses and public organizations.
Brown mentioned he was “running on adrenaline” during the initial days following the breach.
Amid full-time remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s email system was compromised, rendering it unusable for internal communication.
“We stopped taking calls, and everyone came into the office for COVID-19 testing,” Brown recalled. “I lost 25 pounds in about 20 days. I just kept going.”
He has been featured on CNN and 60 Minutes, along with major newspapers.
“The world is on fire. We’re working to inform people about what is secure and what isn’t.”
Brown indicated the company moved to Proton email and Signal during the email breach, as he received calls from companies and government entities worldwide, including the U.S. military and the COVID-19 vaccine initiative, Operation Warp Speed.
“People prefer spoken communication to written communication. That’s a crucial lesson. You can document things, but people want personal interaction,” said Brown during a talk at Cybercon in Melbourne.
“They want to hear the nuances, so it’s vital to be ready for that kind of response.”
How did the cyberattack unfold?
The notification of the breach came via a call from Kevin Mandia, the founder of cybersecurity firm Mandiant, to SolarWinds’ then-CEO, Kevin Thompson.
Mandia informed Thompson that SolarWinds had “shipped contaminated code” within its Orion software, which aids organizations in monitoring their networks and servers for outages.
According to Mandia, the exploits in Orion were utilized to infiltrate government agencies.
“What you can see from that code is that it wasn’t ours, so we realized right away this was serious,” Brown recalled.
Brown stated that SolarWinds was not the main target of the hack but served as a “conduit to it.” Photo: Sean Davey/The Guardian
The Texas-based company discovered that 18,000 people had downloaded the contaminated product, and hackers, later attributed to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, managed to inject it into Orion’s build environment where the source code is converted into software.
The news broke on a Sunday, and SolarWinds released the announcement before the stock market opened on Monday.
Initial estimates suggested that as many as 18,000 customers might be impacted, which later adjusted down to approximately 100 government agencies and businesses that were truly affected.
“I wish I had known that on the first day, but that’s the reality,” Brown says. “We weren’t specifically the target; we were merely a gateway to it.”
SolarWinds enlisted the help of CrowdStrike, KPMG, and law firm DLA Piper to respond and investigate.
Aftermath: heart attack
For the next six months, SolarWinds suspended the development of new features and redirected its team of 400 engineers to focus on systems and security to restore the company’s stability.
“We prioritized transparency—how can we ensure people understand what threats there are, how those actors operate, how they gather information, how they execute attacks, and how they withdraw?”
Brown noted that the company’s customer renewal rate dropped to around 80% in the aftermath but has since risen back to over 98%.
However, legal consequences soon followed.
In 2021, the Biden administration enacted sanctions and expelled Russian diplomats in response to the attack.
In 2022, SolarWinds settled a class action suit related to the incident for $26 million. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) initiated a lawsuit against SolarWinds and Brown personally in October 2023, alleging that the company and Brown misled investors regarding cybersecurity measures and failed to disclose known vulnerabilities.
Mr. Brown has remained with SolarWinds since the cyberattack. Photo: Sean Davey/The Guardian
Brown was in Zurich when he became aware of the charges.
“As I ascended a hill, I felt out of breath, my arms were heavy, and my chest was tight—I wasn’t getting enough oxygen,” he recalled. “I made a poor decision and flew home. I couldn’t walk from the terminal to my car without pausing; it was a journey I had made countless times.”
He was experiencing a heart attack. Upon returning home, his wife took him to the hospital for surgery, after which he recovered.
“The stress continued to mount, leading me to think I was handling it well without proactively visiting a doctor,” he explained.
Now, Brown is advocating for companies facing similar crises to engage psychiatrists to assist employees in managing stress.
“My stress levels were at a peak, and I was really close to the edge, though the pressure had been building for a while.”
A proposed confidential settlement with the SEC was announced in July but still awaits approval. The finalization of the agreement has faced delays due to the U.S. government shutdown.
Mr. Brown has remained with SolarWinds throughout this entire ordeal.
“This happened on my watch, and that’s how I perceive it. There are factors that contributed, like a state-sponsored attack, but it still occurred under my supervision,” he reflected.
“I admit I can be stubborn, but it was paramount for us to navigate this entire process, and leaving before it was resolved wasn’t an option.”
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) release nearly five times more greenhouse gas emissions than reported statistics suggest. I found a report detailing this issue.
These vehicles can operate on electric batteries as well as internal combustion engines and have been promoted by European manufacturers as a means to travel longer distances while lowering emissions—offering an alternative to fully electric cars.
Research indicates that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO2. An analysis from the nonprofit organization Transport and Environment was released on Thursday, showing laboratory tests estimated 75% less pollution.
Researchers examined data from fuel consumption meters in 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023, discovering that the real carbon dioxide emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than those from standardized lab tests, an increase from 3.5 times in 2021.
“While official emissions are declining, actual emissions are on the rise,” remarked Sofia Navas Goelke, a researcher at the Institute for Transport and Environment and co-author of the report. “This widening gap is becoming a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs are now polluting nearly as much as traditional petrol vehicles.”
The researchers identified that much of this disparity stems from an overestimation of the “utility factor” (the proportion of miles driven in electric mode compared to total miles), finding that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, versus the official estimate of 84%. The analysis noted that the European Commission proposed two amendments to the utility coefficient ratio, which lessened the gap but didn’t eliminate it entirely.
Even when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were found to be significantly higher than official figures suggest. Researchers indicated this was due to the electric motor being insufficient for sole operation, with the engine burning fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance traveled in electric mode.
Patrick Plotz, head of energy economics at the Fraunhofer Institute for System Innovation, who did not participate in the study, described it as a “very useful contribution” to ongoing discussions, as some in the automotive industry have claimed there’s insufficient data to accurately gauge real emissions.
“Without a doubt, the disparity between official and actual fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for PHEVs is substantial,” Plotz remarked. “Their emissions are much higher than those of gasoline or diesel cars,” referring to the study on the topic. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be thoughtfully considered in the context of this data.”
Hybrid vehicles have re-entered political discourse as automakers urge the EU to ease carbon emission targets. The push to ban new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 is facing strong lobbying from the auto sector, along with resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.
“There should be no significant reductions in 2035,” stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz following a summit with Germany’s struggling automotive sector, committing to “do everything possible in 2035.” Other senior German leaders have cited plug-in hybrids as an example of “flexibility” that could be integrated into the legislation.
Researchers calculated that the undervaluation of PHEV emissions artificially facilitated compliance with the EU’s average vehicle CO2 regulations, enabling four major car manufacturers to evade over €5 billion (around £4.3 billion) in fines between 2021 and 2023. The study indicated that PHEV drivers are likely to incur approximately €500 more in annual running costs than expectations based on lab tests.
“The exaggerated claims made by manufacturers regarding their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly misleading,” observed Colin Walker, a transportation analyst at Energy and Climate Intelligence.
“Consumers are misled into thinking that by choosing a PHEV, they are aiding the environment and saving money,” he pointed out. “In reality, PHEVs are only marginally more efficient than regular petrol and diesel vehicles concerning fuel and CO2 consumption, resulting in higher operation costs.”
‘Extremely serious’ cyber-attacks have surged by 50% over the past year, with UK security agencies now addressing a new nationally significant attack every two days, according to the latest data from the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC).
In what officials are calling a “call to arms,” national security leaders and ministers are encouraging all organizations, from small businesses to major corporations, to develop contingency strategies for the possibility that their “IT infrastructure is compromised.” [is] Tomorrow, all screens could potentially be rendered [go] Blank.”
The NCSC, a division of GCHQ, stated in its annual report released on Tuesday that a “highly sophisticated” China, along with a “competent yet reckless” Russia, Iran, and North Korea, represent the primary national threats. This rise is fueled by ransomware attacks from profit-driven criminals and society’s growing dependence on technology, resulting in more potential targets for hackers.
Prime Minister Rachel Reeves, Security Secretary Dan Jarvis, and Technology and Business Secretaries Liz Kendall and Peter Kyle have contacted the leaders of hundreds of the UK’s largest companies, urging them to elevate cyber resilience to a board-level concern and cautioning that hostile cyber activities in the UK are becoming “more intense, frequent, and sophisticated.”
“We must not make ourselves an easy target,” stated Anne Keast-Butler, GCHQ’s director. “It’s critical to prioritize cyber risk management, integrate it into governance, and set a tone from the top.”
The NCSC dealt with 429 cyber incidents from the past year up to September, with nearly half considered to be of national significance, a figure that has more than doubled in the last year. Among these, eighteen incidents were categorized as “very serious,” indicating they profoundly affected governments, essential services, the public, and the economy. Many of these were ransomware attacks, with Marks & Spencer and Co-op Group among those heavily impacted.
“Cybercrime poses a significant threat to our economy’s security, businesses, and the lives of individuals,” Jarvis remarked. “We are working tirelessly to combat these threats and support organizations of all sizes, but we cannot do this alone.”
The NCSC refrained from commenting on reports suggesting it is investigating possible Russian involvement in the severe attack on Jaguar Land Rover, which has halted production. This report indicated that Russia is encouraging unofficial “hacktivists” to target the UK, the USA, as well as European and NATO nations.
Last month, a cyberattack disrupted passenger services at numerous European airports, including London Heathrow.
Photo: Isabel Infantes/Reuters
Overall, the number of attacks up to September signifies the highest level of cyber threat activity recorded by the NCSC in the last nine years. For the first time in a year, the UK and its allies have detected Russian military units executing cyber attacks, provided recommendations against a China-linked campaign affecting thousands of devices, and raised alarms over cyber attackers affiliated with Iran, as noted by the NCSC. Domestic threats also persist, with two 17-year-old boys arrested in Hertfordshire last week following an alleged ransomware hack of children’s data from the Kido nursery chain.
Hackers are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their activities, and although the NCSC has not yet encountered an AI-driven attack, they predict that “AI will almost certainly present cyber resilience challenges by 2027 and beyond.”
“We observe attackers improving their capacity to inflict significant damage on the organizations they compromise and those dependent on them,” commented Richard Horne, NCSC’s chief executive. “Their disregard for their targets and the harm they cause is clear. This is why all organizations must take action.”
He emphasized the psychological toll inflicted on victims of cyberattacks, stating, “I have been in numerous meetings with individuals profoundly affected by cyberattacks on their organizations. I am aware of the anxiety, the sleepless nights, and the consequent turmoil caused by such disruptions for employees, suppliers, and customers.”
quick guide
Contact us about this story
show
The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand reporting from those in the know.
If you have something to share on this matter, please contact us confidentially using the methods below.
Secure messaging in the Guardian app
The Guardian app has a tool to submit story tips. Messages are end-to-end encrypted and hidden within daily activities performed by all Guardian mobile apps, obscuring your communication from potential observers.
If you haven’t yet downloaded the Guardian app, you can do so here (iOS/android). Access the menu and select “Secure Messaging.”
SecureDrop, instant messenger, email, phone, mail
If you can use the Tor network securely, you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform.
Additionally, our guide at theguardian.com/tips outlines various secure ways to contact us and discusses the pros and cons of each method.
w
Last month, right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk was killed, and videos of his shooting quickly circulated on social media. Nowadays, anyone with a smartphone can access distressing videos, images, and a significant amount of misinformation. While experts have raised concerns about the potential negative effects of smartphones on children’s and teenagers’ mental health, many young individuals still have unrestricted access to their devices.
The Guardian consulted seven experts on how to effectively discuss troubling news with children, including the appropriate age to start these conversations and what should be avoided.
Expert Panel:
Anya Kamenetz, Journalist and Publisher Golden Hour Newsletter
Psychiatrist and Executive Director, Clay Center for Young Health Mind, Massachusetts General Hospital
Tara Conley, Assistant Professor of Media and Journalism at Kent State University.
Dr. Tricordino, Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Ohio
Jill Murphy, Chief Content Officer, Common Sense Media
Ashley Rogers Burner, Professor at Johns Hopkins University
Holly Korbey, Author of Building Better Citizens
What is the best way to discuss bad news with children? Or issues related to climate disasters?
Anya Kamenetz: First, ascertain what they already know or have heard. Children often get snippets from school and social media, so it’s essential to gauge their understanding. Providing a few clear facts can clarify misconceptions. Watch content together online and demonstrate balanced information consumption. Once you’ve covered the basics, ask if they have any questions and inquire about their feelings on the matter.
Eugene Belesin: Children of all ages typically have three primary concerns: Am I safe? Are you taking care of me? How does this impact my life? Therefore, I want to ensure I listen to their worries, validate their feelings, and encourage them to express those concerns.
Tara Conley: Establishing practical channels for communication is essential when discussing upsetting news with children. Consider creating a family group chat or dedicated online and offline spaces where young people feel connected and supported.
What is the best approach to talk to children about graphic content, like the videos involving Charlie Kirk?
Tricordino: I know numerous teenagers, and I’ve been truly surprised by their reactions. Particularly among younger children, there may be a sense of confusion, feeling that “I shouldn’t have watched that, so I can’t even discuss it with my parents.” It’s critical that they feel comfortable discussing these experiences with trusted adults. It’s important to convey that continuously seeking out such videos can have lasting effects.
Ashley Rogers Burner: When children learn about acts of violence, it’s crucial to be honest with them. Parents should reinforce democratic values, emphasizing peaceful conflict resolution without resorting to violence. Additionally, reassure them that responsible authorities deal with violent acts, and such events are relatively rare.
How can parents help children navigate misinformation?
Holly Korbey: Parents must understand that when their children are on their phones, they are exposed to relentless streams of distressing news. Moreover, the mixed messages from political figures, telling them “Don’t trust the news,” can create confusion.
Parents need to encourage fact-checking. If children encounter something particularly frightening, guide them towards reliable journalistic sources to verify its accuracy.
Cordino: Children are drawn to phones since it’s a key communication tool with their peers and a means of understanding their world. Rather than simply sidelining the device, we should focus on establishing positive technology habits early on. It’s important to frame guidelines around device usage and allow appropriate access.
While a one-size-fits-all strategy won’t work, generally, limiting access initially for younger users is advisable (fewer social media apps, stricter time limits). For all children, it’s beneficial to avoid having devices in bedrooms overnight or allowing unsupervised use behind closed doors. I highly recommend Common Sense Media for families seeking resources on this issue.
Conley: Instilling critical media literacy skills early will help children comprehend how media and technology shape social behavior and interactions. Here are some resources for parents/caregivers: Tips for Adults to Support Children Consuming Scary News. The American Academy of Pediatrics also offers insights on Creating a Family Media Plan.
With the current political landscape being highly polarized and violent, how should such discussions be approached?
Korbey: I believe no topic should be off-limits. Students need exposure to controversial subjects to become politically active. Engaging in discussions at the dinner table is perfectly acceptable.
Jill Murphy: Children and teenagers are bound to have numerous questions, which can serve as a springboard for deeper discussions regarding political or cultural matters. Parents should reaffirm their values and perspectives, while actively listening to their children’s curiosities and concerns.
What pitfalls should parents and caregivers avoid when discussing news with children?
Kamenetz: Avoid having TV news playing in the background. Although I understand the tendency because of my background in journalism, depending on how a story unfolds, it might be wise to minimize that exposure as well. Depending on the child’s age, there’s often no need to volunteer excessive information unless it’s explicitly asked for. Children process information at different paces, and their developmental needs can vary significantly.
Conley: It may also be prudent not to pretend to have all the answers. Children can sense when we do, and it’s essential to be humble about what we don’t know.
How do you reassure children when faced with significant risks to safety, such as climate change, school shootings, or police violence?
Conley: I recall my college years, when numerous global incidents unfolded, from September 11 to Hurricane Katrina. My father occasionally wrote me letters offering guidance or encouragement. I cherish those letters as reminders of our shared humanity.
Thus, I encourage parents and educators to consider practical activities like Letter Writing Activities. Simply writing to the young people in your life can be tremendously impactful.
Cordino: During instances like school shootings, we shouldn’t exacerbate children’s distress. Instead, we aim to ensure they take school safety drills seriously and follow the guidance provided by their educational institutions.
As a parent, how do you provide reassurance to your child while navigating your own concerns about the news?
Kamenetz: It’s crucial for parents to establish a supportive network; you must tend to your own well-being first, which includes voicing your concerns. Model healthy news consumption habits by avoiding distressing content before bedtime and fostering family routines that serve as news-free zones.
Conley: I encourage both young people and adults to seek out helpers—echoing the wisdom of Fred Rogers. Be a helper. Recent research shows that providing support, such as through volunteering, can help us manage certain stressors more effectively. Helping others often improves our own well-being.
When is the right age to initiate these important conversations?
Murphy: Given the rapid exposure of children and teens to news, often through influencers, it’s best for parents to communicate age-appropriate information and begin conversations early.
Kamenetz: Often, we don’t have a choice in these matters. I never intended to explain to my three-year-old that she was in lockdown due to a global pandemic, but reality prevailed, and today she’s a happy and healthy eight-year-old.
The primary goal of contemporary astronomy is to search for extraterrestrial life. All organisms on Earth require water, prompting scientists to postulate that locating water in space is essential for finding Earth-like life elsewhere. Discoveries indicate that substantial amounts of water exist in space, often in surprising locations. For example, researchers have identified frosty Calderason Mars and water geysers on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus, among other sites, including the worlds of water surrounding other stars.
Nonetheless, water-rich exoplanets do not necessarily mimic Earth. A prevalent category of exoplanets known as Sub-Neptunes can be 2-4 times Earth’s radius, typically composed of more gas and ice. Researchers have determined the density of these sub-Neptunes, suggesting they may possess a substantial inner layer rich in water, encased in hydrogen layers. This structure diverges from Earth’s, which features thin surface oceans and expansive underground water reserves.
Additionally, scientists have found numerous sub-Neptunes in close orbit to their stars, revealing that they maintain elevated equilibrium temperatures. Consequently, these exoplanets are unable to sustain liquid water layers; instead, they exhibit a vapor atmosphere above a water layer in a state between liquid and gas, referred to as supercritical.
Gas and supercritical fluids dominate over liquids, resulting in Steam Worlds that are inflated compared to colder sub-Neptunes. Their larger radius is sensitive to temperature changes, causing them to expand as they move away from their host star and contract as they approach it. Although scientists have developed computer models of steam worlds previously, outcomes varied as they overlooked either contraction effects or aged deformation.
In pursuit of a clearer understanding of these steam worlds, a collaboration between US and UK scientists generated dynamic simulations of the known exoplanet GJ 1214B to assess its transformations over 20 billion years. Their model featured planets orbiting a red star with a mass less than seven times that of Earth and a radius exceeding 3.3 times Earth’s, with equilibrium temperatures around 540°F (280°C). They structured the model planet across five distinct layers: an inner iron core, varying upper and lower mantle compositions, a high-pressure ice layer, and an external fluid water envelope.
To monitor the temperature changes within their steam world over time, the research team focused on its interior rather than the outermost layer. For planets with vaporous outer layers subjected to solar evaporation, internal temperatures can exceed expectations since atmospheric gases can trap more heat than escape to space. This explains why Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is hotter than Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun.
The team found that their model exoplanet generally cooled and contracted over its lifespan. Starting with a radius over 3.3 times Earth’s and internal temperatures near 1,300°F (700°C), within less than 10 million years, its radius reduced to 2.9 times Earth’s with an internal temperature of 260°F (130°C). After 100 million years, it measured 2.7 times Earth’s radius, while internal temperatures dropped to -190°F (-120°C). Ultimately, after 20 billion years, the model planet’s radius was 2.6 times that of Earth, with a frigid interior temperature of -400°F (-230°C).
The final findings revealed a cooler interior exoplanet, smaller than earlier models of water-rich sub-Neptunes, indicating that it remained tightly compressed and did not lose mass. A denser planet holds less steam in its outer layers. Additionally, its inner ice layer was influenced by chemical transformations between ice and cold plasma, exhibiting properties of both liquid and solid forms, termed superion ice.
The researchers conceded that their model may not accurately reflect real sub-Neptunes, as they assumed pure water layers within the steam world. In reality, these layers likely contain chemical impurities, accompanied by an outer hydrogen and helium gas shell. Nonetheless, they posited that these outcomes could aid international researchers in better deciphering the entirety of Sub-Neptunes, as they indicate a potential relationship between a sub-Neptune’s radius, its density, and the age of its host system. All three characteristics are currently under examination in ongoing missions like JWST and Gaia.
cResidents globally have adapted to take-out food and speedy grocery deliveries. However, many are still getting accustomed to seeing a robot arrive at their doorstep. Ahti Heinla, co-founder of Skype, is determined to change that with his new endeavor.
Heinla is the CEO of Starship Technologies, a startup he asserts is more cost-effective than using human delivery drivers, particularly in smaller towns and villages where delivery had previously been impractical.
“We addressed every challenge that existed,” Heinla remarked while having lunch at a London hotel. “You can mark the year and the months, but it’s clear: this will happen.”
Residents in Manchester, Leeds, Cambridge, and Milton Keynes in the UK, along with those in Estonia and Finland, have already begun receiving their food and groceries via these robots. They are becoming increasingly mainstream, even attending garden parties at 10 Downing Street and featuring in episodes of popular shows. Starship has executed 8 million deliveries with just 200 employees, aiming to expand significantly.
Heinla, having already made substantial profit from co-founding a company that became a household name, speaks of his ambition with enthusiasm.
In 2000, Heinla worked with Niklas Zennström, a video game developer and Skype co-founder, and fellow Estonian Jaan Tallin, to swiftly develop new coding. This effort led to the creation of the file-sharing software Kazaa, followed by similar techniques used for Skype. The six-member founding team sold Skype to eBay in 2005 for $3.1 billion (£2.3 billion).
Reflecting on the era of emerging tech, Heinla mentioned that Skype’s closure this year brought back memories. While he didn’t disclose his earnings, he indicated that he could travel in a private jet if he so desired.
Ahti Heinla believes robotics can “enhance everyone’s lives” through autonomous delivery. Photo: None
Yet, he insists, “Even if they’re capable, I’m not just chasing after money. I don’t need more wealth. Why should I want a palace? What’s the purpose?”
Instead, Heinla emphasized that achieving effective autonomous driving is a key way robotics can “integrate into everyone’s lives.”
After departing from Skype, Heinla explored various ventures, including attempts at social networking. In 2014, he entered a NASA contest to design an affordable Mars rover. Although NASA didn’t select his design, it was capable of traversing both extraterrestrial and urban terrains using radar, cameras, and ultrasound sensors that learned from their experiences.
By 2017, the robot was navigating in Estonia, accompanied by a model referred to as the “Safety Walker.” Heinla boasts that it became the first unsupervised robot operating autonomously in public settings. In 2018, the company commenced a pilot commercial service on the predictable roads of Milton Keynes, collaborating with Estonia’s high-tech company Bolt, and UK co-op supermarket chains along with US food delivery companies like Grubhub.
A robotics delivery vehicle in Milton Keynes, UK. Photo: Justin Long/Aramie
Starship may boast the world’s largest fleet of self-driving vehicles; however, as technology progresses, competition intensifies. Rival companies include the Saudi Arabia-backed Noon, and US startups like Nuro. Additionally, there’s stiff competition from numerous firms developing autonomous vehicles, including Tesla and Baidu.
A compelling competitor is Manna Aero from Dublin, a startup already utilizing flying drones for deliveries like coffee and pizza. Amazon and Google’s sister company, Wing, have also ventured into drone-based services.
A recurring issue for many of these businesses is encountering inconsistent regulations. Starship has had to negotiate with various UK councils, while in Finland, they service one million residents under national laws established for robot use on sidewalks, serving a population of 5.6 million. Meanwhile, the UK has far fewer robots catering to its 69 million population.
“We’re ready to invest in the UK for large-scale expansion, but we require regulatory clarity,” Heinla stated. “The number of robots in the UK is lower than in Finland, but there’s potential for growth. Many more robots could operate here.”
He highlighted a potential client in the UK that initially plans to deploy robots at 200 locations, with aspirations to expand to 800 sites, including areas beyond major towns and cities.
Testing a Starship Technology robot crossing the road in Northampton, UK. Photo: Brian Tomlinson/Starship Technologies
“That’s the unique capability of a robot,” Heinla stated. “Our goal is to introduce delivery services to small towns in the UK. We are prepared to invest in scaling these operations.”
While many economists and futurists warn about robots replacing human jobs, Heinla contends that Starship robots are addressing the growing demand for deliveries, allowing humans to focus on longer and more complex tasks. He further asserts that these robots help smaller businesses “thrive economically and compete against larger establishments,” enhancing overall capabilities.
Starship has raised just 200 million euros (£175 million) in funding, a modest sum compared to the billions amassed recently by rapid delivery companies that still rely on human workers. Many of these companies have fizzled out after initially attracting substantial investments, such as Getir and Gorillas.
The initial investment in a robot is relatively high—thousands of pounds, though not exceeding 10,000 euros, according to Heinla. However, the cost per delivery can compete with traditional human services. He declined to provide precise figures but stated that the Starship delivery model is cash-generative.
“While we’re not fully profitable yet, we are confident,” he clarified.
Some retailers question whether robots can outperform human delivery services offered by companies like Recrioo and Uber Eats. Nonetheless, Heinla argues that robots eliminate costs associated with downtime, making them viable options for urban restaurants and retailers in low-density areas.
“Almost every delivery service could benefit from this,” he asserted. “At a certain point, using robots becomes significantly cheaper, making it the obvious choice.”
The fitness technology scene is thriving like never before, offering numerous ways to monitor and analyze every run, ride, or workout session. From high-tech carbon-plated running shoes to innovative foam floats for the pool, the latest wave of fitness gear aims to help you break records, win races, and enhance your athletic performance.
Not all devices, wearables, or training tools align with your fitness goals, so it’s crucial to know where to invest your hard-earned money. To sift through marketing hype, I consulted various sports experts to pinpoint technologies that truly make a difference. Surprisingly, the most effective options aren’t always the latest or most expensive models—some are quite simple.
Transitioning to clipless pedals enhances your cycling by allowing more efficient circular movements instead of a rigid push-down motion. This also secures your feet in place for greater comfort during long rides, minimizing chain issues when dismounting.
For an accessible entry into clipless pedals, consider mountain bike pedals, which work on both sides, making entry and exit easier than road bike pedals that only clip in from one side. These pedals often come with simple, removable shoe cleats for easy walking.
Rock Rider Mountain Bike Shoes
£79.99 at Decathlon
Shimano Clipless Cycling Pedal
£27.99 at Halfords£28.62 on Amazon
Turbo Trainer and Third-Party Training Software
For beginners, a turbo trainer can transform your bike into an effective indoor training tool. Advancements in technology have made these trainers more user-friendly. Hales notes, “The main advantage of a turbo trainer is environmental control, eliminating distractions from traffic or road conditions, allowing you to focus on your specific training sessions.”
Today, turbo trainers come equipped with engaging software like Zwift or Rouvy, making indoor training more exciting than ever before.
A GPS watch is invaluable for runners, offering the ability to record distance and speed while tracking progress. This functionality serves as great motivation.
Following a training plan becomes easier, guiding when to increase pace or slow down. The data collected allows for assessment of the runner’s efforts.
Choose a reliable running watch; the Apple Watch is sleek but may lack in data accuracy. The Garmin Forerunner series is known for its dependability.
Garmin Forerunner 165 Music
£249 at John Lewis£289.99 on Garmin
Garmin Forerunner 570
£459.99 on Garmin£459.99 at Runners
Carbon Running Shoes
Shoes featuring carbon plates enhance running efficiency. Research indicates that each step in these shoes requires less oxygen compared to traditional options, as they function like springs, providing significant propulsion.
Evidence shows they can benefit runners across skill levels, not just elite athletes (supported by both scientific findings and anecdotal evidence from marathon finish times).
It’s important to try various models for comfort. High-performing options include Nike AlphaFly and Vaporfly, ASICS METASPEED, and Saucony Endorphin Pro, with some models proving more durable than others. Generally, Nike models are rated for a lifespan of 100-200 miles, influenced by running conditions and individual forces.
The latest PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite3 has also shown outstanding performance in recent studies, though it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with race-day shoes during training sessions to maintain their efficacy. Balance usage with other shoes to ensure they’re in top condition for race days.
For those new to fitness, pace is all that matters at first. Yet as you aim for greater performance, understanding your heart rate becomes crucial in gauging your exertion. Many factors influence pace, including terrain and footwear.
It’s common for runners to overestimate their exertion level; knowing your heart rate can help you find the right training zones. This data can then inform your workouts, ensuring you’re not pushing too hard on easy days.
Although GPS watches have improved, they may still provide unreliable heart rate readings while running. Hence, a strap-based monitor can offer better accuracy. Arm-based monitors, such as those from Coros, can be particularly effective for women, as they can be less cumbersome than chest straps.
Most adults haven’t swum competitively from a young age. Using equipment like a pull buoy can help these “newer swimmers” achieve better body position and feel for the water.
A pull buoy is positioned between the thighs to elevate the body into a neutral position in the water, mitigating the need for kicking. Without it, many may find their hips sinking, making proper stroke initiation difficult.
Not all pull buoys are created equal; their size and buoyancy vary greatly. Many believe that using a pull buoy is akin to cheating, but in reality, it simplifies swimming. Without it, the struggle intensifies and can lead to fatigue, which is why less frequent swimmers may not cover much distance.
Toy Buoy 4
£17.99 at Sports Shoes
Smart Goggles
I tend to prefer traditional methods at the pool, but smart goggles have significantly improved swimming experiences. They automatically track your time and laps, eliminating the need to touch any buttons.
Additionally, these goggles can help analyze your body position in real time, providing feedback on head positioning and breathing, which can enhance swim performance.
For years, tennis lagged in tech adoption, but this is changing with tools like SwingVision, which brings smart analytics to your device, offering real-time shot tracking, line calls, and match stats.
SwingVision provides a free tier for two hours of recorded analysis monthly, making it user-friendly and accessible without any permanent infrastructure.
Running shoes propel you forward, but wearing them in the gym can hinder movement patterns. For example, during squats, executing the movement with your toes leads is crucial.
For functional training, Nike Free MetCon is highly recommended for its durability and adaptive exercise patterns. It promotes natural foot movement, providing stability during agility exercises and landings.
Nike Free MetCon 6 (Men)
£99.99 at Sports Direct£119.99 at Nike
Nike Free MetCon 6 (Women)
£71.99 at Nike£119.99 at ASOS
Lifting Belt
Hybrid training can often lead to muscle strain if you lift following a long run. It’s advisable to utilize a belt when lifting heavy to support your back and engage your glutes and hamstrings effectively.
While manual massages may be more effective, using a massage gun pre, during, or post-workout can have benefits. The rapid vibrations assist in tapping massage techniques to stimulate the nervous system and relieve tension in muscle groups.
Massage guns are excellent for targeting specific muscle areas but aren’t a substitute for comprehensive coverage. It’s difficult to treat areas like the traps effectively without help. However, they can be useful tools.
Theragun Mini Massage Gun
£199 at Therabody£199 at Argos
Hyper Volt 2 Massage Gun
£199 at Hyperice£199 on Amazon
Check out our guide on the best massage guns and essential Pilates kits for more insights.
Greetings and welcome to TechScape. Over the weekend, I contemplated the resilience of the US, where even the ultra-wealthy seem to generate enough wealth to secure the essentials for a comfortable life.
The New York Times recently published an article about rising costs on Broadway, revealing grim statistics indicating that “none of the musicals that debuted last season turned a profit.” Productions are occurring amidst skyrocketing ticket prices, yet they struggle to recoup their investments. So, who is actually making money?
On a broader scale, escalating food prices and perceived wage stagnation are poised to significantly influence the upcoming 2024 presidential race and will remain a pivotal issue in New York City’s mayoral elections.
Despite soaring food costs in the US, farmers haven’t managed to align themselves effectively. They are grappling with a major shortage, primarily due to tariffs imposed during Trump’s administration and China’s retaliatory measures. The disparity between perception and reality was a theme in last year’s series by the Guardian’s US business desk, centering around issues of trust.
The only sector that appears somewhat buoyant is tech. Daily job seekers inform the Guardian that one individual, affected by the layoffs at Usaid linked to Elon Musk’s Doge’s Scythe, has submitted 400 applications but secured just six interviews. This individual described the job market as challenging and slow-moving. This stands in stark contrast to the lavish sums being offered to certain AI researchers, with Nvidia consistently posting remarkable profits amid evaluations that may seem incomprehensible to the average person. Perhaps CEO Jensen Fan is the only one seemingly unaware of the price tags on his weekly grocery runs.
I’m uncertain where this sense of pessimism originates. It likely stems from a broader malaise.
Meta and YouTube are glossing over recent history
Illustration: Angelica Arzona/Guardian Design
Last week, YouTube declared it would prohibit the dissemination of misinformation regarding Covid-19 and the 2020 US presidential election. The platform criticized account suspensions under pressure from the Biden administration.
“High-ranking officials within the Biden administration, including those from the White House, have consistently supported Alphabet and urged the company to address specific user-generated content relating to the Covid-19 pandemic that did not breach its policies,” stated a YouTube lawyer in a letter to Congress.
Both YouTube and Meta are now taking a stance where they frame moderation choices as compliance with unfavorable administrations. Mark Zuckerberg is similarly retracting positions on Covid misinformation and has criticized Biden. This transformation aligns with the CEO’s defense against the Trump administration, involving third-party fact-checking and dismantling the company’s diversity initiatives.
Read more: Zuckerberg’s Turnaround: How Diversity Has Shifted from Meta’s Priorities to Cancellation
The evident changes at YouTube seem to echo the motivations behind major tech firms’ donations to Trump’s inauguration and a visit to him at Mar-a-Lago. Nevertheless, Google and Facebook are both grappling with contemporary challenges, intertwining recent history with their operational frameworks. Banned creators face immense uncertainty, and both platforms appear to have fallen victim to the current administration’s anti-vaccine ideology.
These shifts do not excuse previous errors; rather, they reflect the evolving dynamics of power.
I recall a headline from a Daily Beast article I wrote in 2021. Who do you think it was about? An Instagram spokesperson described the removal of an account belonging to ex-Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stating, “We deleted this account for repeatedly sharing disproven claims regarding the coronavirus or the vaccine.” Kennedy’s account has since been reinstated, amassing 800,000 to 5.4 million followers.
What drives their responses and persistence is indicative of the majority of recent passive moderation practices by tech firms. Moderation entails significant costs and complications, particularly on issues that are controversial, novel, and uncertain, like Covid-19. I believe both companies wield content moderation as political instruments and jeopardize the truth.
Views on Technology
Trump’s Cronyism in TikTok Deal
TikTok’s headquarters in Culver City, California, on Thursday. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, outlining the terms for transferring TikTok to US ownership.
The plan entails US investors assuming control over a significant portion of TikTok’s operations and overseeing the management of the app’s robust recommendation algorithms. US firms are expected to own roughly 65% of the US variant of the spin-off companies, with ordinances and Chinese investors holding less than 20%. According to White House officials, the new TikTok will be governed by a seven-member board, predominantly composed of Americans, including experts in cybersecurity and national security.
Alongside Oracle and its co-founder Larry Ellison, Trump mentioned other investors such as media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and Dell Computer’s CEO.
Murdoch’s Fox News is headed by his son, Lachlan, and Paramount, the parent of CBS News, is managed by Ellison’s son, David. Under Trump’s trade conditions, the owners of the most influential cable networks in the US may soon have control over the nation’s most significant social media platforms. This arrangement grants Trump’s billionaire allies substantial influence over the expansive and unprecedented US media landscape.
The US media terrain is becoming increasingly red as Trump’s TikTok deal takes shape.
Discover more about Trump’s TikTok Deal
Digital ID: A Necessity for Privacy or a Dire Threat in the 21st Century?
A narrow victory will come as a relief to Switzerland’s major political parties. Photo: westend61 gmbh/alamy
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rolled out plans for a mandatory digital ID to establish a person’s right to work in the UK, with the ID expected to be requested by 2029. The proposed measure, which revives a longstanding discussion in the UK, is driven by border security concerns, with Starmer asserting that digital IDs could “play a vital role” in making the UK less appealing to illegal immigrants.
Numerous countries within the European Union have successfully implemented digital identity systems over the years. Outside of the EU, Swiss voters recently sanctioned the creation of national electronic identification cards in a referendum.
My colleague Robert Booth covered the brewing conflict over virtual qualifications:
While digital ID cards have the potential to intensify digital exclusion, the Minister appears set to explore these ideas once more. Age UK estimates that approximately 1.7 million individuals aged 74 and above are not utilizing the internet.
Advocates like Tony Blair assert that digital identities can seal loopholes exploited by human traffickers, mitigate factors driving illegal migration to the UK, expedite interactions between citizens and government, minimize errors and identity fraud, and foster trust as a tangible representation of a more responsive and adaptive government.
Opponents, particularly privacy advocates, argue that even essential ID systems intended to combat illegal immigration could necessitate collecting extensive personal data for national databases. They express concerns that such data can be combined, searched, and scrutinized to surveil, track, and profile individuals.
Cybersecurity experts also warn that centralized data presents lucrative targets for hackers. Increased cyberattacks, such as those aimed at Jaguar Land Rover, Co-op, and the British Library, signify a growing threat to the UK’s operational capabilities.
Opponents of digital IDs (approximately 1.6 million) have signed a petition against their introduction.
The Yunxian 2 skull, although deformed, has been reconstructed to resemble an early Denisovan.
Gary Todd (CC0)
Our species’ origins may extend further back than previously believed, and the same could hold true for both our extinct Neanderthal and Denisovan relatives. A recent analysis of fossil remains suggests that the common ancestors of these groups emerged over a million years ago.
“If these ancient divergences are accurate, we might be overlooking significant details about the early history of these lineages,” states Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum in London.
This finding could clarify the search for “ancestor X,” the lineage from which modern humans, Neanderthals, and the population that produced the Denisovans descended. It also may imply that the Denisovans were our closest relatives, potentially even closer than Neanderthals—a point that remains debated.
Stringer and his research team, which includes Xijun Ni from the Institute for Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, revisited the Yunxian fossil collection located in central China.
Two partial skulls were unearthed on a terrace above the Han River in 1989 and 1990; reported in 1992. Both skulls were crushed during their discovery, although the YUNXIAN 2 specimen sustained less damage.
Using advanced techniques, Stringer, Ni, and their colleagues reconstructed the Yunxian 2 skull. These methods include CT scans that digitally separate individual bone fragments from the surrounding sediment. “The skull is elongated and has a prominent brow ridge,” Stringer notes. “Additionally, it features a slight beak-like nose, small third molars, and larger teeth.”
The Yunxian 2 skull dates back between 940,000 and 1.1 million years. Specimens of this age are often classified as Homo erectus, which appeared around 2 million years ago in Africa before dispersing to South Asia and Indonesia approximately 108,000 years ago. However, Stringer asserts that Yunxian 2 doesn’t conform to this profile; many of its features are characteristic of later specimens, including Neanderthals.
To better understand the Yunxian 2, the research team compared it with 56 other fossils of the same group. They constructed a family tree based on the morphology, grouping related fossils together. This analysis revealed three significant lineages, encompassing most fossils from the past million years.
One lineage consists of modern humans (Homo sapiens), another includes Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) who lived in Europe and Asia for several hundred thousand years before disappearing around 40,000 years ago, and the third represents the Denisovans from East Asia.
Denisovans were first identified in 2010 through DNA from a bone fragment, and it took 15 years to connect this lineage with larger fossils. Stringer was involved in interpreting the Harbin skull from China, which was identified as Denisovan in June based on molecular evidence. Yunxian 2 appears to fall into the early Denisovan category, much like several other Asian fossils.
This discovery provides important links among these fossils in the Denisovan lineage, according to geneticist Aylwyn Scally at Cambridge University: “This allows us to form better hypotheses about the Denisovans’ whereabouts, lifestyle, and species characteristics.”
Recognizing that Yunxian 2 is a Denisovan reshapes our recent understanding of human evolution in two significant ways. First, it appears to alter the timeline of the emergence of these three groups. Traditional genetic narratives suggest that the common ancestor, “ancestor X,” diverged into two branches. However, the reconstruction indicates that Neanderthals separated first about 1.38 million years ago, before the divergence of modern humans and Denisovans around 1.32 million years ago.
If validated, this hypothesis posits that Denisovans were indeed more closely related to us than Neanderthals, challenging established genetic theories. Nonetheless, Scally expresses caution, noting the complexities of inter-group histories: “In reality, straightforward phylogenetic trees don’t provide a complete picture.” The research relies more on “entangled networks” than traditional models. Furthermore, Scally suggests that genetics may provide clearer insights into these relationships than morphology, especially with only partial skeletal evidence available.
The second significant change is that all three groups appear to have emerged much earlier than previously thought. Genetic evidence generally indicates that modern humans split from their Neanderthal and Denisovan relatives around 500,000-700,000 years ago. However, Yunxian 2 suggests that the Denisovan lineage was already distinct one million years ago.
Scally adds that there may not be a single definitive date for these splits; instead, they likely occurred over extended periods with intermittent separations and reunions. In this case, Stringer and his colleagues may be correct that divergence began over a million years ago, stretching across hundreds of thousands of years.
This extended timeline raises new questions. The oldest known fossils of modern humans date to around 300,000 years ago. So where are the earlier ancestors from millions of years ago? “We either lack those fossils, or they’re present but unrecognized,” Stringer comments.
We also know little about “ancestor X”—its appearance and habitat remain a mystery. “Ten years ago, I would have stated that the likely origin of most of these groups was Africa,” Stringer reflects. “It now seems plausible that their forebears lived outside Africa, potentially in regions of Western Asia. This suggests that ancient sapiens ancestors likely migrated to Africa, evolving there for a large portion of that million-year timeline.”
Stringer highlights the scarcity of known fossils from Western Asia dating back a million years, noting that even India has limited evidence. Only one human fossil from that period exists. “There are numerous regions where our fossil record is strikingly thin,” he asserts.
A significant source of information is the Yunxian site. In 2022, a third skull was uncovered that seems to be in better condition, although it has yet to be analyzed.
Neanderthals, Ancient Humans, Cave Art: France
Join New Scientist’s Kate Douglas on an enthralling journey through time as she delves into significant Neanderthal and Upper Paleolithic sites across southern France, from Bordeaux to Montpellier.
the player started to let go of his aspiration to replicate the success of an older competitive football rival. Sometimes, the developer’s vision doesn’t align with expectations. During the creation of FC 26, EA engaged with a group of influencers and community members to inform critical design choices. Consequently, the soccer experience is now segmented into two distinct modes. Offline, it feels more like an evaluation phase, highlighting aspects like player fatigue. In contrast, online gameplay is fast-paced esports-focused, prioritizing quick shots and goals over defensive strategies like those of William Saliba.
Offline, the mode feels rejuvenating. For instance, the career mode showcases a thoughtful pace comparable to recent matches in FC and FIFA. Tactical approaches matter significantly, with noticeable differences in skills like ball control and vision. Weather effects, including wind and pitch conditions, can influence how the ball interacts with the ground. Patient build-up play is encouraged, and skills can be effectively defended without relying on skill sticks, giving the experience a cerebral aspect.
About the target…EA Sports FC 26. Photo: Electronic Arts
After a lackluster year, Manager Mode offers a more authentic playing experience. The new career carousel introduces consequences that impact job security, leading to managers being hired or poached by rival clubs. For the first time, CPU-controlled teams will implement the tactics of incoming coaches, adding much-needed variety. There are also random events, such as training injuries and unexpected issues. For instance, in my West Ham career, Kyle Walker-Peters and Eldo Zimalic Diuff missed the away game against Arsenal due to “dangerous food.” Yet, some legacy concerns, like uninspired cutscenes, persist, although they serve as a reasonable alternative to the often-controversial Ultimate Team.
Meanwhile, Ultimate Team (FUT) continues to dominate, especially among those willing to spend for random player packs, similar to collecting Panini stickers. This time, there are appealing updates, such as the introduction of Evolution mechanics for leveling up goalkeepers and the return of the All-Silver Tournament, which restricts players to silver-rated ones. It’s possible to build a strong team without significant expenditures. Just a week in, my team already includes Toni Kroos, Lionel Messi, and Ruben Dias. However, the allure to spend on random packs remains a divisive feature in the series.
The gameplay within Ultimate Team embraces “competitive” online settings and reflects years of community input. Prepare for a basketball-style goal-fest filled with impressive tricks and shots. The new AI and animations for goalkeepers will help to keep some scores lower, but defending remains a significant challenge. The absence of player fatigue complicates matters, as previously, containing a speedy attacker for 70 minutes would demand skill, but now they can push deeper into injury time, undermining solid defensive efforts. While this change caters to player feedback, it detracts from the overall sense of realism.
This high-octane gameplay is engaging and reminiscent of the enjoyable rush from mode 5. Numerous quality-of-life enhancements make it as addictive as its distant predecessor, FIFA Street. It addresses annoying elements, such as players getting stuck to the controller, and ensures goalkeepers make intelligent saves while the default view smartly tracks players, providing a comprehensive view of the pitch. Defensive issues are less detrimental in this context, making it the most enjoyable way to experience FUT.
FC 26 remains a robust offering despite its conscious decision to forego some realism in the online arena. Even in competitive settings, there are still many players yearning for authenticity. While it may represent a regression in terms of real football simulation, it certainly advances in areas of fan service. This may not be what simulation purists of Pro Evo are looking for, but as an esports collaboration between developers and the gaming community, this third installment of FIFA achieves many of its goals.
The caudate nucleus is one of the brain regions that gene therapy targets
Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library
Innovative gene therapy has emerged as the pioneering treatment that effectively slows the progression of Huntington’s disease. While the results are still in their early stages, this method holds significant promise and could even pave the way for new therapies for other neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
How does the treatment function?
The therapy known as AMT-130 specifically targets the abnormal brain proteins associated with Huntington’s disease progression. Those affected by the condition possess genetic mutations that result in the accumulation of huntingtin proteins, which form toxic aggregates in brain cells, leading to cell death. This eventually manifests as memory loss, mobility issues, speech impairment, and various other symptoms.
Therapies from the Dutch biopharmaceutical company Uniqure aim to halt the production of these mutant proteins. The process involves delivering genetic material to brain cells using a harmless virus. This genetic material instructs the cells to produce small RNA molecules called microRNAs that effectively block and eliminate the signals that lead to the generation of toxic proteins. It acts similarly to a molecular stop signal.
Procedures and Location of Treatment
This therapy initially focuses on two specific brain areas impacted by Huntington’s disease: the caudate nucleus and the putamen. These regions are located deep within the brain, requiring doctors to utilize real-time brain imaging to navigate thin catheters into place. The entire procedure duration ranges from 12 to 18 hours, and preliminary results suggest that a single injection may be adequate to permanently reduce levels of mutant huntingtin in the brain.
What is the efficacy of gene therapy?
Initial findings released by Uniqure indicate that gene therapy may slow the advancement of Huntington’s disease by approximately 75%.
The revelation stems from a clinical trial spearheaded by Sarah Tabrizi of University College London, where 17 Huntington patients received high-dose treatment. After three years, researchers noted the deterioration in cognitive function, motor skills, and daily activities compared to a similar group of untreated individuals. Tabrizi remarked that the decline typically observed over a year in untreated patients was instead noted within four years for those receiving treatment. BBC News. Additionally, those treated exhibited reduced levels of proteins associated with brain damage in their cerebrospinal fluid, highlighting the potential of gene therapy in slowing Huntington’s progression.
“These findings reaffirm our conviction that AMT-130 could revolutionize the treatment landscape for Huntington’s disease,” stated Walid Abi-Saad from Uniqure in a press release.
Are there any side effects?
While Uniqure has not provided comprehensive data on the side effects of the treatment, initial reports suggest that the drug appears to be safe and well-tolerated. The most frequently reported side effects included headaches and confusion, which generally resolved with steroid treatment to reduce inflammation.
When will the treatment be accessible?
In a recent press announcement, Uniqure indicated that it anticipates submitting an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration early next year, with the potential for product availability as soon as before 2027 with expedited approval.
“However, it is still in the preliminary phase, and further testing is necessary to assess the long-term effects of this new gene therapy and any potential side effects,” noted Zofia Miedzybrodzka from the University of Aberdeen, UK, in a statement.
Could this method assist in treating other brain disorders?
If successful, the gene therapy could facilitate the development of analogous treatments for various neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and other forms of dementia, according to David Rubinsztein from Cambridge University. Researchers could manipulate genetic material to target the toxic proteins that cause these conditions. “This could represent a significant breakthrough,” he remarked.
The Trump administration has included a drug known as leucovorin in efforts to alleviate certain autism symptoms. However, experts specializing in autism largely agree that additional research is needed before it can be widely used in children and adults.
Leucovorin, or Folinic Acid, is a synthetic variant of vitamin B9 requiring a prescription. It is primarily administered to cancer patients via IV alongside chemotherapy.
On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration revealed that it is moving forward with the approval of a tablet formulation for specific autistic patients.
Many researchers have raised concerns that this approval may be hasty, given that only a few small trials—mostly conducted outside the US—demonstrate its effectiveness in children with autism.
Several experts informed NBC News that FDA approval might create unrealistic expectations for families. This is particularly concerning as not all children with autism are eligible for prescriptions, and the likelihood of achieving positive results remains uncertain.
Researchers have long sought medications that can effectively mitigate autism symptoms; however, very few have satisfied the FDA’s rigorous safety and efficacy criteria. Prior to Monday, the FDA had only authorized two medications to address bothersome symptoms associated with autism, none of which targeted issues related to communication, social interactions, or repetitive behaviors.
Alycia Halladay, Chief Science Officer of the Autism Science Foundation, commented that her organization supports research grounded in evidence; leucovorin is not suggested as a treatment and more research is essential.
“Leucovorin doesn’t meet the standards set for FDA approvals, yet this administration is proceeding regardless. Therefore, I wouldn’t label this a victory,” Halladay remarked.
She further noted that the way the drug was presented at Monday’s White House Briefing as a major breakthrough for families with autism doesn’t align with the nuances of FDA approval.
The FDA stated in a news release that the drug is being approved for patients suffering from cerebral folate deficiency, a rare neurological disorder marked by low levels of vitamin B9 (folate) in the brain. Some researchers speculate that this condition might be linked to autism, but it is not present in all autistic individuals.
(Halladay estimates that around 10-30% of autistic patients may have this condition.)
Though leucovorin can potentially aid in reaching the brain, theoretically improving verbal communication and alleviating autism symptoms like irritability and repetitive actions, there is no evidence to suggest it entirely eradicates these symptoms.
“We still hope that leucovorin might serve as a helpful option for a subset of patients,” noted Dr. Rachel Forlomer, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “However, I can’t say we’re at a stage where we can confidently claim we can assist every individual with autism.”
President Donald Trump expressed at a briefing that the approval “offers hope for many parents of children with autism that life improvement is possible.” Mehmet Oz, leader of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, described the decision as “life-saving.” FDA commissioner Marty McCurry remarked, “I believe hundreds of thousands of children will benefit.”
However, in a follow-up news release, the Department of Health and Human Services clarified that leucovorin is “not a cure” for autism and “may only result in improvements in speech-related deficits for a subset of children.”
David Mandel, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, remarked that the folate hypothesis is based on relatively weak scientific evidence.
“We lack robust large-scale studies demonstrating that a significant number of individuals with autism suffer from folic acid deficiency,” he noted.
While leucovorin has shown minimal side effects in cancer patients, higher doses can lead to gastrointestinal issues and increase the risk of seizures in individuals on anti-seizure medications. It is commonly part of treatment for colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal malignancies, often enhancing the efficacy of the chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil. In rare cases, it is administered to reduce side effects from another chemotherapeutic agent, high-dose methotrexate.
Halladay mentioned observing side effects during the leucovorin autism trial but noted that the specific safety of the drug was not evaluated. She indicated that dosages varied across studies, making it difficult to determine if leucovorin was responsible for any symptom improvement, as some trial participants also received behavioral therapy.
According to Mandel, the largest study involving these trials included only 80 participants.
“For FDA approval, one would ideally want hundreds of children involved in these trials,” he explained.
Leucovorin must overcome one final obstacle before it becomes available to select autistic patients. The FDA stated it is collaborating with GSK, the manufacturer of the brand-name version of leucovorin, to update the drug’s labeling. GSK confirmed that a new application will be submitted to include autism indications.
Oz stated on Monday that leucovorin prescriptions will be covered by Medicaid, with private insurance companies likely to follow suit.
However, Mandel expressed concern that anticipated cuts to Medicaid may compel many families to cover costs out of pocket, potentially driving them to purchase folinic acid supplements online without prescriptions. Such supplements may not have gone through quality control, and dosage information could be unclear.
Dr. William Dahoot, chief science officer at the American Cancer Society, expressed concern that the growing interest in leucovorin for autism might adversely impact its availability for cancer patients.
“We have faced shortages of this drug before, and an increase in demand could lead to future shortages,” he noted in an email.
For a week now, the White House has indicated that a deal is on the horizon to transfer TikTok’s ownership to an American company. Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this week that will establish a framework for a consortium of investors to take over the operations of the US-Chinese social media platform.
On Monday, officials from the White House revealed that US software company Oracle would license TikTok’s recommended algorithm as part of the agreement. This collaboration expands the existing management of TikTok data collected from US users.
The US president had a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, sharing on Truth Social that the call was “very good” and expressing gratitude for “TikTok’s approval.” Earlier in the week, leaders from both countries met in Madrid, Spain, to discuss trade agreements related to TikTok’s ownership.
The status of popular apps in the US has been uncertain for over a year, stemming from a 2024 Congressional vote that overwhelmingly approved a law banning social media apps unless they could find US buyers. The Supreme Court upheld the law in January, but on his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order delaying the ban. He has consistently postponed TikTok’s ban, which was initially his proposal, until a deal could be finalized.
Here’s what we know about the forthcoming agreements, including the involvement of media moguls and Oracle’s Larry Ellison alongside the Murdoch family, who recently surpassed Elon Musk as the richest individuals globally:
What are the terms of the transaction?
The deal aims to keep TikTok operational in the US, but under new ownership that is not linked to China. Lawmakers argue that a popular social media app owned by a Chinese entity poses risks, enabling potential propaganda spread among its 180 million US users.
At least 12 investors have shown interest in acquiring TikTok, including a consortium led by software giant Oracle. A complete roster of investors has yet to be disclosed. According to White House officials, Oracle is responsible for managing data for US users and overseeing TikTok’s influential recommendation algorithms, ensuring that information remains outside the jurisdiction of Chinese authorities.
ByteDance will ultimately retain less than 20% ownership of the app, as White House officials told Reuters, with US TikTok operations managed by a blend of existing US and global firms, along with new investors devoid of ties to Chinese authorities.
The agreement mandates that all data pertaining to US users be stored domestically within cloud infrastructure managed by Oracle.
Who is involved?
Trump mentioned in a Fox News Sunday interview that media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan, CEO of Fox Corporation, might join the deal. He also indicated that Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Technologies, is involved.
Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, has been a key player among the potential buyers for quite some time. He leads a consortium that includes asset manager Blackstone, private equity firm Silverlake, Walmart, and billionaire Frank McCourt.
According to Reuters, the US government will not have a seat on the board or a golden share in the new entity that owns TikTok within the US. It remains uncertain if the US government will receive financial considerations as a condition for approval.
Why is this happening?
The prospect of banning TikTok began with Trump in 2020, citing that apps owned by China pose national security risks. This issue soon garnered bipartisan consensus, leading Congress to overwhelmingly pass a law last year that mandated the app’s ban unless sold by its Chinese owners. The initial deadline for TikTok’s ban was set for January 19th.
After embracing the app during his presidential campaign last year, Trump shifted his perspective on TikTok, gaining millions of followers and hosting TikTok CEO Shaw Chew at Mar-a-Lago and the White House. The president has praised social media platforms for enhancing his connection with younger voters in the 2024 election.
Trump issued the first executive order in January to delay the TikTok ban, subsequently signing three more orders to postpone enforcement until a deal could be reached. Currently, the president is delaying the enforcement of the law until mid-December, as transaction details are settled to ensure the new ownership is eligible for a complete sale.
What does the executive order do?
The order is expected to delineate the framework of the TikTok transaction and ensure the agreement complies with US law. The proposal reportedly includes a seven-member board comprised of Americans, and TikTok’s algorithm will be leased to the new US owner.
Trump’s executive order is anticipated to feature a new 120-day suspension of enforcement to facilitate investors and finalizing contracts.
Does China agree?
The US is optimistic about China’s approval of the deal and doesn’t plan further discussions with Beijing on the details, as White House officials explained to reporters during a conference call. However, they noted that additional documentation from both parties would be necessary for deal approval.
China has yet to confirm its approval of the transaction. ByteDance stated that while discussions about the app’s resolution are ongoing with the US government, any contracts will be “subject to approval under Chinese law.”
fA few years ago, just before the first Covid lockdown, I wrote an article exploring a rather niche query. Most gamers press down on the controller, gazing at the characters on their screens as they look up. However, controlling avatars like pilots represents a significant minority who handle their characters as if they were piloting, returning to control the plane and ascend. In many modern games, this necessitates diving into settings to adjust the default controls. Why has this practice persisted?
I figured some hardcore gamers might find this topic intriguing. To my surprise, the article resonated with over a million readers, drawing the attention of Dr. Jennifer Corbett (cited in the original piece) and Dr. Jap Munneke.
At that time, the two were investigating vision science and cognitive neuroscience, but the lockdown meant they could no longer conduct lab experiments with volunteers. The issue of controller inversion presented an ideal chance to analyze the neuroscience behind human-computer interactions using remote participants. They reached out to gamers who contributed insights into the motivations behind their controller preferences, garnering hundreds of responses.
Microsoft Flight Simulator… Many believed that being a pilot would affect control retention. Photo: Microsoft
Interestingly, it wasn’t just gamers who were engaged. “Machinists, equipment operators, pilots, designers, and surgeons — individuals from diverse fields reached out,” Corbett noted. “The variety of responses signaled a wealth of scientific literature to examine for structuring optimal research. The feedback from readers prompted us to refine how users customize their controllers.”
This month, the duo released their findings in a paper titled “Why Axis Inversion? Optimizing the Interaction Between Users, Interfaces and Visual Displays in a 3D Environment.” Why do some people choose to invert their controls? It’s a complex issue.
The study commenced with participants completing a survey detailing their background and gaming experiences. “Numerous individuals indicated that their preference for flipping controls stemmed from their early experiences with flight simulators or the first console games they played,” Corbett explained. “Many reported changing their preferences over time, prompting us to include an entirely new section in our research based on this input.”
Mental rotation… Subjects engaging in the controller inversion study. Photo: Jen Corbett
However, Corbett and Munneke, currently based at MIT, were convinced that critical cognitive aspects of inversion could only be assessed through behavioral reactions. They developed a sequence of four experiments, in which participants were monitored via Zoom. Corbett elaborated, “They had to mentally rotate random shapes, adopt the perspective of the ‘avatar’ in the scenario, judge the tilt of an object against a differing background, and navigate the typical ‘Simon effect’ when responding to targets while using a machine. These varied tasks clarified whether an individual tends to invert.”
The outcomes of the cognitive evaluations revealed that many assumptions surrounding controller preferences were indeed incorrect. “There was no discernible reason provided by participants [for inverting controls],” Corbett stated. “It was linked to their actual inversion habits. The quicker participants were, the less inclined they were to invert. Conversely, those who identified as occasional invertors were significantly slower in these tasks.” Does this imply that non-inverters excel at gaming?
In essence, gamers believe they are inverters or non-inverters based on their initial exposure to game controls. Many flight simulators from the 1980s may have conditioned players to instinctively turn themselves around. Conversely, gamers raised in the 2000s might assume they are inherently non-inverted, given that non-reverse controls became the norm. Yet cognitive testing suggests otherwise. Depending on how your brain perceives 3D objects, you may be predisposed to either invert or not.
Consequently, Corbett suggests that trying out a controller configuration you’re not accustomed to might enhance your gaming skills. “Non-inverters should experiment with inverting. Inverters should consider giving non-inversion a fair shot,” she suggests. “You might want to commit to it for a few hours. People have learned one way, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t excel with the alternative. A parallel can be drawn with left-handed children who are compelled to write with their right hand, potentially leading to long-term handwriting difficulties and learning challenges.”
Through their research, Corbett and Munneke established that complex, often subconscious cognitive processes govern how individuals utilize controllers, affecting not just gaming hardware but also human-computer interfaces across various fields, from aviation to surgical technology. They crafted a framework for assessing how to optimally tailor controls for individuals, now detailed in their published research.
Learning curves… Corbett and Munneke’s research can also influence surgical practices. Photo: Oksana Krasiuk/Alamy
“This research has significant potential for optimizing inverted settings to enhance human-machine collaboration,” Corbett stated. “Many technologies blend human capabilities with AI and various machines to amplify performance. It allows individuals to tailor a specific configuration for tasks—whether aiming for a target or avoiding a mistake—such as in laparoscopic surgery.”
What began as a casual, almost nerdy inquiry has evolved into a published cognitive research document. One scientific publication has already referenced it, and interview requests have surged from podcasts and YouTube channels. What’s my takeaway? “The most remarkable discoveries for gamers [who don’t invert],” Corbett remarked:
Similar to iconic movie quotes, fragments of video game dialogue are instantly recognizable to many fans. From Street Fighter’s “Hadouken!” to Call of Duty’s “Remember, there’s no Russian,” and Bioshock’s “Would you kindly?”—these phrases often leave a lasting impression, making them perfect for social media memes.
Yet, some odd phrases from lesser-known games linger in our minds. I can recall most of the vocal barks from Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, despite it being over two decades since I last played. Why do I misplace my headphones, wallet, and phone daily, yet Samuel Brooklyn’s quotes are etched in my memory? Why do I find myself humming “Finally, some action,” “It’s done, think of the boss,” or the timeless “Okey Dokey”? What is wrong with me?
Thankfully, I shared this on Bluesky and discovered I’m not the only one. Many gamers reached out about random game quotes that stuck with them. Some were lesser-known lines from famous titles: comic book writer Kielonghillen recalled the line, “I have never seen such courage” from Gauntlet, while gaming academic Cat Brewster mentioned the phrase “Oh, nutrition!” from the same game. Matthew Castle of the Game Podcast Back Page still can’t forget the infamous beedle exclamation, “Thank you” from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. “Whether it’s a hot trot or a cold cat in my dad’s shop, I can’t escape the voices of random Pokemon trainers,” she shared. “It’s been looping in my head, driving me crazy.”
Some titles resurface frequently in conversations. Games like Worms, Grand Theft Auto, House of the Dead, and Monkey Island often provide hilarious yet odd quips. A fan of Bungie’s Shooter Marathon confessed he couldn’t shake the phrase “Frog Blast the Vent Core!” Its peculiar origin has made it memorable. Many gamers integrate these quotes into their daily lives, with some saying they recite “Wizards need food badly” every time they open the fridge.
In my head… Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines. Photo: Pyro Studios
So why do certain obscure lines stick with us? One reason is sheer repetition. In a lengthy action-adventure game filled with NPCs, you might hear the same “bark” (a brief piece of NPC dialogue that conveys surprise or context) repeatedly. This is why so many players remember every vendor line from Resident Evil 4; by the end, you’ve heard “What will you buy?” countless times. Additionally, the phenomenon of echolalia—repeating comforting words and sounds—serves as a coping mechanism. Since games are crafted with rhythm and repetition, it’s natural for us to internalize these elements into our daily habits.
Video game dialogue can also create inside jokes among friends, strengthen bonds, and evoke shared memories, much like quoting movie lines. On Bluesky, user Steve O’Gorman shared thoughts on F-Zero GX. In video games, our personal experiences are often as memorable as the stories crafted by developers. The realization that you might be the only one who encountered a peculiar character or heard a specific line can forge a deeply personal connection to the game.
Despite the many times I’ve sent him to his demise while he uttered his epic lines, I doubt I share a profound connection with the indomitable Samuel Brooklyn: “No problem, man.” Clearly, I was experiencing something while engaging with that game, or perhaps I simply found humor in the contrast between my serious battles with Nazis and the repetitive quips accompanying each mouse click. We may never fully understand why certain moments or lines from classic shows like Gilmore Girls or Twin Peaks linger in our memories, but it’s comforting to know we’re not alone in our quirky mental collections.
What to play
Scoundrel’s Tale…The Outlaw from Star Wars. Photo: Ubisoft
Originally overlooked, this title now shines with the delightful Nintendo Switch 2 version. Star Wars Outlaws has quickly become one of my favorite Star Wars experiences. It pivots away from the mysticism of Jedi lore, embracing instead a story of a scoundrel turned resistance hero, embarking on a thrilling escape across familiar planets against the Empire’s antagonists.
The environments you traverse and the various spaceship designs are stunning, evoking the slightly tarnished futuristic kingdoms reminiscent of early Ralph McQuarrie concept sketches. The dialogue is often engaging, with the protagonist, Kay Vess, being an original character in the Star Wars universe, which aligns beautifully with the narrative’s themes and resonates with the essence of the original films. Given its expansive storyline, the Switch 2 display is a fantastic platform to carry this galaxy wherever you venture.
Available on: PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Estimated playtime: Over 25 hours
What to read
Bugout… Hollow Knight: Silksong. Photo: Team Cherry
Eurogamer has released a feature discussing controversial elements in video game design, particularly focusing on Boss Runbacks—the intervals and gameplay duration between checkpoints and boss encounters. Silksong posed quite a challenge (frustrating?) with its lengthy and often arduous runbacks after failing the 56th boss fight. But do they genuinely enhance the game’s rhythm? Personally, I consider them the worst—but that’s a debate for another day.
I never anticipated this newsletter would link to the United Nations, but they’ve shared insights on video games and democracy in commemoration of International Democracy Day (September 15th). The article reviews the history of advocacy and persuasive games developed by charities and ponders whether gaming can effectively enlighten players about their democratic rights and civic engagement.
A delightful retro gaming magazine, A Forgotten World, has just released a new issue dedicated to Sega—a nostalgic look back at the company’s “blue sky” era during the late 80s and early 90s when arcade and home console games dominated play. The issue includes interviews with Sega pioneers and journalists, alongside snippets from gaming magazines as well as contributions from Gary Cutlack of the prominent Sega fan site British Resistance. It’s a nostalgic treasure!
On the shelf… a book about video games, politics, and culture. Photo: Aleksandr Volkov/Alamy
This week’s questions came via email from Amanda S.
“Given the surge of video games in the news lately, are there any books that explore the relationship between video games and politics?”
Indeed, there are, though not a plethora. Some titles delve into the themes we often encounter. Recommended readings include I Got Lost in a Good Game by Pete Etchell and Extra Life by Tom Bissell. For a more overt socio-political narrative, check out authors like Angelanagle with Kill All Normies, Silaches with Play Like a Feminist, and Marijam with Everything You Play.
Also noteworthy are Empire of Games by Nick Dyer-Witheford and Greig de Peuter, along with Blood, Sweat, Pixels by Jason Schreier, which illuminate the sometimes murky economics of the industry. Lastly, be sure to look for Power Play by George Osborne, which investigates how businesses and governments wield gaming’s influence for political gain (and leveraging clickers). That one’s out next year.
If you have a query for the question block or have feedback about the newsletter, feel free to hit reply or email us at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.
In the German fairy tale of the fisherman and his wife, an old man catches a peculiar fish—a talking flounder. This enchanting creature holds an enchanted prince within, granting any wish the fisherman desires. His wife, Ilsevil, revels in her newfound fortune, continuously asking for more extravagant things. They transform their humble shed into a grand castle, yet it never feels sufficient. Ultimately, she desires to become Pope, and eventually, God. This insatiable greed enrages the elemental power, darkens the ocean, and restores her to her original impoverished state. The moral of the story: Don’t covet what you aren’t entitled to.
Numerous variations of this classic tale exist. Sometimes, wishes are clumsy or contradictory rather than overtly aggressive toward the divine order, as seen in Charles Perrault’s “outrageous wishes.” Similarly, in W.W. Jacobs’ 1902 horror story “The Monkey’s Paw,” wishes unintentionally harm those closer to the wishers than the objects of their desires.
Nowadays, many young people grow up with their own enchanted fish in their pockets. They can wish for homework completion, and the fish fulfills those wishes. They can indulge in countless sexual scenarios, and if they bypass age restrictions using a VPN, those scenarios become visible. Soon, they may wish for movies that match their interests, and those will materialize in seconds. They hope to finish their college essays—only to find them fully written.
This shift in perspective not only alters the consumer relationship with creative arts—literature, music, and visual content—but also redefines the essence of creativity and, thus, being human. In the near future, most individuals may delegate troublesome interactions to AI agents. These agents would negotiate contracts, act as representatives, receive critique, match information, and gather opinions. And the ocean remains undisturbed.
Currently, a young Ilsevil, sitting in a university auditorium, might still face fines from professors who grew up in a different era when they see her entrusting a seductive fish to write yet another essay. However, this won’t last much longer, as Ilsevil will soon belong to a confident majority, with most professors having shared her experiences. Ilsevil desires a boyfriend, a spiritual guide, and a therapist, and soon, she will have them. With each of these connections, it feels as if Ilsevil has known them for years, and in a literal sense, she has.
Just like her mythological counterpart, she aspires to be Pope and soon accomplishes this within her small world. However, one could challenge Ilsevil for complicating matters. If becoming Pope becomes effortless, the allure of the title will dwindle for her generation. After all, the most intriguing and desirable things often require overcoming significant obstacles. Yet, Ilsevil understands that the nature of this attractive resistance can also be found in encouragement, learning, and even more precise wishes.
Today, young people grow up with enchanting fish in their pockets…the fisherman and his wife. Illustration: Aramie
She dedicates much of her energy to refining the tone of her results. Though she may lack an innate sense of what makes her writing compelling, she can gauge the appropriateness of her content through responses from others and AI. This becomes a way to develop wishes that are more reliable than ever before. In times past, Ilsevil rarely encountered anyone who found her words intriguing or surprising. However, nowadays, every conversation she has with her AI is regarded as captivating and surprising. At last, she feels heard in a way that human partners might struggle to offer.
But what occurs when the fulfillment of all wishes leads Ilsevil to feel empty? What paths remain open to her?
The first path is the descent into decadence. This pattern is familiar from studies of affluent individuals. In the future, those with ample wealth will be able to hire human therapists or enjoy films featuring real people. Recently, someone in an AI forum suggested that AI might produce excessive amounts of child sexual abuse imagery, suggesting that this will avoid harm to real children. Consumers of such visuals seek not only visual stimulation but also a sense of certainty that real children were harmed. They claim the “aura” surrounding their products. With sufficient resources, Ilsevil could tread this path, just as they do.
The second path involves creating a small, insular community that deliberately constructs challenges and obstacles for one another, perhaps in a cult-like manner reminiscent of traditional sports or hunting clubs. They may host secret or exclusive underground events, with no other objective than to endure the discomfort of queuing and waiting. This concept was inspired by Stanisław Lem’s novel “Futurological Congress.” As of 2025, queuing remains a free experience, but future generations may be astonished by this.
The third path is both the most likely and the most obvious. Within her fairytale existence, Ilsevil uncovers the fundamental principle of redefining her wishes, enhancing their significance while infusing them with a sense of guilt. Guilt is a powerful mechanism constraining individuals to a product; a beloved but embarrassing product becomes intertwined with one’s identity, fostering neuroses and alternative realities that amplify this guilt.
Ilsevil naturally assumes the enormous ecological guilt connected to the immense resource waste created by AI. This primary guilt has shifted directly to her from the actions of large corporations and states. Consequently, she begins to limit and punish herself in her daily life. Each morning, she awakes with the conviction that every small choice and desire inflicts great harm on the “planet,” “society,” or “future.” She flourishes within her martyr-like guilt, assuming a savior’s role. This newfound identity feels like an eternal struggle without resolution, becoming a magical element that preserves her self-sacrificial essence amidst her internal contradictions. Rather than protesting against the insatiable waste of resources, Ilsevil constrains her personal freedom, encompassing nutrition, water consumption, family size, and mobility. Ultimately, she embodies a sort of sacrificial figure, taking all her transgressions to the grave.
The cautionary tales of European folklore against impulsive and unwise wishes stem from a universal theme: the intricate journey of individual lives. They explore questions about personal growth, life’s purpose, and what to pass on to the next generation. Yet in this final scenario, Ilsevil finds herself unable to address these fundamental questions freely; they are decided for her.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
